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Pets – How to Travel with your Pet

A few general tips apply whether you travel by car or plane.Be sure your pet wears a collar with complete identification and a license tag.

Have a rabies vaccination certifi­cate if you will travel across state or international borders.

Be prepared to present a health certificate, especially if you travel to Canada or Mexico.

Be sure to bring your pet’s favor­ite food, toy(s), and dishes.

Before undertaking a long trip, it would be advisable to have your pet examined by a veterinarian.

Travel By Air

Air travel is of most concern to pet owners. You can minimize the chang­es of an unpleasant experience by fol­lowing a few guidelines.

Regulations state that dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned at least 5 days before flying.

Current health and rabies vacci­nation certificates will be required.

Contact the airline well in ad­vance to check regulations and ser­vices, and to make reservations.

Try to book a direct, midweek flight or one with a minimum of stops.

During warmer periods reduce risk of overheating by choosing early morning or late evening flights.

Ask about other cargo on your flight (For example, fumes from dry ice can be lethal).

Be at the airport early, exercise your pet, place it in a cage yourself, and pick up your animal promptly upon arrival. Don’t take leashed animals on escalators.

The proper cage, available from most airlines or pet shops, should have the following features:

Large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn, and lie down.

Strong, free of interior protru­sions, with handles or grips

Leak proof bottom covered with plenty of absorbent material

Ventilation on opposite sides, with exterior rims or knobs to pre­vent blocked airflow

Label “Live Animals,” with arrows indicating upright position, and your name, address, and phone number.

Consult your veterinarian for spe­cific feeding instructions. Age and size of the pet, time and distance of the flight, and regular dietary routine must be considered.

Travel By Car

If your pet is not accustomed to the car, take it for a few short rides before the trip. Your cat might ride well in a carrying case. Following are some tips that may help the trip go a little smoother.

Stick to your regular feeding rou­tine and give the main meal at the end of the day or when you’ve reached your destination.

It will be more convenient to feed dry food if the pet is used to it.

Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated.

Take along a plastic jug of cold water to avoid possible stomach upset the first day.

Give small portions of both food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise.

Remember to include a leash in your travel kit!

Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows. Particles of dirt can penetrate the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infections.

Excessive amounts of cold air taken into lungs can also cause illness.

When leaving your pet in a parked car, be sure to lock all doors, and open windows enough to provide ventila­tion without allowing the animal to jump out or get its head caught.

In warm, hot, or humid weather, you should not leave your pet in a parked car!

Grooming (bathing, combing, nail trim) before the trip will make the animal more comfortable.

Travel By Bus or Train

Most states prohibit animals on buses, and recent rules now prohibit animals on trains. Exceptions are generally made for seeing-eye dogs accompanying blind persons. Inquire in advance with your local carriers.

Courtesy of Publishers Edge


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Get a Break on Rising Hotel Prices this Fall

Get a break on rising hotel prices this fall – courtesy of airline cutbacks and high gasoline prices. Airlines’ service cuts and rising fuel costs are dampening travel demand to many destinations. Some hotels are offering deep discounts to temper rate increases and attract vacationers. This is a reversal of the trend in recent years, which saw rapidly increasing and record room rates.

U.S. hotel room rates are still forecasted to rise modestly this year. That is partly because of continued strong demand in urban markets and the weak U.S. dollar, which has been attracting more travelers from overseas. Average room rates are expected to rise about 2 percent this year. But this is in stark contrast with what €™s been going on in resort areas. Resort properties across the U.S. last month saw a half-percentage point decrease in daily rates from a year earlier, the first decline since 2003. Occupancy rates are lower also.

Bargain hunters traveling to popular vacation spots in Florida, Arizona or Hawaii should have good luck finding deals over the next few months, since leisure-travel destinations are expected to see flight-capacity cuts, and airfare increases. Some hotels are cutting rates and throwing in extras (like a fourth night, or meals, free). Other are deferring their typical annual rate increases for the first time in years.

In places like San Diego, an influx of new hotels is partly to blame for falling room rates, as are rising gas prices and weak housing markets in nearby cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas.

In the coming months, major airlines will be announcing a number of flight cuts, leaving some hotels and vacation destination’s worrying. In Orlando, the local visitors bureau has formed a task force called Air Team Orlando that will meet with the airlines, partly to lobby against declines.

The travel slump has caused demand for flights to ease. The Air Transport Association of America predicts a 6 percent decline in travel on U.S. airlines this Labor Day Weekend, the first drop since 2002.

