Airline Credit Cards

Greetings! Welcome to the 9th edition of the Carnival of Travel Guide! We have selected 12 posts for this edition. I hope our readers would enjoy these. Here you go:

Spencer Jones presents Travel, Hotel Rooms and Colloidal Silver posted at Colloidal Silver Secrets. ting sick while traveling is no fun. It can ruin an otherwise great vacation or business trip. Here’s a tip about using colloidal silver while traveling to boost immunity and remain infection-free…

John Crenshaw presents The Biggest Scam Your Bank Gets Away With Everyday posted at Truthful Lending Mortgage, Refinance Advice. This little known scam accounts for a huge portion of fees paid to banks every year and is going on right under your nose. The worst part is, it’s completely legal.

Harrison presents Best Spring Break for your Buck! posted at CustomizedGirl Blog. This article has some great money saving tips for Spring Break.

Raymond presents Redeeming Citi Thank You Points for Free Flights posted at Money Blue Book.

Mary Jo Manzanares presents Honoring Veterans at Honolulu’s Punchbowl posted at Fly Away Cafe - Where travel is a way of life. Honolulu’s Punchbowl is the final resting place for veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Mel Beauchamp presents The Type Of Travellers The Maldives Appeals To posted at Maldives Island Travel. The Maldives is a wonderful destination for a wide variety of travellers – from those seeking complete bliss and Robinson Crusoe type peace & quiet (in an absolutely idyllic surrounding), to beach lovers and diving enthusiasts to honeymooners and romantic couples looking for some enchanting memories in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Karen Bryan presents Ensuite versus shared bathroom accommodation posted at Europe A La Carte Blog. Choosing between accommodation with shared or ensuite bathroom facilllties.

Chris Christensen presents Volunteer Travel / Voluntourism (Amateur Traveler Episode 125) posted at The Amateur Traveler Podcast - travel for the love of it.

Christine presents The European Exchange Rate and travel in Berlin, Germany posted at Me, My Kid and Life: An American Single Mom Living in France.

Andy Boyd presents Top 10 Most Dangerous Aircraft Landings In The World posted at ProTraveller. Some of the most dodgy (and entertaining) landings from around the world.

Veteran Military Wife presents Comparing the Cost of a Land Vacation to a Cruise posted at Life Lessons of a Military Wife. Know the true cost of your vacation.

James D. Brausch presents Costa Rican National Parks posted at Costa Rica HQ.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on March 01, 2008. Submit your blog articles using your blog carnival submission form.

By Laura Milligan

These days, pets are often given the same privileges as their human owners when it comes to grooming, play dates, pet spa treatments, gourmet meals and exercise routines. Since pets are usually considered a part of the family, why should things be different when you take the whole crew on a vacation? Unfortunately, traveling with a pet can be a bigger hassle than your typical trip to the groomer’s, but we’ve compiled this ultimate guide for a pet-friendly vacation to make sure everyone has a good time.

Traveling by Air

Air travel is often the most convenient way to get to your destination, but if you plan to take Fluffy on board, you need to be aware of the extra procedures and dangers headed your way.

1. Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel: Visit the Human Society’s website for tips on keeping your pet comfortable and safe during a planet trip.
2. Stow your pet under the seat in front of you: If your dog or cat is small enough to comfortably fit in a carrier the size of most carry-on items, you may be able to keep your pet under the seat in front of you for the entire plane trip. That way, your furry friend won’t be subjected to riding alone in the back with everyone’s heavy suitcases.
3. Put identification information everywhere: First, make sure your pet’s ID tags are securely attached to his or her collar. Go ahead and clip another ID tag or luggage tag onto the carrier door, and consider writing your contact information directly on the animal’s carrier to avoid mistakes and theft.
4. Research companies that specialize in transporting pets: Companies like Pet Air specialize in transporting pets, taking care of everything from booking flights to selling kennels and carriers.
5. TakeYourPet.com Travel Tips: This guide from TakeYourPet.com suggests trimming your animal’s nails to minimize the injury it can cause to itself, you and other animals or people.
6. Pack a toy or favorite comfort item in your pet’s carrier: To make the trip more comfortable for your pet, pack a familiar toy or blanket inside your pet’s carrier to ease their anxiety. Rawhides aren’t always a good idea, though, as they can cause upset stomachs.
7. Bring a photo of your pet: In case you have trouble finding your pet after landing, have a recent photo ready to show airport security and baggage claim attendants to prove you’re the owner and help locate your pet.
8. Pack pet meds in accordance with TSA carry-on regulations: Make sure you pack your pet’s medications in a TSA-approved system, which requires that liquids and gels 3 oz. or less be packed in a quart-sized plastic zip-top bag. If you have to dump out your pet’s medicine or take a later flight to have time to stick it in your check bags, you could be in for a disaster.
9. Pack a small bowl for water: Dogs and cats can get dehydrated easily, so bring a small bowl or collapsible container so that your pet has water as soon as you land or retrieve it from the baggage claim.
10. Be familiar with airline travel restrictions and guidelines: Before booking a flight for your pet, make sure you are prepared to deal with all travel restrictions set forth by the airline. Many airlines like Delta require pets to be at least 8 weeks old, restrict the destinations where pets can fly to, and charge a fee for in-cabin carriers.
11. Pet Air Travel: Ask-the-Vet.com publishes this guide to taking pets on an airplane, including a list of pet regulations for several major airlines.

Traveling by Car

Traveling by car can be easier on your pet than booking a flight, but check out this list to make sure you’re well-prepared for the trip.

12. ASPCA Car Travel Tips: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) posts this list of car travel tips to make sure your pet travels safely and comfortably.
13. Bring a water dish and a bottle of water: Just in case the rest stop where you plan to take a break doesn’t have fresh water or a dish to put it in, pack a bowl and a water bottle to rehydrate your pet during the trip.
14. Try not to leave your pet alone in the car: If you’re traveling by yourself, this tip may be hard to abide by, but limiting your rest time to bathroom and stretch breaks is safest for your pet. If you can, park your car near the window of the place where you stop so that you can keep an eye on your pet. Always roll down the windows a bit to keep fresh air going in and out of your vehicle.
15. Don’t give a big meal before the trip: Stick to your pet’s regular feeding schedule as much as possible, but decrease meal portions before you get in the car; otherwise, you may have a big mess to clean up in the backseat.
16. AVMA.org: Travel By Car: The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends not letting your animals ride with their heads out the window, no matter how much fun it seems. Besides risking injury, animals can also get bugs, dirt, and other irritants in their eyes, ears or noses.
17. Keep your pet comfortably secure: Keeping your pet in a carrier is the best and safest way to travel in a car. Your pet will be less likely to be injured if you have to slam on the breaks or get into a fender bender, and you won’t have to worry about your pet jumping into your lap while you barrel down the highway.
18. How to Choose the Best Travel Pet Carrier for Your Pet: Whether you have a large dog or a small kitty cat, make sure you know how to select the most appropriate carrier for your pet. This guide will help you out.
19. Pack a clean-up kit: Just in case your pet gets car sick, go ahead and pack up a simple clean-up kit with a pet cleaner suitable for fabric, carpet or leather. Also bring along paper towels and a small garbage bag.
20. Plan stops ahead of time: Even if you’re familiar with the route you plan to take, plan out your breaks ahead of time. You’ll feel more comfortable stopping at places you know are well-lit, have plenty of grass for your pet’s bathroom breaks and are far enough from the highway for a quick run.

International Travel

For international moves and extended vacations, pet owners need to be prepared for customs regulations, vaccination reports and other complicated procedures. Use this list to make sense of it all.

