In partnership with the clever Travalo, we would like to offer you the chance to win a $400 voucher for your next flight! All you have to do is comment on this blog post or our Facebook wall with your details, including your name, email and dream destination for taking Travalo. You will then automatically be entered to win the $400 flight voucher!

You can also see destinations that have non-stop flights from specific airports. For example, search ‘flights from New York’ and Google will return a number of routes from New York’s airports as well as which airlines fly from the airports. You can click ‘Show all non-stop routes’ to get a full list of destinations; from there you can click in to get more flight details.

What do you think of Google’s new flight search feature? Do you think it will be useful when you are searching for flights?

Google Flight Search

Image: preston.rhea

Name: Kate McKenna

Age: 23

Occupation: On-Line Host, Transat Vacationer of Transat Holidays

Follow Kate along her travel journey here!

Where are you writing this from?

Funnily enough, I’m writing this from my kitchen table at home in Oakville, just outside of Toronto. I got home yesterday and I’m headed out again in a week and half- to Mexico this time.

As the Transat Vacationer what are your responsibilities? What does an average day look like for you?

An average day for me starts around 7:30 with breakfast, where I usually spend time checking out my itinerary for that day and sorting out the tickets I need, the maps I need, the equipment I need, etc. After that I’m off exploring or touring or going on an excursion, whatever the case may be, filming it all. Then I usually return to the hotel, drop my stuff and leave for a late dinner. After dinner, I come back to the hotel, sort through my footage, edit it, and write a corresponding blog before posting it all on the website. It’s a very, very busy day but it’s the best possible kind of busy. I get to do some pretty amazing stuff.

As far as responsibilities go, my job is to capture what I’m experiencing and present it to viewers through written blogs, video blogs and photographs. In a nutshell, I want to create content that makes others feel like they’re along for the ride with me.

What kind of info do you provide travelers following your journey?

I try to provide concrete info and more emotional info, if that makes sense. Basically I always want travelers following me to know where I am- what city, what restaurant, what hotel, what attraction, etc. but I also want them to know how I’m feeling about it. Do I like what I’m eating? Do I look like I’m having fun on a biking tour? Those sorts of things matter just as much, I think.

What is the most inspiring part about this job?

The most inspiring part about this job is hearing that people appreciate my work and what I have to say. I heard from one woman yesterday who said that checking out my blog has become a highlight of her day, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. It’s easy to forget that people are following along when I’m out there shooting and editing myself. I really appreciate knowing that stuff.

 

What is your travel itinerary for Transat Vacationer?

In May, I head to Cozumel, Mexico. June is Turkey and Greece. In July I’m at home in Canada for a month. August is France and after that I think it’s some combination of Italy, Spain, Jamaica and Cuba, but I’m not entirely sure yet. Either way, I’m pretty excited about what’s in store.

As a seasoned traveler, can you give our readers a few of your best traveling tips?

Sure! I don’t think any of these will be groundbreaking but they’re little tips that I’ve found helpful so far.

-Always keep a pen with your passport in the seat pocket in front of you during flights. Once you get settled, it’s a hassle to go back into the overhead compartment to try to find a pen, and you almost always need one to fill out customs documents if you’re switching countries.

-Stay hydrated! When you’re travelling and exploring, you tend to do a lot of walking and it’s easy to forget to drink water. Keep a bottle with you and remind yourself to take a few sips once in a while. It could mean the difference between staying out an extra hour and needing to head back to the hotel early.

-Don’t be afraid to ask for help! I rely on locals all the time when I’m gone. Whether it’s for directions or advice, they’re my best source of information. Even though I have guide books and maps, sometimes it’s easiest to just ask someone next to you for help when you’re standing on a street corner and aren’t sure where to go next. The worst answer I’ve gotten has been, “Sorry, I’m not from around here either!”

 

What are some of the best attractions, restaurants and hotels you’ve been to on the trip thus far?

This is such a tough one because I have been so fortunate to have seen so much and done so much.

