The Handy Reference Guide to Travel Sites and Resources

I gave a talk to a handful of people recently and gave them these as sites to be aware of.

Organizing sites:

Trip It: Organizes your flight, hotel, and transportation into single trip itineraries. An App is also available. This is probably the current industry leader for organization.  

Mileage Manager: This site does charge a nominal fee to keep track of all the mileage and discount programs.  But worth it for those who travel a lot, particularly if you book your own.

Travel news and blogs

http://elliott.org/: This is a GREAT site. If you run into a customer service issue/scam, this guy will go to bat for you and help you fight. There is an e-newsletter you can sign up for too. 

http://www.travelindustrywire.com/: Subscribe to their free weekly e-letter to keep up on travel industry news. 

Budget Travel: Though mainly designed for vacationers, they have an e-letter that has really useful information. 

http://www.johnnyjet.com/: I like this site because it has fun things and helpful tips. 

The Air Travel Rights You Aren't Aware of (and How to Get Them): An article to bookmark with helpful links, particularly if you need to file a complaint.

Airports

Travelnerd.com:  Terminal maps, fee calculator, parking and ground transportation info, rates, and coupons, 

Smart Layover: http://smartlayover.com/  If you get stuck, this site (and app) tell you where to find a spot to nap, gate info, layover details, and day-use hotels. 

Gate Guru: http://gateguruapp.com/  This app has detailed info on more than 200 airports and will tell you where to go and what is near your gate, help with layovers, etc.

Air Booking

Yapta.com:  Connected to Kayak, this site lets you search flights and track the ones you like before or after you book. You get an email when a fare drops. Some airlines refund fare drops in the form of credits; I collect money easily because of this site.  If you use a travel booking software, you can use Fare IQ. 

Kayak: Basically Yapta with a fare predictor and a few other features Yapta doesn’t have.  

Bing.com/travel:  I’m not a huge fan but I will often check their fare predictor.

Hipmunk: I don’t LOVE this site but it is a favorite with many.

Hotels

Tingo.com: Hotel-booking site that automatically refunds price drops. 

The Suitest: One to keep an eye, it still has a way to go in usability but a great way to find if you are getting a good deal on a room and particularly helpful when you are looking for a particular type of room, i.e. suites.

Google.com/hotelfinder: Works so nicely with Google maps, though I often just plug a meeting address into Google.com/maps and then do a search nearby. 

Car Rental

AutoSlash.com: Finds the best discount code and applies it

Avis Business:  The best  business program I work with. Works with all size companies, in most situations other employees can drive without signing on or paying fees, and always an upgrade coupon for any length of rental. And you can book with a preferred driver number for others (unlike Hertz which requires you to have their password).

Food and Beverage Guidelines

Per diem rates: The US General Services Administration sets guidelines for food and beverage allowances by region/city. Very helpful if you are operating on a per diem basis for travelers or simply want to set a ceiling for allowable expenses.

Travel Coordinator Education programs

The Travel Institute: Low cost certification with online education. A caveat: a friend who has traveled for years and started her own travel agency says she hasn't been impressed with the knowledge of those who seek certification from online programs.

Social Conscience

ECPAT-USA: I’m a huge fan of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) and have spoken with Carol Smolenski, President. Support those in the travel industry who have established protocols for dealing with the travesty of child prostitution and trafficking. Marriott and Disney have refused to sign this code. Hilton, Delta, Carlson and Wyndham are huge supporters.

Tipping, Oh Tipping

I go into a virtual panic when it comes to tipping. I'm pretty secure on what to tip the waitstaff; I paid my dues as a waitress and I know when I'm getting good service and when I'm not. I can usually tell when my waiter is doing poorly because of bad management (too many tables, covering for someone who isn't being responsive) and when they really aren't focused on the job.

But tipping the taxi or shuttle driver? My hairdresser? The maid at the hotel? I get flummoxed trying to decide what's cheap and what's over the top. Especially when I do tip and come back to my made-up hotel room to find my tip still there.

So I happily anticipated Bankrate.com's A cheat sheet on tipping do's and don'ts. And it was helpful. And overwhelming. There is enough information here to require me to carry a cheat sheet at all times.

Here is my guide: When someone in the service industry goes out of their way to help you out, tip what you can and think is appropriate. I try to keep in mind that most in the service industry are not pulling big salaries; most are trying to pay the bills and might dream of sending a child to college. If they are doing good work, a moderate tip is appropriate. If they are doing great work, well, be prepared to tip accordingly.

Making sure you have the right change is a whole other problem.

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?