Cruises

The ‘Ask Mr Rants’ is proving to be useful for consumers. Every month I will be writing about the types of travel issues sent from consumers. Then, hopefully consumers can learn from other’s experiences and the industry, if it wants to really improve the consumer experience, can add their input.

Here’s a selection of travel issues sent to me in February.

Agents booking DIY holidays

Consumer booked with a travel agent. They assumed it was a package holiday, after all, it was a travel agent, but no, this agent had booked them a flight with a low cost airline and a hotel with a third party. The t&c’s mention a cancellation policy, but this didn’t apply because of how the holiday was booked.

The customer had to cancel, received the hotel cost back, but not the flight.

Inaccurate hotel information

Another customer booked a hotel, the location information was inaccurate, but the consumer only found out after booking. The travel company blamed the hotel; the hotel blamed the travel company. Neither of wanted to help. It is worrying that they cannot even get the location of the hotel right.

Damaged holiday car hire

Holidaymaker jumps off the plane in Spain, heads to pick up their car hire and then enjoys their holiday. The customer returns to the airport a week later to be told that the car is scratched all the way down the driver’s door and that the damage has to be paid for. This holidaymaker was smart and had taken photograph evidence.

Yes, this car hire company tried to get their damaged car paid for by a customer.

No flying on this airline

The passenger checked-in to the airport; both the passport and ticket name was correct. Time for boarding, they give the boarding card and passport to the airline staff, to be told that they couldn’t fly because the boarding card name was different to the passport. After a stressful 30 minutes it realises the mistake was made by the airline at check-in.

Lesson to learn here, check your boarding pass before you leave the check-in desk.

The deal that never existed

Not just one consumer but a number contacted me about one particular company that is selling cheap holidays on their website but, after booking online, the company contacts the consumer to say that deal sold out. I wish I could name and shame but I don’t fancy another libel claim.

The last travel issue I have mentioned about before, but, I feel this type of selling trick is on the increase.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Five travel issues sent from consumers

Shift Your Habit: Easy Ways to Save Money, Simplify Your Life, and Save the Planet is a new book by Elizabeth Rogers geared at people who want “to live thriftier, healthier, and more effcient lives.”

I like Shift Your Habit because it employs a philosophy similar to that of Go Green Travel Green — living a greener life doesn’t have to expensive or impossible, and anyone can do it. The tips in the book include sections on saving money, saving the planet, and why it’s good for you.

My favorite parts are the easy-to-skim tables outlining everything from energy (and money) savings with Energy Star appliances to a price comparison of new and used baby furniture. The book is made up of nine sections, each packed with practical tips and guides in an easy-to-follow format. Here are my favorite tips and tables from each section.

Home and Garden

Favorite Table: The Homemade Cleaners Table

You’ll learn how to make everything from oven cleaner to furniture polish using non-toxic ingredients like vinegar, salt, and rubbing alcohol.

Favorite Table: What Your Edible Garden Can Save You

This table shows you how much money you’ll save by growing each of thirteen types of produce.

Favorite Tip: Don’t Wash Your Towel Daily

It shocks me that people actually do this, but apparently they do so I’m spreading the word.

“If you and your family are in the habit of using a fresh towel after every shower, consider whether this is necessary.”

Reuse your towel! According to the book, you can save up to 5/year on water and conserve 3,400 gallons of water.

Food and Drink

Favorite Table: Extend the Life of Your Perishables

Tips for preserving seven types of food. For example, to preserve your favorite expensive cheese, wrap it in a paper towel dampened with white vinegar, then seal in an airtight containter. For carrots, remove the greens as soon as your get home.

Favorite Table: Bringing Foods Back to Life

Americans are notorious food wasters, and this table is a great tool for fighting that trend. Have stale cereal or crackers?

“Bake them in a 300 degree F oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Place in an airtight containter and use withing a coupld of days.”

Favorite Tip: Buy Fresh Bread

It’s easy to forget about the environmental impact your food has when it travels — and is packaged in plastic.

“Unlike plastic-packaged bread loaves, bakery bread is never frozen, requires little transport, and is usually wrapped in a recyclable paper bag.”

The price is comparable, but the reduction in environmental impact is significant.

