Tips for a Woman Traveling Alone

A Woman Traveling Alone

By Anna Lynn Sibal



It is tough to be a woman traveling alone. Not only do you have to deal with the usual hassle that a tourist has to face, like getting around the place, getting over the language barrier and all that, but women traveling are also vulnerable to being on the receiving end of unwanted attention, especially if she is traveling alone. This is particularly true in countries where women do not enjoy as much freedom as women in, say, the United States do.
Safety is a special concern for a woman traveling alone. A lot of enterprising people find a woman traveling alone to be an easy target for whatever heinous heist they may have in mind, so it is very important for her to take care of herself.

The first thing that a woman traveling alone should do is to secure her lodgings. As much as possible, her lodgings should be something she should not cut corners with. She should check in a reputable place and make sure that her room is not on the first floor, where many people come and go all too easily.

Another precaution that a woman traveling alone ought to take is to keep her room number to herself. Keeping her hotel room door locked at all times is also logical. She should never let anyone inside her hotel room without first identifying who that person is. When she is ordering room service, she should ask room service to call her when the waiter is coming up to her room with her order. While the waiter is laying out her food on the table, she should stay by the door.

Whenever she eats at one of the restaurants at the hotel she is staying in, a woman traveling alone should sign her bills with her initials instead of her full name. After signing these bills, she should give them directly to the server and should take care that no one else sees them. Whenever a stranger approaches her, she should feel free to say that she is busy and does not feel up to entertaining casual conversation with people she does not know. But if she feels inclined to it, she should be careful of the things she says to the person she is talking to. Never at any time should she reveal her itinerary for her trip. Also, a little white lie can also keep her safe.

If she is going out, a woman traveling alone should leave a note at the reception, notifying the hotel of her destination and the time she left. She should also check in regularly with someone at home. When she is going about the hotel, she should steer clear of the stairs and instead use the elevator; in this case, safety comes first before burning calories. Upon returning to the hotel after going out, she should not hesitate to ask the concierge to escort her to her room if she thinks she is being followed or spied upon.

Most of all, a woman traveling alone should wear sedate outfits and do her best to blend in. She should leave her provocative clothes at home, and she should not stash her cash and valuables in one place alone.

These safety precautions may seem paranoid, but it is better to be safe than sorry. A woman should have fun and peace of mind during her trip, even when she is traveling alone.

Airline Baggage Policies & Pricing

Airline Baggage Policies




The following carriers have made changes to their checked baggage policies;

Air Canada
AirTran Airways
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta
Frontier
JetBlue
Northwest Airlines
United
US Airways

Air Canada:
Air Canada has announced a new checked baggage policy for tickets issued on or after May 15 for travel on or after July 15, 2008. For those traveling before July 15, 2008or have booked before May 15, 2008, the baggage allowance of 2 bags per person would still apply.

Under the new policy, customers who purchase tickets on Air Canada which carry a cancellation penalty, may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

This policy applies for travel within Canada and between Canada and continental U.S. including Hawaii.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.

AirTran Airways:
AirTran Airways has announced a new checked baggage policy effective May 15, 2008.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $10 USD fee if paid through AirTran Airways' Online Check-in or $20 if paid at the airport, then $50 USD per bag thereafter. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.

Note: Military personnel may check one duffel/sea bag in place of a 61-inch bag.


American Airlines:
American Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy effective for tickets purchased on or after June 15.

This policy applies for travel within the U.S. the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Customers may check one bag for a $15 USD fee ($30 USD round-trip) and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy, including exceptions, posted on the carrier's Web site.
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Continental Airlines:
Continental Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for certain Economy fare tickets that were purchased on or after April 5 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.

Note: OnePass Elite members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, Tickets issued on Y class of service, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military traveling on orders are not impacted by this policy change.

Delta:
Delta has announced a new checked baggage policy for domestic tickets traveling on or after May 1, 2008.

This policy applies to domestic travel.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

The fee will be charged to passengers if their itinerary includes segments after May 1 regardless of when the tickets were purchased.

Note: SkyMiles Elite, and First/Business Class passengers are not impacted by this policy change.

Frontier:
Please be advised of the following baggage fee changes that Frontier has implemented effective Jun 10.

Customers who purchase tickets for travel on or after June 10th will be charged a $25fee for a second checked bag.

Customers who have already purchased tickets before that date will not be affected. Our EarlyReturns® Summit and Ascent members and active duty military personnel will be exempt from this fee.

The policy for pets traveling in the aircraft cabin will be discontinued effective June 10, but all existing reservations will be honored.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.

JetBlue:
JetBlue has announced a new checked baggage policy that will take effect June 1, 2008.

This new policy applies to customers traveling on/after June 1, 2008.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $20 USD fee ($40 USD round-trip). Subsequent bags will be assessed at $50 USD per bag. The fees may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of each baggage.


Northwest Airlines:
Northwest Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for those traveling within North America on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to tickets issued on/after March 29 for travel within North America on/after May 5.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). For customers checking in three or more bags, the carrier will assess a fee of $100 per bag each-way. The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on Northwest Airlines' Web site.

Note: Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, and those booked in first or full fare classes (Y or B) will not be impacted by this policy change.


United:
United has announced a new checked baggage policy for nonrefundable domestic economy tickets that were purchased on or after February 4 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on United's Web site.

Note: Customers with Mileage Plus Premier status or greater, Star Alliance Silver status or greater, government fares, military fares, standard Award Tickets, first and business class award tickets, or first and business class upgrades granted prior to check-in are not impacted by this policy change.

US Airways:
US Airways has announced a new baggage policy for tickets purchased on or after February 26 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

The new policy applies to all flights within the United States, to/from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

Click here for complete details regarding the baggage policy posted on US Airways' Web site.

Note: Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred), confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers (at time of check-in), Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, active military personnel in uniform with ID, unaccompanied minors, or passengers checking personal assistive devices are not impacted by this change.

Turn Vacation into Donation

Passport to Giving

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Passport To Giving can raise thousands of dollars per year for an organization because they have a large number of supporters that will generate travel bookings! Examples of appropriate organizations include service, fraternal, health, alumni, political, environ-mental, charity, religious (including churches), and educational organizations.

Click here for a 3 minute video to learn more

Leave me a comment if you desire more information on raising funds for your non-profit organization.

Teresa Johnson
Funding Specialist
http://www.gottitravel.paradisenetwork.com