Travel Blog

This topic, tips for restaurant servers, is a really contentious topic. Most people leave tips at restaurants and many leave the standard 15% whether they are happy with the service or the food. They just do not want the hassle of dealing with a server who might show their annoyance because of a low tip. We know people in the industry and they are adamant that you should always leave a tip regardless. The servers rely on this income since they receive minimum wage or no wage at all. Tips can be a huge source of income for these people. The unfortunate thing is that some of these servers, especially the younger ones feel that they are entitled to a large tip regardless of the level of service they provide.

Tips for Restaurant Servers – An Example of Excellent Service

Here is an example of what we mean by really good service. You go to a coffee shop and the server fills your coffee mug and servers it to you at the cash. Should you provide them with a tip when they just did their job and did nothing special? At another coffee shop the server takes a mug, fills it with hot water to warm up the cup, pours the water out and then fills the mug with hot coffee. Should you tip this person? We think that they are very deserving of a tip, much more so than the first server. We always tip the second server and never the first because they also do not even acknowledge their customers, nor do they say thank you ever. Our excellent server will also bring us our coffee to the table if she happens to be busy as well.

Some might argue that if we tipped we might get better service in our example above. In some cases we would but at most coffee shops they are just kids who do not know the first thing about service.

Guidelines for Tipping for Restaurant Servers

We suggest that the following guidelines might be used to help people decide if they should tip and how much. Start with the standard of 15% and if they measure up in terms of service, timeliness of food delivery, attention to your order, follow up in a timely manner to ensure that you have everything to enjoy your meal and provide friendly service they should receive the standard 15% tip.

If you have to wait a long time for your drinks, the food is served cold, they mix the orders up or they are very unfriendly, well I would really consider a much lower tip depending on how poor the service actually was. If they are able to do something special which please your group and is appreciated, then why not tip them more. You might even provide a large tip if you feel that they deserve such a large tip.

Would You Leave a Zero Tip

Not too many people will leave a zero tip. They just do not want to risk the confrontation or potential confrontation. However the service industry needs to understand that they are on the job to provide good friendly service. I believe that we as patrons should treat them in a professional manner. If the service is not great, I think that we should let them know verbally in a nice way and that they still will receive a tip, but a little less than 15%. In the future if the service has not improved, then this is the time to reduce the tip even further.

I always tip the lady that serves me a coffee in a mug that has been pre-warmed with hot water. She is only serving coffee. But she makes sure that her customer receives really great service and a hot cup of coffee every time. That deserves a tip in my mind.

In Canada, there are a lot of people who are in their teens working in the service industry. They are too young to understand what it means to provide great service vs. average service. In the US, I have found in our travels more older people who have made it their profession and take providing good service seriously. They understand that good service directly impacts their incomes and they generally provide great service.

That’s my opinion, let me know if you agree or disagree about tips for restaurant servers. For more thoughts on tipping, click here.

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Google’s driver less car has been on the road for over 300,000 miles now. A recent update suggests that Google is not in the driver less car business. They are going to focus on the software and not the hard ware. In fact it is several cars that are being tested. But the fact remains they have driven that many miles and apparently without an accident. Well, we heard there was one accident were the human in the car took over control of the car and caused an accident. Now several states have put laws into place that allow driver less cars on the road. But there must be a driver in the car’s driver seat that can take control of the car if needed.

Googles Driverless Car – Other Driverless cars

In addition the major car manufacturers are working on models of their own that can be driven without a driver in control of the car. Just think in a few years the designated driver will no longer be needed. Take me home car and away you go. We are not sure if the laws that have been passed in these states include having a driver that is sober behind the wheel and able to take over if needed. Not sure how that would work, the driver is drunk, the car gets into an accident and who do you charge with causing the accident – the drunk passenger(s), the car, the software maker, the part that failed ?

We believe that they will perfect the driver less car and we will likely accept the notion that you will not need passengers who are able to take over the car if necessary. Remember when there were operators in the elevators. You could not go from floor to floor without an elevator operator running the controls for you. At least they got to talk to people once and awhile.

Will there be Auto Pilots on These Cars

Now let’s imagine you are in Goolgle’s driver less car or one of the other manufacturer’s cars. You are the designated control driver, the person supposed to take over if needed. Does this mean that you must pay attention all of the time so that you can take control based on your judgment or will it be like the auto pilots in planes that sound an alarm to alert you to take control? Sometimes pilots fall asleep while on the job although they are not supposed to. You can bet there will be a lot of people who will be sleeping in these driver less cars. That auto pilot had better be good, reaction time and warning time to alert the pilot.

What Impact will Driver Less Cars have On Supporting Auto Industries

The main assumption is that there will be less accidents with driver less cars. Proper space will be maintained between cars and cars will not run red lights. Drivers will not be drunk behind the wheel, and distracted drivers will not cause accidents. Now you can shave, do your makeup, finish breakfast, even talk on the phone and not worry about driving. If this works as planned, there will be a lot less accidents as a result and that will have a direct impact on auto repair industries, such as windshield repair companies, auto body companies and so on.

There will still be accidents since it will be a long time before everyone is in a driverless car and everyone is forced to use the capability, bit it will come once it is demonstrated that these cars do in fact save lives and reduce accidents. Just imagine on a foggy road, were you can barely see the car in front of you. With radar installed, there will be no problem stopping when needed and not hitting the guy in front of you.

How Long Will it Take for Driver Less Cars to be in the Majority

No one really knows at this point. However it will really depend on just how good these cars are when it comes to control and accidents. If the statistics can prove they have less accidents, the insurance companies may reward car owners with these cars with lower insurance. They may jack up the insurance for people with cars without control. Penetration of this technology will move quickly.

We think that this will be a hot news story for some time to come and we are excited to watch what happens with the driver less car future. For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.

Traveling without health insurance can literally bankrupt you. It can ruin your life if you cannot find the money to pay for hospital coverage and repatriation home, if you are too ill to travel. The prime travel season is coming up for snow birds heading south and many retired people planning trips. We felt that a post on travel insurance for Canadians coverage and why you need it would be worthwhile. Bottom line is that the cost of medical visits to the hospital is just too high. It can literally put you in the poor house if you are not properly covered.

Travel Insurance for Canadians

A recent survey found that many people, young and old are taking the chance of traveling abroad without health insurance coverage and unfortunately ending up with huge medical bills that most people just cannot afford. Canadians are not used to paying for their health issues. After all it is covered by government programs. Travel insurance for Canadians while traveling is extremely important.

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance

Many People Travel Without Health Insurance survey went on to say that as many as 65% of younger travelers will travel without health insurance, which by itself is an amazing statistic when a day in hospital can cost as much as $20,000 or even more. A major accident could cost several hundred thousand dollars and there are many of these every year were foreigners are hurt in major car crashes.

What Coverage do You Have When Traveling

Many people think that their own health insurance will cover them when they travel. They might and then again they may not. A broken leg could cost $16,000 for a two day stay in the hospital, while some local government health care agencies that Canadians have will only cover about $200 per day. That is a huge number to make up. Health insurance for that same person might have cost less than a hundred dollars.

The cost to be transported from one state to another, from one province to another or from one country to another country is usually not covered by government health agencies. You need to have travel health insurance to cover these sorts of things. Someone who suddenly takes ill while traveling, or has a car accident and needs to be transported home will spend thousands of dollars on travel costs or transport by air ambulance. Travel health insurance can cover all of this including transporting your immediate family and your car if you are driving.

For the small amount of money that health and travel insurance costs you, it is definitely worth having to ensure that you and your family is adequately protected while traveling.

Travel Insurance Tips

• Before you go review your coverage and what it does not cover
• Are you covered for the right number of days
• Are you covered for transport home
• Do you have to pay and claim or will they pay the hospital up front
• What will your current health insurance cover?
• Review the various plans available and select the one that meets your needs
• Are you covered within your home country, even if you are out of state or province
• Do you need trip cancellation insurance or
• Trip interruption insurance
• Lost baggage insurance and replacement cost for items that you need

Read the details of the coverage, especially the exclusions to ensure that you will be covered for everything that you are doing. If you have any questions ask the experts and do not make assumptions. Assumptions can cost a lot of money especially if they are the wrong assumptions.

Travel safe and plan well to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable vacation.

Well we are planning our next trip down south. We will be joining the thousands of snow birds that head south every year to get away from the cold and the snow. We will be gone for four months. Who wouldn’t look forward to palm trees, sun and swimming. We are planning to drive since we want to have our own car while we are away on a winter vacation rather than fly and then rent a car. There are lots of things to think about when you are leaving for this length of time. Logistics of your trip is one area to consider but so are the responsibilities of your home which also must be considered. We put together this post to help other people like us prepare for their trips.

Planning our next Trip

We love to hike and travel to interesting sites, so this is also part of our trip. We are considering Dallas and traveling to the site of the show called Dallas, South Fork ranch. Apparently there are lots of tours through the ranch every day. We thought this might be an interesting thing to do.

We will go through Tucson where the PIMA museum is and the bone yard for planes that are no longer required or able to be in the air. Some planes are just stored, while others are being kept for parts. It covers several square miles and there are thousands of planes at this site. This is a must see place if you are interested in this sort of thing.

Titan Missile Museum

Another location we might go to is the Titan Missile Museum just south of Tucson. This is from the cold war when there were missiles all over the US pointed at Russia. They were intended as a deterrent to any attack that they might fire at us. Apparently this is the last one that is left in the US. There are regular visitors to this location which is just outside of Tucson.

On our travels we may also go to Biloxi, MS to visit the coast and stay at a hotel called the Beau Rivage. If you have not been to the Beau Rivage, it is a very nice place right on the gulf and part of the MGM chain of hotels.

That is it for now. We will update our posts once we have our plans finalized. These are just a couple of areas that we are thinking about and provide some idea of what is involved. We have other posts with detailed checklists of items to consider.

For more trip planning ideas, click here.

We came across a post that lists what the writer felt were the top 10 white water rafting locations in the world. We cannot vouch for these locations since we have never been to any of them. However perhaps readers will be able to comment on them and either agree or propose other locations. Hence please leave your comments.

Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

We included a brief summary for each and will follow-up with posts about each location.

• Grand Canyon National Park, United States
• Ottawa River, Canada
• Glacier National Park, United States
• Magpie River, Canada
• Pacuare River, Costa Rica
• Futaleufu River, Chile
• Apurimac River, Peru
• Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia
• White Nile, Uganda
• North Johnstone River, Australia

More Details – Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

1. Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Sign up for a single or multi-day excursion. On rivers that wind through America’s most astounding natural wonder – the Grand Canyon. Spend hours, days – even weeks – on a professionally guided tour of waterways that range from placid to downright wild. Start at Glen Canyon Dam at the northeast part of the gorge. From there, let your tour director be your guide.

2. Ottawa River, Canada

The Ottawa River does a lot more than distinguish the border between Quebec and Ontario. The behemoth waterway is also Canada’s most popular destination for rafting and kayaking. As a result luke-warm waters attract families. Also die-hard rafters each summer to steer through a valley thought to be more than 175 million years old. For example take the kids for a leisurely paddle. Or put on helmets with more competitive friends and race down the wondrous archipelago at top speed.

3. Glacier National Park, United States

Travelers aiming to combine whitewater rafting with other outdoor excursions need look no further.  The Flathead River in Montana’s Glacier National Park is one of th emost interesting rivers. More than a million acres of preserved ecosystem. Also 700 miles (1,126 km)of walkable trails make this nature lover’s paradise an ideal spot for hiking and, of course, rafting. For example pilot your inflatable vessel along the 158 miles of pure, unadulterated water, sourced directly from the Rocky Mountains.

4. Magpie River, Canada

It’ll take you eight days to steer the escalating rapids of Quebec’s Magpie River. Pitch a tent along this scenic stretch of river and savor its splendor, including the northern lights, in between day-long floats. Grade V rapids – the toughest classification recommended to raft – will greet you at the end of your week-long journey at Magpie Falls, a 125-foot vision of cascading water.

5. Pacuare River, Costa Rica

Also known as the Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica’s Pacuare River is a delightful escape with varying degrees of difficulty that last approximately 67 miles. Divided into the Upper Upper, Upper, and Lower sections, the river’s range of difficulty spans from Grade II to V – perfect for novice and veteran rafters alike. Surrounded completely by acres of lush rainforests, sailing down the Pacuare toward the Caribbean may mean introducing yourself to Costa Rica’s wildlife, like monkeys, exotic birds and jaguars.

6. Futaleufu River, Chile

Arguably the best river in the world for experienced rafters to tackle. Chile’s Futaleufu River offers both spectacular views and intense rapids. The stream, which cascades from lakes in the Los Alerces National Park and the Andes Mountains, is renowned for its deep-blue waters and Grade V drops. Hence it is recommended for skilled rafters with years of experience. The Futaleufu serves up long stretches of excitement at a time like the Wild Mile. There is a series of rapids that’ll keep any athlete on his or her toes – scratch that – seat.

7. Apurimac River, Peru

Earning bragging rights for rafting part of the world’s largest river is reason enough to fly to southern Peru for a rafting trip this year. The Apurimac River sources the Amazon. It provides kayakers and whitewater rafters a chance to see South America’s magnificent wilderness up close. Grade IV rapids – and a four-day commitment – attract skilled rafters with an appreciation for camping and the great outdoors.

8. Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Only expert rafters should attempt to tackle the intense swells and challenging rapids that the Zambezi River is so wildly famous for. It is separated into the upper and middle Zambezi by Victoria Falls. Which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the river is nearly 1,600 miles of nature at its finest. Look for hippopotamuses and crocodiles along calmer stretches of the river. Brace yourself for massive drops and death-defying rapids along the no-nonsense parts, including the Batoka Gorge.

9. White Nile, Uganda

Maneuvering a boat full of rafters along the Bujagali Falls near the mouth of Lake Victoria is an adventure you’ll never forget. The White Nile, a tributary of the actual Nile River, flows through Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Inexpensive rafting companies have set up shop near the most exciting part of the river in Uganda. Combining world-class rafting with an introduction to Africa’s astonishing landscape. Grade V rapids ease into harmonious currents, promising rafters both relaxation and thrills in a single afternoon.

10. North Johnstone River, Australia

The four or six-day expedition along the North Johnstone River in North Queensland’s World Heritage rain forests is considered one of the best travel adventures in the world. Ride a helicopter to the beginning of your unforgettable journey. Wind your way through Grade V rapids and truly amazing scenery. Not for the faint of heart, North Johnstone offers days on end of the most demanding – and rewarding – whitewater rafting out there.

Let us know what you think about these Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

I just watched an ABC report about new tires sold by all of the major retailers that are old tires sold as new when they are actually many years old. Apparently there is a code on the tire that will tell you when it was manufactured and thus how old it is. ABC did this report that looked at tires sold by Walmart, Sears , Good Year and others that were more than 6 years old. They were brand new, but had sat on the shelf for over 6 years!

Old Tires Sold as New – Exploding tires

Now some of you may be saying so what. I can get a great deal with tires on sale at all of these stores! Apparently rubber like everything else will dry out over time and this makes the tire  more unstable and capable of tearing apart at high speed when it gets hot. Tires will get hot if driven at high speed or even at normal speed when they are under inflated. Add to this a dried out tire and you get something like some of the pictures on the left that we uploaded to this post.

When we were looking for pictures of tires that had exploded, there were also pictures of some really grizzly looking accidents that we did not think appropriate to show on this post. Let us just say that the pictures showed mangled cars and trucks, with people killed or hurt very badly. We are showing three pictures that really demonstrate what happens to a tire when it comes apart at high speeds.

