The World Airports Customer Satisfaction Survey seems to be the largest of airport surveys conducted so far. It compared the products and services at airports as well as the “experience factor” at over 500 airports all over the world.

The votes for the best airports in the world went to the best in Asia, Honk Kong International, Seoul Incheon and Singapore Changi Airport. Five stars were given to these three airports indicating the “ultimate approval” and highest quality standards.

Two of the airports that received the 2* rating were London Heathrow and Moscow Sheremetyvo . This rating is given for their poor Quality and performance below the industry average.

Overall, the smaller the airport, easier it will be to get through. Flights are not as crowded and the lines will usually be small. However, the airport may have very few facilities for travelers when compared to the bigger, busier airports. Also, the planes will be smaller and we may have to give up our carry-on before climbing up (yes, on makeshift ladders) to the plane.  Our carry-on will be held in a special cargo area under the belly of the plane. This will be opened as soon as the plane lands and by the time we disembark, our carry-on will be placed on the ground for us to collect.

It’s a toss-up as to which airports are better or worse. Like the above Customer Satisfaction Survey proves, there are many airports that cannot be compared because if the size, the number of flights, the crowds, etc.

From my own experiences and from the reviews on forums, these are the worst airports in the world:

1. Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) is probably the worst! Stay away from it since gang killings seem to be quite common! Unfortunately, airports in most countries where lawlessness is common should be first on this list. Remember to read all travel advisories for the country you are traveling to and also any opinions of readers in travel forums about that airport.

2. New York JFK – New Yorkers are known to be rude, but the gate agents are some of the worst I have seen. They have added a new terminal, but to get to that terminal, you have to take your luggage up the elevator, into the train, down the elevator and then through an open bridge (yes, even in freezing temperatures!)  Really inefficient design of the “new terminal” at JFK!. Only one person helped me to through all this and to get to my flight on time. Of course, the wheel of the luggage trolley got caught in the train door rut and I had a pretty rough time getting it out before the doors closed since none of the passengers even bothered to help.

3. Frankfurt FRA - One of the worst airports in the world. Most airport employees do not know any language besides German. When we ask questions, they just stare back with a blank face. Although the facilities have improved a lot since the 1980s, the overall experience has not improved. European airports are known for their gangs of thieves who are actually operating inside the airports. Be extremely cautious of you bags and important papers. In an instant, they can take it all away by directing your attention to something else. Amsterdam Airport is also known for this modus operandi.

4. London LHR – Another stuck-up group of folks. Their attitude needs tweaking. Passengers are treated like herds of cattle, prodding and admonishing the ones that don’t understand their stuffed English accents.  I have traveled through that airport multiple times in the span of 30 years, and not once have I had a positive experience dealing with any of the employees there. Crowded aisles, Security takes you straight into the shopping malls, planes are late and departure timings are barely viewable on tiny little screens.

5. Mexico MEX– The largest city in the world seems to have one of the smallest airports! Everything is in Spanish and if you don’t know Spanish, there is nothing much you can do to find your gate or luggage claim. Very crowded with almost all the passengers for all the flight vying for seats in a crowded area where and the gates are mentioned at the last minute. Continuous announcements drive you crazy most of the time. Same monotonous voice, repeating every second, stuff that you cannot understand anyway! !-)

6. Mumbai – BOM – What a dirty, rat infested airport. The domestic terminal seems to be is far better than the International. If you are a new traveler to India, choose any of the other airports. Mumbai airport is a mess, with its red pan saliva droppings and disgusting smells that greet a passenger who is in need of some rest and relaxation. Also, if you don’t watch out, your luggage may be stolen and if you forget to get a pre-paid taxi, you will be mobbed at the exit with no one to help you. Departure terminals are in slightly better condition than Arrivals.

7. Paris – CDG – After all the renovation that went on for years, who would’ve thought that the plan comprised of tunnels and escalators going nowhere? If you “donotunderstand” what is being asked by pompous immigration officials, you are in the red. Literally, they stuck a red sticker on my passport. If it wasn’t for a kind official who saw that I was no “zerrorist” ,  I would still be trying to make some sense of their fringlish! One advantage though– After running for hours to get to the plane, through the maze of tunnels and escalators, dragging my luggage behind me, I slept like a baby, right through the ten hour flight to US!

Note that these airports are not comparable with many of the smaller airports in the world in the number of passengers or flights that go through it every day. Wherever people gather, there is the inevitable customer service lapses which add up when more and more people experience similar situations.

I am sure that there are many passengers who transit through these airport without facing any difficult situations. However, the airports listed above showed up on more than one blog (with LHR being the least popular in all!).

Again, take each of these reviews with a pinch of salt and go through them if you have to, but make sure that you clearly comment on these forums about your positive or negative experiences. As more of us give our inputs, the ratings may finally make some sense.

One thing for sure; all international airports should hire people who are multilingual and eager to serve the traveling public without racist attitudes!

Bon Voyage!

See related articles.

• July 21, 2009 — What to do when you are stuck in an airport overnight. (0)
• June 29, 2009 — How to get luggage carts at the airport for free. (0)

Many of us have waited at airports for what seems like eons! Sitting for a long time on the same chair is not conducive to good circulation, so most of us try to walk along the pathways along with our luggage but find that difficult due to the constant dodging of people and carts all around us.

First thing you need to do is to get a map of the airport. Seek out the facilities available, the hours they are open and study their locations on the map.

So how do we amuse ourselves for several hours?

1. Store the luggage – The first thing to do is to get a luggage locker and put all your luggage in it. Even if all you plan to do is fall asleep, you may wake up to see your valuables have gone traveling without you!. To avoid this situation, and make yourself free from tag-a-longs all night, rent a locker so that the weight of all you were carrying until now is reduced to that of a single key.

2. Sleep like a baby – If your next scheduled flight is during the day, you may not be able to get in a wink during the day flight. When every one else is reading the news paper or talking louder than a jackhammer ( the people who sit behind me always do that!)  it may be a good idea to store up on those Zzzzzs before you board the next leg of your journey.

