Travel Glossary

All-inclusive vacation or cruise A resort or cruise vacation that usually includes all of the costs of the trip in one overall price

Booking buddy A feature on travel websites that provides a web portal to help users search for fares and other travel destination information

Currency calculator Real-time online calculator that calculates the differences in destination currencies

Cardholder travel rewards Rewards, usually in the form of points or frequent-flier miles that cardholders can use in exchange for travel

Credit card authorization A “hold” credit card holders place on available credit, usually upon reserving and check-in at hotels, renting vehicles, and occasionally for restaurant reservations

Day trip Travel that begins and concludes in one day or less

Eco-travel Ecologically focused (Earth-friendly) travel also known as green travel, sustainable tourism, and ecotourism

Educational travel Vacations that are designed to encourage learning or destinations that specialize in teaching visitors a specific skill or topic

Edu-tainment Entertainment that is also educational, such as visiting a history museum that uses child-friendly tools to teach kids about history

Emergency funds Money, credit, or other sources of funding that are set aside before a trip for emergencies only

e-Savers US Airways weekly discount fares

Flip chart Large sheets of paper bound in a chart and usually placed on an easel that allows users to write in large letters for a group to read during a presentation

Foliage The period of time in autumn when leaves change color

Food allergy A condition in which a person is allergic, sometimes fatally, to a certain type of food or liquid, such as peanuts

Footwash Found at many public attractions and beaches, a small container usually equipped with a faucet located near a restroom where people can wash their feet

Heli-tour Helicopter tour

House sitter An individual or company hired to take care of or watch a home while a family or individual is out of town

Imbibe To partake in drinking alcoholic beverages

In-season The busiest time of year for a destination, hotelier, or merchant

Long-term travel Travel plans that extend longer than a typical one-week vacation

Meal planning The act of planning meals for an entire vacation in order to accurately estimate the cost of meals for the duration of the trip

Multi-family travel A trip where more than one family travels together to the same destination, usually to save money on hotel and transportation costs

NetSAAvers American Airlines regular discount fares

Oceanfront Lodging that is situated directly on the waterfront

Oceanview Lodging that provides a view of the ocean, but may not necessarily be directly on the beach

Off-season The time of year when a resort or destination is least busy

Passport expeditor A consultant who expedites travel visas and passports for travelers

Pay-at-the-pump credit card authorization A hold placed on a credit card by the credit card bank or company when purchasing gasoline at the pump with the respective credit card

Redeye Flights that typically leave the West coast around midnight and arrive at destinations the following morning

Road food Impromptu meals typically consisting of comfort food found at local diners and restaurants during road trips

SingleParentTravel.com a travel website devoted to single parents

Snowbirds Northern residents who travel south for cold-weather months

Stay-cations Vacations that are enjoyed close to your residence

Tour operator An individual or corporation who operates tours

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) The federal administration responsible for transportation safety

Travel insurance Temporary insurance travelers can obtain that covers travel expenses in the event of cancellation, illness, or loss of possessions and valuables

Travel scammers Individuals or companies who specialize in “scamming” or robbing travelers out of trips, expenses, or other goods and services

Travel trade show A trade show that features travel professionals and destinations like AdventureExpo.com where travelers can obtain valuable information

Tweens Children about to enter their teenage years

Wilderness camping Camping in a wilderness location without assistance from a guide or camping tour operator

Ziplining An activity in which people are hooked into a harness suspended by a pulley and ride a cable line from one end to the other on an incline