Did you think of this ??

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It’s hardjpeg to think of everything when you are packing for a vacation. I always seem to get there and think “I wish I had thought to bring ….” It’s not that we “forget” to pack things, sometimes we just don’t think of things. Sometimes it isn’t “packing” it’s just “things” related to travel you may not think about – until you need or want it of course! I thought it would be fun this week to do a “Did you think of this?” list for you. Did you think of this for packing?

Rolling your clothes – Rolling clothes before putting them in your suitcase will help prevent wrinkles and it will also take up less space. I have rolled my clothes for years and you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. If you just can’t bear the thought of rolling all of your clothes, or you really love to iron during your vacation, at least roll 1 outfit and put it in your carry-on with you! This way you won’ t have to go to dinner when you arrive in your destination in wrinkled clothes, or to dinner the first night of a cruise in wrinkled clothes because you did not have time to iron before the early seating.
Downey Wrinkle Release – Do you see a pattern here? I hate to iron anytime, but especially on vacation! You can buy a travel size bottle of this in the trial section of your local drug store or Walmart. Not only does it help with wrinkles, it can help with keeping your clothes smelling fresh after you unpack them, especially if your suitcase was left in the rain on the tarmac at the airport. Yes, that has happened to me.
Dryer Sheets – I know there are some of you that will insist on folding and ironing. That’s okay… put a dryer sheet in each suitcase to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Ziploc Bags – Bringing a few Ziploc bags on vacation takes up no space and will serve you well. If you are on a cruise you can use them when going on shore excursions so you can keep water and sand away from your phone, camera, cash, passport etc. If you are staying at a beach resort you can use them at the beach to keep sand and water at bay. A gallon Ziploc bag comes in handy for throwing your flip flops or water shoes in to keep any residual sand out of your suitcase. You can also use Ziploc bags for make-shift vacuum packing. Place clothing items in the bag (works especially well with swim suits, underwear, socks, and workout clothes), compress the bag (I have been known to sit on it!), and Ziploc the bag. Presto! Compressed packing equals more room in the suitcase. I always carry quart and gallon size bags.
Pill Containers aren’t just for pills. You can use them to organize earrings or smaller rings. They are also great for keeping fine chains untangled if you don’t want to bring your jewelry boxes or pouches.
Surge Protectors with USB outlets, or Multi Chargers with USB outlets – I have never seen a resort room with enough outlets and in a cruise ship cabin – you are lucky if there is more than one even accessible to you! Who doesn’t travel with more than just one electronic that needs to be charged or plugged in these days? There are some very simple ones and some very fancy ones that have plugs that rotate 360 degrees. All that really matters is that they are small, compact, and will be extremely useful!
Portable USB Chargers will charge your phone just when you need it. Remember, phones aren’t just for calling anymore; they are cameras, photo albums, or gaming centers for some people. For example, when you are sitting in the airport waiting on that delayed flight, or waiting for embarkation or disembarkation of your cruise ship, on that boring transfer ride to your resort while you stop at 3 others if you didn’t take my advice to upgrade your transfers, you can power up your device and have at it!
Travel Size Hand Sanitizer comes in very handy when you are out exploring your destination or on a cruise ship excursion. Let’s face it, not all people have the same idea of personal hygiene that we do! It’s also likely you could be at a crowded resort or attraction and there is no convenient place to wash your hands, or there is no soap available. I’m not suggesting this take the place of good ole fashioned hand washing, but simply suggesting it in a pinch.
Hopefully a couple of these ideas will be helpful on your future vacation experiences!

Happy Travels,

Where can you go ??