3. Read a book – Most airports have book stores with hundreds of titles to choose from.  One paperback may be the best companion you need for the next six hours. Action packed thrillers can keep us on the edge of our seat, in the airport or on the plane!

4. Eat – Of course, we all have to do that. You could try to find some place to sit and relax and eat all the same time. Take the time to find a good eatery where they sell healthy, wholesome, hopefully freshly cooked meals. Travel can take a toll on our immune system. Being in close proximity with hundreds of people who probably have been around the world a few times, you can easily contract a virus to take back home with you. So fortify your body with healthy vitamin filled, delicious food!

5. Walk – Through the terminals and upstairs and downstairs and all over the airport. If I had the guts I would also take pictures of everyone in whatever poses they are sleeping in. It would make a very funny book indeed! Or listen to the rhythmic snoring of a fellow passenger. Since I cannot sleep sitting up, I have seen over 30 years of night time activity inside planes as well as in the airports!

6. Get out - If you are a more energetic person at night, you could see if there are any museums open at that time or any all-night malls. Make sure you take your papers with you if you are leaving the airport. Do so only if you have enough time to see everything as well as return through long security lines. Don’t lose your luggage key!  If this layover was not your choice, you can request the airline to gift you some see-the-city vouchers or taxi fare to make your impromptu trip more enjoyable.

7. Exercise – Some airports have gym facilities, at least for the Elite group of travelers. If you are bumped or your flight was cancelled, you may ask for a pass to these facilities and use them. Take the time to freshen up, shave, shower, change clothes, etc.

8. Swim – Yes, some airports have swimming pools. Feel invigorated and refreshed after a nice relaxing swim.

9. Book into a hotel -Some of these airports have hotel facilities inside the building. They are available for day rates or may be rented by the hour. They are usually worth more for people like me because I can lie down and immediately fall asleep no matter what the “room” looks like!

10. Work if you feel like it – there are internet lounges in most airports.

11. Watch TV or rent a movie  - some airports have free movie theaters.

12.  Get a massage – Many airports have stations where you can get rejuvenating hour long massages for a small fee.

13. Pedicure, manicure, the works! – Ok, this one I haven’t seen yet, but there seems to be a lot of airports (mostly in Asia) which really know how to pamper us!

14. Aromatherapy -  If you are tired of the recycled air in the planes and in the airports, try an oxygen-lavender therapy which leaves you very refreshed and full of energy.

15. SEE - If you are bored, go sightseeing in the airport itself – Most airports love to show off their local art or history.

16. SHOP – Till you drop! For most of us, an opportunity just to browse the wonderful array of clothes, perfumes, chocolates and other goodies to our hearts content.

17. PLAY video games – Many airports have video arcades where you can play most of the latest games for a modest fee.

18. LISTEN to music – If you brought your favorite MP3/iPod along, what better way is there to relax?

19. SING –  I usually hum to myself or sing along with my iPod. Singing or listening to humorous clips or watching funny videos on our iPod is a great way to relax

20. PEOPLE WATCH – My favorite past-time.  Travel is amazing because it opens our minds to new cultures, new looks, new sounds! Nothing more than travel to expand our horizons. Just sit in a seat that faces the pathway and you can see all kinds of people passing by. Families trying to keep everyone together, often dragging inordinate amounts of luggage and strollers and what not; Women carrying crying babies in addition to all the extra bags, rushing to terminals with the constant look of worry on their faces; teenagers, with their typical swaggers, looking careless and confused at the same time.  The world passing by!

Bon Voyage

See related articles.

• August 14, 2009 — Learn which airports to avoid when Traveling. (0)

Business travelers do not have to worry about parking fees as much as the individual passenger going on a vacation. Everywhere airports charge highly exorbitant fees to the traveling public as a means to increase their daily revenue. To beat the system, just be aware that there are many options to parking in the expensive Zone! On some days, it’s easy to get to the economy parking lot at the airport and find a good parking spot. On busy days such as Sunday evenings or Monday mornings, finding a parking spot near the airport maybe very frustrating. It may be better to use the neighborhood parking facilities that are not owned by the airport. The farther the parking lot is situated from the airport, the cheaper it will be.

Refuse to Park

If you are at the airport to pick up a friend and if you both know the outside location where you can meet ( outside the baggage claim area, for instance) you can try to estimate the time when s/he will be at that location. ( allott enough time for them to get off the plane, walk to the baggage claim, pick up any luggage and then come outside the terminal). If this is something you do often, we usually get pretty good at it. With everyone using mobile phones, it’s an easy thing to do. You won’t even have to get out of the car into the airport melee.

Catch a train

In most well designed cities, the mass transit system (usually a train or tram) will go directly to the airport. Why use a car when you can easily take your luggage and yourself right into the airport for couple of  dollars. There needs to be someone waiting for you when you get back to the train station on the return trip. Or, if you have very little luggage, take the bus home.

Hotel Shuttles

If you are staying at a hotel, you can get rid of your car and ask the hotel to arrange a seat for you on their shuttle to the airport. Usually, these vans carry multiple passengers and you will benefit by the group prices. Also, most of these shuttles drop you off at the check-in terminal so that you can save time and money by using these airport shuttles.

City Shuttles

These are transportation companies not associated with a hotel or the airport. They just operate the business of transporting people from airport and to the airport sometimes from far away cities. Googling “city airport  shuttle” will give you many choices.

Travel in style

Some airports have taxi and limousine services that can be used by groups to lower the prices of transportation. Limos hold more passengers and the ride is pretty smooth too, so it will certainly help passengers get to the airport and back home in style. Call limo rentals and ask them for the rates. Get together a group to share the ride.

Let the company pay

If you are on a business trip or own a business, you can charge your parking also on you company expense credit cards. If you do not have a company credit card, you can request the company to reimburse you on the car parking fees. Most companies will allow you to add the miles driven (both directions) to your expenses and also add the fuel costs to the mileage if allowed.

