Travel is returning…

by In Destinations, General Travel Information, Uncategorized Leave a comment

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has created chaos in our daily lives. There have been quarantines, stay at home, shortages of toilet paper, Lysol, and it will be a year not soon forgotten. How have you been coping? Our dogs have certainly enjoyed our being at home more, we have spent more time with my mom, and taken advantage of a bit of a slower pace. We did get to enjoy a ranch weekend with our granddaughter; it was the perfect place to safely social distance yet spend time together.

In the world of travel, COVID-19 brought it to a standstill for months. Never has the world seen the likes of the travel disruption we have seen since March. There is finally some good news out there, and some light at the end of the tunnel for travelers.

You can still take a vacation or honeymoon! Depending on the time frame, the vacation or honeymoon of your dreams is still out there waiting to be planned. Planning travel with confidence is easy by following a few important tips in the planning process.

First and foremost, work with a professional travel advisor. Professional travel advisors have worked tirelessly throughout this global health crisis to assist their clients with rescheduling or canceling and did not turn their back on their clients in the same way many of the internet booking sites did.

Professional travel advisors also keep up with all the latest protocols and requirements for both international and domestic travel. Each week we see more destinations opening to tourism. Every international destination has protocols for re-opening when they feel the time is right for them as determined by their governing bodies. Domestically, some states are restricting visitors from other states as well as restricting public activities, restaurants, tourist attractions, and more. The protocols are changing weekly and sometimes daily. Protocols can range from restricting guests based on where they live to requiring health related testing prior to arrival. It’s important to remember that the protocols are not recommendations, but requirements for visiting their countries or states.

Sound complicated? It’s not when working with a professional travel advisor. While the situation is fluid and ever changing, travel advisors have access to the current most up to date information and will gladly guide their clients through the process.

Travel Protection (aka Travel Insurance) has never been more important in travel. However, it’s important to have the right kind of travel protection. It’s not all created equal. Not all plans will allow for cancellations due to an epidemic or pandemic. Not all plans will protect 100% of the money invested in the honeymoon. Working with a professional travel advisor will ensure the proper travel protection is selected.

Still want to travel but feeling a little nervous? There are some ways to still travel yet keep social distancing in check without compromising on experience. Upon arrival to the destination, consider upgrading to private transfers. Not only do they start the in-destination experience off first class, it will avoid sharing a van with a larger number of people. Consider resorts that offer rooms with private plunge pools or even swim up rooms. Enjoy a pool yet have privacy and avoid the crowds. Individual casitas or overwater bungalows will offer privacy, crowd control and add another layer of romance to the honeymoon. Club level rooms or suites often offer access to smaller more private pools, beach areas, lounges, or even restaurants at resorts again reducing the crowd exposure.

Being flexible when it comes to the flights will offer the most options. All airlines have experienced cutbacks on destinations or the frequency per day or week they fly to any given destination. Being willing to drive a little further to another airport or start the vacation on a different day of the week may make all the difference in the vacation or honeymoon experience. It’s also important to remember each airline will have their own set of health and safety protocols in place. Again, these are not recommendations, but requirements to fly on their airlines.

Lastly, the most important part of an international trip is the passport. If planning to travel in 2021 and still don’t have a passport, start the process now. There is a backlog of approximately 1 million passports and several of the passport processing centers are still not even open. The normal processing time of 6-8 weeks is now expected to take 4-5 months in some cases. It’s important to remember for many international destinations a passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the dates of travel. Keep these time frames in consideration if a passport renewal is required.

Don’t be hesitant to plan now, plan smartly by working with a professional travel advisor, and create those future memories.

