The holidays are a joyous time of year. It’s a time of year where families unite to enjoy a wonderful feast filled with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. It’s a time of year where your grandfather falls asleep before and after dinner. These times can produce a ton of wonderful memories, or if you travel, they can also produce nightmares. I would like to share with you the top ten tips for Thanksgiving travel this year. So for all you holiday flyers out there, get you pencils ready and take some notes.

1. Prepare For Your Flight At Home

Print your boarding passes at home on your computer and check in before you even leave the house. I can’t begin to tell you how much time and aggravation this will save you.

2. Avoid The Crowds When Before Take Off

Do not go to the departure level, it’s going to be crazy especially in the morning. Since you already checked in and printed your boarding pass, you can go to the arrivals level, take the escalator and go through security at your gate. This way you will avoid the people traffic.

3. Avoid The Crowds When You Land

Have your family, friends or whoever your visiting come pick you up at the departure level. You will walk out to the car with your luggage in hand while the rest of the folks will be crowded by the arrival level waiting for their bags.

4. Traveling With Gifts

If you are bringing presents with you and you have to check your bags do not wrap them. When going through security you run the risk of getting your bags checked and that would force security to open your presents, especially if you use a foil wrapping paper that may set off the alarm.

5. Luggage Tags Are Important

Luggage tags are useful, however conveyer belts love to eat these things. My advice would be to duct tape it to your bag. If you’re worried about how good you look when your travel and don’t want to be caught carrying a bag with duct tape on it, tape it on the inside of a flap. That way the belt can’t eat it.

6. Beware Of Thieves

It’s true that thievery takes place in airports, but what you may not know is that thieves generally don’t take your entire bag, they takes things from it. So do yourself a favor and right after you get your luggage at baggage claim, open it and check to make sure you have everything. If not, file a report with the airport immediately.

7. Extend Your Holiday

Don’t travel on the day before and the day after Thanksgiving. Do yourself a favor and book your vacation for a few more days. That way you avoid the rush and you will get a longer vacation. Of course that’s a good thing if your family isn’t completely insane.

8. Choose Less Popular Airports

If this is a possibility for you then consider flying into alternate airports. Airports that are not located in big busy cities. Think Flint instead of Detroit; Milwaukee instead of Chicago; Oakland instead of San Francisco; Providence instead of Boston.

9. Bringing Food And Drink On A Plane

If you are wondering whether or not you can bring food or drink on an airplane, the answer is yes. However, there are some regulations that you should be aware of before bringing anything. For instance, you can bring a drink from home or purchased before the flight but it has to be less than 3 ounces. You can bring in drinks purchased after the security checkpoint. All factory sealed food can be brought onto a plane but if you are bringing a container of food, it has to be again less than 3 ounces. For more information about the rules and regulations of flying please visit tsa.gov.

10. Relax

Last but not least, keep a cool head. The holidays are a busy time for travel and delays can happen. Make sure to relax and don’t stress out about it. It’s the time of year to be happy and nothing can ruin that faster than poor travel plans. Enjoy your trip!

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Jackson Hole, WY

Area Profile
Teton Village, Wyo., and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort rise from a great “hole” or basin 12 miles northwest of the town of Jackson. Skiers and riders do their things on 2,500 acres of in-bound terrain and taunt the mountain’s 4,139-foot vertical (the greatest continuous rise in the U.S.) There are two mountains: Apres Vous and Rendezvous. and an open backcountry gate system giving skiers and free-heelers access to more than 3,000 additional acres of high-country magic. There are 111 named trails and many other unnamed routes known to skiers who have skied here for years. Twelve lift systems serve the mountains and snowboarding is allowed on 100 percent of their terrain.

Lodging Profile
The Jackson Hole Valley has over 10,000 units available for guest accomodations - everything from backcountry yurts to luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Resort in Jackson Hole is a favorite, boasting 125 rooms, 40 unit Residence Club, and 17 slope-side penthouse suites. The Crystal Springs Lodge is also new and has 18 condos available. Ski in/ski out lodges and condo units are available at the base of the ski area: luxury properties to a backpacker hostel. Full range of accomodations in Teton Village. Additional accomodations available the town of Jackson located ten miles away.

