TIDBITS 4 TRAVEL ALERTS

February 27, 2010 at 8:50 am · Filed under INFORMATIONAL, safe, travel, vacation

 This tidbit is 4 travel alert for Mexico.  Yep that’s right. Just before spring break!  The US is renewing the travel alert for Mexico. This week, the State Department renewed its travel advisoryfor Mexico, singling out the states of Michoacan, Coahuila, Durango and Chihuahua, along the United States-Mexico border, as especially dangerous for United States travelers.  .

That said, crime overall in Mexico is down from its late 1990s highs. But the perception of drug-related violence, combined with leftover fears of the H1N1 virus, has taken its toll on Mexico’s reputation as a safe travel destination. Tourism dropped 20 percent in 2009 from the previous year.

For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the following

•  Mexico Country Specific Information. 
•  “Spring Break in Mexico- Know Before You Go!!”
•  http://travel.state.gov/
•  Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings,
•  Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.
• For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate.  The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000.  You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov
•  http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

To read the complete alert you can go to,

•  http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4491.html

Please if you have travel plans for spring break, stay extra safe, careful and have great adventure

Jaye

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TIDBITS 4 TRAVEL TIPS

February 18, 2010 at 12:39 pm · Filed under INFORMATIONAL, travel, vacation

This tidbit is 4 Travel Tips

Here are some tips to make your airport experience hassle-free:

•  Arrive at the airport early.  Even if your flight is delayed.  The airlines may make other arrangements to make sure that flight takes off on time.   You may have to pay a penalty if you tell them ” I checked and the flight was delayed”.
•  Wear comfortable shoes that can easily be removed during the security screening process.
• Weigh your checked and carry-on bags prior to arrival to ensure that all your baggage are within the weight and size allowances.
• Ensure that you have the required travel documents readily available at all times to present to the security officials and to agents upon request.  If you are traveling international you may need special documentation.
• Remember, carrying sharp or other dangerous objects that can be used as weapons are strictly prohibited aboard the aircraft. Both your checked and carry-on baggage will be screened. Pack appropriately to avoid any inconvenience at the security checkpoints.  If you are unsure you can always check the TSA website for complete information.
• http://www.tsa.gov.
• Please be aware of items that may cause delays during the security screening process. Jewelry, belt buckles, keys, phones, pagers, etc. should be placed in carry-on baggage and not left on your person.
• Film should be packed in carry-on baggage as equipment used to screen checked baggage may damage undeveloped film.
• Gifts in your carry-on baggage should not be wrapped as they may be opened during the security screening process.
• Arrive at the gate early to await the boarding of your flight.

Please have a safe and wonderful trip.

Jaye

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TIDBITS 4 SOUTHERN AFRICA

February 9, 2010 at 10:40 am · Filed under INFORMATIONAL, travel, vacation

This tidbit is 4 travel to  southern AFRICA

My travel companion and I made our first foray into the Drakensburg mountain ranges of Lesotho.  We started our tour in the capital city of Maseru and went all the way around the country returning to Maseru 5 days later.  We had done part of the tour (to Pitseng) the weekend before to visit friends so did not include that section of the country in the tour.   We managed to do a guided tour of the Katse Dam, Liphofung Cultural and Historical site, and the Masitise Cave House.  The rest of the trip was done at our own pace and with a little help from the locals, managed to stay pretty well on track.  We had some good maps, a list of accommodations, and a list of places of interest that were excellent sources of information.

Travel in the mountains is best done in a 4wheel drive and one that is well up off the ground.  We actually made the trip in a Toyota corolla and although we ran into some tight spots we were able to travel most of the roads. 

The scenery is fabulous and my travel companion speaks the local language of Sesotho and many of the locals also spoke English so we learned a lot of local facts and history.   The Orange River originates in the Drakensburg Mountain Range and in known in Lesotho as the Senqu River and enters the Atlantic Ocean 2200 km. away at Alexander Bay.   The Maletsunyane Falls along the way is the largest free falling waterfall anywhere in Southern Africa at 204 m. as well as being a Guinness record holder for the highest commercial abseil in the world.

The country is well known for the large diamonds discovered in the mines.  The Lesotho Promise was 603 karats of white diamond and the Lesotho Brown at 601 karats is the second largest discovered in the same mine previously.

Mountain life is very simplistic as most residents live in rondavels and do not have electricity.  They have a stone enclosure built onto the rondavel to accommodate the livestock at night.  Farming is done on tiered fields up the sides of the mountains and any available flat land, especially near the river.  Plowing and seeding are done by hand with the use of oxen, horses or donkeys and hand held plows.

I want to thank my friend Rose for the wonderful post and pictures.   I hope to travel there someday

Have a wonderful adventure

Jaye

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