Lisa’s Travels

Holiday-Truth.com is a site geared towards regions frequented by Britain tourists.  However, they still have a great selection of places you can check out before you book your room there.  There are a lot of areas that us US travelers go to also.  Searching in foreign contries is fairly easy.  However, searching the United States is another story.  Instead of being listed by location, its listed by hotel name.  They even have a forum you can join!  This is a must check out site before you go on vacation!  (US wise, I had better luck in the forums).

Have a complaint about a company?  The Squeaky Wheel is your spot to vent.  As the name implies, they are working with you to get a resolution. Each complaint triggers an email to the company, gets sent to 5 search engines, plus every time someone views the complaint, another email goes to the company.  It does cost $5 per complaint you want posted.  However, if you get a refund, this may be the best $5 spent. My only complaint is that you are unable to search this site.  I would love to see all the complaints for certain companies.  We all have horror airline and vacation stories, so I thought I would pass on a site that would allow us to hopefully get some resolution.

Depending on where you live, there are usually several events going on that you can bring your family too.  Here is a short list:

Illlinois

Cobden Peach Festival - August 8-9 618-893-2777 Peach cobbler, sliced peaches, ice cream and barbecue.  There is also a queen contest, carnival, parade, and games.

River City Soul Fest (Peoria)- August 8-9 309-689-3019 Boyz II Men and Martha Munizzi are two stars that will be at this two day event celebrating soul.  This takes place at CEFCU Center State at the Landing in Peoria.  Friday admission is $7.  Saturday admission is $10.

Lincoln Bicentennial Bike Tour - August 16 - 23 (starts in Hodgenville KY) 800-433-8868.  This 360 mile bike tour starts in Kentucky and crosses into Indiana.  It ends in Springfield.  Registration costs $595 and is open to the first 100 applicants.

Indiana

Indiana State Fair at the Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis)- August 6-17 317-927-7500 All the typical state fair stuff spread over 12 days and nights.

Taste of Downtown (Indianapolis)- August 9 - Food, wine, and live music in Indianapolis

Iowa

National Hobo Convention (Britt)- August 7 - 10 641-843-4433 Mulligan stew, parade, flea market, craft show, car show, concessions, and the coronation of the Hobo King and Queen at the National Hobo Museum.

Old Tyme Corn Boil (Griswold)- August 9 712-778-4712 Downtown Giswold has free entertainment, games, fireworks, 5K and  2 mile run/walk, and fresh sweet corn.

Michigan

Dexter Daze - August 8-9 734-426-0887 This features over 100 booths of artisans and crafters, family entertainment, social tent, parade and much more in Monument Park.

Roscommon:  A Celebration of Michigan Art, Wine, Hops, and Harvest (Forest Dunes)-August 9 989-275-0700 This is an evening celebrating great grapes, hops, and art. Admission is $10.

Thunder Over Michigan Air Show (Ypsilanti)- August 9-10 The Yankee Air Museum hosts the ten year running salute to warbirds.  Admission is $20.

Wisconsin

Little Bull Falls LogJam Festival (Mosinee)- August 8-10 715-693-4330 The settlers of the Wisconsin river are celebrated in River Park.  There are raft races, art making activities, demonstrations, and more.

Prairie Family Days (Kenosha)- August 8-10 262-925-6735 A Prairie idol talent contest is the featured event at this Prairie Springs Park fest.

20th Annual Burger Fest (Seymour)- August 9 920-833-6688 This World’s Largest Hamburger Parade kicks off at 11 am downtown followed by a hamburger eating contest, a muscle contest, and plenty of food.

34th Annual Morning Glory Fair (Milwaukee)- August 9-10 414-273-7121 Crafts, silent auction, picnic foods, and beverages which takes place on the grounds of the Marcus Center for Performing Arts.

Back in March of this year, United started charging for baggage, and for the customer, it has been downhill since.  Below I have listed different airlines and their new fees:

AirTran

First Checked Bag:  Free
Second Checked Bag: $10 online, $20 airport
Third Checked Bag: $50

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $29
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $69

Oversized Bags 62-70 in: $29
Oversized Bags 71-80 in: $69

Carry-on limit: 55 inches

American

First Checked Bag: $15
Second Checked Bag: $25
3-5 Checked Bag: $100 each
Sixth: $200

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $50
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $100

Oversized Bags 63-115 in: $150

Carry-on limit: 45 inches and 40 lbs

Continental

First Checked Bag: Free
Second Checked Bag: $25
Third Checked Bag: $100

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $50

Oversized Bags 63-115 in: $100

Carry-on limit: 51 inches and 40 lbs

Delta

First Checked Bag: Free
Second Checked Bag: $50
Third Checked Bag: $125

International :
First and Second Checked Bags: Free
3-10 Checked Bags: $150 - $600 each

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $90
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $150

Oversized Bags 62-80 in: $175

Carry-on limit: 45 inches and 40 lbs

JetBlue

First Checked Bag: Free
Second Checked Bag: $10
Third Checked Bag: $75

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $50
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $100

Oversized Bags 63-80 in: $75

Carry-on limit: 50 inches for Embraer 190 planes, 56 inches for Airbus A320s

Northwest

First Checked Bag: $15
Second Checked Bag: $25
Third Checked Bag: $100

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $50

Oversized Bags 63-80 in: $100 (International varies)

Carry-on limit: 45 inches

Southwest

First Checked Bag: Free
Second Checked Bag: Free
Third Checked Bag: $25
4th and additional: $50 to $110 each.

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $25
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $50

Oversized Bags 63-80 in: $50
Oversized Bags 71-80 in: $69

Carry-on limit: 50 inches

United

First Checked Bag: $15
Second Checked Bag: $25
Third and additional Checked Bag: $125 - $250 each (International varies)

Overweight bags 51-100 lbs: $125

Oversized Bags 63-115 in: $125

Carry-on limit: 45 inches

US Airways

First Checked Bag: $15
Second Checked Bag: $25
Third and Additional Checked Bags: $100 each

Overweight bags 51-70 lbs: $50 - $150
Overweight bags 71-100 lbs: $100 - $200 (based on number of bags)

Oversized Bags 62-80 in: $100
Oversized Bags 71-80 in: $69

Carry-on limit: 51 inches

Now if your head isn’t spinning yet, I will definitely make it now. You can get multiple charges on the same piece of luggage if it is too large, too heavy, or one too many!  This list defenitely makes you rethink how you are going to pack for your next plane trip.