traveling articles

Do check airlines and other transportation modes to see what their policies are regarding checked luggage and carry on luggage. Most have a weight limit or a quantity limit. You should also check to see if the company has a luggage tracking service and how to make a claim in the event of damage or loss.

Do label your bags clearly with your name, address, and phone number. It sometimes recommended that you list your destination as well. This information should be placed inside your luggage as well along with your itinerary. You must definitely remove any old luggage tags that might cause your luggage to be misrouted. You might want to put colorful straps on the outside of your luggage to prevent it from popping open and possibly theft.

Do go directly to the luggage claims area to retrieve your luggage. This will help prevent loss and theft and get you out of the airport or depot that much faster. If you delay in retrieving your luggage it could be lost, damaged or stolen.

Do carry on such things as keys, medicine, computers and computer equipment, important documents including travel documents, and jewelry. Cash, cameras, and other personal and highly valuable.

Don’t check bags that don’t close properly-they could pop open. Don’t check any bag with missing or broken parts, this will prevent further damage. Don’t over pack as this can strain the frames, seams, and/or zippers. Don’t check bags that are meant to be carry on bags. These include briefcases, tote bags, or garment covers. Don’t forget to have fun!
]]>

Mr. Al-Malik said Middle Eastern governments including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar had ordered as many as 300 aircraft for delivery in the next five years and Dubai Aerospace would order its first this year.

The Dubai Government at the weekend announced the formation of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise as a holding company with six operating subsidiaries.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise will be chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, chairman of the Emirates airline group and president of the Dubai department of civil aviation.

Dubai’s ambitious foray into the aerospace industry will build on the presence the emirate has already established in the aviation sector through the development of Dubai international airport and the rapid expansion of Emirates into one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines.

The business concept here is to create a new hub for aviation, from the leasing and maintenance of planes to training personnel at a new university to operating other airports and even manufacturing aircraft. It clearly makes excellent business sense to lever off Emirates position as a major buyer of aircraft to promote the DAE to the aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

Aviation World - history, law, airplanes]]>

This week in Florida,12th -18 April, the annual Sun n Fun event takes place in Lakeland.

Hundreds of private pilots and anybody with an interest in aviation generally will be attending the event at Linder Regional airport at junction 22 of the I4.

Many will not even attempt to visit the major theme parks of Disney and Universal, instead driven by the vapour and heady smells emitted from the mighty engines and sleek lines of these aircraft will spend days visiting the event, so much on offer and every aspect of aviation and avionics will be covered.

The Sun ‘n Fun fly-in, has been promoting aviation safety through education for more than 29 years. As they prepare to celebrate their 30th anniversary, you are invited to join them and experience their annual convention held each April. Our event has grown to become the second largest aviation convention of its kind.

There is something here for everyone. Its an opportunity for the kids to get out of the pool at their Florida villa rental and get close up to these “birds” a day out from the theme parks.

More than 450 workshops and forums are available to our guests. They are informative, educational and, quite often, entertaining. Many offer the novice an opportunity for hands-on experience and the expert an outstanding refresher course. Each day has a full schedule of events.

A daily air show is scheduled to keep those who enjoy airplane noise thoroughly entertained. If you are more for a quieter entertainment, be sure to stop by the Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun. Our museum is open all year long.

As we begin to focus more on our year-round programs, we hope to have many opportunities for future volunteers. There are many volunteer programs that meet different schedules and commitments. You can volunteer for a day, week, month or all year.

If you share the love of aviation, come, join the fun, volunteer and become part of the family. We are sure you will find it a very rewarding experience.

Events are planned around the festival including a trip to the orange groves and a visit to the factories to see how one of Florida’s assets, the orange, is turned into the juices enjoyed by millions throughout the world.

So if you are in town and at a loose end at your vacation rental villa hop in the car and head for Sun ‘n Fun less than an hour from Mickey and Minnie at Disney.]]>

It’s also easier to climb when the guide drives you to 15,000 feet. Don’t get me wrong. Climbing the last 5,600 feet was incredibly difficult, but not for the skill required. The air missing half of its oxygen is what had me quitting twenty times on the way up. It just gets difficult to move up there.

