I feel fortunate that I have not yet had to endure an uncomfortable TSA (Transportation Security Administration) pat-down. I have flown several times since the invasive search technique was implemented, but never experienced anything beyond a very mild pat-down and bag inspection (my little heaters that warm up for your feet and hands for skiing set off concern).

While I’ve had it good, we have all heard the horror stories. Today, the news revealed an incident from yesterday in which a terminally ill 95-year-old woman in a wheelchair was asked to remove her adult diaper to pass a TSA screening (the TSA denies it). I also learned today about a TSA snafu in November 2010 that horrified me. A passenger with a medical urostomy bag (it collects urine) told the agents that he had one, but they were careless and rough in their pat-down anyway, which caused the lid to come open and soak the man in his own urine. He didn’t have time to change before the flight, so he had to fly with clothes wet with urine. How is it ever OK to treat travelers this way?

I live in Texas, where our government is currently discussing an anti-groping bill to limit the amount of contact TSA agents are allowed to have with travelers. The bill “would make it a crime for a federal agent, such as an airport security officer, to touch a person’s buttocks, breasts, genitals or anus during pat-downs before a person can gain access to a publicly accessible building or airport,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. I’m very glad my state is condemning that inappropriate behavior, especially for the kids and elderly age groups. I hope that as these horror stories continue to emerge, the TSA is restricted in how far they can go.

In light of these developments, I present this infographic that I found very interesting. It shows the history of aviation security, which has led us to where we are today. If you have trouble reading it, click it for the full size.

This graphic was designed by EJ Fox; you can check out more of his work here. Source: Online Universities

Disclaimer: I was given a small amount of compensation for posting this infographic; while I usually don’t do that, I agreed to do so because I thought it was interesting, relevant, and objective (and I could use the funds for my upcoming honeymoon!).

I’m featuring a few guest posts this week since I’m out getting married! This is a guest post by Lee Pickering.

San Bernardino Pass

Immortalized by Top Gear, the San Bernardino Pass is a hidden gem in the Swiss mountains. If the incredible surroundings and inspiring backdrop don’t leave you in awe, the road most certainly will. A combination of hairpins, tricky bends and smooth tarmac leaves the driver with something to savor for years to come.

Switzerland may not be a hot-bed of automotive talent, design or engineers, but they do know how to make a great driving road. Sure, it’s a lengthy trip, but think of the fun you’ll have–it beats Center Parcs, that’s for sure.

Davos to Stelvio via Bormio

Another road that is worth visiting while you’re near Switzerland is the Davos to Stelvio via Bormio road. Jaw-dropping landscape coupled with road building that the Roman’s would have been proud of, the Davos to Stelvio really is petrol head heaven. It’s a twisting, deserted road that seems to continue for miles, and it will guarantee to put any car to test. Brakes, handling and grip are all put under extreme conditions when driving on this amazing road.

Stelvio Pass

Few roads look like a Formula One track, but that is exactly what the Stelvio Pass provides, and it’s for public use. Described as one of the most challenging roads in the world, the Stelvio Pass combines turn after turn of tire-shredding insanity. Whomever designed the Stelvio Pass deserves a knighthood–simple as that. It’s road building at its very best, and if you fancy it, we suggest something powerful–rent a super car for the day. Come on, you know it’s worth it.

Cat & Fiddle Run

You don’t have to travel to the Eastern parts of Europe to enjoy a great road. If you are around the Macclesfield and Buxton area near the A537, we suggest you get in your car and have a drive. The infamous Cat & Fiddle Run has taken many lives over the years–mostly motorcyclists. And while the danger is evident, it doesn’t put enthusiasts off from trying to tame the twisting road. At the end of the run is the Cat & Fiddle pub, which symbolizes the end of your drive.

Col De Turini

Hairpin after hairpin turn, the Col De Turini looks like one hell of a road–and it is. Located in the south of France, it is famous due to the World Rally Championship stage taking place here annually. 34 hairpins will challenge any driver, and if it rains, then you really are going to have to concentrate. The Col De Turini is praised as one of the best roads in the world, and who are we to argue?

This post was written by Lee Pickering who works at Netcars.com – a used car search engine specializing in popular car brands such as used Ford, BMW, Audi, Peugeot and Volkswagen.

Photo credits:
San Bernardino Pass by Klaus Nahr
Davo to Stelvio by Peter Daems
Col De Turini by BrainMaY

Every traveler loves the prospect of cheap airfare, but when you fly with a budget airline, you have to make some compromises. Last year, I flew easyJet from London to Istanbul. While it was a perfectly fine experience, it was a little different from flying on a traditional airline.

The British budget airline has some incredible prices, so if you’re strapped for cash while flying in and around Europe and have minimal luggage, it’s a great option. But if you plan to fly on easyJet, here are a few things you should know:

1. Seats aren’t reserved.
Travelers (such as me) who love to pick out their seat online when they book will be disappointed. Seating isn’t assigned; it’s first-come, first-served. Once the gate has been announced, high-tail it there to get in line. When booking online, you do have the option to purchase Speedy Boarding, which puts you ahead of the regular travelers. It costs £20.50 per person round-trip, so it’s not really worth it unless you can’t live without an aisle or window seat.

2. Zero free food or drinks.
While even many of the nicer airlines are scaling back on their free food offerings, all foods and drinks on easyJet cost money. They accept payments in British pounds, so it ends up costing more for Americans. Buy your snacks at the airport before you board!

3. No flights to Heathrow.
Heathrow Airport is London’s largest and busiest airport. easyJet only flies in and out of Gatwick (the second largest), and two smaller airports called Luton and Stansted. This is a pickle if you are transferring to a flight at Heathrow. This happened to me. I was flying in and out of London via Heathrow. Before I went back to the States, I did a detour to Istanbul for three nights. Ideally, I would have flown back to Heathrow from Istanbul and then caught my flight to the US from the same airport on the same day, but the Istanbul easyJet flight was via Gatwick. The two airports are in different directions–Heathrow is 15 miles west of the city, while Gatwick is 28 miles south. I couldn’t find flights on the same day that would give me enough time to travel between the two airports, so I had to do it on separate days. I flew back in from Istanbul to Gatwick, made it over to the Heathrow area, and just stayed the night in a hotel right next to the Heathrow Airport so I could wake up and fly home that morning. I thought it would be better than paying to stay in Central London when I had to wake up early anyway. Such a pain!

4. Very small luggage limit.
With most American airlines, you can bring a whole suitcase on-board with you. You can also bring a purse or tote bag, or laptop bag–usually it just has to fit under your seat. But on easyJet, you only get one carry-on item, and it has to be no more than 56 x 45 x 25cm (that’s roughly 22 x 18 x 10 inches). According to easyJet, that’s usually the size of a laptop bag, briefcase, or handbag. If you show up with a larger bag, you will either be denied boarding (hopefully they won’t actually be that extreme) or have to pay £30 per bag per flight. Any additional carry-on costs £30.00 a piece. Yikes! That means you will have to check luggage, which is far from free. You only get one bag, and it must be under 20 kg, which is 44 pounds. If you want to bring something larger, you’ll have to pay a large fee. If you indicate that you will be checking a bag while booking online, you can secure it for £18. If you wait until you get to the airport, you’ll pay double that to get it on the flight.

If you’re on a tight budget with very little luggage, easyJet may be your perfect option. Just know these downfalls before you book! Have you ever flown easyJet? What was your experience?

When I was in high school, my mom and I went to Colorado together, just the two of us. We normally all went as a family and flew from Texas to Colorado, but we decided to hit the road for some mother/daughter bonding. The main way we passed the time was listening to the audio book of Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter. It was fun to listen to it together and discuss it, and I look back on that fondly.

I listened to audio books from time to time throughout college for long car rides, and then bumped it up once I got my first job and had a horrible commute. Traffic felt more tolerable while listening to a suspenseful Michael Crichton novel.

Eventually, I was turned off by the high price and stopped buying them. They easily cost upwards of $20 or $30, and you don’t need them anymore once you’re done. I gave up on audio books except for the few random ones I saw on iTunes or at a book store on major sale. I quickly discovered that they were on sale for a reason.

Then a few months ago, I was lamenting to one of my coworkers how expensive audio books are. She looked at me with shock and said, “Do you not realize they’re free at the library?” Holy cow. It sounds obvious, but I had no clue that the Austin Public Library was loaded with free audio books–for some reason, I only equated the library with paper books.

You can rent them for three weeks at a time. If you need to extend them longer, it’s free–you just have to let them know. Even the late fees are very cheap. If your branch doesn’t have the audio books you want, you can go online and order the ones you want from the other branches. They deliver them to your branch. FOR FREE! How amazing is that? They have every genre, fiction to nonfiction, classic to modern. It’s like a candy shop for book lovers. Go check out your local library–your tax dollars are already paying for it!

In Austin, you can check out 20 at a time. Last time I went, the clerk told me that some people get 20 and bring them back a few days later, leaving them to believe that people just burn them on their computers. I’m not recommending you do this, but if you do, you can load them onto your iPod. I usually just get two at a time, or one if it’s a very long one.

I drive from Houston to Austin somewhat frequently, and now I drive to San Antonio often. Having an endless supply of free audio books from the library makes the hours on the road pass by much more quickly. They keep me entertained (if I choose fiction) and informed (if I choose nonfiction). Whenever I know I’m going on a road trip soon, short or long, I stop by the library. Music is fabulous, and every once in a while I do want a music break, but there’s nothing like a good story.

I’m a bit ADD, so sometimes I have trouble focusing when I’m listening to audio books. The good news? Just hit rewind. It’s actually a good practice in paying attention and staying focused.

Do you ever listen to audio books when traveling?

photo credit: Otto Yamamoto

Have you ever thought about traveling internationally for several months or longer? Perhaps for a gap year, a career break, or just an extended vacation? Long multi-country trips like this are usually called “round-the-world” trips, or RTW for short.

I’ve never traveled more than two and a half weeks at a time, but I would love to go for longer someday. While you can piece together your own flights through online discounters like Expedia or Travelocity, companies such as AirTreks specialize in arranging these types of RTW trips for travelers. Nico Crisafulli of AirTreks was kind enough to answer these questions for me about how to know if you need RTW tickets, how far in advance you should start planning, how to create an itinerary, and much more.

