Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

Frequent Flyer Miles for Dummies

Frequent flyer mile programs can be intimidating if you don’t know where to start. Perhaps the best way to begin is by signing up with the airline you fly the most. Real simple isn’t it? Then you branch out from there. Credit cards that give you more miles, hotels that have partner relationships with the airlines, etc.

The Most Expensive Airport To Fly Out Of Is…

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) wins the prize, if you want to call it that, of the most expensive airport to fly out of. Which is why I always tells folks to look for airports nearby when pricing tickets. Kennnedy (JFK) or LaGuardia (LGA) are close options for Newark. Maybe even the airport in Philadelphia (PHL) if you are close enough.

Travel Video of the Week
Loading a Train outside of Yangon, Myanmar

And you thought your commute was bad? What about boarding a train..while it is still moving!?

The Seven ‘Deadly’ Airline Fees

The airline fees as compared to Greed, Lust, Gluttony, etc. Interesting analogy.

20 Ways to Get Out of a Travel Rut

Some people love traveling to the SAME place every year, even to the point of staying in the same hotel room. If room 302 is not available even though they have stayed there the past 5 years they are disappointed. I think I would go crazy if I was forced to do that. Some quick (and some not quick) ways that you can bust out of your travel rut.

What are the Top Items Most Often Left in Hotel Rooms?

The last thing I do before I leave a hotel room to check out – check underneath the bed and give the bathroom a once over. Otherwise I live out of my carry-on. The hotel is temporary so I don’t get too comfortable. Are you spending most of your time in the hotel room?

Free cruise contest roundup

Win a cruise, step right up and win a cruise here…

Don’t get scammed! 4 cons that target travelers – and how to spot them

Even the most experienced traveler can be taken. The most blatant is the squirting mustard on you and then the helpful passerby who comes to help who are actually there to pickpocket you. Don’t take any help if someone just runs up to you and squirts a condiment on you.

The 9 Best Places To Have A Cup Of Coffee Around The World (PHOTOS)

My Ethiopian coffee ceremony was alot of fun and I have a great appreciation for coffee now. First time I could drink a cup of coffee black with just a little sugar. Havana would be another place to get a good cup of joe. When I will be able to get there as an American is a whole other question…

Best Travel Deals and News – February 8, 2011 – How to Get Started with Frequent Flyer Miles, Get Out of Your Travel Rut, Win a Free Cruise, Where to Travel to Get Coffee is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

Flying for Thanksgiving? You’ll want this last minute advice
If I may here are my top 3 things you can do
Get there early! Get there early! Get there early!
Empty your pockets
Please take out the lip ring, hair pins and navel piercings BEFORE you get to security.

TSA forces cancer survivor to show prosthetic breast
There is no good way to do this is there? The reason for the ‘enhanced pat-downs” is that testing showed the previous methods could not catch every possible threat you can take aboard a flight. But that means that the vast majority of the public who are not terrorists is subject to examination needed to catch a handful of people. There is no good middle ground here.

Travel Video of the Week
TSA Message to Travelers
Straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. The head of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is speaking on this video. I do believe it was to combat the confusion among fliers about what they could expect when they got to the airport. I did not know that you can have someone else witness your pat-down in a private room if you choose so.

50 people on Twitter who are inspiration to the travel industry
Full Disclosure: I’m on this list. 49 other travelers and myself tweet so that we can share stories, inform, entertain and hopefully get you out there too. Maybe you’ll be on the next list.

TSA Enhanced Pat Downs : The Screeners Point Of View
In all the hoopla surrounding pat-downs and body scanners, no one has heard from the average TSA employee, the one who has their hands between your breasts or on your thighs. They are getting yelled at by irate passengers while they have to get up close and personal with dozens of people a day. Here are their stories.

I will say that looking at the comments of readers after the story show no sympathy for the TSA agents. Most go along the lines of “You chose this job” or “You’re a tool of the government”.

Would you like to blog Asia?
Asian restaurant chain is sending a blogger on an all-expense paid trip to Asian countries with the company’s chefs to sample food and find new ideas for their menu. Oh yeah and they give you 10K. There are alot of requirements so be sure to read them all carefully so you don’t disqualify yourself.

New TSA Bumper Stickers
Just funny.

BONUS – Travel Video of the Week
TSA’s enhanced security spurs US ‘airport rage’
From our friends in Taiwan who know how to summarize any newsworthy issue in a 2 minute video. If you’ve been under a rock for the last few weeks, here is the controversy over TSA patting down fliers.

Best Travel Deals and News – November 23, 2010 – TSA Slogans, Visiting Cambodia, Airport Screeners POV, Flying for Thanksgiving, Win a Trip to Blog in Asia is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

Does your hotel have bedbugs? Check this registry

International travel has brought the world together. It also means that bedbugs can hop a trans-Pacific flight and follow you from San Francisco to Tokyo. Talk about a travel buzz kill, waking up with dozens of red, itchy bites across your body. Avoid them if you can and check out this unofficial site that lists reports of bedbugs.

36 Hours in Silicon Valley

Geeks like me may be the only ones who think that Silicon Valley in California would be worthy of a tourist visit, but the NYTimes brought it mainstream with a timely article about places to go in the Valley. Want to see the bar where the engineer left the prototype iPhone 4? Listed here, as well as how to see the headquarters of Apple, Google and other tech heavyweights.

Travel Video of the Week
?!
OK this is not actually a video, but do I need to post a video after I’ve found this? I don’t think so.

Feeding ALL the children

For other photos from around the world, click here for the Strange and Unusual from Reuters.

Alone With Everybody: Why I Don’t Get Lonely When I Travel Solo

I think the author put it perfectly when she says that you have nothing to cling to when you are traveling solo. That was one of the biggest questions I got when I was on my round the world trip: Weren’t you lonely? And I always say no, how could I be? I had to interact with people all the time to eat, to get to the airport, to see the sights of wherever I was. You can be in a city of millions and be ‘lonely’ or you can be in a town of 10 and completely occupied with the people and place that you are. Lonely all depends on you really.

When Renting Cars Abroad, It’s Renter Beware

I rarely rent a car abroad unless I know the area. There are so many things that can happen and things that you don’t know about that I I’d try to avoid the situation all together. Also dealing with unscrupulous law enforcement who will have you pay ‘fines’ so that you can keep driving. Rare yes, but it happens.

New York: 7 free outdoor adventures

In a city that you can never run out of things to do, more things to do. Coney Island always seems to be under threat of closing, so definitely check it out when you can. Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs and the Cyclone rollercoaster are great reasons. The beach at Coney Island? Meh…not so much.

Baggage Handler Accused of Large-Scale Theft at Phoenix Airport

And yet another reason to have just a carry-on when you travel by air.

After Bargains of Recession, Air Fares Soar

The world economy is coming back, slowly but surely. People can pay their mortgages and credit card bills and now have a little more disposable income for travel. The law of supply and demand dictates that when demand rises, prices rise. The time of stupid cheap airfares may be over.

Airline fees keep arriving, nonstop

American Airlines charges a “nusiance fee” as the article calls it, for you to sit in the front rows of the plane. More people are trying to get these seats, not only to be the first off the plane, but also to guarantee that you have room for your carry-on bags. Don’t you hate it when you’re in 11C and your bags end up above 19D because there was no room above your seat?

Ship of fine print: 7 clauses to beware of in your cruise contract

Have you read the clauses in the cruise contract when you sign up for sailing the seas? After reading this article you may not want to be on a cruise ever again.

For instance, wonder why ships are registered in Panama or Liberia? Because the less stringent laws of those countries applies on the the cruises ships, as opposed to a country like the United States where the cruise ship may dock in.

I’d probably have more confidence in the justice system in the US as opposed to Liberia. Exactly the reason why cruise lines register their ships there, to reduce their liability if they are sued.

Dream Job Alert! Finnair Wants ‘Quality Hunters’ to Fly Around the World

Need a job? FinnAir is hiring 4 people to travel on the their flights and rate the service, cleanliness, flight attendants, etc. Get paid to fly!

Best Travel Deals and News – September 7, 2010 – Get Paid to Fly, How to Avoid Bedbugs, Renting Cars Abroad, Air Fares Are Going Back Up is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

How to pick between airlines when you don’t recognize the names
8 Ways to Avoid the Single Supplement as a Solo Traveler

The solo traveler get the single supplement and the looks from others who feel sorry for you for eating by yourself. Travel comapanies and agencies are slowly waking to the fact that there is a whole market that is being neglected and overcharged. Which is driving many solos to book their own way. Travel companies can’t afford to alienate any demographic. Not everyone has a partner or kids to tag along.

Win a pair of 10-Day Global InterRail/Eurail Passes

Hotelbookers.com is running a contest for someone to win 10 day passes for the European rail system by merely submitting a photo to their Facebook page. Check out the rules and send in a photos so you can ride the rails for free.

Travel Video of the Week
How to Travel Safely with Children
The one thing I always find funny is the child harness, which always reminds me of walking your dog on a leash. But I guess most parents would rather that then your child disappearing. Forget about the embarrassing look and put your kid on a leash!

The Best Countries for Solo Travelers

If you’re primarily a solo traveler like me, you’re always looking for the best places to go. My mantra has always been that if you want to go somewhere, don’t wait on anyone. Especially you ladies. I understand your concerns of safety, but if you wait for someone else, you might end up waiting forever.

How to pack for a journey with no luggage

Is this possible? Rolf Pitts, one of the best know travel authors, is taking on the challenge of traveling around the world with NO luggage. He’ll be using special clothing with LOTS of pockets, picking up things as he goes along, and generally being ruthless about what he needs to carry, as opposed to want to carry. Great experiment and many of us will learn a lot from his adventure. This was probably conceived in the light of Spirit and other airlines charging tons for luggage, carry-on or not.

