Why ?? What ??

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As a travel professional, I am often asked “Why should I use a travel agent?” “What do you do differently than the internet?”, or I hear statements along the lines of “I didn’t know travel agents still exist”. People are always surprised when I tell them that majority of vacation and leisure travel is still booked by travel agents. While the internet is good for looking, travel agents are for booking! The internet can be a great resource tool, but it cannot replace good old fashioned customer service or personal experiences. Also, there isn’t always a way to verify that what you see or read on the internet is factual. Just this week I read an article where an estimated 30% of online views are “paid” or “fraudulent” reviews. Personally, I read a review this week of a resort and the “reviewer” complained about the service in the kids program and the treatment of the kids. The problem with that is the resort is an adult only resort – there is no kids program! I don’t know how many times “the internet” has been to a particular destination or on a particular cruise / cruise line, but I know how many times I have been there or sailed. Also, as part of a large consortium of travel agents and agencies, if I haven’t been there, I can get first hand professional information from someone who has recently visited.

There are also certain updates that are not always widely distributed in the mainstream or social media. Often the best source of this information is your travel professional. We can also sort through what applies to you and what doesn’t apply to your specific vacation.
Did you know part of Mexico is changing time zones this weekend? That’s right! The state of Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, and Riviera Maya) announced earlier this week that they are changing time zones on February 1! The airlines are working on schedule changes and I will be notifying all clients that are affected as soon as I have confirmation of changes. Not all clients traveling to these destinations will be affected, but many in the next 2-3 months will be. Did you know that if you book your flights via certain online travel agencies that the airlines are not obligated to notify you? They are obligated to notify their customer, which is that online agency – not you. Will that online agency notify you? Some are better than this than others. What I do know is that any of my clients that are affected, I will be notifying them!

Do you book your cruises in advance? If you book directly with the cruise line, or with some of the online agencies, what happens if there is a price drop? Do they call you and tell you? Do they try to get something better for you? I do! I also sort through the marketing and media hype for you. Quite often, the price “reductions” that you see don’t apply to your particular ship and sail date, or to your cabin category. If they do apply, I will automatically make adjustments for you when possible. If they don’t apply, isn’t it better to have me do that research for you than to have to spend that time and energy doing it yourself? Just this week a client found a “cheaper” price – but guess what… there were strings attached to that price point that would not have been a benefit. The client would have risked $800 to save $50-$150…. Not exactly a great value proposition when you really look at it!

In addition to the personal experiences I can bring to you, I also provide very personalized experiences for your vacation. Here are just a couple of examples:
Have your vacation experiences planned to your exact specifications. You should be taking your perfect vacation – not the “picture perfect” vacation you see in brochures or on the internet.
Perhaps you are a honeymoon couple or a landmark anniversary couple and want to be recognized as such during your honeymoon or anniversary trip. I can arrange very special acknowledgements for you.

Do you want special activities or events planned during their vacation. How about that romantic dinner on the beach? Or that private, personalized guided tour in your destination? Are you not the “shuttle bus” kind of person – How about private transfers?
I could literally list 100 + reasons on why you should use a travel agent, but no worries, I won’t! Hopefully this has given you a bit of insight to what a good travel professional can do for you!
Happy Travels,

 

Kelley

Do you have a New Year Plan ??

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Kelley - Who we areThe New Year always brings a fresh perspective for many people. January is also the primary month of the year where people look forward at their year and make plans or goals. Did you know January is the most popular month to book travel for the year? January is the beginning of what we call “Wave Season”. There are many travel incentives and promotions available in January that makes it very attractive to book now. Just this week alone, Sandals featured a great air promotion and almost every major cruise line had promotions available for sailings in 2015. We expect the promotions to continue throughout the month both for cruise and resort vacations.Planning is the key to the success of your vacation experience. Let’s take a look at some general guidelines that will assist you with planning timeframes!

 

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 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! January brings a great number of promotions for remaining availability in 2015, and the 2016 options.

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 or large events 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 or special event on your chosen day. Even if you aren’t planning a specific event, you really need to secure the dates early for your group. I already have a group on their second choice for November of this year because the resort of their choice does not have the rooms they need for their first choice of dates.