Happy Travels,

Enhanced and Efficient Travel

by In General Travel Information, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe the year is just flying by! It’s another year I’ve explored various destinations around the globe. I’ve attended and presented at trainings in Florida, sailed on a new cruise ship inaugural sailing, been on an African Safari, visited Ohio, attended a conference in California, and spoke at a conference in Punta Cana. (I still have Mexico, 2 more cruise ship inaugurations, and a conference in Florida.) Having traveled for business weekly in my previous career, the one thing I have learned is how to travel efficiently.
I’m often asked, “Why should I use a travel agent”? Well, I could go on and on for days about that, but instead I’ll focus on one small area… enhanced efficiency, experience and service on your way to and home from your destination!
Did you know there are some destinations that have VIP arrival services? These allow you to expedite your arrival in destination. You aren’t expedited in the sense of you aren’t screened – you are expedited by not having to wait in the general long line. They also have staff that will accompany you every step of the way through immigration and customs to ensure a smooth process for you.
Private transfers are another great option to enhance your experience in route to your destination. There are different levels of service and different types of vehicles, but the one constant is you go non-stop to your destination. Did you know that when you book some all-inclusive resort packages, you can stop at as many as 5 resorts on the way to your resort? That can easily add another hour to your travel. Regardless of the type of vacation, private transfers also save you time because you are not waiting for a bus or shuttle to fill.
When it comes time to go home, often times after a nice relaxing vacation, you encounter the chaos of a busy airport to start your journey home. Nothing starts stress like a chaotic experience at the airport. Wouldn’t you like to be escorted, or find your way to a quieter lounge area to wait for your flight? I know I certainly enjoy a quieter experience. If you are a member of an airline loyalty program or lounge program through your credit card, that is a great option for you. If you are not a member that qualifies, ask me when we book your next trip.
Remember, it’s all in the details – and details are the specialty of travel agents. As your Travel Concierge, I take great pride in planning the details, so you have an experience that exceeds your expectation!

Happy Travels,

My Favorite Apps for Travel

by In Destinations, Europe, General Travel Information, Uncategorized Leave a comment

My favorite apps for travel are diverse! They range from helping with flight info, foreign currency and languages, to TSA info and keeping in touch with friends and family. Last month I went over my favorite apps for staying in touch while traveling, so this month I’ll share a few of my favorite general apps for travel. Personally, I have over 30 travel related apps on my phone, but I doubt you really want to hear about them all!

airline-apps

delta-appcontinentalAIRLINE APPS

I always recommend downloading the app for the airline you are traveling! You will have up to the minute info on delays, schedule changes, the ability to check in for your flight, and more. All of the airlines have free apps in your app store. Don’t leave home without them!

tsa-appMyTSA

This app allows you to monitor security check point line wait times and airport delays. You can also post wait times to help other travelers! The app also has a “Can I bring?” section where you can type in a question and get a response. The app is full information that will help make your travels and security screening process smooth! They have a packing section, dress smart section,

TSA Pre√, and more.

packing-pro-appPacking Pro

This is an amazing must have travel app for people that are obsessed with their packing! You can create lists or use templates they have already created; they also have sample packing lists for your reference. You can import / export lists, share lists among devices, print your lists, email your lists, and much more. This is a quick, simple, reliable and completely customizable packing app.

google-translateGoogle Translate

Google translate is a great feature for both desk top computers and as an app on your smartphone. I love this app, and guess what – it’s free! Google Translate will translate around 103 languages by typing! Can you even name 103 languages? I’m not sure I can! You can speak, type, write, or use your camera to take pictures and the app will respond in the target language! One of my favorite features is it will translate 52 languages offline when you have no internet!

xe-currency-appXe Currency

I use Xe Currency on my desktop all of the time checking for currency exchange rates; now I have it as an app too. This is a great tool for travel, both before you leave and during travel. Since currency rates can change daily, this is an excellent option for having the most up to date exchange rates. With the XE Currency App, you can access live exchange rates, view historical charts, and calculate prices on your smartphone or tablet. This is a free app and available on a variety of platforms.

Cruise Planners Mobile App – My Trips (of course I have saved the best for last!)

This app is designed by Cruise Planners exclusively for our clients!

MyTrips is a great option from my website (www.cruisevacationsandmore.com ) or as Cruise Planners Mobile, a mobile app from your app store. It provides you access to your vacation information and allows you to book right from the website or app. It’s an innovative way to have me with you all of the time! You can find a cruise, book your insurance, shore excursions, keep up with some of my social media, share your vacation plans with others and more. Once you have your vacation booked with me, I’ll send you your MyTrips log-in information and you’ll be able to access all sorts of information about your vacation.

I hope you find these apps useful in your travels! What are some of your favorite apps? Reach out and let me know! I always love hearing from you!

