Flying hobos, that is what it has come down to for the frequent flyers. We have become a disgusted group of stinky, ungroomed, ugly, thirsty travelers - no deodorant, toothpaste, cologne, cosmetics, shaving cream and lotionplus, no water.

This is homeland security? How ridiculous! Obviously, this is another display of our government’s brilliant reactive policies. For once, could they be proactive and have some common sense?

Growing up in the hobo capital of the world, Britt, Iowa, I recognize the similarities between the flying hobos and the real hobos that hop the traveling freight trains. Every August, the hobos descend on Britt for the National Hobo Convention for the crowning of their new King and Queen.

The hobos parade the streets from their floats throwing candy and trinkets. Later, they gather in the city park for the crowning coronation and endless pots of Mulligan stew. Hmmcome to think of it, they are treated like royalty compared to current airline travelers.

On a recent cross country flight, I was so thirsty by the time the flight attendant arrived with the drink cart, I requested two drinks. I was given a dirty look and a miniature bag of pretzels. I didn’t care and placed my order one more time!

Why wouldn’t I be thirsty? I was instructed to arrive several hours early for TSA security processing and not allowed to bring water with me. I was not going to pay the outrageous price the concourse food court was charging for a beverage. Makes me think they are in collaboration with TSA.

I have a solution to our security problems. First, have paper booties available for passengers to wear on their feet when walking on the nasty floor through the TSA security machine. Second, have a TSA gift bag of safely packaged toiletries and bottled water waiting on the other side of the TSA security check point for each passenger. Third, have TSA plastic locking ties available at the check-in counter for bags that do not have TSA locks. If TSA locks are used, by all means, there is no excuse to cut the lock off!

We the people would like to take back our country. The United States of America was built on freedom, not control. Our human rights are in gross violation. Common sense and logic must take precedence over created fear, misinformation and reactive policies. We are tired of being humiliated and want our voices heard.

After all, we do not want an embarrassing country full of flying hobos!

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Las Vegas is much more than loud slot machines, and
noisy casinos. Seriously, there is so much more to do than
gamble and eat from block-long food tables. Las Vegas is
home to the some of the finest entertainment, attractions,
shopping, and golf courses in the world.

Your entertainment options are unlimited in this city
known as “America’s Playground”. There are thrilling
roller coasters, dolphin and magic shows, and street shows
such as Treasure Island’s life-like pirate battle. You can
even tour Egypt in a simulated ride. There are places to
bowl, enjoy a leisurely spa, shop ’til you drop, and even
get married. The possibilities are almost overwhelming, so
make sure to plan, or have some sort of idea what you
would like to see and do while you are there.

You will definitely want to put a trip to Fremont Street
on your schedule. Fremont Street is a short walk from
downtown Las Vegas and is a brief stroll from many of the
hotels or you can ride the public transportation which is
extremely clean and passenger friendly. Look overhead as
you walk the 4 block long Fremont Street Experience and
you will be amazed by the over 2.1 million lights and the
state-of-the-art sound system in the canopy built 90
feet above street level.

If you are vacationing and wanting to spoil yourself, then
you have come to the perfect place. Many of the spas offer
fitness centers. In addition you can treat yourself to
facials, massages, body wraps, saunas, heated whirlpools,
steam rooms and other treatments, including tanning.

Don’t dare forget the fountains at Bellagio. It is one of
the most memorable and spectacular sights in Vegas or
maybe even the world! You will be hypnoized as the water
takes on a life all it’s own and shows off in perfect
synchronization to opera and broadway favorites and
everything thing else in between. Best of all this show is
no charge as it can be experienced from the open sidewalk.

When you are there at Bellagio, make time to tour their
gardens. You will begin to relax, even as you enter this
tranquil oasis. With over 85,000 square foot of space the
conservatory has 1,200 exotic plants and flowers such as
lilies and orchids. Every month, the fragrant displays are
changed to keep everything fresh.

On May 15, 2005, Las Vegas will be celebrating its 100th
Birthday! It’s an historic event that has events to
offer everyone. The Centennial Celebration Committee has
committed to commemorate the 100th birthday by hosting a
birthday party that~s brighter and bigger than the neon
lights on the Las Vegas Strip! The party actually started
on December 31, 2004 and will last the whole year.

With all the resorts competing for your dollars, you will
be able to find cheap or at least heavy discounts on meals
and rooms. Seniors and students can find special airfare
and accomodations to please their budgets. Las Vegas is a
resort whereby you can spend as little or as much as you
want and have a great time.

Daytime or nightime, Las Vegas is a super place to
bring the whole family to vacation or just get away with
a special someone. And with the BIG party planned,
what better time than the present?

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The airline ticket is probably going to be the biggest single expense of your trip in and out of Europe, especially if you are coming from Australia or New Zealand. The worst thing you can do is buy your ticket up at the last minute. Although there are some great deals on short notice, you are more likely to get a cheaper flight if you booked well in advance and you can also choose your seat in the flight. If you were still unsure about leaving, than buying a ticket early is a great boost. Once you have a ticket, it feels like there’s no turning back.

The airline ticket is probably going to be the biggest single expense of your trip in and out of Europe, especially if you are coming from Australia or New Zealand. The worst thing you can do is buy your ticket up at the last minute. Although there are some great deals on short notice, you are more likely to get a cheaper flight if you booked well in advance and you can also choose your seat in the flight. If you were still unsure about leaving, than buying a ticket early is a great boost. Once you have a ticket, it feels like there’s no turning back.

Depending on your standard of comfort and your budget, there is always an airline that can cater to you. Just remember that with airlines, you always get what you pay for. If you opt for cheap airlines, you are more likely to ride on older planes with greater safety risks and likelier delays. However, it’s good to know that there are already a lot of very airlines that cater to the middle market. Before you buy a ticket, it is advisable to do some research first. Ask about several airlines from a travel agency, or talk to people who have recently come from Europe. Check for frequent-flier programs, booking options, discounts for pre-booking and the cancellation policies of each airline. You can check the Web for information, as most major airlines have their schedules, prices and policies on the Internet.

If you think you will be flying in connected flights, make sure that the airlines that you are riding have certain partnership agreements that make it easier for you to travel between borders. Most airlines offer frequent-flier programs that can give you free flights or other benefits like seat upgrades. Your rewards are based on the number of kilometers that you flew with that airline or with its partners, or you can gather points by using affiliated travel services like hotels or car rentals. It would make sense for you to choose your home country’s carrier plane so you can use the free miles for future domestic flights. Just remember that frequent-flier flights have limited seats and are not available during peak seasons like Christmas.

Check your ticket restrictions. You may be subject to cancellation penalties, unexpected refunds policies, seasonal limits and stopover limits. If you have a discounted ticket, the conditions attached can even become more restrictive.

You can also get a discount return ticket if Europe is the only continent you plan to visit. If you fly to one destination, but have to return home from another, an open-jaw taken is your best option to save backtracking time. Open-jaw tickets are more expensive than regular return tickets if they can let you see more of a region especially when the distance between your starting and endpoints is great. If you’re not sure about your return date, you can purchase a one-way ticket. It can cost more than half of a return ticket, but can be a very liberating option. However, many countries will not give you a visa unless they see that you are flying with a return ticket. You will have to show your travel route as well as proof that you have enough cash to keep you afloat the entire time. If you have a two-year Commonwealth working visa, a one-way ticket can be of great help to you.

If you plan to travel to more than one continent, your best option is to get an RTW ticket. This is a ticket that gives you unlimited time, usually a year, to go around the globe in one direction with a predetermined number of stopovers. There are a lot of RTW combinations, so if you want to visit more places in less travel time, this kind of ticket is usually much cheaper than trying to buy individual tickets as you go.

You can get ticket discounts if you travel with a group. Other airlines offer discounts for teachers, students and holders of youth cards.

Avoid buying secondhand tickets that are usually worthless and do not match your identification. Immigration officials will most likely stop you from getting on that flight anyway. Once you have a clear idea of your travel plans and the amount of time can afford to be away, purchase your airline ticket directly from an airline company, from selected travel agents, or through reputable travel magazines.

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