Honeymoons: The best time to start planning your honeymoon is 6-9 months prior to travel – possibly longer for some more exotic options! 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. We can always book the accommodations early, and add the flights later if flights are not available when you are ready to book.

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.

Europe Travel:  The 6 -8 month window is a great timeframe for most European Travel.

Exotic Destinations: Are you thinking about the South Pacific? The Maldives? Asia? An African Safari? Australia or New Zealand? These are best planned 8-10 months in advance . Sometimes we need to look a year in advance for very specialized itinerary or events. Again, we can always book the accommodations early, and add the flights later if flights are not available when you are ready to book.

I hope this overview of the planning time frame has been helpful to you! I am always here ready to assist you with your travel planning.

Happy Travels,

Kelley

Are you ready for your authentic experience that rocks?

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

IMG_4196Hard Rock all-inclusive resorts are not your average, every day all-inclusive resorts! We’ve all heard of the Hard Rock brand thanks to Hard Rock Cafes and Hard Rock Hotels. Hard Rock started in London as a café to provide the Brits to classic American Food, and the music connection evolved. It all started when Eric Clapton donated one of his guitars to be placed over “his” seat in the place. They now have the biggest Rock n’ Roll memorabilia collection in the world throughout their brand.

 

Each of the Hard Rock All-Inclusive resorts includes an extensive list of amenities in their all-inclusive program. Some of them include:

  • Up to $1800 limitless resort credit (more on this later!)
  • Unlimited long distance in room calling to the continental US, Canada, and Mexico
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort
  • 24 hour room service
  • Non-motorized water sports
  • In room liquor dispenser with brand name whiskey, rum, tequila, and vodka
  • Unlimited a la carte dining
  • Pool and Beachside drink service
  • Complimentary Wedding and Honeymoon packages
  • Kids Club – The Little Big Club

Of course there are many more, inclusions, just too many to list here.

There are currently 4 Hard Rock All-Inclusive resorts with a 5th one coming in the next year or so. The current resorts are:

Hard Rock Cancun with 601 guest rooms right in the heart of the hotel zone is on one of the best beaches in Cancun

Hard Rock Riviera Maya is two resorts in one. With a total of 1264 guest rooms, the resort is divided into an adult’s only area, known as Heaven; and the family friendly Hacienda side. Any adults, regardless of which section they are staying in, can use any of the facilities on the Heaven side. Personally, I loved being in Heaven!

Hard Rock Punta Cana gives new meaning to mega resort with over 1780 rooms. Hard Rock Punta Cana ishome to one of the largest casino’s in the Dominican Republic as well as the most hip and chic night club (Oro) on the island.

Hard Rock Vallarta is currently their smallest resort with 348 rooms. This resort in Riviera Nayarit is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountains; the scenery is stunning.

Coming in 2016 the Hard Rock Los Cabos will feature 600 guest rooms with both family friendly and adult-only sections.

How do Hard Rock All-Inclusive resorts set themselves apart from all of the other resorts and resort chains? ” There are many ways, but here are just a few of them:

  • Their mission statement says it all: “To spread the spirit of Rock n’ Roll by creating authentic experiences that rock.” It started all with food and music, and music definitely lives on throughout their resorts! They have live music, DJ’s, and great concerts at the resorts. For example, Bon Jovi did the opening concert at Hard Rock Riviera Maya earlier this year!
  • “The Sound of Your Stay” is their audio experience program that allows you to choose from picks, tracks or mix delivered straight to your room. They will actually deliver a complimentary (for use during your stay) mixing board or guitar to your room so you can practice. You can also download a personalized playlist for your stay.
    The Music Lab Experience that puts you in the middle of the music! They have a Jam Band experience that gives everyone the opportunity to star in their own rock band. Spin Sessions allow you to discover spinning / mixing techniques and even DJ your own live performance. RockTube allows you to be the star of your own music video! You pick your song and they shoot and release your video!
  • Perhaps the most popular differentiator for Hard Rock is their limitless resort credit! Depending on your length of stay, you can earn up to $1800 limitless resort credit! I know, it’s all-inclusive – what would you use a resort credit for? The spa, tours to attractions and activities, wedding packages, dinner on the beach, and golf just to name a few. There are no caps on any one thing; you can spend the credit on what you want!
  • Philanthropy is a very important part of the Hard Rock mantra. The do multiple awareness campaigns throughout the year and give back in more ways than I can list here. A couple of examples are Pinktober (breast cancer awareness that generates $1-2 million each year) and Imagine (John Lennon’s foundation that focuses on children and hunger).

