August 2004

Sip wine and enjoy the picturesque ports of call and wineries of Portugal on the Alumni Association's "Portugal's River of Gold - Cruising the Duoro" trip. Enjoy special dinners with your fellow travelers and unique shore excursions to places such as Salamanca, Spain's ancient seat of learning. There will also be stimulating discussions with guest speaker George Siedel, the Williamson Family Professor of Business Administration at the U-M Business School. He'll present two lectures: "Portuguese Business Culture and Negotiating Styles" and "The Duoro River in History and Literature." For details, including dates and prices, on this trip and others, visit True Blue Travel online.

The summer might be almost over, but that doesn't mean your travel plans have to end. Despite rising fuel costs, industry experts believe that airline ticket prices are dropping. Air Transport Association research director David Lee says that the average cost of fares has dropped significantly. There are several reasons for the downturn in prices: Many airlines have increased their capacity by up to 10 percent this summer, discounters have forced major airlines to lower prices, and several new low-fare airlines have entered new markets.

A savvy traveler knows how to save time on a trip. USA Today has compiled some tips on how to shave minutes from packing, parking and making the flight.

• Wear a big jacket that has zippered pockets. It can be invaluable when it comes to storing valuables you don't want to keep in a carry-on. Just grab it in a rush and know that your things are all at hand. (Plan on removing your coat before going through security, however. Bulky coats must pass through the X-ray machine.)
• Know what time of day your airport is busiest and avoid scheduling flights at these times.
• If you don't have to, don't check your luggage - especially for business trips. The lighter you pack, the faster you get home.
• Go deeper into the airport parking garage in order to park closer to the terminal.
• Take advantage of new technologies - print your boarding pass from the Internet before you arrive at the airport.
• Understand how the shuttle at your airport works. If the shuttle runs counterclockwise, it might be faster to walk from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 than to ride the tram.

Protect the valuables in your purse or backpack with T-Snap, a cylindrical device you attach to the zipper slide of any bag and its second zipper or shoulder strap. The T-Snap requires two hands and a twist code to open, so thieves will have a hard time stealing your valuables. Buy it online at Magellan's.

This might be the perfect time for a getaway - the summer rush has died down and airfares are starting to drop. If you're thinking about going abroad, make sure you take advantage of the Alumni Association's Express Visa Service. You can obtain your passport online and track its arrival.

The Olympics are underway in Greece, but you don't have to leave your home to experience the beauty of this magical country. "The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece" is a stunning portrayal of Greece's unrivaled vistas and villages. With compelling words and dramatic photographs, this book will transport you to another world.