This is about as much as I can show you… or else I’d have to kill you…

Tracey Friley of The Passport Project got me in touch with the State Department who wanted to bring travel bloggers and other interested parties in for Passport Day. I eagerly signed up for the chance.

All the equipment is in the back to actually produce the passports and passport books. That is actually not the most interesting part of the tour, but the question and answer with Kathryn, a State Department employee and our guide for the day.

At the Hudson Street Passport Office, they process about about 1500 passports a week. During the summer months this number jumps to about 2000 as school and work vacations has everyone wanting to jump on a place when they have the opportunity.

Once submitted the passport takes about 4-6 weeks to be returned to you. 2-3 weeks if you choose to expedite. Which brings up a good point. Plan ahead if you want on taking a trip out the country. If you have less than 6 months before the passport expires, get it renewed. Many countries won’t allow you to enter when you have six months or less left on your passport.

During the yearly Passport Day event, the Hudson Street office will accept 200-300 passport applications.

If you don’t know the requirements for a US passport, they are here along with other important answers. But I had a more interesting questions for our host Kathryn.

Can a convicted felon get a passport?
The answer is yes, as long as the all the requirements of incareceration are fulfilled and there is no probation. BUT many countries don’t allow convicted felons to enter their countries anyway so this could be a moot point, but not all countries have that regulation. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, has a no felon rule. You cannot enter Canada if you’ve been convicted of a felony

With all of that said, 99% of passport applications get accepted.

Typical passports need to be renewed every 10 years. Children under 16 need to have their passports renewed every five years. This takes into account how much the looks, height, weight of a child can change over the course of a few years.

There are about 110 million US passports in circulation today, but the there were only half that amount in 2000. The reason for the sudden rise: The rule that passports were needed for travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Many people complain about the rise in passport price renewals in 2010. Why is adding passport pages $82 when it used to be free? Why is a new passport $135 when it used to be $100 The answer is that the State Department does more than just issue you the blue book. All the embassies in countries around the world have to be maintained, as well as all the support staff.

RFID or radio frequency identification chips are installed in all new passports. This should make it harder to forge passports and well as make the information harder to steal if lost or stolen. The US passport is part of an international standard that covers security and encryption. This should stop thieves from pulling information out of the air off your passport as you walk by.

The Smarter Traveler app for iPhone is a great resource, surprisingly so. In fact I talked about how shocked I was that this useful app came from the US Government.

So what did we learn from Passport Day?

Getting a passport is easy.
Getting a passport is an almost automatic proposition.
Getting a passport is the key to seeing the world.

So why don’t you have a passport?

Behind the Scenes with the State Department at Passport Day 2012 is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Another NY Times Travel Show has come and gone and there is always good info to soak up in breakout sessions hosted by some of the big names in travel. Those folks include Samantha Brown, Arthur and Pauline Frommer, and the travel writers at the New York Times. I could not attend every session, but I’ll try to list some of the more interesting companies, apps and ideas for you to use.

Arthur Frommer is very much against the large motorbuses that transport travelers around a country. He prefers to sight see on his feet and not on a bus, meaning doing independent tours. But if you must have an organized group tour, he highly recommends tours that have 12 people or less. They use local accommodations, meaning no big chain hotels and use public transportation. Yes that means catching the train or bus that the local residents use. He recommends Intrepid, gAdventures and Djoser

Pauline Frommer recommends using an “ethnic” travel agency for discounts on airfare, hotels, etc. What is an “ethnic” travel agency? One that caters to the residents of the country you are traveling to. She gave the example of using a travel agency that caters to Japanese citizens when she went to Japan. It took her awhile to get someone who could speak English, but she ended up saving $400 on airfare that she would not have gotten anyplace else.

Inspired by Iceland is Iceland’s way to use tourism to prop up their economy after their recent financial meltdown. You can stay in a farmhouse overnight and learn about Icelandic history, go seal watching, or even meet the mayor of Reykjavik. All of these activities are completely free. Iceland is offering discounted airfare and hotel stays. If you’ve never considered this island nation of 320,000 (yes that is all the people they have) the pricing and benefits say this is the time to go.

Jamaica is offering a program similar to Iceland called “Meet the People”. Anything that gets you off the tourist track and in contact with “real” people is always welcome.

