Travelrific® Travel Journal

Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!

Plane Etiquette

By Linda Tancs

Remember that you’re not (necessarily) entitled to claim all the arm rests.  If you sit on the aisle, take the aisle arm rest.  If you sit near the window, take the arm rest on the left.  If you’re stuck in the middle, then you deserve both!

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3-1-1 Rule

By Linda Tancs

Okay, so you know better than to pack more than a 3-ounce tube of anything in your carry-on bag if you have hopes of keeping it on the plane with you.  Then why would you try to bring an almost-empty 7-ounce tube of toothpaste with you?  Yes, it has been tried.  No, it didn’t work.

Traffic Reports To Go High Tech

By Linda Tancs

Want the 4-1-1 on traffic while you’re traveling?  Then you’ll want to dial 5-1-1.  The 5-1-1 system was developed to give motorists a uniform number to dial nationwide for traffic information.  It isn’t available in every state, though.  Join the coalition at www.deploy511.org.

Traveling with Kids

By Linda Tancs

In this week’s edition of the podcast Travelrific Travel Show, the topic is traveling with kids.  Is your child a happy camper?  Whether you’re traveling by train, plane or automobile, give your child a reason to smile and check in for these travel tips. Visit www.travelrificradio.com.

Security Cameras for the Streets

By Linda Tancs

So you thought you’d steal a passionate kiss from your sweetie in the shadow of Eros at Piccadilly Circus.  Smile, you’re on candid camera.  Remember the Bard’s advice that “all the world’s a stage”?  Well, at least little Britain is, with nearly 300 cameras reportedly trained on the average citizen each day–for security, of course.  So don’t forget to floss, and for heaven’s sake, comb your hair.

Real Snakes On a Plane

By Linda Tancs

A passenger at Cairo airport attempted to bring 700 live snakes on a plane to sell them in Saudi Arabia.  Ophidiophobes, take note.

Scooting Around the Las Vegas Strip

By Linda Tancs

It’s hard getting around the Las Vegas Strip these days.  Either you’re sweating it out on the pavement acting like a tourist or power walking through football-sized casinos looking for that magic table.  Never mind all the other little temptations zapping away at your energy–like thrill rides, parks and malls.  So what’s an energy-challenged tourist to do?  Why, rent a scooter of course!  Be the envy of all your friends as you tool around in a mobility scooter once reserved for the authentically physically challenged.  Whatever happened to the adage, “pace yourself”?

Travel Retail Industry Health Report

By Linda Tancs

It’s been reported that $50 billion plus is generated annually from the worldwide travel retail industry.  Perhaps staggering growth in the outbound travel market from China and India is fueling the bottom line.  Stay tuned….

Retail Therapy

By Linda Tancs

“The sky’s the limit” takes on a whole new meaning with inflight shopping.  In addition to duty-free purchases, there’s the ubiquitous SkyMall catalog, hawking everything from teddy bears to canopied mini bars for your poolside entertaining.  Well, if you’ve got a captive audience you might as well try to captivate them.

Airline Customer Service Satisfaction

By Linda Tancs

In this edition of the podcast Travelrific Travel Show, the topic is airline customer service satisfaction–or lack thereof.  Why are airline customer service ratings so low?  Tune in for the possible causes and weigh in on the solutions. Visit www.travelrificradio.com.