Getaway Guru:
The Blog

Feb 10

CRUISING THE PANAMA CANAL

A Panama Canal Cruise is on almost everybody’s “bucket list,” and probably should be added to yours if it isn’t one of your must-see destinations already.  

 The first thing you should know about such a cruise is that there are two types:  one that goes into the canal from the Atlantic Ocean, and goes as far as Gatun Lake, then turns around and comes back out and winds up back in Florida; the other type goes all the way through the canal, and winds up on the oposite side of the United States from whence it started.  The type that doesn’t go all the way through the canal is usually somewhat shorter and therefore will cost a little bit less.  If you go to the Columbus Travel website (columbusvacations.com), you will find a cruise search engine on the home page.  Using that tool, I found a few 10-day cruises starting and ending in Fort Lauderdale that did what I just described this March with lead prices beginning at $799 per person.  Fantastic price.
 
The advantage to the second type of cruise is that by going all the way through from Atlantic to Pacific, or vice versa, you actually go through the Gaillard Cut, or Culebra Cut, which is an artificial valley that cuts through the continental divide in Panama – the part of the Panama Canal that is actually a canal.  Construction of the cut was one of the great engineering feats of its time, and the huge effort required to complete it has proved to be justified because of how the canal has aided shipping, as well as the strategic interests of the United States.  Without it, ships would have to sail all the way around the bottom of South America in order to get from one coast to the other.  Also, by going all the way through the canal, you are able to pass under the Centennial Bridge and the Bridge of the Americas, the latter supposedly bridging North and South America, although it may be just a few miles off.  
 
Either type of cruise is usually a tremendous bargain.  Using the Columbus Travel cruise search-engine, I found a 14-day Norwegian Cruise Line cruise from Miami to Los Angeles (which has the advantage of low airfares from LA to SLC) for only $1399 per person, a 15-day Celebrity cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale for just $1249 per person, and a Princess cruise from LA to Miami of 14-days for the great starting price of $1219 – all this April.
 
Most of the all-the-way-through-the-canal cruises are in the spring, when companies are moving ships from the Caribbean to Alaska, or in the fall, when the ships are leaving Alaska and going back to the Caribbean for the winter months.
 
This coming September 28th, NCL has a 14-day cruise on the Norwgian Pearl from Los Angeles to Miami for a mere $1099 per person, and the NCL Jewel class ships are all just a few years old and offer that famous “freestyle dining” which I personally love.  According to Fodor’s, “These ships have more than a dozen dining alternatives, a variety of entertainment options, enormous spas with thermal suites . . . and expansive areas reserved for children and teens.  Pools have waterslides and a plethora of lounge chairs . . . Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem introduced the line’s first rock-climbing walls, as well as Bliss Lounge, which has trendy South Beach decor, and the first full-size 10-pin bowling alleys on modern cruise ships.”  
 
Sounds to me like a great way to go through the Panama Canal.  And what a bargain price!!!
 
By Don Shafer

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Jan 26

Would You Go to Egypt?

“Are you out of your mind?”  That’s exactly what more people than I can remember asked me as we prepared to take off on our 17-day trek through Rome, Israel, and yes, Egypt.

“Well,” I would answer, “I am out of my mind, but what does that have to do with the trip on which we are about to embark?”

“I would be fearful of such a thing!”

“Whiny, sniveling wimp.”

The fact is, fears of some Americans about travel to not only places like Israel and Egypt, but also Mexico, are way overblown; more about that later.

Our first stop was Rome.  So many highlights:  Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, Saint Peter’s (we climbed to the top of the dome – fantastic), and the Vatican Museums, culminating in the Sistine Chapel.  My favorite masterpiece is The Last Judgment depicting humanity appearing naked before God.  The story on that:  The Papal Master of Ceremonies objected to the nude figures, and so Michelangelo worked his face into the figure of Minos, judge of the underworld, with donkey ears, wrapped in a coiled snake which was biting him where no man wants to be bitten.  It is said that when he complained to the Pope, the pontiff joked that it was a perfect likeness, and also, his jurisdiction did not extend to hell, so the portrait would have to remain.

