The Louie List
Index of Louie List Topics:
Click on a topic below to read Louie's List of Travel Tips
At $3.00 a Gallon do you Fly or Drive?
When you book a Cruise should you accept a cabin guarantee?
Should you drive your own car on vacation or get a rental?
Visiting the Grand Canyon
Taking your cell phone to Europe on vacation and other ways to stay in touch
Traveling with Pets
Getting Bumped by an airline –How to avoid it!
The Louie List: Be prepared to help yourself because the airlines probably can't or won't!
At $3.00 a Gallon do you Fly or Drive?
- If your traveling party consist of three or more passengers it is almost always cheaper to drive to any U.S, domestic destination. The family car option is still the best value- mass transporter most of us have access to.
- For couples the cost comparisons of Fly or Drive have moved much closer depending on the city pairs and total distance.Once you go over 400 miles or a single days driving distance the lodging and meal expenses of driving begin to really add up.
- Go to www.fuelcostcalculator.com and let AAA show you a cost calculation of your intended driving trip.
- The X factor in flying to your destination is whether you will need to rent a car once you are there. The added daily cost of the rental could make driving your own car the best bet,
- Remember though that the Federal Tax allowance for mileage has been raise now to 48.5 cents per mile so take in to consideration that wear and tear and miles added to the odometer are also real costs of driving.
Maybe a rental car for the whole trip is the best option of all!
When you book a Cruise should you accept a cabin guarantee?
- What is a “Guarantee”? In the cruise industry the Top and bottom cabins sell first. When they are trying to move sales along the cruise line will frequently offer all cabins of a certain type at a fixed price.
- (Example) All outside cabins will be on sale at the lowest outside price maybe a category “E” but there are outside cabins in “B, C, and D which are usually at a higher price.
- When you book at the Cat. E price they may offer to assign you a cabin number or they may offer an E – Guarantee.
- If you accept the guarantee it means you will eventually be assigned an E cabin or above. How much higher in category depends usually on how far out you book from departure. When the line is closing sales for that departure they look at the cabins not assigned and begin assigning the best cabins first to the Guarantee clients that booked first. Since you and all the other guarantee customers paid the same price the line goes first come best served on assignments. In any case you will never be given a cabin lower that an E class.
- I recommend in almost all cases to accept a guarantee. In the great majority of cases I have seen the client receive an upgrade and in some cases to much higher category.
- Ask your travel agent if this is something that may work for you!
Should you drive your own car on vacation or get a rental?
- Vacation trips frequently mean hundreds if not thousands of miles added to your cars odometer by the time you return home. Have you considered the real cost of putting those miles on your family car?
- The first cost is to your “Peace of mind” if your car is over three years old it may be out of warranty which means the threat of big repair expenses are with you every mile. You probably want to prepare the car for a safe trip so buying tires and new belts and hoses are frequently pre-trip expenses owners spend which may not have been necessary for many months just driving around town! Don’t through away good tire mileage still remaining just for a vacation trip. If you drive a rental car all these worries and expenses are their problem!
- Every year the new cars get better and better gas mileage. If your cars technology is out of date or out of tune you will be blowing money out the tailpipe. A difference of 3 mpg will save or lose $25.00 per 1000 miles at today’s prices.
- A recent study says that one-third or American’s are “Upside Down” in their car loans at trade-in. That means you still owe more than the car is currently worth. Other than age the most detrimental thing to car appraisal is “Excess Mileage” so give your car a vacation by leaving it at home.
- With the rise in gas prices the rental companies have more SUV and van models sitting around so you can get a great weekly rate on a new car big enough to give the whole family space and come close to break-even on cost compared to driving your own car. Except “Peace of Mind” there you will be way ahead! Check out the rates offered to AAA Members on www.Hertz.com
Visiting the Grand Canyon
- If you are only making a daytrip by car the entry fee per private vehicle is now $25.00 which is a seven day pass. The better deal if you think you might visit any other U.S. Nat. Park is to buy the $50.00 annual pass which gets your whole family in at all parks in your car. If you are age 62 or older pay $10.00 one time for your lifetime “Golden Age Pass” and go to any park anytime.
