Abacus Travel

Airlines know the price of getting a new customer. And they know that it’s a whole lot easier and less expensive to keep the customers that they already have. For this reason, airlines started frequent flyer programs. These programs reward you the more you fly.

Frequent flyer programs let you to receive certain travel benefits based on the number of miles (or sporadically the number of trips) you fly on a specific airline. Standard awards include a free ticket or a free upgrade from coach to first class.

Some airlines also offer “elite” programs that provide check-in and boarding priorities, and “affinity” credit cards which earn mileage credits when you use them for purchases.
In order to earn these benefits you must become a member of that airline’s program; this can often be done through a travel agency.

There isn’t a how many programs you can join. But before you decide which program to join, you should compare different programs carefully.

Every airline program carries conditions and limitations. So you should be careful to read the promotional material and the all the fine print. Here are a few things you should take a look at:

- The rate at which credits are earned, minimum credits earned per flight

- If you are more interested in free tickets for yourself, or companion tickets, or upgrades

- How much credit you need for the awards you’re interested in

- What are the deadlines for accumulated credits?

- Does the airline serve the cities you’re traveling to, and if it has tie-ins or other airlines and to car rental companies and hotels you would use.

Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you have to stay home all the time.  If you plan ahead and take a little care, it is easy and fun to travel with your dog.

Here are some tips to make the trip easier on both you and your pet:

1.    Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips.  Go to fun places like the dog park, the fast food drive through (where you can feed him bits of meat from your burger), or to visit friends.  You want him to think that trips in the car are fun.  You don’t want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2.    If your dog tends to get carsick, don’t feed him the morning of the trip.  Having your dog travel with an empty stomach will help to prevent any car sickness.

3.    Bring plenty of water and a water dish along.  You will need to give your dog periodic drinks of water when you stop for a rest.  It will be easier to get your dog to drink if it is familiar water from home.  Water in different places often smells or tastes differently, and your dog may not want to drink it.

4.    Be sure to pack your dog’s food, treats, favorite bed, toys, and leash.

5.    If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too.  If you don’t have a large vehicle, you can buy crates that fold up.  When you get to your destination, you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can’t bring him along.

Does the thought of buying a gift for a friend or relative make you smile or does it stress you out?  Is there a hiker or camper on your gift giving list?  What can you give to the someone who already has everything?  The secret of gift giving is not always the “what.”  Many times the “why, when and how” make an ordinary gift the Perfect Gift.  Continue reading to discover 5 sure-fire steps to giving the perfect gift to the outdoor enthusiasts in your life.

Step 1:  Do Your Homework.  This is the toughest of the 5 steps.  Doing your homework means thinking about your outdoor enthusiast and what he or she likes about being in the backcountry.  Are there any current or past outdoor interests?  Perhaps he likes to fish or she likes to climb.  Maybe you overheard the comment “I remember when I used to go camping every long weekend.  I miss those days.”  Our personal shopper service receives hints like this all the time.  Chances are you already know their interests, so take a few minutes to think prior to shopping.  There are loads of great outdoor gifts available.

Another part of your homework is to understand the relationship between you and your gift recipient’s outdoor hobbies.  Last year I was camping with a dear friend who got mildly lost.  After about an hour, he showed up in camp a little embarrassed – but safe.  So the perfect gift for him before our next trip was a GPS unit.  I also included a hand written coupon good for one free lesson and an extra set of batteries.  The relationship we had allowed me to have a little fun with the gift giving.  I did provide him with a quality gift and he uses it all the time.

The city’s new motto, “Munich Loves You,” may be a bit commercial, but it is exactly how you will feel from the very moment you find your bags at the airport. It is also not overeagerly presumptuous to say that whoever you are, this Bavarian capital will have you head-over-heels enamored with some or all parts of its eclectic mish-mosh of cultures. There is absolutely something for everyone when you travel to Munich.

Of Germany’s major cities, Munich is Berlin’s more cosmopolitan sister, with perhaps a bit of an adolescent identity crisis. Throughout history Munich has often taken a different path from the general German way. During the Reformation, Munich remained staunchly committed to the Catholic Church, and while the people enjoyed the flourishing Renaissance period, the Duke marveled in such endeavors as bankrupting those very institutions.

Additionally, Munich’s Kingdom of Bavaria maintained its sovereign status from Germany until Ludwig II’s notorious habits prompted Germany to fully incorporate the region in 1871. After World War I, Munich was a hotbed of social movements where the Nazi party was capable of growing deep roots and slowly taking hold of government. By 1938, the first concentration camp, Dachau, had been constructed to the north. Visitors to Munich can take a tour of this historic site, which has largely been destroyed but contains memorials and an extensive collection of information on World War II.