Greek Islands Kosher Cruise

One of our most popular kosher cruises is the annual visit to the legendary Greek Isles. Departing from Venice, Italy, you'll see some of the most famous landmarks and towns of the Roman and Greek age. Here is a sampling of the destinations we'll visit - this kosher cruise is less than a month away!

Venice, Italy

St. Mark's Square is Venice's heart, with palatial arcades. Tour the exquisite Doges Palace, once home to the dukes of Venice. Ply the canals in a gondola or shop for exquisite Venetian glass. Sample shore excursions: Gondola Serenade; Islands of Venice: Leisurely Venice; Murano, Burano & Tocello.

Bari, Italy

A principal harbor for over two thousand years, Bari is a charming city on the Adriatic coast. The old town, Barivecchia, is cherished for its medieval characteristics and buildings. As one of Southern Italy's more prosperous cities, Bari offers a wealth of shopping options.

Katakolon, Greece

Gateway to Olympus, site of the original Olympic Stadium and host to some games of the 2004 Olympiad. Sample shore excursion: Ancient Olympia & the Village.

Santorini, Greece

Your harbor on this island was created by a volcano in 1500 BC., and the effect is still explosive: steep cliffs rise from sea level, cubist white houses glow in the Aegean sun. Sample shore excursion: Panoramic Santorini.

Rhodes, Greece

Fortresses flank your entrance to this most beautiful of the Ionians. Lose yourself in the Venetian old town or head north for dramatic seascapes. Sample shore excursion: Achillion Palace & Private Villa.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Magnificent medieval walls protect this World Heritage Site and former naval city-state. VISIT ON OF THE OLDEST SHULS IN EUROPE, EXPLORE the Sponza Palace and graceful stone palazzi. Sample shore excursion: Dubrovnik & Croatia's Countryside.

Money Tips for World Travelers

CREDIT cards and A.T.M.’s may have eased the challenge of spending and exchanging money on a trip abroad, but that doesn’t mean we don’t occasionally find ourselves in a foreign country, fuming in front of machines that have just rejected our plastic cards. Fortunately, American banks have recently begun issuing credit cards that are more widely accepted around the world. Here are some tips on managing your cards and cash based on my recent trip to Japan and Hong Kong.

Otto Steininger

GET A CREDIT CARD WITH A CHIP
 Many globe-trotting travelers have discovered that American credit cards, with their outdated magnetic stripes, are not always accepted now that most of the world has shifted to cards that use a smart chip instead. While merchants in Asia, Europe and elsewhere are supposed to be able to swipe our vintage plastic, many automated kiosks can’t do that, which can be a problem at train stations and subways.

The future has finally arrived — or at least the first wave of progress. Just before I left on my Asia trip, I got a FlexPerks Visa card from U.S. Bank that has a chip and a magnetic stripe, one of a growing number of American credit cards that now offer a “chip and signature” option. This isn’t entirely a solution because the global standard is “chip and PIN” technology, meaning you enter a PIN, or security code, after a payment terminal reads the card’s chip.

When I called U.S. Bank before my trip, I was told that I could get a PIN, but that any purchase using this code would be treated like a cash advance with 21 percent interest — obviously, not an option! Fortunately, the card worked fine when I used it without a PIN to buy a train ticket from an automated kiosk in Hong Kong. As I later learned, even without a PIN, a chip-and-signature card will work at most automated kiosks around the world because a signature is not required for purchases under $50. And at payment terminals used by stores and restaurants, the chip essentially tells the machine, “This card doesn’t have a PIN, so spit out a receipt for the customer to sign.”

The annual fee on my card is $49. Other chip-and-signature cards with annual fees under $100 include three options from Chase — the J. P. Morgan Select Visa, the British Airways Visa and the Hyatt Visa — and Citi Thank You or Executive/AAdvantage MasterCards. For a more complete list, visit FlyerTalk.com and search for “chip and signature” cards; the frequent fliers who trade tips there keep a running list of these cards and their annual fees.

CHECK YOUR CARD’S FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
Another consideration is whether your credit card issuer charges a foreign transaction fee — usually 1 to 3 percent of every purchase, including the 1 percent Visa or MasterCard fee that banks pass along to their customers. But now that the government requires card issuers to disclose these fees clearly, some companies have gotten rid of them.