Happy Travels,

Kelley

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas!

by In Cruise, General Travel Information, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Recently I had an opportunity to tour the newly renovated Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas! If you follow me on social media (and if you don’t – why not??) you may have seen some of my pictures. The renovations were all well thought out and I think a nice improvement to the ship. One note about renovations – they are not a complete rebuild of the ship. Depending on what the renovations are on any given ship, it is still possible to see some “old” things on the ship. The Liberty gained a couple of new restaurants, new water park area, and had soft goods renovations. Soft goods are things like bedding, cushions, carpets, and draperies. I’ll be uploading pictures to a Facebook album soon, but for now, I thought it would be fun here to share some fun facts about the ship and give you an overview of the amenities.
liberty-seas

The maiden voyage of the Liberty of the Seas was 9 years ago on May 19, 2007. In her 9 years. The Liberty of the Seas was built in Finland and took 18 months to build at a cost of $800 million dollars. The Liberty of the Seas sails with 1,420 crew members for 65 countries around the world. She has a maximum capacity (including the crew) of nearly 6,000,

Everyone knows food and beverage are a big part of cruising, or at least they are for me! The one thing we don’t ever think about is how much food and beverage is actually consumed on a typical 7 night cruise. Some of these numbers are staggering! Take a look at some of these weekly numbers – and yes, these are weekly!

  • 125,000 meals prepared (including crew)
  • 90,000 desserts (I indulge in a few myself!)
  • 69,000 steaks
  • 86,400 fresh eggs
  • 64,000 lbs. of fresh fruit
  • 18,000 lbs. of potatoes
  • 18,000 slices of pizza (I definitely contribute here as well!)
  • 8,000 gallons of ice cream
  • Beer –
    • 10,700 bottles
    • 8,500 cans
  • Soda – 11,500 cans
  • Wine – 2,900 bottles

Here are a couple of interesting daily average numbers for you –

  • 1,400 tons of fresh water consumed each day
  • 713,000 gallons of fresh water generated each day (Liberty of the Seas produces her own fresh water)
  • 65,000 pounds of ice cubes produced per day

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend how “big” some of these ship really are. Let’s take a look at Liberty of the Seas and compare her to something familiar to you.

  • Standing upright on her bow, at over 1,100 feet, she would trump New York’s famed Chrysler building (1046 ft.) and the Paris Eiffel Tower.
  • The Liberty of the Seas is 185 feet wide, that’s wider than the White House is long!
  • The Liberty of the Seas has enough staterooms to host all (and that means ALL) NFL, MLB, and NBA players & coaches on a single sailing.
  • The Royal Promenade is longer than a football field
  • The Platinum Theater seats 1,350 guests. That’s approximately the same number of passengers on 3 747 airplanes.
  • When measured from the water line to the top of the funnel, Liberty of the Seas towers at 208 ft. tall, which is the same height as 2 statues of Liberty placed head to toe.

The Liberty of the Seas has a total of 1,899 staterooms to accommodate guests. All staterooms on the Liberty of the Seas convert to queen size bed configuration, and have private bathroom, phone, flat screen TV, mini-bar (beverages are additional charge!), hairdryer, and air conditioning. Here is the break down of the cabins:

  • 880 balconies
  • 221 ocean view
  • 190 Promenade View rooms
  • 608 Interior rooms
  • 544 rooms with capacity for 3rd and / or 4th guests
  • 33 Wheelchair accessible staterooms

Some of the many amenities you can expect to find onboard the ship include:

  • Fitness center and spa (love the spa!!)
  • Beauty Salon
  • Royal Promenade with shops, food, and bars
  • Art & Focus Photo Gallery
  • Pool Bar
  • Sky Bar
  • Adults only Solarium (one of my favorite places!)
  • Splashaway Bay
  • Tidal Waves
  • Challengers Arcade
  • Medical Facility (yep, been to one of these on a ship!)
  • Sports Court with full size basketball
  • Mini golf course
  • Jogging track
  • Rock Climbing Wall
  • Flow Rider
  • Ice Skating Rink
  • Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop
  • Sorrento’s Pizza (I can vouch for the quality)
  • Cupcake Cupboard (I can also vouch for quality here)

foodwater fun
There are too many more amenities to list, and of course there is plenty of entertainment to keep everyone busy!

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Liberty of the Seas!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, and please take a moment to remember why we have this weekend, and those we honor.

