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Fall Foliage Cruises Gain in Popularity
Cruises that sail the colorful autumn coast of New England and maritime Canada are growing in popularity. In fact, ports like Bar Harbor, Maine, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, are expecting a record number of cruise ship visits this fall.
But, don’t let the number and variety of fall foliage cruises stop you from booking now, because the cruise industry expects record numbers of leaf-peeping passengers, too. For example, the port of Boston is expecting a record of more than 300,000 passengers to pass through its cruise ship terminal this fall.
New England’s fall foliage cruises usually depart from Boston or New York City. More than a dozen cruise lines offer a variety of ship sizes and amenities. Itineraries often include stops in Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Some ships are also able to navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway to call on Montreal and Quebec City.
In addition to glorious scenery, fall foliage cruises offer an opportunity to explore some of the places along the way. From Portland, Maine, you can take a motorcoach ride along the famously beautiful and rocky shoreline to the charming village of Kennebunkport. You could tour historic lighthouses, or visit Freeport to browse a variety of brand-name shops, including the flagship store of L.L. Bean. At St. John, New Brunswick, you might take a walking tour of the historic stone buildings, sail on the Bay of Fundy or steer a kayak along the St. John River on your way to a lobster cookout. Halifax, Nova Scotia, offers a quaint touch of Scotland, as well as its historic Citadel National Historic Park high above the city.
If your fall travel plans are already set, but you’re thinking about next summer’s vacation, you should know that the New England/Canada cruise season is not limited to the peak leaf color months of September and October. More cruise ships are sailing the region during July and August, making it a viable option for a summer cruise. While the leaves are green through August, the coastal scenery of rocky cliffs, woodlands, seaside villages and vibrant cities is still spectacular.
Oberammergau’s Once-a-Decade Passion Play
he Oberammergau Passion Play, a centuries-old tradition, is now playing through October 3 in the picturesque Bavarian village of Oberammergau, Germany. The passion play depicts the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a labor of love for residents of Oberammergau, who have staged a passion play – completely produced and acted by local residents – approximately every 10 years since 1633. At that time, the region was devastated by wars and the bubonic plague. The villagers vowed that if God spared them, they would regularly perform a passion play as a demonstration of their gratitude. The villagers have honored that vow ever since.
For the 2010 season, 102 performances of the passion play will take place from May 15 to October 3 in a purpose-built theater. Approximately half of Oberammergau’s residents take part, creating a grand spectacle with more than 2,000 performers, musicians, stage technicians and support staff.
The play begins with Jesus of Nazareth entering Jerusalem, depicts his death on the cross and finishes with his resurrection. The eight-hour production, which includes a three-hour dinner break, includes spoken dialogue, instrumental and choral music, and tableaux vivants (scenes with motionless actors, accompanied by a narration) from the Old Testament.
In addition to the passion play, there is much to enjoy in and around Oberammergau. The village is in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, just 62 miles south of Munich. Oberammergau is known for its tradition of skilled woodcarving, and many of the houses have charming wooden balconies, balustrades and columns typical of Bavarian architecture. Be sure to see the luftlmalerei, or painted houses, which have paintings of medallions, fairy tale characters and other fanciful scenes on the outside walls.
Just outside the village, the Ammergau Alps offer many opportunities for touring and hiking. A 45-minute hike up the local mountain, the Kofel, provides a spectacular view of the town and the surrounding valley.
Traveling to a Global Hot Spot
Recently, the world seems to have more than its share of "hot spots” – areas in which unusual or unstable conditions, either natural or man-made, are creating headlines that might make travelers think twice about vacationing there.
It’s always a good idea to keep current with the news coming out of your next vacation destination: if it’s a truly unsettled place, your travel professional can help you change your plans. However, be sure to do enough research to know if your vacation will truly be affected by what you read and hear in the news. For example, the news from the Gulf of Mexico is distressing to say the least: a broken underwater oil well is releasing crude oil into the water off the Louisiana coast, endangering sea life, disrupting livelihoods and threatening the Gulf’s lovely beaches. However, as of this writing, all of Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches remain open. Constant surveillance and clean-up efforts have kept the beaches safe for swimming and other water activities.