As far as attractions go I loved going to the theatre in London. I know it’s not specific to London but there’s a particular vibe about the theatre district there that made it really special. There was also a jazz club in Havana, La Zorra Y El Cuervo, that was really neat. It was small and intimate and had the best live jazz. Restaurants are tough because I love food and find it all good! I certainly don’t have the discretion of a true foodie. If I was going to recommend any of the restaurants I’ve been to, though, they’d be Santo Coyote in Guadalajara,

Mexico and The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. Both restaurants had amazing food, particular to their country, and really warm atmospheres. Regarding hotels, I can’t choose one over another because they’ve all been stunning and all offer something a little different. The most decadent hotel experience I’ve had so far, though, was at the Paradisus Varadero resort, Royal Service section in Cuba. It was like stepping into a brochure.

What is the place you most want to go to but haven’t been to yet?

France! I’ve heard such amazing things, not only about Paris, but also about towns in the South so I can’t wait to go.

What is the best place you have gone to?

I loved London, England. It had so much culture and such life and energy. It was a place I could easily see myself living.

 

Most of us have a few standout moments in our travels that are very memorable and inspiring. Do you have one you can share with us?

Absolutely! The moment that stands out most to me right now was the day I climbed La Soufriere volcano in Guadeloupe, and it stands out for two reasons. One- it was very difficult. It was a rainy, cold, windy day and getting to the top took a ton of energy and effort. I’m pretty athletic and I still struggled a bit during the points where it was basically a vertical climb. It also stood out because I did it with a wonderful couple I met during the Costa cruise I was on. Meeting them was awesome but sharing this experience with them was even better. At the end of the day I felt like I’d accomplished something and know that I’ll never forget that experience or those people.

 

Do you have any recommendations to travelers for interesting festivals or cultural events this summer?

Funny you ask because I was just discussing festivals with a woman the other day who travels across the globe, working at various music festivals. From what I’ve heard, Edinburgh, Scotland is the place to be in August if you want to take advantage of music festivals, art festivals, all sorts of cultural activities. I’d read about August being a huge month for festivals in a guide book and it was re-iterated to me by a bunch of guides I met in Scotland. From all accounts, it’s worth checking out the city that month.

More questions for Kate regarding her travel adventures? Leave your questions in the comments.

Follow Kate along her travel journey here!

This tax is imposed on all visitors to the city – that is, anyone who is not a resident of Rome, including Italian visitors arriving in Rome from other parts of Italy. On a recent Italian radio program, 24 Mattino, the mayor of Pisa, Marco Filippeschi, also indicated that it is something that they are looking at closely. Don’t be surprised if you see this tax pop up in places like Venice, Florence, or possibly in Milan!

How much tax are we talking about?

Before we get into numbers, you should be aware that the tax must be paid in cash (this ensures that the tax is not eaten up by credit card processing fees nor will it creep into the bottom line of hotel operators). This “tax” is not added onto your hotel bill so be sure to have some euro notes at the ready when you’re about to check out. This tax is also collected at campsites so if you’re looking to save some money, consider staying in a youth hostel which is not required to collect this tax. Another way to avoid it might be to find a short-term apartment.

Four and five star hotels will be required to collect an additional 3 euro per night per person. Three star hotels and below will be required to collect 2 euro per night per person. Also, tickets to museums, sites and attractions will cost non-Romans an extra 1 euro. Children under 10 years of age are exempt from the tax. You might consider the amounts to be small, but consider a group of four adults staying for six days in Rome at a four star hotel: that’s an extra 72 euro! The good news is that the tax is only collected on the first ten days of your stay (five, if you’re staying in a campsite). So for the longer visitor, the tax stops after ten days, but the majority of visitors to Rome probably don’t stay longer than 10 to 12 days.

So the bigger questions:

1. How much will this tax affect tourism? Most believe that this will have very little effect on the numbers of people who come to the city each year. As it stands, the city is poised to earn just under $300,000 per day!

2. Such a tax existed in Rome twenty years ago. How long will it take before it is repealed?

3. Would such a tax cause you to rethink your travel plans?

As they say in Italian, offre spunti di riflessione! (That’s food for thought!)

Let us know what you think in the comments..

The great thing about mobile broadband is that users can get online not only whilst out and about in their own country but also when out in other countries. Many network operators have networks available in other countries, and therefore offer what is known as roaming facilities. However, there are a few things that you should check on and bear in mind if you are considering using mobile broadband abroad.