Emily Gerson: Can you please give me a brief description of what Airtreks does?
Nico Crisafulli: Well, AirTreks isn’t quite a consolidator and isn’t quite a bucketshop. We’re closer to a specialty or niche travel agency, one that arranges complex multi-stop and RTW itineraries for international travelers. We’re a group of travel consultants and staff that give our customers a booking experience that very few others places can provide, with expertise, patience and customer service. AirTreks has been around for nearly 25 years so we know the industry landscape very well. We can get people anywhere they want to go cost-effectively and efficiently, with a fully-staffed customer service department should something go wrong.

EG: What are the benefits of using a company like Airtreks to purchase RTW flights rather than just buying individual tickets on a site like Orbitz?
NC: It certainly is possible to buy an around-the-world ticket on your own; the DIY movement is a strong one. But there are some pretty costly drawbacks to this method and the devil truly is in the details. For example, someone may not know about airport minimum connection times or onward ticket requirements, resulting in either missed flights or denied boarding. These rules vary from airport to airport and country to country, so a lot of research would be required to keep up on it all. We also have a knowledge of combination fares that may allow for additional stops or more direct and even cheaper flights.

We take all these things into consideration when putting together itineraries so we can give our clients a better trip with fewer problems than if they had done it themselves. When you book your own tickets, you tend to settle with what you think is best whether it’s true or not.

Also, when you search for cheap one-way tickets online, it means countless hours in front of a computer screen comparing and contrasting products and routes. Some people don’t mind it, but we’ve found that most people would rather not subject themselves to that. And when you buy online, it’s not always easy to know who’s taking your credit card, who’s issuing your tickets, and who to call if you have problems on the road. Simply stated, you end up with no recourse to your tickets, your money or your security. RTW travel is already fraught with difficulties that can complicate your life or ruin your day.

EG: Is there more than one type of round-the-world ticket?
NC: In general, there are three kinds of RTW tickets: the ones the airline alliances sell, the ones people do on their own, and the ones AirTreks sells. The alliances’ RTW tickets (Star Alliance, etc.) are usually rife with rules and limitations and end up costing the most out of the three. The DIY method may be the out and out cheapest option, but also has some serious pitfalls, as mentioned above. Then comes the AirTreks ticket, which will save you money and restrictions over the alliances and give you reassurance and security over the DIY ticket. People should study up on their options before they dive into something they heard once was best. A couple extra hundred dollars spent may be very well rewarded.

EG: Is there a certain time length of travel that makes the most sense for purchasing RTW tickets? For example, does it make sense for someone traveling for two months, or is it only practical if you’re traveling 6+ months?
NC: This is an excellent question. And it really depends on what you want to do. If you have a huge list of places you must hit on your trip, you should probably give yourself the time to do it. It’s been said over and over that slowly is the best way to travel, and if you have seven or eight countries you want to explore, two months simply won’t cut it.

Our advice is to give every world region at least a month to see it right. If you don’t have that much time, better to leave that which you can’t devote the time to for another trip. You’ll be much happier with the places you do get to see because it allows for more authentic experiences. It’s absolutely possible, and common, to travel “around the world” in two months, it’s just better to limit the number of places you go. Some people swear by whirlwind trips, but to get the most out of the travel experience (and your money) our opinion is to treat the trip more as an aromatic summer breeze than a whirlwind.

EG: What is the basic process for booking RTW fare?
NC: As far as AirTreks is concerned, there are three steps in the standard booking process.
1) Visit Trip Planner: You arrange your most desired RTW itinerary on our TripPlanner application (most people do it this way) and get a price range for your route. People usually try several combinations before they decide on one. You then submit it via the application. One of our travel consultants will then get back to you within 24–48 hours by phone or email to discuss your choices.
2) Hone your itinerary: Once the process is started, this is the time to get it exactly as you want. People work with their travel consultant as a “point person” to ask questions about things like alternative routes, fares and our other products. Usually this process takes one to two weeks.
3) Finalize: After you’ve spent time refining your itinerary and everything is good to go, you will email or call with your final travel dates and passport names. Once you request a booking, full payment is due simultaneously, either online or over the phone. We then issue the tickets for the trip and email the e-tickets.

EG: How far in advance should people book RTW travel?
NC: We say the best time to pull the trigger is about four to six months prior to the travel date. This gives people the best chance of getting the least expensive ticket. There are a couple reasons why. A good lead time gives you the advantage over other people who wait to start shopping for tickets. You can get the dates you want. Especially if you’re planning on traveling in a peak season (the holidays or summer months), you’ll get your pick of the most coveted dates. Much of the AirTreks purchasing method comes with being able to find discounted seats on flights. And of course, like all cheap things, discounted seats are usually the first ones to go. To help our clients with the process we put together a complete planning timeline. You can find it here.

EG: How much room should people leave for spontaneity? I know some people are worried about over-committing themselves in case they end up wanting to stay one place longer.
NC: We absolutely encourage spontaneity–it allows for some of the best traveling experiences, which is why we allow overland travel and date changes. Sure, some of our clients like to have every leg of their trip settled before they leave the house, but other people want to have the freedom to go where the wind takes them. The nice thing about an AirTreks ticket is that it gives the best of both worlds.

