5 Things NOT To Do After Calling your Travel Professional!

Now, you have made your decision and you have called your Travel Professional.  Let's go over a few things that will help your vacation be all that you want it to be!  Those things you should NOT do.

1- Look for cheaper rates.
When your Travel Professional gives you a quote, we have taken all the things you have told us, combined it with our knowledge and research, then presented options.  Our quotes may include things you aren't aware of.  If you look online to see if you can find it cheaper you are doing us both a disservice.  
Quotes that may appear to be cheaper may actually have hidden fees.  If you are not comparing Apples to Apples the vacation you are quoting online may be lacking some important items, like theme park tickets on a trip to Disney.  Can you do a Disney trip without theme park tickets?  Yes.  Will it be the trip you have always wanted it to be?  Probably not.

2-Ignore my emails.
I will normally send you a series of emails after you book a trip with me.  They may contain questions I need answered, tips for a smooth vacation, or things you may need to do.
Ignoring my emails could have a disappointing results.  For instance, you may have your heart set on riding Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. I sent you a heads up that Disney is planning a last minute Refurb during your trip.  It falls on the day you are spending at Magic Kingdom.  Reading  the email you would have known and made the necessary changes.
Or maybe, knowing you wanted to make your own FastPass Plus selections, I sent you detailed instructions on a new quirk in the selection process. (As we all know, Disney is constantly tweaking the process) You were up at midnight making your selections...and it would not work!  You contacted me for help, only to discover I was unavailable.  
Or I sent you a tip that the All Inclusive resort you were staying at required men to wear pants and a collared shirt in the dining room.  If you didn't read my email, you might not have known. 

3-Think your friends know more than I.
While it is true they might know some subjects better than me; Remember...This is my business.  Not everything they read on a fan board is true.  My job as a Travel Professional is to keep an eye on top of the latest developments to make your trip as perfect as possible.

4-Be timid about what you want.
I've given you a proposal.  You looked at it and think..."It's all perfect...except for one thing."  By not telling me of your concerns I can't address it.  Somehow in all our discussions, we missed this one point.  Should be easy to fix, but only if I know.  You will not hurt my feelings one bit by addressing it.  After all...this is YOUR trip!

5-Book on your own.
If you came to me for advice, we decide on a destination, get a price that everyone agrees is a good value, and you want to think on it a while, Great.  (so far).  
Then in the middle of the night, you decide to go online and book it yourself.   With most suppliers I can put a hold on the vacation I have quoted for you. Unless I tell you the deal expires at midnight, it can wait until the morning to get it booked.
As a Travel Professional I get paid only after you book with me. We all love to get paid for our work.  At this time I do not charge a planning fee, provided you book with me.  My only income comes from your booking with me.


Now, that wasn't so hard was it?  Remember, I am a Travel Professional, and as such I have only your best interest in mind.  I scour my suppliers daily to seek out the changes they may have made recently.  Occasionally I may have a client that throws me a curve ball.  I have the resources to research and find that answer, confident it is the right answer.

I can't have a blog without a cute picture (I think it is a law or something!)  Since it is a rainy Monday morning, I think I will try to find a nice sunny picture...how about this one.  It was taken on our cruise in October.  Bonus points if you can tell what it is!

5 Things to do before you call your Travel Professional

You want to go on a vacation!
Great!
But, before you call your travel professional there are a few things you should do to make the process a bit easier.

1- Pick your date range.  
While it is important to be flexible, it is just as important to have an idea of when you want to travel.  If you really have no idea - then how about picking a month or season.   Letting me know you are flexible but was thinking about an early Spring trip will give me a place to start.  If you know you can't get off work until say... after tax season...let me know.  If you have to go during kid's school break, then give me the dates.

2-Pick your destination area.
Again, being flexible will help, but we need to know where to start looking. If all you are sure about is "Someplace warm!", well that is a good place to start!

3-Choose a budget.
This is a biggie.  Some people have no idea how expensive a vacation can be.  While there are cost savings and deals available, remember the old saying. "You get what you pay for."  This is very true with vacations.  Start with a realistic budget, but don't get upset if it isn't enough.  
And be truthful with your travel professional.  If your budget is $3000, and you tell me it is only $2000 (expecting me to 'pad' it and upsell) you might be missing out on a great value.  I would not even look at that perfect vacation that is $3200.  The one that matches every single wish on your list.  Remember this is YOUR vacation.  The more information you arm me with, the better chance I have of getting you exactly what you want!

