NC State Wolf Treks Travel Blog

Personal Bag Tags

2009-04-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

A staggering 42 million bags are misplaced by airlines globally each year. To help travelers, three companies—i-Trak, ImHonest.com, and Trace Me—have introduced luggage-tracking devices that are more durable than the airlines' labels and more private than personal tags with your home information. Here's how it works. Travelers order tags on the company Web site to attach to their luggage. If the bags are lost, the tags are printed with instructions for finders to call a toll-free number or file a report online. The service then contacts the bag's owner, and he or she pays to have the bag shipped home. IMHonest rewards the finder with two packs of tracking stickers. This system, of course, depends on the honesty of others. Budget Travel tested the effectiveness of the tags. Read more to find out what they learned.

Tracking Luggage with Microchips

2009-04-02T10:29:00.002-04:00

There is no greater travel hassle than lost luggage. It can ruin a much anticipated trip if you have to spend the first few days buying clothes and personal items to replace the contents of a lost bag. About eight of every 1,000 passengers in the United States arrives at their travel destination without their luggage. But a new "smart" luggage tag embedded with a microchip may reduce the incidence of lost baggage. Currently, about a dozen airports around the world are testing the technology. To read more about how it works, visit Budget Travel's Web site.

Internet Influence on Travel

2009-04-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

At the 2009 Educational Travel Conference, travel and marketing experts told attendees that 8 of 10 Americans purchase their airline tickets via the Internet. Likewise, 1 of 2 lodging sales is made electronically. When it comes to comparison shopping, 88 percent of us use the Web to find the lowest prices. And Americans have very little travel loyalty. When choosing an air carrier, 56 percent of us have no preferences for one carrier over another. Similarly, 51 percent of Americans don't care whether we stay with Hilton or Marriott.

One out of five Americans has visited a blog to read what others have to say about their travel experience. And one out of three members of the younger generation write about their travel experience on the Web. We're more interested than ever in family travel with 38 percent of Americans saying they have traveled with their children or grandchildren. We also like to celebrate special occasions by packing a bag. Almost 70 percent of us have planned a vacation to celebrate a milestone such as an anniversary or birthday (anything divisible by five). More than 2 million Americans have visited the Disney Web site since the January launch of free birthday entrance to its theme parks.

Cruises Offer Great Value

2009-03-29T09:52:00.000-04:00

During these "budget challenging" times, cruises represent outstanding value for the travel dollar; in fact, consumer and travel agent surveys consistently cite value for money spent as the number one reason to take a cruise. Value begins with inclusive pricing that typically covers accommodations, meals, entertainment, use of the ship’s recreational facilities and travel from destination to destination.

To offer our NC State alumni several value-cruising options, Wolf Treks is offering three Oceania cruises through our tour operator, Go Next. Our Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise, slated for Oct. 21 to Nov. 3, 2009, will take travelers from Venice to Athens during a 13-day cruise that includes Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Turkey and Greece. Prices start at $2,599 per person and includes free airfare from select cities, including Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. A Raleigh-Durham or Charlotte departure costs an additional $199 per person. Book before March 25, 2009, to redeem the special savings.

Passage to Panama, slated for Feb. 9 to 25, 2010, embarks from Los Angeles, visiting ports in Mexico (Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas), Costa Rica and Columbia before returning stateside to Key West and finally Miami. Prices for this trip start at $2,799 per person for 16 days and includes free airfare from select cities, including Raleigh-Durham, and $500 of shipboard credit to use for shore excursions, drinks or spa treatments. Book before April 14, 2009 to receive the special pricing.

Asian Explorations, slate for Mar. 24 to Apr. 9, 2010, visits the faraway shores of China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Discover Seoul's magnificent 14th century palace, stroll Shanghai's famous Bund, visit ancient shrines and historic memorials in Hiroshima, Kyoto and Okinawa; explore colorful markets in Taipei; and see Hong Kong's towering skyscrapers. Prices for this trip start at $4,299 per person for 17 days and includes free airfare from select cities, including Raleigh-Durham, and $500 of shipboard credit for use for shore excursion, drinks or spa treatments. Book before June 26, 2009 to receive the special pricing.