Drug-related violence, such as that recently reported in Kingston, Jamaica, and along the Mexican border with the U.S., usually happens far from where most tourists spend their time. Visitors to Jamaica’s gorgeous Montego Bay are nearly four hours away from Kingston where a much sought after crime figure has finally been apprehended. Mexican resorts like Cancun and Cabo San Lucas are far south of any strife along the border. The Greek city of Athens experienced riots in May after the country’s debt-ridden government announced austerity measures. Since then, the situation has calmed considerably, and the turmoil had no effect at all on Santorini, Mykonos and other Greek Isles popular with tourists.
Remember that it’s always wise to be cautious and to follow common-sense safety practices when you travel, whether you are in the U.S. or abroad. If you have any questions about how recent events could affect your vacation plans, talk with your travel professional.
Look to Vacation Condos and Villas for the Comforts of Home
Have you ever wished that you could simply pack up your home and relocate it to your vacation destination – that you could cook in your own kitchen, do your own laundry, and have multiple bedrooms so family members could stay up late or rise early without disturbing others?
Taking your home on vacation isn’t possible – at least, not yet. However, you might be able to find the home-like environment you’re looking for by renting a vacation condo or villa.
Condos and villas are available for rental in many vacation spots. They usually have one, two or three bedrooms; a central living area; a kitchen and dining area; one or more full bathrooms; and a patio, balcony or deck. These accommodations are usually furnished and stocked with all the linens and kitchen items you’ll need. In popular destinations, you can usually find multiple complexes with a wide range of amenities, from whirlpool tubs and big-screen TVs to private swimming pools and putting greens.
If your family is large or you’re traveling with a group, a furnished condo or villa is often a good option. They are particularly comfortable for multi-generational family groups: younger children and their grandparents can retire early in their bedrooms, while adults chat around the kitchen table and teens watch a movie in the living area. You can cook some or all of your meals in the kitchen, which can be a lot of fun and more appealing than eating in expensive restaurants every day. Condos equipped with washers and dryers allow you to pack lighter, as you can toss a load of clothes into the washer whenever you like.
Condos and villas may not offer some of the familiar and welcome amenities of hotels: there may be no wake-up calls, no room service, no concierge, and weekly instead of daily maid service. Also, many condos and villas often rent by the week or month, and it may not be possible to arrange a shorter stay.
If you find that a condo or villa does suit your needs, you may be pleasantly surprised by the cost: a three-bedroom condo can cost less than three adjoining rooms at the hotel down the street. Simply ask your travel professional to suggest condos or villas that meet your lodging needs and budget.
Tighter Travel Policy Enforcement
For many businesses, the recent economic downturn created a need, and an opportunity, to negotiate agreements with preferred providers of travel services, accommodations, air travel and rental cars. Many of these businesses also tightened policies that require employees who travel to use these preferred providers.
Now that the economy has begun to switch to recovery mode, you might expect corporate travel policies to loosen, which would allow you more choice in making travel arrangements. Instead, you may find that your employer continues to tighten requirements for compliance with travel policies. Some employers have even discontinued the practice of awarding frequent traveler points to individual employee
The economic recovery is promising, but businesses are continuing to carefully control and scrutinize costs. To realize maximum savings on travel expenses, employers need be sure that their road warriors are using corporate agreements for travel services, and are not making travel arrangement on their own. That’s because greater compliance with the corporate agreements can return greater savings to the company.
For now, it may be necessary for travelers to put aside personal preferences in hotels, airlines and rental cars. You may be asked to share a hotel room with a colleague, to dine out more economically, to rent smaller cars – or to simply use the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service. You can also expect your employer to require careful, thorough capturing of travel expense data for analysis. This will help ensure that your company is realizing a positive return on its business travel investment.
It’s also important for you to make suggestions to the leaders of the department that handles your corporate travel agreements. For example, if you know that the features of a certain hotel present an advantage over an existing preferred provider, your corporate travel managers will want to know. After all, their goal is to help manage your business travel experience so that you can stay focused on your work.
