QR codes on tags help travelers and luggage stay together

Featured News, QR Codes, Technology News

This smartphone friendly form of identification can help bags to be returned to their owners.

The travel industry has tried all sorts of different efforts to help to make sure that luggage that goes missing will eventually make its way back to its owner, and QR codes are the latest of these attempts, playing on the common use of smartphones and other mobile devices.

By adding these barcodes to luggage tags, someone who finds misplaced baggage can contact its owner.

This effort is being spearheaded by GoCodes, a company that will have unique QR codes generated for travelers, so that if the luggage doesn’t arrive in its intended destination, the barcode can be scanned with a smartphone to reveal the contact information of the individual that has been waiting for a long time at the baggage carousel.

In theory, an airport employee or good Samaritan will scan the QR codes so that the owner can be contacted.

From that point, arrangements can be made to ensure that the baggage with the QR codes will be returned to its owner. Through the GoCodes service, there are a number of different features available in terms of various forms of barcodes and contact options. At the ground floor, it costs approximately $10 for the most basic tag.
Many upgrades are also available in order to branch out the service to individuals other than travelers. For instance, the company also has QR codes on stickers that can be added to a smartphone, tablet, mp3 player, headphones, wallet, or virtually anything else. This can help someone with good intentions to make sure that the missing item is returned to its owner.
Though the QR codes don’t guarantee that the missing possessions will be returned to their owners – as this still relies on the concept that the item will be found, scanned, and that contact will be made – they do provide an extra means for someone who has found the item to be able to find out to whom it belongs. When it comes to having belongings go missing, every little bit can help to increase the odds that it will be found again.

How to Legally Travel to Cuba

April 18, 2013 By: Newswire

 

---

Even though the Obama Administration reauthorized legal educational travel to Cuba in 2011, most U.S. clients still aren’t aware they are allowed to travel with a licensed operator to the country under the Treasury Department’s people-to-people cultural exchange program. Available to any U.S. citizen, one doesn’t have to be a world-renowned pop star or navigate mounds of paperwork to discover an island formerly closed off to Americans. 

While restrictions on visitor activities are closely adhered to, it is a misperception that Cuba is off limits to Americans. In fact, tens of thousands of Americans have participated in people-to-people tours since the opportunity was reinstated more than two years ago – and programs are continuing to gain popularity.
Steps to Take to Travel to Cuba Legally
Step 1:  Know that Americans can legally travel to Cuba with an organization that has a people-to-people license issued from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Step 2: Search online for “travel to Cuba” or “legal travel to Cuba” to find a licensed provider of people-to-people trips.
Step 3: Keep in mind that only U.S. companies are authorized to send Americans legally (Canadian operators which sell Cuba do not qualify).
Step 4: Feel comfortable with the company’s level of experience based on the information they provide on their website, in their brochures, and which you receive from their representatives.
Step 5:  Decide on an itinerary. Some operators offer more options than others based on destinations and the types of people-to-people experiences / activities planned.  Choose what’s best for you.
Step 6: Have a valid passport. The tour operator you select will most likely help arrange your visa and licensed charter flight from Miami to Cuba.  Commercial flights are not available so don’t try looking for flights online.
Step 7: Book your trip and bring home memories of a lifetime.
Only the Third Time in Fifty Years
While this August will mark the second anniversary of Americans traveling to Cuba on people-to-people trips since President Obama reintroduced the initiative in 2011, this is only the third time in 50 years that such an opportunity has existed.  President Carter eased the travel restrictions in 1977 only to have them quickly reversed. President Clinton first introduced people-to-people travel in 2000, but the window closed again in 2003.

People-to-People Travel
Going on an approved tour to Cuba is not a typical Caribbean vacation; OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) requires full participation in authorized daily educational activities and excursions. Going to the beach, fishing, and engaging in other leisure activities are not part of the experience. With Insight Cuba, travelers get a true glimpse of daily Cuban life through touching interactions with locals at places like the AfroCuba de Matanzas and in the homes of budding artists and musicians. They get to know the children and teachers at their schools and see what life is like in Cuba and share with them what life is like in the United States.

Visit www.insightcuba.com.

Traveling to Mexico

There have been some interesting articles recently about safety concerns in Mexico. Our agents travel to Mexico extensively and we have clients there most of the time. The last article had a very misleading title and it was not supported in the article itself. It stated killings in the resort area of Cancun. When reading the article, it mentioned a shack in the outskirts of Cancun. That is not the same. We don't send our clients to the outskirts of Cancun. Also the victims were drug dealers. They were not innocent tourists visiting the area. Please talk to your travel agent if you have any concerns. We truly care about the safety and well being of our clients, family and friends. If there would be an issue, we would share the information with you. Also we guide our clients to using good judgement when traveling anywhere. Book excursions with your hotel or vacation rep such as Apple Vacations or Funjet. Also be sure to use common sense like you would anywhere. Don't flash cash, wear expensive jewelry or forget to pay attention to your surroundings. It is the same thing if you were attending a ball game at Busch Stadium.

Italy Travel: Seven Places Off The Tourist Map

 

Courtney Scott

Senior Editor at Travelocity

Posted: 03/27/2013 8:10 am

 

Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples -- these are the destinations where a first-time visitor to Italy dreams of traveling, and rightly so. You could spend your entire vacation in any one of these magnificent cultural hubs. But the lesser-known places; the towns and villages you'd likely pass by -- those are my favorite. The beauty of Italy is that every town -- even the tiniest village -- has its own individual identity; its own specialty products, dialects and customs, which makes roaming off the Italian tourist map even more addictive. Here are some of my favorites places to roam:

1. Genzano di Roma, Italy: Perched on a hill about a forty-minute drive from Rome is Genzano di Roma, one of the Castelli Romani villages. Despite its close proximity to Rome, you won't find restaurants with "tourist menus," or Internet points or American bars. You will find the most delicious wood-fired bread, a Genzano specialty, and some of the sweetest fragole (strawberries) in the region. Stop by in May for the Festa delle Fragole. Another summer delight? Swimming in nearby Lago di Nemi (Lake Nemi) where ancient Roman goddesses once basked.
2. Treviso, Italy : Just a thirty-minute train ride from Venice, Treviso is an affluent and ancient walled city on the Sile River in the region of Veneto. While Treviso is known for its annual wine crawl, the Ombralonga, as well as its famous Benetton rugby team, the city has managed to stay relatively off the tourist radar, for now. Be sure to drink a spritz in the Piazza dei Signori and stop by for a mozzarella in carrozza at Osteria dalla Gigia. Explore beyond the walls and you'll discover picture-perfect villas, local osterie and prosecco wine country.
3. Piano di Sorrento, Italy : Just one town over from Sorrento, the major cruise and tourist hub of the Amalfi Coast, is the town of Piano di Sorrento. This is where many Sorrentine Peninsula locals live, and it's a wonderful place to feel like you're one of them. The vibe is laid-back and beachy. The preferred mode of transport is a Vespa. Scoot up into the hills and you'll find the landscapes are exquisite -- lush green mountains full of lemon trees, bougainvillea and palms, overlooking fantastic sunsets. Be sure to hit the open markets for peaches the size of grapefruits and a bottle of homemade Limoncello.

4. Baiardo, Italy: The statistics are not exact, but the latest estimates indicate that Baiardo is home to a few hundred residents. Yes, I said hundred. To get there you'll need to a strong stomach. From San Remo, it's a slaloming uphill climb of about 45 minutes until you reach Baiardo. Once you arrive, it's hilltop perfection -- a place to reflect, write or wander. The air is fresh, the panoramas are stunning and if you can understand Italian, you will enjoy stories from 100-year-old locals who have never gone down the mountain, and why should they?
5. Procida, Italy: Most tourists who visit Naples also hop on a ferry to the islands of Capri or Ischia, but less stop over on Procida, making it a paradise for the travelers who do! The pastel-colored fishermen's villages invite you to relax and enjoy the art of doing nothing. Life is slow and seemingly satisfying to everyone who lives there. For photographers, Procida is a dream subject, an entire island washed in color and charm.
6. Entracque, Italy : Close to the French border is the Italian mountain village of Entracque. In the winter, locals from the Piedmont region escape to this Maritime Alps hideaway for some fantastic alpine skiing. In summer, it's just as inviting. Stop in town to fill up your picnic basket with fresh-cut meat, bread and wine, and then spend the weekend hiking or camping through the beautiful Natural Park of the Maritime Alps.
7. Nettuno, Italy: Italians love their futball. Residents of Nettuno, however, love their baseball. In fact, Nettuno is the capital of Italian baseball and home to the most famous baseball club in Italy. So how did baseball land on the shores of Nettuno? During the Second World War, American soldiers taught the game to locals and it stuck. But Nettuno isn't just the birthplace of Italian baseball. It's named after Neptune, the God of the Sea, and its beaches and seaside charm stand up to its prominent title.

