Do you have dreams in your future ??

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Do you have Dreams in your future?  jpeg
Dreams Resorts & Spas are located throughout Mexico (7), Dominican Republic (3), and soon Costa Rica & St. Thomas.  Dreams Resorts & Spas provide luxury in fabulous tropical settings with a great value proposition for your vacation experience.  There are no wristbands required and no dinner reservations required.  Dreams Resorts & Spas are managed by AMResorts; a North American company catering to the North American clientele.  You will find familiar brands throughout the resort, not just in beverages, but in food as well.  All resorts feature 24 hour room service, world class spas, specialty themed restaurants, top shelf spirits, fun-filled daytime activities, Explorers Club for kids, activities for teens (some resorts now have the Core Zone specifically for teens), themed night-time activities, and entertainment.  Each resort has its own personality which is something I love.  They are not cookie cutter!

Dreams Sands Cancun just opened on September 1, 2014.  It is in the heart of the Cancun Hotel Zone and very convenient to the airport.  Personally, I think the beach is small, but it is a very nice beach!  The view as you walk in to the resort lobby is amazing!

Dreams Riviera Cancun is about 30 minutes from the airport and is ideally situation for both Cancun and Playa del Carmen.  This is a great resort for everyone!  The resort features unique octagonal shaped rooms and suites, and most of the ground floor suites have private plunge pools!  Fabulous resort for Destination Weddings, group travel, families, couples, and singles!

Dreams Tulum is one of my favorite resorts!  Apparently I am not alone because this is where they filmed Bachelor in Paradise!  This resort has 44 acres of lush gardens and a beautiful stretch of beach.  There isn’t another resort for miles so you virtually have a private beach!  This resort features a new adult only section making this a great option for honeymoons and romance travel!  This resort has something for everyone; singles, couples, families and groups!

Dreams Puerto Aventuras is situated in the charming village of Puerto Aventuras.  The drive in to the resort is fabulous with all of the marina homes and yachts along the canal.  This resort has an onsite dolphinarium with dolphins and manatees.  There is also a PADI Gold Palm certified dive center on premises.  This resort is great for everyone!  The wedding gazebo is so cool at this resort!  This resort is ideal for Destination Weddings or family vacations.

Dreams Huatulco is on the Pacific coast of Mexico, down in the southwest corner of the country.  Hualtuco has 34 pristine beaches and 9 bays!  This luxurious resort, located on Tangolunda Bay is ideal for families, couples and friends. The resort is minutes away from waterfalls, lagoons, lush tropical jungle, and traditional Mexican towns.

Dreams Los Cabos is an all-suite AAA 4 diamond resort on the Sea of Cortez.  It is located 15 minutes from Cabo San Lucas & San Jose Del Cabo.  This resort embraces the elegance of traditional Mexican design!  All suites have a view of the Sea of Cortez and are generously sized.  This resort is also ideal for golfers as it located near 8 championship courses.

Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta is an all-suite resort outside of Puerto Vallarta with specatular views of Banderas Bay and the Sierra Madre Mountains.  This resort has exterior jacuzzi’s on every terrace; imagine sitting in your Jacuzzi watching the fabulous view of the bay or mountains in the evening.

Dreams Punta Cana  is in a secluded lush tropical paradise about 40 minutes from the airport on Uvero Beach.  This resort has one of the largest free-form swimming pools in the Dominican Republic.  The pool starts at the lobby and stretches all of the way to the beach, complete with waterfalls, a swim-up bar and venues throughout.  This resort is on a beautiful beach and offers a wide array of activities.

Dreams Palm Beach is conveniently located about 12 miles from the Punta Cana airport. This resort is located on the amazing Bavaro Beach!  This resort is somewhat spread out so bring your walking shoes and don’t be afraid to indulge in desserts!  This resort is great for families and couples.

Dreams La Romana is located on the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic outside of La Romana.  This resort is great for singles, couples, and families.  Plenty of daytime activities for all age ranges, casino onsite, golf nearby, and 10 restaurants to choose from.