Favorite Tip: Brew Your Own Beer

I just started my second batch of homebrew last week, so this tip jumped out at me.

“If you have the time and patience, brew your own beer. Starter kits and home-brewing equipment are easy to come by. Save even more buying beer gear secondhand.”

It saves you money (up to ,250 per year) and uses far less energy than commercial beer operations.

Kids

Favorite Tip: Reduce Boxed Lunch Waste

Send your kid to school with a reusable lunchbox instead of a paper bag, or a cloth napkin instead of paper.

“Pack a waste-free lunch. Assemble your kids’ lunches without using any disposable items or individually packaged food.”  

According to Shift Your Habit, you could save up to 0 per year if you have two kids.

Pets

Favorite Tip: Skip the Rawhides and Nylon

Nylon is made from petroleum, which is decidedly not eco-friendly, and rawhides often come with packaging and don’t last long.

“You can get marrow bones from your local butcher as scraps or at most pet stores.”

By forgoing rawhides for real bones, you can save up to per year.

Work

Favorite Tip: Forgo the Fax

Reduce waste in your home office, and even your primary workplace, by getting rid of your fax machine. Fax machines automatically print everything, whereas online services send you PDFs and you choose what to print.

“Use an online, electronic fax service instead of buying a fax machine.”

Not sure the boss will go for it? It could save up to 0 per year on supply and service costs.

Electronics and Entertainment

Favorite Chart: Eco-Friendly TVs

Bottom line: keep your current TV. But if you’re going to buy a new one, buy an LCD. Plasmas use almost three times as much energy.

Healthy, Beauty, and Fashion

Favorite Table: Vita-Minimum

You don’t have to take 50 kinds of supplements to get the vitamins you need. Have a balanced diet instead. This table shows you which foods contain which vitamins.

Favorite Tip: Get in Shape

If health isn’t enough to motivate you to excercise, think about the monetary benefits.

“Studies show that physically active adults pay, on average, about ,500 less per year in medical costs compared with inactive adults.”

You’ll reduce your environmental impact by needing fewer medications and medical tests.

Transportation and Travel

Favorite Table: Smart Wheels

Spring is just around the corner so it’s the perfect time to buy a bike. This table shows you four kinds of bikes (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, and cruiser) and tells you what they’re good for and their cost.

Favorite Table: Green Trip vs. Regular Trip Savings

A quick look at how greener alternatives to traditional food, hotels, and activities can save you money (and reduce your impact) while traveling. Some of the examples are a bit extreme (e.g. hiking instead of spending ,500 on a helicopter tour), but it gets the point across.

Holidays and Celebrations

Favorite Tip: Dispose of Disposables

Don’t make have a party at the planet’s expense.

“Use washable dishes, glasses, and silverware instead of disposable plastic plates, cups, and cutlery.”

Think that sounds impossible? I once went to a wedding where all dishes and utensils were reusable and waste was composted. It’s doable.

Final Thoughts and Room for Improvement

Overall, Shift your Habit is a good book for people just starting to live greener lives, as well as environmentalists looking for ways to further reduce their impact. Its format is great for skimming and it’s well-categorized.

That said, there is room for improvement. A resource list at the end of the book would have been immensely helpful for further reading and more information on some topics. It’s also important to note that green does not automatically equal cheap. This book focuses on ways being green saves money, but buying a hybrid car or organic produce, for example, is often more expensive than the conventional version.

Shift your Habit is filled with hundreds more tips and charts — what I listed above is just the beginning. At just .08 on Amazon, it’s a bargain. You’ll save far more than if you take the tips to heart. I would definitely recommend Shift your Habit .

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Shift Your Habit Book Review

Regular readers will know I love a rant at the travel industry but today I am going to start by ranting at travel consumers! I love receiving emails from you, in fact I am really happy when I have helped you deal with a complaint, but it’s time to take some responsibility when you are booking your holiday.

Consumer’s not purchasing insurance

If you are booking your holiday with 10 months to go before you depart, there’s a high chance that something could go wrong; you also need to protect the £5,000 you’ve spent on the family holiday. So why would you not purchase travel insurance?

I am concerned how many of you who are not purchasing insurance. It’s worrying, it really is. It costs £10-20 per person, it’s worth it, believe me.

You’re responsible when booking online

You have two options; you pay a travel agent to book the fight for you, or if you book the flight online then you are responsible for making sure that the passport details match the passenger details. I am amazed how many emails I have received where consumers have not taken care when entering passenger details online.

I cannot stress this enough. Check and double check the passenger information to passports before booking.

Airlines are money grabbers

The airlines are not completely free from blame; they make millions from consumer mistakes. One disgruntled passenger entered his surname, three letters, typed the wrong way around; a silly mistake I know, but within minutes of noticing the mistake he called the airline to be told that he had to pay £100 to make the change.

Consumers or agents responsibility

One travel agency who shall remain nameless booked a holiday, the consumer thought it was a package, but the flight was booked with a low cost airline, and the accommodation with a third party. One member of the party had to cancel, but the airline will not refund their money.

Had it been booked as a package holiday then surely they could have received a good chunk of their money back? Who is at fault – the travel agent for not telling them it wasn’t a package or the consumer for not asking? Welcome to the murky waters of booking a holiday in 2010.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Frustrations with travel consumers rant

The union representing British Airways cabin crew has confirmed that its members will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March. Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and strikes won’t take place over Easter, even so, these strikes will cause disruption.

British Airways (BA) have said that they have planned for the strikes and would do everything it could to operate as many flights as possible during any disruption. According to BA, flights from London City Airport would not be affected, 70% of flights from Gatwick, including all long-haul flights, should be operational.

If you have any questions add them in the comments form below and I’ll post more information soon.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

BA strikes announced – British Airways strike advice

This blog has highlighted its fair share of travel consumer issues and in the background I have helped a lot of consumers resolve their complaints with companies. I receive 30-50 emails a week from consumers asking for advice and that’s from a one-man run blog that reaches out to only 2,000 people daily.

Big issues that need resolving

There are some huge issues like the complexity of holiday protection and increase in air passenger duty and I wonder if these types of issues could be fought with more weight behind, if the industry and consumers came together.

Creation of an authority group on travel

What about a group made up of a mixture of consumers, industry people from tour ops, independent agents, travel media, and PR etc? Am I being realistic here? I do wonder if my head is in the clouds, when I get ideas like this hit me.

Would the government and travel associations sit down with such a group and discuss issues.

So much confusion in travel

There is so much confusion about what is a package and DIY holiday nowadays, especially when travel agents are selling both. I know by the emails that I receive that booking a holiday is no longer as simplistic as it used to be.

Your thoughts appreciated

I am not suggesting that the group discusses every single issue that consumers have; I also know a lot of the issues are down to government changes. I read a lot of news feeds that tell me that companies want to simplify protection and abolish air passenger duty, but how serious are they, or is just PR talk.

So, I thought I would open this up to consumers and the industry folk to discuss.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

UK travel industry needs a travel consumer group

With going green on the rise, cities across the world are attempting to become more sustainable. That’s great news for the green traveler because it means your options are constantly expanding. But it’s not always easy to tell if a city is really cleaning up its act, or if it’s just for show.

Here are 7 things to consider when choosing a green travel destination.

1. Check Public Transportation Options

If your destination is a city that you’ll want to explore extensively, make sure there is a good public transportation system so you won’t have to take cabs or rent a car. Most cities have decent websites about their public transportation systems. You can also check travel forums and talk to other travelers who have been where you’re going. Better yet, rent a bike and use it as your primary means of transportation.

2. Look for Greener Accommodations

Choosing a low-impact place to stay is not only greener, it’s often less expensive. If the weather is nice, look for camping options. Otherwise, make sure there are hostels. If you’re looking at hotels, research the country’s hotel energy/environmental standards, then find a hotel that meets those guidelines. For more info check out Finding Environmentally Friendly Hotels through Green Accreditation Directories.

3. Scope Out the Area for Green Space

Are there nice parks in the town, or at least within walking or biking distance? What about lakes and hiking trails? There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning and walking out the hostel door onto a hiking trail. Of course, that’s not easy to do in all places. But if you love the outdoors, make sure your destination has options for green recreation.

photo credit: celesteh

4. Think About Walkability

Will you be able to walk from your hostel to restaurants and entertainment? If the town is spread out, see if there’s a concentration of places you want to see, then book a hostel near those places to make your trip more walkable. Walking is one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact.

