Those Growling Medieval Guys Might Be Right

by Chris Owen on

A new report says those Capital One growling medieval guys might just be right when it comes to choosing which credit card to travel with. One insider has some tips on why and how to travel internationally with finesse.

“I recommend the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card, or any other Capital One card, for travel abroad; [because] none of their cards carry foreign transaction fees,” says personal finance blogger David Seaman in a Business Insider report.


Seaman agrees with the common notion that using a major credit card is a good idea to get a better exchange rate. But urging travelers to check the fine print in credit card agreements, he warns, “many credit cards now charge a ‘foreign transaction fee’ on every single one of these purchases, which usually is around 3% to 4%. Although this isn’t bad for a cup of coffee, if you spend $200 or $300 in a weekend, that added fee begins to pile up rapidly.”

Another card not charging foreign transaction fees is the Discover card, also noted by Seaman. He suggests taking along a reasonable amount of currency, which can be converted into local currency, just in case there is a problem with a card – an issue that can happen to anyone.

Travel agents commonly advise calling the card company to let them know our plans any time travel takes us out of our normal spending area to avoid a red flagged transaction for secure card companies.



[Flickr photo by Images_of_Money]

Google Street View Helps Visualize Cool Summer Attractions

by Chris Owen on
As summer blazes on, travelers are looking for cool places to go. A quick escape from summer heat to a water park, beach or lake might be just what they have in mind too. But how about a look first? Google Street View can give us a panoramic view from positions along many streets in the world, including some major summer attractions.

A little warm where you are today? Click on one of these featured attractions for a taste of coolness and summer fun ahead.

Adventure Island is a water park located northeast of Tampa, Florida, across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, featuring 30 acres of water rides, dining and other attractions.

Discovery Cove is a theme park in Greater Orlando, Florida. Guests can interact with a variety of marine animals, most notably bottlenose dolphins. The park is located adjacent to sister parks SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica. In addition to swimming with dolphins, Discovery Cove guests can interact with exotic birds, tropical fish, rays and land mammals.

Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, and home to Pacific Park and a family amusement park with a large Ferris wheel.

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida, that when combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and the Aquatica waterpark, it forms a larger entertainment complex devoted to Earth’s oceans and the array of life that inhabits them.

Google Street View was introduced in the United States but can now be seen in 48 countries around the world.

See more Google summer attractions in the U.S. through Street View imagery, and make plans to cool off today.

[Flickr photo by matheuslotero]

Three Great Fall Food And Wine Festivals To Plan On Now

by Chris Owen on

As summer heat bears down on much of America, thoughts might turn to fall, which brings food and wine festivals. Visiting some of them might require just a quick drive to experience. Others, much farther away, are good choices but require some advance planning. Here is a quick list with three of the more interesting fall festivals and events coming up this year.

Hawaii Food and Wine Festival– Oahu, Hawaii
Held in early September, the second annual Hawaii Food and Wine Festival features more than 50 internationally-renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. A Pacific Rim focus brings experts from the United States, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Philippines and Australia with showcase wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes using local produce, seafood, beef and poultry.

Held September 6-9, 2012, tickets on sale now also include a 12-month subscription to Food and Wine Magazine.

Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival– Lake Tahoe, California
Eight days long, this year’s event kicks off on Labor Day weekend and continues all week with a grape stomp, classes, tastings, music, art, wine and a grand finale featuring a Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting at Northstar California Resort. Unique to this event is the opportunity to visit a farmers market with a renowned chef to learn about fall seasonal produce, meat, fish, cheese and flowers.

Happening September 1-9, 2012, tickets are on sale now.Taste of Madison– Madison, Wisconsin
More than 80 local restaurants offer a sample of their finest fare at more food-oriented Taste of Madison. The annual event benefits United Cerebral Palsy and has helped them raise nearly $400,000 in the past decade alone. Three stages have live music throughout the two-day event featuring Country, Rock and R&B.

Just two days, Taste of Madison happens September 1-2, 2012. No admission.




[Flickr photo by Aunt Owwee]

5 Free Things To Do In Orlando That Are Not Theme Parks

by Chris Owen on

Travelers planning a trip to Orlando usually have plenty of things to do – for a price. Central Florida attractions draw millions of visitors every year spending billions in travel dollars. Often saving up for years to make a magical Florida vacation reality, families visit the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Sea World and others. But while there is no shortage of attractions charging a hefty admission fee, there are quite a few that are free, many of which are close by the expensive Orlando attractions.

Wekiwa Springs State Park is one of many parks in Florida with no admission fee. This one is less than an hour from most Central Florida attractions. Wekiwa Springs State Park lets visitors take a break from the busy, loud theme parks and enjoy a picnic or take a swim in the cool spring. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent and 13 miles of trails are great for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.

Lake Eola Park is a popular downtown destination that has many people taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings, perfect to walk at lunch or the evenings. Admission is free but renting swan-shaped paddleboats or electric gondola boats will cost $30 per hour. Visitors feed the live swans, see a free concert or play in the Walt Disney Amphitheater or just enjoy a spectacular view of Orlando’s skyline.

Winter Park Farmers Market happens on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features everything from fresh produce to local handcrafted gifts and artwork. Also in Winter Park, is the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens featuring world-class sculptures and paintings and the Cady Way Bike Trail, a 3.7-mile greenway joining Orlando and Winter Park. Bike, walk, roller blade, stroll or run seven days a week.Ocala National Forrest is a year-round recreational option. There are huge springs, twisting streams and lakes for fishing and water skiing. The cool crystal-clear waters of Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, Salt Springs and Silver Glen Springs draw snorkelers. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking and boating are available every day and secluded cabins are available that will hold up to 12 people.

Snowhill Mountain Bike Trail is located in the Little Big Econ State Forest. Snowhill trail has single pine needle-layered trails, some sugar-sand parts and river crossings by suspension bridge, as well as some steep drops. Admission is free here too.


[Flickr photo by erin leigh mcconnell]

Rescue By Cruise Ship Not A Happy Event

by Chris Owen on

We might think that being rescued by a cruise ship, after floating in the ocean for days or weeks, would be a good thing. Cuban refugees, commonly found on or close to routes traveled by cruise ships, are brought aboard to be cared for. Cheering passengers feel good about it all but for the refugees, a hot meal on a cruise ship is about the last thing in the world they want.

It’s called the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy that allows Cubans who reach U.S. soil on their own to take a fast track to permanent residency. But if they get picked up by a helpful cruise ship, they most likely go back to Cuba.

“The cruise line usually takes them on the ship, calls the U.S. Coast Guard who sails out to the scene, and the Coast Guard processes the refugees and sails them back to Cuba where they end up in Castro’s jails,” says maritime attorney James Walker on his CruiseLawNews website.

Friday night, some floating refugees apparently knew all about the Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy, refusing to be rescued by Royal Caribbean’s giant Oasis of the Seas. On board was our friend @NomadicMatt who tweeted, “Our cruise ship just stopped to help rescue Cuban refugees in raft that was stranded at sea.”But it did not take long for refugees to take on food and water then continue on their way, trying to leave before the U.S. Coast Guard arrived.

“There is a lot of yelling on the raft and at times they look like they are trying to get away as they know the coast guard was called,” tweeted @NomadicMatt.

Odds are, the Coast Guard found the refugees, picked them up and will send them back to Cuba. But in the cover of night, they might have eluded authorities and made it to shore on their own.

“Let’s hope the winds and currents and the grace of God bring the refugees ashore tonight and they plant their feet on U.S. soil and can begin free lives here in America,” concluded Walker.

[Flickr photo by TarikB]