New York New York.

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

What do you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled ??

 

What do you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled?  There are some steps you can proactively take to stay informed and alleviate some of the stress associated with disrupted travel.

My first recommend is to always book your flights with a reputable travel agency or directly with the airline.  Please remember, that the online booking sites are not all equal in the eyes of the airlines.  When you book with some of them, you are not necessarily the customer of the airline.  Not being the customer of the airline can present many challenges when it comes to delays or cancellations.

If you have not already, I highly recommended downloading the apps for your preferred air carriers.  If you don’t have a preferred air carrier, once we have vacation flights booked, download the app for that carrier.   You can check flight status via the app and many of the airline apps allow you to sign up for text message alerts for your flights.  If you aren’t an “app” kind of person, you should visit the airline website; check your reservation via the record locator number and sign up for text alerts about that reservation.  Having the app on your phone, or receiving text alerts, make it easier to monitor your flight status for changes, delays, or cancellations.  Of course if you have booked through me, I’m happy to assist you with any of these steps!  I also monitor flights as best I can for you while you travel.

                

If the flight is cancelled prior to your day of departure, most airlines will automatically rebook you on another flight if they have control your reservation.  An important note here – if you have not booked with a travel agent or directly with the airline, the automatic rebooking may not occur instantly.  If you booked with one of the big online booking sites, you are their customer, and not necessarily the direct customer of the airline.  The airline may refer you back to the company where you booked your flight so they can assist you.  (This can be a real challenge if you are out of the country and your online site of choice only has internet support or no international phone number to call.)

If the flight is cancelled the day of departure and / or you are already at the airport, most airlines will immediately begin the rebooking process.  Some of the airlines have automated systems that rebook you, others it is a manual one by one done by the agents at the ticketing counter or gate.  Many of the airline apps will allow you to rebook within the app.  This will save you from having to stand in line at the airport ticket counter, or spend time on hold.   If the cancel occurs prior to you checking in for your flight and you have booked with me, I am always happy to work with you to reschedule your flight.  If you are already checked in for your flight or at the airport, working directly with the airline is often the most streamlined process.  If the airline is unable to assist, and you have booked with me, you should definitely call the 24 hour customer care number provided in your travel documents.  Again, if you booked with one of the online booking sites, getting help directly from the airline can be a challenge.  Please remember, it is not that they do not want to help you, but their first priority is their customer – those that book through travel agents and directly with the airline.

If you are at the airport and your flight is delayed, always stay close to the gate area so you can hear announcements.  At many airports, the flight schedule monitors are not actually updated by the airline, but by airport operations so the screens aren’t always updated as quickly as the changes occur.  If you have text alerts set up on your phone, these will be helpful as well.  If your delay is that of more than a few hours, the airline may be willing to provide a meal voucher for you.

If your delay turns in to a cancellation that requires an overnight stay at the airport, you do have options.  Depending on why the flight was cancelled, the airline may provide a hotel option for you.

If it is not a complimentary option (that is correct, it is not always a “free” hotel night), make sure to ask if they are offering a distressed traveler rate.  Most of the times they have negotiated distressed traveler rates with the airport area hotels.  Also inquire about meal vouchers, and toiletry kits.  In most cases, the airlines will not be able to provide you with your checked luggage in the event of an overnight situation.  This is one reason I always carry on a few toiletries and a change of clothes.  If I have them I don’t need them, it’s when I don’t throw them in that it comes back to haunt me!

Yes, delays and cancellations are painful for all involved, including the airport staff.  Please remember, they are no happier about the delays or cancellations than you are.  You may be traveling for an important event, or simply trying to get home after a long trip, whatever the reason for your travel, and whatever the reason for your delay, please do not take it out on the airline staff (or your travel agent!).    

Happy travels.                     

      Kelley

Do you know your name ??

jpegDo you know your name?  I’m serious; do you actually know your name as it appears on your official documentation?  You would be shocked if you knew how many people give me their “names” but upon further questioning or looking at their documents, they learn their name isn’t what they have been calling themselves!  When you get a chance, take a look at your driver’s license, your passport, your social security card.  Do they all have the same name?  Many people have different names on every piece of government issued identification or document they have!
Ideally, you should have the same name on all of your documentation so there is no mistaking your identity.   Then there is the whole, how does your name appear on your credit card?  More often than not, the name appears slightly different on your credit card than it does any of your documentation.
When it comes to travel outside of the US, your passport is ultimately all that matters.  Before booking any travel that involves travel outside of the country, please make sure you look at your passport and know how your name appears.  It does not matter how your name appears on your driver’s license in another country, they only care about your passport name.  If you don’t already have a passport, or it needs to be renewed, please make sure you know how your name will appear on the passport when booking your travel.  It is important that the name on your travel reservation and the name on your documentation be an exact match. Remember, your name must exactly match!  If there is Jr, Sr, II, or III, etc. after your name that matters too!
Airlines are not fond of name changes and there can be significant financial penalties.  Many times, the name cannot be changed; the ticket must be cancelled and reissued.  This is a double whammy, they will not refund your money on the cancelled ticket, plus you have to buy a new ticket.
It’s not just the airlines; it is the immigration officials in the country you are entering or exiting, and even the resort you are visiting.  If your name does not match on your travel documentation and your passport, you may be subject to additional immigration screening upon entering or the country.  Surprisingly, exiting a foreign country to return to the US can be even more of an issue if there is a name discrepancy.  Resorts also check your name at check-in and if it does not match your passport, your check-in process can be long and arduous.  Also at the resort, if the name on your passport does not match the name on the credit card they will be using for incidentals, they may ask for an additional form of identification to prove the credit card is indeed yours.
Many travelers (including myself) will use their passport names for all travel, including domestic travel.   There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, just remember to always have your passport with you!
It sounds so simple, but at least once a week I get a call about a name issue with clients.   This is the one issue that can make me (and all other travel professionals) lose sleep at night.  There is nothing more gut wrenching than getting that call from a client that is at the airport and cannot check-in for their flight due to a name discrepancy.
Now, go check all of your documentation so you know your name!
Kelley

Do you know about these changes ??

 

Travel is always changing and this summer is no exception!  There have been a few announcements recently about changes that are both interesting and “need to know”.  Here are just a few of the changes!

Carnival Cruise Lines has been busy with announcements this last week.  The announcement from Tuesday will have an impact on anyone cruising Carnival starting in July.    Effective July 9, Carnival is prohibiting passengers from bringing on bottled beverages.  According to Carnival they are implementing the bottled beverage ban for two main reasons. First, it slows down the boarding process due to security checks for contraband booze. Second, it can lead to behavioral problems caused by overconsumption.   Carnival will still allow one 750-milliliter bottle of unopened wine or champagne in carry-on baggage on embarkation day. If they choose to consume it in a restaurant or bar, they will be charged a $15 corkage fee. Carnival did clarify a policy regarding the ability to bring on soda or bottled water.   “We will continue to allow up to 12 unopened cans or cartons of water, sodas and non-alcoholic beverages per person to be brought on board during embarkation,” the line said. “Guests can now purchase a 12-pack of bottled water from Carnival at a price of $2.99 plus tax online prior to their cruise or $4.99 plus gratuities once on board. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment these changes may cause. However, we firmly believe these changes will ultimately benefit all guests.”

Also in the news late last week, Carnival announced a new brand of cruising specifically dedicated to volunteerism.  Carnival will be launching fathom in April 2017 with seven-day voyages from Miami aboard the Adonia.  The Adonia is a 710-passenger vessel redeployed from Carnival Corp.’s P&O Cruises. The first destination for this new concept will be the Dominican Republic.  According to Carnival the Dominic Republic was chosen as the first destination because the average household income is about US$6,000 a year and more than 2 million Dominicans do not have access to piped water.  Passengers will pay cruise fares starting at $1,540 per person for an outside cabin. On the initial sea days guests will attend onboard “readiness experiences,” such as an orientation to the Dominican Republic, conversational Spanish lessons, activity training, workshops, personal enrichment and more.  There will be on-shore social impact activities such as helping cultivate cacao plants and helping a women’s cooperative produce artisan chocolates; teaching English in schools or to adults; or helping build water filters using clay.  This is certainly going to be a unique and rewarding cruise experience!  Keep your eyes and ears open for more fathom details as they are released!