Shoot for the hip

Go lower. Look for economy parking lots that are priced by the day or the week instead of paying hourly. Many of the airports have several  parking lots. The easier it is to access, the more expensive it will be. There may be shuttles to the farthest airports parking lots. So get a map of the airport and check out the parking areas. Most airports have websites and it’s easy to find out where the parking facilities are and how much they cost.

Airport neighborhood parking

Parking lots are one of the businesses have sprung up around airports. Many of these are just empty lots with an attendant and a shuttle bus. If you use these parking lots, always remember to note down your vehicle’s co-ordinates (position) before you get into the shuttle which will take you to the airport. When you are back from a long vacation, the parking lot will look like a maze to you. Also, close the windows and lock the vehicles since you are not sure who will be visiting the facility when you are away.  Many of these sites offer secure reservartions, 100% customer satisfaction as well as sky miles or other rewards!

Websites and coupons

Every week, these parking lots offer discounts and coupons to travelers. There are some sties such as  http://www.airportdiscountparking.com/  and  http://www.save-on-parking.co.uk/ that publish coupons as they are offered. When you book the tickets, go ahead and click on similar websites for your country or town and see if you can get some decent coupons for your trip. This will save some money in addition to the low prices that these neighborhood parking places offer.

As you can see, there are several options to parking at the airport and by preparing our trip early, we can find discounts and deals to ease our pain. One disadvantage to using parking facilities that are outside the airport is that you will need to add in the extra time that you will require using the shuttle from these lots to the airport. We all know how crowded the roads leading to the airport can be, so it’s a tradeoff between the amount you are willing to pay and the time you have to get to the airport.

Although the crowds near the airport may be the same whether you drive your car or ride the shuttle, you are in control in the car, but the shuttles may have to wait it out for the shuttles from the parking lot to be available for the next run. Usually these parking places run like clockwork and we have had no problems using them. If we mention to the shuttle drivers our vehicle location, they are willing to drop us off by our vehicle. This really helps when we are returning from a tiring trip with children and lots of luggage.

Having safe, inexpensive parking for our vehicles can help us to relax and enjoy our trip even more.

Bon Voyage!

See related articles.

• April 16, 2009 — How to save hundreds per year on fast food, restaurants, clothing etc. (0)
• March 26, 2009 — How to save through consolidators. (0)

Most travelers go on trips and try to make their trip comfortable and relaxing by taking with them things that remind them of home or taking clothes are appropriate for each occasion. As a result many travelers are stuck with tons of baggage that they have to carry from airport to airport. When they add to this the bags that they have checked in, very few of them are able to manage without using luggage carts.

There used to be a time when these luggage carts were free all over the world. It was a comfortable sight to see them waiting all in a row, to be used for the heaviest of tasks, one that will enable us to walk lighter allow us to use our limbs freely. 

Most of the time, our problems are usually centered around getting the luggage carts when we need it and keeping them until we don’t. Many airports do not have the luggage carts waiting for us at the check-in parking lots and some airports also require that we stop using them before entering the security lines. This is very inconvenient especially for families who have extra carry-on for children, food, items bought from duty-free shops, etc.

Most airports in Asia and Europe as well as some airports in other countries are STILL happy to provide these carts absolutely free for tired travelers. The United States is the one rich country that cannot help but fleece the poor traveler without even offering a luggage cart to help them carry their burdens.   Even in most international baggage claim areas, the airports in US require visitors to have US currency immediately for luggage cart rentals!  This does not give a good impression to visitors from abroad!

This practice of renting luggage carts rather than offering them for free could have been started to discourage people from bringing so much luggage into the airport and thereby adding more weight to the planes that are taking off and landing. It may be the same reasoning that made some airports actually refund a part of the cart fee when it was returned to its rightful place after use. This may have encouraged people and provided them an incentive to keep the airport clean of unwanted carts littering the pathways and injuring other travelers or their children.

Airports such as New York JFK have very few carts and travelers have to put in three dollar bills to get a cart (We could get a decent meal for slightly more than that amount!). Also, at JFK, there are very few people to help you get a cart if the cart dispenser does not work and even if you are traveling with children and are tired from an international trip with crying babies and loud passengers.

I needed a cart last year when I collected my luggage from an international trip to JFK. After I went through the customs, I tried to check my luggage in again for the domestic leg of the trip back to my hometown. I was asked to take my luggage up an elevator , into a train! While rushing to push the cart into the train, he wheels of the cart got jammed in the rut of the train door and somehow with sheer force I pushed it free just before the door closed!

Its important to make sure that the cart that you get works well, especially since you are paying for it! There are a few methods you can use to get luggage carts at the airports even when they are available only for a fee:

Scan the baggage claim area

First check around the baggage claim area system to see if there are any free carts lying around. People may have paid the money and retrieved them from the carts dispenser. Sometimes, the luggage that they expected did not come through and they will have to leave the area to make a claim at the luggage office, etc. If they decide that they don’t need it, then they may just leave it near the baggage claim. Make sure that there is no one around who could come back looking for it. Only take it if it seems that no one is using it.

Get the abandoned ones

Go to the pick up area where the travelers load their luggage into the taxis or cars. There may be several carts leaning on the wall or left close to the building sides by tired travelers who can’t think of any reason to get back into the crowded building. Sometimes the pick up area may be far away from the luggage cart dispenser. Most travelers are tired after the long airplane flights and the last thing on their minds maybe that of returning the carts to get their few dollars back. These travelers usually leave the cars where they can and quickly get into their cars or taxis and drive off. There will be several carts lying around that area.

Make some cash

When you are in the process of getting carts, there may be opportunities to make some cash. If there are extra carts lying around, you can push them all together back into the into the cart dispenser to get some of the refund money. If not, you can distribute it to the passengers who are planning to put the money into the cart dispenser for good karma! J

Ask people

People may be returning to the baggage claim area to return their carts. Halfway through their walk, they may be thinking if its worth it to take it back all the way to the cart dispenser. You can intercept them and smile while asking them if they would like you to take the cart back.  Or just tell them you were looking for a cart. Most people immediately will hand over the cart to you. Don’t be surprised if there are many people, however, who are willing to go the rest of the distance to get their deposit back. Tired or not, some people just don’t like to give anything for free.

