19Aug

Saving Money in the Airport

August 19, 2015 by William Mungall

Traveling can get expensive really fast. Between getting to the airport, checking your most likely overweight bags, and the flight in general, your bill has already grown quite a bit before you even get off the plane for your vacation. I have been traveling around the world since I was a child and have traveled professionally as well. Since my personal and professional travels have ramped up in the past few years I have come up with a few tips on how to save money in the airport whether you’re going on your vacation or you’re returning. The list below should help you and your wallet so feel free to share with everyone else.

Pack Snacks & Empty Water Bottles:

Let’s face it, buying food at an airport is expensive when it’s just you traveling and even more expensive when you’re traveling with others. The prices are much more inflated than anything I have ever seen and there’s all the temptation in the world to buy a burger or something delicious because it’s all right there and there’s a ton of options. My best tip for you is to pack snacks and even pack empty water bottles. The snacks should keep you full until you get more free snacks on the plane and the water bottles allow you to fill them up for free from the water fountains at each terminal.

Check Credit Card for Extra Perks:

Make sure to check with your credit card company to see if by being a loyal customer you are entitled to certain perks. You may or may not be entitled to any perks but it’s definitely worth a try because it could mean an upgrade to first class, saving money on checked bag, or even free food. This is a definite must in my opinion and something I do each and every time I travel.

Use Coupons:

If you absolutely have to buy something at the airport make sure you bring coupons. A lot of the stores and restaurants in airports are chains so most likely they will honor a coupon you have with their establishment. Before leaving for the airport make sure you check online which stores or restaurants are at your airport and check their pages for available money saving coupons.

Bring Entertainment With You:

Something I always make sure to do when traveling is packing entertainment and not buying it at one of the magazine huts or convenience stores. Make sure to have your laptop, tablet, phone, or other technology completely charged and already preloaded with television shows or movies incase you get bored, your flight is delayed, or there is no on-flight entertainment. I also bring a magazine or a book in addition to my technology just incase I want to unplug from the world of electronics. If you are a parent I strongly suggest you bring coloring books for the children if they’re young, just to keep them busy.

Thinking ahead of your travel will save you money and ensure that you dont become fixated on costs that could have been avoided. Hope you enjoyed this article and be sure to check back again soon for more travel pieces.

Thank you for reading!

William Mungall

22Jul

Digital Wallets & Traveling

July 22, 2015 by William Mungall

I tend to travel a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Whether its for work or pleasure I feel I am always on the go. When I am traveling there’s a lot to keep track of and not lose. Where’s my wallet? Wheres my passport? There’s too much to keep track of sometimes. One thing that is helping travelers from each and every country, is the digital wallet. A digital wallet is exactly what it sounds like, a technologically advanced and secure way to keep your cards and information all in one place without carrying around a wallet in your back pocket or your purse.

The world is evolving and becoming more and more advanced and technologically dependent. It only makes sense to make your wallet part of the future. There are tons of apps out there that allow you to input your credit card information and make cash a thing of the past. More and more people are adopting this new trend and I for one am excited to see it grow. According to a recent survey, more than 3,800 travelers from Australia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the U.K., and the United States who took 4 or more trips a year, stored their wallets information on their smart phone.

Although some people are still hesitant to put all their personal information on an app or their smartphone, the numbers are growing little by little. The global average at this moment is around 22% in favor of using the digital wallet as opposed to their leather one. Since Apple Pay’s launch and the Google Wallet’s inception more business travelers are using these technologies as they are backed by reputable brand name companies. The numbers are highly expected to grow in coming years.

Take a look at the graph pictured below to get a better idea of how the digital wallet is viewed among other countries across the world.

With new technology coming out each day to make phones run longer, more efficiently, always have service or wifi, and be more protected among countless other factors, the digital wallet will become a staple product for everyone. I for one am extremely excited about the evolution of this industry and can’t wait to see how the landscape changes in coming years.

Thank you for reading!

-William Mungall

22Jun

Brand New Travel StartUps

June 22, 2015 by William Mungall

In today’s world a new startup becomes public knowledge every 5 minutes. It’s a very exciting time in the world when a young and innovative company comes out of nowhere and disrupts all kinds of industries and levels out the playing field. The innovative solutions to life’s most frequently asked questions and necessary products/services have truly become revolutionary. I love to travel and regularly keep up with new products or information on how to travel better, smarter, more efficiently, and save as much money as possible all while maximizing relaxation and fun. The companies listed below are brand new and definitely set to make some pretty big waves in the travel industry.

Absoludata:

Absoludata is an analytics based service that provides hotels offering products for customers and various analytics related to their marketing such as research and gathering all the data needed to visualize their marketing efforts. The company aims to help hotels increase non-room revenue and determine the best possible mix of digital and traditional media investments.

Nueva Hospitality:

This new company is “an all-in-one suite” of cloud based solutions designed for small hotels. Yes, the smaller hotels still need to compete against the bigger players in the hospitality industry. Nueva Hospitality helps hotels integrate with online travel agencies and other search sites to provide a solid platform for guests to research and book their time.

UpsellGuru:

UpsellGuru sells a proprietary software to hotels to allow guests to bid for room upgrades and book reservation add-ons prior to their check-in. The company has implemented a strong email based information system to allow users to know what is going on in their intended hotel during each week. It sounds like a new and interesting way to interact with customers before they check-in and make for a more communication based business. It will be interesting to see how the hotels take to the bidding process for additional amenities.

Tengwirth:

Tengwirth allows hotel employees to better receive, record, and respond to hotel guest’s various requests. The system appears to be rather advanced as it also helps employees to learn waht certain guests do and don’t like. Tengwirth seems to aggregate a ton of information so that employees have the most up-to-date information for guests at all time to enhance the time guests stay at the hotel.

HelloTel:

There is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now HelloTel, the social network for hotel guests. For the first time hotel guests can communicate with each other a lot easier with digital assistance. HelloTel allows hotels guests to interact with each other through various means and also allows for nearby hotels to engage in conversations and events as well. Although it seems like a lot of this information could be found via Yelp, Facebook, and more it will be interesting to see how HelloTel differentiates itself and grows.

Thanks for reading!

-William Mungall

27May

Best Gadgets for Travel

May 27, 2015 by William Mungall

With the weather warming up and prime vacation time approaching, everyone need a few techie gadgets for the travels. Whether you’re going to the beach, the mountains, or the rivers in-between the gadgets you’ll learn about below will help you where you need it most.

BlueTooth Speaker:

Invest the small amount of money on a reliable and energy efficient portable bluetooth speaker. Bringing music with you on your adventures will definitely liven things up and it sure to keep you excited. The connectability between devices and bluetooth electronics nowadays is really fantastic and is definitely something to look into if you love music.

Noise Canceling Headphones:

Noise canceling headphones are an absolute must when it comes to traveling. The last thing you’ll want when you board a plane is to hear a screaming baby, and that’s the beauty of noise canceling electronics. No longer will you be forced to hear anything you wish not to and you’ll be able to focus on whatever movie JetBlue is streaming or catch all the z’s you can before arriving in your new location.

USB Battery Pack:

Now these come in all shapes and sizes and are amazing. One of the biggest and best players in the game is Mophie and they make amazing products. Having another battery that is 100% portable and will charge up your most important devices is critical when it comes to connect-ability with the rest of the world and the ability to share your latest Instagram post. Pick up one of these devices at your local Best Buy or Walmart for a great value.

USB Car Adapter:

For all the cross country trekkers and road warriors out there, this one’s for you. Ever have your phone die on you mid-drive? I sure have and it’s no fun when the music shuts off and you cant call your friends. A USB car adapter will allow you to keep your phone juiced up the whole drive so you can rest assured you’ll have a full battery when you need it.

Go Pro:

These wonderful, small cameras are some of the favorite gadgets for today’s action sports stars and have come a long way since their inception and first model. Go Pro’s will allow you to film all of your adventures and remaster them into a cutting edge, Spielberg-esque travel film. Your family and friends will love to see first hand footage of you cliff diving, four-wheeling, or even bungee jumping, if you’re into that kind of thing that is.

Thanks for reading!

-William Mungall

28Apr

Travel Trends of 2015

April 28, 2015 by William Mungall

Each and every year with the dawn of new companies, new offerings, and changes in industries, travel changes among many other things. People are traveling and experiencing the world in new and exciting ways that are unlike anything before now. The good news of this ever changing landscape means that more exciting things are bound to occur and interest people from all around the world. Below you will find some of the most news-worthy trends that have already taken shape in 2015 when it comes to travel.

Rental Properties or Hotels:

Its getting harder and harder to tell if the rental property you booked is part of a large hotel company or chain. With the massive surge of AirBnB and other residence renting services people are able to rent out apartments, lodges, vacation sites, etc. for less than hotels while offering more amenities. It has become much more affordable to rent out a beautiful beach home right on the water rather than staying at the Marriott 4 blocks away from the beach’s parking lot. The competitive landscape is ever shifting and it will be interesting to see what comes next.

Sleeping Better:

New and innovative apps are hitting the digital markets each day and provide users with tailored solutions to help them track and modify their schedules both awake and asleep to maximize their energy levels as well as overall health. User now know when they can take a nap and for how long without risking grogginess and wasted time. There have also been breakthroughs in furniture, like beds and chairs, all the way to wearable technology to shut you off from the world, just for a little while

Increasing Your Phone’s Abilities:

Your phone will sooner than later consume your wallet and include all your credit cards and information that you’re generally keep in your back pocket. Apple Pay is on the upswing, Google Wallet is available, and Apple’s Passbook for iOS serve as great examples for the digital transformation of the leather pouch that used to carry tangible currency, business cards, and more.

Give a Vacation:

There have been new companies recently that are partnered with existing and established travel companies that put some of your dollars, used on your vacation to use to help provide others with a nice vacation as well. Other companies take the money you used for your travel plans and re-invests it into local communities by helping fund local projects, donate school supplies, or run charity drives. If that isn’t a reason to book new travel plans today, then I don’t know what it.

Thank you for reading,

William Mungall

21Nov

Must See Architectural Marvels

November 21, 2013 by William Mungall

The Pyramids at Giza are the only extant member of the elusive Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.

If you love travel, architecture, or both, you should definitely check out this list the Smithsonian Magazine put together cataloguing the 28 Places to See Before You Die. Many of the items on this list are natural wonders or ambitious art projects from history, but maybe the most amazing monuments to human ingenuity are those in the “Feats of Engineering” section. For a full list and advice on getting the best out of your trip, take a look at the article. Here are a few of the salient points.

The Pyramids at Giza

Most people know about the ancient Pyramids at Giza. Besides being the only surviving monument listed as one of the Seven Ancient Wonders if the World, Giza has also presented modern architects with plenty to discuss. Experts believe they have a good idea of how they were constructed but all of the details have yet to be agreed upon. What we do know is that the pyramids are made up of over 2.3 million meticulously cut blocks of limestone. Besides the laborious cutting and constructing, the materials most likely were transported long distances, making the monuments one of the most amazing testaments to the scientific knowledge of the ancients.

The Great Wall

Sports pundits love to talk about unbreakable records. With architectural techniques advancing at such a rapid rate, there probably aren’t too many records that are safe. The Great Wall of China may be the exception. In today’s world, organizing a concerted effort to construct a wall that spans over 4,500 miles is probably impossible. For a bit of context, that means the Great Wall spans about the same amount of distance as Los Angeles to New York and then back to Chicago. It may not be impressive at any single point, but the sheer scale makes it a must-see for any student of architecture or history.

These are just a few of the amazing places Smithsonian has listed as must-visit destinations. Check out their entries on the Taj Mahal and the statues at Easter Island for more incredible feats of architecture and engineering.

09Oct

Get Around: Using Public Transit like a Local

October 9, 2013 by William Mungall

Confused? You’re not alone. Use these apps to navigate unfamiliar public transportation systems.

When most people plan a trip they think about all of the new and exciting things they’ll be doing and places they’ll be seeing once they arrive. You might be asking, what’s wrong with that? The answer is nothing, as long as you have a way to get to all of your dream vacation locales. The reality is that regardless of where you go, your plane or train is probably not going to drop you off at your attraction of choice. Sure, cabs and private cars are an option, but if you’re vacationing on a budget, this extra expense can be a deal breaker.

When traveling within the US or abroad, public transportation is usually the most economical way to get from place to place. The problem is that the public transit systems of unfamiliar cities or countries can often seem byzantine and overwhelming to newcomers. A recent article in the Guardian gives a thorough rundown on the best travel companions to help you navigate new public transportation systems.

The most well known app on the list is the now Apple-owned HopStop. HopStop.com provides door to door directions using the subways, buses, and other forms of public transportation depending on the city. It will also adjust your route to find the fastest way depending on timing, traffic, and out of service trains. HopStop is widely available in the US and Canada and they are rapidly expanding. Cities around the globe that HopStop can help you navigate include Sydney, Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Moscow. More are coming soon.

MetrO is another interesting transit app. The service is similar to HopStop albeit slightly less reliable. The advantage with this option is that is has a much wider net of coverage. Many parts of South America and Asia are included unlike HopStop and other popular services.

For those unconcerned about the cost of cabs or private cars, Uber is your best bet. This on-demand car service allows you to call a private Uber car or a yellow cab. You can pay through the app and track your driver on your phone as he drives to your location. Other amenities include the ability to play your own music through an auxiliary jack, friendly and knowledgable drivers, and reasonable prices.

Thanks for reading. Stop by soon for more news and advice for traveling.