This is the part two to my series on travel safety, and it’s all about kids – because your kids should be your number one priority when you travel.

Although travel isn’t inherently dangerous, the mere fact of going to places unknown does mean additional safeguards are in order. Unknown streets, different languages, unfamiliar landmarks and any location where absolutely everyone is a stranger demands that you keep a close watch on your children.

However, you don’t have to sacrifice having fun in the name of safety, if you use some common sense and follow some simple tips to ensure your child’s safety. Many of these tips can apply at home as well.
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Delta makes changes prompted by overflight incident
In light of the incident in which a Northwest/Delta flight overshot Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Delta Airlines told the government that “it is making software and avionics changes.”

As part of a filing with federal investigators that became public this week, the airline said it is upgrading software to enable its dispatchers in the future to use special sound alerts to attract the attention of pilots aboard certain Airbus aircraft.
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This past weekend was a travel disaster for folks trying to get outta Dodge in the Northeast. I even heard from friends pleading with me to help, as if I could get BWI airport to open. Yep, anyone headed anywhere by plane, train or automobile was stranded. Amtrak canceled service south of DC, airports from Philly southward were closed at least part of the weekend, and many governments closed roads to automobile travel to clean highways and streets, and to get a reprieve from the accidents caused by the brave and foolish who went out anyway.

And, as of Monday morning, this odyessy still hasn’t completely ended.
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Being robbed on the road

Savvy travelers are supposed to know what to do, and what not to do, in order to avoid being ripped off. But even the most sophisticated ones have been victims of nefarious characters and acts that have turned their trips into ones from hell.

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DHS making our travel lives miserable and (officially) wasting our money

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is having its share of problems. Their intricate systems failed to uncover the Christmas panty bomber. Passengers are rebelling against being virtually stripped naked in order to get through security. GAO note they have not even tested these new strip-search machines to see if they can identify PETN (the explosive used in the Christmas bomb). And now the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight finds uncontrolled spending.

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10 advance-travel tips for the next big storm

Travel in and out of Washington DC will slowly get back to normal after this weekend’s epic snowstorm. Until the next time and while it may be too late for a current trip, here are a few tips for increasing your chances of avoiding trouble the next time a snowstorm plants itself in the midst [...]

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Thanks Amtrak, for fast thinking and quick action

Ned Levi relates his experience on Amtrak in last Saturday’s big snowstorm, which when faced with a failed engine still got its passengers to their destination, New York City, in a reasonable amount of time, by quick, decisive action. Amtrak’s actions enabled Ned and his family to salvage their visit to the Big Apple.

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What we’re reading: New York to London in 37 hours, Shifting Boeing’s strategy, Republic to ground Lynx

New York to London in 37 hours, very slowly with plenty of luxury in a flying penthouse, Shifting Boeing’s 757 redevelopment strategy, Republic to ground Lynx and eliminate an aircraft from its fleet

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Queen of the romance novel, Nora Roberts, has her own inn

Queen of the romance novel, Roberts has written more bestsellers than anyone in the world. Of her 190 full length novels, 162 of them have spent over 800 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list. More than 400 million copies of her books are in print in 34 languages. She also writes romance detective novels under the pseudonym, J.D. Robb. As if that isn’t enough to keep her busy, between chapters she purchased and oversaw every aspect of the renovation of the historic Inn BoonsBoro, minutes from her Keedysville, Md., home.

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What we’re watching: Interview with a pickpocket, Winter Olympics, Quebec’s carnival

Here is an interview with a pickpocket done in Pamplona, Spain, during the Running of the Bulls. Many of us have been pickpocketed, but few have had the opportunity to meet a pickpocket face to face and speak with the likable fellow. Watch and learn how easy it is to lose what you don’t take care of. The rest of these videos focus on Canada with the Winter Olympics coming up in Vancouver on the Pacific side of the country, and Quebec’s Winter Carnival and skiing going full blast on the other side of the country.

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