These are some of the ways to get luggage carts for free in the airports where they usually charge for it. Compared to the air tickets, this may be a paltry sum, so make sure that even if you did not get a “free” cart, you will now allow it to spoil your vacation!

Bon Voyage!

See related articles.

• August 14, 2009 — Learn which airports to avoid when Traveling. (0)
• June 13, 2009 — Tips on rental car insurance and fueling options. (1)
• May 25, 2009 — How to get hotel rooms at 50 percent or more off the rack rate. (0)
• April 28, 2009 — The truth about airfare consolidators. (1)
• April 16, 2009 — How to save hundreds per year on fast food, restaurants, clothing etc. (0)

Rental cars are a billion dollar industry that keeps getting bigger everyday. One advantage of using rental cars is that it lowers the wear and tear on our own gas guzzler and also provides on the road assistance in case of a break down in the middle of a fun filled vacation.

Rental car companies are definitely not the traveler’s friend. They fleece us at every opportunity. Rental car rates quoted over the phone rarely include the taxes or surcharges that may add more than 20% to the total bill. Also, they will make you get accident insurance and collision damage waiver and personal effects insurance and what not, taking our final bill higher and higher with add-ons that we may never need!  The National Association of Attorneys General estimate that the actual cost of renting a car may exceed the advertised rate by as much as 75%!

So how do we sort through the hoopla and decide what we really need and what we can live without when it comes to auto rental agencies?

There is no other weapon against fleecing than to prepare for your trip way ahead of time. There are many things you can do to help you reduce your vehicle rental cost.

Check your insurance coverage

If you are traveling within your country, you may be covered for most accidental damages. Visit the website for your country or make that call to your insurance agent to determine this very important piece of information that may save you hundred of dollars! If you are traveling on business, check if your company has insurance coverage for its traveling employees. Also, check if there are discounts available as employees when you rent cars from any specific car rental agencies. Also find out what your credit card company covers if the rental car is to be paid using that card.

Insurance is especially tricky if you are driving in foreign countries. There are highway fees and other charges for driving in certain countries. Also, you may need to pay for some stickers that if missing will allow the cops in those countries to slap strange fees and fines on unsuspecting travelers. So do your homework before you travel or rent a vehicle while traveling abroad. Remember, most people who pick up the phones may know your language but the local auto rental owner may not know your language. So it’s very important that you know all rules and regulations ahead of time.

Coupons and Package deals

At any time, you can perform an online search of the car rental agency or the city where you will be staying to find out if there are any special deals that you can use. This may save you much more than you think. If you can use a package deal (like 3 days for $99) and also use a discount such as AAA or AARP, etc, you may be save a bundle or two.

Reservations

Calling the national toll free number may not be the way to go, call the rental company  directly and if possible, pick up the car from a location other than the airport. All fees are higher at airports simply because of the demand and sometimes also because they can legally fleece travelers and no one has the time to complain. When you make the reservation, make sure that you ask for the extra taxes and charges that may be added to the bill.

Drop Off Charges

Always ask if there are drop off charges involved. If you rent a car at one location and try to return it to another location, you may be charged with fees as much as $1000 depending on the distance involved. Also, its good to know when the 24 hour cycle begins and when the extra day is added to the bill so that you will not be charged for a whole day because you were late by a few minutes.

Decisions, Decisions

While at the rental facility to pick up the vehicle, you will be offered collision damage waiver insurance. Again, if your insurance does not cover it, it may be good to pay for that since you will be able to drive away in a similar car even if you were responsible for causing an accident. If you are offered any other insurance such as Personal Effects Insurance, decline it. This insurance is supposed to replace you personal effects if they were stolen from a locked car, but there are so many exclusions that its just not worth it. That should keep your bill down considerably.

Enjoy the ride

For most part, the rental car agencies let you go on your own to enjoy the trip. If you need assistance, it may not be an easy thing. You have to call them and inform them of your problem and if you are stuck in some situation where you need another car, they may take their own sweet time to get to you. One of the rental cars we used broke down in the middle of an intersection. Some of the passersby helped push it to a shopping center parking lot where we sat for hours before we saw the replacement car driving in to rescue us. However, the rental agreements rarely cover any time issues. Its up to the customer to ask them about the delays and replacement vehicles.

Fueling up

Rental car companies also overcharge travelers who are unaware of their fueling options. If a car is not completely full at the time of return, the company can charge you for a whole tank of fuel, at their highest prices. You may never find a gas station even near the rental car agency charging that much price per gallon. If you don’t watch out, you can end up paying much more than you needed to. So before you return your car, make sure you fill up at the gas station nearest to the rental car facility. Remember, even if you are used to filling up with premium grade fuel, you can save some money by using the medium or low grade fuel when filling up these rental cars.

Other tips

Saturday mornings are the best times to rent cars. Most business travelers have gone home for the weekend on Friday evenings and the car lots are full on Saturdays. So you will be able to save money on the rental cars and may be even make some bargain deals if you negotiate well.

Overall, being prepared to avoid the extra charges on your bill and making sure that nothing is added without your consent can save you a lot of money and frustration. This will also help you enjoy your trip more!

Bon Voyage!

See related articles.

• March 23, 2009 — How to beat the ticket change policy. (0)
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• May 25, 2009 — How to get hotel rooms at 50 percent or more off the rack rate. (0)
• April 28, 2009 — The truth about airfare consolidators. (1)
• April 16, 2009 — How to save hundreds per year on fast food, restaurants, clothing etc. (0)

As the baby boomers start to retire, many are going to be entertaining, traveling or eating out in the evenings. People are less inclined to prepare heavy meals at home, slogging over the stove for hours at a time. Instead, they are going to eat out by themselves or  in groups.

