Amazingly Beautiful Travel Places: Tips and Articles

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You’re hoping for a nice, relaxing plane flight to some tropical destination. But there are people in this bus with wings that seem bent on ruining the trip before it even starts. Here are 10 people that annoying us on planes.

1. The storage hog

You’ve waited patiently to board the plane and just want to toss your carry-on into the storage bin. Yet when you go to place it in the overhead compartment you see your neighbor’s jacket, sweater and laptop out of their luggage. That space is at a premium and they’re hogging it. Instead of yelling at them yourself, just let the flight attendant know what’s happened – they know all the tricks to move their junk around and still fit your stuff comfortably in the compartment.

2. The stinky one

The plane is at capacity and you should be relaxing, but all you can think about is the person next to you that hasn’t showered since the Bush Administration. They’re pungent. Like blue cheese that’s been left in a car during the summer pungent. Flight attendants keep some deodorant on hand for this very reason, but a less obtrusive way of making it better is just taking one of those little tree air fresheners for your car and placing it between the seats. Just open the bottom of the package because a fully exposed freshener will give you one heck of a headache.

3. Armchair dictators

Still not sure why airplane seat designers haven’t devised a way to give each seat an armrest, but it’s what we’ve got to deal with now. Two seats. One armrest. The winner takes all… at least that’s what your neighbor believes as they hog the whole thing. There’s really no polite way to handle this one, so just elbow your way in for a portion of the armrest. These folks usually get the point when you use a tad bit of force as long as you’re not delivering “The People’s Elbow.”

4. Chatty Cathy

I don’t think any of us really mind a little small talk with our immediate neighbors on the plane. But when they’re still chatting you up 40 minutes into the flight? Not so much. You could just tell them to zip it, but that’s aching to give you some bad juju. Easier way to deal with it is to just slip your headphones on (over-the-head style is preferable) and they’ll usually pipe down.

5. The total recliner

It takes a while for us to wiggle into that moment of Zen while in our chair. That spot where everything is perfect with you and your surroundings. Then the person in front of you decides to recline all the way down, killing your serenity, use of the meal tray and free space as well. Most folks will gladly move their seatback when asked nicely. If they wind up being a real jerk about it, you’re well within your right to call a flight attendant over and ask to switch seats.

6. The one with the sniffles

When you think about it, airplanes are perfect germ incubators. Small spaces with a lot of people breathing the same recycled air. And while it’s not their fault, odds are good one person will be suffering from a cold. Short of forcing them to wear a surgical mask on the flight, your best bet is just wash your hands a lot or bring some hand sanitizer.

7. Restroom mongers

You’ve been sitting on this plane for three hours and desperately need to go to the bathroom. Only problem is the same person has been coming in and out that you’d expect them to charge you a fee just to enter. Ask the flight attendants when you’re boarding the plane where the washrooms are at and you won’t have to do the potty dance.

8. The sleeping spotlight

You’re flying the red eye from Miami to London. It’s an eight-hour flight and you’d like to catch a catnap. But the dude sleeping across the aisle has left his light on in the vicinity of your face. Sleep masks normally make this a non-issue. If you don’t have one of those, the just turn it off yourself (politeness be damned). You can also just ask a flight attendant to do it if you must keep appearances, but all’s fair at 3 am over the Atlantic Ocean.

9. The loud watcher/gamer

I’m pretty sure if it weren’t for books, tablets and laptops most people on long plane flights would tear each other apart. However, some folks that bring a gaming device or watch movies on their iPad believe you want to hear everything they’re doing. We don’t. Never did. You can shut them out with your own headphones, but pointing it out to the attendants to handle it nicely because most airlines already supply you with headphones that’ll fit these devices.

10. Cell phone warriors

Never understood the need to hop onto your cell phone the moment the plane has landed and started to taxi its way to the gate. What could possibly be so important that you simply must make a call on the slow roll? There’s no real recourse to stop folks from doing it, so just let it go and be happy you’ve reached your destination.

Is there someone we missed on our list? Let us know in the comments section below.

With airline baggage fees reaching a point where you’d expect them to take your first-born as payment, people have gotten creative in taking their stuff on vacation. Instead of giving them little Jimmy or Natalie, here are some hacks to get the most out of your luggage for your nextflight.

