The 2003 Sourcebook

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

How to sidestep scams that offer too-good-to-be-true vacation deals

The Federal Trade Commission calls them "trip traps," tickets to Heartbreak Hotel. They are the too-good-to-be-true vacation offers that flood mailboxes, fill the Internet or are pitched by fast-talking telemarketers:

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Living with new luggage scrutiny

The most recent change in the world of airport security is in the bag.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

How to keep a low profile when traveling abroad

You're traveling abroad, and you've left at home the trappings that fairly shriek "rich American": the logo baseball caps and T-shirts, the expensive athletic shoes, the designer watch and flashy jewelry. That's about all you can do to keep from being targeted by a terrorist, a con artist or a thief, right?

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

U.S. travel warnings and advisories

The State Department is warning Americans to avoid travel to these countries:

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Foreign government tourist offices

Here is a list of selected government tourist offices. For information about a country not listed, call the United Nations at (212) 963-1234; dial 0 and ask for the number of the country's U.N. delegation.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

State and U.S. territory tourist offices

Alabama: Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, 401 Adams Ave., Suite 126, Montgomery, AL 36104; (800) 252-2262, (334) 242-4169, fax (334) 242-4554, http://www.touralabama.org.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

California city, county visitor bureaus

This list of visitor information offices, edited by The Times for space, was provided in part by the California Division of Tourism in Sacramento.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

National parks and monuments in the Golden State

Find out about scenic and historic sites as well as special programs, fees and directions to California's national parks, monuments and recreation areas:

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Major car rental agencies

Ace Rent a Car (800) 243-3443 http://www.acerentacar.com

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Riding the rails the world around

In Europe, better and faster trains are the order of the day. In the United States, the good news is that Amtrak apparently is secure for another year. In British Columbia, the poor economy has caused BC Rail to eliminate its passenger service on what once was among North America's most scenic routes. Here are contacts for selected trains around the world. (Note: Some numbers are for U.S.-based sales agents that have exclusive booking contracts with these lines, but most trains can be reserved by your local travel agent.)

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Strap on a helmet and get there on 2 wheels

After returning from a recent trip to Florida, Chris McIntyre likened driving his car to life in a fishbowl. "The wind is not in your face, the sun is not on your arms, you don't hear any sounds or smell any smells," he said.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Thinking about an RV vacation? So are millions of others

America's baby boomers, seeking new ways to get away from it all, have helped RV sales skyrocket in the last year.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Help for travelers who have special requirements

For every traveler who has a special need or interest, there are agencies, Web sites and other resources that can help.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

The ins and outs of travel insurance

You can't take all the risk out of travel in these uncertain times, but you can reduce the financial risk by buying insurance.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

A directory of cruise lines and ships

Here is a listing of cruise lines and their vessels. One caveat: Many cruise companies prefer to sell through travel agents. It's best to book through an agent who specializes in cruises.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Getting in touch with airlines

The following is a list of selected national and international airlines that fly out of major cities in the United States.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Bargain hunters have many options to get to their destination

The Internet is generally the best way to find deals on air fares, but there are other ways to save on that ticket to London or Hawaii. They take time, and you may have to make several calls to ferret out the best price. Your savings will vary from a few bucks to a couple of hundred. Generally, the more flexibility and time you have, the more money you save.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Curb your parking enthusiasm: How to get to LAX without taking a car

In San Francisco, the tracks have been laid and the final touches are being put on the BART rail extension that will connect the city's airport with downtown later this year -- a system more than 30 years in the making.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Hotel and motel numbers and Web sites

Here are phone numbers and Internet sites for major lodging companies and associations.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Home exchanges let thrifty travelers swap till they drop

From a financial standpoint, if nothing else, the benefits of home exchanging are clear.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Travel health is more than vaccines

Last year I visited Tanzania, an African country where malaria is rampant. In parts of the country, villagers receive 300 infective mosquito bites per year -- meaning, on average, they're exposed to malaria almost nightly. Did I smear insect repellent all over my body and down malaria pills during my stay? You bet. Without these measures, the malaria stakes in Africa are high. Even with them, there are no guarantees. And there is no vaccine.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Have a complaint? Raise it in writing and lower expectations

When things go wrong on a trip and travelers seek an explanation or apology from a hotel, airline or other travel service, they often get neither. But in many cases there is an agency that wants to hear and count your complaints.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Making your way through the Web of travel sites

Our list of Web travel resources grows every year -- and with good reason.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Currency exchange now offers more options

Geane Dvorak of Ventura frequently travels internationally on business, visits family in Brazil and has a daughter at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, so she often has to change U.S. dollars into the local currency.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

Budget more time and money for passports

As you're budgeting for your trip abroad, add more money to the line marked "passport."

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

For investigative travelers, all the world's a bookshelf

I'm pretty sure somebody did a study recently and discovered there are now more companies publishing guidebooks than there are people to read them.

February 2, 2003

2003 SOURCEBOOK

L.A.'s travel bookstores

In the Los Angeles area these stores specialize in travel literature and accessories: