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  • Barcelona in Two Days – What to See and Do

    This post courtesy of Katie O’Hara

    Houses in Park Güell designed by Anto...

       Can you experience Barcelona in two days?  If you have only a few days to explore Barcelona, you’ll want to use your time wisely to make the most of your trip and see the best sites. Below, we’ve highlighted the top four places to see. Focusing on a few sites will give you time to truly take in each attraction without feeling rushed. It will also leave time to indulge in leisure meals. Many Barcelona hotels are in walking distance of the city’s top destinations, or you can rent a car, take a cab or try public transportation.  If you are planning on seeing Barcelona in two days, start with these attractions:

     

    Sagrada Familia
    A large Roman Catholic church and a stunning Basilica, La Sagrada Familia is a must see for any visitor to Barcelona. Construction began in 1882 and continues even to this day, with the most recent additions expected to be complete in 30 years by some estimates. The church was largely designed by famed architect Antonia Gaudi.  Although the church is a spectacular site to behold from the outside, it’s worth purchasing a ticket to tour this interior.

     

    Las Ramblas
    Stroll down this vibrant 1.2 kilometer street in the heart of Barcelona’s city center. The street is lined with various cafes, restaurants and shopping, making it ideal for a bite to eat or to find a souvenir for friends and family back home. You’ll also find the city’s opera house, museum of contemporary art, an aquarium, street performers and artists, kiosks, historic buildings and more. The area is usually crowded from day time until late into the night. Spend your time people watching or picking through the markets and stands.

     

    Gothic Quarter
    Just east of Las Ramblas lies Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. This is the city’s original city center and is lined with narrow streets opening into squares. You’ll find beautifully designed buildings and cathedrals throughout the quarter as you walk along the cobblestone streets. The streets are closed to traffic so plan on walking to the various sites. Your best bet is to find a guided tour that will give an overview of the area’s history while showing you a few sites including Barcelona’s Cathedral, Les Quatre Gats, Santa Maria del Pi, Placa del Rei and the Jewish Quarter.

     

    Barcelona in two days - el Parc Güell
    el Parc Güell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Parc Güell 
    Originally created by Eusebi Guell as a stylish park for Barcelona aristocracy, this city public park is full of unique statues, tiling and buildings.  The entrance is a curved staircase with a dragon statue on the center – easily the most recognized symbol of the park. You also find the Gran Placa Circular here, a plaza connecting to Serpentine Bench, the world’s longest bench that wraps around the plaza. A visit to the park will expose you both to Guell’s architectural genius as well as breathtaking views of the city.

    READ MORE about Barcelona

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  • Visa – Get Them Easy

    English: Turkey Visa Stamp

    Traveling abroad?  You have a passport, right?  Will you need a Visa?  Read on for super easy help in some of the most commonly visited countries that require a Visa for US Passport holders.  We will also hit on some of the highlights of these great Visa requiring countries.

    In general, here is what you need to get a VISA which normally appears as an endorsement (fancy talk for a stamp) in your passport book:

    1. Your Passport which must remain valid for 6 months AFTER your trip
    2. Specific Country Visa Application
    3. Recent, additional passport photograph
    4. Travel Itinerary/Invoice with Itinerary

    Visa for Turkey

    Are you visiting Turkey as a port of call on a cruise?  The ship will help you get your Visa prior to getting off in Turkey.  Larger ships normally call in Kusadasi  and smaller ships in Izmir.  It is not critical to get a Visa in advance.  Both of these ports provide access to Ephesus where you can visit the Roman Ruins, visit the both the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Church of Saint John.  Flying into Turkey for a land trip?  Pre-cruise stay?  You can just get one in the airport as this is the standard procedure.

    Visa for China

    You must determine if you need a single, double, or multiple entry Visa.  This depends upon your itinerary.  The documentation required for a China Visa are very straightforward.  Most US passport holder arrive in China in one of two ways:

    1) Hong Kong for a cruise

    2) Beijing or Shanghai for a land tour (with a potential Yangtze river cruise.)

    Beijing is the city where you can walk on a section of the Great Wall; while, Shanghai is a modern city where East meets West.  Xian is home to the Terra Cotta Warriors.

    Visa for Brazil

    Brazil is a little tricky in that they require the most information from US passport holders.  Plus requirements are different based upon your State.  Note: if you are staying in someone’s home or attending a trade show/conference, then there are additional requirements.