Services Profile
Restaurants, lounges within walking distance, many of both in Jackson. Ski shop, boutique, specialty, drug, liquor, cleaners and post office at area. Clinic at area, St. John’s Hospital, 12 miles. Kids Ranch for ages 2 months-5 years. Ski and snowboard school for ages 6 and over. Ski and cross country rental and repair available at slope and in Jackson. Ski classes offered for racing, cross country, powder, Junior and children, steep camps, women’s camps and snowboard camps. New this year: the new Bridger Restaurant atop the Bridger Gondola (Elevation 9,095’), will open Christmas 2006. It will have incredible valley views of Jackson Hole and the famed on-mountain Corbet’s Couloir to the south.

Area Recreation Profile
Climbing, mountaineering, biking, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing, tram rides, hiking, horseback riding, and concert with various musical genres.

Stowe Mountain, VT

Area Profile
Stowe, the granddaddy of all eastern ski resorts, provides quality skiing and riding for all levels of family abilities. The area’s lift system includes a gondola to shuttle guests between Mount Mansfield and its “sister” mountain, Spruce Peak. This inter-mountain transfer lift provides transportation to and from the slopes at the bases of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak - formally linking the two. The Poma ten-person standing gondola spans Vermont’s Route 108. The length of the ride between the two mountains is approximately 1,500 ft., with a minimum travel time of 1.5 minutes. The lift is capable of moving 3,400 people per hour to and from Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.

Lodging Profile
The Inn at the Mountain and Condominiums is the only slope side lodging and offers a number of amenities including fine dining, tennis, swimming, and a fitness center. Stowe is home to more than 60 lodging properties.

Services Profile
On-mountain dining and more than 60 restaurants to choose from in town. Retail shops, rentals, lessons, childcare from 6 weeks to 6 years, and ski and snowboard school.

Area Recreation Profile
An 18-hole golf course, tennis, skate park, alpine slide, and gondola rides are available.

Breckenridge Mountain, CO

Area Profile
Breckenridge is a great mountain town and an equally great ski town. A vertical rise of 3,398 feet and 28 lifts including two high-speed six SuperChairs and seven high-speed quads. The longest trail - Four O’Clock - is 3.5 miles long. All that terrain, professional grooming, and down-home atmosphere make it easy to see why this area is such a favorite. An 8-passenger gondola links the town to Breckenridge Ski Resort, calling it - the BreckConnect™. It runs visitors between the town and the ski resort’s base area at Peak 8.

Lodging Profile
Breckenridge offers a host of unique lodging options, including spacious hotels, quaint bed and breakfast inns and comfortable homes and condominiums, with something perfect for every taste and budget. Tiger Run RV Resort has a hookup available.

Services Profile
Free trolley and shuttle service to the resort and throughout the county. Free guided mountain tours and free video analysis available with intermediate and advanced ski lessons. The Breckenridge Ski & Ride School offers lessons and programs. Activities in and around town include live theatre, movie theatre, shopping along Main Street, historic tours, and mining for gold. Over 100 restaurants in town, seven restaurants on the mountain, and nearly 40 bars and nightclubs.

Area Recreation Profile
Hiking trails, horseback riding, canoeing, mountain biking, river rafting, fly fishing, and a Fun Park containing slides, maze, climbing wall, and chairlift rides for sightseeing and biking & hiking.

Vail Mountain, CO

Area Profile
Vail offers virtually everything a die hard powder junkie could crave, from the Lionshead cruisers to the famous Back Bowls. Blue Sky Basin is a “must ski.” The Bavarian-like Village at the base is pedestrian friendly and charming. The shopping is upscale. The scene - trendy and charming all at once. Vail boasts three distinct areas of the mountain, each with their own features and fortes, including four terrain parks, seven bowls, and 5,289 acres of freeride terrain. At seven miles wide, finding fresh tracks is as easy as finding elbow room. I

Lodging Profile
More than 150 lodging options provide for all tastes and budgets including hotels, bed and breakfast inns, homes, and condominiums. There are also a number of quaint villages and towns nestled in the Vail Valley, where you can find the perfect place to stay with exactly what you are looking for.

Services Profile
Vail/Eagle County Airport is located 30 miles west. Shuttles (Vail owns Colorado Mountain Express) and car rentals available. Lessons and rentals available. Movie theaters, 111 restaraunts, nightclubs, bars, retail outlets, and spas. Child care available for children 2 months - 6 years.