Recession Promotions

2009-03-05T17:08:00.003-05:00

At least one travel company is having some fun with the recession. JetBlue recently ran full-page ads in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal trying to entice business executives whose travel budgets have all but evaporated. The "Welcome Bigwigs" promotion encourages "muckety-mucks, private jetters, big cheeses, head honchos, CFOs, and C Whatever Os" to check out JetBlue amenities.

Among the perks: all-leather seats (just like bigwigs have in first class), myriad alternatives to cable business news channels on the seatback monitors, and service to important business centers located in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Aruba and West Palm Beach. The best part, though, are its low fares, which put your budget in the red.

JetBlue also has a more serious promotion for people worried about traveling in the current economy. If you book a trip before June 1 and then get laid off from your job, you'll be eligible for a full refund of your ticket. Norwegian Cruise Lines has instituted a similar policy, but it charges a $29 fee for it. To qualify for the JetBlue refund, you must cancel your trip at least 14 days before your departure date by sending a notarized letter by fax and certified mail.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

2009-03-01T16:24:00.004-05:00

I had the pleasure of being in New Orleans during the week leading to Mardi Gras. I left before the big day, but I had the opportunity to watch numerous parades and catch pounds of beads. The night parades are beautiful as the floats are more extravagantly decorated and ablaze with lights. However, the evening parades are more crowded and populated with more watchers who are intoxicated. The alcohol tends to make people more aggressive when it comes to catching the beads, cups, doubloons and other items that are thrown from the floats. The day parades are shorter and less crowded, making them more suitable for younger children. I met lots of friendly folks from Louisiana who shared parade history and information. With names such as Muses, Thor, Bachus, Orpheus and Thoth, each uptown parade has a theme and a 3+-mile route that ultimately brings in down St. Charles to Canal Street. The parades vary in length, with the day parades being shorter. The evening parades can include more than 28 floats, and each float is interspersed with a high school marching band or dance academy. I do believe that I saw every high school marching band in Louisiana. The floats sport a "krewe" of 10 to 50+ masked men or women. Each float rider has applied to be member of the krewe and paid a fee, which pays for the pounds of beads and other trinkets thrown during the parade. Some of the krewes, such as Bachus and Orpheus, have waiting list to join. The floats, pulled by tractors, can be one-level or two-levels in height. They double-decker floats have to carefully navigate beneath low-hanging power lines, which can slow the parade's progress and create gaps. Krewes imbibe along the parade route and by the parade's end they are often throwing quart-sized plastic bags filled with brightly colored beads. Parade watchers often bring large canvas bags to carry home their loot. I was amazed at the amount of beads and other trinkets thrown. People covet the beads and doubloons that carry the parade name (Isis, Thoth, Chaos). Do women flash for beads? I saw a few flash krewe members for beads, but only at the later night parades. For the most part, people held out their hands to catch whatever was thrown their way.

Free Airfare from NYC! Bike and Barge Through Holland & Belgium

2009-02-17T16:04:00.003-05:00

April 24 – May 2, 2009

We invite you on a spring journey that offers a balance of action and leisure, a close-up experience of the Flemish countryside in springtime, and the camaraderie of biking and small-ship cruising. Board the 24-passenger intimate barge Merlijn in Amsterdam for a journey through the waterways of Holland and Belgium. Cycle about 25 miles a day on a 7-speed hybrid bike through the region's gentle landscape, accompanied by an experienced cycling expert. Then rejoin the ship for a three-course dinner and a relaxing evening.

Your route takes you into several cities rich in artistic and architectural heritage: canal-laced Amsterdam, dynamic Antwerp, the university town of Ghent and beautiful medieval Bruges. The Merlijn will spend a night in each of these cities, allowing time for evening walks and some morning tours.

If you'd like a different balance of biking and leisure, spend some days on board where you can watch the passing landscape from the sundeck.

Trip Price: From $3,395 per person.

Discount: FREE AIR is valid only on new bookings and can not be combined with other offers. Reservations must be paid in full at the time of booking. FREE AIRFARE offer is valid for U.S. departures from New York City, and passengers must pay all applicable air taxes and fuel surcharges, which will be determined at the time of booking. Offer is based on availability.