It’s hard to express what it’s like to be in Israel.  It is my favorite place to visit in the world and Jerusalem is my favorite city.  There are so many sites – some historical and some traditional.  “Traditional” is the euphemistic term for a place that is revered but of doubtful authenticity.

Most of us have read and heard Bible stories from our childhood, but since we haven’t been to the spots where they are set, there is an almost fairytale quality to the them – even for those of us who would call ourselves “true believers.”  So, when you are actually there – standing in the places where they happened – it is like being in a dream.  It’s magical. 

This was a pilgrimage for our group, which was mostly Catholic, but with a nice contingent of Protestants, and some Mormons.  It’s great being with an ecumenical bunch, particularly when everyone gets along with each other – and we did.  Everyone had ample opportunity to describe the significance of a particular site to their faith, so we all learned something about each other.  I’m a person who enjoys learning about other’s beliefs, especially when I’m being told by someone who believes them.

Well, we had a Catholic priest among the group, and he said “the greatest trip” he had ever taken was our venture into Egypt; and indeed, everyone who took that extension said it was “spectacular.”  The bad publicity that country has received since last January’s revolution has been devastating to tourism.  We took a Nile River cruise on a five-star ship which held 180 guests.  Only 30 were on board.  Great for us.  Really bad for the Movenpick Hotel chain, the ship’s Swiss owners.  The captain was very flexible with us concerning departures – if we wanted to be late, he complied.  We went up the Nile from Luxor, after touring the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, as well as the Valley of the Kings.  The tombs of the pharoahs were overwhelming, filled with the scenes and hyrogliphics you see in books.  We stopped at several temples during our four-day cruise which ended in Aswan and a bus ride to Abu Simbel.  Then we flew from Aswan to Cairo, where of course, we spent time in its world famous museum.  Our guide has a pending PhD in Egyptology and he maintained that one-third of the world’s antiquities are in Egypt and a third of Egypt’s antiquities are in Cairo.  We went to a place where we found out how papyrus is made and bought lots of copies of artwork from various tempes and tombs.  And, yes, we spent a couple of hours at the Giza pyramids and the sphinx.  Egypt was positively other-worldly, and, indeed, spectacular.

As for the “fear-of-going-there” factor, we’re not talking about a tour of Afganastan and/or Iraq.  Israel and Egypt are countries that have historically depended on American tourism as a major income source.  They protect, guard, defend, aid, and seek to encourage us to come.  In the last 40-years a grand total of one American tourist has been criminally killed in those two nations.  Don’t you wish the State of Utah could boast a record anywhere near that?  When there is trouble in Gaza, does that mean there’s trouble on the Sea of Galilee?  Noooooooooo.  A comparison would be:  Someone was attacked in Pioneer Park so we should avoid the Utah Shakespear Festival in Cedar City.  And, by the way, people from Germany are starting to book travel to Egypt.  Why?  Prices are extremely low for anything and everything, and the Germans are noted for leading the world in terms of being travel bargain hunters.

In regards to Mexico:  Trouble on the border in Juarez has no more to do with Cancun than trouble in Chicago means lack of safety in Tucson.

Back to the fantastic sites we saw, where we also learned first-hand about the value of being in a group.  Airfares, hotel rates, meals were about half what you could do on your own.  We had top-notch, well-educated guides, who knew the history and the archaeology.  If we’d been on our own, we wouldn’t have known what to see, particularly in Egypt, or how to get there, or what we were seeing when we got there. 

I was the fearless leader of this sightseeing extravaganza.  If I ever get the chance to lead another group to these places, I’ll let you know.  You can bet I’ll invite you to go with us.

By Don Shafer


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Dec 14

WHAT’S HAPPENED TO CRUISE SHIPS?

They are like sailing cities,  these recently built mega cruise ships – so big they can’t go through the Panama Canal, and there are dozens of them.  The biggest of them all are run by Royal Caribbean International, also by far the most popular cruise line among Americans, namely, the Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas.  These two ships measure over 225,000 gross tons and transport 5,400 passengers appiece.  The next largest would be the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic at 156,000 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 4,100.  
 
These ships are destinations!  Never mind the shore excursions, you could spend a week or two on one of them and never exhaust the lists of things to do, places to go and stuff to see.
 
Consider Royal Caribbeans two Oasis-class ships where you can enjoy onboard recreational, athletic, and entertainment activities organized into seven themed areas called “neighborhoods.”  There’s the Entertainment Place neighborhood; the Youth Zone with science lab and computer gaming; Royal Promenade featuring restaurants and shops viewable from a mezzanine; Boardwalk which features a handcrafted carousel, restaurants, bars, shops, two rock-climbing walls, and a temporary tattoo parlor (its outdoor 750-seat AquaTheatre hosts the ship’s largest freshwater pool); Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center with a spa for teens; The Pool and Sports Zone that features a sloped-entry beach pool and two surf simulators; and last but not least, Central Park with boutiques, restaurants and bars, including access to the Rising Tide bar, which can be raised or lowered between three decks (it’s the first living park at sea with over 12,000 plants and 56 trees).
 
These huge vessels have picture-window and balcony cabins not only on the outside looking onto the ocean, but on the interior facing the various neighborhoods.  You can enjoy many entertainment options, including full Broadway productions (shows like “Chicago”), rock climbing, surfing, a zip line, mini-golf, multiple night clubs, several bars and lounges, a karaoke club, comedy club, five swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, the theme parks, nurseries for children. and 22 dining options, which include a Johnny Rockets restaurant and a Starbucks coffee shop.
 
The amazing thing to me is (with the inahabitants of a fair-sized town) how quickly you can disembark for a shore excursion.  When the Oasis made its maiden voyage with over 6,000 passengers (several cabins held more than two people), it took only 15-minutes for each traveler to get from arrival at the dock to his or her room.
 
Norwegian Cruise Lines, on the subject of dining options, is the company that pioneered what they call “free-style cruising.”  Their Epic offers 20 different dining options.  No longer must passengers choose between a first or second seating in a single large dining room.  All of NCL’s ships over the past dozen years were designed with many restaurants onboard, offering Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, etc. ethnic foods, as well as a steak houses, seafood restaurants, burger and pizza shops, and, of course, a huge buffet.
 
The Epic has the only rappelling wall at sea, bowling alleys, batting cages, a 24-foot high Spider Web to climb, and a complete water park which features extreme twisting water slides including the EPIC Plunge (it drops 200-feet before you spin through a vortex and into splashdown lane).  This ship offers nine entertainment options nightly, which feature major touring entertainers like the Blue Man Group and The Second City comedy improv.  And here’s a note of “Epic proportions” for anyone traveling as a single:  they have studio cabins for solo  travelers.  Just think, no more single-supplement if you want to travel sans roommate. 
 
If you are a high-end traveler, these towns-on-the-ocean have high-end places to stay.  The Epic offers villas that are so private you and your neighbors have your own elevator, pool, gym, bar and restaurant, plus butler and concierge services.  At minimum, this smacks of a J. W. Marriott on water.
 
Here’s a fantastic fact:  All of these monster ships are sailing the Caribbean this winter, and lead prices for a week on the Epic are as low as $599 per person, $779 for the Oasis of the Seas.  
 
I haven’t done it yet, but cruising on one of these super ships is now definitely on my “to do” list.  In fact, it sounds like something I should do for your benefit.  Then I could report back at a later date – after my fact-finding tour is fully complete. 

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Nov 20

Is It Safe?

It doesn’t seem to matter whether I am going to Cancun or Cairo, the question I’m asked more than any other is “Do you think it’s safe to travel there?”  I hate to say it, but Americans seem to be the most safety conscious travelers in the world.  I think maybe it has something to do with sensationalized television news reporting; but in any case, people who live in the United States worry more about safety than anything else.
Many travlers worry about their safety when traveling to Cancun due to the reports of the drug wars that are happening in Mexican border towns. If you want to be completely logical about it, Cancun is about 1,500-miles from the U.S.-Mexican border, which is where the drug fighting is going on.  There haven’t been any reports or evidence that the safety of Americans has been compromised in Cancun since the beginning of these battles.
Another way to look at it would be this : When there is a problem in Chicago, does that effect our safety in Salt Lake City? Usually not.  And what about the issue of safety in downtown Salt Lake versus, say, Egypt.  Think about it:  does the fact that someone was recently killed in his tent in Pioneer Park deter you from shopping at the Gateway, only a block away?  Not really.  If the NBA labor dispute ever ends, will you think twice about going to Energy Solutions Arena after parking across the street from the aforementioned scene of the crime?  Most likey not. The last time an American was injured in Egypt was while stationing herself in the midst of a riot ten months ago.  Last I heard, the revolution was over. Consider this, we’ve had more Americans killed or injured by TRAX trains in the last month than have been killed or injured in all of Israel and Egypt combined in the last ten years.
I mention Israel and Egypt because it just so happens I am leading a tour to those two places starting December 28th.  We have this fabulous itinerary arranged:  first, Rome; second, Israel; third, an optional extension into Egypt.  We’ll be visiting the Coloseum, the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the catacombs; then on New Year’s Eve heading to Israel for visits in Nazereth, the Galilee, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and more.  Then, after Qumran, the Dead Sea and Masada, most of us will head for Egypt and a five-star Nile River cruise, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, the Cairo Museum, the pyramids and sphinx. The tour is arranged through dickjensentours.com at a super price, particularly when you consider that airfare alone for all of this – Salt Lake to Rome to Tel Aviv, then Cairo to Aswan, and finally, back to Salt Lake – is going for about $2,500.  Our deal is $2599 for Rome and Israel, and $999 more for the Egypt extension.  And, of course, our trip includes hotels, motor coaches, guides, entrance fees, two or three meals every day, and a Nile River cruise.  Not bad, huh?  But then, I’ve discussed the advantages of group tours previously.  Oh, and by the way, this super trip is available through Columbus Travel (800-373-3328), thank you very much.
Anyway, what do you think the most frequently asked question might be from people who are considering the trip?
You’d think they would be asking, “How do you do it?”  Or saying, “All that for that price – you’ve got to be kidding!”  Or maybe questioning whether we will be staying in youth hostels, or making our own lunches after shopping at nearby grocery stores, or riding on public transportation buses, or floating the Nile on a barge,.  In which case the answers would be “no,” “no,” “no” and “no.”  In fact we’ll be in first-class hotels, where we will also dine, doing our touring in a motor coach with a very knowledgeable English-speaking guide, and sailing down the Nile on a five-star river cruise ship operated by a Swiss luxury-hotel group.
And while a few questions from prospective travelers are weather-related:  “How warm will it be?”  “Does it rain or snow there?”  And a few questions are about clothing:  “Will I need my heavy winter coat?”  “Is casual wear okay?”  “Do I need to have a raincoat?”  And a few concern money:  “Should I exchange dollars here for local currency there?”  “Do they have ATMs?”  “Do U.S. dollars work with street vendors?”  By far, the most frequently asked question, and usually the first question is:  “Do you really think it is safe to go there?”
And while being aware of one’s safety while traveling is definitely a valid concern,  to this my answer would be:  “It is far more safe to travel there than it is to commute to work on I-15.”  Or something like that.
By Don Shafer

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Oct 31

Halloween Trips

Maybe it’s too late for this year, but how about a Halloween holiday for next year?

Probably the crème de la crème of all Halloween trips would be to Transylvania, right? That would mean a flight to Budapest, Hungary or Bucharest, Romania, and then a train ride into the Carpathian Mountains. Other options would be a tour of Jack the Ripper’s London in not so jolly old England, or a ghost tour of Savannah, Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania or San Francisco; or perhaps a trip to Long Beach, California where the Queen Mary offers a “Dinner with the Spirits,” followed by a ghost tour. If you want a ghost tour on the cheap, nearby Park City has one.

One very recent comment found at tripadvisor.com concerning the Park City tour goes like this: “This was a great tour! I do HIGHLY recommend visiting the museum first before taking this tour – it ties all of the history nicely together. Make sure to take your camera! Well worth the time and small amount of money!!!” Trip Advisor says, “Tours leave from MINER’S PARK on Main Street; across the street from 412 Bistro Restaurant. Arrive a couple of minutes early.” They suggest you call for information at 435-731-0234 or go on line to http://www.parkcityghosttours.com.

 

In not so far away Long Beach the Queen Mary has “Dining with the Spirits” Saturday evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m. Their website states, “price of $109.00 per person includes prix fixe dinner, tour, tax and gratuity. Alcoholic beverages are sold separately. A Special Hotel rate is offered to Dining with the Spirits attendees, please contact our reservations department at (800) 437-2934 and mention promo code HAUNTED. Space is limited for each event and reservations are required. For Dining with the Spirits reservations, please call Restaurant Reservations at (562) 499-1657.”

 

In San Francisco you’ll find a Chinatown Ghost Walking Tour for just $24, as well as the Vampire Tour of San Francisco for only $20. Go to www.buysanfranciscotours.com/Haunted. At Gettysburg they say, “The sights and smells of the wounded and dying are still in Gettysburg,” and you can find various guided candlelit walks into the night ranging in price from only $7.95 to $10.90 per person. Check them out at www.gettysburgghosttours.com/. New Orleans has all kinds of options: ghost and cemetary walking tours, voodoo tours, vampire tours, plus Haunted History, French Quarter, Garden District, and you name it ghost tours. My favorite comment from Trip Advisor was this: “Totally fun and cheesy! Loved it! Must do!!” If you want to head to Georgia, just google “Savannah ghost tours” and you’ll get everything from hearse tours to “Sixth Sense Savannah.” In fact, you can use google to find ghost tours in just about any location in the nation.

 

How about “On the Trail of Jack the Ripper” in London? For information just turn on your computer and go to http://www.jack-the-ripper-walk.co.uk/.

Now, if the London man of masacre isn’t exotic enough for you, I think a Dracula tour in Transylvania will absolutely set you free. A train ride from Budapest should get you in the mood, but for the “Vampire in Transylvania – Dracula Tour” or the “4 Day Vampire Tour in Transylvania – Private Dracula Tour” you’ll be departing from Bucharest. Take a look at lots of options at http://www.dracula-tour.com/travel-to-transylvania-romania-dracula-vampire.html

. Just make sure your guide doesn’t want to be paid in blood.

By Don Shafer


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Sep 30

Airline Seating

The airline companies are charging fees for everything.  Airlines refer to it as “Ala Carte Service,” and they say it’s what passengers want.  No one has made a scientific survey of passengers, but I personally have not spoken to a single one who says he or she wants it, and all of them refer to it by various names from “gouging” on up to words that should not be printed.  Usually, spin-doctors can get someone to accept what they are saying, but this spin appears to be bought by no one other than airline executives.  In fact, if you happen to enjoy the fees that air carriers are adding on to the price of your ticket, please send me a picture of yourself and I’ll see if we can’t do a special feature on you.
 
Here’s what’s going on.
 
Delta Airlines, for example, reserves the first 20 rows of its planes for Medallion customers.  This means that if you haven’t flown at least 25,000 miles or 30 air segments with Delta or one of its partners this year, the closest you will be sitting to the front of the plane is row 21.
  
United and American airlines offer more leg room in the first ten rows.  They call it “economy plus” and you must be a very frequent flier or pay extra money to be there.  Other “ala carte” seating features on the various air carriers include aisle or window seats, as well as bulkhead or exit row seats (because of the extra leg room).
 
What this means is that on every airline but Southwest, if you get an advance seating assignment and you aren’t either one of their really frequent fliers or willing to pay extra money, you will be sitting in a middle seat.  This is true even if you are traveling as a family.  That’s right!  If their are two or ten of you and you want advance seat assignments, you will all be sitting apart from one another but between two people you don’t know.  The only way you might get an aisle or window or bulkhead or exit row seat is by not getting an advance assignment and then showing up at the airport for your flight with hopes that some of those choicer spots haven’t been purchased.  In other words, if you don’t pay, it’s a roll of the dice.
 
Even Southwest Airlines is now charging if you want to board with the “A Group.”  Southwest does not make seat assignments, but on a first-come-first-served basis they put you in the A, B or C Group, one through 40 in each group, and then allow passengers to board in that order.  You can print your own boarding pass by using the internet up to 24-hours in advance of your Southwest flight, but people who use that airline a lot tell me that even if you go for that boarding pass exactly 24-hours to the second ahead of time, the best you will do is land in the B Group.  That means at least 40 people have paid to get into the A Group. 
 
So, add another to the list of extra fees you pay on top of the price of your airline ticket.  You already have the evil fuel surcharge, the talk to a live person fee, checked baggage fee, change your ticket fee, there’s no such thing as a free lunch fee – available “ala carte” on all airlines but Southwest.  Yes, add to that list the “I got a good seat fee.” 
 
By Don Shafer

 


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Sep 16

TRAVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 11

With the coming and going of the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States the American news media have noted hundreds of changes wrought on our nation by those attacks.  And, granted, there are many.
 
But, am I the only one who noticed no attacks on September 11, 2011?  And don’t you think a significant date of rememberance such as that would have been a superb time for terrorists to celebrate by creating even more mayhem for us?
 
Kudos to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), who have indeed increased the “hassle factor” at airport check in; and kudos to the redesigned airports that no longer permit crowds of people to send us off at airline boardings; and kudos to the flight attendants who no longer put up with unruly passengers; and kudos to those who have made scores of other changes that made this September 11 safe and secure.  It came and passed without notice, which is just the way we like it.
 
True.  The nation’s overall economy slowed down after those attacks ten years ago; but in the years since, it has shown remarkable resilience.  The growth in the gross domestic product slowed only temporarily, and although “the Dow”  lost almost 700 points when the stock market reopened after the attacks, it gained 5,000 points over the next six years, and reached its highest point ever in October 2007 when it leaped above 14,000. 
 
Passengers on U.S. air carriers were over 56 million in August 2001, then dropped to only 30 million that September.  Some said the airline industry would never recover, but they were back above 56 million passengers by September 2004.  Not bad for a business that some said was doomed.
 
And that’s not all.  There are more hotels than ever, more car rentals, more cruise passengers, more resorts, and particularly more all-inclusive resorts.  And as for getting to travel destinations, people are not only flying, Amtrak business is up, bus travel us on the rise, and auto trips are at an all time high. 
Come to think of it, and this is not based on a scientific study, but I think I’ve noticed more walkers, joggers and bikers on my daily trip up the canyon with my dog.
 
Even with the current economic stagnation, which has nothing to do with terrorist attacks, unless you think loan officers who offer mortgages to people who can’t pay them and bankers who fund such an enterprise qualify as . . . well, never mind.  Anyway, despite the current difficulty in the economy, which isn’t a result of what happened September 11, 2001, travel is up.  The people who have the money to go somewhere for fun are on the move.
 
And the bargains are galore.  You can rent a car for a daily rate that is no more than you would have paid 20 years ago.  You can go on a cruise for much less than 20 years ago, which is unbelievable.  Hotels are offering all sorts of deals, including in many cases a free night if you book three, four or five nights. 
 
Group travel, which is at an all time high, offers such tremendous rates that sometimes it seems as if it would be less expensive to go on a group tour than to stay at home.  And air fares have just dropped.  Yes, dropped.
 
So, yes, things have changed since that awful day ten years ago, but in almost every case it seems to have been for the better.  Not only are the various entities that serve us more alert, but we are as individuals.  Passengers have become part of the solution, often detecting and reporting suspicious activity, and as a result, preventing bad things from happening.
 
Travel is far bigger than it was.  More places are easily accessible, and we have more means of getting to wherever we want to go, and more accomodations and fun things to do once we get there; but most importantly, it is truly safer than it has ever been.
 
By Don Shafer

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Sep 9

TRAVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 11

With the coming of the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States the American news media have noted hundreds of changes wrought on our nation by those attacks.  And, granted, there are many; however, it also should be noted that there have not been any similar attacks on American soil since then.
 
Kudos to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), who have indeed increased the “hassle factor” at airport check in; and kudos to the redesigned airports that no longer permit crowds of people to send us off at airline boardings; and kudos to the flight attendants who no longer put up with unruly passengers; and kudos to those who have made scores of other changes that have made flying so much safer than it was ten years ago.
 
Special kudos to all of us passengers, because we have become much more alert.  It so happens that passengers were involved in thwarting two would-be terrorists from creating mayhem.
 
True.  The nation’s overall economy slowed down after those attacks ten years ago; but in the years since, it has shown remarkable resilience.  The growth in the gross domestic product slowed only temporarily, and although “the Dow”  lost almost 700 points when the stock market reopened after the attacks, it gained 5,000 points over the next six years, and reached its highest point ever in October 2007 when it leaped above 14,000. 
 
Passengers on U.S. air carriers were over 56 million in August 2001, then dropped to only 30 million that September.  Some said the airline industry would never recover, but they were back above 56 million passengers by September 2004.  Not bad for a business that some said was doomed.
 
And that’s not all.  There are more hotels than ever, more car rentals, more cruise passengers, more resorts, and particularly more all-inclusive resorts.  And as for getting to travel destinations, people are not only flying, Amtrak business is up, bus travel us on the rise, and auto trips are at an all time high.  Come to think of it, and this is not based on a scientific study, but I think I’ve noticed more walkers, joggers and bikers on my daily trip up the canyon with my dog.
 
Even with the current economic stagnation, which has nothing to do with terrorist attacks, unless you think loan officers who offer mortgages to people who can’t pay them and bankers who fund such an enterprise qualify as . . . well, never mind.  Anyway, despite the current difficulty in the economy, which isn’t a result of what happened September 11, 2001, travel is up.  The people who have the money to go somewhere for fun are on the move.
 
And the bargains are galore.  You can rent a car for a daily rate that is no more than you would have paid 20 years ago.  You can go on a cruise for much less than 20 years ago, which is unbelievable.  Hotels are offering all sorts of deals, including in many cases a free night if you book three, four or five nights.  Group travel, which is at an all time high, offers such tremendous rates that sometimes it seems as if it would be less expensive to go on a group tour than to stay at home.  And air fares have just recently dropped.  Yes, dropped.
 
So, yes, things have changed since that awful day ten years ago, but in almost every case it seems to have been for the better.  Not only are the various entities that serve us more alert, but we are as individuals.  Passengers have become part of the solution, often detecting and reporting suspicious activity, and as a result, preventing bad things from happening.
 
Travel is far bigger than it was.  More places are easily accessible, and we have more means of getting to wherever we want to go, and more accomodations and fun things to do once we get there; but most importantly, it is truly safer than it has ever been.
 
By Don Shafer
 

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Sep 2

WHAT DO CRUISE LINES DO WHEN THERE’S A HURRICANE!

Well, the short answer is:  They avoid them!

You can rest assured that a cruise ship is not going to sail into rough waters.  If a hurricane is going to affect one of your ports of call or the planned route of your cruise ship, they will sail elsewhere.  Each cruise line has a huge staff simply devoted to rescheduling things when it is necessary.  This may result in a few surprise destinations, but cruise companies want nothing to do with anything that isn’t completely safe and enjoyable.

However, there are a several other issues involved when a hurricane is coming.  What
effect will the weather have on your scheduled airline flights taking you to and from embarcation and disembarcation?  And what about the hotel where you are planning to stay before and/or after the cruise?

The first and best insurance against winding up with huge bills from just trying to  get out of a trip disaster is just that:  travel insurance.  Specifically, you’ll want to get trip-cancellation insurance, which ensures that travelers who have purchased advance airline or cruise tickets and arranged hotel stays will be fully compensated if a storm prevents them from traveling.  Travel insurance is always a good idea, because unexpected medical problems, as well as bad weather, can play havoc with your bank account when you are far away from home.  Just be sure to purchase the insurance right at the time you book a trip with your travel agent, because once a possible tropical storm or hurricane is headed toward the place you are going, it’s too late.

The recent storms connected with Hurricane and then Tropical Storm Irene tied up air travelers all over the eastern United States.  Many people couldn’t get to cruise ships, and then many were stranded for days after the storm was long gone.

And speaking of airline cancelations, it’s a good idea to have your travel agency’s  800 number on your cell phone contact list.  The lines waiting to talk to airline ticket gents in airports after cancelations can be several hours long.  The number at Columbus Travel is 800-373-3328.  If you had been lined down the corridor at JFK waiting to talk to a warm body, it would have been nice to have someone, anyone you could actually get ahold of relatively rapidly who could get you a new flight as soon as one was available.  If you need extra hotel nights, your travel agent is always someone who can get you to the head of the line at the airport or in the hotel or with any travel related service.

Now, if you are planning a Caribbean cruise in September or October (typically hurricane season), some destinations get fewer hits because of their location.  The South American Caribbean coastline is less frequently touched by tropical storms and
the like,.and the islands in the southernmost Caribbean – places like Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago – see much less hurricane action than the more northern spots.

There is absolutely no need to be afraid of any travel destination where large groups are going.  No one in the travel industry wants a bad trip.  Tour groups and cruise
ships won’t go anywhere near trouble of any kind.  And armed with travel insurance and your travel agent’s phone number, you can relax and enjoy yourself wherever and whenever you go.

By Don Shafer


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Aug 18

FALL BREAK/UEA VACATIONS

In Utah we call it “UEA Week,” but in virtually every state in the United States school kids have a fall break so the educators can further educate themselves.  However, there is a rumor that even some teachers take off for a liittle R and R with their families (whom they rarely see during the marathon school year) rather than going to the teachers convention.  In Utah the UEA (Utah Education Association) Convention and Education Exposition 2011 is actually on Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, at the Southtowne Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah; however, many of those allegedly headed for the Sandy expo will strangely be found, perhaps hijacked, in the parking lot at Disneyland.  During UEA week every year the number of Utah licensed automobiles at Disneyland far and away outnumber the cars from all other U.S. states combined. 

Well, I’m sure there are educational benefits to any trip. 

If you, too, want to join the throngs in Anaheim, it just so happens that Columbus Travel has some great prices for you.  When you book a flight with a hotel vacation package for four or more nights to Anaheim, you can save $100 at select hotels.  In addition, you can receive a free night when you book four nights at certain select hotels in the Anaheim area.  Prices start at just $399 plus taxes and fees of about $75 per person based on four to a room at the Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort, and that includes air, three nights hotel, three-day Parkhopper passes and ground transfers via shuttle bus. 

However, there are lots of other options, particularly if you are willing to take the entire week off. 

How about Orlando, Florida?  Four nights at the Universal Orlando Resort can be  yours for only $699 per person, or get seven nights at the Walt Disney World Resort with packages starting at just $729 per person.  These prices are per person based on quad occupancy of two adults and two children ages three to nine. 

Why not a cruise?  You can have a four day getaway to the Bahamas enjoying Freestyle Cruising on Norwegian Cruise Lines for a mere $599 plus taxes of $173.53 per person (quad occupancy) including air, a one night hotel  stay, ground transportation and the four day Bahamas cruise.  And I noticed a five day Western Caribbean Celebrity cruise using that search engine on the front page of the Columbus Travel Website for a grand total of $1,016 total (cruise only) for four people. 

And what about just taking off in your car?  Did you know that one of the most popular drive destinations for people in Utah is almost completely deserted in October?  I’m talking about Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.  You can actually get a campsite inside these parks in October.  In fact, you’ll be able to pick and choose.  Also, hotel rates in West Yellowstone and Jackson are actually discounted.   

The Fall Season of the Utah Shakespear Festival in Cedar City will also be winding down – UEA Week will be the last week for Noises Off, Dial M for Murder, and Shakespear’s Winters Tale.  Cap off seeing those shows with a trip through Cedar Breaks and the spectacular fall foliage in Southern Utah’s beautiful mountains.  Check out www.bard.org for Utah Shakespear Festival info. 

And for lots of auto trip destinations, including accomodations and fun things to do, check out the Website of our old friend Bob Grove at www.driveawayvacations.com.


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