Global honeymoon: around world in 28 days

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 15, 2005 | by Chris Chmura Associated Press

On our last stop, in Rome, a once-in-a-lifetime meeting was arranged for us to receive a marriage blessing from the pope. We remember almost nothing else about the city because that 15-second encounter left us in a state of awe we'll treasure forever.

While this was the highlight of our trip, we can accept no credit for organizing it. The Catholic Church does that on a limited basis during an intimate portion of the pope's weekly public audiences. A dozen or so couples from around the world were blessed along with us, all dressed in wedding clothes.

Just about the only blemish on our trip was the $600 cost for shipping the dress -- $300 paid upfront at a UPS franchise in Florida, and a surprise $300 demanded by the UPS driver, in cash, in Italy, for what he claimed were tariffs.

If we had to do that again, I'd buy my mother-in-law an airline ticket to deliver it in person, duty-free.

If you go . . .

GETTING THERE: Airline alliances offering "Around the World" tickets:

-- SkyTeam (Delta, Northwest, Continental, Air France, Korean, four others); www.skyteam.com.

-- OneWorld (American, British, Qantas, five others); www.oneworld.com.

-- Star Alliance (United, USAirways, Air Canada, Lufthansa, 12 others); www.staralliance.com.

GETTING AIRLINE MILES AND HOTEL POINTS: Check with individual companies or visit www.flyertalk.com, a clearinghouse of bargains, tips and freebies on earning free travel.

WHERE TO SIT: The right seat is essential when your flight lasts 14 hours. At www.seatguru.com, you'll find color-coded seat maps and advice from passengers who have relaxed in the best and endured the worst.

CHICKEN, BEEF OR FAST FOOD: Don't leave your airline dining to chance. A remarkably large database at www.airlinemeals.net features menus, photos and reviews of in-flight catering. You can preview special meals like seafood, kosher and vegetarian options, which are often better than standard mystery meats. To request a special meal at no extra cost, call your airline.

SPACE-AGE PACKING: When you're packing for a month, Space Bags help compact your clothes by removing extra air. Considering they're little more than fancy Ziplocs, the $19.95 price tag seems steep. But, a pack of four pays off when your suitcase space nearly doubles.

VISAS AND PASSPORTS: Long before an around-the-world trip starts, careful attention should be paid to entry requirements for foreign countries. While some countries only need to see a passport, others will require a visa or an electronic travel authority. Consult the U.S. State Department list at www.state.gov/travel or (202) 663- 1225.