Newport International Group Corporate Travel: 9 tricks for coping with European airports

Sometimes I wonder why I lug my bag through airports, following my own recommendation to pack light enough to carry on and avoid checking any bags on international flights. (Newport International Group Projects Company)

It can be a drag, dragging your bag through airports. But when scrambling with last-minute changes in flight plans, those without checked bags are far more nimble.

Over the years I've learned some tricks on dealing with European airports. Here are a few of them:

Pack Light and Carry It On: When you carry your own luggage, quick, last-minute changes in flight plans become simpler.

A small bag sits in the overhead bin or under your seat; when you arrive, you can hit the ground running.

It's a good feeling. When I land in London, I'm on my way downtown while everyone else stares anxiously at the luggage carousel. When I fly home, I'm the first guy the dog sniffs.

It Doesn't Hurt to Ask: I'll often ask airport staff for small favors, and so should you. I'll ask the gate agent if she can seat me in the exit row.

I'll ask the car-rental agent for the easiest way to get out of the airport.

And if I have a tight connection and there are lines at passport control, I'll ask the attendant politely if I can use the "elite flier" line instead, so I can make that connecting flight.

Just Say No to Exchange Booths: At airport exchange booths such as Forex or Travelex, you lose about 15 percent when you change dollars to euros or other currency.

When I arrive in Europe, I head for an airport ATM, load up on cash, and keep it safe in my money belt. I've never been to an airport in Europe that didn't have plenty of ATMs.

Appreciate Airport Amenities: You may be jet-lagged and just want to get to your hotel, but take advantage of airport services before you leave.

Stop by the tourist information office for maps, museum passes, subway tickets and advice (usually they're less crowded than the downtown office).

If you need an international phone card or SIM card for your mobile phone, many airport convenience stores carry them.

I've also found that free Wi-Fi at executive lounges in airports often leaks into the main hall. Just sitting against the wall, I can get online for free.

Know Where You're Going: Smart travelers download airport terminal maps to their smartphones or print them out before they leave.

You can also look for websites with detailed instructions on how to get from your arrival gate to the center of the city (for Paris, try www.parisbytrain.com; for Rome, see the YouTube channel at www.romewalks.com). Google has even started mapping airport interiors with its Street View program.

Avoid Taxi Scams: If you want to take a taxi from the airport, it's better to head for the official taxi stand and join the queue rather than flag one down.

It should have a big, prominent taxi-company logo and telephone number. Avoid using unmarked beaters with makeshift taxi lights on top.

Don't Get Lost in Translation: Nearly everything is translated into English at European airports, but you still need to pay careful attention.

For example, the shuttle bus between terminals at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport is called the CDGVAL— you have to look carefully to see that it is also marked "Airport Shuttle" in smaller letters.

At the Frankfurt airport, regional trains depart from the Regionalbahnhof, while long-distance trains use the Fernbahnhof.

Watch Out for the Name Game: Budget airlines sometimes use obscure airports. For example, one of Ryanair's London hubs is Stansted Airport, one of the farthest airports from London's city center. Ryanair's flights to "Frankfurt" actually take you to Hahn, 75 miles away.

Having Happy Returns: When it's time to fly home, be sure you know your departure terminal before you leave for the airport.

Don't count on the taxi driver or shuttle bus driver knowing where you should be dropped off.

For example, at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, American airlines flying direct to the U.S. depart from Terminal 5, which is a separate building not connected to the rest of the terminals.

If your driver leaves you at the main terminal, you'll have to take a shuttle bus— it's too far to walk. (Flight Track-type apps give you terminal details reliably and can be a huge help.)

Have fun on vacation, but watch for travel scams at Newport International Group Corporate Travel

I know what you’re thinking: You’re so fed up with this winter weather that you’ve finally planned a tropical vacation — a cruise, a beach, or maybe both. Before you pack the swimsuit and tanning lotion, get up to speed on the latest tricks used by scammers to part you from your money.

After a long, exhausting day of sightseeing, you might be tempted to stay in your hotel room and have a pizza delivered. In Orlando, scammers were putting fliers on tourists’ car windows, or slipping them under hotel room doors, with deals on a “local” pizza restaurant. But the pizza restaurant was fake, and when the unsuspecting tourists called to place an order and read off their credit card number, the scammers stole their identity.