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A couple of weeks ago I participated in a bridal show; one question that came up frequently throughout the day is where can I go for my honeymoon if we don’t have passports?  I also get this question quite often from other travelers as well.  Not everyone wants or can get a passport; some people just don’t plan their travel far enough ahead to get a passport or consider their passport expiration dates (you know who you are!).
The good news is there are some really great destinations outside of the mainland US that you can visit without passports!  There can be a slight downside to this as well – all-inclusive resorts will not be prevalent in these destinations, they will be very few if any.  This is not a bad thing, but something to consider when doing your budget for your vacation experience.  Let’s take a look at your options!
Hawaii is always a fantastic vacation destination!  Each island has its own distinct personality so we can really customize your vacation to the type of experience you are looking for.  You can visit one island or multiple; if you have longer than 5 days, I highly recommend visiting at least 2 islands to really get a great experience.  One thing to remember, the flights home are very often over night flights, you will need to keep this in mind when planning your travel dates.
Puerto Rico is another great option that does not require a passport.  Puerto Rico is the perfect blend of colonial Spanish culture, amazing natural beauty and contemporary lifestyles. You can visit historic Old San Juan, awe-inspiring rainforests, coffee plantations and rum distilleries to explore as well.  Explore endless stretches of beautiful beaches where you can snorkel, sail, fish and surf.
The US Virgin Islands offer a tropical vacation option for you with no passport required.  The US Virgin Islands consist of St Thomas, St John, and St Croix.  St. Thomas offers a variety of attractions, beaches and activities.  Water sports, tennis, restaurants and nightlife are very popular.  The capital city, Charlotte Amalie, is a major port of call for duty-free shopping.  St John is just off shore from St Thomas and is a nature lover’s paradise since much of the island is a national park.  Most guests fly in and out of St Thomas and take the ferry over to St. John.  St. Croix is the largest of the US Virgin islands, but in many ways the most unspoiled of them all.  You can explore the beaches, the Old Danish Towns or check out the national parks. I would be remiss if I did not caution you about traveling to the US Virgin Islands without a passport.  Please remember, many of the neighboring islands are considered foreign nations so you will not be able to visit them without passports.
While traveling the world and getting your passport booked stamped until it is full is always a great plan, traveling without a passport can be an awesome experience as well!
Happy Travels,

Kelley

 

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 your travel documentation ??

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Do you have your travel documentation?  jpeg

Any time you are planning travel, you need to make sure you have or are prepared to obtain proper travel documentation.  First things first, do you know what the proper travel documentation is for your travel? This answer can vary based on the type of travel and your specific circumstances.  There are a variety of travel documents to consider such as Passports, Visas, and Unaccompanied Minor forms.  Legal status may also have an effect on your travel documentation.

When it comes to passports and flying in and out of the US, the rule is simple.  You must have a passport book.  Passport cards are not valid for international air travel.

 I am often asked, “Do I have to have a passport for my cruise?”  There isn’t really a simple answer to this question.  My recommendation, and that of any reputable travel professional or organization, is always YES!  However, technically speaking, there could be a slightly different answer.

Let’s look at the easy scenarios first.  If your cruise departs out of any foreign port of call such as Canada, England, Europe, etc. then yes, you must have a passport.  (Remember, you need a passport to get to the departure city.)  If your cruise departs out of one US port and returns to a different US port, then yes, you must have a passport.

Now here is where it can be tricky, if your cruise departs and returns from the same US port, and you are a US citizen, although highly recommended, you may not be required to have a passport.  The department of Homeland Security has a policy that exempts passengers on a “closed loop” cruise from the passport requirement.  According to the department of homeland security, as shown on their website, a closed loop cruise is defined as a voyage or itinerary where a vessel departs from a U.S. port or place and returns to the same U.S. port upon completion of the voyage. They go on to further state that travelers on “closed loop” voyages are not subject to the same documentary requirements for entry to the United States as other travelers.

Having said that, most travel professionals and organizations agree while it may not be required, it is strongly recommended that you have a passport for any travel that involves leaving the United States.  There are many reasons for this.  Did you know that your birth certificate, even a certified copy, is not really proof of citizenship?  It does indeed prove you were born, but offers no current proof of your citizenship status.  Without being able to prove you are a US citizen, it is almost impossible to get back in this country if for some reason you aren’t coming back the same way you left!  For example, if there is some sort of family emergency while you are traveling, without a passport you would not be allowed to fly back to the US from any other country.  If you personally experience any sort of unforeseen circumstance or emergency while traveling and you need to return to the US via crossing a land border or flight, you will not be allowed to do so without a passport.  In this day and age, it is never a good idea to leave the US without a passport and proof of citizenship.   Many travel professionals are now requiring any passengers that opt to travel without a passport to sign a waiver stating that they understand they are leaving the country without a passport and they accept that risk and responsibility.

