Thursday, September 28, 2006

A Universe of Travel: The Virgin Galactic Quest

Riding through the comfort zone to go to the moon is not as far off as you think.  Our chairman, Richard Branson, announced plans of the SpaceShipTwo today in New York City.  This spacecraft will be two times larger than the SpaceShipOne, which was brought into flight in June of 2004.  The SpaceShipTwo will be able to accommodate six passengers. 

With the goal in mind to promote space tourism, the seats will be cushioned, and yes, passengers will have the ability to recline peacefully. From the official Virgin Galactic website, you will be able to “See the world in a whole new light.”

The ticket will cost you $200,000 apiece.  You’ll have to wait until about 2009 though until you can fly, so start saving now.

Posted by Tamar Weinberg on 09/28 at 02:31 PM
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10 Overseas Traveling Tips

Going abroad for the first time?  Hey, don’t be nervous; it’s not so bad.  A long plane flight seem like an eternity, but you can make it more enjoyable.  And think about it this way: once you’re at your destination, you’re going to love it.

  1. Do some preparatory research.  Scout the bookstores and buy a guidebook.  Surf the net for traveler experiences.  Visit forums and ask for advice.
  2. Organize your finances.  Buy traveler’s cheques from your local bank.  Organize your credit cards and cash too.
  3. Prepare your itinerary at home and book your tours in advance.  When you get there, the will be hundreds of people just like you in line to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Roman Colosseum in Italy, so booking early guarantees you a spot, and in many cases, you can beat the crowds!
  4. Pack as lightly as possible: Airlines impose restrictions on the weight of your luggage, and it can be costly.
  5. Bring a camera and get ready to share your photos once you’re back home.  What good is that Dutch or Thailand vacation without bringing home pictures to show the family and coworkers?  Your stories should be complemented with some great photos.  You, too, will want to look back on those memories in a few years!
  6. Make the time pass on the flight: Bring your CD player, Ipod, or laptop.  Find a good book.  Sleep.  Play some Sudoku.  If you’re with a young child, bring a set of cards; the SET card game is a popular choice among older children and even adults.
  7. Prepare to be amazed, especially in England.  If you’re coming from America, bear in mind that cars are driven on the “wrong” side of the road, and the driver also sits on the “wrong” (right) side of the car!
  8. Experience the local flavor: Sure, you can go to Greece and ask for a cheeseburger—I’m sure they offer it, but wouldn’t you rather try stifatho? (How could you ever pass up a New York Bagel opportunity in New York?!)
  9. Take advantage of nightlife: There are plenty of monuments to visit by day, but don’t retire early!  The nightlife in India will keep you entertained beyond daylight hours.
  10. Visit the landmarks: By night, a different kind of culture exists.  But if you went to Paris and didn’t get to see the Eiffel Tower, you’ll definitely get funny looks from your friends.

Keep these thoughts in mind when you travel and your experience abroad will be a very pleasing one.  Let your eyes be open to the culture and experience the lifestyle. 

Posted by Tamar Weinberg on 09/28 at 11:11 AM
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Friday, September 22, 2006

Fighting Global Warming: A Contribution that Counts

The future matters.  And all it took was a little coffee with former vice president Al Gore.  Yesterday, our chairman, Sir Richard Branson, made a $3 billion pledge to fight global warming.  Over the next decade, 100 percent of the profits from the transportation sectors, including Virgin Atlantic, will be donated to the cause with the goal of finding renewable and sustainable energy as alternative methods to coal and oil.

“Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world from our parents and they from their parents,” Branson said during his announcement, which was made officially during the Clinton Global Initiative, a yearly conference hosted by the former President for leaders in the business, political, and nonprofit worlds.  “We must not be the generation responsible for irreversibly damaging the environment.  We must hand it over to our children in as near pristine a condition as we were lent it from our parents.”

It’s time to go on the trip you’ve been dreaming about knowing that your travels will reward your children and their children. 

Posted by Tamar Weinberg on 09/22 at 10:39 AM
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Monday, September 18, 2006

Save Money on Meals When You Travel

Traveling can be an expensive proposition; especially when you think about how many meals you are going to be eating out.  If you love to travel but don’t have an unlimited travel budget, don’t despair - there are some really easy ways that you can save money on meals when traveling!

Now you could always do what my father-in-law did when he traveled with his family…but I don’t recommend it.  My father-in-law only allowed his family to eat two meals per day!  Talk about an extreme way to save some money!  These ideas are far less painful and will not leave you starving!

• Ask the locals where they eat.  It’s no surprise that the touristy restaurants are going to be far pricier than the places the locals eat.  In addition, when you eat with the locals, you will probably end up tasting meals that are indigenous to the area and authentic tasting!

• Many restaurants will post their menu outside the restaurant.  Be sure to take the time to look over the menu before you enter.  If they don’t have a menu posted, ask to see one!  That way you won’t be embarrassed or surprised when you’re seated and discover that the menu is too pricey.

• Carry a sheet with the currency conversion rates if you aren’t good at doing the conversions in your head.  This sheet will help you avoid overspending!

• Go to the local market or grocery store for at least one meal per day.  Simply buying a few buns, some meat, cheese and fruit can cost you only a dollar or two versus a restaurant meal.  Plan ahead and bring a few pieces of cutlery and you’ll be all set to make your own meal on the go.

• If you are planning to stay somewhere for a while, it might make sense to rent a place with a common kitchen or one that has a kitchenette.  You’ll save considerably on meals this way.

• When you’re sightseeing, carrying your own water and snacks (ex. granola bars, fruit, trail mix) can help save a lot over buying them from vendors or convenience stores.

Just incorporating a few of these suggestions can have you cutting your meal expenses considerably on your next trip.  Who knows, you might save enough to allow you to stay even longer and explore more local attractions!

Posted by VV Blogger on 09/18 at 11:53 AM
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Friday, September 15, 2006

As Workforce Ages – Vacation Time Is Even More Essential

It is no secret that the American workforce is aging and that many people are continuing to work long after they are eligible to retire.  That is a great thing for organizations because they get to retain valuable and knowledgeable employees in a job market that is increasingly competitive.

This aging workforce is getting more demanding though.  They want flexible work schedules and lots of time for vacations.  Two weeks just is not going to cut it anymore!

If companies want to retain this important sector of the workforce, then they are going to have to get on the ball and start offering things like ‘working vacations’, phased in retirement and compressed workweeks.

One trend that is taking off at some organizations is the working vacation.  While that might sound like an oxymoron to some people, it is actually an ideal situation for people nearing retirement who still enjoy working.  The working vacation allows the employer to still have the employee working, but the employee is not in the office and stays in touch from their vacation destination through the wonders of technology.

My mom’s employer is a great example of an organization being extremely flexible in terms of workweek and vacation time.  My mom is in her 60s but is still a valuable asset to her employer.  She has arranged to work three days a week from home with the understanding that she can take lengthy vacations when she likes.  She loves the arrangement and her employer still reaps the years of knowledge and experience that she has – but it is on my mom’s terms.

The U.S. government is also starting to realize that it needs to change the rules to allow employers to be more flexible.  Under a provision in the new pension law, workers 62 and older can collect partial benefits from their employer without quitting.  The change is effective for most plans starting in January.

So, if you are nearing retirement, but aren’t quite ready to break the ties officially, why not talk to your employer about designing a schedule that allows you more flexibility and vacation time.  You never know, they might be very thankful that you are willing to stay on – even if it means creating special provisions for you.

Posted by Rose143 on 09/15 at 03:49 PM
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