Whether traveling near or far for the holidays, it is important to remember that certain restrictions apply for different types of flights and destinations. For instance, US Airways charges $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second; although if you are traveling to and from Europe, these charges do not apply.

Tip: Traveling international usually exempts you from check-in fees and allows for extra checked-in bags; however make sure that you book your flights under one itinerary. If you book a domestic flight (even if it is a connecting flight) separately from your international flight, you will most likely be charged for your bags during check-in for your domestic flight. If the domestic flight is connecting to an international flight that was booked together, the charges normally do not apply.

When booking your flights, there are a few important factors that are worth noting:

1. If there is an option on your flight-booking website, click the button that checks all flights in your surrounding area rather than the single, closest airport. Certain airports tend to be cheaper than others due to location, accommodations, and flights.

2. Check the difference between domestic versus international airports. Domestic airports are inherently smaller and less chaotic than international airports- plus, the security check points may sometimes have shorter lines and be less strict with security.

Regardless of your destination, make sure to check the different requirements and policies of international and domestic flights to avoid being stuck with extra bags or lack of documentation at the airport.

To begin booking your flight, visit:
Real Travel Flights

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[Source : RealTravel]

One of the things which has made up a major part of my life has been academic debate. I was on the debate team in high school, in college and coached high school for three years after I graduated. During that time I read volumes about almost every subject you can imagine.

In debate, you are forced to take both sides of an issue. You can become very detached about the subjects you research, and in all the years I was involved in debate there was really only one subject that really influenced me on a personal level. That was the genocide in Cambodia. My knowledge of what happened in Cambodia from 1975-79 wasn’t something I learned about when I got to SE Asia. (I will not outline in detail what happened there. There are plenty of resources online where you can learn more about it. Suffice it to say that between 1 to 2 million people, out of a population of 8 million, were killed in a span of four years through famine and outright murder.)

It is a sad commentary on a capital city of a country, when the biggest tourist draw revolves around mass killings. Sadly, that is the main attraction in Phnom Penh. The guesthouse I stayed at played the movie The Killing Fields every other night, and a documentary on the Toule Seng prison on the nights in between.

I wasn’t sure how I’d react to visiting the Killing Fields. I’ve never been to places such as Auchwitz before, so it was a totally unique experience for me. What happened in Cambodia has never quite stuck in the public’s conscious like Holocaust. In fact, one of the odd things I found myself doing (and I know I’m not alone in this) was trying to make comparisons between what happened in Cambodia and what happened in Germany. It doesn’t take long to realize how foolish it is trying to compare or rank degrees of evil, especially when the monstrosities you are talking about are so great.

When you visit the Killing Fields, you are struck by how underwhelming it is. Prior to gaining its notoriety, it was an orchard. There is only one permanent structure there; a large pagoda filled with the skulls and bones of the victims found in the mass graves. The closer you get, you begin to realize the enormity of what is inside. Piles of human skulls, many of which have holes in the top of the head.

The area around the pagoda is so cratered, it looks as if it were bombed. The craters are the remains of the open mass graves were victims were left. Up to a hundred people would be dumped into a single hole. They system for killing people was very organized, like what you saw under the Nazis. Records and photos were kept. Unlike the Nazis, they didn’t build elaborate camps. Bullets were deemed too expensive, so most people were killed by hand via strangulation, blunt weapons or blades.

I didn’t go through phases of grief, sadness and astonishment. I quickly went directly to being pissed off. The more I learned about the events before and after the Khmer Rouge rise to power, the more pissed off I became. The details surrounding that is another post.

After the Killing Fields, my tuk tuk driver took me to the Toul Seng prison. Like the Killing Fields which turned a simple orchard into den of madness, the Toul Sleng prison used to be a Phonm Penh high school. This was where prisoners were taken for interrogation before they were taken to the Killing Fields. Of the over 17,000 people who were taken to Toul Sleng, only seven are known to have survived. (The official name the Khmer Rouge used for the prison was Security Prison 21 or S-21 for short).

Toul Seng was a torture center. It is hard to call it anything else. Prisoners were chained to the floor and many of the school rooms were bricked up to create more, smaller cells. Some of the rooms had prisoners chained to the floor as if it were the deck of a slave ship. There were hundreds of photos on display of the victims who came through the prison. It was chilling to look at them knowing that they were no different than the people you meet on the street, and that every one of them was tortured and murdered in cold blood.

Electrocution was a preferred method of torture in Toul Sleng, but they hardly stopped there. A bar in the courtyard of the school originally built for exercises was turned into a gallows and some inmates were hung. A painting in the prison also depicts water boarding.

I can’t help but think what Cambodia would be like today if it wasn’t for the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia is far behind its neighbors economically and has a high amount of corruption. Most of the educated class was killed, actually targeted because they were intellectuals, by the Khmer Rouge. It made it very difficult to rebuild when the people who ran things were systematically eliminated.

In the movie The Killing Fieldsd, Sam Waterson’s character said that “Cambodia was a country he had learned to love and pity.” I think that sums it up quite well.

