Saturday, December 16, 2017

2018 repeat: travel advice 2017

NOTE:     This blog has no ads and I'm not beholden to hotels, cruise lines, tour companies or airlines, and that's why I can offer my readers the truth about all of the above + offer the many ways to enjoy comfort traveling for less




    Here's what I advised in my travel roundup for 2017:  "In 2017, I see the right vacation recipe has a better outcome with certain choice possibilities into the mix for the baking of your vacation…However, since the most needed ingredient for the best vacation outcome is your destination, consider the state of the world.
   Now in mid December 2017, nothing has changed for traveling in 2018.
   The state of the world is still in a terror mode, but there are buys to be had for anyone who is willing to step into the thicket of migrant tents on the Greek island of Lesbos, as well in Athens where you can take the ferry to all the island, but there are segments of the populace who don’t have enough to eat and you need to keep your wallet out of sight. 
   Long term plans plus $$$ are necessary for travel to Australia and Singapore, China can be pricey if you want better accommodations than those offered for so-called “budget” tours.
   The western Europe countries offer great values for the “cheap travel” seekers, but France, Belgium as well the UK have terror problems, the throwing of acid in the UK, even Spain is a simmering catalyst for rebellion, also, a recent terror attack took place in Barcelona, too. 
   Portugal’s proximity to Morocco suggests a terror attack could occur, although it’s a “cheap travel” destination.
   Now Ireland is also a “cheap travel” value but so far very safe, despite the proximity to the UK—I'd stay away from the contentious Northern Ireland where there can be rumbles.
   Very safe and traditional Switzerland can be pricey, but this "no bargains" travel destination is unique¾ of the country lives the picturesque life in towns and villages where families have had their homes and land for generations.

   My “safe” great value travel choice in 2018 is still southern Italy, plus the Adriatic coastal city of Trieste that borders Austria as well as the Balkans.  
   Great “comfort” travel values can be found in Naples and Trieste even at the last minute, but to go in season you will need to preplan at least 3 months in advance.
   I do nominate the city of Trieste for the 2018 "travel value" where you'll find shopping, quality restaurants with excellent hotel and suite hotel choices.
   And I haven’t forgotten that in 2017 I invited my readers to join me for a pampered luxury value plus bountiful breakfast at the Savoia Excelsior Palace Trieste with award winning restaurant, made even more memorable for me thanks to “sweet Alice” who is mentioned most frequently in TripAdvisor's customer reviews regarding their Savoia 5* dining experience—if you dine there, ask for “sweet Alice” to help you chose from the menu and if needed customize your choice.

Be safe and enjoy  happy travel in 2018.

 
 

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Disability & airline issues

NOTE:     This blog has no ads and I'm not beholden to hotels, cruise lines, tour companies or airlines, and that's why I can offer my readers the truth about all of the above + offer the many ways to enjoy comfort traveling for less



   Around the global world there is now an awareness that the need of access for those with disabilities must be a prime goal both in design of public buildings and redo of city streets, as well, in every facet of life.
   For example, disability mandates extend to psychological and health issues requiring a service dog to accompany the disabled person everywhere, even aboard an aircraft—large over-size dogs now must be accepted by owners of large apartment building or condos, also in gated communities.

   I was flummoxed, then dismayed when I rec0ently took an inbound flight from Rome to JFK on Alitalia and discovered there was a change of aircraft, but my disability did not qualify me for a seat equal to the confirmed aisle seat I had chosen months earlier.
   Even more puzzling, when I was recovered from my recent flying ordeal, I researched the European Union’s criteria for airlines carrying persons with disabilities and filled out a complaint regarding the regulation that seemed to apply—I was informed that the regulation did not apply in my case.
   When I contacted the FAA’s legal department and related my complaint to one of their lawyers—that’s when I found out why the European Union said my situation did not apply—the FAA’s lawyer told me that when there is a change of aircraft, airlines are not required to inform the passengers, and not legally required to find a seat equivalent to the original confirmed seat.
   I was still confused and could not believe that airlines had no legal liability if there was a change of aircraft and confirmed seats were not honored, so I called the Department of Transportation’s consumer help line (1-855-368-4200) and left a message—within a few hours I received a return phone call.  Very carefully, and in great detail I was given the reason why a change of aircraft absolves airlines from considering persons with disabilities when new seats are assigned in place of the previously confirm seat.  Yet it made no sense to me that a computer driven overlay of seats for the changed aircraft allows airlines to disturb the travel plans of disabled passengers, reassign seats regardless of inconvenience, or worse, cancellation of trip.
   In fact, the Department of Transportation’s view is “make a plan B” for such an event” which might include asking for another flight,  even if the delay is more than a day, but he also indicated that a call to “your congressman” would help to revise the Disability Act by adding airlines to the transportation mandatory compliance regardless of change of aircraft.
  As well, you can file a consumer complaint against the airline which is available on the **Department of Transportation website, the airlines are required to respond to your complaint and the Dept. monitors the list to determine what airlines are frequent offenders.
   If you are disabled, and there is a change of aircraft that requires you to cancel your trip, you can file a complaint with the *ADA affiliated with the AG of the United States—on the ADA website you will see posts of complaints that were filed against Greyhound and others settled with an agreement to insure persons with disabilities can travel like everyone else.
 
   Be an activist, call AAPD (American Association of Persons with Disabilities) to ask how you can help to make airlines conform to requirements for persons with disabilities regardless of change of aircraft.


*https://www.ada.gov/
**https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint 
http://www.aapd.com/  
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm