They’ve gone too far.

Yes, folks.  The European discount airline Ryanair will now charge fliers to use the restroom while in flight:

The Daily Mail of London writes “no-frills [Ryanair] is working with Boeing to redesign the cabin and develop coin-operated toilets on 168 of its planes.

That works about to between $1.30 and $1.55 for the privilege of using the toilet, according to ATW Online.

When reading those enticing travel brochures, be forewarned.  Sometimes all is not as it appears in print!  Here are some common descriptions of travel accommodations…and their real meanings!

Old world charm ……………………..No bath
Tropical …………………………………Rainy
Majestic setting ……………………….A long way from town
Options galore …………………………Nothing is included in the itinerary
Secluded hideaway …………………..Impossible to find or get to
Pre-registered rooms ……………….Already occupied
Explore on your own ………………..Pay for it yourself
Knowledgeable trip hosts …………..They’ve flown in an airplane before
No extra fees ……………………………No extras
Nominal fee ……………………………..Outrageous charge
Standard …………………………………Sub-standard
Deluxe ……………………………………Standard
Superior ………………………………….One free shower cap
All the amenities ……………………….Two free shower caps
Plush ………………………………………Top and bottom sheets
Gentle breezes ………………………….Occasional Gale-force winds
Light and airy ……………………………No air conditioning
Picturesque ………………………………Theme park nearby
Open bar ………………………………….Free ice cubes

Found here.

You heard correctly, folks, you can now get a passport card that looks a lot like a driver’s license. This card can be used to travel from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, and Bermuda via land and border crossings or sea ports of entry. It cannot be used to fly to any of these countries, or to fly to any other international destination. It is a great lower cost option for those who frequent these countries for both business and leisure travel.

Contrary to popular belief, you CAN have your passport card expedited by a visa service such as Swift Passport Services instead of having to travel to a city that has a passport agency to stand in line to get it done yourself. Very few passport and visa expediting services offer this service since this option is so new. Swift Passport is breaking new ground by being one of the first passport and visa expediting services to offer passport card expediting service to all 50 states.

So why should you get a card rather than a book? Well, let me start by making it very clear that the card and book are very different.

With the passport card you cannot travel internationally by just any means of travel. It can only be used if you are driving or boating to the countries mentioned above. If you are flying to one of the countries above, the passport card will not be sufficient for you. If you are either a regular visitor to one of these countries or only intend to travel to one of them once by land or sea and never again step foot off American soil again, then this passport card is for you. Passports cards are valid 10 years for adults (age16 and older), and 5 years for children (age 15 and younger). It is wallet size, easier to carry than a passport book, harder to lose, but most of, all it’s less expensive. An expedited passport card is only $80 for adults and $70 for children in comparison to $135 and $120 respectively for a passport book.

With the passport book, you can travel anywhere internationally by any means, though some countries will require additional visas. If you are trying to decide between a passport book and a passport card, you would definitely choose a passport book if you think there may be a chance that you will travel internationally by plane in the next 10 years. The passport book is good for travel to anywhere you could go with the passport card AND to the rest of the world. You will be far less limited with the passport book. An expedited passport book is only $135 for adults and $120 for children, and is valid for 10 years and 5 years respectively.

If you are traveling in 5 weeks or less, your best option is to have Swift Passport expedite the passport card for you. You will be able to relax and let us do the traveling and standing in line for you. We have relationships with the Department of State that gives us the ability to solve problems that can and do arise and get your passport card processed in as little as 12 hours!

Summary of Fees IF

• You have never had a passport and are applying for a U.S. passport (book or card) for the first time; or
• Your expired US passport is not in your possession; or
• Your previous US passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or
• Your previous US passport was issued when you were under 16 years old

Summary of Fees IF

• Your passport expired less than 5 years ago and is in your possession
• Your previous U.S. Passport was issued in the USA
• Your previous passport is in good condition
• You were age 16 or older when your last U.S. Passport was issued

Summary of Fees IF

· You/ Your child is age 15 or younger whether they have had a passport in the past or not

Now that you’ve determined which is right for you, the book or the card, give us a call at 1-877-917-9438. A Swift Passport Representative will be happy to answer your questions as well as help you get started. So make those travel plans and don’t forget to visit our website for agency fees and travel visa information at Swiftpassport .com

Amber Colbert, Houston Manager

CNN reported last week on the rising use of in-flight wi-fi services:

A number of domestic airlines have recently begun offering Wi-Fi Internet access aboard planes, and other airlines say they are working toward making it happen.

