Travel Comfort Pack for 99 Cents

Purchase a luxury travel comfort pack for just 99 cents (free shipping!) at meritline.com. Inside the pack is a pillow, eye shades and ear plugs. Great for those red-eye or overseas trips. The pillow alone can run $10-$15 at the airport, and the quality seems to be decent for the price. Use coupon MLCK401008080963NL1 after searching for the item "luxury travel" and placing the item in your shopping cart.

Hats off to morecowbell @ Fatwallet for this deal. Note - the coupon code works on the first 1,000 orders only.

How to Add Pages to Your Passport

By Mike Grasso

Frequent international traveler? Running out of room in your passport for all those Visa's? Easy fix. Simply mail your passport to the U.S. State Department and request extra pages be added. How much might you expect to pay for such as service? $20? $40? Actually...it's a FREE service from our federal government. Even the postage to ship it back to you is FREE. It gets better: The turnaround time to process extra pages may take several weeks according to the application, but my recent experience had the passport back in my hands in under 2 weeks. Now that is our government in action!

So if you are running out of space in your passport, now may be the time to send it in for some extra pages. Click here for more information.

United Airlines To Reduce International Capacity By 7%

This week, during their quarterly earnings report, United Airlines announced an extra 7% cut in international capacity for the last four months of the year. According to airliners.net, all UA hubs are impacted by the reduction in flights. If you have upcoming international itineraries on United, be sure to check for possible schedule changes. Below is a listing of impacted flights from San Francisco:

San Francisco (SFO) to:

London (LHR) - 2nd daily flight suspended

Tokyo/Narita (NRT) - 2nd daily flight suspended

Certain other routes are flying fewer flights during the week and/or operating smaller aircraft.

inFLIGHTout Travel Tip: Scan Your Passport

When you travel outside the U.S, some people recommend you keep a copy of your passport in a separate location, such as your luggage or wallet. This way, if your passport is ever lost or stolen, you have a copy to provide officials. Great advice!

In addition to a photocopy, consider scanning a copy of your passport and saving into your email box or other online file server. A scanned copy is crisp, clean and colorful, appearing a little more legitimate than a photocopy, particularly important when you need to work with government officials in a foreign country to secure your flight out of the country. Provided you have Internet access, a scanned passport is readily available anywhere you find yourself traveling in the world.

New Border Crossing Rules Now in Effect

New security rules for land and sea border crossings went into effect on Monday. The rules, part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) were originally intended to start in 2008 but were delayed due to concerns on how they might impact commerce. The initiative states all U.S. citizens must present a passport, passport card or enhanced drivers license when entering the country. Some citizens may also use a trusted traveler document, which require background checks and often used by people crossing the border regularly for business. A similar requirement for entering the country by air went into effect in 2007. 

inFLIGHTout Travel Tip: Discounted Passport Photos

Save a few bucks on your next Passport and/or Visa photo by visiting your neighborhood Costco store. Costco charges members only $4.99 for a pair of photos. Other companies normally charge upwards of $10-$15 for the same service. Click here to find your local Bay Area Costco store.

World's Most Bizarre Sculptures In Public Places

Check out a gallery of fascinating (ok, a few are quite bizarre) sculptures on display around the world, courtesy of 13 Above.

Delta Adds New Bag Fee For International Travel

Hit with huge Q1 losses, Delta Airlines announced they will immediately begin charging a $50 fee for most passengers when checking a second bag for international flights commencing on or after July 1, 2009. The fee is expected to generate $100 million in new revenue to the airline annually. This compares to the $794 million loss the airline took in the 1st quarter of this year. Both elite flyers and active military are exempt from the new baggage fee. In addition, all passengers can continue to check the first piece of luggage fee-free on international flights. 

inFLIGHTout Travel Tip - Scan Your Passport

When you travel outside the U.S, some people recommend you keep a copy of your passport in a separate location, such as your luggage or wallet. This way, if your passport is ever lost or stolen, you have a copy to provide officials. Instead, or in addition to, consider scanning a copy of your passport and saving into your email box or other online file server. A scanned copy is crisp, clean and colorful, and looks pretty legitimate (although it is still just a copy). Plus, you have a copy of your passport anywhere in the world you may be, provided there is Internet access to retrieve it.

Voluntourism 101

Came across a great read from Matador Change on "voluntourism," which, just as it sounds, combines volunteering with tourism. As we advance more into a single global society and the world continues to open up, some travelers appreciate the opportunity to give ones' time, energy, and skills to the communities which they travel to, rather than just take from them. Some call voluntourism a vacation with a purpose. Read the full article from Matador Change here.

State Department Issues Travel Alert for Mexico

Due to recent violence, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert for American citizens heading to Mexico. Over the past couple months, violent attacks have occurred, particularly around U.S/Mexico border towns such as Tijuana, Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez.

The report states Mexican drug cartels have engaged in increasing violent conflict throughout Northern Mexico, which have included shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public places. Although tourists are not the intended target for much of the violence, the State Department reports U.S. Citizens traveling in and around border towns have been harassed and the uncertain security situation poses serious risks for U.S. Citizens as well.

Full report

Win a Trip to Tahiti from the Travel Channel

Enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Tahiti and its enchanted isles. You and a guest will fly round-trip from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti. You'll enjoy two nights on Tahiti before journeying to the neighboring island of Moorea, where you'll stay for four nights. This seven-day, six-night holiday is sure to be the escape of a lifetime. Register by December 31, 2008, for your chance to win.

British Airways Considers Qantas Partnership

Today British Airways announced they are in partnership talks with Qantas, Australia's largest airline. Although British Airways officials cautioned no guarantee a deal can be reached, both airlines are reportedly working toward a "complete and permanent merger." Read more from the New York Times.

inFLIGHTout Travel Tip: Register Your Trip

In light of the unfortunate events in Mumbai and Bangkok recently, it is a good idea to let the State Department know your international travel plans. U.S Embassies located throughout the world can aid you in the event of civil unrest, terrorism or natural disaster. Additionally, U.S Embassies and Consulates can assist if you are a victim of a crime, become ill, or are involved in a car accident. 

Registering your trip is voluntary and free. 

Click here to read additional information from the U.S State Department and to register. 

50 Travelers Wanted for Global Scavenger Hunt

Great Escape 2009 is now accepting applications for what Outside Magazine calls, "One of the 50 Most Amazing Trips in the World," that crowns The World's Greatest Travelers.™ 

Essentially A Blind Date With The World, the event is limited to 25 teams of two who will travel around the world overcoming challenging and unique culturally-oriented scavenges along with a series of thrilling interactive personal experiences in at least 10 secret nations across 4 continents.

But as life changing as participating in The Global Scavenger Hunt has been for competitors, there is much more to this event than riding elephants and camels, swimming with sharks or dolphins, visiting the great ancient souks of the world and witnessing Sahara sunrises and Himalayan sunsets--there are lives to change! The event is a global travel-a-thon platform that has participants traveling a million kilometres for the $1 million goal to raise money for life-changing organizations. Last year's event helped scores of families with micro-loans and helped construct and fund three elementary schools in Niger, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone in conjunction with organizations like Kiva, The Nomad Foundation and Free The Children. Funds have supported Doctors without Borders, Partners in Health and CARE, among others.

Do you have the curiosity, courage and Indiana Jones-like daring to sign up for a global adventure without knowing a single destination-taking A Blind Date With The World---but knowing when the adventure ends you will have gone all the way around the world and trusted strangers in strange lands everywhere you went?

The next event is scheduled to begin April 17, 2009 and is limited to just 25 teams of two. To participate, submit your application ASAP - as teams are selected on a first-come first-service basis. Teams will be contacted and interviewed as to their suitability for the competition, including past travel experience. 

The entry fee of $9,900 per person covers all international airfare, 23-nights in First Class hotels and about 40% of meals. Visit and apply online at GlobalScavengerHunt.com or call 310.281.7809.

10% Off Air Canada Flights When Using AMEX for Payment

Visit www.aircanada.com/seetheworld to receive 10% off your next international flight to Europe, Asia, and South America. Must take advantage of this offer before November 15th for travel between now and December 13, 2008. Valid for select city departures, including San Francisco - and you must use American Express to purchase your ticket.

What are 'Round The World' Tickets?

By Mike Grasso

'Round The World' tickets offer internationally travelers tremendous flexibility and often big savings when visiting to several destinations. Of course, it is simple enough to purchase point-to-point tickets, say San Francisco to Tokyo, Tokyo to Delhi, Delhi to Singapore, and so forth, but such one way fares often become costly. And, if you decide you are having a grand ol' time in Delhi and want to stay a few extra days, think the airline will let you escape without paying a hefty change fee? This is where 'Round The World' tickets become your traveling companion.

Each airline alliance is different, but in general, you are permitted to fly in one direction (West or East) and visit between 3 and 15 cities around the globe within a certain window of time - usually 12 months. You have some flexibility of flying to Northward or Southward destinations as well. Total mileage caps start at 26,000 miles - meaning you can fly one direction around the globe as long as your total mileage doesn't exceed 26,000 miles. The cost? Not as bad as you might think. The One World alliance quotes $3,900 for a 3 continent trip. Star Alliance at $4069 for up to 26,000 miles.

For example, using the Star Alliance online calculator, I priced San Francisco to Atlanta to Rome to Vienna to New Delhi and back to San Francisco. The total cost was $4069 in economy. In Business the fare is slightly more - only $7,880.

A key benefit to 'Round The World' tickets though is the flexibility. Other than your initial departure from San Francisco, you often need to provide the airlines little notice, as little as 24 hours, when you are ready for the next destination.

With these tickets, remember to think big and exotic. Easter Island, Africa, Tahiti, go someplace that would otherwise cost a fortune to purchase separately.

And, as if it doesn't get any better, you can earn frequent flier miles for most of your flights. Be sure to check with your alliance for a few exceptions.

Finally, we are currently living in a time where airline fees have reached uncomfortable levels. When you get a quote for a 'Round The World' ticket, be sure all international taxes and applicable airline fuel surcharges are included.

I've provided links below to the three global alliances' 'Round The World' websites.

Star Alliance

One World

SkyTeam

Wild Wonders Sweepstakes Offers Trips To Four Continents

Register for the Wild Wonders Sweepstakes for a chance to win five trips to four continents. Walk among millions of King penguins, safari on the Serengeti, swim with sea lions, get up-close-and-personal with polar bears and experience the wonders of the Amazon and Machu Picchu. The winner will embark a new journey each year, all taking place within a five year window.

Natural Habitat Adventures, rated a 2008 World's Best Tour Operator by Travel+Leisure magazine, will be leading each expedition.

Click here to enter

Deciding Whether to Purchase Travel Insurance

In a recent post, industry expert Peter Greenberg answers a reader question about whether one should purchase travel insurance. He outlines situations in which having travel insurance would be particularly beneficial, say if an airline or cruise line goes out of business, and others times when it may be unnecessary cost. He finishes his response by reminding folks that traditional medical insurance, such as plans offered through employers, has limitations when traveling abroad and find yourself in an emergency.

What is the International Drivers Permit?

The International Drivers Permit is essentially a permit to operate a motor vehicle outside of the United States. The International Drivers Permit translates the U.S drivers license into 10 other languages, making it a smoother process for say foreign police or car rental companies who may not easily understand the U.S drivers license. It is a valid document in 150 countries around the world. The permit is not in itself a license to drive; it must be accompanied with an officially issued drivers license from the states.

There are only two organizations in the U.S. where you can purchase an International permit:

National Automobile Club and the American Automobile Club. The permit fee is $15, and membership to either organization is not required.

Photo courtesy of Wanderus