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1. VALUABLE
SeniorARK TIP: Many
airlines offer special discounts
only to online customers. If you travel frequently between two
locations, determine which airlines serve that route. Go to their website
and sign up for regular online
notification of their sales. Know that when booking deeply
discounted flights, if you cancel there will probably be a significant loss
of fare. |
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2.
Consider New Zealand
for that ultimate retirement adventure. I have known folks from
this
 island
paradise, and have found them to be thoroughly delightful.
The language is English
(sort of), the scenery is nothing short of spectacular,
and crime rates are very low. New Zealand is a highly
developed, stable parliamentary democracy, which recognizes the
British monarch as sovereign. It has a
modern economy, and
tourist facilities are widely available. Start at their web
site,
100% Pure New Zealand, featuring a stunning video
presentation. Be sure your sound is turned on. Also,
click
The Kapiti Coast picture
above for a larger picture.
2.5 A
SeniorArk reader from Auckland, New Zealand wrote us the following
about the above New Zealand ad: July 8, 2006
Yes that is a good promo but it
leaves out lots. For instance in Auckland the Hauraki Gulf - the
many islands including Great Barrier Island. Waiheke Island with
its wine trails and restaurants and beautiful beaches. The wild
west coast of Auckland - out where I live where its mostly
wilderness and bush walks and no development allowed on the
shorelines. The beaches in the west are set in the rainforest
and there are trails along the cliff edges where you get
magnificent ocean views. Plus there is waterfalls and Giant
Kauri trees. They always plug the South Island and we get left
out a lot. I have read a lot of travelogues in blogs and the
people who come to Auckland on their own have no idea how much
hidden beauty there is within 20 mins of the city. The city is
ringed with beaches but of course they are developed with the
high rises appearing now on the beachfront unfortunately but
come out west where I live and there is none of that.
Carolyn, Auckland, NZ
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3.
Grandma Moses:
The exhibition will display artwork and personal objects of Anna
Mary Robertson, better known as “Grandma Moses.”
In 2007 and 2008, the exhibit will travel to Winston- Salem, N.C.;
Chattanooga; Sacramento, Cal.; and Sarasota, Fla. More info on
2007 and 2008
schedule, and some examples of her work. |
| 4.
If you like hotels with
historic ambiance, check out one of the 208 independent
hotels and resorts that are members of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation. You can visit the Web site and make
reservations at
www.historichotels.org or order the 2006 directory by sending
a $4 check to National Trust/Historic Hotels of America, P.O. Box
320, Washington, D.C. 20055-0320. |
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5. Before leaving
your area, and certainly before leaving the country, it is very
important that you check
with your health
insurance carrier on the proper procedures to follow in the
event of an accident or illness. Even if you are on Medicare, you
may have a new Part D
prescription supplier. Are you able to refill your meds
while on your vacation, or do you need to deal with them in some
way before leaving? |
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6.
Take your medical
information with you. Print out a personal
medical information
form from this seniorark site so you can easily have all of
your medical records close at hand. |
| 7. It seems that pharmacists can only
refill your prescriptions
within a couple days before they are due. If you will be
away for a while, talk with that pharmacist about an
early refill in
advance of the trip. Or a
partial refill to get you by until you return. |
| 8. The Southwest Air Senior Travel
Page states: Senior Passengers and Fares. Travelers 65
years of age or over may get details on fares, limitations, and
any restrictions via Reservations on
www.southwest.com , from a
Southwest Airlines Reservations Sales Agent or a travel agent.
Fares are subject to change until tickets are purchased,
but Senior Fare tickets are fully refundable. Please see
details here for tips on how to make your travel experience on
Southwest Airlines even easier. |
| 9. If it is convenient to your
travel plans, mid-day and
mid-week travel times are less crowded and afford more
personal service. Prices may also be lower. |
| 10. Make
sure the city shown on your
baggage claim ticket and
luggage tag matches your final destination (ending city on
your journey). |
| 11.
Be sure to put you name
address and phone number on a permanent tag on your luggage.
Some airlines suggest that you put it on the outside AND inside of
each piece. Luggage gets lost. I put information in a leather
tag-- backwards, so it will only be read by someone who
really needs to know. I have heard that some people put ID only
INSIDE each piece of luggage. I guess the concern is that baggage
people will note who is on vacation, and contact a thief in the
area. Anything is possible. |
| 12.
A lot of luggage looks
alike. Put some kind of bright color on the outside handle
like yellow yarn so you will have a better chance to recognize
your bags when you arrive. |
| 13.
Do you need a wheelchair,
special help or equipment? Call your airline in
advance to discuss your options. Is there a medical reason why you
may need special seating? Call ahead. |
| 14.
