Pre- Trip Planning
Our first step to traveling is deciding what we want out of the trip. Do we want to relax, be adventurous, explore, swim in the ocean, walk around historical sites, etc. Next comes how we want to travel. Should we do a road trip, fly to a new destination, or board a cruise ship. Once we have a game plan it's time do some research and hear about other travels experiences.
Our first step to traveling is deciding what we want out of the trip. Do we want to relax, be adventurous, explore, swim in the ocean, walk around historical sites, etc. Next comes how we want to travel. Should we do a road trip, fly to a new destination, or board a cruise ship. Once we have a game plan it's time do some research and hear about other travels experiences.
Tripadvisor
Hotel Reviews, Restaurant Reviews, Excursion Reviews, Things to do, Walking Tours, Forums
Yelp
Reviews for restaurants, bars, food and more
Eater
A great reference for reading about the new and most popular restaurants in a variety of cities
Time Out
You can read articles and reviews on tours, restaurants, and things to do in a variety of cities
Lonely Planet
From their articles by writers and bloggers to their forums, to their guide books you will be able to find everything you need.
Cruise Critic
Cruise Ship Information, Cruise Reviews, Message Board
Weather Underground
Weather Forecasts, Sever Weather Information, Historical Data
Pets Welcome
Listings of Lodging that allow pets, Costs for pets to stay at each lodging
AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
One Way and Round Trip Gas Costs based on trip and by car type
XE
Exchange rates based on markets
Dis Boards
Hotel Information, Park Information, Restaurant Information, Menus, Reviews, Message Boards
Hotel Reviews, Restaurant Reviews, Excursion Reviews, Things to do, Walking Tours, Forums
Yelp
Reviews for restaurants, bars, food and more
Eater
A great reference for reading about the new and most popular restaurants in a variety of cities
Time Out
You can read articles and reviews on tours, restaurants, and things to do in a variety of cities
Lonely Planet
From their articles by writers and bloggers to their forums, to their guide books you will be able to find everything you need.
Cruise Critic
Cruise Ship Information, Cruise Reviews, Message Board
Weather Underground
Weather Forecasts, Sever Weather Information, Historical Data
Pets Welcome
Listings of Lodging that allow pets, Costs for pets to stay at each lodging
AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
One Way and Round Trip Gas Costs based on trip and by car type
XE
Exchange rates based on markets
Dis Boards
Hotel Information, Park Information, Restaurant Information, Menus, Reviews, Message Boards
It's really important to know what you are looking for and to gain information from real people's experiences. Being in a bad neighborhood, not knowing the ins and outs of the hotel or cruise ship, and having to spend more money than planned can really have a negative impact on your trip. I have read many reviews from people about properties I have stayed at and I couldn't believe they didn't research what they were purchasing and therefore were surprised and angry at the property.
For instance, we stayed at the ME by Melia in Cancun. This hotel recently converted from standard hotel procedures to an all inclusive property. Before we went on the trip I contacted the hotel and asked what was included and what wasn't included (this hotel does have tricky do's and don'ts but if you ask they will tell you and also post some of this information on their site). People were really surprised that not everything in the room mini-fridge was included without extra cost, surprised that a special dinner on the beach was an added cost, and that the beach and pool beds weren't included. Thanks to my research we knew what we were getting into.
The next step is to price out your trip. Never go with the first price you have been given whether it's from a website, travel agent, or an advertisement. A few of the places I visit are:I usually book trips myself rather than relying on a travel agent. We have worked with Donna at BC Travel for a couple of cruises and we can highly recommend her.
For instance, we stayed at the ME by Melia in Cancun. This hotel recently converted from standard hotel procedures to an all inclusive property. Before we went on the trip I contacted the hotel and asked what was included and what wasn't included (this hotel does have tricky do's and don'ts but if you ask they will tell you and also post some of this information on their site). People were really surprised that not everything in the room mini-fridge was included without extra cost, surprised that a special dinner on the beach was an added cost, and that the beach and pool beds weren't included. Thanks to my research we knew what we were getting into.