21. Pet Passport, Immigration and Quarantine Info.: PetTravel.com publishes links and resources for international pet travel. Find immigration rules and regulations for over 100 countries, including Argentina, South Africa, the Bahamas and France.
22. Official USDA Certification: PetTravel.com reports that “all EU Countries as well as many other countries now require that a veterinarian certificate issued in the United States have an official USDA Certification stamp.” Follow this link to find out more information about how you can secure one for your pet.
23. International Animal Export Regulations: The USDA page for exporting animals and animal products from the United States is full of helpful information.
24. Globetrotting Pets: The website for the book Globetrotting Pets: An International Travel Guide has sample information and tips for traveling to different countries with your pets, from tourism contact information to a helpful travel check-list for your pet.
25. Pets on the Go! International Resources: This website has import/export information for the U.S., Hawaii, Guam, Great Britain and Mexico, as well as an international pet-friendly hotel search, air travel tips and more.
26. Pet Relocation — Tips for International Pet Moving: This post serves as an excellent guide and check-list for moving a pet abroad. You’ll find information about finding and packing a suitable crate, things to remember on the day of your trip, and plenty of other questions you should be prepared to ask airlines, customs and other offices.

Staying in a Hotel

27. Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels with you: Before your trip, make sure you have a list of pet-friendly hotels in the area you plan on traveling through. Even if you have a reservation, it’s best to have one or two alternative options just in case you have a layover, car trouble or other problems before you get to your final destination.
28. Hotel-Guides.us Pet-friendly Hotels and Motels: Use this guide to see whether or not hotels are dog- and cat-friendly. The site also also has tips for bringing along your pets to a hotel.
29. Stay in a ground-floor room: MSNBC recommends staying in a ground-floor room, “preferably one that opens to the outside. That way you can take your pet in and out without going through a lobby and you will disturb as few people as possible.”
30. Put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign: When you leave your pet in your room by itself, put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign so that the cleaning staff won’t get surprised by your pets…or vice versa. You’ll save yourself from complaints, extra messes and even worse, potential lawsuits if your pet frightens or injures a member of the hotel staff.
31. Pet-Friendly Hotels: Forbes reviews posh pet-friendly hotels around the U.S. in this article.

Advice from the Pros

The Dog Whisperer and other professional animal handlers have loads of tips and advice for pet owners just itching to take their pets on vacation.

32. Cesar’s Travel Tips: The Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan dedicates this web page to giving pet owners travel tips like “bring your dog’s blankie,” “use a soothing scent,” and “claim your new space.”
33. Traveling With Your Pet: The AVMA has lots of travel safety tips for pets, including those needed for camping trips and vacations that require bus and train travel.
34. Ten Most Common Poisonous Plants: If you’re taking your pet into unfamiliar territory, print out the Animal Poison Control Center’s list of the ten most common poisonous plants to avoid disaster.
35. Pet Moving Tips: The online Residency Guide offers lots of relocation tips for when you have to move with a pet. Find tips for dogs, cats, fish, birds and other pets.
36. Traveling With Your Furry Friends: “America’s Most Trusted Pet Expert” Warren Eckstein has lots of pet travel tips that include people preparation, pet preparation, and a checklist of items to pack for your pet.
37. If Your Dog Has Ticks: Trips to the beach, the mountains, or even to certain locations increases your dog’s chances of getting ticks. If you spot one of these nasty parasites, check out this guide for information on what to do.
38. How to Travel with a Dog: Check out Expert Village for a series of videos that teach dog owners the dos and don’ts of traveling with their pet.
39. Cesar’s Beach Tips: If you can’t wait to take your pooch to the beach, read Cesar Millan’s tips on planning a safe, rational, pet-friendly beach vacation.
40. Protect Your Pet: Summer Safety Tips: MSNBC interviews pet expert Andrea Arden for tips on taking care of your pets during the summer months and in warm-weather climates. Read about sun protection, keeping your pets safe around water and avoiding parasites.
41. Travelers Digest: Information for People Traveling With Pets: These travel pros have put together a long list of resources for pet owners planning a vacation.

Health Concerns

Make sure your pet has as much fun as you do on vacation by putting its health and well-being first.

