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Travel and Discount Shopping at Midniteshopper.com
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SECRETS FOR TRAVEL. Check this page often as it changes constantly. Many of these secrets will be in our newsletters and you can always find them here on our website. Shhh! What's behind the door? Follow us for some great tips and not-so-well-known travel secrets: ************************************************ SLINGBOX. Never heard of it? Well, I'll let you in on a secret. This thing is incredible! Suppose you TIVO'd your favorite soaps and didn't get a chance to watch your programs before you left. Suppose you are now on a flight to Bangkok. You can now just sit back, relax, and watch those soaps from your own TV on your laptop. Suppose you are in London and just found out that your niece is tap dancing on a recital which is being telecast on your local PBS channel. Guess what! You can kick back in your London hotel room and watch the program--live. Suppose your husband is in Iraq serving his country and he loved watching the FX Channel, which obviously is not available over there. He can tune in and watch his favorite shows! Amazing, and available. Please click on this link if this appeals to you! A while ago, I wrote about a case before the US Supreme Court which would help American with disabilities if the court held that foreign flag cruise ships must abide by Title III of the Americans with Disibilities Act (ADA) when in U.S. waters. Well, it worked! The Court held that modifications for disabled passengers can be made where barrier removal is "readily achievable" and that "Congress could not have intended for barrier removal to conflict with international rules such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea". Art Auctions on board cruise ships. Those words may throw terror into your heart. They are fun, they are educational, and the 'auctioneer/salesman' loves your money. Park West is the auction house onboard every cruise I've been on, and their people are very nice. If you can control your impulses, the auctions are fascinating. I tend to buy art that includes animals or landscapes or buildings or people--I guess I buy just about anything. And I enjoy what I buy, but it can certainly get expensive. Just once, give the art auction a try. Go for the free champagne (at some auctions you can get really wasted on it) and enjoy learning about different artists--from Dali to Peter Max to Disney animation cells. They are all there, and duty-free. Just remember to keep your numbered card under your seat, so you're not tempted like I am. Passports! You may have heard there are some changes coming, but here is the information you need to comply with new rules. On December 31, 2005, travelers to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America by air or sea MUST have a passport or other accepted document. On December 31, 2006, travelers to or from Mexico and Canada by air or sea MUST have a passport or other accepted document. On December 31, 2007, a passport or other accepted document will be required for all air, sea and land border crossings. Whew!!! The moral of the story is...get your passport (or renew your old one) as soon as possible if you intend to travel in the future. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for a passport to be processed and the busiest months are from January through July, but, under the new circumstances, the Passport Agency will be busy all year. Do it now--before you forget. Other than a passport, the documents that are acceptable under this new law are: (get ready all you travelers) the SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST program cards, and probably the Border Crossing Card. These programs are now being used by current international frequent travelers. That's it. That's all. In other words, get your passport. This is not yet totally written in stone, but I'll bet it will be very soon. All information and application forms can be found at www.travel.state.gov Are you headed for the Bahamas on a cruise? If you are, call ahead to the Atlantis Resort and see if you can get yourself a limousine pick-up at the pier. Of course, that means you'll have to go to the Atlantis, but it is the resort that will blow you away. I know you've seen it in pictures, but to drive up to it--and especially in your own limousine--is a treat you'll never forget. Besides that, being picked up by that limousine will make everyone on the cruise with you green with envy! The Atlantis is a place you need to visit--if only for a few hours. If you have $25,000, however, you can spend the night in the Bridge Suite (if it's available, which it generally isn't). One of the least expensive cruises/vacations in the world can be the maiden voyage of a new ship. The reason? Many times, the ship is not finished on schedule and the cruise line will compensate the consumer for their inconvenience. I once received (sit down for this one!) a 10-day vacation in Tahiti (3 nights on Papeete and 7 on Moorea), AND a 10-day vacation in Hawaii (3 nights in Honolulu and 7 nights on a cruise around the