NEW YORK (AP) – Are you filled with wanderlust, but sticking close to home because you lack a like-minded companion? Solo travel is an extraordinary, accessible opportunity that can involve big or small adventures, easy or difficult as you choose.

You can do what you want, when you want, how you want, where you want. You pick your own pace, budget, itinerary and can always change your mind on a whim, never having to negotiate. The experience can be liberating and thrilling, igniting a rewarding sense of accomplishment, and the detachment from your “real” life is often therapeutic.

When entering a new place on your own, you may notice more than you do when you travel with others. I strike up conversations more easily when I’m solo, something I’ve done in dozens of countries across six continents. But not all destinations are right for solo travelers. Here are some tips.

• Visit walkable destinations connected by trains, buses, ferries and flights. Getting around this way will be straightforward, prices will be per person, and you increase your odds of meeting others, unlike destinations best seen or reached by car, where there may be fewer interactions. I’ve found places outside the U.S. and Caribbean are sometimes more friendly to individuals, with reduced-fare single-person rooms. Youth hostels are great for 20somethings and travelers of any age on tight budgets who crave conversation and don’t need upscale accommodations.
• Traveling offseason can save a lot of money. One year in October, it was cheaper for me to spend a week in Costa Rica than to visit the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The off-peak flight, local transport and single accommodation in Costa Rica was less than the car rental and pricier double rooms during fall foliage season here.
• If you can’t fly nonstop, turn your stopovers into perks. I’ve visited Fiji, Iceland, London, Paris and Rome, at no extra cost, all on extended layovers.
• Ask others about their vacations to get ideas for your own trips, and read up online and in guidebooks. Publishers can vary tremendously so look at a variety of brands in a bookstore or library, then travel with a guidebook that best suits your priorities.
• Keep expectations to a minimum so you’re not disappointed. Instead, be flexible, go with the flow and treasure the unexpected. I’ve stumbled upon some amazing hidden gems. Bedouins invited me for tea in the caves of Petra, and a Portuguese model in Lisbon declared his affection for me by saying it was “love at first look.”
• Be prepared for the occasional bad day. I’ve been tired, cranky, lonely and frustrated, suffering from food poisoning and stressed out by emergency landings, 14-hour flight delays, altercations with customs officials, bad weather and other complications. But temporary misery is part of travel, and can help you enjoy the magnificent moments that much more. And sometimes the worst experiences generate great stories later on.
• Write in a journal every night. It records your adventures while also giving you the conversational outlet to express and process the details of your action-packed day.
• When dining alone, bring a book or journal. Eating at the bar may feel more comfortable than a table for one.
• Be respectful, inconspicuous and dress to blend in. Local fashion norms vary, but I typically wear jeans with subdued colors, dark shoes and subtle accessories so as not to attract undue attention.
• English has become the world’s second language, but learning to say hello and thank you in the local tongue goes a long way.
• Be cautious but not paranoid. If there’s a site that piques your interest, but it’s out of the way or you have concerns about personal safety, take a day tour or hire a guide. Independent female travelers may face harassment and other dangers, while men traveling alone may be targeted by scam artists and touts peddling illicit activities.
• Ignoring verbal aggressors _ whether beggars, vendors or passers-by _ is frequently the best defense, although in some cultures, like the markets in Istanbul, a simple “no, thank you” works better. Intimidation and harassment are never fun; feel empowered by your ability to say no.
• Check guidebooks and consult with local tourist offices and hotel staff for advice on what to watch out for. Take special care after dark, in dense crowds, and with likable strangers. The freedom of being far from home can release inhibitions in wonderful ways. In fact, I try to do something new every trip. But if you feel as though you’re taking a risk, have an exit strategy, inform the hotel staff of your whereabouts, or make sure you’re in a place where you can shout out to others.

Gratifying solo travel comes from following your bliss. Don’t let societal pressures rattle you. Don’t let loneliness paralyze you. Educate yourself so you know what you can, and cannot, do. Most of all, embrace the exciting possibilities before you.

The Ominous List of 15 “Must-See” Attractions Delivers New Flavors of Fear for Thrill-Seekers This Halloween Season

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The calendar just turned to September, but the spirit of Halloween is already haunting the minds of thrill-seekers hoping for a glimpse of what’s to come this season. Across the country, hundreds of haunted attractions are making preparations to give Halloween enthusiasts a taste of the newest flavors of fear. But only 15 haunted attractions were chilling enough to make this year’s list of America’s Best Haunts.

Curious to know where the nation’s most feared haunted houses rank? America’s Best Haunts, the nation’s leading authority on haunted attractions, is pleased to unveil its 2011 list of the nation’s best haunts. Each one of the finalists in America’s Best Haunts showcases the very best in special effects, the most chilling and hair-raising themes, the most innovative design and the best overall scare factor value.

The 2011 Winners of the prestigious “America’s Best Haunts” title are:

Now in its fifth year, this popular ranking has quickly gained a national reputation for showcasing America’s scariest and most innovative haunts, distinguishing them as the most sought-after “Who’s Who” of haunted houses. In fact, America’s Best Haunts 2011 “Horror Roll” includes attractions that have received national acclaim from Good Morning America (Spookiest Haunted Attractions in America), Top 20 Haunts by MSN, Haunted Attractions Magazine’s “Must See” list, and have made national headlines on ABC News, AOL, MTV, The Travel Channel, Reader’s Digest and Fangoria, among many others.

America’s Best Haunts was created in 2006 to become the premier source for valuable, credible information and resources for the haunted house industry. With advancements in technology and audio/visual capabilities reshaping the haunted attractions industry each year, America’s Best Haunts selects only those that seamlessly integrate the psychology of fear into the high-tech special effects.

The 2011 finalists were selected by a panel of judges with over 100 years of combined haunted-attractions industry experience and evaluated on numerous criteria including: safety, special effects, marketing, consumer appeal, attention to detail, and long-term commitment to the community.

For complete list of the winners and further information please visit online at: www.AmericasBestHaunts.com

DULUTH, Ga.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–US Airways is helping speed up the check-in process and improve convenience for its customers with mobile boarding pass technology from NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR).

Following check-in, customers receive an email containing a digitally signed and encrypted 2D bar code that is compatible with current imager-based airport scanners and boarding gate readers. Customers are able to scan the mobile boarding pass at the kiosk if necessary or bypass check-in lines and head straight to the security checkpoint where the electronic bar code is scanned and validated. The bar code can then be used at the gate for boarding.

US Airways first piloted NCR Mobile Pass at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C. starting in December 2010. It is now available in 14 U.S. airports, including LaGuardia International Airport in New York and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., and plans to further expand the offering in 2011 are underway.

According to a 2010 survey conducted for NCR by Buzzback Research, 48 percent of U.S. travelers who use their mobile phone for travel information and transactions also use their mobile phone to check-in for flights, and 45 percent access itineraries and reservations. In fact, according to Juniper Research, one in every seven bar-coded boarding passes worldwide will be delivered to passengers’ mobile devices within two years.

“Consumers increasingly expect more control at their fingertips,” said Tyler Craig, vice president and general manager, NCR Travel. “By expanding its self-service offering beyond kiosk and web to include NCR Mobile Pass, US Airways is furthering its commitment to providing a seamless and convenient passenger experience.”

US Airways has distinguished itself by deploying the most advanced self-service solutions for travelers. The airline was recognized at the annual KioskCom Self-Service Expo as the 2010 Self-Service Excellence Award winner in the “Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment” category for improving the passenger experience by extending self-service check-in outside the terminal.

NCR is the leader in mobile check-in, issuing more than 1.2 million mobile boarding passes in July, 2011, as well as the industry leader in Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) airline kiosks.