Trip Includes: Small group of no more than 22 alumni, roundtrip international airfare from NYC to Amsterdam and from Brussels to NYC, private airport/ship transfers, accommondations for seven nights on the board the deluxe passenger barge Merlijn, 14 meals (7 breakfasts and 7 three-course dinners), cocktail reception, use of 7-speed bicycle, services of bike guide, guided biking and walking tours of cities and towns en route, luggage handling for one bag per person and gratuities for local guides and cabin crew.

More Information: To learn more and download a full-color brochure, visit our Wolf Treks Web site.

Trip Registration: Space is limited on this trip to 22 participants. To make a reservation using a credit card or check, contact Wolf Treks Coordinator Kathy Hart at 919-515-3375 or 800-627-2586.

Airline Coupons

2009-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Airlines are going where other online retailers have boldly gone before: coupons and promotional codes. Within the past six months, most of the major airlines have offered "coupons," or promotional codes, you type into their Webs sites to claim the cheapest fares. To get the codes, sign up for the airlines' frequent flier programs and e-mail newsletters. Or use Google to search on the phrase "promotion code" plus the name of your airline. Be sure to use only the most up-to-date results. Airfarewatchdog's blog is another source.

Air France is snipping $75 off of round-trip fares from the U.S. to several European countries for departures in March if you enter the promo code MARCH442 at airfrance.us. The discount must be redeemed by Feb. 17 and is only valid for March travel.

Airfarewatchdog, which has been tracking the coupon code trend, says this is the first time AirFrance has offered a code. According to the Web site, "researchers tested several routes covered by this coupon code discount to see if, even with the discount, the fares we found were lower than what other airlines were charging without the discount. And in most cases, we discovered that Air France had the best fares when the discount was applied, especially on nonstop routes to Paris, but also to other destinations such as Prague and Zurich."

As a rule, coupons (or "promo codes") can be used once per customer. (You can't keep buying different tickets using the same code. When you book your reservation, you won't see the discounted price until the very end. When you get to the page where you enter your personal information, there will be an option for "do you have a promotional code?" or "do you have a coupon code?" Enter your code then, and the discount will be applied to your transaction.

Airfares Spiral Downward, Temporarily

2009-02-09T17:35:00.002-05:00

In the midst of so much dire economic news, there are some bright spots for travelers. An analysis by FareCompare.com, cited in USA Today, reveals some fares are down more than 50 percent from last winter and are much cheaper than they were in summer 2008, when airlines introduced hefty surcharges because of high fuel prices. Airlines are responding to the drop in passengers that has occurred as Americans have cut back on travel. They are hoping the price drop will entice travelers to take to the skies with renewed zest.

The USA Today story states that cheap airfares are currently available for travel through May and answers the eternal question of when to book a flight with a resounding "now." Aviation consultant Michael Boyd warns airlines will likely make successive flight cutbacks in reaction to the dwindling number of passengers over the next few months—his prediction is that the low fares available now will have disappeared by July.

Overseas Credit Card Charges

2009-01-29T13:35:00.003-05:00

Many travelers now rely on credit cards to pay for overseas travel and purchases. For many consumers, credit cards are easier to keep up with than traveler's checks and they're almost universally accepted now.

Most credit card issuers charge fees for overseas transactions. American Express, for example, adds 2.7 percent to every overseas transaction (up from 2 percent last summer), while Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and HSBC tack on 3 percent, according to Curtis Arnold, who runs CardRatings.com, a Web site that tracks credit card fees.

Also, you may find surprising that purchases of products from Web sites that are based outside the United States may be subject to this fee.

Virtually every credit card assesses an international transaction fee for purchases done outside the 50 states, and that could even include U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Visa and MasterCard charge a 1% processing fee and most card-issuing banks add additional fees as well (on top of the 1% fee levied by MasterCard/Visa).

This fee is generally a percentage of the U.S. dollar value of the transaction. So, even if you paid 100 Euros for a meal that was actually $125 (U.S. dollars), the foreign transaction fees will be assessed on the $125 amount.

