Taking off Travel blog

Travelers from 35 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries now have to get approval through the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling to the US. The web-based ESTA system was launched in August 2008 to determine the eligibility of those from VWP countries to enter the US. More than 1.2 million ESTA applications have been received so far, with more than 99 per cent of these approved. In most cases approval takes seconds and the permit lasts for up to two years or until the passport expires.

“We have been collecting information from visa waiver travelers for decades, and establishing a program to get that same information in advance is one enhancement that allowed us to extend the valuable benefit of visa-free travel to eight new countries in 2008,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “In addition to building business and cultural ties with our partners overseas, this is a commonsense step into the 21^st century that will improve our efficiency in screening and welcoming international travelers at our ports of entry.”

DHS says it will take a ‘reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, though such travelers may be denied boarding or admission to the US or may experience delayed processing. Find more information in ESTA here. Read more »

Partial aerial view of Miami

I first went to Miami more years ago than I care to remember. I’d landed my first job and was struggling to extricate myself from the penury of being a student. There was a deal on, and off I went. In those days I didn’t have to worry about Miami airport parking, as we traveled around by public transport or on foot. It was more of a shopping trip than a sightseeing one, but I made up for it on subsequent visits.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is a hub. It’s bursting with people and very busy. It’s among the world’s busiest international airports. If you have a layover in Miami, it’s probably better to escape the hubbub and take a short trip to a local attraction. Here are a few to choose from.

Racing And Sports

Less than three miles away from the airport is the 7,000 seater Flagler greyhound racing stadium, which is perfect for those who want a flutter. With a sports bar, daily races, a poker room and a weekend flea market, there’s something to do no matter which day of the week you land. Read more »

Facebook is big among mobile users. What’s not to like? There are loads of applications you can use for almost every aspect of your business, whether you think Facebook is a proper business tool or not. But what about travelers? How can they use Facebook to help them plan their trips more effectively and have more fun when they travel? Here’s a round up of some of the most used Facebook apps for travel.

Cities I’ve Visited helps you create an interactive map of the cities and towns you have visited. Available in several languages, this application comes from TripAdvisor. All you do is add a pin to a city you have been to and you can get an at-a-glance view of your business travel trips. An alternative that’s more focused on the US and Canada is Where I’ve Been.

If you think you know everything about the places you have visited, then take the TravelPod Traveler IQ Challenge. To play you’ll need to pick where famous places are located. You’ve got to move fast to get a high Traveler IQ. You may not get much choice about business trips, but you can choose where to go on holiday. Find out what your choices reveal about your personality with Travel Brain. You can share reviews and tips with your friends too. Read more »

Tips on making your vacation greener

It’s great to be eco-friendly, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Does having a green vacation mean missing out on enjoyment? Not at all. Read on for our tips on making your trip or vacation a little bit greener.

Plane Or Car?

There’s no getting away from it - cars spew out a lot of carbon emissions and burn a big hole in the ozone layer, if some scientists are to be believed. If you travel by car, you’ll be making a lot of starts and stops, adding to the environmental impact of your trip. Strangely, instead of driving, it might be more eco-friendly to take a direct flight (probably on the grounds that with a full flight there’s less impact per person), so book your car into an offsite airport parking lot and catch that plane. When booking your trip, choose an eco-friendly travel agent too.

Green Hotels

Getting eco-friendly accommodation does not mean staying in a shack. On the contrary, you can still stay in luxury at one of the country’s many green hotels. Green hotels minmize their impact by reducing packaging waste and waste in general, using low energy light bulbs and installing showers and toilets that use less water. They may also promote recycling and other eco-friendly strategies. There are green hotels all around the US - check out GreenHotels.com to see where you could stay. Read more »