Happy Travels,

Kelley

Important Health Advisory for Travel

by In Brides, Cruise, Destinations, Dining, Europe, General Travel Information, Honeymoon, Jamaica, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized, Wedding Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

January has been an interesting month in the travel world. We’ve had enough weather issues to last us a while, airlines have changed their loyalty programs and other policies, new resorts announced, new cruise ships announced, and of course some really great promotions for you! Also, January brought us an important travel health advisory warning. This warning is geared specifically for pregnant or potentially pregnant travelers, but is important for all travelers. Please note, I am not sending this to scare anyone, but I feel you should be informed about the latest travel related information. I also choose to provide you with accurate information via reliable sources. This information is being widely discussed on social media and some of the facts are being widely distorted.
On January 15, 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) upgraded their Zika virus travel health notice to “Alert Level 2”, (Practice Enhanced Precautions) with specific affected areas of the Caribbean and Central and South America. You may have received our previous communication providing this information. As of January 26th, the CDC notice now includes the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the affected areas. For the most up-to-date information on the Zika virus and countries affected, please visit the website: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

Zika virus is spread primarily through mosquitoes, which mainly bite during daytime hours. It is not transmitted from person to person. Symptoms of Zika typically develop 3-12 days after being bitten and may include fever, headache, skin rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from 2-7 days and most people who contract Zika experience no symptoms at all. Comprehensive health information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html.

There has been a recent increase in poor pregnancy outcomes among mothers who contracted Zika during pregnancy. These cases are being reported in areas where Zika virus outbreaks have occurred. Knowledge of the link between Zika and these outcomes is still developing. For this reason, the CDC Advisory particularly impacts women who are pregnant and women who are trying to become pregnant.

The CDC advisory recommends that women who are pregnant in any trimester consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. If pregnant women do opt to travel to Zika affected areas, the CDC recommends talking to their healthcare provider in advance and strictly follows steps to avoid mosquito bites during their trip. Specific guidance for women who are trying to become pregnant is also included in the CDC advisory. More information can be found here: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/question-answers.html.

There is no vaccine to prevent Zika Fever however individuals can reduce their risk of contracting Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses by following these steps:

• Apply insect repellent which contains one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535.
• If both sunscreen and insect repellent is used, apply the sunscreen first and then the repellent.
• Repellent is available for purchase from the shops on board.
• Wear a loose, long-sleeved shirt and long pants, preferably of a light color to minimize the likelihood of being bitten.

Please note, the only advisory for postponing travel is for pregnant woman. If you are pregnant and scheduled to travel to an affected area, please review the information and discuss with your healthcare provider.

Again, this information is not meant to scare you! It is meant to inform you and provide you with the tools to make informed decisions and take appropriate precautions.
I hope January was an amazing start to 2016 for you! Look out February, here we come!

Happy Travels

Kelley

2016 Travel Trends

by In Brides, Cruise, Destinations, Dining, Europe, General Travel Information, Honeymoon, Jamaica, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized, Wedding Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

 

As a Couples Travel Concierge, I’m often asked about travel trends.  There are definitely some trends for travel in 2016.  Some trends are about the type of travel and some are about destinations.  Let’s take a look at some of the top 2016 travel trends.
Multigenerational Travel – 
This is a rapidly growing trend in travel.  Because families are now spread out all over the map, it is more and more common for families to “meet” or “go” somewhere.  Destination Weddings continue to be a huge trend.  Since many times family has to travel to a destination for a wedding, many couples are deciding to make it a fun, all-inclusive experience for their guests.  Many couples also use it as a way to help “limit” the guest list, or as a perfect option for a second marriage.  Family reunions or Lifetime Milestone travel is also on the rise.  Many families are meeting on the high seas or at a resort for that reunion.  Many couples are celebrating milestone anniversaries while traveling with friends and family to a bucket list destination.
Honeymoon with friends / Friendmoons
No, I’m not kidding!  We are seeing a trend of more than just the newlyweds traveling on their honeymoon.   Some couples want to share the most important “week” of their life with some of their closest friends.  While we aren’t seeing big groups, we are seeing between 1 and 3 couples traveling with the honeymoon couple on some of these honeymoons with friends.  Don’t worry, there are still plenty of ways to make this very special for the newlyweds and insure they have just the right amount of privacy on their honeymoon.
River Cruises – 
Yes, you’ve heard it in years past, and you will hear it for some time to come.  The rivers are growing!  Okay, not the actual rivers, but accessibility to those rivers.  We are seeing new ships every year, and exciting new programs from many of the river cruise lines.  River cruises are destination immersion at its finest!    You can cruise a river just about anywhere you want to go!  There are river cruises for just about everyone!  Gone are the days that river cruising attracted a mostly “mature” audience.  River cruise lines now attract a wide demographic of guests.  Disney has partnered with AMA Waterways to offer family friendly Disney sailings; this is a new way to travel for families.  Younger active adults are not left out of the options either.   Depending on the itinerary there are many activities in the destinations for the active traveler.  Of course there are also theme cruises such as chocolate (yes!), wine tasting, Christmas Markets, and more.
Cruises – 
Believe it or not, cruising is still a largely untapped market!  A recent article suggested less than 20% of the US Population has actually taken a cruise.  A recent survey on Trip Advisor indicated 1 in 5 global travelers plan to take their first cruise in the next 12 months.  Cruises are becoming a very popular option for solo travelers, even with the solo supplement often charged.  Cruises by nature are a very social way to travel, and very comfortable for the solo traveler.  Cruises are also very popular for group travel, multigenerational travel, family travel, wedding groups, friends, and the newest trend – honeymoon groups
Experiential Travel
More and more, travelers are starting to want more experiential travel, and they are willing to pay for it.  I don’t mean a “spend all you have” vacation; I mean a vacation that is full of experiences.  You know one of my favorite sayings is “Price is what you pay, Value is what you get”.  That is becoming more and more the mantra for travel.  There are many ways to include experience in your travels.  If you are cruising, consider smaller ships or longer itineraries that allow for longer time in ports.  You may want to consider a cultural experience in a port of call.  For example, in some ports you can arrange to visit local schools and help with the children for a day, or visit a local animal shelter and help with the animals.   There is also a new cruise line that specializes in impact travel to provide cultural experiences.  You can also consider those options with destination vacations.  For example, Sandals offers the option of visiting a local community center and interacting with the children for an afternoon.  I did this last September and it was truly an amazing experience.
Cuba – 
As the US and Cuba continue to repair their relationship, travel restrictions have been eased and may eventually be completely lifted.  It has been 60 years since Americans have been able to travel to Cuba, and it has quickly become a hot spot for US Tourists.   While travel to Cuba is significantly easier than it has been in the past, it is not a free for all!  General tourism is still illegal under US Law.  However, there are 12 broad categories of travel activities that are now allowed.  The most common tourism categories are people to people and humanitarian.  Both escorted touring and cruising have embraced this and have travel options available.  Carnival Corporation has introduced a new brand – Fathom Cruises; in Cuba, you’ll participate in an ongoing cultural exchange program that gives you the opportunity to interact with the Cuban people, one on one.
Which trend is your favorite?  I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas!
Happy Travels
Remember to check my social media channels for updates !
Twitter:  @kelleyaus
Instagram:  kelleyaus
      

Kelley

 

It’s all about who you know !!

by In Brides, Cruise, Destinations, Europe, General Travel Information, Jamaica, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized, Wedding Leave a comment
The old adage of it’s not what you know, but who you know is often like the Holy Grail in travel.  Yes, It’s true that anyone can go online, search for this, that, or the other, and book a trip.  However, I want you to know a couple of facts about how booking online travel actually works and clear a bit of misconception about using a qualified travel professional.

You can save time, money and a whole lot of headaches by using a qualified travel professional. I can provide everything you need to book a perfect vacation: packing necessities, various modes of transportation, early booking discounts, special fares, hotel deals and most importantly I will be your personal advocate.  When a trip goes smoothly, it may be natural to think “well that was easy”.  It’s when you encounter some challenges and hurdles that you will truly see the value of having your own personal travel advocate.  Having some to help you at any time, someone to advocate for you when plans go awry, and someone to facilitate a resolution for you can make all of the difference when you are trying to turn lemons in to lemonade.
In October alone, clients had issue with tropical storms, missed flights, cancelled flights, a hurricane, lost baggage, and family emergencies.  When you book your own travel online, who are you going to call or rely on in an actual emergency?  I mean the kind of emergency where you need assistance in the moment and you actually need to speak to someone?   Did you know that most of the online agencies do not 24 hour help desks that you can call?  Some are online help only, or email help only.  How helpful is that if you have no access to internet or email?   When you book with me, you have 24 hour assistance throughout your travel.  Whether that assistance comes from me, the supplier I worked with for your travel, or the travel insurance company, the important note here is that you have someone you can actually speak to at any time during your travel.
I’m always a bit surprised by people that will trust something as important as their travel planning to an unknown entity like the internet.  I can’t tell you how many times “the internet” has been to a particular resort or destination, but I can tell you exactly how many times I have been there or a trusted colleague has been there.  I can provide you with first-hand information about resorts and the views from the rooms.  For example, did you know that the term “resort view” has about 20 different meanings?  At some resorts, it is the view of the resort grounds, at others; it could be a view of the parking lot.  I’ve also seen resort views of dumpsters, or the fence of the resort next door!  Ocean View is another term with many meanings.  Most people think ocean view means looking at the ocean; this is not always the case.  What I like to tell people is that ocean view means that at some point from somewhere out your window or from the balcony you may have a glimpse of where the ocean is located.  You may have to stand on the balcony, lean over, and look around the corner and through the trees.
We offer expert advice and personal service that you can’t get from a dot-com. We work hard at building long-lasting relationships with you. We want to learn your interests and lifestyles, as well as your dispositions. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family cruise or a European adventure, we will match your needs to the perfect travel experience just for you.
Through an on-going and time-consuming process of familiarization, continuing education and customer feedback, we are your travel experts. We have been on nearly every cruise line, visited destinations around the world, visited more resorts than you have ever heard of, and trekked many off-the beaten path excursions. We are also certified specialists who have completed extensive training on select destinations, cruise lines, resorts, tour operators and more.
One of my favorite sayings… The internet is for looking, travel agents are for booking.  Remember, it all comes down to who you know.
Stayed tuned this week to my social media for updates on my escapades to Florida and next week in Mexico!

Happy travels.  

Change is on the Horizon

by In Brides, Cruise, Destinations, Europe, General Travel Information, Jamaica, Luxury Travel, Uncategorized, Wedding Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

 

Change is on the horizon

Wow, this fall is flying by isn’t it?  This time of year is always busy for me because it is travel agent training season.  The fall is when many of the resorts, cruise lines, airlines, vacation package suppliers, and others provide training to agents.  It’s to help us get prepared for next year and update us on any recent or upcoming changes.  Just in the last 2 weeks I’ve attended events with Sandals, Hard Rock, Exclusive Group Travel, Blue Diamond Resorts, Funjet, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Jamaica Tourist Board, AMResorts, and more!  There are still plenty of training events to come in the next few weeks.  It is important for me to attend these events so I am current and updated on the ever changing world of travel!

 

Speaking of changes…

October 15, 2015 Houston Hobby opened its new 5 gate International Terminal.  During this ceremony Southwest Airlines formally announced their Houston to Jamaica flight service!  The daily non-stop flights will begin on November 1, 2015!  This is a great option for your Jamaica weddings, honeymoons, and vacations!!  They will offer one flight each day departing Houston Hobby at 10:35AM arriving in Jamaica at 2:50PM; the return flight from Jamaica leaves Montego Bay at 3:45PM and arrives back in Houston at 6:15PM.

As of Friday, Oct. 16, USAirways will cease to exist.  A historic flight US1939, to honor the founding year of the company, will depart from Philadelphia at 10:05 a.m. and make stops in Charlotte, Phoenix and San Francisco, before departing there at 9:55 p.m., making it the last USAirways flight to operate as USAirways.

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, all flights will be American Airlines. If you are flying on American Airlines this weekend, it is advised to arrive a little earlier than normal this weekend, as employees, mostly in former USAirways strongholds, will be using a new system.  At many airports, USAirways flights will relocate to American Airlines gates. Please make sure to check your flight status and gate information prior to departing for the airport.  You can check it up to 24 hours in advance.  Because of the changes, many airports have adjusted check-in and baggage drop off times.  Please arrive at the airport early!

Hard Rock Resorts, part of the All-Inclusive Collection is introducing Woodward at the Punta Cana and Riviera Maya resorts.  It is an area that is designed specifically for teens and extreme sports!  No adults allowed in this area.  There will be no excuse now for a teen to ever say they are board at an all-inclusive resort!  As an example, next year Woodward Riviera Maya will offer skiing, snowboarding, parkour, cheer, and trampolining and more to go along with a state-of-the-art skate and BMX park. Open to every age and every skill, it’s time to add some high-flying action to your day at the beach.

Karisma Hotels (parent company for El Dorado Resorts, Azul Resorts, and Generations Resorts) has announced a major expansion in to Jamaica! They are opening 9 additional resorts in Jamaica.  They are currently building Azul Seven, a 149 room family friendly resort in the Negril area.  This will be bring a much needed additional family friendly resort to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island!  The expected start date for their other resorts is slated for 2017 and 2018.  Their only resort on the island right now, Azul Sensatori Azul Sensatori “was sold out for the entire year less than a month after opening,” leading the company to expand the resort with an additional 149 suites.  Karisma’s expansion in Jamaica is good news not only for Jamaica, but for everyone that loves El Dorado and Azul resorts, but wants a location other than Mexico!

 

Speaking of Jamaica, AMResorts (parent company of Secrets, Dreams, NOW, Zoetry, and Sunscape) has also announced expansion in to Jamaica!   They will be opening 2 Sunscape Resorts in December of this year, Zoetry in December 2016, and Breathless opening in late 2016 as well.

There is a new Secrets resort opening in Mexico on November 1, 2015.  The new Secrets Akumal is sure to be an amazing adult only experience in the heart of Riviera Maya!!  There are also 3 Breathless Resorts coming to Mexico.  There will be one in the Cabo, 1 in Playa del Carmen, and 1 in Riviera Cancun.

There are also management changes, renovations, promotions and more to keep up with!  As I say all of the time, the only constant in the world of travel is change.  Attending all of these events allows me to stay current and provide you with the best information possible during our planning sessions!

             

Happy travels.  

 

 

New York New York.

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Sometimes we get so consumed with thinking about faraway places, tropical or beach destinations, that we forget there are amazing vacation destinations right here in the USA!  My client services specialist Emer took her family to New York City this summer for a bit of their own summer fun and I’ve asked her to share their experience with you.
We took a whirlwind vacation this summer up to The Big Apple NYC.  My 14 yr old twin girls were really looking forward to it and I love New York City.   We wanted to be close to the the Times Square area and somewhere central with easy access to most of the action, so we stayed in The Homewood Suites, 312 W. 37th St. NY.   We were really pleasantly surprised by this location, we could walk to the 5th Ave/42nd Street area and we also had free full breakfast and evening happy hour.  The rooms were comfortable and the hotel in general was clean and modern.
We walked into Midtown when we got there.  I love the hustle and bustle of the city.  Times Square never sleeps.  It’s a bit of a culture shock when you are not used to walking around in a major city. Soon enough we fitted right in with the throngs of people going here and there.
                
Some of the fun places we visited during our first days were the new Carlos Bakery on 8th Avenue.  We have enjoyed the TV show and it was a treat to visit the store and try some of their delicous pastries.  Everybody had the same idea !!!
           
Our Grayline  “Hop on Hop Off Bus” tickets provided a great deal for the 3 day all attractions unlimited pass. The package includes some additional extras like a ferry tour and some museum tickets.  I have used this tour previously and think it is the best value for money.  We saved a fortune in cab fares by riding the Hop on Hop Off to our favorite spots.  Some of the attractions include The grament district, Financial District, Central Park, Soho, Greenwich village and many more.
One of the items on our bucket list was to take in a show while we were there.  Thanks to Kelley, we were able to secure great tickets at a great price right on her Website in advance for “Wicked” which my girls really wanted to see – we weren’t disappointed with our choice!!!  I didn’t want to wait until we got there to buy discount tickets as I wasn’t sure what we could get.  The link right from Kelley’s Website is:   http://www.cruisevacationsandmore.com/pages/tickets
You can actually purchase tickets to concerts, plays, and much more right from Kelley’s website!

My girls are 14 now and it was really important to us that we go visit the 911 Memorial Park as they were just little babies in 2001.  We rode the Hop On Hop Off bus down to the site and my goodness, as soon as you walk into the area the whole atmosphere changes.  We felt an overwhelming quite and reverence.  They have really captured the emotion with the infinity pools, the Momorial and the Museum.  Unfortunately we had not anticipated the crowds visiting the museum and hadn’t allotted enough time to do that tour.  We did however view all the other monuments etc.

        

We all had our own list of things we wanted to do and see, among there were of course shopping for the girls.  They were thrilled to visit many huge stores like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Century 21, and it gave Neal and I the opportunity to hang out in Times Square enjoy a coffee and  rest our feet.   What can I say, best people watching ever !!!  We enjoyed great food on our travels, of course some of the favorites for the girls were street food, Pizza, Bagels, Hot Dogs.  We also walked through the restaurant district and enjoyed some great food in “Hells Kitchen”

 

I have also wanted to visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and that’s what we did.  It was a great tour all of the exhibits are so real.  We visited a few of our favorites like Pink, Marlyn Monroe, and many more.  This tour really is for everyone as there are so many different exhibits.  There’s also a Ripley’s believe it or not next door if you wanted to take in both together.  We didn’t have enough time.

         

We had a fantastic vacation, there’s no way to see it all in a few days which means that we will HAVE to go back !!!! I look forward to it.  A great vacation spot for everyone.  It truly is the city that never sleeps.

I hope you can see through Emer’s experience what a great destination New York City can be for your next vacation getaway!

Kelley

Do you have a plan ??

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Timing and proper planning is a must for your vacation plans!  If you don’t plan at the right time, you may find yourself spending more or compromising on your ideal vacation.
As a professional travel agent and Couples Travel Concierge, one of the most commonly asked questions I get, is:  When the best time to book my travel?  There is no one single answer to that because it can vary significantly depending on the type of travel and the destination.  Let’s look at some different scenarios and see if I can shed some light on this for you.
Destination Weddings or Celebration Travel for a group:  9-12 months if you have a very specific date in mind.  Many resorts do not allow more than 1 or 2 weddings on any given day, and the venues sell out quickly.  Also, if you will have a number of guests traveling with you, we need to secure the room space well in advance to make sure we have space for everyone.  As for flights, those can only be booked at a maximum 9 – 10 months out (can be as low as 6 months for some destinations) but the flights can be added later.  The important thing is to secure the resort and the wedding day.
Cruise:  While it is true that you can book a cruise up until the week of sailing, this is not a good idea.  The myth of last minute “cheap” pricing is just that – a myth.  Booking at the last minute (considered within 30 days of sailing) basically gives you access to what staterooms are left – or what no one else wanted.  These are most often not desirable locations on the ship.  The best recommendation for pricing and the availability of the accommodations you want is 6 months prior to sailing.  If you are part of a group and want to organize a group cruise, you need to plan at least 9 months prior, preferably one year if itineraries are available.
River Cruise:  The best time to plan a river cruise is as soon as the idea enters your head, book one!  River Cruises are in high demand and sell out very quickly.  One year in advance is the average booking window.  I have several clients that have already booked for November of 2016!  Yes, 2016!  Sadly, I had to disappoint another couple this week because they wanted to cruise this June and the earliest availability for their chosen itinerary and stateroom type is in October!
All-Inclusive Resorts:  Much like a honeymoon, the best time to start planning is 6-9 months prior to travel, especially if traveling during the holidays or peak season for the destination.  What happens if you book too far out?  You may not get the best value!  Unless you are looking at an exotic option or a cruise, it is always best to book your flight and resort packages after the air is available for your dates of travel.  If you book the flights and resort in a package, the vendors I work with provide better discounts, promotions, or amenities than when you book the air and hotel separately.  Can it be booked in less time?  Sure!  However, keep in mind, the flights may be limited and higher priced (especially for popular destinations or destinations that do not have daily flight service), and the room type or even the resort you want may not be available for you.
Europe Travel:  The 6 month window is a great timeframe for most European Travel, with the exception cruising.  River cruising should be planned a year in advance (or more!) when possible.
Ocean cruising is best planned 6-8 months in advance.
Exotic Destinations:  Are you thinking about the South Pacific?  The Maldives? Asia?  An African Safari?  Australia or New Zealand?  These are best planned 10-12 months in advance.

There are a couple of key steps when it comes to planning your vacation travel experience that is every bit as important as the time frame.  The first step is to sit down with your traveling companion and talk about what you really see as your ideal vacation experience.  Part of the reason the planning process can be so challenging is no clear vision of your ideal experience.  I’m not asking you to come up with the resort or even the destination, but a clear understanding of what type of experience each of you is expecting.  I can really streamline the process for you if you have an idea of what type of vacation experience you are looking for!
The other key step is to know your passport name.  If you don’t have a passport at the time you are ready to book, it is very important that you do know exactly how your name will appear on your passport.  For the most part, the airlines no longer allow name changes.  If the mistake is more than just a couple of letters, it can result in you having to cancel one ticket and purchase another.  As you may have guessed, the first ticket is likely non-refundable so this becomes a very expensive mistake.  Now that you’ve read this, go make note of your passport name, and if you don’t have a passport, go get one!
Hopefully this has been helpful and you are now thinking about your next vacation experience.  I will be here when you are ready!
Happy Travels Kelley Austin 2015
Kelley