Regional airports

I really think when flying you should consider skipping the large hub airports and utilize the hidden gems that are the smaller regional airports. These smaller airports are great for several reasons. First you do not get stuck waiting for airport security in lines that you would find in Sea Tac, LAX, or O'Hare International. You will get a thorough search but it takes half the time getting through it and that is nice. Better deals in flying, there are a ton of airlines that are moving away from the super airports and going to the regional ones and can offer you a better ticket price. A prime example is Alaska Air and Allegiant Air flying out of Bellingham International Airport (located between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia Canada). Alaska Airlines have started flying non-stop to Hawaii (which I can't wait to take advantage of), and Allegiant Air flies to San Diego or Las Vegas (their hub and to points beyond). Check out your local regional airport to see where your travels might take you.

Need a shot for a trip. Have I got the pace for you...

While preparing for my wife's trip to Ethiopia we discovered quickly that there were many inoculations that she would need to have. We live in a smaller city and our health department has quirky hours and are not open when we get off work. So what is a 9-5 adventurer to do when they need shots or travel medications and they can't get them from their own doctor. Well we found a cool alternative to trekking to the health department. The grocery store chain Safeway offers travel pharmacy assistance. If you follow their link you and pay $40 you can enter your itinerary and a travel doctor will review what the CDC recommends that you need to get for the areas that you are visiting. They will also write you prescriptions for any special medications that you might need (e.g. anti malarial meds and the like). Then if you choose you can go to the nearest Safeway travel pharmacy and get your shots and pick up your RXs. This is very convenient as you set up an appointment with the pharmacist and can do a little shopping while you at it. Check your area to see if Safeway offers this service in your area, or let me know if there are other chains that offer one like it.

Cool travel product

Just a quick post to tell you about my favorite new travel product. I have purchased a luggage scale for home because my wife was taking an overseas trip. The luggage restrictions were fierce and the price for overweight baggage. We wanted to avoid that so for just $19.99 we could pack, weigh and adjust from the comfort of our own home. If you do a lot of traveling, get one.