The next step is to price out your trip. Never go with the first price you have been given whether it's from a website, travel agent, or an advertisement. A few of the places I visit are:I usually book trips myself rather than relying on a travel agent. We have worked with Donna at BC Travel for a couple of cruises and we can highly recommend her.
Travel Insurance
Greg and I usually travel 3-4 times a year and we hardly ever purchased travel insurance. We truly believed that it was just an extra cost that we would never get back. We were very wrong!! This is our story with one particular insurance company but be sure to shop around for the best rates and benefits.
About a month before a trip to Cancun Mexico we were watching the weather forecasts and realized that tropical storms were happening more frequently. We sat down and decided that we didn't want to chance our vacation getting cancelled and losing our money so we purchased trip insurance through Allianz Travel Insurance. A week before our trip we read through all the fine print and contacted the company to verify what our allowances were and what to do if we had an emergency.
As things turned out, our return flight was cancelled not from weather in Cancun but because of a Hurricane hitting New England. Needless to say we never imagined this happening but were extremely thankful for having our insurance. So there we were sitting in Mexico trying to figure out what to do. My husband contacted our airline (phone call was not covered by insurance) and the next available flight wasn't until 4 days after our originally scheduled flight home. Next he contacted the company we booked through (online chat service was unavailable, and our phone call was not covered by insurance). The company was completely unhelpful, we were told that the call we made to the airline was the best option and that if we needed a hotel we should look online.
While my husband made these calls I contacted Allianz (supposed to be collect call outside of U.S. however I was charged for the call and not reimbursed). The first call didn't go so well. I don't know what the gentleman was looking at on his system but the benefits information he gave me was totally incorrect and much lower values than I had on my itinerary. The second call finally reached someone who actually pulled up my information, reiterated the values I had, and helped me start a claim. The next step was to find a hotel for 3 more nights. I contacted a hotel nearby who had availability but my credit card had been declined for security (I contacted my credit card prior to our trip but these dates were now outside of the dates I provided them). I called my credit card company explained the situation and got everything cleared up, and our hotel finalized.
After we got home I pulled together all of the necessary information for our claim. We filled out the claim form, receipt for hotel, transfer, phone calls, food, and seats on our flight home. Six days after I filed the claim I hadn't heard back from the insurance company so I contacted them. While I was on the phone with the agent he went through my entire claim and asked me to hold so that he could go through all the documents. This lead me to believe that no one had viewed my claim yet and because I was on the phone they would finally take care of it. In the end they agreed to reimburse me for everything except for the phone calls (which I still disagree with especially since one of them was to Access America). The agent explained to me that my check wouldn't be cut until the next Tuesday (yesterday). Overall the process wasn't easy but we more than made up for the small amount paid to purchase the insurance.
If you're like most people, there is never enough time to research travel insurance companies. Reviews.com has created an un-biased article that researched 22 national insurance providers. Reviews.com not only compared prices but also inclusions, add ons and more. What I love in the article is that they also simplified things for us by breaking down the best policies for trip type. To read their reviews and book a quote visit here.
Greg and I usually travel 3-4 times a year and we hardly ever purchased travel insurance. We truly believed that it was just an extra cost that we would never get back. We were very wrong!! This is our story with one particular insurance company but be sure to shop around for the best rates and benefits.
About a month before a trip to Cancun Mexico we were watching the weather forecasts and realized that tropical storms were happening more frequently. We sat down and decided that we didn't want to chance our vacation getting cancelled and losing our money so we purchased trip insurance through Allianz Travel Insurance. A week before our trip we read through all the fine print and contacted the company to verify what our allowances were and what to do if we had an emergency.
As things turned out, our return flight was cancelled not from weather in Cancun but because of a Hurricane hitting New England. Needless to say we never imagined this happening but were extremely thankful for having our insurance. So there we were sitting in Mexico trying to figure out what to do. My husband contacted our airline (phone call was not covered by insurance) and the next available flight wasn't until 4 days after our originally scheduled flight home. Next he contacted the company we booked through (online chat service was unavailable, and our phone call was not covered by insurance). The company was completely unhelpful, we were told that the call we made to the airline was the best option and that if we needed a hotel we should look online.