Our suggestion is for people to book the long-haul flights (more than five or six hours) ahead of time, flying into one part of a region and out of another, for example into Saigon and out of Bangkok. This allows for a great deal of spontaneity within Southeast Asia and still lets you meet the onward ticket requirement ahead of time. Plus, long-haul flights are the hardest, most expensive ones to get on the fly, so it just makes sense to have them booked before you leave. Date changes usually do incur a fee, however, so we recommend people make good choices on travel dates before they book their tickets and limit the number of changes they make.

EG: What are some tips for selecting a RTW itinerary? What are some of the major factors to consider?
NC: We totally understand that choosing places to go can be the hardest part of any trip planning experience. We have a whole section devoted to this in our website’s planning section. We think it’s best to determine your “traveling personality,” or how you like to travel, ahead of time. We list the personalities as Adventurous, Romantic, Intellectual, First-timer, and Danger Junkie. These five typically encompass everyone, but also you can be more than one, which is perfectly okay. There are places that fit into each of these personality categories pretty easily. Then we ask them to list out their “must-see” destinations with their personality in mind, plug them into TripPlanner and see if their budget allows for that trip. If so, add in your “like-to-go” places. If not, start rearranging, editing and cutting.  TripPlanner is cool because it lets you play with different routes and prices before you ever even talk to anyone.

It also helps to be super realistic about your lifestyle. If you’ve never liked camping at home, you probably won’t enjoy the rugged 12-day trek up to Everest Base Camp.

EG: Any other good tips about RTW flights?
Some of the biggest obstacles people have about doing a RTW trip is it’s too expensive and takes too long, a commitment a lot of people don’t end up making. But then they’ll spend the same if not more money taking a two-week vacation that may not end up as enjoyable as the alternative.

Long-term traveling, especially round-the-world traveling, is a perspective-altering and life-changing endeavor. It can seriously change the way you look at the world, and life in general, forever. It’s something we at AirTreks wholeheartedly encourage, not just because it’s our business, but because of the benefit it gives to humanity as a whole. How can that not be something to endorse?

photo credit: Fuzzyyol
photo credit: byJoeLodge

Consumers learned a few months ago that Continental Airlines and United Airlines planned to merge, but it wouldn’t be official until the government and plenty of legal teams approved it. On October 1, 2010, the airlines announced that the merger had legally closed and become official.

I was especially interested in this merger because I have primarily flown with Continental my whole life, and I have a Continental business credit card for my freelance work. In the last few years, I have amassed nearly 100,000 OnePass miles, which is enough to do some major free traveling (I just haven’t decided where/when to use it yet). These miles never expire, but I was very worried that the merger would potentially wipe these out or change them.

I received an email the other day from Continental, and it says that for now, the airlines and their frequent flyer programs will continue to operate separately, and that the merger won’t affect your elite status or OnePass miles. Phew.

The email makes sure to mention how much work goes into integrating two airlines, and says that it will take 12-18 months to fully integrate. While the name Continental will stay around for a while, the whole bundle will eventually only be called United. The new logo will have United’s name and the globe that has been in Continental’s logo since 1991.

Here are some other details from the email about what is and isn’t changing :

Both United^® Mileage Plus^® and Continental OnePass^® miles and programs remain unchanged. You will continue to receive all current benefits, and you will earn miles, points and segments as usual. You will also continue to be able to earn and use miles on 28 Star Alliance^™ airline partners.

When flying Continental, you should continue to use continental.com or contact a Continental customer service representative for any assistance you might need. For flight check-in use continental.com, Continental kiosks or Continental ticket counters at the airport.

When flying United, you should continue to use united.com or contact a United customer service representative for any assistance you might need. For flight check-in use united.com, United kiosks or United ticket counters at the airport.

Red Carpet Club^® and Presidents Club^® members will continue to enjoy access to each other’s lounge network, as well as to Star Alliance network and affiliated lounges around the world. Also, beginning today, Red Carpet Clubs offer free wireless Internet access and a selection of complimentary alcoholic beverages.

Coming later this month, elite members will enjoy reciprocal access to complimentary elite upgrades and preferred economy seating on United and Continental flights. United elite members will have access to Continental’s preferred seating, and Continental elite members will have access to United’s Economy Plus^® seating.

If you want to learn more about the upcoming changes, Continental has a very thorough FAQ page on their website.

What do you think about the merger? Exciting or bad news?

Even though I have gone on countless trips and vacations in my lifetime, I still always find myself a bit frazzled the day and night before my journeys. I’m a worry wart by nature (though I’m working on it!), and regardless of what I do to put the brakes on those tendencies, I find it hard to stay perfectly calm on the eve of travel. I’m leaving town tomorrow morning, and it’s happening again.

