April 2004

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Experience the beauty and history of Scotland on our Alumni College Abroad in Scotland trip. You’ll visit ancient castles and palaces, including Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Urquhart Castle and Scone Palace. Experience the mysteries of Loch Ness and Scotland’s other famous lakes. You will also have the chance to learn about Scotland’s ancient whisky artistry and meet the Scottish people. For details on this trip and the rest of our 2004 itinerary, visit our Web site, check out our travel catalog or call 800.847.4764.

The dollar doesn’t stretch as far as it once did in Europe. The Euro has been at a five-year high, trading at $1.29 in February and $1.24 in March. American travelers are paying 40 percent more for European vacations, considering the Euro was only worth 88 cents in 2002. Experts suggest ways to make your dollar go further in Europe:

• Use credit cards that don’t charge a foreign currency conversion fee.
• Get the best exchange rate from ATMs rather than currency exchange outlets or banks. Before you go, make sure your card and PIN will work abroad.
• Go in the off-season. Start thinking now about a trip in the fall.
• Buy a package. Group travel is the best way to maximize your dollar, because package organizers get better rates than you can.

The Alumni Travel Program offers a variety of group land and cruise tours to Europe. Check out our Web site and look for our new travel catalog in August.

Because of declining revenues after the September 11 attacks, many airlines have eliminated frills such as complimentary meal service on their flights. That’s why many in-flight catering companies are partnering with fast-food and casual-dining chains such as TGI Friday’s and the Atlanta Bread Company to bring passengers the option of purchasing meals on a flight. Many airlines now offer customers the convenience of purchasing a meal in-flight for about $10. Currently, in-flight food sales are limited to selected flights that are longer than three hours.

Traveling can be great fun, but it can also be harrying if something goes wrong, like losing your ID or credit card. Here are some tips to save yourself some trouble if you lose that important document or card:

• Carry copies of your identification, particularly your passport, separate from your actual ID.
• Make digital copies of your driver’s license and passport, and email the files to an account you can access through the Web.
• Be careful traveling with ATM cards that are also Visa cards. If the card is stolen, thieves can make purchases without knowing your PIN.
• Consider getting credit cards that features your photo. They are less likely to cause fraudulent activity.
• Keep a copy separate from your actual cards of the phone numbers you’ll need in case you have to cancel your misplaced credit cards.

For more ease in packing, check out this flat-pack organizer that lies flat in your luggage so you don’t have to deal with a lumpy or hard-to-close bag. It also features five zippered compartments and a mesh pocket for all your travel essentials. Best of all, it has a hook to hang it from shower rods or door hooks for easy access. Check it out at Magellan’s.

If you’re traveling this summer, make sure you look into the hotel discounts offered to you as an Alumni Association member. You can get 15 percent to 30 percent off at Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada Inn and Travelodge. You can also receive discounts at Starwood Hotels, such as Sheraton and Westin hotels. There are more than 3,800 participating hotels in the US and abroad. For more information, visit our Web site.

You don’t necessarily have to head to Yellowstone National Park to see what’s going on at the Old Faithful geyser. Simply head to Yellowstone’s official Web site to see the Old Faithful Web cam. The site also offers tips on how to plan a trip to check it out in person.