Record Numbers Set To Travel This Holiday

Linknet Travel News Digest - December 21, 2005 - Travel may be
expensive this time of year, but the AAA is still predicting
this will be a record year for travel in the U.S.

The organization estimates that 63.5 million Americans will
journey 50 miles or more from home for either Christmas or New
Year's. This is up 1.7 percent from last year. Approximately 81
percent will travel by automobile.

Travel plans are aided this year by the calendar. With both
Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Sunday, that makes for
two long weekends, and for many people, an entire week of
holiday revelling.

==>Travel Websites Still Offering Deals

If you've waited till the last minute to make your winter or
holiday travel arrangements, there may still be deals to have --
in spite of the fact that most travel sites are usually pretty
pricey this time of year.

Rather than fly planes with empty seats, the major airlines will
usually turn these seats over to online ticket sellers. Because
you are dealing with relatively small numbers of empty seats,
the deals can disappear quickly. A deal you find in the morning
may not be around in the afternoon.

Some sites where you can find deals: http://Priceline.com, http://Cheaptickets.com, and http://Hotwire.com

Be prepared to act quickly, and take what you get. The real
cheap tickets often have a one or two day stay overs, and are
non-refundable.

==>Tips for Travelling with Children

Why not use some of that idle travel time to pack in some
learning activities for the kids. Here are some tips for parents
who want to engage their children in learning, creating, and
exploring.

1. Take a sketch pad along. Create a family memory book with
your children. Share family holiday memories and illustrate them
in the book..

2. Bring along some blank note paper or note cards, and help
your child create some original greeting cards. Illustrate them
with original drawings, and add short original verses.

3. Encourage reading during travel. Bring some of your
children's favorite books and encourage your children to read.
Discuss the topics before you leave and let the kids help choose
the topics.

4. Instead of videos or DVDs, why not buy a talking book
(recorded version of a classic) and play that while you travel.

==>Passports Required for Caribbean Destinations in New Year

The North Port Sun Herald reports that if you are travelling to
the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central or South America, you will need
a passport as of January 1, 2006.

The passport is not required by the destination countries. It is
required to get back into the U.S. These new measures have been
instituted in what is called the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative, in order to strengthen border security. Plans also
call for passports required for travel to and from Mexico and
Canada by January 2007, although this policy is currently under
review.