Where am I going? I’m headed to NYC tomorrow for the second annual Travel Blog Exchange Conference. Maiden Voyage is almost a year old, and I’m thrilled that I will get to meet many of the travel bloggers I’ve interacted with so much online for the past year in person. I think I will also come away with tons of tips and tricks for making this site even better. One of my best friends in the whole world lives in NYC, so I’m staying with her the first two nights, then staying at City Club Hotel the last night to review it for TravelIntelligence.com (I’ll cross-post the review here once it’s up). I can’t wait!

Despite my excitement, I can’t completely shake the pre-travel jitters. I fret that I forgot to pack something, that I didn’t finish something at work, that my flight will be delayed, that I will accidentally sleep through my alarm, that I will get stuck next to an unpleasant person on the plane, and all other kinds of worst-case scenarios.

If every flight experience went smoothly, I’m not sure I would be as fretful. But I’ve had experiences like almost missing my plane, sitting on a tarmac for over an hour while technical problems are being fixed (and then having to get off the plane and go wait in the terminal another hour). I’ve forgotten to pack things, though fortunately most things can be found and bought wherever I go.

No matter how you slice it, travel can just be stressful. You’re at the mercy of busy airlines, annoying travelers, late trains, and more. My coworker headed to New York City today (unrelated to my trip) and emailed me while she was on the tarmac–they told them to not be alarmed if lightening struck the plane while en route! Yikes. (I researched this, and it turns out that the last time a plane in the U.S. crashed from a lightening strike was 1967…phew.)

I’m working hard at accepting that things may not always go as planned. I keep reading that embracing the act of letting go of control is the key to being worry-free. I just squeezed in a good, long workout so I won’t be as antsy tomorrow. I might get a chair massage at the airport if I have time. I have had my Continental business credit card for just over year (I use it for my freelance writing/editing business), so I just received my anniversary President’s Club passes. This means I get to relax in the President’s Club before my flight there and before my flight back. Sweet! This should all help make the day less stressful.

Now I’m off to finish packing….

What about travel stresses you out? How do you deal with it?

Emily embarking on her solo travel

For most of my life, I was petrified of the thought of traveling alone. I knew some people adored it, but couldn’t imagine why. I loved having others to share my experiences with, and I couldn’t stand the thought of trying to navigate foreign territory on my own.

Then, a few summers ago, I was visiting Europe for two weeks and found myself unintentionally traveling solo for the last leg. I was going to spend the first part of my trip with my mother in the UK and then with a friend in Germany. I had another friend studying abroad in France, so I planned the last five nights of my trip there. I knew I may have a day or two alone, but thought I would be with him most of the time.

Due to a last-minute mix-up, the friend ended up not being in Paris when I was. I disembarked my train from Germany with a pack on my back and nobody by my side.  All of a sudden, I was a 22-year-old American girl on my own for five days in France, a country I had never visited and whose language I did not speak.

I became hopelessly lost on the way to my budget hotel. It was on a Sunday, when almost everything was closed. Nobody I approached could or would speak English. Taxi drivers turned down giving me a ride because it was too close to my hotel, but they wouldn’t properly explain how to get there. After an hour of circling the same one-mile radius, sweaty and exhausted, I finally stumbled into my hotel. My room was the smallest hotel room I had ever seen, and I immediately felt claustrophobic. It was unseasonably hot outside and the room had no A.C., and my window overlooked a noisy interior atrium with very little breeze. I sat down and sobbed.

I called my father and informed him about my situation, and asked him to move my flight up for me. I would be there three nights instead. I felt relieved and resolved to make the very best of my time there, even if I felt stranded.

I retrieved my map and guidebook and began exploring the city with fervor. I toured the Louvre, Père Lachaise Cemetery, and Notre Dame Cathedral. I walked along the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and the Tuileries Garden. I rode the RER out to Versailles and explored the ornate palace. While it was strange not having a mate to share these incredible experiences with, I felt so proud that I was able to get around myself and be so independent. I loved proving to myself that I was capable of not only handling, but making the best of this experience. There were no major crises besides several bouts of getting lost, though I did learn quickly that the Metro ticket machines only accept euro coins or European credit cards (thankfully, a kind stranger lent me a few coins when I made this mistake the first time).

It was easy filling the days by visiting endless attractions, but I found that the evenings were lonely. I’m not the type of person who would enjoy going to a bar or club by myself. I did go to dinner by myself a few nights, which at first felt awkward, but wasn’t so bad when I brought a book. After dinner, I usually retreated back to my room to read or watch television, though one evening I did go out and see a movie in English. Another evening, I ventured back out to see the Eiffel Tower light up, but I did feel slightly unsafe walking the dark and quiet streets alone. Looking back, I should have sought out some live music or dance performances to keep my evenings busier.

I think traveling alone those four days was so challenging because it was unplanned and unwanted. It was thrust upon me and I was unprepared. But I learned that I am capable of going it alone in a foreign place with a foreign language and enjoying it when I really put my mind to it. While I think I would have enjoyed it more with a companion, surviving that journey made me a stronger and more empowered traveler (and person). I now look forward to my next solo traveling experience, especially since I will have the advantage of planning it out ahead of time and being emotionally prepared for the hurdles.

Have you ever traveled solo? Do you prefer traveling alone or with others? Was traveling alone your first time difficult?