Panama offers free travel insurance. Just sign up at the Tocumen International Airport when you land in Panama City and you’ll have it for 30 days. Just don’t have an accident and found to be drinking, acting reckless or otherwise jeopardize your insurance.

Pauline Frommer talked about Vaughan Systems which allows native English speakers to get a free two week vacation in the Spanish country side. The catch? You have to speak English to Spaniards who want to learn English. That is it. All you have to do is have conversations with people who want to learn English. There is plenty of wine, food and interesting sites along the way to help keep conversations along.

Workwaway provides the opportunity to work (volunteer) for room and board around the world. You can be a ranch hand in Canada, work in a hostel in New Zealand or live with a family in the Italian countryside. A wide variety of experiences are available.

GlobalGreeters finds free tour guides that will take you around major cities all over the world. They will show you the transportation system, take you to the best dining spots and really provide an local’s insider view of a location you would not get on a tour bus with 40 other people.

Arthur Frommer also gave a few tips on Bali and Paris.

To get to Bali from the USA use a company called Escapes Unlimited with a fare of $1399 for 5 days out of Los Angeles or San Francisco. You’ve got to fly to Hong Kong first with a free layover there and then doubleback to Bali. Will take some time but well worth it for the money you save. That price includes airfare, hotels, transfers and even breakfast everyday. Really spectacular savings.

XL Airlines flies Paris to New York. Most of the flight are Paris to New York but you can book New York to Paris for about $550 round trip, taxes and fees included. I didn’t try to book but the search engine brought up the right fare.

In part two, we’ll look at some of the websites mentioned at the New York Times Travel Show that will help you plan and book your next travel adventure.

New York Times Travel Show 2012 – Resources For You To Use is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Today’s guest post is from Tia of National Geographic’s ExploretheCanyon.com

I may not be the most tech savvy person around and sometimes take an almost zealous pride in resisting change – took me awhile to box up my collection of audio tapes , and even longer to replace my trusty old film camera with an endlessly upgrading higher-pixel digital camera. I feel that post-processing photographs makes you a good graphic designer and not a good photographer. I feel that my 6 year old Godson should be as fascinated by his pop-up books as he is with his mom’s iPad. You can therefore imagine how my travel plans would’ve looked like, and how much weight in my backpack would’ve been dedicated to tomes and printed words about the place that I’m traveling to.

My box of audio tapes now occupies 5 Compact discs. My digital SLR holds over a 1000 images and backs up data beautifully. My Godson prefers interacting with larger-than-life numbers and flying alphabets, than he does with Angry Birds. Though I draw the line at retouching people’s visages (What’s flawlessness got to do with beauty anyhow?), I love creating surrealistic images through Photoshop. Resisting change is I guess, like resisting new experiences….So, I finally smartened up and started ‘devicing’ my plans.

On a recent trip to Italy, while sitting in a Piazza, I came across a gratuitous Wi-Fi zone which allowed me to install a bundle of travel apps on my smart phone. And Triposo was one such serendipitous discovery, which I still swear by. It became a constant companion and I would go so far as to say that it’s now my unfailing travel buddy.

Mind you, I still had my handy guidebook with me (old habits die hard), but on cross referencing, I realized that certain sections of information seemed outdated – Restaurants closing shop, stores changing locations, changed phone numbers, changed operating hours. Triposo seemed to overcome this problem by aggregating real-time data through various trusted resources – including Wikipedia, Wikitravel, Open Streetmaps and ChefMoz Dining Guide. Triposo is the brain child of three ex-Googlers, who realized the need for an all-in-one travel app that is free, simple and extremely intuitive.

My favorite feature was the offline map. With its inbuilt GPS tracking and key points of interest, I was no longer afraid of getting lost in a new city. And like a homing pigeon, I inevitably found my way back to the hotel, without asking anyone for directions.

Another section I loved diving deep into was ‘City at a glance’. It is heavily loaded with sub sections that offer rich historical information, great local perspective, overviews on safety, cultural relevance, transport options and a fantastic phrasebook. It is molto buono!

The app also offers recommendations on sights to see and places to eat at. Accommodation options can be filtered by type, price, popularity, distance or simply, alphabetically. A new feature added recently, is the ‘My city’ section which lets you bookmark places of interest, and share your ‘check ins’ via Facebook.

