How many times have you called up an airline (or hotel, tour operator, car rental company, or any other company that you want to do business with), and found yourself talking with someone who is rude, unintelligible to you, unwilling to assist you, or is downright hostile? If you’ve spent any time on the phone at all, this has probably happened to you many over.  I know that I have spent countless hours trying to understand an accent or explaining myself to someone who wasn’t listening to me and merely reading a prepared “script.”  It frustrates me when I have to repeatedly ask someone to slow down so that I can understand what they are saying.  And turn down the background noise so that I can hear you! How to resolve these telephone aggravations?  Hang up and start again!  Chances […]

I heard about the Travelers’ Century Club from fellow blogger, Gadling, and had to check it out. Basically, it’s an organization whose membership is limited to people who have visited 100 or more countries of the world. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1954, and now has members throughout the world. “Countries” are defined pursuant to s specific list, and may be a little different than how you might typically think. For example, the United States has three different “country” classifications, continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. In addition to meetings, the TCC offers a variety of events and travel opportunities (including escorted trips) for the discerning traveler. The initiation fee is $100 for the member, and $100 to include a spouse. Yearly dues are $40/$30 for U.S. residents, and $50 each (member and spouse) for residents of other countries. […]