Frontier Airlines also made headlines this week.  Frontier Airlines is no longer going to put the actual departure time on their boarding passes!  Yes, it’s true.  They are now going to put the time that “boarding begins” and the time that the boarding “door closes,” which is 10 minutes prior to a flight’s scheduled departure time.   In an article for Today in the Sky As for Frontier, spokesman Jim Faulkner says the goal for the change is to keep flights on schedule.

“It’s part of our emphasis to ensure an on-time departure for our customers, if the door closes 10 minutes before scheduled departure, customers still have time to stow their bags, get their seat belts fastened and get settled in so that the plane can push back from the gate on time or before.”   While I don’t think this is a bad thing, it is worthy of noting the change.  If you are flying Frontier, please make sure to check your boarding passes!

Keep an eye out over the coming months for possible changes to carry-on size luggage.  Currently, there is no standard in the industry, each airline sets their own.   The industry trade association International Airline Transport Association (IATA) is recommending that all airlines standardize so consumers are no longer confused with the different airline allowances.  They are recommending a smaller size that will allow for all flying passengers to have room in the overhead or under the seat in front of them for their carry-on bags.  One of the goals is to stop the “fight for the bin” space and therefore expediting the boarding process.  The European carriers already (and always have) have smaller carry-on size allowances than the US carriers.  So far 8 international carriers have formally signed on and back the IATA recommendations and another 30 have expressed interest.  Currently, no US Airlines have formally supported the recommendation.  This will be an interesting story to follow and will certainly change the way we fly if all airlines adopt the recommendation.  For now, my recommendation is the same as always – check your airline website for their carry-on allowance prior to your travel.

Travel is constantly changing, and I will always do my best to keep you informed of any significant industry changes or announcements.   Since the changes may not be a topic of my newsletters each week, I do hope you will engage on social media with me so you can continue to be informed and probably entertained by some of my posts or photos.

Happy Travels!

      

Protect Yourself and be healthy !!

I am often asked how people can protect themselves from getting sick when traveling.  My first concern is always for your safety and well-being.  I will never recommend areas or resorts that I feel are unsafe or that I would not travel to personally.  If you have any health concerns, please make sure to advise me when we are in the planning process, or prior to travel so you we can manage any situation!

One thing to remember (and this is on every one of my confirmation invoices I provide) is that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the proper travel documentation (passports, visas, identification, vaccinations, etc.) in order to travel abroad.  Did you notice that word vaccinations?  Too often people always overlook this and think it doesn’t pertain to them or their destination.  In most cases you are right – it doesn’t.  However, the CDC is constantly updating their information with regards to required or recommended vaccinations for any destination you may travel to.  Please note there is a difference between a requirement and a recommendation.  For a requirement, it is just that – and you will have to show proof before being allowed to enter the country.  Recommendations are just that, general wide scope recommendations.  For any questions regarding the recommendations, you should consult with your physician to see if the recommendation applies to you in your health assessment.  Often times, the recommendations will not apply to you based on your overall health.

Many times people will get sick when traveling and assume they have food poisoning.  True food poisoning is actually quite rare in the more mainstream tourist destinations or on cruise ships.  Often times it is your body reacting to unfamiliar or excessive foods (especially when combined with alcohol), or different bacteria or pesticides.  It can also be an indicator there is something more serious going on.  There are ways you can protect yourself when traveling.  The two biggest ways you can protect yourself are through eating safe foods and personal hygiene.  The other way is by working with a travel professional that visits the resorts on a routine basis and knows the practices at each resort.  Did you know that most of the resorts I recommend use only bottled and treated water throughout the entire resort?

Eating safe foods such as those that are cooked and served hot is one recommendation.   If you don’t know the food source, you want to make sure your eggs are hard cooked or cooked thoroughly, and that you are consuming pasteurized dairy products.  If you are working with a good travel professional, they will have good insight for you on this type of thing.  (Did you know some resorts actually have their own greenhouses and grow their own produce?)  There are some general recommendations – but these will vary slightly based on the destination and health concerns.   If you are at a good quality resort (this is where value comes in to play and not necessarily just price!), or on a cruise ship, the recommendations will be slightly altered.  The recommendations below should definitely be followed if you are eating out side of your resort or in a port of call!

Some general recommendations of foods not to eat:

Food served at room temperature

Food from street vendors

Raw or soft-cooked (think runny) eggs

Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits or vegetables (if you want these – please make sure to wash them!)

Peelings from fruits or veggies

Condiments made from fresh ingredients if you don’t know or trust the food source

Salads

Unpasteurized dairy products

“Bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game)

Drinking safe beverages is also important.  While most of the better resorts only use bottled or filtered water, it is always best to ask about the water source!  I only recommend resorts that use bottled or filtered water, but believe it or not, some people choose not to take my recommendations!

Don’t forget about the ice!  Ice is water!  You need to know if the ice cubes are made from filtered water or tap water.  If tap water – stay away!  Personally, I don’t use ice at all when I am traveling, no matter where I am going.  The safe beverages are generally bottled water (that is sealed or opened in front of you), water that has been disinfected (boiled, filtered, treated), ice made with boiled or disinfected water, carbonated drinks, hot coffee or tea, and pasteurized milk.

Drinks to avoid include:

Tap or Well water (Don’t even brush your teeth with it if it is not treated!)

Ice made with tap or well water

Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juices or iced tea)

Open market drinks made with fresh fruit pulp

Flavored ice and popsicles

Unpasteurized milk

Personal hygiene cannot be understated here!  You hear it all of the time “wash your hands” – but do you do it?  You should wash your hands often and with soap whenever possible.  If soap is not available, make sure you clean your hands with sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.    Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth unless your hands are clean.  Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.

One other hint – if you have ever been on a flight and they give you a hot / warm towel before you eat or land – Don’t use that to wipe your face!!  Those towels can be a breeding ground for bacteria!  Use those towels to wipe your hands (but don’t touch your face!), and clean the tray table you will be using.

If you have any questions regarding health concerns in the area you are visiting, I encourage you to visit with your doctor to determine if you need any vaccinations or if following a few simple precautions will be all you need.  Most of the time, just following simple precautions is all you need to have a safe and healthy vacation experience!

Happy Travels!

Excellence Playa de Mujeres – a review

My Clients Services Administrator was kind enough to share her memories and give you a great overview of her recent experience at one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts in the Cancun area.

We visited The Excellence Resort – Playa de Mujeres for 5 days.   This resort is an all-inclusive Luxury/Adults Only resort in the beautiful Playa de Mujeres area, just 30 minutes from Cancun Airport and away from all the hustle and bustle.   The resort is chic and contemporary – beautifully decorated with lush colorful grounds.
     
Upon arrival we were warmly greeted with a fresh towel and a welcome cocktail. The staff is very professional and courteous.  Our room was ready so we were able to go there first and drop our luggage etc.  Lucky for us we were in the “Excellence Club” section which are the top of the line suites with private concierge, Excellence club lounge with snacks, beverages, additional amenities, rooms with in room Jacuzzi, premium mini bar, separate in-room and balcony seating areas for plenty of space.  Our room was on the second floor overlooking one of the 7 pools. Gorgeous and peaceful.

We decided to check out some lunch choices – there are lots of different flavors to enjoy.  Breakfast and lunch are available at 3 of the Restaurants, Toscana serves a Breakfast buffet, The Lobster house and The Grill offer many selections of seafood, salads etc. for lunch.
There are lots more choices for dinner incuding, Italian, Habachi, Indian, Mediterranaen,Mexican,French, Tapas and more.   All Dining is included in the All Inclusive pricing, no upgrades or additional costs.   Reservations are only required at the Hibachi restaurant.
                
I wish we had more time there to try all the restaurants, but we managed to fit in as much dining as possible !!!!
We went exploring the next day and decided to take it easy down at the beach.  The beach was lovely, it was paradise with luxury lounge chairs and beds, under shaded grass umberellas.  Staff came around continously to freshen drinks and take care of any other requests you had.  We were spoiled..!!! In addition, they also had live music and lunch buffet at the Beach bar.  Later we relaxed at one of our quite pools in these Hammocks !! (Still dreaming about the Hammocks)
     
Every evening they had amazing entertainment at their covered Ampitheater, we saw a circus aerial type act, Michael Jackson impersonator (really good) Spanish Flamenco show and many more – they really did a wonderful job with the entertainment choices.  One night they set up a Mexican Fiesta with buffet, local music etc.  For the men, they also had a large Sports Bar with many Big Screens showing the highlights.
The Mille Spa on the property was out of this world, world class massages and other spa services were also available.   These services were an additional fee, but well worth it.  There was also a complete Hydrotherapy section – which was included in any other service you purchased – now that was a treat.
This year we relaxed more and only booked one shore excursion.
We did a Catamaran boat trip to Isla de Mujeres including a snorkeling trip on the way.  We saw some Mayan ruins, beautiful reefs and so much sealife.  We had a couple of hours on the Island to eat lunch and shop.  The restaurants were right on the island where we had fresh catch of the day and delicous fresh seafood varieties.  The shopping area was quite the bargaining adventure – lots of fun to be had there.  Silver is very popular on this island and you can get some great bargains.
         
Overall everything was wonderful, the customer service, amenities, food ….. all fantastic.   As you know Kelley, last year we stayed at The Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso in Riviera Maya and so we had something to compare this trip to.  This resort was a little more upbeat with younger couples, wedding parties etc.  We loved Excellence, it was more social with lots of entertainment and it seemed more guests.  I would absolutely return to both locations again.
Until next year ………………..Emer
Thanks Emer for taking the time to share your vacation memories with us!
Happy Travels!
       

Are you a Smart Traveler ??

When it comes to your vacation experiences, are you a Smart Traveler?

                                       SMART TRAVELER 

Smart Traveler, the official State Department app for U.S. travelers, invites you to see the world with easy access to frequently updated official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more.
With Smart Traveler, you can create personal itineraries, add notes, and organize your trips.
Smart Traveler also provides access to the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Free STEP enrollment enables the State Department to better assist you in emergencies such as natural disasters, unrest in foreign countries, or lost/stolen passports overseas. During your travels, STEP can help family and friends reach you in an emergency.
Smart Traveler also provides quick access to the Department’s Consular Affairs Facebook and Twitter pages. And for a bit of fun, you can shake your device to get information on a random country!
Application is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for iPhone and Android devices 
(search term: Smart Traveler).
Link to create account on state.gov website = https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/Common/CreateAccountStart.aspx
I highly recommend that anyone traveling outside of the USA become a Smart Traveler!
Kelley
Happy Travels!
       

Credit and Debit can make a difference in travel !

