The Best Short Cruises for 2015

   

  When most people think about taking a cruise, they envision a full week sailing on a cruise ship to some exotic locale.  For many travelers, this exactly what they are looking for.  But for many others who would love to take a cruise, the thought of being on a ship for a full week will actually discourage them from taking a cruise.  Whether you do not having enough vacation time, or your lifestyle does not allow you to get away for a full week, or maybe you're a first-time cruiser who does not want to commit to a full week at sea; it does not mean you can't do a cruise.  The cruise lines get that you can't do a seven-night cruise, and the result is they are offering an increasing number of shorter cruise options.

       The three-, four-, or five-night sailings are often affordable priced, and travel to many popular destinations, especially in the winter/spring sailing season.  The cruises tend to be on older ships that have smaller cabins with fewer balconies, and lack many newer amenities like specialty bars and restaurants or water slides.  While these short cruises have had a reputation for attracting a party-hearty crowd looking for cheep fun, the cruise lines are now focusing more on attracting families, and travelers want the features and quality experience that a newer cruise ship has to offer.  The cruise lines are now offering some of their newer ships, and want to give the family or the cruiser for a better quality ship experience, the ability to enjoy a cruise experience in a shorter time frame.

Here are some winter and spring short cruise highlights for 2015:

Disney Cruise Line:  The cruise line who wrote the book on modern family ships operates 2 ships for shorter cruises.  From Port Canaveral, FL. (near Orlando); the Disney Dream sails on 3 and 4 night sailings to Nassau and Disney's private island , Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas.  Sailing from Miami, the Disney Wonder, in addition to 4 night sailings to the Bahamas is doing 5 night sailings to the Western Caribbean.

Princess Cruises:  Offering 4 and 5 night itineraries to the Eastern and and Western Caribbean on the Caribbean Princess from Fort Lauderdale, and sailing from Los Angeles, the Crown Princess visits Mexico on 4 night cruises.  These modern, innovative ships offer new dining and ship experiences in a casual yet elegant environment.

Royal Caribbean Line:  Offering newer and recently completely reconditioned ships, Royal Caribbean offers modern conveniences on a number of their short cruises.  From ships offering majority balcony cabins, to water slides and rock climbing walls to flexible and specialty dining to state of the art entertainment: these ships offer something fore everyone.  The Enchantment of the Sea does 3 and 4 night sailing to the Bahamas, including a stop at Royal's private island of Coco Cay, from Port Canaveral.  From Fort Lauderdale, Liberty of the Sea; and from Tampa, Brilliance of the Sea, both sail on 4 and 5 night adventure to the Western Caribbean.

Celebrity Cruises:  The Celebrity Constellation sails 4 night cruises to the Bahamas and 5 night cruises to the Western Caribbean.  The ship offers its guests modern and elegant sophistication with world class dining for people who want a little more in their travels.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival- Disney for the Foodie

Every fall, Disneyworld becomes a choice for an adult vacation. Don't roll your eyes at me, because it's time for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Being a Disney Fangirl and a foodie it's the perfect combination. Having attended this event, here are some of my tips for the festival. If this is a girls getway, take an afternoon off and head to the Premium Outlets on International Dr. and Premium Outlets-Vineland

1. Stay onsite so you can partake of the adult beverages and just have to take Disney transportation back to your hotel. The prime locations are the Epcot area Resorts, where you can easily walk back via the International Gateway. These resort include two of my personal favorites, Disney's Beach Club resort pictured below and her sister resort Disney's Yacht Club

 

The views from Disney's Boardwalk Inn are fabulous

 

Also in the area are the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, which are run by Starwood.

 

 

2. Watch the food booths, while there are nearly 30 food & beverage marketplaces around World Showcase it can get expensive eating at them. My biggest tip is to book some of the special events, where you actually sit down and eat. Like the Italian Regional Lunch, notice you get multiple courses with paired wine.

 

 

Another fun event is the Grand Marnier tasting, where you can sample the famous liqueur and eat some desserts made with it.

 

3. Book some of the cooking demonstrations- I think these are a good value, because they include a sample of what the chef was cooking.

 

4. Don't miss the Eat to the Beat concert held nightly.

 

5. And of course catch Illluminations-Reflections of Earth, my favorite fireworks show at Disneyworld. Watch it here

 

Details for the event start coming out in May/June and booking for the special events usually is in early August. Of course you do need park tickets, though some of the chef's dinners are offered at various Disney Resorts.

 

So instead of doing your same old same old trip this fall, consider attending Epcot Food & Wine Festival and don't forget to check out my favorite ride at Epcot, Soarin.





Top 2015 Winter Destinations

   After a brutal winter last year in most of the country, and some early snow storms and below average temperatures in the Midwest and East Coast so far this year;  more and more families are already looking at , planning a winter getaway.  Whether your tastes lead to the ski slopes or the beach, the trend is that more Americans are planning to take a winter vacation this year than in 2014.  According to a recent survey conducted by TripAdvisor;  over 79% of their respondents plan to travel for leisure this winter, up from 67% last year.  With 51% of travelers saying they want to go to a beach destination and 12% wanting to take a cruise this winter; the message is loud and clear: Americans want to travel where the weather is warm.  This can be seen in the top 10 destinations Americans are planning to travel too this winter according to the TripAdvisor survey.

Top 10 Winter 2015 Winter Vacation Destinations 

            

                             1.   Cancun, Mexico

                             

                             2.   Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

                             3.   New York City, New York

                             4.   Las Vegas, Nevada

                             5.   Orlando, Florida

                             6.   Key West, Florida

                             7.   Playa del Carmen, Mexico

                             8.   Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

                             9.   New Orleans, Louisiana

                            10.  Honolulu, Hawaii

       With more people already planning to travel this winter, and the predictions calling for another bad winter for the northern regions, many families who have not already made plans for a winter vacation may be disappointed by availability and costs for the destination they would like to travel to when they check by themselves.  Its not to late though if you want to get out of the cold, and take your family on a long weekend, or during the kids school winter break.  Call your travel agent.  They can still show you options that will still get you to that warm beach while its below zero back home; but won't break the budget.