5. Look at Chains Versus Local Business and Restaurants

Are there a number of local businesses you could visit? Or is the city overrun with McDonald’s and KFCs? Going to local grocery stores and restaurants is one of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in local culture. And part of the fun of traveling is experience new things, which is hard to do if you stick to what you know and what’s available back home.

6. Check Out the City’s Recycling Policy

With all of the plastic building up in landfills across the world, a solid recycling policy is increasingly urgent. Even some small towns and villages recycle, so pick a destination that has a policy in place. If you really want to visit a place that doesn’t recycle, avoid buying plastic and other recyclables while you’re there; stick to reusable items instead.

7. Decide if You’ll Really Get to Experience the Culture

A big part of being a green traveler is striving to understand different people, cultures, and history. On the surface, it seems that traveling inherently facilitates cultural understanding. In reality, it’s far too easy to live in a bubble, even when you’re traveling. See if your destination is one that seems to exist exclusively to cater to tourists. If it is, pass it up and look for something that will get you out of your comfort zone and into the culture of your destination.

Not sure where to start? Check out our list of Top Green Cities: Where to Travel Green.

What else do you consider when you’re deciding on a green travel destination?

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

7 Tips for Choosing a Green Travel Destination

As a solo traveller myself I get very annoyed, very quickly, when a fellow solo traveller has to pay a single person supplement and then is put into a single room, it’s should be stopped. I am sure they think because we are travelling alone we will put up with the lowest standard of accommodation.

Single room, but charged single supplement

When I travelled on my own for the first time on a package holiday to Benidorm, the same happened to me. I paid a single person supplement and then was thrown in a hotel room that you could not swing a cat in, not that I suggest you do that.

Why do tour operators think that they can get away with this? They also don’t like to call it a single person supplement anymore, it’s under occupancy. It’s the same, and like that makes it fair. I understand charging this if you are in a room for two people, but not in a single room.

Share your experiences

I was only 19 when it happened to me, and if it happened again I would demand that I was put into a standard sized room. Have you paid a single person supplement and then found yourself in a single room? Please share your solo traveller experiences in the comments.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Charged under occupancy but put into single room

This is a guest post by Brooke Lusk, who finds a great deal of joy in meeting new people and animals, enjoying good music, and traveling in her new home state of Oregon. Some of her favorite ways to stay environmentally friendly are testing homemade/natural beauty recipes, composting, and supporting local farmers and small businesses who maintain green practices.

I wasn’t sure what to expect of my trip to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, since I would be traveling with 50 teenagers. I went to Vancouver as a mentor to at-risk teens through a program of The Foundation for Global Sports Development. I’m so glad I kept an open mind because the experience was truly unforgettable.

First Impressions

As we wandered around the city on the Thursday before the Opening Ceremonies, the growing anticipation of the games was palpable in the air. The Vancouver metro area had transformed into a hub of Olympic excitement.

In less than 24 hours, the city would become an intersection of cultures, filling the streets with the sounds of different languages and dialects. However, despite all the differences, a common sense of joy, good will, and healthy competition was evident in everyone’s interactions.

Olympic Rings at 2010 Vancouver Olympics

The Cultural Experience of the Olympics

It was the cultural aspect of the Olympics that I found most appealing. We spent some time at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which houses a fascinating collection of cultural artifacts and information. We also enjoyed Chinese New Year celebrations, and some of us were lucky enough to sit next to a group of costumed and very enthusiastic Swiss fans during the USA Men’s Hockey game against Switzerland.

One particularly exciting moment was when a bunch of the teenagers with my program, many of whom are from Mexico, got to meet the single Mexican Olympian! This friendly exchange of cultures is truly integral to the Olympic spirit.

Olympic Coffee Volunteer

How Green Were the Vancouver Olympics?

Vancouver did, in my opinion, a great job of hosting these Olympics, despite reported lack of snow (many interviewed athletes said the conditions were fine) and a few other incidents. In regards to hosting an environmentally friendly and inclusive Olympics, The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) included the first-nation tribes and metropolitan residents as they moved forward to host what has been called the “greenest” Olympic games yet.