What works for Triposo is its extremely simple, colorful and easy to navigate UI. Though its more popular counterparts such as Timeout and Lonely Planet offer similar features, I personally like Triposo’s layout and ease-of use. The only downside to its offline application is its hefty data download requirement for more popular cities. You need to preload the data for cities that you are planning to visit. So make sure you have a generous memory card nestled snugly on your smart device.

I probably may not say ciao to my guidebook, but I find myself increasingly turning to smart travel apps for their portability, GPS features, smart pricing (in this case, free!), bookmarking capabilities, and real-time information.

Welcome to the lighter side of travel.

Tia Jones loves all things Travel and Technology. She’s a blogger who contributes articles on Travel Tips, Technology and Grand Canyon Vacations for National Geographic’s ExploretheCanyon.com. Feel free to follow Tia on Twitter @GrandCanyonNGVC and like Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center on Facebook.

Can Smartphone Travel Apps Really Replace a Tour Guide? is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Hopefully it will be on time this year. Passport Day 2011 was delayed by SIX months when the US federal government budget was approved, but it was awful close to the Saturday date, so they decided to preemptively cancel.

Passport Day 2012 in the USA is Saturday, March 10, and it provides the opportunity for you to visit your local Passport Agency Office and apply for a passport without an appointment if you don’t have one. If you need to renew or add pages, this is a great time to do it too.

Last year I went to Passport Day in New York City. I added pages and paid my fee for the pages and shipping. That was a Saturday. By Wednesday, 4 days later, it was delivered to me via US mail.

For folks looking to get their passport for the first time, this is a perfect opportunity. There probably won’t be any lines. Get there with the requirements, pay the fee and get out of there. You’ll have your passport in a few weeks, probably less time than that.

I’ve posted about Passport Day the last few years. Why do I post about this every year? Because sometimes it takes a small step to take big moves. That small move would be getting your passport. And it is a small move. But like many things, people make it more difficult than it really is. Get a couple of passport pictures and fill out the form and pay the fee. That is it.

The dream to travel is much like any task that can seem overwhelming. Break it down into small steps and then you can get to that trip you have been dreaming of. But first things first. Get the passport. That first step will get your momentum going and you’ll suddenly find yourself with opportunities to travel because you have the passport. Maybe something will come to you as you’re waiting for the passport to come back.

So mark your calendars and head out on Saturday with your application filled out, payment in hand and passport pictures ready to be used for the next 10 years, so make sure you like the shots. This small step is all you need to start that journey(s) of a lifetime.

Passport Day 2012 in the USA – Just Take a Little Step Forward is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Today’s guest post is from Tia of National Geographic’s ExploretheCanyon.com

Most of us love to travel by ourselves, unfettered by the constraints of time and schedules. When traveling by ourselves or with a set of close friends, we are free to wander around, discover new places and restaurants purely by serendipity. Chance encounters lead to new friendships, and hitting the road has never felt better. But sometimes you just don’t have the time or the luxury to go it alone. On really short vacations, cruise towns, adventure trips, dangerous territories, historically rich destinations or on drive intensive journeys, it is prudent to employ a tour guide. There are several places which just don’t speak a shred of English and in these instances, choosing a tour guide is a great means to overcome the language barrier.

Choose a travel tour guide who is qualified and licensed. Be on the lookout for these telltale signs which will indicate that you may have made the wrong tour guide choice. It is never too late to adopt plan B. If any of these signs pop up, it’s time to take drastic measures.

1. Asks you for money at every juncture – Although you might have made an upfront payment and seem to have discussed a ‘package deal’, many tour guides have the tendency to coerce money out of you – citing inflation or increased ticket prices. Be prepared for these eventualities and don’t give in to illogical demands, however persuasive they may seem. Sometimes tour guides also demand to be paid for food and lodging; unless this was expressly specified at the onset, you are not obligated to make these accommodations.

2. Language barrier – Though you depend on your guide for all forms of local communication, make it a point to pick up a few local phrases. There are several deals that might be made without your knowledge and you will not get down to the bottom of things, all because you were too comfortable to learn the language.