Leave all jewelry, furs, medicine, eyeglasses,
airplane tickets, money, passports, camera equipment, and other
valuables out of checked luggage.
Carry these
items with you |
| 15. Take a statement from your
physician detailing any particular
problems,
allergies, and the
like, and a copy of
medication and
eyeglass prescriptions. Anticipate any medication you may
need and carry it with you
(don't pack it). (You may find the
SeniorArk forms
helpful) |
| 16.
Make a list
of the items in your luggage and carry that list with you (don't
pack it) |
| 17. The Transportation Safety
Administration (TSA) is
suggesting that you do not lock your luggage in the event
that they need to open it for additional inspection. If you choose
to lock your luggage and the TSA must forcibly open your bag via
cutting your lock, you assume liability for any damage to your
luggage as a result. The TSA is suggesting that to help prevent
damage, if you want to fasten the zipper on your luggage in some
manner, you might want to use plastic zip ties or cable ties |
18. If you have
medications
that you need to take with you
on a trip, be
sure they are in the
original Rx
container. Don't put vitamins in with the meds! Take
your vitamins in the original containers. I know it's a bit
more difficult, but it will be WAY
simpler at Customs
if you do it that way. Yes, labs can ascertain that what
you're carrying is legally yours... but do you really need
to wait for them to test it??
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19.
If you're going on a
trip, most medications can be refilled if you just tell your
pharmacist what you're doing. Most RX's can be
refilled for a vacation well in advance of their "refill
date". The only ones that are normally questioned are for
narcotics (painkillers, et al.), but even they can be filled
for a trip with your doctor's okay.
Rivahcat, Virginia
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 20.
Discover America's best-kept vacation secret:
Dynamic gateway to the Midwest.
Fun things to do,
restaurants, events, museums, ...: Art All Night...Duquesne
Incline...Carnegie Science Center...Riverboat Rides...National
Aviary ...Planetarium...Sandcastle...Strip District...International
Rooms...Mt Washington...Rolling.Countryside...Incredible.Downtown.Shopping... Steelers...Pirates...Penguins..,Amish
communities nearby |
| 21.
Bob Young of
Missouri commented on
his suggestion for "America's best-kept" vacation
secret": "I was
given directions to go through there from Fort Smith back to
MO. where I live, and I could not get over how beautiful the
Boston Mountains were
there in Northern Arkansas, and when I saw
Eureka, Arkansas I
could not believe my eyes. The signs said Little Switzerland and I
thought that was b.s.,until I saw all the homes along the mountain
sides." Thanks Bob |
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22. Look on the individual airlines
sites. A lot of airlines are offering their best fares on their
own Web sites. (SeniorARK airline
sites pages) Log on early and often, including weekends. The
key times to check online are 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends, local time. If you don't have
time to constantly monitor deals, Hobica runs a Web site,
airfarewatchdog.com,
which tracks the constant changes and posts deals. |
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23. If you are
on Medicare and plan to
travel abroad, here is an
important
article for you to read. |
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24. Read this week's
top 20 bargains from
Travelzoo. |
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25. Too much walking at the zoo in
your hometown? Take an online trip to the
San Diego Zoo. |
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26. Save gas and take a virtual
online
Field Trip from the comfort of your home. |
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27.
Look for free tours
at interesting places such as factories and museums. You’ll have
fun while you learn. Find children’s museums or centers with
interactive displays. Many are educational.
Elaine - Charleston, WV |
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28.
"Where
to Live and Play: 31 Adventure Towns"
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29.
Farecast.com
not only searches for a flight for you, but it actually suggests
whether or not you should buy now or wait for a later date. Red
and orange arrows predict the price for the flight will rise, blue
says it's expected to stay the same, but the green arrows predict
the price will actually go down. It also has a chart tracking the
price of the ticket over the last 48 days.
Yapta.com
is also another travel site that you may want to check out. This
site will actually track your flight before and after you buy it,
and if the price goes down, even after you've paid, it tells you
how you can get some money back. |
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30. There is a new bus company,
megabus.com, in the US. Late 2007, for travel between January 6
and March 11, 2008. 100,000 seats are being given for $0, and
thousands more for $1 and up. We suspect that these seats will
sell quickly, but suggest that you go to their site to check them
out as a low-cost alternative to air.
http://www.megabus.com/us/
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31. Pick up some frugal summer
travel tips at:
http://www.frugalyankee.com/node/487 |
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32.
Money-Saving
Tips for Summer Vacation Travel |
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Seniors are
waiting for your tip here.
Or submit a useful link for a links section. |
