The holidays are the busiest travel time of the year.  Students from colleges across the country are headed home to spend time with their families and friends.  Young families also make the trip to visit relatives.  The holidays are supposed to be a happy time of year when work and school take a back seat to leisure activities.  Unfortunately, late November and December are the most stressful time of year for air travel.  At airports, crowds are heavy and lines long.  Poor weather can add to the stress level by increasing the chances for flight delays and cancellations.

There are ways to avoid the overly-stressful atmosphere that descends on terminals around the country during the holidays.  Here are some tips for making this year’s airplane trip less of an ordeal.

First, all airports will be busy, but some will be busier than others.  Major airports, the LAXs and JFKs of the country, will be packed during peak flying hours (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.) on busy travel days before and after Thanksgiving and Christmas.  If there is a viable secondary option (like Chicago Midway, as opposed to O’Hare), it might be worth considering.  That said, if you choose to fly during the peak times mentioned above, there is bound to be more of a crowd than usual.

Another option is to opt for a red-eye flight.  On the two days before Thanksgiving and the days before the Christmas-New Year holiday, the best option for avoiding the long lines at check in and security is to fly as late as possible.  The airport will be busier than it normally is during the overnight hours, but it will be far less chaotic than it is during the daytime and evening.  On peak days, thing should slow down at around 10 at night until 6 or 7 the following morning.

To really avoid the crowds, you will have to fly several days before or after the holiday.  This is not an option for people on a tight schedule (students with a limited amount of time off or employees who can’t get more than a few days vacation), but it is the only way to truly avoid the rush.  The only other option is to try and fly on the holiday itself.  Most people are sprinting to get home so that they can spend the time with their family and friends.  They want to arrive before the festivities begin.  People who can delay the party a little while have a better chance of avoiding long lines and delayed flights.  For this reason, both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are good times to fly.

If you cant beat the crowds to the airport, at least you can prepare yourself for the onslaught of humanity.  If there was ever a good time to carry-on all your luggage, the holiday travel season is it.  While other passengers are waiting in slow-moving lines, you can simply make your way to the security checkpoint.  At the very least, you can check your bags online before coming to the airport (most major airlines allow you to do this).  You might even consider shipping a box of belongings (or holiday gifts) to your destination instead of  checking a bag.  Also, you can be liberal with your carry-on requirements.  Pack your carry-on suitcase and use your under-the-seat baggage allowance to fill a small backpack with additional items.  The worst thing that could happen is that the airline could ask you to check one of your bags when you board the plane.  You may be charged a checked baggage fee, but you will have already boarded the plane, escaping the long lines at the ticketing and baggage check counter.

Also, carry-on-only fliers will be able to speed by the chaotic baggage claim area once they arrive at their destination.

Checking-in online before you go to the airport is another way to save time.  All major carriers allow passengers to print boarding passes online up to 24 hours before departure time.  Also, consider taking public transportation to the airport.  Even if traffic on the way to the airport is not heavy, the parking lots and passenger drop-off areas are going to be grossly overcrowded.

No matter what, you’ll have to arrive at the airport earlier than normal during peak holiday travel days, even if you take all the streamlining measures possible.

Europe is one of the most desirable destinations for travelers from the American side of the Atlantic.  It can also be one of the most expensive destinations in the world, especially for when the Euro is strong against the US Dollar, as it has been for the past few years.

For American travelers who don’t want to give up on their European ambitions but who don’t want to spend their life savings on a dream vacation, the colder seasons are a good time to visit the continent.  Airfares, package tours and hotels are much cheaper in the fall and the winter than during the summer.  Of course, there are exceptions to this rule.  Ski destinations in the Alps, for example, are pricier in the colder season.  And, because the holidays are a popular time to visit the great urban destinations on the other side of the Atlantic, Christmas and New Year airfares and hotels reach summertime prices.

Though there are fewer winter deals this year compared to previous years, it is still possible to travel to Europe for reasonable prices during the winter time.

Here are some places to look for good deals as the weather gets colder.

Lufthansa is one of the best airlines for off-season deals.  The German carrier offers great deals not only to Europe, but also from North America through Europe to destinations in the Middle East and Africa.  This year’s fares include a $270 one-way fare between New York and London.  Lufthansa is also the obvious choice for travelers who want to visit Germany.  They regularly have the lowest prices between the US and German cities like Munich and Berlin.

American Airlines is one of the best airlines for package tours.  Many of AA’s European vacation packages include great hotel deals.  When it comes to airfares, American is able to hold its own in terms of price when it is compared with the other major trans-Atlantic carriers.  Fares to Europe start in the $250 range.  However, it is important (especially for frugal travelers) to be aware of the additional expenses like fuel surcharges and taxes that are sometimes not quoted in the price.

Continental Airlines will have some of the better deals for travelers who want to cross the ocean in luxury.  The carrier’s BusinessFirst prices will be especially low for fliers who are traveling from the Continental hubs of Newark and Houston.  Destinations include Rome, Amsterdam and London.

United and Delta both have economy class specials from their hub destinations in the US.  United is one of the better airlines for Midwestern travelers, with sub-$300 one way prices from departure points like Denver and Chicago.

Around the world airfares can be a good choice for people who want to visit more than one destination and get the most miles per dollar value out of their travels.  Though these multiple-stop tours can be more of an involved journey than some travelers might want, they are a great value for adventure seekers.  Some of these airfare packages offer travel on three continents for less than $2,000.  For example, a current fare, starting at $1,495 includes stops in one European city and a city in East Africa, and a return fare to the East Coast of the US.

True round-the-world fares (from the East Coast through Asia and the Middle East to Europe) start at less than $2,000 with more stops and a less-straightforward route adding several hundred dollars to the overall price tag.  For those who have their minds made up to travel to Europe and don’t have interest in the rest of the world, airfare packages that allow travel through many of the continent’s best destinations start at around $2,000.  Another option could be a Eurail pass (starting at $300), which, when combined with a standard $600 trans-Atlantic airfare could prove a better deal than an all-air package, although train travel will be  bit slower.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Icelandair are decent choices for travelers who want to go to Northern Europe.  Scandinavian has been steadily increasing its service of the past couple of years.  Major SAS destinations include Stockholm and Copenhagen (from D.C., New York and Chicago).  SAS also has connecting flights to destinations in Asia like Dubai and Bangkok.

Weather plays an important part in the travel industry.  It can often be the deciding factor in the quality of a vacation.  In some extreme cases, storms or poor conditions can actually cause would-be vacationers to cancel their trip or at least reschedule for a different time.

How is it possible to keep weather from destroying your well-planned vacation?  It is not completely possible, but arming yourself with information can be a huge step in a positive direction.  Here are some tools for becoming a weather savvy traveler.  From knowing the climate at your destination to keeping your eye on the weather for your flight, these tools can take the weather worries out of your travels.

There is really nothing that you can do about storms or weather events that cause delays at airports.  During the colder months, for example, flying in the Northern half of the US and in many airports that are located at high altitude can often mean that your flight will be delayed because of snow and ice.

If this is the case, keeping tabs on your flight status is important.  You can keep up to date with the status of flights on the day of your flight by using the FAA airport status page.  This map uses color coding to show the average delays for flights flying out of major airports in the US.  In addition, each major airline has a flight status application on its web site.  Fliers simply have to plug in their flight number and they can check for updates as the time for take-off approaches.  If there is bad weather in the region, you can check frequently, as schedules can change by-the-minute as the air traffic controllers and runway maintenance people adjust to poor weather conditions.

Climate data can give you a broad picture of what the weather is like at your destination even before weather reports are available.  This can help you avoid unpleasant weather and choose the best time of year to visit if the dates of your travel are flexible.  Even if they are not flexible, climate data can give you a picture of the weather situation at your destination so that you can be prepared and pack appropriately.  For example, you might expect that your winter trip to the US Southwest (say, Phoenix or Mesa, Arizona) will mean warmer weather.  While temps are still pleasant in the part of the country during the day, the mercury can drop to near freezing at night time.  Your hot weather desert clothing, shorts and light cotton shirts, will not keep you warm.  Sources like Wikipedia and Weather.com can at least give you monthly temperature averages, which give you an idea of what to pack.

iPhone applications like Flight Tracker and Airport Status can help fliers keep up to date on their status of their flights.  There are plenty of applications out there that can do similar tasks, but these two are the “right price” at only $0.99 each.  Airport Status can give fliers up-to-the-minute delay information for airports.  It does not have exact information for flights.  Flight Tracker can give minute-by-minute updates of arrival and departure information for domestic flights in the US.  There are plenty of other options when it comes to keeping track of flight information.  But most are more expansive than the two apps mentioned above and not worthwhile because all the information that your would need can be found on airline web sites or be seen through the two $0.99 applications.

WeatherBug is one of the most proven applications for both computers and smart phones that can give accurate weather forecasts.  It is a good choice for getting accurate information on the weather at any location, including your arrival and departure points.  Again, there are more sophisticated applications and sites out there, but for pure weather information, without any time-wasting extras, this is a solid choice for both your laptop and your smart phone.  If you really want to kill some time, download some game applications.

Tourists are sometimes considered easy targets by thieves.  Even if they are not targets for violence, their bags, pockets and valuables are often being eyed by petty criminals.  There is little use ruining a trip by worrying excessively about the security of your belongings.  Paranoia isn’t going to increase your security.  But, by taking a few simple steps, it is possible to lower the odds of becoming a robbery victim.

Putting locks on your luggage can be the first step.  But sometimes locks are more of a hindrance than an asset.  Customs officials and airport security personnel may have to break them in order to do the required searches on checked baggage.  If you forget a code or lose a key, you may have to break the lock yourself.  Since breaking the lock or cutting through a suitcase is a possibility, these devices offer little real protection.  That said, even a basic lock can cause thieves searching for a quick score to overlook your bag and search of something easier to grab.

Money belts, pouches in various shaped and sizes, can be worn inside clothing and can be used to hold money and important travel documents.  These are good for traveling from place to place, but not for using while shopping or sightseeing.  They can be difficult to access.  You would probably draw too much attention to yourself by unzipping your pants or pulling up your shirt to get at your cash.  It would be more secure to simply carrying the money in a pocket.  Some money pouches, worn around the neck inside the shirt, can be useful if you wear a button-down shirt and can reach through the front of the shirt, between buttons, to get at the cash.  It is better to carry small amounts of cash in your front pocket, perhaps keeping more money in a money belt and taking it out in private (in your room or even in a bathroom stall) and putting it in your pocket little by little as needed.

Or, you could opt for plastic.  People are often surprised how easy it is to access their money at an ATM, even while traveling in developing countries.  ATMs can be found in almost every city in the world.  If you have a bank with worldwide reach, you will be able to get to your money almost anywhere.  It might be worth setting up a basic checking account at a global bank if you don’t have overseas ATM service.  Without a pin number, thieves won’t be able to access you cash.  Or at least, you will be able to cancel the card before they figure out how to use it.

Prepaid credit cards, offered by major card companies like Visa, are an alternative to traditional cards.  These can be used like credit or debit cards and hold a predetermined amount of money.  Thieves who can get a hold of these cards won’t be able to access all your funds, just the portion that you put on the card.  What about traveler’s checks?  They are still a possibility, but since it is becoming easier and easier to access your funds with plastic, travelers checks have become less useful.

But what about those times when you are on the road without ATMs or room safes.  Perhaps you could go old school, using duck tape to fasten your valuables to the inside of a toilet tank or under a bed or desk.  This is risky (what if you forget it) but will protect against someone who plans to sneak into your room at night and grab what’s available (not unheard of).  Bicycle locks that fasten a suitcase to something sturdy (plumbing pipes, heavy furniture) can supplement a lock on the bag’s zipper.  On the high end, there are mesh coverings made of un-cut-able material that can deter anyone trying to cut a bag to get at what’s inside.

Sometimes your best efforts to tip the odds in your favor won’t be enough to protect you.  If the worst-case scenario becomes reality, it is best to be prepared.  Having copies of your passport, travel documents and other important papers can greatly help when it comes to reporting your passport and airline ticket stolen and obtaining replacements quickly.  If you really want to be secure, you can scan the documents and upload them to your online storage account or email them to yourself.  This will give you access from any computer with internet service.

The question of whether to park on-site at the airport often depends on the airport. For example, at some regional airports, it’s a no-brainer to park on the grounds. These are usually a short walking distance from the terminal and often only a few dollars a day. Plus, these cities rarely have off-site parking options like park and fly.

For large International airports around the world, such as JFK, Heathrow and LAX, the question of whether to park at the airport or not becomes a little bit more tricky. Even before questioning the parking fees associated with parking at International airports, there are questions such as availability. LAX for examples has less than 8,000 economy parking spots available at the airport. Considering the thousands of people that fly in and out of Los Angeles each day, this isn’t many open parking spaces. On a Wednesday afternoon, this may be a formiddable solution, but on the weekends, it’s going to be much more difficult to find an open parking spot. This becomes a problem if you’re running late for a flight. You could easily spend the time looking for a parking space on the weekend that it would take to park off-site and take a shuttle.

It’s typically a rule that you’ll be paying a little more for parking at the airport, as compared to parking off-site. You’re paying often for the convenience, since you’re often within walking distance or a short shuttle ride of the terminal. The parking is often better as well because it’s often in a well-lit parking area or parking garage. Parking rates at International airports usually start at a minimum of $10 per day, but are usually closer to $12-$15 per day. So if parking for a week, you’re looking at upwards of $100 to park at the airport.

The advantage of parking off-site is that you’re typically paying a lower fee, but then just have a added commute to your terminal. Your most economical bet in large cities is to park at a public transportation parking lot and take a subway or bus to the airport. Atlanta is one example of where this is ideal, where travelers can cheaply park at a MARTA station and then take the subway to Hartsfield International Airport. In cases where this isn’t ideal or you don’t have time, then the next most economical option is to do what’s become known as the “park and fly” option. These are usually located within 5 miles of the airport and the parking rate includes a shuttle to and from your terminal. Rates for these are cheaper the further away from the airport you are and usually start at $5 per day. A tip is also recommended for drivers when getting dropped off at the airport and back at the parking lot.

Shuttles at most off-site parking lots run every few minutes, so at the parking lot and the airport you never have to wait more than 5-10 minutes. Travelers just need to budget the extra time that may be required in waiting for and riding the shuttle. The best part about using these is its cost effectiveness, because it can often be more than half the cost of parking on-site at the airport.

Toronto Pearson

North America’s most improved airport serves Canada’s largest city.  The airport was recognized by the IATA for having the most constant performance, most improved facilities, and outstanding customer service.

Also, Pearson has been attracting more flights by streamlining its operation and actually charging less for gate usage and airport taxes.  This reduction in price is extremely rare.  Most airports have actually been raising tariffs to keep afloat during the slow economy and the industry-wide slump.  A change in leadership has also led to a change in Pearson’s day to day operations.  It is no longer the delay-prone, chaotic collection of terminals that it once was.

Hyderabad Airport

Many of India’s airports are chaotic and lacking facilities that are found in most modern airports.  Even newer airports are not up to par when compared to other international terminals.  Hyderabad’s Rajeev Gandhi International is an exception.  It is a new airport, built in 2008.  After a year of growing pains, the airport has come into its own.  It has one of the world’s best baggage handling records.  The airy ticketing and terminal areas are pleasant and the airport is usually spotless.   There is even free wi-fi.

Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi’s success is surprisingly.  The airport has experienced a huge increase in traffic over the past few years.  When this type of increase occurs at other airports, the result is usually chaos, or at least a huge increase in delays, longer security checkpoint lines, and lost baggage.  Not so at Etihad Airline’s main hub.  Much of the reason for the improvement is a newly constructed state-of-the-art terminal.  Passengers were so taken with the improvements that they voted Abu Dhabi Int’l into the top 25 airports in the world during a world-wide poll by Skytrax.  The airport also offers high tech extras like free wi-fi, a faster, more efficient and accurate baggage handling system and more convenient shopping options.

Cairo Airport

Cairo is Africa’s most improved airport.  A new, large terminal opened in late 2009, giving the airport a much needed upgrade.  The terminal features 23 state-of-the-art gates, a huge duty-fee shopping area and a luxury hotel.  Improvements have also been made on the landside, where traffic congestion has been eased by a series of bridges and fly-overs.

Vancouver Airport

Canada’s second busiest airport is booming after recent upgrades ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics.  It is now one of the easiest airports in the world to reach via public transportation.  The SkyTrain’s Canada Line serves both the international and domestic sections of the airport.  When the train is not running, Vancouver transits N10 “night bus” provides a similar service.  A newly constructed “link building” allows passengers to travel between national and international gates while remaining indoors.  The airport hopes to continue its improvements.  Unlike most former Olympic hosts, it is not taking a break after the games.

Johannesburg Airport

Johannesburg’s OR Tambo international is another example of an airport that benefited from the fact that its country hosted a major sporting event.  Tambo received major upgrades ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with new gates, shopping and ground transportation optons increasing its user-friendliness.

Dehli Indra Gandhi International Airport

The new stat-of-the-art Terminal 3 will  bring Delhi onto par with some of the Asia’s best airports.  It is one of the largest terminals in the world and will be able to handle over 30 million passengers each year.  That’s more than double the airport’s pre-construction capacity.  More parking and retail space are also part of the project.  Indra’s other terminals are also slated for upgrades.

Least Improved:

Chicago O’Hare – This airport has not been able to shake its poor image.  Yes, it is one of the world’s busiest airports, but it can’t seem to improve at all.  Delays and cancellations are expected, un-professional, surly customs officials greet international travelers and ticketing and security lines seem perpetually long.

