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Traveling With a Smart Phone

A recent Rick Steves travel post indicated that by the end of 2011 half of all American mobile phone users will have a smartphone. Why? They are becoming essential tools for traveling.

Do you use one when you travel? Why or why not?

After all, you could record a video and post it to your Facebook page. You could check in online for your next flight, talk to someone half way around the world connected to Wi-Fi via Skype, or find out how traffic is in San Francisco. Maybe you have the travel ap for the city or country you will be visiting. Guide books are great resources, but your phone is easier to carry.

Need a hotel reservation on short notice? Want to figure out train schedules? Perhaps you want to ask a question in a language you normally do not speak. Need a subway map? Use your smartphone.

Likewise, when in Europe your smartphone is great as a travel tool. It’s probably not something you want to use as a phone, however. Calls can be expensive. Talk to your carrier about international plans before you go. That way you will know what your charges will add up to while you are gone.

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Airport SecurityTip

Here’s a simple tip to make it through the airport security line a little easier. Place everything except your boarding pass and ID in one place in your carry on bag. This means your cell phone, wallet, belt, silver bracelet, keys, etc. You could even place it in a small bag of its own. Then you can grab it and place it in the bin to go through the screening machine.

You will have your act together for security. Others behind you will appreciate it!

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Elephant Seals

Along California Highway 1 you find some amazingly huge critters. The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Colony hangs out along the beaches here. Actually it is called a Rookery and there are as many as 15,000 seals here. From what we could tell, activity is limited to fighting, play fighting, and resting…lots of resting.

Apparently they spend eight to ten months in the ocean diving 1000 to 5000 feet for food. They can stay under for as long as two hours or as short as 15 minutes! They also migrate twice a year…to give birth, breed, molt and rest. Seemed like a lot of resting when we were there.

They are huge, even from a distance. And they do have quite the odor, even from a distance.

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Redeeming Your Air Miles


Every now and then people tell me they have problems redeeming their air miles. Since I normally fly Southwest…I do not seem to have that problem. 

This week, I read a post by IdeaWorks. Based on 6,720 booking queries made by IdeaWorks at the websites of 24 frequent flier programs during March and early April 2011, these are their results. They checked on travel dates which spanned June through October 2011; with 20 top routes checked to assess reward seat availability.

The results, showing the percentage of successful award bookings for U.S./Canadian programs and the change from last year’s results:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1.    <!–[endif]–>Southwest – 99.3 percent (No change)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2.    <!–[endif]–>Air Canada – 82.1 percent (-11.5 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>3.    <!–[endif]–>JetBlue – 79.3 percent (New for 2011)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>4.    <!–[endif]–>United – 71.4 percent (+2.8 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>5.    <!–[endif]–>Continental – 71.4 percent (No change)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6.    <!–[endif]–>Alaska – 64.3 percent (-10.7 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>7.    <!–[endif]–>American – 62.9 percent (+5 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>8.    <!–[endif]–>AirTran – 47.1 percent (-20.8 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>9.    <!–[endif]–>Delta – 27.1 percent (+14.2 points)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>10.  <!–[endif]–>US Airways – 25.7 percent (+15 points)

Maybe this will help you when you are redeeming your miles.
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Best Holiday Days to Travel

Fall is upon us and the holiday season won’t be far behind. If you are planning a trip over the Christmas or New Year’s holidays, Priceline.com publishes their annual chart of variations in the cost of holiday travel. This year both Christmas and New Year’s fall on Sundays.

According to Priceline:
Best travel dates are: Dec. 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 24, 27, 28, 31
Fair travel dates are: Dec. 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 25, 30, and Jan. 1, 2
Worst travel dates are: Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29

If you are traveling over Thanksgiving, take a look at these dates.
Best travel dates: Nov. 19, 24, 29, 30, Dec. 1, 3
Fair travel dates: Nov. 24
Worst travel dates: Nov. 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28

You can get more info at http://travela.priceline.com/promo/deals/winter_holidays/deals.html