Money buys Travel; Travel = Happiness Wednesday, Jul 25 2007 

Travel Mel 9:22 pm

Ever feel like you’re going stir-crazy? Like your world is closing in on you and you just need to get away? Like it’s been too long since your last vacation. Well, taking that extra vacation may not just refresh you temporarily. According to this study, women who take two vacations per year, instead of one, are less likely to suffer from depression, tension, and fatigue as they homebody counterparts. Frequent vacationers also report more job and marriage satisfaction.

Too bad our government doesn’t support this notion. Americans receive on average of only two weeks of paid vacation per year, compared with a month or more in many other countries.

Think you can’t take at least two vacations a year without breaking the bank? Consider visiting a family member or friend in another part of the country. Family and friends often make great hosts – just make sure you are a good houseguest. Or you could try couchsurfing. Camping can be fun…(I’m trying to type that with a straight face and clear conscience). How about splitting your annual vacation into two shorter trips? It doesn’t have to be the South of France or an African safari to be considered a vacation. Sometimes just getting out of town can do wonders for your well-being.

Check out this related article, which suggests that life experiences, including vacations, generally make people happier than material possession.

 

Expedia Strikes Again Wednesday, Jun 27 2007 

Travel Mel 8:18 pm

It’s been a little over two months since my Expedia fiasco. After being tempted by their low fares, my sister rolled the dice and booked an airfare, hotel, and car rental package, hoping for the best. Maybe she thought my “experience” was an isolated incident. Wishful thinking.

ONE DAY before (actually, less – maybe 15 hrs before), she received a voicemail from an Expedia customer service rep, explaining she could view her updated itinerary online. Hmmm…they usually don’t call to remind you to view your itinerary. I guess the word “updated” was a red flag. Turns out Expedia took the liberty of updating her itinerary for her, by bumping her flight to the following day. When she called, they completely denied this and told her she must have updated it herself. WHAT?

Why do they think this is okay? People have commitments, jobs, and families to get home to. It would be one thing if the company admitted they overbooked the flight and offered compensation. But to turn the blame to the customer is just insulting.

Please, please, please do not book with Expedia. Two out of two (of my personal) experiences in two months have been horrible. Their rates are good, but you are gambling with your travel experience when you book with them.

What needs to happen to shut this company down???

Related links:

http://www.victimsofexpedia.com/

http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@13.ZbsBba1noMo%5E0@.eedad0f

http://www.rateitall.com/i-19232-expediacom.aspx

 

Wanna Travel for Cheap & Immerse Yourself in the Culture: Try Couchsurfing Wednesday, Apr 25 2007 

Travel Mel 8:46 am

Couchsurfers: We all know a few. Maybe we’ve been one. One of those guests who crashes in the living rooms of a circle of friends in lieu of paying their own rent. But now there’s a new breed of couchsurfers: world travelers who stay on other “surfer’s” couches around the world (in exchange for extending their own living room to other travelers). The Couchsurfing Project dubs itself as “a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit.” How? Simple – you create on online profile and search your desired travel locale. You then request accommodations from local hosts. In many cases you are welcome to stay for up to a few nights. All absolutely free. That’s right, no expensive hotel costs. But this network is more than just free accommodations – it’s about creating a worldwide social network and experiencing the culture with the locals. Sure, most everyone who goes to Paris for the first time is going to see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but your Couchsuring host may take you to all the yummy local cafes and chic shopping spots.

Sounds sketchy? It’s surprisingly not. The website uses a system where current members can “vouch” for hosts and guests. It’s similar to the system Amazon and eBay use to rate sellers. There are also other safety precautions listed on the website.

I’ve never been a Couchsurfer, but I think it’s such a cool idea. And I’m not the only one. There are currently over 200,000 Couchsurfers in over 200 countries. And countless friendships and priceless travel experiences.

 

 

Hidden Costs of Booking Through Expedia Wednesday, Apr 18 2007 

Travel Mel 8:38 am

Sure, online travel reservation portals, like Expedia and Travelocity, often offer better deals than booking directly through the airline or hotel. And the package deals are usually your best bet. But ONLY in a perfect world. ONLY if all goes as planned, which, when traveling, as we all know is wishful thinking. When planning for that dream vacation, Murphy’s Law typically rears its ugly head.

Such was the case for me this weekend. Nasty weather delayed my flight by six hours (which, btw, Frontier Airlines were nice enough to call me at home and let me know in advance my flight was delayed). Another bout of nasty weather left me stranded at my first layover (which was not my final destination). To make a long story short, I was stranded and forced to cancel my hotel reservations. All was well, as the hotel’s lax cancellation policy only asks I cancel before 6pm with no penalty. Oh, yeah, I booked through Expedia; must cancel through them also. Fine.

Not fine. “Customer service rep” informs me I am charged a 100% penalty unless I had canceled before check in day. (And, there are other penalties for canceling before check-in day, though not so severe.) In case you’re not following, as I wasn’t, I am to be charged 100% of the ENTIRE stay, even though I am technically canceling days before the second or third night. No exceptions. Not weather, not illness, etc.

So, yeah, I saved a FEW bucks by INITIALLY booking through Expedia, but it actually cost me quite a bit. I was told I had to eat the cost of the hotel I canceled in advance, but apparently not far enough in advance. Then I had to book a hotel in my layover city, where I was stranded overnight. Grrrrr…

I don’t give up without a fight though. I called Expedia back, knowing I would likely get a different “customer service rep” on the line. Fortunately for me she was much more understanding of my situation, and agreed to refund the total cost of the reservation. WHY couldn’t the first person have done this??? It’s not like it comes out of her pocket. But, at least justice was served.

When you find yourself in a completely ludicrous situation, demand the terms are unacceptable. Speak to another person. Speak to the supervisor. Always get the names of the people you speak with. Write a letter. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Call your credit card company and refuse to pay the charges. Bottom line – do not let these companies get away with stealing your money. Sure, Expedia agreed to refund my money (in the next two billing cycles?), but I’m not entirely sure this is over. I fully intend to receive the credit, but not without a few more frustrating calls. In the future, I won’t be booking with Expedia. I would rather pay a few more dollars in exchange for a more forgiving cancellation policy.