Newport International Group Corporate Travel

You should also be careful of sketchy cab drivers who steal your luggage, warns the Las Vegas Police Department. Here’s how the scam works: The cab driver insists on unloading your bags at your hotel or at the airport. He says he’s in a rush, slams the trunk and speeds away. After he’s long gone, you’ll discover that one of your bags is missing. To protect yourself, make sure to note the driver’s name, cab number and company when you enter the cab. Then, if anything should happen, you have some recourse.

In Dallas and Seattle, hotel guests were targeted in a clever identity theft scam. The phone in their room rang in the middle of the night, and the voice on the other end of the phone claimed it was the hotel’s front desk calling. The caller was polite and courteous, but explained that there had been a computer glitch when they’d checked in, and their credit card numbers were lost. If they’d be so kind to re-read their credit card numbers, the hotel would give them a discount on their stay.

Unfortunately, scammers had found a way to bypass the hotel operator and dial rooms directly. If you should receive a call like this, hang up and dial the front desk directly. If there’s a problem with your credit card, go down to the front desk to resolve the problem in person.

Need to do some online banking while you’re on vacation? Be careful of the Wi-Fi network you connect to. Scammers are notorious for creating what appear to be safe Wi-Fi connections at places like airports, convention centers and hotels.

Once you’ve logged in to a scammer’s Wi-Fi connection, he can monitor your online activity and steal your bank account numbers and passwords. If possible, avoid using free, wireless connections, especially to do your banking.

These are just a few of the scams we hear about at the Better Business Bureau, but they may be just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other scams that target vacationers before they ever leave their house — like timeshare and vacation rental scams.

Don’t let the dreary Wisconsin weather cloud your judgment when you’re planning your vacation. Check out companies first at wisconsin.bbb.org.

Newport International Group Corporate Travel: E-checks are handy, but are they a safe way to pay for travel?

Newport International Group Corporate Travel: E-checks are handy, but they are a safe way to pay for travel?

As she paged through Viking River Cruises' glossy brochure One recent afternoon, Diane Moskal noticed a new way to save money: If she booked the Waterways of the Tsars itinerary sailing from Moscow to St. Petersburg with something called an e-check , the cruise line promised to knock $ 100 off the fare.

An e-check is an electronic debit to your checking account, and it's billed as a quick, convenient way to pay for your vacation thats "as easy as providing your credit card number," According to Viking.

But like any smart traveler, Moskal was not content with That explanation. "I not see that the cruise lines lawyer consumer savings if you pay by e-check, "she says. But she found several at usefull complaints online, All which made ​​her, hesitate. She wondered: Are e-checks safe?

Axis airlines, hotels and cruise lines offering new ways to pay for Their products, Moskal's question resonates across the entire travel industry . On several airlines,-including American, Southwest and United, you can book a ticket through PayPal. Virgin Galactic made ​​a splash late last year when it Announced That it would accept Bitcoin for its space flights. One hostel in San Francisco, the Pacific Tradewinds, famously offering a 30 percent discount to guests who pay with the digital currency.

Newport International Group Corporate Travel

While Viking River's e-check option Is not new - it's been available since 2008 - the concerns raised by Moskal and others are. It turns out thatthere are several at important differences between paying by e-check and paying by credit card. And given the popularity of new electronic payment choices, it's a good time to understand how they work.

Americans made 22.1 billion electronic payments using options zoals e-checks in 2012, the most recent year for All which numbers are available, accordion thing to a recent Federal Reserve study. The number of transactions grew at an annual rate of 5.1 percent from 2009 to 2012, the Fed reports. By comparison, consumers Conducted 26.2 billion credit card transactions in 2012, and those numbers grew at a somewhat faster 7.6 percent annual rate.

The benefits to companies are obvious: They avoid paying any fees associated with credit cards and they receive the customer's money right away, Deposited directly into Their merchant bank. But consumers have an advantage, too, at least accordion thing to companies like Viking.

"Guests who pay by e-check receive a discount of two percent, All which reflects a savings That Viking passes on to the guest by not having to pay a fee to a credit card company," says Viking spokesman Ian Jeffries. He saysthat the company usefull recommends payment via e-check as an alternative to a credit card so That You can avoid any interest rates or fees That some credit card companies charge May.