Tire Explosions

The ABC video also showed what happens to people driving a vehicle when the tire explodes. They were anticipating the tire to explode and even those the drivers were also skilled test drivers, many had a very difficult time keep control of the vehicle. In fact one person in a test vehicle could not get control of the car and veered off into the side of the road and overturned the test vehicle.

They were ok, however can you imagine what it would be like for you or I driving at highway speeds and your tire exploded! Many people are killed every year just because of this, so if your tires are older than 6 years which is the recommended age for tires, you may want to consider having them replaced before you go on any long trips or drive on the highway at high speeds!

Examine Your Tires

Take a look at your tires to check just how old they are. I just purchased a new car last year in 2009 and I would expect the tires to also be 2009 tires. Not so! My tires were made in the 24th week of 2007. So now they are 4 years old which is not too bad.  I purchased snow tires two years ago in 2008 for another car. I checked those tires and they were made in January of 1997! Wow , these tires in my mind were only 4 years old and the tread is still excellent on them!
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We recently saw an article about extreme penny pinching and were intrigued by several of the ideas, however, some were clearly off the wall and well beyond what the average person would even consider. We wondered about, Penny Pinching While You Travel? We thought that a more interesting list of penny-pinching ideas that actually save you money while traveling would be interesting to a lot of people.

We put together a combination of our own list of things about penny-pinching while you travel to save money with a few of the items that were on the list of the article that we read. We tend to stay in hotels and rent condos while we travel, so our list is centered around this type of travel. Other people who go camping, travel in an RV, or stay with friends and relatives will obviously have other items to add. Please let us know your items in the comments section and we will add them to our list. Here is the list for penny-pinching while you travel and we follow up with an explanation of each later in the post.

Penny Pinching While You Travel

Saving Money While you Travel

• We belong to points clubs such as air miles and credit card points collection
• We ask for a seniors discount
• We watch for restaurant discounts for seniors
• We follow senior citizens at dinnertime
• I join birthday clubs so I can eat for free
• I hit up fast food dollar menus
• We eat at subway and share a foot-long sub
• We order one soft drink and share, refills are free
• I drink as much as I can during happy hour
• We eat appetizers during happy hour
• I pick up pennies wherever I go
• We eat a large lunch and lightly at dinner time
• Share Meals
• We stay at hotels that include breakfast and/or dinner and/or free drinks

Have you ever been stuck on the highway because of an accident. Most of us have and most of us have only had to deal with a delay of an hour or two. Well try 12 hours stuck on I40 with nowhere to go and no information about what you can do or when you are going to be allowed to proceed.  That was us on Nov 20th on a Sunday night just outside of Albuquerque.

It was on the west side along Interstate 40. In fact we were only 8 miles from our turn off when the traffic came to a screeching halt. Talk about frustrating. On top of that we also had a hotel reservation, which we could not cancel. It was less than 24 hours notice and hotels will not accept cancellations that close to the arrival time.

Stuck on I40 Heading East into Albuquerque

For those of you who may not be aware, I40 is a heavily traveled truck route that runs from the west coast , through Albuquerque, all the way to Memphis and beyond.  In this area were the accident occurred, it is pretty much desert with rolling hills and not many side roads and certainly no roads paralleling the highway.  So there we are stuck on the highway , 8 miles from our destination. We are stopped in a valley were unfortunately there is only weak cell phone coverage and also limited local radio coverage. It is impossible to get any information about what is holding us up ahead or how long it will be. I even asked a couple of truckers if they had CB radios and if they knew what was going on. Apparently truckers do not carry CB radios any longer, at least the ones I asked do not.

The weather was clear, there were no problems on the road so this apparently was someone not paying attention and involved a van and several trucks. Two people died in this major accident.
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Whether you are on a short trip or returning after being away from home for several months or even longer there is a return home checklist. These are things that we all need to pay attention to in addition to the checklist of items when we leave.  If you go through the list, chances are that your trip will be uneventful and successful. Which is exactly what we all want.

Not every item will apply to your specific situation. Review the list and apply those that make sense for you, your family and business associates. Consider the situation you find yourself in. Everyone wants to make sure that nothing important is forgotten and that your home etc is looked after while you are gone. A good checklist will help to make sure that everything is thought of.

Return Home Checklist

When you are returning home there are additional checklists that you should follow to prepare for your trip. Review the  pre-departure checklist. As well as the following list of items to ensure that you have everything that you need for your trip.

• Airline reservations
• Airline tickets
• Meeting with the bank regarding account closing and money transfer if you have been away for some time and established accounts etc
• Inform schools and teachers of the children’s departure and  obtain all official school documents, with teachers evaluations of each child
• Arrange for moving of personal effects to your own country
• Keep track of relocation expenses and make photocopies of important documents to be brought with you
• Notify the post office of a change of address and send a notice of discontinuation to all services including electricity and telephone
• Pay all outstanding bills prior to leaving
• Make a list of all other personal matters that you need to look after prior to departure for your own country.

Be Prepared

If you go through this list and the pre-departure list we prepared on the previous post you will be in good shape to travel. With all of the heighten security these days especially if you are traveling by plane, it is important to be over prepared. Make your trip easier and to avoid any potential delays while you satisfy the authorities.

We tend to go on driving trips and must cross the border at various locations. We never know what questions the customs agents are going to ask. So we always have all of our documents in order. Reservations, receipts and whatever we think that we need to have to establish that we are visiting. Also not doing anything that would be construed to be illegal.

