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Postcards used to be every traveler’s favorite way of keeping friends and family updated on their trips with short prose and whimsical “wish you were here!”s. Today, though, the digital ages has threatened postcards with email, social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, and even travel-themed ecards and digital postcards.

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In a ruling that overthrows previous airline policies, Canada-based carriers are required to eliminate their “one person, one fare” policies.

From now on, if clinically obese or disabled travelers require transportation attendants or more than one airline seat, Canadian airlines are no longer allowed to charge them extra, says the Canadian Transportation Authority. Within the next calendar year, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, and WestJet will be required to enact this new policy.

The reason for the ruling is simple: after The Council of Canadians with Disabilities and two individuals filed a complain in 2002, it was ruled that it is discriminatory for a carrier to charge double fares. But this new policy will affect the airlines: Air Canada is estimated to lose $6.93 million per year and WestJet $1.48 million.

However, it was decided that these losses are far easier for the airline to absorb than the travel-limiting double-fare policy that has previously been placed on disabled or obese individuals. Says Jadrino Hout, spokesman for The Council of Canadians with Disabilities, “It’s not a personal preference (of the traveler). It’s not a matter of discomfort. It’s a matter of need.”

With this ruling, things could change in other industries as well. Buses, trains and ferries have long had a “one person, one fare” policy in place.

The next time you’re in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Chicago, or Dubai and realize you’ve forgotten your toothbrush again, don’t fret: Flight 001 is there to rescue you. Selling everything from toiletries to fashionable luggage, the store is the brainchild of Brad John and John Sencion.

Designed as a one-stop shop for busy travelers on the go, the idea for Flight 001 (pronounced Flight One) was born in 1998 when John and Sencion were rushing around for a trip to Paris. Frustrated by all the different stops they had to make, the two decided that a store with everything would truly fill a niche.

What began as one store has grown into eight, each designed to look like the interior of an airplane, with curved walls and storage bins that look just like in-flight overhead luggage bins. To create the feel of an international airport lounge, the owners also used walnut paneling.

All Flight 001 products are interesting and not quite run-of-the-mill, offering bright colors, beautiful designs and fun gifts, like magnetic Scrabble and an F-1 Plane Pal Kid Kit. So the next time you find yourself in need, get to a Flight 001 store and buy yourself some color.

As you dig into a spicy, citrusy ceviche and down a typical rum drink, you’ll know that coming to Puerto Rico was a fantastic choice.

An island of 24-hour fun, Puerto Rico is Spanish for “rich port.” Surrounded by temperate aquamarine waters and featuring a saucy blend of Latin culture and American ways, this Caribbean island is a popular destination for families, friends, and groups of all kinds.

The island offers a little for everyone: Outdoorsy types can go scuba diving into waters populated by brilliantly-colored fish, history buffs can visit El Moro, and everyone will enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour of the famous Phosphorescent Bay. Explore Vieques and Culebra, two islands just off the coast, full of incredible, indigenous flora and fauna. Take yourself out to a merengue bar late at night, enjoy local beats, and let someone teach you the basic steps.

Reasonable prices and startling beauty will make your trip to this lively island an experience you’ll never forget. Stretch your dollars and indulge in an oceanfront horseback ride, grab a massage at a local spa, or pack a picnic dinner for a startling sunset meal.

As an American territory, travel to and from is relatively easy, and communicating when on-island doesn’t present the same challenge as many other Spanish-speaking locales, so book your next group getaway to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.

(Photo via flickr cc)

Though many of us dream of someday taking a cruise, sometimes our wallets don’t stretch that wide. Luckily, MSNBC has brought us 13 tips to save money on your next cruise.

1. Now’s the time to buy: We’re about to hit the cruising high season, so the best deals are available right now.
2. Buy your own airfare: Though the all-inclusive deal may be tempting, you may get a better itinerary, fewer connections, and a smaller price tag if you book your own flight.
3. Use a preferred agent: A travel agent who specializes in your preferred cruise line will be the best-connected, bringing up to a 20 percent discount.
4. Use logic: Booking an inner cabin (no window) on the shoulder season will be your least expensive option. And keep in mind, you only spend nights in your room, so you don’t really need that window, do you?
5. Buy some shares: Share holders get cabin discounts, so if you buy 100 shares of Carnival or Royal Caribbean, you’ll end up saving a bit.
6. Don’t be shy: Ask for a discount. Military, AAA, student, senior, you name it. If you think you might qualify, it never hurts to ask.
7. Private tours are great for groups: When traveling with a group (6+), a private tour on shore will probably cost you less than the generic individual tour.
8. Cruise often: Frequent cruise travelers are often offered perks like room upgrades, priority dinner reservations, etc.
9. Call yourself a VIP: Have your travel agent play you up, calling you a VIP. If the cruise line knows you’re a good customer, they’re likely to give you an upgrade.
10. DIY: Instead of hopping on the bus that meets passengers at the docks, opt for your own transportation. It’s less crowded, less confusing, and often costs less.
11. Buy a soda sticker: If you’re going to drink a lot of soda, buy the unlimited drink sticker and save a bundle.
12. Bring your own booze: Bring your own wine to dinner and pay the uncorking fee - you’ll get better quality wine at a better price. If you like the hard stuff, fill up a water bottle and take it with you.
13. Plan for your next cruise while you’re on this one: When you’re onboard, the cruise will offer special deals that you can’t get elsewhere. If you want to cruise again, take advantage now.