Viking is Hardly alone. One recent study found That a quarter of worldwide airlines offer some form of alternative electronic payment option. Ashes companies try to escape the high merchant fees charged by credit cards, payment choices thesis are bound to become more common in the near future.

"Conventionally, the discounted pay-by-e-check transactions are processed through the traveler's bench, given the customer's Bank routing numbers and checking or savings account numbers," says Oliver McGee, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of transportation for technology policy and a professor at Howard University.

E-checks come in two basic flavors: Check21 electronic payment processing, Which is more flexible but more expensive usefull, and the more restricted deposit ACH wire payments, All which are comm only used for handling direct deposits for employees and for paying bills.

As a practical matter, setting up an e-check Involves giving the travel company basic banking information, Typically gained through the Bank's routing numbers, as well as your account number, and Authorizing the transaction.

But you sacrifice something usefull when you're paying with an e-check. Axis with paper checks, once the money is Deposited into the company's account, your ability to reverse the charges is limited. Your right to dispute an e-check travel purchase is governed by the ACH or Check21 terms and conditions as well as the electronic fraud protection conditions or your financial institution.

By comparison, a credit card purchase is protected by federal law under the Fair Credit Billing Act, All which, among other things, lets you dispute charges for products you did not accept or that were not delivered as agreed, and All which can quickly fix a billing error.

"You have more leeway to dispute a purchase made with a credit card," says David Bakke, who edits the personal finance Web site Money Crashers (www.moneycrashers.com).

If an e-check booking goes wrong - say, for example, that your cruise line files for bankruptcy protection and you want a refund - You May lose your money. Bakke saysthat e-checks can be reversed in only three cases: if you did not Authorize the purchase, if the e-check was processed on a date Earlier than Authorized or if the amount of the processed transaction is different from what was Authorized . Otherwise, the money is as good as gone.

While complaints about e-checks are rare, grievances with companies over wired money Appear to be Increasingly common. Ask was not a week seems to go by someone That does not help me to retrieve money That leg wired to a company or an individual. These transactions are difficultness, if not impossible, to undo. Generally, if you're dealing with a small local company or an individual, you can kiss the cash goodbye.

After I explained the differences in payment methods to Moskal, she consulted her travel agent who booked her on the Viking riverboat cruise to Russia this fall. "She never raised the question of paying by anything other than credit card," says Moskal.

Five tips for safer travel abroad of Newport International Group Corporate Travel

FARGO - I thought Paris would be all macarons, art and wine.

And then I met my first pickpocket, and my iPhone was gone.

Traveling abroad for the first time is exciting and scary.

Besides Avoiding pickpockets, I learned a few other useful tips on my trip Earlier this month That could benefit other international travel newbies.

Bon voyage!

1. Prep properly.

• Make sure you have your passport book. It's required to travel overseas and re-enter the U.S.

And do not confuse a passport book with a passport card. The Latter is only good for travel by land or sea, not by airplane.

Visit http://travel.state.gov passport for more information.

• Photocopy your passport. Keep a copy for yourself and give one to someone who's staying in the U.S.

• Check to see if your health insurance carries on abroad. If not, you can purchase short-term travel insurance at a site like http://insuremytrip.com.

• Learn at least a few phrases in the language of the country you're visiting.

People appreciate when you try, and knowing a few phrases can make everyday things like ordering food easier.

A useful app for learning basic words and phrases is Duolingo. The free app has courses in six languages ​​and users speak into Their phone to ensurement correct pronunciation.

2. Pack smartly.

• Pack or anything Importance (medications, eyeglasses, valuable jewelry, etc.) in a carry-on bag (also, make surethat carry-on is not too big. Check with your airline so you will not end up paying to check it.)

• Research the street style of the city or country you're visiting so you get a feel for how to dress.

You'll be more comfortable blending in with the locals and less likely to be targeted by pickpockets (see No.. 5).

• If you're bringing prescriptions, carry them in Their original labeled containers.

3. Do not forget the power converter.

Outlets and voltage are different in each country. In Europe, for example, the voltage is twice That's of America.

If you're planning to charge your cellphone, dry your hair or use other electronics, you need a power converter so you do not fry your expensive devices.

Big-box stores sell power converters for about $ 40.