4- Check your passports.  
If you are stepping your foot off US soil, you NEED a passport.  While it is true you can cruise on a "closed loop" cruise without one, I do not recommend it.
Don't have one?  Remember to allow 6-8 weeks for it to be delivered.  Of course, they do have expedited processing and delivery - at a premium price.
Now that you are looking at it...notice your expiration date.  Remember more and more countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months AFTER your return date.

5-Decide on the purpose of the trip.
Relax? Sit on a tropical island?  Family time?  Golfing? Snorkeling? Checking off an item on your bucket list?
This is where all the other items start to come together.  
Let's say you want to go 'now'; someplace warm; less than $1000 per person; and the purpose is to relax, enjoy the warmth, and reconnect with your family; and you have your passports in hand.  I might suggest a quick cruise or an all inclusive on an island in the Bahamas.  

Of course, this just gives me a starting point.  I'll ask tons of questions to narrow it down to what you really want!

And the above picture?  Was taken from a bus zooming along the road in Nassau.  In the middle of December.  Where it was in the low 80's....

5 Things to do before you cruise!

1-    Triple check your passport and ID

Simple, right?  Well, maybe not.  You would be surprised at  how many people have had trouble with this.  

Let’s look at that passport.  What is the expiration date?  Some countries require that it be effective for 6 months AFTER you return from your trip.  While you CAN cruise on a closed loop sailing (one that starts and ends at the same port) without a valid passport, if an emergency happens it will help you to get home.

Now, let’s look at your other forms of identification…your driver’s license.  Is it up to date? You would be surprised at the number of people who let that expire without realizing it!  And, if you don’t have a passport – Do you have a copy of your birth certificate?   And let’s not forget the minors you might be taking.  Do you need permission for them to travel?

And one last thing about your ID…remember to NOT pack them in your luggage!  Make sure it is easily accessible from your carry on!

2-    Study the deck plan

Another Simple one.  On most cruise lines you can’t always go to your stateroom right away.  Usually your first stop on board will probably be to get lunch!  Know the general layout of deck plans before you board.  Have a second choice of restaurants in mind in case every other passenger has the same idea!  Getting all those people checked in at once and fed makes for a crazy mad house!  Have a plan of action ready.  It will help settle yourself if you have a general idea of where to go.

3-    Contact your cell carrier!

Some carriers have reasonable coverage available specifically for cruises.  Some cruise lines have special deals with a few carriers.  Unfortunately, my carrier had neither!  Know before you go!  Also check on data service through your carrier.  Most cruise lines have data plans available.  Some are reasonable – others, not so much.  Again – know before you go!

4-    Take your chargers

Another simple one.  But you would be surprised at how many chargers are left at home while their electronic devices enjoy a cruise!

Most cruises have chargers available in their gift shops – at a premium price.  But if your charger is not a standard charger (like my camera) you are out of luck!

5-    Book your excursions

OK, this one is not necessary.  You can book some excursions on board.  The problem is – well do you really want to stand in line while everyone else is enjoying the cruise?  Only to find out all the things you really want are sold out?

Even better, have your travel professional book them for you.  We have access to excursion provided by other vendors.

So I am guessing you noticed these are all simple things.  Nothing difficult or bothersome.  Bust somehow I can say I am guilty of each one of these.  Some had outcomes that were just an inconvenience, others were almost catastrophic!  (I'll let you guess which ones were which!)   But if I were to add a number 6, it would be to let your Travel Professional take over the hard things and let you remember the easy things...and HAVE FUN!

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Next week’s blog will be a little late… I will be traveling to Disney to see for myself how the Art of Animation Family Suites actually work for large families.  My second goal is to see if all the construction is really affecting touring in the parks.  Let me know if you have anything in particular you want me to check out!

Also, Disney’s unofficial announcement of being able to bypass the resort check in has me very interested to see how it will work…

And, because no blog is complete without a picture or two…my adorable toddler granddaughter!

On her first Excursion to Nassau.  Watching Daddy eat Conch Salad.

 

Loved the rolls and butter in the main dining room!

My Concierge Planning Services are now available for off site guests!

Want a stress-free Disney vacation, but are staying off site?  I can still help with your planning.  I offer the same concierge planning service for a fee.  