42. Get a pre-vacation check-up: If you’re going away for a long trip, or if your pet is chronically ill, take it to the vet for a pre-vacation check-up. Your vet will tell you if it’s safe to take along the pet and can give you some pointers for caring for your animal during the trip.
43. Make a file for all your pet’s health records: Keep a file with all of your pet’s medical records handy in the car, in your carry-on bag and everywhere else you plan on taking your pet during the vacation. You never know when local authorities might demand to see up-to-date rabies vaccinations, and most of the time, dog tags won’t cut it.
44. Bring a list of emergency phone numbers: In case your pet needs immediate medical attention when you’re away from home, research the area you’ll be staying in to find contact information and hours of operation for local vets.
45. CDC Importation of Pets, Other Animals, and Animal Products into the United States: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires certain health information from pets returning from trips abroad. Use this list of resources as a check-list before you even leave the U.S.
46. Animal Diseases: The USDA Animal and Health Inspection Service website gives descriptions of many different animal diseases that could affect your pet on vacation.

Traveling with Exotic Pets

Dogs and cats aren’t the only ones who get to travel nowadays. Read below for tips on bringing along your more exotic animals.

47. Travel with Exotic Pets: PetFriendlyTravel.com publishes information for exotic pet owners who need official paperwork allowing them to travel abroad.
48. Can a Rabbit Tolerate a Long Drive in the Car?: Read About.com’s in-depth analysis of taking a pet rabbit on a long car trip.
49. Pet Bird Travel Tips: The Bird Channel website has several great tips for traveling safely with your pet bird, including choosing the right carrier, how to set up a “home away from home” and more.
50. Travel with Horses: The website HorsesWorldWide.com lists horse-friendly vacations and lodging options in the U.S. and abroad.
51. Double check exotic animal regulations: Healthypet.com recommends checking the customs and animal policies of your vacation destination to make sure your exotic pet is allowed inside the borders. If it’s not, you’ll have to leave your pet at home or cancel the vacation.

General Tips and Precautions

Check out this list for more tips and resources that will make traveling with your pet more enjoyable.

52. Get your pet used to traveling: If you plan to take your pet for a long ride in the car, get him accustomed to the trip by bringing him on short errands around town first. If your pet will be sitting in a carrier during a flight, have him or her sit in the crate for a similar amount of time at various intervals before your vacation.
53. Make a new ID tag with travel contact information: If someone finds your lost pet while you’re in vacation in Florida, calling your home phone number in Wisconsin isn’t going to do any good. Make a new ID tag at your vet or animal supplies store that has your cell phone number or hotel contact information.
54. How to Pack a Puppy Travel Bag: Watch this video from Expert Village to make sure you’re prepared to look after your puppy on a trip.
55. How to Travel Train Your Cat: This simple guide contains good tips for getting your cat used to travel, including putting it on a cat leash and taking practice car trips in a carrier.
56. Most Effective Ways to Calm Anxious Cats: Veterinarians and pet experts Foster and Smith review anti-anxiety products for cats on this site.
57. Top 10 Dog-Friendly Cities to Visit in North America: From Chicago to Vancouver to Salt Lake City, find out which North American cities are the most welcoming to visiting dogs.
58. Traveling With Your Toy Dog Breed: Planning a Pet-Friendly Vacation: Traveling with a pint-sized pup might seem super easy. You can take them everywhere, they make small messes and are generally easy to groom. This guide, however, has tips for dealing with some of the unique travel dangers and annoyances that toy dog breeds face.
59. Car Sickness and Fear of Riding in Cars: If your cat is scared of riding in a car but you need to take it on a car trip, try these tips to gently walk your pet through the process.
60. U.S. State and Territory Animal Import Regulations: Check out this list if you’re going to be traveling from state to state. You’ll want to be prepared if you’re required to have current rabies vaccination records or other pet-related paperwork.

Greetings! Welcome to the 8th edition of the Carnival of Travel Guide. We have selected 11 posts for this edition. Here you go:

Lisa presents Catalina Hotel and Beach Club posted at My Road Less Traveled By. This is a hotel in Miami Beach that you don’t want to stay at. My post explains why.

Christine presents Our Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) Travel Plans posted at Me, My Kid and Life: An American Single Mom Living in France.