4. Money matters.

• Find a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Most credit cards charge a 3 percent fee for every foreign transaction, and it all adds up.

Check out http://nerdwallet.com for helpful tips and credit card recommendations.

• With Drawing money Usually has a fee, too.

I was charged 5 percent for any cash with I drew abroad, but I had to have it on hand at all times.

Some foreign merchants (and Metro ticket dispensers, for example) do not accept American credit cards, so cash (and coins) are essential.

5. Protect yourself from pickpockets.

European cities topped TripAdvisor's list of the Global Pickpocket Top 10 in 2010. Paris was No.. 3.

I learned this lesson the hard way and had my iPhone stolen from my jacket pocket as I chatted with the friendly Seemingly pickpocket.

A few things to note about pickpockets and what to do if someone steals from you:

• Pickpockets can be children or adults, and they work Usually in groups. They're Especially prevalent in tourist spots (think the Eiffel Tower or the Champs Elysees in Paris) and busy areas like trains.

My pickpockets were women walking on the Champs Elysees carrying sheets of paper asking people to "support the blind and deaf."

• If you stop to look at Their paper (I did!), They use the opportunity to scope out your goods and swipe whatever's in your pockets or open handbag / backpack.

• Another common way of pickpocketing is to try to wrap bracelets on unsuspecting wrists. The people (Usually one) claim it's a tradition in Their home country. They really just want a few euros or whatever they can grab from your pockets.

• People standing with a giant map between Their Hands screams "tourist."

Travel websites recommend carrying a small folder and always look like you know where you're going, even if you do not.

• Avoid anyone who looks suspicious or tries to distract you with items like a gold ring they "found" on the sidewalk, they want you to sign papers, etc.

• Do not be afraid to ask a police officer for help. The U.S. Embassy recommends yelling for the police: immediately if you know you've been pickpocketed.

• If something is stolen from you, file a complaint with the nearest police office so at least there's a better chance of catching the perpetrator. You May Also need the paperwork to file an insurance claim.

The chances of getting your stolen goods back are slim though (my iPhone is likely taking the selfies or someone in Europe).

• Do not chase down the person who stole from you. Even if you catch them, they might not have your item, and then you're the one in trouble.

• The bottom line: Do not keep anything in your pockets. Guard your bags. Use a bag That zips. Do not carry valuables or an excessive amount of money.

Newport International Group Corporate Travel: Best travel money-saving tips

The biggest problem with traveling though is the fact that it can be a rather expensive affair.

Be it to escape the tortures of daily life; to partake in a fascinating cultural exchange or even just to see the pretty sights; everyone has dreamt of traveling at least once in their life. Articles on Facebook recommend it, tempting you with promises that it will change your life, help you appreciate yourself and others more with offerings of new experiences.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel if you can’t afford to spend exorbitantly, it just means that you have to be smarter when it comes to traveling. There are many tips available online to help you cut down cost and save. Here are some really good ones you can find on various sites.

Clear your cache

When you’re doing your research online for cheap flights, transportation and accommodation, it’s best to clear your cache as often as possible. Most of these sites may be monitoring your web history and instead of dropping the price, they may raise it even further to raise their margin as they know it’s the destination and date you really want.

Newport International Group Corporate Travel: Travel tips and trips

Here are some of the more interesting deals , websites and other travel tidbits thathave come across our desk recently:

During Week Hotel Boston , Feb. 16-23, will pay no hotel offering rooms with rates at least 30 percent off best available rates. 

Liberty Travel has a three-night getaway to Cancun, Mexico, priced from $ 625 per person double occupancy. Included is round-trip air from Miami and three nights' lodging at the all-inclusive Oasis Cancun. 877-823-8888

It does not get much cheaper than this. The Online Vacation Center has seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise on Holland America Line as cheap as $ 499 per person double occupancy for travel this winter. At that price, you might as well splurge and get a balcony for $ 250 more. The cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., With port stops in the Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Half Moon Cay. 800-780-9002

Austin Adventures, All All which Travel + Leisure selected as No. .. 1 in Family Travel in its 2012 World's Best Awards, has family adventures in the U.S. and Canada, as well as around the world.