Dreams La Mareas Costa Rica is coming in November 2014!  Located on sugar-white sand and surrounded by lush green mountains and jungles in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, guests of all ages enjoy an action–packed vacation featuring watersports, land activities, and swimming pools while sunbathing or laying under a thatched palapa.  This resort will be geared to families, couples, and friends.

Dreams Sugar Bay is scheduled to open on December 25, 2014; Merry Christmas St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands!  This will be an excellent option for those needing or wanting to travel to a US Virgin island without a passport!  This will be a great resort for singles, couples, families, and groups.

I hope this brief overview gives you a glimpse in to your future Dreams!

Happy Travels,

5 reasons you need an All-Inclusive Group Getaway!

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

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

 

  1. Better Value

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Happy Travels,

Did you insure ???

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This time of year brings a close to many of the summer activities, but in my world, it also brings the potential for storms that affect travel.  We are now in well in to hurricane season with the highest potential yet to come.   I always encourage everyone to get travel insurance because you just never know what is going to happen.  This week there are 2 hurricanes headed for the Hawaiian Islands, these are just not things you can anticipate!
The whole purpose of travel insurance is the same as any other insurance you may purchase, to protect you from unforeseeable events.   Unforeseeable events range from storms to medical emergencies.   Without discussing specific travel insurance policies, let’s take a look at some of the events that may affect your travel plans.
Storms:
Once a storm is named you cannot purchase insurance that will cover problems with your trip due to the storm. I hate it when I hear stories of vacations ruined due to a storm and people were traveling without insurance. If you’re going on the vacation you’ve always dreamed of, why would you risk all of your hard earned money by traveling without insurance?

Medical Emergency prior to travel:
It’s not just your medical emergency to consider, it could be someone else’s in your immediate family.  Do you have aging parents or grandparents?  Do you have children?  Do you have siblings?   My own personal story is that my dad became very ill and 5 days before a 3 week trip we had scheduled to Europe.  We were advised by physicians not to travel.  Had we not had travel insurance, it would have been a forfeit of all of our funds.  Just last week I had a client have to cancel due to a sudden unexpected death of a grandparent.  I had a groom have to reschedule a honeymoon due to a motorcycle accident.

Health insurance may not go the distance:
The majority of health insurance (including Medicare), worker’s compensation insurance, third-party and personal liability policies don’t cover international travel. Many employer based policies only provide medical coverage internationally when traveling on business, not personal travel.  If your insurance pays based on networks, there are very few international health care facilities that are considered “in network”.  In fact, a closer look at the inside of your passport will reveal that the government recommends travel insurance when traveling outside the United States.  (Check the “Important Information” page, #3)
Emergency medical evacuation may not be covered under traditional healthcare policies; if it is covered it may be at a very low limit.  $10,000 may sound like a lot of coverage, but the average medical evacuation is well over $30,000.
Trip Delay or Interruption:
Flights get delayed, flights cancel and luggage gets lost.  The airlines do not always provide compensation when you get stranded somewhere or if they “mishandle”.  Travel Insurance can be a real saver when it comes to the extra expenses incurred.  With proper documentation you can get reimbursed for hotel nights, meals, lost luggage, or even clothes to get you through until the luggage arrives.  It often takes 5 days for luggage to get reunited with its owner, if you are only on a 5 or 7 day vacation, this can be problematic.

We all experience tough economic times.
The loss of a job or other income might mean a trip planned in advance may have to wait. Travel insurance can help ease this burden.

I could go on and on with reasons and sad stories, but I won’t.  The bottom line is that life is unpredictable, things happen.  Peace of mind is priceless.  Please protect yourself and your vacation investment.  Not only will it give you peace of mind, it will give me peace of mind as well.  Trust me, you don’t want your travel concierge being cranky and worried about you!

Happy Travels!

Are you packed ??

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Are you packed?

