Seeing Switzerland Without A Car

Relying On A Network of Trains, Boats, Buses And Cable Cars The challenge: how to get to this tiny, mountain-clinging village in the Bernese Oberland with a minimum of aggravation and a maximum of punctuality. MÜRREN, SWITZERLAND -- The challenge: how to get to this tiny, mountain-clinging village in the Bernese Oberland with a minimum of aggravation and a maximum of punctuality.
A little advance guidebook research told me Mürren's population was just 350 and the cliff it straddles is so sheer that the village is inaccessible by car.
Yes, a sober sobriquet about Switzerland has it that "the trains run on time." And the country's citizens are known for their hospitality. But in researching the route to my hotel, where I was meeting friends for a 6:30 p.m. dinner, I discovered the journey from Zurich to Mürren involved no less than four changes of train - plenty of opportunity for a missed connection.
The convoluted route is linked thanks to the Swiss Travel System, a network of trains, boats, buses and mountain-climbing cable cars covering the entire country. The country's reputation reassured me just enough that I purchased a rail pass and put the Swiss axiom to the test: Could these trains actually transport a jet-lagged traveler, and his checked luggage, across the Alps, planting him with his change of clothes at his hotel in time for dinner?
The first leg of my journey began in Los Angeles, flying Swiss Airlines nonstop to Zurich. But I didn't check my bag to Zurich; I used the Swiss Travel System's Fly Rail Baggage service to check it through to Mürren. The service guaranteed bags checked in for the flight would be delivered to Mürren by 6 p.m. the day of my arrival, just 30 minutes to spare before dinner.
Ordinarily, I avoid checking bags whenever possible, especially on outbound flights. I handed over my bag at the LAX check-in counter with more than the usual trepidation, knowing I wouldn't see it again for 18 hours and after many handoffs.
At the Zurich Airport, I boarded a train that took me to that city's main rail station. It was a quick jump to the train for Interlaken. From there, I transferred onto a cog rail train to the village of Lauterbrunnen. Here, a funicular was waiting to make the 10-minute climb up the steep valley wall. I left the angled train car for yet another train and a 10-minute amble along the cliff to Mürren.
It was a four-hour journey on five trains, with connection times ranging between 2 and 20 minutes. Although it sounds complex, it turned out to be a sensible way to cope with jet lag, the September scenery a soothing succession of farmhouse tableaus and snow-capped peaks. Nodding in and out of slumber, I dreamed of adopting a few cows to try a new career in artisanal cheese-making.
Fortunately, my lodging at the Hotel Eiger was right across the street from the Mürren station. The bag I had checked in at LAX was sitting in the lobby. The hotel's baggage cart had beaten me to the front desk.
What's more, I was able to get from LAX all the way to Mürren without negotiating with a taxi driver or porter. In fact, during two weeks in Switzerland staying in six hotels, I never stepped into a car for a single journey.
Forgive me if I gush, but with public transportation this good, who would want to?
A survey commissioned by Rail Europe [conducted by Menlo Consulting Group] found that only 16 percent of Americans prefer to travel through Europe by car, while 70 percent favor exploring by train.
Saying "the trains run on time" gives short shrift to Switzerland's trove of scenic and natural attractions. It also overlooks the country's buses, paddle-wheel lake steamers and peak-scaling gondolas, which maintain meticulous schedules, too.
The Swiss PostBus - mail coaches expanded to transportation in 1906 - started with three buses and a 12-mile route. Today, as the PostBus celebrates a century of operation, the route network covers 6,400 miles, with 2,000 buses transporting 102 million passengers a year.
The PostBus is not so much a competitor to the rail system as an extension of the trains, reaching from the rail platform to even more remote villages and trail heads, and sometimes offering more direct routes than the train network provides. And some PostBus routes have found their own acclaim, like the Palm Express between St. Moritz and palm tree-lined Lugano. Most people travel this four-hour route for the memorable lakefront scenery.
Similarly, classic lake steamers connect the cities and resort towns straddling the larger bodies of water, notably the lakes of Zurich (sailing to Rapperswil), Geneva (Lausanne, Vevey, Montreaux), Lucern (Vitznau, Weggis) and Interlaken (Brienz). Most of the paddle-wheel boats are museum pieces that date to World War I or earlier and typically operate in summer.
The comprehensive Swiss Travel System links all these elements seamlessly - before my trip, I viewed the entire travel schedule from the Zurich Airport to Mürren online on one page, rather than jumping from one site to another to connect the dots. It meant that more of my transit time was spent enjoying the scenery and less about wondering about my next connection.
But as a closet train admirer, I was content to focus my transportation needs by riding the rails. While in Mürren, I also day-tripped to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe. The cog train ride from Wengen (on the opposite side of the valley from Mürren) is barely 10 miles, but with adult fares running a stiff $120 round trip, it's got to be the most expensive train trip in the world on a per-mile basis. Fortunately, possessing a Swiss Rail Pass cut the ticket price in half.
Amazingly, half of this scenic train journey lies inside a tunnel. But the passage is an engineering marvel, carved more than a century ago in the heart of the Eiger, one of the Alps' fiercest mountains, the scene of multiple climbing dramas. It's also avalanche country, and as the train climbed the lower slopes into the tunnel, I could hear sun-touched glacier ice breaking free and crashing down the mountain faces, the thunder echoing up and down the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Halfway up the tunnel we stopped at Eigerwand, a "window" carved from the tunnel out to the north face of the Eiger, an awesome, sheer expanse of rock and ice. The access was used in several heart-stopping rescues when unexpected blizzards swept in on climbing teams (replicated in the 1975 Clint Eastwood thriller, "The Eiger Sanction").
Farther along, the train stopped at Eismeer, a south-facing window that looks down on the 14-mile Aletsch Glacier, Europe's longest, where massive folds of snow that feed the glacier glistened like marshmallow cream.
Perched on a ridge at 11,333 feet elevation, the Jungfraujoch terminus is more than your typical train station, a bustling beehive with five restaurants, glacier sleigh rides and elevators that escort visitors down to glacier caverns and up to observation decks with awesome views from the top of the Alps.
I couldn't imagine a more spectacular place to be perched on a clear day.
Yes, Switzerland's trains run on time. But the Swiss Travel System delivers scenery and convenience like no other country's transportation system, allowing the trains, buses and boats to become an attraction in their own right.



Source:Hindustanis.org

Seeing Switzerland Without A Car

Relying On A Network of Trains, Boats, Buses And Cable Cars The challenge: how to get to this tiny, mountain-clinging village in the Bernese Oberland with a minimum of aggravation and a maximum of punctuality. MÜRREN, SWITZERLAND -- The challenge: how to get to this tiny, mountain-clinging village in the Bernese Oberland with a minimum of aggravation and a maximum of punctuality.
A little advance guidebook research told me Mürren's population was just 350 and the cliff it straddles is so sheer that the village is inaccessible by car.
Yes, a sober sobriquet about Switzerland has it that "the trains run on time." And the country's citizens are known for their hospitality. But in researching the route to my hotel, where I was meeting friends for a 6:30 p.m. dinner, I discovered the journey from Zurich to Mürren involved no less than four changes of train - plenty of opportunity for a missed connection.
The convoluted route is linked thanks to the Swiss Travel System, a network of trains, boats, buses and mountain-climbing cable cars covering the entire country. The country's reputation reassured me just enough that I purchased a rail pass and put the Swiss axiom to the test: Could these trains actually transport a jet-lagged traveler, and his checked luggage, across the Alps, planting him with his change of clothes at his hotel in time for dinner?
The first leg of my journey began in Los Angeles, flying Swiss Airlines nonstop to Zurich. But I didn't check my bag to Zurich; I used the Swiss Travel System's Fly Rail Baggage service to check it through to Mürren. The service guaranteed bags checked in for the flight would be delivered to Mürren by 6 p.m. the day of my arrival, just 30 minutes to spare before dinner.
Ordinarily, I avoid checking bags whenever possible, especially on outbound flights. I handed over my bag at the LAX check-in counter with more than the usual trepidation, knowing I wouldn't see it again for 18 hours and after many handoffs.
At the Zurich Airport, I boarded a train that took me to that city's main rail station. It was a quick jump to the train for Interlaken. From there, I transferred onto a cog rail train to the village of Lauterbrunnen. Here, a funicular was waiting to make the 10-minute climb up the steep valley wall. I left the angled train car for yet another train and a 10-minute amble along the cliff to Mürren.
It was a four-hour journey on five trains, with connection times ranging between 2 and 20 minutes. Although it sounds complex, it turned out to be a sensible way to cope with jet lag, the September scenery a soothing succession of farmhouse tableaus and snow-capped peaks. Nodding in and out of slumber, I dreamed of adopting a few cows to try a new career in artisanal cheese-making.
Fortunately, my lodging at the Hotel Eiger was right across the street from the Mürren station. The bag I had checked in at LAX was sitting in the lobby. The hotel's baggage cart had beaten me to the front desk.
What's more, I was able to get from LAX all the way to Mürren without negotiating with a taxi driver or porter. In fact, during two weeks in Switzerland staying in six hotels, I never stepped into a car for a single journey.
Forgive me if I gush, but with public transportation this good, who would want to?
A survey commissioned by Rail Europe [conducted by Menlo Consulting Group] found that only 16 percent of Americans prefer to travel through Europe by car, while 70 percent favor exploring by train.
Saying "the trains run on time" gives short shrift to Switzerland's trove of scenic and natural attractions. It also overlooks the country's buses, paddle-wheel lake steamers and peak-scaling gondolas, which maintain meticulous schedules, too.