- If you plan to stay in the park at the Grand Canyon Village try to make reservations for any summer trip as soon as you know your trip dates. The lodges are some of the most historic architecture in the West and the scenery is unsurpassed but book early to get the best rates and choices.
- The Grand Canyon Railroad offers a full range of experiences from their upscale hotel in Williams, Arizona to the five classes of service on the train including one of the few rear platform cars running today. They offer multi-day packages that save you money and provide experiences for the kids that are not only fun but educational. If you are a AAA Member they have special rates for you.
Taking your cell phone to Europe on vacation and other ways to stay in touch
- If your U.S. phone is with a GSM carrier such as T-Mobile or Cingular. You can ask for your phone to be opened to International roaming, People will reach you on your regular number but you may pay $5+ per min. in fees.
- Ask to have your GSM phone unlocked then purchase a local
SIM card in Europe with its own number and minutes account which you may add to as necessary.
- These SIM cards are also available from www.Telestial.com a San Diego company that can help you with any of these options. Example a SIM for Germany is currently $60 and includes $15 air time credit with local calls starting at .07$ per min.
- If you will have your laptop with you and you are a Skype user
that service is available from internet cafes and may be free of charge depending on connection method.
www.Skype.com
Traveling with pets
- First ask is it the right choice for you and your pet? Will your cat really enjoy a week with Grandma and her dog?
- If you decide to take them also take the things that will help them feel at home-Bedding, Water dish, Food bowl and any special toys.
- If you plan to fly to your destination check on the airline requirement early, many of them have changed due to mergers and unruly behavior by other pet owners trying to beat the rules!
- If you go by car be very careful about leaving your pet alone in the vehicle in many states it is illegal due to extreme heat or cold. Get the AAA Booklet on Pet Travel Tips.
- There are many more chances on vacation to get separated from your pet. Be sure their ID tag is on their collar and temporarily put your cell phone number on one as well.
Getting Bumped by an airline –How to avoid it!
- Check-in on-line from home if possible, once your seat assignment is locked your chances of being denied boarding goes way down.
- Get to the gate on time. Even with your boarding pass you must be at the gate for boarding before the cutoff (at least 20 min. for domestic flights)
- If you are at the gate on time and are denied boarding you have Passengers Rights (see) www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3501.htm that require the airline to get you to your destination quickly or compensate you.
- The airline should also provide phone calls, meals and accommodations depending on the length of your delay. If you plan other legal action take names of the airline staff and a few other passengers, but past court awards have been small for the huge effort and expense required unless your delay caused a great financial loss. If a flight is oversold the airlines are required to ask for volunteers to give up their seats for compensation. If you volunteer your seat make sure the next flight reservation they give you is “Confirmed”
The Louie List: Be prepared to help yourself because the airlines probably can't or won't!
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As we described earlier the airline industry is not the tops in customer service. Fortunately new processes they have in place along with a little planning ahead will allow you to help yourself when they can't or won't.
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Book on-line if possible you will find the lowest fares there and avoid the service charges that apply for booking through their call centers. This also allows you to manage your record through the web site and to reserve seats.
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Check-in online before you go to the airport. With your boarding pass in hand you have moved to another level of recognition and further away from being "Bumped".
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If you check a bag have I.D. outside and inside. If it is a large zipper bag buy an adjustable strap to go around it. The zippers can only take so much strain and the larger bags frequently split a zipper. A strap will help your clothes arrive in your bag instead of spilled all over the bag belt. If your bag doesn't arrive or is damaged, report it immediately even if you have to do it by phone. There are time limits on the airline responsibilities.
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Bring your own food snacks and water even if you have to buy it in the concourse past TSA Security. Books an MP3 player or other personal entertainment is essentials because delays can be lengthy and unexpected. If you are traveling with children snacks, drinks and entertainment for them are also required to keep your sanity. The airline staff in the terminals and onboard are overwhelmed, understaffed and underequiped.
So be prepared to help your self and your family. Don't expect "ANYTHING" from the airlines and you won't be Disappointed!