Archive for the ‘Travel Tools’ Category

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Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Our Favorite App for Mission Trips

With hundreds of thousands of apps available for cell phones, including thousands that are travel related, how can you find the best ones for short term mission trips? Well, over the past couple years we have reviewed a number of apps as well as put several to extensive use on the mission field. Hands down our favorite is Trip Journal which is available on the iPhone, Android and Symbian (Nokia) platforms. Here’s an overview:

App:

Trip Journal

What it does:

Let’s you journal your trip through video (on video equipped phones), pictures and writing; track your travel; and share everything through Facebook. It also exports to YouTube, Flickr, Google Earth and Picasa.

Why we like it:

The app has a beautiful interface and neatly organizes trips around waypoints. Once you have identified a waypoint you can shoot video, take pictures, make notes, or locate yourself on a map. Trip Journal tags these with the waypoint name which makes it easy to view your trip. You can jump back and forth between waypoints, media and your notes. When you later review your photos you know right where they were taken—no need to tag the photo as Trip Journal does that for you.

The app includes an interactive map and uses both GPS and cell tower triangulation to locate your position. It even provides your elevation. Trip Journal’s statistics feature shows the total distance traveled, elapsed time, high and low elevations, and average speed. The Facebook connectivity is excellent. With one tap of the screen it not only uploads all of your pictures and videos, but it also organize them with your notes and maps before placing the entire trip into a complete online journal.

How we use it on mission trips:

One of the biggest challenges on mission trips is keeping a journal. Every day is filled with interesting and exciting experiences and you want to capture as many of those experiences as you can. With the fast-paced nature of these trips, however, there is little time to sit down and write. Plus if you wait until the end of the day to journal, chances are you will forget a lot. With Travel Journal you can make notes on the fly quickly and easily with just a few taps on your cell phone.

We’ve used the app to find our coordinates at remote locations in Africa that are not on any maps. Once we got home we plugged those coordinates into Google Earth and had a nice visual for our post-trip presentations.

Cost:

Trip Journal is currently on sale for $0.99.

At Ministry Travel we are always looking for ways to not only help missionary travelers and humanitarians save on their international airfare, but also provide tips and resources to help them have more productive trips. When you need help with missionary travel arrangements we are just a phone call (1-877-541-5726) or mouse click away.

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Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Severe Weather Tops Ministry Travel’s Social Media Updates

Looking back this past month at our daily Facebook and Twitter updates, we see a recurring theme: bad weather.

As we all know, Irene landed a real blow to the East Coast. But travelers also had to deal with Tropical Storm Maria in the Caribbean, Typhoon Talus impacting Japan and Hong Kong, Tropical Storm Lee in the Gulf Coast, Tropical Storm Nanmadol hitting Taiwan, and so on.

We often note in our updates that airlines have issued “travel waivers.” What this means is that airlines have relaxed their rules for cancelling or changing tickets if you are flying to or through cities affected by severe weather. We’ve noticed that since the storm-related travel fiascos of last year, airlines seem to be a little quicker to issue those waivers–which makes sense since they don’t want to deal with thousands of stranded passengers.

Note, however, that every airline’s “waiver” is different. Some will only allow you to postpone your flight for a couple days, some will let you fly early ahead of the storm, while others will let you cancel altogether without penalty. So always check the website of the particular airline that you are flying for their specific waiver details. And of course, keep watching our social media feeds for updates.

One article that we mentioned in our feeds this month was from the U.S. State Department on preparing for hurricane and typhoon season. They gave an 11 point “checklist” for travelers that bears mention here:

  1. Enroll your trip with the State Dept., (travelregistration.state.gov)
  2. Check with the airlines about travel services (the “waivers” that we mentioned earlier)
  3. Carry an international cell phone that can be used to stay in touch with family in the States
  4. Research the region so that you are familiar with local emergency procedures
  5. Pack an emergency supply kit
  6. Secure extra bottled water and non-perishable food
  7. Know local emergency phone numbers as well as the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
  8. Have a water-proof container for your passport and other travel documents
  9. Get travel insurance prior to your trip
  10. Leave with family back in the States your detailed itinerary with local contact numbers
  11. Keep with you a photocopy of your passport, driver’s license and any credit cards that you take, and leave a photocopy with someone in the States

At Ministry Travel, we not only care about saving you money on airfare for your missions and humanitarian trips, but we also want you to have a safe trip and effective ministry. So continue to watch our blog and social media sites for all the latest information and tools to help you as you help others.

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Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

USA Passport Day Set for September 17

Are you going on your first international mission trip or getting ready to take a mission team abroad? Then chances are you or someone on your team still needs a passport. Here is a great opportunity to get it. 

The U.S. State Department, which issues passports for U.S. citizens, will have its regional passport offices open on Saturday, September 17 with no appointments needed. You also will be able to apply for standard processing (4-6 weeks) at the normal fee. Typically, you must pay an expedited fee any time you submit an application in person at a passport agency or center. 

The State Department plans passport-themed events for children and adults at the passport agencies and at thousands of passport acceptance facilities around the country. You can visit one of the offices and apply for either routine or expedited processing. The State Department has opened several new regional passport offices over the last several months, bringing the total to 26. For a complete list visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html.  

New passports for adults (age 16 and older) are $135. Renewals are $110. Minor passports, both new and renewals, are $105. Currently, routine processing is taking four to six weeks. Expedited service, which costs $60 more, takes about two to three weeks.  

If you need your passport quicker, Ministry Travel can help you secure either a new one or a replacement in as quickly as 24 hours. We also can help secure travel visas. For more information on this service, visit http://www.ministrytravel.com/travel-services/missionary-passport-visa.shtml. 

If you already have a passport, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Check the expiration date. Many short term missions travelers fail to do so, only to discover just before a trip that it is expired. No one wants the extra stress, anxiety and expense of trying to renew a passport when they are preparing to leave. Passports are valid for 10 years for an adult and five years for minors under age 16.
  • Make sure your passport will be valid for at least six month after you start your trip. Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least this long or they can refuse entry.
  • Locate your passport 3-4 weeks prior to your mission trip. We have heard many, many stories of short-term missionaries getting ready to leave for the airport and not able to find their passport.
  • Cary a copy of your passport with you when you travel. In case your passport is lost or stolen, the copy can make it easier for you to get it replaced while abroad. If you are leading a team, you should keep a copy of each team member’s passport. 

For more information on U.S. passports, including how to apply for one, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport. For information on visas and other international travel related issues, visit http://travel.state.gov. For discounted airfare for missionary and humanitarian travelers, click on the “Mission Travel Quote Request” link on our website at www.ministrytravel.com.

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Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Missions Round-up: New Tools for Missionaries

Those preparing for international mission trips will be especially interested in some new tools, training and resources that are being used to impact needy people around the world.

e3 Resources has just introduced the MalariaCube, which is the size and shape of a Rubik’s Cube, but has panels that open with pictures on it. The tool is used to educate people about the prevention and causes of malaria, which affects millions of people each year, especially in Africa. Although the tool focuses on the mosquito-borne disease, there is another use. “Our goal at the end of the day is to share the gospel. And in the area of malaria, it’s such a problem that we can tell this story and grab people’s attention—where their heart beats. And then we share the gospel as well,” said Casey See, Executive Director of e3 Resources in a recent interview with Mission Network News. e3’s other “cube” resources include the Evangecube, which has been used by tens of thousands of people world-wide to share the gospel, and the HopeCube, which teaches about HIV/AIDS.

White buckets by the thousands are heading to Africa to help those ministering to people with AIDS. The In-Home Care Kit program of Baptist Global Response (BGR), an international relief and development organization, has provided medical and hygiene supplies to help Christian caregivers and ease the suffering of people affected by terminal illnesses. According to a recent Baptist Press report, more than 4,700 of the five-gallon plastic buckets have been sent over the past two years to South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Guinea and Niger. BGR is hoping to send 6,000 this year. The buckets are filled by U.S. churches and then BGR distributes them through their African network.

With a large percentage of the world that cannot or does not learn from reading, the importance of using stories to share the gospel is taking on more prominence. Many short term teams are getting training in oral communications strategies, and more and more mission agencies are dedicating staff and resources to it. Several of these organizations sponsor workshops to equip people to use stories to tell Bible events and biblical truths. One organization, Mission Aviation Fellowship, is sponsoring a training next month in Boise, Idaho. You can get more information at http://www.maflt.org.

Just a reminder that whether you are taking a mission trip to Africa, tackling a humanitarian project in South America, or flying anywhere for missionary or humanitarian purposes, Ministry Travel can help you save money on missionary airfares. You can request a no-obligation quote from one of our travel consultants at www.ministrytravel.com.

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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Help for Travelers with State Department’s New iPhone App

We’ve always recommended the travel section of the U.S. Department of State website (http://travel.state.gov) as must-view in preparation for any mission or humanitarian short term trip. Now the information from that site is as close as your iPhone thanks to the Smart Traveler iPhone app which the State Department recently released. The current version works with iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad and requires iOS 4.0 or later to run.

With one tap on the screen, you can get all of the latest travel warnings and alerts as well as details on all the countries in the world that the State Department follows (which is pretty much all of them). The country specific section is divided into three parts: Know Before You Go, Country Background, and US Embassies/Consulates. Know Before You Go includes alerts/warnings specific to that country, maps, entry/exit requirements, safety and security tips and much more. Country background provides the State Department’s briefings on a country including history, government, economy, etc. The embassies/consulates section provides addresses, hours of operations, emails, websites and maps for the American embassy and consulate(s) in the selected country.

The app also gives you access to the Smart Traveler Enrollment program where you can register your trips and travel contact information with the State Department in case of an emergency. The app will keep track of your itineraries and includes a place to keep notes.

You can view the State Department’s Twitter and Facebook feeds on your phone, which is great for late-breaking news and issues.

While the look, feel and functionality of the app is great, there is one big drawback—most of the information is not native to the software on the phone. That means that you have to have an Internet connection (either Wi-Fi or through a cellular data network) for it to work. Not a problem if you’re sitting at home, but if you are in the middle of the Serengeti and need the information, you may have trouble (although the Serengeti actually has good cell phone coverage—it just will cost you a lot to access it!).

The app is free and even with that one big drawback, it is a must-have for any iPhone user who travels internationally or who just wants to learn about different countries. It is definitely easier to navigate than the State Department’s full version website. The app is available for download through Apple’s iTunes store.

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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Preparing Emergency Sheets for Mission Trips

What happens if there is an emergency back home while you are on a mission trip in the middle of Timbuktu? Will your family or friends know how to get in touch with you? What if you experience an emergency or run into a snag in your travel plans—will you have at your fingertips the phone numbers to call for help?

Whether you are alone or leading a group, if you are serving abroad it is a good idea to maintain a single-page sheet of contact information that can be left with family at home as well as carried with you. While there are obvious things that you will want to include on that sheet such as telephone numbers where you can be reached, there are some other important items not as obvious but equally important. Here is a list of items to consider including on your emergency contact sheet.

How to dial an international number. From the U.S. you must dial 011 plus the number for international calls. Since most people do not make international calls, leaving this out can create confusion and make it more difficult for people to reach you.

Time difference. You don’t want a 3 a.m. non-emergency call!

Airline phone numbers including the numbers for the country you will visit. This is so that you can reconfirm your return flights or contact the airline should your travel plans change.

U.S. Citizen Emergency Center. This is the number in Washington D.C. your family can call to find out about arrests or your whereabouts abroad should you be unreachable otherwise. That number is (202) 647-5225.

Hotels/lodging plus the dates that you will be staying there. Dates are especially important if you will be moving around a lot on your trip.

Cell phone number of a local contact who will be with you during your trip.

U.S. Embassy telephone and address for the country you are visiting. Make sure to also note the after-hours emergency number.

Travel insurance emergency numbers. You should also include your policy number. If you book your insurance through Ministry Travel, which uses Travelex Travel Assistance, the phone numbers are (866) 930-9806 toll-free within the U.S. Outside the U.S., call collect (603) 328-1965.

Other key local contacts. Include the numbers for any organizations you are working with or key leaders at your destination.

Again, this emergency contact sheet is both for you and those who stay behind. So make sure a family member or friend has a copy and be sure to keep a copy on you (not in your checked luggage) at all times.

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Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

FAA Website Provides Helpful Traveler Resources

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primarily focuses on airline safety, pilot licensing, and overseeing the nation’s air traffic, it also provides resources helpful to individual travelers through their website at www.fly.faa.gov.

The FAA monitors the operational status of all commercial airports across the country and provides an interactive map listing airport delays and details. A quick glance will tell you what airports are running 15 minutes or less behind schedule (green dots), 16-45 minutes (yellow) or are experiencing significant delays or temporary closures (red). Orange dots indicate that inbound flights have been delayed prior to departure.

Actual airline delays tend to be a bit longer than the over-all airport delays, but the map is a good quick indicator to what is happening at your airport or others across the system. The map can be found at http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp.

The FAA will send you free email updates on the status of airports. This is especially helpful if you fly a lot or you manage teams flying out of particular airport. Sign up for the emails at http://www.fly.faa.gov/ais/jsp/ais.jsp.

The FAA handles concern or complaints regarding airlines and airports. They also track and report the on-time departure performance and monitor airline compliance with tarmac delay rules. Travel problems, concerns or complaints can be made by phone 24 hours a day by calling 1-866-TELL-FAA.

In addition, the FAA conducts an assessment of all international airlines that fly to the United States, as well as the aviation authority of each country with carriers operating in the U.S. It does not, however, evaluate the operations of foreign carriers within their own countries as this is against international law.

Finally, the FAA offers several traveler-focused articles and tips. These include safety suggestions such as how to handle turbulence and tips for traveling with children. The children’s section includes help on getting through security screening, using car seats on planes, and more. Those articles can be found at http://www.faa.gov/passengers/.

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Monday, December 6th, 2010

Why Every Traveler Should Use Twitter (Part 2)

In our last post we began looking at how airlines use the micro-blogging site Twitter and why every traveler should as well—even if it is to just follow various airlines. Airlines seem to have five primary uses for Twitter: customer service, marketing, public relations, news dissemination and customer feedback. Some use Twitter for all five, while others will focus on one or two aspects. Surprisingly, some airlines are very new to the micro-blogger and are trying to figure out how best to utilize it. With other carriers it is obvious that they view Twitter as a strategic business tool.

On the customer service front, we especially appreciate those airlines that use Twitter to give substantive information to their passengers and that respond to customer needs. KLM (@KLM) is one of the best international airlines using Twitter to resolve customer travel issues and provide current updates when there are operational problems—such as storms, airport closures, etc. On the domestic front, all of the major U.S. carriers utilize Twitter. Delta has a couple Twitter accounts, including one specifically to assist customers–@DeltaAssist. Many airlines that use Twitter for customer service issues only do so during limited hours—such as typical office hours—and usually not over the weekends. So if you are traveling in the evening or over a weekend, check your airline’s Twitter site (usually www.Twitter.com/airlinename).

Several airlines conduct “tweet ups” where followers have the opportunity to meet other Twitter followers and the airline staff in person at a city landmark. American (@AmericanAir) did this in New Your City and gave away Broadway show tickets. Last week Continental (@Continental) was out in downtown Houston giving away basketball tickets. British Airways (@BritishAirways for North America and @British_Airways for global) recently did an extended campaign through Twitter where small business owners could give their “elevator speech” to a BA representative for a chance at free transatlantic airfare.

We encourage you to follow Ministry Travel on Twitter (@MinistryTravel) as well as on Facebook at Facebook.com/MinistryTravel for the latest airline news and travel information that is most relevant to our clients.

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Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Why Every Traveler Should Use Twitter

In a world that is becoming more and more impersonal, where consumers have to jump through more hoops to get problems resolved, there is a refreshing counter-trend developing. It is happening in the travel industry as airlines embrace the use of Twitter to develop a deeper level of connection with passengers.

Twitter—for the very few who don’t know about it by now—is a micro-blogging website that allows users to send messages of up to 140 characters. Unlike Facebook and other services, these messages are available for anyone to view. All you have to do is “follow” a person or company and their messages show up in your Twitter stream. You can respond directly to their posts, create your own posts, or send personal messages.

If you do any travel at all, you should consider using Twitter to “follow” the airlines. Even if you never post on it, Twitter gives you a unique access to most major airlines. It can save you money and provide real-time information that you can’t get elsewhere.

At Ministry Travel, we closely follow the Twitter feeds of all the major U.S. and international carriers, especially those we regularly use for our clients. We have been impressed by the way these large companies have sought to be more personable through Twitter. It is not uncommon for them to have trivia contests or give a behind the scenes look at operations through the medium of Twitter.

An airlines’ Twitter feed is also the best way to find out about weather issues, new services, operational problems, and more. By tweeting the airline, some passengers have been able to get flights rebooked, resolve service issues, and deal with other airline matters—all while still seated on the plane, thanks to a Twitter application on their cell phones.

In our next post we will take a closer look at how the airlines use Twitter and how you can use it to save money, get travel help, and even win tickets to a Broadway show or an NBA basketball game.

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Monday, November 8th, 2010

After Action Reviews for Mission Trips

The captain speaks over your plane’s intercom. “We are 150 miles out from our final destination and beginning our descent.”

It’s hard to believe that your mission trip is almost over. In a few moments you will touch down at your home airport. All the months of planning and preparation leading up to the trip are now a memory. Your international ministry, though exciting and challenging, has finished—at least until next time.

For some mission trip leaders, departing the plane marks the end of the trip and the end of their responsibilities for that mission. But there should be at least two more tasks that you complete—conducting an after action review and writing a debrief report.

The after action review (AAR), which was developed by the military to assess training missions and improve future performance, is a great tool that ministry leaders should also use.  When you conduct an AAR you gain valuable information that can lead to significant improvements in future trips. When you include the results of that AAR with a debrief report, you leave behind a written record beneficial to colleagues and to those serving after you.

Think of it as part of your legacy. What you discover can help future leaders and continue to make a difference long after your trip is over. Even if you do not plan to return to the particular ministry site you just finished, an AAR is still valuable.

AARs don’t have to be complicated. They basically ask five questions:

  1. What did we set out to do?
  2. What actually happened?
  3. Why did it happen?
  4. What could we have done differently to enhance the outcome?
  5. What insights and lessons did we gain that could be shared with others in a similar situation?

The U.S. Army Guide to After Action Reviews emphasizes that AARs should be facilitated by someone who will not only ask the questions, but encourage each person to openly engage in the discussion. They also should include everyone involved. That’s good advice for ministry AARs as well. You may want to consider conducting an AAR with your team just before you leave the field, or at least with key leaders as soon as you get back. You also want to be sure someone takes notes on what is said.

Our next blog will focus on how to write a mission trip debrief report, including key components that will ensure you have the right information to positively impact future ministry.

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