The Swiss PostBus - mail coaches expanded to transportation in 1906 - started with three buses and a 12-mile route. Today, as the PostBus celebrates a century of operation, the route network covers 6,400 miles, with 2,000 buses transporting 102 million passengers a year.
The PostBus is not so much a competitor to the rail system as an extension of the trains, reaching from the rail platform to even more remote villages and trail heads, and sometimes offering more direct routes than the train network provides. And some PostBus routes have found their own acclaim, like the Palm Express between St. Moritz and palm tree-lined Lugano. Most people travel this four-hour route for the memorable lakefront scenery.
Similarly, classic lake steamers connect the cities and resort towns straddling the larger bodies of water, notably the lakes of Zurich (sailing to Rapperswil), Geneva (Lausanne, Vevey, Montreaux), Lucern (Vitznau, Weggis) and Interlaken (Brienz). Most of the paddle-wheel boats are museum pieces that date to World War I or earlier and typically operate in summer.
The comprehensive Swiss Travel System links all these elements seamlessly - before my trip, I viewed the entire travel schedule from the Zurich Airport to Mürren online on one page, rather than jumping from one site to another to connect the dots. It meant that more of my transit time was spent enjoying the scenery and less about wondering about my next connection.
But as a closet train admirer, I was content to focus my transportation needs by riding the rails. While in Mürren, I also day-tripped to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe. The cog train ride from Wengen (on the opposite side of the valley from Mürren) is barely 10 miles, but with adult fares running a stiff $120 round trip, it's got to be the most expensive train trip in the world on a per-mile basis. Fortunately, possessing a Swiss Rail Pass cut the ticket price in half.
Amazingly, half of this scenic train journey lies inside a tunnel. But the passage is an engineering marvel, carved more than a century ago in the heart of the Eiger, one of the Alps' fiercest mountains, the scene of multiple climbing dramas. It's also avalanche country, and as the train climbed the lower slopes into the tunnel, I could hear sun-touched glacier ice breaking free and crashing down the mountain faces, the thunder echoing up and down the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Halfway up the tunnel we stopped at Eigerwand, a "window" carved from the tunnel out to the north face of the Eiger, an awesome, sheer expanse of rock and ice. The access was used in several heart-stopping rescues when unexpected blizzards swept in on climbing teams (replicated in the 1975 Clint Eastwood thriller, "The Eiger Sanction").
Farther along, the train stopped at Eismeer, a south-facing window that looks down on the 14-mile Aletsch Glacier, Europe's longest, where massive folds of snow that feed the glacier glistened like marshmallow cream.
Perched on a ridge at 11,333 feet elevation, the Jungfraujoch terminus is more than your typical train station, a bustling beehive with five restaurants, glacier sleigh rides and elevators that escort visitors down to glacier caverns and up to observation decks with awesome views from the top of the Alps.
I couldn't imagine a more spectacular place to be perched on a clear day.
Yes, Switzerland's trains run on time. But the Swiss Travel System delivers scenery and convenience like no other country's transportation system, allowing the trains, buses and boats to become an attraction in their own right.



