Don't you?

The TSA’s name should have warned everyone. Transportation Safety Administration. Everyone thought it was just airports, but transportation applies to any form of movement. And now, the TSA is showing some states how safety is administered.

On Tuesday, Tennessee DOT and TSA began working together under the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response, known as VIPR, program. VIPR assumes that if you’re moving, you’re obviously a terrorist. It doesn’t matter if travel is by plane, train, automobile or broomstick. On this particular day, check points were set up at Tennessee weigh stations in an effort to “maintain traffic security” on interstate highways.

The check points allowed, under the guise of protection from terrorism, the TSA, Tennessee DOT and various Tennessee police departments, both state and local, to search trucks and harass drivers for no other reason other than “because we can”. No mention of any violation of the Fourth Amendment, this done completely for the safety of all Americans.

Bomb and drug sniffing dogs were put to work searching the targeted trucks. What? Drug sniffing dogs? How many terrorists are planning dumping a load of extacy into the water supply?

Truckers, the ones violated and those not, are being asked by the TSA to join the First Observer Highway Security Program. This is a program where truckers are being asked to report to VIPR all the suspicious people they see on the highway, rest areas or truck stops across the nation.

Americans ratting out each other will only strengthen our safety.

So, it’s time to do your part. Just keep your eyes peeled. See someone talking on their phone in the car? Call VIPR and report it. It’s obvious that that person is plotting to wage Jihad against us all.

GPS systems don't fail. They know you're moving & relaxing on the ferry.

Recently, my husband and I were in Europe. Though I haven’t written much about the trip due to a grueling work schedule in the real world, I did notice one thing.

Ferrys are the ultimate in vacation travel options. There is something about being on the water, wind in your hair and nothing to do but relax.

It started for me as a child. Every summer my sister and I would spend the summer at my Grandmothers house in Martha’s Vineyard. Woodshole, MA to Vineyard Haven: drive the car onto the ferry, get out, go get a snack and sit up on the deck to watch the coast of your summer coming closer.

This past trip to Europe held an amazing five ferry boat rides.

The coast of Hundested, Denmark from the ferry

The first ferry was on our trip up to Hundested, Denmark. We got to Rørvig a little late and watched the small six car ferry depart. I listened to my newly found cousin tell me family stories as we waited the short 20 minutes until the ferry returned. Hundested was where my great-grandfather built his family a summer home and that’s where we were going to have lunch. The ride was short but I learned why my grandmother picked Martha’s Vineyard as her summer place – it looked like Hundested, ferry and all.

HMS Windblowey. Enroute from Denmark to Germany

The next ferry we took was leaving Denmark to go to Germany. This ferry was all business, with a proper luncheon on board, plenty of chairs on deck and duty free shopping so I could find a pair of sunglasses. The ride, about 45 minutes which saved about two hours of driving, was well worth the cost. We really didn’t have to stop to eat lunch or take a break, losing no time at all.

Imperia welcomes all back to Konstanz Germany. See a close up below.

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Our next round trip ferry ride was on a day trip from Konstanz, Germany over to Meersburg. If your like most Americans, you may be questioning where is that? It’s Lake Constance, aka the Bodensee, in southern Germany bordering Switzerland and Austria. This ferry ride was a quiet and somewhat crowded ride lasting about an hour each way and provided a nice rest from all the exploring of both Konstanz and Meersburg.

Our last ride was a find. After driving around Lake Constance, we had dinner in Lindau and drove a little bit and took the car ferry from Meersburg back to Konstance. We hadn’t planned it, but it saved some time and was just so nice to be back on the water.

Ferrys are coo, relaxing and fun. You’re putting miles behind you as you’re just enjoying the breeze blowing through your hair, just a great way to travel. Try it sometime.

And hey, Detroit/Windsor area. Get one. It would be used, I hate taking the tunnel.