So, if you €™re looking for travel deals and opportunities, keep an eye on resort-type properties. These will likely be the first to drop their rates in response to the economy and travel trend changes.


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Air Travel: Romania

Dear Fellow Travelers,

Just a quick post to let you know to stay away from traveling with TAROM Airlines. Recently, I took a trip from Bucharest to Suceava (ie northern Romania) and was charged an extra 20 EURO’s cause they didn’t have me in on their computer. After coming back to the States, I called the travel agency that I booked the flight with and they told me it was Tarom’s fault and that they had had problems with them before. To boot…they charged me an extra 20 EURO’s for my baggage being overweight….which it was…but didn’t really make my day either!!!

Travel by the train system is good, but if you are in a hurry, make sure you get on the one that is high speed and provides a sleeper train. I took the slower one back from Suceava to Bucharest and it took me about 6 hours…which by plane would be only an hour…and by car probably only 3 hours….The train likes to make many stops!!! Feel free to email me for more info on travel and/or anything about Romania. I have many connections and information….Happy Travels…..rjgeraghty3@juno.com. Please put HOSTEL TRAVELER in Subject Line so I won’t delete.


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Airlines are introducing new baggage policies/fees

Airlines are introducing new baggage policies/fees

If you have an upcoming flight, make sure you have the latest information, since many air carriers have made changes to their baggage policy. Several airlines now assess a service fee for a second checked bag each way. Select airlines have also instituted fees for oversize bags and items requiring special handling. HostelTraveler.com encourages you to check with your airline before departing.

Here are some of the airlines who now have new baggage policies:

Air Canada Airlines

Air Canada will implement changes to its checked baggage policy on flights within Canada, and between Canada and the U.S. including Hawaii.

There is no change in the checked bag policy for customers purchasing Latitude and Executive Class tickets. As well, Air Canada Elite, Super Elite and Prestige members in addition to Star Alliance Gold and Silver members maintain their current baggage allowance when purchasing Tango and Tango Plus fares.

AirTran Airways

Customers may check one bag free and a second bag for a $10 fee. The fee will not apply for passengers who hold Elite status in AirTran Airways’ A+ Rewards frequent flier program, or ticketed passengers traveling in Business Class. The airline will continue to allow passengers to check additional bags for a $50 fee per additional bag.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska and Horizon Airlines will begin charging $25 for a second checked bag. First class and top-tier Mileage Plan members and customers on flights within the state of

Alaska will be exempt from the new fee.American Airlines

Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets may check one bag for free and check a second bag for $25 each way. A passenger €™s 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags will incur an additional $100 fee per piece. For 6 checked bags and above, the fee is raised to $200 per piece.

Continental Airlines

Customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee each way. Car seats, strollers, wheelchairs and sporting equipment items with service fees (i.e. surfboard) are exempt from the $25 second bag fee.

Delta Air Lines

Delta will begin charging $25 for a second checked bag for passengers traveling on or after May 1st. This fee applies to all domestic Delta flights. Those travelers who are members of Delta’s frequent-flier program who log at least 25,000 qualifying miles of travel per year, as well as first and business class passengers, will still be allowed to check up to three bags at no additional charge on Delta and Delta Connection-operated flights only.

JetBlue Airlines
Customers will be charged a $20 fee for each traveler’s second checked bag. This policy applies to all JetBlue travelers, for all markets.

US Airways

US Airways will begin assessing a $25 fee for a passenger €™s second checked bag each way. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee each way. Oversized bags or those weighing more than 50 lbs. now start at $50 per bag each way and increase depending on weight and the number of bags. The policy applies to all flights within the U.S., to and from Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

United Airlines

Customers who purchase both refundable and nonrefundable domestic economy tickets may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee each way. Oversized bags or those weighing more than 50 lbs. now cost $100 per bag each way. Items that require special handling also have new prices.

For customers who have at least Premier status in Mileage Plus or Silver status with Star Alliance, there are no changes to the number of bags they can check for free.

Northwest Airlines

Customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee each way. For bags number three and above, the fee increases to $100 per bag.

Northwest Airlines’s Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks ® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers and passengers booked in full fare classes (Y or B) may still check two bags free of charge. Customers booked in First Class can continue to check up to three bags free of charge, within existing size requirements.

This new checked bag policy also applies to travel beginning within the U.S. and to/from Canada, Mexico and the

Caribbean. For international flights (except Canada), checking a second bag will continue to be free and the cost to check more bags or bags that are overweight or need special handling varies by destination.


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