Are you getting ready to go on a trip and wondering what to pack?   How do I make all that stuff fit in my suitcase and not go over 50 pounds?   What do I take to make my vacation easier and stress free?
Obviously, I have many tips of my own as I have traveled extensively for the last 18 years.  I also spoke with Angela Kubacek, owner of Haute Couture Boutiques in Navasota and Bryan, TX.
Between the two of us, we came up with some great ideas for you to think about.  Angela just recently returned from a mission trip to Honduras and some of her recommendations are based on her first hand experiences.

First, Angela recommends you carry a small over the shoulder or cross body purse that will hold the basics such as your passport (or ID if domestic travel), and money.  Keep your passport handy because when you are at the airport you will need it many times.  My recommendation here is a small cross-body bag that can be put inside your bigger carry-on tote so as not to exceed carry-on allowances.  Also, a cross-body bag will leave your hands free, which is always a plus not only in the airport but when touring in destination.


Next, Angela recommends you take basic tops and pants and dress them up.  A basic top can bedressed up with a scarf and the scarf can also be used as a shawl.  Try to pack with colors that will go together; two pair of pants and three shirts can all be changed around to make a different look.  Personally, I stick with solid color tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched.  I also recommend taking a jacket that can be used with everything you take.  I usually pick 2 or 3 core colors for the trip (you know me, one is always black!); this also helps cut down on the number of shoes you take.  Shoes take up space and add weight.  The fewer shoes you take, the more clothes you can take!  For example, all of my evening clothes revolve around the core color of black so only 1 pair of shoes required for the evenings.  One of my favorite color schemes for a week on the road is black, khaki, and red.  Here is an example of what I packed on a recent 8 day trip I took a pair of black pants, black Capri’s, khaki Capri’s, black and khaki shorts, and a khaki skort.  Those bottoms got me through days and evenings for an 8 day trip.

I wore the pants on the flight down and flight home; I alternated the Capri’s each evening, and the shorts or skort each day.  I did not take 16 tops!  I only took a few – all solid colors that were worn “plain” during the day, and dressed up in the evening with scarves or the jacket.  Tip – if you buy better fabrics (think wrinkle free, light weight) , as long as you don’t spill your red wine, you usually get more than 1 day wear out of your tops, especially tank tops or sleeveless shirts.  When it comes to shoes, try for no more than 3 pair!  Yes, you read that right, no more than 3 pair.  For me, that is my workout shoes, a casual pair that goes with everything and a dressy/casual pair that also goes with everything.  Remember your goal on vacation is to relax and enjoy, not be a fashionista!

Last, Angela says “Don’t forget the all-important Poo-Pourri!”   Have you heard of this fabulous product? Poo-Pourri is a blend of essential oils that virtually eliminates bathroom odors.   Poo-Pourri is not a chemical cover up; the formulas are based on aromatherapy principles.  A few squirts in to the bowl will prevent the odors from ever showing up in the first place.  I know, this sounds funny and many will say they don’t need it but trust me, if you are going on a trip with your new husband or a group of friends you will need your Poo-Pourri.

You can check out Angela’s stores in downtown Navasota, TX and downtown Bryan, TX.  Stop in to take advantage of grand opening specials this weekend!
Angela also has a Facebook page for each of her stores –
Navasota:   https://www.facebook.com/hautecoutureboutiquenavasota
Bryan:   https://www.facebook.com/hautecoutureboutique.
Check out the website at http://www.hautecoutureboutique.com.
Happy Travels,
Kelley

Are you Happy ??

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Are you happy? Travel is certainly something that can make you happy! Have you been to Aruba yet? If not, I highly recommend it! Aruba’s actual slogan is “One Happy Island”, and anyone who has visited this island knows this to be true.

 

 

Here are 5 facts about Aruba that may help you consider this as your next island destination:

  1. Aruba is one of the most re-visited islands in the Caribbean
  2. Aruba is outside of the hurricane belt making it a great year round destination
  3. Average year round temperature is 82°
  4. Aruba has the most sunny days of any of the Caribbean Islands
  5. Aruba has a booming culinary scene influenced by more than 92 nationalities (aka foodie’s paradise!)

 

Aruba is among the livelier, more developed islands in the Caribbean. Aruba has low- and high-rise resorts, great restaurants, and glitzy casinos lining the white-sand beaches and the downtown boulevard. You’ll find plenty of things to do on Aruba, too: sunbathing, world-class windsurfing and water-skiing by day, and discos, cabarets, dinner shows and high-stakes gambling at night.

Aruba is located just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela; Aruba is the farthest west of the Dutch Caribbean islands known as the ABCs (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). It is 19 miles long and 6 miles wide, and the land is mostly flat and arid with scattered fields of cacti and aloe plants. If you prefer lush rain-forest-type destinations, Aruba may not be your preference. It’s more like Arizona or New Mexico than Puerto Rico or St. Croix.

Aruba’s foremost attractions include beaches, shopping, casinos, water sports, excellent restaurants, high-energy nightlife and very friendly people. If you enjoy good beaches, ethnic food, gambling and quality shopping, Aruba is for you.

Except for the Arikok National Park Foundation (the largest national park in the Caribbean Islands), you won’t see an abundance of natural attractions in Aruba. Nor is Aruba covered in lush foliage. It’s about as close to a desert island as you’ll find in the Caribbean, with stands of cacti and aloe vera dotting the dusty terrain. In fact, Aruba is so dry; goats eat the cacti in search of something resembling leaves. Still, Aruba has one of the world’s most threatened tropical ecosystems—its mangrove forests.

Aruba is well known for its bent-over trees; I’m sure you’ve seen them in pictures. Those unusual-looking trees bent over by the wind are watapana (divi-divi) trees, and they make it impossible to get lost on Aruba. All of the trees are bent to the southwest, where the majority of the hotels and resorts are located.

Aruba has a wide range of accommodations ranging from deluxe high-rise properties located along Palm Beach to smaller, low-rise hotels and inns lined up along Eagle Beach. If you prefer to stay in town will want to make reservations at the upscale Renaissance, which has a private island reached by complimentary boat shuttle. Aruba is one of the destinations that I do not necessarily recommend an all-inclusive resort. As mentioned above, Aruba is a culinary mecca, I encourage you to get out of your resort and try the many great dining establishments!

 

Aruba is an easy destination for US Travelers in many ways. There is convenient flight access from most the major US Gateways, including season non-stop flights from Houston. While the official currency of Aruba is the Aruban Florian, the US Dollar is widely accepted throughout the island so no currency exchange is required. To change florins to US dollars, divide florin amount in half and add 10%. This formula will be especially useful when shopping in supermarkets. While Dutch is the official language, English is widely spoken on the island. Actually, most Arubans speak 4 languages!

 

Remember, Aruba is One Happy Island!

 

Happy Travels,

Have you heard about the changes from TSA and Carnival Cruise Lines?

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An important change came out from TSA with regards to air travel. 

The change impacts travelers coming back to the US from certain international airports.
The following press release came out last Sunday and is currently posted on the TSA website:

“Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.
As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers. During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.
TSA will continue to adjust security measures to ensure that travelers are guaranteed the highest levels of aviation security conducted as conveniently as possible.”

The list of airports has not been disclosed, so it is best to be prepared at any airport.  The list of electronic devices may include cell phones, tablets, eReaders, iPods, gaming devices and more.
If you are traveling with electronics, make sure they will power up at security so you do not risk confiscation!

Carnival Cruise Lines also made some important changes this last week.  
Carnival has updated both its smoking policy and the gratuity guidelines.   Both policies take effect on sailings October 9, 2014 and onwards, regardless of when you booked your cruise.

The new smoking policy affects where on the ship guests can smoke, it specifically affects the staterooms and balconies.  The following statement was released by Carnival:

“As part of our continuing commitment to keep in line with the personal preferences of our guests, all staterooms and suites, inclusive of balconies, will be an entirely smoke-free environment. This change is consistent with the policy of most major cruise lines and will be implemented on October 9, 2014, or any new voyage departing thereafter.”

