Gettin’ Carried Away

I don’t think any of you need me to point out that we’re facing some pretty tough times right now. My hours at work have been cut to the bare minimum (there’s just no work to do), and everyone in the world is vying for the same jobs we’re all trying to get to supplement our incomes. However, I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you that it really is the perfect time to travel.

Here’s why you should travel RIGHT NOW:

Tourism is hurting in some places. When certain locations are hurting for visitors, they’ll do anything to get them. Hotel rates drop, airlines offer cheap fares and attractions create free days or inexpensive package deals. Remember when I posted about the Lake Chapala Inn in Mexico? A room is currently going for $45 a night. Rooms used to be priced well above $100 a little over a year ago.

Traveling doesn’t mean leaving the country… or even the state. Simple day trips get you off the couch and out there into the world. And again, local attractions will most likely offer exceptional deals this time of year. Why? For one, it’s summer vacation for lots of people. And as I previously stated, money is tight. If no one is coming to the amusement park, it’s probably because no one can afford the $60 pass for the day. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL has tons of discounts: Coca-Cola can prices, BOGO (buy one, get one free) online, etc.

Basic supply and demand. Once the economy improves, prices will go up. As jobs are created and people start making more money again, the demand for travel will increase. If there’s a greater demand for flights to Fiji or boat cruises to the Mediterranean or train rides to New York, then you will encounter competitive prices.

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I’m not saying that you should drop everything and head for a round-the-world excursion right now. However, with a bit of research, you can plan a nice little getaway this summer. Fellow blogger, Hilarye Fuller, also encourages you travel. There are only three reasons you shouldn’t embark on the journey of a lifetime. Check them out by visiting her blog: Dotting The Map.

It was like a movie…

Earlier this afternoon, about half way through my flight home from Denver to Chicago, I heard an attendant come over the PA system saying, “Is there a medical type person… uh… a doctor or nurse or someone… on board the flight? If so, please ring your call button and we’ll come to you.”

I could tell that the flight attendant sounded a bit nervous. A passenger seated about 10 rows behind me needed immediate medical attention, apparently. To my surprise, a few people buzzed their call buttons. The entire flight crew responded to the distress calmly and efficiently. I later saw that man was given oxygen and an IV (pictured below).

After we landed, we were all asked to stay seated once we arrived at the gate, as there was an emergency on board, and medical personnel would be entering the plane once it stopped. Sure enough, a fire truck and an ambulance were waiting for us as we taxied into the gate, and five people came on board right away.

The man was escorted off the plane by the sweet woman who stepped up and administered some mild treatments while we were in the air. As she made her way back to her seat, everyone gave her a big round of applause. I admit, the journalist in me wanted to interview the flight crew once we de-planed, but my kind heart ached for the man and kept me from poking my nose into his business. He was probably embarking on a great vacation or returning home from a business trip or visiting old friends or reconnecting with family. All he wanted to do was get to Chicago, not the hospital. So instead… I blog.

Props to the Southwest Airlines crew of flight 779 DEN to MDW. They never panicked and they handled the situation with the utmost poise and urgency.

Hello, everyone! As I write this, I am already on my way to another destination (hint: Western U.S.). I decided to leave my Mac at home this time, though, because I just didn’t feel like hauling it along with me. I will be gone until this Sunday, June 28. I know, I know… I am missing the Sox/Cubs series aka Crosstown Classic AGAIN! However, if I’m offered the chance to travel, I’m going to take it, no matter what I have planned locally.

And you know what else I realized? I have NOTHING planned for the month of July. Well, that’s kind of a lie, as I will be going to White Sox games and attending the TBEX meetup! However, I have no travel plans. Any ideas for weekend trips (with my weekend being Thursday-Saturday)? I’m thinking about a road trip to Lexington, Kentucky. Suggestions are much appreciated!

See you all on Sunday!

After spending a delightful morning touring the city of Guadalajara, we headed to Tlaquepaque for lunch. Once we were seated, the server brought over what I called a “mini coatrack,” which was actually for ladies purses (there were three of us, after all). Baffled at this unique courtesy, I hung my bag on the rack and enjoyed a yummy lunch.

Fast forward to my last night in Mexico, dining at the lovely Cafe des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta. Again, once we were seated, a “mini coatrack” was placed near our table. Because I like to take photos of, well, everything, I just plopped my bag on the floor to keep my bulky Canon Rebel near to me (and off of the table). Carolina, our guide, told me I had to give her my purse because it’s back luck to leave it on the floor. Confused, I said, “Excuse me?” Carolina replied, “It’s bad luck. They say if you leave your purse on the floor, you’ll lose all your money.” Far be it for me to defy this superstition, especially since I’m always terrified of losing money, credit cards, my passport, etc…

Once I returned home, it was back to business. On my way to work, I listened to my favorite radio program, Drex In The Morning on 103.5 KISS FM. Drex’s witty sidekick Mel T brought up the topic of superstitions, saying that in her Mexican-American family, it was bad luck if you didn’t touch a child once you complimented him or her. For example, if you were to look at a baby and say, “Look at that gorgeous head of hair,” you would have to touch the child’s hair to show an absence of envy/jealousy. Because if the hair fell out, you’d be in big trouble.

This is very intriguing to me. Has anyone else come across cultural superstitions on your travels? I’d love to hear some more!

After spending a beautiful week in Mexico, I’m back home in Chicago, where the wind dies down and the humidity skyrockets during the summer. I am going to take a break from posting about Mexico to tell you a little about my experience flying home using Delta Airlines, connecting at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

My flight from Puerto Vallarta to Atlanta was pretty typical. Long lines, full flight, free water/soft drinks. When we landed in Atlanta, however, everything fell apart.

The pilot claimed we were 40 minutes early. According to his announcement (about three hours earlier), we we were to arrive in Atlanta in exactly… you guessed it… three hours. I remember checking my watch, and it was 2 p.m. in Mexico. When we landed in Atlanta, I promptly turned my phone on to discover it was 5:50 p.m. Atlanta is an hour ahead of Mexico (and Chicago), so we were actually 10 minutes ahead of schedule, not 40.

We waited on the runway for about 30-40 minutes for a gate to open up. I remember my mother telling me that ATL Airport was the biggest in the country, and she wasn’t joking. When I finally got off the plane and arrived at customs, the line was (I’m not kidding) a mile long. I’d say at least 100-200 passengers missed their connections. However, the customs agents were efficient at putting people through; after all foreigners entered through their designated lines, U.S. citizens were allowed to step into the Foreign Visitor lines to speed up the customs process.

~* I was so busy, I didn’t have time for photos! *~

I finally made it past customs around 8 p.m. I checked the monitors and saw that my plane was already at the gate and we would be boarding in less than an hour. Knowing I didn’t have a seat assignment yet, I grabbed a quick breakfast/lunch/dinner (I hadn’t eaten all day) and then headed to the gate. When I got to the gate, there was no ticket agent to be found, but I did see three flight attendants sitting in the corner.

A man, who I assumed was the pilot, kept peeking his head outside the jetway, looking a bit confused. I thought he might be looking for the ticket agent or the flight attendants. At 8:55 p.m., when we should have been boarding, someone alerted the flight attendants to the man constantly poking his head out of the door. One of the flight attendants walked over to the desk and picked up the phone. I overheard a conversation that sounded like the ticket agents were waiting INSIDE the plane with the pilot for the flight attendants. The flight attendant said that she and her colleagues were waiting OUTSIDE for them to come out of the plane and give them clearance to go in. A big miscommunication between Delta employees delayed our flight by 45 minutes.

I will openly admit it: I have a brand loyalty when it comes to airlines. I always choose Southwest first and foremost. Mostly because of the cheap airfare, but also for the free checked baggage. If Southwest doesn’t fly where I need to go, I pick American Airlines.

Do you have airline brand loyalty? Have you had a bad experience with Delta? How do you maintain patience in a crazy busy airport like Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta?