Happy travels.
Kelley
Happy travels.
Kelley
Happy travels.
Kelley
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? 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
Happy Travels!
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!
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!
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.