Right and wrong travel planning and little pointers that will increase your vacation pleasures … TRULY!Let’s face it - travel seems to become more of a headache every day. There are longer airport lines, shorter tempers, higher prices and lower backaches. And I haven’t even mentioned global politics and … ah the joys of vacations, resorts and honeymoon travels.

 

 

Picture the scene.

 

You’re waiting by the airport luggage carousel, the last bag has just come through. And it’s not yours. Or you’ve just settled into the last available seat on the plane, jammed your carry-on into the overhead compartment and settled down with a book when the seat in front of you erupts in baby screams.

 

So how do you avoid the nightmares and have an enjoyable travel vacation deals … at great discounted fares?

 

Relief. Right Here. Now … travel writers!

You see, travel writers not only travel for a living, but, despite all the hassles, they seem to love doing it. Do you ever wonder how they keep their cool?

We asked a ‘crack’ team of travel journalists to share their travel secrets. Here are some of their great travel tips for every stage of your journey:

Here are 2

1.   PLANNING … How to Rush a Passport … This is how to rush passports if you’re not leaving the country within the next two weeks

 

Prepare your passport application materials, including learning what to do if you have no US birth certificate

Find out how much your passport fees will be and add a $60 “rush fee” to that

Find the passport application address you will need

Contact that passport office to ascertain what payment methods will be accepted

Put your materials, including payment method, in a manila letter sized envelope, address it to the correct office and write “Expedited” on the envelope, and send it. Depending on your schedule, consider paying for overnight service each way:UPS or FedEx (note that 2:00p.m. is sometimes the cutoff for dropping off material to be delivered overnight, and that some remote locations may not offer you overnight service).

Take your envelope to the post office or a service center for an overnight delivery service like

If You’re Traveling Within Two Weeks

There is no guarantee that you can get a US passport in less than two weeks. That said, I got one the same day that I drove to my regional passport office and applied.

To get a passport rushed, or within two weeks, you must prove that you are leaving the country and need it fast — your (paid for) itinerary from your travel agency or your e-ticket works. And the Department of State / Immigration notes on its website that you will not be allowed to apply for a passport at your post office or through the mail if you are leaving the country within two weeks — you must apply in person at an office.

2.   ON THE ROAD …

Top 10 Ways to Get Upgraded on a Flight … So are there any tricks to getting upgraded from economy class? Most times there are no tricks of the trade, it is often by being entitled to an upgrade if you are a very frequent flyer with an upgrade-able fare, and once in a while it is a little bit of luck. A lot of the following are also contingent on luck as it isn’t really possible to bet on which flights are going to be wildly over or under sold on any given day. That being stated, these are the top 10 (3  now – 7 here) ways to get upgraded that I see as an airline gate agent most often:

1. Being a top tier member of the airline’s frequent flyer program, and be in possession of a valid upgrade certificate.

2. If you aren’t a top tier member then travel with a top tier member of the airline’s frequent flyer program, and be in possession of a valid upgrade certificate.

3. And again being a top tier frequent flyer member pays - if you are a top tier member of the airlines frequent flyer program then traveling on an oversold flight will lead to more potential for a courtesy upgrade.

More Tips Here … like, how to use a Squat Toilet in China, If you get lost in Sydney

So, go on now. Book that trip.

As you do, please consider these travel vacation resort service providers.