Changes at Airport Security Checkpoints

/PRNewswire/ -- There are three things that are all but certain during the winter high-travel season: family gatherings, plenty of food, and strict security at the nation's airports.

To improve the safety of passengers, the federal government has introduced advanced imaging technology at some of the country's airports. These are machines designed to screen people for weapons, explosives, or other items that might present a security risk.

Here is some information to help you learn more about how this technology works, as well as tips to help you prepare for the busiest travel season of the year.

How Advanced Imaging Technology Works

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has installed two types of body scanners with advanced imaging technology at dozens of airports across the country. These scanners are:

* Millimeter Wave Unit: This machine uses electromagnetic waves to create a black-and-white, three-dimensional image of the passenger
* Backscatter Unit: This machine emits x-rays to create a reflection of the passenger's body


Advanced imaging technology is optional, although 99% of passengers prefer this type of screening, according to the TSA. Passengers who do not want to go through these machines can opt for a pat-down inspection by an official.

Measures to Protect the Privacy of Passengers

The officer who is assisting the traveler never sees the images produced by these machines. Instead, these images are sent to a separate room where they are evaluated. The officer helping the traveler will then receive the results of the scan via a wireless headset.

To protect the privacy of passengers:

* Faces of passengers subjected to the Millimeter Wave Unit are blurred. The Backscatter Unit blurs or modifies the entire image to preserve the anonymity of the passenger
* These machines cannot store, print, transmit or save images
* TSA officials are prohibited from entering the room where images are inspected with electronic devices such as cameras, camcorders, or cell phones


Advanced Imaging Technology Is Safe

The technology used by these machines is safe for all passengers, including children, pregnant women and people with medical implants. To compare it to other situations where individuals are exposed to radiation, TSA notes that:

* The energy generated by The Millimeter Wave Unit is thousands of times less than a cellular phone transmission
* The Backscatter Unit emits a level of radiation equivalent of two minutes of flight on an airplane


Tips For Going through Airport Security

Body scanners are designed to detect metallic and non-metallic items that a person might have hidden under his or her clothes. To move quickly through the airport security checkpoint and to avoid leaving items behind:

* Remove accessories such as wallets, belts, jewelry, keys, and cellular phones from your pocket
* Place these and other items in your carry-on bag before entering the security checkpoint

Use a smartphone to organize your summer fun

(ARA) - With summer around the corner, you might be thinking about a vacation or what to do to keep the kids busy. Luckily, you've come a long way from the days of guidebooks and day planners. Today, you have smartphones to help plan summer activities with ease.

Packed with features like e-mail, calendars, task lists and access to a wide variety of informational and entertaining mobile apps, a smartphone can serve as your all-in-one source for summer fun. Close to one in five U.S. adult mobile phone subscribers uses a smartphone, according to a Forrester survey conducted near the end of 2009, but are they taking advantage of all the perks? Here are some ideas for how you can stay organized, connected and entertained this summer:

On vacation:

* Explore new places with a GPS-enabled smartphone, like the BlackBerry Pearl. Map a route that hits key attractions and gets you to your hotel without getting lost. Not sure where to stop next? You can search a local guide and get turn-by-turn directions. You can also take GPS beyond the car with outdoor mapping apps that help you navigate hikes and walks.

* Don't risk losing small pieces of paper when you can store everything on your smartphone. Use the memo pad to save packing lists, important hotel information and confirmation numbers.

* Avoid hearing "are we there yet?" on your next road trip by loading your smartphone with music, videos and games for the kids before you go.

* With apps like Facebook for BlackBerry, you can keep your friends and family up to date on your latest vacation adventure by uploading pictures directly from your smartphone.

* Pack light by making the most of all the features your smartphone has to offer. Why carry a camera and media player when most smartphones have both built in?

Around town:

* Use your smartphone's calendar to juggle schedules anywhere, and set reminders so you don't miss anything. If you need more help keeping track of what's on your plate, use the task manager to organize activities.

* Not sure whether to bring the SPF 15 or SPF 45 when heading for a swim? Download a weather app to check the UV index. If clouds start rolling in while the kids are swimming, grab your BlackBerry smartphone to see if the weather app is flashing a thunderstorm warning. If so, come up with plan B - check the local movie schedule on your smartphone's web browser.

* Use instant messaging applications to quickly get in touch from anywhere. Effortlessly organize a group play date by adding all your child's friends' parents to a BlackBerry Messenger group - this will let you communicate with everyone at once.

* Plan a great staycation with guides like buzzd and Poynt, which can help you discover fun new destinations in your area.

Thinking of upgrading to a smartphone? Look for one with a long battery life, so you can be on the go longer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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A Fun Twist On The Annual Vacation

(NAPSI)-An annual vacation can sometimes become monotonous, especially if your budget doesn't allow for an exotic venue. This year, consider keeping it fresh by making photography part of the adventure.

