You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2011.
One of my favorite resources for finding cheap air fares on the internet is Kayak.com.
The two Kayak features I use when I want to find a cheap airfare are Buzz and Explore. I will cover Kayak Explore in a future post.
Kayak Buzz
Access Kayak Buzz by going to Kayak.com, click More, and then click Buzz under More Tools.
Note that for the default option of Top 25 Cities, you can specify a starting destination (From) and Max Price, and select a geographic range (Europe, Africa, etc.), date range (Leaving), and Stops (Nonstop or Any Stops). If you select the Lowest Fare option, then geographic range changes to a text box where you can enter a specific destination (such as London).
For me, when I enter Kayak Buzz, the From field is WAS (Washington, DC area airports–including IAD, DCA, and BWI). I often change it to IAD (or Dulles airport) to confine search results to my preferred airport.
WAS is my default because of Kayak’s cookies (my previous activity). So, your home airport may already be entered if you have used Kayak or, if not, you will have to enter it.
Here are a few examples of how to use Kayak Buzz to find cheap fares.
Example 1: I enter IAD for From, select Europe for To, select March 2012 for Leaving, and select Nonstop Only for Stops. Among the results are fares of $694 to Paris and $702 to Istanbul. I then change the Stops option to Any Stops and click Search. Those results show a fare to Istanbul for $543 and Paris for $692.
So, I can save $160 by taking a connecting flight to Istanbul but only $2 to Paris. The Istanbul $543 fare would be even more fun if I can create an interesting stopover in the connection city. How about if the stopover airport is Paris? I might possibly save $150 on a nonstop to Paris AND be able to have a vacation in Turkey. Superb!
Find current fares and more information by clicking on show fares or check now for any fare listing. Sometimes the current fare will be less than the Buzz result (such as Dulles to Boston. Buzz shows $133 but show fares shows $103).
Example 2: Without going back to the original Kayak Buzz screen, I can explore more airfares. Select United States and November 2011 and click Search. For a little warmth, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are around $150 and Phoenix and Los Angeles are around $320. These are not spectacular fares but I know to not spend tons of time trying to find cheaper fares. Similarly, I can look at fares for other months and/or to different regions without leaving this screen.
Example 3: I couple of times I noticed fares between Dulles and Honolulu for about $750. I can research whether split tickets would result in cheaper fares by using the Lowest Fare option. I know that the Dulles to LAX fare is about $320. So, I will see if LAX to HNL fares are less than $430 ($750-$320). Click Lowest Fare button. Enter LAX for From. Enter HNL for To. Click Search.
Results show fares of $390 between LAX and HNL. So, it is not a much cheaper fare option to split tickets but I can still create a stopover vacation in Los Angeles (or San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, etc.) plus fly on preferred airlines (like JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines instead of United or American).
Once you are familiar with Kayak Buzz, these steps only take a couple of minutes and are a powerful way of finding cheap fares.
What’s the BUZZ? Have you used Kayak Buzz to search for lower airfares? Other sources? Let me know by leaving a comment.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
People sometimes ask me, “What is the best place you have stayed?”
It is difficult to pick the best place–or for that matter, the best meal, event, adventure, etc.
However, one of the most unique and memorable places I stayed was the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona. This place is fantastic.
Shady Dell is so much more than just a place to stay. It offers nine vintage trailers from the 1940s and 1950s–all fully restored and authentically furnished. Staying at Shady Dell is like stepping back into the 1950s, as you can see from my pictures.
A couple of years ago I visited Shady Dell and was fortunate to stay in their vintage 1949 restored Airstream trailer.
Instead of a window or maybe a balcony, I had this lovely courtyard with fake plastic grass. Somehow that was just perfect.
I rocked out with some 45s from the 1950s. 
The instruction sheet.
Below are pictures of some of the other Shady Dell trailers.
You can check availability and rates on one convenient chart.
Below are some other pictures from the Shady Dell property.
