TSA and Travel

Travel these past couple of weeks has kept me really busy and I haven't really been able to keep up with the blog. My resolution, keep up with the blog and provide some good travel info. So here's the start.

First up, this website will provide general flight delays for a specific airport. Keep in mind that flights from other airports could have some bearing on your flight, but this at least gives you an idea of the times at your local airport, especially during the winter weather that we are having right now.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Ever wonder what the security lines are like. I'm not saying that this is 100%, but it will give you some sort of idea for the time that you are traveling. (Keep in mind, Monday morning and Friday evening are always a little busier than what the numbers say.)
http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html

Now, off to the window to take more frozen pictures of Montreal. Temp right now -17. That's right, -17 ( and that's before the wind chill).

Tips on Traveling Abroad

With the latest couple of trips, I have gained a little more exposure to heading through customs and the best ways to get around with as few issues as possible. First off, I'm going to provide everyone with the link to the Homeland Security Customs tips.

Now, on to the tips that I have gathered on my own.

First, no offense ladies, but the male customs officials tend to be a little more understanding and less likely to forward you over to immigration. And getting forwarded over to immigration, especially if you are trying to make a connecting flight, can put serious strain on your travel plans.

Second, the use of the space bags (the ones that you can compact your clothes with) will help you to organize your bags and keep everything in place if you need to open for customs agents.

Traveling for business or pleasure, you need to make sure that you keep things simple and precise when addressing the customs agent. The more details to your story, the more items that the customs agent needs to check. And when your job is to move people through as quickly and efficiently as possible, you won't spend a lot of time on an in depth story. So, in this case, you will probably end up spending the next hour or so hanging out in the immigration office.

Hope this helps for anyone heading across the borders.

Snow in Montreal

So, this really cool picture was taken after the really cool storm that managed to totally encase our rental car in 1/4 inch sheet of ice. I realized why it's really great to have remote starters on your car. Too bad the rental car doesn't have one.

I'm sorry to disappoint that there aren't any pictures of scrapping the ice off (which was a good 45 minute process). My biggest suggestion on this, always make sure to take a change of clothes that you can get into easily in the morning (jogging pants, jeans, slip-on boots, etc.) with you on your trip. This is so that you can set the alarm an extra 45 minutes early to go down and make sure that your car is clean and clear and then drop right back into bed.

The only practical and effective way to be able to get heavy ice off of the car and clean the windows is to run the car. Make sure that you clean out the areas in between the window and the hood. This helps with air circulation and will give an area for the melting ice and snow to fall to and be cleaned off. Be very careful with anything other than scraping or brushing. Depending upon the exterior temperature and the internal temperature of the car, you risk the possibility of cracking car glass, especially if you already have any gravel chips.

Outside My Hotel in Montreal

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Just got back from Cabo!

Well. Just got back from my honeymoon in Cabo. I would have to say that this was probably one of the first relaxing trips that I have taken in quite a long time. Good thing though, with all the travel that I have done in the past, things seemed to go fairly smooth.

Some key aspects worth noting about traveling to and around Cabo and then into the sights and sounds to check out.

1.) Always make sure to have copies of your passport with you as you travel around the city. You never know when you might have an emergency come up and need it.

2.) Notify all of your credit and ATM card providers that you are traveling abroad with the locations that you will be visiting. This will keep them from putting a hold for your protection, but leaving you high and dry without access to your money.

3.) Always withdraw the cash that you feel you will need before travelling. The exchange fees at the ATM's will cost you a fortune.

4.) Do not change your money as soon as you arrive at the airport or hotel. Hold onto your money and then talk to the locals about the closest bank with the best rates. These rates can vary from 5 to 10% at least.

5.) Talk to your hotel about the cab fares to the most common locations (i.e. the mall, marina, old town, etc.). They can give you the standard rates that should be charged and then when you are tryng to get around you can ask the cab driver for the fare up front and know that you are not getting ripped off.

6.) The best deals in the marina are available after the cruise ships roll out. This is usually by 4PM on most days, but some leave a little later. Ask around when you arrive to see what the schedule is for the time that you are there.

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