Viewing your trip through the lens of a camera can add a fun and inexpensive twist to the ordinary, while ensuring lasting memories. And according to National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, you don't have to be a pro to take incredible pictures.

Here are some easy photo tips from Richardson to help you capture memories on your next trip:

• If you want to focus on something small or short, get down low, very close to it.

• To add color to a picture, frame your subject with leaves or flowers in the foreground and get really close to them.

• Boring pictures can become interesting pictures when you leave stuff out. If the photo is all about the details, leave out what might detract.

• Most really good night shots aren't taken at night. They are actually taken at dusk, just after sundown. Set up your tripod and wait out the perfectly balanced moment.

A great photo can happen anywhere at any time, and now those vacation shots can land one person the ultimate vacation: a trip for two to the Greek Isles with National Geographic Expeditions and the chance to be featured in National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries.

Through June 30, aspiring photographers can visit national geographic.com/lithium to enter a photo in the 2010 Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest. There are six thematic categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people/cultures, weather and action/energy.

Whether a digital photography novice, a proud picture-taking mom or a longtime photo enthusiast, all skill levels are encouraged to enter.

"You don't have to be an expert or have expensive equipment to capture a magnificent shot," said Richardson, judge for the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest. "Great photography is often about being in the right place at the right time and making sure you're prepared to capture the moment when it happens."

To learn more tips from Richardson, see past finalist and winner photos and to make a submission, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/lithium.

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Priceline Says Average Summer Airfares Could Be Up 25% This Year

/PRNewswire/ -- Summer airfare deals are out there, but finding them this year will take a little more homework, planning and creativity, according to the head of priceline.com's (NASDAQ: PCLN) airline ticketing service.

"Airline capacity and routes flown are still down compared to recent years," said Mark Koehler, Priceline's Senior Vice President, Air. "We haven't experienced the widespread, aggressive airfare sales seen a year ago. In general, travelers will find that summer airfares could be as much as 25% more expensive than last year, on average, and that's before factoring in extra fees for baggage, pillows, food and such. Travelers who want to save on air travel will need to plan ahead, be flexible and try different approaches to booking their trips."

Priceline.com was the first major online travel agency to eliminate booking fees on its published price domestic and international airline tickets. Priceline's airline tickets service www.priceline.com/flights/ offers a full suite of features to help travelers save money on airfare. Entering travel dates and airports will generate an easy to follow grid of airlines and fares. Searches can be modified to look for alternative airports, travel dates and times. Priceline's Inside Track www.priceline.com/insidetrack includes a Best Days To Fly calendar, a Price Drop e-mail notifier and a special section that shows typical savings, connections and flight times for Priceline's Name Your Own Price® airline ticketing service.

Name Your Own Price® continues to be a good choice for last-minute travelers who can't find an affordable fare. "Despite the decrease in capacity, airlines are still flying with some empty seats, especially during off-peak travel days and times," said Koehler. "Travelers are having success with last-minute priceline.com airline ticket bids that are up to 50% below the published fares. The deals are there. The key to finding the best deals is using Priceline's fare search tools to find the off-peak days and times where the bargains are likely to be."

Koehler, an airline industry veteran and United Airlines alumnus, offered his personal tips for trimming the cost of a summer air trip:

-- Pack with a plan (and other ways to cut down on extra fees). Paying
for each piece of baggage means that every item should be scrutinized
during packing to be sure it will be worn or used on the trip ahead.
If not, leave it behind. Some airlines are now charging for larger
carry-ons. Travelers bringing a laptop should be careful not to use
too large a case or stuff it too full - otherwise, the airline may
charge a fee. Shipping certain items ahead may be cheaper than paying
the baggage fee. Travel with a sweater that can double as a blanket
or be folded into a pillow. Have a meal or a snack before getting
onto the plane.

-- Be open to trying different airlines and airports. Summer fares are
likely to vary quite a bit from airline to airline. For example, a
late-June round-trip flight from Boston to San Francisco returned
fares ranging from $453 to $548 depending on the airline and flight
times. Also, if multiple airports are within range, check the fares
to and from all of them. A late June trip from San Francisco to the
Washington, DC, area cost $414 flying into Reagan International and
$403 flying into Dulles.

-- Try alternative travel days. Fares do go up or down depending on
travel days selected. It's just as true now as it is during the
end-of-year holidays. Priceline's popular Best Days To Fly calendar
shows what happens to fares depending on travel dates selected.

-- Pick times of the day that are normally less busy. Time of day is
important. Travelers will find the most affordable seats departing
early in the morning (5-7 a.m.) or late evening (after 8 p.m.).
Mid-day (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.) is a bit more expensive, but still
reasonable. Most expensive are the peak business travel hours (8-10
a.m. and 5-7 p.m.).

-- Use priceline.com's Name Your Own Price® airline tickets service.
Travelers can save up to 50% on last-minute airline tickets by using
priceline.com's Name Your Own Price® ticketing service. It's easy.
Just choose the travel dates, airports and price. You'll know
instantly if your bid is accepted. With priceline.com's Name Your Own
Price airline tickets service, travelers must agree to fly anytime
between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on whatever major airline accepts
their offer. There may be up to one connection each way.

-- Need a rental car or hotel room with that ticket? Travelers using
priceline.com's published-price and Name Your Own Price airline
tickets service can now add a rental car with a few mouse clicks. In
addition to not charging booking fees for its published-price airline
tickets, Priceline.com doesn't charge booking fees for its
published-price rental cars. And here's another tip - customers may
find they can get a Name Your Own Price airfare/rental car combo for
less than the price of a published-price airline ticket.

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Warm weather relaxing or playing in the snow? Tips for planning your winter travels

(ARA) - The winter months offer the perfect excuse to plan a fabulous getaway, and you don't have to travel far to find something that fits your vacation expectations.

If you need to flee from the cold depths of winter, there are plenty of beaches in Florida and California, and warm desert landscapes to enjoy in Arizona and New Mexico that will warm you up and give your skin a bit of summer glow. Picture yourself playing tennis in the sun, or lounging by the pool with a book while the kids are splashing around in the water.

Here are tips on how to best plan your warm-weather winter vacation:

* Look for deals during the slow months. Because January and February are so close to the holidays, but too early yet for spring break, hotels and resorts tend to offer special discounts to encourage traveling.

* Pack sunblock, even if you've been "tanning." Also make sure your travel bags include sun shades, a hat with a brim and a water bottle. Nothing makes a vacation more uncomfortable than sunburn and dehydration.

* Add a jacket to the luggage. Nights can get chilly, and if the wind blows in a rain cloud or two, you'll be glad you have that jacket to ward off the goose bumps.

Maybe you like to play in the fluffy white stuff and can't wait to schedule downhill skiing in Colorado, snowshoeing in Maine or ice fishing in Minnesota. The images you'll take home this winter include majestic mountains covered in snow, your daughter pulling a 360 while snowboarding down a half-pipe or even a moose with a full rack of antlers on his head browsing for vegetation along a back country road.

Tips for planning your snow vacation include:

* Figure out if you're going to take your gear or rent it at your destination. While looking into this, determine if your vehicle can carry all the gear, or if there are any restrictions barring you from taking it on the airplane. If you plan to rent, call ahead of time to reserve your equipment.

* Pack many layers of clothing. Many snow activities can make you warm, but once you stop moving, you're going to want the heavier layers back.

* Again, don't forget sunblock, goggles, shades or hat, because the sun glaring on snow can easily burn your skin and eyes, and winter rays can be just as damaging as those in summer.

Once you have your destination picked and travels planned, there's one more step to ensure your winter getaway is successful. While away from home, having your health and safety front-of-mind is very important so you are prepared for emergencies like falling and breaking a bone while swishing down a ski slope, or suddenly discovering you have seafood allergies while sampling fresh crawfish in Louisiana.

On Call International provides travel assistance anywhere in the world to travelers who experience an emergency, need medical care or evacuation while away from home. If you want to return to your local hospital for treatment because you are familiar with the area and can have your personal doctor available, On Call will coordinate a medical evacuation for the sick person and help arrange transportation for the rest of the family.

Only a small percentage of health insurance plans cover medical evacuation when the member is on vacation and away from home. This means you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars if you need to be transported from the resort's local clinic to a better hospital hundreds of miles away, or need a nurse to monitor your care on the way home after a skiing accident.

So when you plan your next trip to sunny Texas or snowy Michigan, don't forget to pack some comfort and safety for you and your family. And consider enrolling in an On Call International membership just in case you experience a travel emergency.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Updated CDC Travel Health Book Released

/PRNewswire/ -- The 2010 edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Yellow Book includes new or expanded sections on medical tourism, traveling safely with chronic diseases and conditions, and expert perspectives on popular travel itineraries worldwide. The updated book, which is a definitive guide for healthy international travel, is now available online.

Nicknamed for its yellow cover, the health guide updated every two years is officially titled CDC Health Information for

International Travel. The resource provides travel health recommendations and other features that help international travelers prepare for trips and stay healthy while abroad.

