The Travel Coach

Free Passport Photos

2010-01-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Although it's a task that pops up infrequently in my life, getting an "official" photo for a passport or visa seems a bit of a rip-off, especially in today's digital camera age. Come on, why should I have to schlep down to the post office, UPS store or other "official" passport photo center and pay $10+ for a 2"x2" photo?

Turns out, now there's a better...and cheaper...way: ePassportPhoto.

ePassportPhoto is a FREE online service that lets you upload, edit, and print your own passport photos from the comfort of the nearest computer. There are simple, step-by-step instructions for taking your photos, including tips like "make sure the subject has a neutral expression with no teeth showing." Who knew the U.S. government actively discouraged smiling?

The site also publishes an insightful article that reveals what the big chain drugstores don't want you to know about passport photos, including what a giant cash cow the service is for their businesses. Um, no thanks, I'm trying to cut down on the red meat these days.

Smile (on second thought, don't), for ePassportPhoto.

Never miss an airfare sale again

2007-12-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

I'm somewhat of a fanatic when it comes to finding the best airfare deals. When I'm planning a trip, I've been know to check (and re-check...and re-check) the various reservation web sites to see if fares have slipped by $50 or whether I can nab a last-minute airfare special. But my days of obsessively monitoring airfares may be coming to an end with my discovery of Yapta.

Yapta (which stands for "Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant") is a handy online service that makes it easier to find the best airfare deals out there. First, install Yapta for your favorite web browser (available for Firefox and Explorer) and then start searching for fares on any of the dozen or so websites supported by Yapta.

Once you find a flight that interests you, simply “tag” it and Yapta will automatically begin monitoring its price for you. Should the price drop, Yapta will automatically email you a notification about the new fare.

Already bought your ticket? Yapta can also monitor your flights and let you know if the fare drops and tell you whether you’re eligible for a refund from the airline.

Hmmm. Looks like I’m going to have to find a new travel obsession.

One Trip = One Bag

2007-06-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Whenever I check in for an airline flight, I'm always amazed by the people I see lugging several HUGE pieces of luggage. What could they possibly be carrying in there? Are they going on a trip that will last several months? The truth is, most of these travelers simply can't imagine leaving home without taking along all the comforts of well, home.

Now I admit, I'm a bit of a gypsy (Hungarian being my ethnicity) and have been known to pack WAY too much for a trip. "What if it's unexpectedly cold?", I worry. "Maybe we'll be going out to a fancy restaurant," I fret. "What happens if I spill something on my shirt?," I wonder. But ideally, I try to pack only what I can carry on board my flight (carry-on vs. checked luggage is an ongoing debate in my household, I might mention).

Thankfully, One Bag is there to help.

Compiled by Doug Dyment, One Bag is an exhaustive resource for those looking to travel light. This comprehensive web site is chockablock with great advice on how to reduce your luggage to a more manageable size. Doug not only shares his philosophy on why packing light will enhance your enjoyment of traveling, but he also makes suggestions on what to pack, the best luggage choices, efficient packing, and more. There's even a a suggested packing list to help get you started.

Go forth and travel light.

Check your Passport Now

2007-06-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

***Update: On June 8, 2007, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received their passports can re-enter the United States (through September 30, 2007) by showing the following:

• A government issued photo ID
• Department of State official proof of application for a passport

This applies to air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

Obviously, the State Dept. read the Travel Coach and decided it better change its policy ; )

Original Post:
In case you haven't heard, the U.S. recently changed its policy and now requires all American citizens to carry passports when traveling by air to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This new policy has created major delays at the U.S. Passport Office thanks to a surge in passport applications and renewals.

Even if you're not traveling to one of countries mentioned above—but your passport is expiring anytime soon—this could have a huge impact on your international travel plans. People report waiting up to 12 weeks to receive a new or renewed passport. Horror stories of long lines, disconnected phone calls, cancelled trips and other annoyances abound.

Even if you're traveling in say, October, and your passport doesn't expire until December, you may still be affected. For instance, many countries require that your passport be valid for a specific amount of time AFTER you enter the country. For instance, Greece requires that a traveler's passport be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay. Morocco requires six months of validity. To check out the passport requirements of your international destination, go here, navigate to the correct country, and then select "Passport/Visa" from the right-hand menu.

What are you waiting for? Go check your passport...NOW!

Escape from Phone Tree Hell

2007-05-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Does this sound familiar? You call a travel company to book a trip, make a complaint, request information, check on a reservation, or do some other relatively simple task, and suddenly, you're stuck in PHONE TREE HELL! It's that maddening world of endless phone prompts, droning announcements, and countless button pushes that get you nowhere...except to yet another recording. There's no escape!

Thankfully, the gentle folks at GetHuman offer some relief. This handy-dandy online database details the phone numbers and secret button combinations you need to dial to get connected directly to an actual human being. There's even a special Travel section on the site listing airlines, hotels, and other travel-related businesses.

For even more "secret" phone numbers (travel related and otherwise), be sure to also bookmark the appropriately named Hard to Find 800 Numbers. Here you'll find additional tricks for getting through those endless corporate phone mazes.

Happy dialing!

Where in the World Have You Been?

2007-03-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

With two months since my last post, you'd be forgiven for asking yourself the same question about the Travel Coach: "Where in the world have you been?" And thanks to the handy Travbuddy Travel Map, I have a ready answer for you: Everywhere!

In addition to helping you hook up with fellow travelers, and share your travel stories, the Travbuddy web site also lets you create a global map that shows graphically where in the heck in the world you've visited.

Turns out, the Travel Coach has visited a paltry 12% of the countries in the world. With 193 countries worldwide, it looks like I've still got a lifetime of travel ahead of me. (Whew!)

So where in the world have YOU been?

Make Summer Camping Reservations Now

2006-12-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

With the rush of the holidays upon us, even the Travel Coach can forgive you for not thinking about your vacation plans for next year. But if you've got your heart set on camping at at one of our more popular (i.e. crowded) National Parks in the summer of 2007, now is the time to be reserving your favorite site. Because the National Parks Service opens up reservations for any given day five months in advance, some of the most popular summer time periods will become available over the next several weeks.

For instance, Memorial Day weekend (May 25-28) will be available for booking starting Christmas day. The handy-dandy table to the right (provided by the National Park Services) shows the crucial reservations dates for the entire year.

For more information, including further reservations restrictions and to book your site, visit the online National Parks Reservations Service.

FREE phone calls from Google Maps

2006-11-26T13:09:00.000-08:00

If you're planning an out-of-town trip, long-distance phone calls to make inquires or reservations at hotels, restaurants, theaters, tour companies and other businesses can start to add up. But a new feature on Google Maps changes all that by offering FREE phone calls to any business in the United States.

To use this new cost-saving new feature, simply search Google Maps for any U.S. business you want. Then just click the "call" link that's located at the end of the business listing. Next, enter your phone number in the box provided, and click "Connect for Free". Google Maps will immediately call you, and once you answer the phone, connect you to the business. You can even check a box to have Google Maps remember your phone number so you won't have to enter it every time.

Of course, you could use this handy feature for reasons other than travel, such as ordering flowers from a local florist in a friend's hometown, calling an ill relative at a distant hospital, or simply phoning someone at work to chat...all for free. Check out Google Maps cool new call feature today.

Winning at the Security Checkpoint Game

2006-11-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

With the holidays nearly upon us, more people than usual will be flying the "friendly" skies to visit family and friends. And if you're one of these lucky individuals, that means you're likely to find yourself enduring impossibly long wait times at airport security checkpoints around the country. But thankfully, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a handy online tool that might ease your pain...just a little.

The Security Checkpoint Wait Times tool (catchy name, huh?) lets you easily determine how long you can expect to wait in the security line before your flight, based on airport, day of the week, and time of your departure. Mind you, these are historical figures that show the "average" time spent in line, but at least they'll give you an idea of how early you need to head to the airport. But just in case, make sure you pack a good book or magazine in your carry-on.

Safe flying!

Memorable Travel Reading Made Easy

2006-11-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

When I go traveling , I often like to take along a book to read that's set in the place I'll be visiting. In fact, one of my most memorable travel experiences was riding trains through Italy reading The Agony and the Ecstasy, Irving Stone's excellent biographical novel about Michelangelo.

I recently discovered a handy website that makes finding an appropriate book for any upcoming trip extremely simple. Entitled the Vacation Book Review, this exhaustive website collects reader reviews from Amazon.com to organize its top book recommendations by geographical location. With just a few clicks, I can find literary gems about Greece, a country I'm planning to visit with friends next summer.

For a more general recommendation of great travel writing, be sure to also check out this list recently compiled by the World Hum website: Top 30 Travel Books of All Time.

Got a favorite travel book you'd like to share? Post your recommendations on the Travel Coach forums. Happy reading.

The Travel Coach in U.S.A. Today

2006-11-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Be sure to check out this article in the November 2nd edition of U.S.A. Today on the increase in marketing aimed at gay consumers. The piece discusses the fact that more and more advertising dollars today are being spent trying to woo gay consumers along with their higher-than-average discretionary incomes. But even more significant to my faithful readers is that yours truly, the Travel Coach, is quoted at the very end of the article.

You can tell your friends you "knew me when." Please, no autographs.

All-in-one United Airlines Promo Signup

2006-10-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Signing up for limited-time bonus mile offers is one of the easiest ways to pad your frequent flyer accounts. But keeping up with all the various offers, and then taking the time to actually register for all of them, could easily become a full-time job. But things have gotten a bit easier for United Airlines frequent fliers, thanks to a handy online tool recently posted by self-proclaimed geek, Kristopher Linquist.

Kristopher's clever creation lets you sign up for ALL current United promo offers at once. Just enter your Mileage Plus Number, hit the "Enter" button, and you're instantly registered. You also get presented with a list of individual links with details about each special offer. As an added bonus, you can also register to have yourself automatically signed up for United promotions on a weekly or monthly basis.

Check it out for yourself here. And to further maximize your frequent flyer miles, don't forget to check in with the Mileage Maven.

Cash in your Mileage Penny Jar

2006-07-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

If you're like most people, you probably have a big jar or bowl in your house where you throw all your loose change. And if you've ever bothered to cash it in, you know that all those pennies, nickels, and dimes can quickly add up to some serious money.

That's why you need to know about the Mileage Converter from InsideFlyer.com.

Like the aforementioned change, you probably have small amounts of frequent flyer miles stashed away in the programs of many different airlines. Airlines you'll rarely (if ever) fly again. But the Mileage Converter can quickly show you how to take those unused (and useless) miles and consolidate them into one frequent flyer account where they can do you some good.

For instance, I have 11,563 miles on Continental Airlines that I probably earned back in the mid-1980's flying between Boston and the Midwest. At this rate, it'll be another two decades before I've accumulated enough miles for a free Continental ticket. But the Mileage Converter reveals that through a series of transfers between various mileage programs, I can turn my 11,000+ Continental miles into 3,000 American AAdvantage miles. Even though I'll lose 8,000 miles in the process, it's better to have 3,000 miles I can use rather than 11,000 miles that are just gathering dust somewhere.

Looks like it's time to empty out your penny jar with the Mileage Converter.

DING! Time to save with Southwest Airlines

2006-07-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Although previously covered on the Travel Coach, DING! from Southwest Airlines is definitely worth mentioning again. To recap, DING! is a small computer utility that quietly monitors and then notifies you of special sale fares from Southwest Airlines. These special fares are only available for a VERY limited time (4 to 6 hours) and ONLY available to DING! customers.

For instance, I just scored a $221 roundtrip airfare via DING!—a respectable $68 savings over the cheapest fare for the exact same flights and times found using the regular Southwest reservation page. And DING! just keeps improving. It's now available for Macintosh users (as well as Windows machines) plus you can now customize DING! to only show fares to/from your preferred Southwest airports.

Download DING! today, and soon you could be hearing the sweet sound of savings on the next Southwest flight you book.

The Travel Coach is Back!

2006-07-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

I just realized today that there has been an ongoing technical problem with my blog, and that Travel Coach subscribers have not been receiving notifications about new postings. My apologies! Everything is in working order now, so be sure to visit the Travel Coach to see what you might have missed over the past month or so.

Happy Travels.

To buy, or not to buy...