                IMG_4047                               IMG_4048

 

 Are you ready for your authentic experience that rocks?
Happy Travels!

Who brought sand to the Wedding ???

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Earlier this year when statistics were released for 2013 weddings, 24% of all US weddings were actually destination weddings.  We expect that number to hold consistent or actually increase when the 2014 numbers are in.   There are several key reasons that couples opt for Destination  Weddings.  Here are 3 of the top reasons couples are choosing destination weddings:

  • Stress-Free – A destination wedding is virtually stress free when working with the right travel person and pick the right resort for your needs.   The resort on-site wedding coordinators know all of the requirements and logistics for your dream destination wedding.  They coordinate all of your wedding essentials, such as photographer, cake, minister, etc.  You also won’t be bogged down with all of the reception details; these are again handled on site for you.  Essentially, you step off the plane, sign papers, and your work is done!
  • Family and Friends Drama – There is no need to bust Bridezilla out of her cage for this wedding event!  You know how it is with family and well-meaning friends; everyone has their own ideas about your wedding!  With a destination wedding, much (and quite often, all!) of this is eliminated.   A destination wedding is also the perfect way to limit the guest list!  We all know that “crazy” family member or friend that we would love to tactfully find a way not to invite…here is your chance! The wedding is truly “your” wedding, but at the same time, if you choose the right resort, it is the experience of a lifetime for both you and your guests!  Your family and friends will have an unforgettable vacation while attending your fantastic event.
  • Budget – According to The Knot, in 2013, the average cost of a wedding (excluding the honeymoon) in the US was $29,858.  The most expensive place in the US is Manhattan with an average spend of $86,916 and the least expensive is Idaho with an average spend of $16,159.  Depending on the destination and size of the destination wedding, not including travel, the cost is mere fractions of these amounts.   Most couples spend under $10,000 on their actual wedding for their destination wedding.

There are many popular destinations for Destination Weddings.  Overall, the most popular international destination for weddings is Mexico.  Jamaica is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for destination weddings; also popular are the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.  Hawaii is the top US destination for destination weddings, and Italy leads the European destinations.

P8180029            IMG_9056            Chichen Kiosk 1 (4)

Regardless of the destination chosen, you must completely understand the legal requirements for having a destination wedding.  While it is possible to have a legal ceremony, in some places, it is best to have a symbolic ceremony.
Choosing the right resort is the most important component to your wedding.
Some questions to think about are:

  • When do you want to get married?
  • What kind of wedding experience are you looking for?
    • Are you a “toes in the sand” kind of couple?
    • Or are you more of a Cliffside with waves below you kind of couple?
    • Have you always wanted to be at a waterfall?
    • Are you looking for the perfect gardens?
  • Do you want a large mega resort or something smaller and more intimate?
  • Do you prefer all-inclusive resorts or is that not important to you?

                   

It is also important to think about the number of guests you anticipate and the experience you want your guests to have.  Yes, of course the bride and groom are most important, but the guests also deserve consideration in the planning.  Will children be on the guest list?  Will this be an adult’s only event?  You also need to consider your guests budgets and the length of time they can travel when choosing a destination and resort.

As you can see, there are many pieces to this puzzle.  My job is to ask the right questions and recommend the best options!

Happy Travels!

Bucket List

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Do you have any bucket list destinations?  
I have checked some off my list, but I still have a considerable list.  My list seems to grow each day! I thought it might be fun to share some of the top bucket list destinations that I am asked about and when the best time to visit them is!

Over Water bungalows-2Tahiti – Bora Bora is one of my most requested destinations for the bucket list honeymoon or milestone anniversary.  French Polynesia basically has 2 seasons, the dry season and the humid season.

The dry season -also called Austral winter- taking place between April and October brings an expected coolness, July and August being the coolest months of the year due to southeast trade winds called maraamu. As a consequence a cotton sweater will often be enjoyable in the evening (or early in the morning).   The humid season -also called Rainy season- starts in November and ends in March. It brings mugginess, humidity as well as heavier and more frequent rains than in the dry season.  Having said that, one important thing to remember, it is the tropics and the weather is not on a schedule!  I have people that have been in the dry season and it rained most every day; I have people that travel during the humid season (often rates are very attractive!) and not one drop of rain.  There are both cruising and resort vacation options for you to visit French Polynesia.

 

African Safari is another top request for bucket list travel.  It is becoming more and more popular for a luxury honeymoon and life milestone destination.  Please don’t worry about Ebola!  The areas where you safari are literally countries away from West Africa.  Remember, Africa is a continent – not a country!  The best time to visit the wildlife parks is from May to safariSeptember.

This is the dry season, there is less vegetation to obstruct your views and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. This is, in fact, the low season for tourism. South African school holidays should be avoided. The main holidays are in December.  It is winter, so the mornings and nights are cold.  May and September are wonderful because it is less cold and, especially in September, the wildlife viewing is excellent.  October to April is their summer and the wet season.  While it is great for bird watching as migratory birds are present, it is a challenge for big game viewing as there is much vegetation and makes it difficult to spot the animals.  Also, it is quite hot in December, January, and February!

 

Australia and New Zealand are also very popular bucket list destinations.  There are many ways to experience these great destinatiojpegns!  You can take a cruise that will visit some of the major cities in both Australia and New Zealand or there are cruises that concentrate more on one or the other of the countries.   You also have the option of escorted tours, or putting together a fully independent trip for your adventure!

Australia and New Zealand are in the southern hemisphere and the seasons run opposite of ours.  Mild spring weather lasts from September to November and summer spans December through February.  Summer features longer daylight hours with warm to hot conditions depending on where you are.  March through May constitutes autumn, leading into the cooler winter period of June to August. The climate changes significantly as you head north in Australia near places like Darwin and Cairns. This region lies within the monsoon belt and has just two seasons. Hot and wet conditions prevail from October to March, while blazing arid weather kicks in from April to September.

Alaska is a very popular and easily accessible (with regards to logistics!) bucket list destination. The Alaska season is generally glacier with reflectionmid-May through mid-September, with June, July and August being the peak months.  Alaska is a huge state, to give you some perspective, it is approximately 2 ½ times the size of Texas!   A great way and one of the most popular ways to visit Alaska is on a cruise.  There are also land based tour and vacation options as well.  Due to the vast size of the state, one of the best ways to see the state is with a Cruise Tour.  A Cruise Tour is a combination of a cruise and a land tour, really the best of both worlds!
Your choice of “how” you visit Alaska will really be determined by “why” you are going to Alaska.

I hope this intrigued you and you start to create your own bucket list of destinations to see!

Happy Travels!

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Do you want in on some Secrets?

 

I’m not talking about gossip or confidential information; I’m referring the Secrets resorts! Secrets Resorts are upscale adults only all-inclusive resorts. Secrets Resorts features “Unlimited Luxury”, a new and better way for adults to have it all. At Secrets resorts there are no wristbands or reservations for dining, an extra measure of romance, 24 hour room service, gourmet a la carte dining options, top shelf spirits, daily refreshed in room minibars, pool and beach wait service and more! They do a great job at combining an active lifestyle with relaxation and privacy. Secrets also offer their Preferred Club category of rooms that come with additional amenities and privileges.

There are 10 Secrets resorts located throughout Mexico, 2 resorts in Jamaica, and 1 in the Dominican Republic. Recently I was in Cancun, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya and toured 6 of their resorts. There was not a bad one in the bunch, but all had distinctly different personalities!

Secrets Playa Mujeres will be their newest resort in Mexico; opening in November 2014. This resort reminds me of Costa Rica meets Mexico. It is lush and beautiful! We were there during construction (hard hats required for our tour!)

Secrets the Vine was my host hotel for 3 nights; I love this hotel! It is a very hip, happening resort. Do you like wine? This is the resort for you! They have daily wine tastings and one of the largest wine menus I have ever seen. Premium hotel zone location offers convenience to the airport and to Cancun and the beach is amazing.

