keep dog poop away on your vacay

i’ve been reading michelle higgins, author of the PRACTICAL TRAVELER column in the NY times and a whole slew of other travel-related articles. she always has super useful advice like alerts for upcoming airfare sales and what to do when you get bumped from a flight. i was particularly interested in her recent piece, skirting the pitfalls of private rentals, because we usually stay in apartment rentals instead of hotel rooms like i mentioned in a previous post. higgins tells the story of one family’s heinous experience in puerto rico and how to avoid letting a neighbor’s dog poop ruin your vacation:

But when the family arrived, they were sorely disappointed. The bed linens were stained and soiled, said Ms. Gismervik. The grill was old and rusted. There was mold in the refrigerator. And a loudly barking dog next door was not cleaned up after, causing the family to keep the first-floor windows shut tight to keep out the stench.

…

So how do you avoid the pitfalls? First, figure out whom you want to rent from. The vacation rental market is divided into two basic segments: homes that are rented out directly by the owner and those run by a property management company.

…

After narrowing your search, don’t be shy about asking for more photos. If the listing says the home has three bathrooms, but only pictures two, ask to see the third. Some sites like PickPackGo.com and Zonder.com show where each property is on a digital map, so users can see how far the property is from the ocean or other attractions. Once you have the address, you can also scope out the property on Google Earth, the satellite mapping service, or Zillow.com, which lists home valuations and amenities based on public records.

i’ve never had anything as awful as dog poop at a rental. the worst was our housing projects rental in jamaica where the owner lied about how far we were from the beach. we bitched and moaned to him until he provided us with cheap transportation to the beach 25 minutes away. for the most part, the private rentals have been pretty good at vrbo.com. i also always ask for (and almost always receive) a discount for long-term stays–anything from a free night’s stay to 10% off the total price. the owners realize giving a price break is better than letting the apartment go unrented for that period.

i’m also wary of any rental that is too cheap. like most things in life, you get what you pay for

don’t look in the middle seat pocket on planes…

don’t look in here

now US airlines want to charge you extra for selecting your seat. and why you should never look in the middle seat pocket. some of the topics covered in scott mccartney on air travelers’ turbulent times, npr’s interview with scott mccartney who writes the “Middle Seat” column for The Wall Street Journal.

things i didn’t know before mr. mccartney enlightened me:

• when you get bumped from a US flight, you can get up to $800 cash in compensation. that’s right. CASH MONEY instead of accepting a voucher for a future flight on the same airline that screwed you in the first place.
• when you get bumped and have to stay overnight, the airline must provide you with a meal voucher and hotel accommodation.
• never look in the middle seat pocket because that’s where kids usually sit and leave things because they didn’t know any better – or adults who should know better anonymously deposit heinosities like dirty diapers and toenail clippings. (now, really! who the hell clips their toenails on a plane??)
• don’t use those complimentary airline blankets because passengers sneeze into them, the flight attendant folds them back up, and then you use the blanket and mysteriously pick up a cold.

ew. why are people so gross?

tall people got no reason

seat map on seatguru.com

this doesn’t apply to me but the S.O. is 6′2″ and often gripes about having to hug his knees on planes and beds being too short. coping with the tall traveler’s curse in the ny times has helpful tips for the long of leg. we’ll be checking the seat maps on seatguru.com to select our seats from now on.

Coping With the Tall Traveler’s Curse

By SHARON McDONNELL
If you feel cramped when you fly, imagine the anguish if you were tall.

For extra-tall travelers, the discomfort continues long after the flight, as their feet dangle off the edge of hotel beds, forcing some to position their bodies diagonally, and as they dance what one tall traveler calls the “shower limbo” thanks to too-low showerheads.

“I truly believe it’s a serious disconnect. I end up literally booking everything myself, travel agents haven’t a clue,” said R. J. Brennan, director of strategic workplace for IA Interior Architects in its Chicago office, who is 6-foot-8. “In economy, my knees are embedded into the wire of the seat pocket — I’m literally wedged in and can’t move. On some small planes, I have to physically get off the plane to take my coat off.”

But some relief is at hand, both in the air and on the ground. Two years ago, SeatGuru.com introduced airline comparison charts, allowing readers to see at a glance “seat pitch” — the distance between the back of a seat and the seat in front of it, and the best indicator of legroom — in different classes and aircraft.