The Chimborazo Graveyard

The monuments near the first refuge weren’t for climbers without skill. The graveyard is a warning of the unpredictability of all high places. Chimborazo is very high, it randomly shruggs off large rocks, and has weather that changes by the minute. While hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.

El Refugio Edward Whymper is an unheated hut at 16,000 feet, named after the English climber who first summitted the mountain. Okay, it isn’t entirely unheated. There’s a fireplace, and if somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fire may raise the temperature in the hut by 3 degrees.

We had hot mugs of “mate de coca” a tea of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that’s taken up the nose. We went hiking for twenty minutes - my acclimatization. We ate, and I slept for an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.

About Mount Chimborazo

Chimborazo is in Ecuador, near the Equator (100 miles south). The elevation in the center of the country, and the moderating effect of the Humboldt Current along the coast, gives the country near perfect weather. A bit hot in the lowlands, but spring-like in Quito (the capital) , with highs in the sixties to low seventies every day of the year. Great weather almost everywhere–until you get high enough.

The summit of Chimborazo is the furthest point from the center of the Earth. Our planet bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even futher out there than Everest. It has the distinction of being the closest point to the sun on the planet. Unfortunately, it’s also the coldest place in Ecuador.

Climbing Chimborazo

Paco, my guide, didn’t care for the lightweight part of my mountain climbing adventure. He frowned at my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My 13-ounce frameless backpack didn’t impress him either. It did get below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would, but I stayed warm - as I said I would. No problems so far.

Unfortunately, Paco didn’t speak any English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the $11 fee for the “night” (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 guide fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.

I think he said he didn’t like the papery rainsuit I was using, and he frowned at my homemade ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.

I hadn’t intended to go climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I’d come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had12 pounds in my pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn’t. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.

Hiking On Glaciers

The glaciers start near the hut, and hiking became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life (there was that sledding hill). During one of my many breaks (”Demasiado” - too many, which I pretended not to understand), I noticed my tiny, cheap thermometer had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn’t cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that hill.

We struggled (okay, I struggled) up Mount Chimborazo, hiking, climbing, jumping crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. Of course I had quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco’s, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was only fifty feet higher. I wanted to believe him, or the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. I started up the ice again.

The Summit of Mount Chimborazo

We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Well, okay, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed slow and tired down at the refuge, was energetic at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten bucks in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting for us, smiling.

The sky was a stunning shade of blue you can never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano, was clearly visible 70 miles away. We enjoyed the view for a few minutes.

Handshakes all around, and it was time to head down. I was told you don’t want to be on Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.

Paco kept looking at his watch and frowning. He got further and further ahead, like he planned to abandon me on the mountain. When I finally caught up, at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks falling out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood - we really did need to get down by nine. A thousand feet lower my mountain climbing adventure ended with a photograph that mercifully can’t show my shaking knees.

Note:

To climb Mount Chimborazo, it’s cheapest to wait until you get to Ecuador to make arrangements. Talk to almost any hotel manager in Riobamba, and he or she will find a guide for you. It’s also cheaper if you’re part of a group.]]>

Here are 5 Keys to Success:

-Follow a monochromatic scheme – black, navy, or neutral. If you are trying to pack all three then you have tripled the amount of accessories and shoes that you need.
-Pack no more than 3 pairs of shoes including the ones you are wearing onto the plane.
-If you have followed our advice in the article “Does the label make the clothes?” then you already have a base wardrobe with well-coordinated accessories. The same rule applies here – mix and match.
-Wear your heaviest item onto the plane (blazer, sweater, or overcoat). You can always wear it over your shoulders rather than putting it on.
-If you travel often, have a toiletries kit that stays packed with all of the essentials so you can just throw it into the bag. Use containers appropriate to the length of the trip. There is no need to take the 24oz bottle of shampoo.