There are ways around this. Discover, for example, charges no fees, but is not as widely accepted abroad as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. In December, Charles Schwab Bank, a corporate sibling of the brokerage house, introduced a credit card that charges no transaction fees and puts 2 percent cash back into a brokerage account. Capital One charges no fees of its own and even eats the Visa charge.

A January 2009 survey of credit card issuers revealed the following foreign transaction fees:

American Express - 2.7%
Bank of America - 3%
Chase - 3%
Citi Bank - 3%
HSBC - 3%
Washington Mutual - 1%
Wells Fargo - 3%
Capital One - No Foreign Transaction Fee
Discover - No fees. Accepted in China, the Carribean, Central America, Mexico and certain parts of Europe. Note: Discover is adding a 2% fee on May 1, 2009.

Despite fee hikes in the past year or so, credit cards are often still the most cost effective payment method for overseas travel, but you should consider fees when planning your trip and budget accordingly. For all credit cards, be sure to call your company before you leave the country and tell them specifically where you will be traveling. Otherwise, they may tag your purchases as fradulent and stop your card.

Bank Reward Programs Not So Rewarding for Travel

2009-01-20T17:18:00.002-05:00

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported on an important side effect of the financial problems of Citigroup and other banks: Credit-card rewards programs are vanishing, especially for travel.

On March 1, Citibank will make a key change to its ThankYou Rewards program for its credit-card holders. You'll have to spend a certain amount each month on your card before you'll be able to earn points for travel.

And travel rewards will become more difficult to redeem, according to a story broken by the Frugal Travel Guy. For example, today you can redeem ThankYou Points for different types of tickets once you've reached a threshold, such as by redeeming 90,000 ThankYou Points for a business-class ticket worth up to $2,700. But under the system the company is about to set up, you'll need to have 100 points per every $1 of airfare. So a $2,700 business-class ticket will now require 270,000 points.

(Citibank defends its move by saying that it will now include the price of taxes and fees as part of its reward. Right now, members have to pay the airline taxes and fees for reward tickets.)

Other news items:
"Last month, American Express eliminated double miles for shopping in a broad range of categories on its Delta SkyMiles card." This may be partly driven by Delta's merger of its frequent flier program with Northwest's program.

"Chase scaled back the cash-back bonus opportunities on its Freedom card for new customers."

"Capital One's new No Hassle Rewards Card requires customers to spend at least $1,000 a month in order to earn double miles for each dollar above that threshold. (Customers earn one mile per dollar spent on all other, non-travel purchases.)"

Banks partly blame the airlines, some of which are hiking the mileage thresholds required to redeem free flights.

Banks are also getting more likely to revoke your points before you get a chance to use them. Says the Journal:

If you're late, not only will you likely see your interest rate jump, but you'll also probably forfeit reward points. Under American Express' Membership Rewards program, for example, members who pay late will forfeit their points for that month (although they can reinstate those points by paying a $29 fee).

The short take: Don't bank those points. If you have a stockpile of rewards points, consider redeeming them for rewards now before they are likely to be devalued.

Be Prepared When Bad Weather Strikes

2009-01-16T15:05:00.001-05:00

Air travel can be dicey when the weather outside is frightful, so heed these tips from Fare Compare CEO Rick Seaney if you think you might be affected by bad weather:

* Before heading to the airport, check your flight status on the airline's or airport's Web site.

* Also, make sure you have your airline's phone number hand-programmed in your cell phone or written down somewhere handy with a stash of change for pay phones - so you can call the airline the minute your plans change.

* If you're already at the airport, you'll usually have better luck making alternative arrangements through the gate agent rather than the ticket agent, so head to the gate pronto.

* Anytime you're stuck waiting in line, maximize your chances of reaching someone by getting on the phone with the airline, too.

* If bad weather is going to cause you to get to the airport late and miss your flight, call the airline immediately to get put on the stand-by list. Ditto if you know you're going to miss your connecting flight.

Cruise Industry Posts Increase in 2008

2009-01-15T17:11:00.003-05:00

In a surprise announcement, the Cruise Lines Industry Association is predicting that 13.5 million people will cruise North America this year, an increase of 2.3 percent over last year. If the forecast proves accurate, the cruise industry may be the only part of the travel industry to post a gain this year (assuming you don't count the national park system).