Originally posted on Everything-Everywhere.com. Follow me as I travel around the world.

[Source : Travel Around the World - Everything Everywhere]

I’m off to Hoi An tonight on a 12-hour overnight bus ride. I am not looking forward to it. The buses are sleeper busses, which means you have a sort of bed instead of a seat. That sounds great for an overnight trip, but it really isn’t. The beds are uncomfortable and you are more inclined than lying flat.

It has been raining almost the entire time I’ve been here. The last few days I have been totally lazy. I’ve been on an anti-vacation. When you travel for a living, an anti-vacation is when you stay in your room, do nothing, and watch TV. Oh yes, and the World of Warcraft expansion came out and I took advantage of it. (I’m level 74 now thank you very much).

However, it is time to get moving. The really interesting parts of Vietnam are up in the Hoi An/Hue region in the center of the country where I’m going next. I assume I’ll be spending the next several days in tourist mode and taking photos before I head up to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.

I got some new items for the contest which I’ll be showing off in a new video I’ll shoot when I get to Hoi An. Hopefully, it wont be as wet there.

Originally posted on Everything-Everywhere.com. Follow me as I travel around the world.

[Source : Travel Around the World - Everything Everywhere]

The Winter Holidays are almost upon us and that means travelers are flying the skies and returning home or going on a much needed vacation. This week we’ll provide you with some helpful tips and suggestions to make the flight process a little less painful.

For those traveling with children, here are a some things to think about preparing before take-off:

1. Make sure to allow yourself a little more time to reach the airport and get through the check-in process. Children can forget things at the last minute , have to stop for bathroom breaks, or simply walk slower in a rush, so make sure you have plenty of time to catch your flight.

2. Think about your trip from start to finish when packing for your little ones. For babies, carrying breast milk, formula, and juice is now permitted in quantities greater than three ounces if it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Make sure to check in with your specific airline about their food accommodations for children as some do not provide baby food or special children’s meals, so pack food accordingly.

(For the slightly older children, most airlines have coloring books, movies, and other entertainment available, though remember to bring something to keep the children occupied in the Waiting Area at the airport so they don’t resort to fighting with their siblings and making a scene, or worse, venturing off.)

3. Bring the appropriate documents for your children. Though typically, minors under 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel, each airline determines their own identification requirements for check-in, so ask your airline before packing. For international flights, the Federal Aviation Administration states that all travelers must have passports, including young children. Plan early because receiving a passport generally takes approximately three weeks from the time of application, but depending on the season can take longer.

4. Do not assume that your infant or young child does not need a ticket or rides for free. Each airline follows their own policy in regards to child passengers, though most do offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children less than two years old.

Also, Child Restraint Systems are normally required for children under 40 pounds and not always provided by the airlines. If you are required to bring your own Child Restraint System, look for one that has a sticker which states: “FAA Approved in Accordance with 14CFR 21.305(d), Approval for Aircraft Use Only.”

Though airport accommodations won’t determine your trip, there are a few particular cities whose airports make flying with children easier. The Boston Logan International airport has a “Kidport” which includes a baggage claim slide, infant and toddler area, and other activities. Dallas/Fort Worth International has built children’s play areas in three of the airport terminals. Other child-friendly airports include Las Vegas McCarran airport and Chicago O’Hare International.

Here are more sources to help prepare your family trip:

Chicago Hotels
Boston Hotels
FAA Guidelines: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/
http://www.hotelfun4kids.com/travelnews/air-rail/safekidsair.htm

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[Source : RealTravel]

Not too many ski regions allow you the ability to cross as many borders as does skiing in the Alps. You can hit the mountain from any angle (or country, shall I say) and experience the unique cultures of France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and other Eastern European countries.

While skiing is the main daily activity in towns like Les Gets and Livigno, food is looked at as more than just a means of refueling for the slopes. Most European countries take great pride in their culinary cultures and you will not be disappointed with the entrees in any rest stop along the way. Just make sure not to enjoy too much wine before you’re done with the runs for the day.

To spend a season in the Alps, there are unique ways to stay cheaply around the resorts. Real Travel blogger Nat B. explains an interesting job her friends worked to live in the Alps-near Geneva, Switzerland- for the winter season:

“Jeff and I arrived on Tuesday afternoon and met Jade and Vaugny at their chalet. They are working as chalet hosts - which mean they each have a chalet with a couple of English families and they have to act as hosts, cook the food, clean the chalet, sit down for dinner with the families and provide conversation etc so they both have about 5 hours during the day when they can go out for a ski…very hard life!”

Though averaging one million visitors per year means the Alps do get crowded, you can rest assured that people are coming for a reason. With the proper research and preparation, a winter in the Alps will be a manageable one that you’ll never forget.

For useful suggestions and tips, visit:
Switzerland Hotels
France Hotels
Austria Hotels
A great resource about unique ski town features of each Alps country:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-11-28-ski-europe_x.htm

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[Source : RealTravel]