Take a hike

Entrance fees to National Parks are waived during National Park Week, April 22-26.  Next week go take a hike, or two.

FREE Los Angeles Dodger Tickets

If you live in the Los Angeles area here is a quick and easy way to get two FREE Dodger tickets.  All you have to do is get a fast, free car insurance quote from Mercury Insurance.  There is no obligation to buy anything.  Just go to: Mercuryinsurance.com/dodgers and enter the promotion code: Dodgers.  The quote must be completed by 5-31-13 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Not all games are eligible for the two free tickets but hey FREE is still a great deal.  I did this last year (See September 5, 2012 blog) and had a fun time at the game.

Uggg...It's Tax Day. So What's So Sweet About It?

No one likes tax day but Cinnabon just made it a little sweeter.  From 6 PM to 8PM Cinnabon is giving out two free Cinnabon Bites.  Enjoy!

Global Scavenger Hunt Begins

Today starts the Global Scavenger Hunt that I have previously blogged about.  I will be traveling to 10 countries in 23 days.  I just don't know what countries I will be traveling to.  I have packed everything I need into a carry-on travel bag by Eagle Creek.  I found this bag on sale at a local sports store.  The regular cost was $315 but this luggage was reduced to $134.  The best part is it has the "No Matter What" warranty. I previously talked about this warranty in the August 6, 2012 blog.  I had to use the warranty recently when TSA broke the handle off my suitcase. Without this type of warranty the damage would not have been repaired.  Even if you have a lifetime warranty this does not cover "normal wear and tear" or damage by TSA. On a Monday I dropped my luggage off to be repaired at Eagle Creek, by Tuesday the company had repaired and returned my luggage to my house. I figure I want some very sturdy luggage for this adventure.

Unfortunately, I will not be blogging during my trip so thanks to all those who donated!

The Numbers Game

American Airlines flight 7525, Alaska Airlines 3456 and Delta 9257 all have something in common.  All three airlines fly from Portland to Burbank and all three are the very same flight.  This is what is known as codeshare. A codeshare agreement, sometimes simply codeshare, is an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight. A seat can be purchased on one airline but is actually operated by a cooperating airline under a different flight number or code. Why is this important?  I picked a random date in the future, May 12th, and checked the prices that all three airlines offered a ticket from Portland to Burbank.  Now remember this is the very same flight for all three airlines. Below are the prices showing on each airline's respective website:

AMERICAN PRICE= $318

DELTA PRICE=$117.90

ALASKA PRICE=$117.90

Do you want to pay $318 when you book on the American website or $118 when you book on the Alaska or Delta website to fly on the same plane?
Moral of the story-do your homework.

FREE Luggage and More

I am just a few days from my 10 country, 23 day around the world trip.  While the trip is going to be a great adventure I truly love that the organization responsible for organizing this adventure, the Great Escape Foundation, also incorporates the gift of giving back to worthy causes. 

The Great Escape Foundation has partnered with Travelpro, the makers of great luggage.  Anyone who donates a minimum of $25 will be entered to win a set of Travelpro luggage or some great travel gift certificates to exotic locations.  Click Here to donate online. Donations will be accepted until May 5, 2013 (the day our scavenger hunt ends).

For those who have already donated a minimum of $25 to this cause via the link on my web page you are already entered to win the luggage but don't let that stop you from donating again and increasing your chances of winning.

Get Skinny.....Save Money

An article in the Los Angeles Times shows that losing weight can save you money when you travel.  In January, Samoa Airlines debuted its pay-by-the-kilo policy.  This has resulted in an international controversy about fat discrimination.

The airline's chief executive, Chris Langton, stated, “Booking a flight with us (Samoa Airlines) is as easy as inputting your approximate weight into our online booking engine (don't worry, we will weigh you again at the airport)… Take as many or as few bags as you wish - and avoid the exorbitant excess baggage fees! With Samoa Air, you are the master of how much (or little!) your air ticket will cost.”

One bright note to this policy: Families with small children, who often feel persecuted when they travel, stand to benefit most from this policy. Since Samoa no longer charges by the seat, it will cost them a lot less to fly than it did before.

Predictably,  the news about Samoa Air, which flies in only a fraction of the world (Samoa, American Samoa, French Polynesia), has received a lot of attention.

Turtle Soup, Stir-fry Mouse or Barbequed Rattlesnake?

We are less than two weeks out from the Global Scavenger Hunt.  When we initially spoke with the organizers we had been told that we get to pick which challenges we want to do out of a list of challenges.  We are very excited and look forward to doing the charity challenges and anything else that sounds interesting.  I am very competitive.  I like the idea of coming in first and winning.  The prize for first place is a free trip the following year.  But this trip is going to be different and I am willing to put my competitiveness on hold.  Maria and I have decided the most important thing is to have this trip bring us a lifetime of memories versus blisters, sore muscles and lack of sleep.  We are willing to do challenges that may not have the highest point values but sound interesting to us.

While Maria felt the Scavenger Hunt would be fun she was really hoping there would be no food challenges. We read a blog of last year's trip and found that some challenges are mandatory while others are optional.  There are even some mandatory food challenges.  Last year in Taiwan one of the food challenges was turtle soup, stir fry mouse or BBQ rattlesnake.  I think I would have chosen the rattle snake. What would you chose?

We still need help with charity donations to the Great Escape Foundation. Below is an excerpt of   my February 18th blog.  Your donation also helps me to reaffirm that you benefit from this blog, as I am asking for a $4 donation if you read this blog and have ever benefited.

February 18, 2013 blog: The Global Scavenger Hunt™is going to be leaving from Los Angeles. This is the exciting travel adventure competition that is going to take us around-the-world in April 2013.  Well, in addition to all the fun we are going to have competing for The World’s Greatest Travelers™ crown, we have joined forces with the events organizers to help focus on issues that affect our Global Village with the GreatEscape Foundation.

The GreatEscape Foundation -- a 501(c)(3) California tax-exempt non-profit corporation -- is a global charitable organization designed to have a lasting impact on thousands of lives over the coming years. In conjunction with the GreatEscape2013 travel adventure competition, it is the goal of all competitors to raise $1 million through the GreatEscape Foundation for great noble causes such as: Doctors without Borders, KIVA, Partners in Health, Free the Children, the Nomad Foundation, and the World Monuments Fund, among others. Each one a great cause that achieves wonderful things in the world.

We appreciate the fact that you are personally inundated with requests from many worthwhile organizations, and that you must decide where you feel your contributions will have the greatest impact. By supporting us and the GreatEscape Foundation, you would be sharing in our deep personal commitment and philosophy of life, that giving back to our community is a critically important aspect of being both decent citizens and in sharing with those less fortunate our own personal successes. 

I know in these difficult financial times it is hard for some of you to give to others when you are struggling yourself.  So here is what I suggest.  If you have benefited from this blog, even if it was only once, how about sponsoring us for a $.0001 a kilometer ($.0001 = $4) based on our team completing the estimated 40,000 kilometer around-the-world competition.  Of course if you could spare a donation of .001 a kilometer for a $40 donation it would be greatly appreciated.  For my friends who want a really large tax write-off a donation of $.01 a kilometer = $400 will earn you one free United Airline lounge pass.   The GreatEscape Foundation has grand and noble aspirations, but it can’t achieve its goals without the help of people like you and me helping it grow and expand. 

You might not think $4 would help but if every reader donated we could do great things. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.  For my readers from countries outside the United States, who knows, we might be visiting you in April. Please click on the donate button on the right side of the blogstarttravelingforless.blogspot.com or click here.

IRS # 95-4831064