The personal finance site NerdWallet.com lists dozens of cards that do not charge a foreign transaction fee, including all of the credit cards issued by Capital One (which bucked this trend long before other banks). Alas, many of the credit cards that travelers use because they earn frequent-flier miles still impose this charge, like the American Express Delta SkyMiles card, and the ones that don’t often have high annual fees, like the Chase British Airways Visa ($95 per year). But unless you travel abroad frequently or spend a lot on your credit card, it’s probably not worth paying a high annual fee to avoid this charge. Since most of my hotels were billed in dollars with no fees, and I paid cash for most purchases, I paid only $10 in foreign transaction fees during my trip.

TELL YOUR BANK WHERE YOU’RE TRAVELING
 Before I left for Asia, I made four phone calls to let my bank and credit card companies know that I would be traveling abroad — a step banks advise customers to take so an unusual spending pattern doesn’t trigger a fraud alert. As I waited on hold after working through the automated phone menu, I wondered why banks don’t make this chore easier and offer a travel notification tool online.

It turns out, some do. Jim Bruene, who blogs at Netbanker.com, posted the results of an informal test he conducted, finding it took him about a minute each to register travel notifications online with Capital One and Chase, and 7 to 10 minutes to do it over the phone with Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank (which don’t offer online options). Citi is another bank that does.

Someday, Mr. Bruene predicts, banking apps will provide a better solution to this problem.

“Your mobile banking app will sense where you are and your card will be able to work there,” he said. In the meantime, look for a “travel notification” tool in the customer service area of your bank’s Web site before you pick up the phone.

LEARN THE EXCHANGE RATE BEFORE YOU LAND
 Every time I travel abroad, I stumble off the aircraft, find an A.T.M. in the airport, press the button for English and get stumped when I’m asked, “How many yen (or pesos, or Brazilian real) do you want?” You can’t tell the machine, “Give me the equivalent of $200.”

After landing in Tokyo, I had to cancel the transaction and find a billboard down the hall with the current exchange rate; since $250 is about 20,000 yen, I had panicked about entering such a high number in a fog of jet lag at the A.T.M.

Save yourself that anxiety by visiting a currency conversion site like xe.com before your trip and writing down how much you want to withdraw once you land. I’d also recommend reading the “money” section of a guidebook to see if the country you’re visiting has any financial quirks. For instance, in Japan, many A.T.M.’s don’t accept foreign bank cards, and the ones that do are scarce. At the main train station in Tokyo, an information booth attendant gave us a map and highlighted the route we’d have to follow (down the escalator, left at the second corridor, up the stairs, etc.) to find an “international A.T.M.”

We had 10 minutes before our train left for Kyoto, and after that sprint I learned to keep an eye out for a Citibank or the local version of 7-Eleven, the two main operators of international A.T.M.’s. Belatedly, I noticed that information was mentioned in my guidebook. But it’s good advice anytime you’re in a foreign country, especially if you’re heading off the beaten path: don’t wait until you’re almost out of cash to look for an A.T.M

Frequent Flier Tricks

Don’t fly enough to earn elite status on an airline? There are plenty of other ways to buy those perks and preferred treatment, either à la carte or through the right credit card. Here is how you can fly like an elite passenger, even for one trip a year, on several airlines. (Carriers without an elite program were not included.)

American Airlines
 

UPGRADES Passengers who buy a full-fare economy ticket can request an upgrade 24 hours before departure for $30 per 500 miles at AA.com if seats are available.

A BETTER COACH SEAT “Preferred seats” in the first few rows of coach can be bought at booking from $4 extra, depending on the length of the flight and the time of day. American is also beginning to sell Main Cabin Extra seats with 4 to 6 inches of extra legroom for $8 to $108, starting with its Boeing 777-300s.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes are available for $50; $90, plus tax, for the Arrivals lounge at Heathrow Airport in London; 30-day memberships are $99; annual memberships are $500 or 80,000 miles for non-elites.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Preboarding is available for $9 each way; American offers expedited security lines along with other V.I.P. services like lounge access for $125 a person through its Five Star Service program.

CREDIT CARD The Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage ($95 annual fee) offers priority boarding, double miles, and a first-checked-bag free for you and up to four traveling companions. In addition, the CitiExecutive/AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard ($450 annual fee) offers 10,000 elite qualifying miles when you spend $40,000, free access for you and two guests to Admirals Clubs, dedicated check-in and airport screening lanes, where available.

Delta Air Lines

UPGRADES First-class upgrades can be bought at Delta.com when booking online or when checking in, if seats are available. Prices start at $50 each way for customers who purchase a nearly full-fare coach ticket for a short flight.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Exit-row seats and bulkhead, aisle and window seats toward the front of the plane can be bought 24 hours before departure from $9 to $29 for domestic flights and $39 to $59 for international.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes cost $50; 30-day memberships are $90; annual memberships are $450 or 70,000 miles.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Preboarding is available for $9 each way for several markets, including Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix; and San Diego. Delta does not offer priority security lines for non-elite customers.

CREDIT CARD The Gold Delta SkyMiles card from American Express ($95 annual fee) comes with priority boarding and double the miles when you fly, and lets you and up to nine people in your reservation check a bag free. In addition, the Delta Reserve card from American Express ($450 annual fee) offers concierge consultants, elite qualifying miles and free access for you and two guests to Delta Sky Clubs.

Southwest Airlines

UPGRADES Southwest offers only coach.

A BETTER COACH SEAT With its open-seating policy, those who board first get the best seats.

LOUNGE ACCESS It doesn’t have lounges.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY Passengers who buy a premium Business Select ticket are guaranteed to board first, followed by frequent fliers and passengers who bought a $10 one-way “early bird check-in” pass. Business Select ticket holders also have access to express security lines where available.

CREDIT CARD For every $10,000 charged to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card from Chase, you earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-list status, which comes with priority check-in and boarding.

United Airlines

UPGRADES First- and business-class upgrades can be purchased from booking to check-in time, if seats are available. Prices are usually based on the difference between the fare the customer paid for coach and the lowest available first- or business-class fare at the time. For example, the cost to upgrade to first on a one-way coach ticket from New York to Chicago was $135 in a recent search.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Economy Plus rows, with 4 to 6 inches of extra legroom, cost $9 to $169 one way, depending on the flight.

LOUNGE ACCESS Day passes cost $50; annual memberships are $475.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY United began selling a variety of perks a couple of years ago, including expedited security and preboarding (from $9), but has temporarily suspended the “premier travel” program. It plans to reintroduce most of the à la carte services later this year

CREDIT CARD The United MileagePlus Explorer card from Chase ($95 annual fee) offers a free checked bag, priority boarding and two passes a year to United Clubs. The United MileagePlus Club card ($395 annual fee) offers designated airport check-in lines; preboarding and express security lanes; United Club access each time you fly; and your first and second bags are free.

US Airways

UPGRADES Domestic upgrades can be bought 24 hours before departure for $50 to $500, if seats are available. International business-class upgrades are $600 to $750, depending on the length of flight and availability.

A BETTER COACH SEAT Choice seats, mostly window and aisle seats toward the front of coach, which may include exit rows, cost $5 and up, depending on the flight length, destination and time of day.

LOUNGE ACCESS Free with an American Express Platinum or Centurion card; day passes are $50 at the club or $29 at usairways.com; 90-day memberships are $120; annual memberships are $450.

PRIORITY BOARDING AND SECURITY PreferredAccess offers priority check-in, security lanes and boarding, where available, including most gates in 21 cities, for $10 a person.

CREDIT CARD The US Airways Premier World MasterCard ($89 annual fee) comes with first-class check-in privileges, priority boarding, double miles when you fly and discounts on award travel.

More travel tips on kosherica.com

Baltic kosher cruise!

Join Kosherica on our Baltic kosher cruise, departing June 24! One of the highlights is a side excursion to Moscow as one of our special Jewish Interest Tours. See the fascinating history of Judaism within Russia up close an personal - also on the itinerary are cities such as Helsinki, Stockholm and Berlin. Book today!

Eurodam one of Kosherica's Signature Ships

The msEurodam, a state of the art cruise ship under Holland America, is quickly becoming a favorite of Jewish travelers on Kosherica's journeys.

Launching her maiden voyage in July of 2008, the ms Eurodam marks Holland America Line's new Signature-class ships. The ms Eurodam furthers the evolution of our sophisticated mid-sized ships with 11 passenger decks, a new topside Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge surrounded by panoramic views, an Explorer's Lounge bar, a new Italian restaurant adjacent to the Lido, elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge and a new photographic and imaging center. On the technical side, the ms Eurodam features the latest state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems. The ship is powered by six diesel generators and propelled by the latest Azipod® propulsion technology. Guests on the ms Eurodam will be able to "show and tell" their vacation memories through the Digital Workshop powered by Windows®. Free workshops led by Microsoft-trained "techsperts" will show even the most novice camera or computer user how to take better vacation photos, make movies, edit pictures and create scrapbooks using a variety of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services. Guests will learn how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and social networking - so friends and family can see where they've been cruising even before they return home. Learn more at Kosherica.com!

Amsterdam A Hit With Kosher Travelers

One of Kosherica's most popular destinations is Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands, is a major tourist destination.
Known for its liberal and laid back lifestyle, the city is a treasure trove of museums, art galleries and 17th century canals.

In fact, in 2010, the city’s canals received UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status.

While the city’s most popular sites include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, The Anne Frank House, Rembrandt House and the infamous de Wallen area, there are many lesser known places, such as the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, a secret attic church, and the Museum of Bags and Purses, which is a must-see.

However, it is the shopping areas in the city that may end up keeping most people occupied, leaving little time to see the attractions that the city has to offer.

The city boasts of a diverse range of shopping places, right from antiques, second-hand items, luxury items to trendy good, you can find them all in Amsterdam.
The different shopping districts of the city make one want to jump the first frugal flight and visit. The money that you save on purchasing your ticket can be used to splurge on shopping!

Perhaps, the most popular and well-known shopping street that offers a unique shopping experience is the De Negen Straatjes, or The Nine Little Streets. Located in the Central Canal Ring area, this is the ideal place to look for designer boutiques and vintage shops.

If your quest visit Amsterdam was to spend the saved money on doing some trendy shopping then head to Utrechtsestraat. This street lies in the Eastern Canal area. It is a long street that runs over multiple canals and is popular for its boutiques and specialty stores. Here you can buy household linen, silverware, bath accessories and good quality clothing, mostly casual.

Another shopping mecca in Amsterdam can be found at Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat. This street is in the Museum Quarter of Amsterdam and boasts of high-end retailers, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Hermes. You can also shop for luxury jewelry from Chopard and Cartier here. Designer shoe lovers will love this street, as it is home to the only Christian Louboutin retailer in the entire city.
De Jordaan is a labyrinth of tiny streets where you can find galleries, Bohemian-style shops, studios belonging to artists, second-hand stores and small boutiques. In this area, Haarlemmerstraat is the street to buy good quality clothing without making a dent on your bank balance.

The street also has many places to eat, so after shopping, you can sit down and relax those tired feet and nourish your body. The many wares of this street make it worth the time to investigate.
The city is an antique lover’s paradise, though this is a fact most visitors are unaware of. There is an entire area dedicated to antiques and work by local artists. This area is quite close to Rijksmuseum and is known as Spiegelgracht and Nieuwe Spiegelstraat.

Here you can shop for art, books, Delftware and furniture. You can also visit the many art galleries lining the Kerkstraat to pick work from local artists.

How To Save Money On A Car Rental: 7 Valuable Tips

As summer quickly approaches, the entire travel industry is ramping up its fares in anticipation. Car rentals are no exception, as the demand quickly overtakes supply. The average price of a car rental increases by as much as 56% from March to July, according to Abrams Travel Data Index.

Tip #1: Avoid Brand Names
Most rental car companies get their inventory from similar sources, and they all need to undergo a professional inspection. So why pay up to twice as much for a well known brand? Booking at rental agencies such as Payless and Fox Rent A Car can save you hundreds of dollars on the same model or style of car.

Tip #2: Look For Online Deals
Search for discounts and coupons on sites like Promotionalcodes.com and CouponWinner.com, or type in the name of a rental company and “coupon code” into Google to see what turns up. Also try frequent flier sites and others - savings can up to more than 50%.

Tip #3: Use Autoslash.com
As experts have known for a while, Autoslash.com is a very valuable tool to keep on top of any rate changes, as well as the most competitive rates in specific cities and airpports.

Tip #4: Don't Rent At The Airport
It's easier said than done at many small cities, but most larger cities offer convenient public transportation and/or a reasonable cab fare into town. Once away from the airport, the rates can be reduced drastically.

Tip #5: Add A Day To Your Rental
It's an odd concept, but adding a day to your rental may lower the average rate drastically. The strategy takes advantage of lower prices aimed at leisure travelers who are more likely to travel on weekends.

Tip #6: Negotiate
This underused tactic can snag you a free upgrade if other travelers are forcing issues with the inventory. There are many reasons that an agent may offer you a different vehicle, but without asking you'll never know.

Tip #7: Prepay For Your Car
Companies love to receive payment as quickly as possible, and will offer discounts if the amount due is paid up front. In a recent search for weekly rentals at Boston Logan International Airport in mid June, for example, Hertz was offering economy cars for $173 a week at the “pay now” rate. The “pay later” rate was about $30 more.

For more general travel info and Jewish travel tips in particular, head over to Kosherica.com.