As the holiday of hearts approaches, you’re probably thinking long-stemmed roses served on a breakfast tray in a 5-star hotel. Then, hmmm … snuggling, doing the love thang, champagne, chocolate, doing the love thang again, bundling up for a hand-holding stroll, dinner, a show and home again. The odds are slim that your amorous thoughts turn to things that creep and crawl and fly. But what if Cupid inspired you to do just that — think of animals for Valentine’s Day? One equatorial word immediately leaps to the lips: Galapagos.
What we have here, based on fairly basic research, is an expensive new whole-body scanner technology being deployed nationwide by TSA over the howls of numerous privacy groups, without independent testing, using the manufacturers’ claims, all being lead by the former head of the Department of Homeland Security saying, basically, trust us.
Although almost all travel agents sell travel insurance, most agents will also tell you that they hate doing so. Because, quite frankly, even though travel insurance can help protect an expensive travel investment, often it seems as if insurers do everything possible to say “no” when a claim is actually filed.
And judging by the information [...]
Although travel isn’t inherently dangerous, the mere fact of going to places unknown does mean additional safeguards are in order. Unknown streets, different languages, unfamiliar landmarks and any location where absolutely everyone is a stranger demands that you keep a close watch on your children.
Delta makes avionics and software changes to avoid overflights, Boeing 747-8 finally flies, piece of cargo plane falls in mall parking lot
This past weekend was a travel disaster for folks trying to get outta Dodge in the Northeast. I even heard from friends pleading with me to help, as if I could get BWI airport to open. Yep, anyone headed anywhere by plane, train or automobile was stranded. Amtrak cancelled service south of DC, airports from Philly southward were closed at least part of the weekend, and many governments closed roads to automobile travel to clean highways and streets, and to get a reprieve from the accidents caused by the brave and foolish who went out anyway.
Savvy travelers are supposed to know what to do, and what not to do, in order to avoid being ripped off. But even the most sophisticated ones have been victims of nefarious characters and acts that have turned their trips into ones from hell.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is having its share of problems. Their intricate systems failed to uncover the Christmas panty bomber. Passengers are rebelling against being virtually stripped naked in order to get through security. GAO note they have not even tested these new strip-search machines to see if they can identify PETN (the explosive used in the Christmas bomb). And now the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight finds uncontrolled spending.
Travel in and out of Washington DC will slowly get back to normal after this weekend’s epic snowstorm. Until the next time and while it may be too late for a current trip, here are a few tips for increasing your chances of avoiding trouble the next time a snowstorm plants itself in the midst [...]
New York to London in 37 hours, very slowly with plenty of luxury in a flying penthouse, Shifting Boeing’s 757 redevelopment strategy, Republic to ground Lynx and eliminate an aircraft from its fleet