Amber Cove - The Next Great Caribbean Cruise Destination?

     
Amber Cove, the newest Caribbean cruise destination is set to welcome its first cruise ship, has signed an agreement with Carnival Cruise Line to allow Carnival to be the first major cruise line to utilized the exciting new facilities at this new destination port; when it opens in opens in October 2015.  This exciting new destination, located near the historic town of Puerto Plata, on the beautiful north coast of the Dominican Republic- will welcome it first cruise ship, the Carnival  Victory. with a day long call in October 6th, according to Reuters.

       The port is situated in a spectacular cove between lush tropical landscapes and souring mountains.  Amber Cove will feature extensive recreational activities, and feature some of the most extensive shore excursions programs available in the Caribbean.   From beautiful beaches, to exciting water sports and snorkeling in crystal clear waters, to eco-adventures on land and water, Amber Cove promises something  to satisfy your Caribbean dream adventures.  Other exciting excursions will include crossing the rugged country side on Terracross vehicles, horseback riding along miles of open beaches, or even the luxury of renting your own beachside bungalow with your own personnel chief.   The port will feature historic architectural elements that echo the area's colonial past.  Its cobblestone plazas will feature themed restaurants and bars, a locally sourced marketplace, recreational amenities, and be the transportation hub for access to land and sea adventures.  The nearby town of Puerto Plata, discovered by Columbus in 1492, offers you limitless opportunities to shop, eat, drink and explore.  The port will offer 2 births that are able to accommodate the largest ships.

       Carnival Cruise Line is planning to make 37 calls to Amber Cove, in the first 6 months after it opens in October of 2015, for 7 night and longer cruises departing from Florida.  According to Terry Thomton, senior VP of itinerary planning for Carnival, "Amber Cove is destine to become a cornerstone...and provide an unmatched combination of fun in the sun activities and eco-tourism opportunities".  Over 100,000 guests will experience this new jewel of the Caribbean in its first 6 months.

Caribbean All-Inclusives for Families

   

 If you are a couple planning your honeymoon, or just a couple who are romantic at heart,  chances are good you will discover the benefits of All-Inclusive resorts; when planning your Caribbean dream trip.  The idea of staying and playing in a tropical paradise, where all you food, beverages, entertainment and often even your other activities are included in the price of your stay; is a fast and growing trend.  Now the travel industry is expanding the all-inclusive experience, with multiple brands dedicated to families that offer dedicated resorts that cater to family members of all ages, with a special emphasis to the younger members of your family.  While these resorts focus on family activities; they also allow mom and dad to still enjoy some fantastic adult time while their children have the time of their lives.   The resort brands featured may be different, but what they have in common is allowing all members of you family, no matter what their age, to have a great vacation were all your costs are included, and you have the peace of mind of knowing up front want the total cost of your trip will be.

       The most famous family all-inclusive resort brand are the Beaches Resorts.  The three Beaches resorts, (located in the Turks & Caicos, Negril Jamaica, and Ocho Rios Jamaica), can be described as upscale quality family fun.  In addition to spectacular beach locations and free unlimited and free land and water activities; what makes Beaches so special is is the care and treatment they provide to the younger members of your family.  From climate controlled nurseries with all day accredited nannies for infants, to daily activities with characters from Sesame Street for your 3 to 4 year olds, to free snorkeling and sailing classes for your older kids; your children will have unlimited fun all day, every day.  For teens, they have their own world with beach activities, theme parties, water parks, scuba lessons, and even their own hot night club.  For mom and dad, world class golf, spas, and restaurants allow you to relax and reconnect.

       For Generations Resorts, the focus is on today's blended and extended families.  These premiere all suite, all butler, all gourmet resorts; located on the best beaches in Mexico's Riviera Maya, where designed to create the best family beach vacation for a new generation.  While your children enjoy a variety of fun and engaging supervised programs, you are free to slip away and indulge in the resorts award winning spa and resort facilities.  For the foodies, the world class "Gourmet Inclusive" dinning experiences will satisfy your every taste.  And if that is not enough, just ask you personnel butler, who are their to serve your family's needs and help make sure your vacation is everything you want it to be.

       At the Sunscape Resorts, located on the beautiful islands of Curacao and Cozumel,  the focus is on offering an "Unlimited-Fun" getaway to families. The resorts "Unlimited-Fun" experience is complete with endless dining options, unlimited international and domestic beverages, and countless daytime activities and nightly entertainment for the whole family. With their Explorer's Club for the kids and Core Zone for teens,
a number of room and suite options to meet your family requirements, and located on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Sunscape offers some of the best value in a family all-inclusive resorts.

       The new generation of family oriented all-inclusive resorts offer many options for your family's next Caribbean getaway.  These resorts are designed to meet all of your vacation needs; for everybody in your family.  No matter what your budget or your vacation tastes; their is a fantastic Caribbean resort  that is ready to help your family relax, have fun, and reconnect.

December's Cruise Tips

I love looking at some of the lists on how to do lists for cruises. As a 35 year veteran of cruising, former business road warrior, family traveler(2-4 trips per year) and now in the travel industry, I think some of these lists offer some good advice, but here is my advice for 1st time or infrequent cruisers.

Don't get to the ship early, no you don't get some prize for being the first person on the ship. Any way if you did it would be some tchotchke with the cruise line logo on it. What you do get is to stand in line to get through security and then wait until they are ready to let you on the ship. So I say hang out at your hotel a little longer and have another cup of coffee, because you never know if that wait is going to be made longer by the Coast Guard doing a surprise inspection, or some previous week's cruisers who don't disembark when they are supposed or the computer system crashes. My associate ran into all three of these situations in one weekend of doing ship inspections! I dislike lines, so if I go a little later I usually can breeze right on.

Fly in the day before, but not for the reason you think. It is so much more relaxing way to get ready for your cruise, wake up at a normal time, have a leisurely breakfast and head to the port. Where if you fly in the same day, besides leaving your fate in the hands of mother nature and the airlines, you'll have to be on an early flight, so getting to the airport before dawn. Considering you'll probably some of the first people at the port, see above.