One SeatGuru feature allows readers to rearrange the alphabetical airline list by seat pitch, making it obvious that the bigger seat pitches in domestic economy class — 34 to 36 inches — are on United, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines’ McDonnell Douglas MD-88 shuttle, Air Canada and Westjet. Since a seat pitch of only 29 to 30 inches is found in most airlines’ economy class, this is no small potatoes.

how to pack everything you own in one bag

bundle wrapping

Doug Dyment of www.onebag.com has created a diagram to illustrate how to save space in a suitcase.

npr had a story on how to pack everything you own in one bag. i didn’t pack EVERYthing i own in one bag, just the stuff i thought i would need. apparently, “need” is in the eye of the beholder because doug dyment says you only need one pair of shoes for a trip. yeah, doug dyment is a man.

the real problem for me isn’t fitting everything into one bag, it’s keeping the weight under 20 kilos (44 pounds) because that’s all the airlines will allow you to check in for economy flights in europe. sometimes, they’ll let you go with a little more. easyjet once allowed 23 kilos for my check-in bag but everyone is getting stricter. on several occasions, i’ve had to take out some heavier items and put them into my carry-on because the bossy people at check-in were going to charge me. the penalties are steep, anywhere from $15-20 for each additional kilo.

i know, you’re crying out in sympathy for me but this has been one of the most difficult parts of my now 10-month journey. i left behind shoes and clothes in italy, books all throughout europe, and foregone many new purchases for fear that they would tip the scales at check-in. these are the drawbacks when you travel from place to place without a stable base.

recommended apartments

i added a new category in my blogroll, “recommended apartments.” it only has links to the apartments i LIKED in various cities. (i didn’t bother to link the ones that weren’t up to snuff.) i find it more comfortable to stay apartments rather than hotels because:

• they’re more spacious
• they’re often cheaper than hotels
• they’re fully furnished with equipped kitchens, private baths, often washing machines, coffee makers, iron and board, hairdryer (and sometimes dishwashers)
• the better rental companies leave you with basic supplies like olive oil, vinegar, S&P, detergents for dishes, dishwasher and laundry
• i can cook my own meals and have access to real food at all times
• i don’t need or want housekeeping to clean up after me every day (and some apartments provide a weekly cleaning service)
• i can rent apartments with FREE wi-fi or ADSL connection
• i get a discount for long-term stays
• i feel more like a local

my favorite apartment was the “paradise apartment C” in budapest. the rental company was fully-booked for studios so i got upgraded to a huge one-bedroom for the same price as a studio. it was in a new building and had a lovely terrace to dine on that faced the courtyard.

barcelona also had a beautiful apartment that was a great value for the quality of the apartment but the owner neglected to mention that there was construction going on next door. make sure to ask about the noise level in the places you stay!

the apartment in sofia was spartan but i thought that was par for the course in bulgaria.

and when you do your apartment searches, remember that you get what you pay for.

i’ll continue to add more links to “recommended apartments” as i go along. i HOPE i can add every apartment going forward – ha ha!

i’m afraid it’ll come to this…

“no frills airlines” from mad TV

discovered this gem while browsing foXnoMad’s site. budget airlines are charging extra for checked luggage, excess baggage, food and drinks…what next?

he also has helpful information about how to pack light, get through security check more quickly at airports, and keeping on-line accounts safe.

in related news, smart money had an article about 10 Pesky Airline Fees by kelli b. grant:

THESE DAYS AIRLINES are desperate to raise revenues — without raising fares. One solution? Tack on some fees.

“The airlines are getting more into the nickel-and-dime mentality, exploring every angle to bring in incremental income,” says Tom Parsons, CEO of BestFares.com. Competition from low-cost carriers makes it tough for major airlines to increase fares, he says, so they make up the difference in fine-print fees. Here are 10 to watch out for:

1. Booking Fees

Potential cost: $5 to $25
“The most prevalent sneaky fee is a booking charge of $10 to $25 if you want to make a reservation any way but through the airline’s web site,” says Ed Perkins, a contributing editor for SmarterTravel.com. If you call the airline, most charge you at least $15 per ticket for phone reservations. Third-party travel sites charge these fees, too: Expect to pay $5 to $15 per ticket on sites like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity for securing your reservation.

Solution: Use travel comparison and booking sites to shop around, but make your arrangements through the airline’s web site. It’s the only fee-free way to book.