Debbie presents Go on a Mini-Vacation: Take a Weekend Roadtrip Without Breaking the Bank posted at American Consumer News.

Raymond presents Earn Free Flight Miles With Airline Credit Card Offers posted at Money Blue Book.

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Going On A Road Trip posted at Tip Diva. Road trips, whether going across country or only across your state, can be a lot of fun. But the trip can turn into a big hassle if you’re not prepared. Here are essential steps to take before and during your road trip to assure a smooth, enjoyable ride.

Matthew Hamilton presents Waterfall (Stone Roses) posted at Travelogue.

James Brausch presents Transportation In Costa Rica posted at Costa Rica HQ.

Karyn presents New Water Park Opening in Orlando - Aquatica posted at All About Orlando. A brand new water park is opening in Orlando this spring. Aqutica will hold opening ceremonies in March.

Susan presents Alternative Lodging for the Unique at Heart posted at The Innovative Traveler. Cheap and/or unusual lodging throughout the world.

Nick presents How you should do Ayers Rock Resort and Uluru differently posted at My 2008 Australia Vacation. While Uluru is awesome, the resort at Ayers Rock is a monopoly and is expensive. After my visit, I figured out to optimize a trip into Ayers Rock.

Karen Bryan presents Girona: an great destination overshadowed by Barcelona posted at Europe A La Carte Blog.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on February 19, 2008. Submit your blog articles using our blog carnival submission form.

Greetings! Welcome to the 7th edition of the Carnival of Travel Guide. We have selected 7 posts for this edition. Here are the posts in the order they were received.

David presents Understanding Luxury Philanthropic Travel posted at Philanthropic Travel. The Exquisite Safaris philanthropic mission integrates a guided visit to a humanitarian outreach project into every private, luxury, epicurean experience we create. These personal introductions create authentic cross cultural friendships that generate trust, respect, and generous donations funding philanthropic travel projects worldwide.

Susan presents Reno - Not Just Divorces and Casinos posted at The Innovative Traveler. Free and unique finds around Reno.

Karen Bryan presents Discover the Water of Leith Walkway, Edinburgh posted at Europe A La Carte Blog.

Tommy Smith presents The Beauty of Zion National Park posted at The View West. Zion National Park is truly a sanctuary for wildlife and people alike. Learn more about this great location and its natural wonders.

Mitch McDonald presents Hawaii Rentals : Finding The Perfect Vacation Home posted at FYI About.com.

Jeet presents Sangam and Mekedatu posted at bangalorebeats. This Weekend trip from Bangalore can be very refreshing at the confluence of rivers and 3 km from here one can see river Cauvery passing through a natural wonder gorge so narrow that even a goat can jump over.

Raymond presents Join and Participate In Hotel Rewards Programs To Earn Free Hotel Stays posted at Money Blue Book. Earn rewards at hotels.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on February 12, 2008. Submit your blog articles using our Blog Carnival Submission form.

By Jessica Hupp

There’s just something about competitive eating. Although it’s quite disgusting to watch, it’s hard not to enjoy campy festivals of gluttony. Make a visit to one of these competitive eating contests, and you’ll get to watch gurgitators take on the likes of legendary hot dogs, tongue testing jalapenos, and even pig’s feet. We dare you to count the calories.