Source:Hindustanis.org

Tips for protecting your checked luggage

Thefts of cigarettes, laptops and credit cards from checked luggage by baggage handlers working at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport...

Thefts of cigarettes, laptops and credit cards from checked luggage by baggage handlers working at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport should serve as a reminder for travelers:

• Don't put anything of value in your checked luggage, especially electronic equipment, cameras, cash or credit cards.

• Always lock your checked bags, preferably with a Transportation Safety Administration-approved lock that can be opened by security screeners, then relocked.

"Since August, everyone has been focused on the ban on liquids (in carry-on luggage) at security checkpoints," said Sea-Tac spokesman Bob Parker. "They need to be equally focused on what things are appropriate to put into checked bags. Valuable items should not go into checked bags. They are fine in your carry-on, and that's where they should be."

Changes in security rules have travelers confused about what they can and can't take onboard in their carry-ons, Parker said. Security rules ban most liquids and gels in containers larger than three ounces, but most other items are allowed, with the exception of knives, guns, lighters, etc.

Many travelers also think they have to leave their checked bags unlocked. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the airlines and TSA encouraged people not to lock checked bags so that security screeners could inspect them. That advice has changed.

Checked bags are screened electronically, and some are inspected physically. If a bag is locked, screeners may cut the lock. That's where the TSA-approved locks come in.

Available for around $8 each at luggage stores, American Automobile Association outlets, airport shops and through other retailers, the locks, signified by either a diamond symbol or a flame, depending on the company that makes them, can be opened by screeners, then relocked . "In the case of Menzies (the ground services crew accused of the thefts while working for Alaska Airlines at Sea-Tac), a lock would have prevented them from entering those bags," said Jennifer Peppin, TSA spokeswoman in Seattle.

Airlines cover travelers flying domestically to a maximum of $2,800 for loss of checked luggage or items packed inside. Most international liability is limited to $9 per pound, but airlines exclude many types of valuables including binoculars, cameras, laptop, almost any type of electronic equipment, keys, furs, etc. For a full list, refer to "Checked Baggage" on your airline's Web site.

If your luggage is damaged or pilfered:

• Report the loss to your airline within 24 hours. Retain copies of your ticket and baggage claim check.

• File a claim with TSA. See tsaclamis.com or call 866-289-9673.

• Parker also advises filing a police report.

Source:Hindustanis.org

Saving Money On Travel These Holidays

Holiday travel is expensive! Gas prices are unpredictable, hotel rates can be high for the peak travel season, and rental cars are always more pricey than you’d like them to be. Thanks to online coupons you may find a great deal of savings on the trips you have to make to friends, relatives and loved ones. Why pay full price when you can print a coupon off the website?

In many cases, the Internet coupons you’ll find are “affiliate discounts”. This means you have to “Click Here” and get referred to a site like avis.com where your discount is applied thanks to your click. One “click here” discount coupon at simplybestcoupones.com gives you fifteen dollars off a compact to full size rental. Another coupon click offers ten percent off a compact to full size rental.