While we are on the subject of passports, please do yourself a favor and get a passport book, not the passport card.  The passport cards are not valid for air travel.  As per the US department of state:   The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.  The passport card will not do you any good if you need to fly home in the event of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance.  Yes, passport cards are less expensive, but passport books are good for 10 years and when you do the math, very cost effective.  Plus with a passport book, you are ready to go at a moment’s notice regardless of where and how you are traveling.

If you don’t already have a passport, there is no time like the present to go and get one!

Another important topic for travel documentation is Visas; many countries require them.  The need for a Visa is determined by your country of citizenship, and the country you are visiting.  There is a very specific process and time frame for obtaining your travel visas.

Unaccompanied Minor documentation is also important to understand.  Any time a minor child is leaving the US without BOTH parents (regardless of marital status or custody arrangements), specific documentation is required.

Legal status is also something to be taken seriously before you book your travel or before travel departure.  Just because you have a date valid passport that does not mean your passport is valid for travel to all countries.  Our legal system here in the US makes significant differentiation between misdemeanor offenses and felony offenses.  This is not the case in all countries.  Just because you have a passport does not mean you are eligible to enter another country.  There are too many scenarios to cover here, but some of the biggest issues come in to play with DUI, DWI, back-child support, and other crimes.

When you book your vacation with me, I make sure you understand all of the documentation required for your travel.  I always recommend having a valid passport on hand so you can book that much needed vacation at a moment’s notice!

Happy Travels,

Are you ready for Europe ??

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When are you going to Europe?

EuroDid you know that the Euro (€) is at a 9 year low against the US Dollar? What that means for you, is that your dollar will go further in Europe! Earlier this week, the Euro was at 1.17, in other words $1.17=1€. I can remember one of my trips when the Euro was at $1.47. To help put that in perspective for you, let’s look at a shopping scenario for you. If you are in Europe and find an item for 100€, with an exchange rate of 1.17 the item will cost you $117. However, with the higher exchange rate of 1.47, that same item will cost you $147. Which would you rather pay? I know I would much rather pay $117!
The Euro is the second most traded currency in the world after the US dollar. There are 19 of the 28 countries in the European Union that use the Euro as their official, primary, or only currency. Those countries are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Also, some of the overseas territories of European Union members use the Euro as their official, primary, or only currency. (For example, on the French side of St. Martin in the Caribbean the Euro is the official currency.)
Something else to consider along with the exchange rate in Europe is how to get cash exchanged when you are in Europe. To get cash, the best exchange rate will be found using your bank / debit card at an ATM machine in Europe. Of course you need to check with you bank before leaving to see which banking machine system your card is compatible with. The ATM machines will charge you a fee for the exchange, but depending on your bank and the bank you are using in Europe, those fees are much lower than using a currency exchange booth at the airport, and most times lower than the fees for pre-purchasing your currency. Please avoid the currency exchange booths if at all possible; the fees are exorbitant most of the time. If you must use them upon arrival because you need it for taxi fare, or you find your card won’t work, only get the bare minimum you need until you can get to an ATM machine or contact your bank. Another option, but one I don’t recommend, is to use your credit card and get a cash advance at a bank. With credit cards, the interest on a cash advance often starts the day you take out the advance, not on the billing cycle date. In addition to that, there is also a fee to do the transaction.

 

Using credit cards in Europe also deserves your attention and fore thought before traveling. For your credit card purchases, you will want to check with your credit card company ahead of time and make sure your card can be used in Europe. Many places in Europe have gone to chip technology with their credit card processing; it is recommended that you have a credit card with a chip. Also, as a note, the most widely accepted cards in Europe are Visa and MasterCard. American Express is not as widely accepted, and Discover Card is rarely (almost never!) accepted. Another thing to consider with your credit cards is the foreign transaction fees. You may want to consider obtaining a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees.

