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January 2006
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9.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
Just because
you have kids doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling abroad.
And London
with its close cultural and historical ties is a terrific destination
for families having their fist overseas adventure.
Here are some
tips to make the trip memorable:
Be sure to
schedule free time so the family can lay back and get to know each other
again
Let the kids
carry their own money, and give them the experience of converting
dollars to pounds. It’s a great math assignment.
Don’t be
afraid to split up. Mom and dad can go in separate directions, each with
a child, and come together to share later. Kids often love having
experiences their siblings don’t.
Savvy family
travelers opt to avoid hotels, if they’re staying for more than a week.
B & B’s are
good for one or two nights, but consider renting a short-term apartment
or “flat.”
You’ll save
money on meals, enjoy more space and privacy. And you’ll “live like a
native” shopping at the local shops.
For a
personalized family itinerary to London,
contact us
For more
information, check out: London for Families by Larry Lain.
Interlink Books
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8.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
We’re no
friend of the unfortunate image of “woman as victim,” but the truth is
that women traveling alone do need to take security precautions.
The good news
is many of these precautions are common-sensical and easy to implement.
For example,
experts suggest always ask for directions when you set out from your
hotel, and the best people to ask, they say, are other women or women
with families.
Their take on
what’s safe is often very different from that of men.
Choose a hotel
where security is good and transportation is easily available and
nearby…and be sure the parking lot and lobby areas are well lighted.
It’s best not
to announce you’re traveling alone. Some women road warriors advise
wearing a wedding ring if you're single…
And since
fashion does make a statement, what you consider casual clothing
might be seen as provocative in other places.
It’s best to
take your clues from local women.
Then
relax. Feeling stressed and insecure is not helpful, health…or safe.
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7.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
 We see them
and probably never notice them.
But
Travelers Aid,
those tucked away kiosks and counters in airports, train stations and
bus depots, are the number one name in traveler assistance.
The two
thousand or so volunteers helped out 5 million passengers last year
alone, including a couple of deaf Italian travelers who needed
directions badly.
The intrepid
and committed volunteers used an online translation web site to talk
with the students and successfully sent them on their relieved ways.
Travelers Aid
Director Ray Flynt says they’re like airport
St. Bernards: (Please download the audio to listen to Ray Flynts
comments)
Flynt says
Travelers Aid is there to help, but help yourselves first by planning
ahead.
check out:
www.travelersaid.com
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6.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
It’s horrible.
Nothing can ruin a trip more than motion sickness. It’s a dreadful
sensation afflicting about 40% of us on planes, trains, busses and
boats.
And women
experience it more than men.
There are
over the counter remedies and some prescriptions work well like the
motion sickness patch
But
preventing the nausea and dizziness is the best approach.
Fine, but how.
Experts
suggest:
Focusing on a
stationary object in the distance, like the horizon, and not on
objects that move by quickly and closely like a telephone pole or waves.
And keep your
head steady during travel.
Use a headrest
if you have one.
And seek out
areas of “lesser movement” like sitting near the wing on a plane… or
near the front of the train.
On a cruise,
chose a cabin in the middle of the ship.
Unfortunately,
if you’ve had it before, you’re more likely to get it again.
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5.
 Please
download the
audio to hear this sound-rich presentation of Grand Cayman’s up-beat
jazz festival.
There’s more
to Grand Cayman Island than off shore banking. There are wonderful
beaches, turquoise waters and the rare Blue Iguana, found only in the
Cayman Islands.
But there’s
also great jazz, specifically the annual Jazz festival, and that makes
Grand Cayman a Caribbean island with more to offer than most.
The outdoor
venue was near perfect.
The soft,
night breezes carried the savory scents of Cayman cuisine, and the sound
of the nearby sea helped R&B favorite, KayKay, work through her jazz,
hip-hop and reggae numbers.
Larger than
life piano and synthesizer pioneer, George Duke, came next, his jokes
and antics endearing him to the audience as much as his upbeat jazz
renditions.
Soft jazz
great Earl Kluge played favorites like “Every Moment With You” on his
acoustical guitar, and Ravi Coltrane’s tenor and soprano sax ended the
Caribbean night.
Grand Cayman
Island is an hour’s flight from Miami. Clean and very friendly, but this
former British colony feels like it’s world away.
check out:
www.caymanislands.ky
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4.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
In the movie
Cellular the lead character, a cop , is about to retire.
Was he going
to spend his time fishing or traveling the world?
Nooo, he was
going to open a day spa because spa travel for guys is hot.
Come again!
Spa travel for men?
Spa and travel
expert Debbie Karpowitz Kickham says that today 29% of men travel for
spa treatments. American guys, she says, are embracing their feminine
sides, just like nail-polish-wearing soccer champ, David Beckham!
What’s the big
deal, Deb. And why is spa travel so hot.
(Please
download the
audio
to hear Ms. Karpowitz-Kickham’s comments on the phenomenal growth of
men’s spas)
We’re relieved
to hear even presidential hopeful John Kerry traveled for a pre-debate
manicure.
For more
information:
www.menessentials.com
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Check out:
http://www.singleparenttravel.net/
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3.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
No more
leaving the kids with the grandparents and hitting the road.
Today the
grandparents are on the road climbing mountains and dining in
Rome. And they’re often taking their grandkids with them.
With 65% of
Americans over age 48 already a grandparent, and 95,000 Americans
becoming new grandparents every month, grand travel is on the rise.
When
Washington D.C.-based company,
Grandtravel, offered its first trip for grandparents back in
1987, there were thirty takers.
Today, they
have more than four hundred grandfamilies hitting the road with them.
The company
combines activities that the kids will enjoy with other kids…but there
are also activities marked “Grandparents Only.”
Most meals are
provided, and Grandtravelers can share rooms, or opt for adjoining ones.
So, scrap the
rocking chair and bring out the hiking boots. Grandma and granddad are
on the move
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2.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny with your XM Go Travel Update
So what’s
going on with on line travel?
Seems most of
us search 3-4 web sites before we make a flight purchase.
But typically
we just search the big name travel companies like Expedia, Orbitz and
Travelocity…which don’t always offer the best deal. In fact, travel
experts say no one site offers the best deal all the time.
Airlines are
masters at hiding some of their lowest prices …and shopping around at
different sites can be frustrating.
Hugo Burge,
Vice Chairman of
cheapflights.com says a new generation of travel search engines is
here to help consumers compare prices simply.
(Please download the
audio to hear all of Hugo Burge’s comments on new, more effective
fare searches on line)
A web site
that accesses little known consolidators and discounters will broaden
choices and save money.
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1.
This is
Kaleel Sakakeeny With Your XM Go Travel Update
Best wishes
and congratulations to
Westin Hotels
for making the entire chain a non-smoking one.
 Sure
they’ll lose some business and a few conventions maybe, but we feel
travelers are getting used to the idea of smoke free planes, trains and
now hotels.
The
American Hotel and
Lodging Association reports that hotels have steadily increased
their nonsmoking rooms. In fact, the ratio jumped from 61% in 1999 to
73% in 2004, and the trend is clearly toward healthier lifestyles all
around.
And many
cities already limit smoking in public places.
Still,
Westin’s smoke free policy is a gutsy one placing it in front of the
pack, so to speak.
Probably
Westin will save money on damage to hotel rooms and other maintenance
costs.
It’s very
likely that other hotels in this copycat business will quickly follow
suit…and we hope so soon.
check out:
www.starwoodhotels.com
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