March 2010
Passport Fees May Be Going Up
It’s a good thing that plenty of travel deals are available these days, because you may need to spend some of the money you save on a new passport. The U.S. State Department has proposed fee hikes that would, for example, raise the fee for an adult applying for a first passport from $100 to $135. The fee for renewal of an existing passport would go from $75 to $110 dollars. The good news is that passports will still be valid for 10 years (five years for children under age 16).
The State Department says that the increased security and anti-fraud measures added to passports in recent years come at a cost, which must be reflected in passport fees. Passport fees also cover the costs of providing emergency services for American citizens overseas who are in crisis situations.
The State Department has also expanded its staff and infrastructure to respond to increased demand for passports. Demand has increased because passports are now required for most travel outside the country, even to Canada or Mexico. There are some exceptions, including travel to U.S. territories, which technically is considered as traveling within the United States.
If you plan to travel outside the U.S., apply for your passport or passport renewal as far in advance as possible. It usually takes four to six weeks for an application to be processed, but a sudden increase in applicants can cause a backlog.
If you already have a passport, check the expiration date – some governments require that visitors have at least six months left on their passports. You may also want to check to see how many visa pages you have left. Since many countries require you to have at least three visa pages upon entry, you may need to apply with the State Department for supplemental pages to be added. While there is currently no cost for the added pages, if the proposed fee increases go into effect, there will be a charge of $82, so it’s best to send your passport and additional visa page application in now to avoid the new fee.
If you need to obtain or renew a passport quickly, there are services that provide expedited processing for a fee. Your travel professional can give you more details.
Traveling the Triple Crown
Any horse who wins all three races of the Triple Crown automatically joins the ranks of the world’s finest racehorses. Any traveler who experiences all three has accomplished something special, as well. Your schedule may not allow you to attend all three races in one year, but perhaps you can take in one at a time. Even if you aren’t an avid fan of horse racing, the experience of seeing one of these time-honored races, live and in person, is thrilling. Plus, it’s a great reason to enjoy the social events, parades and other festivities that surround each race.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown and will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 1. The crowds begin arriving before the gates open at 8:00 a.m. The spire-topped grandstand is the centerpiece of the complex, and if you sit there, fashion is important: most of the ladies and gentlemen wear suits and hats in colorful, summer-weight fabrics. If you sit in the infield, go for casual comfort: jeans, shorts and t-shirts are fine. Wherever you are within the park, be sure to sample one of the famous mint juleps, made with Kentucky whiskey and a touch of mint.
The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, will take place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., on May 15. Like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is an all-day event with a noticeable difference in the infield and grandstand crowds: the grandstand calls for fashionable attire, while the infield has a casual vibe. The drink here is the Black-Eyed Susan, a mix of vodka, rum, Cointreau and fruit juices. Many visitors to the Preakness stay six miles away in Baltimore’s downtown Inner Harbor area, known for its charm and nightlife.
The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes, run at Belmont Park on Long Island, N.Y., on June 5. This spacious park holds 80,000 race fans. Many consider this race to be the most exciting of the three, especially when there is a potential Triple Crown winner. This is the most casual of the three races, but be sure to dress up if you have a box seat. Not to be left behind in the refreshments race, Belmont Park has established the whiskey-based Belmont Breeze as the traditional drink of the Belmont Stakes. Belmont Park is just 15 miles from the hotels, restaurants and night spots of Manhattan, and most visitors head there after the race.
To find out more about how you can cheer on your favorite horse at one or more of the Triple Crown races, talk with your travel professional.
Play Your Dream Golf Course
To some people, spring means one thing – the coming of golf season. If you’re one of them, there are lots of ways to combine your love of travel with your love of golf. Why not plan a vacation around one of your dream golf destinations?
Many golf lovers dream of making a pilgrimage to the prestigious Links at St. Andrews, on the east coast of Scotland, where the game was invented around 1400 AD. We might have had a world without golf – the game was banned in 1457 by King James II, who thought that archery practice was more important. Fortunately, in 1502, King James IV threw in the (golf) towel and took up the game himself. St. Andrews is now the largest golf club in Europe, with seven public courses. If you have a non-golfing companion, he or she will enjoy exploring the stunning scenery and historic buildings in the town of St. Andrews.