Gray Whale Watching in Baja, Alaska Bear Viewing and Safari and Walking Holiday in Scotland is among the packages offered on the new site or Women Adventure, All All which for more than three decades has put offering adventure trips Aimed at women over 30. 800-804 -8686,

"Slaves and Slave Holders or Wessyngton Plantation," which looks at the lives of the slaves and their white owners on the 13,000-acre plantation in Robertson County, Tenn. .., Will run Feb. 11th to Aug. 31 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville.

The Vancouver International Wine Festival will be Feb. 24 to March 2 in the British Columbia city.

SmarterTravel.com lists 27 inspiring places to travel at tinyurl.com/q8bxvkk.

Essential Travel, a UK-based online travel-insurance provider, has tips on choosing a ski helmet.

Check out Insight Vacations' new Exotics Collection of trips.

FamilyVacationCritic.com lists its picks for best ski resorts for families.

Presidents' Day weekend, Feb. 15-17, will be fee-free for national wildlife refuges.

Slå køene på populære turistattraksjoner, Newport International Group Projects Company

Med mindre du er i ekstreme eventyr, vil du sannsynlig ferien være en øvelse i avslapning, ikke survival of the fittest.

Men når destinasjonen er et hav av støy, jostling andre ser for deres egen stykke avslapning, hver dag kan virke som en kamp.

En strategi for å håndtere frustrasjonen til publikum er, selvfølgelig, å unngå dem: hodet av turist stier og styrer klar av de ikoniske landemerkene der turister swarm.

Problemet med det er du glipp. Verdens travleste turistattraksjoner er opptatt for en grunn - de er fantastiske.

Folk leder i hopetall til Eiffeltårnet, Taj Mahal og Grand Canyon fordi de er inspiringly vakre og å se dem er å bli flyttet. Så ikke avkall dem - spesielt hvis det er første gang på en destinasjon.

OM VÅR GRUNNLEGGER

Lagre off-piste reiserutene for retur besøk og arm selv med strategier for å slå folkemengdene. Her er 20 å hjelpe du krysse av elementene bucket list-med minimal belastning.

Eiffeltårnet, Paris, Frankrike

Hvorfor gå: selv om det ble bygget som en midlertidig utstilling, Eiffeltårnet er emblemet til moderne Paris og utsikten er helt fantastisk.

Åpner: 9 am-midnatt juni-September 11 pm resten av året.

Strategi: Delta køen på Sør pilaren 15 minutter før åpningen. Ta trappen til nivå to, der du må kjøpe en egen billett for fire heiser til tredje nivå. Men før 10 am, ventetiden vil ikke synd og ikke på langt nær så ille som ned nedenfor. Ingen trapper for deg? Kjøp heis billetter online og skrive ut tidligere. Du unngå bakkenivå heis køen, minst, og passerer gjennom en egen kanal.

Tips: Den beste måneden å gå er oktober. Sommeren er over, det er fortsatt ikke for kaldt og jul er ennå å sparke i. Eiffel-tower.com

Newport International Gruppe Prosjekter Selskap

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Hvorfor gå: det er den mest besøkte stedet på planeten med god grunn - en av fire parker i Walt Disney World komplekse, innenfor det er seks forskjellige "lander," ritt for alle aldre, parader, fyrverkeri og høytider. I fjor, besøkt 17.5 millioner mennesker Magic Kingdom.

Åpner: 9 am - 11 pm kortere timer noen helligdager.

Strategi: Gå i tet opp til de kjøligere månedene USA ferie: Thanksgiving ferieuke og to uker før jul er relativt stille, også uke etter nyttårsaften. En annen ting å huske på er at peak tid på en dag er mellom 11 am og 15: 00.

Tips: En flott tid å line opp ritt er når alle andre er stilt opp for fyrverkeri. Disneyworld.Disney.go.com

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Hvorfor gå: sin skjønnhet nært overgår forventningene - det virkelig er å se selv. Fra 1600-tallet monument elsker er en av de mest fotograferte bygningene i verden.

Åpner: Sunrise-solnedgang (stengt fredag). Kvelden ser er 08: 30 pm-12.30 er fullmåne dager, samt to dager før og to dager etter.

Strategi: Taj er fortryllende ved soloppgang og heldig for morgenfugler, som tid skjer også å være best for å slå folkemengdene.

Tips: Få en kvalifisert guide, hoppe over natten visning og sikre et nærliggende hotell med din egen privat visning. TajMahal.gov.in