Post Highlights: [5/31]
Should Obese Passengers Be Charged Extra?
My recent comments on the subject on Travel-Rants, suggesting that passengers be charged per seat generated some controversy. I??m going to explain why the obese should be charged per seat, and welcome your comments as well.
The Pros and Cons of Using Cash During The Various Stages Of Travel
What you lose in convenience you gain in security when using cash to pay for your trip, buy souvenirs, and leave tips for waiters. While credit and debit cards are useful if you get ripped off, using cash can prevent it from ever happening.
Sexiest Summer Travel Story Contest
The author of the sexiest summer travel post will win a $250 voucher for the airline of their choosing. The contest runs from May 1 through June 15, read on for details on how to submit your story and win.
Can You Match The Stewardess Uniform To The Airline?
Jezebel has created an entertaining quiz based on Cliff Muskiet’s collection.
Tourism Competitiveness Ratings Released, Switzerland At Top Chad Bringing Up Rear
The World Economic Forum has release their Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2008 (some time ago, admittedly I’m a bit late). The rankings don’t measure how attractive a country is as a tourist destination, but rather the development of the travel industry there. Most of the countries at the top were in western Europe along with the US and Canada.
Most at the bottom of the list were African nations. Like I’ve said before, a tourism industry is a great boost to a 3rd world economy, since it doesn’t require much infrastructure and a weak local currency can attract tourists. You can view the entire report here [pdf], if you do you’ll notice that none of these up and coming destinations are on the list.
Get US Access To Websites While Abroad With Free Download: Hotspot Shield
Increase the security of your wireless connections and bypass international blocks of websites by downloading Hotspot Shield. The program connects you to the Hotspot Shield virtual private network (VPN) located in the US potentially getting you around regional blocks of popular websites.
Netflix for example doesn’t allow users to access their “play now” feature which lets you watch movies in your queue on your PC. A connection through the Hotspot Shield VPN will trick this and many other websites into thinking you’re located in the US.
This hack didn’t work for me each time and the connections were less than stable, but tolerable for the most part. Hotspot Shield also purports to give you “unbreakable” secure wireless access but doesn’t tell you how. If you’re connecting through a fairly reputable wireless connection (like an airport or T-Mobile hot spot) most of your important data like passwords will already be encrypted by the websites you visit.
Avoid any computer-to-computer networks and keep your online accounts safe at Internet cafes with these 12 applications you can run from a USB drive. The advertisement heavy Hotspot Shield is a free download, for both PC and Mac.
Thanks Felipe!
EDITED [5/31]: Hotspot Shield works for both PC and Mac and is Lifehacker’s featured download today.
Don’t Discount The Super Short Vacation
Increasing travel costs, busy lives, and fewer vacation hours are not stopping trips altogether, but making them shorter. It’s not only people here in the US taking “American vacations” but the practice is becoming more common in Europe as well.
More than half of the 5,000 Brits who answered a Holiday Inn poll said the 2-week vacation is out.
No matter where you’re going don’t dismiss the idea of taking a 4-day international holiday. You’ll be able to see more places in the long run if you take the opportunity and go, even if it’s for weekend.
Save Money
Add some adventure travel to your short trips by saving on hotel costs by sleeping at airports on road trips or try your luck with home exchange.
Hone Your Gambling Skills At USA Online Casinos
May 29, 2008 by Anil P.
Filed under Sponsored Reviews
Improve your blackjack, poker, and sports betting skills for free at USA Online Casinos. The site gives you a taste of the real thing without the risk of losing any money in the hopes that you’ll move on to the real thing. Online poker is currently prohibited in the US making these online casinos a popular way to promote sister sites that allow you to place real bets.
The site looks as if its designed for experianced online gamblers with some not-so-kosher looking downloads. I recommend sticking to the web based games for ease of use as the best way to experience casinos online. US Online Casinos is free for all ages.
This is a sponsored review of USA Online Casinos.
The Before and After of GPS Theft
Recently my lapse in judgment lead to my beloved Garmin nuvi 250 being stolen out of my car. It was a smash and grab on a busy street in broad daylight – an hour after I had parked my car.
Here’s what I knew (and should have done) to prevent being a target and learned afterwards.
Before It’s Stolen
- Never, Ever, Leave Your GPS Out - This is an obvious one but practice it religiously. Never leave your GPS or other electronic devices (laptops, satellite radios, photo equipment) out. All it take is one goodie to entice a thief and then they’re all gone.
- Wipe Off Suction Cup Marks - Paula bow recommends bringing some wet toilettes to conceal this GPS giveaway.
- GPS devices use suction cups that leave big rings on the windshield. Even if you hide your system, you run the risk of becoming a target unless you wipe off the telltale suction marks. Pack a few wet towelettes, and when the ring becomes noticeable, wipe down your windshield.
Review of WaMu Savings Accounts
May 28, 2008 by Anil P.
Filed under Sponsored Reviews
WaMu offers five different types of savings accounts that can be used to accumulate some money for your next trip. The first thing I looked at between WaMu’s two savings account offerings (online and statement) were the annual percentage interest rates.
The online savings accounts offers a competitive 3.30% but the statement account is less than half a percent. If you’re just opening a new account, the online savings is a good way to accumulate money while it sits in the bank. Existing online savings account holders might not have a good enough incentive other than a few tenths of a percent annually to switch. I was hoping to get the benefits of an online account (good earning interest rates) along with the benefits of a WaMu’s brick and mortar banks.
Get All The Frequent Flyer Miles Available: MileMaven
Discover all of the frequent flyer bonuses, giveaways, and special promotions on your next route with MileMaven.
The site lets you search by your frequent flyer program or the specific cities you are flying to and from. Airlines often run special deals packaging extra miles for staying at a specific hotel or flying a certain route, but leave finding out about it up to you.
Frequent flyer miles are notoriously difficult to redeem and you should always verify you’ve been credited when you return. Don’t let the poor site design turn you off, MileMaven is currently featuring double and triple mile deals to Shanghai and up 15,000 extra if you’re flying out of Detroit.
[via InFlightHQ]
Memorial Day Weekend: Let Me Live Vicariously Through Your Vacations
I’ll be working (the day job) on Monday, but for the rest of you in the US you’ll have Monday off. What are your plans for the extended weekend?
BBQs, the beach, or writing contest essays perhaps…drop me a line in the comments so that I may live through your exciting stories and fun lives.
Posting schedule returns to normal on Tuesday.
[photo by: Spiritwood Images]
My name is Anil, a traveler and travel enthusiast. I created foXnoMad to connect with other travelers, discover their world, and share what I’ve learned about mine.