islands) with flights from Boston included in both vacations. The cost? Less than $900.00--the cost of the original Hawaiian cruise which had to be rescheduled by the cruise line! And in case you're curious, the hotels the cruise line used in the different areas were first-class. I had the vacation(s) of a lifetime for almost nothing! Walt Disney World is upgrading their customer services! Beginning in May, you will be able to enjoy the "Disney's Magical Express" complimentary airport shuttle, luggage delivery, and airline check-in for Disney hotel guests. The new service will save you time by allowing you to bypass the baggage claim area at the Orlando airport and finding your luggage 'magically' awaiting your arrival in your Disney Resort room. This new service will save your family up to $80.00--which, of course, you can spend on Mickey ears and Minnie t-shirts. Have fun! The rules for the infamous airport "pat-down" have just been changed. The complaints sparked TSA's review of their procedures. I have a problem with complaining about a safety procedure that might save my life. It reminds me of the "not in my backyard" mentality. Everyone else should be checked for terrorist devices, but certainly not me--do I look like a terrorist? Come on--I'm an American through and through. Or am I? I would rather have every person that climbs onto that plane with me checked and rechecked, and I'll be first in the 'pat down' line. I don't want some grandmotherly-type sitting next to me and giggling as the plane blows up. I want TSA to check me and every other living soul. Our world is different now, and we must adjust to those differences. The alternative is unthinkable. Fellow traveler Lindsay sent the following secret, and besides our thanks for the suggestion, she has been entered in our monthly drawing for a prize valued at $25.00. Good Luck! Lindsay's secret is a luggage saver: Pack only 4 colors of clothing--black, white, beige and red; and only two colors of shoes--black and beige. Take two suitcases: one small or carry-on and the second, medium sized. Pack the medium-sized suitcase only half full to allow room for anything bought at the destination point. This ensures that your luggage will never be overweight going or coming--and you can buy gifts without worrying about space. Have you ever felt as if you want to give something back to the world while you explore a new place? One of the most interesting organizations has been around a long time: Earthwatch. They, or any of the 'volunteer vacation' organizations, are worth checking out. You can 'volunteer' your talents as you travel. What better way to learn, teach, travel and explore--all rolled into one fantastic trip! Winter is here, and you're traveling. While you are on public transportation you will either freeze or sweat, so layer your clothing so that you can take off or put on what you need in order to be comfortable. If you pack items that can mix-n-match you may find you have 6 outfits in about 4 things you have packed. Winter is a great time to create new outfits out of several different pieces of clothing. Make sure that if you are traveling to Mexico and decide to rent a car there,
you know the rules. For examples, you must have Mexican auto insurance to
drive there. It can be purchased either before you leave home or,
generally, near the borders. Call your insurance company to see if they
handle Mexican insurance, that could save you some money. There are some great deals for Seniors right now--especially when it comes to cruises. When you click on one of our cruise sites, be sure to take advantage of Senior rates. If someone in your stateroom is 55 or older, the discounted fare is incredible! For example, Celebrity Cruise Lines has rates of $599 for an oceanview stateroom for an 11-NIGHT CRUISE! Port charges are not included and some fees are extra--but even so, you can travel for well under $100 per day! Enjoy! The holidays are just around the corner and bargain hunting is fun. Head for your nearest Factory Outlet Mall and head for the first "Clearance" table you see. You can do your holiday shopping for next to nothing--and the best part is that those who receive the presents don't have to know that you bought that crystal vase for $5.00. Take advantage of the Outlet Sidewalk Sales. With what you save, you could go on a well-deserved cruise! Never pay full price on a cruise. As you can see this week we have researched many cruises to show you that what you see is NOT what you should pay. You may see advertisements in the mail, or on TV that say a cruise for 5 days to the Caribbean is $1049. You can almost ALWAYS get it for 30-50% off that price depending on the season. We went on a Caribbean cruise and asked people if they minded telling us what they paid (researching for our website). The answers ranged from $1955 per person to $599 per person for the same cruise. That is HUGE difference! (more on our website and how to get the best rates) Travel Secret: We just discovered that Travelocity (one of our affiliates) will become the exclusive travel provider for AARP. The two are intending to launch "AARP Passport Powered by