3. When Tips and commissions seem way too much – In places like Egypt, a substantial amount of money is spent in the form of tips. It is customary to do so, but in most cases, your tour guide tells you what an appropriate amount is. Sometimes vendors and servicemen strike deals with tour guides and manage to extract fat tips from you. Do you research beforehand and understand what an appropriate amount to give is. Don’t be pressurized to make any purchases, tour guides often operate on a commission basis and you will end up paying double or triple the cost of an indigenous ‘special’ souvenir.

4. Special free local ceremonies that cost you a bomb – There’s no nicer feeling than attending a local special event. Visiting a village fair, dining with a local family or attending a local marriage ceremony can open up fresh new perspectives. But be wary of these with your tour guide. You might have to shell out a bomb later. Some special ‘wine tasting’ ot ‘tea tasting’ ceremonies may seem harmless, but can run into hundreds of dollars. This is a travel rip off.

5. If ‘Off the beaten path’, looks a little too off – Sometimes, tour guides ‘invent’ sites of interest. In your eagerness to see something ‘different’, you may be taken for a ride. In the name of uniqueness, tour guides concoct places of interest – an obscure table in a dilapidated café where Oscar Wilde penned a limerick, or a bomb shelter that supposedly survived WWII which you drove over 3 hours to see. If something feels amiss, keep a smart phone handy and cross check the validity of your guide’s statements.

Tia Jones is a Marketing & PR Consultant who loves all things Travel & Technology. She’s a blogger who contributes articles on Travel Tips, Technology and Grand Canyon Attractions for National Geographic’s ExploretheCanyon.com. Feel free to follow Tia on Twitter @GrandCanyonNGVC and like Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center on Facebook.

5 Warning Signs That You’ve Chosen the Wrong Tour Guide 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.

TSA launches toll-free help line for travelers with medical needs

This is very helpful if you or someone you know is in a wheelchair or has some other disability that would cause delay at the airport. It remains to be seen whether this will make folks feel better about the screening process. Will the interaction between the disabled public and front line TSA agents be better if there is some advanced warning before reaching the airport? One can only hope.

How Not To Fall Victim to Theft at the Airport and in the Air

I wrote a post about theft in the air when a flight attendant was caught stealing from passengers flying from Tokyo to Paris. Here are some more great tips to prevent someone stealing from you in the air or on the ground at the airport.

7 Tips For Flying With Young Kids

Good tips anytime of the year for flying with young kids. Giving them a good meal before the flight and trying to fly an overnight red eye seem like perfect ways to let the kids get rest, and everyone else around them too.

Technology at ski resorts offers skiers info, images of day on slopes

Very cool tech being used at ski resorts now. Anything that can be monitored or tracked on the slopes is being done now. The trails you’ve run, the distance traveled, calories burned etc. You can also get action shots of yourself gliding down the slopes, something that rarely happened unless someone else followed you down the mountain with a camera.

Apps to Keep Children Happy While You Travel

Just one thing: If you give a child a smartphone or tablet, please please, give them headphones. No one else on the plane wants to hear the beeps and blips that come that iPad. That could be more annoying than the kid screaming or running around.

Many fliers refuse to turn off electronic gadgets

Especially now with American Airlines giving their pilots iPads with all the maps and documentation needed to fly the planes in the first place. There will never be consensus. We can agree that the best explanation is that they want devices off during takeoff and landing so that passengers can focus on the directions from flight attendants.

Tipping guide for world travelers

You should definitely do research on this before you arrive on a foreign country. In some places to give a tip is offensive. You’d think people would want more money. But it does not always work like that.

Replacing a Missing Passport While Traveling Abroad

Have a copy of the passport photo page on your person when you travel and then take a scanned image of your passport and send it to yourself in email. Much faster to get back a passport and provide at least some type of identification while you wait for the replacement passport.

10 Things You Should Not Do When Traveling with Pets

Not sure about the rest of the world, but Americans love their cats and dogs. How do you take them on trips without endangering their health or lives and not causing problems for other passengers or pets?

How to Be A Tour Guide’s Nightmare

None of you would do any of this obnoxious stuff on a tour, would you? I remember having a guy who was constantly late when I led a trip to Costa Rica. It was bad enough when he made our group of 10 late. It was another thing when he delayed an entire boat of people who were not part of our tour. He was so shamed by all the eyes he as he boarded the boat late. I don’t think he was late again for the entire trip.

Best Travel Deals and News – December 21, 2011 – How To Tip When Traveling, Keeping Kids Under Control On Planes, Turning Off Devices When Flying, What Not To Do On A Tour, What To Do When You Lose Your Passport 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 I Worked My Way Around The World

A great inspirational story about how one woman quit her job and traveled around, using a variety of odd jobs, her current skills and developing new skills. For many the reason that they won’t quit the job they hate and travel or move to another country is that they don’t know how they will support themselves. It can be done, you just need to find the path for yourself.

20 Best U.S. Airports for Tech Travelers

What do tech travelers want most of all at airports? Free wi-fi and lots of electrical sockets for charging. In fact that would be great on planes too.

10 More Secrets Your Flight Attendant Won’t Tell You

Flight attendant is one of the most difficult jobs on travel. You have to be part psychologist, police officer, waitress, and baggage handler, among other things. Don’t make their lives any more difficult by doing some of the things listed.

Confessions of An Airline Baggage ‘Thrower’: Why You Should Buy A Four-Wheeler Suitcase

The four wheeler suitcase protects the baggage from handlers who throws the bags on the aircraft. The bigger planes are better for luggage because the checked items goes into large bins as opposed to being placed on individually.

It’s Time for New Year’s Resolutions Relating to Travel, and I’ve Declared a Bunch of Them

A list that shows what we may want to strive for in 2012 when it comes to travel.

Can It Be Done? Midtown on a Budget

Some good cheap options in Midtown Manhattan that I will definitely try out myself.

As Troops Leave, US Hotel Chains Move Into Iraq

There are areas of Iraq that are deemed safer than others and that is where American hotel chains are building up. Iraqi Kurdistan is that place that was spared most of the fighting, and where hotels want to put structures in place to take advantage of business opportunities.

Why Studying Abroad Is Worth the Expense

If you ever wondered if a college student could benefit from studying abroad, here is your proof to take to your parents.

How To Earn Frequent Flyer Miles Without Getting More Credit Cards

For those with bad credit or who don’t want to take on additional debt, here are some resourceful ways to gain more frequent flier miles.

The Best and Worst Days to Fly

Very detailed analysis of when to fly, according to season and holiday.

Bumping and Overbooking

Guide to what to do when planes are overbooked and then you are bumped from a flight. Know your rights and you can get more than your fellow passengers realize they can receive.

It’s Ski Season! Check Out Strategies for Cheaper Lift Tickets

It’s been abnormally warm across most the U.S. this winter, but these tips are for this winter and any in the future.

Traveling To Iran As Americans: All You Need to Know

Iran is a country most won’t even think about going to, but it is possible to travel there safely. From the article most Iranians are curious about Americans and the hate portrayed on TV seems to be the work of a small minority of people.

Best Travel Deals and News – December 13, 2011 – Airports for Tech Travelers, Type of Suitcase You Should Get, Midtown Manhattan on the Cheap, Best Days of the Week to Fly 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.

The Travel Paradox And Why Women Know Best

Are women better travel planners than women? Could be. If we were to generalize, men just want to jump in there and do things, while women want to plan everything out. Again this is a generalization but found to be true in many cases. You’ll find the contrasts especially when couples travel.

My Flying Lesson
Alec Baldwin. Alec, just turn off the iPad and shut up please!

Travel Video of the Week
Health Tips for Travel to a Dangerous Country

How Panic Doomed Air France Flight 447

This story still bothers me because we don’t have all the facts with so many lives lost. The author’s hypothesis is that the pilots got scared when the plane’s systems malfunctioned. Had he calmed down and thought through the situation, he and everyone aboard would have lived, according to this article.

Sing For Your Supper, Work For Your Bed: “Free” Volunteer Vacations at Working Farms

Some of the best deals in travel. By working on farms or doing odd jobs, you can get a place to sleep and food. Sure beats staying in a pricey hotel or even a hostel. The tradeoff is the work. But if you’re able-bodied, you can do it.

How to Find Ski Lift Tickets for Less

This is the time for skiing and these are some great tips for you to save while you carve up the mountain.

Should English Be The World’s International Language?