There was busing from Vancouver to Whistler and Cypress Mountain that reduced carbon emissions, spectators and residents were strongly encouraged to use public transportation (and many did!), and a variety of recycling options were available everywhere.

I’m sure there are ways VANOC could have done even more to reach their green objectives, but this Olympics was a great step forward in environmentally-conscious thinking.

Green Vancouver and Olympics Resources

• The Sustainable Sport and Event Toolkit (SSET)
• Vancouver 2010 and Sustainability
• Vancouver’s Green Olympics: Exceptions that Change the Rules
• The Best of Us (video)
• Inuit Animation (video)

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

I Was There: Vancouver Olympics 2010

The ‘ask Mr Rants’ feature has been incredibly popular and in the last couple of months I have published a number of travel consumer guides based on the number of emails that I receive from consumers. I wanted to share a few of those guides with you so you can bookmark for future use.

Here are five of the popular guides published.

» Driving abroad advice and car hire tips
» How to protect your holiday
» How to make a travel complaint
» Travel tips for solo travellers
» Skiing holiday tips and ski safety advice

You can rate each guide so I know which ones have to be improved, and of course please leave any suggestions for other consumer’s guides that you would like me to feature. My frequently asked travel questions page includes solutions to a lot of the questions that I receive.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Bookmark my travel consumer guides

The pet food industry in the U.S. is virtually unregulated, which means that just about anything can go into your dog’s food.

Fortunately, there are dog food companies dedicated to creating organic, healthy, holistic, and wholesome pet foods. Which is the best dog food? Here are the top six, complete with price comparisons.

Prices range from .13/lb (Canidae) to almost double that at .24/lb (HALO).

Wellness Dog Food

• Uses premium meats like deboned chicken, New Zealand lamb, and white fish
• Use high quality grains such as oatmeal and barley that provide essential vitamins and nutrients
• Adds selected botanical extracts such as green tea and lycopene
• No meat by-products
• No corn
• No artificial preservatives
• No artificial flavors, colors or dyes

Cost: .97 (.97 per pound) for a 30 lb bag of Wellness Super5Mix Complete Health Chicken Dog Food

Canidae Dog Food

• Nutritionally dense meals originate from meats processed in a human grade facility
• All natural, high quality, holistic pet food
• No corn, wheat, soy, grain fractions or fillers
• Naturally preserved
• Free-range and/or antibiotic-free meats

Cost: .99 (.13 per pound) for a 30 lb bag of Canidae Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance Dog Food

• Grain-free options for dogs with allergies
• No artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or bleached ingredients
• High in Omega 3, a natural source of DHA
• Natural ingredients to help rebuild a dog’s immune system

Cost: .00 (.25 per pound) for a 28 lb bag of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Dog Food

• Deboned chicken, lamb or fish is the first ingredient, which means there is more real meat than any other ingredient
• Wholesome whole grains
• Garden vegetables and antioxidant-rich fruit
• No chicken or poultry by-products
• No corn, wheat, or soy proteins
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Cost: .00 (.44 per pound) for a 30 lb bag of Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice Adult Dog Food

Solid Gold Dog Food

• No chemical preservatives
• Specialize in the development of “low allergen” products
• Use USDA Choice meats, USDA grade I and II grains, and healthful monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils
• Never add animal or poultry fat to our products
• Use foil “barrier” packaging for all our dry food products, which means we don’t have to use chemical preservatives or flavor enhancers

Cost: .60 (.02 per pound) for a 33 lb bag of Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken Adult Maintenance Dog Food

HALO Dog Food

• No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
• No gluten, wheat or corn
• No rendered meats, poultry or fish, animal or plant by-products
• Home-style recipe with easy to recognize and understand ingredients
• Natural sources of soluble and insoluble fiber

Cost: .49 (.24 per pound) for a 31 lb bag of Halo Spot’s Stew Wholesome Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food

This post is part of our Green Travelers at Home series.

This post contains affiliate links. Prices are approximate.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Best Dog Food: Organic Dog Food Comparison