Spas - Mom's Guide To Travel

Sep 27 2015

Here’s Where Luggage Goes After You Check It

Ever wondered what happens to your precious luggage after you bid your farewells at the ticket counter? I have imagined many scenarios and in some instances see the evidence of those assumptions once I retrieve my battered baggage. This Hipmunk article which originally appeared on The Tailwind blog pulls the curtain on your luggage’s journey.

As you queue up in security with a carry-on and contemplate the trip ahead, your checked luggage is embarking on a journey of its own.

Thanks to Amsterdam’s Airport Schiphol, you can now witness this voyage from the comfort of your own home. The airport recently released behind-the-scenes footage that reveals exactly what happens to bags after you hand them over at check-in and hope for the best. Check out the 360-degree video here.

While practices vary by country and airport, here’s a breakdown of the process as it’s commonly implemented in the U.S.:

After you leave a bag at check-in, it’s scanned by a laser barcode reader that transmits the bag’s tag number to a computer, which also keeps track of the bag’s destination. The bag is then sent off along a labyrinthine system of conveyor belts.
Once it reaches the main luggage facility, the bag is screened by security. If security administrators have any concerns about a bag, they’ll open it to scope things out (If a bag is opened, the TSA will leave a note inside stating as much).
If the bag makes it through security, the computer communicates with the baggage conveyor system to direct the bag to the right airline.
Once the bag has reached its stop, a baggage handler removes it from the conveyor belt and loads it onto a cart along with the luggage of your fellow travelers. Baggage handlers then drive the cart to the plane and load the luggage onto the aircraft.

When a Bag Goes Missing

While missing luggage is at the top of the list of travel nightmares, the good news is that statistically, it’s very rare: There’s only a 1 percent chance your bag won’t arrive at a destination along with you.

What unfortunate circumstances must align for the worst to happen? The explanation could lie with any of a number of factors:

Needing to be unloaded and transferred to a connecting flight in one hour or less.
High volume of luggage, which ups the chances of things going wrong.
Slipping off the conveyor belt or into the wrong chute (This is more likely to happen when bags are placed on the conveyor wheels-down).
Human error. If the check-in clerk inaccurately labels the destination code, your bag doesn’t stand a chance. Likewise, the bag may get loaded onto the wrong wagon (and therefore the wrong plane).
Having multiple connections. The more often a bag needs to be unloaded, redirected, and loaded onto a new plane, the higher the chances of things going awry.

How to Decrease the Odds of a Bag Getting Lost

While you may not be able to control everything that happens to a bag after check-in, take these steps to up the chances of luggage finding its way back to you:

Clearly label the bag with your name, address, and destination—both inside and out. Also apply some kind of visual identifier to the outside of the bag so it’s easy to describe to agents if it goes missing. Even better? Take a picture of the bag, including its ID tag and barcode, before it rolls off down the conveyor.
Get to the airport on time. Proper trip planning can help ensure there’s enough time between connections for bags to make it onto the plane along with you.
Know the rules regarding prohibited items, TSA-approved locks, and the like—and then follow them.
Tie up (or tuck in) all straps. Bag straps can get stuck in conveyors, creating delays in the sorting process (Depending on the length of said delays, this could mean that a bag won’t make it onto its flight).
Keep the essentials on hand at all times. Don’t check anything you can’t live without. Stash prescriptions, valuables, electronics, money, and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case. Be sure to follow all regulations so you don’t spend a ton of time in security.

If nothing else, perhaps learning about the wild adventures of checked luggage will make us all a little more grateful for the human way of flying. While babies may cry and people may recline their seats into your lap, it still beats sitting in the cargo hold.

Sep 26 2015

The Traveler’s Guide To Tipping Internationally

Tipping internationally is one of those travel tips you should research before you travel to another country. Every culture has its norms and expectations. I like to respect them no matter what they are – it’s just common courtesy and what I consider to be responsible tourism.

Here are some general guidelines to tipping in various countries around the world. The guide originally appeared on the Hipmunk Tailwind blog and I’m grateful that they did all the research for me! I’ll be bookmarking this page for easy reference for my own travels.

Tipping is a hot topic in the United States these days, as rising minimum wages call into question the standard practice of making servers reliant on tips. For travelers abroad, tipping is an equally sticky issue. Figuring out what to tip when can all too quickly turn a relaxing vacation into a stressful one. Knowing what to tip, on the other hand, can empower travelers to navigate a foreign culture with ease.

Because tipping rules vary by country, region, and place of business, it’s important to research your destination’s customs prior to any trip. Start by consulting this guide, which outlines tipping customs in 20 countries around the world, for restaurants, hotels, and beyond!

Argentina

Restaurants: While tipping at restaurants and bars isn’t considered a necessity, many tourists often tip around 10%.

Taxis: Tips aren’t expected, but consider rounding up to the nearest whole peso so the driver doesn’t have to sort out change. If they help you with your bags, add on a bit more as a token of appreciation.

Hospitality: Tip tour guides up to 20% and always give bag handlers a small bill or two.

Australia

Restaurants: Australian servers are paid decent wages and generally don’t expect tips. Recognize exceptional service by rounding up the bill. In upscale establishments only, tip 10%.

Taxis: While tipping isn’t expected, it’s common courtesy to round up to the nearest whole number.

Hospitality: For the most part, tips aren’t expected within the hospitality industry.

Canada

Restaurants: Canada’s tipping protocols are similar to those in the United States (although most Canadian servers are paid minimum wage before tips). Most restaurants expect a minimum 15% tip.

Taxis: It’s customary to tip cab drivers rel=”nofollow”10% upon arriving at your destination.

Hospitality: Tip concierges for exceptional service only, leave behind a few dollars (or more) for housekeeping, and give bag handlers $1-2 for each bag they carry.

The Caribbean

Restaurants: Most places in the Caribbean islands follow the same tipping standards as the United States, so in general plan to tip 15% or more. One possible exception: If you’re staying in an all-inclusive resort, check to see if the service charge is included.

Taxis: Plan to tip around $1-2 for in-town fares. Tack on a bit extra for late-night or long-distance rides.

Hospitality: Most hotels include a service charge in the bill. If this isn’t the case, be sure to tip bag handlers ($1-2 per bag) and housekeepers ($2 per day). Many resorts discourage tipping, so use your own discretion.

China

Restaurants: China has a fairly strict no-tipping culture (though some finer establishments may include a 10-15% service charge), so there’s no need to tip at restaurants. If you want to offer a tip for exceptional service, do so out of sight of the server’s employer.

Taxis: Tipping isn’t expected, but it is appreciated (especially in larger cities). Because there’s no customary rate, use your own discretion when deciding how much to tip.

Hospitality: Tipping is usually not expected, although this is changing in more westernized establishments. A good bet is to tip tour guides, housekeepers, and bag handlers a few dollars per day (or bag).

Costa Rica

Restaurants: Tip will be included in the bill at most Costa Rican restaurants. If you want to recognize exceptional service, add another 10% on top.

Taxis: Tips aren’t required, but it’s a friendly gesture to tip a few dollars or round up the fare to the nearest whole number.

Hospitality: Tip tour guides 10-15%, and give a few dollars to bag handlers and housekeeping.

Czech Republic

Restaurants: While tipping wasn’t always standard in the Czech Republic, the custom has been catching on. There’s no need to tip if the bill includes a service charge (though feel free to add on another 10% for great service). If no service charge is included in the bill, tip 10-15%.

Taxis: Round up the fare to the nearest whole number.

Hospitality: Give bag handlers $1-3 per bag, housekeepers $3-5 per day, and concierges $20 if they go above and beyond.

Dubai

Restaurants: The government requires a 10% service charge on all bills at restaurants, bars, and hotels. While it’s not necessary to tip more than that, you’re free to hand over a few extra dirhams to the server.

Taxis: Cab drivers don’t expect tips, but it’s polite to round up to thenearest 5-dirham note.

Hospitality: Because service charges are included in the bill, there’s little need to tip hotel staff unless you want to recognize great service.

Egypt

Restaurants: Tip will be included in the bill at most establishments, but plan to tack on another 5-10%.

Taxis: Pay cab drivers 10-15% beyond the stated fare.

Hospitality: Give housekeepers $1-2 per day throughout your stay, tip $1 per bag for bag handlers, and give the concierge $10-20 at the beginning of your stay to ensure great service.

France

Restaurants: French law requires that service be included in the price, but most locals round up their bills with small change (or up to 10% of the bill).

Taxis: Plan to tip cab drivers about 10%.

Hospitality: Give bag handlers $1-2 per bag and housekeepers around $2-3 per day. Exceptional service from the concierge should warrant 10 or more Euros.

Germany

Restaurants: Germany’s tipping customs work much like France’s: Service is included in the price, but it’s customary to round up the bill to an even figure (this usually amounts to 5-10% of the total bill).

Taxis: Round up to the nearest Euro or tack on an extra few Euros if you’re feeling generous.

Hospitality: While tips aren’t required, it’s courteous to leave behind a few Euros for housekeepers and to pay baggage handlers around 2 Euros per item. Slip the concierge 10 or more Euros for great service.

India

Restaurants: Tip 10% for the waiter, even at upscale restaurants (where a 10% service charge is included in the bill).

Taxis: Tips aren’t expected for short trips. If you hire a driver for a long trip or multiple days, tip around 150-300 rupees per day.

Hospitality: Tip bag handlers around 20 rupees per bag and offer tour guides several hundred rupees.

Italy

Restaurants: Tips aren’t expected, but feel free to round up the bill or tip 10% for exceptional service.

Taxis: Tips aren’t expected, but they are appreciated. Use your own discretion.

Hospitality: Ditto the above. Tipping really isn’t expected in Italy, but who doesn’t like being appreciated for good service?

Japan

Restaurants: It’s unlikely that a server will accept your tip, so it’s probably most polite not to offer one.

Taxis: Tips are not at all expected. A simple “thank you” will suffice.

Hospitality: Tour guides don’t expect tips but are likely to accept them. Hotel staff may refuse a tip if offered; you’re more likely to transfer cash if you put it in an envelope and leave it behind for staff, rather than foisting cash into their hands.

Mexico

Restaurants: When service is included in the bill, there’s no need to tip. Otherwise, plan to leave 10-15%.

Taxis: While tips aren’t expected, it’s courteous to round up the fare.

Hospitality: Many hotel staff rely on tips as part of their take-home pay, sobe generous. Bag handlers, housekeepers, the concierge, and anyone else who performs a service during your stay warrants a tip. The amount is up to your own discretion.

New Zealand

Restaurants: Like Australia, New Zealand doesn’t have much of a tipping culture. Service and sales tax are almost always included in the bill. Tip only for exceptional service or when the menu states that service is not included.

Taxis: Tipping isn’t expected, but acknowledge great service by rounding up the fair or leaving behind a few small bills.

Hospitality: Ditto the above. Tips aren’t expected, but they’re a nice way to express appreciation for a job well done.

Spain

Restaurants: Locals generally leave small change or round up to the nearest euro, so go ahead and follow suit. If you receive great service or are dining at an upscale establishment, leave a 5-10% tip.

Taxis: Small change, rounding up to the nearest Euro, or a couple of extra Euros are all acceptable tips.

Hospitality: Pay the bag handler up to five Euros, the person who delivers room service 1-2 Euros, and housekeepers a few Euros for the stay.

South Africa

Restaurants: In nearly all establishments, it’s customary to leave a 10-15% tip for the waiter.

Taxis: Plan to tip cab drivers around 10%.

Hospitality: Tip bag handlers around $1 per bag. Tip other hotel staff at your own discretion.

Thailand

Restaurants: Expectations here vary widely: Some sources advocate for not leaving a tip, others suggest leaving 10-15%, and still others suggest leaving $1 per diner. Keep it simple by sticking with 10% or $1 per person, whichever is more generous.

Taxis: Tips aren’t encouraged, but a tip of 20 or 30 Baht is courteous.

Hospitality: It’s standard to tip bag handlers 20 Baht. While there’s no standard tip for housekeepers, it’s respectful to leave behind a tip (the size of which is up to you).

United Kingdom

Restaurants: If a service charge isn’t included in the bill, tip 10% (or higher for exceptional service).

Taxis: Tip 10-15% for black cabs and licensed minicabs, or just round up to the nearest Euro. Tip extra for help with loading or unloading baggage.

Hospitality: Most hotels include a service charge, but it’s still customary tooffer small tips to bag handlers and housekeepers.

No matter where you are in the world, remember that servers, cab drivers, and hotel staff are performing a tough (and often thankless) job. Be both appreciative and thoughtful—try to tip in cash and in the local currency so your server can put the money to good use. And practice discretion when handing out tips, particularly in regions where tipping may be frowned upon. Respecting local customs will go a long way toward make any excursion a positive experience.

Sep 23 2015

Findery For Windows App Helps More People Discover World

Travel planning, sharing, and discovering exciting destinations is at the core of a few things I love to do. Several apps have made the process more enjoyable over the years. Findery is my go-to app for sharing micro stories behind my travel experiences. I love it because it does social sharing in the travel space differently from anyone else. The platform is all about discovery and sharing stories about places.

Findery was first available on iOS, then Android, and now it’s releasing its Windows app.

findery for windows platforms — Findery For All

The Windows universe

Findery for Windows utilizes the Windows operating system, taking advantage of Cortana’s capabilities and the ease of pinning interesting elements to the Start Menu. With 196 countries already “found” within the Findery travel community, a Windows user can join the party by contributing a story to one of the places that they have been or to one that they dream of visiting.

Findery for Windows allows users to plot their travel stories, plans or dreams on a map and explore the world from New York to Delhi.

If you’re a Windows user you can pin a Findery note or notemap to the Start Menu or ask Cortana to “Explore Nearby” to see interesting notes around your location.

I enjoy leaving notes and creating notemaps when I travel whether it’s in Costa Rica or nearby in Baltimore. You can check out my most recent notemap to Costa Rica and learn about the awesomeness of this country.

Great use of location services

The app uses my current location and alerts me when I’m near a location where someone else has left a note. This came in handy when I traveled to Greece last October and user @johnfox left a note about a Greek sweet shop. I couldn’t resist stopping in and experiencing it for myself. It was a very cool way to travel – visiting suggestions of other travelers at the tap of a screen.

The cool thing is that the notes don’t have to exist in a vacuum. They can also be shared to FaceBook, Messaging, One Note, Mail or NFC.

So whether you have an Android, Windows or iPhone you can join the Findery party. Findery for Windows is available for free from the Windows App store on October 2, 2015.

Sep 16 2015

San Francisco Can Teach the World About Travel and Diversity

San Francisco travel — Photo courtesy of Robert Reiz, Trover.com.

The first time I visited San Francisco I was a senior in high school. I stopped through on my way to Stanford, readying myself for what would be my new home for the next four years of my life. It was the furthest I had been from Brooklyn. As diverse as New York is, San Francisco taught me a thing or two about travel and diversity.

The first thing it taught me was that travel is a lot about the people. Some would argue it’s more about the people than the place. I think it depends on where you travel. Believe me, I’ve been places where I wouldn’t mind if the people would’ve stayed indoors, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Travel and Diversity

Although Queens is the most ethnically diverse city in the country, I find the people in San Francisco to be friendlier. I’m not sure what that’s all about. Maybe it’s just my perception. Maybe it’s the California sun. I have this theory that due to San Fran’s history of attracting entrepreneurs of all backgrounds dating back to the Gold Rush and now in the new Startup Rush, people there are more willing to play nice with each other no matter what your ethnic background.

I’ve never met anyone from San Francisco I didn’t like. (Watch me meet someone tomorrow that makes me retract this statement!)

Case in point: on a recent trip to Costa Rica, three of the six people in our tour van were from S.F. They were young, lively and fun. All of Asian decent, they exuded that friendly bubbly San Francisco nature that I’ve come to love.

Chatty and vibrant, they were unfettered by the fog and hills we encountered on our walk to the nearby volcano. Fog and hills are a part of their daily breakfast. They joyously shared about themselves and their adventures, and were visibly ecstatic to be traveling in Costa Rica. They didn’t care that their Spanish was poor; they tried their best to communicate in the local language anyway.