If you talk to many people, it should. Until we get to the state of the Star Trek universal translator, we need one language so that we can all communicate. Then the argument would be, why not Mandarin Chinese? Or Spanish? Swahili? Because English is the language of the dominant Western world. In particular, the United States.

10 things to learn about yourself when traveling alone

I can say I definetely experienced all of this on my round the world trip. The one thing I really learned is that you really don’t need much to survive. I traveled for 4 months with just the clothes on my back and got on fine. It is liberating knowing that the possessions you think you need you really don’t.

How to get extra legroom on a plane

How to score extra legroom? If you don’t score one of those bulkhead or exit row seats, you’ve got to pay for it.

Get More Frequent Flier Miles Without Signing Up for Yet Another Credit Card

If you have bad credit can you accumulate frequent flyer miles like everyone else who uses credit cards (the fastest and most common way). Yes you can with a little creative work on your part.

How To Organize Your Own Press Trip

If you are a traveler who would love to get deeper into the travel industry while securing free or partial paid trips, a press trip is for you. If no one is knocking down your door offering them to you, then create your own. Sherry Ott has put together a blueprint of how to put on a press trip for yourself.

What Not to Do When Traveling Over the Holidays

Traveling the day of holidays has worked for me but this article recommends against it.

Top 25 Ways to Save on New York City Travel

Some good tips for Broadway shows and cheap meals amongst other things.

How to Travel for Less by Bartering

A traveler who stays in houses for free. Yes it is possible if you are a house-sitter. Walk the dog. Pick up the mail. Water the plants. Can you do that? Sure you can because you do it at home already. Why not do it abroad in a foreign country.

Best Travel News and Deals – December 6, 2011 – How to Get Free Accommodations, How to Find Housesitting Gigs, How to Get Cheaper Ski Lift Tickets, What You Learn When You Travel Alone is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com and sponsored by Tours4Fun.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.

From loyal reader Karen
The World’s Best Airport Amenities

Need to go hiking before your flight to loosen your legs? How about some golf to practice your putting? More things you can do at airports around the world besides waiting around for your flight in hard seats and eating overpriced food.

The Plague Of American Cheapskates

Tip everyone everywhere. I think it is ingrained in me, even in cultures like Japan where they look at you strange when you leave a little something extra.

Mystery Illness Hits Cruise Ship, US Tourist Dies
Travel Video of the Week
The headline is a little deceptive. OK a lot deceptive. The mystery illness was actually the stomach flu. And the person who died had prexisting medical conditions that could have contributed to her death. But the point is that if you’re sick or even extremely out of shape, a trip of any kind could be hazardous to your health. Plus you’ll enjoy your trip more if you are active and alert. I can’t imagine a hypertensive and diabetic person like the woman who died could fully enjoy herself with her health failing.

Before You Die

Travel. Travel before you get old or life catches up with you and don’t know where the time went.

Cambodia’s surprising cuisine: Spiders, anyone?

I was going to Cambodia to eat the still beating heart of a cobra. Never got around to it. But there are other things you can eat that will make others queasy and nauseous. Have great stories for your friends back home and brownie points for being so adventurous.

Vending machine offers DIY banners at Dutch airport

I think this is a cute idea. Get to the airport and meeting a loved one? You can create a banner to greet them. “WELCOME HOME!” “CONGRATULATIONS!”, etc. Not sure how many times I’ve seen that in airports but maybe if the machines for banners are then more people would do it.

Common air travel myths — busted

Once that plane is in the air, the doors cannot be opened. The air pressure holds the door in place. Only Superman could open plane doors after takeoff.

The fun and pitfalls of taking a cruise

I keep posting these articles up and will continue to do so until I take a cruise.

Why flying on planes can make you sick – and how to stop it

Germs are everywhere on a plane. So what can you do? Wash your hands, don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth, and carry disinfectant wipes for the seat tray and other surfaces.

VIP Airport Lounge: An Oasis at the Airport

Even if you need to buy your way in, the $50 may be worth it, especially if you have a long layover. The amenities and potential free food could make that next flight that much easier and, dare I say it, enjoyable.

The TSA May Unwrap Your Christmas Gifts

Don’t wrap those Christmas gifts before your flight. Or else you might find that nice wrapping paper and all your work to put it on perfectly on the floor of the airport.

