Using Credit Cards When You Travel

1.Photocopy each credit card, front and back before you travel. Leave a copy with a trusted family member or friend who can act on your behalf if you run into problems.

2.Let your credit card company know that you are planning to travel so that they don't put a hold on your card because of unusual activity. (Take 2 credit cards from two completely different accounts with you in case this happens.)

3.Make sure that your credit cards are current.

4.Ask for receipts. When you return from your trip, match your receipts to your credit card bill.

5.Make sure the limit is high enough on your credit card to cover your needs during your vacation.

6.Consider purchasing a special money pocket to carry your credit cards in, or carry them in a front pocket that zips for extra security.

How Not To Get Bumped

1.Fly on the holiday itself, instead of around it, to avoid over booked flights.

2.Don't fly on Mondays or between 4 pm-7 pm during the week.

3.Arrive at the gate on time and board as soon as you are able.

4.Don't fly if there is a strike going on.

5.Fly on airlines that are less likely to bump (like Jet Blue Airways).

6.Remind the flight attendants that the FAA says they need to offer perks to people for being bumped and not just bump people against their wishes.

7.Join the frequent flyer program to show loyalty to the company.

8.Be aware that when booking your flight, if you get a message saying that seats will be assigned at the airport, the plane is probably already full.

Clear Card Coming Soon To:

Los Angeles International Airport

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Airports Using the Clear Card

1.Reno Tahoe International Airport
2.San Francisco International Airport
3.Oakland International Airport
4.Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport
5.Salt Lake City International Airport
6.Denver International Airport
7.Indianapolis International Airport
8.Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport
9.Little Rock Airport
10.Albany Airport
11.Westchester County Airport
12.LaGuardia International Airport
13.John F. Kennedy International Airport
14.Neward Liberty International Airport
15.Dulles International Airport
16.Reagan National Airport
17.Jacksonville International Airport
18.Orlando International Airport

Travel Cheap By Getting Better Gas Mileage

Although the price of gas is so high, consider driving to your vacation destination. Find out how you can improve your vehicle's gas mileage by 200% or more. Watch this video from Fox News to see how it works. For more information Click here

Learn How To Get Bumped

Flights are filled more this year than they have been for the last 10 years. They are 85% full, which is good for those looking to be bumped in the hopes of getting free or at least cheap tickets for future flights. Here are some tips to help you get bumped.

1.Choose flights that tend to be full, such as between 4 pm-7 pm Monday through Friday. Monday is the busiest travel day of the week and tends to be overbooked. Long, nonstop flights across country also tend to be quite full.

2.Don't check-in luggage. It's more convenient for the airline if they don't have to remove your luggage from the plane.

3.Travel around the holidays, right before and right after the holiday itself.

4.Tell the agent you are willing to be bumped if necessary when you arrive.

5.Fly during bad weather. You are likely to get bumped, but getting another flight may be difficult.

6.Fly during airline strikes, when more flights are cancelled.

How To Get A Clear Card

In order to get a Clear Card, you must go to an airport that currently accepts the card. There, the computer scans your finger prints, eyes and takes a picture. This information is sent to the Department of Homeland Security. They mail an ID card within about two weeks.

Avoid Waiting In Line To Pass Airport Security With Clear Card

Clear Cards are now available for purchase at airports. They allow you to move ahead to the front of the line to pass through security at airports, instead of waiting in the long lines. The maximum wait time with this card is 5 minutes before passing through security, but the security check is the same. The cost is $128 and currently is valid at 18 airports. More than 170,000 have purchased the Clear Card already.

Special Offers

Book 3+ nights and get a free $50 gas card! Book 2+ nights and get a free $25 gas card! - Ends 6/30/08 or while supplies last.

U.S. fare sale! Fly one-way from $56+ - Expires 7/1/08

Your Rights When Voluntarily Bumped

None. You have no rights if you choose to give up your seats, but here are some tips to get
the most out of being bumped while still protecting yourself.

1.Get a confirmed seat on another flight before you agree to be bumped. Also, confirm your seat when you book your ticket so that you are less likely to be bumped against your will.

2.Arrive at the gate early. This gives you an opportunity to volunteer to be bumped, while helping prevent an involuntary bump.

3.Insist on a check instead of a voucher for travel, because these vouchers typically come with many restrictions and blackout dates making them difficult to use.

4.When you volunteer, ask that they match the best offer they give someone else. If you volunteer early, and other people don't volunteer until much later on, they will probably receive more than you.

5.Keep in mind car and/or hotel reservations that you could potentially lose if you are not able to arrive that day, or any late fees they may charge you.

6.If compensation is not immediate, get it in writing.

Know Your Rights When Involuntarily Bumped

It's very important that you know your rights if you are bumped, especially if it's not your choice. The rights you are entitled to depend on the time that the airline gets you to your final destination, compared to your original arrival time. (Individual airlines may give more, but these are the minimum requirements that you are entitled to by the FAA if you are bumped from a plane involuntarily.)

Up To 1 Hour Late:
You are not entitled to any compensation at all if the airline gets you to your final destination within one hour of your original arrival time.

Up To 2 Hours Late For Domestic Flights/Up To 4 Hours Late International Flights:
You are entitled to $200 if the airline gets you to your final destination within 2 hours for national flights and 4 for international ones.

More Than 2 Hours Late For Domestic Flights/More Than 4 Hours Late For International Flights
You are entitled to the doubled price of a one way ticket to your destination, up to $400 if you are delayed longer than 2 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international ones.

Ask for meal vouchers, hotel vouchers (if you are required to stay over night) and access to the airport lounge.

American Airline's Additional Fees

American Airlines is also charging for reservation help and pet handling. Keep this in mind, too, when you are looking for cheap tickets.