2006-06-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to purchase airline tickets at the cheapest price has always been a tricky cat-and-mouse game. Buy too early, and you could miss out on a last-minute sale. Buy too late, and the cheap seats may all be gone.

Help is on the way from Farecast.com.

Farecast takes much of the guesswork out of deciding when to actually make your ticket purchase. Using sophisticated prediction and modeling technologies, Farecast determines whether a particular fare is likely to go up or to go down from now until the time you plan to fly. Still in beta testing (the site only works for flights to/from Boston and to/from Seattle), the site provides you with a "Fare Prediction" and "Fare History" for your route—and here's the coolest part—suggests whether you should BUY NOW or WAIT to purchase your tickets. Plus there's a flexible search function that lets you compare fares for a 30-day period so you can see the cheapest days to fly. Finally, the site shows you actual fares for your trip, along with links for making your final booking. Which means there are none of those added booking fees that some other sites charge.

Check out Farecast.com today. And while you're there, be sure to VOTE for your favorite/home airport to help ensure it will be one of the first added to the site as it expands in the future.

Maximize your Miles with the MileMaven

2006-06-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I find a web site that's as useful as the MileMaven. This brilliant travel tool helps make sure you get the absolute MOST frequent flyer miles before you book your next trip. Planning to fly from San Francisco to New York City? Enter those cities on the MileMaven home page, and you'll see bonus mileage opportunities on SFO to NYC flights from 11 different airlines. Plus MileMaven lists the average airfare paid AND the on-time record for each airline flying that particular route. MileMaven will also let you know which major hotel chains at your destination are offering frequent flyer miles for booking a room. There are also a couple of other nifty gadgets such as the Mileage Calculator that lets you know how many frequent flyer miles you'll be earning on your flight. From now on, the Travel Coach will ALWAYS consult the MileMaven.

Roundtrip to New Zealand: $765!

2006-05-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

New Zealand is definitely high on my list of travel destinations. Everyone I know who's been there raves about the amazing scenery and wonderful inhabitants of this farflung island. So although a trip to New Zealand is not within my near travel plans, I'm hoping some Travel Coach readers CAN take advantage of this fantastic airfare deal from Air New Zealand: as low as $765 roundtrip from San Francisco or Los Angeles to Auckland and other cities in New Zealand. But you can't dawdle too much because you've got to book by June 5 and begin your travels by June 27 to get this great fare.

Go ahead, be spontaneous and take a last-minute trip to New Zealand. Then send me an email and let me know all the great things I'm missing. I can't wait to hear from you!

FREE Airline Ticket with American Credit Card

2006-05-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a credit card offer that's scorchingly hot: Apply for a Citibank American Airlines MasterCard, charge just $250 to the card, and get 25,000 frequent flyer miles on American Airlines...enough for a free roundtrip domestic ticket. Even better, if you apply today, May 18, you'll ALSO receive a FREE companion ticket on American Airlines with the purchase of a $299 ticket or higher PLUS the $85/year fee for the card will be waived for the first year! Whew! If you've missed the May 18 window of opportunity, you may want to try and apply through the above link...American might just go ahead and honor the offer anyway. If not, here's another offer on the card that gives 20,000 frequent flyer miles after just one purchase and waives the fee for the first year.

Happy flying!

The Perfect Carry-on

2006-05-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

"Love you more than my luggage," my friends are fond of saying. But if they carried the Delsey Helium Lite 100 Personal Bag, they might think twice before saying it ever again. I LOVE this carry-on bag (and believe me, I've tried alot of different models). It holds a ton of stuff considering its compact design, sports lots of handy pockets, and is really well built. If you don't believe me, check out the reviews from other satisfied buyers. In fact, I was so impressed, I bought one of its companions, the Delsey Helium Lite 100 Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley. Love you MORE than my luggage? Hmmm...I'll get back to you on that after my next trip.

Morocco Musings

2006-04-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Travel Coach fans! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I was "busy" experiencing the trip of a lifetime (well, at least in my life so far) to Morocco. I'm happy to report that GAP Adventures/Intrepid Travel did a FANTASTIC job of shuttling nine of us between all the splendors of Morocco. Everyone from Jackie Garrity, the Gap Group Tour supervisor, to Summer Davis, our fearless tour leader in Morocco, did everything they could to make sure our 15-day trip was as memorable as possible. And boy, did Morocco deliver.

It'd be difficult to name a "favorite" part of the trip, but many top experiences stand out in my mind. Like being pounded, scrubbed, and drowned into submission by an old Moroccan man at a local hammam (steam bath). Or riding camels out into the Sahara, climbing 30-story-high dunes as the sun set, and sleeping outside under a full moon (I've never experienced such quiet and peacefulness in my life). Or getting lost in the crazy, narrow alleyways of the souk (marketplace) in Fez, gaping a towering piles of spices, severed camel heads, and salespeople hawking everything you can imagine. Or maybe it was our stunning hotel, Riad Mimouna , we treated ourselves to in Essaouira. From the beaches, to the mountains, to the desert, Morocco constantly surprised and delighted me with its variety of sights, smells, sounds, and experiences. It's a trip I'd recommend to everyone! We'll certainly have trouble topping it next year.

For a photo essay of our trip in Morocco, be sure to visit my online album of the trip.

To and Fro, Hither and Yon

2006-02-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

Any trip (at least those involving air travel) begins with a trip away from the airport where you've just landed. But if you're like most travelers, you're not really sure of the best way to get to where you're going. Does it make sense to use public transportation. What's the quickest travel option? The cheapest? How much will a taxi cost? How do I make sure I'm not getting ripped off by some fly-by-night "limo" driver?

Here's where toandfromtheairport can really help.

Despite its less-than-catchy name, this web site is a goldmine of information for airport transporation options around the world. Where else could you find out which public bus can take you from the Marrakech airport to the medina? Or the cost of a taxi from all the airports in the New York City area? Plus toandfromtheairport can help out when it's time to take the trip BACK to the airport to fly home.

All in all, a very handy site that can save you tons of time and money.

The Travel Coach Returns

2005-12-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know WHAT happened, but I've been very bad about updating "The Travel Coach" blog over the last several months. No good excuse, although I did manage to take one vacation during that time and planned a major trip for a group of 10 friends in March.