Affordable Africa: the pros & cons of overland truck tours

Doing an overland truck trip in Africa is one of those things that you really have to want to do, but once you get started it sounds like it would be a great adventure. Be ready for long rides, but you’ll have the safety of the group and an easier time getting through border crossings if you decide to go.

Tours4Fun is your one stop shop for guided tours in the USA and round the world. Please support NoDebtWorldTravel.com by visiting our sponsor.

Best Travel Deals and News – November 29, 2011 – Common Air Travel Myths Busted, How To Not Get Sick from an Airplane, Traveling Overland in Africa is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com and sponsored by Tours4Fun.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 avoid airline fees
This story will get harder and harder to write as more airlines put in fees that you just can’t avoid. Remember the lure: super low prices and then you add the baggage fees, the fee for the (dirty) pillow and blanket, for talking to an agent on the phone, etc. This has forced travelers to become more self sufficient trying to avoid any contact with the airline until they are actually on the flight.

New rules, tips for Thanksgiving fliers
A lot of this will apply for Christmas/New Year’s travel also. Less seats means more crowded flights. As I always preach, book your flights as soon as you know what your dates are, get to the airport early and make sure to read the fine print.

Travel Video of the Week
What is CouchSurfing?

CouchSurfing has a nice brief video that explains the concept for the traveler who has not heard of it yet. You sleep on someone’s couch, spare bedroom, etc. all for free. The intent is for cultural exchange and sharing. The host does not have to, but is assumed to entertain the hostee or at least show them the ropes of the area they are in. The traveler is not supposed to abuse the privileged of getting a place to stay for free and be on their best manners.

What Not to Pack
Have you ever gone away on a trip and realized that you did not use or wear 50% of what you packed? I used to be that person, until I learned the joy of packing less clothing and the hotel/hostel/local laundry. The article also talks about jewelry and I can’t understand why anyone is taking anything of value on a plane. Unless you’re a diamond dealer or a rapper from 80s, leave the bling at home.

The etiquette of crowded flying
“Suggested” responses to some of the more common flying quandaries, like should you recline your seat and crying babies on flights. Flying requires more and more patience these days. More people slammed into the same size aircraft. With so many people in close proximity, nerves are bound to be irritated more frequently and much faster. Take a breath (or a few) and try to get to your destination without a shouting match, or being lead off the plane in handcuffs.

TSA Turns 10: Examining the Agency’s Strengths and Weaknesses
The TSA gets ridiculed for patting down wheelchair bound grandmas, forcing cancer victims to show their prosthetic breasts and making small children cry when they have to take a “closer look” at the stuffed bear. But the fact remains there has not been a successful hijacking of a plane since 9/11. We’ve had the shoe bomber, the underwear bomber and we’ve been lucky they weren’t very good at what they tried to do.

5 ways to be international at home
If you can’t travel now, there are ways to get that international flavor without jumping on a boat or plane and getting your passport stamped. I like the postcard exchange program. Very cool. They recommend hosting an exchange student. You can also become a Couchsurfing host to have a steady stream of people in your home. There are some people who love this, especially when they can’t travel.

Cancer-Causing Airport Scanners? Enough Is Enough
The debate continues on whether the new body scanners at US airports cause cancer. We probably won’t know for another 20 years, like with cell phones.

U.S. Airlines: No Pillows In Coach, But It’s Sundae Time Up Front
First class customers, you are very special to the airlines. Very, very special.

Cambodia’s surprising cuisine: Spiders, anyone?
Cambodia was where I wanted to eat the still beating cobra heart. Never got around to it. Apparently there were other treats for me to sample had I known they were there.

Get your flu shot at the airport
Miss your flu shot? You can get them at the airport. Be warned that some think the flu shot is a scam at best and at worst, part of a worldwide conspiracy.

Is Travel to Cuba for Americans Worth the Hassle?
Is it? Until the US lifts the restrictions on its citizens, we always have to be careful about getting your passport marked with a Cuban stamp.

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Best Travel Deals and News – November 22, 2011 – What is Couchsurfing, How to Avoid Airline Fees, What NOT To Pack When You Travel, Why Airlines Love First Class Passengers is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel