Be triple safe

Each government assesses travel conditions in other countries for its citizens, providing warnings about destinations with civil unrest, rampant crime and other dangerous conditions. Researching your destination with all three of these governments’ agencies will make you an informed and savvy traveler:

United States: U.S. Department of State
    Web site: http://www.travel.state.gov

       (click on "Consular information Sheets" in left margin)
Canada: Bureau of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
    Web site: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/ctry/new-en.asp#ctr

Britain: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
    Web site: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel

Get the skinny

Tourist offices promote travel to the destinations they represent and will provide you with free information. You can obtain maps and information on hotels, restaurants, special events and much more. To find the tourist office for your particular destination, go to Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory at http://www.towd.com.

Stay healthy

The Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ is your best source of information for travel health, including necessary inoculations for your destination and listings of existing local health problems and diseases.
Another very helpful Web site is that of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/home-page/

Bid for great travel prices on hotels, rental cars and airfare

I use Priceline.com to bid for hotel rooms at fantastic prices. Examples of my deals:

• Manhattan's Grand Hyatt for $150

• New Orleans Marriott in French Quarter for $75

• Atlanta airport's Marriott Renaissance for $50

• Atlanta airport's Hilton for $40

Bidding strategy: 

• Research good hotel prices on another website, such as Orbitz.com.

• Know your preferred location - you can research this on Priceline before you bid.

• Know the class of hotel you want; Priceline describes what you get for each star rating.

• Make your bid for the desired price, star rating and location of hotel. If you do not get your price, you must  wait 72 hours to re-bid, or you may bid again immediately using different parameters, such as a different location or star-rating.

• Let me know what deals you get!

You may also use Priceline.com to bid for flights, rental cars and vacation packages. 

  I always save money bidding for rental cars on Priceline.com!

Luggage bargains

Find the luggage you want for up to 70% off with free shipping from Irv's Luggage Warehouse. Shop online for major brands such as Tumi, Hartmann, American Tourister, Samsonite, and flight attendant favorite Travel Pro. Click here to shop:

Bargain fares from the airport you choose

Subscribe to the weekly e-mail from SmarterTravel.com to receive sale fare information on all the airlines out of the city you select. Each week I find out the hottest deals from my closest airport (Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International) to destinations all over the country and the world. The site also offers money-saving tips and advice for travel consumers, destination information, flight
schedules and travel auctions. A new feature called Booking Buddy allows consumers to easily compare prices from a variety of travel suppliers.

 Subscribe to SmarterTravel.com's FREE email travel newsletters for current travel savings.

Pack the right stuff

These two websites offer travel accessories, clothes and luggage: 

Magellan's provides all you need to "gear up" for your trip, and Christine Columbus offers travel tips,  resources and a handy packing list in addition to an assortment of travel clothes and products. 

Christine Columbus is for women, but I think men will also find items and tips of interest. 

Click here to visit Magellans.com, or check out www.christinecolumbus.com.

Special locks for checked luggage

I always recommend locking luggage that is to be checked with your airline. However, because of security rules, all checked luggage must be scanned for explosives and some bags may be opened for closer inspection. Travel Sentry Certified Locks have a four-dial combination that you set. They can be opened by airport Transportation Security Administration agents using special tools that do not damage the locks. The agents close your locks after the inspection is complete, leaving a note inside your suitcase informing you of the inspection that took place. Two locks normally cost $19.85, but are on sale now for just $14 at Magellan’s. Click here to visit Magellans.com.

Save money in New York and Philadelphia

Visitors to New York City will save money on 40 of the most popular attractions by purchasing a New York Pass for $49 a day. Attractions include the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, The Guggenheim, NBC Studio Tour, United Nations Tour, Circleline Sightseeing, Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour and much more. Since it would be nearly impossible to see all these attractions in one day, I suggest buying a Combination Package for $109, which includes a 2-day New York Pass plus two days of unlimited travel on Grayline's Double-Decker Hop-on, Hop-off bus. Regularly scheduled stops include Central Park, Lincoln Center, Guggenheim Museum, Empire State Building, South Street Seaport, American Museum of Natural History and more.

Click on the icon below to access more information on the New York Pass and also the Philadelphia Pass.

Know the culture of your destination

As a solo traveler, your experience will be more enriching when you understand background and cultural information about your destination. Since 1974, CultureGrams has provided travelers with up-to-date information about specific destinations, now numbering 181. Four-page reports detail background, people, customs, courtesies, lifestyle, society, literacy rate, life expectancy, as well as visa, health and embassy contact information. One report is currently $6, though you can order two for $9 and five for $15. Through June you’ll get a 10 percent discount when ordering the World Edition, which includes all 181 reports plus maps, data tables and glossary of cultural terms. Order online at www.culturegrams.com or by calling 800-528-6279.

Trains are great for solo travelers  

The most fun way to travel within Europe is by train. You'll see the countryside up close and mingle with the locals. Click on the Rail Europe link below to search rail pass options and buy your tickets online.

Everything you need to know about European train travel is in the book, Traveling the Eurail Express, by Jay Brunhouse. This sixth edition helps you choose the right pass and explains train travel between and within countries throughout Western and Eastern Europe. It describes, for example, how to find your train's departure platform, even giving you the words to look for in various languages, and how to find the correct carriage. Published by Pelican, it retails for $18.95 and is currently available at Amazon for $13.27. Just click on the book image for details and to order.

Affordable accommodations

You don't need a roommate to share the cost of travel when you can stay in a delightful Paris hotel, with private bath, for just $50 per night. Margo Classé finds little gems that even travel agents don't know about and lists them in her Hello Europe series of books on Spain, Italy, France, Britain and Ireland. Each listing perfectly describes the hotel, giving contact information. Visit www.HelloEurope.com.

Unbelievably good deals and great adventures that you absolutely can't get unless you're over 50!

That's the title of Joan Rattner Heilman's book ($14.95, Contemporary Books/McGraw-Hill), which lists discounts for those over 50. Most of the discounts  involve travel and are for airfare, hotels, rental cars, trains, tours and more. There is even a chapter titled, "Singles on the Road." Many of the discounts apply only to those who have reached ages 55, 60 or 65, however this book will make anyone aged 50+ see the bright side of getting older!

 

Travel Aids

These are travel items I use and recommend:

Jet travel is still my favorite way to go, despite airport security hassles. Streamline your way through the airport with the Easy TravelAir Security Pouch, $14.99, available at Easytravelair.com. No need to dig through your pockets or purse, increasing the risk of losing things; the pouch hangs around your neck and holds everything you need to get through the airport. Clear pockets on the front provide easy viewing for your I.D. and boarding pass, while black nylon pockets in back hold cash for tips and airport snacks. I use this for all my flying, even as a flight attendant, to hold my passport and crew paperwork.

Eagle Creek Comfort Neck Pillow, $14.85, always goes with me. When deflated, this is a little more bulky than other, less expensive, inflatable pillows, however it is lightweight and the most comfortable and easy to use. It inflates with just a few puffs and deflates in one quick squish – other brands take many annoying minutes for each process. I also use Eagle Creek Comfort Eye Shades for $9.85, with a soft, molded fleece lining. 

My favorite money belt is the Eagle Creek Undercover Silk Waist Wallet, $23.85. I remove the plastic insert for less weight and bulk and enjoy the comfort of silk against my skin, it's well worth the added expense. I also use the Eagle Creek Undercover Silk Neck Pouch, $19.85, which, in black, is nice enough to serve as an evening purse. I use the waist wallet for cash and valuables I won't need that day, and the neck pouch, which is easier to access, for items I may need.

Most travelers enjoy at least a bit of shopping at their destination, whether for handcrafted items, groceries, souvenirs or duty-free items. An indispensable travel aid is a lightweight, collapsible tote bag. The Key Chain Tote Bag, $12.85, weighs only three ounces, folds down to 4.5 x 2.5”, yet opens into a 16 x 14.5 x 4” tote.

These, and many more travel aids, are available at Magellan's. Click here to visit Magellans.com

For travelers, not tourists

For 25 years Transitions Abroad has been the best resource for travelers interested in alternatives to mass tourism. Bi-monthly issues cover independent travel, work, study, living abroad and more. My favorite is the July/August issue, The Overseas Travel Planner. It offers descriptions and contact information on resources for travel abroad, living abroad, immersion travel, senior travel, disability travel and – oh, yes - solo travel.