Anyone who's been a faithful reader of the Travel Coach knows that I've been planning a big Spring getaway for my friends over the past couple of years. It's something I really enjoy doing. In 2004, seven of us went to Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls. By 2005, our group had grown to nine as we went south once again to Costa Rica. For 2006, we decided to step it up a bit and do a 15-day tour of Morocco! Since planning a trip for 10 people to Morocco seemed a bit overwhelming, we decided that a group tour might be best for us. But not one of those package tours that would just put us on a big bus, house us in sterile tourist hotels, and let us just gaze at Morocco as we drove through it. Definitely not our group's style.

So after surveying all the options available, we decided to go with GAP Adventures Colours of Morocco package. GAP has a unique Sustainable Tourism philosophy that promises to put us in touch with the "real" Morocco and the people who call it home. Plus we'll have our own private minibus and tour leader with plenty of time to explore on our own. We'll even be spending a night camping in the Sahara desert. Guess it's time to brush up on my rendition of "Midnight at the Oasis"!

Holiday Travel Made Cheap(er)

2005-09-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Autumn is just a few days away, and in the world of travel, that means it's time to book your holiday flights. As early as you think it might be, it's probably already too late to get the cheapest-of-the-cheap fares for Thanksgiving travel, but you may still have a chance at good Christmas/New Year's fares. The Travel Coach has a few tricks up his sleeve that will help you find the best airfares this holiday season.

Remember, a little flexibility can go a long way when it comes to saving money on airfare. Moving your travel dates by just a day or two can often save you hundreds of dollars.

One of the easiest ways to find the most affordable flying days is to use Travelocity's Flexible Fare Finder feature. Just enter your cities and dates as usual, but be sure to check the "+/- 1 to 3 days" option and select from the pull-down menus showing the number of days to search before/after. Travelocity will then present you with the best fares within your specified time period so you can decide whether it's worth it to change your plans slightly. Or try the "Flexible Dates" option, and Travelocity will show you the available fares for an entire month or more.

Expedia also has a new Flexible Dates feature that works a little differently. Here you select the month you want to travel, and the length of your stay. Expedia then shows you a calendar with the cheapest available fares for each day of that month. Although I like the fact that Expedia gives real-time availability of flights to show you how many tickets remain at a certain price, the Flexible Dates feature only works for a limited selection of U.S. cities. Tough luck if you don't live near one of these airports.

Finally, Orbitz offers a "Bonus Days" feature that lets you modify the search period for your travel from =/-1 - 3 days, similar to Travelocity. The site also has something called "Flexible Stays". Using this option, I had Orbitz search for roundtrip airfare for a 5 to 7 day-long trip from San Francisco to Albuquerque between December 21 and December 28...and got fares ranging from $369 to $405. To find either of these features, click on the "Flexible Dates" link at the bottom of the Search box on the Orbitz home page.

Happy Holidays from the Travel Coach!

20K FREE United Miles

2005-08-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the best frequent-flyer-mile deals I've seen in a long time. Right now when you sign up for the United Mileage Plus Visa Card, you'll get 20,000 bonus miles when you make your first purchase with the card. But here's the best part: the usual $60 annual fee is waived for the first year! That's almost like getting a roundtrip domestic ticket (25K miles) absolutely free. Or use those bonus miles to top up your United Mileage Plus account to snag a business class upgrade, or even an international trip. I've got about 30,000 United miles right now, so an extra 20,000 will give me enough miles to fly to Europe...for absolutely nothing! Remember: you've got to cancel the card at the end of the year, or face the $60/year fee. But by then, you'll have socked away those FREE 20K miles!

Bump Your Way to Free Travel

2005-08-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

Usually when it's time to fly home from a trip, I just want to get on the plane and get there as soon as possible. But I have friends who actually make it their goal to get bumped from their flights. Some have managed to get bumped up to three times in the same day...paying for their airline travel for the next year. Getting bumped from an oversold plane can earn you some serious cash, a hotel room, airline tickets and more. If you decide you want to try your luck at this game, BumpTracker can help you make sure you don't accept an offer that's too low from an airline that's desperate for your seat. BumpTracker posts details from bumped flyers, revealing what these passengers received in cash, tickets or other compensation from specific airlines. Plus you can submit the details of your recent "deal" and view Tips and Tricks for serious bump addicts. So if you've got some extra time on your hands and don't mind delaying your trip for a bit, be sure to check out BumpTracker before you head for the airport.

The SeatGuru Knows All

2005-08-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's a sad-yet-inescapable fact of travel: Airline seats are horrendously uncomfortable. But you can improve your chances for getting a SLIGHTLY more comfortable ride when you consult with the SeatGuru. Billed as "your enlightened guide to airline seating," SeatGuru lists the seating configurations for the planes of over 25 different airlines. The site provides insider tips for choosing a seat with a bit more legroom, one that's far away from smelly bathrooms or busy galleys, or even which offer a plug for your laptop computer. Even better, SeatGuru tells you which seats to avoid at all costs. There's even a mobile option that lets you view seating maps right on your cell phone, perfect for all you road (or is that air?) warriors out there.

Become an "Elite" Traveler (on the cheap)

2005-08-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

Money may not buy happiness, but now it can at least buy you a little more leg room on United. If you've traveled on United recently, you know the airline offers something called Economy Plus seating to passengers who qualify as Mileage Plus Elite members. In a nutshell, these are people who are VERY frequent flyers on United. Economy Plus seating offers a generous 5 additional inches of legroom, plus allows you to board the plane first. For anyone who's been trapped like a sardine in a plane's economy section, those 5 extra inches can make all the difference between a crappy flight and a fabulous flight.

But United has just introduced a new program called Economy Plus Access that lets you purchase your way into this preferred seating area. For $299/year, both you AND a traveling companion will be upgraded automatically to the Economy Plus section (pending availability) when booking your ticket. And the service is available for both domestic AND international flights! So while the annual fee might seem a bit stiff, it could certainly become worth it if you fly a lot of United domestic flights, or even just one long international flight.

By the way, you can sometimes snag an Economy Plus seat when checking in for your flight at the airport. On a recent trip, I was given the choice to upgrade my ticket for a fee of $49 (I declined).

Happy flying!

