how to get a cheaper airplane ticket

very informative article in the NYT travel section, beating the bushes for a bargain ticket

some of the helpful hints:

• Book directly with the airline Taking a page from the hotel industry, airlines have begun to guarantee equal or better prices to travelers who book with them directly. This helps drive traffic to their sites and save on commission expenses they would otherwise pay to third-party booking sites like Orbitz or Expedia.
• Sign up for private price cuts Not unlike clothing chains that dole out special “family and friends” discounts to employees and repeat customers, airlines quietly offer special coupon codes to travelers who sign up for their weekly newsletters or frequent flier programs.
• There is also a new Web site, Compete4yourseat.com, which encourages travel agents, who often negotiate contracts with airlines, to find you a low fare. Travelers fill out a Trip Request form on the home page and click Go. Once your request is bid on by a travel agent, you receive an e-mail message and can log in to view the deal.
• Don’t wait if you see a deal “If you see an airfare and it looks good to you, don’t shop — buy,” said Mr. Rein of Travelworm.com. “It’s like wandering around the shopping mall. You can walk to the next store looking for a deal and the next, and by the time you walk back it might be gone.”

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!

why does flying in the US suck?

here’s one account from npr:
skies more friendly in asia than in U.S.
by michael sullivan

An American Airlines arrivals list at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday.

All Things Considered, April 12, 2008
Not so long ago, the U.S. airline industry was a model of efficiency and comfort while airlines in Asia struggled with aging fleets and chaotic airports. Today, it’s the reverse.

Grounded: What’s Behind the U.S. Flight Delays

American Airlines has canceled thousands of flights since Tuesday, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of thousands of people. Here, a guide to the safety issues involved and how travelers can navigate the disruption

Why is American canceling so many flights? American has grounded the flights while it inspects its fleet of MD-80 airplanes to make sure the wiring in the wheel wells is properly protected from chafing. Unprotected wires potentially could result in a short or spark that might ignite, explains Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura J. Brown. “It’s a very low-probability risk, but it’s an extremely high-consequence issue,” she says

fly the friendly skies

for all you readers who pine to go to europe but think you can’t afford it, think again.

And Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, the Irish no-frills carrier, has said he plans to start a new airline that will fly from secondary European markets like Liverpool or Birmingham to a half-dozen American cities like Baltimore or Providence, R.I., for a base fare as low as 10 euros, or about $16 at $1.59 to the euro.

from getting to europe is about to get easier in the NY times

By MICHELLE HIGGINS

AIR travel to Europe is about to undergo a significant change, one that is likely to spell more choices and cheaper fares for travelers.

On March 30, the so-called open-skies agreement goes into effect, allowing airlines based in the United States and Europe to fly across the Atlantic between any two airports in each region. Before the pact, trans-Atlantic flights were governed by separate agreements between the United States and individual European nations. The pacts required airlines to take off or land in their native countries, and limited which airlines could serve certain airports.

For example, British Airways flights bound for the United States had to originate in Britain. And only two United States carriers were permitted to land at Heathrow Airport, near London: American and United.

When the open-skies agreement kicks in next week, those restrictions will be lifted, essentially letting the open market dictate all trans-Atlantic routes between the United States and Europe. For instance, Continental, Delta and Northwest will be able to serve Heathrow for the first time.

This year, San Francisco, Orlando and Washington all received their first scheduled nonstop flights to Dublin on Aer Lingus under a related transitionary arrangement. And Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, the Irish no-frills carrier, has said he plans to start a new airline that will fly from secondary European markets like Liverpool or Birmingham to a half-dozen American cities like Baltimore or Providence, R.I., for a base fare as low as 10 euros, or about $16 at $1.59 to the euro.

my article on pennsylvania dutch country – lancaster, PA

my travel piece on amish country, pennsylvania for food & wine magazine. continue reading here

more of my published work

click here for one recipe and some of my articles in food & wine magazine