When is the best time to visit a place to get the best hotel prices?  No more guessing or asking forgetful friends what they paid.  Visit www.hotwire.com and enter the information in TripStarter.  I picked this up from the classy Travel & Leisure magazine.  You’ll find their Destination Guides especially helpful: www.travelandleisure.com. 

Google may be taking over the world, and they could be the only ones qualified to make it work.  They keep racking up points by creating amazingly useful tools, including a few guaranteed to lower your blood pressure when you travel.  You can connect your mobile phone to Google to get real time information about weather, flight status, getting phone numbers for free rather than paying to connect to 411 wherever you are, and a host of other mind-boggling services whether you’re at home or away.  Learn more about it at www.sms.google.com.

Thinking of exploring the fall colors in New York this season?  You can see them by simply strolling through Central Park.  If you prefer a water experience, there is a 4+1/2 hour Fall Foliage Cruise up the Hudson River for $35.  You also have the option of getting on and off at any of the 12 stops available in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.  You may also take shorter trips.  Learn more at www.mywatertaxi.com. 

Before you select your seats for flights, consult www.seatguru.com for details about the configuration of the aircraft you’ll be on.  Do you want to be near the lavatory for convenience – or far away from the noise and congestion?  Which seats have extra legroom; which seats do not recline; where is the movie from where you sit (f you care)?

Want to know how often your flights are on schedule and also access last-minute airfares?  Easy at www.FlightsStats.com.

http://tourism-review.com is a site for “travel trade professionals worldwide.”  Hey, with the Internet, anyone who cares enough to do sensible research before traveling can safely be called a travel profession.  This is a helpful site if you want to know about current events that may impact your travel plans or if you want to know such things as which events and festivals occur while you’re at your destination.  Once in my youth I arrived in Mexico City on September 16th, unaware that is was Independence Day.  The streets were taken over by exuberant throngs of parading celebrants.   Being tall and blond in the land of the short and dark is a gift from God.  Mem’ries!  (All together, sing along!)

www.airfarewatchdog.com has lots of travel information, including information on how to get from the airport to downtown in major cities quickly and inexpensively.  Sign up to receive alerts when fares go down from airports you use frequently.  (You know to check Oakland and Sacramento in addition to San Francisco, right?) Many airfare reductions are not announced; this site covers “all” airlines, not just the big ones.

If you like to fly with all the latest gadgets to increase comfort and pass the time more easily, www.flight001.com has some suggestions for you.  While you’re pampering yourself, think of your friends who might like to be reminded how much you care by an imaginative and thoughtful gift.

If you like to learn while you travel, check out www.elderhostel.org.  They offer learning adventures throughout the USA as well as 90 other countries.  Whether you’re interested in history, culture, nature or the arts and whether you like to relax or be outdoors actively -- this non-profit organization has suggestions for you. 

If you want to ride the rails in luxury, step back in time with GrandLuxe Rail Journeys.  They have a private train with such yesteryear features as restored ‘50s rail cars, upscale dining, and a tuxedoes buttler. They offer trips from 2-10 days throughout North America and a journey to Mexico’s Copper Canyon from December 2008 - February 2009.  Learn more at www.grandluxerail.com.

Airlines are testing the waters for increases in fees for checked baggage, such as charging for the second piece or increasing fees already in place.  They will only do this if other carriers follow their example.  Airlines are desperate to raise money to meet operating costs.  When you consider how low airfares are compared to years ago, when you adjust for inflation, it’s remarkable.  You can fly round-trip to New York for less than what most hotels cost per night.  Solution: pack light.  Your back will thank you.  Do you use all the clothes you pack?  See!

If you’re not sure which travel book(s) to buy, check out www.artoftravel.com/11guides.htm for reviews of the best known. 

Not sure which famous travel guides to buy?  Read reviews of the top 11 at www.artoftravel.com/11guides.htm.  Remember, they may have them at Leaves of Grass Books.  Or, they can order them and have them for you in a few days.  And don’t forget the used travel books at Book Juggler.  Basic information about historic sites doesn’t change from one edition to another.