“This is the year” for Wi-Fi on planes, said Jack Blumenstein, president and CEO of Aircell, whose Gogo® Inflight Internet service provides access on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, AirTran and Virgin America flights, and will begin testing on United flights later this year. Gogo is installed on more than 200 commercial planes, and Blumenstein said he expected 1,200 aircraft to have Gogo capability by the end of 2009.

Here is what major U.S. airlines offer, and what is coming up:

Airlines are charging around $10 per three-hour flight for using the wi-fi service, which is actually not bad compared to the cost of logging into various “hot spots” on the ground.  The question is–will people buy it?  How about you?

If you have traveled, you know the name Frommers.  Founded by travel guru Arthur Frommer, the company has made itself successful with the most widely read travel guidebooks in the world:

Since the 1957 publication of Arthur Frommer’s revolutionary Europe on $5 a Day, the Frommer’s collection of travel products has expanded to include over 300 guidebooks as well as this popular Frommers.com Web site, reaffirming Frommer’s as the most trusted name in travel today.

There’s nothing worse than traveling abroad and being faced with the quandary of not being able to find a restroom.  Or worse, finding one that is less than accommodating to your immediate needs.  For those of you who have suffered from international public restroom terror, I want to lift your spirits by sharing a slideshow of the World’s Greatest Public Bathrooms.

That’s right!  They’re not all bad folks.  In fact, some of them are downright fabulous!  Check it out HERE.

Talk about making lemons out of lemonade!

Canadian musician Dave Carroll was traveling on United Airlines and while sitting on the runway he noticed the baggage handlers throwing guitar cases.  Sure enough, when he landed he found his Taylor Guitar broken and in need of more than $1000 in repairs.  This song (and hilarious video) recounts the trip and the yearlong struggle with the airline to get compensation for breaking his instrument.

The good news?   Now that the video has gone viral, the airline wants to talk, Taylor Guitars wants to give him a big discount on a new guitar, and his song has received 3.5 million hits on YouTube.

It was only a matter of time!

Apparently, Pet Airways has officially launched and you may now buy first class tickets starting at $149 for your pets to travel from coast to coast.  The airline boasts the following features:

• Pets Fly in the main cabin Not in the cargo hold
• A Trained Pet Attendant is always monitoring your pet.
• We make sure there is plenty of fresh, cool air at all times.
• Pets are never left unattended in a warehouse or on a ramp.
• No need to buy a pet carrier, we provide it FREE of charge.
• Peace of mind that your pet is in the hands of pet professionals.
• If you’re delayed don’t worry; your pet is in good hands.
• No hot or cold weather restrictions that prevent pets from flying.
• Potty breaks.

Pets are picked up and dropped off at special pet lounges inside the airport.  I’m assuming they also get complementary cocktails.

So what do you think?  Would you fly your pet on Pet Airways?

Ok, maybe it isn’t isn’t for everyone…and maybe it will be expensive when it does get here…but it does appear that all systems are a go on the space tourism industry.  This week New Mexico’s governor Bill Richardson unveiled a $200 million spaceport:

The almost $200 million project is funded by the state. Once completed, British business magnate Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic will begin taking tourists to space from the facility. Flights are expected to start in 2010.

Branson has said that he has a list of 45,000 people from 120 countries who have registered to take the space trips. It will cost $200,000 a ride, according to the Spaceport America Web site.

The spaceship will be connected to a specially designed carrier aircraft that will take it to about 50,000 feet, according to Virgin Galactic. The aircraft will release the spaceship, which will then use rockets to propel itself into space.

Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard.

So, what do you think?  If you had the chance, would you go into space for a week?