Travel

Fodor's "1,001 Smart Travel Tips" is full of useful advice aimed at making travel easier, like what's the best credit card to use abroad?

The answer: Capital One. Unlike most other forms of plastic that have tacked on fees and percentages that boost your bill, Capital One cards have zero conversion fees (the fees used to switch foreign currency into U.S. dollars) and they've absorbed the 1 percent fee Visa and MasterCard charge to process purchases. American Express charges a flat 2 percent fee and doesn't allow merchants to tack on extra fees at the point of sale, according to the book.

It's also a good idea to let your credit card company know before you go overseas, since they may put a hold on purchases that look suspicious, like a gold necklace you picked up in Dubai.

So what's your best travel tip? Post it here. By this time next week, I'll pick a winner. The best of the bunch gets a free copy of Fodor's "1,001 Smart Travel Tips."

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This just in from the folks at American Airlines: American Eagle is starting nonstop service between Dallas Love Field and O'Hare on July 2.

Eagle will operate up to six daily flights using 50-seat jets and will be the only airline offering nonstop service from Love Field to Chicago.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Want to find the best seat on the plane? Or what vaccines you need for that Botswana safari? How about last-minute deals?

The May issue of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart lists the six best Web sites for all of the above. Here's the run down:

For last-minute deals: travelzoo.com

For timing your trip: farecast.com

For the best airline seats: seatguru.com

For travel reviews: tripadvisor.com

For answers to just about any travel question you have: johnnyjet.com

For useful travel gadgets: magellans.com

Know of any others worth adding to the list?

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're like me, you don't have an extra $5,000 laying around for a weekend getaway. But just in case your pockets run deep, you might want to know about a new package from Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood.

The "Royalty Rocks" package includes VIP tickets to Sir Eric Clapton's May 5 concert at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood.

During the same time, Princess Diana's most famous dresses will be on display at the hotel.

You can check it out in person, along with a guest, for $5,000. Here's what else you get:

- roundtrip Rolls Royce airport transfers
- welcome bottle of Cristal champagne
- two nights at the hotel
- pool-side cabana with butler service
-dinner for two at the Council Oak restaurant
-two VIP tickets to the Princess Diana Royalty Rocks luncheon and exhibit

Party like a rock star...

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

As the Sun-Times travel editor, I get a lot of information sent to me about high-end luxury vacations, but this one gave even me pause...

American Express and Abercrombie & Kent tour operators have teamed up to offer 52 discerning — and rich — travelers a 24-day voyage to five continents.

Don't worry about sitting with the masses in coach. You're traveling on a private jet, after all.

Along the way, you'll stop by Easter Island to explore the famous moai and have an authentic umu dinner at the home of a native Rapanui.

You'll discover sacred burial grounds of the Samoan Royal Family in Samoa and get a private tour of Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney, Australia.

Watch an elephant polo match in Jaipur, India, and relax at the private Dubai Polo Club in Dubai, U.A.E. before having high tea at the over-the-top Burj Al Arab hotel.

Adventures in Seville, Spain, and Cairo, Egypt, are also on tap.

Need to check your schedule? Travel dates are Jan. 20-Feb. 13, 2009.

Need to check your bank account to see if you have a spare $100,000 sitting there?

One more thing: the offer is only open to American Express Cardmembers. Darn....my card's a Visa.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)