"The profile of the international traveler is changing. Increasingly, we're seeing older Americans traveling with chronic medical conditions. The new Yellow Book provides tips to help these travelers, and all international travelers, be healthy," said Dr. Gary Brunette, chief of CDC's Travelers' Health Branch and managing editor of the 2010 Yellow Book.

The Yellow Book includes for the first time a section on medical tourism, the growing practice of traveling internationally for medical procedures and leisure activities in one trip. In 2006, more than half a million Americans traveled abroad for health care, according to one survey.

"More people are traveling abroad for medical reasons, often to undergo medical procedures at cheaper rates than they might get in the United States. Medical standards can vary by country, and traveling soon after a medical procedure can carry its own set of health risks. We're providing new recommendations to help people who choose medical tourism to do it as safely as possible," Brunette said.

A new section highlights select international destinations that are popular but may be unfamiliar to doctors advising travelers. CDC asked travel health experts with particular knowledge of these areas to write the new sections to give readers a sense of what it's really like to be there and what health risks exist at each location. The nine highlighted itineraries include Cuzco-Machu Pichu in Peru, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Iguassu Falls in South America, safaris in eastern and southern Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and trips to India, China, Costa Rica and Nepal.

The 2010 edition also includes these new features:
-- In-depth information about 20 additional diseases that travelers might
not be familiar with, such as anthrax and scabies
-- A discussion on mental health and travel
-- A section about drug-drug and drug-vaccine interactions, which is
especially important since travelers may be recommended to take a
number of vaccines and medications before and during travel
-- A section about common respiratory infections in travelers
-- More in-depth information about common post-travel illnesses, such as
persistent travelers' diarrhea and fever, their causes, and when to
seek treatment


Popular past features have been updated in the 2010 edition. These topics include jet lag, cruise ship travel, traveling with disabilities, traveling with infants and children, international adoptions, and immigrants returning to visit their native countries.

The Yellow Book is published in hard copy by Elsevier Inc., and is available at bookstores, through Internet book sellers, or by contacting Elsevier at 1-800-545-2522 or www.us.elsevierhealth.com. The Yellow book content also is available at CDC's Traveler's Health Web site, www.cdc.gov/travel. The Web site allows travelers to look up information by travel destination and find information about basic travel health preparations as well as what to do if they get sick or injured while traveling. The site is updated as new travel health threats emerge and other new information becomes available.

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Smart ways summer travelers can cut hotel costs

(ARA) – How does your family plan to save money on summer vacation this year? Driving rather than flying? Maybe carrying all the items you need instead of renting once arriving at your destination? These are all great ways to save! But how do you cut back on one of the biggest, yet totally necessary costs of travel – accommodations?

After airfare (which many travelers are eschewing in favor of less costly motoring), accommodations can be the largest cost associated with summer travel. Short of staying with nearby family (too much togetherness for some of us) or popping a pup tent at the local campground (roughing it isn’t for everyone), how can you cut accommodation costs?

Here are a few helpful hints for both families and business people traveling this summer:

* Stick with a suite deal – If you’re traveling with more than three people in your party, there’s a lot to be said for staying in a suite, from both a cost and comfort standpoint. Suites offer room for larger parties and one suite in a quality hotel can be more cost-effective than booking multiple rooms in a budget property.

Factor in the free extras that come with a suite at a quality brand like Embassy Suites, and the savings can add up further. You’ll save money on food and beverage at Embassy Suites because they offer a free cooked-to-order breakfast every morning and your favorite beverages at an evening Manager’s Reception.

* Timing is everything – If you’re traveling on business, you may not have much flexibility on timing. Still, it’s wise to avoid traveling to a destination during a well-attended festival or event – unless, of course, your business is connected to the event. For leisure travelers, a wiser course might be to choose your destination based on attractions and proximity to home, and then book travel during times when demand is likely to be lower.

Every destination has a “shoulder season” – a time when fewer people are looking to book rooms. Check with the hotel you’re interested in, or the area convention and visitors bureau, to find out when lower demand times occur. You can sometimes save substantially by traveling at those times.

* You’ve earned your rewards – Sign up for travel rewards programs. Look for programs that allow you to move points between accounts. For example, some airlines and hotel chains have programs that award you extra points for traveling with their partners or allow you to apply their points toward travel with their partners. Your points accumulate value faster with these types of programs.

* Shop smart – Comparison shopping is easier than ever thanks to the Internet. Numerous Web sites allow you to quickly find great deals, check out nearby attractions and even create a full travel itinerary. Once you’ve found a great online deal, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, call the hotel and ask someone there if they can do better than the advertised online rate. If they can’t lower the rate, they may be able to throw in some extra incentives like discount coupons to nearby attractions or even a complimentary meal in the hotel’s restaurant.

To learn more about how to save on accommodations and get a “suite deal,” visit www.EmbassySuites.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent