Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1
Up-to-date information from the TSA that will assist you in knowing how to pack liquids, enabling a speedier security check. GO:http://www.tsa.gov/311/
Slowly but surely, travelers are getting on board the "travel green" bandwagon. In this column I’ve recommended the carbon-offset company Terrapass on whose website you can assess your personal contribution to global warming, then select payment amounts that in turn fund environmental efforts to offset pollution from both air and auto transport.
GO:www.terrapass.com
Travel sites Expedia and Travelocity are attempting to also provide these services for their customers, though with varying success. It seems Travelocity’s Go Zero program leads to the planting trees via the Conservation Fund, an offset with not exactly immediate results. GO:www.travelocity.com On the other hand, Expedia has teamed up with Terrapass, so when you go to buy tickets you can also purchase carbon offsets. GO:www.expedia.com
Either way, it’s certainly encouraging that travel sites are getting involved, though as usual the consumer will need to keep informed of the most effective ways to balance emissions.
How to Survive Winter Travel
If you are as eager for a good travel deal as I am, you might consider a wintertime trip. That’s what I’m up to at the end of this month because Lufthansa had a very appealing winter sale. Rates for both flights and hotels are much lower during the winter season. It can be daunting, but if you’re flexible you can look ahead for alternative flights in case of last-minute weather cancellations. Just in case pack clothes that can be layered with light-weight thermals! I have international weather forecasts installed in my favorite web browser, so I will always be informed ahead of time. GO:Forecastfox Add-on for Mozilla's Firefox Browser. Be sure to check Weather.com to see if flights are delayed at major US airports. GO:www.weather.com
Also, for this trip I’m packing a few precautionary items (should there be delays or extreme temperatures) including power bars, throat lozenges and an extra blanket—I found a convenient travel blanket that folds up neatly into an full-size pillow and straps to the bars of my rolling suitcase. GO:www.target.com
Traveling with the Elderly
A transcontinental journey, which is hard enough for a middle-aged person, can be quite arduous for an elderly person. If you are a caregiver or relative preparing a trip with an older traveler, you’ll need to check on a few more steps in addition to booking a wheelchair. Here’s a few tips to help you on your way…
Check with the doctor on both travel readiness and prescriptions. Pack enough in both checked-in luggage and carryon, in case the bags get waylaid. Pharmacy regulations differ from country to country so you will need to have enough, no matter what happens.
Remember to leave large bottles of liquids and gel arch supports in checked luggage. And be sure to help with the proper packing of small liquids in the preferred manner of Ziploc bags, (See complete information on what’s allowed and the recommended 3-1-1 packing in the TSA section, above).
Sitting for long periods of time is painful for those who suffer from arthritis. Bring heating or cooling patches, allowed in carryons if still sealed when boarding. Ask your doctor about Lidoderm patches, which contain an odorless analgesic that lasts for 12 hours and brings as much relief as strong smelling ointments and gels, both of which will probably be banned from carryons due to the large container sizes.
Melatonin is a natural regulator of sleep and can help you and your elderly travelmate stay more in balance on long flights.
Try to get the elder’s seat close to the bulkhead for extra room and near restrooms, always on the aisle.
Remind your elder (and yourself!) to get up frequently and walk around on a long flight to avoid DVT (deep vein thrombosis). It’s a good idea to take a baby aspirin before flying (check with the doctor first).
Pack a folding cane, which can come in handy if you are visiting a country that has cobblestone or uneven streets. These are available in most drugstores.
Be sure to read the TSA’s website article regarding Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions, in the TSA section above.
Happy Travels! Be safe and enjoy your trip.
— Marina
Marina Farrell, JSG Managing Web Producer, dedicates this column to making your journey more enjoyable, more memorable and less stressful.
Got a hot travel tip or vital travel information? Send an email to Marina at Travel Vitals and share your travel tips!
Copyright
(c) 2008 JustSayGo, LLC. All rights reserved. The material on this
site OR from any other Internet site containing our material may not be reproduced
and may not be distributed, publicly performed or otherwise used in any manner,
except with the prior express permission of JustSayGo, LLC.
All articles and photographs are copyrighted by their respective author/photographer. Please review our Legal Notice and Privacy Policy.
Slowly but surely, travelers are getting on board the "travel green" bandwagon. In this column I’ve recommended the carbon-offset company Terrapass on whose website you can assess your personal contribution to global warming, then select payment amounts that in turn fund environmental efforts to offset pollution from both air and auto transport.