Is The Melia’ Lima Hotel Taking Advantage Of Paying With A Credit Card?

This week I’m taking a number of people to Lima, Peru. We are staying at a nice hotel called the Melia’ Lima. I was just told by our country staff host that they are going to charge 19% if we pay with my credit card or we can pay with cash and not get charged the 19%. I’m not going to travel with that kind of cash on me because it’s extremely risky no matter where you go in the world.

The average cost a merchant has to pay to process credit card purchases is 2% to 5%. So the Melia’ Lima is going to charge me 19%? Does this sound like price gouging? Are we being taking advantage of?

As a side note, because we are a large group, we are getting a discounted rate…but is it still right for them to charge 19%?

UPDATE!!!!! we checked into the hotel last night and the 19% charge is for peruvian citizans only. Which means had our staff office covered the charges, they would have incurred this 19% surcharge. I think that’s still a bit much, but the hotel staff has been excellent!!!

What do you think? Please leave me a comment and let me know!!!

Vicky Beeching’s Crazy Travel Weekend

This is a post from a friend of mine, Vicky Beeching. You can read to full story HERE on her blog. Below is the story. And yes…this is the ultimate in crazy travel.

Hey friends

If you’ve been following my Twitter posts (www.twitter.co
m) you’ll
know that I just experienced a seriously crazy travel time, coming back
from London.

I had a BRILLIANT week leading worship at New Wine 2008, an amazing
worship and teaching event in the UK. I left the conference to drive to
Heathrow and from then on things just got crazier and crazier…

The plane had 3 different mechanical faults and sat on the tarmac in
London for over 3 hours before it even took off, with us all on board
as they tried to fix it. Seven hours later we descended into JFK but
couldn’t land because of storms. Circling for 2 hours drained fuel, so
the pilot announced we needed to make an emergency landing in Boston or
we would totally be out of gas.

Touching down in Boston, we were denied a parking gate as they were
full with other storm re-directed international flights. Assigned a
space in the cargo area, we parked amid warehouses, old vehicles and
palettes. Boston then denied us entrance to deplane anywhere as we were
unexpected and their customs could not handle us. JFK refused to let us
take off from Boston and head their way as weather had caused so many
flight delays that their customs and flight re-booking areas were now
under police control as people had got aggressive.

So stuck in the cargo area of Boston airport, we sat trapped in the
plane on the tarmac for nine hours with no proper AC or food/water
supplies. Children were throwing up, people were shouting and demanding
answers. The pilot, desperate for answers from either JFK or Boston
received neither, and pushed both so hard for a solution when both were
denying responsibility, that they threatened to take away his flying
credentials. The temperature rose to a point where all the plane doors
had to be opened, but we were told anyone jumping out onto the wings
would be arrested immediately as an internationally non-customs cleared
criminal.

Customers at the end of their sanity made a phone-call to a Boston
TV channel reporting that we were unable to leave the plane, and
therefore were being held hostage by the airports, without water or air
for 9 hours. Apparently a newsflash went out across Boston TV,
questioning whether our plane, Delta DL4 from Heathrow was indeed in a
hostage situation! Thankfully it was not.

Eventually we were deplaned and taken through customs in Boston
which was a ghost town at 1am. We were then told we had to get straight
back on the same plane as Boston would not be able to fly us anywhere
for several days if we stayed, due to a backlog of other travelers. So
awaiting the same plane to be fixed, cleaned and re-crewed was our only
option. Held in a waiting area with MacDonald vouchers we all pretty
much passed out, strewn across the floor with our bags. Kids were
crying and people ate their MacDonalds silently just desperate to be
anywhere but there. Finally departing Boston at 2am we arrived in a
deserted JFK at 3am and were sent through lines for vouchers and
re-booking for another hour. Assigned a hotel several miles away we
were sent onto the AirTran train to a waiting point for a hotel shuttle
on a dark street corner. The hotel shuttle didn’t show up for 45
minutes. After a long line to check into the hotel I was told there
were not enough rooms as Delta had over-sent passengers. Eventually I
got a bed for a few hours before setting out for JFK again to get the
final leg of my flight on to Buffalo NY. Seriously it felt like some
kind of nightmare and travels problems continued again all the
following day as I headed to Buffalo!

Read the timeline and see it all…. P.s. thanks for reading all this…
I feel like downloading to you all about how stressful it was is very
healing somehow!!

HT:Vicky Beeching

American Airlines MD-80 Fleet Inspections

Background: : In 2004, American Airlines was the lead airline working with Boeing to develop a Service Bulletin to correct wiring exposure and chafing in the MD-80 auxiliary hydraulic pump wire bundle. The concern was that exposure and chafing could cause fire in the wheel well. An Airworthiness Directive (AD) was issued in September 2006, giving MD-80 operators, including American, 18 months to address this issue. American completed the Service Bulletin in November 2006, followed by adjustments deemed necessary by American’s structural engineers to comply with the AD well ahead of a March 2008 deadline.

In recent weeks the Federal Aviation Administration significantly increased its emphasis on monitoring the adherence to Airworthiness Directives that apply to various U.S. airlines. With respect to American Airlines’ MD-80 fleet, we had a detailed issue that we believed had to be addressed immediately to remain compliant with the FAA; if found in non-compliance, we would have been instructed to stop flying our airplanes.

What is the specific nature of the issue?
The issue surrounds questions raised by the FAA about the way American implemented the Engineering Change Order (ECO) addressing the MD-80 auxiliary pump wiring Airworthiness Directive (AD). American fixed the item well within the specified AD timeframe. The work being done now centers on a need to change the way in which American complied with the AD regarding such items as the spacing of the ties on the wiring bundles and the direction of the retention clips and lacing cords. We are highly confident that this is not a safety of flight issue because the wire bundle is secure. It is a matter of how the work was done, not whether aircraft were protected from the threat of wire exposure and chafing that could cause fire.

Why ground the entire MD-80 fleet?
It became clear based on the number of questions the FAA raised that there would be a high percentage of aircraft that would not be found to be in full compliance of the Airworthiness Directive. Working with the FAA we were unable to find an alternative solution to regaining compliance – for example, a multi-day period to rectify the issues – so we had no choice but to ground the aircraft. While it has been a major disruption to AA’s operation, everyone recognizes the need to ensure that the MD-80 fleet is in complete compliance and is working to restore the MD-80s back to service as quickly as possible.
Who is completing the work and why is it taking longer than the previous MD-80 inspections?
There are three levels of American employees accomplishing the work. American has assigned a team of employees – aviation maintenance technicians, quality assurance inspectors, and engineers – to inspect the aircraft and ensure full technical compliance, as well as to make any additional adjustments. As our aircraft return to service, the FAA is inspecting those aircraft to ensure compliance.

What is the airline doing for customers?
We are doing everything possible to take care of our customers as expeditiously as possible while facing the fact that our resources have been stretched to their limits. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience and know that this kind of interruption of travel plans is unacceptable. While customers are dislocated we are providing meals, hotels and ground transportation; for those stranded overnight, we will offer vouchers for future travel on American Airlines. Customers who were inconvenienced with overnight stays can go to AA.com where a link will guide them to instructions on how to receive compensation.

What is the company doing to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
American plans to contract with an independent third party to review American’s compliance processes. This work will help ensure that all procedures strictly adhere to the technical elements of every directive so American can avoid this type of schedule disruption in the future.

From American Airlines.

Five Perfect Days in California Wine Country

If there is one thing I really like to do when I travel is discover new wines…and go to Napa Valley,

California. I’m such a novice at it and I follow this blog for wine novices to learn all the good stuff. But recently I was told about this great article from Conde Nast Traveler about spending so much needed time in California Wine Country.

I love Napa Valley and all it has to offer, so if you are looking to take a well deserved trip to wine Country then below is a great article for just the right occasion for you. I know I will use this article as a reference for my next visit to Napa. In fact…I think I might have to take a balloon ride over Napa. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Click HERE for the article.

Here’s a small preview of the article…

The Challenge

You’ve got less than a week to see Napa Valley, California’s most
famous farm country. But where to start among the roughly 450 wineries?
Although the first commercial Napa grapes were planted by George Yount
in 1838, it wasn’t until 1976 that the region’s winemakers earned
international respect by beating true French Bordeaux and Burgundies in
a blind tasting. Furthermore, you’ll likely be sharing the
30-mile-long, 5-mile-wide valley with more than a few oenophiles: The
more than 5 million annual visitors make Napa the state’s second most
popular tourist destination (after Disneyland). In the peak summer
months, this means crowds running five deep at the most popular tasting
bars, and one-lane highways choked with traffic. Even if you go in the
off-season, don’t plan on leaving things to serendipity: Many of the
best wineries are open by appointment only, so no one will be there to
greet you if you arrive unannounced. Finally, the sequence of your
itinerary can be as problematic as the content: Each wine tasting and
meal has a different stylistic note, and combining them is like
composing a symphony.

The Solution

What you need is a Wine Country Concierge—and that’s where Jackie
Richmond comes in (see "Top Travel Specialists," August 2007; or go to cntraveler.com/travelagentfinder).
A 22-year resident of the valley, Richmond helped me orchestrate a Napa
itinerary that would delight a first-time visitor as well as a valley
veteran, and a wine neophtye as much as the owner of a thousand-bottle
cellar….CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY.

How To … Fly Through Airport Security

I
travel a WHOLE LOT and my travel centers around flying. This article
below from wired.com is EXACTLY what I do EVERY time I travel. I even
carry a messenger bag and a rolling carry on piece of luggage just like
in the pictures below. Thanks wired for being such a cool mag!

How To … Fly Through Airport Security

From Wired.com by Mathew Honan

You might as well check your dignity curbside. Soon
you’ll be shoeless and flustered, spilling comics across the floor as
you dig your MacBook from the depths of your duffel. But take a deep
breath, frequent fliers: It is possible to pass security with your ego
intact. Here’s how. — Mathew Honan

1) Do recon online. Security delays vary widely by
concourse and terminal. Go to tsa.gov to find average wait times. If
you’re not checking bags, print your boarding pass at home and head to
the fastest line. (Be sure your gate is accessible from that security
checkpoint.)

2) Carry a messenger bag. The topside flap gives
easy access to your laptop and Ziploc of liquids and gels while the
pockets provide plenty of storage for alarm-trippers. As soon as you
get in line, tuck your belt, wallet, keys, watch, and phone into the
sack.

3) Wear laceless shoes. And holeless socks. Just think of all the foot fungi of travelers past. Or don’t.

4) Go! After you pass ID screening, make a beeline
to the shortest x-ray queue. Don’t wait to be directed, and don’t
hesitate to bypass dawdlers. Not only will you get there faster, you’ll
keep the whole line moving.

5) Use only two bins. Place shoes, coat, and
toiletries in the first bin; laptop in the second; followed by the
messenger bag. Keep the roller on the floor, where it’s easy to manage,
until the last minute.

6) Dress strategically. Don your coat and shoes while waiting for your bags. Put on your belt and watch at the gate.

I
travel a WHOLE LOT and my travel centers around flying. This article
below from wired.com is EXACTLY what I do EVERY time I travel. I even
carry a messenger bag and a rolling carry on piece of luggage just like
in the pictures below. Thanks wired for being such a cool mag!

How To … Fly Through Airport Security

From Wired.c0m by Mathew Honan

You might as well check your dignity curbside. Soon
you’ll be shoeless and flustered, spilling comics across the floor as
you dig your MacBook from the depths of your duffel. But take a deep
breath, frequent fliers: It is possible to pass security with your ego
intact. Here’s how. — Mathew Honan

1) Do recon online. Security delays vary widely by
concourse and terminal. Go to tsa.gov to find average wait times. If
you’re not checking bags, print your boarding pass at home and head to
the fastest line. (Be sure your gate is accessible from that security
checkpoint.)

2) Carry a messenger bag. The topside flap gives
easy access to your laptop and Ziploc of liquids and gels while the
pockets provide plenty of storage for alarm-trippers. As soon as you
get in line, tuck your belt, wallet, keys, watch, and phone into the
sack.

3) Wear laceless shoes. And holeless socks. Just think of all the foot fungi of travelers past. Or don’t.