If you just can’t seem to pack in anything less than a 26” suitcase, start out by making a list of everything you think you need, then GET REAL. Make a block table that is divided into categories: Daytime, Nighttime, Accessories, Shoes, Miscellaneous (Non-apparel items) and Departure Day Outfit. If you travel often, I recommend saving a template so you can snap together a suitcase in no time. There are some items that you will need on every trip so why reinvent the wheel each time. When I traveled overseas extensively, I could pack for a trip the hour before I had to leave.

So what do you need for a 10-day business trip? Here are some base lists to get you started.

Daytime:

5 bottom pieces (skirts or pants)
2 blazers
(Substitute 2 suits w/ 3 extra bottom pieces)
6 blouses, tops or shirts (these can be mixed with your weekend wear also)
2 pairs of dress shoes – make sure that at least one can be worn with pants and skirts
Nighttime & Weekend:
2 bottom pieces
3 tops or shirts
1 sweater or jacket if called for by weather
1 pair of casual shoes
1 more elegant outfit if you have a dressier event
Unless the schedule calls for it, I don’t recommend packing jeans. They are bulky and may not fit the social setting in which you are entering. Casual pants can be adapted more easily into any setting.

Accessories Remember we said to mix and match. Well you don’t want to look like you are wearing the same boring combo every day so change the look of an outfit by re-accessorizing. Accessories don’t take up room in your luggage): Men – ties Women – scarves or costume jewelry

Miscellaneous: Make a standard list of everything you need on a trip such as tickets, money, credit cards, cellphone, passport, CD player and headphones, books & magazines, toiletries bag, etc.

Now you are ready for your next trip. If you are flying, have your toiletries kit in your bag under your seat along with items that help you relax (books, CDs etc). Freshen up just before arriving – shave, fix makeup, comb hair, brush teeth etc. Just think how confident you will appear when you arrive off the plane refreshed and not lugging a 50 lb. jumbo suitcase. There will be a bounce in your step as you meet your hosting party. When they ask where your luggage is, you can smile and say “right here. I am ready to go.” Then watch their faces as they calculate that you will be wearing the same old clothes every day. During the week observe as each day and night you arrive in a seemingly different ensemble. I promise, you will here tons of comments about how great you look. Bon voyage!]]>

Airport management practices can be distinguished from two different perspectives.
Firstly, an entity can manage airports as an integrated network. On the contrary, airports can be managed by an autonomous entity that is responsible for a low number of airports.
Secondly, airport authorities can be owned either by public institutions, by private firms or a mix of both. These practices have a wide range of effects on the ability of an airport authority to attract the most convenient airlines for it. In addition to this, any competitive airline strategy depends fundamentally on airport access.
In this way, Rome airport management trends to have effects on airline and italian airports competition. Although international services are still highly regulated, it can be said that travelers enjoy currently of a greater choice of alternatives to chose, a higher service frequency and low prices. There is a consensus that the achievement, maintenance or increase of these benefits in the post- liberalization period depends fundamentally on the existence of an effective competition on the route.Most airports in the EU, like Rome airports, have been traditionally considered as public service organizations and most of them have not escaped from privatization policies implemented in the last decades; since 1996, and particularly in the recent years, a range of different airport ownership types have arisen due to the different historical and political approaches of EU countries so that it is possible to find any type of airport ownership model in these areas. This fact makes of great interest to study the EU case, taking into account that airport finance and airline access to airports follow common features all over the world with the important exception of US.]]>

Salt and Habaneras from Torrevieja

In order to give directions, everyone referred to this town as where the old tower is and therefore in Spanish - Torrevieja, which when translated to English means ‘ an old tower’. This swampy marsh area has been known for its high quality production of salt and one of the places frquently used to store the dried salt was in towers. There was one particular tower which was knocked down when this area was hit by an earthquake in 1829. Even nowadays, this whole area is constantly being shaken by earthquakes, one of the last ones was just a few months ago. Although it is visited thanks to its beautiful beaches such as the Cura, the Locos or the Mata, it is also visited because it has become popular for its habaneras, Cuban music. One might think that it is quite strange that such far away music has planted its roots so strongly in a little salt mining town in Spain. But there is a very reasonable explanation. Torrevieja carried on a constant flow of salt trading with Cuba and the sailors who did this route were spellbound by this lively music and wanted to share it with their home folks and brought it back here. As we can well see, its has been happily transmitted from one generation to another. There is a fantastic international music festival of habaneras held annually at the end of July or the beginning of August. If you are in the area at this time of the year and wish further details, the Patronizer of the Competition ( Patronato Municipal del Certamen International de Habaneras ) can help you or look in the web.

Natural Parks to visit

When you leave Torrevieja on the highway marked C-332, you will be heading for the Natural park of the Lagoons of the Mata. To be sure you will be able to visit this paradise correctly, it would be recommendable to get information and book a date because there is a maximum of 35 people allowed at a time. The most interesting fauna are the birds like the stone curlew and in the winter there is a great concentration of the diving birds and important nucleus of storks, eagles and and avocets. On the other hand, the salt swamps export salt all over the world. And if that was not enough, salt baths are also recommended for some types of illnesses such as arthritis and skin diseases having become quite popular in the 19th century. But the best part of this excursion is when the sun reflects in these salt mountains.

Even though this city has a lot to do, it is easy and fun to make day excursion travelling up the Costa Blanca to visit Santa Pola on the outskirts of Alicante, then on to Benidorm with its fantastic theme parks of all kinds, Altea and Javea. Get the most out of your stay and travel.]]>

There is, and you can bet your life on it. Serious safaris demand guides with a bold character and the following rugged profile:

Firstly, where has he lived his life?

Has he actually had first hand experience on the ground in Africa? Was his grandfather a warden? The best guide I ever had was a third generation professional guide operating throughout Botswana. He was born in Tanzania and, together with his grandfather - who was a warden - they migrated to the Kalahari Desert and started their own safari operation. This is how he lived his life; he grew up in the bush.

What is his area of expertise?

A knowledgeable guide should possess a wealth of knowledge including the cultures and traditions of the area. Can your guide take you to very remote villages that are rarely visited by travellers?

To ensure your guide has knowledge on a broad range of diverse subjects, it pays to ask specific questions about his or her credentials. Questions like:

How would you track the elusive desert lion of the Kalahari?
How much do you know about Ornithology?
Can you ride a donkey, operate a boat, fly microlight aircraft, transport tag and track lions and conduct tours via bicycle, canoe and 4X4?

Your guide must have “ The Instinct”

A first-class guide, when on a walking safari, goes out in front of the group in search of big game. The guide must have a combination of well honed instincts that include cunning, stealth, and a good sense of smell, coupled with pinpoint-accurate eyesight. Not to mention being quiet and unassuming.

His instincts should be as close to an animal’s as a human can get, while at the same time being very professional.

A relaxed nature

More specifically, can he or she relax in nature? A nervous guide cannot focus on the task at hand. Your guide should have a friendly, relaxed demeanor and enjoy taking guests walking in the bush.

Also, an excellent relationship with a local Bushmen tribe and the ability to act as an interpreter are all signs that your guide is regarded as being charming and cordial.

Lastly, is your guide a real leader?

A safari guide should be a born leader with a tour leader qualification, combining experience in leading expeditions with a wealth of knowledge and excellent organisational skills.
These are the prerequisites for leading varied itineraries in Southern Africa and surrounding countries. Make sure your guides fits the rugged profile.]]>

Using colorful straps on the outside of your luggage will prevent it from popping open. They will also help to quickly identify your luggage in the claim area. Thieves will refrain from taking unique or colorful luggage because people would more readily notice them leaving with it.

In order to possibly prevent the misrouting of your luggage be sure any old flight information tags or information is removed from your luggage. Many times, if they are not removed it can cause your luggage to go to the previous destination. Along the same idea, keep your contact information current.

