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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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10. Make sure
the city shown on your
baggage claim ticket and luggage tag
matches your final destination (ending city on
your journey). |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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) |
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16.
Make a list
of the items in your luggage and carry that
list with you (don't pack it) |
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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 |
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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. Pick up some
frugal summer travel tips at:
http://www.frugalyankee.com/node/487
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31.
Money-Saving Tips for Summer Vacation Travel |
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32. Online
Services:
www.SmarterTravel.com and other alert
services provide e-mail notifications about
low fares and last-minute specials based on
your preferences.
www.SkyAuction.com offers travel specials
with an e-Bay style bidding that begins at
$1.Search engines include
www.Priceline.com,
www.Travelocity.com and
www.Cheaptickets.com. Use multiple sites;
compare prices because fares constantly shift.
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Seniors are
waiting for your tip here.
 Or
submit a useful link for a links section. |