One-year subscriptions are $28; $32 in Canada. This year, U.S. subscribers to the magazine will receive a free copy of the Alternative Travel Directory, a $23.95 value, for just an extra $4 shipping and handling. Visit www.TransitionsAbroad.com or call 800-293-0373.

Solo travelers have their own site

SoloTourist.com offers you the opportunity to create and post your own travel blog and photo album. In addition, a great deal of information and many links are available at this site. Visit www.solotourist.com.

A solo traveler’s best friend

Diane Redfern has published her Connecting: solo travel news newsletter since 1990. She encourages hospitality and networking, internationally, among people who travel alone. Her newsletter and Web site provide men and women of all ages with information about solo-travel options in tours, lodging, resorts, cruises, clubs and organizations. Her newsletter also provides a free forum for posting travel companion ads and participating in advice and hospitality exchanges. Solo travelers can thank Diane for successfully blazing a trail, making solo travel the popular option it is today. You can find information online at http://www.cstn.org or call 800-557-1757.

Web site for solo travelers

SoloTravel.org, based in London, offers a variety of information for solo travelers, including travel advice, country guides, money and budget tips, information for backpackers, a guestbook and links to other sites of interest to solo travelers. Of special interest are articles written by solo travelers. You may want to contribute one of your own. Visit www.solotravel.org. 

Help from Down Under

Singles Travel Connections is the only travel agency in Australia to specialize in singles travel. Trip packages are offered to destinations worldwide and most are “guaranteed share,” to avoid the single supplement, though single rooms are available if you desire. Potential roommates are put in touch with each other prior to their tour. Singles Travel Connections can plan travel for people worldwide and many clients are from the U.S and U.K. For more information and a list of tours, visit www.singlestravel.com.au.

Buddy up?

The Travel Companion Exchange, in its 20^th year, is a long-time friend of solo travelers who want travel tips, a travel companion, or both. Its primary service is to help single, divorced or widowed travelers find a travel partner in order to avoid the single supplement. President Jens Jurgen offers advice on bargain travel, safety tips and explains the intricacies of the travel industry in his bimonthly newsletter, Travel Companions. Check out the Travel Companion Exchange website at http://www.travelcompanions.com

Table for one, please

If you don’t already enjoy dining alone, let Marya Charles Alexander, the nation’s foremost expert on solo dining, show you how to turn it into a pleasant experience. Her SoloDining.com newsletter and Web site are "devoted to taking the bite out of eating alone." Each bimonthly newsletter features tips on solo dining and lists restaurants throughout the country that welcome solo diners. Check out http://www.solodining.com.

Women of the world unite

Journeywoman.com is an award winning Web site that has created a worldwide network of women helping women in their travels. Presented by Evelyn Hannon, this site grows in success due to her remarkable ability to hone in on what women travelers want and need, and to harness our willingness to help each other. Check out the site for everything from unique go-alone advice to over 100 women-centered travel opportunities and be sure to subscribe to the free quarterly newsletter that offers a wealth of travel tips. Visit http://www.journeywoman.com.

Hey, girlfriend!

HERmail.net, sister site to Journeywoman.com, allows women worldwide to communicate with each other for travel information or even friendship. Get the inside information, from a female point of view, before you go. HERmail.net provides the introduction; you take it from there. You may need to submit questions several times to ensure success - your contacts might be traveling - so please be patient. Find out more at www.hermail.net.

Hone a hobby or learn something new

ShawGuides presents learning vacations offered by many companies in a wide range of topics including language, photography, cooking, arts & crafts, tennis, golf, opera, history, philosophy and many more. If you can’t find something that interests you at this site, take your pulse to make sure you’re alive. Explore the website at http://www.shawguides.com.

Attention, Aretha Franklin and John Madden

Solo travelers must sometimes overcome fears to travel alone successfully. If fear of flying is one of yours, I recommend the self-help program, Fearless Flying, offered by Northwest Airlines and Broadview Media of Minneapolis. The kit costs $69.95 and includes a 40-minute videotape, 30-minute audiotape, a handbook, a relaxation breathing tube and a $50 gift certificate good for travel on Northwest. The tapes explain principles of flight, air safety, turbulence, aircraft design and maintenance, pilot and flight attendant training, and breathing and relaxation exercises. The video is well done and very informative - after 31 years as a flight attendant, even I learned a few things! Order by calling 888-577-4455 or by visiting http://www.fearlessflying.com.