Special Edition...
Talkeetna, Alaska.
Princess Cruises chose my story to post on their web site as one of their top 50 travel experiences. Check out the link below for my story.
http://50essentialexperiences.com/2011/05/30/kelly-hess/
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Safety Sunday
Credit card safety tips
Before you leave home follow these simple steps to ensure smooth sailing:
1. Notify your credit card (and debit card) companies about your travel plans. They will need to know the dates and countries. This will help them spot any suspicious activity.
2. Ask if your credit card has any fees for foreign transactions both as a credit card or for ATM withdrawals. Typically with a credit card there is a percentage fee. I have one card that charges 2% and one that is free. Guess which one I used as my primary card? For ATM fees it is typically a flat dollar amount like $2.00 and/or a percentage fee on top of that.
3. Ask about any rewards you get. My Capital One card gives pretty decent rewards and has no fees. I can typically end up paying for my hotel or at least my rental car with my rewards points. So pick the card that will save you the most money.
4. Clean out your wallet. I always take out any credit cards I wont need on my trip like my Macy's or Home Depot cards. Make sure to store them in a safe place though.
5. Scan the front and back of the credit cards you are taking along with your passport and ID. Email it to yourself on any web based email system, then you can have easy access to the information if you need it.
*** Also, make sure you have a good password for your email account, nothing to easy. ***
While you are on vacation, you should have no problems. But here are my last two tips…
6. Always process transactions in local currency. It may sound convenient have them process it is US dollars, but there will more than likely be a fee for it.
7. Keep really good record of your receipts. If you don't get a receipt for something you use your card for, ask for one. If they can't provide one, make note of the dollar amount, store name and address of the store, I've also asked for a business card and wrote the amount on the back.
Be safe, have fun!
Before you leave home follow these simple steps to ensure smooth sailing:
1. Notify your credit card (and debit card) companies about your travel plans. They will need to know the dates and countries. This will help them spot any suspicious activity.
2. Ask if your credit card has any fees for foreign transactions both as a credit card or for ATM withdrawals. Typically with a credit card there is a percentage fee. I have one card that charges 2% and one that is free. Guess which one I used as my primary card? For ATM fees it is typically a flat dollar amount like $2.00 and/or a percentage fee on top of that.
3. Ask about any rewards you get. My Capital One card gives pretty decent rewards and has no fees. I can typically end up paying for my hotel or at least my rental car with my rewards points. So pick the card that will save you the most money.
4. Clean out your wallet. I always take out any credit cards I wont need on my trip like my Macy's or Home Depot cards. Make sure to store them in a safe place though.
5. Scan the front and back of the credit cards you are taking along with your passport and ID. Email it to yourself on any web based email system, then you can have easy access to the information if you need it.
*** Also, make sure you have a good password for your email account, nothing to easy. ***
While you are on vacation, you should have no problems. But here are my last two tips…
6. Always process transactions in local currency. It may sound convenient have them process it is US dollars, but there will more than likely be a fee for it.
7. Keep really good record of your receipts. If you don't get a receipt for something you use your card for, ask for one. If they can't provide one, make note of the dollar amount, store name and address of the store, I've also asked for a business card and wrote the amount on the back.
Be safe, have fun!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Travel Tip Tuesday
Here is a special tech-tip Tuesday.
A laptop uses a lithium-ion battery, known as Li-Ion in the industry. It typically will last one to three years, but you can ease the aging process with proper care and maintenance.
Recharging Guidelines:
Recharge your laptop by placing it in the docking station or plugging it into the wall charger.
Overall, a series of partial discharge cycles is better for Li-Ion batteries than a single full discharge. Recharging at a 10% to 20% charge level is best.
Periodically, you need to let the battery run down completely. A full discharge every 30 charges will help the battery’s fuel gauge remain accurate.
Want to know more?
You can learn how lithium-ion batteries work at howstuffworks.com.
A laptop uses a lithium-ion battery, known as Li-Ion in the industry. It typically will last one to three years, but you can ease the aging process with proper care and maintenance.
Recharging Guidelines:
Recharge your laptop by placing it in the docking station or plugging it into the wall charger.
Overall, a series of partial discharge cycles is better for Li-Ion batteries than a single full discharge. Recharging at a 10% to 20% charge level is best.
Periodically, you need to let the battery run down completely. A full discharge every 30 charges will help the battery’s fuel gauge remain accurate.
Want to know more?
You can learn how lithium-ion batteries work at howstuffworks.com.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thrifty Thursday
Back to school shopping means travel shopping
Do you ever think about your college days and life in the dorm? Does it remind you of the size of a cruise ship stateroom?
While most parents are stocking up on dorm sized accessories and schools supplies for their kids, I'm stocking up on my travel necessities...
Here are my top 10 back to school/ travel buys:
10-Shelf Hanging Fabric Shoe Rack (hangs in the closet)
Pop-Up Hamper
Compact Fabric Steamer
Over the Door Organizer - 24 Pockets for shoes and accessories (I hang it in the bathroom for storage)
18 Pocket Hanging Shoe Bag (hangs in the closet)
Composition Books (great travel journal)
Backpack (great on a hike or touring a city, also good as a carry on bag.)
Books (on travel, foreign languages, history)
Pens, Pencils and paper, notebooks. (all good stuff to have)
Printable labels (make your own address labels)
Keep and eye out on your Sunday sale ads to see when these go on sale. When they are cheap, stock up on them. Happy Shopping!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thrifty Thursday
Thrifty Do-gooder Deed
With all of the sales for back to school shopping pick up supplies for someone in need. Office supply stores usually have specials to get you in and shopping like a 10 pack of pencils or spiral notebooks for 1¢. Look for specials like this that don’t cost much and stock up on them. Donate half to a local low income school and save half for your next vacation.
Once on vacation look for a church, school or local family to donate my supplies to. You meet some great people and help people that need it. I have received some of the city tips and restaurant recommendations from people this way.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thrifty Thursday
Sign up for Ebates for cash back on many of your travel purchase. The great thing is you can still use your normal coupons for extra savings as you always do. There are over 1200 stores, but here are a few travel related places that offer anywhere from 1 – 20% cash back…
- Marriott Hotels and Resorts
- Hotwire
Enterprise - Orbitz
- United Airlines
- Air
France Alaska - Avis Rental Car
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