Friday 14 September 2012

Rhoda's Travel Bits and Tips


                    Rhoda's Travel Bits and Tips
                          Sept 2012
                 Travel Information

Planning a trip? Try these money-saving travel tips

Getting the best rates on things like hotels and flights have become a borderline obsession for some travelers, but some of the most common "tricks" are often not useful. The TODAY anchors test their knowledge on ways to make a trip go smoothly.

By Travel + Leisure

Is it true, or a myth? We tackle 7 conventional travel tips to reveal which will actually save you money on your next vacation.
1. If you have enough frequent flier miles for your next flight, use them.
Myth.
It isn't always a good value to cash in your miles. First, use the 1.4-cents-per-mile rule to calculate the value of an award ticket. If the cash price is considerably cheaper than the award ticket calculation, save your miles. For example, if a flight will cost you $300 cash or 50,000 points, you'll get more value out of paying cash since the 50,000 points equal about $700. You'll want to use those points on a ticket that's around $500 or more. 
2. Search for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays or just after midnight to be sure you get the lowest airfare.
Myth.
Don't limit yourself. While it is true that many airlines have advertised sales on Tuesday and Wednesday, George Hobica of AirfareWatchDog.com says that the best fares are unadvertised and can pop up at any hour of the week. So if consumers only search certain days, they may miss out on some great deals. Sign up for AirfareWatchDog's alerts and follow Fly.com and your favorite airlines on Twitter, to help stay on top of unadvertised fares—they often don't last long.
3. When booking a cruise, your best bet is to use a travel agent.
True.
Cruise lines are strict about keeping pricing consistent, so if you find a discount offered online, your agent should have access to the same rate. Agents can tell you if upgrades or other perks become available later and they book for no fee because they earn a commission from the cruise line itself, so there isn’t an additional cost passed on to you. You can also get valuable insights from agents on which cruise line best suits you.
4. Once you book a flight, you can't make any changes without paying a fee.
Myth.
Thanks to new DOT rules that came out earlier in 2012, you now have 24 hours after you've booked a flight to make changes to, or cancel, a ticket with no penalty. This rule should give you added confidence when making plans. Furthermore, websites like Orbitz will refund the difference if, after you book, another passenger books your same itinerary at a lower cost.
5. If you pay for your hotel room in advance, you may still be able to get a lower rate if the rate drops.
True.
Every hotel is different, so be sure you know the cancellation policy when booking. When you book one of Tingo’s “money back” hotels, the website starts monitoring the reservation on your behalf. If the price drops at any time, Tingo will automatically cancel your reservation and rebook you at the better rate and refund you the difference after your stay. Orbitz and Travelocity also offer price guarantees on their own terms.
6. You're less likely to be bumped from your flight if you check in early.
True.
Involuntary bumping is pretty rare, but when it does occur, it’s a big headache. The earlier you check-in (24-hours is the earliest), the more better you are. Once you have your final seat assignment confirmed, bumping becomes less likely. And, checking-in early is easy since you can do it from home or on a mobile device well before you step foot in the airport.
7. The best days to fly out of major airports are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
True.
Fewer people tend to travel on these days, so you'll find less crowded airports and also a better chance for lower fares. It also makes sense to pick the first flight out in the morning for a better chance of avoiding delays (and crowds).
More From Travel + Leisure:
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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
If you liked this please pass it on 

Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
e-mail: rosswin@shaw.ca
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2

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Sunday 2 September 2012

Traveling with Children


September Newsletter

                                              Travel & Cruise News  
                       Items of Interest 
         A newsletter from Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, BC
                             http://www.rosswintravel.blogspot.ca

                                   Contents           
                        Traveling with children 
                        Passports for children
                        Air Travel
                        Children Traveling Abroad
                        Traveling with Infant or Child
                        Polliwog on Safari
                        Safety Tips to Remember
                        Quote
                        Artist of the Month



       Vol. 1, issue 7

Painting my Rhoda Ross






  __________________________________

Traveling with Children
Researching for the content of this newsletter I came across so much information that it  became a challenge to try to put into a couple of pages the most important information on traveling with children. I did not realize all the paperwork that is required these days, so I will be posting quite a few web sites for you to look at if you need additional information on any of my comments. 

It also brought back some memories of traveling with my own children one of which I would like to share with you. 

