When booking a low cost airline it is essential to check for added fees such as checked and carry-on baggage fees, fees to select a seat or change a reservation, purchase food, and on and on – the fees get more creative by the day!

Our absolute favorite comparison airline site is Momondo.com – check them first.

And here are other worthy contenders:

• DoHop.com

• LowCostAirlines.org

• Skyscanner.net

• WhichBudget.com

Here is a breakdown of airlines that offer Bereavement, Compassion, or Emergency airfares, along with links for more information and phone numbers of where to call for tickets. NOTE: It is always necessary to secure these types of tickets by phone – they cannot be purchased on the airline’s websites.

American Airlines - Offers refundable Compassion Fares which allow for changes to the itinerary – making it convenient to change the date of return if necessary.  The reservations agent will search for specially designated compassion fares which may or may not be less expensive than a standard airfare for the time you will be traveling.  To inquire about a Compassion Airfare from American Airlines phone 800-433-7300.  We could not find any specific information about these fares on their website, so you will need to phone for all information.

Delta Airlines – Bereavement Fares. Delta does offer emergency airfares and does an excellent job of providing  all the pertinent information on their website.  Similar to American, they have specially designated compassion airfares in their system that the reservation agent access for you.  You must phone Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212 for US compassion airfares.

Continental Airlines – Offers bereavement and emergency fares to customers traveling due to a serious illness or death of a family member.  They have a comprehensive explanation of their airfare policy on their Compassion Fares webpage.  Basically, they offer a 5% discount off standard airfares priced up to $499, 10% off fares from $500 – 999, and $20% off fares over $1,000.  It would be my guess that some time in the coming year Delta and Continental will merge their emergency airfare policy adopting either one company’s system or the other.  Phone Continental at 800-525-0280 for ticket reservations.

United Airlines - Compassion fares are offered by United and a full explanation appears on their Compassion Fares webpage.  Their Compassion Fares offer customers a 10% discount off any published fare for travel within six days.  The fares can be obtained by calling 800-864-8331.

Before placing a call to secure a compassion airfare you should have the following information available:

• Full name of the family member and the reason for emergency travel
• Explain the family member’s relationship to you
• The name, address and phone number of the hospital and the name of the attending physician
• Or name, address and phone number of funeral home

Most compassion airfares allow change fees to be waived if plans need to be altered after the ticket is issued.  You may find that ‘walk up’ fares on the low cost airlines are in fact less expensive than the compassion airfares, but if you suspect you’ll need to change the ticket, it may still be worth it to pay for the compassion fare.  And finally, don’t forget to try using your frequent flier miles for last minute tickets – this is when seats are often available.

1) Start TODAY – get your passport photos taken. AAA offices and any photo shop will be glad to oblige. Locate your original form Birth Certificate or order it from the city/town hall where you were born (If applying for a passport for the first time). Pick up an application at any post office or download it from the State Department’s travel site: http:/travel.state.gov/passports.

2) Depending on your date of departure, select the best method of application. Routine Service is now taking 10-12 weeks. Expedited Service, which requires an additional fee as well as overnight mailing fees, takes 2-3 weeks.

3) If you are traveling within two weeks (and can prove it by showing airline tickets) contact the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778, Monday through Friday 7am to Midnight. Expect long hold times as they are swamped. This is also true for their email service. Call this number as well if you have applied for a passport, it has not arrived, and you are within 2 weeks of travel.

NOW, if you have more money than time, or want to turn this problem over to someone else to worry about, contact a passport/visa expedite service. For a fee, they will take all your information and secure a passport or visa for you within a day or two in most circumstances. Here’s how it works: The passport processing centers allow expedite agencies to make a certain number of appointments per day for passport applications. With no fumbling and bumbling, applications get processed quickly. Most agencies have offices in multiple cities where passport centers are located, assuring they can submit quite a few applications in a day. The largest player in passport/visa expedite service by far is CIBT.com. As well as having offices worldwide, they have recently acquired several smaller agencies in the US, some of whom specialize in tour company and cruise passenger applications. For other choices, a web search for passport expedite services will result in a long list of available services.

So the moral of this story is start early, or pay more..what else is new!!

Happy travels!

1) Steps You Can Take In Advance of Your Travel
The sad truth is that there are very few legal obligations on the airline’s part to provide for your well-being when a flight is delayed or canceled, so it becomes increasingly important to plan in advance in order to avoid as many disruptions as possible.

• Whenever possible take the first flight of the day.  These flights are most likely to take off on time because the plane arrives the night before and if it is delayed or canceled you will have the most rerouting options.
• If you cannot fly nonstop, consider the connecting city carefully.  In winter choose a city to the south Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas etc, rather than a northern route connecting in Chicago, New York etc.  Allow 45 minutes or more in layover time just in case your first flight is delayed. 
• Be certain to check in by computer 24 hours in advance of your flight.  If you do not receive a seat assignment and boarding pass for any reason, that means the flight is overbooked and you are in danger of being bumped.  Be sure to arrive at the airport early for check in.
• If a major snow storm is expected on the day of your flight call the airlines the evening before to see if flights are being canceled or if the airline has approved rebooking passengers to other flights.  I’ve found the later in the evening I call, the more likely it is I’ll be allowed to rebook the flight in advance of it officially being canceled.
• Be certain you’ve listed your cell phone number in the airline record so they can contact you with flight changes.  Also be sure to sign up for flight tracking and notification services offered by many online booking sites – Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak etc.

2) What If Your Flight is Canceled? (Rule 240 Fact or Myth?)

• When you encounter a canceled flight, much of how it is handled will depend on whether it is an isolated incident, or a broad-based weather related condition effecting all airlines and flights.  The ticket agents have discretionary power to put you on another flight with available seats and/or offer meal and hotel vouchers, so bring out your smile and patience.
• First and most importantly, if your flight is canceled you are entitled to a full refund if you wish to cancel your trip and begin again on another date (even if you’ve purchased a non-refundable ticket).
• If you are at the airport when the flight is canceled, pick up your cell phone immediately and call the airline’s 800 number while you get into line at the ticket counter.  Chances are you’ll make contact by phone faster than waiting in line.  If the line is busy and you can’t get through to an agent on the phone, try this sneaky trick…. at the auto prompts choose the international ticket option, those lines are usually much less busy AND are staffed with senior representatives.  “Whoops, I must have pressed the wrong option, but can you help me anyway?” – works like a charm.
• The airline is obligated to book you on the next available flight with open seats.  If you’re traveling during the holiday season however, those open seats may be few and far between.  In some circumstances the airline will agree to book you on a competing airline, but only if you ask – so be sure to speak up and inquire about alternate airlines.
• If you purchased your ticket through a travel agent or an online travel site, give their customer service number a call and enlist their assistance as well.  As long as you’re in line, you might as well call in all the assistance you can get.
• If your flight is canceled due to inclement weather and you are departing from your home airport, chances are very little will be done in way of compensation.  If however, you are at a connecting airport, or on your return trip, the airline will most likely provide a food voucher if you’re delayed for several hours, and a hotel voucher if you cannot travel until the following day.
• We’ve all heard about the famous Rule 240 and how it forces airlines to compensate you in specific ways.  Sorry to tell you, it is almost an urban myth! Rule 240 is actually the airline’s “Contract of Carriage” and each airline draws theirs up differently.  The rule governing canceled and delayed flights might be section 240, 360, or 999, it will vary by airline.  You’ll find a link to all the major airline’s Contract of Carriage on the DOT website.  You may want to print it out in advance of your flight.

3)  What If Your Flight is Delayed?

• If your flight is delayed because of “force majeure” (circumstances not in the airline’s control – weather, strike, air traffic control, etc) the airline is under no legal obligation to provide support services.  Most airlines will however provide a meal voucher for flights delayed longer than 4 hours.
• Your best bet for getting to your destination is to be friendly to the ticket agent.  If you are facing a long delay, be an active participant – “Can you find me a connecting flight instead?, Does another airline have a flight departing that I might be able to get on?, Would another flight have an upper class seat available that I could upgrade to?, I’ve been traveling for several hours without a meal, would you have a meal voucher available so I could find something to eat during our delay?” etc…  Ranting about Rule 240 and making ‘I’m going to blow my stack’ faces at the agent will get you little satisfaction.

4) What If Your Flight is Oversold and You May Get Bumped?