Tips for a stress-free flying experience

The keys – plan and get to the airport early. One of the biggest things I do is try to get the first flight out of the airport. The plane has to be on the ground waiting to take off in the morning, so you don’t have to wait for it to arrive from another location. You also avoid the delays associated with incoming flights and weather. Did you know that a thunderstorm in New York and Boston can delay air traffic all over the USA and the world? All those connections and plane deliveries means that if anything gets off schedule many people are affected besides the people on the tarmac.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Spirit Airlines

Oh Spirit Air. You seem to enrage or delight, depending on who you talk to. There is no in between. In terms of PR, you certainly have no peer in the airline industry on this side of the the world. Maybe Ryan Air, in Europe, with their proposals for charging to have people use the bathroom on flights, may be bigger than you in terms of mentioned. Most of the commentary comes from folks who have flown you and who will never will.

If anyone knows if Spirit Airlines has increased revenue/passengers since implementing the carry-on luggage fee, please let us know in the comments.

Seven Solo Female Travel Myths Debunked

I agree with them all, but I think many females would steer you clear of Egypt, which seems to have a severe problem with sexual harrassment of women in general, not just women travelers.

Best Travel Deals and News – August 24, 2010 – Best Places for Solo Travelers, Round the World with No Luggage, Solo Female Travel is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com:

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

Can I buy and sell airline miles?

Can you? Well yes, but it’s not easy. Buying miles from the airlines themselves is very easy. Selling your excess miles is not, and requires a middleman to broker deals. But it is definitely possible. If you’re 1000 miles short of a free ticket, buy the miles for a few dollars and get your free ride.

Blog Your Way Around the World

Enter this contest and win multiple adventures in locales all over the globe, including Costa Rica, Kenya, Canada and the Galapagos.

16 Products They Only Sell At Chinese Walmarts

I got a taste of China (literally and figuratively) while I was in Hong Kong and Macau, but that really can’t compare to mainland China. I have no regrets about not getting that visa to visit, but I would go if given the opportunity.

Travel Video of the Week
Write the Future
The World Cup starts in South Africa in a few weeks and while Americans may ignore ‘football’ in preference to our own, soccer is really the world sport. The Nike commercial is fantastic and shows how the planet’s mood can swing on one kick. And if you’ve never been to South Africa, consider it.

Gap-year students ‘perform better at uni’

I can totally believe this. Students who graduate high school and do something other than running straight to university perform better. Maybe it’s because they are more focused, or maybe traveling really allows them to mature before mixing with their less mature and not so well rounded classmates.

Backpackers pack their bags and leave Bangkok in droves

So so sad that it has gotten to this point. My last post on Bangkok had some who said it is still OK to visit Bangkok, but there were many who felt like me. The fact that Bangkok was under curfew (at the time I write this) is really a huge reason not to visit right now. Maybe the rest of the country is accessible and not seeing the effects of the protests. If you’re going to go, go with your eyes and ears wide open.

World’s most deadly airline revealed

Air France how can you be on this list? I expected the Russians to be here or an African airline. But Air France? Really?

Exchanging Your Money Abroad: 10 Simple Tips

Some important points about money abroad. Capital One and Charles Schwab don’t charge international transaction fees that can add anywhere from 1%-5% per charge when you’re outside your home country. Good tips for everyone.

Traveling Alone: Five Ways to Fight the Lonesome Blues

Those of you who are not very outgoing think that you’re going to have a horrible time traveling by yourself. Far from it. In fact you become easier to approach than if you had a partner or a group. And the nature of travel means that you will have to ask strangers questions. Remember all a friend is a person who was once a stranger…

Best Travel Deals and News – May 25, 2010 – Buy and Sell Frequent Flier Miles, Least Safe Airlines, Take A Gap Year – Get Better Grades, World Cup 2010 is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Why RTW Travel Doesn’t Need to be a Rich, White Thing

A post from fellow travel blogger @WorldLillie. I didn’t list this blog post because it mentions me, but I wanted to make the point clear from a different perspective that long term travel does not have to be expensive AND is not the domain of a certain type of person.

More often than not, what you do in this life does not depend on anyone else, but your own mindset and attitude about what you can and can’t do.

Travel Video of the Week
Travel Tip of the Week – Under no circumstances should you ever use use rooftop luggage

10 ways solo travelers can beat loneliness

People always asked me when I was traveling, “Weren’t you lonely, doing all these things by yourself?” The answer is no, and the reason was that I had so many things I wanted to see and do I had no time to think about who was or was not with me. I was focusing on my goals for the trips. Plus when you stay in hostels, unless you an introverted, so quiet you are scary Unabomber type, you’re going to make friends.

Best Travel Deals and News – April 6, 2010 – Around the World Travel Is For Everyone, Beat Travel Loneliness, Plane Turbulence, Travel Contests is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

How to Make Cheap Mobile Calls, Even Overseas

Best Travel News and Deals – January 12, 2010 – Cheap Calls, Scams in China, Robbed in the Air, Cut Travel Costs, Family Travel, SEAsia Secrets is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel News and Deals – September 29, 2009 – Hostel Savings, Travel Insurance, Hiking in the Himalayas, How the Airlines Plan To Get Your Cash is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel