When arriving in your hotel room, you’ll find a number of menus there for local dining options. Additionally, you may see a menu slid in from underneath the door. Beware! While the list looks real, it may be a restaurant that doesn't exist.

Here's how the scam works: thieves create and print a menu that looks realistic. They roam hotel hallways and push copies into hotel rooms. The menu, listing a local restaurant, invites hotel guests to phone or Email in an order at the end of the day.

Actually, the restaurant doesn't exist. When guests place orders, they’re required to pay by credit card. The food never comes, and the scammers quickly run up phony withdrawals on the credit card.

While traveling, before you decide to order local food, do some homework. An internet search of restaurants near the hotel will give you plenty of dining options. Also, ask the front desk to suggest local restaurants that deliver to the hotel.

Going on a trip with a senior who needs special care is not much different from traveling with a young child. Your responsibility is the safety and comfort of the senior, as well as consideration for other travelers.

Some thoughtful tips could help make the journey go more smoothly. The result will be a pleasant experience for everyone involved, including the Alzheimer’s patient.

First, have a thorough discussion with the family doctor and/or involved medical specialist on aging. State your plans and request information to cover all aspects of the trip. If the doctor believes it will be too difficult or dangerous for the patient, and recommends cancelling, the decision may be best for all concerned.

Natural instinct for the savvy seasoned sailor is to get the most luxurious and interesting sailing at the best possible price. It requires daily surfing of internet travel agency and cruise line websites. Along with some tricks:

Book very early or very late: There are two widely-separated time frames when the prices will be best. First, by booking a cruise several months in advance, you may get best choice of cabins.

Conversely, when you do last-minute booking, you could also get a lower price. Ships must sail on schedule whether totally full or not. Fearing empty cabins at sea on cruises, prices will dip, sometimes as low as 50% from original listing, in final three or four days before sailing. If you have a hometown travel agent who values you as a repeat customer, you may get a shot at those deals.