If you dream of championship-quality golf in a more tropical location, look to Hawaii. The islands are dotted with spectacular, fun and challenging courses, including Poipu Bay and Princeville on Kauai, designed by renowned course designer Robert Trent Jones. On the Big Island, try the Mauna Kea and Hapuna courses; Maui’s finest courses include Kapalua and Wailea. Wherever you golf in Hawaii, just try to keep your head down through your swing when you’re surrounded by beautiful scenery.
There are plenty of options for a dream game of golf when vacationing on the U.S. mainland, too. Dream destinations include Torrey Pines outside San Diego, with fantastic views of deep ravines along the Pacific coastline. Pebble Beach on California’s Monterey Peninsula may be the most beloved course in the U.S. There’s also the TPC Scottsdale course in Scottsdale, Ariz., which has stadium seating around its famously raucous 16th hole. This is where fans often break golf’s code of polite applause to loudly cheer – or loudly harass – some of the most famous names in golf.
To make a dream golf course the focus of your next vacation, or an enjoyable side attraction, talk with your travel professional.
Celebrating Chopin
The world is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the composer Frederic (Fryderyk) Chopin, with special piano recitals, master classes and symphony concerts planned from Norway to Egypt to Florida.
The celebrations carry a special feeling of national identity and pride in Poland, where the composer was born and lived the first half of his life. He was born at Zelazowa Wola, a country estate near Warsaw, on either February 22 or March 1, 1810 (historical records mention both dates). A museum devoted to Chopin in now housed in an annex attached to his first home.
Nearly 1,000 Chopin-related events will take place in Poland during the bicentennial, including films, performances, exhibitions and the 16th Chopin International Piano Competition, which is held every five years in Warsaw.
Poland is also celebrating its most famous artist with the newly renovated Chopin Museum in Warsaw, just opened on March 1. Housed in the 17th century Ostrogski Castle, The museum provides a multimedia experience. Visitors delight in the sounds of Chopin’s works, interactive touch screen programs, audio and visual information about objects on display, and virtual musical games for children.
Chopin spent the second half of his life in France, his father’s homeland. Upon his death there (probably from tuberculosis) at age 39, his heart was returned to Poland at his request. It is now kept in an urn at the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw.
While celebrating Chopin in Warsaw, you can also visit sights like the Warsaw Uprising Museum, a tribute to the 1944 Polish uprising against Nazi occupation; the Centre of Contemporary Art in the Ujazdow Castle; and the lovely Royal Baths Park.
Wherever you travel in this Chopin bicentennial year, you may be able to catch a concert honoring his works. Talk with your travel professional.
Full-Body Imaging Now at More Airports
In March, the Transportation Safety Administration began to deploy dozens of new full-body scanners at select airports, with plans to install a total of 450 of these units during 2010. Frequent business travelers are likely to encounter this high-tech, hands-free version of a pat down soon. The new scanners can detect items, such as nonmetallic weapons and explosives, which can be missed by metal detectors. Here’s what you need to know:
There are two kinds of full-body scanners: some use millimeter wave technology and some use backscatter technology.
Millimeter wave machines direct radio waves around your body and measure the energy reflected back to create a three-dimensional image. They reveal explosives if they are denser than other materials. They emit radiation, but in amounts less than that of a typical cell phone, according to the TSA. This type of scanner produces an image that looks something like a fuzzy photo negative – the body’s contours are visible, but specific features are not clear.
Backscatter machines are low-level X-ray machines that produce two-dimensional images. They emit about as much radiation as you are exposed to in just two minutes of flying in an airplane. This type of scanner produces an image that looks something like a chalk etching.
The images produced by the scanners are not viewed by personnel at the security checkpoint. Instead, the images are transmitted to a security officer in a remote, secure location. This officer inspects the images and communicates via wireless headset with the personnel at the security checkpoint. After you are cleared, your images are automatically deleted from the viewing system, which has no storage capability.
Passengers with heart pacemakers and surgically replaced body parts, such as metallic hips and knees, can safely pass through the new machines.
Being screened in a full-body scanner is optional – you can choose to have a physical pat down instead. However, initial reaction to the new scanners is positive – the TSA says 98 percent of passengers who encountered the technology during TSA pilots prefer it over other screening options. Airports that now have full-body scanners include Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington D.C.
December, 2009
Giving the Gift of Travel
As you fill out your holiday gift shopping list, remember that there’s a gift that is always welcome; is never the wrong size, shape or color; and can deliver what the recipient wants most, whether that’s relaxation, adventure or romance. That gift, of course, is travel.
It’s easy to give travel. Most often, travel is offered in the form of a gift card or certificate that can be applied to the cost of airline travel, a hotel or resort stay, cruise fares or admission to popular tourist attractions.
If you know your loved one’s travel habits, you could give a gift that’s specific to an airline, cruise line, resort or destination. If you want to let your recipients make their own decisions about where to go and how to get there, give gifts that can be redeemed through a wide variety of travel providers. Your travel professional can help.
If you want to give a spectacular gift and your budget allows it, you can give an entire vacation trip. If your budget doesn’t extend that far, no need to worry: you can purchase travel gift cards and certificates in denominations as low as $10. If you’d like to wrap up a travel gift card or certificate with something more, there are lots of small items that any traveler can use. Pick up a leather passport cover, some durable luggage tags, a travel pillow or a set of small plastic containers for toiletries. If you know your loved one’s destination, select a guidebook; or, give them a small journal with blank pages they can use to record their travel memories.
Ask your travel professional for more ideas about giving travel for the holidays. You’ll simplify your shopping list – and with the time you save, you may decide to take a holiday vacation yourself.
New Year’s Eve Away from Home
Some people believe that what they do on New Year’s Day sets the pattern for what they’ll do for the rest of the year. If you ring in the New Year in a fabulous vacation destination, does that mean you’ll travel to exotic locales for the entire year? Perhaps not, but it does mean that you can enjoy a wonderful celebration.
Since each New Year is celebrated around the world, there’s an endless variety of destinations to choose from. Here are a just a few suggestions to get you thinking.
If you plan to stay in the U.S., many cities offer fun celebrations. The best known may be the classic "ball drop” at One Times Square in New York City, which is broadcast around the world. If you love a party but don’t want to risk cold weather, try Las Vegas: you can take in a show and get out on the Strip in time for the midnight fireworks. For a country-flavored New Year’s Eve, travel to Nashville, where live music rules the night at the city’s many music venues and a guitar drop marks the countdown to midnight.
If you’d like to experience New Year’s Eve with an eye on the exotic, there’s no shortage of international cities with fabulous celebrations. Thanks to its position on the globe, Sydney, Australia, hosts one of the world’s first major New Year’s celebrations. People gather near the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge to watch light shows and a midnight fireworks display, followed by live music on several stages around the harbor.
The French feast on specialties such as foie gras on New Year’s Eve, which they call le Réveillon. Celebrations in Paris range from street festivals to intimate dinner parties to elegant balls, where people share their resolutions for the New Year. At midnight, the Eiffel Tower, thrown into silhouette by fireworks, is a stunning sight.
In Sao Paulo, Brazil, many people dress in white to bring good luck for the New Year. If you’re a runner, you can join the annual Saint Silvester Run that winds through the downtown area. At midnight, bonfires along Avenida Paulista will be echoed by the fireworks in the sky.
New Year’s Eve is a celebration around the world, and good wishes flow. But, wherever you celebrate, take some simple precautions to help ensure your safety. When in a restaurant or club, note where the emergency exits are; be sure to have the number of a reliable taxi service; and, don’t give your hotel information or open your door to people you don’t know. Now, call your travel professional and start packing for a Happy New Year!
Catch Some Bowl Fever
At this time of year, even the most casual college football fan can be swept up in "bowl fever.” If your favorite team is in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), you’ll want to travel along and be part of the cheering crowd at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale Ariz.; the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.; or the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. In addition to the BCS, there are more than two dozen other bowl games featuring top teams from around the country. And, if your team doesn’t receive a bowl bid, that’s no excuse to sit at home: it’s still a thrill to watch top college football teams vie for the pride and glory of a bowl title.
The 2009-2010 bowl season begins December 19 and runs through the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena on January 9. Bowl games are held in an amazing variety of cities – from Charlotte, N.C., to Detroit, Mich., to Honolulu, Hawaii – that offer plenty to do before and after the game. Here are a few examples:
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The Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, will match up teams from the Big Ten and Big 12 on January 2. When you’re not inside the Alamodome, be sure to stroll the San Antonio River Walk, lined with charming restaurants, galleries and shops. Explore the city’s lovely botanical garden and the zoo, or enjoy a round of golf at one of about 40 courses.
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Teams from the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference will play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome on New Year’s Eve. After the game, join the Peach Drop celebration at Underground Atlanta, a downtown entertainment complex, where the clubs will be open until 4:00 a.m. If you aren’t too sleepy the next day, visit some of the city’s many attractions, such as Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium or the sites honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
If a bit of winter’s chill doesn’t bother you, head to Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on December 30. You’ll watch teams from the Mountain West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference play on the famed blue Astroturf field in Bronco Stadium. Boise also has a greenbelt along the river that’s perfect for strolling, a thriving performing arts community, and plenty of dining and nightlife to entertain you.
Whichever bowl game you choose, be sure to ask your travel professional to help you purchase tickets and travel packages through reputable sellers.
Vancouver, Whistler Ready for 2010 Winter Olympics
The Olympic Flame is now winding its way through Canada, bound for Vancouver, British Columbia, and a dramatic entrance into BC Place Stadium for the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games on February 12. Those lucky enough to attend the games will enjoy some of the most majestic scenery on the planet in the city of Vancouver and the nearby ski resort of Whistler.
With a backdrop of coastal mountain peaks and the Pacific at its feet, few cities can rival Vancouver’s natural beauty. The city is also filled with parks, quirky neighborhoods, great ethnic restaurants and an appreciation for the arts, the environment and aboriginal culture. For the Olympics, Vancouver has new or refurbished venues for hockey, curling, figure skating, speed skating, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The city is compact and walkable, but a new rapid transit subway and light rail line will help visitors get around, too.
Whistler is already well known to ski enthusiasts, with its world-class ski facilities and pedestrian-friendly village. The ski area, located an hour north of Vancouver, includes both Whistler Mountain and its neighbor, Blackcomb Mountain. Whistler will host the alpine and Nordic ski events as well as bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Olympics fans at these outdoor events might find it hard to take their eyes from the mountain scenery in order to focus on the action.
Ticket sales for Olympic events have been brisk, but at last check there were still tickets available for the opening ceremonies, the closing ceremonies and some events. In the U.S., CoSport (www.cosport.net) is the official ticket sales agent. Talk with your travel professional about securing event tickets and accommodations for an unforgettable trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Business Travel
Online Safety on the Road
For business travelers, a laptop computer with Internet access has become an essential piece of travel equipment – you’d no more leave home without it than without your cell phone or credit card. For the convenience of business travelers who need to send messages and documents on the road – as well as other travelers other who enjoy surfing the Internet – many airports, hotels, coffee houses, convention centers and other public spaces offer Internet access via a Wi-Fi wireless network.
It’s important to know that while these connections are convenient, they are not always secure. It’s not uncommon for hackers to intercept data that comes and goes from your computer over an unsecured wireless network. Because these networks are intended for public use, they don’t include the type of security features that would keep hackers out. Still, you can take steps to implement your own wireless Internet security while on the road.
Before you leave, make sure your security software is up-to-date. You should have a firewall program that helps prevent unauthorized access to your laptop. You should also have an anti-virus program. In addition, set your operating system to automatically check for, download and install updates. If needed, ask for assistance from your corporate information technology department.
While on the road, take care to avoid "evil twins” – false Wi-Fi hotspots set up by hackers. These evil twins can appear to be perfectly legitimate, even using the name of an airport or hotel – but, they allow hackers to record all the data flowing through the connection. To avoid evil twins, ask an employee of the airport, hotel or other establishment for the exact name of the Wi-Fi network that you should connect to. Still, it’s probably best to assume that someone is always eavesdropping on your Wi-Fi connection: so, avoid entering private data, such as bank account information, while connected to the Web via Wi-Fi.
Finally, be just a little paranoid about the people next to you. If you can see what’s on their laptop screens, they can see what’s on yours. Don’t leave passwords, account numbers or other sensitive information up on your screen.