While my husband made these calls I contacted Allianz (supposed to be collect call outside of U.S. however I was charged for the call and not reimbursed). The first call didn't go so well. I don't know what the gentleman was looking at on his system but the benefits information he gave me was totally incorrect and much lower values than I had on my itinerary. The second call finally reached someone who actually pulled up my information, reiterated the values I had, and helped me start a claim. The next step was to find a hotel for 3 more nights. I contacted a hotel nearby who had availability but my credit card had been declined for security (I contacted my credit card prior to our trip but these dates were now outside of the dates I provided them). I called my credit card company explained the situation and got everything cleared up, and our hotel finalized.
After we got home I pulled together all of the necessary information for our claim. We filled out the claim form, receipt for hotel, transfer, phone calls, food, and seats on our flight home. Six days after I filed the claim I hadn't heard back from the insurance company so I contacted them. While I was on the phone with the agent he went through my entire claim and asked me to hold so that he could go through all the documents. This lead me to believe that no one had viewed my claim yet and because I was on the phone they would finally take care of it. In the end they agreed to reimburse me for everything except for the phone calls (which I still disagree with especially since one of them was to Access America). The agent explained to me that my check wouldn't be cut until the next Tuesday (yesterday). Overall the process wasn't easy but we more than made up for the small amount paid to purchase the insurance.
If you're like most people, there is never enough time to research travel insurance companies. Reviews.com has created an un-biased article that researched 22 national insurance providers. Reviews.com not only compared prices but also inclusions, add ons and more. What I love in the article is that they also simplified things for us by breaking down the best policies for trip type. To read their reviews and book a quote visit here.
Packing For Your Trip
Am I an over-packer, am I an under-packer, do I get a large suitcase, do I go lightweight? There is no wrong answer to these questions but it is important to take into consideration the type of vacation you are planning when you pack.
Things to keep in mind:
Am I an over-packer, am I an under-packer, do I get a large suitcase, do I go lightweight? There is no wrong answer to these questions but it is important to take into consideration the type of vacation you are planning when you pack.
Things to keep in mind:
- Cruise ships, and European hotel rooms don't offer a lot of room for luggage storage.
- Most airlines have you pay for luggage but some still allow one free bag per person when traveling internationally.
- A few ways to get around this is to pack one large suitcase (usually has to be less than 50 pounds) and two small ones to carry on - remember to keep liquids larger than 3 ounces in your checked suitcase though.
- I take an issue with Southwest Airlines policy on seat assignments but you can't beat their 2 free suitcases!
Documents:
Clothing
- ID (drivers license, passport, global entry card, international drivers license)
- Airline (tickets, confirmation code, boarding pass)
- Hotel (confirmation code, pricing, details)
- Rental Car (confirmation code, pricing, details)
- Travel Insurance (confirmation code, details)
- Travel Agency (contact name and number, any emergency contact info)
- Smart Travel Enrollment Program (sign up before leaving the country)
- Credit and Debit Cards (register your travel plans before leaving to avoid any hiccups)
- Emergency contact info (Name and number of someone at home, credit card numbers, photocopy of passport)
Clothing
- I try to bring a little bit of everything with me wherever I go. I have been in the Caribbean and needed a sweatshirt. I've also been in Rome in December and needed a tank top because of unusual weather patterns. My must haves are always a swim suit, a cocktail dress, a shirt with 3/4 length sleeves (in case I visit a holy site), a shawl or light jacket, and multiple pairs of shoes.
First Aid / Emergency Kit
Toiletry Items
Extra Items
- Band Aids, Neosporin, allergen cream, Aleve, Sudafed, Cough Drops, Afrin, Dayquil, Mucinex, Tissues, etc.
- Probably sounds like over kill but let me tell you my past. I was once in Italy and didn't have access to any medicine. A small cold turned into double ear infections and finally into Mono. On another vacation we were in the Caribbean and I ran out of medicine. After speaking with a few different locals and an hour of our time we finally found a small pharmacy in the back of a linens store.
- Compass with whistle, mylar blanket, light sticks, face masks, iodine tablets, etc.