This instruction sheet was in the laundry room. I am so glad there was no atomic attack during my visit.
Dot’s Diner was built in the 1950s and served as a diner in Los Angeles. Now it serves Bisbee residents and visitors. Dot’s was packed for breakfast.
That’s an old phone. No Q or Z.
Hard to say which incredible trailer I would select next time. If I am by myself, I might select the 1952 Homemade at only $55 a night. The 1947 boat or the 1947 Tiki Bus seem like the most unusual and fun.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Most of the articles I read about lonely roads include information about places to eat, sleep, and shop.
Am I wrong to think that the loneliest road in America would not have places to eat, sleep, and shop?
I enjoy finding scenic roads in America. Even though I have driven in every state, criss-crossed the country several times, and spent over a year on the road, I certainly have not visited every remote road. For instance, I have only been on the main roads in Alaska and I imagine that hundreds of Alaskan roads are lonelier than the loneliest one in the lower 48.
Anyway, the loneliest road I have been on was in the extreme southwestern corner of New Mexico.
How lonely?
I did not see another vehicle, person, or sign of person (house, farm) for 90 minutes of driving. A solid hour and a half of driving (at least 75 miles) before I saw another car.
Needless to say, I was off the grid. No cell service.
Recommended places to eat, stay, and shop. Yeah, good one.
The Geronimo Trail between Douglas, Arizona and the New Mexico border is likely more lonely than most of the published lonely road articles. In an hour and a half, I only saw a handful of vehicles. That was the road I drove to get to the loneliest road.
Most of the Geronimo Trail between Douglas, Arizona and the New Mexico border looks like this.
One side road from the Geronimo Trail was particularly gnarly.
Another side road.
I crossed from Arizona to New Mexico.
About 30 minutes later, the terrain changed from mountainous to grassland. The Geronimo Trail continued north to the intersection with highway 338 (to Animas) but I turned south on County Road C002.
I drove around the farm roads for another 30-45 minutes. The scenery was magnificent–a great valley between the Peloncillo Mountains to the west and the Animas Mountains (and the continental divide leading south to Antelope Wells) to the east. Although I did not see a person or even any farm animals for over an hour, I did see a wild pronghorn herd.
I eventually drove north on County Road C001 (highway 338) from near Cloverdale Cemetery (within a couple of miles from the Mexico border). After about 15 minutes, I saw the first vehicle in 90 minutes (a pickup truck, of course). Soon the road was paved and there were more vehicles.
My GPS marked historical sites in the area.
My original plan was to drive Guadalupe Canyon Road along the extreme southeastern edge of Arizona and into New Mexico. I pulled up to a Border Patrol car a few miles east of Douglas along Guadalupe Canyon Road to ask about the road. He told me that it is impossible to do it. Unpassable road, potential outlaws, and dangerous situations.
Of course I had to confirm it was unpassable!
If you want to find this approximate route, use Google Maps and Get Directions from Douglas, AZ to Cloverdale Cemetery Animas, NM.
What is the loneliest road you have been on?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Southwest Airlines has some catchy television commercials proclaiming that they do not charge for ticket changes or for baggage. Analysis about whether they are completely truthful can be found elsewhere.
I do have a couple of experiences and thoughts about making changes to non-changeable and non-refundable tickets.
First, cheapest airfares have the most restrictions. In exchange for shopping far in advance, agreeing to fly on certain days at certain times, and sometimes flying odd routings, the airlines sell us cheaper tickets. However, cheaper airfares come with restrictions such as no refunds and fees to make any changes–thus “non-refundable” and “non-changeable” fares.
It is definitely possible to change non-changeable tickets. Here is one great explanation. And another.
I have been able to make itinerary changes to many non-changeable tickets. In most of those cases, I requested and took earlier flights. Other times I was able to change connection cities or even arrival airports.
Here are two of my unique non-changeable situations:
* I booked an award ticket (free airfare using frequent flyer points) with an itinerary from Dulles to Atlanta to Salt Lake City to Anchorage. Whew! When I booked the ticket, that was the only available itinerary. Award tickets are typically even more restricted than discounted fares, because free tickets do not make the airline any money. When I arrived at Dulles airport, I noticed that there was a flight from Dulles to Salt Lake City leaving before my flight to Atlanta. I asked the gate agent if I could switch. She first said No because it was a non-changeable severely restricted ticket. I asked if there were available seats (there were plenty) and said that by changing it would open up two revenue-generating seats on more popular routes (the flight to Atlanta, for instance, was full). Besides, I did not have any baggage to check. She eventually agreed and let me switch. I ended up with a six-hour stopover in Salt Lake City, which I used for family history research.
* In the late 1980s, I booked a Monterey to Boston itinerary using a promotional certificate. The fare was cheaper than any available fare and thus was unpublished and even more restricted. I remember making two or three connections to get there. I wanted to return from Boston a day or two early and went to the airport. After being told no way because of the ticket rules, I told them I was flexible to any itinerary they could provide. It was in the afternoon and the agent said they could not get me home that evening. I said that was OK and ended up flying to Pittsburgh, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, before returning to Monterey the next day.
By no means was I able to change every non-changeable ticket to a desirable itinerary. I am not even sure it has been more often than not. I can tell you that it is definitely not impossible.
My experience is that if a flight has available seats, if you have a pleasant demeanor, and you are flexible (have no checked baggage), then there is a high likelihood that the gate agent will change your non-changeable ticket.
McCool Travel Tip: traveling light and being nice to airline agents significantly increases your chances to changing a non-changeable ticket.
How about you frequent flyers? Agree or disagree? What have been your experiences with non-changeable tickets?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
On many of my trips, I intentionally visit places to research my family history. I have been an avid amateur genealogist for over a dozen years and have even taught some classes on the subject.
I have seen estimates that less than five percent of genealogy records are on the internet. So while you can definitely learn some things about your family history online, you might (as I have) do much research offline. One fantastic place to start online research is Cyndislist. Others are Rootsweb.com and FamilySearch.org.
Here are eight great places to visit on your travels that may help you with your family research. Included are a few personal examples because genealogists are looking for clues everywhere. Someone may recognize a name and contact me! Enjoy and let me know what you think.
- Washington, DC. You may have visited the National Archives building in Washington, DC to see copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta. Well, that is just one room. Most of the building houses historical records, including immigration, military, and land purchase. Another great resource is the DAR Library–”one of the nation’s premier genealogical libraries.” At DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), you can learn if your ancestor fought in the American Revolution and so much more. Yesterday I visited the Library of Congress–the world’s largest library–specifically to research in a book that is in no other library in the western hemisphere (although there are copies in private collections).
- Libraries. There are thousands of other libraries in the US and the world. Nearly every local library (or at least the main branch) has a local history section. Visit libraries where your ancestors once lived and you are almost certain to discover information that you cannot find elsewhere. I have found some of the best resources in the smallest of libraries–so leave no stone unturned. Visit every possible location that your ancestors once lived. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City (affiliated with the LDS/Mormon church) is the largest genealogy library in the world. While they can send microfilms to family history centers (local churches), much of the collection stays at the FHL. A few years ago, my flight to Alaska had a six hour stopover in Salt Lake City and I visited the FHL. I was struggling to research a distant ancestor from the 1700s, Barbara SIM (from online records). I found nothing about her family by looking for SIM, SIMM, ZIMM, etc. The FHL had a book with records from her German hometown during those years. In the book, I found that her surname was actually SIRN. So someone incorrectly transcribed the name leading me on a wild goose chase for years. I was able to find the right information only from a German book in a library in Utah. Go figure!