Castle from Feb 2014

With that you get help with your FastPass + Selections, your Dining reservations, help with your itinerary as well as touring plans help. All your plans can be printed on cards to carry into the park and emailed to you in a pdf format that cane be sent to your smart phone, where you can view at a glance.

I have plans available from the complete service - where you just show up and start enjoying your vacation - all the way to suggestions and help navigating the Disney systems.

Disney is constantly changing and improving their systems.  Once you think you have it all figured out, they change it again!  It is my job to stay on top of these changes so I can better help you plan your vacation.  

My onsite guests, who book their vacation through me, have automatic access to my knowledge and help with these things.  

So, if you are staying offsite, or did not book your vacation through me, you can still take advantage of my knowledge and services.  Contact me today to discover how reasonable that can be.  

Last Minute Trips for Valentine's Day!

Last minute trips for Valentine’s Day!

 

For the past 2 years we have taken a quick short trip to Disney for Valentine’s Day.  We are very lucky that the kids have a week off school during February.  Prices are low and crowds are manageable, at least lower than if we go during Spring Break or during the summer.  While the weather can be unpredictable, in 2014, while Atlanta was reeling from its second ice storm in less than a month, we were swimming!  Every Day!

 

 

But if Disney is not your sweetheart’s idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day spot, how about one of these suggestions? 

 

Let’s start with a relaxing cruise.  Maybe add a spa treatment in for good measure.  Ahhhh.  There are cruises for every budget.  From a romantic getaway, to fun for the whole family.

 

For a romantic, adults only getaway, how about a tropical island All Inclusive Resort?  While this one may be a bit late to pull off, just think how far you can take the gratitude on this…gift it this year for next year.  Sort of like having one gift serve two purposes.  You come off like a rock star!

 

With three weeks left, you still have time to put a little adventure into your Valentine’s Day gift.

 

If you need help putting this together, don’t hesitate to contact me!

 

Cruising with a Toddler

In December I had the pleasure of taking Miss Mia (and her mommy and daddy) on a short cruise.  Miss Mia was 19 months old.  Going into this I had a few concerns.  Like what if she cried the whole time; what if she was miserable; what if she just wanted to get OFF!

She showed me I had no need to worry!

We were onboard the Carnival Sunshine, with a balcony room.  We had her pack n play for her to sleep in, and it worked pretty well.  She was probably the most rested person onboard the whole ship!

She was a happy, HAPPY baby with an infectious smile and everyone around her had a blast!  

We wondered how she would do with the motion sickness.  I wore a patch!  She only had one day that the waves got to her, it was the second day.  The seas were a bit rough that day. There were several times when grownups were having a bit of a problem with the moving floors.  Remembering that she had not been walking all that long, it was very comical to see her standing in the middle of the room and suddenly take a quick step trying to regain her balance…then looking up with a big grin!

As most toddlers, she is somewhat of a picky eater.  You never know for sure what she will eat, but you always knew when she was finished!  She would start singing “Clean up, Put away!”  And, of course, that was your signal that you should be done as well!  The dining staff were very accommodating with her.  If we needed three entrees and only broccoli for the veggie, they would make sure she had it.  After the first few nights, they remembered she would drink a couple of cups of milk so they always brought a large glass right off the bat for her.  Our cabin steward made sure we had an ice bucket in the room to keep her milk cold.

Luckily, Miss Mia loves to dance.  Give her a beat and she goes to town.  Before the cruise was over, almost EVERYONE knew her name!  All the bartenders (you practically had to walk by a bar or lounge to get anywhere on that ship!) knew her name and would call to her when they saw her dancing!  Several of the bartenders would leave their post to come and dance with her!  Every time you saw a crew member in the hall they would call her name and start clapping to get her to dance. And the cabin stewards…. They LOVED to give her candy.  So much that she could have survived on the amount of candy she ate alone!  By the time we left, she had made fast friends with one particular cabin steward…  Mia would see her in the hall and run towards her with a big grin and give her a hug!

Miss Mia had her first interaction with characters on board the ship.  Carnival has Cat in the Hat!  Miss Mia calls him GoGo Cat…and LOVES him!  She got to have her picture taken with GoGo Cat, Sam I Am, as well as Thing 1 and Thing 2. They had a really cool breakfast with the Dr Seuss characters and it had her favorite breakfast food…BACON!  Followed closely by CHEERIOS!  It was an instant hit!

I will say that Miss Mia was less than impressed with the wonderful safety drill (she slept through most of it) and wasn’t as terrified of the bus ride around Nassau that the rest of us were (she slept through that as well) but overall it is safe to assume that she had a blast!

Some thoughts if you are planning on taking your well traveled toddler on a cruise…

-If you do not get a cabin with a refrigerator, make sure your cabin steward knows you have a toddler that drinks lots of milk.  They will make sure there is a large container of ice for the milk.  They will also change the ice out for you throughout the day.

-Depending on the cruise line they may have activities for the toddler, but one of Miss Mia’s favorite activities was walking!  There was something magical about being able to just simply walk around somewhere different.  She loved to sit on the balcony and look at the water, and loved that she could walk around on deck and see water almost every where she went.  Also, look for the hidden areas.  We found a cute small playground that had a slide and a few other toys for climbing and playing.  They were almost always empty.  

-Note that some of the organized activities are not always ideally suited for nap times!  The Seuss-a-paloosa parade was cute, but between it and the show immediately afterwards, it interfered with her nap.  For a happy toddler (and happy family) it is always best to keep her schedule on track.

-Remember that it is practically impossible for a toddler to fall overboard.   The rails are taller than the toddler.  The only way for her to get over it is if she climbs up on the outdoor furniture and climbs on top of the rail…and while we all know it is possible to do that, we also know we should watch a toddler much better than that…Never let a toddler (or any child) go unsupervised on a balcony…on or off sea!

-Remember to ask!  If you don’t see something your toddler will eat…ask. The staff is most happy to help!  They may even have ideas on what they have that the ‘younger crowd’ likes to eat. For instance, Miss Mia loves green peas…one night we had green peas in our pasta dish…the server had the kitchen staff save out some green peas for Miss Mia. (yes, she LOVED him!)

-Take an extra person with you.  Having a grandmother along will ensure you a chance to go out to a movie or other evening entertainment while toddler stays back in the cabin and gets a good night’s sleep!  And if you are the grandmother…make sure you load up your Kindle with some good books.  Most relaxing trip EVER!

How young is too young for Disney?

 

We took our youngest two when they were 2 and 3.  We have taken our youngest granddaughter when she was 2 and I was able to take a side trip to Chef Mickey’s with my youngest granddaughter last December when she was 18 months and she fell in LOVE with Mickey!

 

Will they remember every detail of their first trip?  No, but then again I have been over 15 times as an adult and I do not remember every detail of that first trip with my two youngest.  In fact there are tons of gaps in my memories of each trip.  But remembering that trip and having fun memories is not the same thing.  Because we definitely had fun on each and every trip

Would I personally take a newborn…no way!  I would be a nervous wreck worrying about all the germs and sickness they could catch.  A newborn is just that …NEW. Am I saying it is not a good idea?  Maybe.  That would depend entirely on the mother and child.    Some babies are like my oldest one…nothing phases him.  He could sleep through anything (and frequently did) Loved to look around at new things and was a very pleasant baby!  My second one…I did not even take him to church without lots of back up!  He was a crier…no particular reason, he just liked to cry.  Cried when he was happy, cried when he was sad, cried when he was hungry, cried when he was full.  Taking him to Disney would have been a disaster to me and everyone within a mile of him…did I forget to mention he had GREAT lungs!  Some moms are easily distracted and over worry about everything (probably where I would fall in this category) and would not have fun…so why go?  Others, seem to have a sixth sense that everything will work out right in the end.  Nothing phases them and they just go with the flow.  They are the types that can take a Newborn to Disney and not have a single problem.

 

As far as when is the right age… If the child has an idea of who the characters are, even a small one, they will love it!  My youngest granddaughter only rarely sees anything Disney.  She knows their names (thanks to a present she got from my first Disney cruise) but that is about it.  She knew every character that came to talk with her.  She was especially in love with both Mickey and Minnie. 

After breakfast we rode the monorail over to the Grand Floridian to see the Gingerbread house.  There was one store front who had a Mickey Mouse display in their window.  Miss Mia kept running back to the window and squealing Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse!  To say it was hard to get her away from it was an understatement.  She loved him and wanted to go back and see him…over and over and over!

(My apologies to the person who had to wash the kisses and hand prints off the window)