Over-packing, well I see this advice on every travel blog and then see the number of bags people bring, no one is heeding this advice!  Some cruise ship cabins are a little tight on storage, this goes for river and ocean ships. I sailed this summer on a 10 day cruise with one checked bag that weighed in at 38 pounds and I came home with stuff that I didn't wear. The family did a 17 day trip to Hawaii with one checked bag and 2 20" carry-on size bags. My packing philosophy is another blog topic.

Have fun and relax you are on vacation! No cooking, cleaning or laundry. Pack your sense of humor and have a great time.

Don't Leave Home Without This One Thing

No it's not some item of clothing or beauty product. It is something way more important to your piece of mind and should be included on your "to do list" even before you make that final payment on your dream trip. It's travel insurance and of course people say "nothing bad will happen" to me while on vacation and I have health insurance. Well that maybe fine if you are travelling in the US, but even then I would recommend checking with your provider if you are covered out of state. I did a trip where we spend 17 days in Hawaii and visited 3 islands. While there I was able to see medical facilities on 2 islands, when dealing with a wonky gall bladder and swimmer's ear.

But if you are heading to out of the country or  going on a cruise, more than likely your health insurance isn't going to cover you if you get sick or hurt. Travel insurance will cover these costs, so you don't have to pay out of pocket. Policies also cover medical transportation, one of our employees at home office, had to have her father in law flown back on a special medical flight from Cancun to Houston. That special flight with nurses/doctors cost around $35,000. Yes a good policy will cover that also.

Do I have you convinced yet? What happens if you have to cancel a trip because you have a medical emergency before you go? And it has happened to me, scheduled to fly out and woke up not well. Cancelled my trip, started the claim procedure and went to the doctor. Had my check from the insurance company within a few weeks. Not stressing out that you lost your money goes a long way when you or a loved one are seriously ill. It also will cover you if a non travelling immediate family member has a major health crisis and you can't go.

Policies can be purchased through a travel supplier or a 3rd party company. At Cruise Planners, we have a partnership with Allianz Global Assistance. Our policy also covers travel delays and baggage that maybe lost, stolen, damaged or delayed at a higher rate than most supplier policies. Also included is if you have to cancel your trip for covered job related issues. 24 hour assistance and concierge service are provided.

So for peace of mind, always purchase travel insurance. That card in your travel documents may never be used and I hope it isn't, but trust me you will be glad you have it.

The World is a River Cruise

         River cruising, has exploded in popularity over the last several years with Americans.  If you have seen those TV commercials for Viking Cruises you can see why. The idea of unpacking once and letting the cruise line handle all of your on board and tour requirements; as you slowly sail on a a great European river is appealing to more and more people.  Companies such as Viking, AMA, Avalon Waterways, and Uniworld do a brilliant job of allowing passengers to experience Europe in a more intimate and "all inclusive"manner.  Most Americans will experience their first river cruises in the region where they started and are the most popular, along the major rivers of Europe.  Each of the major river cruise companies offers great cruises that allow you to visit intimate German towns and view castles along the Rhine; or an romantic experience in Vienna as you cruise on the Danube.  The experiences are great, the sites are breathless, and the service first-rate.  Now the river cruise lines are expanding the unique services and experiences they offer  to other parts of the world.  By now offering cruises on some of the great rivers of not only Europe, but also Asia, Africa, and even North and South America they allow you to see and experience parts of the world few people will be able to do from  a hotel or on a tour bus.

        River cruises are still the most popular in Europe.  Cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers are the most popular, and a great way to experience a large segment of Europe is to take a single cruise from Amsterdam down the Rhine and the Danube all the way across the continent to the the Black Sea.  All the major river lines offer relaxing cruises from Paris, down the rivers of France, allowing you to really understand the magic that is France. Another popular European cruise option is to travel through the heart of the largest country in the world, Russia; allowing you the opportunity to enjoy and live life, as only a Russian can do.  A great way to extent you European Vacation, is to stay in a city like Paris or Moscow at the end of your cruise, and to learn what makes them them great cities they are.  If you want something different, how about a boutique  river cruise through Portugal and Spain, or Italy offered by Uniworld.  By combining cruises with personalized tours, they allow you to experience the energy of Rome or Lisbon, with the beauty of the country.

       If you like exotic, and traveling on the road less taken, nothing can measure to taking a river cruise on the great rivers of Asia.  If you want to experience mystery in the the heart of Asia, see how people have lived for hundreds of years, a river cruise to the city of Mandalay and the country of Myanmar, (formerly called Burma), is a must.  If you want to see how the old is transforming into the new, and see some of the most exotic places on earth, a cruise to modern Vietnam and Cambodia on the Mekong River will take your breath away, will still experiencing the luxury and convenience nightly of your ship.  And if you really want to experience where history meets the future, a trip with Avalon Waterways,  You get to live personalized tours and cruises of the past: with trips to the Great Wall, and Tibet, with a cruise down the Yangtze River and experience thousands of years of human history.  In addition, you experience the energy and opportunity of the future in the cities of Beijing and Shanghai; all the time staying and experiencing it in 5 star luxury.

       If you have a need for adventure and exploration in your DNA, AMA Waterways offers a unique way of experiencing and exploring Africa, with a 3 night journey on a luxury train or safari in South Africa, with a 4 night luxury river cruise in Zambia and 2 nights staying at on on the wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.  Avalon Waterways of something few people get to do, explore the Amazon River AND the Andes Mountains.  On an 11 day combined 20 person tour and cruise, you explore the country of Peru, from the city Lima, you fly and get to explore the Andes, and the wonders of of the Incas, including a trip to Machu Picchu.  Then you fly to the remote reaches of the Amazon River, for a luxury 3 night cruise through some of the most remote jungles in the world on the Upper Amazon River.  If you want something a little less exotic and closer to home, a cruise on one of the ships from Un-Cruise Line on the Columbia and Snake rivers allows you to explore the path Lewis and Clark used in their historic journey.

       Where ever you want to travel, river cruising allows you a unique way really learn about and live to places you visit.  Being able to visit areas outside of the usual tourist areas is a great way to really experience the world. More Americans are discovering the major benefits of luxury and convenience that river cruising offers.  If you have wanted to see the world, but did not want the hassle or the unknown, river cruising may be right for you, no matter what part of the world you want to explore.

What You Should Be Talking About Over the Holiday Dinner

Yes, it's that time of year when extended families gather for various holiday meals.  And instead of
the usual banter across the crescent rolls, why not bring up the idea of a family trip. Is there a family member celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary in the coming year and they would rather spend time and make memories with their loved ones than get gifts.  Kids/grandkids graduating from high school or college, that last big gathering before your baby leaves the nest. Or perhaps the chief cooks, who secretly are annoyed of having to spend days in the kitchen and would like to take a break and have someone else cook the holiday meal with all the trimmings next year.

This is a great place to bring up the idea, everyone is usually in a good mood(this maybe a great trick to get the tweens/teens to put the phones down for just a short time and interact without the sulky face). And planning this far in advance allows everyone to check their schedules to see when is a good time for them.

So you come up with a great plan, who's going to handle all this? They're your family/friends but you know them, and trying to do this yourself, with all you have on your plate is too much. But someone has to be the "leader" or the trip will never get off the ground. So how do you keep from herding cats and just have to sit back and count the days till departure. Call a travel professional, like myself. A good one, wants to get to know your groups likes/dislikes and will come up with ideas that fit your budget and travel style. Also we can tell you that a certain location may not work with your timeframe to go and suggest a different one. Once you pick the trip, we are the ones that handle all those details like booking flights, making sure staterooms are close together for families and I know you have at least one person who has more questions than you can shake a stick at. We'll be the ones   getting the answers. We can present to the group to save you your voice from explaining it multiple times. So what are you waiting for?

Specialty Cruises: For Something Unique

      Okay, so you have been on a cruise ship or two, (or maybe many more).  The experience was fantastic, the food was great, the ship was fun and the beach was relaxing.  You want to do another cruise, but you want to do something different.  Maybe that definition of different involves different locations, or excursions, or different activities or even a different types of ship.  Or perhaps your the type of person who would like to take a cruise, but the thought of being on a large ship with 3000 other passengers and doing the same things they are doing just doesn't excite you, and you want personalized service and experiences.  If these describe you, I have the answer; Specialized Cruises.  Specialized cruises may use different types of vessels, different itineraries, or different levels of luxury.  But they all offer lower passenger levels, personalized service, and unique itineraries and experiences for the cruiser that wants something different.  They come in many different flavors, so finding one that meets your specific requirements has become easy.  Here is a list of the specific categories of specialized cruises and and leading providers that will help you design your own unique cruise experience.

       The most popular category of specialized cruises are river cruises.  The attraction of river cruises is the offer of an "all-inclusive" experience for their passengers.  The ships from companies like Viking Cruises, AMA Waterways, Avalon, and others are designed to handle all of your ship and tour requirements in a relaxed, carefree environment.  These small ships, less than 200 passengers, travel the great rivers of Europe and Asia; offering an easy and relax way of experiencing the great cities and sites of those continents.

       A related way to cruise in the United States, to relive the past and take take a trip down the the Mississippi or Ohio rivers on a genuine river paddle boat.  American Queen Steamboat Company allows you to travel back to the times of Mark Twain and the Old South by offering cruises on genuine but modern paddle wheeled river boat, that still offer allow the If modern amenities and luxuries as you travel down the great rivers of America.

       Two other fast growing areas of the specialized cruise market are the upper premium and luxury cruise segments.  For the cruise passenger who likes what the main cruise lines have to offer, but wants a  better dining and on board experience on a smaller ship, or wants a more engaging land excursion will love sailing with a upper premium cruise line.  Oceania Cruises offers a more refined and personalized cruise experience, on 700 passenger ships that offer longer cruises to smaller ports than the average cruise line: all the while offering world class cuisine.  If the destination is what matters to to you, Azamara Club Cruises has you covered.  Their "Destination Immersion" program gives you longer stays, more overnights and night tours at their ports of call.

        If you require only the best and finest in your leisure travel, the cruise industry has a ship board experience for you.  Cunard Lines offers the elegance and feel of a luxury ocean liner from the golden age of ocean travel.  If you want the feel of traveling on your own mega yacht, Seabourn and Silverseas Lines offer less than 200 passengers the chance to experience the finest in personnel service and dining, as you cruise to the most exotic locales on the sleekest ships on the seas.  If you want the ultimate in luxury, but want to be different, try sailing on the tall ships of Star Clippers Line or Windstar to the most beautiful and exotic ports in the world.

       If adventure and unique excursions are your game, taking a specialty cruise can allow you to experience place and activities few people will get to do.  UnCruise, an operator of small ships will take less than 90 passengers on a cruise to parts of Alaska, Mexico, or Hawaii, that are inaccessible to larger ships and experience real adventures like kayaking among icebergs, snorkeling with whales, hiking on remote Alaskan islands.  Hurtigruten Line offers up close cruises to remote and beautiful regions such as Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and even Antarctica.  Want to do something really different?  Experience the uniqueness and wonder of the Galapagos Islands, on the Celebrity Cruises ship Xpedition.  This all inclusive cruise allows you a chance to be one of the few people to be allowed to experience on the the most remote and diverse areas of the world.

       These are just a sample of the types of types of cruises you can experience.  If you want luxury, adventure, want to go to exotic locations, or just like to be different in your travels; but also want to do it in a convenient and cost effective manner, then you should look into what a specialty cruise has to offer you.

How to Avoid Vacation Disasters



"This resort looked great on the Internet"

Why do you need to use a Travel Agent

It's a really good and valid question, and to be honest, sometimes the answer might actually be that you don't need one! But we'll come back to that.

Most travel agents now prefer the title travel consultant or similar. Why? It has a lot to do with the advantages they offer today.  Still, with all the websites, deal finders, mobile travel apps, and online services, a lot of people ask: why use a travel consultant?