What to consider if planning to use mobile broadband abroad

• You should always check with your provider whether roaming facilities are available, otherwise you may not be able to use the service abroad. If you feel that you will be using mobile broadband abroad regularly to get on the internet then check on the roaming facilities before you subscribe to the package
• Always check the roaming mobile broadband charges with your provider before you travel, as otherwise you may be using more than you can realistically afford and could end up being the victim of ‘bill shock’ upon your return
• Look at other options for getting online whilst abroad if you are worried that you may end up paying over the odds. Remember, many destinations have public WiFi for free or you may have free or low cost WiFi at your hotel or accommodation
• If you are on PAYG remember to top up and activate your account for roaming before you go away

Other things to bear in mind

You should remember that the cost of roaming is not necessarily the same for each country, so even if you have been to one country recently and know what the roaming charges are for that country you should always check on the charges before you travel to another destination. The cost could vary significantly.

It may be worth asking your provider about options such as pay per day plans if you want to use mobile broadband whilst abroad. This can help you to budget far more effectively, and will eliminate the risk of bill shock.

Do bear in mind that if you are using your mobile broadband for things like surfing and emailing then you should be fine in terms of cost as long as you have done your research. However, you should resist the temptation to stream content and shows using your service, as this can cost a fortune, and has left some people facing bills of thousands when they return home.

How to avoid possibilities of missing luggage?

Focus on packing bare necessities as carry-on luggage

This is the only way you can guarantee that your belongings will always be with you if you do not wish to check in your luggage. If you are going for a short trip of 2 or 3 days, consider carrying only the essentials.

Tag your luggage properly

Ensure that you tag your luggage with correct information. It can be helpful if you include your contact number with the details. Tie colorful ribbons in unique patterns to your luggage to make them more apparent and easy to spot and identify.

Check in early at the airport

Checking in early allows you to undergo security checks conveniently. Similarly, it also gives the airport crew sufficient time to place your luggage properly in the right flight.

Exclude connecting flights

Think twice before booking connecting flights. There is always a slight possibility that connecting flights may lead to unwanted complications. Connecting flights share codes, but they do not have accreditation for luggage service. Hence, it is better if you can simply avoid them and stick to booking direct flights.

What do you do when you realize that your baggage is missing?

Wait patiently or submit all necessary forms

Take immediate action if you do not spot your luggage on the carousel. Approach the airline crew for a valid explanation. At times, they will locate your baggage immediately, but there may be times when you will have to wait for long hours. If time permits you to wait for your baggage, it is advisable to wait patiently. However, if you are pressed for time, fill out the necessary forms that can enable the airline to deliver the baggage to your house or hotel.

Inquire how the airline can compensate

If your baggage is missing, some airlines extend a helping hand by offering you some cash to buy certain essentials like toiletries. You can also get some coupons that can be used to obtain clothes or equipments.

If you receive your luggage in damaged condition, some airlines will repair your damaged bag or replace it to solve the problem on the spot.

File a claim

File a claim if your bags are untraceable. Also, applying for travel insurance and credit card companies that cover lost or damage luggage can prove to be beneficial.

Written by Vinay Shingornikar of Flight Network

Each day we will offer a free city guide in the App Store and the guide destination will change daily.

City guides for free will include (in no particular order):

• Moscow
• Munich
• Dublin
• Istanbul
• Vienna
• Washington

Be sure to check in with us or the App Store daily to see what city guide is free for the day. The guides are normally priced at $5.99

Stay up to date on the contest by joining our Facebook page. Press ‘Like’ in the Facebook widget on the right side of the page.

To see all available destination guides visit our travel guide page.

So what’s new on mTrip, you ask?

Search Function

Multi-Tasking on iOS 4

Currency Converter

New Design for Directions

Edit/Delete Points of Interest

For those mTrip users that are creating their own updates to the travel guide, this will be a helpful update. If you add a point of interest to the travel guide and later decide you want to edit or delete it, no problem – the option is now given to you. Simply go into your Favorites and edit or delete the point of interest from there.

Additional Travel Guides Added

Download an mTrip Travel Guide for iPhone and iPod Touch!

Image source: Augmented Planet – http://www.augmentedplanet.com/2010/09/mtrip-augmented-reality-city-guides/