Passengers waiting for their train at Tianjin Station. Image by Lyndsey Biddle

The following is a guest post by Lyndsey Biddle. Lyndsey writes for briefcases, a website that offers luxury briefcases direct from the manufacturer.  Lyndsey currently lives in Kolkata, India where she is studying the Bengali language and learning to cook Indian food.

I have spent over three years living and working in China. As an English teacher, I took advantage of the significant amount of vacation time the Chinese government awarded me to explore the country. Oftentimes I traveled throughout China on my own and as a solo Western female traveler, it had its up-sides and downs. But no matter where the destination or who you are traveling with, traveling through China by train is by far the most rewarding way to go.

By taking the train you can take in the sights of the countryside and get a glimpse of a China that you won’t see in the city and especially not by taking an airplane to your destination. Plus, the train is a social hub, a place to interact with fellow Chinese passengers. You can share stories and get first hand advice on your destination which your Chinese cabin members will eagerly share.

Chinese trains generally have an aisle way on one side of the train car and open compartments to the other side with six berths (three on each side) for the 2nd class or four berths (two on each side) for 1st class. I have always traveled in 2nd class because it is much more economical and infinitely more social.

In the 2nd class compartment, the bottom berth is the most expensive and will be used by those in the upper bunks as a common seat during the day. I always steer clear of the bottom bunk – I like my privacy and don’t really like having someone else sitting in my space. The middle bunk is the best. It is not difficult to climb into and provides enough privacy from those sitting on the lower bunk and by passersby. The top bunk is cheapest and affords the least moving space but does give the most privacy.

Before your journey I suggest packing a bottle of water, some snacks, and a few packs of instant noodles. Hot water is always available on the trains and meal times turn into a mass frenzy of noodle slurping. Be sure to join in. Vendors will also frequently roll carts past your compartment selling whatever snacks you may want or may have forgotten to pack.

At the beginning of your trip a ticket collector will ask for your ticket, in exchange giving you a token with your berth number. When the train is nearing your destination the ticket collector will notify you and return your ticket to you. This is a great service that saves you from stressing over whether your stop is coming up or not.

All in all, seeing China by train is a unique experience allowing you to see another side of the country and interact with other Chinese in a new way. I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe while traveling on Chinese trains. Rather, the ambiance plus the big fluffy blankets provided on the trains is one of the most relaxing experiences you can have. You can buy tickets from elong.com, from any local travel agent, or directly at the train station.

The Carnival Destiny docked in Cozumel

I just returned from a four-night Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Destiny. I was attending a social media conference on a cruise.  I found that I am not a big fan of Carnival, but I did learn a lot and have a great time with the other attendees. There was lots of free time, and we even stopped in Cozumel and had a fun beach party.

I was able to go because the cruise price was so affordable. With the travel industry suffering, many cruise lines are offering incredibly low fares. I’ve seen fares as low as $228 (pre-tax) per person for a five-night Caribbean cruise. Some of us looking for an inexpensive way to vacation are attracted to these low prices, but it is important to realize that these numbers can be deceiving.

Some cruise lines lure you in with low prices, but many travelers don’t realize they will likely spend a lot more once they get on the boat – sometimes more than they spent on the initial ticket. Like hotels, prices on cruise boats are inflated. Most cruise lines issue passengers a plastic card, so when you make a purchase, you simply hand over your card and sign a receipt. There is no exchange of cash or easy way to check your balance, making it incredibly easy to forget about how much you are spending until your bill arrives on the last day.

Here are the extras on my boat that were not included in the initial price of my cruise:
1)    Alcoholic beverages and sodas. Food is unlimited, but on many boats, sodas and alcohol cost extra. Some high-end cruises do not charge for these, as the front-end prices are much higher. I ordered a soda the first day and it was over $2 with tax. Carnival offers a soda card, which permits unlimited soft drinks for $4 a day for kids and $6 a day for adults.  If you plan to drink more than three a day, it’s a wise investment, though horrible for your health! Specialty cocktails and frozen alcoholic drinks ranged from $7-$12.
2)    Internet access. Getting online is sometimes as high as 75 cents to $1 a minute. Many ships now offer WiFi; all of Carnival’s ships have it, and it was very convenient to be able to get online on my own laptop in my room rather than in their Internet cafe (they also have laptops you can rent). However, the connection was very slow and I spent a large amount of time just waiting for pages to load. On Carnival, you can pay 75 cents a minute as you go or save money purchasing a package; for example, one hour of Internet was $27. One way to avoid this high fee is to is to use Internet cafes at port cities, though you may enjoy being unplugged.
3)    Spa services. Getting a massage or pedicure is a lovely way to unwind on at-sea days, but prices are heavily inflated. Don’t be surprised if it costs $170 for a 50-minute massage.
4)    Professional photos. Staff photographers take your photos all over the ship, including at embarkation and at a formal dinner. The photos are displayed on board, but if you want to take the images home, you must purchase them.
5)    Gambling in the casino. Poker, slots, and blackjack suck in countless cruisers hoping to get lucky.
6)    Playing BINGO. Yes, you can win $750, but you have to pay $10 for a card!
7)    Shore excursions. At many ports, you can get off the boat and explore yourself; there are often taxis waiting or other easy transportation methods. But if you want to swim with dolphins, zip line through rain forests, go on walking tours, take boat rides, and other adventures, it costs a pretty penny. You can sign up with score excursions through the cruise line before or during the cruise, but you can save money by signing up for tours and adventures outside of the cruise line.
8)    Some fitness classes. On my boat, the abs class was free, but yoga and Pilates cost $12 per class.