Since they are on tight budgets, many will probably be looking for smart deals on dining and shopping experiences. Lets look at some of the ways in which people can save more than half off on restaurants, shopping and other entertainment activities.

Online coupons

There are many sites that offer online coupons for dining. http://www.restaurant.com/  is one site where anyone can register and search through a lot of restaurant listings to find deals. If we have a favorite restaurant and would like to visit there frequently, we can use this site so that we would get a hefty discount off our meals every time.

We can also try new restaurants in the area and find out which ones are better or offers us a more enjoyable dining experience. In addition to discounted restaurant gift certificates, this site gives us detailed restaurant information, allow us to view menus and wine lists online and also had the capability to make free online reservations. There is even a customer service number to all in case your experience was not what you expected!

We can also give these coupons as gifts to friends, helpers, assistants, children, teens who help us around the house etc, saving us more money from not having to go to the big department stores and buy expensive gifts.

Checking at that website today, a restaurant coupon that is usually discounted to $10 is now being distributed for $5.00. That is an amazing discount of 80%!! (you have to use code DISCOVER at checkout) to use this coupon.

http://roamsters.com/food/save-50-on-restaurantcom-dining-certificates/

You can also subscribe to websites that will hunt for dining coupons and bargains and send them to your inbox. Donna L Montaldo of About.com sends a newsletter that describes the current coupons and bargains available online. To register, go to http://couponing.about.com/od/groceryzone/qt/printgrocery.htm

This page has a lot of information on many items including grocery and food items.

http://www.mygrocerydeals.com/ is a website where you can search for grocery deals in your part of the town. At this site, we can customize our favorite stores and compare only those weekly advertisements to find out the best deals in our own neighborhood. What can be more personal that that? J This site also stores our shopping lists, allows users to look up ingredients and nutrition facts about items before shopping. This way, we will know before we buy whether we or anyone in our household is allergic to these items.

Currently, we go through a number of local grocery store flyers and manually compare the sales or “buy one get one free” deals at the three or four local stores around our neighborhood. This site makes it easy for us to compare the prices for each week and to make our shopping list more compact and complete. It also saves fuel and frustration by reducing the number of grocery stores we may have to visits.

Disadvantages of joining such websites is that they have our shopping profile and may share them with other companies or grocery vendors who may use our information to direct more junk mail or marketing flyers or advertisements on the websites using our computer addresses.

The big list for online shopping coupons can be found at http://couponing.about.com/od/allcoupons/All_Coupons_Codes_and_Deals_for_Online_Shopping.htm . Here, we can find Apparel Deals, Health and Magazine coupons, Electronics and Computers,  deals on  Pets, Flowers, Jewelry, Kitchen, Outdoor, Toys, Shoes, etc.

http://www.urbansavings.com/ is yet another site for getting online restaurant coupons. They have 2 for 1 Entrees, 25% off total bill, free bottle of wine, $5 off delivery, etc. at major cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

Frequent Flyer deals

AAdvantage Dining and AAdvantage Hotels are services for American Airlines frequent flyer customers. At this site http://aa.rewardsnetwork.com/ a customer can search for restaurant or hotels that offer discounts and also add to their frequent flyer miles accounts to get more free air tickets and other discounts. This method of dining for miles is also available to other airlines customers such as those of Delta Airlines, United, etc.

Local school fundraisers

Many of our schools bring in coupon books from local merchants that have 2-for-1 coupons for lunch and dinner meals. One book may have six months to a years worth of coupons. By using these coupons, we save money and at the same time encourage the local establishments.

Local Newspapers

Sunday edition of the local newspapers are stuffed with coupons that save us over hundreds of dollars in one week. If we prefer, we can just get the Sunday edition from a grocery store and save hundred times more than the price of the paper on one week itself. Remember to cut these coupons and keep them in a safe place to be able to use them when we are using the services offered.

It is important to follow a routine to save money. First scan all the websites listed above and cut out the coupons. Store them in a coupon organizer ordered in a chronological fashion so that you will remember to use the coupons that expire soon before using the coupons that may be used months from now.

Also, do not be ashamed to use coupons. I know people who have saved thousands of dollars cutting out coupons and sending them in for rebates. Every opportunity to save money leads to a bigger bank account that will be a blessing in old age when we cannot work. So use all these ideas to save as much as you can.

Always keep an eye out for discounts wherever you go. You may get marketing mailers full of coupons and 50% off deals for many items, including restaurant bills. Make it a habit to look through each of them before discarding the envelope in the trash. When you are at the Mall, Optometrists, discount stores, grocery stores, restaurants, etc, always look around you to spot more coupons that will help you save even more money!

A penny not spent is a dime saved in the bank!

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A good night’s sleep is a must for most travelers. Although the degree of comfort depends on each individual, most of us agree that getting a five star hotel inexpensively is one of the best perks we can have when traveling.  Added to it are the extra amenities such as swimming pool, spa, gyms, pet walk areas etc.

As an individual, if we call a hotel or book online by visiting their sites, the hotels may give us the regular rate or the “rack rate”. To get a discount off of the rack rate is no easy task. However, we can accomplish this by increasing our clout, by becoming part of a group!

The easiest way to get this power is to use consolidators. They are the group that has the power to get us way cheaper tickets on airfare, accommodation or cruises. In the hospitality industry, assurance of fully booked rooms is rarely ever an occurrence unless there is a huge enough convention that can utilize all the rooms in the hotel at once.

Here enters the consolidators or wholesalers who buy rooms in bulk to package them with the air tickets they buy in bulk and the car rentals they may book in bulk! The secret lies in the power or numbers, where large discounts are available by combining packages for multiple bookings.

1. PriceLine.com is a website where you can bid for a package or even just for a hotel room. If you price the bid just right, you may get it. To find out an amount that is “just right”, go to the website of the hotels you would like to book, such as Sheraton http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/  or Marriott Hotels http://www.marriott.com/  and find out what the rooms that you would prefer go for on the dates that you are planning to book. If you are planning to book an airline ticket and car rental too, then check out the individual rates at their websites.  Then start the bid on PriceLine at a price much lower than the combined total of all three individual bookings.

