All About Travel

For the Frequent Traveler

American Airlines already offers Priority AAccessSM privileges to AAdvantage elite status members and other top customers to enhance the travel experience at the airport. At departure, they provide Priority AAccess boarding lanes at the gate, and expedited check-in and security screening processes   and now, not only do they waive the checked baggage charges for our top customers, but your bags will get to the claim area faster!   Immediately available system-wide, select American Airlines customers will experience Priority Baggage Delivery. Upon check in,   luggage will be tagged with branded Priority bag tags. And when you arrive at your destination, those bags will be the first ones delivered to the baggage claim area, allowing a swift, convenient exit from the airport.   

Eligible Top Customers Include:

• Advantage Executive Platinum® members
• AAdvantage Platinum® members
• AAirpass® travelers
• First and Business Class travelers
• oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members

 This service should be a real plus for those frequent flyers on American Airlines.

No doubt we will see other airline follow their example.

Travel Tips

Travel Tips for Newlyweds

1.      Book the honeymoon using the bride’s maiden name (or the name on drivers’ license and passport).  If the honeymoon is taken shortly after the wedding, there will not be enough time to obtain new identification documents with the bride’s new married name.

2.      If the couple is staying at a hotel offering some special amenities or upgrades for honeymooners, they may ask to see proof of the wedding such as a marriage license, take a copy.

3.      If the couple had decided on a cruise for their honeymoon, and either or both are under 25 years of age, they should take a copy of the marriage license.  Most cruise lines require that at least one person in the cabin be over the age of 25 unless they are married.

Top 10 Tips for All Travelers

1.   Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required).  Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

2.   Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. (See “Consular Information Program” section for more details.)

3.   Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you!  While in a foreign country, you are subject to laws of that country.

4.   Make 2 copies of your passport identification page.  This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives.  Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

5.   Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

6.   Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas.  Do not accept packages from strangers.

7.   If you plan to stay abroad for more than two weeks, upon arrival you should notify by phone or register in person with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting.  This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you.

8.   To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

9.   In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

10.  If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad

If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends.  If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States.  However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.

Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas.  If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form.  Although, many health insurance companies will pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States.  Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A.

Travelers should always inquire about travel insurance.

Courtesy of :
All About Travel | 5814 Northwest 63 | Oklahoma City, OK  73132
405-384-3880 | 800-880-8517 | www.allabout-travel.com

Oasis of the Seas

Hi,

My name is Dortha and I have been a travel consultant with All About Travel since the very beginning in 1978.  My passion is cruising.   I am an Accredited Cruise Counsellor and a Master Cruise Counsellor.  Need less to say, I love to cruise!   I had the honor of sharing a historic moment recently.

I was lucky enough to sail on the pre anugural cruise on the Oasis of the Seas- Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated and newest cruise ship.   This is the most innovate and imaginative ship yet.   It has an unprecedented range of onboard amenitites, such as seven themed neighborhoods, 24 delicious dining options, two rock-climbing walls, a thrilling zip-line and spectacular Aqua Theater preformances.

Some of  the unique features onboard Oasis of the Seas include the Central Park neighborhood, the first park at sea with more than 12,000 plants and trees; the Boardwalk neighborhood, a family oriented environment with a hand carved carousel and the Auqa Theatre, an amphiteater that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront aquatic   theatre by night’ a thrilling zip wire ride that races diagonally 90 feet above Boardwalk; and new categories of onboard accommodations, including 28 bi-level loft suites with double-height, floor to ceiling windows offering incomparable vistas.

I loved the unique Boardwalk Balcony cabins – rather than an ocean view balcony, you have a view of all the action on the Boardwalk.  

Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world .  An architectural marvel at sea, spanning 16 decks, encompassing 225,282 gross registered tons, carrying  5,400 guests at double occupancy, and  featuring 2,700 staterooms.  Oasis of the Seas is the first ship to tout the cruie line’s new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed ares, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertinment Plance and the Youth Zone.  If you want to be the coolest parent alive, take your kids on this ship.  The childrens area is amazing!

The ship sails throughout the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  It will alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.   The Eastern Caribbean includes the ports of St. Thomas and St. Maarten and Nassau.   The Western Caribbean itinerary includes Labadee, Falmouth (Jamaica) and Cozumel.

Click the link below to view some photos I took while on the Oasis of the Seas.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=58931178333#/album.php?aid=128170&id=58931178333

Tips on Tipping

This is Larry with some tips on tipping.

When it comes to your vacation, it’s the littlest details, such as tipping etiquette that can become the most confusing. Whom should you tip? How much? Do you need to tip at all?  This simple guide to tipping will take the guesswork out of tipping etiquette and help you focus on more important things - like enjoying your vacation.

TIPPING AT AIRPORTS AND TRAIN STATIONS

Upon arriving at or leaving from the airport or train station, tip the standard porter rate of $1 per bag; more if your luggage is very heavy. Typically, a $1 tip for hailing a taxi is appropriate for doormen. However, you may want to tip more for special services, such as carrying your bags.

HOTEL TIPPING ETIQUETTE

When you arrive at your hotel after a long flight, first things first: Tip the taxi or limo driver. Ten to 15 percent of your total fare is usually expected. If you drive your own car, give the valet parking attendant $1 to $2. If you take a shuttle van or bus, tip the driver $2 per person.

The bellman, who will be more than happy to assist you with your bags and the door, should receive $1 to $2 per bag. Tip when he shows you to your room and again if he assists you upon checkout. Tip more if he provides any additional service. The concierge, who can get you anything from dinner reservations to hard-to-come-by theatre tickets, deserves $5 to $10 for such feats. You may tip at the time of service or at the end of the trip. To ensure good service throughout your stay, add a $20 tip to the bill.

Add 15 percent of the bill to a room service charge, unless a gratuity is already added, then add no additional tip or simply $1. If you requested something delivered to your room such as a hairdryer or iron, tip $1 per item received. Typically, the maid deserves a $2 tip each day, as well.

TOUR TIPPING ETIQUETTE

If you’re taking a tour and a tip is not automatically included, tip a local guide $1 per person for a half-day tour, $2 for full-day tour. Tip a private guide more.

If you are on a multi-day tour with a tour manager - someone who travels with the group for several days and is essentially in charge - tour operators suggest anywhere from $3-8 per person per day. Don’t forget the bus driver either - $2 per person per day.

CRUISE TIPPING ETIQUETTE

When on a cruise, tip according to your comfort level and only on the last evening of your cruise. As a general rule, dining room waiters receive $3.50 per person/per day whereas the dining room assistant waiter should receive $2.00 per person/per day, the dining room maitre’d $3.50 per person/per day and the dining room manager $1.50 per person/per day.

The room steward, for all his efforts, receives $3.50 per person/per day.

RESTAURANT TIPPING ETIQUETTE

Although excellent service calls for 20 percent of the total bill, most U.S. restaurants accept 15 percent as the standard tip. In restaurants where you sit at the bar or the waiter is a small part of the meal (cafes or pubs), 10 percent is also acceptable. The bar tenders, themselves, generally receive between 15 and 20% when you sit at the bar. If the food or service is unsatisfactory, speak to the manager - don’t walk out without tipping. And pay attention to lunch and dinner bills in Europe and Asia, as some restaurants tack on an additional 15 percent (usually listed on the menu or check as a “service charge”) and do not expect tips.

At fancy restaurants, tip the maitre d’ between $5 and $10 if he gets you a table - more when the restaurant is full and you have no reservations. Tip $1 when you check your coat and another $.50 to $1 for restroom attendants. For personal service from the wine steward, opt for 10 percent of the wine bill.

This tipping etiquette will hopefully give you a general idea of the standard tipping rate for different stops along your journey. You are always welcome to tip more when the service is excellent, and when you do, you are sure to see the red carpet treatment all the way. Enjoy your vacation, and don’t forget to tip!

Merry Christmas to all.

The Holiday Travel Season

This is Larry and I’ve been with All About Travel for almost 9 years and in the travel business for about 20 years.

Something most travelers will be noticing in the future, if they haven’t already, is the government’s new Secure Flight program which is being phased in.  It currently only applies to domestic flights but will eventually cover international flights as well.  Airline passengers are now asked for their full name as shown on their driver’s license and date of birth.  That information as well as the passenger’s gender is put in each reservation for the TSA government agency to check against a list of known terrorists.  If you happen to have a name that matches it can cause major delays when traveling.  There is also a system to allow people with matching names to get a number that can be presented confirming that they aren’t the person on the lists.  If the information is not provide when the reservation is made it could also cause a delay at the airport.

With the busy holiday travel season approaching you need to be aware of some things that can make your trip go smoother at the airport.

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what’s in your bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they’re packed.
• Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage when possible. However, please be advised that you will be required to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray screening. Small electronics, such as iPods, can remain in your carry-on.
• Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport.
  
• Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.
• Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait until you’ve reached your final destination to wrap gifts.
• Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a transportation security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home.

A Brief Introduction

For more than 30 years, All About Travel has had the privilege of helping clients with travel experiences – Most of them good experiences.  Unfortunately, travel in today’s world isn’t always 100% wonderful.  Our passion is to make your vacation or business travel as seamless as possible.   Without our valued clients, our success would not be possible.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank you.  Nothing would please us more than to hear from you with comments and suggestions about how we can serve you better.

We hope that you will find our posts interesting and fun, and that you will find helpful information and great ideas for future travel destinations.  Keep in mind that these are personal opinions from experienced travel professionals who all have a passion for travel.  Not only do we delight in helping you plan your dream vacation or that required business trip, we also love to travel.