    1. Proof of Funds – complete bank statements for  three months showing transactions (for Florida residents)
    2. Proof of present address
    3. Yellow Fever International Certificate of Vaccination record – IF you have been to certain countries and/or you will visit certain parts of Brazil

    Where are you going in Brazil?  Land tour? Cruise? You can experience the sites of Rio and ascend Sugar loaf Mountain, visit the Iguacu Falls, or take a trip on the Amazon River.

    Visa for Russia

    Arriving in St. Petersburg, Russia on a Baltic Sea Cruise?  Please inquire if you have questions about obtaining a Visa for

    Sample Russian Visa Documents
    Sample Russian Visa Documents (Photo credit: hollaBackpackers)

    Russia for arrival by air.  There is so much to see that most cruise lines offer an overnight/two-day port call when calling on St Petersburg, Russia.

     

    Have you heard the rumor, “This ship won’t let me go ashore if I didn’t book the tour with them.”  Really, they have no right to keep you aboard as long as you have your blanket visa (more on that later.)

    St. Petersburg, Russia is different from other port calls in that you need to:

    1) be escorted by a state sanctioned tour guide, and

    2) need to have a tourist visa.  The solution to getting a great tour with great value is not complicated.

    You will have your blanket Visa with all suggested third party tours…more later ( I already said that but I’m making you wait just one more time.)

    To depart your ship in St. Petersburg, every cruise passenger is expected to present these four (4) documents:

    1. Your valid Passport.  Your identity will be checked, it will be stamped usually on the last page, and then returned to you.
    2. Russian Migration Card.  A Russian Migration Card is a 2-part document provided by the transportation company bringing the passenger to Russia. In your case it is your cruise line, but it could also be an airline or train. Please fill in both parts, sign them before disembarking.
    3. Shore Excursions Provider’s Tour Ticket – proof of having a prepaid, confirmed space in a guided shore excursions program.   This tour ticket will have the local operator’s name and will serve as your blanket Visa.
    4. A photocopy of the photo and signature page of your passport.  This is just a precautionary measure. In case there is a power failure at the port terminal the Immigration Department and computers may not work. In other words this copy may, or may not, be required, so do not present it until asked.)

    Here are some of the incredible sites and incredible things including:

    1. Catherine’s Palace The grand Baroque style palace was built for the wife of Peter The Great. It exceeds all the other palaces with its gigantic size, the stunning facade of the palace extends for almost 1000 feet.
    2. Peter and Paul Fortress Built in 1703, by Peter the Great to protect his new capital, it never saw battle and became a prison for politically harmful people.
    3. Hermitage The former residential Winter Palace of the Romanov rulers, today houses one of the world’s most prestigious museums where the rooms rival the art within them.
    4. Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood It sports a fantastic ornate “Russian-style” exterior of traditional colorful onion domes, ceramic tiles and colored glazed bricks.
    5. Canal Cruise St. Petersburg is also called “the Venice of the North.”
    6. Metro Ride Visit the magnificent “palaces of the People” as the Metro used to be called during the Soviet Union years.
    7. Lunches – would included lunches with Champagne and Vodka be good?
    8. Ballet – A great option in the evening of your overnight in port

     

    Are you on our Insider Travel Tips list?  If not, sign-up right now!


     

     

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  • How to Cancel Your Vacation

    Do you have to cancel your vacation?  Is there a possibility that you have to cancel your vacation?  We’ll work together and make everything as smooth as possible.  Whatever the reason is to cancel your trip, I’ll work with you to make it as easy as possible and recover as much of your money as possible and rebook your trip if appropriate.  Before we get into the steps. I’ll share two stories.

    1) Barbara called early on a Sunday morning.  It was her birthday and she should have been en-route to begin a Panama Canal Cruise.  Once, I saw her number on Caller ID, I knew there was trouble. She had an urgent medical issue and had to cancel her trip.  I immediately canceled the cruise portion and filed an insurance claim,.  We worked together to get the right forms filled out by her doctor and she received a full refund back in record time.  Additionally, there was a charge for shuttle transfer.  Since Barbara was soon ready to travel again, I booked her on another cruise within days and the shuttle company honored her reservation for the new dates.