Downtown DIsney is turning into Disney Springs

By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

March 18, 2013

Downtown Disney is turning into Disney Springs.
The transformation starts next month when construction begins on the renamed, re-themed Walt Disney World complex. The end result will be twice as many shopping, dining and entertainment options, Disney officials said Thursday.
The multimillion-dollar project includes about 150 venues that will open in phases, with completion in 2016, said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

• Related
• Video: Renderings of the Downtown Disney revamp
• Disney Springs renderings: Changes coming to Downtown Disney
• Pictures: Downtown Disney through the years
• Photos
• Pictures: Orlando's newest rides and attractions
• Pictures: Star sightings: Which celebrities were spotted at Disney?
• Pictures: Disney characters in costume
• See more photos »
• Topics
• Amusement and Theme Parks
• Downtown Disney
• Walt Disney World Resort
• See more topics »

He would not identify specific tenants but said to expect "world-class" stores and restaurants.
"The response has been beyond our expectations," he said of potential retailers and restaurateurs. "The vast majority of the new space that we're adding will be non-Disney brand."
The expansion is expected to employ 1,200 construction workers and eventually add 4,000 workers at the 120-acre site.
Disney Springs, inspired by life in the early 1900s, will break down into four "neighborhoods," said Kathy Mangum, executive producer with Walt Disney Imagineering. Two — The Landing and Town Center — are planned in the space where Pleasure Island nightclubs operated until 2008.
Most of the new stores will be in Town Center, she said, and the restaurants in the Landing will have waterfront views.
The other two neighborhoods roughly correspond with current Downtown Disney districts: West Side, home of Cirque du Soleil, and The Marketplace, which will have an expanded World of Disney store. A pedestrian causeway over the water will connect the Rainforest Cafe end of Marketplace with the middle of the complex and ease traffic flow of guests, Mangum said.
The expansion spills into the current parking lot, and two garages with a total capacity of about 6,000 vehicles will be built there.
The vibe and look of the makeover were inspired by small Florida towns at the turn of the past century and the company's own Sunshine State heritage, Staggs said. Walt Disney's parents met and married in the now-vanished Central Florida town of Kismet in 1888, he said.
"In our story, Disney Springs grew up around a series of natural springs here in Central Florida. It became a thriving community," Staggs said, adding that he wants it to be a place where guests "feel instantly at home."
All attractions eventually must be "revitalized and regenerated and recycled," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, a trade group. It's good timing for Disney, he said.
"It sounds like to me they're taking it from an urban to a more suburban setting kind of feel, a more casual feel, which is in keeping with the way things have gone," Speigel said.
The complex has had several names, starting with Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village in 1975. It became Walt Disney World Village in 1977. When Pleasure Island was added in 1989, the entire area became Disney Village Marketplace. In 1997, the Downtown Disney name covered three areas: the original Marketplace, Pleasure Island and the then-new West Side.
Swapping the Downtown Disney branding for Disney Springs does not concern Lou Mongello, host of an unofficial Disney World podcast on WDWRadio.com.
"I think it helps to mark the significance of the change that's going on there," Mongello said. "This is not just the adding of additional stores and restaurants. It really is changing the message and I think what the purpose of this area is supposed to be in terms of making it now a new destination."
The new theme is an organizational plus, he said. "Right now, Downtown Disney is sort of broken up into different areas and is disjointed."
Speigel recalled the early, rocky days of Pleasure Island and how Disney reworked it with a "New Year's Eve every night" theme.
"They have a track record of taking something that doesn't work and make it work. And they have a track record of taking something that has worked and then embellishing it and taking it up to the next level," he said. "I think that's what they're doing here."

TSA to Allow Small Knives

This is big news for many clients that typically carry a small pocket knife of some sort. Be sure to read the details because there are restrictions of what is allowed. Some sports equipment is also being allowed which could save some extra baggage fees.

Major news for frequent fliers: The TSA has announced some major changes for its Prohibited Items List, most notably that small knives will now be permitted in carry-in luggage. From their website:
In advance of the upcoming changes to TSA’s Prohibited Items List, effective April 25, 2013, the guidelines below on small knives permitted in carry-on luggage are provided to help passengers prepare for airport security procedures prior to checkpoint arrival.
TSA continues to evolve and strengthen its multi-layered approach to aviation security – through better technology, expanded data analysis capabilities and an enhanced understanding of current intelligence. The decision to permit certain items in carry-on luggage was made as part of TSA’s overall risk-based security approach and aligns TSA with International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and our European counterparts.
Small knives permitted in carry-on luggage must meet all of the following requirements:
Permitted:
The blade must be no more than 2.36 inches or 6 cm in length – from tip to where it meets the handle or hilt
The blade must be no more than ½ inch in width
Not Permitted:
Knives with locking or fixed blades
Knives with molded grips
Razors and box cutters
If a passenger is unsure if an item meets the above requirements, TSA recommends that the item be placed in checked luggage.
The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items through security checkpoints.

In addition, small novelty or toy bats (less than 24 ounces) can now be transported as part of carry-on luggage. (Full-size baseball, softball and cricket bats are still prohibited.) Billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks and lacrosse sticks golf clubs (limited to two) can also now be brought onboard as carry-on.

On Call International's Tips on Obtaining an International Driving Permit

Keep in mind if you are planning on renting a car in Europe that you may need an International Driver's Permit, also known as an IDP. Here is an article with some details to consider ahead of tim.


According to AAA, IDPs are valid in more than 150 more countries and can be necessary if travelers plan to drive during their voyage, since many countries do not recognize the average U.S. Driver's License.
Mike Kelly, CEO of On Call International - a leading provider of travel, security and medical assistance, recommends carrying an IDP if travelers get behind the wheel while overseas.
For travelers unfamiliar with IDPs, make sure to read Kelly’s "need to knows":
•         How to Locate: The U.S. Department of State recommends going to either the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the National Auto Club (NAC) to obtain an IDP. Depending on wait times, travelers can usually have their IDP in hand within 30 minutes. If travelers are unable to go to a local office, AAA and NAC offer mail-in options. Kelly notes that IDPs may not be issued more than six months in advance of desired usage date and are valid for one year. If travelers are already overseas, there is the option of mailing a completed application to the AAA/IDP address. It will take 4-6 weeks for return mail unless additional postage for express mail service is included with the application. “On Call can help you locate the nearest AAA or NAC as well to help you ensure you are prepared with all the correct documents, payment and processing timeframes,” Kelly says.
•         Requirements: It is important to know the guidelines when applying for an IDP. To avoid any hassle, Kelly points out that applicants must be at least 18 years of age, present two passport-size photographs and a valid U.S. driver’s license. An IDP from AAA or NAC costs approximately $15 and can be paid by check, money order, or major credit card. While traveling, Kelly recommends keeping it in a safe place. “Sometimes it can be just as valuable as your passport. Should you run into any problems, On Call International provides assistance with lost/stolen travel documents among many other useful services to help travelers as soon as they encounter a problem.”
•         Stay Prepared: In the event that travelers get pulled over, many countries require drivers to show their home country license as well as an IDP. Also, rental car companies may or may not require an IDP or even ask for one. “It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has the appropriate paperwork. If you’re lucky and don’t get stopped while driving in a foreign country, you won’t need to use the International Driving Permit, but in either case, it’s well worth the small fee to have peace of mind,” Kelly says.
For a list of countries that require an IDP, visit www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html.