And what about those hotel discounts? The Radisson Hot Hotel Deals coupons go up to fifty percent off. Who wouldn’t want to save half their hotel bill, especially during holiday gift-giving season? Your travel expenses could go down dramatically, all with a few simple mouse clicks.

Some of the coupons lead to other discount agencies like priceline.com, but again, never underestimate the “affiliate discount” factor. Many of the Priceline affiliate online coupons are for specific destinations, which may be quite helpful if you were planning on going there. The discounted air travel could also work as a unique gift! Who wouldn’t want a gift ticket to an exciting destination? Further, discounted air travel is something to keep in mind as a gift for the person who has everything.

Of course, some of your travel expenses are not directly related to driving a rental car or flying in airplanes. Is your old, ratty luggage on its last legs? Try using an online coupon to get good discounts on a new set of luggage to replace your old ones. Some coupons will save you up to sixty-five percent, and others are related to how much your final purchase totals up to be; either way you are saving a nice bit of cash on something you definitely needed to buy. You can use the extra money to save for next year’s holiday purchases or indulge in a nice on-the-road treat.

Another travel-related purchase is audio books. How many times have you longed to have something more to listen to while driving your rental car? There are many online coupons for purchases in great stores like booksamilion.com and audible.com. Your traveling time will fly by with the latest audiobook bestseller, and don’t miss the online coupon for the clearances! Up to 80 percent off in some cases.

Coupons are great, but online coupons are even better—if you plan ahead you can get your savings delivered to your door in plenty of time for the trip, and what doesn’t get sent through the mail, your rental car and airline tickets, you’ll pick up at the airport counter. Thanks to the online coupons traveling for the holidays doesn’t get any easier.

Source:Hindustanis.org

Top Holiday Travel Destinations

Despite the high cost of fuel and other travel expenses, an estimated 63.5 million Americans are planning to travel at least 50 miles or more from home this Christmas and New Year. Hotel rates are up nearly 15% at some popular destinations, yet bookings are full or nearly full.

So where do all of these people plan to go?

Domestic Destinations

According to AAA of the United States, here are the top destinations based on the number of bookings for each location.

Florida

Orlando is the top destination for fairly obvious reasons but Ft. Lauderdale is also in the top ten. Florida offers a wealth of activities and options for families, singles, and all types of traveler. Perennial favorite Disney World will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors between Christmas and New Year's Eve, while other Florida attractions like Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, and the Everglades will also be popular. It is also common for the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale to be filled with vacationers during the holiday season, which is second only to spring break in terms of number of tourists.

It is not too late to check out some of the great last minute deals throughout Florida. With a little research and a willingness to be flexible, you can still enjoy Florida this holiday season.

California

California has three cities in the top ten travel destinations this holiday season -- Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. All three offer a wide range of activities for tourists of all ages, and the generally pleasant December weather in California makes it a favorite place for vacationers from colder climates in need of sunshine.

The Los Angeles area is the gateway to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, two extremely popular amusement parks. Just a short drive to the south and east is San Diego, a relaxing area that is home to a laid-back lifestyle of beaches, surfing, and shopping.

If an urban experience is more to your liking, opt for San Francisco, where you can enjoy international culture, a ride on the famous cable cars, a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, and a winding trip down Lombard Street, touted as the "crookedest street" in the world.

Other great holiday escapes

Some of the other most popular holiday escapes in the United States include New York City, Chicago, Boston, Nashville and Las Vegas.

The holidays are legendary in New York City, with ice-skating in Central Park and the elegant decorations around Rockefeller Center. In Chicago, visitors flock to the Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest as well as the famous holiday window display at Marshall Field's department store. You can't beat Boston, though, for a traditional New England holiday vacation. Check out the Prudential Center Christmas Tree, walk the Freedom Trail of historic Revolutionary War era sites, or do something entirely different and take Boston Duck Tour on a World War II era amphibious vehicle.