 

As always, regardless of where you travel, always alert your bank and credit card companies what countries you will be visiting and the dates you will be traveling. It is always the recommendation to use credit cards outside of the country and not debit cards.  Debit cards are a great convenience, but they are not credit card and do not have the same policies when it comes to fraud protection. Many debit cards are not even able to be used outside of the US. Prepaid credit cards are never a good idea outside of the US either; the vast majority of them cannot be used outside of the US.

 

Have you always wanted to visit Europe? Now is a great time! If you can’t visit now, but plan to in the relatively near future (approximately 1 year), you can always look at purchasing Euro’s now to use on your trip later. Now is the time to think about that trip to Italy you have always wanted to take, or maybe you have always dreamed a visit to France, Spain, Germany, or Ireland. Where ever your dream takes you, we can make that dream a reality!

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?

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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!

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!

Is your Passport valid ??

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

Is your passport valid?  jpeg

For a passport to be valid, there is more involved than just the actual expiration date.  Let’s take a look at a couple of additional requirements that can determine the validity if a passport.

Many countries require your passport to be good for at least 6 months past the date of travel.  While some countries may be less than that, the general stated recommendations are 6 months past the date of travel.  This is noted on every one of my invoices that go to clients been booking a trip.  Yes, it is important to read the fine print!   When considering international travel, please check your passports to make sure they are not expired and meet the 6 month requirement.  If your passport is not expired, but you will not meet the 6 months, you can renew your passport early.  The general recommendation from the Department of State is to renew your passport 9 months early.  While many people do not do this, you can renew as early as 9 months prior.

Passports must also be free of significant damage to be considered valid for travel.  If the book cover or picture page is significantly damaged, you will need to apply for a new passport.  As stated on the Department of State’s website about passport information “Conditions that may constitute damage requiring you to replace your passport include water damage, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages (torn out), a hole punch, or other injuries.”    If your cover is separating from the book, this is also considered significant damage.   Normal wear and tear is expected for passports.  If the book bends because it was in your back pocket, or the pages start to fan because the book is open and closed so much, these are signs of normal wear and tear.

Passports must also have a certain number of blank visa pages to be considered valid for travel.   Visa pages are the pages in your passport book that get stamped during the immigration process.   The requirements can vary by country, two to four pages is the general recommendation.  This is important to note in the event you are doing a long multiple country trip and will get multiple stamps on your journey.  During the planning process, or once your travel is booked, you need to look closely and make sure you have enough blank pages.  If you do not, you can order additional pages.   You will have to submit your passport book for them to add the additional pages. Also, you can now request larger passport books that have 52 pages instead of the standard 28 pages.  This is generally recommended only for the very frequent traveler or business travelers that have a high percentage of international travel.

I hope this has even informative and has inspired you to go check your passports!  Trust me, you don’t want that surprise at the airport when you are informed you cannot travel because your passport is not valid.

Another question I often receive is about name changes on passports.  All travel must be booked in the name as it appears on your passport.  If you need to change the name on your passport, there are 2 options.  If you are changing it due to marriage or divorce, you can make the change within 1 year with no fee.  There is a specific form (DS-5504) for this submission.  For any other reason, or outside of one year, you will need to submit the standard application form (DS-82 – Application for Passport by Mail) and pay all associated fees.

If you have any questions about passports, an excellent resource for you is www.travel.state.gov.

Happy Travels,

 

Are you ready to Getaway ???

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Are you ready to Getaway?

 

If so, I highly recommend the Norwegian Getaway! This ship is amazing and impressive on so many levels. The staff is absolutely fantastic! I found them to be among some of the most engaged and caring staff members I have ever encountered. The food was outstanding!  We ate at a few of the specialty dining restaurants as well as most of the complimentary ones; each of them had great food and service. While the specialty dining restaurants definitely raise the bar, the complimentary restaurants are some of the best we have experienced on cruise ships. The entertainment was first rate, and there were entertainment options for all ages. While it will be impossible to give a fully detailed review here, I will hit some of the high points of the ship for you. If you want to see some of the pictures from our Norwegian Getaway experience, check out the photo album on my Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/1s53iwl