- Museums, Historical Societies. Published and unpublished works are sometimes found in other places, like local museums, historical society libraries, and town halls. DAR is one historical society. Other large ones include NEHGS (in Boston) and NGS (near DC). Many states, towns, and regions operate historical societies containing different resources than libraries. For instance, a society member may have transcribed all of the cemetery headstones in that town. There are also dedicated societies for religions, military orders, surnames, and more.
- Courthouses. Records related to a town’s business are located at the local courthouse. You can learn about who owned and leased land and property, crime, vitals (birth, baptism, marriage, death), and more. It is fun (for me) to go through giant antebellum (pre-Civil War) ledger books and find pieces of data to help me solve family history puzzles. At a small courthouse in Arkansas I found an ancestor’s entire household inventory and a mention of who would care for his young orphans.
- Cemeteries. Cemeteries, burial grounds, and graveyards are excellent sources of historical information. In addition to the emotional aspect of visiting the resting place of an ancestor,
you may be able to learn something. Grave stones may be engraved with birth and death dates, family members (spouse, children, parents), military service, and other information. One of my examples is this picture. I knew my ancestors lived in a certain area. Internet and library sources just did not prove it. They all listed a “John M. Coole” and I wondered if he was related to my MCCOOL/MCCOOLE ancestors. You can see from the inscription that it is obviously “John MCCOOLE” but was transcribe as “John M. COOLE” and then every subsequent publication used the same data. By visiting the cemetery I learned the truth and am able to correct decades-old errors. Another reason to visit cemeteries is to observe burial patterns. You can see what other families are buried nearby; there was often some connection. I have been able to determine wives and children this way (when there was no mention in any records). - Ancestral Homelands/Farms. By knowing where ancestors lived
(from National Archives land records, for instance), we can visit the exact spot where they once lived. I have not discovered anything earth shattering but I have had some nice experiences. It is interesting to see what has happened to land that ancestors owned in the 1800s. Four years ago, a distant cousin showed my family the MCCOOL homestead in Northern Ireland. We have been able to trace the MCCOOL family history to 1680, when they lived in this house (it was only one story then). Another example is of a place I did not visit. The owner of a farm where my COLE ancestors once lived (Logan county Ohio) contacted me when she found headstones on the property. She googled the names on the headstones and found my published research and queries. I have also made discoveries by driving around places family members lived long ago; things like small cemeteries, distant cousins still there (by seeing familiar names on neighboring mailboxes), and my family names being used in current development. - People. Perhaps the most gratification comes from visiting relatives and maybe even discovering or meeting new ones. If you are interested in your family history and have older living relatives, I encourage you to talk to them SOON. I am fortunate to have a 91 year old grandmother who is still very sharp. By visiting her, I have been able to get copies of vital documents (birth and marriage records), contacts of other distant relatives, and wonderful stories. On a road trip this summer, I made a point to have a mini-reunion with cousins I have seen one time in 40 years and aunts I have not seen in over 30 years. Oh the stories they had for me! On a trip to Germany about 10 years ago, I was researching RAUSCH ancestors apparently from Saarburg. I visited the archives in Trier, then drove to Saarburg and knocked on the door of the only RAUSCH person for hundreds of miles (found through online telephone directory). She did not know any English and I knew only a little German. She took me to the town doctor who was an American soldier from World War 2 and settled in the town. He translated. I discovered that she was not related and knew of no RAUSCH town history. There is a RAUSCH vineyard in Saarburg (I learned prior to the trip) but they think it is not named for a person but rather for the roar of the river through the town center (alternate possibility is that RAUSCH is a slang term for feeling tipsy or intoxicated). So, I did not learn any RAUSCH family history but I met some incredible people. Rick Steves would be proud!
- Other Places. People tell me that Ellis Island is a great place to visit. I have not been there but I have searched their records online. Cultural and ethnic festivals, fairs, and restaurants are fun and useful places to visit for research purposes. Having trouble with Scottish research? Visit a Highland Games festival and talk to people (there are often genealogy tables, too). You can visit schools or places where ancestors went to work or church. So many places, so little time.
Whew, that was a long post. Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think. Will you try any of these? Do you have a new interest in genealogy? Have you visited other places for research?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Yesterday I took our family guinea pig pet, Slinky, outside for “grass time.” Slinky LOVES to eat grass. That is probably his favorite thing in the world.
However, Slinky was hesitant to eat the grass yesterday. He was completely protected. I was right next to him. He was covered by his cage top and his little wooden house was there. He still had plenty of room to run around inside the cage top and eat grass.
The problem was that there was too much noise. Slinky is sensitive to noise.
One neighbor was mowing his lawn. Some kids were yelling at the playground across the street. There were lots of birds cawing and chirping.
Yeah, it was probably the bird noises that made him nervous. Some primal instinct.
Even though Slinky loves eating grass, he was afraid to leave his comfort zone to do so.
We are like that about travel.
We are comfortable at home.
It is scary to go to new places, even though we know that we are going to have a great time.
It is scary to try new foods, even though we know we will enjoy them once we do.
It is scary to try new activities, well, you know the rest.
Although I have traveled for many years, I still have a comfort zone of familiarity. I want to fly on a familiar airline and rent a car to explore.
In the past fourteen months, I have taken a few trips without renting a car and relying on public transportation. That was outside of my typical comfort zone but I wanted to try it.
During this time I also specifically arranged connecting flights in order to stay up all night in New York City and Madrid. Very scary–but I survived (and enjoyed it).
A few months ago, I negotiated a hotel room rate. I have tried it a few times but am still a novice. I also stayed with a complete stranger in Morocco through Couchsurfing. Tip: see my post about alternatives to hotel rooms.
Many Americans travel to other countries and stay in American chain hotel properties and eat at chain restaurants. I find it more fun and usually cheaper to eat like a local and stay in non chain lodging. When in Rome…
I have not always been like this, however. On my first trip to Europe, I stayed in a Holiday Inn and ate only in the hotel or Hard Rock Cafe. Another trip was to Hong Kong, before I liked Chinese food–and I did not try it there. Oh, to do that trip gain!
Rick Steves has built an empire on traveling “Through the Back Door.” Read Rick Steves’ travel philosophy.
How about you? Do you break out of your comfort zone on trips? What is something you have always wanted to try?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Last week I found super cheap airfares from Baltimore to Hagerstown and Lancaster. The fares are no longer available but I think they were $30 each way (over $50 right now).
It would only take an hour and a half to drive between Baltimore and Lancaster airports. Less time to Hagerstown.
I think only people without cars would take these flights.
First, you should check in for your flights an hour early. That alone basically washes away any time savings that flying would have.
OK, there can be a traffic snarl. Even more likely is that one or both of the flights will be delayed.
For the flights from Baltimore, yeah, you better be there 60 minutes before departure. I can see arriving later at the smaller airports. OK, say you checkin at Hagerstown or Lancaster only 30 minutes before departure.
You still have the time factor of getting to and from the airports. Unless your intended locations are at or close to the airports, you have to add those travel times to the checkin and flight durations.
Driving is quicker.
Second, what about rental cars, baggage claim, and car parking?
If you will be renting a car in Hagerstown or Lancaster, add more travel time. Add the time you need to wait for your luggage to appear at baggage claim. Add the time it takes to park your own car in Baltimore airports remote lots and catch a shuttle to the airport.
Perhaps, instead, you have arranged transportation on both ends. If you use a taxi or other service, it probably costs more than the flight. If you have someone take you and pick you up then hopefully they are reliable and on time.
The flying experience takes more time and is probably more expensive.
Money or Time. Time is Money?
Mostly, so far, I have mentioned time issues.
What about money?
Let’s say the trip will “cost” you $125 if driving your own car (about 200 miles total at IRS allowable 55.5 cents per mile). The reality is that you might spend nothing to drive your car on this trip.
Estimated “flying” costs will be $80 for the flight. Add to this any charges for parking your car ($9 per day), taxi ($20+ each ride), rental car ($30 per day), and baggage fees (if any).
You might “save” $45 if you only buy the flight and have free transportation to and from both airports. Any other expenses cut into that “profit.”
You really do not save any time, however, by taking a 30 minute flight compared to driving an hour and a half.
If you are a super important VIP, your time is valuable–right? Instead of driving between locations, you must work, work, work on your important things. I do not imagine such persons would be concerned with $30 fares.
Summary
It would be silly to take a 30 minute flight when the drive is only an hour and a half. It would not save any time.
I would do it for the novelty, to earn frequent flyer incentives, or for research (an article or curiosity).
You may have a connecting flight at the larger airport and may have to fly from a smaller airport. I used to fly between Monterey and San Francisco often but always to connect to another flight.
Another option is to rent a car instead of flying. I have done that.
Here are some of the shortest flights in the world.
How far would you consider driving rather than flying?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
In September 2010, I visited Portland, Oregon as part of the JetBlue All-You-Can-Jet pass. I devoted a couple of hours to visiting the gorgeous Portland Japanese Garden. Outside of Japan, this is the most authentic Japanese garden (they say).
Here are some pictures from my visit.
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Above is a view of the gorgeous Natural Garden.
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Walkway in the Strolling Pond Garden.
Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
The peaceful Sand and Stone Garden.
Mt. Hood from Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Across the street from the Portland Japanese Garden is the International Rose Test Garden.
Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
A recent post covered my road trip rules, including not driving on interstate highways and not visiting chains. I admitted that I sometimes break my own rules.
Specifically, on road trips I do sometimes drive on interstates highways and visit chains. Although I really, really try not to do so, there are instances that warrant it.
Here are some exceptions:
Interstates. On my last road trip I was caught in a weather system. It was raining where I was and for several hundred miles in every direction. The forecast showed rain for at least the next two days. Luckily it was the end of my road trip and the interstate was a straight shot back to my home. Normally, if the weather was nice, I would have driven smaller, country roads.
I will also break this rule and drive on an interstate highway to get between scenic drives. Or if I am in a hurry to get somewhere. After all, that is the real purpose of the interstate system.
Sure, every once in awhile, there is an interstate highway that is marked scenic but there is usually a nearby (often parallel) road that has the same or better scenery. When there is an alternative to an interstate, I will take it!
Chains. I most often break my self-imposed chain rule by staying at a chain hotel. If the quality and price are comparable, I prefer to stay at independent lodging properties. After a long day of driving, I consult my iPhone apps (Hotels.com, HotelsByMe, HotelPal, and RoomSaver). If the best rate happens to be at a decent chain property, I will stay there.
My second most common chain rule breaker is large grocery and sundry chains (like Target and WalMart). Again, I try to support local, independent shops but I often find it too convenient to bypass the biggies. On road trips, I can make one stop for a gallon of water, some groceries, suntan lotion, a pillow and towel, cleaning supplies, and so on. It has been a couple of years for me to do so but WalMart parking lots also serve as an emergency lodging option.
The biggest temptation, however, are restaurant chains. I absolutely 100% try to avoid the ubiquitous, omnipresent chains. One, it is never the healthiest option. Two, it is the same taste and experience, whether in Miami or Madrid. I travel so that I can experience different flavors. For instance, on my last road trip, I bought a local cheesesteak grinder from the local “Joe’s Subs” rather than the major familiar $5 sub chain.
That said, I infrequently make exceptions. One is for regional chains, like El Pollo Loco, Pollo Tropical, or even Biscuitville. If the chain is not near my home, then I can somehow justify a visit to a road location as a treat. On my last road trip, I visited Skyline Chili in Louisville, Kentucky. It was after 9pm and everything else was closed. Another exception is for Krispy Kreme.
Still, I really try not to visit chain restaurants as a rule. Even with the almighty Krispy Kreme, I have not visited one in a couple of years. I have bypassed them for local doughnut shops.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
We know from movies, television shows, and books that fast food restaurants are not good us.
Yet many of us still visit fast food places–occasionally if not regularly.
Why?
Convenience. Well, it is called fast food for a reason. Quick to order, quick to receive. Eat and run. On to the next item on the mental checklist of our harried lives.
Price. That almighty dollar menu is easy on the wallet.
Familiarity. We know that chicken nuggets and fries will taste the same in Iowa and Hawaii as they do at home.
Brainwashing. Fast food advertising is everywhere. Kid’s brains are wired to respond to the golden arches and other symbols.
I know that it is not easy to kick the fast food habit. Once upon a time, I ate at fast food chains while traveling. I visited Mickey D’s in Holland and Wendy’s in Geneva (Switzerland, that is). Mostly for convenience.
Oh, but that was 20 years ago.
Thankfully I came to my senses and realized that visiting fast food restaurants is bad for my health and prevents me from experiencing local delights.
Here are eight great options to eating at a fast food restaurant. Don’t wait until your next trip. Try these at home, today!
- diners. Traditional diners remain one of my favorite finds when traveling. I love finding a place serving a basic grilled cheese sandwich for under $2 and thick shakes. Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on Food Channel uncovers some great local eating jewels around the USA.
- food trucks. I remember old school food trucks from childhood; we called them roach coaches. They came around with a grill and fryer, offering basically sandwiches and fries/rings, along with packaged goods and drinks. Food trucks today prepare all kinds of gourmet and ethnic foods. The Great Food Truck Race is another fun show.
- food stands. There are different flavors of food stands. There are food stands that are like stationary food trucks. There are collections of food stands–like in Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. I love (absolutely LOVE) impromptu BBQ stands (usually set up in church parking lots). Fortunately there are food stands all over the world. Follow Anthony Bourdain’s advice and visit food stands with a lot of customers.
- grocery stores. When I travel without a car, I visit grocery stores for immediate consumables and smaller items for later. Grocery store delis (sandwiches and prepared items) and salad bars are usually superior and less expensive than chains. If I only have a backpack, I buy a bag of mini carrots, a banana or apple; I feel better when I visit the aforementioned diner or food stand. When I travel by car, I stock up at grocery stores. I usually buy a gallon of water every day (and refill smaller bottles), produce, and snacks. BONUS TIP: grocery stores often have the lowest prices on souvenirs.
- farmer’s markets and fruit stands. It is hard to beat the fresh quality of produce at weekly farmer’s markets or fruit stands on the country roads. Many farmer’s markets also have breads and baked goods, meats and cheeses, ice cream, and prepared foods.
- picnics. In Europe it is customary to buy items from the local bakery, butcher, and produce stands–and then have a picnic in a park, village square, or on the train. Some of my most memorable meals were do it myself creations. Carry out rotisserie chicken, roasted peppers, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine go a long way when shared on your balcony with a view of Florence’s Duomo or Mont Blanc.
- office delis. Small delis that serve office buildings are wonderful. All are different. They may have fresh soups, daily prepared specials (like kung pao chicken), grilled or cold sandwiches, and much more.
- festivals. Ethnic festivals are simply excuses to have great food, whether on the road or at home. Whether it is Caribbean, Greek, or Asian, a festival brings out authentic culture and food. Other events with great food include wine or beer festivals, “Taste of” food sample events, and organization fund raisers (like fire station pancake breakfasts or VFW spaghetti dinners).
But, wait, there are so many other options. I did not even mention mom and pop restaurants, pizzerias, food carts (like hot dog or pizza carts in New York City), carnivals, cafeteria, pubs, universities, or good ole home cooked meals (from family or friends).
Which is your favorite? or favorites? Any other non-fast food place you like to eat?
My recent post had the most views in one day for my blog. I am curious. If you are a new reader because of that post, what drew you to it? What would you like to see in future posts?
Thank you.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
