Q&A with travel tips author Jeanine Barone.
Pint-sized, fiercely independent and packing an intense curiosity about the world and its best kept secrets, I first met travel journalist, Jeanine Barone (kindred spirit but no relation), a few years ago in Baltimore where she expertly sniffed out the city’s insider favorites with a fervor and excitement that was contagious. Since then, we’ve explored together in Portugal and Mexico. Today, I’m pleased to share the following Q&A in which we discuss her newly released e-book, ‘The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel’. With a price tag of only $2.99, it may be one of the best travel deals out there.
1. Tell us a bit about your new e-book and your reasons for writing it?
I wrote the book as a practical guide for avoiding all manner of unpleasant experiences — illness, delayed flights, lost luggage, jet lag and hotel break-ins, to name a few — when traveling.
It’s organized into seven useful sections —with comical images to introduce each chapter — based on major travel topics: health and safety, savvy packing, airports and planes, other transportation (cars, trains and boats), accommodations, insurance and money issues, and recommended gear and products. These are insider tips cultivated from a lifetime of personal and professional travel that will help any and every traveler save money, time and their sanity.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Prices Are Hitting Record Highs, Know How To Keep Costs Down When Renting a Car
Car rental prices are skyrocketing across North America, so Hotwire.com®, a leading travel discount site, has announced five car-rental savings tips that will help you drive off the lot with a full wallet.
Here are five tips to help you lower car rental expenses this summer:
1. If you see a good rate, book it right away. Prices are expected to continue rising through July and will stay high all the way through August.
2. Rent on the weekends. When business travelers have gone home for the weekend, there is more inventory and lower prices for the consumer.
3. Rent away from the airport if possible. Off-airport and local rental centers can often be cheaper due to lower taxes and fees. Often, by sacrificing convenience, you can save money.
4. Make sure to fill up the tank before returning your car. Rental centers charge a hefty fee for those who forget to do this. If you don’t want the hassle, many rental car companies will also allow you to pre-purchase your tank of gas to avoid fees, but it’s still cheaper to fill it up on your own.
5. Book opaque. Although prices are expected to spike this year, by booking through opaque sites such as Hotwire, consumers can save up to 45 percent and rent a car from $13.95 a day.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".