Stay Safe when Travelling on Vacation - 1

time Posted June 27, 2008 * Comments(0)
Travel Safety Tips: Staying Safe While Vacationing
When vacation time arrives, the first thing on most peoples
minds is fun. A chance to get away from the hot, stuffy
office, or from the winter blues and have some fun.
Exploring the world can be a great experience, but not
everywhere is safe, and not everyone on the planet is nice.
A few precautions, and a little pre-trip thought can help
you ensure that your vacation is safe and fun.

Finding a Safe Place To Stay

If you are going somewhere you have never been before, then
it can be daunting finding somewhere to stay. Booking a
hotel based on star ratings can help you a little, but it
is still worth doing more research, just to be sure.

Be sure to examine the area where the hotel is located.
Ask yourself: “Is it located in a high crime rate area?”.
Is there sufficient security for the guests? Preferably,
non-guests should have limited access to the main hotel
structure and a room escort service should be offered, in
order to have a minimal level of security. Read more »

Filed under: airport security, travel tips

Airports relax luggage rules but airlines stand firm

time Posted January 18, 2008 * Comments(0)
Good news and bad news this week regarding limits on your cabin baggage, as almost every UK airport is now permitting passengers to take two bags in their carry-on luggage.  But your airline may still be applying the old rules so make sure you are fully informed.  Get the full story on the latest cabin baggage restrictions, and some sensible ways to keep your luggage weight down

Filed under: UK, airport security

Cut Travel Stress in 2008

time Posted January 14, 2008 * Comments(0)
Travelling has stopped being an enjoyable experience for many of us. Can you honestly say that you enjoyed the last flight that you took? Long queues at check-in, suspicious staff at security checks, uncomfortable airport lounges and cramped seats all contribute to make flying more of an ordeal than a pleasure. Here are some ideas that could improve your travel experience:

- Travellers deserve respect. Why should we hold on for ages on premium rate lines just for the privilege of giving the operators our money? As a customer, make your voice heard against this rip-off practice and seek out the firms that offer toll-free or freephone numbers

- Look after our luggage. Why are airlines still losing our baggage when they have all the high-tech logistical tracking tools at their disposal? The number of lost or damaged items is going up, not down. There is no excuse for this sloppy practice. Worse still, the restrictions on cabin baggage mean we are forced to put more of our essentials in our cases, like medications. So if the case does not turn up at the other end we are even more stressed. And while we are on the subject, why should the bags not appear on the carousel by the time we get to the luggage hall?

Give us better seats - the regular airline seat appear to be constructed to offer maximum discomfort, and legroom becomes less every year. Even the smallest adult finds these seats tortuous. Why should a comfortable airline seat be a luxury item? Give us decent aircraft seats as standard.

For UK travellers the regional flight supplements on package trips are a disgrace: as much as £100 extra is loaded on to the price if you need to travel from any airport other than Gatwick. If the same trips were booked independently, the difference in cost would be negligible.

Filed under: airport security, travel tips

Airport Security Crackdowns

time Posted May 1, 2007 * Comments(0)
Airports across the world introduced a wave of new regulations and luggage restrictions for travellers, to deal with the increasing terrorist threats to travel since an alleged plot to blow up translatlantic jets in August 2006. In the US, Tourism bosses called on airport officials to be more friendly to travelers, following complaints of brusque treatment. But the immigration authorities responded that they “cannot spend their time giving out cookies”. The US Travel and Tourism Board report has asked for Hospitality to be included in the goals of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report goes on to say “The steps to exclude potential terrorists .. may have created the impression the impression that the USA does not welcome international visitors”. However, the Tourism Board urges staff to maintain professional and friendly conduct towards the 99 per cent of innocent airline passengers.

At first there was a severe restriction on all carry on cabin baggage, which has gradually been reviewed and relaxed slightly. The permitted size of cabin bags has now been increased to allow a laptop sized case. The ban on carrying liquids through airport security has also been relaxed: ‘Travel size’ toiletries (90mls or 3 fl oz) stored in a clear, zip-lock bag are now permitted. The requirements, in place for the forseeable future, will mean some delay and disruption at airports and travellers should plan accordingly.

Filed under: airport security, flights

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