e072 om By Land, Air or Sea: Tips for More Enjoyable Vacations By Julia Ryan (NAPSA)—Here are someprac- tical and affordable ideas that can help make your next vacation more enjoyable. Q: Is there a deadline for checking my bags before a flight? A: While every airline is different, most will tell you to arrive at the airport from one to two | hours before deparsture to check your Julia Ryan bags and have ample timeto proceed through increased security screening. Please check your airline for suggestions. If you cut your time too close, neither you nor your bags will maketheflight. For connecting flights, your bags should be checked through. If you’ve booked separate tickets on separate airlines and you have to transport your own bags, make sure you have enough time to pick them up for rescreening, which could take an additional one to two hours. These are all good reasons for carrying on if you can. With the increased security measures in place, remember that traveling on a separate flight from your baggage is generally not allowed. Q: Are there any new gadgets that can maketraveling more fun? A: Yes. Check out such things as Global Positioning Devices and Electronic Maps. The handheld GPS devices are sleek, compact, lightweight and sometimes even waterproof. They can usually tell you exactly where you are, even if you don’t know. Leading GPS technology uses satellite signals to pinpoint your location and even tell you how fast you’re going. Many contain detailed street maps and allow you to download more maps, driving directions, restaurants and popular destinations. Also consider packing a portable DVD player. They’re small, lightweight and the size of a thin hardback book, making them suitable for planes, trains and automobiles. These can be a great way to keep the kids—and adults—entertained duringlongtrips. Q: I’m thinking of taking a solo cruise. Do you have any tips that can make that more enjoyable? A: You’re in luck. Most cruise lines offer singles events, such as cocktail gatherings and games. Ask the maitre d’ and crew membersto seat you with othersingle travelers at dinners, events and shows. Consider sharing a room with another solo traveler of the same sex and pay only the per-person cabin rate. These “guaranteed shared” programsare offered by many cruise lines. Usually, they also take into consideration such factors as age and smokingpreference before they find you a roommate. Shop around. Julia Ryan is vice president of Travelers Advantage. Members of Travelers Advantage (www.travelersadvantage.com or 1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn 5 per- cent cash back oneligible travel booked with preferred providers through the service. Membership in Travelers Advantage can be enjoyed the first two months for only $1. Thetrial membership can be canceled at any time during the two-month trial period by calling toll free and owing nothing further. Unless the membercalls to cancel during the trial, the membership will be extended automatically for an entire year at the $99.99 annual fee and automatically renewed annually upon expiration at the then-current annualfee, billed to a credit card account, without the member having to do anything further. Additionally, members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a pro-rata refund of their thencurrent membership fee. Trilegiant Corporation (www.trilegiant.com) is a leader in the membership services and loyalty businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans. Trilegiant’s membership business offers services such as Travelers Advantage, Netmarket, Shoppers Advantage, AutoVantage Gold and Privacy Guard. With Progeny Marketing Innovations, Trilegiant is now part of the Cendant Marketing Group.