FAA Taxes start up again

to pay attention to taking care of the FAA, who is overall supervisor of taxes that the federal government places on airline tickets. These are historically collected by the airlines and the FAA personnel assigned to that section see to the transfer. However, since the FAA doesn’t have a new budget to provide funding for these people they’ve stopped collecting the taxes on the tickets. At first this was reported as a coming windfall for travelers and some airlines reported increased calls to their reservations centers. So far so good.

But…along comes the eagerly-awaited day and lo and behold, Spirit (of all carriers), Virgin America and Alaska stopped collecting the tax, although since then, Virgin has started up again, advising its passengers they may be entitled to a refund from the federal government. But what about the other “customer-friendly” U.S. carriers? True to their grubby, evil ways they have been pocketing the money, which has turned into a nice little (?) windfall for them. In their own sick minds they’re justifying it by saying the money is desperately needed to offset the quickly rising cost of jet fuel. Hey…I’m only a hard, but poor-working journalist but I have a suggestion for this pap…STOP MAKING AIRLINERS WAIT ON THE TARMAC FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND MOVE EQUIPMENT THAT’S BLOCKING THE GATE!!! I haven’t been on a flight in months that we haven’t had to either wait for a blocked gate to be cleared…or a marshaling team come out to guide us in. What, they weren’t expecting a flight to come in as scheduled?

Over the last few years the airlines have found more creative ways to make money than Heidi Fleiss did when she ran a passel of call girls. They now charge for everything from blankets to checked baggage to water – and everything in-between. I’m sure they all have Cray SuperComputers working 24/7 to come up with new sources of revenue – no matter how absurd-sounding they may be. Can you imagine their glee at having a mountain of cash laid at their doorstep like they have this past week from ticket taxes? Their financial people must be hyperventilating.

Instead of groveling around like some third-world bazaar vendors why won’t air transportation executives put their (alleged) collective wisdom towards promoting good will, which in turn promotes customer loyalty? Unfortunately for the cabin crews, it’s they who are in the forefront of passenger anger. We’ve all encountered attitude no matter how understanding we are. While flight attendants are trying to put on something of a sincere smile greeting passengers as they enter the aircraft door – and not getting paid until the aircraft pushes back from the gate – the people responsible for this Dachau of a work environment are at the gym or enjoying a latte at their desks while no doubt digging up new sources of revenue.

I have always been under the mistaken impression that air travel is a customer service business. Silly me, huh? If it were, there wouldn’t be 43 rows on an aircraft that was designed for 25-30. There wouldn’t be 10 seats across a wide-bodied aircraft that was designed for 8 or 9. There wouldn’t be a shrinking first-class cabin that allows fewer frequent flyers – the cash cow for airlines – to get much-deserved and even more-needed upgrades. Case in point…Delta Air Lines. Delta is or has removed one row of first-class on many of its Airbus A320s and A319s. These two aircraft types have been as close to passenger-friendly airliners as exists anymore. However, they’re also removing the rear galley and as a result they’ll be able to put in 14 more coach seats. (If they’re really sincere about ruining the lives of their customers they might be able to fit in 54 more seats if they sharpen up their pencils and remove a lavatory or two.)

So now we’re back to the FAA taxes. I read this morning where Delta alone has taken in about $2 million or more from collected taxes that are not going towards ticket price reduction (and thus, passenger service). Personally, I don’t see any difference in what Delta and their gang of thieves are doing than following some poor quadriplegic in a motorized wheel chair when
all-of-a-sudden a $50 bill flies out of his pocket and lands at Delta’s feet. Since he can’t feel anything from the waist down (we’ll call him Ed) Ed has no idea his only money that has to last him for three weeks to buy food and medicine slipped out of his pocket. Anybody short of Saddam Hussein would pick up the money and hand it back that poor bastard (or at least put it in Ed’s pocket). Not most members of the Air Transport Association of America. They’re not trained to think that way. With that $50 they can buy a round of drinks for the executive polo club.

My advice for the airlines is to show some decency and discretion instead of balls. It will go a lot farther in the long run and be more palatable to your customers. Found money doesn’t mean necessarily your money.