• Here you are in luck, there are very specific regulations on how compensation must be handled.  If you have checked in for your flight within the designated time frame, and you are in fact “Denied Boarding”, the airline is required to provide a written notice of your rights.  Basically they require that if the airline can get you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, they are not obligated to provide a monetary compensation.  For arrivals over 1 hour, up to 2 hours delayed, compensation will be a maximum of $400.  Arrivals delayed over 2 hours the compensation maximum of $800.  If however, the plane you are scheduled to fly is 30 passengers or less, all bets are off.  If you are traveling internationally from the USA, the compensation maximums double.  Flights returning from Europe will follow EU compensation guidelines.
• Airlines will ask for volunteers to give up their seats in lieu of compensation before intentionally bumping any passenger. Often the enticements are quite tempting.  Here are some questions to consider before giving up your seat:
  • Have you checked luggage?  If so, how will you be assured that your bags will be looked after at your destination before you arrive?
  • What seat can be confirmed for you on a later flight?
  • Are they offering a voucher for future travel or cash?  If it’s a voucher, what are the restrictions, black out dates, advance booking requirements, deadline for use, can it be redeemed online or only at an airport? – Go for cash whenever possible.
  • Sweeten the pot by asking for an additional meal coupon, phone call vouchers, hotel room or a pass to the VIP lounge – can’t hurt to negotiate (quietly)!

And after all this, if you have simply been treated badly by the airline you were attempting to patronize, following the excellent recommendations for filing formal complaints that are spelled out on the DOT website .

• Connecticut – The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

• Maine – Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railway, Maine Eastern Railway,

• Massachusetts – Berkshire Scenic Railroad, Cape Cod Central Railway

• New Hampshire - Conway Scenic Railway, Mount Washington Cog Railway, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railway

• Vermont – Champlain Valley, Green Mountain & White River Flyer,

1) Support destinations that are taking an active stance to protect sensitive areas, species in decline and preserve natural resources. The National Geographic Traveler is a terrific resource for research – click on their Geo-Tourism tab. You’ll find the Nat Geo Center for Sustainable Destinations on their website, where they have rated 115 places in the world for their environmental policies.

2) If going on a group tour, seek companies that are committed to responsible touring. Choose a company that has an environmental impact policy in place and who sponsors programs that give back to the communities in which they operate tours. Top companies offer travelers an opportunity to volunteer in local settings during their tour.

3) Look for boutique hotels and lodges which place less of an ecological burden on the local bio-systems rather than large sprawling resorts or giant high-rise hotels. Select properties built with a respect for their unique environment, and which incorporate the topography in their buildings. These hotels or lodges often employ local people who are experts about the area’s natural wonders, culture, indigenous groups, and geography. These unique properties often seek relationships with local food producers to provide guests with succulent meals that showcase authentic flavors of the region. Take a moment or two to see if the hotel you have chosen has an environmental impact policy stated on their website. Some hotels will donate a portion of their income for carbon offsetting, or are active partners in local volunteer programs, or may work with visitors to plant trees to assist reforestation of tourist areas.

4) When possible, seek the services of a locally-based guide. This provides jobs for the people who live in the area, improving their quality of life, and returns funds to the local community improving the environment in which they live.

5) Minimize the amount of packaging you take with you or leave behind. Most countries do not recycle at the same pace as the U.S., and whatever you throw away usually ends up in a landfill – so take that toothpaste out of the carton before you put it in your bag. Give consideration to the number of sample shampoos and hand lotions you collect. Do you really use them or do they end up on a shelf at home waiting for someday????

6) Leave no trace – dispose of litter properly and keep an eye on kids and help them learn to be considerate travelers. Most importantly, take plenty of photographs, but please leave any “souvenirs” from the wild you are tempted to take home with you. Stay on the paths and walkways – leave natural habitats and wildlife undisturbed as much as possible. Look for sightseeing opportunities that avoid a negative impact on the environment – for example, the Amazon offers many canopy tours. These tours allow visitors to see the jungle from bridges suspended 40 or more feet in the air, providing unparalleled eye-level bird-watching experiences, while preserving the jungle habitat below.

7) Shop for hand-made crafts and works by local artisans, but refrain from products made from endangered animals (for example, ones using ivory or tortoise shell). Tip that item over and make sure it doesn’t have a “Made in China” sticker on it somewhere. I’ll never forget shopping for souvenirs in Fiji, only to find foreign made goods everywhere. It was worth the effort to seek out a local artisan to purchase goods from.

