A first-hand look at the U.S. "trusted-traveler" Global Entry Program
 | | photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
About six weeks ago I applied for acceptance into the U.S. Global Entry Program in order to provide an unbiased view of it for this article. I went through the exact same procedures that every traveler must, starting with the initial application and finishing with my enrollment yesterday. And I'll tell you right up-front, I was very pleasantly surprised.
This "trusted-traveler" pilot program, now two-years old, is overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and it's meant to speed up the process of re-entering the U.S. by identifying travelers whom the government deems to be low-risk. These vetted travelers can bypass the normal customs and immigration lines and check themselves through immigration via a kiosk, similar to those you use to get your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport.
Here's how the system works. If you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident you merely fill out a detailed questionnaire online. Once you're notified you've been accepted into the program you then schedule a meeting at a Global Entry office at one of 20 U.S. airports where the program is in effect. The fee is $100, and is paid at the time you make the application.
The worst part of the program is filling out the somewhat tedious application online. It took me more than an hour to wade through the application and answer the numerous questions regarding everything from other names used, to my present and past employment and my travel history.
To read the entire article click here
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Thank you to all of you on the plane
(Note: This article originally appeared in the blog "The Trends" a year ago during the Memorial Day weekend. Since so many Americans, many of them our children and grandchildren, continue to serve overseas, I believe it's worth republishing).
 I arrived at the airport in St. Louis about an hour ago, making a connecting flight on Southwest from Denver, and something embarrassing just happened to me.
As we landed and were taxing to the terminal the pilot came on the PA with the usual announcements about keeping your seatbelt buckled until we reached the terminal, etc.
Then he added "and this Memorial Day weekend let's keep in mind the real reason for the holiday and think of the service and sacrifices made by the men and women in the Armed Forces, some of whom have made the supreme sacrifice."
A minute later, as we approached the gate the lead flight attendant...
(photo: Kate Ter Haar)
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As travel becomes more complicated, travelers are returning to travel agents
 For years, as online booking sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and others soared in popularity, travel agents became the butt of jokes says the Washington Post. But today, we live in a world of Internet overload, natural disasters and political uprisings, where travelers are confused and frustrated by airlines, hotels and plenty of other things, and a good travel agent has become some traveler's closest ally. James Vaughn had given his travel agent a tough assignment... Read the entire article |
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26 wilderness experiences
 The USA has some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the world and Sunset Magazine has come up with 26 great wilderness experiences.
From luxury tent camping to joining a cattle drive, finding solitude in some of the West's secret places or to trekking the backcountry by horse, it's all here. (photo: Kim Watkins)
Click here to read the article
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Best of the new all-inclusive resorts
 After years of having its image tarnished by the building of massive resorts more like booze-cruises than hotels, the all-inclusive industry is reinventing itself through renovation.
Travel + Leisure has come up with a list of the best of a new generation of all-inclusive resorts where one price still covers everything but the ambiance has changed.
Read the entire article here |
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Extreme golf: "Heatstroke Open" in Death Valey
 You need to go beyond just loving the game to endure this really, really hot deal.
The Los Angeles Times has learned of a golf tournament about to be played in triple-digit heat at what is billed as the lowest course in the world -- 214 feet below sea level -- while the temperature hovers at nearly 110 degrees.
(photo: Jon Mitchell)
Read the full article
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 | | Boca Grande, Cartagena, Columbia / photo: Luz A. Villa |
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NeverStopTraveling video
 Travel to London for a (very) short tour of the British Museum (click image for video)
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