2. Consolidators - http://www.kayak.com , http://www.expedia.com/  and http://www.travelocity.com/  are websites where a potential traveler can search and compare rates for single bookings or individual bookings for car rental, hotel accommodation and air tickets purchase. Most people are not good at bidding for travel packages and think that they bid too high if they finally get a package regardless of how much they paid for it. For such folks, it’s easier to compare the prices already on the website and decide what is okay for you.

3. Call the hotels directly – It is very tempting to call the toll-free 1-800 numbers on the website, but this will only get you the rack rate. What we need is to find the number of the hotel that you have decided to stay in and call them directly. Ask them if this is the lowest they can go. Make a reservation if that is a good deal. Find out the deadline to cancel the reservation without penalties.

4. Double-check - As soon as you reach the city, go to the hotel and without informing them you have a reservation, ask them what the room rate is currently. If they offer a cheaper rate, cancel your reservation if you can. Otherwise, try to make them lower the price for you. Most of the agents do cooperate for fear of losing you as a customer.

5. Timing tactic - In my experience, it’s always better to have a reservation instead of waiting until the last minute. That is because I usually travel with family and cannot take the risk of reaching a city without a place to stay for the night. If you can, however, take that risk, you can go to the hotels and ask them for a room rate at the best possible times, late evenings, mid week or Sundays are the best to get awesome deals.

6. Travel agent - You can also book through a travel agent. This may not get you the best rate, but if you not a savvy traveler and cannot make sure how to do all these bookings, its best to have the advice and help of someone who had done it all, over the years. The savings may still be better than if you call a 1-800 number or book off the website. Also, if you have any problem, you can always call your travel agent!

7. Clubs - Senior clubs such as AARP and auto club AAA etc can also give discounts on hotel rooms.  This is additional discount that you get when you show your card at the registration desk. These discounts may be anywhere from 5% to 20% off of the room rates.

8. At any time, if you search online, you will find many coupons for every type of hotel. Go to http://www.hotelcoupons.com/ and search for the area and hotel that you will be staying in. You may find several coupons for each area. Mention these coupons when you are making the reservation. Other sites to find hotel coupons are http://www.roomsaver.com/  http://www.theoig.com/ http://destinationcoupons.com/ http://www.kayak.com/hotels

Always make sure that you inquire about the taxes and other fees when you make the reservation. Most hotels have a tax of 12%!  Also, in some cities, they charge the tourists with additional taxes for building sports stadiums and auditoriums, adding another hefty amount to the guest’s bill!  Also be aware how much the telephone calls from the hotel will cost you, if the breakfast is free and how much an internet access will cost you. Verify the bill before you leave the premises and when the monthly statement arrives, don’t forget to check the amount your credit card was charged for.

Overall, your hotel experience will be good if you get a decent price for a decent room and you have the ability to call the reception desk if anything doesn’t work. Service seems to be more of a luxury which we come to depend upon as guests in another part of the world.

Bon Voyage!

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Going abroad is always fun! As we prepare for a long trip with lots more luggage and jet-lagged sleepovers, there are many things that we may forget to do unless we have a check list that we religiously adhere to, every time we plan an international trip. Here is one that I have prepared for you after about 30 or more international trips.

Get those papers!

Passports! They are the first document you need to check when you think of an international destination. All travelers are advised to carry up-to-date passports to enter any country. Even if you are allowed to leave a country without a passport, getting back in to your own country may be a nightmare without the proper documentation.

Find out if you need Visas for every country you pass through or visit. If you are only staying in an airport for transit (changing planes, never getting out of the designated transit area) then you may not need a visa. If you are spending a day or even an hour outside the airport, you may need a visa. The visas are usually applicable to travelers in certain countries only. So it’s best to go to the website of the country itself to find out if they need us to get a visa. For example, if you are traveling to Singapore, go to the following site and then check if citizens from your country require visas:

  http://www.mfa.gov.sg/home/idx_visaFor.html Similarly, go to the site of any country you are traveling to and find out if you require visas. Its best to apply for visas as early as you can to get that paperwork out of the way. Sometimes, you may need to mail your passport to the country’s local embassy (or go there personally) to get your passport stamped with the visa.

Flying higher and higher

Airline tickets – International tickets cost a lot more than domestic tickets and they also have a lot of restrictions. It’s best to get international tickets from a reputed travel agent who can give us substantial savings through consolidator prices as well as advice us on what papers we need to carry. If we are going on work visa, we will need to carry papers from our place of business in addition to the visa and passport. Always make sure that you know the exact  number of hours in transit at any airport. If  you fall asleep during transit and miss the flight, you may lose hours or days trying to get on the next flight. It’s best to find out the gates and try to sleep close to the gate. (Also ask a fellow passenger to wake you up when the plane starts boarding for the next leg of the journey)

Better safe than sorry

Shots and medicines. Each country has its list of diseases and health warnings. Take most of the shots required ahead of time so that you will be in good health when you are ready to travel. You can find the list of shots to take at the CDC website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/ and check out the countries you are traveling to determine the shots that you may have to take before leaving the country. It’s especially important to immunize children and senior citizens before traveling.

Weather – Find out from the following site the average weather conditions at the time of your trip: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/forecast/international/ . If you cannot find what you need at this site, Google the “city weather months” replacing “the city” with your intended destination and “months” with your month of travel. Most countries have weather information sites. It is best to Google for the “country and weather”

Light as a feather

Pack light. Use layering since the weather everywhere is more or less unpredictable. Cotton undergarments should be followed by one layer of upper garment, then a jacket or sweater. In winter, don’t forget to take overcoats. Also, find the neck pillow that allows you to sleep in an upright position on long flights. Take medicines such as pain relievers, cold medicines, antibacterial creams, band aids, your usual medicines as well as toiletries. Some additional items I take are sunscreens, hats and socks for the plane. Put your name and telephone number inside the bags in case they get lost. Also mark your bags with brightly colored ribbons or wool so that they are easy to spot. Never put your address on the labels – thieves can spot an empty house all the way across the globe!

