If you’ve got substantial connection time at Salt Lake City International, you can spend time just hanging out, or take advantage of your ground time and get in a little sightseeing and cultural expedition. Between the hours of 9 am – 6:30 pm, a complimentary van service makes scheduled trips between the airport and Temple Square. The service delivers you to one of the two visitor centers where complimentary tours are offered. You can take a quick guided tour of this 10 acre area at the center of the city, then return to the airport for your outbound flight. Regardless of religious affiliation, Temple Square is one of the most popular attractions in the state. It is home to the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the huge […]
Read MoreCategory Archive: Air Travel
Back to Basics: Minimum Connection Time
With all the tools available for booking travel online, more and more people choose to do it themselves rather than use the services of a travel agent. I think the ability to research, sleuth out the best and perfect deal, and make reservations yourself is a wonderful thing. BUT – it also means that you have to take responsibility for those reservations, including the mistakes that you make. One mistake that I’m seeing on a regular basis, is travelers not allowing sufficient time to make a connection. This can have unintended consequence that can wind up costing you money. Here are a few scenarios, and my recommendations on making sure you have enough time to make your connection: You are traveling domestically on Airline A and are connecting to another domestic flight also on Airline A: If it’s a large […]
Read MoreBack to Basics: How to Get Off the Plane & Not be Stressed
The best part about getting on the plane, is knowing that you’ll be getting off at your destination, and that you have loads of great times ahead of you. For many travelers, however, the landing and deplaning process can be just as confusing and challenging as the boarding process. Here’s the scoop on how the landing process works and some tips that will make it easy for you to get off the plane. Frequently flyers – pay attention, because you should take some of the suggestions to heart. Once the aircraft is on the ground and taxiing into the gate, most airlines allow you to use your cell phone. What you cannot do, however, is stand up and get it out of the overhead, or unbuckle your seat belt and get it out from beneath your set. If you’ll want […]
Read MoreBack to Basics: Boarding the Plane
Back to Basics: 10 Items to ALWAYS Pack in Your Carry On Luggage
Although I check my bags on occasion, I’m very vigilant in not packing certain types of things. Some things go in your checked luggage, some go in your carry ons, and depending on space, some things can go either way. It doesn’t seem like I should have to spell this out, but most every day that I fly someone mentions packing one of these items in their checked bagged. Usually, it doesn’t present a problem, but DON’T PACK THESE ITEMS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE! Itinerary. Keep a copy of your itinerary in your checked bag, but make sure that you have a copy with you as well. If your bag does go missing, you’ll need to know what reservations you have, confirmation numbers, phone numbers, etc. I keep my itinerary on my phone and computer as well, but have it […]
Read MoreBack to Basics: 8 Ways to Get to the Airport on Time
With all the rushing around during the holiday season, one place you won’t want to be rushing to is the airport. While you can get away with being fashionably late to your office or party or neighborhood gift exchange, airport counters and security lines are not that forgiving. This will be a busy travel season, despite the recession, and if you’re one of the ones who’ll be flying it’s time now to start planning on how you’ll be getting to the airport. As you’re making plans, remember to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, and make sure you take into account heavier traffic, less parking places, and longer security lines. Here are some options on how you can get to the airport. Pick one that is economical – both in price and in stress level! Drive yourself […]
Read MoreEditorial: When are these fees going to end?
As I’ve written many times before, and most recently at the announcement that an airline would charge for a checked bag, the basic economics of flying vs. the price of a ticket are seriously out of whack! Although the cost of doing business has risen substantially, the cost of flying has not. In fact, even without taking into consideration the present day value of a dollar, it seems like in many cases, the fares have dropped. As costs of airline travel rose, the airlines first went to its vendors and negotiated better contracts. Then it went to its employees for concessions and tighter work rules. When there was no more left to cut, it created new “fees” so that it could still advertise low, slash and burn fare sales. BUT – and here’s a big BUT! The airlines, with only […]
Read MoreBack to Basics: Stand Right, Walk Left
There is etiquette to be considered on escalators and moving sidewalks. It’s really very simple — STAND RIGHT — WALK LEFT! What does this mean? If you are going to remain stationary while riding the escalator or the people-mover (moving sidewalk), stand single file on the right side, allowing people who are walking to pass you by on the left side. It’s just like driving – slow moving (or non-moving) people stay to the right and out of the way of faster moving traffic. Do not congregate as a group and block the walkway from those trying to get by you. This is a mode of transportation, not a coffee klatch, so either keep moving or keep out of the way of those people who are. All together now, STAND RIGHT — WALK LEFT! Photo credit: SXC ____________________________________________
Read MoreSihanoukville Express, Bus Ride from Hell
Today I have a guest post from fellow blogger Ken Dunlop from The Vancouver Traveler. Ken spent several months traveling around Southeast Asia, and he graciously offered to share a bit of his trip with you. This is one of what I am sure is many anecdotes about getting around in Southeast Asia. So, you find yourself in Sihanouk Ville in Cambodia, and you are desperate to get into Thailand. Not wanting to travel the four hours to Phnom Penh in order to fly, the lady at the Internet Café presented a great plan, “Mr Ken, take the bus…it is good ride and only 8 hours.” Yup, you have it I took the bus. The day began at 07:00 for the tuk tuks ride to the bus depot, for the 07:50 bus departure. The bus is one of those huge […]
Read MoreBack to Basics: Mastering the Reservation Phone Line
I’ve written about this previously, but it’s basic information that can’t be repeated too many times. I know that most people do their research and booking online, but there are times when you are going to have to call a reservation center. It can be annoying to be put on hold, and repeatedly hear how many callers are ahead of your or how long your expected wait time is, and even further annoying to finally get a person who you can’t understand. I hope these tips will help reduce your frustration factor, and get you the information and service that you really need. Call at non-peak times. This means avoiding calls during standard business hours, if at all possible. Late nights (generally considered after 8 pm) are usually good are usually light in terms of wait time. News stories can […]
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