Checked Baggage Fees

Some airlines are beginning to charge additional fees for checked baggage. When looking for cheap tickets, don't forget to include fees for checked bags when you compare air fares.

Beginning June 15th, American airlines will charge $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. Until then, the first checked bag is free.

Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, United and US Airways charge nothing for the first checked bag and $25 for the second.

Southwest does not charge any fees.

JetBlue and Alaska do not charge for the first bag and the second one is $20.

Search Lots of Sites

Compare air fares, hotels and auto rental prices by searching many websites. I've added search boxes of the cheapest and most popular sites on the sides to make it easier for you to compare prices.

72 Hours Only! Go to Your Happy Place: Round-Trip Flights w/ AirTran from $56 > Exp. 6/12/08


Air_Beyond Your Wildest Dreams! Fly Round-Trip to South Africa and Senegal From $867+ > Exp. 6/20/08

4 Night NCL Bahamas Cruise from $249. Round trip from Miami. Calls on Grand Bahama, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay.


Flight+3 Night Hotel Vacations from $299

Cheap Travel: Bus Travel

Bus travel can be considerably cheaper than travel by car which includes filling the gas tank several times on a trip. Check out www.greyhound.com and www.boltbus.com.

Considerations Of Travel By Train

-The cost between locations can vary, so it may be more cost effective to drive to another location to catch the train

-Peak travel time (two weeks before Memorial Day-two weeks after Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) is more expensive for train travel and the cheapest seats are booked well in advance.

-The accommodations you choose vary greatly in price and what is offered. You can choose from regular coach seating, first-class seating, business-class seating and a variety of sleeping accommodations when you travel by train.

Advantages of Train Travel

Travel by train isn't based on the price of gas, making it easier to find cheap tickets.

-Train travel discounts are available for
students
seniors
veterans
children (ages 2-15 pay half price)
AAA members (save 10%)

-Amtrak Guest Rewards allow you to earn miles each time you travel by train that can be exchanged for free train travel and airfare

-Amtrak Guest Rewards Credit Card lets you earn miles on all purchases with this card

-Food can be purchased on most trains

-Considerably less security checks. Security checks consist of randomly selected passengers showing that their ID matches the name on their ticket

-Train Stations are in the middle of the city, not on the edge like airports

-Less time to check in for train travel than at an airport

-Statistically safer than driving

The Bright Side Of High Gas Prices On Travel

The "bright" side of the high gas prices is that companies offer travel deals to get more people to take a vacation. "Summer vacation is an American institution, and we want to ensure that the price of gas doesn't come between travelers and this precious time to get away," said Paul Brown, the president of Expedia. "We're offering values that will allow all travelers to plan the summer adventure getaway that is right for them."

Check out some of these travel deals for cheap travel.

Round-Trip Flights Under $200!

Book 3+ nights at Expedia and get a free $50 gas card! - Offer good Monday - Friday until June 30th.

Fuel Up For Free w/ Hertz Car Rentals! Rent for 3 Days, Get a Free Tank of Gas!

Name Your Own Price Hotel - See Winning Bids in Top Cities!

Up to 75% off Last-Minute Cruises


Fly to Europe at up to 50% discount with Lessno
Great beach escapes! Flight + 4 nights from $556 - Expires 6/13/08 - Expires 6/13/08

Top Vacation Package Deals at Expedia.com

Last minute travel deals and vacation packages at Expedia.com!


All - Inclusive Vacations! Flight + 4 Nights Hotel From $718

Get an Extra $50-$200 Off + Receive a FREE Onboard Savings Booklet w/ Royal Caribbean! > Expires 6/19/08

Take $50 Off Las Vegas Last Minute Packages. Use PROMO CODE: VEGAS50LMD. Expires 7/31/08.

The Down Side Of High Gas Prices On Travel

As the price of gas continues to climb, less and less people travel. Robert Sinclair Jr., a spokesman for the AAA in New York said, "If a trend toward higher gas prices and fewer travelers were to continue, it could eventually impact travel-dependent companies that provide employment opportunities and tax revenues in almost every city and town in America… [However,] Americans consider their vacations sacrosanct… People are being more discreet. They still want to take their holiday, but they're planning more carefully."

Air Travel With Children

1.Bring toys and activities to keep children busy. However, don't keep them too busy, allow them to have time to rest when needed while you travel.

2.Find out ahead of time what airlines have lap-belts for children to be strapped into for safety during flights.

3.Feed your children during take off and landing to help avoid problems with the ears. (Make sure that the food/milk can go through the security checkpoint. Also find out if the airline provides any type of baby food or special food for children on board.)

4.When you board the plane, ask where it would be best to change your child's diaper, if applicable, during the flight.

5.Sit by the window with the child on your lap, or let the child sit by the window.

6.Walk up and down the aisles holding your young children during the flight. Allow your kids to get up and stretch their legs occasionally.

7.Don't fly if your child is sick if at all possible. But if you have to fly, bring their medicine.

SAVE $200 on 5+ night HAWAII Vacations at Orbitz! Hurry...offer ends July 15!

Passports And Other Important Documents

Before you go on vacation, make copies of your passport, driver’s license, any credit or debit cards, as well as any other important documents you will be taking with you on your trip. Leave a copy with a friend or family member at home in case of an emergency, and carry an extra copy of each document with you on your trip. If possible, keep these copies locked in a safe place and not with you.

Last Minute Cruises from $319 - Expires - 6/11/08

Internationally:
When you travel internationally, it's a good idea to always have a photocopy of your passport on you. Unless you need your passport for the day, however, don't travel with your passport on you, only the photocopy.

Packing Clothes

Pack your clothes very tightly in your suitcase to prevent them from wrinkling when you travel.