Other paid activities on the Carnival Destiny included spray-on tattoos (popular with the kids), shopping in the on-board duty free shop, laundry services, and an art auction. Additionally, many cruises automatically bill you for tips for staff; on my boat, you were billed $10 a day for tips (for the room stewards, wait staff, etc.).

Cruises are a blast, but don’t think you’re going to pay a low price to get on board and be done spending money. If you want to drink alcohol, get online, and enjoy adventures at the port cities, prepare to shell out more cash.

The following is a guest post by Brian Richter, a 20-year veteran of the restaurant industry who now resides in Central America assisting travelers and local businesses alike. He helps foster customer relationships between travelers and businesses prior to, during and after trips to Central America and Colombia with his site whereintheworldareyou.com.

Passing a long line of semi-trucks at the border crossing

Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. You can pretty much drive the PanAmericana Highway all the way from Guatemala to Costa Rica without going through long border crossings, but Costa Rica did not want to participate in this convenience. They decided if you plan on traveling by road into Costa Rica, you needed another adventure.

The usual border crossing is fairly smooth but depending on the semi-truck traffic and depending on the time of year (i.e. Christmas, and Easter) it could take up to 2 hours plus to cross the border — sometimes more if you are driving your vehicle across. It becomes more complicated if you plan on taking another person’s vehicle. You really do not want to do that if at all possible.

The list below is predominantly for those who drive their vehicle. If you are not driving, just ignore those items pertaining to vehicles.

Items required:

• a couple of pens in case one gives up on you
• valid passport with current stamps
• valid exit visa stamp if you are a resident of Nicaragua but not a citizen
• valid exit documentation for your Nicaraguan vehicle should you be driving. This can take at least a half a day to 2 days depending on your luck with the local officials. This is obtained from the local Policia in the town where your vehicle is registered.
• valid vehicle registration card – circulation
• proof of insurance for your vehicle
• cedula – should you be a residence
• valid drivers license
• 3 photocopies of your passport (main page), vehicle registration, insurance certificate, exit visa for your vehicle, cedula, (include front and back side of all documents that have printing or stamps)
• patience – generally more then usual
• plenty of small denomination bills – Cordobas or dollars (US) on the Nicaraguan side and Calones or dollars (US) on the Costa Rica side. Contrary to popular belief you can quite often get a better exchange rate from the exchange coyotes then from the banks. But you have to know the exchange rates.

Here comes the first charge. For four people crossing the border with a vehicle it will cost 80 cordobas (about $4.00) This is tax for the local town and is based upon number of people in vehicle.

Once you have paid for the entrance into the border you must go to the offices where you obtain a free customs form. This is in the building where you see all of the buses lined up in the center. This is where you will register where you are from, where you have been and where you are going. Make sure you have your passport out and are ready to fill the proper information out (most times the forms are in both English and Spanish).

Once you have the forms filled out you must stand in line…did I mention patience?

The migration officials will stamp your passport and send you on your merry way. The cost for a non-resident $5. This can change at any time.

If you are traveling with your own vehicle you must also go to another office on the Nicaragua side. Here you will obtain an inspection paper from the local inspector; then if you are lucky and the Policia are close by, you have them sign off on the inspection.

Prepare to wait in lines at the border crossings

With the vehicle inspection form signed off by both the inspector and Policia, you then get to stand in line to have the migration officer check for:
1. Proper registration
2. Insurance
3. Exit papers for your vehicle
4. Driver’s license

Once they approve then you go to the next line to wait and have the Policia check for the same items. Once all is approved you are then given a vehicle exit ticket to present and the migration exit post, which is the next stop.

Hand your exit ticket to the official at the exit post and proceed to the fumigation office. It will cost you 80 Cordobas (approx. $4.00); this is for the spraying of your vehicle to disinfect it before going into Costa Rica.

Next, you drive to the Costa Rican border buildings and have them stamp your passport for the entry into their country. This shouldn’t take long at all unless there are buses full of people, in which it could take up to one hour.

If you have a vehicle, after this you must stop at the Insurance Office (just down the hall from where you just had your passport stamped) and get insurance for your vehicle for the length of time you are going to be in Costa Rica. Depending on the length of time you are going to be is dependent on the amount charged. Generally six months costs approximately $16-$18. This has to be paid in Calones (7900 colones approx.).

Plus, don’t forget to get a photocopy of your passport with the insurance certificate (cost: 100 colones) prior to going to get your vehicle inspected. This is in the same office where you get your insurance. Because they require the current passport stamp, you have to get your photocopy here.