I recently heard one rumor that you need to show that you are not only a resident of your home country. But that you are actually planning to return to your home country.  Hard to imagine when we are spending money in the host country. Which contributes to their economy etc, but that is the way it is these days with increased security!

As always if you have additional items that should be added to this list, please leave appropriate comments. We will add them! For more trip planning ideas, click here.

Anyone who is traveling to another country or even across country should also have pre-departure checklists. As a result it should specifically be focused on traveling to the host country for your trip. Particularly if you’re planning to stay for some time. Hence the following checklist will help you. Regardless of whether you’re going for one week or for several months or even longer.

Pre-Departure Checklists

Obviously if you are staying for a long time you will need to decide what you do with homes, bank accounts, taxes etc. and if just going for a week’s vacation many items will not apply.

• Passports for all family members, valid for a minimum of six months
• Visas for entry to the host country and work permits if needed
• Airline and hotel reservations
• Airline tickets including return reservations
• Marriage certificate and birth certificates for all family members, especially for children
• For divorced persons with children: legal authorization from the other parent. Also from a Canadian court to take the children out of the country
• Medical examinations completed and proof of vaccinations
• Dental examinations
• Medical prescriptions, blood group information. Especially vaccination certificates
• Photocopy of eyeglass prescriptions
• Veterinary examination and vaccination for pets if applicable
• Meeting a lawyer or Notary to update wills
• Meeting an accountant to get financial and tax counsel
• Meet  a bank officer regarding financial needs, including travelers checks,  credit card limits and money transfers

More Items to Consider

• Advise your credit card company that you will be traveling to another country to avoid it being shut down prematurely
• Placing important documents in a safety deposit box
• Informing schools and teachers of the children’s departure and obtaining all official school documents, with teachers evaluations of each child
• Making any necessary arrangements regarding your house, apartment or car( sale, sublease, insurance, etc.)
• Confirming furniture storage and insurance
• Moving personal effects to the host country
• Keep track of relocation expenses. Also make photocopies of important documents to be brought with you
• Informing health insurance authorities of your departure and taking care of additional insurance coverage if needed
• Notify the post office of a change of address. In addition send notice of discontinuation to all services including electricity, telephone, heating company, and banks
• Obtaining an international drivers license
• Dispose of your car or put your car in storage
• For independent consultants obtaining GST, PST, HST registration
• Make a list of other personal matters to look after
• Advise all of your friends and family of your new address and telephone numbers
• Documentation that shows closer ties to your home country

Use Those that are Applicable

This may seem like a long list. However if you take the time to work through them, there will much less chance that you will have any issues arise when you are away from your home. Better to be able to relax and not worry, instead of wondering if everything is ok or dealing with and issue that comes up while you are traveling or dealing with business issues.

If you have has experience in this area and would like us to add additional items to the checklist, or provide advise to our readers please leave us a comment. We will review them and update this post with those comments that apply.

For more trip planning ideas, click here.

It is that time of year when families are planing their summer vacation. Many people are considering short trips with their cars to a camping site or perhaps to one of the theme parks across the country. Getting your vehicle ready for summer vacation is one of the things you need to consider before going on that driving trip. With gas prices high in the spring, and going higher just in time for summer vacation, many people are considering just how far they will go.

Regardless of whether you are planning a long trip by car or just a short one to see the family or visit a campsite, it is always a good idea to have your car checked before you go. If you already hear some noise that does not sound normal, get it checked out before you leave. No one wants a break down on the highway with a load of luggage and the family.

Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Summer Vacation

In addition the obvious, the following items are worthwhile having your mechanic look at to ensure that you will have no problems while traveling:

• Oil Change
• Check anti freeze
• Check transmission oil level
• Confirm brake fluid levels
• Check power steering fluid level
• Check windshield washer fluid level
• Assess your tires for inflation and unusual wear
• Check that all of your lights are operating properly

Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Summer Vacation

Check for Low Fluids

Low fluids can cause problems that range from irritation to serious issues with your car. Always have these checked on a regular basis, and especially when you are about to go on a long trip.

Look for uneven Tire Wear

Improper tire wear is an indication that your cars alignment may be out or your tires need to be balanced. Failure to deal with this issue will cause your tires to wear out quickly and also may even cause an uncomfortable ride due to the vibration.

Check Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is also important. Better gas mileage and safer driving are the main benefits of making sure that your tires are properly inflated.

Check the Lights

Check all of the lights as well including brake lights and turning lights. A faulty light may cause you to be in an unsafe situation if someone does not see your car at night or fails to see that you are turning or stopping due to a light not working. Some police forces will also stop you for lights that are not working properly. Usually they just give you a warning and not a ticket.

Get an Oil Change

New clean oil will not only make sure that your engine runs more smoothly, it will also deliver better gas mileage and emit less pollution. My car once failed an emission test much to be disappointment. The attendant suggested that I get the oil changed and that I make sure that I had clean fuel in the engine. I followed his suggestions and my car passed with flying colors next time it was tested for emissions.

If you are going on a long trip, always make sure you have fresh oil in the engine to generate better gas mileage and less pollution! For more tips about travelling by vehicle, click here.

Do you need travel insurance? The answer is definitely yes, however there are various types of travel insurance that you will want to consider depending on the type of trip that you are taking and where you are going. Like all insurance one has to ask themselves: What is the probability of making a claim; What will the cost be if I need to make a claim; What is the financial impact if there is a claim? Peace of mind when I travel? and what happens if I need to cancel my trip before I leave or during my trip? These are all valid questions to consider.

Travel Insurance – Types

There are several different types of insurance that the majority of travelers will consider. It also depends on your mode of travel as well.

• Lost and damaged baggage
• Trip cancellation
• Trip interruption
• Health claims
• Car insurance
• Private travel arrangements

We will discuss each one of these briefly for the reader, however if you have additional questions we strongly suggest that you speak to your travel agent and your insurance company. All insurance packages have conditions and it is important to understand what they are to make sure you are covered. For example the most publicized one is the “pre-existing conditions ” clause when it comes to health insurance. Basically they are saying that they will not insure you for any pre-existing conditions, so you are on your own. All insurance documents have these fine print conditions so read the details to make sure you are properly covered in all cases.

Lost and damaged baggage

This applies mainly to people who are traveling by air as well as on cruise ships, however the hotel can also lose your luggage. The airline might cover you for some damages if it is proved that they were at fault, however the money the generally provide is a small percentage of what you probably will have in your luggage. If you cannot take carry-on, then evaluate the risk of losing your luggage vs. the incremental costs of carrying insurance to make a decision. Some credit cards will provide this type of insurance, only if the trip has been charged to that credit card.

Trip cancellation

Trip cancellation can involve significantly more money if you are booking air plus a resort fee of some kind. Trips can be canceled for many reasons by customers due to illness or death in the family. Typically you cannot cancel just because you no longer feel like going. You will have to produce a doctor’s certificate or even a death certificate in order to get your money back. Again evaluate the risk of needing to cancel your trip vs. the incremental costs of carrying insurance to make a decision. Note that you must purchase the cancellation insurance at the time you book the trip and not afterwords. Some trips can cost thousands of dollars so a cancellation can have a far bigger impact on your finances.

Trip interruption

Some times a trip needs to be interrupted due to illness at home or some emergency which causes a traveler to interrupt their trip. Similar to trip cancellation, you will need to evaluate the risk vs. the cost to you to interrupt your trip and fly home.

Health claims

This is the big one, especially if you are traveling in the US from another country or need to be air lifted home. Even a visit to emergency for several hours can cost several thousand dollars and you can be out of pocket for tens of thousands if you need to stay at a hospital for any length of time. Not having health insurance with all of the coverages you need can have catastrophic impact on your financial well being. Purchase health insurance for your travel or do not travel. It is as simple as that.

If you have pre-existing conditions, you will need to fully disclose these conditions and evaluate what will be covered vs. what is not covered before you go. If you do not advise the insurance company about your pre-existing condition and you have a large claim they are going to investigate including checking with your doctor! Don’t be silly about this obtain proper health insurance when you travel.

Car/Van/RV insurance

Some people love to travel by car, van or RV. We have found that it is a good idea to check with your insurance company ahead of time to verify coverage. If you plan to go to Mexico with your car for example, most companies will charge an extra fee to add this coverage to your policy. While traveling in the US is usually included.

Private travel arrangements

Private travel arrangements are usually not insurable. This is a situation were you book a condo or hotel on your own and for some reason need to cancel. If you need to pay in advance, then you are at risk. The best insurance in this situation is to discuss up front with the person or company you are renting from. Determine what the arrangement would be if you needed to cancel for some reason. Make sure you get this in writing so there is no disagreement or confusion later on.

Travel insurance is a really important area ans should not be ignored if you plan to travel. Talk to your travel agent or to your insurance company. Many of the insurance companies have special departments that focus on providing these types of services.

Good luck and travel safely. Comments that will help our readers are much appreciated.

When you go on vacation, you already know you are going to spend a lot of money and you may as well be resigned to this fact. After all you have a limited amount of time and you want to make the most of it. What if you are going on a 2 or 3 or 4 month vacation? Staying in hotels and eating in restaurants and the bills can really add up in a hurry. There are countless ways to manage your costs and one of those ways is to split restaurant meals.

Benefits of Splitting Restaurant Meals

There are multiple reasons for splitting restaurant meals and all of them have a significant benefit to you the consumer. Obviously you save money when you split a meal since the cost is now split between two people. Many restaurants do not mind at all especially if you are ordering a drink with your meal. For many restaurants this is where the profit is anyway.

Another benefit is that you are reducing the calories that you are eating. You might nor order the best food in terms of diet etc, however at least by splitting the meal you are actually eating a lot less than you would other wise.

One of the big benefits for long term travelers is that if you reduce your costs for meals by an average of $10 a day which is actually low considering that you can split lunch and dinner, you can save over $12oo on a 4 month trip, which is money you can use for other activities. Fantastic!

American Meals are Large

We have traveled in Canada and the US. We found that meals are generally larger in the US with portion sizes that are far more than many people should eat and sometimes can eat. We were at a Texas Roadhouse one evening and my wife ordered pork chops with mashed potatoes. The meal came with two large thick pork chops and a load of mashed potatoes. There was no way that she could have finished the meal herself and fortunately we were splitting the meal. At the end of it we were both full and glad we did not order a separate meal for each other!

Meals in Canada

Meals in Canada generally are smaller and they seem to be more expensive. We try to avoid eating out in Canada if we can since the value and the cost is just not there for us.

In addition the service level is really bad. It is almost as if the waiter cannot stand to be doing his or her job and they are not the least bit interested in providing good service. They still want their tip and if you tip according to the service level they gave, they get upset. You cannot win and so we do not eat out while in Canada if we can avoid it.

For more info about reducing travel costs, click here.

We are in the early stages of planning our trip and are using the checklist that we posted in the previous post, called travel planning. We will be driving to California and taking a southerly route to avoid a lot of highways that could be snow covered and to avoid snow storms in the winter period. On the way home we will come back on a northerly route, probably through Utah and Colorado. We have found that it is much easier and safer to take a longer route in the winter months. We really do not need to be concerned about snow and icy roads.

Planning Our Trip –  Route

For now though we are going to head straight south to Memphis and then on down to Biloxi, Mississippi. We will spend a few days at Tunica, Mississippi and then on to Biloxi were we will also spend a few days. We stay at the Gold Strike in Tunica and at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi. Both of these places are casino hotels and we can usually get a free room at either place.

Next we will head west along Interstate 10. It takes you all the way to Los Angeles with no snow to worry about anywhere along the route. Once you pass Houston, it is pretty much desert all of the way to California, although on past trips we have encountered rain storms in the middle of the desert and the odd flake of snow at higher elevations, near Benson Arizona. We will not book any hotels along the way until we get to Benson Arizona. Our preference is to stop when we get tired or see something we like along the way. We will stop at Benson, Arizona for a night and then head off to a Titan Missile Museum the following day. We will leave a post about this later on our trip.

Once we leave the Missile Silo, we will head to Phoenix were we will stop for one night and then on to Las Vegas for two nights. After that we are spending a month in Palm Springs before heading to Laughlin Nevada. As we travel to each of these locations we will add posts along the way, sometimes daily if there are interesting things to write about.

Making Reservations

For some locations we can make reservations ahead of time. Such as Benson and Las Vegas. However from Biloxi to Benson we will leave it open so we can be flexible about how far we drive every day. This is the best way to travel on a vacation were you make decisions about were you are going to go each day. We will often decide around 2 or 3 pm how much further we want to drive and then call ahead to book a hotel.

Many of our friends cannot travel this way. They have to get to their final destination as quickly as possible. They have to know were they are staying each night, other wise they get stressed out about their trip. We also carry a GPS with us so that we always know were to go.  Even if we pull off somewhere , it will automatically recalculate directions for us. The GPS helps us find restaurants, shopping and things to see in the area. There has been the occasional time that we have had to drive much further than we planned due to unacceptable hotels. But it is so seldom that we really do not worry about this at all.

Using Air Miles, Credit Card Points

We also try to use points from various cards and loyalty cards that we have. This saves us a lot of money. However we really need to coordinate our travel with the loyalty cards. They sometimes need advance notice of several days before they will confirm reservations for us. You can also use airline points as well to pay for hotels.  Once we have everything set up to go the only thing that we need to be concerned about is the weather. As long as there is some flexibility in dates, you can pretty well work around this easily. However you must always account for at least one day delay due to weather.

Other than that it is just basic preparation. Follow though on our list of preparations and we will be ready to go on our trip! For more ideas about trip planning, click here.

There are actually quite a large number of things that need to be thought about when it comes to planning for trips and to get ready to leave on a trip. It also depends on whether you are leaving for a weeks vacation in the sun, a trip to a ski resort or are taking off for four months as many of the snow birds do. Each has similar and unique requirements which can make the difference between a successful trip and one that is memorable for all of the wrong reasons.

We have compiled a list of items that we feel that anyone planning for trips should take into account in getting ready for a trip. We cannot promise that everything is listed, but it works for us. Hopefully it will help you as well. If you see something missing, let us know by leaving a comment.

We will be glad to add it so our readers can benefit. I have them listed in a spread sheet and I just tick them off as I complete each item. I also have a counter on the spread sheet so I know how many are left for me to do. Some items are color coded to indicate those that I must do the day we leave, the day before and the week before. It is a good system and works for me.

Planning for Trips

Here we go in no particular order or importance

• For driving trips, plan your route
• Update CAA membership and obtain maps as needed
• Travel insurance top ups for coverage of airfare etc
• Health insurance top ups for health coverage
• Arrange for driveway snow clearing
• Arrange for lawn maintenance in the summer
• Mail pickup by a friend or neighbor
• Stop cable tv or satellite TV if you will be away for a month or more
• Stop Internet access if you are away for a month or more
• Arrange for basic home telephone
• Arrange for mobile coverage and roaming if needed
• Make sure all passports are up to date
• Arrange for payment of all utilities while you are gone

More Items to Consider

• Does your Car license need  renewal while you are gone
• Do you need to do your income taxes while you are away
• Life insurance is paid up
• Health insurance coverage is paid up
• Disability insurance is paid up especially if this travel is work related
• Do you need a Visa to enter a country
• Stop any newspapers
• Car maintenance is up to date – oil changes, tires
• Prescriptions have been renewed
• Maps / GPS are ready to go if this is a driving trip
• All Doctor appointments have been completed
• Update calendar and provide itinerary to family or friends
• Car insurance renewal is up to date
• Scan and email passports, licenses, Credit Cards, etc for emergencies
• Set up an email emergency contact list
• Contact credit  card center to let them know you are traveling
• Tag luggage with your names
• Take pictures of house for insurance purposes in case there is a claim
• Obtain travelers checks if needed
• Leave keys for house with someone you trust
• If driving take a flashlight, first aid kit and emergency blankets with you in case of breakdown
• Unplug all electronics while you are gone, TV,  computers etc
• Turn water off as required by most insurance companies
• Back up computers in case of loss or damage
• Take a portable hard disk with you and store in separate location
• Set Timers for lights in rooms in your home that you use regularly
• Set Furnace temp to desired temperature while away
• Turn off Washing m/c & unplug
• Turn off Dishwasher
• Shut off ice maker in fridge
• Turn off humidifier on furnace
• Remove battery from cars that are not being used while away
• All air tickets, hotel reservations and entry fees are packed with your carry on