Looking for something a bit different? Consider Las Vegas for the holidays, where the abundance of holiday lights dwarfs even the normal profusion of neon and color. Every casino along the strip works to outdo the others with lights and decorations, with some of the most amazing displays located at Caesars Palace, the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo.

One of the most relaxed holiday destinations in the U.S. is Nashville, home to the "down home country Christmas" festivities at the Opryland Resort and Grand Ole Opry as well as special holiday programs at the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Nashville's historic homes are also dressed up for the holidays, so think about taking a bus tour of the city to enjoy the spectacular lights and decorations.

International Destinations

International travel is always popular around the holidays, and Americans are flocking to destinations all over the globe this holiday season.

Australia

It is icy and cold across much of the northern United States, but summer in Australia! For cultural attractions and urban festivities, tourists stop in Melbourne and enjoy some Christmas Carols at the Myer Music Bowl, or visit the famed Opera House in Sydney.

Since Christmas falls at the beginning of summer in Australia, many holiday visitors spend their vacation at a spectacular beach location such as Shark Bay, where diving enthusiasts can swim with dolphins and sharks, or along the Queensland Gold Coast, an area with over 30 kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches plus great restaurants, shopping, and an ever-present nightlife.

If you want a truly amazing holiday experience, go to Australia's Christmas Island, a pristine island that is largely a National Park and home to amazing plants and animals. You can scuba dive with whale sharks, enjoy the peace and quiet of a bird watching excursion, or seek adventure with a sport fishing trip in search of sailfish, tuna and wahoo.

Corsica

This is one of the jewels of the Mediterranean, offering an amazing array of food, activities, and traditional holiday celebrations. Corsica is famous for its hospitality and beautiful lands, so it definitely belongs on your "short list" of exotic holiday getaways.

Corsica is home to varied landscapes, ranging from sparkling beaches and Mediterranean ocean reserves to towering mountains and nature parks. Traditional holiday festivals include the renowned Fiera di a Castagna, or Chestnut Fair. This annual event attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, who are treated to arts, crafts, food and entertainment related to one of the islands main products, the chestnut. It is a holiday tradition for tourists from across the European continent, and well worth exploring on your holiday vacation.

United Kingdom

For a unique holiday experience, check out the United Kingdom this year. It is a perennially popular spot due to the many places of historical significance as well as culture and the arts. In London itself, you can see Parliament, visit the Tower of London, hear the sounds of Big Ben chiming the time, or ride a famed double Decker bus all around the city.

Visit Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and home to the British Sovereign for 900 years. You can tour this magnificent structure, getting a taste of the history and tradition of the British monarchy. When the Queen is in residence, you will see her standard flying high atop the round tower, visible from all directions as you enter the town.

If something sweeter is more to your liking, venture to Birmingham's own Cadbury World, known as the chocolate paradise. There you can learn all about the famous Cadbury Chocolates, enjoy samples, and watch how the chocolates are made, wrapped and packed. Father Christmas is on site throughout the holidays, greeting children of all ages with a present of their very own.

Source:Hindustanis.org

How To Be Safe While Traveling Single

If you want to meet new people, find a mate, increase your awareness, experience personal growth, lower your blood pressure or just relax. TRAVEL!

You can try an all-inclusive resort that will give you the safety of communal living, yet flexible enough to provide you with a detail experience of your chosen destination. You can increase your experience encounters by signing up for tours offered by your resort. These mega resorts offer tours for shopping, sightseeing, night life, educational and adventure.

If you would rather travel to 2, 3 or more cities then a cruise may be your best choice. There are single cruises that are high end, (meaning they won't make you feel like you are on the prowl)!

Safety is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. Listed below are 15 tips to increase your safety factor:

1. When you check into your hotel, give your Bellman a $5.00 to $10.00 tip. Tell him your name and ask him a question about your stay at the resort, Keep this conversation, brief and professional

2. Use the Hotel safe for money, your travel documents and jewelry. If you use your room safe, be sure you know how to operate the safe properly.