Over to the vehicle inspection office. Here you fill out another form listing where you are from, where you are going, the make of your vehicle, license number, etc. This form is in Spanish. You need photocopies of:

• the photocopies you just made at the insurance office
• your vehicle registration
• drivers license
• vehicle exit visa

More lines at the border crossing

After reviewing the forms and recording them, the inspector will inspect your vehicle and sign off, again giving you another validated form to go to the next stop, the Departmento de Hacienda. Here you will need

• the inspection form you just received
• your passport
• driver’s license
• vehicle registration
• insurance
• vehicle exit visa
• photocopies of your passport

After recording the information they need plus noting how long you are going to be in Costa Rica, you are free to continue on your journey.

It is always better to have more photocopies than you may need, as you can always use them at another border. The border crossings do not always have a photocopier available and if they do it will just cost you more money than you expected.

Make sure that you do NOT put your papers and passport away. Ensure they are easily accessible, as you may need them once or twice on the road to show the Costa Rican Police that you have a valid passport and that you have actually crossed the border legally. This also happens when you ride the buses.

Guess what? When you return you get to repeat the process in reverse with the exception of buying insurance. Aren’t you lucky!

Regent Seven Seas Mariner, which I sailed in Alaska

When most people consider traveling in their 20s, they think of backpacking, staying in hostels, and roughing it. They think cruising is an inauthentic way to travel and reserved for people with gray hair.

Judge me all you want, but I love cruising and think there is nothing wrong with doing it in your 20s. According to Rich Tucker, Business Development Manager of CruiseDeals.com and cruise industry blogger at CruiseSource.us, “Cruising is a great way to ‘taste test’ several countries, cities, or islands to choose the specific destination that you would like to spend a week or two fully exploring [later].”

Don’t get me wrong – I think it’s a bad idea to only travel by cruising. I also don’t think some cruises, such as those to Mexico, provide a very authentic travel experience. Tucker says, “I agree that cruising to the Bahamas or the Eastern Caribbean can be very touristy with each island being difficult to differentiate from the other.   Most cruisers after one or two cruises to the Caribbean are looking for other less-cruised destinations.”

I experienced two times in which I felt a cruise was definitely the best way to travel:

1. The Alaskan coast. We covered so much territory in eight days and explored many tiny towns that would otherwise be difficult to reach. We cruised past glaciers, icebergs, and whales. Can you do that on land? There were plenty of shore excursion opportunities, such as up-close whale watching, fishing, and dog sledding in which drop you off via helicopter.
2. The Greek islands. We tried to plan the trip ourselves, but deciphering the complicated and ever-changing ferry schedules was a pain. It would require multiple connections and we heard they are never on time.  On this cruise, we visited the two destinations we originally wanted to see plus four others (like Tucker said,  it was a great way to taste-test the area for later travels). Letting someone else take care of all the complicated logistics was a dream.

According to Tucker, “With destinations such as Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, or South America it is impossible to match a cruise vacation for the variety of ports, countries or sites that you can visit in a short period of time for the same price.   If a younger traveler finds cruising Europe not authentic because your home base is the cruise ship which is Americanized, they should cruise Europe on an Italian cruise line like Costa or MSC.  Costa and MSC when cruising Europe have a very authentic on-board experience with 85%+ of their passengers being European.”

In my eyes, here are the pros and cons of cruising in your 20s:

Pros

• Every night you go back to the same room, so you don’t have to keep unpacking and repacking
• Food is included and you can eat all you want (though some lines charge extra for high-end restaurants or room service)
• The logistics of getting from place to place is taken care of and you have fun along the way
• On more casual lines like Carnival, you will meet lots of other young people
• Some boats have lots of entertainment, including movies on full-sized screens, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, dance lessons, classes and seminars (often about history and information about where you’re visiting)

Cons

• You aren’t sleeping in local accommodations, so you won’t get as much local flavor
• It’s not ideal for solo travel; all rooms are double-occupancy, so you must pay a single supplement
• If you’re on one of the nicer lines, you  may have trouble meeting other people your age
• Internet connections are pricey, which can make it hard to blog and keep up with email
• You don’t get the opportunity to eat as much local food
• The evening entertainment isn’t great on every boat (on some, it’s awful)

While shore excursions are often expensive, you don’t have to take them. You can explore on your own or with a different company. “To make a cruise experience more authentic, I would recommend not buying shore excursions through the cruise line,” Tucker says.  “You have to be careful who you use, but companies like Shoretrips.com provide a much more intimate experience at a better price.  They will also customize larger group excursions.   One of the most popular options while cruising Hawaii is to rent a car and get away from the cruise ship crowds.   You can very easily get to secluded private beaches in Hawaii with a rental car.”

As Wendy Perrin has argued, cruising is not usually the most economical way to travel, specifically in Europe. Despite this, I believe there are certain itineraries in which the convenience of a cruise makes paying a little more worth it. And in the current economy, it’s easy to find very inexpensive last-minute cruise deals.

My dad and stepmother just returned from a Baltic cruise that took them to Copenhagen, Stockolm, Helsinki, at St. Petersburg (in which they got several full days) in addition to a day in Berlin and a day in Dover.  This may not be the same experience as when you’re on land, but it’s ideal for those who want to cover a lot of territory and want a safe place to sleep.

Do you enjoy (or hate) cruising? Do you think it can be an authentic way to travel?