Where in the World is...

travel tip:

Jenna Mahoney?

The short answer is at my desk with a blinking light above my head. But the longer and certainly more travel-interesting answer is that I’ve been getting all Carmen Sandiego lately. After my big Club Wed extravaganza (look out for the actual wedding photos in the May/June 2010 issue), my wanderlust kicked it into high gear and I’ve been bouncing from country to country like a pinball. That also means more time in the airports. Now this is the part in the movie where I whine because I’m not a big fan of flying. I hate it in fact. But it is a necessary evil if I’m going to jet—literally to Peru, Jamaica, Thailand, Mexico and Spain (and that was just in the past five months!).

So what’s a gal to do when she is sitting all alone in the airport destined for great destinations? Well, here’s a tip: Hit the lounge. First and Business Class lounges are the bomb-diggity (oh, sorry TSA, was I not supposed to use that word?). They offer Wi-Fi, food, booze, cable TV and sometimes showers, all gratis. That’s right, all those First Class folks can get nice and liquored for free before soaring high in the friendly skies. “But, Jenna,” you’re saying, “I got a great deal on a tourist class ticket, so who cares about all that lounge activity since I can’t get in?” To that I say: Yes. You. Can. All you need to do is buy a day pass.

Depending on the airline and lounge, day passes can range from $25 to over a $100. If you’ve got a monster layover or delay, it makes sense and dollars. When you do the math you may actually save money. Some credit card companies also have agreements with certain airline lounges, so you may be able to access the fancy digs for free. (Raise your hand if you’ve seen that Tina Fey/Marty Scorsese AmEx ad!) *Note: And this is really, super uber duper important: They don’t always announce flight departures in the lounge, so be vigilant on time. Trust me on this, I’ve missed quite a few in my time…

So, there’s my travel tip for the week. Happy sailing. And I hope we can talk more soon. In the meantime, have you checked out the fabulous *new travel columns? I designed them with you in mind. They are easier to read and more interactive. Leave comments here with your feedback. And happy trails!

Posted by Jenna at 5:31 p.m.