1. World Hot Dog-Eating Championship: Nathan’s Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island has been going on for almost 100 years now, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. In recent times, this challenge has been dominated by Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi, but last year, the US brought it back home with Joey Chestnut, who out ate Kobayashi by just 3 dogs. With this kind of win, this year’s event is sure to be even more popular than before.
2. Krystal Square Off: Nathan’s holds the world hot dog championship, while Krystal hosts the World Hamburger Eating Championship. This Chattanooga, Tennessee, event consists of qualifying tours in which amateurs get a chance to go up against the professionals. In the first year of the event, amateurs took down the professionals, so it’s always an exciting possibility. Last year, world hot dog champion Joey Chestnut took home the award for burgers as well, chomping past Bob Shoudt for the win and a sole spot in the competition’s highest echelon of 100 burgers or more.
3. Buffalo Wing Festival: The Buffalo Wing Festival, held in Buffalo, New York, boasts two different competitive eating contests. One is the US Chicken Wing Eating Championship, while the other is the Buffalo Buffet Bowl. In the Buffet Bowl, eaters have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs, roast beef sandwiches, pierogis, and chicken wings as they can. Last year, pint-sized Sonya Thomas took home the prize for both contests, setting a new world record of 173 chicken wings in 12 minutes for the Chicken Wing Eating Championship, and a full 8 pounds of food in less than 6 minutes to win the Buffalo Buffet Bowl.
4. Best In the West Nugget World Rib Eating Championships: At the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, Nevada, competitive eaters battle it out to see who can eat the most ribs. Last year’s competition attracted gurgitating all-stars like Pat Bertoletti, Rich LeFevre, and Joey Chestnut. In the course of the event, Rich LeFevre broke his left front tooth, but stayed tough and continued to compete. He is believed to have swallowed the tooth. In the end, victory went to Joey Chestnut with a full 7 pounts of ribs.
5. Myrtle Beach World BBQ Eating Championship: The Beach, Boogie & BBQ in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the place to beat pulled pork BBQ sandwich world records. This contest has seen world records set by both Sonya Thomas and most recently, Joey Chestnut. Last year’s spectators saw Joey Chestnut down 45 pulled pork BBQ sandwiches to take the win and the world record. Hot on his heels was Pat Bertoletti, coming in at 43.5. Next year’s contest should be one to watch.
6. World Kolache Eating Championship: In Houston, the Kolache Factory held a kolache eating contest at Minute Maid Park, attracting big names in eating including Bob Shoudt, Pat Bertoletti, Joey Chestnut, and Sonya Thomas. This event was another close win for Joey Chestnut, who came in at 56 kolaches, just barely inching ahead of Pat Bertoletti’s 54.
7. La Costena “Feel the Heat” Jalapeno Eating Challenge: Held in Chicago, Illinois, the “Feel the Heat” Jalapeno Eating Challenge attracts some of the biggest iron stomachs in competitive eating. In 2007, these brave gurgitators took on so many jalapenos that La Costena actually ran out and had to cut the contest short. Chicago native Pat Bertoletti was victorious, coming in at 191 jalapenos, followed by Sonya Thomas’ 141, and 120 for Rich LeFevre.
8. Wienerschnitzel World Chili Cheese Fries Eating Championship: This competition, held on Long Beach’s Queen Mary, inspires big eaters and big spectators alike. In 2007, Wienerschnitzel hosted a chili cheese fry competition that was graced by top eaters Sonya Thomas, Joey Chestnut, “Humble” Bob Shoudt, and Eater X. While a visiting Takeru Kobayashi looked on, star gurgitator Joey Chestnut took home the win for this competition, closely beating out Eater X. There are also reports that Gabe Kaplan, previously known for his work on “Welcome Back Kotter,” was there to cheer on Juliet Lee, who took fifth place.
9. World Pig’s Feet Eating Championship: The New Jersey State Fair plays host to one of the most challenging eating events sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. In this competition, eaters take on 11-pound trays of pig’s feet and knuckles, which are boiled and spritzed with lemon juice. This challenge is a far cry from tasty hamburgers, but Arturo Rios, Jr. pulled a win, followed by Eric Denmark and Crazy Legs Conti. If you can stomach a meal after watching this display, be sure to check out one of the fair’s many food booths.
10. Three Brothers Pizza World Pizza Eating Championship: Last but not least is the World Pizza Eating Championship, held by Three Brothers Pizza in Greenbelt, Maryland. The event was graced by “Humble” Bob Shoudt, a former Ursinus College Pizza Champ, but was ultimately won by Pat Bertoletti, who took down 19 slices to win the pizza pie prize. This is also the event in which the world was introduced to an emerging competitive eater, Juliet Lee, who ate a menacing 11 slices in the amateur competition.