Adventure travel?  You can enjoy travel with small groups and local guides all over the world.  Check out www.rei.com/adventures.  If you prefer outdoor recreation trips in national parks, see what they offer at www.worldoutdoors.com.  If your family likes to bike, hike, raft or horseback ride together, you’ll want to visit www.familyadventuretravel.com.  Me, I’ve never met a horse I hate enough to try to climb on it.  I’m sure some animal rights group prohibits it anyway.  Still not enough information for the active traveler?  Don’t miss www.backroads.com.  I’m just exhausted writing about these options.

Amadeus is the largest travel technology company in the world, primarily focusing on service to travel agents.  However, they have opened up their impressive website resources to the public.  Visit www.amadeus.net for a staggering range of information about: airports, currency conversion, driving directions and maps, subway maps, weather, world dialing codes, a World Clock to tell what time it is anywhere in the world, and lots more.

Perhaps most impressive: worldwide Destination Guides with comprehensive information about places all over the world and countless links to other travel sites.  You don’t need me anymore!  Not to keep anything from you, which you know I wouldn’t – I worked for Amadeus for more than 16 years before retiring to Willits.  I can personally vouch for them, especially the U.S. employees, because I trained hundreds of them.  They are the very best at what they do. Period.

On the website, first click on the American flag (unless you’re a reader from another country – we appreciate you all!)  Then, click on the “Trip Tools” tab at the right side o the screen.  It’s a veritable “Open Sesame” portal to travel information wonders.

If you’re listed on www.facebook.com, you can keep your online friends informed about what you’re doing as you travel at www.twitter.com. 

Gate1 Travel has great value bus tours in Europe and throughout the world.  I spent a memorable two weeks in Turkey with them just over a year ago.  They now offer rail tours in Europe.  I’m looking at the 11-day Budapest, Vienna, and Prague by rail trip that includes airfare from New York: $1299.  Additional fare from San Francisco depends on departure date. The tour includes three days in each city. Learn more at www.gate1travel.com or call them at (800) 682.3333. In my experience they use impressive hotels for the price, and the food is consistently very good.  Their guides are extremely well trained.

If you like to explore other parts of Northern California, consider the Shasta Cascade Region.  (Hint: that includes Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties.)  Time to teach those kids some geography -- or perhaps review your own wizardry in that area.  For more information, visit their exciting new website: www.shastacascade.org.  Wanna drift along on a houseboat, ski, bike, explore, horseback ride, experience water sports, go fishing? It’s all there in a 64-page Visitor’s Guide and a nicely laid out website.  Extra points for visual appeal.

Can’t decide whether to book air travel now or wait in hopes prices will come down?  Get professional guidance from www.farecast.com.  Find out if the fare is fair.

If you want to travel for bird watching, boating, camping, canoeing, or deer hunting, a resource is www.GoExoticTravel.com. They also offer travel planning information, such as currency exchange, nightlife, passport, RV sales and satellite phones.  Use their links to other travel organizations for travel cost comparisons and reservations.

Cynical about wake-up calls from hotel front desks or a buzzing $6.85 clock radio?  My tactic has been to take along a simple battery clock and also use the clock radio in the room as well as leave a request with the front desk.  The battery clock has been the most reliable so far, but the built in redundancy of my process is a great comfort to a neurotic worrier.  Now, there’s another solution: free telephone reminders anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.  Details at www.wakerupper.com.  Thanks to Sheila O’Connor of Bay Area Travel Writers for this tip. 

How’s your European geography?  Lufthansa offers an online Virtual Pilot game that gives you a chance to prove how smart you are in reading maps.  It’s also a great test of your hand-eye coordination.  You not only have to know where a city is located, you also have to track a moving aircraft icon and guide it to the correct city within eight seconds.  Visit http://lufthansa-usa.com/useugame2007/html/play.html to test your skills. San Francisco reader Vickie Blomquist sent this along.  Was this a test of the level of my addictive personality?  Gotta go; I just landed in Stockholm.

Since when does the Food Network feature travel information? Go to www.foodnetwork.com/food/if_travel and click on Tasty Travels.  Learn about interesting getaways and major destinations that are famous for fine food.  I’m waiting for someone to try the Mexican Chocolate Martini recipe and tell me if it’s worth the calories. 

Some of us are just compulsive and insecure.  (Please don’t ask for details.)  We check our passport a dozen or more times before an international trip to be sure we know where it is.  We repeatedly verify that it won’t expire for at least six months after the current trip.  We ensure there are places for new immigration stamps as we enter foreign countries.  We wheeze and shriek about the nameless clerks in passport control booths who have stamped in the middle of a page where four imprints could normally go.  (Insert obscenity-drenched diatribe about passive aggressive government clerks.) 

