Category Archives: Travel

Travel

Protect Your Golf Clubs – How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Bag

It’s off-season for many golfers in the northern states of the US. Time to take a break from those early morning tee times and take time to do some “in-door” golf, i.e. at computer-generated golf courses or with a temporary indoor putting green in the middle of the living room.

For those golfers determined to play all year round and are traveling south to warmer climes, a golf travel bag becomes a necessary purchase. Whether you are traveling by plane or train, your golf clubs need protection. (A few years ago, traveling to Hilton Head for golf, one of the women in our group had the head of her very expensive driver snapped off when a careless baggage handler tossed her golf travel bag onto the tarmac. The airline gave her some monetary compensation, but as the driver was not brand new, the amount was not equal to the cost of replacement. – That’s another story.) The point is that your clubs represent a large investment and they need to be protected when you travel.

So which bag is best? Hard case? Soft case? Your choice might depend on how much you travel with your golf clubs, how much extra space you need for shoes, balls, towels, etc. (I stuff all kinds of extra stuff in my bag, including my bed pillow! which helps give a little extra padding. And with the airlines charging you extra for that second bag anyway, why not stuff the golf travel bag with clothes as well?)

Here are a few types of travel bags you might consider using on your next golf trip.

Heavy Duty Soft Bag: This style is used by more touring professionals on the PGA, Champions, and LPGA tours – choose a bag with wheels that makes it easy to maneuver. Check to be sure the padding is extra thick to protect your clubs and choose a bag that has lots of extra pockets with solid zippers so you can carry all those “extra” items.

Hybrid Bag: This type of bag can be used both the golf course and while traveling. Look for one that offers all the features of a cart bag, and has a rigid “helmet” you can add when you take it on the road. Choose a bag with in-line wheels for an easier time crossing those long airport lobbies.

Hi-Impact Polyester Travel Bag: This type of bag has a cloth cover but should be reinforced with some interior lamination, usually using PVC. Soft sides should be well padded. Quilted material is best. And be sure to test the bag strap for easy carrying and the wheels for a smooth glide.

The bottom line in deciding which type of golf travel bag you purchase depends on the amount of traveling you plan on doing, how much protection you need, and the value of your clubs. Soft cases with lots of padding are lighter, and easier to handle, and they protect your clubs in most circumstances. Hard cases are usually heavier but promise better protection, though they can snap open unless you add strapping for security. Almost every travel case can fit 14 clubs plus your golf bag, but if you have an extra long driver, be sure the length of the travel bag can accommodate it. You don’t want to leave that special club at home!

Ask your golfing friends. Visit a variety of websites to see what they offer. But remember, you get what you pay for. Do you really want to put your thousand dollar clubs inside a $29 bag you bought at the local Big Lots?

Travel

Ideas to Make Your Last Minute Travel Affordable

When you discover that circumstances have arisen and you are in need of making last minute travel reservations, you don’t need to panic. Even though there are plenty of tales of people being gouged when they purchased air tickets at the last minute, there are just as many instances of people purchasing the cheapest airfares ever, even for same-day travel. Because the airlines want to fill up their seats on every flight, you might end up finding last minute tickets discounted by as much as 75%.

You might have noticed that there is intense competition in the travel industry and fierce battles between travel websites to capture your attention. That factor is actually good news for travelers who now have many more options than ever before in finding discounted tickets for traveling last minute. With a little time and research to compare the airfare deals on the different travel sites, you can walk away with cheap deals on airfares, hotel reservations and even car reservations.

Last minute travel can be risky and it can be quite a challenge, but if you are up for it you can usually get amazing rates that could even be considered a steal. There are a few travel tips for trying to find those last minute deals that will swing the odds in your favor of securing discount airfare. Following are the top ten tips to help you find incredible airfare deals on last minute flights.

Be Flexible: While not always the most convenient for you, if you are able to take a flight a day earlier or later than your original plan, then you can often get very cheap airfare deals. Airlines depend on those travelers who have very little flexibility and they soak them with full-priced plane tickets. Taking an early morning or late night flight can also help you enjoy cheap airfares.

Shop Around: Many times people are in a panic when trying to arrange for last minute flights. Spending an extra 20 minutes on a couple of other travel websites might yield discounts that can save you a bundle. Don’t just grab the first deal you see available.

Check with the Airlines: Some airlines don’t post their best fares for last minute flights on the travel websites, or even on their own site, while other airlines only post last minute flight rates on their own website. Checking directly with the airlines could uncover those last two seats on the flight you want, but didn’t show up anywhere else.

Get Travel Alerts: Prices for last minute seats can even vary on the same flight! The airlines want every seat occupied and many of them use email travel alerts to accomplish this end.

Subscribe to Travel Newsletters: Many travel related sites offer regular newsletters and some have options that will inform you of special last minute deals. These sites regularly search the internet for the best deals on last minute flights and will send an email when they have found one that meets your criteria.

Check with Travel Agents: Internet booking has hurt many travel agents and has cut into their income. Many times, they can use their connections and pass the savings on to you to help you out with your last minute flying situation. If you find one who goes out of their way for you, then consider using them for future travel bookings.

Package Deals: Sometimes, you will find a package deal for air tickets and hotel reservations that will fit the bill for your last minute plans. Most packages are priced for double occupancy, so check the fine print. If traveling alone, then this tip won’t help much in most instances.

Saturday Updates: Be sure to check all of the airline websites on Saturday mornings. Airfare deals are often updated and occasionally special deals are posted at the end of the week. Many special rates are for a limited number of seats, so Saturday morning is a good time to be able to jump on a deal.

Mid-week Flying: If your last minute situation allows for it, then try to book your flight for Tuesday or Wednesday. These are routinely the slowest travel days and the days when there will be more empty seats for the airlines to fill. Often you can save at least 25% on your air tickets just by shifting your departure day to the middle of the week.

Look Around: When your last minute travel is taking you into a major metropolitan airport, check out the cost of flying into nearby, smaller airports. Often a different landing field will be closer to your final destination and can save you some time, as well as money on last minute flights.