Monday, February 25, 2008

How Legit is the Curier Industry?

I hope your travels are going well. I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles. I followed my own advice and did the AirTranU fare for a last minute little trip. Everything went VERY smoothly, however, let me warn you, AirTran does not have TV's on their flights from Atlanta to LAX. It was probably the longest 5 hours of my life. Miserable. Anyway...

I started talking to the man sitting next to me on the airplane and we started chatting about traveling (duh... it is kind of all I talk about). Well, he told me about something I have never heard of before. He said in college, he spent a summer being a courier. I had no idea what the guy was talking about, but he informed me that companies sometimes need things shipped immediately, both domestically and internationally. Rather than paying UPS or FedEx ridiculous amounts of money, they hire couriers to fly their goods for them. Couriers usually trade a free (or EXTREMELY cheap) ticket for their luggage space. When he told me this, I was completely FREAKED out. I was convinced he was discretely asking me to be a drug trafficer or something. However, when I got home, I checked out a courier website he told me about and it seems pretty legit.

I am in no way advocating this as the right way to travel, but I am curious about it and am wondering if anyone has any more information to share.

I will keep researching, too, and keep you all updated if I find out anything more.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Money in tha Bank...




This is not very travel related, but this site will help you save money so you CAN travel. It has some of the most creative and useful ways for college kids to save money. It has great tips like call 1-800-goog-411 for FREE instead of calling the real 411. Check it out, save some money, put it in a piggy bank, and start planning your trek across the globe!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

City Spotlight: Amsterdam




Amsterdam has always been a city of intrigue. The mysteries hidden behind the walls of the Red Light District and the meandering canals cutting through the city create a culture of vibrance and an exciting atmosphere for any fun loving college student. While Amsterdam isn't usually number one on any college kid's travel list, it is easier to get to than you may think. EF College Break, a travel company offering ridiculously inexpensive travel options for college students, offers trips to Amsterdam for as low as $1,200. Check out EF College Break trips to Amsterdam to get more information on the programs they offer.

Shameless Plug: Enter the code Holley1000 to get another $50.00 off your trip (and I get $50.00 too! We both win!). Want other options? STA also offers trips to Amsterdam, both sites are worth checking out, but EF College Break offers a "low price guarantee" so if you can find a comparable trip at a lower price, EFCB will match it.

Want something to do once you get there? Check out jpayette's blog on college kids in Amsterdam at Getting Around the World. Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy travels!