Staying Informed…
by American Way StaffNew and Useful Bits of Information for
the Discerning Traveler - Chris Tucker
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Netflix may have pioneered the flicks-by-mail/no-late-fees model,
but it's too good of an idea to limit to just movies. Enter Simply
Audiobooks, which offers a huge array of titles by authors ranging
from James Patterson and John Grisham to Henry James and Friedrich
Nietzsche. If the U.S. mail is too slow for you, many titles are
offered by download. Plans start at $12 per month for one book at a
time and include free shipping (both ways). www.simply
audiobooks.com
PrimeTime Dining
Sure, it'd be great to dine at the hottest spots in New York, Los
Angeles, and any other city, but - regretful sigh - who has time to
wait weeks for reservations? Especially if you're only in town for
a night or two. Don't despair: Now you can crash the line with
PrimeTime Tables, a new status broker. You pick the posh eatery;
they pull the strings and land your table.
They charge $35 for reservations made 48 hours or more in advance,
$40 for reservations made 24 hours before, and $45 for a same-day
table reserved before noon (payable through PayPal or by e-check).
Not exclusive enough? Opt for the $450/year premium plan and pay
nothing for same-day reservations. Check out participating cities
and the fine print at www.primetimetables.com.
Don't Leave Home Without It
When a massive snowstorm closed Denver International Airport last
December, the only people smiling may have been the lucky few who
had bought travel-insurance policies - which can cover trip
cancellation and interruption, medical bills, accidental death, and
other contingencies.
While it's probably not needed for short domestic flights, trip
insurance makes plenty of sense for international travel and long,
complex itineraries. A few tips from experts: Use a reputable
company that has offices around the world and 24/7 service;
remember that most preexisting conditions won't be covered; and
don't pay more than 10 percent of the trip's cost for a policy.
Info abounds on the Internet, so start by browsing the websites of
Seven Corners, the Berkely Group, InsureMyTrip, and World Nomads,
where you'll find clear explanations and quick price quotes.
www.sevencorners.com, www.berkely.com, www.insuremytrip.com,
www.worldnomads.com
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