from your vacation? OK, I hate hearing this, “I found this vacation for $1399 for two.” Really? Please tell me all about it? (Hope I’m not offending anyone here! You may know who you are.) Turns out this property in question is NOT All-Inclusive so the amount spent for meals and drinks is not there.
Our focus is on YOURTOTAL COST TO COME HOME. I cranked out a simple but realistic analysis of a realistic vacation choice for a family of four. The bottom line of the chart below is a good estimate of the total cost to come home NOT the cost to book the trip.
So what’s better: a cruise or an All-Inclusive resort?
Do you agree with my assumptions? Let me know. Want to spend your vacation in one place (a resort) or take your resort (a ship) to different places? The answer is up to you, but I’ll help you understand the options along with your total cost to come home.
Do you want to be a smarter travel consumer? Are you up on the latest tours, suppliers, and travel options available?
Travel University is in session! We’ll start with two quick stories:
1) Let’s take cruise line shore excursions. Are they really the best? Will taking another supplier’s shore excursion have you back at the pier late while you watch your ship sailing off to the next port? (This is one of my favorite tales of nonsense, or scare tactics if you will.)
2) What about escorted tours? Can you mix up another supplier’s tour products with your primary tour provider? Sure! I’ve used a major tour company for a nice 12 day tour to Italy; ironically, the tour did not include a visit to the Vatican. While the tour operator offered an optional tour to the Vatican if enough people signed up, I supplied a private tour of the Vatican at a great value but even more importantly, it allowed my 9 travelers to have a more personalized and less crowded tour of the Vatican museums.
So, welcome to Travel University! I want to help you become a smarter travel consumer by asking even more questions.
Are you afraid you may miss a key site/experience on your next dream trip?
Or, are you in a big rush to spend your time and money to see the wrong things? Hmm?
(Here’s a hint)
Stonehenge
Worried you might pay too much for your trip?
Do you have short term and long term travel plans? Bucket list plans? For that matter, do you have a retirement plan?
Wow, I sure do ask a lot of questions! Have you noticed I don’t flood you with travel deals? But deals for what? And, are they a good value for you?
By coming to me with your ideas, I will help you evaluate them by first establishing your vacation objectives via my travel personality questionnaire. Then we’ll work together to plan the right trip for you. I’ll steer you away from obstacles and discuss your options, whether they’re ideas you bring to me or options I suggest.
Bottom line, you don’t need me to help you get a “deal,” but I’m committed to helping you plan the best vacation by evaluating the right supplier(s) for your trip and helping you purchase travel components wisely. I am your strategic partner for your vacation plans. When you leave for your vacation, I want you to feel empowered that you are going to experience what you set out to accomplish in your vacation goals. Fair enough?
We’ll talk when you get back from your next dream trip.
I attended the the New York Times Travel Show and here are the travel secrets I heard from the presidents of several travel suppliers. WARNING, this is a little self-promoting as their remarks were on the value of reputable travel agents/advisers and reputable tour operators. Please read this brief post and share!
1) Travel Agents/Advisers advocate for their clients to get the vacation their clients expect. One way agents help their clients achieve their vacation objectives is by using reputable travel vendors/suppliers. (From Avanti Destinations and Insight Vacations.) While I know this sounds a little obvious, a good travel adviser carefully selects travel vendors for his clients.
2) Travel is precious time with your loved ones. Obvious enough, but make sure you do your trip carefully.
3) During the initial days of the uprising in Egypt, a number of tour operators chartered planes to get their US citizens home promptly according to the US Tour Operators Association. In many cases, these flights got US citizens out of the country sooner then US State Department chartered flights. So, please ask yourself: do you want a reputable tour operator AND a travel adviser working on your behalf who’s always in your corner?
4) With the high airfares to Europe, family travel to Cost Rica, Central, and South America is increasing. In my resent experience, I’m finding flights from the US to Italy could be as high as $1,600 for the upcoming travel season.
5) Travel is all about the personal interactions. When travelers come back home, they feel differently about the destination and their life at home.
6) You don’t go into a restaurant and say, “I don’t need a menu, just bring me the cheapest thing on it.” So for travel, understand what makes up a complete vacation experience. Do remember to include such items as: transfers from point A to B, travel insurance, parking, sightseeing tours, excursions, cell-phone/data charges, etc.
Were these secrets from the New York Times Travel show valuable?
I have news for you about your vacation budget, I may not follow it! What? Please read on and don’t get offended just yet.
Two Vacation Budget Stories
1) A couple of great clients from Florida wanted to a arrange a special Birthday Celebration on Star Clippers, a mega-yacht cruise line. Star Clippers offers an experience not possible on large, medium, or most other small ships. The couple came to me thinking the price to come in around $5,000 for the cruise. After reserving this great trip and applying the standard plus a bonus discount, their final price was just under $3100 for this cruise which is far below their vacation budget.
2) Another story, a client wanted to go to Punta Cana last year for three nights on a very tight vacation budget and was willing to leave from any of 4 “pseudo-local” airports. For a three night trip to an all-inclusive resort, air will be a large percentage of the trip and largely fixed due to our friends at the airlines. The resort I could fit in the budget was OK but fell short in some key areas. While the grounds were lovely, there were some issues with the service and their room. I booked a property that I was not familiar with and not trained on. Although, the client’s trip was still good, I failed my client by following his budget and not refusing their trip or attempting to sell the value of a slightly better resort.
If presented with another opportunity where I feel I cannot deliver the proper experience within a client’s budget, I will state that upfront and politely direct the client to consider shortening the duration, changing the budget or to book elsewhere if they must stay within their budget and not shorten up the trip.
So what’s in your vacation budget? Did you remember to include:
transfers from point A to B
travel insurance
meals
parking
souvenirs
beverages
sightseeing tours (you didn’t travel all of the way to your dream location to sit in your room? Or, perhaps you’re at a great all-inclusive resort and you just really wanted to relax.)
excursions
gratuities/tips
Internet/Corporate VPN access
Cellular voice/data roaming charges
Planning your vacation with Daydream Excursions includes looking over your whole travel experience to provide you with a realistic estimate of the cost to come home from your trip. So, I look at all of the above items when helping you plan your trip to get the most value for your vacation budget.
Call or email today to start planning you next trip!
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.
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.
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:
Your Passport which must remain valid for 6 months AFTER your trip
Specific Country Visa Application
Recent, additional passport photograph
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.
Proof of Funds – complete bank statements for three months showing transactions (for Florida residents)
Proof of present address
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 (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:
Your valid Passport. Your identity will be checked, it will be stamped usually on the last page, and then returned to you.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canal Cruise St. Petersburg is also called “the Venice of the North.”
Metro Ride Visit the magnificent “palaces of the People” as the Metro used to be called during the Soviet Union years.
Lunches – would included lunches with Champagne and Vodka be good?
Ballet – A great option in the evening of your overnight in port
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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.