Enjoy the bounty of locally-grown produce and eat at restaurants that use local food producers and specialize in local cuisine. Visit a produce or farmer’s market to get an appreciation of the local fare and culinary customs. Then patronize a family run restaurant rather than an international chain restaurant.

9) Whenever possible take public transportation, train, subway, or bus, rather than taxi or car. If you do rent a car, consider requesting a hybrid vehicle. Most major car rental firms now offer hybrid vehicles in varying sizes. Finally get out and walk or bike whenever possible – you’ll see so much more than gazing out a window!

10) Use water and energy wisely – I’m pretty sure you’re up on this already, but here’s a quick rundown:
Turn off the lights when you leave the hotel room, turn down the AC if you’ll be out touring all day, use that towel several times instead of just once, consider how many tourist brochures you’re collecting (do you grab every one you see, give it a casual glance and throw it away?? – consider collecting only the ones you are likely to actually use).

Every effort to be eco conscious makes a difference. Many hotels, cruise ships, and tour operators have incorporated practices to offset the environmental impact of tourism. Some regions are rich with people and companies who are committed to protecting the environment and making sure the natural wonders of the area are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Our thanks go to Ker & Downey for providing many of these environmental tips. Ker & Downey is a stellar example of a tour company leading the way to travel gently upon the Earth.

Offering vacation packages to some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world, Ker & Downey have partnered with many environmentally aware hotels, parks, and travel providers. To learn more about their tours, contact your travel agent or visit Ker&Downey.com.

Located on the border of South Africa and Botswana, the Madikwe Game Reserve is a great place to see not only Africa’s “big five” (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo) but to also catch a glimpse of endangered species like the wild dog and cheetah. There are plenty of places to stay during your visit to Madikwe including the luxurious Madikwe Hills, which will assist you on all of your safari trips.

Linyanti Game Reserve, on the border between Nambia and Botswana, is a marshland habitat perfect bird lovers. Since the reserve does consist of a marshy area, it is the perfect place to spot elephant and other animals in the dry months as they search for water. Hyena can be spotted in Linyanti, as well as bat-eared foxes. May through October are the best times to see game as they search for water along the river that runs through the reserve.

A five hour drive from Johannesburg finds you at the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. A part of the larger Kruger National Park, the reserve boasts a bird population of over 350 species. If leaving as little of your mark on your surroundings as possible is important to you, the reserve also contains the “the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa” in the Earth Lodge.

Animals from the Serengeti National Park seek refuge in the plentiful rivers and streams of the Maswa Game Reserve in the dry season. If it is wildebeest you are interested in seeing, they pass through the reserve in January and February in search of grass. Gazelle and impala can also be seen roaming the fields of Maswa.

One of the more famous reserves in Africa would have to be the Shamwari Private Game Reserve, host to many celebrities and dignitaries, the area is home to premiere lodging, and a sanctuary for big cats rescued from circuses and zoos. The reserve is also home to five different ecosystems, and the big five are plentiful in the area.

If you’ve spent your entire life dreaming of taking an African safari, there are plenty of places to explore across the continent. Just take your time in researching what the different reserves have to offer, what you’ve always dreamed of seeing, the season that you can travel, and get ready to have an experience you won’t ever forget.

Thanks go to Ker Downey for being guest authors of this article.  Wicked Good Travel Tips considers Ker Downy to be one of the premier travel providers of exceptional Africa safari experiences.

Ker Downey is a luxury travel company servicing not only Africa, but other exotic locations around the world. For more information visit http://kerdowney.com.

Last week I joined a group of travel writers for a stay at the impressive Highland Center Lodge at Crawford Notch and did a (not too strenuous) one day hike to Zealand Falls.  The sprawling lodge which opened in 2003, recently won the New England Travel Writers Network award for the Best Green Resort in New England.  Anyone who enjoys getting out of their own backyard will love this Eco friendly resort – the energy and enthusiasm of the AMC staff is simply inspirational.   Here are some of the amenities you’ll find at the Highland Center:

• All-inclusive lodging (with private or shared baths, larger family rooms with private facilities)
• Family style restaurant where you’ll be be treated to freshly made breakfast and dinner.  The Highland Lodge executive chef cooks up delicious offerings and an international crew cheerfully serves the tables.
• An impressive array of equipment available for use free of charge thanks to the generosity of L.L. Bean.  You’ll find hiking boots, poles, sleeping bags, fleece jackets, rain wear, hats, gloves…. well you name it – they are fully equipped (no excuses for staying away for lack of the right equipment).
• Daily schedule of (complementary) outdoor excursions, walks and activ ities for all ages.
• And best of all, the assistance and recommendations of the enthusiastic AMC guiding staff.

As wonderful as the Highland Lodge is, it’s just one of the many AMC lodgings available to New England adventurers.   The AMC runs a network of (dare I stay enchanting) high mountain huts that can be reached in a day’s hike, as well as other wilderness lodges and cabins in NH, Maine and New Jersey.  The huts are managed by teams of impressive young people who spend their summers tending to the every need of mountain hikers.  The freshly baked bread, lighthearted skits, and enthusiasm for the AMC, makes for truly memorable experiences at every hut.

But that’s just a small part of the AMC’s offerings.   They also organize a variety of extremely popular (and affordable) summer camps for all age groups:

Family Adventure Camps – where families share five days of outdoor adventure including hikes, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, evening campfires and more.

Teen Wilderness Adventures – Get your teens off the phone and out adventuring!  Teen outdoor adventures specialize in multi-sport and single sport immersions including rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, boating, hiking and yes…more!

50+ Adventures for the “Older and Boulder” Your chance to get out and get active in the company of like minded folk.  For those who enjoy hiking and the camaraderie of others.

Volunteer Vacations – “Get Out, Get Dirty, Give Back” with a volunteer work crew in the Berkshires, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park and the White Mountains.  Volunteer for a week or a weekend.

I’ve checked with AMC and there is still some availability in many of the summer programs and good availability for the fall.  In case you were wondering, there is nowhere on earth as magnificent as the White Mountains during fall foliage season!  Visit the AMC’s website Outdoors.org – it’s packed with program information and loaded with opportunities to remember again how good it feels to be out ‘in the wild’.

Here are my tips for making sure you bring the best credit card on your next trip.

#1 Let’s discuss Chip and Pin authorizations.  About 2 years ago Europe changed from signature verifications to pin authorizations for credit card transactions.  Unfortunately the USA did not follow suit, so our credit cards are not fully compatible with the European system.  In most instances you won’t have a problem, but we did encounter some difficulties when buying from smaller merchants.  Plan ahead, and be sure your card has a four digit pin assigned to it.  When your transaction is processed, you will be asked to enter the pin number to proceed.  If you don’t have a pin number, just press OK again – but we found the sale did not always go through.  Next time we’ll be better prepared!

#2  Call Your Credit Card Company in advance to verify fees and coverages and let them know you’ll be out of the country.  I was totally surprised to find my major airline credit cards had very different coverages for rental car insurance and foreign currency conversion fees.  Visa and MasterCard charge a 3% fee on every foreign currency conversion, while American Express charges 2%.  Traveler’s favorite, Capital One, charges NO conversion fee – but their rewards program is not as good as the airline’s cards.  My strategy has been to pay for my tour arrangements with a credit card that earns airline frequent flyer miles, and then use a Capital One card for purchases while traveling.  Check the rental car insurance coverage carefully, I’m sure you will find significant differences between cards.  From my experience, American Express had the best overall coverage for all sizes of vehicles.

#3 Just Say No to Dynamic Currency Conversion! Some merchants, rental car agencies and hotels may offer to calculate your bill and process it in US dollars.  This is usually a bad deal.  You will be giving the merchant control over the exchange rate instead of the “interbank exchange rate” used by banks and credit card companies.  And it is likely that your credit card company will still charge you a 1% (or higher) fee for processing the foreign transaction even though no conversion is involved.

#4  Be sure to bring at least two credit cards on your trip, and be sure you and your spouse are carrying different cards.  If one of you has your credit card stolen, the other will still have an compromised card available for use.

So plan ahead and you’ll keep more money in your pocket instead of in the hands of the money changers!!!

Have a look at the world weather map at WorldReviewer.com.  You’ll find a color coded map of the world showing just where it’s bathing suit weather.  You can click through the months of the year to show, for instance, where it will be hot in February.  And while you may have thought all of South America was a delight in the winter, you will clearly see by the color coding that much of the country is in fact rainy during February – good to know!  There are also lots of great holiday ideas on the page as well, so have a look around this terrific site.