It's not hard to do it yourself. It might even be fun! Or, it could turn into a huge disaster. Below are a few points to consider before clicking the BUY button or trapping yourself into a nonrefundable corner.

1. Experience Think about what you do for a living. For nearly every profession, you can find a website, video, or app that gives potential customers a way to do it themselves. With a little help from the Internet you can fix your car, build cabinets, replace plumbing, write wills, draft contracts, cut hair, make clothes, buy shoes, do accounting, buy stock, cook, bake and let's not forget edit videos and touch-up photos.

Finding instructions or tools is not the problem. Doing it RIGHT is the issue. If you put the wrong screw in the wall, it's no big deal. If you put your family in the wrong resort, it's a much bigger deal. It becomes even bigger if something goes wrong.

Most people deal with planning a vacation once or twice a year. Travel consultants deal with it all day, every day. Their livelihood fully depends on using their knowledge and experience to craft a vacation you'll love so much that you'll keep coming back for more.

Websites and apps with advertising-driven, biased offerings are counting on your own lack of experience to push you to options that will earn them the most profit. Your satisfaction is not part of the display algorithm.

2. Real Deals Have you ever wondered why some cruises, resorts or hotels seem to have cheaper deals on some websites? There's always a reason. Sometimes, it's a good reason. Sometimes, it's a very bad reason that you won't know about until you arrive and it's too late. There's always a reason, and a great price is not always a good deal.

For example, every hotel has "undesirable" rooms they have trouble filling. Smaller rooms in noisy areas, rooms that haven't been renovated lately, or those that overlook the dumpsters are always cheaper than nice ones in quiet areas with good views.

Websites are perfect for liquidating those rooms at bargain rates. Unfortunately, these so-called deals rarely mention things like smelly carpet or noise. It's also no coincidence that many require full payment upon booking and are nonrefundable.

Even the most beautiful cruise ship has cabins they have trouble selling. The ones directly under the dance floor of the disco or the ones near the anchor chain that bangs against the side of the ship are just two examples. There are plenty of hard-to-sell cabins that are perfect for online deals.

To be fair, sometimes you can get lucky online! Sometimes the deals are real and worth the risk. Sometimes.

Travel consultants know the legitimate deals from the come-ons. They've been trained to uncover the reason behind the bargain. They understand travel lingo, know what to look for and most importantly:
They know what to avoid.

3. Transparency With websites and apps, you may not know what you'll actually be paying! Many hotels add nightly "resort fees" on top of the discounted rate apps and websites display. Of course, you won't know about them until you check out. Even rental cars can end up costing double the online rate once extra charges like airport fee, taxes, surcharges and such have been added. Then let's not forget all the extras that are not included in your cruise fare. Travel consultants know these little details. They make sure you are never unpleasantly surprised. You'll always know exactly what you'll be paying and what you'll get for it.

4. Advice and Connections Travel consultants offer something you'll never find online or in an app: professional advice. Online, every resort or cruise is made to look beautiful and appealing. But, it's no bargain if you end up regretting the trip. The main reason to use a travel consultant is to make sure you never waste a penny on a vacation you won't truly enjoy.

There's one more thing you'll only get from a travel consultant: relationships. They have real one-to-one personal relationships with travel suppliers that can fix things should something happen to go wrong.

If a travel app messes up your reservations, you're on your own. But with a travel consultant-you'll have an advocate on your side with connections. In other words: a human who cares. To the machines, you're nothing but their data.

When You Don't Need a Travel Consultant

It's true. Sometimes you might not need a travel consultant. If you're willing to take some risks, and not be concerned if something goes wrong, you might get lucky with the apps and websites. Many people do. Travel consultants just prefer not to gamble

Thanks to Nolan Burris, Chief Visoneer at Future Proof Travel Solutions

Guided Tours: Why They Are For You

       Every year at this time, the American travel industry produces statistics showing that fewer Americans are travelling  internationally; at the same time more of us want to travel abroad.  The reasons given in these surveys for not traveling include lack of time, complexity of planning a trip, and perceptions of cultural and safety concerns.  What tens of thousands of Americans are discovering each year is a great way  to enjoy their international travels, and that alleviates many of their reasons they did not travel, guided tours.  This popular method of international travel that offers many benefits to travel and they really do suit the purposes of a lot of travelers.  Here are some of the more popular reasons you should consider taking a guided to for you next international vacation.

Hassle Free Planning
       Planning for a foreign vacation can take a great deal of time and sometimes, seem never ending.  Where to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to see,  what will everyone eat, who to talk to for help; the lists of tasks never end.  For many people, this can be tiresome, irritating, and stressful.  Taking a guided tour means removing all the hassle of the planning stage.  Someone will work for you and handle the details, while you concentrate on what you want; exploring, learning, eating, drinking, shopping, and having fun.

Time
       With only 2 weeks on average of vacation, and flying to your destination often taking a whole day or more; many Americans may not have the time or they can not make independent travel work for them. This is where guided tours with the leading tour companies can prove to be a great choice for those who want to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.  They allow you to maximize the time you can spend seeing and experiencing the sites on your vacation and minimizing the the time lost on the uncertainties of travel, like figuring out where to go or how to get there.  A quick tip on choosing a tour: try limiting the number of countries you visit so you can experience more of the culture of your destination.

Comfort Levels
       For many Americans, the thought of traveling to a foreign country with their different cultures and languages, makes them nervous.  A lot of travelers, especially when first beginning their around the world adventures, start with guided tours.  This helps them to adjust to this new lifestyle, slowly stretching the comfort zones out until they feel confident enough to take it on themselves.  For some people the thought of trying to order food in a foreign country causes them to become nervous.  Instead of never leaving the house, a guided tour would be a great way to travel with in their comfort zone limit

Meeting People
       Meeting people in another country can be intimidating to some.  Tours allow you to meet new people who share a similar interest to you and to develop new friendships with others who all shared a common travel memory.  This can also be very reassuring to those shy folks who might not be so great at getting out there and meeting people on their own.

Insider Information
       Guided tours are a great way to visit a historic site or that cultural experience on your vacation.  Tours are a great way to learn more about the place you are visiting, instead of walking around trying to read it from a guide book while you are there.  Guided tours are a great way for someone to point out certain features for you, tell you stories about the area and relay the important information.  In addition, certain tours will offer you certain benefits at popular sites not offered to the general public, like early entrance or private tours.  Guided tours are a great way to sit back, absorb the area you are in and allow someone else to tell you all about it.

Safety
       Many people fear travel as they believe the world is unsafe.  A guided tour may give a person like this the opportunity to travel as they feel much safer.  There is always someone  watching their back and people who they can turn to for help and for comfort when feeling afraid.  By itself, foreign travel is extremely safe, but for many people they want the safety of numbers.

5 Tips for Keeping your Sanity at the Airport

   Let's face we all love to travel, but dislike all the BS that goes with it. Over the many years I have been travelling there are things I have found to make things go a little easier, yes some of them cost you money but the benefit you receive can be priceless, like having your sanity in a busy airport.

#1 Get to the airport early- As a former boss used to tell me, I would rather be sitting here in the departure gate than running to the gate. This was pre 9/11, so you well know that it is even more important now. There are times that the checked bag drop off line is as long or longer than the security line.

#2 Check in online- Do it at home, at your resort, on your airlines app on your phone. Don't wait until you get to the airport and have to deal with those infrequent travelers who take forever to figure out how to use the kiosk. This is especially important if you are flying Southwest and want to get a good boarding position. Or my friends at Spirit, which will charge you $10 to do it at the airport.

#3 Sign up for Global Entry if you are going to start exploring the world. Read this, that wife is me getting through JFK without standing in an immigration or customs line.

#4 Flying Southwest? Consider buying the EarlyBird Check-in. It will give you maybe not an A position all the time but you'll get on early enough to get overhead space and seats together. For that small amount, you don't have to spend the last day of your trip checking the time so you can hit that 24 hour mark and check in.

#5 Club Mobay- Going to Jamaica? Start and end your vacation right with VIP meet & greet, fast track through the immigration/custom lines and have access to a lounge. $80 per person.

Do Harry Potter Right: Stay on Site!

     
 Not to long ago, the words Orlando and Disney World were interchangeable, when you described taking a family vacation to Orlando Florida.  If you mentioned the Universal theme parks in Orlando, it was only as an after-thought; a quick day trip if you had the time - but not anymore.  Led by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley attractions, along with a growing number of other state of the art attractions; the two theme parks at Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure, have become vacation destinations themselves.  Over the past 4 years, each park has seen attendance grow from around 5 million, to over 8 million each.  Attendance in 2014 in each park is expected to grow to near 9 million in 2014.  The result of this growth in popularity has been disappointed park visitors, who are not expecting to see the long lines at the popular attractions at the parks, with lines at the popular Harry Potter attractions, Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts, having common multi-hours line waits soon after the parks open to the general public.

        Fortunately, Universal Orlando has developed several programs for park visitors to to avoid the long lines.  For visitors staying off site, Universal offers the Universal Express Pass.  For a fee above the cost of park tickets, families can go to the front of any line of most major attractions at either park, except for the Harry Potter attractions.  With a variety of options available, including an unlimited use option, you can design your Express Pass to meet you needs.  Unfortunately, in addition to not being able to use to passes on the Harry Potter attractions, the cost of going to the front of the  line can be steep.  Prices start at $29.99 per pass and go up from their, and are in addition to the price of admission.  For guests who hate waiting in long lines, the price may be worth it.  But for most people that is an expensive option, and does not include the main Harry Potter attractions at the Wizarding Worlds, which is a main reason many guests want to visit Universal Orlando for.  The great thing is Universal Orlando offers an option, that more park guests are taking advantage of, where they can get FREE  Express Passes for the length of their park attendance, and and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

       For guests staying on site at 3 of the 4 hotels and resorts at Universal Orlando, get free unlimited Express Passes for their stay.  Anyone staying at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, or the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, get an unlimited Express Pass which would cost an off site guest nearly $90 per day.  In addition to the passes, staying at any of these resorts allows you into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, 1 hour before the park opens to regular park guests; and it allows you priority dining reservations at most of the excellent restaurants at the resort.  Each of the 3 deluxe, 4 star resorts offers great accommodations and attractions themselves, and are a great place to stay for your Orlando visit even without the added benefits.  The other hotel on site, is Cabana Bay Beach, a recently opened moderate priced resort.  While staying at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you will not be eligible for the free Express Pass or dining priority.  You will  have early entry privileges at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions, and this resorts offers something special that every growing family wishes they have on a vacation; space.  Cabana Bay Resort is the only resort on site at Universal Orlando to offer large Family Suites with their own kitchenettes, so families can spread out and prepare some of their meals if they like.

       For many guests, the chance to see and do the Harry Potter attractions is their only initial reason for going to Universal.  But once they see and experience  some of the other new state of the art attractions like Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, or Revenge of the Mummy; the they want to try everything over and over.  That is the main benefit of staying on staying on site and using the free Express Passes.  Your family gets to do the Wizarding World and the other great attractions, instead of waiting and waiting.  Plus, add in all the other great features that Universal Orlando resort has to offer on site guests, a world class water park at Wet'nWild, with great nighttime dining and entertainment at Universal City Walk.
Add it all together, great parks, great hotels, world class food, and great benefits; Universal Orlando has become a vacation destination that is making more and more families forget that Orlando also has that place with the mouse.

What's in your Baggie?

 

 

 

 

 



You are getting ready for that trip and you find all your 3oz bottles of foundation, hair products, face creams, lipsticks, mascara and eyeliner don't fit into that quart ziplock bag. And you still have toothpaste and other essentials to go in. Here is a picture of my baggie before a 10 day trip to Europe.

 

 

Here are some of my tips for getting there and not having to skimp on your beauty regime.

 

 

1. Sample Size products- Target does have a great selection of your basics, but I save any sample size mascara, face cream, eye cream from Sephora or department store make up counter for travel.
   
2.  Small jars for creams, Reuse small jars for creams or lotions & get a contact lens case for serums. I never unpack my baggie, before I go I just check to see if I have enough for the trip and refill as needed.
   
