Wrong Again

Or, at least I do. I never would have viewed a cruise has having any potential for a budget traveler. Checking out my local paper I found the prices offered to be a bit much for those of us who pride ourselves on knowing where the best cheap falafel in Jerusalem is or the budget bests along the South Carolina's Grand Strand. Face it, I can be a bit of an off-price snob.

Luckily a reader pointed out that you can cruise on the cheap and get the same service, destinations and perks that the less price-conscious pay

It isn't the first time I've had my own words for lunch --- a few phrases with thousand island dressing and olives makes an excellent low-calorie midday meal.

Cruise is only for the once in a life time traveler or the person who has plastic burning a hole in his retirement fund. Right? Wrong. Upon reader advice I checked out http://vacationstogo.com and found among other things a 14-day Pacific extravaganza for fewer than one thousand dollars. I was more than amazed.

If you've ever longed to float around welcoming islands and thought you'd have to join the Navy to do it, check out the site. A big bonus is that the company gives you multiple perspectives on choices--- they tell you how you can benefit from booking your own air and how you can benefit from booking with the cruise as a package--- it's unusual to see a commercial site this honest!

I've learned a few other things this past year that I'll pass along:

Airline carry-on requirements and luggage manufacture's advertising don't always mesh. If you really want your roll on to fit carry-on regs call your favorite carrier and get their measurement specs then measure your bag --- don't trust salesmen or brochures.

It really is important to reconfirm flight times. Really. Trust me on that.

Modern x-ray equipment really doesn't harm film.

Regarding jet lag remedies. It may depend on your astrological sign or what color your tooth brush is. Some folks do the drill --- changing their diet for days ahead, gobbling herbal concoctions. Others seem to swill the booze, eat fat laden goodies and bounce into other time zones like a kid playing hopscotch - it may well be luck.

Cold medicine --- don't leave home without it. Something about long haul flights seems to spark respiratory bugs into being.

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