"I was returning home, by car, after a visit to Montreal along with my friend Millie, who was quite tiny, her son and my 2 daughters. We were about 10 miles from home when my youngest daughter who was about 1 1/2 years at the time, decided she wanted to sit on my lap and of course I was driving.  My friend Millie tried to take her but no way was that going to happen, so we stopped for a few minutes to see if I could calm her but she did not want to leave me. For the remainder of the trip Millie held her which took all her strength as my daughter kicked & screamed. It was the longest 10 miles in history. So in conclusion, a car seat, a requirement today, would have been a gift from heaven.”
                     ____________________________________________________ 

Passports for Children
 Canada - All children and babies who travel need their own passport or travel document.( http://www.ppt.gc.ca/info/16-.aspx?lang=eng )

-Persons under 18 years are considered children and need documentation to travel abroad. (Canadain Passport, Consent Letter when traveling alone or with only one parent, and it is recommended that it be certified, stamped or sealed by an official such as Notary Public or lawyer etc. http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/consent-letter_lettre-consentement-eng)

  • Supporting identification such as birth certificate or citizenship card.
  • Other legal documents could be required such as divorce papers, custody court order or death certificate. 
  • Also be sure to carry proper identificaton for yourself in order to help prove you citizenship.
              ______________________________________________________

Air Travel 
 If a child is travelling alone:
  • Confirm in advance whether the airline will escort and supervise children from check-in through arrival.
  • Find out if there are restrictions, such as age limits, for unaccompanied minors.
  • Ensure that a parent or guardian stays at the airport until the flight has departed (as per airline regulations).
  • Ensure that the person greeting the child at the point of arrival has appropriate identification and authorization. 
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/children_enfants-eng#Air_travel
                      _________________________________________________
Children Travelling Abroad
We recommend that children travelling abroad carry a consent letter proving that they have permission to travel from every person that has the legal right to make major decisions on their behalf if that persons on is not accompanying the child on the trip. ex. Children traveling alone, with groups or with only one custodial parent.  
Carrying a consent letter cannot guarantee entry, as permission to enter another country is entirely the decision of that country. A consent letter may be required by foreign authorities, in addition to other country-specific entry requirements. You should contact the representatives of the country or countries to be visited by the child to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information regarding specific entry requirements.
We strongly recommend that you have the consent letter certified, stamped or sealed by an official who has the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration, e.g., a commissioner for oaths, notary public or lawyer, so that the validity of the letter will not be questioned. For complete info go to the following website.
                      _______________________________________________
Traveling with an Infant or Child
 Booking, ticketing and seating rules for infants and children
Infant (under age 2)
  1. An infant as young as 7 (seven) days can travel on an Air Canada flight.
  2. Only one infant is permitted per adult passenger (16 years of age or older).
  3. Whenever the seat belt sign is on:
    1. An infant seated on a parent's lap must be held securely;
    2. An infant for whom a seat is purchased must be properly secured in an approved child restraint device (see ‘Child restraint policy' below).
4*For international travel, if an infant's second birthday occurs between the departure and return segments of an international trip, the fare can be determined from one of the two options below:
  1. The child can pay the full published child's fare for that flight (and be certain to have a confirmed seat both ways), or
  2. The child can pay the infant fare on the departure, and the published child's fare on the return.
Child (age 2 to under age 12)
  1. The use of an approved child restraint device is optional for children age 2 and up (see ‘Child restraint policy’ below).
  2. Child restraint devices are not permitted in the Executive First Suite at any time.
Carry-on baggage:
  1. The normal carry-on baggage allowance applies to children and infants occupying a seat.
  2. If you are travelling with an infant on your lap, you may bring one standard carry-on bag not exceeding 10 kg (22 lb) in weight to carry their belongings, in addition to your personal carry-on allowance.
Important: Always pack remotely-controlled toys in your checked baggage. This will make clearing of your carry-on baggage much easier.
In accordance with government regulations, airlines are only required to check identification at the departure gate for passengers who appear to be 18 years of age or older.
However, Canada requires that all passengers, including children, carry their own valid passport when travelling by air to another country.
The following documents may also be required for any travel that includes a child, both within Canada and abroad:
  1. Birth certificates showing the names of both parents.
  1. Any legal documents pertaining to custody.
  2. A parental consent letter authorizing travel (if the child is travelling with one parent, the letter must be signed and dated by the other parent; if the child is travelling without his parents, the letter must be signed and dated by both parents.)
  3. A death certificate if one of the parents is deceased
Prior to any travel that includes a child, parents should contact the embassy or consulate of all countries the child will be visiting to inquire about entry and exit requirements.
For more detailed information, go to the travel documents page or visit the Government of Canada's Children and Travel page.