3. Always try to originate your cab ride from your hotel. When away from your hotel try to avoid asking strangers for directions. If you get lost or need help, go to the nearest Hotel (the larger the better) and ask for help at the Front desk!

4. Select your 'return trip cab' with caution and always be aware of your surroundings

5. Invest in a body purse or use a money belt.

6. Do not flash cash, foreign or domestic. If you are not sure of the money exchange, it is OK to leave a little extra money on the table.

7. When meeting people during your travel, do not give out your hotel room number. Meet people in the lobby or have the Hotel operator connect them to your room.

8. If you decide to go out with a suitor that you meet while traveling, have him/her pick you up at your Hotel. Find your Bellman, and casually mention that you are going out with one of the locals and ask a question about where to go? (The Hotel does not want anything to happen to you, because then who would pay the bill?)

9. ALWAYS remember to BE SAFE in personal or sexual encounters. Don't get caught up in the moment! At least not in a foreign country.

11. Remember, if you are an American, you could be a target! OR, they may want to marry you so they can move to the US. (Note: In Egypt men are legally allowed to have three wives)

12. Wait until the last day before your departure before giving out your home address or telephone number. (You would not want this information forwarded to a professional thief while you are away on vacation)

13. Try not to break anyone's heart.

14. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest US Embassy.

15. Leave a detailed itinerary with a friend or relative at home. Check in with this family member or friend often during your vacation

Source:Hindustanis.org

Summer Travel Tips on Tipping

Summer Travel Tips on Tipping
Summer is the perfect time to get away and enjoy sun, sand, and sea. A vacation experience can be enhanced by receiving good service from staff members at a hotel, restaurant or airport. A tip, or gratuity, is an amount of money given voluntarily as a token of appreciation for good service. The word “tip” is also an acronym for “To Insure Promptness” or “To Insure Prompt Service.”
According to the 2003 Domestic Travel Market Report, 55% of overnight trips in the U.S. are spent at hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. The tips you give while traveling on vacation can make the difference between good service and great service. Tipping in the U.S. is not mandatory, yet it is expected. If you do not tip, you stand the chance of angering your restaurant server or jeopardizing the safe arrival of your luggage. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate your way through the maze of vacation tipping procedures.
Tipping at the Airport
Skycaps: $1 - $1.50 per bag. Tip more if the bag is bigger or heavier.
Taxi drivers: 10–15% of the bill.
Tipping at the Hotel
Doorman: $1-$2 per bag for taking your bags out of the car and putting them onto the bell cart. $1-$2 for hailing a taxicab on the street.
Bellman: $1-$2 per bag depending on size and weight. $1-$2 for every package or delivery to your room.
Concierge: $5-$10 for special services or favors like securing hard-to-get theater tickets or reservations to a popular restaurant.
Housekeeper: $1-$2 per night. If you ask your housekeeper to perform any type of special service, such as bringing extra towels or toothpaste and toothbrush, tip an additional $1-$2. On the last day of your stay, place the money in an envelope, label it “Housekeeping” and put it in a place where it can easily be seen.
Room service attendant: 15-18% of the bill before taxes. If the service charge is included in the bill, extra gratuity is optional.
Tipping for Valet Services
If you elect to use a hotel, restaurant, or shopping mall’s valet service, tip $2-$3 each time the valet attendant retrieves your car. Overnight parking charges may be additional.
Tipping at a Restaurant
If you check your coat, hat or umbrella, tip $1 per item.
Tip the Maitre d’ between $10-$100 depending on the occasion, the restaurant, and the level of service you wish to receive. Remember to give the tip before you sit down at your table.
Wait Staff: 15-18% of the bill before taxes, 18-20% for large parties of six or more or when dining in a five star restaurant.
Wine Sommelier: 15% of the wine bill.
Restroom Attendant: $.50 - $1 for handing you a towel or if you use any products or cosmetics displayed on the sink.




Source:Hindustanis.org