4) Go! After you pass ID screening, make a beeline
to the shortest x-ray queue. Don’t wait to be directed, and don’t
hesitate to bypass dawdlers. Not only will you get there faster, you’ll
keep the whole line moving.

5) Use only two bins. Place shoes, coat, and
toiletries in the first bin; laptop in the second; followed by the
messenger bag. Keep the roller on the floor, where it’s easy to manage,
until the last minute.

6) Dress strategically. Don your coat and shoes while waiting for your bags. Put on your belt and watch at the gate.

Also posted here.

Don’t Hate Me Cuz I’m Beautiful

Ok then…how about because you’re an 18 yr old spoiled brat who thinks the world revolves around them? Geez!!!! Some people amaze me! I’m sure you girls are cute and all but seriously…get over it. My friend Randy Williams turned me onto this story I missed…It really is incredible that people are just that stupid and arrogant. Read this article below from msnbc.com by Harriet Baskas…Thanks Randy and way to go Southwest Airlines for handling this well. Your blog rocks.

Teens grounded by manners, not by looks

Passed by for a beverage? Waiting for the lavatory? You can still be polite

By Harriet Baskas

Travel writer

updated 9:01 a.m. CT, Thurs., Feb. 28, 2008

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Long
ago, when I was deep into the ugly duckling phase of my teen years, my
mom would remind me that “beauty is only skin deep” and suggest I focus
on being smart and nice instead.

Sort of a
mixed message, sure, but definitely not the “just stand there, look
pretty and stamp your feet if you want something” instructions Nisreen
Swedberg and Sarah Williams seem to have received.

Police
were called in to escort these two 18-year-olds off a Tampa-to-Los
Angeles flight operated by Southwest Airlines this past Valentine’s
Day. The duo had caused an in-flight disruption. And these days, when
that happens, airlines and law enforcement officials don’t mess around.

What
caused the ruckus? Well, it seems that first Swedberg felt sorely
dissed by not being served water before take-off and then getting
skipped over during the in-flight beverage service. Then Williams
needed to use the lavatory, but found it occupied. Either she really
had to go, or she’s not accustomed to having to wait — regardless,
witnesses say she banged on the door and then got into a heated
exchange with the passenger who finally emerged from the bathroom.

Southwest
Airlines spokesperson Beth Harbin says the police were called in to
meet the flight in Los Angeles because “the girls were verbally abusive
to another customer … using profanities … and getting in his face.”

Airplanes,
especially full 737s, are very contained spaces, Harbin emphasized, and
situations like this capture everyone’s attention. “You cannot let an
incident elevate in that environment. Flight attendants are asked to
contain and calm situations as quickly as they can. But at 30,000 feet
we don’t have the opportunity to just ask someone to leave.”

Although it sounds like that would have been an appealing option.

The
young women have a different take on the story — one they were all too
happy to share with a local TV station in Tampa Bay. As the camera
panned up her legs, past her brightly manicured nails and
off-the-shoulder blouse, Nisreen Swedberg calmly explained how unfairly
she’d been treated, how she didn’t feel as if she’d done anything wrong
and that she was surely singled out “based on my looks.” On the phone,
Swedberg’s friend, Sarah Williams, told the TV reporter, “I think they
were just discriminating against [us] because we were young,
decent-looking girls. I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us —
except us.”

Get a clue
Ladies,
it wasn’t that you were “too pretty to fly.” You were too rude. And,
sadly, stereotypically clueless. However, you’re not alone. There are
plenty of other travelers — novice and experienced, pretty and not so
pretty — who sometimes forget their manners. So here are a few very
simple tips to keep in mind.

HT:msbnc.com

US Airways and United Adopt Second Bag Fee

What will they think of next to nickle and dime you for getting from point A to point B? Read this article below and click HERE for more commentary on this lame new rule.

US Airways Adopts Second Bag Fee

FEBRUARY 26, 2008 —

US Airways today joined United Airlines in charging
passengers $25 to check a second bag each way. US Airways said the new
fee is effective for tickets booked on or after Feb. 26 for travel
beginning May 5.

US Airways said the new fee applies to flights within
the United States, and to and from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean
and Europe, which is in contrast to United’s policy, which does not
apply to itineraries that include international flights, except those
to Canada.

Like United, US Airways is making some passengers
immune to the fee, including preferred frequent flyer members,
passengers in first class and elite Star Alliance members. US Airways
also said it would exempt active military and unaccompanied children.
United earlier this month enacted a similar baggage charge for travel
beginning May 5 (BTNonline, Feb. 4).

HT: BTNonline

For Those of You Who Can Afford A Private Jet…

I’ve flown on private jets over the years and it’s a pretty awesome way to go. Of course, I was always a guest of the person who owned the jet or the my band at the time would lease them from time to time. No matter what…it’s a great way to travel. So here’s an interesting article from the good folks at msnbc.com and forbes.com written by Rebecca Ruiz.

Eight reasons you need to fly private

Charter a jet and you’ll get your money’s worth of added perks

By Rebecca Ruiz

Forbes

updated 7:37 p.m. CT, Mon., Feb. 25, 2008

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For
those who fly privately, price is often no object. Take, for example, a
hedge fund manager who recently hired the Long Island, N.Y.-based Talon
Air to fly him and five guests to Las Vegas on a Gulfstream IV.

The
party began their four-day trip with a catered meal from the exclusive
Japanese restaurant Nobu. They relaxed in reclining leather seats and
sped toward Sin City at 570 miles per hour. On the return flight, they
again enjoyed a Nobu meal, this one prepared at the Las Vegas
restaurant.

The total cost? $86,000, which included a $5,000 bill for catering.

Not
all passengers on private planes spend so extravagantly, but the
industry is a lucrative one. There are 166 million people who use
general aviation annually, which includes private or corporate jets,
according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Two-thirds of total general aviation flight time is used for business
purposes. The business-jet market has also been steadily growing since
the mid-90s, when the North American fleet of jets topped 6,000. There
are now more than 10,000 business jets in North America and over 14,000
worldwide, according to Honeywell Aerospace.

Growing
demand is due partly to an increasingly globalized world in which sales
teams from New York meet clients in India or Russia regularly. The
interest in private travel has also correlated with the dismal
performances of domestic commercial airlines. Only 80% of flights were
on time in November 2007, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, a discouraging statistic for business travelers who
need reliable transportation.

Increased
market competitiveness has yielded a dizzying array of choices for both
luxury and business clients when it comes to flying solo. Pete Bunce,
CEO and president of GAMA, says that the spectrum of choices is
impressive.

"If you’ve got business in
Japan, you’ll want a [plane] with tremendous long capability," Bunce
says. "If you’re a big person, like a football player, you’ll want
something that will fit your size. The choices allow virtually anyone
to tailor how they want to fly."

HT:MSNBC.COM

Seat Guru – Want To Find The Right Seat For You On Your Next Flight?

Oh…this is a helpful site! Good seats, bad seats…power ports and more…it’s a lovely site for the perfect info to make your next flight just right.

The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information! Rock on…

seatguru.com click HERE and enjoy.

What about your Delta/Northwest frequent flyer miles?

Here’s some good info from Bloggingstocks.com.

What about your Delta/Northwest frequent flyer miles?

Posted Feb 19th 2008 12:12PM by Tom Barlow
Filed under: Deals, Consumer experience, Delta Air Lines (DAL)

With the rumored Delta (NYSE: DAL) / Northwest (NYSE: NWA) merger hanging fire
[subscription required], customers of both companies may well wonder
what the impact will be on their hard-earned frequent flyer miles. The
answer seems to be both good and bad.

The good side is that traditionally when airlines have merged, the
frequent flier miles were carried over, allowing customers to select
among an increased number of flights and destinations. There is no
reason to believe this merger will be any different.

However, as travel guru Peter Greenberg cautions in his blog,
airlines merge in part to take advantage of more efficient operations;
i.e., fuller flights. Fuller flights mean a diminution of available
seats for frequent flyers. He suggests, and I concur, that you not wait
to redeem what you can.

I also suspect it’s not a coincidence that United is going to start charging for a second checked bag,
a trend I expect to quickly become the industry standard. Might
airlines next allow customers to redeem frequent flyer miles to cover
baggage costs in order to sop up frequent flyer miles at a bargain
price??

HT:BloggingStocks.com