Be Realistic

I get many requests for travel through my website which is absolutely great. I appreciate every request that comes in. Every request for travel is always answered, but some cannot come to fruition. Here's the problem...are you being realistic with your travel request?

When considering your travel planning, think about where you live and where you want to go. How far is the destination? Are you crossing time zones and will jet lag also factor into your choice? How many days do you want to actually travel? Yes, so many questions...see my blog about me being a nosy travel planner!

First, let's talk about the distance of the destination from where you live. I recently got a request for 3 -5 day honeymoon in Tahiti. I guess 5 days if you live in California is not bad, but if you live on the east coast or mid west, you need to rethink the decision. Unfortunately this couple lives near the east coast. If they were to choose a four night honeymoon in Tahiti, they would spend about 2 of those days in the air! Really flying all that way for 2 days plus outrageous jet lag?

Let me give you an example of an actual poorly considered vacation request:

• 2 Adults
• Living in the mid-west (sorry, I cannot reveal the actual state)
• Destination: Egypt
• Trip duration: 3 -5 days
• Budget - $3000.00 total

First problem is the travel time. From their city there are no nonstop flights to Cairo or any other airport in Egypt. So, the flights will be overnight flights at least to Egypt...there goes one day.

The next day, after perhaps 11 - 12 hours including layovers, the arrival to Egypt. Sight seeing can begin immediately in Cairo and maybe get an overview of the country. Next morning, a transfer by plane to Luxor for one night to get to the pyramids (you cannot go all that way and not see them), and back to Cairo. One day more to squeeze in a little bit more of Cairo. Next day, back to the airport and on the way home!

Now that you are like a zombie because you have to contend with a 7 hour time difference hopefully you will sleep on your first leg of your fight home. Unfortunately this hurried visit has cost you sights and true understanding of one of the most interesting countries in the world, historically and culturally.

Okay, so here were are at the budget portion. Are you serious...$3000.00? That is barely enough to get to the Caribbean or Mexico for a week at a 4 star all-inclusive resort. Just the airfare will be over $1,100.00 per person. Unfortunately, after airfare is paid, there is simply not enough money left for a decent hotel (there you really do not want a cheap one or two star mostly for reasons of safety) and the touring.

Does it break my heart to tell someone their dream is not realistic? Absolutely! Part of my joy is planning a great vacation for my clients...the other part is to hear from happy clients when they return from their vacation. My success is their happiness.

My suggestion for the novice travel is two fold. First, take a look at a map. See how far your destination is from your area of the country. How long might the flight be and are there any time zone differences? Second, ask a travel professional for suggestions. Don't be embarrassed to discuss your budget, but be reasonable especially when it comes to the airfare. It is one of the most important factors of the travel planning. Talk about your travel interests and what you would like to experience. Let the travel professional make suggestions that will meet your budget and expectations.

Happy Travels!

Europe Or Bust!

The Euro is up and the US dollar is down. You want to travel to Europe, but think it is too expensive. Well, maybe not!

Unfortunately there is no way around airfares that are sky high (forgive the pun), but you can prevent it from becoming even higher. Try to book your travel at least 6 months in advance to get the best airfare rates. That's the first suggestion. However, don't book your airfare and then the travel plans. Do it together. Nothing worse than trying to make your touring fit your flight schedule.

Here is the best advice to visit Europe and not pay everything through the nose. Travel through Europe on a cruise or with a group tour. I know they are not for everyone as most of my business is creating customized travel. However, when you book a cruise (river cruises included) or a group tour almost everything is already included at prenegotiated prices protecting your US dollar.

The cruise lines will offer at a fixed price choice of accommodations (your stateroom), all of your meals and some beverages, entertainment and taxes. The cruise will afford you the opportunity to take excursions at each port at an extra cost, but certainly much less than the cost if you tried to do it on your own. Some cruise lines are also offering added values such as 2 for 1 pricing, airfare included specials and shipboard credits.

River Cruises have become a very popular choice withing the past several years. More and more itineraries are added each year. This luxury on water travel is a more intimate way to see Europe. The vessels are much smaller than cruise ships with only 100-200 passengers aboard. The River Cruises are able to navigate the inner waterways of Europe bringing you directly to the docks...no tenders needed! They also tend to stay in each port of call for longer times than the cruise lines, giving you more opportunity to visit each area. Like the larger cruise lines, the River Cruises offer the accommodations, meals, and taxes as part of your cost. Also, some are including airfare and 2 for 1 specials. The entertainment on the River Cruises is usually local entertainment boarded at each port of call. Sorry, no lavish broadway style shows or casinos.
Also included are all excursions. No extra cost for excursions and no waiting in long lines to find your bus or group.

Group travel by land is still very popular and getting better each year. New places to see are constantly being added. Most group travel is fast paced in the sense that you are usually up early each day and may not be in the same city more than one night. So, yes, a lot of packing and unpacking. However, this is a very thorough way to see a country or region. Depending upon the class of group travel you choose, some are larger groups than others. The pricing depends largely on the accommodations chosen for your travel. Again, your dollar protections begins with the contracted rate the tour operator has with all the service providers in Europe. Since these contracts a sealed with a promise of many guests per year, the rates are much lower than you will find on your own. Again, most of your excursions are already included. Some groups will allow a day at leisure with an optional tour provided for those who must see everything. The group land tours always include breakfast and either a lunch or dinner daily or frequently. Again, the price you pay will sometimes reflect the number of meals included.

Lastly, if your time allows, don't choose the busiest travel time of year to take your vacation. The "off" season, time of year less popular to travel, will also cut your travel costs greatly. Consult your calendar to see when you can travel. Try to travel after September and before mid April. Also avoid holiday times such as December, Easter and Springbreak. If you are retired this isn't an issue. If you are employed, your boss will be pleased you are not requesting vacation time the same time everyone else is.

Need more help? Call me or send me an email.

Happy Travels,

Adrienne

Why Didn't I Use A Travel Professional?

Yes, I know the currency difference between the US dollar and the Euro is crazy. An acquaintance recently returned from Italy and told me she paid $30.00 for a simple breakfast with coffee. Then told me her eggs were cold!

All I could do was hug her and roll my eyes. She thought she would be able to make all of her arrangements online and take care of all of her excursions while in Italy. Well, yes she was able to make all of the arrangements, but at a cost. Turns out the itinerary I prepared for her, in the long run was much less than her "piece it together"plans.

The first issue was her hotel stays. She chose decent accommodations and made her deposits for the hotels online. What she failed to take into consideration is the fluctuation of the euro caused the pricing to rise and tax (vat) was not included. Also, breakfast was not included. She chose the wrong option online and the hotel would not change the reservation because the breakfast offer was a "website" special only. I guess she really could not go back to the website to complain.

The second obstacle became registering for tours while in Italy. A few of the tours she wanted to take were not available for the days and times she hoped for. Unfortunately she missed out on a lot.

She now realizes the value of using a professional travel consultant to plan her next trip, even if it appears to be more expensive at first look. She took another look at the itinerary I prepared and sees she was penny-wise and pound foolish.

My next blog....Getting the biggest bang for you buck in Europe...

DELAYED AGAIN?

For those of you who fly a lot, you have heard the announcement , "We are sorry, you has been delayed." It is especially troublesome when you know you have to transfer to another flight. You just know the flight will not wait for you and this flight just may not make it on time for that connection.

First rule of flying, , before departing for the airport, check the flight to see if there is a delay. You can either call the airline, the airport toll free number or check online. If you see there is a delay you need to determine if you will have time to connect to you next flight. To connect domestically, the minimum time between flights needs to be 45 minutes, for international you should have a minimum of 1-1/2 hours. This will give you time to clear customs and retrieve your bags if necessary.

If you find you will not have this time frame, call the airlines immediately. Explain you situation, especially if your connecting flight is the last of the day. It is the airlines' responsibility to rectify the situation. Please remember, while waiting on thee line or speaking with the customer service rep, they did not cause the problem. So no matter how frustrated you are, don' t take it out on them. You want them to help you. Let then know during the conversation you appreciate their assistance. Since many airlines now have alliances with other, ask if you can be switched to another airline. If not, ask for the first available flight out the next morning.

Okay, so you are already at the airport because when you did check for delays, there weren't any. When you check for your flight, ask the service agent if there are any newly posted delays. If the your answer is yes, ask when your flight will now land at your next point. Will you have enough time to make your connection? If you find you will only 5 or 10 minutes difference between maybe making the flight or not making the flight, ask for a routing change. The same advise should be taken if a delay is announce after you check in. Remember, speak kindly to the customer service representative. If there are many others clamoring around being rude, who do you think will get the last seat on the last flight? You can even be conciliatory by telling the customer service rep that you understand their position in this rough period of time.

I have seen customer service representatives refuse service to passengers who are irate and ill-mannered. Who can blame the employee? No one wants to be treated badly and it is not the representative who created the delay. Just keep in mind, cool heads prevail!

Truly, I hope you never need this advice and all your travels are smooth. If you do hit a bump in the road, stay calm.

Happy Travels!

Boy, That Travel Agent Is Nosy

If you cannot say that about your travel specialist, find a new one! I warn my prospective clients before I begin that I will ask lots and lots of questions. If I don't ask questions, I cannot give you the answers.

How would you feel if you went to your insurance agent for homeowners or auto insurance and you were given a "one size fits all" policy? Would you have the right coverage? Probably not. When you visit the doctor, he/she will ask you questions to determine your health and what if any intervention is needed.

To be honest, I do like the term travel agent, at least for myself and most professionals which whom I am acquainted. To me the term "travel agent" is one who sits at a desk processing your request, without proper knowledge of your true travel needs...basically an order taker.

For example, you go online or read about a "travel special" to a destination. Price looks great, appears to fit your budget and sounds like what you want. You place the call or go to the local travel office. You walk in and meet the next available "travel agent" and proceed to tell them about the add you saw. The "travel agent" says great, give me your credit card and I will book it for you. Now you are ready for your vacation. You probably did not know for a few dollars more you could have had a non stop flight instead of the 2 flights with a 5 hour layover. Also, you were not informed this is a vacation haven for students on spring break...so no rest for you and your spouse. Oh, and did you know this is really beach block, not on the beach or a 3 story walk- up miles from all of the major venues and attractions? Of course you didn't know, no one told you or asked you about your preferences.

A professional travel consultant will take the time to ask questions. An example of this is the following true scenario:

A young wife contacts me about a vacation to Hawaii for 6 nights from the east coast. She tells me she found the perfect vacation online for $3700.00 including airfare. I asked her if she new anything about the hotel and of course the answer was no. I asked her if airport transfers were included with the package and of course the answer was no. Once we repriced the package with the transfers and taxes, the vacation added up to about $4000.00. I asked her why she chose this vacation and she told me it fit their budget and she didn't have a passport, but she really wanted to go to the Caribbean. When I asked further questions, she did not understand the actual cost of this vacation by the time they would add in food and excursions, not to mention

the travel time and time zone difference. Oh, did I mention they were traveling with an infant

as well? I spoke with her further and ascertained her true budget. The reason she chose

Hawaii was she was told she did not need a passport. Someone told her passports took a long time to process. She in fact has almost 6 months before the family travels. More than enough time to get a passport. After about a half hour and more questions, she booked an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, including the air, all inclusive beach accommodations, transfers, taxes and insurance for $4037.00. When I added a crib to the reservation she was shocked. She told me she didn't know we could do that and thought she would need to travel with a travel crib. Needless to say, the family now has a vacation which is more befitting of their needs.

Certainly, you can look online to get suggestions. Though you think you have found all the great hotels or resorts for a destination, ask a travel specialist, and don't be afraid to change your mind once you have listened to recommendations. A recent caller asked me about a particular hotel in Rome. Yes the price looks great...but at what cost? No air conditioning, very small closet-like rooms, and bathrooms barely fitting one person. Again, away from major attractions. For a few dollars more, a hotel which is well managed, has air conditioning, breakfast daily and better comfort for the American traveler.

Next time you are ready to plan your travel, get ready to answer questions! If the person on the other side of the desk or phone only asks one question..what's you credit card number, run, don't walk! If that person does not show an interest in your travel, find someone who does. Look for a travel professional. Don't be shy, ask questions too. You can find out how long the person is in the travel business, ask about their associations. The most important association is ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and IATA (International Air Transportation Association).
Ask for testimonials of clients using the services. If you cannot get those questions answered, keep looking.

If it takes you an extra day to find the right travel consultant it is worthwhile in the long run. Once you find the right travel consultant, stay with them. Once that travel professional is familiar with your travel needs, they will be able to help you in the future with fewer questions, but the same care!

Happy Travels!

My Travel Budget Went Kaput!

So the lastest comment I am getting from some my clients and prospective clients is their travel budget becoming extinct. With personal expenses rising and travel expenses rising I know no one wants to give up their vacations! We cannot afford to not have our vacations.

Actually, the rest of the civilized world thinks Americans are a strange lot by not making their vacation plans mandatory. Most Europeans have an average of 30 vacation days and believe me, they use them all! Have you ever been to France in August? Yes, the country is closed for vacation!

It's funny to me we are willing to give up our beloved r&r each year, which definitely impacts our health. Hey, remember your last vacation? How mucj fun did you have? Didn't you come home with your batterires recharged and feeling more relaxed? So what's your excuse now? Please don't whine to me you don't have any money....

Oh speaking of spending money...so how much was the last "brand name" coffee (yes you know which one)...about $5.00? Oh, and you could not resist the scone to go with it.. So about $8.00 and 500 - 700 calories later...Instant gratification only lasts so long. Okay, it's now lunch time...Of course you would not be caught dead bringing your lunch. I know you are not going to the famous fast food chain everyday for the .99 cent menu. Even if you do, you are not getting out of there for less than $5.00. Most office /work lunch breaks are more towards the $8.00 mark, if not more. So far you have blown $16.00 today just in food. Multiply that by 5 days and you spent $80.00 this week..and that means $320.00 this month. Now multiply that by 11 months....grand total $3520.00. HELLO....there's part of you vaction money.

Ladies, I know looking good is important, but really do you still really need fingernails that resemble a fumanchu mustache? You go every other week at least to get your nails done, with emnamel tips, airbrsuhed with designs and sparkles. Now you have spent at $35.00 this week plus the tip. I didn't even add in the pedicure....Bring that down to a regular manicure and you will save about $40.00 a month. Multiply that by 11 months...$440.00 you just put toward your vacation.

There are other things you can do...here's a great reason to quit smoking. Improve your health and save money too! Open a vacation savings account. The banks used to offer them. You can make your own. Take 10% of your check now that you are drinking coffee from your thermal mug you brought from home and bringing your lunch at least 3 times a week, and put it in a separate bank account. When you are ready for that vacation, the money will be there.

Now how simple it that. Why didn't you think of that????

Call me when you are ready!

Do I Need A Passport?

Along with all of the changes for homeland security one of the confusing points has become the passport issue. Yes, aside travel within the US and her territories, you could travel to several Caribbean islands, Mexico and Canada with only valid picture ID. Unfortunately, these days have passed.

By June 2009 all travel outside of the US and her territories will require a full passport. Until then you can still travel on a limited basis if you are on a cruise which begins and ends in the same US port. These cruises are limited to Caribbean travel.

In the spring of 2008, the US Passport agency created a limited passport card and another document called a WHTI compliant document. The WHTI is limited for travel to the Caribbean region, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda.

The WHTI document applies to the following as of January 2008:

• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
  State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
  Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
  U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
  U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
  Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
  Form I-872 American Indian Card

Passport card applications are currently being accepted in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. Based on current projections, expectation is to begin production of the passport card in June, and be in full production in July. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.

Of course the options are just as confusing as the new passport regulations! What did you expect? If you want to make your life easy, apply for a full passport. Your passport will last onger than a gallon of milk. For adults, your passport will last ten years. It is well worth the investment if you are planning to travel. Passports for children need to be renewed more often, but still well worth the investment.

Now that the passport crush has passed, processing time for new passports is between 4 - 6 weeks. Renewals are down to 3 - 4 weeks. You can now apply for a new passport easily at a convenient passport acceptance center. Many are located at a post office near you.

For more information about passports and to download applications, visit the official Passport website: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html