Some of that cruise passenger growth will come from non-American visitors to the Caribbean. All told, annual passenger volume has increased 79 percent in the past eight years.

Know Your Camera Before You Hit the Road

2008-12-31T18:23:00.003-05:00

Before you leave on that big trip, take the time to know your camera. Afterall, you are likely to see things that you will never see again. And you don't want to miss that once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity because you can't use your camera properly. Spend some time with camera in the weeks preceding your trip.

Know your lenses, which have traditionally been divided into three basic categories: normal, wide angle, and telephoto.

Normal lenses provide about the same perspective as the human eye and are usually in the 45mm-to-60mm range (again, in 35mm format equivalent). On most zoom cameras, the normal focal length is typically in the middle area of the zoom range. Normal lenses offer a straightforward view of the world that is well-suited to documentary-type images of subjects like architecture or landscapes.

Wide-angle lenses are superb at reaching out their wide-open arms to take in a sweeping view of the world. Those in the 28mm-to-35mm range are the most useful and popular. Creatively, wide-angle lenses can be used to heighten perspective by exaggerating the distance between near and far objects or, when you're shooting upward, the height of nearby objects (exaggerating the height of a tree or a church steeple, for example). Wide-angle lenses are good for a range of subjects, including landscapes (especially where you want to elongate spatial relationships), architecture (when you want to create dramatic or slightly distorted shots of exteriors), and in any situation where shooting space is tight. They also provide inherently greater depth of field than other lenses.

Telephoto lenses have focal lengths that range from about 85mm (great for portraits) to super-telephoto lenses of 300mm to 600mm (lenses in this range are often used by sports and wildlife photographers). All telephoto lenses bring distant subjects closer, and the longer the focal length the greater the magnification. They also effectively compress space—cramming a city skyline into an overlapping two-dimensional pattern of geometric shapes, for example. Use a telephoto lens or zoom setting when you want to make distant subjects appear closer.

Top Ten Travel Innovations

2008-12-30T11:58:00.001-05:00

Budget Travel asked its readers to vote on the top ten travel innovations of the last ten years. Here's how the voting turned out.

10. Online maps
MapQuest, Google Earth, and other online mapping tools make any first-time visitor a seasoned traveler before he or she even arrives in a place.

9. Digital photography
You can "take hundreds of photos" with a digital camera and "see right away whether you got the right shot"—so you don't have to "pay heaps of money to develop a ton of photos that didn't turn out."

8. Online flight check-in
Nothing has helped "shorten wait times at airports" like the ability to "bypass lines at the ticket counter" by checking in for your flight on the Internet and "printing your boarding pass at home."

7. GPS navigation
Driving is so much easier with a global positioning system to show you the way.

6. Worldwide ATM access
Being able to withdraw money from your bank account anytime "on almost every street corner in the world" alleviates the stress of "running out of cash" after "the banks have long since closed for the day."

5. Cell phones
Having the option of "checking the hours of a tourist attraction," reserving a table at a restaurant, or "making a hotel booking from the road" is a "huge travel blessing."

4. Global Internet access
A "cheap and convenient" way to keep in touch when you're traveling, the Internet is available today even "in the most remote parts of the world."

3. TripAdvisor
With "real people" sharing their "unbiased opinions" about hotels, restaurants, and tourist sights, TripAdvisor offers travelers the kind of "detailed information that guidebooks never have the space to include."

2. Online travel booking
Before the Internet, travelers were "limited to brochures, a few books, and travel agents" to help them plan and book their trips. Now, with websites like Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline, "anyone can be their own travel agent."

1. Roller bags
Unlike "the old suitcases with four wheels and a strap," today's roller bags have retractable handles and two wheels—"a simple concept" that keeps them from tipping over easily. "People of all ages and physical abilities" can now "move quickly through busy airports without having to carry heavy luggage." These bags have "changed absolutely everything" about travel.

Special Wolf Treks Offer

2008-12-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

The news of late has been filled with stories of the financial world, but the old adage runs true: "Every cloud has a silver lining." We are responding by offering an unprecedented chance to save. Reserve your spot on one of the following programs by February 3, 2009, and you will have an opportunity to save up to $1,500 per couple*.

