Posts Tagged ‘nonrev travel’

Travel Tips From a Retired Captain

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

I just received these tips from retired Captain Ron Hale. He flew international for most of his career. This is so comprehensive, I had to print it all.

Money
1. The Euro is about 1.36 per 1 US dollar. Buy a little bit before you go (airport) and get the rest via ATM’s in Europe. The reason is you get the best exchange rate and you don’t have to carry as much cash around. Watch out for the Euro coins. They have $2 Euro coins, which is easy to mistake how much you’re spending!
2. ATM cards…make sure they work before you go. Try them out at a machine in the US. It is best to have two different ones
3. Credit cards, keep at least one Credit Card, ATM card, and a picture ID, (if possible) separate from the others, just in case you get pick pocketed

Communication
1. Cell phones usually need to be activated for use outside the United States. Call your cell phone company. This is usually free, but needs to be done for it to work in Europe. If you don’t know how to text, now is the time. A text is usually much cheaper than voice.
2. Never call long distance from your hotel room. Big surcharges often exist from your hotel.
3. Nice to bring your laptop computer, but beware of the usually large room charge to use in room internet. Most hotels have free “hot spots” in their lobbies for wireless connection.
4. Europe is full of internet cafes. Charge is very reasonable, like 1 Euro for 30-60 minutes.
5. If you are used to using Microsoft Outlook on your home computer, it would be beneficial that you learn to use the web based system for your provider. The first thing you will find is that your address book is missing. Pre-load those important e-mail addresses into your web based address book before you go.
6. Don’t forget that address book. It’s hard to mail postcards to family and friends without it.
7. Practice using humility in your mannerisms, like a smile and eye to eye contact. You may not understand their language, but humble body language speaks for you.
Security
1. Carry valuables, …credit cards, picture ID, cash, in a waist belt or something out of view. For a man, put in front pockets. Carrying a purse, bag, etc is fine, but the real expensive stuff should be protected. I never carry my passport. It stays in the hotel.
2. Passport: Take a picture of the first page and any visa’s that apply, and then keep it separate from the actual passport. This will help should you ever lose the passport.
3. Room safes are fine, but remember to empty them when you check out. An easy mistake to make.
4. Paris, Rome, Barcelona, like most large cities, are prone to pick pockets, or grabbing of purses. When using an ATM, most are exposed to the street. Have you partner “watch your back side” when you are getting your cash. Easiest places for pick pockets are buses and the subways. Keep your guard up.
5. Always re-check airline seat pockets before leaving the airplane. I don’t want to admit how many times I’ve not followed my own advise.

Transportation
1. If you travel by train, always buy a first class seat, with seat assignment. You can buy all of this at the train station. You might consider buying your trains tickets a day before travel. No security lines at the train station, so you don’t need to be there two hours prior like an airport. You will need to identify the train’s car you are getting onto and then load you own bags. There is a lot of overhead space on these trains and for the big stuff, plenty of slots at the end of each car. You can see your bags. Book the least amount of train connections.
2. When you leave your hotel, take something from the room that has the name of the hotel, its address and phone number. Then when you need to relay instructions for directions or for a taxi, just show them that.
3. Always ask if the taxi is going to use a meter. Most all large cities require this now. If not, always inquire as to the price before you start up.
4. I’ve used taxies in almost every major city in Europe. Cost is usually reasonable and affordable when traveling with more than one person. It is also free of pick pockets.
5. Remember that most major cities have taxi staging areas, like Rome. You’ll have to ask where they are or you will be standing for a very long time waiting for a ride.
6. Write down taxi number and operator name in the event you leave something behind.
7. Exception to all of this about taxies is Istanbul.

Electrical
1. Look at all your electric toys: Cell phones, Palm pilots, I-pods, hair dryers, hair curlers, shavers, etc. Most all should be capable of 110-220 volts for recharging (hair dryer and curlers may not) which means you can simply plug into the wall. You will need, however, the two prong adapter for Spain. Carry a long extension cord with three connections. That way you only need one- two prong adapter and plug in. Smile! Europe hotels rarely have convenient electrical outlets by the bed. With an extension cord, your phone, clock, etc. can be bedside.
2. Remember to bring a two prong US adapter for your laptop. Most laptop electrical cords are 3 prongs. Most extension cords only accept 2 prong.

