Hawaiian animal shelter, traveling with others, new airline fees

Hawaiian animal shelter on Kauai lets visitors take dogs on a daytime adventure
Travelers to Kauai who need a dog fix can get their fill right on the beaches. This kind of animal shelter loan service is making headway across the nation. Sun Valley has a program for adopt-pet and “the Arizona Animal Welfare League, for example, has a ‘slumber party’ program that lets families welcome dogs into their homes for a few days for a trial visit.”

The program allows residents and tourists to take adoption-ready canines for a day of frolicking at the beach, on a trail or in an arboretum. The dogs must be at least 6 months old, fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Shelter staff works with them to make sure they’re ready to be good citizens once they’re away from the cages and exercise yards. The shelter provides a towel, bottled water, poop bags and a collar, leash and vest with a bright “Adopt Me” sign.

How to go on a trip with your friends, and still remain friends after that
Cheryl Lock, writing for Mashable, came up with rules for traveling with groups of friends. She notes that most of her trips were short and sweet, but the list she developed was done with input from some well known travelers. Here is the outline of her suggestions. Click through for details.

Talk money ahead of time
Create a group itinerary
Nominate a trip leader
Pool your important documents
Be thoughtful when it comes to rooming
Pack light
Appoint a group photographer
Power down

Travel Tip: airlines add more fees, generate more revenue
Peter Greenberg discovers a new way that airlines are now extracting money from their passengers. This time they charge you for following DOT rules and regulations. This is another unintended consequence of federal rules. Soon, we will see an air traffic control fee if this trend continues.

What if you buy a ticket and then choose within 24 hours not to fly? The presumption is that airlines will fully refund your ticket if you change your mind within a day of booking.
Well, not necessarily. Some airlines will now charge you a $25 fee just to process the refund.
What does that process entail? The only thing agents do is a simple keystroke on their computers. But it generates additional revenue you weren’t expecting to pay.
The key here is full disclosure — as well as when the disclosure happens — if it happens at all. If the airline doesn’t disclose the charge up front, you may not be forced to pay it.
Remember to keep a paper trail so you can dispute the charge after the fact.

Previous

Next