Travelocity" in the spring of 2005. We will keep you posted on the progress of the union--and you should be able to get your discounts and book your travel through our link to Travelocity! When you want or need to rent a car, think seriously about renting from an 'off-airport' site. The taxes that you pay for renting directly from an airport car rental location are, most of the time, outrageous, and can run up to 30% of the rental price. The car rental location has to pay the airport to rent their space--and they pass the costs on to you in the form of taxation and extra fees. Just rent from an off-site location that has a shuttle service to and from the airport (a hotel or some other convenient place) and save big bucks! Sometimes I wonder if we Americans haven't missed some of the finer things about this country. I'm talking about State Fairs. We'll be writing about all of the State Fairs soon but in the meantime, if there is a State Fair near you, go to it. It can bring you back to the good old days while you enjoy a variety of food and fun. Who can resist a chomping on a sticky wonderful candy apple while watching a tractor pulling contest? For those of us who are disabled, this may be an important case: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a case brought by disabled passengers against Norwegian Cruise Line that could determine whether foreign-flagged ships are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Nearly two-thirds of all United States cruises departing from our ports carry flags of foreign entities, yet the ADA only applies to those registered in the United States. This ruling could mean, for example, that ships which sail from U.S. ports would have to comply with ADA rules, even though the ships are registered elsewhere. Traveling during hurricanes may get you a waiver of all change fees on your air or train ticket. If you are stuck in an area that is expecting a hurricane, you can call your airline and request a waiver of the usual change fees so that you may leave earlier than scheduled. Most airlines and trains will waive the normal $100 change fee per ticket and allow you to return home. Northwest Airlines actually emails their customers (if they have an email address) to let them know that they may change their tickets within a 30 day window. Check the 'Shore Excursion' section of your cruise line's website before you go on a cruise to the Caribbean or to Mexico to see if 'Swimming with the Dolphins' or 'The Dolphin Experience' is offered at any of your ports of call. If it is, book online immediately, but be careful. Do not book the 'Dolphin Experience' that just lets you pat the mammals--for a little more money, you can ride them, and that's the 'experience' you want to have, believe me! And don't worry about whether you are a good swimmer or not, you will be wearing a life vest. This is a shore excursion you don't want to miss! The better you look when you fly, the more service you will get. If you slouch onto a plane in raggedy jeans and holes in you sneakers, the chances are quite good that you will not get the same kind of service that a well-dressed individual will receive. Although we are always told not to judge a book by its cover, we instinctively do just that. If you want good service, dress for it. If you can get to New England, try to get there by the end of September, the peak of the foliage season. You can go in early October and still get to see the leaves changing colors, so don't worry if you just can't get there this month. After all, it is a pretty busy time! In New England (and where ever you travel), eat at the local restaurants and shops. Red Lobster is not going to be your best choice for food in New England, try some of the smaller side restaurants, or just wander through Quincy Market if you are in Boston, they have an array of wonderful New England food! If you can get up to Maine, definitely go to the White Barn Inn Restaurant in Kennebunkport. It is the best of the best, and you won't be sorry if you are looking for real New England style food! The Great Outdoors - Especially with the current threat of West Nile Virus, mosquito repellant should be in your suitcase. If you travel frequently by yourself or with children, you probably keep a DEET-based product in one of the little side areas of your luggage and don’t even bother taking it out between trips. But do take it out and check the expiration date. It will do you no good to try to use a less than effective product when you need it most. Also, be aware that DEET-based insect repellants, when used with a sunscreen, may reduce the effectiveness of the sunscreen. Airport Security - who gets selected for the "special security procedures"? Have you ever been pulled aside for the 'extra special' security check. You know, the one where they take off your shoes, wand every part of your body, and dig through every single item you carry with you (including your children's)? At first it seemed random, now we see it every time we go through airport security. How do they select the people to pull aside? Why does it always seem to be you? Actually the answer is pretty simple, just