    2) Donna of NJ was anticipating a great family trip to the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Resorts.  One week prior to leaving, our county was struck by Sandy resulting in widespread devastation and power outages.  There was no way her family would leave her house without power even if it was restored just before they had to leave for their trip!  While, the family has a trip insurance policy, it may not consider the lack of power as a reason to cancel.  While, I think that the insurance company may assist due to the nature of the storm, I’m not taking any chances.  Prior to finishing the insurance claim, I’m working directly with the resort vendor to negotiate a direct refund of as much as possible.  Additionally, the value of the airfare will be good for one year.  I’ll confirm all of this and then go to the insurance company to file for any remaining money. This is my own “two-step” plan to maximize the chances of receiving as much money as quickly and easily as possible for my clients.

    Let’s get on with the steps to cancel your vacation:

    1) Please contact me immediately even if there’s only the possibility you may need to cancel your trip.  I will investigate the ramifications on your behalf right away and inform you of your options if  any.

    2) Do you have trip insurance in-force with me?  If so I will  initiate a claim on your behalf and start the process of recovering as much of your money/expenses as possible.

    3) We will evaluate your airline tickets.  Normally you have one year to rebook the value of your tickets with the conditions 1) pay a change fee of about $150 per person, 2) pay any increase in the prevailing rate due for your flight(s).

    4) If you canceled your trip prior to leaving, I will assist with the the insurance filing process (if you have insurance) and prepare any necessary invoices/itineraries which are required.

    5) If you had an issue during your trip, please keep all receipts and documentation.  We will need these documents to file an insurance claim (if purchased).

    6) Please have patience and understand that I will do my best to support you from my experience and knowledge of how best to work with travel suppliers and insurance companies.

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  • Go on your dream vacation without spending countless hours researching infinite websites

    The secret to your dream vacation is NOT spending hours on the Internet!

    Dear Traveler,

    Wondering if you made the right choice for your next vacation?

    Are you overwhelmed with too many details to plan and manage with your next  big trip?

    You are in the right place! Imagine feeling totally confident and care-free about your upcoming trip. I can help you plan and enjoy a vacation with all of your details expertly planned out.

    Just imagine YOU on YOUR next vacation.  You have a beautiful view of the Eiffel tower from your hotel room, perfect suite on a perfect beach, or a perfectly located cabin on your dream cruise ship with all of the details expertly planned out for you.    SPOC in other version.Virtually all you have to do is pack and go!   We will also serve as your travel concierge before , duing, ansd after your trip so once call will handles any unexpected issues. You will feel relaxedabout all of the choices and details of your next trip because you know a professional is taking care of you.  Best of all, we can help you travel to the world’s most exclusive destinations and have the most amazing experiences.

    Warm regards,

     

    Dave Rosenthal, VTC, MCC

    P.S. Ready to get started? Complete our What’s Your Travel Personality questionnaire now.  We’ll address what you want to experience on your next trip, and see if we’re a fit to work together.

     

    Also check out: https://daydreamexcursions.com/right-and-wrong-vacation-planning/

     

    You are the most professional we have ever dealt with. You listened to our requests and put them into effect. Our trip was totally stress free, everything was exactly as you said ; no surprises.
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  • Bora Bora and the Society Islands

     

    Bora Bora
    Bora Bora resorts

    Bora Bora and the Society Islands (French Polynesia) are commonly thought of as “Tahiti.” Are you thinking over water bungalows and lagoons? Then that’s likely Bora Bora. Tahiti is the location of the International airport in the Society Islands.  Read on for what many consider the most romantic island destination on our planet!

    Boro Bora is part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. The most commonly thought of island is Bora Bora.   Next is the island of Moorea; we’ll take a look at these idyllic islands in and highlight some of  the fabulous one-of-a-kind resorts.

     

     

     

    Another day in Bora Bora.
    Another day in Bora Bora.

     

    Quick Insider travel tips:

    • The island of Tahiti in the Society Island is where the int’l airport and cruise-port are located.  The airport is in Pappeete (PPT, but no, not “Powerpoint”).
    • Flights depart from Los Angeles (LAX) on Air Tahiti Nui (not to be confused with Air Tahiti, the local inter island air carrier.
    • Depending on your arrival time on Papeete, you may need a “day” room or one overnight stay prior to traveling to other islands or beginning a cruise.
    • Bora Bora is about a one hour flight from Tahiti (Papeete)
    • Moorea is about a 30 minute ferry ride from Papeete.
    • The movie “Couples Retreat” takes place on the St. Regis Resort on Bora Bora.

    While reviewing some resorts for a client, I had the privilege to work with Michael Cottam of Visual Itineraries who is an expert on French Polynesia/South Pacific.   Michael has some great insights into the  resort on Bora Bora and Moorea; you can read his insights below.

    CLICK NOW for a quick “visual vacation!

    The Bora Bora Intercontinental Thalaso and La Moana resorts are good choices for us.   Key question: does the higher price of the Thalaso make the experience that much better? What are the wow factors?

    The Thalasso is more luxurious, more modern-feeling, bigger restaurant space, bigger bungalows, and a technological masterpiece of a spa, plus the amazing A/C provided for the resort from cold seawater sucked into a pipe that goes 2 miles into the sea. It’s very impressive, but for me, it feels a little too cold/chic and not Polynesian enough for my personal tastes. Everything about it looks expensive; you’d feel uncomfortable going to dinner in the restaurant in a shirt that hadn’t been pressed. It feels to me like there’s too much glass and steel and marble in the resort for it to really be in French Polynesia. Having said that, it’s got tremendous appeal for many people. I’d say it feels like high-end NY chic/luxury, with views of French Polynesia.

    The Le Moana is more traditional and Polynesian in feel. I really liked it, but it’s a great basic Bora Bora resort without anything in particular to amaze you. Smaller feel, more personal, more authentic feeling.

    The Bora Bora Pearl is really my absolute favorite, in that you get the full Polynesia style, with absolutely amazing bungalows both overwater and garden, a super dramatic approach to the resort with the vaulted ceiling on the entrance on the dock, more impressive restaurants and grounds than the Le Moana Intercon. And in my opinion, the spa at the Pearl is much more stunning and spectacular, despite not having all the high-tech goodies that the Intercon Thalasso has.

    Bora Bora Lagoon Resort is like the Pearl, with a little less fancy spa, well-done grounds that make you think of an Asian garden.  I really like this property. Great Polynesian feel.

    The Sofitel property (Moorea) is really, really well done. I’d say it’s the rock star of Moorea, for sure. Great spa there too.

    How does this island stuff make YOU feel?  Did you look at the maps, photos, and videos? Finally, what’s on your bucket list?  Do tell so I can start long range planning for you!

  • Disney Cruise to Canada

    Disney Cruise Line: what’s it really like?

    Disney Magic cruise ship
    Disney Magic cruise ship (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Read on for my story of our cruise to Canada; I took my family on the Disney Magic from New York City to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick from September 2 – 7. This was a unique experience with some good and some bad.  We jumped on this cruise to Canada as Disney was offering a guaranteed verandah stateroom at an unheard of price. Our stateroom assignment could not have been much better as it was almost midship on Deck 6 – cabin 6548.

    We visited the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia (just $8.75/adult in high season).  It’s a compact  museum (easy walk from cruise terminal) that does a great job telling the story of some of the major events occurring in Halifax including Halifax’s role in the Titanic aftermath.

    Had to take this picture at an indoor pedestrian mall in Saint John, New Brunswick.
    Had to take this picture at an indoor pedestrian mall in Saint John, New Brunswick.

    The next day, we did a St John/Bay of Fundy by land and sea tour.  I had a hard time finding shore excursions via my preferred providers and wound up going with Disney Cruise Line as a last resort.  We saw a lot of sites in the cold rain on a tour bus and boat.  Then we had lunch in the old city market.  Yes, I went with the cruise line. Read this post as to why “official” cruise line shore excursions are NOT the way to go.  PS I overheard a lady at the shore excursions desk ask if the Grayline tour bus was “approved” by Disney.  Let’s face it, the cruise lines collect your cash with a nice profit and then hand you off to the local ground operator.  The cruise lines prefer to pack large buses with lots of profit…oops, people.

    I enjoy putting my guests on memorable excursions to experience their destination.  Read another story about a successful 3rd party shore excursion.

     

     

    Back to Disney Cruise Line

    PROS

    • The best kids club, by far, hands down…kids even get to put on a show in the main theater
    • Disney Verandah cabin is other cruise line’s mini/junior suite
    • “Split” Bathroom was fabulous (sink and toilet in one room and another sink and shower tub combo in another room)
    • 5 Day itinerary was perfect for a quick getaway: one sea day, 2 port days and another sea day

    CONS

    • More rules that this Master Cruise Counselor has ever experienced on any other cruise – dining policies are very rigid and seem dated compared with other cruise line flexibility.
    • Old ship and IMHO, there’s only so much they can do to make it presentable
    • Worst buffet ever IMHO and rarely open when we needed it…this may be different on the newer ships
    • You have to give your room number at the restaurants for breakfast and lunch so they can track everything – that’s a first
    • Security screening at ports of call occurs in the main lobby of the ship which just seems out of place – another first
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  • Barbados – Caves & Monkeys & Beaches, Oh My!

