traveling seniors

Sports Museum of America in New York, NY

Visitors can experience a National Hockey League puck coming at 120 mph or step on a simulated NASCAR racktrack at this musuem. This 45,000 square-foot museum is housed in 3 floors of a Lower Manhatten building. It contains more than 600 artifacts, 1,100 photos and more than 2 dozen interactive exhibits. Located at 26 Broadway, it is opened from 9 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week. Admission is $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students and $20 for children 4-14. For more information, go to www.sportsmuseum.com.

Guest Satisfaction In All Lodging Catagories

The number 1 problem cited by thousands of guests was noise. The following hotel chains captured the number 1 in overall satisfaction for the following catagories.

Luxury----Ritz-Carlton.
Upscale--Embassy Suites.
Mid-Scale Full Service--Hyatt Place.
Mid-Scale Limited Service--Drury Inn and Suites.
Extended Stay--Homewood Suites.
Ecomony/Budget--Microtel Inns and Suites.

LUXE City Guides---My Opinion!!!

Several weeks ago I listed an article on LUXE City Guides. The article was based on a magazine article that praised the guides as a new and exciting concept. Since I will be going to Paris next month, I decided to purchase the Paris guide and use it wtih my other guides. Unfortunately, I am very disappointed with this guide. The picture in this article is the exact size of the guide. The accordion style brochure is 3 x 6 inches and has very small lettering. The information is very limited and written with a British slang. The guide is definitely not worth $9 plus shipping. For a few more dollars, you can purchase a guide with pictures and detailed information. The inside of the guide.This is the exact size of the print. Although I have traveled a lot, I don't know what a "flamboyant" hotel is. If you visited Paris a lot, this guide might be helpful. I would not recommend these guides for most travelers. You should purchase a guide that provides you the most information you need with terms you understand.

10 Reasons to Travel on Tour Buses

Traveling by bus has many advantages. The number of people traveling with you isn't limited; gas prices don't effect you because the price is fixed; and you don't have to read maps or posssibly become lost. The following 10 benefits illustrate why you should choose to travel by tour bus on your next vacation.

1. Work: When you travel by tour bus, you have the option of working via your laptop computer and you can make calls on your cellphone. If you catch up on your work, you'll have more time for your vacation.

2. Socialize: A tour bus allows you to travel alone or with 60 or more of your family and friends. This means that you can start your vacation early because you will be conversing and socializing with your family and friends.

3. Sleep: Since long trips are frequently tiring, you can easily sleep and rest up for your final destination on a tour bus.

4. Economical: Traveling by tour bus is significantly more affordable than any other type of transportation.

5. Driving: Since the bus is driven by a professional driver, you can sit back and relax.

6. Sightseeing: Sightseeing becomes your first priority because you are not driving.

7. Watch a Movie: Watching a movie on the bus is a great way to pass the evening hours or take a break from working, talking or sleeping.

8. Evironmentally Good Choice: When peiple travel by bus, they are carpooling which lessens he amount of pollution in the air.

9. Safety: Traveling by bus is more than 1000 times safer than traveling in your personal car.

10. Pick Up and Drop Off: Touring by bus is the ultimate in convenience, because it picks you up at your location or hotel and drops you off at the same locations.
NOTE:This article was based on an article in associated content.com by Hykra

The Euro and Exchange Tips

If you are planning a trip to Europe this year, the Euro is your number 1 concern. Unless you have an endless travel budget, it will dictate every aspect of your trip. Unlike the 70's and 80's when the dollar was so strong that foreign currency was treated as play money, today the dollar is very weak against the Euro. Everything from a cup of coffee to your hotel room can cause a price shock. A cup of coffee can cost $4 and a room in a 2-star hotel can be $140. You can pay $200 for dinner for two if you forget your calculator. It's not difficult to spend 100 Euros a day. Understandng the Euro and its relationship to the dollar, exchange procedures, credit card usage, cash and debit cards and ATM usage is very important for any trip to a Euro currency country.

EURO: Unlike the dollar, the Euro has 7 coins. They are: 1 cent, 2 cent, 10 cents, 25 cents, 1 Euro and 2 Euros. There are 7 banknotes that are used daily--5 Euros, 10 Euros, 20 Euros, 100 Euros, 200 Euros and 500 Euros. They are very simple to use, much like the dollar. If you don't understand the language, simply look at the cash register window for the amount of the purchase. If you aren't a math wizard, a calculator or currency converter is necessary for the true dollar amount of a purchase.

CASH: The amount of cash you must have with you is based on where you are taveling. If you are hiking or biking through small villages or skiing, you must have cash because most businesses don't accept credit cards. Even in large cities, many small businesses don't accept credit cards. Like in America, you don't make small purchases with credit cards. Debit cards are very popular, but most American debit cards only work in ATMs, because they don't have a micro chip. Personally, I have at least 150 to 200 Euros with me at all times. You should also have a 250-400 Euro emergency fund in the hotel safe for any type of emergency.

EXCHANGING MONEY: Exchange most of your money in the country you are visiting. Before you leave, exchange at least $100 at your local bank for immediate expenses, such as taxi fare from the airport to your hotel or other needs. You should avoid exchanging money at airports, train stations, exchange centers and hotels--their rates are very high. Money exchanges should be minimized, because you are paying a fee for each transaction. Never make a transaction for less than $100 unless you are leaving the foreign country. Always know the current rate and the fees being charged because they change daily.

CREDIT CARDS: Before you leave the USA, notify your credit card supplier that you are leaving the country. Be prepared to provide the trip dates and the countries you are visiting. If this isn't done, they will cancel your card. Never use your credit card to get a cash advance unless it is an extreme emergency. You will pay an ATM fee, a cash advance fee and a currency exhange fee. Even though most suppliers charge a currency exchange fee (2 to 3 percent) each time you use your card for a purchase, it is the best method of payment. Remember that your card is from an American supplier which makes it difficult to stop a purchase made in Europe. The grace period for any credit card purchase is 60 days. Make sure you like your purchase, because the credit card company will charge a currency conversion fee again when you return it. It's not unusual for small businesses in Europe to charge a fee for accepting a credit card. Always have more than 1 credit card in case one is stolen or lost and have the telephone numbers of the suppliers. One card should have at least a $5000 credit balance for emergencies, such as a medical emergency. Hospitals require payment before you leave and will not accept your insurance.

ATM CASH AND DEBIT CARDS:The cheapest and easiest way to get cash is using your cash or debit card. While a debit card can be used for making purchases and getting cash, a cash card can only be used to get cash. Excessive ATM fees can be avoided by not exchangng small amounts of currency. Fees can be as much as $4 to $10 for each transaction. If you belong to a Global Alliance Bank, you will not be charged exchange fees, if you use another Global Alliance Bank. These banks are Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Scotiabank and Wespac. Contact your alliance bank for the specific location for each bank, for example, a Deutsche Bank outside of Germany will charge you fees. Avoid prepaid cash cards because their fees are very high. To find Visa /Plus cash machines and MasterCard/Cirrus cash machines use the websites in Travel Links.

TRAVELLERS' CHEQUES:The day of the travellers' cheque is almost over. They are the most difficult to exchange. Banks don't want to handle them, so they make it very difficult to cash them. The fees can be as much as 10 percent and the exchange rate will be the worst you can get. Merchants and restaurants don't accept them. Travellers' cheques are only useful as backup funds. If you don't need them, cash them when you get home.

EXCHANGE TIPS:

1. Credit cards used in Europe are VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Card. Discovery Cards are not accepted.

2. Most ATMs outside of North America accept only 4-diget pins. Adjust your pin number before you leave the USA, if necessary.

3. Most debit and cash cards have a frequency usage limit and a cash advance daily limit. Check with your supplier for this information before you leave.

4. Your card numbers should be left with someone back home--it's easier for someone to stop payments on three cards in the USA than in a foreign country.

5. Since you can't exchange coins back to dollars, always spend down coins.

6. For emergency funds, always take at least $200 with you.

7. If you are using online banking, you can go to one of the many computer rental stores or cafes and transfer money from one account to another.

8, Before you leave the USA, have someone ready to wire you money, if needed. This can be done via Western Union or American Express.

Visa Requirements for Beijing Olympic Games

Basic requirements for a vias for China: First, a passport and a visa is required to enter China. Travelers may be required to undergo a personal interview. A transit visa is required for any stop even if you do not exit a plane or train. Business travelers are required to obtain a formal invitation from their Chinese business contact. Tourist visas are issued only after receipt of a confirmation letter from a Chinese tour agency or letter of invitation from a relative in China. With only two months to go until the Olympic Games start in Beiling, some Chinese embassies and consulates are adding red tape, like requiring proof of round-trip tickets, detailed land itineraries with hotel confirmations and sometimes a bank statement. The government is also discouraging multiple-entry visas. You will be required to surrender your passport with the visa application. Since getting a visa could take several weeks, some travelers turn to expediters to do the work for them. Using an expediter can be expensive, often costing between $150 to $400. If you are planning to go to the games and do not have a visa, you need to act fast. For additional information, call the Chinese Embassy at 202-328-2500 or www.china-embassy.org.

Olafur Eliasson's Waterfalls, New York, NY

The waterfalls are New York's summer main event. You can start the waterfall tour by cataching the Circle Line Ferry from South Street Seaport. The Danish artist Eliasson is pumping the East River up 90-and 120-foot-high metal scaffolds to produce 4 waterfalls. One waterfall juts out from beneath the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. A second one is located below the Brooklyn Bridge. The third one is at Pier 35 on the Manhattan side. The fourth one is on Governor's Island. The water is turned on every day from7 am to 10 pm and illuminated after sunset. The waterfalls will be up until October 13. If you are traveling to New York or live near New York, don't miss this summer attraction.

VIA Rail Canada's Senior Companion Fare Program

VIA Rail Canada's Senior Companion Fare Program allows passengers over 60 to receive a senior discount (10 percent off an adult fare) on any VIA Rail Canada train ride and to bring along a companion of any age for free when traveling in the comfort class. When traveling in sleeper or VIA 1 class, the companion gets 75 percent off. Airfare is not included. WHEN VIA 1 class until August 31, 2008; comfort and sleeper until December 14, 2008. For more information, call 1-888-842-7245 or www.viarail.ca

Bhutanese Temple on National Mall

A real temple is being built on the National Mall in Washington, DC. As part of the 42nd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the culture of the Kingdom of Bhutan is being celebrated. Carpenters from the kingdom is helping to build an authentic Bhutanese temple along with other examples of Bhutanese architecture. The temple will be one of the largest buildings ever erected on the Mall. The temple is the heart of the Bhutanese spiritual life and will be he heart of the exhibit. The festival will open June 25 through June 29 and again on July 2 through July 6. This will be a great senior single trip or a senior group travel trip. It could be a great day trip for those who live close to Washington, DC. For information, visit folklife.si.edu/festival/2008/index.html

Airports--Lines Made for Speed

The Transportation Security Administration is trying to speed up airport screening by asking passengers to choose a line based on their familiarity with checkpoint procedures. It is using the symbols and colors often used at ski resorts to indicate the levels of ski trails. With charging for check-in luggage, there will be an increase in carry-on luggage which will extend the time at security checkpoints. Hopefully, this system will help decrease the bottleneck. 21 airports in the USA are using this system.

Families and Special Assistance Lane: This lane is for groups who have multiple carry-ons. Families with children, tour groups and people who need special assistance should use this lane. If you do not know TSA procedures, you should use this lane. This lane is ideal for foreign travelers and for seniors who do not travel often. Without a doubt, this will be the slowest land. People who are handicapped do not use this lane. At most airports, there is a separate line for handicap individuals. There is no age restriction for the use of this lane.

Casual Traveler: This lane is used for people who know TSA procedures and have multiple carry-on bags. Most travelers will use this lane.

Expert Traveler: Although most of us consider ourselves an expert, this lane is not for everyone. This is the fast lane and is meant for expert travelers only. This lane is for those who know TSA procedures, always ready with items removed, flies more than twice a month, travels light and is an elite frequent flyer member.

Remember, with the additional time required to charge for baggage at check-in and the additional time to screen more carry-on bags, it would be wise to arrive at the airport at least an hour early.