Thinking Rings, A Disney Grandma, and Que Pasa?

We are huge fans of the Olympics, and we’ve decided that we’d like to attend the London games in 2012. Do we need to start planning now, and how do we go about this?

Thinking Rings

Dear Rings,

The home page for the London Olympics tells you—and they already sound a bit stressed—that there are only 514 days to go (as of March 1, 2011). Bookmark this website (www.london2012.com) immediately, and keep checking back. There are two ways to go about your Olympic planning: one way is easy and expensive, the other can be a lot cheaper and much more work.

The easy way is to book with a package tour operator. There are dozens of tour operators offering packages that include airfare, lodging, and extras. Since most of them don’t include event tickets, go to the London Olympics website listed above. Make sure you look at consumer review sites from past events to see which companies get the best reports on other large international events. Consumer reviews are the very best way to find out which companies deliver what they promise. Also, be sure to read every word of the fine print in the contract before you pay any deposits.

The more difficult but cheaper and possibly more rewarding option is to put a package together yourself. The cheapest lodging you’ll find for the Olympics is with a friend. If you don’t find anyone in London after searching your Christmas card list and calling your college friends whom you haven’t talked to since 1978 (“um, who is this?”), don’t despair… Just start making new friends as soon as possible! This is the not the time to be shy. Go to every British social networking site, and sign on with an inventive screen name like “hostmeinLondon” or “needhousebad.” The ever-open Brits will be friending you in moments, and you’ll be head-over-heels in options.

OK, that won’t work.

To get some local advice, I emailed my friend Joanna who has a big house in London and has given us an open invitation. Purely for research purposes, I told her we were thinking of coming for the Olympics.  She emailed me right back: “Don’t be daft. I’m renting my house for $6000 per day to a large corporation. I was planning to come stay with you.” Well, that got me thinking. This is the perfect time for a home exchange. Any true Londoner would prefer to have their toenails pulled out one by one than to be in town during the Olympics. To make yourself attractive for a home exchange, you need to have a nice house and plenty of extras to offer (eg, cars, boats, jet-ski, nude beach). Go to one of the good home-exchange websites, such as homeexchange.com or homelink.com. Thanks to your advance planning, you have time to forge the relationships that might just net you the perfect free home during the Olympics.

Dear Disney Grandma,

All adults need photo ID; however, for domestic travel, kids don’t need ID until they are 18 years of age. Everyone, including minors, needs a passport for international air travel.
Taking your grandchildren to the wondrous attractions around Orlando is a great gift for them. However, if their parents are not accompanying you (possibly an even bigger gift to them), they should provide you with a note authorizing you to travel with their kids. Chances are you will never need this, and there are no regulations requiring it. But if there’s an Amber Alert at the time you’re flying, you may run into a vigilant airport employee who wants some assurance that you are taking the kids with their parent’s permission.

Anyone who has ever flown with a child knows how fast they can disappear in a crowded airport—and the horrified panic you’d feel if that happened. Make sure your grandchildren are carrying something with your name and cell phone number so you can be contacted if they make a break for it. Google “kids travel ID” for some good ideas.

Que Pasa?

Hola, bienvenidos!

Mexico is a big country with many regions, airports, resort areas, and a remarkable culture. The problems being experienced have generally been limited to central and border areas and some of the larger cities.

I wouldn’t hesitate to fly into one of the large resort areas frequented by international visitors. If you’re concerned, book through one of the big package tour companies and talk to their reservations folks about their safety procedures if trouble develops in that region. I would greatly hesitate to drive my car over the border and into Mexico. Take a look at US newspaper headlines in any border area of the country and you’ll read horror stories involving both US visitors and Mexican nationals. The randomness of the violence makes it impossible to predict when and where an incident will take place. Anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Your risk assessment if you are traveling to Mexico should include a google of newspaper stories about the areas you are visiting and also any areas you are traveling through to get there. Check the US State Department website http://travel.state.gov, and look into evacuation insurance. Make sure people know where you are at all times and have a set schedule of contact so someone is aware if you don’t check in on time.