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a global technology company leading how the world connects, interacts and transacts with business. NCR’s assisted- and self-service solutions and comprehensive support services address the needs of retail, financial, travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, public sector, telecom carrier and equipment organizations in more than 100 countries. NCR (www.ncr.com) is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.

When a big storm threatens to delay or cancel your flight, here are some tips:

1. CHECK YOUR STATUS

To avoid getting stranded at the airport, check your flight status early and often. Check at least once on the day you’re flying and again before heading to the airport.

2. PREPARE

Once you’re ready to head to the airport, come prepared. Write down your flight number and departure time. Do the same for similar flights. This will make things easier if the airline lets you change your flight for free and you need to rebook with an airline agent.

3. WORK ALL THE ANGLES

If you’re already at the airport when your flight is canceled, it’s time for double duty. Walk over to customer service. While in line, dial the customer service number. You’ll probably reach someone on the phone before getting to the front of the line. Want a third option? Try Twitter. Some airlines have already begun to help stranded passengers over the social media site.

4. CAREFUL ABOUT CHANGES

If you push back your flight, be sure about your new plans before you lock them in. Otherwise, you’ll be out $150. Many airlines only waive change fees once in bad weather.

5. VOUCHER OR CASH

If you cancel your booking altogether, the airline might offer you a voucher for a future flight. But you can ask for cash instead. (AP)

To experience a secure and also comfortable flight, you should store your baggage in the designated areas, shut down all gadgets, wear your seatbelt when the signal lights up, understand that some rows end in the exit points, use oxygen face masks if oxygen levels become unstable, and use the life jacket underneath your chair during emergency cases.

In case you often travel from New York to Lake Placid or travel to any vacation spot on a commercial airplane, then you are already familiar with air travel safety instructions. These guidelines are given by the air travel team and must be followed by every traveler in order to enjoy a safe and comfortable voyage. Listed here are some of the important air travel security directions introduced on commercial airplanes:

Stow your luggage on the given storage compartments

All traveler luggage should be placed in the storage compartments right above their seats. Once you stow your own baggage, make sure that the storage compartments are sealed firmly because you wouldn’t need the contents to fall out during the flight. In case the overhead compartments are already complete, travellers could put their leftover bags below the chairs in front of them.

Shut off all electric gadgets

Several digital devices emit signals that can interfere with necessary airline flight products. For this reason, travelers are required to turn off all digital devices that they’re carrying with them. These involve but aren’t restricted to mobile devices, CD players, media players, laptops and sometimes even digital camcorders. Travelers need to avoid using these items during takeoff and also landing.

Fasten your seatbelt once the sign lights up

There are seatbelt signs seen all over the cabin. When these signs illuminate, passengers should buckle and fasten their belts properly. Flight attendants will exhibit the proper way of buckling and unbuckling seatbelts as well as how they can be tightened and loosened. Normally, travelers are encouraged to keep their seatbelts on when seated.

Know that some rows resulted in exit points

During emergency instances including emergency landings, there are numerous rows made to lead to exit points. You can find indicators on these rows showing their proper purpose, and air travel staff will usually discuss these rows during the flight safety briefing at the beginning of the air travel. Due to their importance, the chairs on these rows are allocated only to adult passengers so that they may simply help open the exit doors in cases of emergency. If you are uncomfortable with the responsibility included in sitting in an exit row, you could ask to switch seats with someone else.

Use air goggles if oxygen levels turn out to be unstable

Planes have many safety features and also equipment. Oxygen masks are offered in case air levels become unstable. These face masks automatically drop in front of travelers once the need arises. To utilize the goggles, stretch out the rubber band around your head and use it to secure the face mask in place. Passengers could then breathe through the air goggles normally.

Make use of the life vest below the seats during emergency situations

Another piece of fundamental safety equipment found in planes is the life vest. Life vests are typically located underneath the seat of every passenger. The flight staff demonstrates how the vest can be used and inflated early on the flight.

In addition to following these rules, everyone must exercise basic courtesies to their fellow passengers throughout the fight.