Grrrrr...Airfare Watchdog on Alert for Great Deals

2005-08-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

My travel bargain hero, George Hobica, is at it again, with his new Airfare Watchdog BLOG. Faithful Travel Coach readers might remember my earlier post about George several months ago. Well it seems George (aka the Airfare Watchdog) has a new name and vastly improved look for his BLOG featuring the best deals in airfares. Be sure to sign up for one of his excellent (and free) Airfare Report newsletters with "unadvertised fare wars you won't find anywhere else." George has garnered a lot of favorable press over the last several month for his dogged (hey, maybe THAT'S why he's called the Airfare Watchdog!?) pursuit of airfare bargains. Do your travel budget a favor and check him out.

Fall Airfare Sales

2005-08-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you've been waiting to book your fall travel, the wait is over. Most airlines have just announced their VERY brief fall airfare sales for travel through December 15th. But you've got to hurry to take advantage of these fares. Here are just a few of the sales being offered:

Northwest (must book by August 2!)
Delta (must book by August 2!)
American (must book by August 12)
United (must book by August 12)

Check your favorite airline's website as most are matching the sale fares from other carriers.

Happy flying!

Best Mileage-Earning Credit Cards

2005-07-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

Just returned from my East Coast getaway and had a fantastic time. Great weather. Great friends. Great memories. I used frequent flyer miles earned through my credit card for my plane trip to Boston...a big cost savings in the expensive summer vacation months. But it got me to thinking: am I getting the best deal from my credit card, or are there better choices out there? Gary Leff, in his excellent
View from the Wing BLOG, offers this very complete answer.

The Travel Coach: On Vacation

2005-07-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

With all my talk of travel, I thought it was time to take a little vacation for myself. So I'm off for a little R&R in Provincetown. I'll be back next week with more travel tips. Until then...

Outsmarting "Sneaky" Flight Searches

2005-07-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

I came across a question on the Travel Carnival, originally asked on Nathan's Archive blog. But before I give my answer, here's a little background. In case you didn't know it, the "biggie" travel search sites sneak a cookie into your web browser that lets their booking systems know when you've last visited the site, and even details your specific travel search. Why is that such a big deal? Because with that cookie, the site knows if you've been searching for a particular fare and can alter the results it ultimately shows you based on that information. I don't have scientific proof, but my experience has shown that the fare can actually get a bit higher with every search. Or you may not be offered the lower price should a fare go down for some reason. I guess the airlines figure you're a serious shopper and that you'll probably jump at the higher fare as you see it start inexplicably going up and up. So how can you combat this "sneaky" practice? When you're ready to make a final travel purchase, simply delete the cookies from your browser before doing a search so you appear to be a "new" user of the site. Even Frommer's Budget Travel suggests this procedure. Deleting cookies is usually done from the Preferences menu of your browser under the "Privacy" section. Search the Help for your browser for specific cookie deletion instructions. Sneaky, huh?

Ride off into the Sunset

2005-07-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

I ran into a friend on the street about a week ago, and we got to talking about our recent vacations (naturally). I really enjoy talking travel with this guy because we seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to the types of trips we enjoy, and the delight we take in discovering unusual destinations. But when he sheepishly told me one of his favorite resources for travel ideas, I had to admit it was a "secret" resource of mine, too: Sunset Magazine! Yes, THAT Sunset Magazine, the old standby publication that focuses on gardening, craft and home projects for families in the West. It's kind of like admitting you subscribe to Reader's Digest for its great literary content, or get Playboy for the articles. But Sunset actually has a fantastic travel section that's filled with terrific weekend getaway ideas, cool day trips, and oddball sights in California, the Northwest, the Southwest, the Rockies and Hawaii. Even if you don't live in the West (which makes it sound like we all wear cowboy hats, spurs, and carry six-shooters), Sunset will provide you with lots of vacation ideas for years to come. With a year's subscription for just $9, it's a real travel bargain.

Travel with a (Life) Purpose

2005-07-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in my online travel meanderings, I discover something so exciting, it brings my web surfing to a dead stop. And that's exactly what happened when I stumbled upon The Big Stretch on i-escape.com. Here's a British-based company that manages to combine all of my passions (traveling, coaching, self improvement, creativity) and background into one incredible travel experience. I have to admit I'm a bit jealous I didn't think of it first.

Held in the Pico Mountains in northern Spain, the Big Stretch is a unique walking holiday that combines the great outdoors with intensive group and individual life coaching. During a 7-day hiking retreat, experienced Big Stretch coaches help participants focus on important issues in their lives, helping them formulate new ideas, make solid plans, and even totally shift life directions.

Sounds like VERY powerful stuff.

I'm looking forward to learning more about Big Stretch and its approach by attending one of the company's intensive 2-day training sessions in London for coaches. Hmmm, maybe my dream of becoming an actual Travel Coach somehow wasn't such a crazy idea after all.

Old Cape Cod

2005-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm always anxious to visit new places so I can add the proverbial new notch to my travel belt. But there's one place I revisit again and again: Provincetown, Massachusetts. There's just something magical about the place to me. Sure, it's a quaint town with tons of character, art galleries and shopping. Sure, there are gorgeous beaches and secluded dunes. And sure, it's packed with a diverse crowd of gay men and women strolling the streets along with straight families. And I love if for all those reasons. But there's something else about P-town that calls me back again and again. I've given up trying to figure it out. I've given into this love and make a point to visit at least once a year. I'm smitten! This year, I'll be making my annual pilgrimage from July 21-25...just a short trip, but enough to satisfy my Provincetown itch for awhile.

Provincetown is literally at the end of the world (or at least the tip of Cape Cod), but it's relatively easy to reach. After flying into Boston on an overnight flight, it's just a short subway or cab ride to the nearest ferry landing. Two companies, Bay State Cruises and Boston Harbor Cruises, offer fast ferry service from downtown Boston right to the docks of Provincetown. In just 1.5 hours after leaving Beantown, you'll be strolling Commercial Street in Provincetown! It sure beats a 2+ hour car drive (without traffic).