Even if you check in your bigger bags, make sure you carry one set of clothes, basic toiletries and most importantly a set of your medicines and extra pair of contact lenses in your hand luggage. Take an extra pair of shoes if you can. You may need one pair for the evening and one for adventurous day tours. Don’t forget to take your camera with you! Also  make sure that you get a coat or jacket with an inside pocket to keep your valuables such as passport, visa papers and money. Airports in Europe are known for their pickpockets who work as gangs with one or two distracting passengers while the other run away with our bags. Whether you are sleeping in the airport or on the  plane, it’s a good idea to keep your valuables close to your body.

Money Matters

Before you go, it’s a good idea to convert some of your currency to that of the country you are traveling to. When I traveled to Luxembourg, I assumed that I would be able to use my ATM card to get the cash out at anytime. When I reached Luxembourg, I realized that the airport did not have a cash machine and all the banks in the city of Luxembourg were closed for the weekend! Before you leave your home, go to the bank and get at least a small amount ($100) worth of foreign exchange that you can use in the event of an emergency.

Carry one major credit card, your ATM card and any other health information you may need others to know in case of an emergency.  Remember to leave your foreign accommodation information with someone at home so that they can get in touch with you in case of an emergency. If necessary, call your credit card companies and inform them that you will be traveling on the specified dates. It’s also a good idea to call your home alarm company and tell them that you will not be home for a while. Also alert your neighbors to keep an eye on your home. Turn of all faucets, electrical appliances and adjust the heating and air conditioning. If you are taking your cell phone with you, make sure that you have international service.

That’s about it! Now you are ready to leave the country. Show your passport to get it stamped at the port of exit and your visa and passport along with customs and immigration forms at the port of entry at your destination. Keep all the papers they give you securely because you may have to hand them back when you are leaving that country to come home.

International travel really opens our eyes and our hearts. In the planes, in the airports and in transit, you will notice so many different cultures, languages, dresses and styles. Travel really brings the world closer!

Bon Voyage!

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Every human being needs to live at the level of his earnings. Never try to keep up with the neighbors or be enamored by the fancy things you see in the stores or on TV. Never take a vacation unless you have saved for it and earned it!

In 1995, only 2% of Americans used debit cards for purchases or other transactions, whereas a 2003 study determined that the percentage of debit card users have sky rocketed to 31%!

Credit or Debit?

Credit card companies give you a month to send them the total amount you have spent using their cards. For some credit cards,  if you are in good standing and you dispute a charge, they are legally bound to remove it from your bill up to 60 days after you made the purchase.

Debit cards do not have the same safeguards such as credit cards for unauthorized transactions. If the minimum limit for a day is placed high temporarily while you travel, anyone can get hold of your debit card and empty your account. And since you are on vacation, you may never know about it until it’s too late. If you don’t have the money to cover a purchase made overseas, banks immediately punish you with penalties, sometimes many times the amount you inadvertently withdraw from your bank.

Money down the drain

Overdraft charges of more than $17.5 BILLION are paid by consumers each year according to the Center for Responsible Lending. Banks reap rewards in taxes and fees every time a customer uses the debit card for an amount that is higher than their minimum balance.

There are advantages to both forms of payment. If you are a responsible borrower who pays off the credit cards every month and keeps track of your bank balances via online monitoring, then either card will be okay for you. However, if you are the kind of person who just cannot handle money the right way, then you will in for a shock either way.

Is Debit really that bad?

Credit card companies charge horrendous amounts every month as finance charges. An item bought by a credit card today for $10 may be giving the credit card company more than double its worth over the years. So you have to work enough to earn $20, but had to give $10 to the credit card company because it allowed you to borrow the $10 a long time ago. Basically, what you earn will slowly go to the credit card company unless you pay off the credit card quickly and learn to STOP paying finance charges.

Buy only what you can afford!

That is where the debit cards come in. Debit cards may be used as a wise choice which is supposed to keep you from spending more than you earn. However,  banks, in their eagerness to make even more money will allow you to overspend (so sweet of them!) and also charge you an arm and a leg before you wake up the next day! So beware of making purchases using Debit cards if you have no clue as to how much your bank balance is.

Your autograph or your PIN

There are two types of debit cards. One behaves just like a credit card and requires the use of your signature. The money is drawn in a few days from your bank. The other type of debit card used a PIN based system which is similar to taking money out of your ATM. It is withdrawn immediately from the bank account. This is more preferable to retailers since they will know immediately if you have the money for it in your account or not.

Signature based debit cards (also called deferred debit) are becoming less popular and most retailers prefer the PIN based or direct debit cards. Another type of debit card is the payroll card where employers deposit the payroll into an account from which employees immediately may use it for their expenses. Again, the user usually has a fee per use as well as taxes and fees if they go over the limits.

Debit Card Pitfalls

Most debit cards have a daily limit of $250 or higher. So if airline tickets cost more than the daily debit limit,  they may not be accepted by online consolidators unless the consumer can call their bank and ask them to increase the limit temporarily. If the deal falls through for any reason, paying by credit card may be a better option because you may be able to get your money back as a result of federal protection laws. Using this loophole, we can request a “chargeback” from credit card companies. Present them with the date, the amount and the merchant name and according to law they will have to take back the charges from your statement. You may have up to 60 days to request a chargeback in the case of credit card fraud. Most debit cards, however, may not come with these safeguards and you are left on your own in case of fraud.

Rental companies sometimes accept debit cards, but put an authorization hold on a certain amount of money as a backup. This money is held by the bank and will be deducted from your balance. When the authorization hold is lifted by the rental car company after you have paid the bill, the bank may still take a few days to return the held money to your account.