Philadelphia – Philadelphia has the poorest image of any airport, arguably, in the world.  There seems to be constant construction, but nothing ever gets any easier for fliers.  Flights are delayed regularly, airport staff is universally unhelpful and getting from door to ticketing to gate can be an exercise in patience, at best.

Losing your luggage is one of the worst things that can happen during a trip.  Of course, terrorist attacks, airplane accidents and natural disasters top the list of possible negatives, but having the airline lose your bag is a much, much more likely than any of these major disasters.  If you have the right combination (or wrong combination) of poor airport baggage facilities and poor baggage handling employees and procedures, the percentage of luggage lost can get as high as 1%.  Of course, a vast majority of these lost suitcases are found quickly, but most baggage mishandling victims have to go a few hours or a day or two without their suitcase.

99% (99.8% for most major carriers) of bags are handled successfully.  Those are pretty good odds if you are a gambler.  But not if you are expecting your necessities to drop onto the baggage claim carousel.  You will sorely miss that suit that you brought for your business presentation or your allergy medicine that you put in your checked luggage to avoid having confiscated at security (not to mention your underwear and your socks).  It will all come back into your possession eventually (only a small portion of the over two million bags mishandled by domestic airlines in the US are actually lost completely), but in the mean time, what are you supposed to do?  Complaining to the lost baggage desk employee might feel good. But it probably won’t help.  These people are pretty much paid to stand their and take abuse while reciting their employer’s lost baggage policy and promising a swift return of the luggage.

Here is how to proceed if you bag has been lost and how to lessen the chances that it will be lost in the first place.

First of all, you can truly prepare by making sure that any real valuables are not placed in your checked baggage.  Necessary medications, valuables and travel documents are good candidates for your carry-on bag.  Any collectors items or non-replaceable items should either be insured or carried with you on the plane.  Also, make sure that your bag is properly labeled with your name and address.  Make sure that the label is secured to the bag.  You can even consider putting your information on the inside of your bag as well in case the tag falls off the outside.

It is good to check and make sure that you have all the information when you check your bag.  Confirm that you have one baggage claim stub for each bag that you have checked.  These small slips of paper are very important, especially if you have to report your bag lost.

What if you arrive at the baggage claim area and are not able to locate your bag?

First of all, don’t panic.  A vast majority of baggage that is delayed is returned to the passenger within a day or two.  Sometimes the wait is only a few hours.

If your bag is lost, proceed to the baggage claim counter for the airline that you flew.  Tell them you situation and ask them to make a report.  Despite the obvious frustration that everyone who has to report lost baggage feels, it is much better to be calm when dealing with the airline employee who will make the report and try to locate your bag.  The process will go smoother and faster if you are non-confrontational.  Make sure that you get a copy of the report that the employee makes and that all necessary contact information has been given.

Airlines will usually reimburse you for any necessities that you have to purchase before your bag can be returned.  Of course, their definition of necessities might not be the same as yours.  Still, most airlines will at least give you enough to purchase emergency toiletries and clothes.  You may be able to negotiate for a higher payout, depending on your circumstances.  If there is something that you absolutely need (your suit for your business presentation, for example), let the employee know.  If they are not willing to negotiate, ask for a supervisor or use your cell phone to call the airline (you didn’t pack your cell phone in your checked bag, did you?).  If you really have a necessity that is not being addressed, keep trying until you are able to get a hold of someone who is sympathetic to your plight.

Long flights can be extremely uncomfortable.  Being in a plane for more than a couple of hours is not something that anyone enjoys.  It is more about enduring the trip than about finding enjoyment.  Luckily there are thousands of products to choose from when it comes to making your air travels more comfortable.  Unfortunately, many of them rely on gimmicks to sell and do not offer any real relief from the monotony and discomfort of sitting upright in a crowded, confined space for a long period of time.

The Cabin Cuddler is a micro-fleece blanket that is shaped to fit perfectly around a seated passenger.  It zips up like a sleeping bag and offers full body warmth.  With most airline blankets being of inadequate size or costing extra to rent, the Cuddler can be a good investment.  The fact that you can completely zip and unzip it easily from a seated position is a major plus.  On the downside, it restricts movement (it may be awkward to get up to let the passenger in the middle seat get to the lavatory).

The Travelon 1^st Class Sleeper is a  simple cushion that is placed on the seat back of an airplane seat to give greater back support.  The  cushion is inflatable so it is easy to pack it in a carry-on bag or even in a briefcase or purse.  This cushion offers a little more support than one of those inflatable neck-brace-like pillows that were once popular amongst fliers.  The 1^st Class Sleeper might not actually provide the same feel as a fully-reclining first class seat, but it can help long haul fliers who suffer from back soreness or those who simply want a higher level of comfort than their economy class seat can offer.

The Power Executive Bundle is an answer to one of the great problems of air travel.  Trans-Ocean flights often last longer than the battery in your iPod or laptop.  This device plugs into the audio jack of any airline seat and provides electricity through a USB cord.  At $45, it is expensive, but probably not as expensive as a second battery for your laptop or some sort of high tech solar power charger or hand-crank charger (good luck getting either of those through security without some serious questioning).

The iTrans Motion-Relief Wristbands are somewhat controversial because they are an unproven natural remedy.  But many chronic air-sickness sufferers swear by them.  The band works by putting gentle pressure on acupressure points that are used to relieve motion sickness in traditional Chinese medicine.  At $60-$90, a wristband is more expensive than a bottle of Dramamine, but offers no side effects and can be reused over and over again.

The Cheniile Footsies are ultra-plush slipper/socks that are perfect for keeping your feet warm on long flights.  Their flexible construction makes them easy to pack in a purse or briefcase (or even in your pocket).  Most people don’t think about it, but footwear can go a long way towards providing shoe-less comfort.  Since it is too cold to go barefoot, these socks are the next best thing.

The Lights Out Sleep Mask claims to allow rapid-eye-movement during sleep.  Traditional eye-covers are usually made of soft material, but can press against the eyes of the wearer.  The Lights Out has a rigid shape while maintaining a soft feel.  This keeps the eyes covered, but also lifts the mask off of the eyes.  Even if you are not concerned about natural rapid-eye-movement during your nap, it is nice not to have a mask pressing on your eyes while you try to drift off.

Earplanes Ear Plugs offer much more protection than the standard ear plugs.  Some people have given up on commercially produced ear-plugs altogether and rely on home-made remedies like stuffing cotton balls in their ears.  Earplanes use a unique filter to help regulate pressure as well as softening harsh noises.  These ear-plugs are approved by flight attendants.  They are made of high-end material (latex-free silicon) but cost under $10.  That’s a small price to pay for those who want relief from the pressure of air travel but have not yet found an effective ear plug.

Air travel can be scary.  Yes, if you look at the statistics of airplane incidents and accidents compared to the statistics for car accidents, you will see that air travel is a much, much safer proposition than getting behind the wheel.  But, for novice fliers, non-frequent fliers and anyone who is nervous about flying though the air in what amounts to a metal tube, unfamiliar sounds and sensations can be unnerving.  Sometimes, even frequent fliers get a jolt or hear a noise and have to look around to see how others are reacting to gauge if they should be worried or not.  It is not only inexperienced fliers who have worried in-flight moments.

A little education can go a long way towards easing nerves for novice fliers and those who are experienced with in-the-air phenomenon but still unnerved by hurling through the air in what is basically a large, metal tube.

Turbulence

This natural phenomenon is the single most freight-inducing feature of flying.  It is also one of the most common.  Anyone who has been on an airplane has probably experienced turbulence.  Most of the time, the result of going over turbulence (which is caused by an “uneven” flow of air) is akin to traveling over a bumpy road in a car.  Often the pilot or someone on the flight crew will announce when turbulence is going to occur.  On rare occasions, turbulence can be more severe, with the plane dropping down or moving upwards quickly.  This can create a sensation that is not unlike being on a roller coaster.  It usually only lasts for a second or two.  Turbulence can cause noises because it can cause baggage to shift and the plane’s body to shake.  These noises can be loud, but do no damage to the aircraft.  Pilots are trained to handle turbulence and will fly around storms, where turbulence can be severe and dangerous.

Flaps

Flaps are hinges that are visible on the back of an airplane’s wings.  On smaller airplanes (and even mid-sized commercial jets) people who sit near the wing can hear these flaps, which help control the plane’s altitude and speed.  The flaps are moved after take-off and before landing.  The sounds have a mechanical quality that some people describe as similar to the sound made by a robotic arm in a factory.  Another “mechanical” sound that is heard on every flight is the retraction and deployment of the landing gears.  Fliers who are sitting near the landing gear may hear this noise as the gears are retracted (right after take-off).  There may even be a small bump as the gear doors close.  A similar sound and bump can occur just prior to landing, when the gears are set for landing.

Take-off and landing are the noisiest, bumpiest moments of most flights (except for those that are unlucky enough to experience excessive turbulence).  Engines are working at full speed at take-off to thrust the plane into the air, so, of course, there are going to be some pretty loud whooshing sounds.  Some people are unnerved when the engine sounds seem to cut out (usually during a decent towards the airport).  The pilots control the engine’s thrust and will lessen the output in order to descend to the proper altitude to prepare for landing.

Cross-winds can make the plane pitch slightly from side to side during landing.  Pilots are able to take these movements into account and it is generally not a problem, though it can be unnerving to feel the plane cabin pitch from one side to another as the ground approaches or even after the wheels first touch the tarmac.

It is not uncommon to hear wheels squealing as they first hit the tarmac upon landing.  Landing is the most violent part of the flight.  Brakes are applied and flaps extended, creating what can best be described as a small roar.  This noise seems heightened because the “ear-popping” that occurs in most fliers ears during the landing makes otherwise familiar sounds seem unnatural.

It is also not uncommon for things to shift during landing.  The cabin may shake slightly and baggage in the overhead bins shift, creating noise that can be loud enough to make it seem that something is going to break off the plane.  These sounds die down quickly as it only takes most commercial planes a few seconds to decelerate after touching down.

Sites like Travelocity and Orbitz have made it easier to search for airline and hotel deals without having to spend the day on the phone with various travel agents and airfare consolidators. There are even search engines that can help you compare the prices on various travel booking sites.

But there are still deals out there that cannot be found on Travelocity and its peers. Even Kayak.com and Lowfares.com, sites that have search engines that scan all major booking web sites, cannot search every individual airline’s web site looking for deals. Sure, travelers can continuously visit airlines’ web sites waiting for new deals or promotions to be announced. But luckily, that time consuming approach is not the only way to stay on top of the latest deals. Many airlines (but not all) have embraced social media and use it as a tool to reach their customers. Many deals are announced via Twitter and, to a lesser extent, Facebook. Most of the lowest fares are announced by the airlines themselves, though a handful of sites that specialize in information about fares also bring good deals to consumers’ attention. These new social media developments make it possible for fliers to get insider information without having to go to great lengths to get it.

JetBlue is the most savvy airline when it comes to social media. The airline regularly posts deals on its web site and then notifies its Twitter followers. There is very little in the way of non-relevant tweets if would-be fliers know which account to follow (see below). Southwest also posts deals, but spends a lot of their time tweeting about other non-relevant news, contests and information. Sure, Southwest’s followers will get the occasional deal announcement, but they have sift through tweets that remind them, for the hundredth time, that Southwest does not charge to check baggage. @JetBlueCheeps is a twitter account that solely focuses on last-minute deals offered by JetBlue. There are usually multiple deals daily in the under-$100 range for one-way tickets (and it isn’t rare to see sub-$50 one-way fares).

Other airlines are not blind to the Twitter phenomenon. They simply don’t tweet about fares as often. When they do, their accounts’ followers (Southwest, United and American have lots of followers) will be sure to get the info. JetBlue’s no bull approach ahs one them fans, but it is still worthwhile to sift though the spammy tweets of other airlines in order to find amazing Twitter-only deals.

United Airlines is one of the few legacy carriers to actually offer solid deals on Twitter. Some of their deals are “Twitter only,” meaning they are not advertised anywhere else. For serious deal-seekers, these can be great finds. There are occasional international fares. However, these tweeted tickets sell quickly, meaning that followers have to act almost immediately if they want to take advantage of them.

Virgin America regularly posts last minute deals, but they, unfortunately fall into the “superfluous noise” category: tweeting about contests and airline news more often than supplying information about deals. However, followers who appreciate the airline’s hip image might find it fun reading some of this non-deal-related chatter.

Twitter is not only utilized by domestic carriers. Air Asia, the most successful of its continent’s budget airlines, regularly tweets about its low fares. There are even occasional deals on international flights (mostly from Europe and Australia). Air Asia also does a good job of replying to relevant question left by followers.

FareCompare, an airfare site founded by air travel guru Rick Seaney, is a great resource for finding low fares. Its map feature can make it simple to see what’s out there and its Tweets regularly focus on airfare deals without too much fluff. Fare Compare has earned praise from fliers and disdain from airlines because it uncovers hidden costs and notifies would-be fliers about them, including any extra fees and taxes in the quoted price. The site also does analysis about ticket prices and tells readers (and @farecompare twitter followers) when and how to book to gain the lowest prices.

These relatively new tools can help fliers get better prices on flights and feel more involved in the process of shopping for airline tickets.

The airline industry has struggled over the past few years.  It has been obvious for some time that changes need to be made so that the industry can continue to grow and thrive.  However, it was still a bit of a shock when major mergers began to be announced on the heels of one another.  The merger trend started when Delta and Northwest joined together.  This deal (which was, in many ways, a take-over by Delta) created the world’s largest airline.  The most recent high profile merger occurred when Untied and Continental agreed to join forces.  These two airlines will operate under United’s name. When the merger is complete (it’s expect to take a couple of years), United will take over the title of world’s largest carrier.  Judging by the remaining independent legacy carriers (especially US Airways and American Airlines), United should hold the title for quite a while.

Southwest shook up the low-cost-carrier game when it announced a merger with AirTran, one of its main budget competitors.  A series of smaller mergers and alliances have truly changed the face of the airline industry.

But what do these mergers mean for fliers?  What will it mean for the price of air travel and for the services that passengers will receive in the future?

Though it is hard to predict the future state of the air travel industry, it seems likely that prices, at least on some routes, will eventually rise.  Fewer airlines competing for customers means fewer choices.  The lack of competition could lead to rises in airfares.  The Southwest-AirTran merger is probably the most important to watch.  In recent times, low cost carriers have offered lower fares than legacy carriers (that’s United, American, Delta, etc) on most routes.  This forced the big airlines lower their prices to remain competitive.  When Southwest began flying from Minneapolis to Chicago, Northwest (now Delta) was forced to lower their fares.  In 2010,  it is actually possible to find lower fares on Delta than Southwest (occasionally) on this route.  However, fewer low-cost-carriers means that there are fewer low fares that big airlines will have to adjust to.  Also, low-cost-carriers will not have to offer super cheap fares to undercut major carriers because they may only be competing with one carrier on a given route.  Offering fares that are just a little bit less will do the trick.

Some people argue that setting new restrictions on airlines would give more airlines a chance to compete.  However, new laws, similar to those in place before the de-regulation of airlines in the US, would probably only help airlines with mediocre service and poor business models survive.  This would not be good for the industry overall.  Airlines with poor service and poor business models will eventually fail and make room for new airlines with better methods for doing business in today’s industry.

It is quite likely that Southwest/AirTran will come out with low fares once their merger is complete.  JetBlue will probably attempt to match these fares.  But in the long run, after these introductory prices give way to regular prices, fares will probably end up slightly higher because there will be less competition.

However, low-cost-carriers have proven that a good business plan can lead to success in the airline industry.  JetBlue and Southwest are two of the only carriers in the US who have posted a profit for the past decade.  If the worst case scenario occurs and Southwest raises its prices, there may be room for a new carrier with a budget business model on the bottom of the industry.  If a successful new low-cost-carrier comes on the scene, it will keep both legacy carriers and established low-cost-carriers honest when it comes to airfares.  In the mid-term, this type of new carrier (or perhaps an old carrier with a new business model) could play an important roll in the industry and reverse any price hikes by undercutting the industry’s current heavyweights.

And what about service?  Continental stood out as one of the few airlines in the US that did not get carrier away with a la carte pricing and actually had a decent image when it came to personnel, service, and overall user-friendliness.  Will that disappear when United effectively takes the reigns?

Hopefully not.  Major airlines will have less competition, but the largest carriers will basically have world-wide reach.  Service and those little in-flight extras may be all that there is to differentiate them from the competition.

Travel with a family can be stressful.  From packing to checking luggage to making it through security and surviving a lengthy plane flight, there are plenty of chances for stressful situations to occur.  There are some situation that are unavoidable.  Even patient kids can get antsy after several hours in an economy class seat (especially if they are not used to flying).

But there are ways to lessen the stress level.  Here are some family friendly airport and airline features that travelers with families might not known about.  Luckily, they are available almost universally and do not add any cost to your travels.

Most airlines are able to make special arrangements for people traveling with young children.  If you let the airline know when booking your flight that you will be traveling with young children, they are more likely to come through with these extras.  If you are flying on a larger plane, the airline can often seat you and your children in a certain part of the plane (such as the first row of economy class).  This will give the young ones marginally more room to move around.  Plus, you won’t have to worry about them bothering other travelers as much.    Some airlines, but not all, also offer small – but useful – extra perks, which could be anything from coloring books and cookies to special, kid-friendly, meals.  The likelihood of getting any of these extras is increased if you inquire with the airline before checking in.

The TSA, the security organization that runs airport checkpoints, has made it much easier for families to get through security checkpoints.  Previously, this was a major headache for parents.  It is difficult enough to go through the checkpoint alone.  It is seemingly impossible to have to worry about yourself as well as making sure kids take off their shoes and take their toys and coins out of their pockets before passing through the metal detector.  The TSA now has family lines at every major airport in the US.  These lines are designated for families and for anyone who is unfamiliar with security procedures or simply doesn’t want to feel rushed by other passengers.  Airport web sites and ground staff will have information about the location of these special checkpoints at each airport.

Also, the TSA allows baby formula, juice, other baby supplies that break the current 3-1-1 liquid rule.  However, these items have to be inspected separately.  All a parent has to do is declare these items at the checkpoint (as early as possible).  It can be helpful to place all these items in a separate bag, at least during check-in.  They can be re-stowed in a carry-on bag or diaper bag after you have passed through the security checkpoint.

Almost all airlines allow people traveling with small children to board the aircraft before the general economy-class passengers do.  This can be beneficial for those who are worried about stowing baggage and securing car seats before everyone else boards.  However, boarding first is not necessarily always the best idea.  Early boarding can mean 20-30 extra minutes in the airplane before the plane even takes off.  For shorter flights, it might be a good idea to actually wait until the others in your section of the aircraft board.  On longer flights, however, it can be nice to take advantage of the special treatment offered by airlines and get settled-in before the rush of boarders makes it more difficult to do so.

Fares for children are similar to adults on  most domestic services.  Small children can often sit on a parents lap for shorter flights for no extra fee (or for a small fee).  Older children may be able to fly at a discounted rate, though not usually on domestic flights.  Some international flights offer discounted rates for small children.  You can inquire about this with the airline or travel agent.  Often, if you don’t ask, the rate quoted for a child will be full price.

Airlines are able to aid children traveling alone.  Some even have special flight attendants who are trained and experienced in aiding this type of young, unaccompanied traveler.  There are forms and procedures that must be followed, but most airlines are ready to accommodate young solo travelers.

Airports can be expensive places to spend time.  Once you pass through security, you become, more or less, a member of a captive audience for in-terminal retailers.  Of course, you can choose to pass up the boutiques selling low quality goods for high prices.  But what about that three dollar bottled water and the inflated price of snacks and meals?  Airports have some amenities, but many of these have high costs as well.  Free internet is a major perk in some terminals, but most major airports still charge for access.  On top of the fee, service can be woefully slow (enough to make you reminisce about the dial-up era).  You could spring for a $40-$50 pass to sit in an airport lounge for a while, but that is hardly a good value, even if the lounge has a complimentary snack spread and faster internet service.

It is not all doom and gloom for people on layovers and those who arrive too early for their flight.  Here are some cheap or even free amenities and services that some airports offer.

Free wireless internet, as I said above, is not universally free.  Most major airports charge for it, while smaller airports and secondary airports in major cities are usually the ones that offer free access as a way to draw passengers who would otherwise choose to go to the larger alternative.  Some major airports, like Denver International and Boston Logan, offer service in some areas of the terminal.  Here is a list of airports in the US that offer free wi-fi access.

Major international airports usually feature massive duty free shopping areas where passengers can browse and make purchases for hours on end.  For some airports, though, shopping is only the beginning of the list of pastime choices.  Singapore’s Changi International Airport has half-a-dozen gardens inside of its terminals.  There are plenty of places to sit amongst the greenery, with even the lowly budget terminal boasting a world-class garden.  Complimentary foot massage machines and even a swimming pool make this one of the best airports to spend a few hours without ever cracking your wallet open.  Amsterdam’s Schiphol International has a large observation deck where people can watch planes take off and land.   A small venue run by the world famous Rijksmuseum gives passengers on a layover a chance to experience some high-brow culture instead of wandering through duty free shops making unnecessary purchases.

Then there are some less-obvious free services that are worth seeking out.  Seoul’s Incheon Airport is one of the only airports that offers free computer access.  The computers are located in a café, meaning that people often feel obliged to make a small purchase.  But still… such an amenity is almost unheard of.  Incheon also has a Korean cultural center with interactive activities for those who are seeking some serious in terminal experiences.

Art displays are one feature that has become almost universal at airports in the US and around the world.  Local art, from paintings to photography to sculptures can be found in many terminals.  Some of these works can have a high tech edge, like a towering interactive robot in San Jose Mineta International’s new terminal, and some can impart a strong local flavor, like a collection of works at Orlando International.

Spending time in airports with kids can be a recipe for stress.  Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson is one of the busiest airports in the world and one of the most difficult to negotiate with youngsters.  However, the airport’s Kid’s Club is one of the best family-friendly features of an airport anywhere in the world.  There are kid-centric art displays, colorful exhibits and a very popular puppetry area.

If all else fails, mid-sized and large airports are bound to have unused gates where you could find a quite corner to read a book or enjoy the contents of your iPod.

For many travelers, first class is the enlightenment of travel. When you’ve made it to first class, then you’ve finally arrived. Right? We look on with jealousy as first-class passengers confidently board first and then look on in jealousy as we walk by them as they drink their mimosas and stretch out. It’s torture that coach passengers are even made to walk past first class passengers enjoying all of their upgraded amenities. Deep inside, we want that experience, yet know we haven’t reached that mecca and may never reach it. However, before you write off flying in first class, getting that sought after upgrade might not be so tough after all.

One of the keys to grabbing an upgraded first class seat often is in the time you fly. It’s going to be near impossible to score an upgrade during peak hours, including the weekends and late mornings and afternoons. Your best shot at an upgrade is going to be early mornings and late nights on the weekend. Just as these are typically the best times to score a standby seat, they are also your best chance at getting a first class upgrade.

Since such a small percentage of travelers actually fly in first class, this is where you’ll sometimes find the most open seats, even on a busier flight. So what’s the first way to score a seat upgrade to first class? As surprising and easy as it may sound, just ask! Many flights have unoccupied first class seats and so gate agents will give a first class seat to people that ask. However, don’t just expect that when there are open seats that they’re just to offer them away to you. Be nice about it and even let the airline know if it’s your first time flying or something like an anniversary, but don’t try to pull one over on them. Also of mention, getting a first class upgrade may not be available toward close to departure, so keep that in mind when asking about upgrades.

Your best chance of grabbing a seat upgrade to first class is going to be based on your frequent flyer miles status. If you have enough miles, you can of course use miles to upgrade to first class, however, many times you can receive an upgrade based on your membership status. The higher your status as a member of that airline’s frequent flyer program, the better chance of getting a seat upgrade when you ask.

One last option for securing an upgraded seat in first class is typically known only by travel agents and that’s what’s commonly referred to as Y-Up fares. These aren’t always the same as a coach ticket, but are typically much cheaper than buying a first class ticket. Y-Up tickets are like buying a full-price coach fare, but you’re then upgraded to first class upon check in. These aren’t available on many flights and are only offered on North American flights. Travelers best chance of scoring a Y-Up fare is by using a travel agent or using the Fare Compare Y-Up Search Tool.

One of the best ways to be an eco-conscious traveler is to fly with the airlines that are engaging in good green practices. This list provides you with some insight into the leading green airlines.

• Alaska Airlines/ Horizon Air. This airline has an extensive emissions reduction program. It has outfitted many of its planes with winglets, which help increase fuel efficiency of its planes. When it comes to their ground vehicles, two of three vehicles use electric motors and many of them rely on alternative fuels. This airline also has a comprehensive recycling program. Another green action on the part of this airline is the use of green design for its offices.

• American Airlines. This is the first airline to start flying the newest planes by Boeing, which are the most fuel-efficient commercial planes in the world. They’re also working on creating eco-friendly airport lounges for the people who fly with them.

• British Airways. This airline has been a leader in starting to test out the use of alternative fuels on their airplanes. This airline has a carbon offset program. Additionally, they support several green initiatives such as reducing deforestation in Brazil. Some of the goals of this airline are to reduce the average noise per flight by 15% by 2015 and to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.

• Continental Airlines. This airline supports the use of biofuels, which are considerably greener than the fuel that is traditionally used to fly airplanes. Additionally, this airline has a fleet of planes that are younger than what many other airlines have. Newer planes tend to be more fuel efficient and therefore greener.

• Delta Airlines. This airline helps the earth out by recycling everything from trash in the plane’s cabin to the oil that their planes use and the carpet in their planes. In fact, they recently received an award from the EPA for their recycling efforts. Additionally, Delta Airlines has a LEED certified terminal in Boston. Furthermore, they regularly donate money to The Nature Conservancy, which is a green organization.

• EasyJet. This airline is installing new energy-efficient engines in many of its planes. It has some great goals for the future. These goals include reducing noise by 25%, CO2 emissions by 50% and NOx by more than 75% all by 2015.

• Japan Airlines. This airline has been active in testing out alternative fuels for its planes. They have measures in place to reduce emissions both in the air and on the ground. The green actions of this airline have led it to receive the World Savers Award from Conde Nast Traveler. One simple but smart action that they have taken has been to close the window shades on all parked vehicles to reduce the heat levels inside of planes and keep them naturally cool.

• JetBlue. People who like this budget airline will be happy to know about some of its green actions. One is the option to offset your carbon footprint at the time that you purchase your airline ticket. Another good thing about this airline is that they use a single engine to taxi on the runway, which reduces both emissions and fuel consumption. One neat thing for customers is that they are also beginning to offer organic earth-friendly food on some flights.

• Nature Air. This is a small airline in Central America but it’s one that is very important to include on this list. That is because it is the first certified carbon-neutral airline in the world. It re-uses cooking oil to run its ground vehicles.

• Southwest Airlines. This airline has traditionally been a leader in green initiatives. They were among the first of all airlines to recycle oil, work on noise reduction, introduce paperless statements, etc. Although other airlines are catching up by implementing many of the same green actions, Southwest continues to deserve attention for being green. One interesting thing that they do is use a power washing system for their planes which enhances fuel efficiency.

• Virgin America. This airline is green in large part because it has a solid recycling plan. Recycling takes place in the plane cabin as well as at the gate. Like Continental, this airline also has a young fuel-efficient fleet of planes. Additionally, this was the first commercial airline to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program. It was also the first airline to report on its carbon footprint and to allow passengers to offset their carbon footprint.

Finding food at the airport can be challenging enough, let along finding cheap food. Over the years people have learned to bring food and drinks from home, although the TSA has cracked down on what you can bring through security. Therefore, you’re often left with expensive airport dining that can leave much to be desired. When just doing an hour layover, this is not a big deal. However, how about on those over nighters or 12-hour layovers at the airport? It’s often not so easy to just find something off airport grounds, so you’re typically looking at having a couple meals at the airport.

Finding cheap airport food is possible. It may take some looking around and you can’t just settle for the first airport restaurant you come across. If just looking for snack items, consider an airport drug store or convenience store. These typically carry some of the same items you would find at an airport cafe, but often at half the price. For example, you may be paying $1 for a cookie, rather than $2.50 at a cafe.

At some of the bigger airports, keep an eye out for food and beverage carts. Just as New York City food carts, for example, typically offer cheaper food than cafes, so this remains the same for airport carts. These usually just offer some of the basics, like coffee or tea, but have cheaper prices than airport restaurants. This could be the difference in saving $2 on a cup of coffee.

Something to keep in mind is to avoid ordering combos when possible. Although these may typically save money at most restaurants, it’s not the case at airports. Instead, just order a slice of pizza and a courtesy cup of water. Not only does this keep you from over-ordering and having too much food that you don’t want to take on the plane, but it also saves you some money.

Eating at chain restaurants, like a Moe’s or Panera Bread can often be cheaper than some of the other airport options. They’re always cheaper than the sit-down restaurants that are starting to pop up in some of the large international airports. At Panera Bread for example, you can easily have a bagle and a cup of coffee for less than $5. Again, combos at some of these restaurants can be what tends to be on the more expensive side.

If you’re sitting down to have a meal, drinking alcohol is going to put the biggest dent in your wallet. Similarly, to professional sports events, alcohol is the most expensive item at airports for what you’re getting. For a beer you’re going to be pay over $5 and for cocktails usually $15-$20. As is the case, save your drink money on both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, order a cup or water and enjoy complimentary drinks on your flight.

There are plenty of applications available for smart-phones users.  Some of these programs are incredibly useful.  Most are not.  Travelers can use their iPhone, Android or Blackberry to download songs to listen to on a long flight or check their email or snap some pictures of their trip to post on Facebook.  But smart-phones can have other (non-entertainment) uses for people who are traveling.  Some applications have been developed that can actually save time and help people take care of the practical aspects of travel, from finding their gate at the airport to finding a reasonably clean restroom.

Here are some of the best and most useful travel-themed applications for smart-phones.

Next Flight ($2.99)

This iPhone and iPad application is simple but practical.  Basically, it is like having all those monitors that display departure and arrival information at the airport inside your phone.   Users can simply enter their date of departure and the cities and airports that they are traveling between and the application displays all flights on all airlines that fit within the entered parameters.  This can be useful for finding alternative flights after a cancellation, flying standby, finding a last minute flight or simply keeping tabs on the status of your upcoming flight.

Urbanspoon Application (free)

The popular food web site has an application for iPhones and Android phones.  Users enter their location and a few search preferences and then the application randomly selects a nearby restaurant.  The selection process is started by simply shaking the phone. Some people don’t like the randomness, which is a little more like a slot machine than a search engine, but UrbanSpoon is one of the most respected sites amongst serious diners, so whatever restaurant comes up is bound to be good.

HearPlanet ($5.99)

This iPhone app seeks to replace traditional guidebooks.  Surprisingly, it does a pretty good job.  Users can select parameters for the location and information that they are searching for (for example, they can choose specific sights, like “Museums” or “landmarks.”)  The application then uses audio to not only list sites that fall in the  chosen category, but also give information about each site, kind of like an ongoing self-guided tour. With global coverage of more than 300,000 locations, this is a very useful application and is well worth the higher-than-normal download fee.

AroundMe (free)

This application is quite similar to the map features offered by popular online search engines.  It provides a list of businesses (you can choose from categories like restaurants, gas stations, museums, and hotels) that are in the vicinity and gives a map so that users can get a visual picture of the direction and distance each business is from their current location.  There is also a feature that uses Wikipedia entries to provide additional information about the area.

HopStop (Free)

This program is one of the most useful free applications available.  It offers directions for taking public transportation in major cities in the US  (as well as Paris and London).  The directions are customizable.  HopStop started in New York City, but has since branched out to include other cities.  It can make the intimidating and confusing prospect of taking public transportation in a strange city seem much easier.

Free Translator (free)

Another free application that can prove extraordinarily useful and even fun.  It offers translation services for a number of languages.  It’s like a phrasebook, except you’d need a suitcase to carry all the different languages that are included in the app.  In addition to popular tongues like Spanish, French and Chinese, there are other less-spoken languages like Czech and Romanian as well.

Sit or Squat (free)

This useful but unusual free app answers one of the most important questions people can ask when they are out and about: where’s the nearest clean restroom?  Users can use this program to find the restrooms nearest their location.  User-generated reviews and, occasionally, photos of the bathrooms are also included along with location.  The extra info can prove invaluable.

PhotoLoco (free)

Photoloco is an Android app that can search for pictures that can give you ideas for sightseeing excursions.  After entering a location and search keywords, the program searches Flickr and Panoramio for images that contain the keywords.  This can be a good app for getting ideas for your itinerary while you are traveling or even before you take off.

These attractions are perfect for people on a long layover or those in search of a convenient vacation that doesn’t require them to travel too far from then airport.

Minneapolis Saint Paul

The Twin Cities are home to one of the world’s largest malls. The Mall of America has an indoor amusement park, several miles worth of storefronts and a huge cinema. There is also a water-park and a large Ikea outlet in the area adjacent to the mall. The complex is visible from parts of the airport grounds. Fliers on a long layover can easily reach the mall on Minneapolis’s light rail line, which passes through the airport terminal and terminates at the mall. Though it would take several hours to truly explore the shopping venue in depth, an hour or so would be sufficient to get some shopping in before boarding your next flight.

Hong Kong Terminal 2 SkyCity

SkyCity is an entertainment complex that is actually located within Hong Kong International Airport. Whereas Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak International Airport was in the heart of the city, the new airport is located outside of the territory’s central area. So rush shopping trips during layovers are no longer possible. However, HK International’s SkyCity (in Terminal 2) features plenty of fun: a golf course, a museum of Hong Kong cinema, a 4-D theater and a host of restaurants and shopping outlets. Because it is located in the airport, there is no need to worry about traffic and security lines causing you to miss your connecting flight.

Sao Paulo

Sometimes passing time during layovers can be practical. At Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport, there is a storefront that offers dental services. This airport dental office is attractive because the venue is clean and modern and the dentists are high quality but charge a fraction of the price that North American tooth doctors charge. Services include teeth cleaning, x-rays and whitening.

Houston Hobby/Phoenix Sky Harbor

Houston’s major airport, George Bush Intercontinental, is not near the city’s attractions, but Houston Hobby Airport, a favorite of low-cost-carriers like Southwest, is adjacent to the city center. Shopping is possible in malls and retail outlets in Houston’s Uptown district, while downtown features more shopping, restaurants and museums. Phoenix Sky Harbor International is another airport near the center of a major city. Central Phoenix is only 4 to 5 miles away from the terminals, making shopping and art viewing a possibility for flier with a few hours to kill.

Boston

Boston Logan Airport is located adjacent to Boston Harbor. In fact, there is a shuttle from the terminals to the nearest pier. Fliers with a short layover can get an unofficial sightseeing cruise on the harbor by simply taking a water taxi. Those with a longer amount of time to spend can probably make it to nearby harbor-side attractions like the historic USS Constitution, which offers regular tours to those willing to pay an admission fee.

Heathrow Airport, London

London’s main airport is near some of the city’s most famous attractions. Windsor Castle and Eton College are both within striking distance for anyone with a couple of hours to spare. There are even public buses that make loops between the castle and the airport’s Terminal 5. The journey takes a while, but with a few hours, you’ll be able to see the traditional home of the Queen Mother and still be back in time to enjoy some Earl Grey and a scone before boarding your connecting flight.

Sydney

Sydney, Australia’s airport is located only 5 miles from the iconic downtown area of the city and the even more famous harbor-side area. There is a train that loops through the downtown and bus and train options that reach downtown from the airport. Those in search of nature don’t even have to travel that far. Botany Bay is located near the airport. It is popular for swimmers and sailboarders. There is also a looping 6 mile trail for bikers and hikers.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s great cities and an important entry-point for people flying from the other side of the Atlantic. It is, however, possible to have some great experiences without ever having to leave the city’s Schipol Airport. There is a small outlet of the famous Rijksmuseum located inside the terminal. The exhibits change every few months, so there is something fresh, even for people who regularly use the airport. There is also a viewing platform where fliers can watch planes take off and the airport’s tarmac activity. This is a large area that runs the length of the main terminal, so there is no need to worry about crowds.

As more and more airlines have begun charging for checked baggage, more people have begun to carry-on their luggage.  Of course, carrying on means packing lighter.  This can be especially difficult for longer trips.  Of course, it may be worth the effort if you want to avoid the $25 (or $40 or more) fees associated with checking bags on most – but not all (see below) – airlines.

There are other advantages that come along with only relying on carry-on luggage.  Passengers who don’t check their bags don’t have to worry about the airline losing their baggage.  Instances of lost luggage are pretty rare, but there is always a chance (based on the percentages of bags lost) and the hassle of waiting for your suitcase to be found can be unbearable.

The first part of any carry-on packing strategy is having the correct piece of luggage.   It is easy to find pieces of luggage that are specifically designed to meet most airline’s carry-on requirements.  Some people opt for hard-sided suitcases or luggage that is built around a rigid frame.  This will assure them that the suitcase will fit in an overhead compartment, but it does not allow for the proverbial “stuffing of the suitcase.”  Soft-sided bags are a better bet when it comes to getting as much as possible into a small area.  Soft-sides not only allow you to get that extra pair of socks and jeans packed, they also make it easier to push into the overhead compartment.  As long as a bag actually fits in the overhead, it is unlikely that flight attendants or other airline staff-members will ask you to check it.

There have been comedy skits and jokes about people wearing 12 layers of clothes on the airplane so that they don’t have to check their suitcase.  Of course, this approach is laughable and extreme, but there is a practical related idea.  Remember that airplanes can be cold.  Wear heavier clothing for your flight.  If you want to bring a jacket, wear it.  It will take up a lot of room if you choose to pack it and can be slipped off and stowed under the seat or even in the overhead compartment without questions from the flight attendants.  Likewise, jeans, sweatshirts/sweaters or heavy shoes take up unnecessary room.  Pack your light clothes and wear your heavier ones.

What about your purse or briefcase.  Most airlines allow you to carry a small personal bag in addition to your carry-on (be careful about this though, some airlines – namely Ryanair – are very strict about this).  This has to be small enough to be stowed under your seat.  You can even opt for a small backpack.  If you use this second bag for packing instead of for your personal items and entertainment, you’ll be able to use it for any items that did not fit in the carry-on.  Just be aware that security may perform a bag search.  If you won’t want your underwear or toiletries in full view of other passengers, you might want to put it in your carry-on suitcase rather than your backpack/purse.

There are various approaches to fitting maximum amount in your suitcase.  Some people roll their clothing into tube shapes rather than folding it,  This allows them to press items together and limit the amount of open space in the suitcase.  Other people say that laying items as flat as possible (not folding shirts or jeans more than once) is a better way to limit unused space.   These are both proven methods of packing.

Still, there are those times when everything you want to take simply won’t fit in a carry-on.  In this case, the best approach is to eliminate unnecessary items.  Can you buy toiletries at your destination?  If so, you can take out shampoo, toothpaste and shaving cream.  Going to a beach destination?  You will be able to buy swimsuits, towels and water sports equipment once you arrive.

Sometimes packing light is just not an option.  Extended periods of travel call for more luggage than a simple carry-on.  In this case, it is possible to look for alternatives.  Shipping your extra clothes or equipment to your destination is a possibility, though one that will most likely end up costing as much or more than checking a bag.

Some airlines offer free baggage checking.  This is the case on many international flights, when travelers going abroad cannot reasonably be expected to bring only a single carry-on.  Airlines like Southwest offer free baggage checking on all flights and other airlines, like Delta, give their credit card holders and loyalty club members cheap or free baggage checking.

Here are the world’s most modern airports in the world.

Munich international Airport

Munich International Airport is a model of efficiency.  The time it takes to get through the immigration and customs checkpoints are almost unheard of by US standards.  Even the usually slow process of collecting your baggage is sped up in Munich.  Conveyor belts carrying the bags reach speeds of 16 miles per hour as the whisk the suitcases through security checkpoints and out to the baggage claim area.  The average wait time is only 6 minutes.  These advanced features are found in the airport’s ultramodern Terminal 2.  But it is not all German efficiency.  There are plenty of relaxation-oriented attractions as well.  The terminal features hair salons, a swimming pool, free shower facilities and a large supermarket with reasonably priced food.

San Jose Mineta

This airport’s brand new terminal opened on June 30, 2010.  As one would expect for the gateway to Silicon Valley, there are plenty of connectivity features: chairs with power outlets and high tech art (including a 20-plus-foot robot/sculpture titled “Space Observer”).  The robot has monitors and sensors and moves its “head” as if tracking passers-by.

Hong Kong International Airport

This modern airport is relatively new, having replaced Hong Kong’s iconic Kai Tak Airport a little over a decade ago.  It stands out because of its design, including modern architecture and high-tech features.  There are partially automated customs and immigration control checkpoints for international arrivals.  The airport also has numerous entertainment features, including a golf course, a 4-D movie theater, an interactive museum dedicated to Hong Kong’s Film Industry and a huge shopping mall.

Seoul Incheon

Few passengers can understand how it works, but everyone is glad it exists: the ILS Cat-IIIb system.  This high-tech set of instruments provides guided landings for airplanes when the visibility is as low as 50 meters.  Incheon, one of the world’s largest and busiest airports, is the only airport in Asia to currently use this system.  Despite Korea’s often-harsh weather, Incheon suffers few delays and cancellations and is widely thought to be one of the world’s safest airports because of such high tech safety features.

Use-friendliness is not lost amongst all the technology.  Incheon offers complimentary computers so that fliers can check their email and the schedule for their connecting flights before taking off.  History is also evident, with an interactive Korean cultural museum and a Buddhist temple being part of the scenery.

Madrid Barajas International (Terminal 4)

Barajas is the largest airport in the world in terms of terminal space (more than 11 million square feet). The brand-new Terminal 4 was designed with a range of environmentally friendly traits.  Its windows allow natural light and solar gain heating, both of which cut down energy costs significantly.

The terminal’s designers tried to bring psychology into the design scheme, seeking visuals and features that lower the stress level in passengers prior to take off.

Kansai International Airport

Kansai is located on a man-made island in the middle of Osaka Bay.  There are high tech features, but the best aspects of the airport are its wide-open spaces, use of natural light and straightforward layout.  Frequent fliers consider Kansai one of the easiest airports in the world to navigate.

Kansai might seem graceful and slightly fragile, especially when you consider the generous use of glass in its construction.  However, the airport was able to emerge unscathed from earthquakes (due to high tech joints and shock suppressors).  Even typhoons were not able to damage the airport, which did not suffer so much as a broken window from either type of natural disaster

Dubai International

Dubai is a modern city and Dubai International Airport is one of its most notable structures. It is the single largest building in the world in terms of overall floor space.

A French design firm built the new Terminal Three in the shape of an airplane wing.  The new home of Emirates Airline, the terminal is actually mostly underground.  Passengers can enjoy plenty of different types of diversions in the multi-level space.  157 Elevators and 97 escalators make it easy to get from shops to gate without having to take more than a few steps.

Perhaps the most impressive logistical feature of the airport is its baggage handling system. There are 90 km of conveyor belt carrying 15,000 bags per hour from plane to passenger.  There is an automatic barcode reading system that ensures near 100% accuracy when it comes to sorting bags.

New Delhi Airport

Many of India’s airports are woefully out-of-date.  That is not the case in New Delhi.  The new airport was built in just over 3 years, an amazing pace for such a large structure.   The airport stretches over 4 kilometers and all parts are connected by moving sidewalks.  The massive structure can handle over 30 million passengers per year.

How do you relax at the airport?

You could prop up a table at the food court, hit the overpriced retail shops, find an empty gate to catch a nap or splurge on a pass to a premium class airport lounge.  There are plenty of methods for taking it easy after a long flight.  The growth of airport spas and massage services have given the airport leisure industry another major player.  Fliers can now actively combat the soreness and general miasma that comes from spending a lengthy time in the air.  Or they can get in the right state of mind before actually taking off.

There is no one type of venue that defines the term “airport spa.”  Services can range from automatic, coin operated massage chairs to small versions of full-scale spas that you might find in a five-star hotel or upscale shopping district.  There are even chain spas that are specifically designed for and marketed to airport patrons.

And, if you are lucky enough to head to some of the world’s finer airports (most can be found in Asia and Europe), general spa and massage venues are often enhanced by relaxing public spaces in the terminals.

Massage chairs are the most convenient and cheapest form of spa treatment available.  These can be a nice way to relax, but probably offer little in the way of real, personalized treatment.  Places like Osaka Airport in Japan have chairs that give shiatsu style massages (vibrating at certain pressure points to relieve general symptoms like stiffness and headache).

Oxygen bars are also gaining in popularity.  One of the first (and still best) can be found at Detroit Metro Airport.  OraOxygen Spa offers oxygen treatments in addition to the usual assortment of facials, massages and aromatherapy treatments.  There are even showers in the facility.  OraOxygen has locations in Calgary and Amsterdam airports as well.  The spa claims that breathing fresh oxygen is a good remedy for the uncomfortable side effects of breathing recycled are while in the plane.

Singapore’s Changi airport has several gardens among its long list of amenities.  There are koi ponds, flower gardens and even a butterfly garden.  These are free to all passengers who are using the terminal.  There is even a garden in the budget airline terminal.  These are not spas, but they are great venues for some free relaxation.  For those with a little bit of cash to throw around, the Rainforest Lounge, a spa decorated like a rainforest, offers a full menu of services from massages to beauty treatments.

Xpressspa is chain of spas that are specifically designed to cater to airport clientele.  There are locations at major airports in the US, including SFO, Logan, Orlando International, Dallas Fort Worth, Hartsfield Jackson, and a whopping six at New York’s JFK.  The spa offers different massages (reflexology, hand and arm, back and neck and full-body massage).  Prices vary depending on the length of the massage.  Other services on the menu are manicures, pedicures, facials, and waxing services.

Massage Bar is another chain found in airports.  They are not as widespread as Xpressspa and only offer chair massages, foot massages and heat therapy, but their prices are more reasonable than most airport spas.  Locations can be found in Sea-Tac, Nashville, Newark and Dulles International, as well as Sacramento, Columbus, Pittsburg and Nashville.

Many spa-like outlets at airports do more than back-rubs and facials.  Some double as beauty salons, giving pedicures, manicures, haircuts and hairstyling in addition to spa-like treatments.  The Oasis Day Spa, located in JFK’s JetBlue terminal, and D_partures Spa, with a location in Newark, are two such venues.  More and more salons based in airports are catering to spa-lovers.  Many have simply installed massage chairs next to their manicure and pedicure stations.

Some airports offer more than small spa outlets along the concourse.  Airport spa-hotels offer treatment packages for people even if they are not sleeping at the hotel.  Hong Kong’s Regal Airport Hotel features a complete health spa with a gym, fitness center, steam room and massage rooms.  The hotel is actually on airport grounds and connected to the terminal by a skyway.

The airport spa industry is definitely growing.  Even as the airline industry struggles, new spas, massage chairs and salons seem to keep popping up in terminals around the world.

The same cannot be said for certain other airports around the country. At these more-run-down places, the facilities might not be considered up-to-date and there is something missing in terms of décor and amenities. Here are some of the most run-down major airports in the country.

US Airports

#1: Philadelphia

This airport is often considered the worst-of-the-worst amongst large airports in the US. It simply cannot keep up with demand. It is dirty and over-crowded, and delays are all-but-expected by fliers. The airport seems to be constantly under construction, but these terminal updates don’t seem to help the situation at all. The airline and airport staff are notorious for their rudeness and even laziness. Even the airport hotels cannot escape the bad reputation. Most are unclean, even by roadside, truck-stop motel standards.

#2: Miami International

This airport has some of the ugliest architecture of any airport in the country. It is heavily used and the cleaning staff always seem to be two steps behind the problem. Or perhaps, they, like a majority of the airport and airline employees who work in the terminals, seem quite upset that they have to work there. I’m sure that some fliers have had positive experiences at the Miami International, but a majority of fliers consider this a tired airport that is overused and not taken care of.

#3: LAX

Like Miami, this is a huge airport. It is user-unfriendly, with connecting passengers often required to walk long distances. Some of the shops and terminal areas are newer, but the bathrooms are often under-cleaned or seemingly ignored by airport staff. Also, like Miami, there often doesn’t seem to be any employee in the whole airport who isn’t trying to take out their frustrations on fliers.

#4: Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby

These two Texas airports used heavily by Southwest Airlines. Both are reasonably convenient (especially Hobby) for city dwellers, but are both on the dark-and-dank side. Of course, like Southwest itself, the airports are about convenience and customer service without any frills whatsoever.

#5: Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport

This airport ranks extremely low among major airports when it comes to food, shopping and overall user-friendliness. Even its premium class lounges (the few that there are) are not up to par when compared to other locations around the nation. Many gates feature 70s-era hard plastic chairs and the perpetually threadbare carpet and bland layout make this seem like a poorly maintained high school rather than one of the Midwest’s most important airports.

Dishonorable mentions: JFK and Boston Logan

These two made the list because portions of them are surprisingly out of date and seemingly ignored by the janitorial staff. Yes, they have an excuse: they are insanely busy every day. But most people expect better from two airports that are known throughout the world.

Around the world: Charles De Gaulle Airport

Paris is such a popular city, both for business and leisure travelers. It’s a shame the airport has such a bad reputation. It was rated the worst airport in the world by major organizations including two shame-on-you nods (in 2005 and 2007) from the International Air Travel Association. Most of the airport was built in the 1970s and it seems that there has not been much done to update it since then. It is crowded and dirty. Perhaps there is an excuse, since 50 million passengers head through the De Gaulle each year. But couldn’t they at least keep the overused bathrooms from smelling and the terminals from resembling a well-used city subway station?

Free internet access is not a given at most airports.  Some airports allow passengers to connect to the internet from their laptops, but they charge a fee for this service.  A handful of airports have taken wireless connectivity a step further and offer it for free to anyone in the airport (or at least anyone who is aware of where the wireless hotspots are located).  So if you need to check flight information or the weather at your destination or just pass time during a longer-than-normal layover, hopefully you will be traveling through one of these lap-top-using-flier-friendly airports.

San Diego Airport’s wi-fi is often criticized for having a weak signal and being as slow as some of the most ancient forms of dial-up.  However, unlike some other free-wi-fi airports, San Diego has the service in all its terminals.  So as long as you stick to email and your favorite RSS reader, and don’t try to play games or access flash sites, this airport will have your wireless needs covered.

Free wireless internet in San Jose’s Mineta Airport is available in all public areas of both Terminal A and Terminal C (unless you try to connect from the baggage claim areas, where there is no service).  The speed is impressive, all things considered.  The service fits with the high-tech feel of the airport, which features digital art displays and a gigantic, digitally-created mural at its entrance.  .

San Francisco International recently decided to join its Bay Area peers (in Oakland and San Jose) in offering free wi-fi.  Often, an area’s largest airport will provide wireless access only for a fee, while smaller secondary airports offer free access as a way to draw more fliers.  SFO’s decision was made after extensive passenger surveying revealed that complimentary wi-fi was the one thing missing from this busy, but generally well-respected, airport.

Boston’s Logan Airport is another major airport that has decided to offer free internet access.  When a Google-sponsored free wireless internet promotion ended earlier this year, Logan’s overseers, the Massachusetts Port Authority, voted to continue the free service for at least the next two years.  Again, extensive passenger surveying was part of the reason that this decision was reached.  Like many other major airports, Logan previously charged ($7.95 per day) for internet access.

JFK International offers free internet access, but only in certain areas of the airport.  Fliers who are lucky enough to pass through the airport’s JetBlue Terminal are treated to free internet access with decent speed.  In other areas , there is a $7.95 connection charge.  For those who do get to the JetBlue Terminal, there are plenty of places to sit, with more than two dozen restaurants and cafés.

