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Bed Bugs and Travel Tips

The bed bug problem has plagued mostly the East Coast so far. Even upscale hotels and resorts have reported problems. If you’re going to be in a region known to have problems, here are some tips.
 
Look under the edge of the sheets – when you walk into your hotel room before you set down anything on the carpets or beds, lift the sheets that are tucked into the bed and examine them. You will find bed bugs hiding along the sheet’s edges. If you find anything suspicious, you have a choice to leave and complain to the front desk and go elsewhere. The chance that switching rooms will solve the problem is slim. If one room is infested, most likely all rooms are infested.
 
Bites – if you don’t see anything but you wake up the next morning and find bites, then take your clothes and anything the bugs could hitch a ride home on and wash everything in super hot water. Vacuum out your bags and then take the vacuum cleaner bag and burn it or take it outside for disposal. Do not under any circumstances bring that luggage into your carpeted house. Vacuum and burn outside.
 
Luggage handling – when in doubt, do not set your luggage on the beds or rest it on the carpeting. Use the provided luggage holder at all times. This will keep your bags and clothing off suspected surfaces where the bugs hang out and can latch on. Same advice goes for your shoes.

The Tsunami and Travel

With the recent tsunami passing around the Hawaiian islands and destroying parts of Japan, travelers are wondering if their trips will be canceled. Reports so far suggest air travel to Hawaii wasn’t impacted. Early reports indicated flights were leaving on time. Japan is another story. Travelers can anticipate parts of Japan being inaccessible for now and months to come. When a natural disaster strikes, the best advice is to check with your travel agent, or call your air carrier. Don’t assume your destination is affected unless it is literally in the epicenter of a major earthquake. Check in with your designated contacts before you start unpacking your bags.

 

Four Things You Should Know About International Travel

Passports are required to cross the border. It used to be that all you needed for Canada or Mexico was a driver’s license now you must have a Passport. Time to get a Passport and put some stamps in it. You may also get a Pass Card that is half the cost of a passport but is only good for travel to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.
 
Traveling with children without one parent. You cannot take your child over the border without a notarized letter of permission from the absent parent. Make sure you get an official letter of permission and get it notarized by a local notary service. Otherwise, you will wind up at the border unable to cross – your vacation ruined. If you have a young friend traveling with you then you must get the consent of both parents and notarize it as well.
 
Always familiarize yourself with the laws of that country. You don’t need to know the penal code inside and out, but there are some basic laws that can get you into trouble. For example, in Italy you will receive a $10,000 fine if you buy designer label knock-offs. If you inadvertently park in illegal zones, you can have parking tickets follow you for months after. And of course, the obvious drug trafficking laws. We all know we don’t want to end up be flogged or in a Turkish prison. So, under no circumstances ponder even taking an ounce of opium or any other illegal drug home with you. It’s not worth the consequences.
 
If you’re working at all even if you’re sent to work, you have to have a Visa. Many Visa services exist to take care of this requirement; but you cannot legitimately meet with a colleague or working committee in a foreign country without a work Visa. Many travelers split their work with their vacation, so if you do this, be aware.

For more information on international travel, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Changes in Anaheim -- Disney Enthusiast Alert

The Disneyland Resort is undergoing a number of changes and improvements including a completely renovated Disneyland Hotel and the addition of Cars Land area at Disney California Adventure theme park. The Disneyland Hotel recently added a 750-square-foot Fairy Tale Suite, fashioned with unique touches from Tinker Bell and Sleeping Beauty and other characters. The new suite is part of the renovation and expansion project that is slated for completion in 2012. 

We recommend staying at the Paradise Pier while construction is underway. It is the same distance away from the theme parks and has ample character view-ability. Cars Land will expand Disney California Adventure theme park by 12 acres. Additional milestones are the previously unveiled World of Color water show, the Little Mermaid-Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in 2011, a refreshed Paradise Pier area, and the debut of Goofy’s Sky School.

 

Nevada City – Victorian Christmas

If you live in the greater Sacramento area you have probably heard about the Nevada City Victorian Christmas. Festivities get started this year on December 1 when the old downtown area is decorated with beautiful Christmas lights and decorations galore. Shop owners and open-market vendors dress up in Victorian costumes and sell their wares in a friendly and warm atmosphere. At various times, carolers regale shoppers and browsers with merry, old Christmas carols. If you’re from out of town, plan a long weekend to come and spend time shopping, eating and enjoying the lights and atmosphere. You can enjoy roasted chestnuts, listen to the various brass bands, and even take a hayride. Friar Tucks Restaurant and Bar offers fine dining with hearty meals and cocktails. The food is always great but the atmosphere is fun, warm and inviting. If you intend to stay the night, try the Harmony Ridge Lodge, which is an situated in the Tahoe National Forest. It’s very cozy and rustic. It will definitely give you that outdoorsy feeling – and there might even be snow on the ground depending on the recent weather conditions.