The Norwegian Getaway takes dining over the top! There are 28 different dining experiences onboard the Getaway! I’m happy to report that I tried many of them! Among the options are 8 complimentary dining rooms (2 of which are reserved for Haven Suite guests),10 specialty dining venues with cover charges ranging from $15-$39 per person and 4 dining options just for treats such as bakery items, gelato, and pizza. It seems no matter where you turn on this ship; there is an opportunity for fabulous food! Whether you are in the mood for French, Italian, Sushi, A noodle bar, A Brazilian Churrascaria, pizza, burgers, or pub food, the Norwegian Getaway can accommodate! Room Service is available 24 hours a day, although it is a limited menu. O’Sheehan’s Pub is open 24 hours so you can get your favorite beer or pub food any time! A couple of my favorites are Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian (yes, Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian) and LeBistro. Ocean Blue is one of the specialty dining venues; it features seafood and it is outstanding! LeBistro is also a specialty dining venue with French cuisine at its finest, including the chocolate fondue for dessert!

If you want to live the suite life on your Getaway, you must stay in the Haven. The Haven is an exclusive area for the suites and is really a great experience. It is like a ship within a ship!

The Norwegian Getaway has an interesting waterfront experience. Stroll along a revolutionary, quarter-mile oceanfront walkway lined with shops, restaurants and bars. We really enjoyed this area! The Getaway also has some interesting bar and lounge experiences throughout the ship. One of the most popular is the Ice Bar. The Ice Bar is kept at 17 degrees Fahrenheit, and has ice sculptures and a life size alligator throne made completely of ice! They provide you with a hooded coat and gloves and limit you to 30 minutes. Even with the coat and gloves, we did not make it 30 minutes! Not being a fan of the cold, I was ready to leave after about 15 or 20 minutes!

Entertainment is top notch on the Norwegian Getaway. We really enjoyed a couple of the musicals they feature on board. We experienced Wine Lovers The Musical in the Illusionarium venue. If you love comedy and wine, this is a must for you! I even found a wine I liked! We also enjoyed the seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical Legally Blonde. Every sailing has fireworks at sea! Howl at the Moon is the live dueling piano bar, and it was highly entertaining and fun.

The Grammy Experience is both a Grammy museum during the day and a music experience with live Grammy jazz or R&B winners or nominees at night. The Levity Entertainment group provides the stand-up comedy in the Headliners lounge with 12 shows on a 7 night sailing. It is not to be missed if you enjoy live comedy! The Illusionarium offers a magnificent show featuring world-class magicians performing while you enjoy dinner. Burn the Floor is a 45 minute non-stop dance production based on the world renowned Broadway show. Of course I can’t forget about the Nickelodeon characters onboard the ship! There are many opportunities for meets and greets with the characters and even a Nickelodeon Pajama Jam for the younger kids. We saw Dora, Diego, SpongeBob Square Pants, and Patrick multiple times throughout the week.

Aside from the entertainment, there are certainly enough activities to occupy your time throughout the week. Do you like the water? They have an Aqua Park that has 5 multi-story water slides! There are 2 swimming pools and 4 hot tubs as well. They also have a pirate themed kid’s themed aqua park complete with SpongeBob Square Pants and friends! Do you like a little more adventure? Check out the sports complex onboard the Norwegian Getaway! You can experience the largest ropes course at sea; you can walk the plank, or climb the rock wall. There is a 9-hole miniature golf course, basketball courts, and more.

Of course my idea of activity involves the spa, and Norwegian Getaway does not disappoint! I love the thermal suite with the vitality pool, the dry sauna, and the spa salt room. They have over 50 different spa treatments to choose from, and yes, I did experience a spa treatment. The spa is also home to the Fitness Center, featuring free weights, TRX training, the latest cardio equipment and a schedule full of classes. Sadly, I had to miss out on the boot camp training this trip because my shoulder is still recovering.

It’s impossible to cover everything we did and keep this review to an article as opposed to a book! In summary, I can honestly say I would recommend this ship to almost anyone!

Please remember to check out my pictures at http://on.fb.me/1s53iwl and contact me when you are ready to plan your Norwegian Getaway!

Happy Travels!