Foreign Exchange Transaction Fees

Credit cards charge a fee for allowing us to use the cards in foreign countries. These charges are published and more or less constant. Debit cards and ATM fees vary by company and location from very little to very large amounts. These fees add up because of the convenience of these ATM machines and also the commissions taken when converting them to foreign currencies.

Beware of nimble fingers

When traveling, it is better to use your credit cards for the same reason. Europe as well as most other countries have pickpocket gangs that work with amazing synchronization. A couple of well dressed thugs distract people while the rest get away with your luggage.

Always keep your wallet and important papers in a coat pocket that is hidden inside your jacket or coat. Make sure that you use your credit cards only in larger stores and also store your receipts safely so that you will remember where you spent the money. As soon as you return home (or while you are still on vacation) check the credit card statements online and the unbilled statements to keep an eye out for fraud.

Although debit cards are a good idea when used properly, it is much better to learn to use credit cards the right way. Currently they offer more safeguards and support when we run into problems. If you do not have a credit card, you can use a debit card for travel purchases so long as they are accepted and you have a good idea of the balance in your accounts.

Always prepare before you go abroad so that you can enjoy your well earned vacation!

Bon Voyage!

See related articles.

• May 25, 2009 — How to get hotel rooms at 50 percent or more off the rack rate. (0)
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By Salihu Ibrahim

The internet is a virtual network of travel scams and these scams seem to be attracting quite a few surfers into this phishing “net”! According to the National Fraud Information center, the average fraud has most doubled in the two years after 2004. Criminals are getting more and more sophisticated. As more elderly citizens and teenagers are entering the net, the numbers of gullible people increase every day.

People gloat about deals on the internet and how they won something on EBay for almost nothing or how they booked a cruise for a measly 99 dollars.  Most of us are awed by such claims and wish we also were able to get some of the action.

So be aware of these scams and try to get referrals from people you know before you put in your money. Always check the site out before you pay with credit cards (not check or cash) . Credit cards are a smarter choice because legally, at least in the US, the credit card companies are liable to give us the money back if the deal turns sour.

Fly-by-the-night schemes – Many “businesses” show up on the internet, accept money orders and credit cards from unsuspecting customers promising them amazing cruises, adventurous treks and relaxing travel vacations. And then they just disappear!! It’s easy because the internet is not governed by anyone! There are no laws and there are very few safety nets in place for the largest scam net in the world! Always try to find out how long these people have been in business. Do they have a local address and a local telephone number? Which country are they based in? Find out as much as you can before you open your wallet.

Discount travel clubs – are not really discounted at all! They may even take money from you for “membership fees”. Any club that obviously makes a lot of money does not need membership fees. Unless they are reputable companies like RCI.com, try to find out if anyone else you know is a member before joining it. When you can get all the good deals through well known consolidators such as http://www.travelocity.com , http://www.kayak.com/   or your trusted travel agent, it may be wise to stay away from unknown travel clubs. Stick to the ones that have been around for ages, such as AAA and AARP.

Become a Travel Agent – This is another scam that is all over the internet . Many people fall for it because it sounds so lucrative. The marketing for all these advertisements have catchy phrases that compare your “boring life as it is now” to the “fabulous time” you will have in the future if you do this or join that. The list goes on. If you want to become a travel agent, ask a travel agent in your town. That is the safest way. An agent has to work very hard for years to get to a point where they can help a lot of people. So forget becoming a travel agent overnight and do it the right way if you really want to become one.

Pricing scams – At first glance an airline ticket or a cruise seems like a steal, but it takes a travel agent to tell you about the taxes and fees and return tickets that should be added to these false claims to see the total amount that will be charge on your unsuspecting credit card! Knowledge is power. So thoroughly read the fine print, discuss with your friends and family and call a trusted travel agent to ask them about the company before you type in your credit card numbers!

Timeshare Promises – Beware of giving out your name and address for sweepstakes or local spa certificates. These are a ploy to get your names and send you timeshare information. Most of the time, we get caught unawares in timeshare nets while trying to get out of the airport into a taxi or while strolling along main street in a strange town. Time share idea sounds wonderful; Free accommodation for a week in exchange for sitting through a 45 minute presentation. Ah, the catch is, the 45 minute presentation usually takes a whole day while we are more or less forced to agree to the idea since the pressure is On to make a decision or lose a “fortune”!

Selection Award – Typical claims in scams include the one shown in:

http://wemarket4u.net/eztrvltrip/index.html some of us who see this can immediately spot is as scam, but most of the elderly and some of the younger surfers fall for it. Most of us want to win ‘something” and this yearning is exploited by these scammers or criminals to make money for themselves.

The American society of Travel Agents suggests that to avoid being a victim of scams:

1. Be extremely skeptical of postcard and phone claims that you have been selected for a fabulous vacation.
2. Receive complete details in writing about any trip before you pull out the credit cards. This should include total prices, cancellation and change penalties and what is included with the prices and what is not.
3. Do not call a 900 numbers in response to travel claims, they are exorbitantly expensive and you will lose a lot of money.
4. Always take the time out to speak to someone knowledgeable about vacations and current prices, etc before you make a decision. Never allow anyone to pressure you to make a decision. If they insist that you have to make the decision, that’s a red flag!
5. Be suspicious of companies that make you wait for 60 days before taking a trip
6. Be aware of sports travel packages which are sold during major sporting events, like the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and World Series. These offers may be legitimate, but many of them are not! So choose wisely!
7. Checking your emails has become a terrible chore now that our inbox is riddled with useless ads and spam emails from all over the world. We may wonder who will ever believe these claims and respond to these criminals. Unfortunately there are lots of innocent surfers who have lot thousands to inheritance emails and other scams.

Remember, even prisons have easy access to the internet. Criminals on and off the net are known for scamming anyone that they think is gullible to their claims of prosperity and a better way of life.  What we regular folks need to remember when we see these preposterous claims is that there are no free lunches. We pay for everything we get, in some way or another!

Although it is smart idea to save as much money as possible, we also need to aware of the red flags so that we can truly enjoy our well deserved vacation!

Bon Voyage!

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