There is some good news -- at least if you’re headed eastbound.  Kennedy Airport in New York has opened a 24/7 service for passengers with passport issues.  You’ll find it in Terminal 4 at the hotel desk on the ground floor.  Same or next-day service is available, depending on when you arrive.  Renewals are $427.  A new passport is $457.  Ouch!  Details at www.itseasy.com.  What, you’d rather change your travel plans and just stay in New York? 

Want to know how to locate free Wi-Fi locations while traveling in the U.S. or Europe. Get a state-by-state or country-by-country index at http://wififreespot.com.  They also have listing of hotel & motel chains and RV campgrounds that offer free Wi-Fi.

I arrived in Las Vegas recently with no toothbrush or deodorant. In my defense, I was preoccupied gossiping with a neighbor while I was packing, which only proves I have to work on my multi-tasking skills.  Luckily, there was a pharmacy across the street from the Monticello Hotel, so I wasn’t severely deprived.  What if I’d been in some remote place without a handy drugstore?  If I had used the printable packing list on www.travelsmith.com I wouldn’t have had a problem.  I might, however, have had an oversized credit card bill from all the other irresistible gear they have for sale.  GREAT stuff!

If you’re planning to travel outside your normal spending area, let your credit card company know.  Call the Customer Service number on the back of your card.  Otherwise, the second time you use your card, it is likely to be rejected – as a protection of your card.  My experience – after the ATM rejected my request -- was an e-mail asking me to CALL them to resolve the issue. If I could figure out how to make a call from Venice, that would have been fine.  Hey, there’s always a bright side: I spent much less.

Did you realize that cruise line stockholders of as few as 100 shares often get considerable on-board credits?  For example, with Princess you get $50 per cabin for sailings less than 6 days, $110 for 7-123 days, and $250 for 14+ days?  Carnival and Royal Caribbean have similar plans, I’m told.  I’m calling my stockbrocker!  (Yeah, like I have a stockbroker.)  If you don’t have a stockbroker or insurance agent who can help you, consider ING’s www.sharebuilder.com.  Thanks to Joe and Ivan at GayCruisers for this tip.

Europe is already crowded – and the busy season hasn’t even started. However, in Amsterdam, even if it gets crowded, it will always be civil. An aspect you may not have read about is what a great place it is to take kids.  The nearby “smallest city” in the Netherlands is the delightful miniature Madurodam.  It features the distinctive gabled homes of the Netherlands, a built-to-scale airport, and all you’d expect in a city, just done in a very small scale. 

Amsterdam itself is a walker’s dream – a compact city of magnificent museums featuring Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and countless Dutch Masters. (Not the cigars.) You can visit the room where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis in WWII.  You can stroll by yourself or with a group.  One of my favorite experiences years ago was a bicycle tour with a small group and an energetic guide.  No parking problems!  And, of course, you don’t want to leave Amsterdam without taking a boat ride.  All those beautiful canals! My favorite: The Herrengracht.  Visit www.holland.com for lots of ideas.   Also: www.amsterdamcitytours.com. 

Some of the airlines may have forgotten how to process large groups of people with civility, but the cruise lines seem to have mastered the process.  If you’re thinking of seeing a number of interesting places without constant packing and unpacking – and if you have no problem being pampered into a stupor check out which cruises leave from San Francisco:  www.sfport.com.  Otherwise, you have to expose yourself to the expense and indignity of flying to/from ports.

Confused by airfare options that continually change?  Here’s a website that tracks fares and even lets you know if prices drop and whether you may be eligible for a refund for the difference.  It’s www.yapta.com.  Check www.aarp.org for tips that help everyone – not just those 50 years old or better.

If you know where you want to go but don’t know specific dates yet, here’s a site with information about special low fares to countless destinations.  Just specify your origin airport city and destination city at http://www.airfarewatchdog.com.

So many airlines are now charging for extra bags, some even for the first checked bag.  Let’s look into Uncle Jay’s crystal ball.  Yes, there it is: more little nitpicking charges to come.  May I lower my tray table?  Oh, wait just a minute, I think I have a $5 bill right here.  I just hope the idea of strap hangers doesn’t occur to them.

