beat the brochure

The travel industry changed immensely this week 10 years ago and most of us found it hard to believe it was 10 years ago the twin towers collapsed, yet so please travel to New York has recovered. However, a big sarcastic clap should go to the dodgy couple attempting to join the mile high club on the 9/11 anniversary but causing serious security concerns instead. In the rest of the travel news this week:

1. – Australia gives citizens 3 gender options.

Australian passports now offer a third gender option in a bid to prevent transgender discrimination. Now people born with physical features that are atypical of gender or transgender travellers can check a box which states ‘X’ for indeterminate rather than ‘male’ or ‘female’, because they will bring absolutely no attention to them at all. The initiative is said to ensure a less administrative burden on those affected. Also known as administrative burden on airline staff, or maybe that’s a bit cynical!

2. – Avoid pesky Ryanair admin fees.

Some may say it’s only £6 but as I recently discovered when you are a party of 6 this adds up, especially we you are talking £6 per flight so a return flight will cost you £12. Therefore £72 is not an amount of money you want to hand Ryanair on a plate, that’s a dinner out on your holiday! So here is how to avoid those charges: Head to your nearest travel agent or supermarket bureau de change and ask for a Mastercard Global Cash Passport. Load your money on to the card and it will act like a debit card, which you can reload or unload, and then pay for your flights using this card. The Travelex Global Cash Passport card usually costs £29.99 as an upfront fee but at the moment you can get the card for free, saving you even more money!

3. – Never travel with this couple.

A South Africa couple clearly giddy with excitement at the prospect of their trip to New Zealand booked a pleasant hotel in Eastbourne, Wellington, New Zealand. Or so they thought. They arrived at what they thought was their destination only to discover the hotel didn’t exist. Cue thoughts of credit card fraud and theft. Actually, they booked their hotel evidently after a few glasses of wine and purchased a hotel in the delightful Eastbourne, England, a mere 12,000 miles from where they were meant to be. What’s more classic is the couple’s comment that they thought it was a little strange they were being charged in British pounds and not New Zealand Dollars.

Beat the Brochure Travel Tip of the Week:

This week’s Beat the Brochure Travel Tip of the Week comes courtesy of @Travelanswerman:

“Communicate with your Credit Card Company when you are going abroad”

Amen to this great tip. From personal experience I can say with certainty it is not fun to have your credit card declined for strange usage whilst you are on an island in the South Pacific – lesson learnt!