3. If buying bottles make sure they are not hard plastic, that makes getting the product out difficult, look for soft plastic ones. You may find a cute travel kit, but check the bottles first.
   
4. Depending on where I am going I bring my own shampoo & conditioner(travel size from my salon that I refill). Why? Some resorts/cruise ships hair products don't work well with my hair. When in doubt, I bring my own.
5. To save space I use mineral based powder make up when I travel, that can go in your regular make up bag.
6. DHC mild soap with the DHC soap case is my choice for facial cleansing. I use it at home and it doesn't need to go in your baggie. And that case is the bombs.
   
7. Longer trip? Place back up supplies in my checked bag, you don't need your full allocation in your TSA baggie.
8. Lip balm and eye drops- Air travel is dehydrating and it really shows in my eyes and lips. Drink plenty of water and reapply lip balm as needed.
   

 

By using these ideas and keeping your bag assembled, you can devote more time to what clothes to pack and more important what shoes to bring(but not too many). I have used sample size products for years, even before the 3oz rules, never saw the reason to bring full size product. The lighter your carry on tote the better.

How About a Sun AND Snow Holiday?

   

 It is the fall season, and for those planning  a winter holiday the most common question asked is sun or snow?  That was the question a golfing buddy asked me a couple of days ago.   I know he and his wife are golf fanatics, and they loved traveling to golf resorts in Florida or out west during the cold Ohio winters. He mentioned he wanted to take his daughter and her 2 college age children on a vacation during the kids spring break in early March for a little sun and golf.  The problem was that the kids wanted to go snowboarding on a real mountain over spring break, and he wanted some ideas on how to convince then to travel someplace warm, instead of on a ski trip.  I asked him instead of a choice between traveling for sun or snow, why not do both.   With a little planning, flexibility,and a little luck from mother nature, his extended family could have a winter vacation were everyone could get what they wanted; grandpa gets to play golf, and the grand kids enjoyed some snowboarding.   If your planning a winter buddy trip, or you family has an early spring break, there is no reason you could not go from a warm sunny beach or pool in the morning to the slopes in the afternoon if you want.

       The key is planning your trip to destinations out west that feature both warm weather and high mountains, within driving distance of each other, which gives you the opportunities for both a quick day trip or an extended stay .  Fortunately, we have many options close to popular winter travel destinations to choice from.  For example, most people flying to the world class ski resorts near Lake Tahoe, go thru the airport in Reno, NV. and drive the 1.5 hours to the Lake Tahoe area.  What most of these travellers miss is that the Reno area itself has some fantastic resorts and vacation options.  With moderate temperatures in the low 60's F. in February and early March, the golfer in your life might enjoy staying a night in Reno; and warming up after your time on the slopes while shaking off the the winter rust on one of the world class golf courses in the Reno area.  The warm weather, great resorts, and excellent golf courses make Las Vegas a popular winter vacation destination.  What most people don't know is that Las Vegas, can also be a base for the skiers in your life who want to experience some Western powder.  If you want to do something different on your Las Vegas vacation, why not take a day trip less than an hour from the Strip to the Las Vegas Ski Resort.  At a base elevation of 8500 feet with a vertical drop of 2300 feet, the ski park offers a fun way of enjoying some skiing in the Rockies.  If you want to do some serious Rockies skiing or snow boarding, why not go where the Vegas locals go, and head 3 hours north to the Brian Head Resort outside of St. George Utah.  This full service ski resort offers over 360 inches of great powder annually at a base elevation of 9600 feet.  With great skiing and little crowds, this resort offers you a great way to really enjoy a sun and snow vacation.

        Other options to enjoy a sun and snow vacation can be had from most of the popular warm weather winter destinations out west.  If you get tired from surfing and the beaches of Southern California, and want to do something different with your kids, try one of the ski areas less than an hour east of Los Angeles.  Both Mt. Baldy, and Mountain High Resort have a base elevation of over 6500 feet and receive over 140 inches of snow annually and are open from December thru mid April.  If your staying in the Palm Springs areas; maybe you want to release some stress after a frustrating found of golf, or burn some calories  after sampling the excellent area restaurants to much, try a day of skiing at one of the ski resorts near San Bernadeno CA., less than an hour from Palm Springs.

       The state of Arizona; with its high mountains and warm, deep valleys offers some interesting options for the family or group who wants to enjoy a warm weather vacation, but also wants to experience the fun and challenging ski runs you can only experience out west.  Only an hour east of the great western town of Tucson, Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley offer a great day of skiing and boarding surrounded by some spectacular mountain views.  Only 2 hours distance from Phoenix via I-17 is the Arizona SnowBowl.  Located near the great resort town of Flagstaff, and only an hour from the Grand Canyon.  The SnowBowl offers deep snow, and long runs, and is a great reason to take a break from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, or to experience another part of the state.

       The great benefit of adding some skiing to your sun vacation is you don't have to bring your ski gear.  All the ski resorts rent all the equipment you would need, some including snow pants.  Since these ski resorts are not in prime ski areas, the cost of the rental gear and lift tickets is a great value for anyone from out east wanting to do some big mountain skiing, and the service at these small ski areas is usually great.  Staying a couple of nights at some of these full service resorts can add a great and different dimension to a typical winter warm weather vacation.  Another added benefit, is with so many day trip ski areas close to the major warm weather vacation areas, you can wait till you get their to decide if the ski area has enough snow to go skiing, no added commitment needed if you wanted to get some Western skiing.  Low added costs, no commitments, good to great skiing conditions, doing something unique; are all great reasons that a sun and snow vacation should be in your future.  It may be the one trip were everyone in your party; from the golfer, to the sun worshipper, to the ski bum can all agree on, and have a great time.