If you’re part of the “Baby Boomer” generation you now have your own niche market of information for travel customized specifically for you.  It’s www.boomeropia.com.  There are 30 categories from which to choose.  Among them: Adventure, Beach, Cruises, Eco Travel, Learning, Motorcycle, Motorhome, Rail, and Religious to name a few.  There are also tips for planning and packing for trips. 

If you’ve been thinking you always have Amtrak as a back-up if the expense of driving or flying continues to rise, here’s a reality check.  Amtrak is setting records for number of passengers it carries.  Many long-distance runs are already sold out.  Amtrak spokesman R. Clifford Black said recently, “We’re starting to bump up against our own capacity constraints.”  Train travel does save oil since much of the fuel is electricity made from coal, natural gas and nuclear power.  Make your reservations now.  You may also travel (by bus connection) from Willits to places like Sacramento and Yosemite.  Visit www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

Learn if flights are on time?  Check out www.flightstats.com.

Want to hike, bike, fish, camp, go horseback riding?  Compare prices at www.gorp.com.

United Airlines will be requiring minimum stays on nearly all their fares, beginning in October.

What happens when you’re denied boarding on a flight because it’s oversold?  Most airlines ask for volunteers with free future flights as an incentive.  When that isn’t enough – and you’re experiencing something like the 63,878 passengers denied boarding last year – learn about your rights.  Visit: www.regulations.gov for answers.

Want to make better use of your time waiting at the airport but don’t want to invest in the cost of using their members-only facilities?  Most airlines offer a 1-day pass for about $50.  However, some airlines – such as Continental, Delta, and Northwest – offer free access for platinum American Express cards.  Never hurts to ask.  Typically, these facilities offer comfortable seating, laptop hook-ups, refreshments, and snacks.  (Although this is an area where many airlines are implementing cost cutbacks.)

If you have issues with how you’ve been treated by airport security personnel, they have a website for your feedback.  There are those who have serious doubts it is ever read, but I prefer to remain credulous.   If the site does nothing else, it will help you let off a little steam.  This has to be good for your blood pressure.  Leave your comments at: www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/claims/contact.shtm. A more interesting site might be the privately operated one where you can share experiences about airport security.  It’s www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/claims/contact.shtm. 

If you’d like to research information about a potential destination ahead of time, visit www.news.google.com.  They continuously update 4,500 news sources.  They should keep even the most dedicated news hound occupied.       

We’ve all been joking about “What will the airlines charge you for next?”  Most domestic airlines stopped distributing free blankets and pillows way back in ’05.  Jet Blue is bringing them back -- as a set for $7 on flights two hours or longer.  Your blanket and pillow come in a nifty carryin case to take home.  Bed Bath & Beyond also throws in a coupon for $5 to use in their stores.  The airline describes the new plan as “eco- and health-conscious.  I like Jet Blue so I won’t say anything further.

Are people really choosing not to fly? The House Committee on Small Business says so and predicts there will be a loss to the U.S. economy this year of $26.5 BILLION dollars.  Gee, what could they do to bring us back?  Dunno, maybe something like teaching the TSA inspectors some manners?  San Francisco has never been a problem for me.  I would only suggest JFK as an arrival airport from overseas to someone I despised.  Enough of that.  This is a “good news” newspaper.  Well, the “good news” is there are fascinating places to visit right here in Mendocino County.  Check out www.GoMendo.com for ideas.  If you want to focus on the arts, a good reference site is www.artsmendocino.org. 

www.kayak.com.  There are thousands of useful online travel sites. This one checks, literally, hundreds of airlines – depending on your destination(s).  You may also receive alerts by e-mail to track fare changes to places you want to visit.  http://www.travelzoo.com/ will regularly send you a list of top travel deals for air fares, cruises, lodging, and tours.  They are a major reason I didn’t stay home much last year.  I’m living proof you can go broke saving money.

www.freetranslation.com is a great help if you want to impress correspondents with a few words in another language or quickly translate something you’ve received in a foreign language.  Type or paste the words into the space provided, hit enter and watch the magic of machine translation.  For more accuracy, keep your sentences simple and brief.  Major European languages, as well as Japanese and Chinese, are available.  Human translation, for more accuracy, is available for a fee.  Meanwhile, impress that foreign-born cutie pie at the check-out counter with a complimentary phrase you picked up online.  Name your first born after me.