Once you get to Provincetown, there are tons of guesthouses, hotels, condos and houses you can rent. But snagging a space in the height of the summer season can be a bit...challenging...and expensive. Most rentals have a 7-day minimum during July and August, but you might find a flexible owner. Two good rental organizations with lots of inventory are We Need a Vacation, and Cyberrentals. Decide whether you want to stay in the East End (quieter with all the galleries) or the West End (a little more lively, with most of the retail stores, and closer to the beach). There are too many guesthouses to name here, but just do a Google search, and you're sure to find one in your price range. As for the beach, the main gay beach, Herring Cove, is about a mile or so from the center of town. Which is why you'll want to rent a bike while you're there. Plus there's a fantastic bike trail through the dunes of the National Seashore...not to be missed.

I could go on and on and on about all the great things about Provincetown, but it's best if you discover it for yourself. I bet you fall in love, too.

Coast-to-Coast for a Song

2005-07-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Great news for San Francisco travelers: the hip, low-cost spinoff of Delta airlines, Song, has just announced daily nonstop flights from SFO to New York's JFK airport. Finally, we don't have to schlep across the Bay Bridge to Oakland to fly JetBlue. Plus Song will be adding nonstop SFO to Boston flights starting in September! Perfect for those trips back East to visit Provincetown. Fares look great right now: $144 o/w to NYC. Read the entire story from the SF Chronicle.

Leave your heart in San Francisco (without losing your shirt)

2005-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky enough to live in San Francisco, a city that's frequently named one of the world's top tourist destinations. So while I've got my own cozy home in the City by the Bay, there are hordes of tourists looking for a place to stay. And as you'd expect, hotel prices can be pretty expensive in such a popular place. But over the past few years, I've collected the names of reasonably priced accommodations to share with those interested in visiting my fair city. Mind you, I've never stayed in any of these establishments, but they all get good ratings from travelers at TripAdvisor, one of my favorite travel web sites. Here they are, listed alphabetically:

Andrews Hotel
Carlton Hotel
The Mosser
San Remo Hotel

If you're looking for a little more "cool" factor, the Joie de Vivre hotel group has some great properties. I especially like the Phoenix Hotel (but be warned, it's in a funky part of town).

Hope to see you soon in San Francisco (don't EVER call it Frisco).

Teaching an old dog a new trick...

2005-06-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

I like to think I'm up on all the tricks for finding the cheapest airfare, but here's a new one from Michael Jones that I found on his Armageddon Project blog. Michael recommends to "check Expedia.com or Southwest Airlines’ site for tickets EXACTLY one week to the day before you want to fly. I found that Southwest and Expedia both offer CHEAP fares on a 7-day advance purchase."

I haven't had the chance to check it out myself, but I'm happy to have another "secret" travel tip at my disposal.

Thanks Mike!

Out in Africa

2005-06-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

For the past several years, a (growing) group of buddies and I take a major trip together. In 2004, we visited Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls in Argentina. This year, we spent nearly 2 weeks visiting the volcanos, rainforests and beaches of Costa Rica. Now it's time to start planning our next trip for early 2006: SOUTH AFRICA!

Like many people, I've dreamed for years about going on safari and seeing all those wild beasts normally confined to the local zoo. How exotic! Throw in a cosmopolitan city like Cape Town, and the trip even gets better. But for the bargain travel hunter, South Africa poses a bit of a problem. Airfares to South Africa START at $1000 and go up from there. And safaris are expensive...way expensive. But I've done some preliminary research, and I think I've found a couple outfits that can provide a fantastic time, at a more reasonable price. Plus, both offer all-inclusive packages with airfare, as well as "land only" options for those of us planning on using frequent flyer miles to get to South Africa.

My first choice, 2Afrika, offers lots of great options for South African trips. One 13-day offering includes Cape Town, Victoria Falls AND Chobe National Park! The company has been very responsive to my emails and really seems to know their stuff. Another company, Djoser African Safaris, does Africa a bit differently, specializing in "active, affordable trips for small groups that offer a blend of nature, culture and authentic local experiences". They've got a VERY interesting selection of South Africa trips.

Can't wait to start really planning with the rest of my travel group.

Browse my Personal Travel Bookmarks

2005-06-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you want proof that I'm a travel-planning freak, you need look no further than the collection of travel-related bookmarks in my web browser. At last count, I had nearly 1,100 web sites marked (and neatly organized, of course)! But my obsession is your gain. You can now access all 1,100 of my travel bookmarks directly from the Travel Coach blog. Even better, the bookmarks are searchable, so you can quickly find any of my bookmarks related to say, "Italy" in just a few seconds. And if you're REALLY a Travel Coach fan, you can download the entire collection to your own computer. You can find my bookmarks here, or click the "MyBookmarks" link in the right-hand column of my blog.

Happy surfing.

Why not ask Craig?

2005-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, a friend emailed me looking for an affordable, short-term apartment rental in Rome for an upcoming trip. Then just yesterday, another friend mentioned she was having trouble finding a house to swap in Manhattan for a particular week this summer. In both instances, I recommended a travel resource many people might not consider: Craigslist.

In case you don't know, Craigslist is a community-based website that was started in the Bay Area waaay back in the dot.com heyday. Think of it as a virtual coffeehouse bulletin board where you can find everything from job listings, real estate, used items for sale...even a quickie pickup. Posting on the site is free in most cases.

Craigslist in San Francisco became so popular that there are now local Craigslist sites in more than 120 cities around the world. And here's why that's exciting news for travelers everywhere: Craigslist has specific listings for both vacation rentals and housing swaps in each of the cities it serves.

In my first friend's case, I sent him to check the Craigslist Rome site for vacation rentals. My second friend searched the Craigslist NYC site for housing swaps, and also posted her own house to see if she could entice anyone in New York to make a swap. Remember, as with any online transaction, exercise caution when using Craigslist to find a short-term rental.

Say goodbye to sterile chain motels and overpriced hotels. With a little work and some luck, you could find yourself sitting pretty in your very own rental apartment or house on your next vacation.

Navigate the tricky waters of travel planning with Kayak.com

2005-06-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Remember how the Internet was going to make travel-planning easier for everyone? How you were going to be able to find the cheapest airfare with just a few clicks of your computer mouse and tippety-taps on your keyboard? WRONG! If you're like most people, the web has made making travel reservations even MORE complicated. With a dizzying array of options from dozens of competing sites, it's nearly impossible to make sure you're getting the best deal out there. And with the accelerating demise of the traditional travel agent, you're often left to flounder on your own in a sea of confusion.

To add to the problem, many travel sites such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity claim to search all available airfare and hotel deals out there, but here's the hidden, ugly truth: these sites often make exclusive "deals" with travel providers, exclude many of the lower-cost airlines from searches, or favor one airline over another in their search results.

Say "hi" to Kayak.com.

As a travel aggregator, Kayak.com does not sell any travel products directly, but merely collects the offers from "over 100 online travel sites, providing prices and itineraries for more than 550 airlines and 85,000 hotels." Kayak.com then lets you easily filter duplicate fares, change your search parameters and instantly see the reorganized results. Plus when you search for hotels, you see ratings and reviews provided by readers and respected travel sites such as Frommer's and Fodors. Of course, Kayak doesn't search EVERY airline web site (including that of major low-cost carrier Southwest), but the site promises it's working diligently to add new partners. Until then, you'll need to check these "renegade" airline sites yourself.

Try out Kayak.com for yourself using the seach box in the right-hand column of the Travel Coach blog. And in case you were wondering....no, I'm not making any commission on flights you book through Kayak.com on my blog. At least not yet :)

Share Your Travel Tips

2005-05-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Got a favorite travel tip you want to share? A "secret" spot you'd like to recommend? Or some killer travel deal you heard about? Let the Travel Coach readers know all about it by posting it on my handy-dandy Travel Tips Forum. Best of all, you don't even have to register or share any personal information to post! Check it out today.

Cool Trip Idea #1: Firetower Rentals

2005-05-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Cool Trip Ideas", my special ongoing series about trips I think sound, well, COOL. First cool idea: Firetower Rentals. I've had this idea for quite some time, but it was just featured in the SF Chronicle and VIA magazine, so I guess it's not that "secret" of an idea after all. Run by the U.S. Forest Service, this program lets you rent unused fire-spotting towers in forests throughout the U.S. These towers (and cabins) are very rustic and usually in very remote locations, so they're not for finicky, room-service-loving type of travelers. But if you're looking for someplace quiet with no distractions, a firetower might just be for you. Reserving a firetower can be challenging. Reservations for the entire coming year open up on January 1, so you gotta do a little advance planning. This year, I forgot to make a reservation until nearly February, and I was SOL. Ah well, maybe I'll have better luck in 2006. For information on booking firetowers and cabins, click here.

Travel Bargains in your Email Box

2005-05-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

I know, you're a very busy (and important!) person. One who certainly doesn't have time to surf all the travel websites looking for all those great travel bargains. So why not let them come to you...right to your personal email box? There are many, many of these services you can subscribe to, but here are a few of my personal favorites. Deal Alert from Smarter Travel delivers a broad selection of the week's best travel deals and advice, including airfare sales, hotel specials, car rental discounts, and vacation packages. These offerings are tailored to your specific locale, so you know the deals will always be ones you can take advantage of. The TravelZoo Top 20 is another of my absolute faves. Delivered on Wednesdays (with periodic special News Flashes at other times), the Top 20 are the hottest of the hot when it comes to travel deals. Snatch 'em up before they're gone. The Top Picks email from Site 59 will send you a weekly list of great deals for the next two weekends. Just provide your email address, name, zip code and preferred departure city. They're sent on Tuesdays -- just in time to getaway for the weekend! Of course, if you really want to get fancy, be sure to sign up for the Specials emails from any of the airlines where you have a frequent flyer number. Some of their deals can be amazing as well. Then just sit back and let the deals come to you.

Flying Around Europe on the Cheap

2005-05-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Back in the good ol' days of nationalized air carriers in Europe, flying from city to city within Europe was really expensive. Really, REALLY expensive. And that's one of the reasons you see so many backpack-toting students riding trains throughout Europe, clutching their Eurail passes to their chests. But while rail passes are still a great way to make short hops between (relatively) close cities in Europe, many cut-rate airlines have now popped up all over the continent. Start by checking here to see which low-cost airlines fly your particular route. I think you'll find most prices to be really cheap. Really, REALLY cheap.

For instance, a friend will be in Paris this summer on business, but then needs to get himself to Barcelona to begin a cruise. Sure, he could take an 11-hour overnight train ride, but he didn't want to waste precious vacation time. A quick check of the usual travel sites came up with an airfare of $750 one way (see, I told you it was really expensive). Enter EasyJet, a London-based carrier that flies all over Europe. Bingo, they offered a nonstop Paris to Barcelona flight on the day he wanted to fly. The cost? $70!! Vueling (a Spanish airline) came in even cheaper ($55!) and offered two nonstops a day.

Depending on your specific trip, there are many other intra-Europe airline sites you can check, including RyanAir, AppleFares, EuropeByAir and the new Dohop (get it?). With prices this low, you can now afford to check out more far-flung spots in Europe than ever.

p.s. To find low-priced airlines worldwide, check out this VERY useful site

Your Own Deserted Island: Isla Holbox (Mexico)

2005-04-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

My nephew just emailed me looking for Spring Break ideas for next year. A few thing came to mind, but then I saw this article in Frommers Budget Magazine (definitely my FAVORITE travel publication) called "10 Great Islands You Never Heard Of". One of the the places is an island about 100 miles from Cancun called "Isla Holbox". It sounds pretty incredible, and cheap.

Here's a rental I found on the Island (btw, this site is great for condo/house rentals all over Mexico and the world). This hotel looks great (and it's so cheap!). And here's a comprehensive site for the rest of the Yucatan Penisula in Mexico, including ferry information for Isla Holbox (remember, this is an island). Here's a brief write-up on the island from the Frommer's site (scroll about halfway down the page).

Start planning...

Escape to the Xaloc Resort, Isla Holbox

Bloggin' the Blog

2005-04-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

George Hobica is my hero. I've been following the "Travel Guy" since he published daily airfare sales for another web site (AOL?? Yahoo??) After becoming a victim of a budget cut, George went out and started his own airfare blog. This guy is more of a bargain hunter than I am! He finds AMAZING fares for flights all over the world. This link is for his "National Report", but he also puts together regional blogs for airfare sales from a particular city (like San Francisco!). Many of these fare are VERY short term, so check out the site every day. Seriously. George offers his information for free, but gladly takes contributions from readers. Send him $5 if you find a sale through his site...it's good karma.