                __________________________________________________________
Today I'll focus on the top items to pack.

  1. Snacks. Nuts, dried fruit, and pretzels are portable, nutritious, and filling. If you have a long plane or train trip, fresh fruit or carrot sticks help keep kids hydrated and satiated.
  2. Cooler back-pack. This is one of the best investments we've made. We pack it full of healthy snacks for the plane ride and carry it with us when we're out and about in our new location. It also helps us carry cold food back to our apartment/hotel when it's blazing hot out.
  3. Small packs of travel tissues. They can serve as napkins, tissues or toilet paper. Many parts of the world don't supply toilet paper as a matter of course. You'll be glad you have them!
  4. Hand sanitizer/wipes. I'm not encouraging you to be obsessive about using these. Washing your hands with warm soap and water is always the best option. But, let's face it... when you're on the road and your kids are suddenly, "starving," a sink may not be available.
  5. Sleep masks/ear plugs. This helps with sleeping on planes and trains. It also helps when changing time zones- you may need to catch a few zzzz's during the day when a city is noisy.
  6. Ziploc bags. They are infinitely useful for storing leftovers, packing snacks, packing leaky items, etc. 
  7. Items to help with popping ears on airplanes- gum or chewy foods for older kids, bottles, pacifiers, or lollipops for younger ones. (Breastfeeding is also helpful, but is often not possible because airlines require babies to be in a car seat or otherwise belted to an adult in an inconvenient position during take-offs/landings).
  8. First aid kit/ typical medicines children often need: acetaminophen, antibiotic cream, bandages, antihistamine, hydro cortisone. On our most recent trip, we brought quick dissolve Benadryl, and boy were we glad we had it when a need arose!
  9. Small flashlights/headlamps. These come in handy for so many reasons. There are lots of small, portable models available.
  10. A small journal, colored pencils, and double-sided tape. Have the kids record their experiences and tape in ticket stubs, etc. This isn't necessary, of course, but I encourage you to consider making journals part of all of your trips.

http://michellecusolito.blogspot.ca/2011/12/travel-tuesdays-top-10-tips
for.html____ 

                   _____________________________________________________

Safety tips to remember when traveling with kids
Contributor
Published August 1, 2012
Traveling with children can be a challenge.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has tips for the entire family.

• Allow yourself and your family extra time to get through security — especially when traveling with younger children.

• Have children wear shoes and outer layers of clothing that are easy to take off for security screening.

• Talk to your children before going to the airport about the security screening process. Let them know their bags — backpack, dolls, etc. — will be put in the X-ray machine, come out the other end and returned to them.

• Discuss the fact that it’s against the law to make threats such as, “I have a bomb in my bag.” Threats made jokingly can result in the entire family being delayed and could result in fines.

• Similar to travel in motor vehicles, a child is best protected on an airplane when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child, meeting standards for aircraft until the child weighs more than 40 pounds and can use the aircraft seat belt.

You also can consider using a restraint made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA. Belt-positioning booster seats cannot be used on airplanes, but they can be checked as luggage — usually without baggage fees — for use in rental cars and taxis.

• Although the FAA allows children 2 and younger to be held on an adult’s lap, the AAP recommends that families explore options to ensure that each child has his or her own seat.

Discounted fares might be available. If it is not feasible to purchase a ticket for a small child, try to select a flight that likely is to have empty seats.

• Pack a bag of toys and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.

• In order to decrease ear pain during descent, encourage your infant to nurse or suck on a bottle. Older children can try chewing gum, drinking water or juice through a straw or filling up a glass of water and blowing bubbles through a straw for children at least 4 years old.

• Wash hands frequently. Consider bringing hand washing gel to prevent illnesses during travel.

• Consult your pediatrician before flying with a newborn or infant who has chronic heart or lung problems or with upper or lower respiratory symptoms.

• Consult your pediatrician if flying within two weeks of an episode of an ear infection or ear surgery.

Sally Robinson is a clinical professor of pediatrics at UTMB Children’s Hospital, and Keith Bly is an associate professor of pediatrics and director of the UTMB Pediatric Urgent Care Clinics. This column isn’t intended to replace the advice of your child’s physician.
                            ________________________________________________
There are many more sites that have helpful information, I would advise you to check them out. RR
                 __________________________________________________________
Quote 
“Parents are like God because you wanna know they're out there, and you want them to think well of you, but you really only call when you need something.” 
                              _________________________________________________

Book your own travel on-line or by going to http://ytbtravel.com/rosswintravel
____________________________________


Artist of the Month


 Majestic Mountain Trees
Delores Ordway

Born in New Westminster, BC, Dolores grew up in Fort St. James and from 1961 has resided in the Campbell River area of Vancouver Island.  Although multi-medium art was always a keen interest throughout her years, it was not until having raised her two children and retiring after many years in the service industry that Dolores was able to seriously return to her art using a variety of mediums such as: watercolour, acrylics, pencil and pastels. 
Workshops and instructions augment her own studies and she continues to study, learn and develop her art making as an ongoing process.
Since 1998, Dolores has been an active member of the Campbell River Arts Council, the Federation of Canadian Artists as well as a participating artist in the Originals Only Art Show, held twice a year in Comox, BC.
Dolores has displayed and sold her work throughout Vancouver Island and is now available internationally through her website.
Visit my website at - http://www.ordwayfineart.com
                                                    _________________________________________________
I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish  to  see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda

If you liked this newsletter please pass it on 


Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2
 _______________________________________________

If you do not wish to receive these newsletters let me know by e-mail and you will be deleted from my mailing list. Please put in the subject line “delete"

                               __________________________________________________