Clothing
1. For clothing, plan on layers. You will get a chill after sunset, rained on somewhere, and hot and humid the rest of the time. Remember, neither bare shoulders nor shorts when entering St. Peter’s Basilica. (Men & Women) It is strictly enforced!
2. I always pack an extra set of glasses and sunglasses.
3. Comfortable shoes. You can’t imagine how much you are going to walk.
Food
1. Eating in Italy. http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/restaurants/index.htm Remember, Trattorias, Osterias, and Ristorantes. Go for the Trattorias first. Here is some info about all of this. Any tour book you buy will have a section on this as well. They will also have a section about the names of food for that country’s language.
2. Understand what you order and how much. Ordering fondue for four might turn out to be four times more than you expected. Been there.

Packing
1. Always pack an extra set of glasses and sunglasses.
2. Bring your actual prescriptions or copies of them.
3. Don’t over pack. Leave room to bring things home you have bought.
4. Check on baggage weight restrictions for your airline. You might leave with a 45 pound suitcase only to find that Alitalia allows only 40 pounds.
5. Put a nametag in each suitcase.
6. Only put TSA approved locks on your suitcases.
7. Roll your cloths as opposed to folding them. A lot less wrinkled.

General Information
1. Get a good travel book with maps. Many times you will find yourself simply reading about what you’re seeing. Some are better than others. Reference Barnes & Noble. Look them over before you buy. The more info, the better, particularly the history. Trust me, you may not read it all, but you will read more than you think. You are spending a lot of money to go to Europe, the more you learn about what you are eating and seeing, the better.

Tactical meets Fashionable, Just ask my Wife

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Back when TopGun the movie came out, I was in Flight School. Before that movie I had a leather jacket and military issue sunglasses I got from a ROTC flight partner. I stood out until everyone wanted to be Tom Cruise and pretend to be a pilot. Even Actors wanted to be like me. I detested the fact they took away my unfashionable fashion that made me stand out and could not wait until I could turn the tables. I thought that day would never come until now.

I was allowed to try a pair of Randolph Engineering Rapture Sunglasses for my trip to Chile. You would expect to find this at page 5 of Travel Essentials at Crew Outfitters. This would have been the perfect time to test them in South America because it was their Summer, if it wasn’t for the 8.8 Earthquake they had. I had to try them out in the jumpseat home and while driving my car. But the biggest test would be the toughest I know, my wife.

The sunglasses I wore before were the aviator standbys that all pilot like and my wife hated. They just were not fashionable enough to wear everyday. The problem is I loved their functionality. When I showed her the Randolph Engineering Sunglasses, she actually said they look good. I was shocked. This is a woman who looks at magazines like ‘Vogue’ and can tell with better accuracy then the writers which style will be in fashion. They were a graphite frame with smoke colored lens. They went well with my clothes and my uniform. Now I started to wonder on how good the functionality was because from my experience you can’t have both, right?

Wrong. The lenses were big enough to cover my whole eye but not look like they cover my whole face. According to my wife I have a long and narrow face and most glasses look huge on me. The lens were rectangles like the old military style but they had a slight curve to them that covered my whole eye. I did use them on a flight to Zurich and they kept the blinding sun manageable and allowed me to read the instruments shaded in the cockpit. When we went into a cloud to a dreary Switzerland, The glasses were not so dark that I had to take them off. The glasses also came with a keychain toolkit and spare screws.

So the tables have turned. Now the tactical Military Sunglasses are on the heals of the fashion conscious. Now us pilot “geeks” have something the runways of Milan will be jealous of.
At 10% off at Crew Outfitters, they are lower then any other place I have found on the web. If you would like to purchase a pair, go to Crew Outfitters and use the promo code LW15.
But don’t take my word this is the best deal on the web, search the web for yourself. Just put in Randolph Engineering Rapture Sunglasses in my custom search engine, programmed to find deals, and see what you get.
Here is a special gift for all those reading. There is a special promotion from Crew Outfitter to get 10% off your next order. You need to find their Action Figure Ted Banks on their site. I can’t tell you exactly where to go, but I can do this. One of the links in the article shows you where to go. Happy hunting!
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How To Get a Hotel in a Snowstorm

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

If this last snowstorm taught me anything, it would be the vulnerability of the computer reservation system of Hotel Chains. When Atlanta was hit by its last snowstorm, I decided to leave a day early. Cancelling half the flights, which were all the mainline flights, made the decision easy. I called the hotel directly at 3 PM guarantying the room with a credit card. This was to be the best thing I did that night.
When I finally made it to the hotel after an hour waiting for a gate to park the jet, the line was 40 people long. It seems that so many flights were disrupted, the airline started calling the automated systems to find room for the passengers. Unfortunately, the automated systems had crashed and the fail-safe in the computer program was to make a reservation weather there was room or not. There wasn’t any more room, but people were still booking rooms over the phone.

When the people at the hotel waiting in line about the computer glitch, well lets just say it got interesting. The receptionists at the desk were trying to take care of the people and call headquarters to tell them to stop booking people. After waiting for an hour, it was my turn to check in. The person behind the counter had a long face anticipating she was going to have to tell me there was no more room. Her long face turned into one of surprise. She then said I had a room because I call the hotel directly and talked to a human being.
I love technology, but I love it better when it screws up royally and bites the behind of the geniuses that decided to outsource the human jobs. The lesson here is it is better to talk to a human then to trust automation when things are going South, link snowstorms. The second lesson is I say to talk to a human. That person in line with me who shouted “GIRLFRIEND, I know customer service and you are on the loosing end of this deal’ didn’t really understand who was on the loosing end. I hope he enjoyed his sleep outside in the snow.

Want us to send you tips like these that will save you Hundreds of Dollars? Join our monthly Newsletter and every month gets tips to save money on layovers, trips, and travel supplies.

7 Steps to $ave Hundreds on Hotels

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

With the dollar getting weaker, it is important to squeeze every bit of value you can when finding a hotel. This is how you do it.

Step 1) Checked this site ,Hotwire.  Fill out this dynamic link with the name of city closest to the airport. This is the highest price you should pay for a hotel.

Step 2) Check that price using this Search Engine we designed with Google, and don’t forget to put in the word Hotel COUPONS! It searches this web as well as the rest of the internet to make sure we haven’t missed the lowest price for the second you look.

Step 3) Check the categories HERE to see if there may be another title that is related which could give a better deal in a way you have not thought of. These categories are “smart” in the sense they look at the cookies from all the sites you have been and find the common thread.

Step 4) Check the links from Step 2 in the “NonRev Deals Updated Daily by Google on” box really want you business and will do what ever it takes.

Step 5) Next, call the Hotel with the Hotel List below to see if you can negotiate a lower deal

Step 6) Go to other travel bid sites, like Priceline.com and put your bid in at least 3 days prior.

Step 7) If your bid doesn’t materialize or if you want a specific hotel in a specific area, go back to Hotwire and select city closest to airport and reserve your room. Its that easy!

Why your Adapter Plug Won’t Work in Brussels

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I’m in Brussels trying out the Lewis and Clark Universal 4 in 1 Adapter Plug. If you have not traveled to Europe in the last 5 to 7 years, I have bad news for your adapters. They no longer fit in the outlets. The new European outlets are round and the older adapters are rectangular.

For this ‘square peg in round hole’ problem, I was very interested how well the Lewis and Clark adapter worked. I was very happy to find that it worked even better than the adapters the hotels give to us when our adapters don’t fit. Besides that, you get surge protection and 110/220 indication. You would expect to find this at Home and Gifts at Crew Outfitters.

At 10% off at Crew Outfitters, they are lower then any other place I have found on the web. If you would like to purchase a pair, go to Crew Outfitters and use the promo code LW15.

But don’t take my word this is the best deal on the web, search the web for yourself. Just put in Lewis and Clark Adapter Plug in my custom search engine, programmed to find deals, and see what you get.

Here is a special gift for all those reading. There is a special promotion from Crew Outfitter to get 10% off your next order. You need to find their Action Figure Ted Banks on their site. I can’t tell you exactly where to go, but I can do this. One of the links in the article shows you where to go. Happy hunting!

Want us to send you tips like these that will save you Hundreds of Dollars? Join our monthly Newsletter and every month gets tips to save money on layovers, trips, and travel supplies.

Lewis and Clark Universal 4 in 1 Adapter Plug

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

I was in the Crew Out Fitters Store when I asked what new stuff was in to try. My ears perked up when they said they had a compact electrical adapter. ! have a big bag with all the adapters I need when I travel. Here is another tool I can use that saves space in my suitcase. Not only that, but it has a surge protector and an indicator of the voltage , 110 or 220. This is important to me because I use this for my computer.

I added up all the features in my head and calculated it was cheaper to buy this product than to get all the separate items, which I had done. So I told them I would try it on my next trip which was to London. I had problems with that countries adapters working properly. I sometimes would ask the hotel desk to borrow one only to find they didn’t have one to give. This was very serendipitous.

When I got the room in London, I was eager to get my emails so I pulled out the Lewis and Clark adapter. It extended the contacts and folded out the ground. This concerned me because it was my last adapter was difficult to fit in the outlet because the ground had issues. To my surprise, it slipped right in perfectly. I was getting excited on how well this was working.

The next thing I noticed was the lights on adapter for protection.. I had heard several crew members whose converters received surges in the older establishments we stay in. More then that, I heard horror stories of people frying their computers because it was 220 volts instead of 110. Then I saw the other light on the adapted which indicated only 110 volts. It seamed this was the perfect product who wanted to do work on their computer when they are on the road, like me. Whether it is putting the dels I found on my website, www.NonRevWebsite.com , or finding what the weather and delays I will be posting on twitter.

I really like this product for it ease of use, its compact size, and the protection of my computer. The more products I use from Crew Outfitters, the more space I seam to have in my bag. Right now, I highly recommend this product, but I am not completely convinced. So I am going to use it on several trips and tell you how it is doing. So stay tuned for the next country I use the Lewis and Clark Universal 4 in 1 plug.

At 10% off at Crew Outfitters, they are lower then any other place I have found on the web. If you would like to purchase a pair, go to Crew Outfitters and use the promo code LW15.

But don’t take my word this is the best deal on the web, search the web for yourself. Just put in Lewis and Clark Adapter Plug in my custom search engine, programmed to find deals, and see what you get.

GoToob to Get Through Security

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Next Month my schedule takes me to the UK which means extreme adherence to the 3 once liquid policy for security. To make my life a little easier, my friends at Crew Outfitters Suggested I try to GoToob. These container is perfect for getting through security, soft sided for ease of use, and food safe.

If you are like me, you are tired of cleaning out and filling those small plastic containers that make it possible for you to make it through security. These containers are not so easy to find. I have had to use the small shampoo containers to guarantee security won’t be a hassle. And then they were not the best for use and refilling.

The GoToob is soft sided which makes it much easier to dispense shampoo in a slippery dark shower when you are trying to get ready for pick-up and have had not slept well. Instead of doing the ‘get the little bit out that is left,’ you can squeeze the last of the contence out.

The other great feature is the big opening at the top. It is wide enough to get the thickest liquid to the bottom without clogging to top. Another nice feature on the top is an indicator for shampoo, conditioner, and others removes the guessing of the contence.

Finally it is food safe which means you can guarantee your hot sauce won’t be taken out of your flight kit. The money you save on getting the economy size of shampoo, shaving cream, even hot sauce instead of those tiny expensive containers will pay for the GoToob in no time.

So next monthwhen I have those 4 trips to the UK, I won’t have to worry about the 3 once security rule. I also won’t have to struggle in the bathroom as much when my body is on the back side of the clock. One last thing, want some hotsauce to go with that bland meal?

At 15% off at Crew Outfitters, they are lower then any other place I have found on the web. If you would like to purchase a pair, go to Crew Outfitters and use the promo code LW15.

But don’t take my word this is the best deal on the web, search the web for yourself. Just put in Gotoob in my custom search engine, programmed to find deals, and see what you get.

How to Get Free Food Every Night in New York

Friday, September 18th, 2009

So you are travel to New York and want to eat but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? As a matter of fact, you don’t want to spend anything. Did you give up on the idea in a New York minute? Don’t. We will show you how to get it.

Places in New York give free food with the idea you will stay longer and buy more expensive items like fancy drinks, and the odds are in their favor. After all, they are still in business. You just have to do is show some discipline.

You may have to buy a drink and we will list that, but the price of the drink will be under $5. To see the deals available, go to the New York Section of NonRevWebsite.com.

So what night of the week will you be in New York? Below is the list of places and the Nights they have free food;

Monday

Rudy’s, O’Flaherty’sRodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’sThe Thirsty ScholarTracy J’s, Boxer’s

Tuesday

Rudy’s, O’Flaherty’s, Rodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’s, The Thirsty Scholar, Tracy J’s, Boxer’s

Wednesday

Rudy’s, O’Flaherty’s, Rodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’s, The Thirsty Scholar, Tracy J’s, Boxer’s

Thursday

Rudy’sRodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’s, The Thirsty Scholar, Tracy J’sBoxer’s

Friday

Rudy’sRodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’s, The Thirsty Scholar, Tracy J’sBoxer’s

Saturday

Rudy’sRocking Horse, Rolf’s, Tracy J’sBoxer’s

Sunday

Rudy’s, O’Flaherty’s, Rodeo Bar, Rocking Horse, Rolf’s, Tracy J’s, Boxer’s

Click on the name of the bar to find out what are the Free Food Deals. There you will find the type of food, the time it is available, and the location hyperlinked to a google map for ease of use.

So enjoy your night out and why not follow up your New York Free Dinner with a New York Free Attraction? See those at www.nonrevwebsite.com .

How to Get More Stuff In Your Suitcase

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

I had the opportunity to try out the Eagle Creek Clothes Pack-it Folder  on my trip to Moscow. It says it holds up to 7 shirts. I put in 3 shirts, a sweater, and a pair of pants with room to spair. It fit well into my Pretty Neat Domestic bag. ( I have yet to get an International bag.) The first thing I noticed is how it saved space in my bag because it compressed the clothes I put in. This left me with more to put the great deals I found in my suitcase.

When I got to Moscow, my clothes were wrinkle free. It looked like I ironed them before I went out to see the sights. My clothes are usually wrinkled but I don’t care because I am usually to tired to iron them anyway.

When I was done with my trip and I had to commute home, then benefits of the Pack-it System realy hit home. I caught an earlier flight home then the jumpseat I had reserved so I wanted to change out of my uniform so as not to get asked the usual questions like “ have you ever been scared flying?’ I also wanted to have an adult beverage. I simply pulled out the Pack-it System , went into the bathroom, and changed. Then when I came back to my seat on a full flight, I slipped the Pack-it System into the overhead bin instead of pulling out my suitcase. The crew would not have appreciated that.

I think this is the prefect device for the professional traveler who wants to keep their clothes looking like they just came from the cleaners. It is also great for increasing the room in your bag. All in all I would recommend this for the traveler who wants to look professional, stay organized, and travel as compact as possible.

At 15% off at Crew Outfitters, they are lower then any other place I have found on the web. If you would like to purchase a pair, go to Crew Outfitters and use the promo code LW15.

But don’t take my word this is the best deal on the web, search the web for yourself. Just put in Eagle Creek Clothes Pack-it Folder  in my custom search engine, programmed to find deals, and see what you get.

Screw Your Buddy Pass

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

I was in the pilot lounge today when I heard a conversation about someone trying to get a friend from Seattle to Atlanta. He jumped through the hoops in the pass bureau to find it would cost $320 round trip. His friend Said thanks but no thanks because on line he could get a one way ticket for $139… for everything including Tax! You do the math. The pilot called the pass bureau again because he thought there was a mistake made with the buddy pass.

The person at the pass bureau said that that was correct fare. He asked why it was so high. The answer was ‘you have to understand that YOU have to pay for the taxes. The pilot said, if that is true, the fare on the internet has less tax than our buddy passes, right? There was silence. Not to let this fact go he added ..’Or is the company making money off us?’

So I went to my company’s pass webpage and got the price. Then I went to the Internet and used my search engine at NONREWEBSITE.  And put in the city pair. The prices at the top and right side were more than enough proof of this story. But as I always say, don’t take my word for it, go to my search engine with the city pair, look at the results, especially at the top and right and click on the to see what the total price is. Then, try the same with Google to be sure. The results will surprise you.