8. In-Flight Amenities Fees

Potential cost: $1 to $5
After the airport hassle, all you want to do is prop your head against a soft pillow, drown out the noise with some decent headphones and relax with a cold drink and a snack. OK, but it’ll cost you. Air Canada charges $2 for a “comfort kit” of pillow and blanket. JetBlue tacks on $2 to upgrade your complimentary pair of headphones. Spirit charges $1 for sodas and coffee, while United offers a $5 snack box

2. Change-of-Plans Fees

Potential cost: $25 and up
“Be sure of your plans if you’re really going for the low-fare price,” cautions David Lytle, editorial director for Frommers.com. The cheapest fare classes are nonrefundable and can’t be changed at all. Even if you pay more upfront for a refundable fare, you’re still subject to hefty change fees. Most airlines charge a flat fee, plus the difference in fares on your old and new travel dates. Discount tickets purchased through third-party travel sites and travel agents carry even bigger penalties. Delta, for example, regularly charges $50 to change your flight. If you didn’t buy your ticket through Delta.com, or over the phone through one of its agents, the airline charges another $10 to $15 to change your reservation, plus the fare difference.

Looking to change your reservation by just an hour or two? Expect to pay for that, too. Continental and Northwest both charge a $25 fee to allow passengers to get a confirmed standby seat on an earlier flight.

a question from a reader in peoria…

Q: i’m wondering how much you pack for your travels? what do you pack alot or little? how do you manage the logistics of it all throughout europe? do you only have a modest bag or two or alot of stuff? some pointers would be helpful.–anon

A: i’m going to answer the question in a general post because several people have asked me this already. most airlines flying to or over anywhere in europe currently allow a maximum of 20 kilos for checked luggage. (that’s 44 pounds or roughly the weight of a 6-year old girl for those of you who don’t speak metric.) i have one big suitcase that was 21.4 kilos at the last weigh-in. the airline staff will generally let you by with up to 2 extra kilos. if you are way over the max, you can dump some of that stuff into your carry-on bags or pay through the nose for the extra weight. easyjet charges 8 euros per extra kilo. on my flight to europe from korea on lufthansa, i think i was quoted 25,000 won (=$25) per extra kilo over 25 kilos, or something ridiculous like that. the logic is that extra weight consumes more fuel and costs the airline more money. plus, if every passenger packed two huge immigration bags filled with their life’s possessions, the plane might topple.

20 kilos really doesn’t allow for much stuff since your suitcase already weighs about 5 kilos and a pair of leather shoes will add another 3 kilos. with that in mind, i take the bare minimum: jeans, tee shirts, a couple of sweaters, one nice outfit and plenty of socks and undies in case i can’t do laundry right away. i always wear my heaviest outfit when i fly. and i pamper my feet in sneakers.

beyond that i recommend the following if you’re planning an extended journey to europe:

get a good sturdy piece of luggage; preferable one with a pullout handle and indestructible wheels. you’ll be rolling that thing onto pebbly sidewalks and bumping it along over cobblestone streets. the last thing you want is one of the wheels to chip or pop off. i have the standard vertical rolley or what i call the “tilt and drag.” it’s served me well for the past 3.5 years but my next investment will be in a spinner suitcase. you don’t have to tilt this kind and it has four wheels that roll in any direction which really helps you get your bag down narrow train and bus aisles.

get a lightweight comfortable backpack. i’ve been toting my laptop in my backpack all across europe. it becomes really freakin’ heavy after a while. i can’t imagine how lopsided i would be if i had my ibook hanging off one shoulder. i also shove my books and heavier items into the backpack when i fly in order to stay within the weight threshold for my checked baggage.

get a money belt. i am the queen of purses but they’re not practical at airports and train stations when you’re juggling a big suitcase and carry-on bag and you have to show your passport and boarding pass every ten minutes. it also thwarts those shady pickpockets that linger around major tourist sites. oh, and make sure to get a nice looking money belt. you’re more likely to use yours if it doesn’t look heinously geriatric in those awful hospital hues.

pack trial-sized toiletries in your carry-on bag. i’m always paranoid that the airline is going to lose my luggage so i take the essentials into my carry-on bag. the current airline regulation allows you to take a minimal amount of liquids, gels and creams on board. no more than 100 ml each in a max of 100-ml containers and they all have to fit in a one-liter ziplock bag. (that’s 3 ounces-3 ounces-1 quart.) you don’t want to arrive in a new city at night and go searching for toothpaste and soap after you’ve spent all your energy pleading with the lost luggage clerk to please find your bag. and most stores that sell that stuff close early in europe. (yeah, i’m looking at you italy.)

take a lightweight, foldable tote bag. i use this to hold any extra purchases i make in my travels. it’s also great for holding groceries and minimizing the clutter of plastic shopping bags. i react to plastic shopping bags the way mommy dearest did to wire hangers.

that’s all i can think of right now but keep the questions coming. lord knows i love nothing better than being a smarty-pants know-it-all.