November, 2009
How to Fly with Holiday Gifts
Holiday season travel is wonderful, especially when it reunites you with family and friends (or your favorite tropical beach or ski area). However, since so many people travel during the holidays, airport security checkpoint lines tend to grow longer than usual. That’s in part because holiday season also brings out less experienced travelers, who may not be aware of the latest security requirements or realize that many common gift items are not allowed in carry-on luggage. In turn, that can further slow the securing screening process.
Here’s what you need to know if you are planning to bring gifts along on your holiday jaunt:
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First, if you are bringing gifts in either your checked luggage or carry-on bag, don’t wrap them. Security officers may need to unwrap your packages to inspect them. Unfortunately, their job description does not include rewrapping gifts, so it’s best to do your all of your wrapping after you arrive at your destination.
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The rules that limit the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels you can stow in your carry-on luggage apply to gifts, too. Each passenger is limited to three ounces or less of any liquid, aerosol or gel (toothpaste, shampoo, cosmetics, etc.). In addition, all of these items must fit in one single quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag. This includes food items – such as homemade jams, salsas and dips – and other gift items that contain liquids, such as snow globes.
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To avoid the heartbreak of having to leave gifts behind at a security checkpoint, pack them in your checked luggage. If you’re worried about possible breakage, plan ahead and ship these gifts to your destination before you depart.
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The Transportation Security Administration recently added new tools for the screening of powdered substances at security checkpoints. Although these tools are meant to detect powders used in explosives, any powders in your carry-on bag – such as your Aunt Susie’s hot cocoa mix – may be subject to additional screening.
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Many items that make special holiday gifts are completely prohibited in carry-on luggage. These include recreational and sports equipment such as baseball bats, bows and arrows, knives, compressed air guns, pool cues, ski poles, and some martial arts accessories. Again, be sure to pack these gift items in your checked luggage or ship them ahead.
If you need more information about any aspect of holiday travel, talk with your travel professional. Most of all, don’t forget to pack plenty of patience and goodwill toward all before you leave for the airport.
Oasis of the Seas Set for Maiden Voyage
Set to begin its maiden voyage on December 5, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is ready to provide an incredible new cruising experience. The ship introduces a unique "neighborhood” concept, with seven distinctive, themed areas providing a variety of activities and entertainment:
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Central Park opens the center of the ship to the sky and features lush gardens, a central piazza, lively retail and dining options and quiet nooks for reading and relaxing.
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Boardwalk offers the classic, family-friendly fun of a seaside boardwalk and features the only carousel at sea. This neighborhood also includes the spectacular AquaTheater, which serves as a pool by day and an ocean-front theater by night.
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The Royal Promenade will buzz with shops, dining spots and nightlife venues, including a Latin dance club and a karaoke bar. Two giant glass-arched skylights, the Crystal Canopies, will provide sunlight from Central Park, located directly above.
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The Pool and Sports zone features four types of pools, two FlowRider surf simulators and the first zip-line at sea. The Solarium, with its own pool and whirlpools, is a quiet adults-only spot.
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The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center caters to complete body wellness for all passengers. Kids and teens can revel in a dedicated spa of their own.
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Entertainment Place is the ship’s "nightclub district,” featuring the Blaze dance club, a jazz club, a comedy club, a casino and the Opal Theater, where passengers can take in the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray.
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Youth Zone is a haven for kids and teens. Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program groups kids by age, with each group enjoying their own dedicated space for play and exploration. Teen-only spaces include a disco and lounge.
Accommodations on Oasis of the Seas are special, too. Many of the ship’s 2,706 staterooms have ocean views, and others overlook Central Park, Boardwalk or the Royal Promenade. Most unique are the ship’s 28 lofts – contemporary, two-level suites that feature floor-to-ceiling windows for stunning ocean vistas. The ship also has a variety of suite accommodations, including a Presidential Family Suite with space for 14 people.
Royal Caribbean has announced seven-night Eastern and Waster Caribbean itineraries for the inaugural year of Oasis of the Seas, sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cruises of the Eastern Caribbean begin December 12 and will include St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau in the Bahamas. Beginning in May, the ship will alternate cruises of the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Western Caribbean itinerary will include Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach in Haiti; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Many other unique features and surprises await guests on the Oasis of the Seas. To find out more about sailing on this fabulous ship, talk with your travel professional.