Secrets Maroma Beach is a 5 diamond AAA resort located on one of the top ten beaches in the world and certainly the best beach in Mexico. If you are all about the beach, this is the resort for you! This is definitely a great option for couples or couples traveling together.

Secrets Silversands is a hip, modern, chic resort. This resort combines style with sexiness and sophistication. I would definitely categorize this as a fun resort for couples or a group of adults traveling together. The resort is one of 8’s – 8 pools, 8 bars, and 8 restaurants.

Secrets Riviera Capri is situated in a gorgeous tropical yet ocean front setting. This resort is unique in that the entire resort is Preferred Club with regards to room categories and amenities. The drive in to this resort is gorgeous, and the resort does not disappoint. Beautiful, nice sized rooms, great pools, and of course a great beach.

Secrets Aura Cozumel sits on one of the best beaches on all of Cozumel. Cozumel is a water enthusiast’s paradise and this resort has full service onsite dive operator. The resort all has the largest resort spa on the island. This is the perfect resort to do it all, or do nothing at all.

Each Secrets definitely has its own personality and its own vibe. While all of them are adult only, some are more of a couple’s environment and some are great for all adult guests. Working with a travel professional who takes the time to become educated and visit the properties helps to insure the right resort selection for you.

If you would like to see pictures of these resorts and some of the other Secrets resorts, check out my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CouplesTravelConciere

Safe Travels,

 

5 reasons you need an All-Inclusive Group Getaway!

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All-Inclusive resorts are great options for your group getaways!

Whether, it is your Destination Wedding, your bachelor or bachelorette party, anniversary, mancation, girlfriend’s getaway, or a family vacation, an all-inclusive resort may be just what you and your guests need! Group vacations can be very fun, but they can also be very stressful when it comes to dealing with everyone’s budgets, travel schedules, and vacation expectations. Let’s look at 5 reasons why you will be the hero for suggesting the all-inclusive resort option for your next group getaway.

 

  1. Better Value

With any type of vacation, you have to balance price and value. All-Inclusive resorts are a great value proposition in a variety of ways. There are a variety of accommodation levels at the resorts, some of the guests can be in the entry level resort view rooms, while others may be in their butler suites with private plunge pools; yet they can all enjoy the vacation together.
There will always be guests, who don’t take full advantage of the resorts’ offerings, but they pay for it anyway; there will always be guests who use some of the amenities, then there are the guests who will make sure they use everything and anything available to them at the resort. Again, it’s about the group being together, yet each couple or family having exactly their style of vacation. My favorite quote by Warren Buffet is “Price is what you pay, Value is what you get”. This certainly rings true at an all-inclusive resort.

  1. Eat and drink like royalty
    Admit it, when we are on vacation, our eating habits change and we tend to indulge in everything! It is our responsibility to make sure we know what is we might be missing out on! C’mon, I know it’s not just me!! I’m not just talking your run-of-the-mill buffets, bland cafes, or fast food grills. The new face of all-inclusive resorts are in-house Michelin chefs, gastronomic dining programs (a la El Dorado Royale) and cocktail menus that are significantly fancier than that hipster dive bar down the street from you that was just on Bar Rescue. Did you know that at Sandals resorts, the various themed restaurant chefs are actually trained by chefs from the authentic regions? In short, it’s a foodies’ paradise these days at many of the all-inclusive resorts.

 

  1. Never be bored
    Activities at all-inclusive resorts are as varied as your group may be. There is literally something for everyone! Most resorts have opportunities for daily sports activities (think beach volleyball, basketball, tennis etc.!), non-motorized water sports, nightclubs, weekly themed beach parties, technology centers (think Xbox!), cooking and dancing classes, or even an     on-site casino in some locations. (Did you know Sandals even includes diving as one of their luxury included activities?) Of course there is also the activity of picking the perfect beach chair or cabana and listening to the sounds of the waves or catching up on your favorite book that has been on the bed stand for months waiting to be read. Let’s not forget the spas…

 

  1. No wallets!
    Okay, not literally. Someone is going to pay for something at some point, but you know what I mean. One of the beauties of an all-inclusive resort is you pretty much know your vacation cost right up front. At many of the all-inclusive resorts even the tips are included in the vacation cost! At an all-inclusive, there’s no lugging that hefty purse or wallet with you to the swim-up bar, the beach, dinner, snorkeling excursion, or anywhere else resort related! Please do bring it with you back home with most of the cash that you came with!

 

  1. Your guests will love you.
    This is partially because guests love reason #4. But furthermore, it also eliminates that awkward moment at a group event where everyone is scrambling/head-scratching over who is going to pick up the tab. Your guests will also love #1 (who doesn’t like a good value for their dollar?), #2 (we all love being royalty on our vacations!), and #3 (Remember, there is a difference between “bored” and “relaxed”!). Indeed, you get to look like the hero for suggesting this vacation option for your next group getaway.

 

Hopefully this gives you a brief insight as to why all-inclusive resorts are a great option for your next group getaway!

 

Happy Travels,

There is an App. for that local or “staycation”

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For me, local travel is within the US!   Next week I’m headed up to Ohio to visit my mom and the hometown I grew up in.  Do you have any summer travel plans?  If not, now is the time to make them!
You can easily still book some local travel, or even a staycation can be a fun!  A staycation doesn’t necessarily mean staying at home, it means staying in your local area.  If a staycation is in your plans, I think you will really enjoy this week’s information.

City Maps 2 Go – $2.99 to download- No Wi-Fi needed.

Our reliable and easy-to-use global travel companion. Detailed offline maps, in-depth travel content, popular places, and insider tips. Plan and have the perfect trip!

                                              Gas Buddy        FREE

Like the other gas price apps on this list, GasBuddy plots gas stations near you on a map and provides their gas prices so you can get the best deal. It also provides information about the amenities available at each station.

                                                     Rest Areas               FREE

This App. shows Rest Area locations throughout the US Highway System.

                                                  Best Parking    FREE

Find the cheapest and most convenient parking facilities in 105 cities & 115 airports throughout North America. Save hundreds of dollars!

                                          Free Wi-Fi Finder         FREE
Instantly find FREE Wi-Fi Internet hotspots wherever you are in the world online or offline!

             Food Truck Fiesta       costs 0.99c to download.
Track and locate all of your favorite food trucks in real-time! This app takes the functionality of the Food Truck Fiesta website and puts it in your pocket. Please provide feedback so we can make this app better!

             White Noise Lite This App is FREE to download.

Find out why the world is sleeping better with White Noise Lite for FREE. Features ambient sounds of the environment to help you relax during the day and sleep great at night.

So there you have it – some great travel information for US travel.

Travel is changing again !

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Travel is changing again!

There is an old saying “The only thing constant is change”; that should be the theme of travel these days! Travel is changing on almost a weekly basis these days. With all of the new cruise ships, the new or changed cruise itineraries, the new resorts in various destinations, the key personnel changes at the various travel suppliers, and the changes in the airline policies and frequent flier programs, it is important to work with a travel professional so you aren’t left out of the loop when the change can impact your vacation!

Most recently, three airlines announced changes to their carry-on baggage policies. This is very important information for you if you plan on taking a carry-on bag for your vacation. Here is a summary of the recent changes for you. The biggest change is in the specific measurement requires, mainly in the width. They now specify 14” wide, so even if your bag is shorter than the length requirement, if it is wider than 14”, you may still be in for a surprise at the gate when they ask you to put it in the sizer.

United Airlines:Carry-on bag :The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels.

Personal item:The maximum dimensions for your personal item, such as a shoulder bag, backpack, laptop bag or other small item, are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm).

Carry-on items that are acceptable to transport in the cabin but are fragile or bulky will be considered cabin-seat baggage. Customers can purchase a ticket for a cabin-seat baggage item so that it may be carried on board and transported in a seat. Examples of cabin-seat baggage may include large or valuable musical instruments, media cameras, artifacts, garment bags and similar items of a delicate nature or unusual size. Note that guitars are not considered cabin-seat baggage and customers traveling with guitars should continue to follow carry-on baggage guidelines.

American Airlines:one small carry-on bag plus one personal item per passenger as long as the carry-on bag fits comfortably in the sizer without being forced and does not exceed overall dimensions of 45 inches (length + width + height).