    One of my past guests recently booked a Barbados third-party shore excursion along with three other third-party shore excursions with much trepidation.  She was led to believe there is great risk by not taking the shore excursions offered by the cruise line.  “What if we get left behind?” is a common question we hear at Daydream Excursions; we use providers who will guarantee to get  you to your next port if you get left behind.  And the chance of getting left behind is quite low but makes an excellent scare tactic!  Let me arrange your shore excursions for a more authentic experience and potentially put more money into the pockets of the hard working locals in your destination.

     

    Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus or Chloroce...
    Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus or Chlorocebus aethiops) grooming, at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Saint Peter Parish, Barbados. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Her is a review of one third party shore excursion in Barbados.  This review comes courtesy of Angela and James from Phoenix. See their trip to Costa Rica as well.

    This was one of our favorites-  the cave was really nice (almost so nice it looked fake!). The tourism board spent a lot of money on it making it really well lit, informative, had an attached education center with videos, etc.

    We had our only female guide of the trip and she was great.   Good sense of humor, polite, etc.

    The lunch was good and the wildlife reserve was really different than anywhere I’d ever been– it was almost like a zoo that you walk through, with the animals just crossing the path in front of you!  You literally had to watch out so you didn’t step on a turtle and the deer were so close you could almost touch them.   We were getting ready to leave with no monkey sightings (hugely disappointing for me because after seeing only 2 monkies in Costa Rica I was dying to see some). However, we heard they were “back” so we stayed a little longer here than I think we were supposed to but were able to see lots of monkeys including a mama with a baby on her belly!  So cute.

    We then went to a nice beach where we had lawn chairs and umbrellas waiting for us (ironically the beach was next door to what was supposedly Richard Branson‘s house- like if he was there, he would share the same beach as us!).   It was really overcast and eventually started raining so it wasn’t our “Best” beach day, but would have been quite nice had the weather cooperated.

    Overall, I think this one was the best value for the price:  2 distinct “activities”, plus beach, plus island tour, stops for pictures,  plus lunch and a drink at the wildlife reserve.   So after this, you can see why the St. Lucia tour wasn’t that exciting- this had a lot more to offer for what I think was similar prices.

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  • Cancun and the Riviera Maya

    Cancun and the Riviera Maya are some of my favorite places to plan your trips!

    Here are the top 4 reasons to plan your visit to Riviera Maya

    1) Reasonably priced direct flights from Eastern and central US

    2) One of the best selections of modern, full featured resorts which means more value and selection for you

    3) Some of the word’s best beaches without the world’s highest prices  or longest flights!

    4) Fully plan a visit with fabulous nature and cultural activities

    Visit 2 properties recently visited by Daydream Excursions’ happy guests

    Map of Riviera Maya
    Map of Riviera Maya (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Cancun and the Riviera Maya have become a second home for North American travelers looking for great beaches, lots of sun and exciting nightlife. Mayan ruins sit next door to world-class accommodations and tourism facilities, with water sports and natural attractions close at hand. Only a couple of hours from many United States cities, Cancun is one of the most accessible international destinations available.

     

    • The Yucatán coast has been a staple of travelers from the United States for forty years or more. The rapid development in and around Cancun became a model for the best and the worst in the ways in which tourism could enrich a population. This area was largely isolated from the rest of Mexico until the Mexican government selected the region for development.

    • The Yucatán’s Caribbean coast is more than 236 miles and stretches from Cancún in the north all the way to Chetumal, on the border with the nation of Belize.

    • The northern half of the Yucatán’s coast is known as the “Maya Riviera “; to the south, the “Costa Maya.” Between the two is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

    • South of Cancun development along the Riviera Maya is on a smaller scale, with a greater understanding for the principles of sustainable tourism and a respect for native cultures.

    • The second longest reef system in the world runs much of the length of the coast. Playa del Carmen, Xpu-Ha, Tulum and the other magnificent beaches occur where there are gaps in the reef and the tidal action of the ocean’s waves pounds the reef into fine sand.

    • The reef provides great snorkeling and diving and the beaches are some of the world’s finest.

    • Ancient Mayan ruins dot the coast and are easily accessible from the resort communities along the coast.

    • Inland, vast caves are present and under ground rivers run where travelers can explore with experienced guides.

    • The choice of accommodations is large and varied from cabins to all inclusive resorts or boutique hotels.

    • The ancient Mayan cities of Uxmal and Chichen Itza remain some of the best examples of the mysterious cultures, the vestages of which exist to this day in the native populations.

    © Copyright 2011 Travmarket. LLC.

    Plan your visit today!


     

     

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  • 3 Ways to Prepare your Taxes Plus Travel Planning

    There are 3 ways to prepare your taxes.

    Tax
    Tax (Photo credit: 401(K) 2012)

    If you have other techniques please share!  We’ll look at the pros and cons of each and perhaps answer what this has to do with Travel Planning. This topic has been on my mind for quite a while! Note: this article is for educational purposes only; none of the suggestions, etc. may be construed as tax advice.

    1) IRS Paper Forms – Fill out forms and schedules by hand, assemble all of your supporting documentation, and send in to the IRS and State taxing authority(s).  For wage earners or renters with minimal deductions and income from minimal sources

    Pros

    Cons

    • May miss deductions
    • May not properly calculate capital gains rates
    • No support for your own personalized situation
    • No one to call for help should your return be audited or questioned by the IRS

    2) Prepare on your own with Tax Software.  Use popular software like H&R Block at Home, Turbo Tax, or Tax Slayer, etc.  Follow interview driven question process and key in your data.  Best for those with mortgages, deductions, self-employment income, real estate and capital gains income, and itemized deductions

    Pros

    • Easy to follow interviews
    • Free to moderate cost
    • All calculations done for you
    • Schedule/Worksheet completion are all done via interviews

    Cons

    • No dedicated support contact – although most products do offer good support (just not personalized with someone who knows your situation)
    • No support for IRS questions and audits although better products now include audit support.
    • No understanding for your own personalized tax aspirations

    3) Tax professional. They will ask relevant questions, collect your data/documentation, and fully prepare your return for you.  Best for more complex situations.  However, many people prefer a tax professional for peace of mind.

    Pros

    • Tax Preparer is up on the current tax laws and knows how to maximize your refund or minimize your tax bill.
    • Representation with the IRS if you are subject to questions or an audit
    • Singe point of contact for any tax related questions all year long
    • Knows your personal situation and background should you use him or her again and again
    • Can save you tons of time as they know how to efficiently navigate through the process and what questions to ask you to optimize your personal tax situation

    Cons

    • Potentially more expensive than the other methods (subject to your determination of value)
    • You must select someone with whom you are comfortable
    • You may not get someone who will be there to rapidly respond to your questions
    Tax Preparation
    Tax Preparation (Photo credit: agrilifetoday)

     

    Summary: Whether you choose to prepare your taxes on paper, with software, or via a Tax professional, you will get your returns completed; all three ways to prepare your taxes get you to a finished 1040.  Which way is the best?  That depends upon your preferences and your own situation.

    Do you see any similarities with a travel planning professional? Hmm, let’s list a small list of similarities that come to mind:

    • Travel Planners are up on the current travel environment including products, trends, promotions, etc.
    • Representation with various travel product vendors to resolve potential issues
    • Singe point of contact for any travel related questions all year long (you know there will be questions).
    • Knows your personal situation and background should you use him or her again and again
    • Can save you tons of time as they know how to efficiently navigate through the process and what questions to ask you to optimize your personal travel situation

     

    Thanks for reading this post.  Please comment below.

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  • International Air Travel Tips and Advice

    Here are some international air travel tips and guidelines that can make the international air portion of your trip more enjoyable. Once again, thanks to Mr. Tom Ogg of the Travel Professional Community for the content of this article and his great contributions to our industry.

    Baggage claim
    Baggage claim (Photo credit: gorbould)

    Planning Your Trip:

    1. Always use a Travel Professional! If you run into problems such as a delayed or cancelled flight, overbooked hotels, medical emergency, or other situations, your travel professional can act as your backstop to make things right and get you back on track. This is just one of the reasons that using a travel professional is the way to plan international travel.
    2. Plan on arriving in your destination at least a day before you need to be there. Arriving the day you intend to begin a cruise, could get risky should your flight be delayed or cancelled.
    3. Reconfirm everything before you depart on your vacation. If you are traveling over the International Dateline, make sure that the arrival dates are correct. Ditto for overnight flights with connections.