Kansas City International Airport offers free wireless access throughout its facility.  The airport also maintains a landing page that everyone who uses the wireless service can access.  The page has info about the airport amenities, weather, flight schedules and ground transportation.

Though it is not a major airport, it is worth mentioning the wireless service at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.  The service offers blazing fast speed, at least considering the usual dial-up or slow DSL-like speeds that seem to be the norm at airports.

Denver International Airport (DIA) provides free wi-fi access in the landside Jeppesen Terminal and on Concourses A, B, and C.  DIA is another one of the few large, busy, nationally-important airlines to opt for free wi-fi.  This service goes along with the generally flier-friendly image that the airport enjoys.  There are plenty of places to set up a laptop, especially for those who spend time in the Jeppesen Terminal.

Like the other fliers’ favorites, Portland International Airport offers free, easily-accessed wi-fi.  Wireless access is possible in 70% of the entire airport.  This includes most gates and the food court area and most other areas on the airport’s main level, including the lobby areas near the security checkpoints.  (It may be worth noting that access is not available in the ticketing area).

Pittsburgh International Airport offers free internet access to lap-top users in key places throughout its facility.  Areas covered by the wireless signal include all four airside concourses, the central AirMall and food court areas.

As a general rule, smaller airports offer free access to the internet, especially those airports that are competing with a larger airport in the same city.  A handful of larger airports (mentioned above) are also jumping on the free wi-fi bandwagon.

How can you avoid the crowds and chaos at the world’s biggest airports?  It is impossible. Perhaps you could fly on an overnight red-eye or arrive three hours early and make your way through ticketing and security to arrive at your gate just in time to board.

More and more people are choosing secondary airports in major cities.  These airports are gaining popularity because of their convenience and user-friendliness.  They are, generally (but not always), quieter than their gigantic, cross-town peers.  Some even have extra features like free wi-fi and reasonably-priced retail shops.

Here are some convenient alternatives to the biggest airports in the US.

Midway - This Chicago airport is a popular alternative to ultra-busy, always-delayed O’Hare Airport.  Southwest Airlines, Delta and AirTran are the major carriers at Midway.  Unlike O’Hare, Midway has a high on-time arrival average (among the top in the nation).  It is by no means a backwater airport, serving nearly 17 million passengers each year.  It is easy to reach via Chicago’s extensive CTA train network.

Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International – This airport serves 20 million passengers each year.  Most of the airlines here are low-cost carriers, with Southwest, AirTran and US Airways’ regional affiliates dominating the runways.  The airport has a dedicated rail station, which is reached by shuttle buses.  The MARC Penn Line (a major commuter train line) stops at the airport and serves both Baltimore (10 minutes to Penn Station) and D.C. (just over half-an-hour to Union Station).

Houston Hobby – This airport, only a few miles outside of central Houston, is dominated by Southwest Airlines.  Not only is it easier to reach than the newer, more crowded George Bush Intercontinental, it is always ranked among the top airports in the nation when it comes to customer satisfaction.  It has ranked #1 or #2 for many of the past five years.  The problem with Hobby is that car (or taxi) is the only viable means of ground transport.  But, since the airport is located so near to the central areas of Houston, where most visitors stay, taxi rides to and from Hobby are not overly expensive.

Dallas Love Field – Like most of the other airports on this list, Love Field is the home of low-cost carriers (Southwest – once again – and regional affiliates of Delta and Continental).  Currently the airport can only be reached by bus, but plans to offer train service to Burbank (Love Field) Station are in their final stages and passengers will be able to take the Green Line between Dallas and the airport.  Eventually, a people mover will connect the airport with the station.

Oakland – Because of the BART system, it is easy to reach Oakland International Airport from anywhere in the Bay Area (though people have to take the AirBART shuttle from the nearest station to the terminal).  This makes it easy for people to choose this airport over the busier, more delay-prone SFO.  Oakland has the best on-time percentage of the 40 busiest airports in the US.  Southwest and JetBlue are major carriers.  AirAsia is in the process of an agreement with the airport to offer service between Southeast Asia and the Bay Area that will be routed through Oakland instead of SFO.

San Jose – As one might expect, San Jose, the capitol of Silicon Valley, has a high tech airport in Mineta International.  The airport is also quite user friendly, with a straightforward layout, free internet access and lots of public art.  There are shuttle buses (known as the VTA Airport Flyer) that takes passengers from the Caltrain Station to the airport.

Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale – This airport is a popular alternative to Miami International.  The airport is connected to Miami by the TriRail commuter train.  As Fort Lauderdale is a destination in and of itself, most people choose to stay there rather than make the trip to Miami.  The airport is served by Caribbean Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines.  Many flights to the Caribbean start from this airport, so there are many connecting passengers.

John Wayne Airport – This airport in Orange County, near Santa Ana, California is a reasonable alternative to busy, awkwardly-laid-out LAX.  The airport has been steadily increasing the number of destinations that it serves.  Destinations like Hawaii, Toronto and Atlanta were recently added to the current list of mostly-West Coast airports.

Providence T.F. Green International – This Rhode Island airport has minimal delays and lacks the crowds that are found at nearby Boston Logan Airport.  The airport will soon be connected with Boston’s South Station by the MBTA commuter rail service (opening in late 2010), making the 30+ mile trip between Boston and T.F. Green much more convenient.

Twitter is a great tool for finding news, information and tips for travel. There are thousands of different people on Twitter that write about travel topics. Here you’ll find links to 100 of the best travel tweeps that you may want to follow (along with their Twitter bios to give you a better idea of what they’re all about):

1. @AAA_Travel. “Official site of the largest leisure travel agency in the US. Start anywhere, go everywhere!”

2.@AAirwaves. Verified Twitter account of American Airlines.

3. @airbnb. Twitter feed for room rentals and home-away-from-home travels.

4. @aquahotels. “Hotel chain with properties in Waikiki, Maui, Kauai, Molokai & Lanai” tweeting about Hawaii travel.

5. @artistatlarge. San Francisco based “publisher, artist, writer, photographer, traveler, serial blogger, foodie, curious, voyeur, pet sitter.”

6. @ashevilletravel. “Proud Ashevillian, backyard explorer, travel muse, music junkie, food-o-phile, hiker, local beer disciple, PR for Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.”

7. @AuthenticCoast. “Travel, food and wine from the Authentic Seacoast Resorts on scenic Chedabucto Bay between Cape Breton Island and the easternmost point of mainland Nova Scotia.”

8. @awayblog. “Travel planning, vacation inspiration & trip ideas from Away.com.”

9. @Backpacktobuggy. “Traveler, parent to 3 year old and border collie, writer, blogger, locavore and wine lover. I am always planning our next trip and trying to live greener.”

10. @Beatofhawaii. “Travel Deals, Tips, Culture and Analysis.”

11. @BrilliantTrips. “An independent travel company dedicated to providing individuals and groups with a travel experience that promotes education through travel.”

12. @cheapoair. Cheap travel booking site that offers even better travel deals through Twitter.

13. @continental. Verified Twitter account of Continental airlines, the fifth largest airline in the world.

14. @crankyflier. “I write The Cranky Flier, a snarky consumer air travel blog. Yes, I’m an airline dork..”

15. @DanTraveling. Travel news and links to interesting travel videos on YouTube.

16. @Delta. Verified Twitter account for Delta airlines.

17. @dreamofitaly. Twitter account for “Kathy McCabe, editor of the award-winning subscription travel newsletter Dream of Italy. Consultant on travel media projects.”

18. @Expedia. “Expedia’s official Twitter page. We believe that where you book matters. Follow us for the best travel tips, hotel packages & flight deals.”

19. @fareologist. As your Fareologists at Bing Travel, the smart travel search site, we’ll be sure to alert you of airfare and hotel deals, industry trends, and travel news.”

20. @flyawaycafe. “Travel Editor & writer for PlanetEye Traveler; Flight Attendant; girly-geek who loves wine, shoes & is always packed for the next adventure.”

21. @flyingwithfish. “Airline Industry Strategy & Emerging Media Consultant and Corporate Photographer.”

22. @fodorstravel. Travel experiences and destination guide information from this popular travel guide site/ publisher.

23. @FrommersTravel. “Frommer’s Travel: The best trips start here”.

24. @Gadling. “We write about fun, interesting, and relevant travel.”

25. @ghtravelblog. “Frequent world traveler, travel blogger, coffee lover, customer support guy that likes to cook and mix drinks” tweets in between travels.

26. @goabroad. “Our worldwide staff brings you THE Resource for Meaningful Travel with additional social media/networking tools.”

27. @GoGreenTraveler. “Go Green Travel Green: Travel tips for eco-conscious travelers. Exploring the world, trying new foods and drinks & being green.”

28. @GoVisitHawaii. Photos and links to blog posts about Hawaii life and travel.

29. @greentravel. “Alan A. Lew’s News + Links for Greening Travel + Tourism (from Northern Arizona University – NAU).”

30. @HappyHotelier. “Proud owner of Haagsche Suites, a very small but very luxurious Boutique Hotel in Den Haag, Netherlands and passionate blogger.”

31. @hawaii_vacation. “HAWAII-ALOHA.COM is the official web site for HAWAII ALOHA TRAVEL, LLC (HAT), a licensed Travel Agency located in Honolulu.” This is their Twitter feed.

32. @homeaway. “Plan your dream getaway at one of more than 230,000 vacation rentals worldwide” with helpful Tweets.

33. @hostelmana. “A feed of content from HostelManagement.com – the online resource for hostels.”

34. @HotelBlogs. In addition to useful tweets about hotels, this feed includes a lot of responses and interaction with other travel tweeps.

35. @HotelChatter. “Where to stay when you leave”.

36. @Hotelierportal. “Your One Stop Hospitality Portal – Serving the Industry since 1996.”

37. @istopover. “Tons of travel tips from iStopOver.com Travel on a budget with iStopOver; the money saving alternative to hotels!”

38. @ItalyartTravel. “Author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, Angela K. Nickerson, dispenses travel advice.”

39. @italylogue. “BootsnAll’s travel guide to Italy, and other travel-related goodies, brought to you by BnA’s resident Italophile.”

40. @Jaunted. “The Pop Culture Travel Guide” offers news and travel ideas on Twitter.

41. @jazzhostels. “Hostels in New York City, Miami, Montreal” providing local travel information for those areas.

42. @JetBlue. Verified Twitter account for the popular discount airline JetBlue.

43. @JetSetLife. “Creator of The Secret List- The World’s #1 Travel Guide For The Jet Set.”

44. @JetwithKids. “Nurse, Travel Expert, Speaker, Intn’l Travel with Family Practical honest info regarding health/safety/sanity issues of family travel consultant.”

45. @Journeyetc. “Traveling has been the only thing I’ve been good at, ever since I was born (on the road, btw).”

46. @lastminute_com. Twitter feed for last minute travel blog.

47. @lifecruiser. Twitter feed for LifeCruiser, a Top 100 ranked travel blog.

48. @lonelyplanet. “Tweeting (& retweeting) the best in travel. 1. Follow us. 2. Tag your tweets with #lp 3. We read your posts 4. We re-tweet the best of them.”

49. @LoyaltyTraveler. “Hotel Loyalty Programs Consumer Analysis; Monterey/San Francisco area hotels.”

50. @LuxorLV. “The Official Twitter Stream for Luxor Hotel and Casino”.

51. @MarriottIntl. “Marriott International, a global lodging leader” and their Twitter stream.

52. @MatadorNetwork. “The world’s largest independent travel magazine” keep you updated with travel news, thoughts, ideas.

53. @minnemom. “I tweet on many topics: travel, family, farming, gardening, and whatever else crosses my mind.”

54. @MissExpatria. “The Internet’s leading enabler of travel addiction splits her time between Italy and France.”

55. @msnbc_travel. MSNBC news about world travel.

56. @NatGeoTraveler. “Traveler championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture, authenticity.”

57. @NileGuide. “Find great travel recommendations and share travel news, tips, and advice.”

58. @PlacesToStay. “Index of bed and breakfast websites.”

59. @planeteye. “Follow PlanetEye for tips on Destination Marketing & fascinating articles on Travel & Global Culture.”

60. @ResortQuest. “With our wide array of vacation rentals—we have your ideal vacation waiting for you! + Join our Vacation Treasure Hunt—a great reward awaits!”

61. @rickseaney. “CEO FareCompare.com, Passionate about helping people find air travel deals, owning the worlds largest database of current and historical airfares helps!”

62.  @roadup. “I’m nutty for travel, road culture, n geek culture. Road trip posting along the way. A journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single full tank.”

63. @SeatGuru. “The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information!”

64. @SmarterTravel. “SmarterTravel.com is the largest online travel resource for unbiased travel news, deals, and timely expert advice.”

65. @Soultravelers3. “Family traveling world since ’06! Edu/adventure/photos/endless vacation! 32 countries, 4 continents, 3 million+ Youtube views so far!”

66. @statravel. “STA Travel is the youth travel expert enabling young people to explore the world by creating experiences filled with adventure, discovery and personal growth.”

67. @thetripchicks. “Maverick, veteran tour guide/travel agent duo; 80+ countries under our belts. Your next adventure is on the horizon. The Trip Chicks® can help you get going!”

68. @travel2dot0. “Consulting, news, trends & opinions on travel, tourism and technology.”

69. @traveladdict. Sebastien Tobler writes about travel films and blogging.

70. @traveladvice. “Travel news and tips from ShoppingBlog.com”.

71. @TravelBison. Travel tips, hints, news and deals.

72. @travelbride. Great tips for honeymoon travel and other wedding travel. This one is only updated sporadically but it’s always interesting when it is.

73. @travelfish. “Founder of Travelfish.org. Travel guide to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & more. Based in Bali, Indonesia between a volcano and the sea.”

74. @travelfit. “Being Fit and Healthy allows you have best travel experience! Travel Fit is also on the Active Health Network. Get Fit – Go Explore!”

75. @travelhappy. “British scuba journalist based in Thailand” writing about travel and the local area.

76. @TravelMagazine. “Get the latest travel news, travel articles, reports, guides, special offers, competitions and more from The Travel Magazine.”

77. @TravelMuse. “Get inspired and plan great trips with family and friends! Happy travel”.

78. @Travelogged. Twitter account  for New York based travel blogger who writes about travel around the world.

79. @travelrants. “I write and rant about the issues that consumers have with travel.” Great for anyone who is interested in travel issues!

80. @TravelSavvyMom. “Writer, mom of two, and founder of Travel Savvy Mom. I see and blog about the funny side of family travel. Yes, there is one.”

81. @travelwires. “I blog about the business of travel and tourism in South Africa.”

82. @Travelzoo. “Travelzoo’s 100 deal experts research and evaluate hundreds of deals each week, selecting only the best to endorse and publish.”

83. @TravMediaUSA. “Global media company for travel PR pros and media: news, video, images, more.”

84. @travolution. “UK-based media brand for the travel industry.”

85. @Trazzler. “Tweeting our favorite spots on earth.”

86. @TripAdvisor. “Helping travelers plan and have the perfect trip.”

87. @TripIt. “The best way to organize and share your travel plans.”

88. @triporati. “Discover destinations that are just right for you, get personalized recommendations powered by expert travel advice, and find the best deals to get there.”

89. @tripwolf. “Your Worldwide Travel Guide! Tripwolf is a social travel guide that provides travel information and reviews. We can also help you plan your next trip!”

90. @USAirways. Twitter stream from US Airways airline.

91. @USATODAYtravel. “USA TODAY Travel offers the latest travel news, deals and consumer features about flights, hotels, cruises and destinations.”

92. @Vagabondish. “Offbeat backpacking and travel news, advice and how-to tips from around the world.”

93. @VirginAmerica. Verified Twitter account of Virgin America airline.

94. @Wanderluster. “Author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides for women travelers, editor of www.WanderlustAndLipstick.com, trying to be good world citizen.”

95. @Wandermom. “S/W Professional, mom of two boys, love to travel, co-author of Traveling With Kids.”

96. @WeBlogtheWorld. “Cultural Stories from Voices from around the World. Global Tips, World Issues, Innovation.”

97. @WhyGoFrance. “Christine, longtime expat and your BootsnAll Travel Network’s WhyGo France Travel Guide editor. Vive la France!”

98. @Worldnomads. “GM at WorldNomads.com, co-founder of Footprintsnetwork.org, inspired by travel, social entrepreneurs, quick over ten metres, can’t remember jokes”.

99. @worldreviewer. “Award-winning source for the best travel experiences on earth…plus quirky stuff, travel tidbits, hidden gems.”

100. @WritingTravel. Tweets from “traveler-photographer-writer, dabbler in domestic arts.”

To insure or not to insure, that is the question.  Travel insurance often seems like an unnecessary expense until natural disasters, out-of-business hotels and airlines or unforeseen illness cause your trip to be cancelled, leaving you with unusable tickets and hotel reservations that are non-refundable.

Of course, your vacation to Iowa is not going to be cancelled due to a hurricane… Insurance is not always necessary. The chances of complete cancellations are slight, as are the chances for natural disasters and unforeseen illnesses.

But insurance can be a useful tool.  Travelers who want to take advantage of the Caribbean’s low-season prices will have to visit during hurricane season.  Travel insurance can cover the cost of any delays and trips that are shortened because of the weather.  Even so, it is best to understand your policy.  Insurance companies will reimburse you if you have to escape from the path of a major, destructive storm, but they will not pay for your trip if you are stuck inside because it rains every day that you are on vacation.

Long-term trips and extended travel abroad are other situations where insurance could be useful.  Some countries have airlines and transportation companies that do not have the same refund policies as those in the US, Canada and Western Europe.  Thus, there is a greater chance that you will actually need to be reimbursed for losses.  Of course, international travel usually carries higher insurance premiums, meaning policy-holders will have to pay more to be covered.

Purchasing travel insurance may not be necessary.  American Express Platinum Cards include travel insurance benefits.  The Visa Black Card has similar trip cancellation and emergency insurance, though only to $1,500 dollars.  The card also includes insurance for lost luggage and travel accident insurance.   The problem with these cards is that they have high annual fees.  But, if you travel frequently and use the cards for other reasons as well (concierge service, great rewards programs), the $395-$495 annual fee will be more than worth it.

Travel medical insurance is another thing to consider.  For travel in the country where you reside, or even in neighboring countries, a regular health insurance policy should still be effective.  There will be no need to purchase an additional policy.  However, for those traveling to far-off locations or to less-developed countries, travel health insurance or some sort of medevac insurance might be worthwhile.  This type of insurance will cover emergency room visits and also provide for transfer to a more modern hospital should that become necessary.  There are some companies that offer only evacuation and air transport services.  AirMed offers emergency service and also offers a form of insurance that gives travelers access to evacuation aircraft and medics for a yearly membership fee.  MedJet Assist is another server that offers air ambulance assistance to travelers.  They also have membership plans for expats, student travelers and families.

Multiple trip insurance might be worth looking into for travelers who travel frequently to other parts of the world.  Some of these plans include medical benefits and life insurance along with the traditional trip cancellation benefits.  When traveling abroad, these extras can be worthwhile.  The best travel medical insurance plans include insurance for repatriation of remains.  Should you die or become incapacitated while traveling, this will allow you to be returned home without forcing your family to pay extremely high costs associated with transportation of remains.

These types of insurance are available, but that does not mean that it is necessary to purchase all of them.  Cancellation insurance is a matter of personal preference when it comes down to it.  Airline cancellations are not rare, but passengers are often able to get to their destination on another flight, even if they have to wait overnight.  And the price of buying insurance may not be worthwhile when you consider the odds of complete cancellation.

However, for people taking a once in a lifetime trip that they have invested a portion of their savings in, travel insurance might be a reasonable extra expense.  In situations like this, the loss of the vacation would come along with a significant loss of money.  Travel is inherently unpredictable because of factors like the weather, the economy and nature.  If a traveler cannot eat the loss of a cancellation, then insurance might be a good idea. That same unpredictability makes travel health insurance a reasonable purchase for travelers heading to foreign lands or to under-developed nations.

Parking is typically the most stressful part of traveling. This often tends to be because travelers tend to plan for it the least, plus it’s often what they have the least control over. There’s nothing like circling an airport parking lot for 30 minutes, only to find a parking spot on the last row of the parking lot. This is often most the case at large international airports. LAX certainly is no exception and can be one of the most challenging airports in the world to park at. The following serves as a guide for parking at LAX.

Like most international airports, Los Angeles International has a limited amount of parking available on-site at the airport, which comes out to approximately 8,000 parking spaces. The most economical parking on-site at LAX is reserved for motorcycles and electric cars, which actually don’t have to pay to park. Electric charging stations are available free of charge to people with electric cars. Motorcycles aren’t allowed to park in regular spaces, but can park at the ends of rows, corners and other places, as long as it does not interfere with traffic.

Most people parking at LAX will be using parking lot C, which is the airport’s economy lot, which has over 7,000 spaces. People can hop on one of the frequent complimentary airport shuttles to be transported to the terminal. These shuttles are also accessible for disabled and elderly travelers. There’s a daily rate of $12.00 for parking in the economy lot. There’s also a Central Terminal parking lot, which is primarily for picking up and dropping off people. It’s $3 for the first hour and $2 for each half-hour afterwards. There’s a $30 maximum fee for this parking lot for 24 hours.

If traveling for more than a week, parking can easily rack up at LAX. Traveling for a week and a half will put you out over $100. To avoid this, there are many parking lots just off of LAX, which provide parking for as low as $5 per day. These can be anywhere from just off from the entrance of LAX, to just a few miles away. The further away from the entrance to the airport, the more likely you’re going to get a lower price. The parking lots that are $5, are usually a couple miles from the Los Angeles Airport and are uncovered. Free airport shuttles run ever 5-15 minutes usually from these parking lots, so that you can usually be to the airport within a half-hour after parking.

One such parking lot that you’ll find in LAX, as well as many other metros around the U.S. is called Parking Spot. Here, you can reserve your spot online or just show up and parking in either covered or uncovered parking. The shuttle picks you up at your car, drops you off at your terminal and then picks you up at ground transportation. You pay a daily rate once you leave and then even offer a complimentary drink as you’re leaving.

Eating healthy is not usually the top priority for fliers.  It might seem alright to break your diet just once by indulging in the bacon-laden hamburger or a couple of Cinnabons before boarding a flight.  A full stomach can help keep you content in the air.

That’s an understandable approach to airport eating.  But it is easier than ever to make it through the terminal with a full stomach while still sticking to a healthy diet.  You can even get reasonably light calorie meals on the plane, if you know what to ask for.

Keep these things in mind if you want to eat healthy in the airport:

1. Old favorites have healthier options. If you are looking for a healthy meal and a reasonable price tag, it might be worthwhile to look in the last place you’d expect: fast food restaurants.  All of these places serve artery-clogging meals, but some have changed their menus to include healthier options as well.  McDonalds has salads, which are healthy (as long as you go for lite dressing and skip the deep-fried chicken option), and sandwich wraps that are not calorie-heavy when compared to Big Macs and Quarter Pounders.  Places like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks have options like multigrain bagels and low-fat muffins in addition to the usual assortment of sugary indulgences.  Panda Express can be healthy too, if you go vegetarian and skip the fried rice option.
2. Subway has made its empire on the back of an advertising campaign that focuses on low fat, healthy eating.  The chain is found in most airports.  It offers the most low-fat fast-food options and also provides information about exact amount of calories and fat in each sandwich.  You can load up with veggies to get your vitamins and fiber as well.
3. Sit down. Though they might not necessarily have healthier items on the menu, sit-down restaurants in airports will be more likely to accommodate a request for a healthier meal.  You can ask the server not to deep fry the chicken or fish or to serve the dressing on the side.  While this is also possible at fast food place, it is more likely to be accommodated (without a frown) at a side-down place.  You will have more options when it comes to ordering as well.

1. Do your research. Airports have an increasing number of eating options.  Places like the French Meadow Bakery (in Logan, JFK and MSP) serve organic food, while a host of other cafes and bistro type outlets also give you reasonably healthy options.  Check your airport’s web site to see what organic or vegetarian-friendly eateries are located there.
2. Go vegetarian. Once you get on the airplane, your eating options are severely limited.  If you are on a flight that has meal service (or allows you to purchase food), plan ahead.  You can request a special meal (kosher, halal, vegetarian) if you let the airline know in advance.  While there is no guarantee that you will get a good meal, you may be able to get something reasonably low-fat.  Legacy carriers like Delta have plenty of special options, include low-sodium meals, meals for people with diabetes or cholesterol problems, etc.
3. Bring your own. The problem with bringing your own low-fat, healthy food is that you have to get it through the security checkpoint.  Its no use purchasing a fancy $5 energy drink if it gets tossed in the garbage can by a TSA agent.  Small portions of nuts, dried fruit or granola bar may be good bets to pass through the detectors.  This is a better option, compared to waiting to buy food at a convenience store once you enter your concourse.  Yes, convenience stores are woefully overpriced, but they are focused on candies and hearty, high fat snacks.  You may be able to find something reasonable, but it might not be worth the gamble.

1. Don’t sweat it. Some people probably think that finding healthy airport eats is not worth the extra effort.  One high-cal meal can’t hurt.  Can it?  Perhaps there is something valid about this mindset.  As long as you aren’t indulging in obviously fatty dishes, what’s the harm in forgetting to count calories during a trip?  Perhaps that’s true, but with the amount of healthy options, including the ones mentioned above, there is no reason to stop eating well because you are headed to the airport.

The world’s largest and busiest airports offer great perks to the people traveling through them. Frequent availability of flights, a large number of dining and retail options, access to numerous services and proximity to great hotels are just a few of the things that you’ll find when traveling through one of these airports. Curious about which ones they are? Read on to learn more about ten of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Serving approximately 90,000,000 passengers annually, this airport is the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. It is also busiest in terms of the number of flights with nearly one million flights passing through here annually. The airport has dozens of retail and dining options as well as services such as banking and currency conversion.

2. King Fahd International Airport, Damman, Saudi Arabia. This airport may not be the busiest in the world but it’s the largest in terms of actual size. It is actually larger in physical size than the entire nearby country of Bahrain! Visitors enjoy shopping here since it was one of the first airports in the region to offer duty-free shopping. Another interesting service here is the rooftop mosque for religious worship.

3. London Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom. Heathrow Airport serves more than 65,000,000 passengers daily. It is the busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. On-site massage services and suite rentals for long layovers are among the top services at this great airport.

4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, United States. For a long time Chicago O’Hare was the busiest airport in the world. Towards the end of the twenty-first century was when the Atlanta airport began serving more passengers annually. Nevertheless, this great airport remains a very busy one. Proximity to terrific airport hotels is a perk for visitors arriving here.

5. Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan. This is a really fascinating airport because for a long time it was the busiest domestic airport in the world. It is significantly busier than Tokyo’s large international airport (Tokyo Narita). It remains not only the busiest airport in Japan but also one of the busiest airports in Asia. A dental clinic, airport lounge areas and duty-free shopping are among the perks at this airport.

6. Beijing Capital International Airport, Chaoyang, Beijing, China. This main international airport in Beijing has become a very busy airport in recent years. In just the past decade it has suddenly surpassed Haneda Airport as the busiest airport in Asia and become one of the busiest airports in the entire world. Family travelers will be happy to know that there are kid zones with entertainment and toys for children at this international airport.

7. Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. Until the King Fahd airport was opened in Saudi Arabia at the end of the twentieth century, this Canadian airport was the largest in physical size. It remains the second largest airport in the world in terms of size. However, it primarily serves cargo flights rather than passenger flights.

8. Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee, United States. If we’re going to talk about cargo traffic then it’s only fair that we mention this airport, which is the busiest in the world in terms of cargo flights. This is due in large part to the fact that it is the home of the main hub of FedEx.

9. Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, United States. This airport follows King Fahd and Montreal-Mirabel in terms of actual physical size. It’s also a fairly busy airport ranking in the top ten for annual passenger traffic as well as for annual aircraft movements. Interestingly, it’s also home to the longest U.S. public use runway. This airport also has a great selection of fine dining and casual dining restaurants for people passing through.

10. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France. This wonderful airport is the second-busiest airport in Europe (behind Heathrow, of course) and is also among the busiest airports in the world. People who are spending time at this airport can enjoy everything from massage and beauty treatments to arcade-style gaming entertainment.

Airports have always been practical places.  Passengers board and airplanes take off and land.  There is nothing glamorous about it.  However, some airports put a premium on the pre- and post-flight experiences of their customers.  Crowded airports, like O’Hare and LAX, are notorious for being flier un-friendly.  Other airports, however, are much nicer to travel through.  Some even offer unbelievable perks that could bring a smile of appreciation to even the most jaded frequent flier.

Not only is Singapore’s Changi International Airport one of the most modern places in the world, it is also one of the most pleasant.  The airport is almost always ranked in the top three of the well-respected annual Skytrax airport survey.  Unlike other award winning airports such as Hong Kong Int’l (see below), Changi is focused on creating a natural, relaxing atmosphere.  There are gardens throughout the airport, in addition to features like spas, hotels and swimming pools.  Terminal Three features the world’s only airport butterfly garden.  There are also fern and orchid gardens, both with large koi ponds.  Even the lowly Budget Terminal has a garden featuring fragrant trees and shrubs.  Cactus and Sunflower gardens round out Changi’s natural menu.

Hong Kong International Airport has some of the most outlandish airport attractions.  In some ways, it is more akin to a theme park or shopping mall than an airport.  Terminal Two is home to a nine-hole golf course and to the AsiaWorld Expo.  Another popular attraction is Asia Hollywood, an interactive exhibit that is focused on Hong Kong’s famous film industry.  The displays include props from popular Hong Kong movies and a chance to walk through interactive sets.  Hong Kong Int’l also boasts one of the world’s only 4-D theaters.  This theater offers a complete sensory experience for tourists and fliers on a layover.  If that isn’t enough, other theme-park-like features include a Playstation arcade and an interactive aviation museum.

One of the more unusual airport attractions can be found in San Jose International’s Terminal B.  The new terminal is overseen by a robot with three legs and propellers for hands.  The robot stands over 25 feet tall and was created by an artist. There are a dozen other pieces of “high-tech” art in this new terminal.  The pieces were chosen by the airport and are supposed to demonstrate the city’s penchant for creating some of the world’s most cutting edge technology.  There are even sonic exhibits that can be heard by passengers disembarking from their planes.

Seoul’s Incheon Airport is mostly known for its utterly expansive duty free shopping area.  While this is what most passengers will notice, there are some other features that are quite rare amongst international airports.  These extras are what truly sets Incheon apart.  A large Traditional Cultural Experience features interactive exhibits and performances.  Guests can take part in traditional Korean art or listen to a folk music performance.  Incheon also has free internet cafes.  Yes, that’s right.  There is something in this airport that is actually free.  Features like this make Seoul one of the most user-friendly airports in the world.

Some airports are bringing a bit of fun to travelers over the summer season.  Miami International is throwing weekend parties – there’s a different theme each week – with food, music and activities. San Francisco International is hosting a series of concerts at different stages around the airport.  These are scheduled events and are only useful for people who happen to be traveling at the time of the event or concert.  However, for those who have a few hours to kill (both Miami and SFO are major hubs for international travelers) during a layover or who can arrive a few hours early, these events might be worth attending.

Los Angeles International recently reopened its observation deck.  It features a futuristic look and offers binoculars so that people can view the income and outgoing flights.  Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has a similar facility that is quite popular and a great place to spend a layover.

These are a few features that can make an air journey more pleasant exciting, and, most of all, bearable.  Whether it is tranquil gardens, a round of golf or a seat at a free internet café, all these airports offer something outside the ordinary – something to make a trip feel a little bit more fun.

Renting a car at the airport can be as expensive as the price of a plane ticket.  Some states put tariffs on car rental at the airport so that they can tax out-of-state drivers, while others simply tax the rental companies, a cost that is usually passed on to consumers.  However, there are plenty of deals and discounts for travelers who can take a few minutes to research and find them.

Here are the top car rental agencies you are likely to come across at the airport and some ideas for how to get the most for your money.

Alamo Rent-A-Car mainly target tourists and business travelers. This is a good choice if you are looking for a low price or a discount.  Alamo is at most major airports in the country.  It is a great option because it offers many low-end models that can be rented for much cheaper than larger models.  Also, because it is a national chain, there are coupons and discounts that are available for use nationwide.  Check their last minute deals for decent discounts.

Fox Rent A Car is a discount car rental company serving some major airports in the United States, Canada and the Americas. They offer excellent customer service with low prices.  The problem: they have nowhere near as much of a reach as Hertz, Alamo and the other big boys of the car rental game.  However, if you happen to be traveling in California, Nevada, Arizona, Toronto or even Puerto Rico, Fox is likely to have some of the best deals.

National Car Rental is a large company that has locations in the US and around the world.  They offer a decent frequent-renters program called the Emerald Club.  For renters who plan to travel in the US, Europe and Australia and plan to rent a car often, this is one of the better options for frequent drivers.

Hertz is another worldwide company with a generous frequent rental awards program.  This is probably the world’s most well known car rental company.  It has partnerships with major airlines and sometimes offers package deals in conjunction with those airlines.

Thrifty Automotive Group rents to travelers and is located at many airports in the US. It is often a survey topper when it comes to the question of best value amongst car rental companies.  It is usually compared to Hertz because of its large reach in the US (and around the world).

The biggest variable in the cost of renting a car is its size.  Most major airport rental agencies are able to give similar rates (though discounts and awards programs may help you save money in the long run).  The bigger a car, the more it tends to cost to rent.  And don’t forget gas, which can be expensive.  Larger cars will require more gas, while smaller vehicles have a better MPG rating and will give you more bang for your buck.  That is, of course, unless you are traveling with a large group of people or in a family with children.  Then, a mid-sized car, at a minimum, is a must.  Often mini-vans can be rented for a price that is similar to a mid-size.

Weekly rates are much better value than daily or weekend rates.  So don’t worry about renting for a longer period of time.  In general, you can save between 25% and 50% per day if you rent for a week.  Of course, if you plan to travel for a shorter amount of time, then this is not a practical strategy.

Weekly rates are much better value than daily or weekend rates.  So don’t worry about renting for a longer period of time.  In general, you can save between 25% and 50% per day if you rent for a week.  Of course, if you plan to travel for a shorter amount of time, then this is not a practical strategy.

It is also important to know about extra charges when renting.  Fuel surcharges, insurance and charges for an additional driver can all be tacked on when you pick up your car.  Some insurance companies offer coverage for drivers even if they are driving a rental car, not their own car.  This means that the insurance offered by the rental company at an extra charge may not be necessary.  To be absolutely sure, check with your insurance company before renting a car.  If you are indeed covered by your insurance, then you can decline the rental company insurance.  If you are not covered by your insurance, however, it is advisable to get purchase insurance from the rental company, unless you want to risk being caught with an extremely large bill.

Smart travelers never limit their accommodations options to traditional hotels. Sure, there are lots of amazing hotels in the world. However, there are also many great alternatives to hotels, too. These alternatives are often less expensive than hotels. Saving money on your lodging means that you have more money to enjoy your destination. If that sounds like a good plan to you then perhaps you might want to consider the following the cheap alternatives to staying in a hotel:

1. Hostels. Youth hostels are perhaps the most popular cheap alternatives to a hotel. People of all ages stay at hostels around the world. Although typically this involves dorm-style bunk sleeping, many hostels also offer private rooms. The common areas are usually shared. You can meet interesting people and pay a very low price for your bed.

2. Convents/ Monasteries. If you want to try something different from the same old hostel suggestion then perhaps you would enjoy staying at a convent or a monastery. Many of these places in Europe, particularly in Italy, offer affordable stays in simple rooms. You can enjoy a sense of peace, a welcoming atmosphere and the chance to stay in unique historic accommodations at a low price.

3. Couchsurfing. There is an entire network of people out there in the world who would be happy to offer you a night on their couch or air mattress at no charge. There are even specialty couchsurfing options for niche groups such as musicians on tour.

4.Hometel/ Room Rental. Some people like the idea of couchsurfing but are turned off by a few aspects of it. For one thing, they worry about the safety of it. For another thing, they want a room to themselves. A great solution is to try a hometel or a room rental through a site such as Airbnb or iStopover. Individuals sign up with these sites to rent out a room in their homes at a price lower than local hotels. You stay with a local family but there is more privacy and perhaps an increased sense of safety compared to couchsurfing.

5. Home Swaps. Stay in someone else’s house at your destination while they stay in yours. You generally get comfy accommodations at no charge.

6. Dorms / Academic Housing. Many people don’t realize but college dorms often offer their rooms for rent at a low cost. This is typically done in the off-season (summer, when students are away). Young people may find this cheap hotel alternative to be particularly appealing especially if they are traveling specifically to check out college life.

7. Volunteer Lodging. Many people find it very rewarding to take a volunteer vacation. You spend your time at a great destination doing volunteer work. In exchange, you receive either free or cheap room and board. It’s a great way to do something good while seeing new places at a low cost.

8. Camping. There is always the option of sleeping in the great outdoors. Camping has gotten expensive for a lot of people because they feel like they need all of the bells and whistles that are available at outdoor sporting goods stores. However, a sleeping bag and maybe a tent are all that you really need to get a decent night’s sleep at most campgrounds.

9. Farms. Farm stays are interesting because they can offer some of the different benefits of many of these other types of lodging. Some farm stays are volunteer vacations where you work on the farm in exchange for your room. Others require no work but charge a small fee to rent a room in the farmhouse or to camp on the property. Many people enjoy the simplicity and great experience of living on a farm even if it’s only for a few days.

10. Stay with Friends or Family. Maybe you can’t even afford to stay in a youth hostel or go camping right now. Perhaps you can barely afford to get to your vacation destination but you’d still like to travel. There is always the option of staying with friends or family. There are pros and cons to this, as we all know well, but it’s definitely a cheap alternative to a hotel!

Collecting frequent flier miles can be addictive (think of George Clooney’s character in the Air Up There).  For casual fliers though, it is usually not worth it to collect miles.  It takes thousands of miles before you see any type of result, and even then, you will usually earn no more than a short flight, a discount on a longer flight or an upgrade.  Sure, those are nice perks, but hardly worth two or three years of effort.

For people who fly regularly (more than a half-dozen times each year) or fly long distances (such as international flights that cross the Atlantic or Pacific), frequent-flier-mile-collecting is more worthwhile.

Most frequent flier programs are quite similar.  This is especially true since the advent of airline alliances (Star Alliance, OneWorld, and SkyTeam).  Members of one airline’s loyalty program can earn miles when they fly on any allied airline.

Some airlines make it easier than others to earn miles by flying, and by doing other things, such as using credit cards that earn miles and making non-ticket purchases from the airline.

Virgin Atlantic has one of the better basic miles-earning cards with the Virgin Atlantic Black Card by American Express.  Card-holders get 1.5 miles for every $1 of purchases.  That is mildly better than the usual $1 to 1 mile ration offered by similar cards.  In addition, card-holders move up 1 tier point for every $2,500 that they spend.  That can give heavy users access to cheap or free upgrades to premium classes and access to airport lounges.  The problem: unless you live in England or fly across the Atlantic frequently, the card is not much use to US-based fliers.

Sometimes, redeeming reward miles can be as hard as earning them.  This is an important, but often overlooked aspect of airline loyalty programs.  Some airlines have stipulations and rules for redeeming miles for tickets.  A recent survey said that Southwest Airlines was the best airline when it came to saying “yes” to customers who wanted to use their miles to purchase tickets.  99% of their customers were allowed to use their miles.  Air Canada also had high satisfaction marks when it came to miles redemption, with over 95% of their customers saying they were allowed to use their miles exactly as they wanted.  International carriers Lufthansa, Air Berlin and Singapore Airlines also scored highly.  US Airways and Delta Airlines customers complained about the excessive redemption rules.  Less than 20% of them were allowed to use their miles as they wanted, by far the worst percentages among major US based airlines.

It is often difficult to generalize about frequent flier programs, though.  Most industry insiders and experts will answer the “which frequent-flier program” question with a non-committal response: “it depends.”

If you are looking for the largest reach and most options, any airline that is part of the Star Alliance (soon to have 30 members worldwide, more than double the number of member boasted by SkyTeam and OneWorld) is a good bet.  Star members include Continental, United, Singapore Airlines, ANA, US Airways and Lufthansa; all industry heavies with near-global reach.  Of course, none have the same satisfaction levels as Southwest and its non-allied peers when it comes to redeeming miles.

Of course, if you happen to live in a hub city of a specific airline, chances are a majority of your miles in the air will be logged with that airline.  That fact means you should at least sign up with the airline regardless of what their alliances status is and what their frequent flier reviews say.  The hub status makes it the most practical option for you.

American Airlines, the first airline to institute a frequent flier program and the first to add other ways to earn miles (though Hyatt Hotels and Hertz Rent-a-car) still has a strong program that allows for quick miles accumulation and status upgrades for frequent fliers.  Many industry insiders consider it one of the best amongst legacy carriers.

American Express has Gold and Platinum Cards that offer airline miles at a ratio up to 4 miles (“points”) per dollar spent.  This impressive deal is only good for certain purchases, but other purchases offer a ratio or 2 miles per $1.  this makes the high annual fees worthwhile for serious travelers and miles collectors.  The best part: the points/miles can be used on any airline.

Most miles do not expire, though some companies still give them a shelf-life of three years.  If you are a casual flier, it is important to make sure that your miles do not expire.  For regular fliers and those who fly long distances and use credit card programs to earn miles, the three year mark will, most likely, not come into play.

If you want to save money on travel then you need to know what you’re doing when booking your trips. The most important thing is to use a variety of the best travel-booking sites to locate and purchase the least expensive flights, hotels and rental cars.

Top Money-Saving Sites for Booking Airfare

1. Airfare Watchdog Make sure that you always check this site to find the lowest airfare prices around the web.

2. Kayak This is a leading site that searches all of the best online deals from different airlines and sends you to the cheapest sites to book your flights.

3. Smarter Travel You can use this site to find hotels, cars and packages, too, but it’s especially good for finding cheap airfare.

4. CheapOAir Another all-around booking site with good airfare deals. Make sure that you look at the “Top 25 Deals” section when booking your flights.

5. SkyScanner This is a very user-friendly site for people who are interested in booking a cheap flight.

6. AlternativeAirlines This site tends to be more popular with people booking from Europe but is also a great little-known choice for Americans who want to get affordable flights.

7.Yapta Use this site to book airfare. Also use it to get notified about airfare refunds!

Top Money-Saving Sites for Booking Accommodations

8. Airbnb Individuals in many cities rent out their homes or portions of their homes to travelers. You can meet new people, stay in comfortable full-service accommodations and get a great price by booking with them through this site.

9. iStopover This site is very similar to Airbnb and provides another great option for booking cheap stays with people in the cities that you’re visiting.

10. LateRooms This is a good site for finding great last-minute deals on international hotel stays.

11. Hotels.com You can sometimes locate good deals with this popular hotel booking website.

12. BedandBreakfast.com Look for low prices on country-style inns with this unique booking site.

13. Hostelz On the other end of the spectrum, look for great deals on youth hostels.

Top Money-Saving Sites for Renting a Car

14. Expedia This site is known because you can book all parts of travel with it. However, you should know that it’s an especially good one for finding low rental car prices.

15. Orbitz This is another popular travel booking site that is worth heading over to if you’re looking for a good rate on a rental car.

16. OneTravel This is another site that can be used to book other things but is especially good for renting a car.

17. Vroom Vroom Vroom This site uses a standard comparison tool to help you find the cheapest rates on car rental in various cities.

18. Compare Car Rentals This is a global search engine that helps you find the best car rental prices at a range of different destinations.

Top Money-Saving Sites for the Full Package

19. Bing Travel This search engine does a great job of helping you find the best vacation packages around the web.

20. Priceline You can bid for some very low prices on full vacation packages using this favorite site.

21. Hotwire Vacations and cruises can be found here at a low price.

22. Trip Mama The “packages” and “travel deals” sections of this website both make it easy to find good prices on your trip.

23. RezHub People who are interested in green travel can find good deals on their green travel package here.

24. Cheap Tickets In addition to your package you can also use this site to book cheap event tickets at your destination.

Additional Top Money-Saving Travel Booking Sites

25. iExplore This is a great site specifically for finding and booking good deals on adventure travel around the world.

26. Gilt Groupe Jetsetter Sign up for a free membership to this website and you’ll be offered some really terrific hotel deals in great exotic locations.

27. Luxury Link This is another site that you sign up to be a member of if you are interested in affordable luxury travel. You can then find good deals on travel by location, interest and other details.

28. Cruise Direct People who are interested in cruise vacations will find this site to be a good travel booking option.

29. Book Your Golf If you want to enjoy an affordable golfing vacation then consider using this site that lets you book your hotel and your golf time in one spot.

30. VolunteerAbroad Use the drop down search engine options on this site to find affordable places to volunteer your time abroad.

Not all airports are created equal when it comes to shopping.  Some have stores that are overpriced.  Others have plenty of stores, but none that sell anything that would be useful to…anyone other than clueless souvenir hunters.

The airports below have great shopping options, both in terms of the number of shops and the quality and value of what is inside those shops.
Singapore Changi International Airport is one of the best airports in the world.  It usually tops the list of airports published annually by the survey firm Skytrax.  It has plenty of stores, but shopping is only the beginning of the experience.  This airport features indoor gardens, swimming pools and free napping stations with free first-run movies.   Shops include everything you’d expect to find in a high-end mall: cosmetics, fragrances, health and wellness products, gourmet chocolates and food, souvenirs, watches and plenty of those classic duty-free staples like liquor and tobacco.

Besides being an architectural wonder, Hong Kong International Airport is a good place to take some extra luggage on your journey. The airport offers a low price guarantee.  Unlike other mall-like airport shopping centers, Hong Kong Int’l features plenty of local products.  It is actually one of the better places in the territory to purchase locally-made souvenirs.  All the duty-free faves are also present, with name-brands easy to find amongst the Hong Kong-made specialties.

London Heathrow Airport has a large shopping area.  It offers special deals for travelers from Europe, who can collect their duty-free purchases on their return trip.  The shops include some of the world’s most famous brands, from Harrods to Hermes to Prada, Mont Blac and Versace.  There are plenty of more practically priced places as well, with duty free holding more than its share of the shopping landscape.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has the largest complex for duty free shopping with some of the most affordable prices in Europe. There are fifty shops and boutiques with over 120,000 products to choose from.

Dubai International Airport has a tax-free shopping haven. With a wide selection of cosmetics and perfumes, gold and jewelry, electronics, tobacco and confectionery, it is the world’s largest airport shopping center and resembles a large, glitzy high-end shopping mall more than it does an airport duty free area.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport gives a real shopping experience on the other side of immigration in the departure lounge. Duty free shopping at Bangkok’s stylish and modern airport may not be the cheapest you’ll find in Asia, but it is widely praised for the variety and great number of options.  On the other hand, the airport is sometimes criticized for opting for more shopping and less necessities, like bathrooms (which are notoriously hard to find in the duty free area).

At Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, visitors can have contact with product experts who were specially chosen to work at their companies’ the airport retail locations. Shoppers also have unprecedented access to products and are able to test many that would otherwise be off limits.   As with any other major airport with decent shopping options, duty free shopping is at the center of Istanbul’s airport shopping experience.

International passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport in London can now shop at the World Duty Free Arrivals Store, which offers an impressive selection of goods, sold at tax free prices. Shopping options include all the duty free favorites, especially perfumes, cosmetics, confectionery, electrical goods, scotches, wines, champagne, fine beers and tobacco.

Fiumicino Rome Airport’s Shopping Gallery is the largest airport shopping center in Europe dedicated to luxury goods. It offers travelers an excellent shopping experience, provided they are in the market for high end products (at quite reasonable prices).

The Portland International Airport futures retail outlets of Oregon-based businesses, including Nike. The shopping area is reasonable priced and offers good selection.  Non-fliers from Portland sometimes come to the landside parts of the terminal to shop.   .

Staying at an airport hotel is rarely convenient. It’s not like you plan week-long vacations. Because when was the last time you saw an all-inclusive airport hotel? Airport hotel visits are typically only one night when you have a flight the next morning or many times a result of a cancelled or delayed flight. Since staying at one of these isn’t usually the most comfortable and convenient choice, it’s important to have somewhat of an idea of what you’re looking for when choosing an airport hotel. The more people you’re traveling with, such as a business colleague, spouse or family, the more important to have a guide of what things to keep in mind when choosing where to stay.

The most important thing to decide on when choosing an airport hotel is transportation. If you’re driving your own car, then you need to decide on where you want to park it. There’s always going to be long-term airport parking available, which is going to vary per airport. Typically the larger the airport, the higher the long-term parking fee will be. If you’re short on time, then this is the option you’ll want to choose. Give yourself some extra time before your flight and consider and off-site parking lot, where you can park your car and take a shuttle to the airport.

A popular option among travelers is to “stay and fly”, which many airport hotels offer. In this case, you stay at the hotel and then can leave your car at the hotel and take their shuttle to the airport. Some hotels offer this as a complimentary service to guests, while other hotels charge a daily or weekly rate. Depending on the proximity of the airport to the hotel, shuttles usually run in 15 or 30-minute increments.

Especially if you’re traveling with a then you’ll want to consider the hotel’s food options when deciding on airport accommodations. Breakfast offerings can range from complimentary fruit and cereal to a complimentary hot breakfast buffet to a la carte items that you pay for. This typically will save you tons of money because of the high prices of food in airports. If you’re in a hurry, some hotels will let you take items from their buffet to-go.

If you’re traveling on business, then you’ll want to know what kinds of services the hotel offers. At the very most, you’ll usually want complimentary Internet access, if not a 24-hour business center with computers, a printer and copier and fax machine. Most hotels offer these as a complimentary service, although you’ll want to inquire whether or not their business center is open 24 hours, because some of them have hours.

One of the challenges of choosing an airport hotel is having a comfortable night of sleep. Not all airport hotels are exactly first-class, so it can be challenging finding a good and comfortable stay. Much of the challenge can be the noise, with airplanes often flying directly over hotels. Some nicer hotels offer sleep kits that will include a set of ear plugs. Nevertheless, if you want a good night of sleep, ditch the budget hotel for something classier.

At the end of the day, when choosing an airport hotel, you’ll have to decide on what things are non-negotiable. It’s not always likely that you’ll find one that has everything you would expect; however, unless you’re in a small city, odds are that you’ll find accommodations that fit what you like for an airport hotel to have.

There’s a lot that goes into planning a trip, whether for leisure or business. Most people don’t have a travel agent who can simply book and manage every detail of a trip. Details are often double and triple-checked and there just always seems to be something that we forget. That thing we always forget or fail to plan ahead for, often is choosing airport parking.

Choosing airport parking for most travelers typically consists of settling for long-term parking on-site at the airport. This is the most convenient option as it puts travelers close to their terminal and is the only option if running behind schedule. For a short trip, this isn’t a bad option; but for longer trips, the charges of long-term parking at large airports can quickly rack up. Travelers on a week trip for example can quickly be paying a couple hundred dollars for parking upon their arrival. This often isn’t the note you want to end a trip on.

Of course best case scenario, you have someone take you to the airport. But how about when this isn’t the case? What is the most cost effective way to choose airport parking? Often the next most convenient parking to long-term parking at the airport is off-site parking and then taking a shuttle to the airport. These are generally cheaper, although it requires you planning ahead and giving yourself enough time to catch the shuttle to the airport. It’s also important to note shuttle times and make sure it’s running during times that you’re arriving or departing.

If staying in a nearby hotel, parking at your accommodations is often the best choice. Many hotels that are close to the airport offer a “stay and fly” option, where when you stay the night you get either free parking at the hotel during the length of your trip or discounted parking. Again, you just have to coordinate appropriately to catch the hotel shuttle, which typically comes and goes in 15 or 30-minute increments. Often the advantage of this is that you pay ahead of time for it and when you return, just have to get in your car and leave; contrary to most parking lots, where you pay upon your return, which can often be a hassle and financial burden sometimes at the end of a trip.

