Arrividerci!

Ciao belli! I'm off to Florence, Italy to study abroad for the semester. I'll be taking a hiatus from blogging here, but follow me on my adventures throughout Europe at http://stevieabroad.blogspot.com!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

You're bags are packed and you're ready to go. Time to tackle that cross-continental 6-and-a-half-hour flight in less-than-favorable conditions (thunderstorms at your layover in Philadelphia, Hurricane Bill at JFK, anyone?). DailyCandy.com, my favorite e-mail publication, offers some of the best travel advice. So this is for you, you jet-setters of the world.

Check, Please
"Many airlines (American, Continental, Northwest, United, US Airways, Frontier, AirTran, and Spirit) now charge $15 each way for the first checked bag (the. nerve.), and Delta starts soon. (Funny, most still want a fuel surcharge though gas prices have dropped.) Southwest and Virgin America still offer free checked bags, but the smart call is to carry on only. Bulky coat and boots? Wear them on board."

Bottle Service
"Most airlines won’t offer you so much as a bottle of water. And forget the meal, not that you’ll miss it. Little did we know you can BYO empty water bottle through security and then fill it at a water fountain. (It worked at JFK, LAX, and Hartsfield Atlanta, among others.) Thanks, but no thanks, for that funky airplane tap water."

Tips and Tricks in the Terminal
"The best time to tackle the to-do list? When there’s nothing to do. Stash in your carry-on: seven unread New Yorkers, unpaid AmEx bills, office expenses, tweezers. About those 357 unanswered e-mails…Need to get online? Check TravelPost’s handy airport WiFi guide. Need a power outlet? Look for the vacuum cleaner plugs (usually in a pillar — no one else is looking there). Need a comfy chair? Join Priority Pass for access to more than 500 airport lounges or pony up the $50 to get into your carrier’s for the day."

So settle your self in for the 2 hour line at security, nab the newest tabloid to entertain yourself, and go baby go.


Tips and images from DailyCandy.com