look on your tickets. Many times you will see the stamp "SSP" on your boarding pass when you leave the ticket counter. If you see this stamp, you will probably be pulled aside at the security checkpoint. At the check-in counter they may look at many things to decide if you will get the stamp. Common things they watch for are: luggage amount, things you say, destination (large cities trigger more security), and even your family size. There is really no way to avoid this happening, and at some point everyone will go through it. So, when you see "SSP", you may as well take off your shoes now and get ready... and then be thankful that you are safe. - Packing for Children. Many parents shudder when faced with the task of planning a vacation with their children. What to pack, what not to? There are a couple of secrets we will reveal which will help in this endeavor. First - have the children (ages 4 and older) pack their own bags (our kids now each have their own rolling bags and they are 3 and 4). It may seem like a lot to ask of them, but believe me, they WILL remember those few items that you will inevitably forget to pack. Plus they LOVE to do it, it makes them so much more comfortable being part of the plan. You can even lay out their clothes and let them chose which ones they will need (tip - only pack 1 outfit for every 2 days vacation and mix and match, most places have laundry facilities AND you know you are going to buy them at least a t-shirt). Second - PACK EARLY! Sounds funny but it works and we've heard this several times. Start about 1 week before the trip and just open up a luggage bag for each person. Keep it open during the week and as you each think of something you need to pack (or unpack), do it. This is probably the very best thing you can do, especially traveling with kids. Third - make a list. Even if you pack early, you still need a generic list (we have one here on the website) of what to pack. Make your life easier and follow these tips, you will be amazed and how much easier it is to stay relaxed and not worry 'what did I forget'. - A Secret for Traveling with a Pet! Traveling with your pet(s) can
be difficult, almost as difficult as traveling with your children.
Amazingly, some of the same things we do to keep our children happy on trips, can
also be done with our favorite animals. Pets need to be comfortable, well
fed, and they need to feel safe. When traveling in your car pets should be confined
to a crate (or a back area that is enclosed). This ensures that the pet will not be hurt if the car comes
to a sudden stop. Crates are also a requirement for all airlines. See a selection here
at Petco We've found a many travel items, including the popular pet-ramp to help
your large dog into a van or SUV, and for a limited time you can save 10% on EVERYTHING at PETCO.com!
- A Luggage Secret Just for You. You may need new luggage or
a backpack for your travels. We've found that one of the BEST things you can
buy (and easy to pack/unpack) is a backpack with a lot of pockets. The
best one we've found so far is the High Sierra Swerve at High Sierra Backpacks: Free Shipping
- Secure Your Home when you travel. Make sure your home is secure and safe by
installing better lighting if you don't already have flood lights. We use
motion lights so that anyone coming around the house will turn on a light.
Our neighbors are great about keeping an eye out for us, but if you are not in a
close neighborhood or if you have a lot of land, you may want to install small
security cameras in a few locations. You can also have an alarm company
monitor your house, but that can be expensive (though not as expensive or
heart-breaking as having your house broken into). One of our favorite
places to find security products is at The
World's largest collection of "Smart" products for your home
- Don't forget to check out the Best Places to Eat before you go. Some
of the time you spend sitting on a plane or in a car (or train) can be used to
pinpoint some great places to eat. Don't wait until the last minute to
figure out where you are going to go--have a plan so that you aren't standing
around waiting for someone else (or playing the 'I don't know. Where do you want
to go?' game). The best suggestions we've seen are in
RoadFood
Next TimeWhat you need to know about Cruising with your family and why it is the BEST vacation ever!
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MyTravelSecrets.Com is a trademark of MyTravelSecrets.com. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective companies. NOTE: My Travel Secrets.com provides information and tips on travel. All links to travel deals are supplied by other operators and we shall not be held liable for any damage, injury, or loss in resulting from vendor services. As always in travel, prices are subject to change, so it is usually to your benefit to act quickly to secure a great deal before it is gone. My Travel Secrets.com will not be liable or responsible for any transactions performed on partner websites. MyTravelsecrets.com is affiliated with Midniteshopper.com at www.midniteshopper.com.
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