USEFUL LINK FOR UA FREQUENT FLYER POINT INFO

Frequent flier upgrades on United — the clock is ticking
http://www.tripso.com/today/frequent-flier-upgrades-on-united-%e2%80%94-the-clock-is-ticking/

NO ONE EVER SAID LOVE WAS CHEAP  

Verona Offers Juliet's Balcony For Weddings
The northern Italian city of Verona is offering couples the chance to follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare's "star-crossed lovers" and see for themselves "what light from yonder window breaks." The first Romeo to take advantage of the offer was soccer player star Luca Ceccarelli, who plays for the local team in Verona. But it does not come cheaply. A normal civil wedding license in Italy costs about 45 euros or about $65 for non-European citizens. If you want the balcony the Verona license will cost nearly 900 euros.

JUST AN OPINION ON TAGGING

Have Any of you been bothered by Tagged?
I have been receiving invitations from members to view pictures on Tagged. If you go to see the pictures you are invited to provide it with your email user name and password. If you do this the program accesses your address book and sends out the same invitation to view your photos, without your permission, of course. The fact that you don't have any photos on the site apparently doesn't matter to them. It is a social networking site that has received numerous complaints from consumers and anti-fraud advocates that allege it is a phishing and spamming site. Just be advised that probably there are no photos to see and do not give your user name or password to any side that asks for it. I did not do so and contacted the member. She had not sent any such email to me. I have also heard from other members so be advised and be careful. 

SHIPS COMPETE FOR THRILLS NOW

Costa Luminosa Has Roller Skating Track
The new Luminosa is the first cruise ship to offer a roller skating track. The track, which also doubles as a jogging track it on the ship's highest deck and has one lane for runners and one for skaters. Costa rents the snap-on roller skates that you attach to your own sneakers, for $7 per hour. The ship also has a 4-D theatre. Up to 20 people can watch movies in 3-D and experience vibrating seats, wind blowing and being sprayed with water jets.

SITE FOR INFO ON CAR RENTALS

Broadsided! 5 new car rental fees to avoid

http://www.tripso.com/columns/broadsided-5-new-car-rental-fees-to-avoid/

MY TWO CENTS

Check your insurance options - There are two insurance plans available: collision damage and loss damage. A weekly car rental, surprisingly, generally costs the same as a 5-day rental - If you're going to use a car for 5 days, you might as well take the 7-day deal. Check the late policy - Returning a car later than its due time can be costly

JUST FYI SITE NAMES

www.sleepinginairports.com/

www.seatguru.com/

Real questions tourists ask about Hawaii

by Janice Hough
Today’s post is a collection of questions I have been asked or heard asked in and about the state of Hawaii. And I promise I have not made any of them up.

The inspiration came from a manager from the Four Seasons Lanai, who told me that when he talked to a guest about spear-fishing, was asked

“Can you swim all the way under the island?”

Another true questions, either asked of me personally or vouched for by hotel or boat staff: “Is there water on the other side of the island?”

And to hotel employees regularly, “Do you live on the island?”

Along with, “Where do you get electricity?”

Asked to me as a travel agent, “Can you use U.S. money in Hawaii?”

And its corollary, “Do you need a passport to go to Hawaii?”

“Can you drop off a rental car on a different island?” (The person in question thought it was like the Florida Keys with bridges.)

Asked on a catamaran off Maui, “What altitude are we at now?”

And of an island in the distance, “Is that Catalina?”

And my all time favorite:  “How do they keep the islands from floating apart?”

(The person in question here was commenting on the “nice” formation of the islands, with Hawaii as the most southeast, Kauai on the west. The hotel employee who told me the story said he still wishes he had told her they were all anchored to the ocean floor with really big anchors.)  Hope you got a smile from these.

Airlines Love Baggage Fees

The round of baggage fees that came last year may have annoyed customers, but according to government figures, they were a billion-dollar lifesaver for cash-strapped airlines. Baggage fees from the U.S. airline industry totaled $1.15 billion in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

New Rules For Entry To US Start June 1 (sorry for delay)

By Air All U.S. citizens including children must present a passport or other approved travel document when entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens can present a passport, NEXUS card at airports with NEXUS kiosks, U.S. military ID with travel orders, or a U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when on official business. Land/Sea Travel: U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to have documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card, a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an enhanced driver's license. US citizens on 'closed-loop cruises' (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the US) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and laminated government-issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. Lawful Permanent Residents: By Air All travelers including children must present a passport or secure travel document when entering the United States by air. Land Sea: Lawful permanent residents may continue to present their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, Canadian Citizens will need to present a single document that complies with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). See www.getyouhome.gov for more information.

Southwest Makes Some Changes, Adds Some Fees

Southwest will soon allow Customers to bring along small cats and dogs in the aircraft cabin for a special low "pet fare" of $75 each way. All pets must be in a carrier that fits under the airplane seat, and the carrier will count as the Customer's carryon bag. Customers can begin purchasing tickets for their small cats and dogs on June 1, 2009, for travel beginning June 17, 2009. For more information and a video on Southwest's new pet fare, visit www.blogsouthwest.com.  The new pet policy is one of several programs and processes that Southwest Airlines is implementing in an effort to enhance the service the Carrier provides, and at the same time, create opportunities for incremental revenue growth. Southwest will soon implement a $25 each way service charge, in addition to the fare or Rapid Rewards Award ticket, for Customers who are traveling as an Unaccompanied Minor. The Unaccompanied Minor service charge will apply to tickets purchased June 1, 2009, and later, for travel beginning June 17, 2009. Unaccompanied Minors may only travel on nonstop or direct flights (no change of planes). Additionally, Southwest will increase its already existing service charge to check a third and overweight bag (weighing 51 to 70 pounds). Currently, Southwest Customers pay $25 to check a third or overweight bag on the airline. Customers traveling on or after June 17 will be charged $50 to check a third or overweight bag. Southwest continues to be one of the only airlines that allows Customers to check their first two bags without a fee.

Hope everyone is well…………take care   LIL

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