6 ways to avoid paying airline baggage fees

1. Roll up your clothes

We all want our clothes to look as nice as possible, but that’s what the iron is for at the hotel. Just roll up your wardrobe when you’re packing. You’ll use less space and give yourself room for other things you want to bring. Heck, pack fewer clothes and wash them at the hotel and you could conceivably get away with a carry-on bag for the trip.

2. Pick lighter luggage

People often think to just take less things in their luggage to make the trip lighter, yet not many think about lightening the luggage. Go with a duffle bag instead of a suitcase. These weigh a fair deal less and can be filled up with all the stuff you’d usually take along for the trip.

3. Weigh your luggage

It can really suck if you pack a carry-on bag that comes in too heavy to go into the cabin with you. Check the airline’s website for size and weight limits for carry-ons. And keep in mind that in the US many “budget” airlines won’t charge you the bag charges that full-fare chains do, while the opposite is true in Europe. Take that into consideration and you can make a better call on whether to carry on or check it in.

4. Go light on the toiletry bag

This is one that really isn’t as necessary as a must-keep bag for your luggage. It takes up valuable space in your luggage and is full of things you can find for a decent price once you arrive at your destination. Just do a quick run-through to see if you can board the plane without it. Odds are good you don’t need that extra bottle of Axe.

5. Dress in layers

If you’re going to game the system, game it right. There’s nothing about wearing a layer or two of your clothes for the trip onto the plane. Just switch out of them for something more comfortable after you board. What’s a few minutes of discomfort to change when compared to an exorbitant luggage fee?

6. Wear your luggage

If you like the idea of wearing some layers, then consider this baggage hack level: master. Wearable luggage have become quite popular. They allow you to take almost anything you can imagine onto the plane and still bypass pesky baggage fees. You’re not going to be turning heads on the catwalk with these filled to the brim, but it’s an ingenious way to carry more along for the trip.

Did we miss a good tip to avoid paying bag charges? Let us know below.

Heading out on your dream vacation but it’s going to take five or more hours to get there on your direct flight? Here’s some tips to get out of the straight shot relatively unscathed.

1. Prepare the Candy Crush Saga

While some airlines offer in-flight entertainment it may not exactly be what you want to see or do. Instead, charge everything that you can use on a flight (laptop, tablet, smartphone) before you board. And make sure you’ve got a solid catalog of music, games, books and movies/TV shows to entertain yourself. After a couple of flicks it’ll almost be time to get off the plane.

2. I’m out there Jerry, and loving every minute of it!

Now you don’t want to be as loose as Kramer was in that particular Seinfeld episode, but you will want to be comfortable on your long flight. So wear comfortable shoes, jeans/shorts and shirts to minimize any discomfort you’ll have on the plane.

3. Sweet, sweet ZzzQuil

Despite what people tell you it’s not all that easy to sleep on a flight. You’ve got a better chance of tossing and turning while that big guy three rows down snores like a chainsaw than you do of nodding off easily. Unless you absolutely need a doctor-prescribed sleep aid (be sure to try them before you fly), most over-the-counter products (ZzzQuil, Nytol, etc.) will do just fine. And don’t forget an eye mask to keep the light out, too.

4. Go for a stroll

Your seat might be comfy, but you’re still going to get a bit fidgety on a cheap long haul flight you found on Skyscanner – we all do. So when the “fasten seat belt” sign is off, get out of your seat and take a minute or two to walk around the cabin. Maybe go to the restroom and splash some water on your face. It’ll keep you relaxed and help shrink the already small chances of you getting deep vein thrombosis.

5. Keep it light

If you’re on a long flight the chances are good you’re going on a lengthy vacation. With that being said, you probably don’t need to take too much stuff for carry on. Nothing worse than having to lug a small, but heavy bag through the cramped aisles of a plane after you land… especially if you’ve been on that plane for eight straight hours. And if you have to put it under the seat, then you’re just giving up essential legroom.

6. Any upgrades?

Online check-in means some folks can pick their seats in advance of being on the plane. But some people could’ve cancelled their spot on the flight, meaning you could get an upgrade. Just ask the agent when you’re checking in your bags. If you’re a member of their frequent flyer club and not on your first flight with the airline, then you’ve got a slightly better shot. The worst they can tell you is “no,” and you’re no worse for the wear.

