Travel Reminder: Always book with a credit card

As many of us attempt to become less dependent on credit, it remains a good rule of thumb to continue to use a credit card whenever you make certain purchases. Always use a major credit card when booking flights, traveling internationally, or booking with a hotel that takes a deposit.

When Direct Air filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in March 2012, customers were told to contact their credit card companies to seek reimbursement for tickets purchased that would not be honored. While the company wasn't honoring their obligations, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) gives consumers a chance to recoup their losses if they used a credit card for purchase. Customers using a debit card were out of luck.

The economic downturn has affected hotels, tour operators, and other travel-related areas of business, and if you venture to countries that have less stability in financial infrastructure, you stand to lose it all if you've traveled using a debit card.


Sources: Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
"Direct Air under fire as it files for bankruptcy," USA Today, March 20, 2012

Happy Birthday Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower opened to the public on March 31, 1899, and 113 years later, still attracts long lines of visitors from all over the world. If you are planning a trip to Paris soon, be sure to plan your visit to the Eiffel Tower. The official website has information about tours, discounts, and how to avoid waiting in a long line. And if a visit isn't in your future, you can take a 360 tour on the website.

Photo credit: Schnuffel from morguefile.com

When Travel Gets Dangerous

I've given a lot of thought to what to do if things go wrong when I'm traveling. I'm a worrier by nature and I have no trouble with scenarios that involve things erupting, terrorists attacking, and various weather catastrophes. But a few stories have given me further pause. I'm not interested in visiting Arruba. Iran was pretty low on my list before they imprisoned three American hikers. And while I'm not willing to swear off Italy, after the Amanda Knox trial, I am not too certain about their criminal investigations.

So what is a traveler to do?

• If you are going anywhere outside the United States, be sure you check out the State Department's travel alerts and warnings. And be sure to carry the name and address of the nearest U.S. Embassy should you get into trouble.
• Take a few minutes to enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a service of the State Department that helps them notify you in case of an alert and makes it easier for you to have embassy access. (Embassy are high security operations. You don't just walk in.)
• Also leave copies of your passport number, credit card information, and full itinerary with someone at home just in case you leave in a hurry. Or worse. 

Stay safe.

Around the World in Three Years

Warren and Betsy Talbot dreamed of traveling the world. Someday. Then a young friend suffered a brain aneurysm and a 30-some year old family member had a heart attack. And the Talbots decided to live their dream now.

The couple had already embarked on a journey of simplifying their life by moving from the East Coast to Seattle and moving from a large home to a townhouse. Now, they got serious and set a date to leave on a 3-year world trip. They sold a car and paid off their credit cards. They started selling their things to friends and on Craigslist. In April 2010, they sold their townhouse and rented a couple of rooms from a friend. Friday, October 1, 2010, they departed for South America on the journey most of us will only dream about.

The Talbots have budgeted to spend $100 a day during their three-year trip. They know they will need more in some places (Europe) and less in others (Asia). They have used social media to find great deals on travel and to connect with the wisdom of other travelers. And they incorporated a month-long volunteer vacation on a nature preserve in Peru into their journey. "We'll spend $590 each for food and lodging, which is well under our $100/day budget, and the savings will allow us to go to Machu Picchu afterward," Betsy said when I interviewed her last September.

Betsy admitted to some fear as they embarked on their journey. They don't have a "plan" for their return. They may not even return to Seattle. Warren blogs: "Our desire now is to explore new areas, leave ourselves completely open to new experiences and be open to the possibilities." You have to love that.

The Talbots are in Europe currently and are a couple of months from celebrating a year on the road. A recent blog post comments and links on seven of their favorite posts so far. Don't miss it! Follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/betsytalbot), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MarriedwithLuggage), and read as they blog their adventures at http://www.marriedwithluggage.com.




(I originally wrote a version of this article as the Seattle Budgets Examiner but retained rights to my material.)