- Rice crackers, Andean Dream quinoa cookies, Rx Bars, Freeze dried fruit, dairy free chocolate bars
Toiletry Items
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, hair products, soap, shaving cream, razors, lotion, sunscreen, make up.
- Some of the products I love are by Burt's Bees, Lush, and Bare Minerals (I try to buy products that aren't tested on animals as much as possible).
Extra Items
- Toilet seat covers, Toilet paper packs, Lysol spray, Air freshner, Static Guard, Antibacterial wipes, White Vinegar (If you're heading to the ocean this can help with many jelly fish stings etc.), and an Umbrella
Making The Most Of Your Trip
You have been dreaming about your vacation for a while now, getting excited, and thinking up a perfect mix of all your hopes. Therefore it's really easy to hit a snag or two and consider your trip filled with stress and unhappiness. There have been many bumps along our road and we continue to keep a good attitude and roll with the waves!
You have been dreaming about your vacation for a while now, getting excited, and thinking up a perfect mix of all your hopes. Therefore it's really easy to hit a snag or two and consider your trip filled with stress and unhappiness. There have been many bumps along our road and we continue to keep a good attitude and roll with the waves!
- The Airport
- Between lines for check in, dropping off luggage, security, and pushy people the airport can cause many headaches. Remember to get there early so that if wait times are longer than usual you don't stress out. Grab a coffee and a snack sit back and people watch. Walk around the stores and maybe find a must read book.
- On a trip to Aruba we once had a flight delayed multiple times, which turned into getting a new plane, which turned into an extra stop for more fuel. Greg and I were exhausted and sad we were missing the start to our vacation but we did what we could. We went back to my parents house and relaxed until we had to be back at the airport, we brought books for the plane and tried to rest considering it went from a early morning flight to a night flight. Instead of fighting the other passengers for taxis at 2 am in Aruba we waited our turn and laughed at them. We didn't get the best room naturally since it was 2 am so the next morning we just asked to be switched. In the end we got a humorous story, and a relaxing rest of a vacation.
- Between lines for check in, dropping off luggage, security, and pushy people the airport can cause many headaches. Remember to get there early so that if wait times are longer than usual you don't stress out. Grab a coffee and a snack sit back and people watch. Walk around the stores and maybe find a must read book.
- Weather
- Mother nature doesn't take into consideration your wants or desires. You can check the weather reports as much as you want but they aren't always accurate. We have been on vacation where it was supposed to rain the entire time and we were so upset over it. It turned out we had two showers in 7 days and we got ourselves worked up over nothing.
- Pack a little for all occasions and you won't go wrong. If it rains, grab your umbrella and head on out and explore. We have found that when we play tourist in the rain we run into less crowds, find cute shops, and delicious food for when we need to try and dry off.
- Mother nature doesn't take into consideration your wants or desires. You can check the weather reports as much as you want but they aren't always accurate. We have been on vacation where it was supposed to rain the entire time and we were so upset over it. It turned out we had two showers in 7 days and we got ourselves worked up over nothing.
- Bad Service
- Yes you are on vacation and it's only natural that you want people to help you maximize the fun and relaxation. However, people are human. They have problems, stress, exhaustion, and aren't always too keen on seeing others have a good time on a vacation they might not be able to ever enjoy. To quote Billy Murray in What About Bob "I treat people, as if they were telephones, if I meet somebody I think doesn't likes me I say Bob, this one is temporarily out of order. You don't break the connection, just hang up and try again!"
- Don't get discouraged, frustrated, or angry. Remember you are on vacation, ask to speak to someone else, find a better solution to the problem, or change your plans if things are that bad. Then go get a drink, or sit on a beach, or go explore and focus on you and your traveling companions.
- Yes you are on vacation and it's only natural that you want people to help you maximize the fun and relaxation. However, people are human. They have problems, stress, exhaustion, and aren't always too keen on seeing others have a good time on a vacation they might not be able to ever enjoy. To quote Billy Murray in What About Bob "I treat people, as if they were telephones, if I meet somebody I think doesn't likes me I say Bob, this one is temporarily out of order. You don't break the connection, just hang up and try again!"