    Packing For Your Trip:

    1. Be sure to carry your passport, medication, medical emergency data, contact information, and othercritical information with you at all times. Never pack your important documents and medication in your suitcase
    2. Pack your itinerary, travel professional’s contact information, and your contact information while traveling in each piece of luggage.  (If you have purchased Travel Guard Insurance, be sure to attach their “BAG TRACK” labels on your luggage.)
    3. Also, pack one carry-on bag with everything that is absolutely necessary to still enjoy your vacation should your luggage get delayed or lost. Pack items that are not readily available in stores at the destination and that you deem mandatory to the success of your trip.

    At The Airport:

    1. Make sure to reconfirm your flight 24-hours in advance before going to the airport.
    2. Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to relax after checking in for your flight. Allow [up to 3 hours] prior to your departure time.
    3. Upon check-in for your flight you will need
      Boarding pass
      Boarding pass (Photo credit: Simon Aughton)

       

      • Your Passport and any Visas required for your final destination in your passport
      • All necessary documents for minors traveling with you (make sure that your travel professional has all of the details so that they can advise you of exactly what you need).
      • Your flight confirmation
      • Proof of immunization (if required by the country that you are visiting)
      • Personally check in each piece of luggage with the counter agent and confirm that they are checked through to their final destination or if you have to claim them along the way and recheck them. Do not allow anyone else to check them for you.
      • Present the necessary documents for your flight(s) and reconfirm the boarding passes with the counter agent making sure that you have received all  boarding passes for your flight.
      • If you are boarding in a country outside of the United States, you will need to clear immigrations on the way to the departure gates. You will need to present your passport and boarding passes. In some countries you may be required to go through an interview with immigration officials, or if you are singled out for a secondary inspection, as well.  This is just a precaution.
      • Once you have your luggage receipts and boarding passes returned by immigration, proceed to the security check point and be prepared to present your passport, and boarding pass to be processed through the security checkpoint. Again, you may be singled out for a secondary search that may include being manually searched and your carry-ons completely inspected.
      • NEVER act in a defensive or aggressive manner during any of the above processes. NEVER joke or give any of the people in charge of the processes a reason to single you out.

    Arriving At Your Destination:

    1. Once you arrive at your destination you will be get routed into Immigration. You will need to present your passport to enter the country.
    2. You will then proceed to luggage claim where you can then claim your luggage. Make sure that your luggage has not been tampered with and if you have placed anything of value in your luggage, be sure that it is still there.
    3. You will then be required to go through customs to exit the baggage claim area. You will be provided with a customs declaration form on your flight. You will be required to submit this form to the customs official.
    4. NEVER try to take undeclared items through customs. If you are singled out for a secondary search and they are found you may be deported right then and there, or worse.

    Staying Safe:

    1. Once you enter the main terminal at your destination, do not respond to people asking if you need a taxi, transfer, tour guide or any other service. If you are being met for a transfer to your hotel, follow the instruction on your transfer voucher/documents.  NEVER respond to someone offering you a service after approaching you.
    2. LEAVE Your Expensive JEWELRY at HOME! Unless you absolutely need your jewelry for some reason essential to your trip, leave it at home.
    3. Only carry what is absolutely necessary while traveling.  Your “travel wallet” should contain a copy of your passport and driver’s license, an ATM card, your insurance information, your contact information and some cash. Most important is to carry an “In Case of Emergency Contact” card with critical contact information on it.
    4. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and remember that as a tourist, you make the most desirable target for crime that there is. By not wearing or carrying anything valuable worth stealing, you have mitigated the risk.

    Important Links for International Travelers:

    http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/survival-guide.htm – Great information on staying healthy and safe while traveling internationally.

    http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html – Tips for Traveling Abroad is an excellent site for preparing for your vacation.

    http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html – This is the State Departments travel warnings site. Be sure to visit this site right before your vacation to see if anything has changed that might affect your trip.

    http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm – Center for Disease Control list of vaccinations needed by country.

    http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm – Detailed information regarding health and disease information by country for more than 200 countries. This will help you understand what you should prepare for.

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