Traveling light is a goal many US travelers aspire to (and sometimes achieve) when going on vacation. But new carry-on luggage size restrictions are changing what we can store in the overhead compartment on some of the major airlines.

For years we’ve enjoyed having carry-on bags that fit 22 by 15 by 9 inches. That’s all changing for guests going on flights with American, United and Delta Airlines have all cut an inch on the width – going from 15” to 14”.

At first blush, this may not sound like a big deal. That’s until you consider luggage manufacturers have been rolling the 22x15x9 for what seems like an eternity. And now they’re put in the position of possibly having to overhaul their entire lineup of carry-ons which means we’ll pay more in the end – either by purchasing new luggage or a baggage fee to store it on the plane.

So it doesn’t sound good, does it? You can imagine having your carry-on all set, only to be told it’s too big and has to be checked in. I can only image what kind of reactions folks will have at the desk when they hear they’ll have to pay a baggage fee on what was once perfectly fine. I bet it would look a little something like this.

All is not lost, however. Many airlines in the States still have carry-on sizes that let us use the bags we already own. Alaska Airlines, Southwest, Spirit, Virgin America, AirTran, Frontier and JetBlue all have overhead bag dimensions greater than 22” x 15” x 9”. And if you’re travelling on British Airlines or Virgin Atlantic, then you can expect to get baggage up to 35½ x 29½ x 16 in size.

And just in case you’ve got the cash to toss at getting a smaller bag to take into the plane, you’ve got options. You can find a Kenneth Cole four-wheeler on Amazon.com at a good price. Travelpro also has a 22-inch bagunder $100 to boot that fits into those parameters for American, Delta and United.

Will the carry-on changes make you reconsider what airline you use? Maybe take less with you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Your family is excited about going on an Orlando vacation. But how can you get the most of your time in the theme park capital of the world? Just follow our tips to make it the best vacation ever.

1. Stay away from the summer, long weekends

There’s no doubt that summer is the big time for family vacations. But think about heading to a gorgeous beach instead of the theme parks. Summers in Orlando are hot, sticky and full of other tourists. How much fun are you going to have when yelling at your kids while waiting in line for hours on end to get on a ride that lasts a couple of minutes? January through April are great with both weather and manageable crowds. You’d do well to think of traveling there in November since it’s usually dead with most visitors opting to come the following month for the holidays.

2. Stop trying to see everything at once

The average American vacationer stays just under four nights in Orlando. That means you’re probably going to the parks for three, maybe four days. And you’re determined to see all Disney World has to offer in that time. Get the family together, pull out a map of whichever park you’re seeing that day and pick what things you definitely want to do. Whatever you see at the park after doing the planned stuff is icing on the cake.

3. Buy the right tickets

So you’re going to be in Orlando for a week, but still haven’t an idea of what tickets to buy. The major parks have multiday tickets that don’t need to be used right away (Disney sells passes without expiration dates). That will give you some flexibility to see more of what Orlando has to offer. And shy away from park-to-park tickets, if you can. Unless they’re giving you a ride on the Hogwarts Express, park-to-park is more money than it’s worth.

4. Pick the right hotel

Orlando theme parks have their own resorts that keep you minutes away from the fun. On-site hotels usually offer benefits like extra hours in the parks and ticket upgrades. And yes, they’re great, but they also come at a higher price. There are a lot of great hotels in the Orlando area that can be tailored to what you want the most on our site. You can search for resorts that have everything from breakfast to a nice pool or golf course and shuttle service to the parks.

5. Visit the parks early

If you decide that you really do need to see everything at the theme parks, then you’ll want to get there early. Visit the moment the parks open and you have a much better shot of getting on all the rides before the lines bloat. It also saves you on buying express passes at some of the parks which is money you can spend on other things, like that $30 T-shirt your kids can’t live without.

Have a tip to make an Orlando vacation even better than what we missed? Let us know down below.

In the next 10 years the technology that surrounds us will not only become part of our lives, but it will also impact our future travels.

As our report on the Future of Travel explains, in 10 years’ time we’re very likely to have a “Digital Travel Buddy,” a high-tech companion that goes everywhere with us and knows what we want and desire, thanks to Artificial Intelligence. These buddies could very well take the shape of a smart watch or a small piece of jewelry. And they’ll personalize our travel experiences.