Hot Deal: Victoria's Beautiful Hotel Grand Pacific

Last year my family and I had a chance to stay at Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, B.C. It was by far the best hotel experience we have had. The staff were amazing and when we arrived they already had the pack'n'play set up in the room for our baby and an extra set of towels.

View from our room at the Hotel Grand Pacific

A side view of the hotel

The hotel sits right on the Inner Harbour next to the Houses of Parliament with a view of The Empress Hotel and the Marina. The four-star accommodations are lovely.  Don't miss the indoor pool with natural light pouring in from lofty solar panels, ozonated, and with a 2' foot wading pool for the kids. And the fully equipped gym, hot tub, sauna, and steam room are the best you will find anywhere. 

So now Groupon and Expedia have teamed up to bring an amazing deal on a one-bedroom suite at the Hotel Grand Pacific. To purchase this deal for as low as C$99, go here.  Purchase before July 18 for stays through March of 2012. Whether you take the family or celebrate an anniversary, you will love your stay.

Travel with Purpose: Build a Home in Mazatlan

Ecotourism is on the rise with many opportunities in different areas. One opportunity exists in warm, sunny Mazatlan building homes for the needy with Homes of Hope.

1. Raise a team of 8-12 adults (or up to 20 if your group includes families) and make a date. It takes three days to build a home, working 8 hours a day.
2. Raise funds to build the home and for travel.
3. Live out your values.

For more info, email programs@ywammazatlan.com
or call +1-310-455-6143 for more information, prices and available dates. Pricing and other information can be found at: www.ywammazatlan.com. 

Is Delta Wrong?

Update on 6/28/11 

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia issued this statement on 6/27/11:

Rumors being circulated via the Internet regarding passenger flight restrictions on Saudi Arabian Airlines are completely false. The Government of Saudi Arabia does not deny visas to U.S. citizens based on their religion.

It doesn't change the content of my article in any way. 

I've watched the growing rancor all over the internet as Delta's new alliance with Saudi Arabian Airlines is more closely examined. USA Today reported on it and then withdrew their article as being incomplete. The issue is that with the new alliance, when you buy a ticket to Riyadh from Delta (which will connect you to Saudi Arabian Air), Delta will have to enforce Saudi Arabia's laws and not board passengers with an Israeli passport stamp.
Delta Airlines attempted to clarify on its blog. Delta representative Trebor Banstetter wrote:

We, like all international airlines, are required to comply with all applicable laws governing entry into every country we serve. You as passengers are responsible for obtaining the necessary travel documents, such as visas and certification of required vaccinations, and we’re responsible for making sure that you have the proper documentation before you board.

 Not everyone is buying it. Rabbi Jason Miller wrote in The Huffington Post:

The issue here is one of principle. Delta isn't being forced to include Saudi Arabian Airlines into its Sky Team Alliance. In fact, Delta could stand on principle and refuse to include Saudi Arabian Airlines based on its discriminatory policy. No, it's not Delta's fault that the Saudi government is anti-Semitic, but it doesn't have to go along with it. It's as if the Saudis are telling Delta that when it comes to Jewish passengers it's name should become an acronym: "Don't Even Let Them Aboard."

And while the focus is on Jews, Religion News Service also reports that Saudi Arabia can deny entrance to anyone carrying a non-Islamic item of faith, e.g. Bible. Women also must be dressed according to Saudi standards of modesty and "be met at the Saudi airport by a man who will act as a chaperone."

While I find this discrimination despicable, it seems Delta is caught in a quagmire. We are not at war with Saudi Arabia, but much of what this little nation stands for rankles most Americans. (And many others.) The Saudi Arabian government is considered an ally by our government in the War on Terror. Should we forbid Americans entry into this country based on its discriminatory policies? Many have legitimate reasons to fly to Riyadh, much as they can't stomach the government who enacted these policies. Delta is not only abiding by the laws of the passenger's final destination but also protecting passengers from being denied entry at the other end.

The sticky point is that Saudi Arabian Airlines is not a free enterprise in a free-market economy. It is a government-owned airline.

So by joining forces for the purposes of business with a Saudi government-owned business, is Delta wrong?