Hot, hot sale fares!

Less Clicks to Cheap Flights, Cars and Hotels

2005-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Just came across the revamped Booking Buddy site from Smarter Living Travel, and while I don't think it's quite "there" yet, it's got promise. Here's the deal: Booking Buddy is "designed to help travelers search all their favorite travel websites with fewer clicks and in less time." With Booking Buddy, you just enter your pertinent travel information once, and can then choose to search for airfare, car rental, or hotel from a selection of the most popular travel sites. Here's my problem, you still have to click to search each individual travel site...Booking Buddy doesn't search all the sites for you at the same time. So while there's some time savings, it still takes a lot of time to click through (and wait) for each of the sites to return results. Seems Smarter Living could make Booking Buddy even smarter. Then, it'd be a real friend when it comes to bargain travel.

Make friends with Booking Buddy

Subscribe to the Travel Coach

2005-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Like most people I know, you've probably got a VERY busy life. But now, at least, you can remove "Check Gary's Travel Coach Blog" from your mental to-do list. That's because I've just added a handy-dandy "Subscribe" feature to my blog. Just enter your email address on the main page and click the "Subscribe" button. Then, whenever I add a new posting to the blog, you'll get a friendly email notification about the change. Check it out and subscribe today.

DING! Your cheap airfare is waiting on Southwest Airlines

2005-04-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

As a devoted Macintosh user, I hestitate to mention this cool new Southwest Airlines offering because it only works with Windows machines...ggrrrr. But I'll put my jealosy aside and mention it here anyway. DING! is a small utility that sits quietly on your desktop and alerts you to last-minute and VERY limited-time sales on Southwest flights. And from some of the fares I've seen, the savings can be stunning. If you use a Windows computer, check it out and let me know how it works. Register and download DING!

Kickstart Your Life!

2005-04-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by gappyd.

Okay, I admit this post isn't strictly about travel, but I'm still pretty darn excited about it so felt I had to "share." As many of you may already know, I've been busy developing a workshop series called Kickstart over the last few months. Co-created with a dynamic coaching colleague, Howard Miller, Kickstart is designed to help gay men who want to get unstuck and move forward in a specific area, need a kick in the pants (or head!) to get a project off the ground, or desire MORE of something in their lives. Ultimately, Howard and I will create a safe and supportive environment where men can harness the power of the group to help realize their individual dreams.

And now, we're finally ready to go primetime with this exciting workshop. For all the details, visit the link below.

Learn more about Kickstart

Site59.com: Get out of town, no really...

2005-04-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Are the pressures of life getting to you? Need to escape reality even if it's just for a few days? Site59.com can deliver sweet relief at an amazingly low cost. Specializing in last-minute weekend package deals for the coming weekend, the site also lets you planners out there to book as far out as NEXT weekend as well. Build-you-own vacation from a selection of flights and hotels. Then just throw a few things in a bag, dash to the airport and leave those troubles behind (well, until Monday morning...) site59.com

Travelzoo - Weekly Top 20 Travel Deals

2005-04-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

If there's one email list to join, it's TravelZoo's Weekly Top 20 List. It comes out every Wednesday, and offers really incredible deals on airfares, hotel packages, etc., etc., etc. You never know what you'll find. If you don't want to clog your inbox with more email, you can also view the deals online. Check it out...seriously. Now! Travelzoo - Top 20

Slow Travel: Take time to stop and smell the flowers

2005-04-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Recommended by a fellow travel fanatic who I really trust (so YOU should trust him, too), Slow Travel is "is a community of people who like to travel and experience new places." The website contains reviews for vacation rentals, hotels and restaurants, personal trip reports, and other valuable travel information. Seems particularly strong for European destinations.
Slow Travel

Cheap Last-Minute Airfares

2005-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is so much more than Hump Day. It's also the day that all the last-minute weekend fares get released by the airlines. How to keep track of them all? Sign yourself up for Smarter Travel's "Last Minute Airfare Specials" email. Then every Wednesday morning, you'll get a customized listing of deeply discounted airfares from the airports closet to your hometown for the coming weekend (and sometimes the weekend after that). Now there's another reason to get out of bed on Wednesdays! Cheap Airline Discount Tickets, Fares and Flights Online - SmarterTravel.com

TripAdvisor: Unbiased reviews of hotels, resorts and vacations

2005-04-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

Going somewhere you've never been? Found a great deal on a hotel you've never heard of? TripAdvisor is the web site for you! It's got GREAT reviews from readers that let's you know at a glance whether a place is a DEAL or a DUD. You can even see a ranking of a hotel's "popularity" within a given city and do a quick check of rates for your travel dates. Definitely worth a visit as you plan your next trip. Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor

The National Airfare Report

2005-04-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Somehow this guy always manages to find the latest and greatest airfare sales. The site is updated daily, so be sure to check it often and sign up for his email for REALLY hot airfare sales.The Airfare Report: The National Report

Frommers: A very good place to start

2005-04-05T16:18:00.000-07:00

Frommers is ALWAYS a great place to start looking for travel ideas, the latest bargains, insider tips and more. It's usually the first web site I visit when starting to reseach a new travel destination. Frommers.com Newsletter

The Travel Coach Is In!

2005-04-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me at all knows I love to travel. But I suspect that I love travel planning even more. Which means I'm always looking for out-of-the-way destinations, "secret" spots, travel bargains, the "best" of wherever, and more. Friends know to call me first when looking for the cheapest airfare, the best value hotel, a unique vacation choice and for most any travel-related questions.

Recently, someone suggested I make good use of this, um, obsession and start gathering all of this information into one easy-to-access place where everyone could see it. So I'd like to announce the opening of my very own BLOG where I'll be posting interesting travel articles, late-breaking travel news, my favorite travel web sites, or anything else that catches my eye regarding travel.

Be sure to visit and leave your comments. I'd love to know if you find the site useful, or if you've saved big bucks because of a posting you saw. Or email me with YOUR favorite travel spots, useful web sites, or travel musings to post on the site.

Enjoy.

Gary