I liked that about them.

The world is a diverse place

Travel to San Francisco and you’ll meet a million more people like them. You’ll also get a lesson or two about being open.

San Fran has a minority-majority population, which means minority ethnic groups make up the majority of the city’s population. In other words, whites make up less than half of the population.

This is the way of the world.

When you travel extensively, you learn that. Places like San Francisco and Queens are just microcosms of the global population. With more than a dozen ethnic groups in these densely populated cities, you can enjoy a truly diverse travel experience without ever leaving the United States.

Diversity – isn’t that the point of travel?

Think about why you travel

To experience something new, different. To explore. Granted, travel means something different for all of us but the truth of the matter is that diversity often gets lost in the “why we travel” formula as many of us stick to who or what makes us comfortable. It’s easier to deal with what we already know. I get it.

Let me challenge you. When you plan your trip to a city like San Francisco, be different. Take your time to do the research. Find a restaurant or shop owned by an ethnic group with which you’re not familiar. Engage.

Do. Something. Else.

Without a doubt, there’s a lot to see and do in San Francisco. There’s the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, the cable cars, Haight-Ashbury and Fisherman’s Wharf. However, you’ll be surprised by the exciting activities and great San Francisco hotels you might find in some of the local ethnic communities. Why not start things off by staying in a hotel in one of these neighborhoods to get a bird’s eye view on diversity. It might just change the way you travel.

This article was written in partnership with the #HipmunkCityLove Project. Any opinions expressed in it are my own.

Sep 16 2015

5 Boutique Brooklyn Hotels For The Budget Conscious Traveler

Back in the day when travelers visited New York, most stayed put in Manhattan and Brooklyn was left to the locals. Times have quickly changed and now travelers from around the world are knocking on Brooklyn’s doors looking for a place to stay.

If you’re traveling on a tight budget, these boutique Brooklyn hotels might make a good fit for your wallet.

1. NU Hotel Brooklyn

Modern, up to date, contemporary and strategically located close to major attractions like the Barclay Center, NU Hotel Brooklyn offers all the creature comforts that a traveler needs. Got kids? Enjoy a suite with bunk beds? Have the munchies? Dig into the mini bar, snack basket or grab a cup of coffee from your room’s coffee maker. Once upon a time you couldn’t pay for space like this in Brooklyn without breaking the bank. You definitely will not find this much space in any Manhattan hotel at this price point and for sure, not this much style and character. But then again, that’s the Brooklyn way.

2. Pointe Plaza Hotel

If you knew what Franklin Avenue looked like less than 10 years ago you would be shocked to learn that a chic boutique hotel has successfully set up shop here. Ideal for corporate travel, families and groups, the Pointe Plaza Hotel can accommodate travelers in pairs or groups of 5 in its large suites. Once a neighborhood solely known for its industrial past and its Hasidic residents, Williamsburg, where Pointe Plaza is located, is now a hipster hangout. Travelers looking for large rooms, a cool area, kitchens, laundry facilities and shuttle service for less than $200 per night will find it at Pointe Plaza hotel.

3. Riviera Motor Inn

Take a step back in hotel décor history at Riviera Motor Inn for that experience. Read: You do not go here for a luxury experience. If you’re looking for a quick one-night stay near Prospect Park for cheap, however, you’ve got a winner.

4. NY Moore Hostel

NY Moore Hostel is designed for backpackers and travelers who just need a place to rest their head for the night before exploring the city. It’s important to know what type of traveler you are and your needs before you book any room. If privacy isn’t an issue and you enjoy communal stays, NY Moore Hostel will work for your travel style. True to many traditional hostels, the décor resembles that of a college dormitory from its minimal furnishings to its cafeteria-style dining room. For the small nightly price tag, you can’t beat the price.

5. Red Carpet Inn

There are hotels and there are motels. Red Carpet Inn is a motel that serves its purpose for many budget conscious travelers: it’s a place to sleep. Don’t expect extras that you might get in a moderate-priced hotel. Looking for red carpet? Maybe not here, but you’ll have easy access to the subway to explore the city for other refined experiences. And just think, you can use the money you saved on your stay for those experiences.