Discover the U.S. Virgin Islands
Located just 90 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands feature everything that’s best about the Caribbean: beaches for sunning and swimming, reefs for diving, tropical forests, lively music, great food and colorful history. Best of all is that a passport is not necessary to visit.
The islands first named by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493 were then controlled by a variety of European powers during the centuries that followed. The islands were Danish Royal Colonies from the mid-1750s until they were sold to the U.S. in 1917. Today, the three main islands – St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John – each have their own unique characteristics.
St. Croix is dotted with stone windmills and ruins from days when the island was divided into more than 200 sugar cane plantations. You can tour some of these sites, including the Estate Whim and its stately greathouse. At Estate St. George Botanical Garden, you can see the ruins of another sugar cane village and rum factory. St. Croix also has lovely beaches and parks, including and Buck Island Reef – a national monument that is mostly underwater, with marked underwater trails to explore.
With its beautiful natural harbor, the settlement of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas became a thriving seaport in the 1600s. Well into the 1800s, the port was a center of trading for sugar, cotton, indigo, tobacco and more. Charlotte Amalie is now best known as a busy cruise ship port. This island has lovely beaches, but if you venture up into the hills you’ll encounter gorgeous views at every turn. One popular vantage point is Drake’s Seat, where Sir Francis Drake used to sit and observe his fleet in the harbor below.
The smallest of the three main islands, two-thirds of St. John is devoted to Virgin Islands National Park. The park preserves the incredible natural beauty of the island, which you can enjoy by snorkeling and scuba diving at Trunk Bay, then hiking some of the many trails through the tropical forest.
Your travel professional can help you consider the options for a vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands – they are easy to reach by airplane or cruise ship, perfect for a winter getaway.
No Passport Required
Winter is making an early appearance in some parts of the U.S., and you may already be longing for a tropical vacation. However, travel to many of the world’s exotic beaches now requires a passport – if not to enter the country of your destination, then to re-enter the U.S.
If you don’t have a passport, you can still enjoy a winter escape to a sunny, beautiful tropical location. No passport is required for U.S. citizens traveling to U.S. territories, which include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; American Samoa and Guam in the South Pacific; and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific. All of these destinations offer lovely beaches, swimming, diving, snorkeling, hiking and exploring.
Remember that you still need some identification to enter U.S. territories and to re-enter the U.S. Carry a photo identification card, such as your driver’s license, and your birth certificate with you.
To expand your travel options for the future, you may wish to apply for a new or renewed passport as soon as possible. For adults, passports are good for ten full years. Your travel professional can give you more information on where to apply, what documents you will need to present, and the cost of a passport.
Finally, keep in mind that there is another great tropical destination where U.S. citizens don’t need to present a passport: Hawaii.
Options for Internet Access on the Road
Access to the Internet is essential to road warriors who need to do research, edit documents and presentations, send e-mail or set up meetings on the fly. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to stay connected to the Internet while away from office and home. Some business travelers develop a strong preference for a specific method of connection, such as an Internet connection card or a Wi-Fi access service.
Wi-Fi access services, such as Boingo, charge a low monthly rate to provide you with access to Wi-Fi Internet connections in thousands of U.S. and international locations, including major airports and hotels. This means that you can avoid the hourly or daily Internet access charges that are often assessed by those airports and hotels. However, your Internet connection still depends on the presence of a Wi-Fi hotspot, or access point.
Internet connection cards, available from wireless communications providers like Sprint, aren’t really cards, but devices that plug into your laptop’s USB port. This little device gives you reliable access to the Internet from almost anywhere – it is not dependent on the presence of a Wi-Fi access point. However, the cost of the card itself is significant – usually around $200 – and there is a monthly fee for service, which depends on the bandwidth you choose. Internet connection cards are designed for true business users who depend on being able to get a connection regardless of their location.
Of course, if you travel infrequently and mainly to mid-size and larger cities, you can probably find all the Internet access you need at the many coffee shops and casual restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi service. But, if you need more frequent, reliable or immediate access to the Internet while on the road, you may want to consider one of the options above outlined above. |