Traveling Wireless

From The Washington Post's Post Points:

Also, stay connected wherever you are by researching and jotting down WiFi hotspots in your destination. Jiwire for instance, lists thousands of Internet locations in nearby and far-flung places. The Web site also lists which locations are free.

Handy to know where your next WiFi is coming from if you're the type to want to stay connected while in far-flung places. I still associate being connected--wired or wireless--with working and that's not what I want when I'm on vacation but I guess more and more folks are using it to stay in communication with the ones they love.

Travel Tip: Frequent Stay Program

Travel Tip from the Washington Post:

When booking a hotel room, do you not bother joining its frequent-stay program because you figure you won't be staying at that particular brand often enough?

Rethink that attitude. It could be worth joining the program -- all of which are free -- even if it's your first and only visit. Just signing up can get you a better room assignment and other benefits.

When you sign up for the frequent-stay program at Wyndham Hotels, for example, you'll be asked to designate your favorite pillow type, your favorite welcome drink and your favorite snack, and those will be awaiting your arrival the first and every time you visit a Wyndham. You'll also be offered during each stay free high-speed internet access, express check-in, late checkout on request, 500 frequent-flier miles, and the best room available at check in.

It's an interesting tip so I thought I'd share it (despite the embedded Wyndham ad). I'm on the fence on this. I used to think "If it's free, why not?" but I've gotten more cautious as the years go on.

How much junk mail do I get from places I'll never go back to? How many e-newsletters that I then have to unsubscribe to? How many cards in my wallet?

Ooooooooo, there's a meaty tangent! It seems every year or so I wind up going through my wallet and pulling out frequent flyer/frequent shopper/frequent whatever cards that I haven't used in a while just to limit the bulk and improve my wallet Feng Shui. And how about all the tiny cards for key chains that wind up falling out of your wallet or getting hopelessly lost in between the big ones? And when you do want a frequent whatever card, why do you get 4?? I swear, the last time I signed up for one, they gave me two standard sized ones and two key chain-sized ones. Good golly, Miss Molly, this sure is a waste. But I digress...

I guess the point is, these days I don't put my name on every list just because a clerk suggests it. I ask "Is it free?" and, if so, then "What do I get?" If the clerk gives me answers that are compelling enough to fill out the form, I'll do it.

There are definitely places that honor "returning guests" over first time guests and that's cool. I like the concept of rewarding loyalty. And there are places that let you accumulate rewards as a way of rewarding loyalty. This is also cool, if you want the rewards they offer. And, finally, there are so many mergers and deals now that to find a company that doesn't have affiliates is very unusual. So Wyndham may have cut a deal with United and Hertz and Cingular or some such arrangement where you can parlay your rewards at one into rewards/discounts at others. That's way worth it if you'd likely use these companies anyway.

Passport Requirements Relaxed

GoAwayTravel.com shares the good news...

Travel Advisory (June 7, 2007) - Passport Requirements Relaxed for Travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.


On June 7th, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

Travel Tips

Travel Tips from the Washington Post:


Travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Friday-night departures and Sunday-night returns are the hardest options. Traveling midweek can improve your chances about 30 percent, according to experts.


Talk to a live person. Airline agents can sometimes figure out routings that the computer can’t detect. If they find you a match, you’ll have to pay the booking fee for ordering by phone — typically $15 to $30 a ticket — but that’s still better than no ticket.


Check your airline's partners. For example, miles on Delta can be cashed in for award tickets on any of its 19 partners, including Northwest, Continental and Air France.


It’s much harder to hit pay dirt if you search for multiple tickets on the same flight. Better to grab one or two seats and pay cash for the rest than get no free tickets at all.