Putting your contact information on the inside as well as the outside is another preventative measure. On the off chance that your bags pop open your contact information is readily available. It is a good idea also to place your itinerary inside your luggage as well. If opened and delayed, this could help speed the process of getting your luggage to you.

Other methods of preventing the delay or loss of your luggage is the immediate claiming of your luggage after arriving at your destination. If lost you need to be able to describe your luggage exactly, it could help if you have a picture of the bag and of its contents. If traveling with another person consider swapping one outfit so that if your luggage is misplaced you both have something to fall back on. Loss or delays can’t always be prevented but you can lessen the chances of it happening to you.
]]>

How has Sept. 11 affected the traveler? Well, many of you are no doubt familiar with the practical changes that have come about after 9-11. These have especially impacted air travelers. Airport security is much tighter. Access is much more rigorously restricted. Long lines are visible inside terminals and sometimes along the sidewalks outside the airport buildings. In short, you have to wait longer and in more lines than you used to. As a result, whether you are flying domestically or internationally, it is necessary to arrive at airports earlier than before, and make sure that all your documents are in order. One of the more drastic changes is that all security screeners at United States airports have been professionally trained. Passenger’s carry on items are passed through an X-ray machine where they are checked for what in today’s terms are considered dangerous items such as knives, corkscrews, etc. Until just recently, scissors were considered a threatening item. They are now allowed in carry-on bags as long as they are no more than 4" at blade length. Screeners are now more frequently performing random searches of baggage and performing passenger pat downs. 100% of all checked baggage is checked for explosives and other dangerous items. Now all passengers are required to go to the ticket counter before check in. Passengers must have some form of government issued ID such as a state drivers’ license or passport. If you do not have ID, you are not getting on an airplane. Most airports allow only ticketed passengers to go to the departing gate, and you now have to walk quite a stretch before your loved ones can greet you upon arrival.

Even the airplanes themselves are more secure. After 9/11, when the Department of Homeland Security was put into place, they were given the task of performing vulnerability assessments on over 75 of the United States’ major airports and actual airline security systems. As a result, every US larger passenger aircraft has now been equipped with hardened cockpit doors. Thousands of federal air marshals were assigned to flights in order to help ensure the safety of passengers, and to guard against terrorist acts. We have just recently witnessed an unfortunate event where a person on an aircraft claiming to have a bomb was shot by an air marshal. Make no mistake about it; these security measures are very serious.

Psychologically, the changes have been profound. Americans are skittish travelers, and they tend to somewhat indiscriminately lump together vast portions of the world. After Sept. 11, they have tended to avoid travel to any country in the Middle East and much of Asia, as well as India and Pakistan. For the traveler, one of the results of travel in a post-9/11 world is that you need to be better informed about your destination. It is a good idea to read up on the places you are planning to visit, to understand their history, laws, cultures, customs and current conditions. The more you know about your destination, the better prepared you will be to anticipate problems that could have been avoided.

Changes within the travel insurance industry as well have taken place as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Currently some travel insurance companies provide coverage for terrorist attacks committed in the United States of America such as CSA Travel Protection (http://www.csatravelprotection.com). Prior to 9/11, travel insurance only covered terrorist attacks committed overseas. Along with the travel insurance industry the methods Americans use to plan their trips have changed because of 9/11. More than 60% of US vacationers are now using the Internet to plan their vacations either alone or with assistance of a professional travel agent. Americans had already known about travel information and travel business on the Internet prior to September 11th, but many more began to utilize it after the attacks. A lot of online travel deals became available from airline companies and hotels desperate to regain business directly after 9/11. It soon became widely known that great travel deals were available online. Many comprehensive or all-inclusive packages have become popular due to value-added offers that have enticed many Americans to re-evaluate and re-adjust their take on travel. With the proper planning and contextual awareness, traveling can be enjoyable again

Although the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are in no way seen as something positive, these same horrific events have lead to many improvements to the safety and security of travel within the United States. Some of these new security practices may seem like an inconvenience but they have been set up to ensure the safety and continuity of American and friendly foreign travelers traumatized by the events of September 11th.]]>