If you book your travel through an online travel agency, many of these offer types of parking and transportation services. If buying a package, such as flight and hotel, you often can sometimes receive shuttle services at a discount. Since you’re dealing with a third party, it’s important to follow up and confirm times and dates when booking through an online travel agency.

The cheapest option is often parking your car at a central location near or at a bus or train station and taking the public transportation to the airport. Many train and bus stations offer very cheap rates for parking and then you just have to pay the fare to the airport, which should never be more than a few dollars.

Most importantly, plan ahead when parking. If you give yourself plenty of time, you don’t have to settle for long-term parking and you can end up saving yourself money. This can help ease some of the stress of travel and keep you from coming back from a trip with a $200 fee to pay. The cheapest and most efficient way is often going to vary from airport to airport, depending on local services available.

Getting to and from an airport can be troublesome.  Expensive taxi rides, multiple public transit transfers or asking relatives or acquaintances to drop you at the terminal are the norm for most passengers.  But sometimes, getting to an airport is easy.  Some airfields are located near to downtown area of a city (Phoenix’s Sky Harbor is only 4 miles for the city center).  And some are well connected by multiple forms of public transit.

Here are some airports that can be accessed without having to rely on the kindness of acquaintances or having to spend your entire travel budget on a taxi ride.

Midway Airport and Chicago O’Hare

Both are easily reachable via the city’s extensive CTA train network (known to locals as the “L,” short for “elevated train”).  The CTA Blue Line runs to O’Hare and the Orange Line to Chicago Midway.  Chicago is such a sprawling city, however, that even a straightforward train ride, without a transfer, can take a seemingly long time.  However, both lines are connected with the city’s downtown, meaning it is easy to catch a train to the airport.

Portland International

Along with Minneapolis Saint Paul (see below), Portland International is one of the easiest mid-sized city airports to reach.  Portland’s Tri-Met services, both light rail and bus, make it easy to reach the airport from most places in the city in 30-45 minutes.  The Max Light Rail Red Line connects Beaverton, Downtown Portland and other areas of Central Portland with the airport.

Seattle Tacoma International

Served both by city buses and a new light rail service.  Metro buses leave from the parking garage outside the main terminal.  The city’s new light rail line was recently extended to include an airport stop.  The station is located near the parking garage.  Trains run between 7 and 15 minutes apart, but do not run between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. (12 a.m. and 6 a.m. on weekends).  Everyone but red-eye fliers will find the train one of the best ways to get into central Seattle from Sea-Tac.

New York Airports

New York airports are quite easy to reach via public transit.  Newark International is connected with the Big Apple by Amtrak.  The railroad giant has service between the airport and Penn Station.  Because of traffic between New Jersey and Manhattan, the train is actually a faster alternative to taxis or buses.  JFK, located in the borough of Queens, is served by two subway lines (leaving from Howard Beach Station and Jamaica Station), the Long Island Railroad (at Jamaica Station), and a number of public buses.  The AirTrain connects both stations directly to the airport’s terminals and makes taking public transit to and from JFK quite convenient.

Dallas Fort Worth International

This airport can be reached from both the downtowns of Dallas and Fort Worth on the Trinity Express Railway.  This is more of a specialized service, so it is not like you are taking your luggage on a public subway where crowds and lack of security might make for a less than comfortable journey.

Minneapolis Saint Paul International

This airport has a light rail line that was built to connect the airport both with Downtown Minneapolis and with the popular tourist attractions such as the Mall of America.  Even if you don’t ride the train, the airport is quite centrally located and within a short drive (10-15 minutes) of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Washington area airports

The airports outside of the major cities on the East Coast are well served by public transportation.  Dulles International is connected with the Metrorail system by shuttle buses known as Flyer Coaches.  The Metrorail’s Orange Line connects the airport to the center of the city.  Metrobus express service (on bus #5A) leaves from L’Enfant Plaza in central DC regularly.

Boston Logan

One of the easiest airports to reach via public transit.  The MTBA subway’s Blue Line connects the city with the airport’s ground transportation station.  Shuttle buses then take passengers the short distance to each terminal.  An express bus (the Speed Link Silver Line #1 bus) connects the airport with Boston’s busy South Station.  It is even possible to travel to the airport by boat.  Airport shuttles take passengers to Logan Dock, where they can board the MBTA’s Harbor Express.

San Francisco International, known as SFO

One of the easiest West Coast airports to reach.  The airport’s AirTrain connects the terminals directly with the nearest BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station.  The BART connects the airport with all major destinations in the Bay Area (with San Jose and Silicon Valley-bound passengers needing to transfer to the regional CalTrain). 

However, there are some ways that economy class passengers can get access to lounges without having to spend the extra thousand dollars for a first class ticket.

Priority Pass is a private company that has deals with various airport lounges around the world.  Members pay a yearly fee to have access to these lounges.  Membership starts at less than $100, but there are several tiers of membership, with unlimited access costing upwards of $300 per year. Priority Pass has a worldwide reach, but some airports only have one or two venues that allow PP members to enter.  If your gate is not in the same concourse or terminal as the lounge, this could be an inconvenience.

The American Express Platinum Card has a high annual fee (currently $395) but offers users access to lounges run by major US carriers like Delta, American, United and Continental.  Priority Pass would be a cheaper option when it comes to lounge access, but the Amex Platinum is one of the best credit cards for earning frequent flier miles.  It is a good investment for serious miles collectors and for frequent travelers.  The lounge access is a very nice perk.

Plaza Premium Lounges offer pay-in access.  Customers can simply pay a one time fee and get access to a lounge, food and showers for a day.  Plaza Premium definitely offers a high-end experience.  It has lounges in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vancouver, Toronto and Beijing, as well as a host of other Asian cities.  Because of the features that they offer, these lounges are actually a cross between a transit hotel (see below) and an airport lounge.

The Lounge at JFK is a similar lounge that is open to any member of the public that can come up with the entrance fee ($40, $20 for children).  This is one of the nicer “pay-in” lounges in the US.  Currently, there are not many of this type of venue in the country,  but, judging from The Lounge’s success and the success of chain pay-in lounges such as Plaza Premium, more pay-ins may be on the way soon.

The business travel experts at MSN Money have plenty of ideas for getting inside lounges without first-class tickets.  According to the site, it is possible to buy a day pass for around $50 directly from any major airline.  That is not the cheapest option, but perhaps the most convenient, especially if you are a member of the airline’s frequent flier program.  This can lead to discounts on the $50 fee and perhaps even earn you airline miles.

Another method frequent fliers can use to gain access to airport lounges is to buy an annual pass.  These yearly lounge access tickets can cost $400 to $500 (or more in a few cases).  However, the higher your level in an airline’s loyalty program (frequent flier program), the more likely it is that you will be able to get a discount on the final price.  Also, after your initial purchase of the yearly pass, renewal fees, if you renew on time, can be significantly lower than the first year’s price tag.

Some airlines offer 30 or 90 day passes for less than the cost of an annual pass.  These are a good option for business travelers who travel a lot during a short period of time.  It may even by worthwhile for someone who is taking a few trips over summer vacation.  It would be advisable to weigh the cost of such as pass against the cost of simply paying a one time fee (the $40 for a pay-in lounge or the $50 for an airline-affiliated lounge).  Doing a simple greater-than-less-than comparison could help you save a significant amount of money.

Transit hotels are a good alternative to lounges.  If you get a day pass to a lounge, a short stay at a transit hotel might not be much more expensive.  Obviously, these hourly-rate inns, usually located in airports, sometimes adjacent to them, offer more privacy than standard lounges.  Beds, showers (which some airport lounges, such as Plaza Premium also offer), and the chance to change your clothes may be worth a few extra dollars.

London has long been known as one of the busiest metros in the world for air travel. While most large metros around the world are served primarily by one, maybe two airports, London on the other hand is served by 5. Although these are the five official airports of London, there are also many regional airports in the Greater London area that offer budget alternatives for regional travel. The largest airport in Europe, London Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world both for daily passengers and flights in and out. Heathrow services the most destinations worldwide of any of the other London airports. The second primary airport is Gatwick, which doesn’t serve as many destinations worldwide as Heathrow, but still services most major airports worldwide.

2. Madrid

Madrid is served by several regional and international airports. Most international flights come and go out of Madrid-Barajas Airport, which is Spain’s largest airport and one of the busiest in Europe. Contrary to many, Madrid-Barajas Airport is conveniently located within a short distance of the popular areas of Madrid, as it’s just a few miles from both city centre and the financial district. Unlike many cities around the world that are decreasing their number of airports, Madrid is adding. Over the next few years Madrid is constructing two new airports, which will be more for cargo, low-cost carrier and private planes.

3. Los Angeles

Since L.A. is so spread out, you could only come to expect that it’s one of the cities with the most airports. Greater Los Angeles includes over 30, with this including military, domestic, towered and untowered airports. Of those 30+, two are international, L.A./Ontario and L.A. International, known as LAX to most of the world. L.A. Ontario is located on the eastside in Ontario, while LAX is on the west and the busier of the two. Los Angeles International is a major gateway airport and one of the top five busiest airports in the world. LAX is one of the most notable airports in the world, as it has a distinguishable architecture, highlighted by the restaurant called Encounter, which resembles something you would expect to see out of a Star Trek Film.

4. New York City

Not only is NYC one of the cities with the most airports, but its three primary airports are some of the busiest in the world, with one of them, Newark, being just across the state line in New Jersey. It’s not unusual for travelers to search flights for Newark, LaGuardia and JFK when planning travel, since most large aircraft carriers fly in and out of all three. JFK is the largest, located in Queens and handling most of New York’s international flights. LaGuardia, also in Queens, is the preferred choice for domestic flights. Although Newark is a little further from the city, it includes both international and domestic flights and is typically preferred since it’s much less crowded. Although nowhere near the flight and crowd traffic of the three major airports, Long Island MacArthur Airport also does domestic flights from many of the major airline carriers.

5. Paris

Similarly to New York City, Paris also has three large airports that are used significantly for domestic and international flights from major carriers. Most notably is Charles de Gaulle, which serves 500 cities worldwide. Located northeast of Paris, it’s the primary hub for France’s largest carrier, Air France. It’s the second busiest in Europe with passengers and a major cargo airport that is among the 10 busiest in the world. Orly and Beauvais-Tillé are primarily used for France and European flights. Beauvais-Tillé is often preferred for European travel as it’s a hub for several major budget carriers.

Parking your car at the airport can be an expensive proposition.  On-site parking, in lots within walking distance of the terminal, can run $20-$30 per day, sometimes more.  That might not seem like a lot, but if you multiple it by the number of days you will be gone, the price of parking can easily exceed the price of your airline ticket.

Luckily there are plenty of parking options beyond the standard terminal-side lots.  The general rule is that the farther a lot is from the airport, the cheaper it is to leave your car there.  All lots have shuttle buses that run to the airport and almost all offer complimentary rides to the airport.  However, not all run at the same rate and some do not offer 24 hour service.  This means that you might find yourself saving money but waiting for a shuttle bus that only runs once an hour, or worse, will not run again until tomorrow morning.  A little research can help you avoid this problem.

Here are some money-saving options for parking your car before your flight.

On-site Economy Lots

Most airports have on-site lots that are at the far corners of the airport.  These are serviced by shuttles either run by the airport or by a third party.  They are generally cheaper than parking in lots nearer to the terminal.  However, they are more expensive than off-site lots run by private companies (not affiliated with the airport).  Many drivers, however, are willing to pay a little more ($2 to $5 more per day, on average) for the convenience and superior security that come from actually leaving your automobile on airport grounds.

Park-and Rides Just Outside the Airport

Some airports have privately-owned parking lots just outside their gates.  These are cheaper (usually) than on-site lots, but more expensive than parking lots that are further away.  Park-and-rides normally have shuttle service but it pays to check and make sure how often service runs (anything more than 15 minutes between buses is suspect) and if it runs 24-hours per day, or at least at the times when you plan to be coming and going.

Parking Lots Further Away From The Airport

The further away a parking lot is, the cheaper it tends to be.  Lots over two miles away from the airport generally offer the cheapest rates.  If you are looking for the most value, these remote parking facilities are the best option.  However, as always, it pays to know the details of a lot’s operation before deciding to leave your car there.  Ask how often shuttles run (15-30 minutes is the industry norm) and how long it takes, on average, to get from the lot to the terminal.  If you are willing to spend a few more minutes in a shuttle bus, you can save anywhere from $5 to $25 per day on parking.

Public Transportation

Most cities have decent public transportation to and from the airport.  Many even have express trains or buses that connect the terminals with the city’s downtown areas.  If this service is available in your city, it may be worth considering as an alternative to car parks.  It might not even be necessary to take public transportation all the way from the airport to your home.  You can use transit to get closer to home and then take a short, cheap taxi ride to your front door.

Coupons and Promotions

Because competition is tough (most airports have several car parking facilities vying for customers) it is easy to find promotions via third party sites and Google searches.  Many parking lots (such as Park ‘n Fly) are national chains with locations in each major city.  If you browse their central web site or search for coupons, you will undoubtedly come across some discount opportunities that can be used at any of their locations.

Airport Hotels

Airport hotels often offer guests and the general public a place to park.  This may be cheaper than parking in the airport.  If you are a guest, this is a no-brainer because the hotel will offer free or greatly discounted rates.  If you are not a guest, it may still be worth it.  Generally, hotel shuttles ferry both guests and parkers to and from the terminals regularly.

The obvious choice for those who want the cheapest parking deal is to choose the parking lot that is the farthest from the airport.  However, those who put a premium on convenience can find a lot nearer to the terminals and search for coupons to save money on parking.

It is easy to get a quick bite to eat at a food court inside any airport.  Fast food restaurants are the most popular choice because they can give most travelers what they want: something filling to hold them over until they reach their destination.  But airport restaurants have evolved over the years.  While the eating scene is still dominated by fast food chains and mediocre bar-and-grill outlets, there are more and more quality options featuring healthier food and even menus designed by celebrity chefs.  Here are the best airport eateries.

1. La Vie in JFK’s Terminal 5

Le Vie is a classy bistro with a decidedly Parisian vibe.  However, the authenticity goes beyond the décor.  The menu features French favorites like croque madame, salade Nicoise, ratatouille, and trout almandine.  This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill airport food.

2. Ivar’s (Sea-Tac)

Ivar’s has become a hugely popular restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest.  It specializes in seafood dishes.  There is an outlet in Seattle-Tacoma International serving the same classics as the original restaurants.  There are fish-and-chips, with options like cod, salmon and halibut.  Ivar’s is probably most known for its chowders, which can be bought by the cup or bowl.

3. One Flew South (Hartsfield-Jackson)

One Flew South is a unique eatery located in Terminal E of Atlanta’s ultra-busy Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.  It is an upscale place with an extensive sushi menu, a list of fine wines and dishes that fuse southern cooking with international flavors and cooking styles.  This is one of the few places that would be extremely popular even if it was located outside of a busy airport.

4. Todd English’s Bonfire (Logan)

Despite being criticized for being overpriced, this restaurant offers classic fare with a high-end twist (Kobe beef corn dogs, premium burgers, etc).  The prices for some of the steaks can approach $40.  Add wine and appetizers, and a meal at Bonfire can easily be one of the most expensive airport meals out there.  But if you stick with the burgers and bar-food classics, the prices aren’t that bad and the food will be superior to any other bar-n-grill fare you’ll find in any airport in the Northeast.

5. Ebisu (SFO)

Ebisu, a popular sushi restaurant in San Francisco, has an outlet in the Terminal G food court at San Francisco International.  Of course, sushi is the star of the menu, with all sorts of offerings featuring tuna, salmon, and eel, and a host of other raw favorites.  The restaurant also has rice bowls, Udon and Soba noodles, ramen and tempura.  Many of the noodle and rice dishes are under $10 and they are the perfect choice for fueling up before a long trans-Pacific or cross-country flight.

(image via _e.t.)

6. La Carreta (Miami)

La Caretta is a popular Cuban chain that has locations throughout the Miami-Dade area.  The Miami Airport location can be found in the North Terminal.  Though this is a chain, the food is unique, with hearty portions and a diverse menu featuring Cuban favorites like plantain soup and meaty sandwiches.  The meats, beans and rice make for a filling meal, giving diners more than their money’s worth.

7. French Meadow Bakery & Café (MSP)

This bakery features organic ingredients and healthy dishes at reasonable prices.  The offerings at the airport café include things like carrot cake, cookies, bagels and an assortment of freshly baked breads.  French Meadow is one of the longest running certified organic bakeries in the country.  It serves arguably the healthiest food in the airport eatery industry.

(image via Winklitz)

8. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen (Houston Bush intercontinental)

This hugely popular chain features Creole-style cooking.  It is located at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Terminal E.  The restaurant even manages to give visitors some of the New Orleans vibe that the other restaurants in the franchise are known for.  Favorites like gumbo, crawfish and fried alligator are on the menu, as are sushi, oysters and lobster.  This is definitely not the cheapest option at Bush, but it is arguably the most popular.

9. Cousin’s BBQ (Dallas/Ft Worth)

A favorite of Dallas areas residents, Cousins has a location in Dallas Fort Worth International’s B Terminal.  The portions are generous and the prices are competitive even when you compare Cousins fast food staples like McDonalds and Burger King.  Many people consider this some of the best, most authentic barbecue in all of Texas.  Favorites like beef brisket sandwiches and pork ribs are on the menu.