		France, Normandy Regular Price ----------------------> $2,790 Early booking discount---------> -$100 Special Promotion ---------------> -$275 Discounted Price - $2,515 land only, per person. Limited Space available. Air arrangements are available upon request for an additional cost. For more information about the trip or to book online, click here.


* Make your reservation on one of the programs mentioned in this email by February 3, 2009 and instantly Save $750 per couple. When making your reservation don't forget to mention Promotional Code ECOM09. Upon receipt of your deposit we will send you a coupon worth $750 per couple to be used towards your next trip with AHI. You must travel before 12/31/2010 for the coupon to be valid. This offer is only valid for new bookings and not combinable with other offers. Note: The total discount amount is $750 per couple per trip and a $100 per person discount is already reflected in the on-line price

Think Before You Pack

2008-12-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Now that most airlines are charging $15 to check a bag, more travelers are carrying on things they used to check. Airplane overhead bins cannot handle the extra volume. That means more passengers, usually those who board last, find that there is no room in the overhead bins. Weary flight attendants then gate-check any bag that cannot fit under the seat in front of the passenger. The bags are put into the belly of the plane and returned to travelers at the gate upon arrival. While theft isn't a large problem, who wants to put a $600 digital camera in the cargo hold? Be sure that you pack any valuables or fragile objects in your smaller carryon, such as a backpack, that will fit under the seat in front of you.

Take Your Best Shot: Travel Photography

2008-12-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

From time to time, I'll offer photography tips for taking better photos. We all want to preserve the memories of a wonderful trip -- new friends, beautiful scenes and memorable places. First and foremost, take a lot of photos, especially if you are working with a digital. Unless you are a professional photographer, you can't be certain one shot will do it. At the end of each day, review photos and discard any that are out of focus and unappealing.

Landscape Mode

What It Does - Makes everything in a scenic photograph—from nearby trees to mountains in the distance—look equally sharp.

How - The size of the opening in the lens, known as the aperture, is reduced to let light into the camera from different distances. This creates an even focus across the entire image.

Tips - The setting is useful for more than just landscapes—you can also use it when photographing a large crowd of people. When switching to landscape mode, the focus is fixed at infinity. There is usually no need to check focus before taking a picture. However, if there are objects in a scene, lock focus on one that is about a third of the way between the nearest and furthest object.

An Ounce of Prevention

2008-12-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

If you are taking medication, always carry more than you think you'll need when you travel. You never know when a flight delay or weather conditions may cause your 10-day trip to become a 12-day one. Hurricanes or even snow storms can strand travelers for days. Be prepared. Always carry your medications in their original containers. And, carry a list of your medications, including the strength (example: 100 mg. Imitrex), in a separate location. If you lose your medication, you can better communicate with foreign medical personnel about your needs if you have a list readily available.

Traveling with Food Allergies

2008-12-18T17:03:00.003-05:00

Budget Travel had some great suggestions for those travelers with food allergies. Before you leave home, create a menu of simple—and safe—dishes you can order abroad (your favorite ethnic restaurant may be able to help you out). If you're going on a tour, ask the operator about regional differences in the food that may affect you. Chat rooms, such as chow.com, provide helpful advice from other travelers on specific dishes to avoid.

Carry a note card that clearly states, in the language of the country you're visiting, what foods you can't eat. Showing this to the wait staff at a restaurant will prevent trying to explain your restrictions. You can order the cards in about 30 languages at selectwisely.com (from $6.50) and allergytranslation.com ($7.50).

Many airlines will cater to your particular allergy needs by preparing special meals, such as ones that are gluten- or lactose-free, if you call ahead. Eating in restaurants at off times will ensure that waiters focus on your needs. Call ahead to give restaurants more time to prepare, especially if they need to make changes to a dish. And if you feel like your waiter doesn't understand, ask to speak to the people in the kitchen.

Reviews and Photos from Wolf Treks Trip to China

2008-12-11T13:15:00.001-05:00

Our Wolf Treks China travelers had a wonderful time in 2008. Randy Ham, an Alumni Association associate executive director, hosted the trip, and he reports that lots of new friends were made as our group traversed China. In fact, the group got together in Raleigh after the trip to share a meal, memories and photos from the trip. Feedback from our travelers included these comments: "a broad exposure to China and her history and people with excellent accommodations,""covered all the places I wanted to see and allowed for some rest time without too much time on the bus," and "high quality, good price and an exciting destination." Lots of photos were snapped as our Wolf Trekkers explored Beijing. To see the photos, visit our China folder in Flickr. We will be repeating this trip in fall 2009. To receive a brochure about this trip, send an e-mail to alumni_travel@ncsu.edu.

Singing in the Airport

2008-12-08T15:19:00.001-05:00

Houston's Bush International Airport is setting up karaoke booths for travelers, just in time for the holidays. One was to be up and running last Thursday afternoon, reports USA Today.

For the past two years, officials have invited choirs and bands from high schools and churches to perform at Bush and Hobby airports during December. Karaoke seemed the next logical step, said Caroline Schneider, assistant airport manager for customer service.

"During the holidays, we have a lot of our novice travelers," she said. "We thought while they are waiting, they can just sing a song."

Aspiring vocalists can choose from hundreds of song titles, Schneider said. Small prizes will be given to the singers.

Treatment of Altitude Sickness

2008-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

The best way to prevent acute altitude sickness is to ascend slowly (over a period of several days) to higher altitudes. Limiting physical activity for the first few days may also help. Acute altitude sickness is usually not a serious condition, and it resolves on its own with rest and over-the-counter analgesics for pain control. Maintaining adequate hydration may also help reduce the symptoms of acute altitude sickness. Besides moving to a lower altitude, you can treat mild altitude sickness with rest and pain relievers. The drug acetazolamide can speed recovery. This drug balances your body chemistry and stimulates breathing. If you have symptoms of altitude sickness, avoid alcohol, sleeping pills and narcotic pain medications. All of these can slow your breathing, which is extremely dangerous in low-oxygen conditions. If the condition becomes severe, immediate descent to a lower altitude is recommended, as well as medical treatment.

Symptoms and causes of Altitude Sickness

2008-12-04T14:54:00.003-05:00

Occasionally our NC State Wolf Treks trips take travelers to high altitudes. In locations such as Peru (we have a spring trip scheduled), Tibet or Ecuador, travelers can experience altitude sickness, which occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen from the air. This causes symptoms such as a headache and loss of appetite. It happens most often when people who are not used to high altitudes go quickly from lower altitudes to 8,000 feet or higher. You may get a headache when you drive over a high mountain pass, hike to a high altitude or arrive at a mountain resort. Mild altitude sickness is common. In the United States, more than 20 percent of the people who visit the western mountains experience it. Experts do not know who will get it and who will not. Your age, sex or physical fitness play no role in whether you get altitude sickness.

The symptoms of altitude sickness include:

headache. The headache is usually throbbing. It gets worse during the night and when you wake up.
loss of appetite.
Nausea. You may vomit.
Feeling weak and lazy. In severe cases, you do not have the energy to eat, dress yourself or do anything.
Inability to sleep at night.
Dizziness.

Your symptoms may be mild to severe. They may not start until a day after you have been at a high altitude. Many people say altitude sickness feels like having a hangover. Altitude sickness can affect your lungs and brain. When this happens, symptoms include being confused, not being able to walk straight (ataxia), feeling faint and having blue or gray lips or fingernails. When you breathe, you may hear a sound like a paper bag being crumpled. These symptoms mean the condition is severe, and travelers should seek immediate medical assistance. Altitude sickness be deadly.

Solving Medical Problems When Traveling

2008-11-30T18:18:00.003-05:00

A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical problem should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to ensure that required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you. Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked luggage is lost. To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet. You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.

Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.

The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. Consider purchasing a travel insurance plan that will cover medical expenses and evacuation. The Alumni Association's recommends USI Travel Insurance Services. We worked with USI for more than 10 years, and we have never had a complaint from any traveler who has purchased their insurance and then needed to use it.

To facilitate identification in case of an accident, complete the information page on the inside of your passport providing the name, address and telephone number of someone to be contacted in an emergency.