Sleeping away from home can be a expensive undertaking, so spending each dollar well is an important part of every traveler’s plans. Searching for the absolute best hotel rates is your key to maximizing luxury and minimizing costs, and CNN has come up with tips on how to do just that:

• Start using new search engines: There are plenty of search engines out there specific to travel, and chances are you haven’t tried them all out. Kayak.com, Hotels.com, and Farecast.com are all great places to start, but a quick search will uncover many others as well.
• Play with dates: Rates can differ greatly over just a few days, so use hotel rate calendars to figure out which days will be least expensive.
• Get it guaranteed: Many hotel chains promise to match any rate you can find, and some go beyond to match the rate and provide a discount. Mariott, for example, offers a 25 percent price reduction, Swissotel offers half off of the lower rate for your first night and matches the rate for following nights, and Starwood gives you a 10 percent discount. To lock in these special rates, make sure you file your low rate claim at least 24 hours in advance.
• Call the hotel directly: Instead of calling the generic 800-number, call the hotel directly and speak to one of their employees. Ask about last-minute specials and less expensive nights to stay.

Nothing can sour a flight like a child kicking the back of your seat, a stranger falling asleep on your shoulder, or a loud and drunk passenger regaling the entire plane with stories only she finds funny. Flying is frustrating, at best, and passengers without manners only make it worse. Thankfully, Delta’s finally supplied us with Miss Manners for Flying.

The Atlanta-based airline has developed “Planeguage: The language of traveling by plane,” a series of 25 videos that mix humor with basic airline etiquette. Episodes detail passengers we know all too well, like Kidtastrophe, which depicts the crying, whiny children whose parents do nothing to discipline them.

Delta has created these comedic shorts to help reinforce what we already know: things like:

• Remember to close your shade when the movie comes on, regardless of whether you’re watching.
• Politely ask your seat mates to let you out, instead of merely standing and expecting them to move.
• Cover your mouth when you cough and turn your head away when you sneeze.

These things seem so logical on ground, but we often forget when we’re in mid air and frustrate those around us. Planeguage might be just the friendly reminder we all need.

Winter is a time of fantastic ski vacations, exhilarating trips to snowboarding parks, and delicious sips of hot chocolate in between ski runs… unless you’re not a fan of powdery, white snow. Skisnowboard.com has come up with the 6 best resorts for non-skiers:

• Lake Placid, New York: The home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics offers something for everyone.
• Aspen, Colorado: Along with some of the best skiing in the country, this famous winter destination offers opera, incredible shopping, five star restaurants, and winter-themed activities like sleigh rides and sledding for the non-skiers in your group.
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Take a sleigh ride through elk country, or visit nearby Yellowstone National Park. While winter sport lovers will enjoy the slopes, others will enjoy nature and the resort’s first class spas.
• Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada: A picturesque lakeside town, Heavenly offers casinos, clubs and gourmet restaurants in addition to some truly wonderful skiing.
• Santa Fe, New Mexico: Explore Native American pueblos, miles of trails, and luxury spas while your friends ski and snowboard.
• Park City Mountain Resort, Utah: A restored mining town, Park City is famous for its 2002 Winter Olympic bobsled track, hot-air ballooning, gourmet dining, and truly diverse array of vacation options.

(Photo via flickr cc)

Though your wedding day is all about you, you friends and family will be there to love and support you. When planning your destination wedding, with its romance and magic, don’t forget to factor your guest’s needs into the equation.

Issues to keep in mind range from having kid-friendly food to whether a hotel will be affordable for everyone, so you have your work cut out for you. If you’re inviting whole families, make sure that the invitation clearly explains that kids should come along. If the kids are invited, make sure the site has children-friendly policies and, even better, onsite babysitting.

Make sure that special needs — anything from handicapped-accessible rooms to special diets — are addressed for all of your guests. In addition, make sure to offer several suggestions on how to make travel arrangements since, chances are, you’ve done much of the research already.

Destination weddings are exotic and wonderful, but can be stressful. Keep your guests in mind, and your wedding day will be smoother, your guests happier, and your memories brighter.

MSNBC reports on the eight changes for travelers to expect this year:

• Convenience fees: You often pay them for event tickets, and now you must prepare to pay “convenience” fees to book hotel rooms, specific car rentals, and many other travel options.
• Energy surcharges: Last year, we paid extra for plane tickets, shipping, and more services, but this year, you can look forward to paying energy surcharges on things not even related to crude oil, like hotels and cruises.
• More expensive rental cars: American Express predicts that car rental prices will increase between 2 and 4 percent this year. Though it doesn’t sound like much, the increase, in addition to car companies’ famous ability to upsell their customers, will cause you to pay a lot more than you used to for your rental car.
• Traffic, traffic, traffic: Traffic got increasingly worse in 2007, and 2008 will likely be the same. To avoid this irksome problem, take public transport or, if you have to take a car, carpool so that there are less cars on the road.
• Extra cruise fees: Next time you take a cruise, you may find that the surcharges have really racked up, fuel surcharges in particular.
• Hotels are a seller’s market: Room rates will increase about 6 percent this year that increase, combined with high occupancy rates, means that your chosen hotel won’t need you as much as you need it. If they can get away with extra charges, some will, so be prepared.
• Airlines may not treat you well: If the Passenger Bill of Rights gets passed, it will be one with weaker language and, therefore, weaker rules over the airlines. The fact of the matter is that you can’t do anything about it, so we’ll just have to grin and bear the continued mistreatment.
• Broken promises: Though travel experts might make some pretty promises, don’t fool yourself into thinking that they’ll all come true. Keeping your ears open and reading all opinions on future mergers and consolidations is the only way to assure that you know what’s really going on.