An Eastern Family's Guide to a Western Ski Weekend

     For most couples with children living in the eastern parts of the nation, if you want to take your family skiing in the Rockies for a "real" ski experience, it means week long trips around Christmas and New Years; or for many, fortunate enough, the week long Winter Break around Presidents Day in February.  And for years this was how my family enjoyed our ski vacations.  Over the last few years, because of career and school commitments, we haven't been able to always take a week off to go skiing out West.  But that doesn't mean we had to give up these fantastic trips.    With a slight modification to the guidelines my family uses to plan these vacations, we have been able to enjoy great 3 to 4 night ski trips at the best Western resorts;  even as we flew across the country, and my boys did not miss any school.   By following these guidelines, even if your family has limited free time, they can still experience the greatest skiing and boarding in the world; but just in a more limited time frame.

Time = Snow
 It may seem like a given but the goal is finding ways to minimize the amount of time getting to the slopes so you can maximize your time on them.  You should focus your planning efforts on finding the most time saving, yet cost effective way, of getting from your house to the ski lift.

You Want to be Direct
Even though not everyone can, if like the majority of the US population, and you live in the eastern part of the country, then you live within 2 hours of a large airport. During the high demand ski season, all the airlines increase their flights to the western ski states from the larger metropolitan, and regional airports in the east.
The key to enjoying a great ski weekend is to take advantage of these direct flights, and minimize your travel time.  Another thing to remember, while more snow is what we want for the ski slopes; it is not what the airlines want.  There is a reason their are more flight delays and cancellations during the winter, and the odds of it happening to you increase if you need flight connections.  Fortunately the airlines are offering more direct flights than ever to airports near great western ski areas.  From small airports serving popular ski resorts, like Eagle County Airport near Vail in Colorado; to the large the large regional airports line Denver and Salt Lake City, there has never been more direct flight options available.

The Right Resort
For many eastern skiers, skiing out west means more than how steep the slopes are or how deep the powder is.  For many people who go out west for a week of skiing, many other factors go into their decision on what resort they should go to.  Factors such as how family friendly a resort is, difficulty of the terrain, the food and accommodations available, nightlife and vibe of the area are all important in making a great ski vacation.  But with a shorter time frame, some of these factors may not be as important as they would on a longer trip.  Since we know that to have a great ski weekend out west we need to follow the formula of  Time = Snow, an important factor in choosing which ski resort to go to has to be Accessibility.  Just as we want to take direct flights to save time, we want our ski destination to be within an hour drive time of the airport.  There are some fantastic world class ski resorts, such as Steamboat Springs in Colorado which is a 4 hour drive from Denver; or Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia which has fewer direct flights into Vancouver from the eastern US, make them harder access when time is a factor.

The great news is the number of great ski resorts and areas near the major regional airports are excellent and numerous.  Within a short driving distance of Salt Lake City International Airport you will have multiple ski options.  Only 35 minutes from the airport, Snowbird Resort offers excellent snow on a real value for your money.  Less than an hour drive will lead you to the 3 world class resorts in the Park City area: Park City Resort, The Canyons, and Deer Valley Resort, where you can find everything you would want for a ski vacation.  Within a 100 mile drive of Denver, we have great skiing at a great price at at the Loveland and Arapahoe Basin ski areas, and and the service and accommodations of a full service resorts of Keystone  or Winter Park.  Small airports with large numbers of direct flights, like Eagle Airport in Colorado, which directly serves the world class Vail/Beaver Creek resorts is also a great option.

Insure Your Fun
Any family ski vacation is an investment in time and money for any family.  We all want to get the most value for our investment, and this is more critical when you are on such a tight schedule.  Unfortunately, no matter how well we plan, being winter, Mother Nature can throw a wild card, from severe weather cancelling flights to no snow on the slopes. If you are forced to cancel your trip, recovering your investment from the airlines or the resort may be difficult and limited.  You should explore purchasing a low cost travel insurance policy, which will cover some or most of your costs, when those unforeseen events could pop-up and ruin you vacation. Travel insurance can offer you some peace of mind and give you more time to think about the fun you are going to have with your family on the slopes.


     

Fall In Love With Cruising Again

     If you have been on a cruise ship over the last few years, like me you may have gotten somewhat overwhelmed by the crowds, 4000 passengers fighting for a deck chair or crowding into a port with 4 other ships the same size is not my idea of fun. Don't get me wrong, I have been cruising since 1980 and I still love sailing the seven seas. Plus having someone else to entertain a couple of teenage boys makes my vacation less stressful. Being in the travel industry, I know the ships have become the destination and that is the selling point for a lot of my clients. But I know there are others like myself, that cruising is an easy stress-free way to see somewhat logistically challenged itineraries.

   Well let me introduce you to Azamara Club Cruises. I was delighted to be on the Azamara Quest in August sailing the Eastern Mediterranean. It was a 10 day sailing from Civitavecchia(Rome), Italy to Istanbul,  Turkey.

The best way I can describe the ship is to call it a "boutique hotel on the seas." First of all, each Azamara ship carries only 684 passengers. I was able to enjoy a more relaxed and personalized experience on board the Quest compared to the typical cruise ship. Open sitting dining and dress code every night is country club casual. The value that Azamara offers is also very appealing, many items are included in your cruise rate, like gratuities, bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and wait for it....select standard spirits, international beers & wines!!!!

Mosaic Café

Main Staircase

Drawing Room

Pool Deck

But what really sets Azamara apart from other cruise lines, in addition to sailing on a smaller ship which allows them to go to off the beaten path ports, is Azamara's philosophy of Destination Immersion. Unlike other cruise lines, Azamara gives you longer stays in port and more overnight stays. On our itinerary, we only sailed once before 10 pm, so you were not constantly watching the time so you didn't "miss the boat" and you had a chance to have dinner and drinks on shore. Especially good in the Eastern Mediterranean in August because the cities do take on a totally different vibe after the sun goes down.

Docked right in the heart of Skala, Patmos Greece

Another value included in your cruise fare will be an AzAmazing Evening, an exclusive bespoke event. Ours occurred in the port of Kusadasi Turkey, where after dinner we were taken to the Odeon, the old Roman theater in ancient Ephesus to hear a private concert performed by a 12 piece string orchestra.

So if unique itineraries, more time in port and smaller ships are what you yearn for, Azamara will be an Aza-mazing trip for you




   pictures: Courtesy of Azamara Club Cruises