By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

On my last trip, I was a stressed, frustrated traveler. It took 16 hours to fly from Miami to Seattle. Delay after delay occurred, and I had to pay extra to sit by the window in the front of the plane – twice. On top of that, airline staffs were rude.

In a telephone survey, Consumer Reports asked 2,000 consumers about what annoys them when they’re traveling.

The complaints are scored on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the most annoying.

Here are the results:

Airlines

Luggage charges –  8.4

Added fees – 8.1

Rude or unhelpful staff – 7.7

Can’t reach a life service rep – 7.6

Poor communication about delays – 7.1

Seatmates who hog your space – 7.0

Flight delays – 6.8

People who hog carry-on space – 6.7

Long waits at baggage claim – 5.9

Long lines for security or check-in – 5.2

Puny snacks or none – 5.1

Crying babies, unruly kids – 4.9

Hotels

Rude or unhelpful staff – 7.8

Added fees – 7.6

Inadequate A/C or heat – 7.5

Uncomfortable beds – 7.3

Room not ready at check-in time – 7.2

Insufficient or chintzy linens – 6.7

Pricey in-room snacks – 5.6

Rental cars

Rude or unhelpful staff – 7.9

Added fees – 7.7

Dirty or damaged car – 7.0

High-pressure pitches – 6.5

Ordered car unavailable – 6.1

What are your top travel gripes? Let me know in the Comment section below.

The results of the survey were reported in the June 2010 issue of Consumer Reports.

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By Rita R. Robison, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

In a recent study, specific meditation performed daily for eight weeks increased brain activity in areas important to memory and actually improved cognition or thought processes in 15 patients suffering from memory problems.

Kirtan Kriya or KK, the meditation evaluated in the study, is a 12-minute practice from the Kundalini yoga tradition.

At the beginning of the study, participants, ranging in age from 52 to 77, were given cognitive tests and blood flow was measures with imaging scans. They were taught KK and instructed to practice it each day for eight weeks.

A small comparison group, who listened to music, also was recruited. The “music group” was instructed to listen to two Mozart violin concertos each day for approximately 12 minutes.

After eight weeks, cognitive tests and scans were repeated for both groups. The study found that:

• Central blood flow was increased in the KK group.
• The KK group did better on a neuropsychological test that measures cognition by asking subjects to name as many animals as they can in one minute.
• Improvements were also seen in the KK group in three other cognitive tests that measured general memory, attention, and cognition.
• The music group had no statistically significant improvements in cognition.
• Participants found the meditation to be enjoyable and beneficial and thought their cognitive function had been improved.

The researchers believe that KK meditation can have a meaningful impact on memory and on the quality of people’s lives as they age.”

The results of the study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recently, I was really lucky to have a vacation in Miami Beach for several weeks.

It was great. When I arrived, it was in the high 70s. Then it jumped to the mid-80s. One day, it was a record 90 degrees.

I loved the warm, shirtsleeve weather. In the Seattle area where I live, we’ve had a cool spring with rain, rain, rain. When I left home, it was 47 degrees at night. 47!

I took a 20-minute walk almost every day I was in Miami Beach. I had to take an umbrella for shade and a bottle of water to keep from getting overheated.

I’d really like to retire where it’s warm. How about you?

In a survey of where Americans want to live, by about two-to-one, survey respondents said they prefer to live in a hot-weather place over a cold-weather place.

As a baby boomer consumer, would you be willing to move when you retire to get the type of weather you like?

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning All-Terrain Vehicle or ATV riders to take precautions to stay safe this holiday weekend and riding season.

For the four-day period surrounding the 2009 Memorial Day holiday, the commission is aware of 27 fatalities, with two under the age of 16, averaging almost seven deaths a day.

As the main ATV riding season kicks into gear, so does the increase in deaths. Just last month, the commission staff learned through media reports of at least 40 fatalities between April 1 and April 30, including 12 involving children younger than 16 years of age.

Commission data indicates that ATV-related deaths jump on average 30 percent from March to April for children younger than 16 years of age. Adult deaths increase 88 percent on average for the same time period.

During 2003-2005, ATV-related deaths rose each month during the spring and into the summer, peaking in July, when 23 children and 76 adults were killed in ATV-related incidents on average.

In April 2009, manufacturers and distributors were required to offer free, hands-on training through their dealers to first-time purchasers and members of their immediate families.

The commission also requires companies to offer first-time purchasers an incentive valued at $100 for taking the hands-on training offered by the ATV Safety Institute or ASI. ASI also offers online training for experienced ATV riders.

Many ATV-related deaths and injuries are preventable. The commission encourages all ATV riders, young and old, to make this riding season safer by following the basic rules of the trail: 

• Take a hands-on safety training course. 
• Always wear protective gear – especially a helmet – when riding ATVs. 
• Don’t ride or drive a single-rider ATV with a passenger or ride as a passenger. 
• Don’t drive ATVs on paved roads. 
• Don’t permit children younger than 16 to drive or ride adult ATVs. Always choose an age-appropriate ATV for your child.

Recreational off-highway vehicles or ROVs, also known as side-by-sides, have grown in popularity in recent years, and the commission wants riders and passengers to know that they’re different from ATVs. ROVs have a steering wheel, bench or bucket seats, seatbelts, foot controls, and a roll cage. They, too, are associated with a number of fatalities and injuries every year.

Keep safety first when using both types of off road vehicle, the commission recommends. To learn more, visit ATVSafety.gov.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Consumer Reports is introducing a new mobile platform that enables consumers to access its database of reviews, ratings, and reliability studies while they’re shopping.

Called CR Mobile, the service is free to ConsumerReports.org subscribers. Non-subscribers can sign up for 24-hour access for 99 cents or 30-day access $4.99, which will be charged to their wireless bill.

With CR Mobile, consumers can choose the best products for their needs and steer clear of sales tactics that might not be in their best interest, said Jerry Steinbrink, vice president of Publishing for Consumer Reports.

CR Mobile categories include Cars, Appliances, Electronics, Home & Garden, and Babies & Kids.

Information can be obtained through any mobile device with Web access. Users can access Consumer Reports’ ratings, reviews, video (via iPhone and Android phones), product comparisons, poll results, buying advice, user reviews, brand reliability information, consumer news, and blog posts. Users can also sign up to receive product safety and recall alerts via text messages.

Consumers can register for CR Mobile at m.consumerreports.org. ConsumerReports.org subscribers can access the information for free by signing in with their existing username and password.

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