Do you know the difference between a credit card and a debit card with a credit card symbol (V or MC) on it?  Often times, I find many of my clients don’t really understand the fine differences between the 2 of them.  This can lead to some challenges during your travel if you are not fully informed.  I certainly recommend you to check with your bank and credit card company for specifics, but I thought I would share a brief over view of some of the differences for you.
Credit and Debit cards with credit card symbols have many similarities, such as they are all accepted at the same locations and offer great convenience.  However, there is one fundamental difference between the two types of cards that can impact you greatly.  The biggest difference is where the card pulls the money.
A credit card is charging it against your line of credit with your credit card company, as long as you have available credit, you can make the charge.  Depending on your billing cycle you may have up to a month to pay the bill and may have the option of paying a minimum amount each month.
A debit card is pulling the money directly from your checking account when you make the purchase. They do this by placing a hold on the amount of the purchase. Then the merchant sends in the transaction to their bank and it is transferred to the merchants account. It can take a few days for this to happen, and the hold may drop off before the transaction goes through. The hold can also extend past the date of the transaction!   For this reason, it is important to keep a running balance of your checking account to make sure you do not accidentally overdraw your account. It is possible to do that with a debit card.  There are some other points of consideration when using a debit card for your travel expenses both when booking your travel and when traveling.
Many debit cards have a daily spending limit.  Yes, I know, it can be “run as a credit card”; however, many of them are still subject to the daily spending limits.  I run in to this daily with clients! They will have a deposit due of $500 and they only have a daily spending limit of $300; or they have a final payment due of $3500 and have a daily spending limit of $1000.  It doesn’t matter how much money you have in the bank, if the card has a daily spending limit, it won’t confirm the transaction.  With most banks you can call them, give the amount, and the merchant name and they will extend the limit for the business day.  While I personally always process the payments with a couple of days or more to spare (for this and other reasons), if you have waited until the last minute, this can be problematic.
When it comes to fraud, while they both offer fraud protection, they do not handle it in the same way.  Remember, your debit card is tied directly to your checking (or savings) account and has a higher fraud liability.  If someone steals your card or the number, they can drain funds in relatively short order.  Investigating this damage takes time. The longer you wait to report the fraud, the more likely you will be held liable for your own losses.  If you choose to use a debit card when traveling and will be on an extended length trip, please make sure you have access to secure internet service (not a public wifi!!) to monitor any activity on your checking or savings account.
Also, many bank debit cards cannot be used outside of the US.  You should check on this prior to travel!  This will be very important to know.  Debit cards are actually a great way (in all honesty, the best way) to obtain foreign currency from local ATM machines, but it will not help if your card is restricted from making international transactions.  This is most common with smaller local banks.  Credit cards on the other hand are not a good way to get foreign currency when traveling.  If you use a credit card in a foreign ATM, it is often considered a “cash advance” and your interest may start accumulating right at the time of the transaction.
Finally, the dreaded “hold” on the account.  When you are traveling, the holds can be extended for a good amount of time.  I know one cruise line that will put a hold on debit cards for up to 3 weeks after travel.  Depending on your financial circumstances and what other transactions you have automatically withdrawn from your account, this can be problematic.
When traveling, regardless of credit or debit, when you board a ship, or check in to a resort, you will need to have a credit / debit card in your name.  You will not be able to use someone else’s card unless that person is rooming with you or with you on the trip and will provide financial authorization for this to be done at check in.
Another point is your PIN number for both debit and credit cards.  Yes, credit cards have PIN numbers as well.  If you are traveling in Europe, I highly recommend that you find out your credit card PIN before travel.  You may need it to complete any purchases.  These can often only be mailed to you, so please don’t wait until the last minute!  Always make sure to contact your credit card and bank prior to travel outside of the US.  You need to alert them so they don’t put any fraud alerts on your account for valid purchases you may try to make.  I speak from experience when I tell you it is less than convenient to try and call your bank or credit card company from another country to resolve issues.
Both credit cards and debit card have distinct advantages and disadvantages when it comes to travel.  The choice of which you use is your personal decision to make.  I only ask that you know the differences so you are well prepared and don’t run in to any issues while trying to enjoy your travel experience.
Happy Travels!
Kelley

Don’t waste your money !!!

As a Couples Travel Concierge I am often asked “why should I use a travel agent?” Although I could give a list of 100 reasons off the top of my head, it all boils down to this – don’t waste your time or money!

The famous Warren Buffet quote “Price is what you pay, Value is what you get”. As a professional travel concierge, my goal is to help you find the best value for your vacation dollar. Price and value are not always (and sometimes not at all) the same! We all know what price is… it is the amount you pay for a given item, service, or in this case, vacation. Value is another matter entirely. You might say that as your travel concierge I act as your value interpreter.
Value, what is it to you? For some people, value is time and time is money. For some people value is convenience. For some people value is knowledge and expertise. As a professional travel concierge I work with only the best vacation providers to insure that you have a seamless and flawless vacation experience from start to finish thus providing you with time, convenience, my knowledge and expertise.
I’m often asked “are you more expensive than the internet?” That depends, are you talking about price, or value? Most often my clients will find my prices are very competitive; however, admittedly, sometimes my prices may not be less than “the internet” – but the value I bring is considerably more than that.
Do you have the time to research the endless options for your vacation? Do you have the time to deal with things if something goes awry? How convenient is it for you when there is a schedule change and you are notified? How convenient is it for you if you don’t know the documentation requirements and you show up without the correct documents?
Some people think booking on the internet is the way to book travel. If you decide to book “on the internet”, wouldn’t it be interesting to find out if the internet has ever been to where you want to go? Does the internet answer the phone on the weekends or at night if you have a travel emergency? Perhaps you decide to book with an online agency that has a call center. Often times the call center employees (note: they are usually not travel agents) have never traveled to your destination and only knows what “the internet” tells them. Not to mention, have you ever tried to reach an “online agency” from another country? Rarely do they have international phone support and it can be quite difficult to email the help desk if you are in the midst of a storm with no power.
Obviously, the choice is yours. When it’s my money, I opt for value over price every day.

 

Happy Travels

 

Kelley

When Irish eyes are smiling !!!

Can you believe that it is March ????!!!! The year is absolutely flying. We celebrate St.Patrick’s day in March and in honor of that, I wanted to do a newsletter about The Emerald Isle !!!! My Colleague Emer, who incidentally is from Ireland traveled there in the Fall and I asked her to share some of the highlights and insights from her trip. So here’s some information from Ireland direct from the source !!!!
Thanks Kelley, Last year I had the opportunity to visit Ireland as a tourist with some friends. Returning as a tourist gave me a fresh new perspective and I was very impressed.

Ireland is a unique and fun-filled country with breathtaking scenery, charming people, and attractions that are legendary. The Irish are widely considered to be some of the friendliest folks in all of Europe. Upon your arrival, you will soon understand why Ireland has been such an inspiration for poetry, theatre, music, arts, and of course – adult beverages!

Ireland is easily accessible via most major air carriers from the US. You can be on a guided tour or travel independently; both will provide you with an excellent experience in Ireland. The accommodations range from bed and breakfasts to castles!

Our first stop when we arrived, was Bunratty Castle in County Clare which is just a few miles from Shannon Airport. We stayed at the Bunratty Castle Hotel on the same grounds as the original castle, a folk park and the famous “Durty Nellys” Pub which is well known Worldwide for fun, food, live music and they boast the best Irish Coffee around.

food              IMG_3486

BUNRATTY CASTLE CO. CLARE                

The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking trading camp in 970. The present structure is the last of four castles to be built on the site. Join the Earl of Thomond for a glorious banquet at this majestic 15th century Bunratty Castle. The Earl’s Butler welcomes guests from the four corners of the world toasting an era of great Irish taste with excellent food, fine wine and honey mead. When you visit Bunratty Folk Park you experience a living reconstruction of the homes and environment of Ireland of over a century ago. Set on 26 acres, the impressive park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting.

Blarney   blarney     Adare
BLARNEY CASTLE                                       ADARE MANOR

Some of the cultural highlights from the first leg of our trip were Blarney Castle – where we did actually kiss the Blarney stone!. We also traveled to Adare Manor and Golf resort in Limerick which is astoundingly beautiful. (seen above)

We were driving ourselves and so we decided to go west, south and then back accross to the east coast and last stop in Dublin. The towns and attractions we visited were as follows: The Dingle Peninsula on the Coast of Kerry which was breathtakingly beautiful and quaint. We stayed in the Dingle Skellig Hotel which boasted the most wonderful views and delicous food.

dingle       Coastline     Dingle        

DINGLE   PENINSULA                         WEST COAST VIEWS

We then traveled to Kinsale Harbor in County Cork, and again were overwhelmed by the beauty of this little harbor town. The fresh fish and seafood there was out of this world. There was a “bohemian” feel to this area with many different types of food and entertainment. We also went and visited the “Irish Redhead convention” in Crosshaven, County Cork.
Kinsale1                  Crosshaven

KINSALE HARBOR                          CROSSHAVEN CO. CORK        

In addition to the beautiful scenery, we also experienced many cultural events and delicous traditional food. Our last stop was Dublin city which is the bustling capitol and also where I am originally from. We stayed right in the heart of the city in the St.Stephen’s Green/Grafton Street area. This area also boasts Trinity College and many other landmarks. There are wonderful stores to shop in and it is a treat to walk down Grafton street, listen to some street performers and shop to your heart’s delight.
Ireland is famous for Waterford Crystal, traditional Irish wool sweaters and many other treats and delicacies. We visited Bewleys coffee house on Grafton Street, which is a landmark and was estblished in 1840. We toured famous St.Patrick’s Cathedral, had an Irish coffee in “The Brazen Head” which is officially Ireland’s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. We also did the tour of the Guinness Brewery which is truly a treat and I would recommend to anyone.

Grafton Street                   Guinness.

GRAFTON STREET-DUBLIN                     GUINNESS BREWERY TOUR

The only regret I had was that we didn’t have enough time to see all that Ireland has to offer.   So now I’ll say Slan Leat (Goodbye) and Slainte (to your good health!)

Ireland has so much more to offer than what I can possibly cover in this small space. I encourage you to seriously consider Ireland for your next or bucket list destination.

 

Kelley