As reformed Road Warriors, we read this article with equal parts amusement and intrigue.  The gist of the article focuses on young “mileage runners”, but I can see a whole class of Boomer runners (Bummers?) picking up this hobby.

This could be the next sport - though pretty dull to watch in real time.

 Mileage runners are the high-tech nomadic wanderers of the air. Predominantly male, generally obsessed with flying and miles, and typically employed in white-collar careers that involve significant business travel, they scour the web for cheap flights, phoning in sick or using vacation days to fly the longest itineraries they can string together.

Here’s what the article writer did:

I was 18 spine-crushing hours into a knight’s tour of airport terminals in Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego and three other cities. Wired News gave me $500 and a mission: Squeeze as many miles as possible out of those five bills, using the tricks and techniques invented by a subculture of airline hackers called “mileage runners” who specialize in accumulating frequent flyer miles at low cost. Now with more than 6,000 miles and 31 hours booked, my only problem was how to spend the other $224.

A really fun read.  The new sport is Extreme Travel

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/07/mileage_runner

I have been looking for a quick link on WiFi Providers at USA Airport WiFi Guide.  Here is a link to a helpful guide.

US Airport WiFi Guide

And if you need to know where to plug in that laptop (especially if your flight is delayed), here is a link of places to plug in at worldwide airports.

Airport Power Plugs

If there’s something we keep looking for - is a better way to pop open a laptop on the road. I think we finally found it!  To see more about this cool laptop bag, click any of the photos.

This rolling luggage cart converts into a stable work platform, providing a sturdy place to use your laptop while traveling when there are no convenient tables, and eliminating the need to perilously perch a portable computer upon your lap.

The desktop is integrated into the carts molded ABS and lightweight anodized aluminum frame, and it unfolds at the touch of a button into a platform 26″ from the floor, secured by the telescoping handle at two points and reinforced by a Y-brace underneath.

The platform can hold up to 20 lbs., and can accommodate a 17″ wide laptop, or a smaller laptop with an external mouse. The carrying platform can fit a 36″ business case, yet the 17 3/4″ width of the cart allows it to maneuver in airplane isles.

When fully compacted and stowed, it will easily fit into an overhead compartment. 17 1/2″ L x 15 1/2″ H x 6″ D. (11 1/4 lbs.)

This is from Hammacher Schlemmer
and we keep finding great stuff there. Take a look. 

A survey of  Visa Credit Card holders finds that Americans are planning on spending an average of $1,654 on their summer vacation, making it one of the biggest purchases most people are likely to make all year.

The Visa Card Holder  surveyed 1,000 cardholders and also found that 15 percent of respondents won’t be taking a summer vacation this year.

On the high end, 4 percent of those surveyed said they would be sending over $5,000 on their summer vacation, making them ‘mega vacationers.’

Visa’s “Travel Wizard” helps consumers decide between necessary and flexible expenses by walking them through the process of preparing a travel budget with an interactive checklist and corresponding travel tips. Users can build budgets for meals, hotels and entertainment expenses and make spending adjustments before traveling.

For example, the calculator will automatically estimate the cost of fuel for drivers based on trip mileage or prompt flyers to factor in the cost of food at the airport. With the ‘Travel Wizard’ estimations, travelers can modify excessive transportation, lodging, and meal expenses to plan a more cost-effective vacation.

The Summer Travel Budgeting Center and “Travel Wizard” are part of Visa’s award-winning financial education program, Practical Money Skills for Life, and available for free at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/travel.

The Summer Travel Budgeting Center also contains some important tips for travelers to consider before hitting the road this summer.

They include:

• Remember to budget for spending money: Equipment rentals, snacks and gifts can add up quickly.

• Seek advice from fellow travelers: Research online for recommendations from locals and learn from others’ mistakes.
• Airfares to more remote airports are often considerably less expensive than the more popular, and crowded, alternatives closer to town.
• Always ask if hotels, restaurants and attractions offer discounts: AAA, AARP and other organizations often negotiate discounts for their members.
• Add 10 to 15 percent to your budget for unanticipated events: Things like lost luggage, a flat tire or an Emergency Room visit. Make sure you bring along copies your medical and auto insurance information.

 Comment: the budgeting suggestions are terrific.  The survey is a little loose, and doesn’t consider an important factor: the income of the cardholders.  If the 4% of the “mega vacationers” have a high income level, this wouldn’t concern me.

A better measurement would be: What  percentage of family income is applied to vacations?

I think a comfortable range would be 2% to 5% of gross family income.  That would mean a family with a net income of $100,000 would spend at a top end $5,000 on their vacations. 

If you figure total family income of $50,000 a top end vacation would be $2,500.  With kids, a plane flight to Disney and a week’s stay there could be really tight.  That’s why we encourage using discount coupons and pre-purchasing discount restaurant and fast food Gift Cards at our site ValueDining.com.

Vacations memories are lifelong, with planning and creative cost cutting - they can be wonderful times.