The maximum dimensions cannot exceed any of the following measurements: 22″ long x 14″ wide x 9″ tall or 115cm (56 x 36 x 23 cm). All carry-on items should be stowed in an overhead bin.

Personal item – includes: purse, briefcase, laptop bag OR a similar item such as a tote that does not exceed 36 inches (length+width+height) and must fit under the seat in front of you. For travel after June 11, 2014, the personal item does not have specific size requirements, but must be smaller than your carry-on bag and must fit under the seat in front of you.

Delta Airlines: one carry-on bag and one personal item at no extra charge. Just make sure they fit into the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Baggage may not exceed 45 linear inches in combined length, width and height, including any handles and wheels. Baggage must fit easily in the Carry-on Baggage Check (approximately 22″ x 14″ x 9″), which is located near the check-in counters

  • Approved Personal Items: 1 purse, briefcase, camera bag or diaper bag
  • or 1 laptop computer (computers cannot be checked)
  • or 1 item of a similar or smaller size to those listed above

Passengers traveling on Delta Connection flights, and only those flights with fifty (50) seats or less, are only permitted to carry personal items on board the aircraft due to limited overhead space.  Personal items must be able to fit securely under the seat in front of the passenger.  All carry-on bags within Delta’s size restrictions will be gate checked, free of charge, during the boarding process and returned upon deplaning.  Please ensure that a pink Gate Claim/Planeside tag is securely attached to the carry-on item.  Assistive devices are not subject to this restriction.

Here is a picture of how to measure your bags so you can make sure your bags comply with the updated policies:

Safe Travels,

Kelley

It’s all in the details !!

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

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “it’s all in the details”. This is also true when it comes to your vacation experiences. Whether it is a destination wedding, honeymoon, anniversary, life milestone, girl’s weekend getaway, or any other type of vacation experience, truly it is all in the details. Let’s take a look at some of the details that can really enhance your vacation experience, or on the other hand, be problematic if you overlook them!

Let’s start with details to enhance your vacation!

Every vacation experience can be enhanced with additional details. For example, on your honeymoon, consider things like planning a romantic dinner on the beach, a couples massage, or dinner served in your room on the balcony or terrace. Many resorts offer some fabulous honeymoon amenities for guests that have been married within an allotted time frame. Tip: If you are a honeymooner, it is important to take a long proof of your recent marriage so you can get the honeymoon amenities!

Are you taking a cruise? There are some details to really enhance your cruise experience! Spa treatments can often be reserved in advance as can some specialty dining options. While on your cruise how about a champagne breakfast on your balcony? You can also have birthday, honeymoon, and anniversary celebrations onboard. Don’t forget to think about planning your shore excursions in advance! Many of the popular activities and excursions are for smaller groups and do sell out in advance.

If you are going on a family vacation to a resort or destination that provides opportunities for character visits or meals (think Disney or Sesame Street Experiences at Beaches) make sure to schedule them well in advance as they are very popular and do sell out. There are also things to consider like children’s programs on ships and at resorts, toys, diapers, and the list goes on. Some resorts have partnerships that will provide toys and baby or children essentials.

Now let’s look at the details that can become problematic if not taken care of properly!

The name on your booking must EXACTLY match the name on your passport. Airlines are very particular about this and it is an expensive mistake if made.

Make sure your passport is good for 6 months past the date of travel. There is nothing worse than getting to the airport and not being allowed to board because your passport expires too soon after travel.

Credit Cards are another important detail when you travel. First, make sure to use an actual credit card, not a prepaid card or a debit card. Secondly, make sure you notify your credit card company of your travel dates and destination. It isn’t fun when your card gets denied in another country and you have no other form of payment and must try to call your credit card company.

Do you have any special needs with regards to Medical, dietary, mobility, sleeping? These must be noted prior to travel so the proper details can be attended to and arranged to make your vacation experience a good one. Most cruise lines and resorts can accommodate most special needs with advanced notification. As a note, I know that for people who live every day with themselves, they don’t think of certain things as special needs. If you have any possible special need, please discuss it in advance so there are no surprises.

 

This is a topic I could literally discuss for days! There are many details to be considered when planning your vacation experience! I hope this has given you an idea of a few of them!

Happy Travels,