Al often garners good will from others by not running them over. See who he doesn’t run over next week right here.

Maybe we should just head to Miami and hop on a boat and do a few laps around the Bahamas. Or maybe we should fly up to Alaska and race down to Vancouver, roll over a few cars, throw rocks at police and then head back to the Good Ol USA.

But lots of people love cruising — packing onto a boat, standing around waiting for Issac to whip up a cocktail and then just enjoying the ocean breeze.

So CruiseVacationCenter.com has sent out a press release announcing that cruises have never been cheaper or better for potential passengers. Last minute deals especially are looking good — and less expensive — officials at the company says. (Yes, we realize they make money by selling these deals, but, hey, we never mind someone making a few bucks if we’re going to have a good time.)

Roy Witman, one of the founders of the company, says in a news release, “The cruise business, like many other industries, has been hit hard by the recession. As a result, supply is high and demand is low. Therefore, prices on cruises are incredibly low – in fact, they are more affordable than ever.”

For information about Cruise Vacation Center, visit CruiseVacationCenter.com, call toll-free at 800-803-7245, or email cruiseinfo@cruisevacationcenter.com.

AdventureSmith Explorations has a couple of discounted cruises for a few of its small boats it takes down to the land of penguins and polar ice caps. The 2-for-1 deal applies to its cruise Feb. 22 – March 4 on the 11-day trip aboard the M/V Plancius.

Really, this is a pretty big savings: Trips start at $6,590 but don’t include things like airfare to Argentina or things you can do while cruising such as camping on the Antarctic.

The itinerary includes some once-in-a-lifetime things such as heading through Drake Passage to places like Deception Island, watching whales and hanging out with Elephant Seals at Hannah Point.

You will never go this far south again — ever.

We also like that the list of notes that come with the itinerary with all of the exemptions and rules, which is actually longer than the itinerary — such as the requirement of insurance, a note that says every thing can change (weather happens, you know?) and how fuel surcharges work (right now it’s $20 per person per night — unless oil costs more than $80 per barrel, then the surcharge is $25 per person per night. The cruise company even provides a place to buy your carbon offsets for your flight — though we relish the irony of people buying carbon offsets to go on a luxury cruise to the Antarctic in the first place.

Who says you can’t love your environment and pollute it too?

Photos are screen shots from AdventureSmith Explorations.

The solution? Eagle Island.

Arriving at Eagle Island

Located off the coast of Darien, Georgia, this 10-acre privacy preserve is a barrier island littered with sago palms, Spanish moss, and a sense of serenity and stillness.  The 10-minute boat ride from downtown Darien lets you off at the dock at Eagle Island, and once there, you and your guests are the only inhabitants on the island for the duration of your stay—save the eagles, black boars, alligators and other wild and wily creatures. It’s your very own private hideaway, from arrival to departure. Round-trip boat transportation is provided at no extra cost, or you can captain your own boat if you’d like.

Captain Andy Hill

Developed and designed by owner/operator Captain Andy Hill, the island is a serene respite of deep hammocks, moss-draped live oaks, cozy fireplaces and sweeping sunset vistas across vast salt marshes. It’s a kick-back, no-plans vacation spot for those who like the idea of camping and want a touch of the outdoors, but prefer the luxury of modern amenities, such as fresh linens, plush robes (yes, robes), leather furnishings, an outdoor hot tub for wine-soaked evenings in front of a stone fireplace, a gourmet kitchen (both indoor and out), and a fridge to stock all your drinks and eats. (You can bring your own food and drink, or opt for Captain Andy to stock the fridge for you, for an additional fee. If you want to be truly spoiled, a chef can come out and cook for you; don’t miss the signature Lowcountry boil.)

