Travel News and Deals – September 8, 2009 – Airlines Lies, When Speaking English Really Isn’t, Trying to Cheat the Brazilians, Thailand Travel Contest

Misunderstood When English isn’t English When You Travel

Americans talk about how difficult it is to learn another language. But have you really considered that even the people who speak English as a second language find it hard to learn? We have so much imagery and slang in American English that sometimes folks from other nations can’t keep up.

I remember Woinitu from Ethiopia. She spoke English extremely well but I would say something and she would have a deer in the headlights look and say “I don’t understand what you mean.” So be patient with your fellow English speakers. Even the Brits don’t understand the Americans sometimes, and vice versa.

UK Backpackers Guilty of Insurance Fraud

This is one of those things that will land you on “Locked Up Abroad”. I mean this seems like common sense not to do this, right? But as someone said recently, “Common sense is really not so common… “

Free trips to Thailand for the Internet savvy

A contest for couples, this time for Thailand. The Australians seemed to have cornered the market for travel contests for a minute, but now everyone realizes the great PR these situations bring.

8 Things an Airline Would Never Tell You

Take heed: Those scales used when they weigh your luggage are not always calibrated. So if you’re actually under your weight allowance, you could still be charged if an uncalibrated scale puts you over.

Rethinking Traditional Travel: 7 Tips to Break the Mold

This article talks about how you can make travel more interesting. The biggest one for me is to not use the guidebook. Because it means everyone who bought it is going to the same place you are. Find a local and have them to tell where do the locals go. Or better yet, go with them.

You can be in a rut in any facet of your life, even in your travel. Isn’t travel suppose to break you out the ruts in your normal life? Sure, but you can get too comfortable in your travels too.

Tourist hordes told to stay away from world heritage sites by the locals

By visiting we are potentially hurting the monuments for future generations. Nothing is ever easy, is it?

Making the Best of Airline Food

The bane of a frequent flier’s existence is plane food. Nowadays your best bet, sometimes your only bet, is to buy the food BEFORE you get on the plane. What happened to the total travel experience where you knew the food was going to be bad? You can’t even grumble about that!

If you do get the ‘privilege’ of getting a meal served to you on a plate and not from a cardboard box for $5, here are some suggestions on what to do with it.