Preventing Jet Lag   When it comes to jumping time zones, some seasoned globetrotters simply tough it out. If they arrive during the day, they'll drink coffee to stay awake, eat meals with clients, and head to bed when the locals do, exhausted but wired, hopeful that a good night's sleep will provide all the adjustment needed. Is there a better way?   We asked our UNIGLOBE Travel experts for their advice on how to beat jet lag without punishing your body or spirit.       Welcome to JFK   This month, Insight introduces a new regular feature: airport profiles. Navigating the world's busiest terminals in the most efficient, purposeful way is something road warriors pride themselves on. Here are three tips to make the best use of your in-transit time at New York's JFK.   Getting Around There are nine terminals at JFK, connected via the AirTrain monorail that operates 24 hours a day. Last year, 46 million passengers arrived or departed through JFK, which accounts for the long line-ups at security. If you have to pass through security when moving from one terminal to another, make sure you leave enough time to make your way back in if you need to return to your original terminal. JFK is only 15 miles southeast of Manhattan, and if traffic is light, it's a 40-minute commute from the airport to the Big Apple.   Relaxing The best lounge at JFK is The Oasis, located on the second level in Terminal 4, overlooking the concourse. It's open to members of Delta Sky Club, Continental President's Club, SkyTeam Elite Plus members taking international flights, and business class passengers on several international airlines: KLM, Thai, Singapore and Aer Lingus. It's spacious, welcoming and well-stocked with healthy snacks (soups, multigrain crackers) and a self-serve bar that includes an espresso machine, plus there's free WiFi throughout.   Dining  Bobby Van's Steakhouse in Terminal 8 is quiet, wood-paneled, clubby oasis from the usual JFK hustle and bustle. There are lots of non-meat options, too, including comforting mac-and-cheese, chicken quesadillas and seafood salads: www.bobbyvans.com   Official Airport Website: www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html

Travel Blunder: Stale-Dated Passports   You arrive at the airport for your trip to Central America only to be told that your passport is invalid, and you can't board your flight to Belize. But your passport doesn't expire until early next year, so what's the problem? Solution: always check international passport, visa and health documentation rules at the time of booking. In general, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you enter a foreign country, and the U.S. Passport Office recommends you renew your passport nine months before it expires. Delta, Continental and Northwest all subscribe to Timaticweb, a service provided by IATA that allows airlines instant access to international documentation regulations. Some airlines have the service integrated onto their public and Intranet sites. Talk to your UNIGLOBE Travel consultant about passport requirements which vary country to country, and visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/renew/renew_833.html for U.S. passport renewal information.   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

$1,300   Got Bumped? Get Paid!   What U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently proposed as the maximum compensation for passengers who are involuntarily bumped from flights. Current maximum compensation: $800.

Street-Wise Apps For Architecture Fans   Digital guidebooks are nothing new, but now travelers who want instant access to information about where they are and what they’re looking at (or what used to be there!) can turn to three location-based applications. SepiaTown pairs vintage photographs with Google Maps to give viewers a sense of what the street once looked like; L.A., New York, London and Paris are the most image-populated locations so far, but more photos are being loaded daily. You can thank the Netherlands Architecture Institute for this next app, UAR. Its goal is to map every landmark architectural site in the country so smartphone users can take self-guided tours, learn about buildings and manipulate 3D images. For a more global perspective, OpenBuildings is a huge resource. Discover architecture on-the-go by accessing this online database of the world’s most famous structures, from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water to Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bag Fees Refunded   Hotels are providing a welcome incentive to guests traveling this fall with checked baggage: a refund of your checked bag fees. Kimpton Hotels will issue a room credit for up to $25 when you show proof of an airline baggage charge at check-in. And a weekend stay at any one of IHG’s 4,500 hotels (brands include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn) will earn you a Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $50 when you present your baggage fee receipt. The promotions are valid through December; terms and conditions apply, so talk to your UNIGLOBE Travel consultant. Baggage fee waivers are another way to beat the cost of checking a bag; elite-status frequent flyers and certain credit and debit card-holders may be eligible for this benefit. Your agent will have details.

Cruising The Christmas Markets   Looking for an unusual winter vacation? River cruising in Europe isn't just a summer activity. Late November right through to Christmas Eve is a popular time to blend the scenery of the Danube or Rhine rivers with visits to the fantastically colorful, aromatic and sentimental German Christmas markets. They're held in towns across Germany, and many of the oldest and most famous are easily accessible from the 150-passenger luxury ships cruising through the heart of the country.   Viking River Cruises added four new Christmas itineraries to its 2010 schedule, including Nuremberg to Vienna; other companies offer similar routes from five to 10 days in length, including airfare, all meals and accommodation on board ship, and options to extend your stay in Vienna or Budapest. Traditional Christkindlesmarkts are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving you plenty of opportunity to admire the lights and decor, listen to the choirs and strolling minstrels, sample the gingerbread, marzipan and mulled wine, and shop for handcrafted toys, textiles, ornaments and other gifts. The Nuremberg market is particularly romantic and historic, with hundreds of wooden stalls set up in the medieval central square, surrounded by half-timbered buildings and baroque churches and towers.   For details, see your UNIGLOBE Travel consultant.   Photo Courtesy of Viking River Cruises