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travel planning

IcelandAir About to Start Codeshare Agreement

One of the nice things about international travel is the pile of frequent flier miles you earn on the flights. I missed out on that perk when I flew to Iceland in June – IcelandAir has no codeshare agreements. That will change in fall, but don’t get too excited just yet. Here’s why.

New Zealand for the Photographer

Travelers who love taking photos will come home from New Zealand with some of their best-ever images. Here are three places you shouldn’t miss if you want to take photos worthy of framing and hanging – and maybe even selling.

Packing – One of the Hardest Parts of Travel

As I was filling up my backpack for traveling to Iceland, all I could think about was a line from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian: “Is it too big? Is it too small?”
I never want to bring too much, but I also never want to get totally soaked in a random storm like I did in New Zealand.  And I actually needed a tent and sleeping bag this time – and a pair of running shoes since my wife signed us up for the Miðnæturhlaup, which is “Midnight Run” in Icelandic. I also had to bring stuff for hanging out in Reykjavik in addition to exploring the volcanic badlands.
Anyway, I ruthlessly put together a packing list of everything I took and evaluated whether or not I would bring it on my next trip (well, to a place with a similar climate, anyway). Some mainstays that always make it into the pack are ExOfficio underwear, my freakin’ awesome La Sportiva boots and my practically immortal REI convertible cargo pants, which continue ticking after nearly 5 years of use.
Anyway, here’s how all this stuff fared during two weeks at the 66th parallel. Keep this in mind if you’re planning to hit the cooler climates this summer.

Banned from Flying or Not?

You have to be careful when getting ready for commercial air travel. Tedious and conflicting TSA regulations and airline policies make it hard to get straight answers on what you can pack. My question on military Meals, Ready to Eat packages is a perfect example.

New Deal Keeps 5 More AZ State Parks Open

The Arizona State Parks Board is showing how to get things done during tough economic times. The state legislature should be taking notes as the board inked deals to keep 5 more parks open through the fiscal year.

6 Things You Need to Know About Travel Insurance

Eyjafjallajokull’s eruption is a case study in how travel insurance
could help stranded travelers. Photo by Henrik Thorburn

The skies over Europe are starting to open again after a dismal week courtesy of the erupting volcano in Iceland under Eyjafjallajokull (adding “glacier” after that is redundant, by the way, since “jokull” is Icelandic for glacier).
But the interruption in air travel is a perfect illustration of how travel insurance can be more than just another expense. A few weeks ago, I started chatting with travel insurance expert and Gustey.com writer Bryant Abel about some of the ins and outs of travel insurance. Here’s a confession – I previously dismissed travel insurance out-of-hand as being another industry preying on people’s tendency to “what if?” ourselves to death. I’ve since changed my tune because of some input from other travelers I consider smart - and Bryant’s expertise helped, too. Plus, the flight delays to Europe caused by the ash cloud gave me food for thought.
I had some questions for Bryant, and here’s what he had to say:
1. What sorts of problems can travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance can cover a number of “problems” that incur when you travel. The primary helping hand comes in the form of lost baggage, trip cancellation, medical care overseas, and embassy or evacuation care in case a global emergency were to take place. These are just a few, but the main ones.
2. What are the three most popular types of coverage?
The most popular coverage is individual trip protection. This can range from $30 to $100 [...]

New Airline Could Change So. California Travel Plans

An upstart airline based in Carlsbad, Calif., may have some great benefits for Arizona travelers.

Is Mistaken Identity Keeping People from County Parks?

The closure of Arizona state parks might be keeping people away from Maricopa County parks near the Phoenix metro area. But it’s just mistaken identity – there are no plans to close county parks.

Get in Free During National Park Week

If you’ve been thinking about visiting a national park, I’ve got a tip for you: Do it during National Park Week April 17-25. The U.S. government is waiving fees at more than $100 national parks. At Grand Canyon National Park, that’ll save you the $25 per car entrance fee. At Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico (which always rocks my socks off), you can keep $6 per person (who’s 15 or older) in your pocket. At Lassen Volcanic Park in California, that’ll put $10 per car back in your pocket. (NOTE: Not all national parks charge entrance fees)
Lassen, by the way, sounds like a real sleeper of a national park. I mean, 150 miles of hiking trails, ACTIVE goethermal areas, lava domes and cinder cones? Sounds like a bit of New Zealand plunked down right in the States. I really need to get there.
I know our federal government can give us a few things to complain about. But let me tell you, the national parks are not one of them. There are national parks for just about everybody – all abilities and interests. Find yours at the U.S. National Parks Web site!

Chipping Away at Iceland Travel Plans

Planning a trip to Iceland is really hard. Only one airline flies there, which is a major bummer (7-hour flights that don’t include meals … really?). It’s hard to get around, and prices are steep despite the favorable exchange rate. But I really want to hike Landmannalauger, tour the Skaftatell glacier and check out Dimmuborgir. And I want to eat the tasty fermented shark meat known as hakarl! I have to figure out ways to mitigate these obstacles. There are new (to me) glaciers and volcanoes waiting!
But New Zealand, stop whispering “come back and finish driving the Thermal Explorer Highway and climb Mt. Ngauruhoe again and go Schweebing – you know you want to!” in my ear. You’re really not helping.

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