Travel Newsletter - May 2009

Spring is here and summer is near! Gear up for your summer excursions here at CIL. Save BIG on Eagle Creek's Centerline luggage series, including Hovercraft and Load Warriors! All Centerline luggage in stock is on sale 25 percent off beginning May 1 for Eagle Creek's Bon Voyage Sale.

Upcoming Travel Programs

Visit our Travel Programs web page for the latest information on upcoming Traveler’s Tuesdays Programs.

Tuesday, May 5th (7:00pm) - The Desert Southwest
Have you seen the strange, colorful and delightful rock formations in the desert southwest? There are flash-flood-carved canyons, grooved slick rock sandstone and weirdly shaped spires. When it comes to natural wonders the Southwest hits the jackpot with visually stunning rock formations! We will visit The Wave, Bryce Canyon and Antelope Canyon through the eyes of Jansport Product Manager and photographer, Rick Saez. Join us as we experience some spectacular scenery in the southwest desert country of southern Utah and northern Arizona. Experience the wonders of the crimson red rock and the dazzling blue skies of this outrageous and gorgeous region. As an added bonus, Rick will show some special images of photography work in Africa and Antarctica too!

Tuesday, May 12th (7:00pm) - China Through the Eyes of a 10-year-old
Explore China through the eyes of 10-year-old Brett Krantz. We'll take in the sites from bustling Hong Kong and the capitol of modern-day China, Beijing. In Beijing, we'll visit the enchanting Forbidden City, China's largest and best preserved cluster of ancient buildings. We'll join Brett on a day trip for an exciting walk along the enchanting Great Wall of China, which marks the northern boundary of Chinese civilization. Back in Beijing, we'll soak up the fascinating site of Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square, and China's "white house". Join us for this truly entertaining show!

Tuesday, May 19th (7:00pm) - Panama: A Peace Corp Mission
Join Peace Corp volunteers, Dottie and Ray Knoedler, who served in Panama from 2004-2006, as they share their exciting experience with us. Nearly a quarter of Panama is protected wilderness, making wildlife spotting easy and accessible. Explore the natural parks, rich with world-renowned biodiversity and view wild kinkajous, capybaras, and brilliant birds. The metropolitan Panama City is stacked with soaring skyscrapers and fabulous restaurants, while further out the tropical forests and white-sandy beaches offer a little fresh air and relaxation. Plus, gain insight to the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal, currently undergoing an expansion, and Panama's diverse set of people and cultures, including three indigenous nations.

Tuesday, May 26th (7:00pm) - Laos: The Hidden Gem
Laos, a small land–locked communist country, remains quite removed from western culture and a truly inspiring place to travel. Despite its lack of development and widespread level of poverty, it is a nation of some of the most peaceful and happy people. Experience the culture and its unique cuisine, relax on a slow boat down the Mekong, absorb the temples and tranquility of Luang Prabang, offer alms to saffron robed monks, admire the limestone karst scenery in Vang Vieng, discover the French-inspired culture and peaceful streets of its capitol city Vientiane, and traverse the lush mountains of eastern Laos. Jeff Alexander of Intrepid Travel has spent more than two years adventuring, traveling, leading trips, and working in South East Asia. Jeff will share his experiences and provide information on how to make the best of your experience in Laos.

Tuesday, June 2nd (7:00pm) - Travel Tips Clinic – Learn to Pack Light & Organized!
The most important advice anyone can give you about packing is to travel light! Airlines have strict rules on the amount and size of both carry-on and checked luggage. Learn the art of packing light and enjoy your trip more! Less luggage means less hassles for you. Choosing a wardrobe of basics will help you deal with space limitations. Learn everything you need to know about packing light for your next trip. How to pack, what to pack, and protecting what you pack will be covered in this fun and informative clinic. Prizes, discounts & tips will make it worth your time. . Travel tips for everyone!

Just For Fun

Two planes arrived at flight control at exactly the same time. Flight control said, "Delta, Continental, you both arrived at the same time. Who wants to go first?"
The Continental pilot immediately heard, "Go ahead, Delta, I'll wait!"

Travel Tip: Calling From Overseas

Want to stay in touch abroad but not sure how? Some U.S. cellphones do work overseas, but they often come with huge roaming charges. To avoid potentially astronomical roaming charges, you might want to consider buying a phone overseas instead. In most countries, you can find a cellphone for only $40 to $50 and you can buy prepaid minutes rather than signing a lengthy service contract. Most cellphones purchased abroad also convert for use in additional countries through the use of SIM cards. Each country has its own SIM card and they typically cost around $10-$20. By far the cheapest way to communicate overseas, though, is to use Voice Over Internet Protocol like Skype (www.skype.com) or Google Talk (www.google.com/talk). Both programs are free to download, free to use and incredibly user-friendly. If you still choose to bring your smart phone or handheld wireless device, make sure to contact your provider to have the international service turned on and the default device that automatically checks for email turned off to avoid unintentional roaming.

Featured Travel Product

Changes In Latitude Travel Store is excited to now carry the Briggs & Riley Transcend luggage series. This top-of-the-line luggage is both stylish and indestructible. B & R even offers a lifetime guarantee on their products, so if the airline causes the damage, they will still repair it for free. The lightweight series has both spacious carry-on and larger, checkable sizes. Plus, its handle sits on the outside so you have a full compartment on the inside for packing. Other notable features include a convertible outside mesh pocket for magazines or coats and multiple smartly-designed organizational pockets.

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"Travel is an antidote to an overdose of stability."
- Bill Barich, from Traveling Light (1984)

Happy Travels!

** This newsletter was compiled and written by Reagen Lowrey at Changes In Latitude Travel Store. Check out her new travel blog, http://redbankstravelco.blogspot.com

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