The Basic’s for your Trip

This may seem like a long list of things for Planning for Trips, however some only apply to driving trips of extended length. Pick and chose those items that make sense to you based on your home, your trip and your family.

The basic things are must do’s – passport ready, money ready, tickets ready, home ready, water shut off ready, someone to look after your home while away. Everything else can generally be dealt with or can wait if you are going on a short trip, however longer trips take more care and planning to make sure there are no major problems on your trip as well as back at home.

Always plan for the entire family to make sure that everyone will enjoy their vacation. Usually not everyone will like every thing so you need to plan something for every one to do. You also need to acknowledge that there are going to be things that you do not enjoy and compromise is the only way to deal with these things.

Enjoy your trip and if you have other ideas about items we should add to our checklist, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Our readers will appreciate your thoughts. Planning for Trips makes for a successful vacation.

Many people travel by car every year to their vacation destinations across the US and Canada. Some trips are short, perhaps to a local camping site or to visit family, while others travel all across the country from one end to the other and back. Preparing for trips when Traveling by Car is important if you and your travel companions are going to enjoy the experience. Most people can handle a day trip easily even if it lasts a few hours, but how about the trip that lasts several weeks with travel every day? Is your car ready for the trip?

These trips can be wonderful or they can be an ordeal for the driver and the passengers.  Some drivers feel that they must get from point A to point Z as fast as possible even if that means driving through the night to get to their destination. Traveling by Car in these conditions is not fun!

Other drivers will take their time, especially on a long trip, stopping when they get tired, stopping when there is something interesting to see and taking a break when they get feel like it. This latter approach is by far the best approach, however not everyone has the time to travel in this manner.

I know of two guys who on running low on money in California, decided to drive non stop home to eastern Canada! Took them 51 hours with a few breaks to grab something to eat and use the bathroom. Traveling by car in this situation is not fun at all.

Long distance Traveling by Car

Trips like this have to be planned carefully. Not only the route you will take, the hotels you may stay at but also the maintenance of the car and planning for emergencies. Whether it is a short trip or a long trip many of the preparations are the same.

Check the tire pressure, check the fluid levels, gas up and make sure that anything needing repair is completed prior to leaving.

Planning your trip is important. The general route needs to be determined and if you will stay overnight you may need to make reservations. I like to decide around 3 pm in the afternoon were I will stay and then phone ahead. Most of the time, I have no trouble finding a suitable place, however there have been time when I had to drive an extra hour because all of the hotels are full.

Where to Stay

We try to see the sites along the way and as a result we might drive an average of 4 to 6 hours a day. The rest of the time we are looking for a good restaurant or visiting some tourist activity or stopping at a shopping mall. Traveling by Car allows a lot of flexibility.

One thing to mention is that it is a good idea to get out and walk around for a few hours to keep the circulation going in your legs. It also helps with the boredom of driving and getting drowsy as you are driving.

Some folks will book all of their hotels along the way ahead of time. They like to know where they are staying and know that they have a place to stay. Traveling by Car is a great way to travel and usually a low stress way to do it. You do not need to worry about finding a place while you are en-route.

Occasionally travelers will encounter bad weather or other problems and will be unable to get to their destination. Most hotels will cancel rooms at no charge if you cancel prior to 6pm on the same day, however after 6pm they will charge your credit card the full amount whether you get their or not.

Maintenance on Long Trips

Occasionally you will have to arrange for some maintenance on your car over a long trip. We have had flat tires, oil changes and even a cracked windshield that was needed.  The picture on the left is not the way you want to have to change a tire! All of these things can be handled easily, however we suggest that you ask the front desk at your hotel that you are staying at if you can for a recommendation on were to get the repairs or maintenance completed. We have received some really great advice over the years.

For a tire repair we were told to go to America’s Tire. We did and because I brought the tire in myself, they repaired it for free! I went back to them the following year and bought 4 brand new tires just because of this service. Another example was for a cracked windshield. We went to one company who replaced our windshield for half the price that it would have cost me in Canada! Excellent job and a very clean shop!

Final thoughts about Traveling by Car

Always take water with you in the form of water bottles. If you travel in the winter time, always take boots, gloves and warm clothes for emergencies. Even if they are in the back seat or in the trunk, at least you have them if you end up stuck in a ditch.

Recently a man died of hypothermia because his car ended up in the ditch in the middle of a snow storm and no one found his car until a few days later when they were clearing the road. It is always better to be prepared when travelling by car than not even if it is a hassle.

Same thing with being in the desert areas of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. If you are breaks down, you want to have water with you and also warm clothes. Believe it or not, it can get quite cold in the middle of the night in the desert!

Write in your comments about traveling by car and your own preparations. Ideas that will help our readers are appreciated.

For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.