The cool thing is we don’t have to wait a whole decade to see the future of travel. There are currently plenty of futuristic gadgets you can try out – and more that are being tested or designed right now. These are the 10 gadgets that will help make the Future of Travel an entirely new experience for all of us.

1. DESTI

DESTI’s a conversational travel app from the SRI research institute. That name might sound familiar to some folks out there because they’re the team that developed Apple’s Siri system. This app will be able to track down relevant online travel reviews and comments based on past preferences and searches of its user. That basically means if you’re more apt to travel with your family, then you’ll get a selection of reviews on family-friendly hotels or activities for everyone to do at your selected destination.

2. GOOGLE GLASS

These camera-enabled smart glasses from Google are set to hit the mass market and will be shipping 6.6 million models a year by 2016. They’ve begun to show us how to see the world through another lens, and while there aren’t many apps to be used on them at the moment, there’s no denying the potential. Maybe 10 years down the line we’ll use them to enhance our travel experience in whole new way. Some even say that microscopic bendable circuits, like the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology developed, could be implanted into a contact lens by the end of this decade.

3. SAMI

Samsung’s Interactive Artificial Intelligence (SAMI) will monitor the lifestyle and health needs of its user automatically by plugging into the aggregated knowledge of smartphones and wearable devices that will exist by 2020.

4. CORTANA

Fans of the “Halo” video games have been waiting for this one. Microsoft’s currently developing Cortana, a voice-activated personal assistant that might bring up memories of Master Chief’s partner in crime or Samantha from Spike Jonze’s film “Her.” The interface will be human-sounding as it scans our online searches, cross-reference our food, travel and hotel searches and then use some predictive algorithms to make suggestions that are tailored to our needs, likes and price range.

5. I-FREE’S ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

I-free is a Russian innovation brand that’s designed an artificial intelligence system that will process a listener’s question and give appropriate verbal answers in a split second, allowing their bio-robot Frank to hold a meaningful conversation with a person.

6. SMART WATCHES

The first generation of smart watches is already here for us to enjoy. The most popular versions being the Sony Smart watch, Samsun Galaxy Gear and the Pebble. All of them are wristwatches that boast smartphone functionality to check your email, send messages and more. Oh, and they can still tell the time.

Hewlett Packard is currently developing a next generation smart watch that will understand its user’s hand gestures and allow him to project and manipulate 3D holographic displays like Tom Cruise did in "Minority Report."

And be sure to stay tuned for the much rumored i-watch from Apple…

7. REALSENSE 3D CAMERA

The REALSENSE 3D camera by Intel is a perfect example of how technology can recognize and respond to human emotions, which is expected to be common in travel gadgets in a few years. This smart gadget identifies the mood of users through their facial expressions and body posture. It’s also able to understand and respond to spoken requests.

8. VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS

Headsets like the Oculus Rift VR from US start-up Oculus VR is the predecessor of Virtual Reality devices travelers will use at home to sample experiences from a wide range of vacation choices in stunning 3D. It combines smartphone tech and motion sensors to give users an experience that is quite similar to watching something on a never-ending IMAX screen.

A device designed by a team at the Vienna University of Technology has allowed users to walk through labyrinth that seems to go on forever, but they’re just walking around in circles in a small room. Researchers are aiming to have multiple users experience it at the same time without bumping into each other by adding motion and proximity-sensing technology to the device.

9. SENSORIAL TECHNOLOGY

Haptic technologies have given a sense of touch in some devices we use today. But they’re going to add another layer of realism to the Virtual Reality experience. Several brands are developing touchscreens that will let you feel virtual 3D objects or fabrics – Disney’s REVEL touchscreen and Lapan’s Tachi Lab’s TECHTILE toolkit are just two examples. Just imagine the ability to feel the sand between your toes with these devices.

These are just a few of the innovations we can already begin trying out that will evolve and make our travels in the future dramatically different. And many more will be coming along soon.

Any future devices you’d like to make your future vacations better? Sound off below.

Amazingly Beautiful Travel Places

10 most annoying things you see on plane flights

6 ways to avoid paying airline baggage fees

6 ways to survive long plane flights

Carry-on luggage gets smaller for 3 biggest US airlines

5 tips for the best Orlando vacation ever

9 cool gadgets that will revolutionize the way you travel

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