Taking off Travel blog

Indianapolis - the name means Indiana City - has been the state capital of Indiana since 1820. It’s the largest city in the state, one of the largest in the US and is best known for hosting the Indy 500 race and other sporting and musical events such as the Indy Jazz Festival.

If you’re planning a trip to Indianapolis, you will soon be lucky enough to fly into the new Indianapolis International Airport (IND) passenger terminal which will open within the month. This is part of an airport redesign which has been underway since 2002. There’s also a brand new Indianapolis airport parking facility to go along with the rest of the planned improvements.

So aside from checking out the spanking new facilities, what else can you do on a layover in Indianapolis? Since Indianapolis International Airport isn’t far from the city, why not take the 15 minute ride to see what’s on offer downtown? Read more »

When you travel, all you want to do is get on a plane and get to your destination. Unfortunately, check-in lines and security checks can eat into your free time and make travel a hassle. If you want to spend more time browsing the stores or having a drink in the airport bar, then follow these tips for speeding up your travel time.

1. Get Clear

Having a Clear Card is like having an EZ-Pass for the airport. It’s a way to breeze through the fast lane during an airport security check. It works like this. Apply for an account online and provide some basic information. Then go to a Clear enrollment station to have your fingerprints and iris captured and to present two forms of government issued identification. Pay the initial enrollment fee of $128 and you are entitled to use the Clear lane at airport security, providing your fingerprint or iris print as security. You’ll still have to go through x-ray machines and metal detectors, but you will get through security much quicker at the 20 airports currently supported. Read more »

About 17 million people pass through Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) each year. If you are on a layover, you won’t even have to worry about Midway Airport parking; just stash your bags somewhere and start seeing the sights. The airport is only ten miles from downtown Chicago. That means there’s plenty to see and do that’s not too far away. Here are some places where you can start your Chicago sightseeing tour.

Five Miles Or Less From MDW

If all you need to do is get some fresh air, then there are plenty of parks where you can sit outside while you wait for your connecting flight. Pasteur Park, Archer Park, Minuteman Park and West Lawn Park are all a mile or less away, so a brisk walk will take you away from airport congestion and into a pleasant green space.

Those with an interest in Eastern Europe will enjoy a visit to the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, less than two miles from the airport on South Pulaski Road. It’s got the largest collection of Lithuanian material outside that country and is open daily from 10 till 4. A few miles further, you can explore the history of a different group at the DuSable Museum of African American History, located less than 5 miles from the airport. It’s got several exhibits and is well worth a visit. Read more »

Who wants to sit around at the airport? If you’ve got a layover in LAX, parking your bags somewhere will give you the freedom to explore and you can still be back in time to make your connection. There’s no left luggage at the airport itself, but you can use LAX Luggage Storage for a pickup and drop off service that means your bags will be safe while you look around. At between $5 and $12, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. Alternatively, use the LAX parking facilities and leave your bags in the trunk. Once your bags are safely stowed, it’s time to get moving. There’s plenty to see nearby. Read more »

The scene: It’s 10:30PM and your standing at the desk of a rental car desk at the San Francisco airport. Your plane landed 45 minutes ago luggage intact at SFO, a surprisingly stress-free experience. Now MUST be the time to hope in the rental car and check into the hotel to enjoy trendy drinks. For some reason you’re still standing at this flippin’ car rental desk! Secretly, you long for your SUV safely ensconced at Midway Airport parking back in Chicago.

Behind said desk, some 19 year old former babysitter is still the practicing the same art of mediocrity for the rental company’s 4 wheeled babies. Your San Francisco reservations were placed online weeks ago for modest vehicle at a great price. A well practiced sales pitch to up-charge your daily fee seems like a bit much tonight. But, do you actually need the insurance to safely traverse the great interstate beyond SFO? Is rental car insurance designed to protect, separate you from your hard earned cash, or both? Read more »