Area Recreation Profile
Golf, mountain biking and hiking trails, horseback riding, sightseeing tours, fishing, hot air ballooning, paragliding, rafting, kayaking, wall climbing, mountaineering, tennis, and gondola rides.

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, Canada

Area Profile
Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains rise up a mile out of the valley with 5,280 vertical feet and more than 8,100 acres of prime terrain. They have 12 alpine bowls, three glaciers and more than 200 marked trails. Average annual snowfall is 360 inches. Whistler/Blackcomb will host a variety of major events for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s about a two hour drive from Vancouver.

Lodging Profile
One hundred and ten hotel and condominium properties with 4,475 units within walking distance of all lifts.

Services Profile
Seventeen restaurants on the mountain and nearly a hundred in the village. Ski shops and rentals with repairs and lessons, complete facilities in village. Nursery for children 2-5 years of age. Bank machines, church services, medical and dental clinics with nearest hospital 35 miles away, physiotherapy and massage therapy, office services, public library, museum, movie theatre, video rentals, indoor tennis courts, spa facilities and beauty salons.

Area Recreation Profile
Offers mountain biking with a bike park, clinics, camps, lessons and rentals, hiking, atv rides, golf, fishing, sightseeing gondola rides, river rafting, jet-boat tours, horseback riding, and camps during the summer months, generally May to October. Indoor tennis, indoor swimming, art galleries, theatres, and sightseeing by helicopter and float planes are available year- round.

Park City Mountain, UT

Area Profile
Like a number of big time ski areas, Park City was once home to miners in search of precious metals. Today, a new breed of searcher comes looking for the area’s legendary snow. Main Street is lined with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants that have managed to blend old with new. Nightlife bustles. The mountain itself is broad and steep, and offers some of the most varied terrain in the Wasatch range. Park City is home base and training site for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team.

Lodging Profile
Approximately 17,000 pillows are available at the base of Park City Mountain Resort and in the surrounding town of Park City.

Services Profile
Located 37 miles from Salt Lake International Airport with free town-wide bus service. Services include four mountain restaurants and several at the base, on-mountain performance demo center, rentals, and apparel, 16 lifts serving 100+ trails, and snow making from top to bottom. With services galore, Park City Mountain Resort has routinely been named among the top 10 family resorts in North America. Signature Five, an all-day instruction program for kids ages 6 to 14, guarantees no more than five children in a ski or snowboard lesson program.

Area Recreation Profile
Alpine coaster, lift-served mountain biking and hiking, lunch served daily on the outside deck and inside at Kristi’s, complete party and banquet facilities at the Legacy Lodge, horseback riding tours, 18-hole miniature golf course, children’s rides and activities at Little Miner’s Park. Tubing, snowmobiling, ice, skating and sleigh rides are also offered.

Steamboat Springs, CO

Area Profile
Steamboat is where Olympic medalist Billy Kidd hangs his cowboy hat and, when he’s in town, you (and many of your new-found friends) can ski with him every day. This is the Wild West and the atmosphere in the village and on the slopes reflects it. Yes, you can wear your cowboy hat when you ski. Be sure there’s a strap under it. The town is as much fun as the mountain, too.

Lodging Profile
Hotels, condominiums, and townhouses available at base and nearby town. Camper facilities located in town, with utilities and convenience stores. Other nearby facilities are Ski Time and Fish Creek Campgrounds within five miles of the ski resort.

Services Profile
Plethora of restaurants at the base and on mountain; over 75 in area. Bars, lounges, discotheques range from R&R and C&W, most offer live entertainment. Ski shop, boutique, specialty, drug, liquor, cleaners, bank and post office at area. Full shoping conveniences within two miles. Nursery/child care available for ages 6 months-6 years. Ski and cross country rental and repair shop available at slope. Special instructions offering classes in racing, freestyle, cross country, deep powder, moguls, snowboarding, disabled, junior and children.

Area Recreation Profile
Biking, two separate golf courses, hot air ballooning, mountaineering, rafting, rock climbing, hunting, ATV tours, and fishing. Also enjoy music, horseback riding, hot springs and water slide.

Whiteface Mountain, NY

Area Profile
Whiteface opened back in 1958 and is dedicated to the 10th Mountain Division. It was the skiing venue of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. The area is serviced by 10 lifts including one gondola, one high-speed quad, one fixed-grip quad, one triple, five doubles, and one Magic Carpet. There are 225 skiable acres. The average snowfall is around 168 inches per year. The resort is the new headquarters for the New York Ski Educational Foundation.

Lodging Profile
Approximately 1,850 rooms are available within a 10-mile radius including the villages of Wilmington and Lake Placid.

Services Profile
There are buses, an airport, car rentals, a variety of restaurants, cafes, bowling, movie theaters, nightclubs, bars, ski shops, retail shops, and gyms with whirlpools and saunas and spas in nearby Lake Placid. There is 98 percent snowmaking.

Area Recreation Profile
Mountain biking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, golf, boating, and sailing are all available in Lake Placid.

Bear Mountain, CA

Area Profile
Ninety miles due east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino National Forest, Bear Mountain serves as a haven for a rabid cadre of snowboarders and freeskiers who play in the area’s three terrain parks and pipes along with a double black run sure to get the most adventurous freeskier’s blood rushing. The prevailing vibe is so boarder-centric that the area also fields its own pro snowboard team.

Lodging Profile
A variety of lodging is located on-site including luxury motels, motels, condos, and suites.

Services Profile
Restaurants located throughout the resort along with various stops to snack, coffee bars, repair shop, sports shop and lessons. One hundred percent snowmaking. Big sundeck.

Area Recreation Profile
Golf course is located at the base of the resort with rentals available on site.

Information provided by www.onthesnow.com

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Well it looks like United Airlines realized that they need to stay competitive in this rapidly changing market!  Early this month, United Airlines decided not to DOUBLE the 2nd checked bag fee.  Though United is still charging a fee for the second checked bag, it’s only $25 compared to the $50 it was as of September 2008.  This will save customers $50 round trip…now that sounds like a lot more money saved!!!  Another way that they are staying competitive is by offering perks such as giving a 20% discount on the 1st checked back if customers purchase their ticket at www.united.com, now thru Jan. 31st, 2009.  If you ask me, every little savings count!!

Picture by Consumerist

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Here’s some helpful tips that we recommend one to take before or while travelling abroad in order to have a safe enjoyable trip.  Some of these steps might seem like common sense but you never know and it can’t hurt to familarize yourself with these precautions before you take that trip to a foreign land that you are not used to.

Health

• Look up any illnesses of the country you are traveling to and make sure you’ve taken any necessary precautions
• Make sure you keep any medications you need in your personal bag, rather than checking them
• Find out if there are restrictions on any medical supplies you plan to bring and get a note from your doctor if necessary and always check with your airline to be sure
• Bring empty bottles of water to the airport than you can fill after you pass through security to avoid dehydration on a long flight
• Whenever possible stretch during long trips and before hauling heavy luggage

Theft

• Don’t let your luggage out of sight or ask anyone you don’t know to watch it for you. This may seem like a no-brainer, but plenty of people do it!
• Use concealed money holders
• Don’t leave magazines with your name and address on a plane because you never know who may be phishing for information
• If you’re going on a long trip don’t forget to secure your home
• Keep important documents on you, rather than in the overhead compartment. Passports are a common stolen item overseas
• Like anywhere else, always stay alert
• If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• In case you are robbed, keep a small amount of traveler’s checks on your person or make sure you can access your bank account or you have someone who can send you cash

Getting Around Safely

• Travel in groups; if you’re planning a trip alone make sure you bring a cell phone you can use
• Share your itinerary with someone at home so they know where you’ll be and at what time
• Always have your fare ready whenever taking transportation or sightseeing
• Have a map to avoid getting lost, but don’t refer to it constantly, you’ll look like a tourist- so be sure to study it!
• Don’t over pack and end up stuck with too much to carry. It will be easier, quicker and safer to get around with less
• Don’t let your guard down just because you’re on vacation
• Don’t go anywhere alone or with someone you don’t know

Hotels

• Get to know the hotel staff, in case anything goes wrong, they will remember you
• Give your family and friends your hotel room number so they can contact you
• Ask that your room number is written down and handed to you rather than spoken aloud
• Don’t be afraid to decline a room if the clerk says your room number aloud
• Don’t use the housekeeping welcome sign to alert that you are not there -call housekeeping instead (most of the time they will knock anyway)
• Make sure you have the correct adapters for your electronics

Child Safety

• Make sure your child knows the address of the hotel you’re staying at and has the hotel’s card
• You and your child should use brightly colored luggage that’s easy to spot at the airport
• Make a checklist each morning of what they are wearing and learn to say it in the native language of the country you’re visiting
• Decide on a place to meet if you get separated (i.e. if you’re at the Louvre, decide to meet in front of the Mona Lisa)
• Take a picture of your kids every morning on your digital camera….just in case!

Photo by bradipo

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The Tumi T-Tech Move Collection is now on Sale.  If you’ve been looking for a durable travel bag at a GREAT price…you have to check out the Tumi T-Tech Move Collection now! All styles are on sale and some are up to 51% OFF!  The Tumi T-Tech Move Collection is constructed of Tumi’s lightweight, water-resistant nylon and is perfect for the organized traveler who wants a durable bag!  Now is the perfect time to get that bag you’ve been waiting for!

View the Tumi T-Tech Move Collection on Luggage Online.

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Here at The Luggage Blog we recommend a couple of great things that one can do to help out.  We suggest that you donate your unused frequent flier miles or even your lightly used luggage and travel accessories to a charity of your choice.

Many travelers rack up tons of frequent flier miles over time and never even use them! So basically, they are just going to waste!… Well if you didn’t know this already, you can actually donate your unused frequent flier miles to charity, which will definitely help out those in need!  Here’s a list of some airlines that participate in donating unused frequent flier miles:

• American Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• US Airways

Not only could you donate your unused frequent flier miles, you could also donate your lightly used luggage to a charity of your choice.  I’m sure that there are many charities around the world that would be glad to accept these types of donations.  However, you always want to check with each charity to determine their acceptance guidelines.

Robinson Luggage, a leading luggage retailer in the Philadelphia area, recently held an in-store event doing just that.  For two weeks customers were able to bring in their old luggage and get 25% off a new bag.  The event ended on September 30th and Robinson Luggage gathered around 80 bags that will be donated to Career Wardrobe of Philadelphia, a non-profit organization that helps assist women in transition back into the workforce.

I’m sure there are many other ways and ideas to give back to your community but we wanted to share these two that we thought were a great way to help out others’ in need!

Photo by Mr. Kris

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This 8 pocket deluxe wallet is constructed of Bosca’s supple Nappa Vitello leather which wears beautifully and looks amazing with time.  It’s the perfect wallet with 8 card slots, a divider in the bill pocket and even 2 pockets for all your receipts.

PERFECT FOR:

Anyone looking for a wallet that accommodates everything you may need - ID, credit cards and cash ( what little I have! ) 

FAVORITE FEATURE:

The soft leather makes this wallet really comfortable - in fact it’s the most comfortable wallet I’ve ever carried!

DRAWBACK:

I have a tendency to “stuff” too much in it but I would not have chosen a bigger wallet!

BOTTOM LINE:

It’s perfect and it even fits in my back pocket without being too bulky!

View the Bosca 8 Pocket Deluxe Executive Wallet on Luggage Online.

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Image by Evan Roth

Images by fotopusch and dragonroy

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Concierge.com is calling out for travel tips from seasoned travelers.  The best entry wins one million OnePass Miles from Continental Airlines and travel gear from Vivre.  They’re also giving away a Heavenly Bed from Westin Hotels & Resorts and a $500 gift certificate from Vivre to weekly winners.

Send in your travel tips today at Concierge.com

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As if we need another reason to love Southwest Airlines, Forbes just named Southwest America’s Most Reliable Airline.  Forbes points out that one would usually assume that the cheapest fare come with a price… but Southwest proves that low fares don’t have to mean poor service.  So not only are they the only airline that’s not charging you to breathe, they’ve risen to the top when it comes to quality service.  Forbes measured each airline based on delays, arrivals and of course, mishandled luggage complaints.  Over the last 5 years Southwest rose to the top with on-time flights more than 80% of the time and a low cancellation rate of 0.65%.  Congrats Southwest and keep it up!

Picture by GirlieErin

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