In a notification sent to travel agents and to guests, Carnival noted that a cleaning and refreshing fee of $250 will be added to the guests sail and sign account for those found in violation of the new policy.  Carnival will still allow smoking in designated areas including the designated open deck exterior areas, night club, certain areas of the casino and casino bar.

The gratuity guidelines have also changed for sailings departing October 9, 2014 and onwards.  The gratuities will change from $11.50 per person / per day to $12 per person / per day.  If you pre-paid your gratuities prior to July 7, 2014 your prepaid gratuities will be honored and you will not be affected by this change in the guidelines.  If you have not prepaid your gratuities, the gratuities will still be assigned to your sail and sign account as always.

It is important to remember that tipping is discretionary and you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk.

Like they say, the only thing constant is change!    While I certainly try to update you weekly as I can, I cannot possibly update you every single change that may pertain to all travel in this forum.

Working with a travel professional insures that you are always up to date on the latest industry changes and trends that may impact your specific travel needs.

Safe and Happy Travels,
Kelley

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

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

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

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

                                              Gas Buddy        FREE

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

                                                     Rest Areas               FREE

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

                                                  Best Parking    FREE

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

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

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

             White Noise Lite This App is FREE to download.

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

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

Travel is changing again !

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Travel is changing again!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Safe Travels,

Kelley

I don’t know where I want to go !!

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I don’t know where I want to go!                            

 

As a professional travel concierge I’m often contacted by people who tell me I don’t know where I want to go, but I want to go somewhere. Honestly, this statement often confuses me and frustrates me! My goal is always to help you plan your perfect vacation. However, if we get the destination wrong, the rest of it doesn’t really matter. If there is one thing I have learned, even if you don’t know where you want to go, you probably know where you don’t want to go! It never fails, someone will tell me “I’ll go anywhere that has a nice beach”, and I make a suggestion only to hear them say “oh, I don’t want to go there, I’ve been there” and on it goes…. With literally over a thousand beaches just a plane ride away, you can see this could make for a long process.

Any time someone says “I don’t know where I want to go”; I reply “sure you do, you just haven’t realized it yet”; most of the time that response is met with silence. This silence is golden; it gives me the opportunity to start asking the questions that will help us find the perfect destination. The questions and answers may not always make much sense to you, but to me, they are very telling and help streamline the destination selection significantly. There are some questions you can ask yourself, once you know those answers, and I ask my additional questions, this becomes a very easy process for both of us!

Five questions to ask yourself when trying to figure out where you want to go include:

Where don’t I want to go and why?

It is important to know “why” you don’t want to go somewhere as those reasons may be relative to other destinations as well. For example, you don’t want to go on a cruise because it is summer and you are concerned about hurricanes. (This by the way is not necessarily a real concern for cruisers). That rationale would also suggest you not travel to many other destinations in the Eastern or Western Caribbean.

How long do I want to be gone?

If you only have time for a 5 night vacation, it may not be wise to choose a destination that involves all day travel to get there, and all day travel to get home.

How many hours am I willing or able to travel on each travel day?

If you aren’t the kind of person who likes to make connections during air travel, that is an important consideration in destination selection. If you have any special needs or physical conditions, those may also play a role in the destination selection with regards to the length of your travel days.

What was my favorite vacation you have ever taken and why?

While you certainly may not want to repeat that same vacation, there are characteristics of it that we may be able to incorporate in to your next vacation.

What is my realistic working budget?

Don’t say you don’t have one, or you don’t know how much things cost – everyone has a budget! You don’t have to give a specific amount, but you at least need to have a range! Some sample ranges are less than $5000, $5000-$7000, $7000-$10,000 and over $10,000. Setting a budget will help you with realistic expectations. The purpose of a budget is not to spend every bit of it, but to help know what is and isn’t possible. For example, if your budget is less than $5000, you aren’t going to some of the more exotic vacation destinations such as Bora Bora or an African Safari.

 

The answers to the questions above may not tell you your exact destination, but it will certainly help me to quickly narrow down the choices for a more efficient and effective planning process.

 

Happy Travels,

It’s all in the details !!

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

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

Let’s start with details to enhance your vacation!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Happy Travels,