A hammock in paradise

The lodge sleeps 12 people comfortably, has two full baths and plenty of space for lounging—relax in the great room in front of the stately fireplace on comfy leather furniture, or chill outside in the screened-in, bug-free, wrap-around porch, lazing in a hammock with a good book or your laptop (yes, there’s wireless Internet access, if you feel the need to be connected, as well as satellite TV.)   Or take a walk down to the dock, sit in the swing with your morning brew, and watch the sun rise over the grassy marsh. With luck, you might even spot a dolphin or two.

View from Eagle Island dock

]]> http://www.hipstertravelguide.com/archives/11304/feed 1 http://www.hipstertravelguide.com/archives/11239 http://www.hipstertravelguide.com/archives/11239#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:11:40 +0000 Gayle McCarthy http://www.hipstertravelguide.com/?p=11239 It’s fun to impress people at office parties with scrappy jokes and inane (yet intriguing) information, such as the fact that the dollar bill weighs about one gram, but keeping the witticisms fresh can sometimes be a challenge. So, no more Palin puns, please, and enough about Julian Assange and his weird Wiki ways. It’s time for something completely different. It’s time to impress those in your social circle with alligator calling.

We at HTG were first introduced to the mysterious life and ways of a true alligator whisperer, deep in the heart of the South on a press trip to the lodge at Eagle Island. This 10-acre secluded refuge, located just off thecoast of Darien, Georgia,  is home to all walks of wildlife, including gators, wild boars, snakes, armadillos and eagles, to name a few―although I only saw a few large, black wild boars roaming the grounds and no actual alligators.

Captain Wendell Harper, the alligator expert, informed us that gators are generally more afraid of humans than we are of them (not convinced), they are faster and more agile than most people think (true―I once saw an alligator zip across a busy highway unscathed), the length of a gator’s body can be determined by measuring its head (i.e., if the head is 12 inches in length, the body will measure 12 feet), and that gators basically sound like The Three Stooges when emitting their cries. Nyuck nyuck.

Stay tuned this week for more HTG adventures on Eagle Island.

The winner will also get:

Round trip airfare for everyone

Hotel accommodations.

Four $1000 Visa gift cards.

There are a slew of rules –basically requiring you to use a certain code — but staying at an Embassy Suites is not a bad place to spend a night, and their breakfasts are still top notch, especially considering the price.

ShermansTravel.com sent along this last minute deal yesterday for 77 percent off a seven night cruise around the Caribbean.  However, you should note, that the website that is offering the deal — Vacations To Go — requires a lengthy registration process — we gave up on the second page of the survey and never did pull up the deal — as we don’t really like websites that automatically fill out boxes for you (so you can be sent their deals via email) and collect too much information.

(NOTE: On a second try, we got through to the deal, which expires today, but we’re not sure if that’s we had already filled out the first page of the survey of information. The deal is based upon double occupancy and does not include airfare to Miami or port fees.)

$379+: 7-Nt Carnival Liberty Caribbean Cruise; Save 77%

Source: Carnival

Expires: 11/23/2010

Norwegian Sky. Photo: Norwegian Cruise Lines

Cougars don’t like water. Why, then is there another Cougar Cruise? Because these cougars like having cubs trapped in an environment where they can’t escape.

December 3rd, marks the third annual International Cougar Cruise hosted by Norwegian Sky, hosting the (now) time honored tradition of older women prowling for younger men aboard ship. The three night cruise will set off from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas and back again. It’s enough time to have fun, but not too much where you want to jump overboard.

Here kitty, kitty

Though it is a cougar cruise, any passenger above the age of 21 is able to participate in the package cruise event or even purchase a ticket directly from Norwegian Sky and watch the festivities from a safe distance.

Men well past cub years have been known to attend, marking their territory to compete for the attention of cougars on board. Whether they succeed or not is questionable and could be linked to a bank account.

Co-sponsored by the Singles Travel Company and The Society of Single Professionals, the cruise is about meeting people and having fun, providing an atmosphere where women and men can get together in preplanned activities. The ship provides the perfect atmosphere for keeping the group together, as it’s not like you can drive off to somewhere else. But leave your cat nip at home, that won’t help you with a cougar.