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Thanks for subscribing to the My Vacation Lady blog. We haven't stopped blogging about interesting travel information but have moved our location.

Effective Nov 15, 2010, you can find us at
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Check out our new website while you're there.
Looking forward to sending you away very soon!

What your bank won't tell you about currency conversion

Did you know that if you don't take the right steps in converting your US $ to Euros, you can lose up to 22 cents for every dollar that you convert?

When it comes to navigating exchange rates, it pays to know all your options. From buying money online to grabbing it on the go at the airport, Budget Travel Magazine has assembled a handy guide to the seven most common methods for foreign exchange. Each has its pros and cons (some of which can feel like legal swindling), so they've evaluated the options for you with the euro as our base tender, using an Exchange Rate Rip-off Meter from 1 to 5.

Read more

Tips for reducing stress during holiday flying

The year has zipped by and before you know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here. These are also 2 of the busiest times of the year to fly. Whether you are flying home for the holidays or going on a vacation, be prepared to wait in longer lines at the airports.

This article looks at whether it is worth the money to pay some of the airline fees to reduce your stress during the holiday peak flying season. Read More.

If it sounds too good to be true...

You get a call or a letter saying that you can get a free cruise just by sitting through a 90 minute time share presentation. What do you do? Do you hang up the phone or rip up the letter?

In this case, this central NJ couple took the offer, sat through the time share presentation and sent in their money for their "free" cruise. They never got it and realized that they got scammed.

Read More

Honeymooners guide to the hot beaches

After the stress of planning a wedding and the wedding day itself, many of My Vacation Lady's honeymooners just want to relax at a beachfront resort. With beaches all over the world, how do you know which are the best beaches for your honeymoon?

Click here for a list of some of the world's hottest beaches.

As a honeymoon specialist, My Vacation Lady can help recommend a honeymoon that will combine a great beach, great accommodations and the right property that will make your honeymoon dreams come true.
Contact us for your complimentary honeymoon consultation.

Review of the MSC Poesia

My Vacation Lady was invited to visit the MSC Poesia on the day the ship was in NYC before heading down to the Caribbean for the winter.

Sister ship to the Orchestra, which we saw a while back, the Poesia is a beautiful ship full of European touches. This ship is owned by an Italian company so the decor, cuisine and style is definitely European.

There are 2 specialty restaurants (at an additional cost)- and Italian restaurant and Asian/Sushi.






The main dining rooms are lovely and the food was very tasty.
The spa is gorgeous with a spacious sauna and jacuzzi room with 2 hot tubs overlooking the ocean just outside (a perfect way to finish a spa treatment!)




I found the service on the Poesia to be much better in terms of attentiveness. Please keep in mind that when the ship is in Europe, the wait staff might be a bit more unobtrusive, which is what the European guests prefer. The wait staff here was definitely in tune with an American market this time. They were constantly coming around to refill water glasses and checking that all was ok.

My favorite areas on the ship:
The theatre- in one of my favorite colors- purple. This show lounge offers completely unobstructed views from all of the 1240 seats.
The Zebra Lounge is a great and slightly wild place to spend some time enjoying the music with a cocktail. Don't drink too much here since the carpet might make you a bit dizzy!





The spa, sauna and Jacuzzi relaxation room
The pool deck with movie screen and stage on one side, the quieter pool on the other, separated by 2 hot tubs overlooking both.


All in all, MSC is building a presence in the Caribbean and is worth taking a 2nd look at. They typically offer great promotions, including kids sail free so they can be a very cost effective cruise to take. I would recommend the MSC Poesia to the client who is well traveled and likes a European flair. For those clients who want to sail only with Americans where English is the only language spoken, MSC, even in the Caribbean, might not be the right line for you but if you are looking for something with a bit of international flair, the Poesia might be just the thing!

Make sure your airline ticket matches your ID

For months, My Vacation Lady has been preparing our clients for this day and today, it has arrived. As of Nov 1, 2010, if the name on your airline ticket does not match your ID, the TSA says it will not approve airlines to issue a boarding pass if the required information - your name, date of birth and gender as it appears on your government ID - was not provided by customers at the time of booking.

Read more

Kauai- hiking the Na Pali Coast

Kauai is probably my favorite of the Hawaiian islands and one of the most lush. This is the island where so many movies, including Jurassic Park, were filmed.

There is one part of the island, the Na Pali Coast, that is inaccessible by car so the only way you can get there is by boat or hiking.

If you decide to take a hike, the short trail is about 2 miles.
These are some of the views you might see
Click Here

If you prefer not to get muddy and take a boat instead, you might be treated to views like this

Should you book your honeymoon online?

My friend, Laura Frazier, posted this blog a couple of days ago and I thought she made some excellent points that I think are so important when deciding which travel consultant to use when booking the most important vacation of your lives- your honeymoon.

"At least a couple times a month someone will call me or walk into my office and ask the question that’s probably somewhere on your mind right now-why should I use a honeymoon specialist?

There are just as many myths about travel agents as there are about Jell-O. I mean, we’ve all heard that Jell-O is made from horse hooves right? And that there’s a giant wall around the Jell-O factory so no one can see in. And travel agents went out of business when the internet came out. And everyone knows that the handful of travel agents that are still around cost way more than booking it yourself online.

Well, while I am still waiting for someone at Jell-O’s customer service dept to get back to me about the horse hoofs, (hey I am a vegetarian after all!), I can clear up some of the myths about travel consultants for you.

Travel consultants aren’t what they used to be. Just like Madonna, we’ve had to constantly reinvent ourselves to stay current. We’ve packed away our bangle bracelets and paper airline tickets, and moved into the electronic world. In fact, what you may not have realized is that travel consultants are much better today than they were in the past. Thanks to the internet, there’s an unending amount of travel information available everywhere. Since there’s nothing we hate more than looking uninformed, (or even worse knowing less than you do), we spend an ungodly amount of time doing research, attending seminars, and traveling to the destinations we sell.

To the internet retailer, travel is a commodity. It’s an airline ticket and a hotel room. To us, travel is an experience. It’s a week of your life that you probably saved up for a year or two to enjoy. It’s laying in the sunshine or having a great dinner. And, if you’re working with us, it’s likely that it’s your honeymoon or destination wedding, which is probably one of the most memorable trips you’ll ever take. An online travel site will happily take your money, and a week of your life, without ever bothering to make sure that you really intended to go to a clothing optional resort, or that you clearly understand the difference between a European and all inclusive plan. However, a good travel consultant will take the time to make sure that the trip you’re about to embark upon is actually the trip that was just a dream floating around in your head for months on end.

Price vs. Value- So we’ve all heard that it costs more to use an agent than it does to book online. Sometimes that’s true. Most of the time, it’s not. We have access to the same pricing and promotions as you’ll find online. And we frequently have access to upcoming promotions that you’re not going to be able to see yet. (Think an online site will tell you to wait a couple of weeks before booking because there’s a great sale starting later?) Feeling like you got a great deal is exciting! But, it’s important to remember that price and value are not the same thing. Sure you can find a resort that looks fantastic online (but will it actually be that fantastic in person? Will the internet tell you that the beach is rocky or the beds are hard as rocks or that reservations are required for the specialty restaurants and that in your 7 night stay, you are only entitled to eat at them 3 times- the rest of the time you get the buffet for dinner?)

What you also can’t see is that you’ve just dug out your passport and traveled for hours to this exotic location, only to find that the chicken nuggets and Jell-O jigglers are the highlights of the lunch buffet.

Oh they didn’t mention that on the website? Maybe you should ask a travel consultant!"

The main point of this article that Laura posted is not whether you can book your honeymoon online but rather why you should contact a honeymoon specialist.

A point that happened first thing this morning. I picked up email at 745am to find an email from honeymooners in Hawaii. Their tour to Pearl Harbor had problems due to traffic, then crowds, then high wind and they didn't get to see the Arizona- the groom's reason for going to Oahu. I called the travel supplier (5am their time) to see if we could re-arrange their flight to Kauai and get them back to Pearl Harbor this morning. What internet company do you think will do that for you.

My Vacation Lady is a vacation and honeymoon specialist. Our goal is to make sure your vacation or honeymoon will create memories to last a life time. We look forward to sending you away very soon on your dream vacation!

Mexicos new rules on using US $$

I have brought this up before but since Mexico is such a big travel destination for Americans, I thought I would bring this back as a reminder.

"Traveling abroad means converting to the local currency, right?
While Mexico has had a very liberal acceptance of US dollars for decades, the Mexican Government passed a new anti-money laundering law beginning September 14, 2010.

With this new law, the use of American Dollars (CASH) to make purchases in Mexico will change. Other payment methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks, Mexican pesos and non-American foreign currencies (such as Euros or Canadian Dollars) are NOT affected in any way by this new law.

The most noticeable differences to your customers will be:
• Hotels and Exchange Booths, and Local Banks will only be able to change a maximum of $1,500 USD CASH per person per month into Mexican Pesos. Previously there was no limit.
• Businesses (including restaurants, shops, and Destination Managment Companies/Tour Operators) will only be able to accept a maximum of $100 USD CASH per transaction - but the number of transactions per customer is not restricted.
• Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept American Dollars for any purchase at all (this may include shops, etc), however still accepting Mexican Pesos.
• If a customer wants to purchase an excursion (for example) that costs $150 US dollars per person, customers will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD CASH and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit card, Mexican pesos, etc).
• Airlines are advising that within Mexico, they will only accept Mexican Pesos and credit cards for any fees (including baggage fees).

Vacationers should never carry large amounts of American dollars with them abroad, but instead they should consider either using a Credit Card, taking or locally withdrawing Mexican Pesos from an ATM (very easy and convenient), or use Travelers Check's (of any currency)."

For my clients visiting Mexico, their hotel bills and round trip airport transfers are already included in their pre-paid vacation packages. We can certainly pre-book excursions that are paid for in US $ to avoid any exchange rate fees.

Cancun's new Underwater Museum

The title may sound odd but this is one of Cancun's new attractions in the National Marine Park.

With hundreds of cement sculptures placed at the depth of 27 feet below the surface, it is art with a purpose.
"The cement sculptures constitute an artificial reef, providing surfaces for new coral growth and a habitat for fish and other sea creatures. It also diverts snorkelers and scuba divers, thereby reducing wear and tear on the natural reefs nearby. Local tour operators ferry visitors to the site for diving, snorkeling or glass-bottom-boat rides."

Read More

Dr Beach's List of the 10 best beaches in the US

Dr. Beach is actually a scientist and college professor who loves sand. His specialty is studying beach erosion but got started ranking beaches in 1989 when a travel writer asked him what some of the best beaches were. Little did he know that this was the start of something big.

His list of the top 10 beaches in the United States, includes a few of my favorites in Maui and Waikiki. Does his list include any of yours?

Check out his list here

Do you use all your vacation time?

If you are like 50% or more of the working Americans, you don't use up all of the days your employer gives you for vacation.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who mentioned that after her vacacation next week, she would still have 3 days left over. She was going to "save" them, in case of snow or illness. With many employers adding PTO to benefits rather than vacation days + sick days + personal days, and lumping them all together, most Americans are losing out on days off that they are entitled to.

A friend once told me, no one ever said, as they lay dying in their hospital bed, "I wish I worked more and stayed away from my family more". Not to be so morbid but it really made sense to me.

READ MORE

Sunrise over Haleakala

One of the most amazing sights you can see in Maui, is the sunrise over Haleakala.

At 10,000 feet above sea level the visitors center is the ideal spot to view the sunrise (or in my case, the sunset). Whether you want to drive up on your own, take a tour or even take a sunrise tour and bike down the crator, sunrise over Haleakala is a Maui must see/must do.

Please remember that is will be COLD at the summit. For most visitors to Hawaii, winter coats, gloves and scarves are not going to be gear that you would normally pack, but please do pack some cold weather outer wear if you intend to go up to the summit.

Read more...

Making waves in Hawaii

Hawaii has the most unique feature of any of the U.S. states. It's completely surrounded by water, which means there are lots and lots of water sports to enjoy when you visit any of the Hawaiian Islands.

When you think of watersports in Hawaii, many people will think of surfing, snorkeling and perhaps,swimming with the dolphins but there is so much more to try in Hawaii. How about stand up paddle boarding, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, swimming with manta rays and more.

READ MORE...

Airline Fees Cheat Sheet

2010 will go down in history as the year that airlines starting charging fees for just about everything- checked luggage, carry on luggage, aisle seats, window seats, premium seats, meals and much more. I'm sad to hear that Continental, one of the last carriers to offer meal service (if you can call it that), will no longer offer food on flights shorter than 6 hours as of this month.

To help you navigate through the maze of airline fees, I've attached a cheat cheat on most of the fees charged by most of the major carriers. Of course, things in the airline business can change on a moment to moment basis so always check the airline website for the most up to date information.

Hope you find this helpful.

READ MORE....

Why book through a travel agent?

There is a thread on Linked In in the Travel and Tourism members only section asking about whether you should book your travel through the internet or online.

This excerpt is from one of the responses posted a few days after the question was posted. The writer has responded to some previous responses and really makes some excellent points. I've highlighted ones that really are key to why people should book their vacations through a travel professional.

Let me know what you think............


"I am in the travel industry (not an agent) and very interested in all your observations. You have made several points that I think I can address for those people who are doing more than a 'point to point' airfare. Firstly your comment Jonni about how Travel Agents market themselves is a great one as marketing ones 'travel' skills has been one that has always demanded alot of training. Hence many consumers think all travel agents are the same!. However...consider this... an exceptional Travel Agent needs only 'word of mouth' marketing to be successful as his/her customers are assured of the best value and return from every trip ready to book another. These agents will often charge a service fee instead of earning commission and believe me, you won't pay any more overall than you would have done when the prices were higher including commission (of course, previously this had to be passed on to you the consumer and included in the airfare!) A good travel agent is all about relationships and not paying lip service to that honor. Understanding your customer really well is critical and then the depth of the search (time) to customise your itinerary via the utilisation of their enormous resource of buying options. So,even if she/he includes a service fee, due to this 'depth of search' their customers can honestly be assured of the best value prices around.

Relationships within the travel industry have changed enormously with airlines, tour operators and hotels ever since these operators have needed to sell direct. There is very little commission (if any) given to agents by anyone today which, believe it or not works better for the agent because the can now work for their client and be totally unbiased. Many Travel agents are agents for YOU now....top consultants have always done this. I have lived and worked in the travel industry in the UK, Australia and the USA and you would be amazed how often I am asked for me to recommend a good travel agent in ALL countries, so consumer behaviour is (almost) the same everywhere....we all want to be looked after, to have our travel expert really understand us and for those of us who are time poor, it can be a WOW experience...


and Steve, its not just upmarket itineraries you can get help with...its upmarket experiences! for this reason, I never do my own plumbing! "

World's Most Romantic Islands

Romance vacations are not just limited to honeymooners. With our busy lives, couples really need to carve out time for themselves.

Travel and Leisure rated some of the world's most romantic islands.
Read more

Ode to Maui

Maui is one of my favorite of the Hawaiian islands and is a huge travel destination. Always rated one of the top islands in the world to visit, it is one of the most popular islands that my honeymoon couples request.

I found this nice article by a woman who revisits Maui many years after her first visit for their honeymoon.

Read more....

Keep your Frequent Flier Miles from Expiring

With all the rules and changes, it's hard to keep up with frequent flier miles and when they might expire.

Read more...

Hawaii Waterfalls Worth Gushing Over

Hawaii has long been one of my favorite vacation destinations and one of the best features is the natural beauty of each of the individual islands.

Take a look at some of the most exquisite waterfalls that Hawaii has to offer. I do admit, some of my personal pictures might be better.

Click Here

Best Family Resorts

In my last blog posting, I reviewed Beaches Turks and Caicos, which I recently visited and was very impressed. It is a great resort that offers fabulous amenities for adults and children alike.

When I was a kid, family vacations meant a long drive in the back of the Chevy up to the mountains or a local resort. Times have changed. Family vacations have evolved into much more than an amusement park visit or trip to the shore.

Take a look at this artcle for 50 of the top family resorts. Many of my favorites have made the list.

Review of Beaches Turks and Caicos

As a travel professional, I was always amazed at the high prices at Beaches Turks and Caicos and could never quite figure out if this property is worth the money. Then I stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos as part of a travel agent familiarization trip.

What is my feedback now--- WOW. Beaches Turks and Caicos is the Rolls Royce of family all inclusive resorts. It is to all inclusive resorts as Disney is to theme parks. I have been to MANY all inclusive properties and was literally blown away by the service level, entertainment, amenities and types of accommodations that this property offers.

This is not to say that I would recommend this resort to everyone but let me share a bit about it and why I would recommend this to the young and the young at heart. If my kids were young, I would want them to experience Beaches Turks and Caicos. I am looking forward to having grandchildren so that I can take my kids and grand kids here. It is just a phenomenal property and I can’t say enough positive about it.

Let’s start with the room accommodations:

My colleague and I were put up in the one of the least expensive rooms- the Caicos Premium rooms with 2 double beds on the 2nd floor of the West Wing in the Caribbean Village. Would I recommend this category of room to my clients? Probably not. Unless they were really stretching their budget to stay here in the first place. The rooms are your typical Sheraton rooms (that is what this block of rooms was originally built as). The rooms are ok, nothing special, nothing that I can gush over. They are a bit dated and I was told that they are scheduled to be updated in the fall of 2010. What you can’t change is the view (garden or pool only- ours was of the basketball court), the smell of sulfur from the pipes and the size. They are adequate for 2 double beds or 1 king bed, an upholstered pull out single sleep chair and a table. The bathroom is ok with a single sink and tub and shower combination. The armoire holds a TV, mini fridge and drawer space. Hopefully the furniture and the soft goods (bedding, blankets, etc) will be replaced soon. The room is basic and as long as my clients realize that it is not a great room, but they want to stay in this resort, they should be ok.

The location of these rooms, however, is very good- right near the kids club, pool, main lobby and a short walk to the beach. Reflections restaurant is just downstairs in the lobby and this was a great place for a buffet breakfast. The meeting space was also in this building. It is a short walk to the water park (which is in between the French and Italian Villages). There are some larger rooms with better views in this village but honestly, if I was spending more money, I would opt for the other, newer villages with nicer and larger rooms.

The French Village is the furthest from the beach but newer than the Caribbean Village. Their entry level room, the luxury room, is similar to the Turquoise Deluxe or Caicos Premium rooms but they have been updated and might be a bit larger.

There are a couple of other room categories, of the 30 different room categories, that don’t offer concierge or butler service.

The rooms that I really liked were the family suites with separate kid’s bedroom in the Italian Village. These rooms had a king bed in the master with a trundle bed, a gorgeous master bath with whirlpool tub and separate shower. The kid’s room has a bunk bed with a trundle, XBOX and game table, TV and a separate closet and bathroom sink and mirror. These rooms can sleep 6 comfortably and offer concierge service. The views ranged from pool and garden views to full ocean views.

Amenities at this resort are just too many to name but the ones I was most impressed with were:
 The water park including pirate ship, slides, lazy river and surfing simulator- just a great place to spend lot of time.
 The Red Lane Spa-a Sandals/Beaches exclusive.
 Camp Sesame for the youngest kids on up to the XBOX “Garage” and the Shadow Lounge for the teens, complete with DJ recording studio. You won’t have to worry that the kids will ever be bored here.
 Choice of 16 restaurants (although we only ate at a few- loved Le Chateau for dinner. Wanted to try Kimonos for dinner but had to settle for a couple of pieces of Sushi, instead. Marios- great place for a buffet lunch- great choices and food. Reflections- for breakfast- everything was nice and fresh)
 Water sports, including diving, snorkeling, kayaking, hobie cats, aqua trikes and windsurfing
 The pools (7 of them)
 The beach- just gorgeous
 The service

Just to give you an idea of the service, on the first night, we asked about restaurants at the front desk. Not only did the woman at the desk make recommendations, she escorted us to one for us to check out the menu. I was having a bit of trouble with the internet service in the business center, so I called the front desk. In less than 2 minutes, one of the staff was in the business center assisting me and then gave me a $10 free internet card because of the problem. We were in Cricketer’s Pub and my colleague wanted to know the score of the baseball game. The waitress came back 3 times with the score, as soon as she heard it. Every staff member went out of their way to be pleasant and helpful. I was quite impressed with the level of service.

I can’t speak highly enough of Beaches Turks and Caicos. I would, without a doubt, recommend this property to families of all ages, a girl’s getaway, destination weddings and family reunions. I think this is a great choice for any of the vacationers mentioned. I would not recommend this property to couples or honeymooners who want seclusion or a quiet vacation- there are many other resorts for them. The Sesame Street characters are around but not overwhelming so adults can certainly enjoy this property without children and there were many there during out stay. There is enough to do for both kids and adults so that everyone can have a great time.

For more information on Beaches Turks and Caicos, please contact us at mindy@myvacationlady.com

Mexico and US currency

Still a bit sketchy but a new law passed just a few days ago limiting the use of US dollars in Mexico.

This is the latest that My Vacation Lady knows:

You may have heard that a new law has been passed in Mexico effective September 14th regarding transactions done in US dollars. While the interpretation of the law is still unclear we do know a few facts:



1. There will be a limit on US dollar cash transactions of $1500.00 per person per month. We are not sure if this includes converting American dollars at banking institutions or exchange booths.

2. There will be a per transaction limit of $100.00 per person US Dollars. With unlimited transactions up to $1500.00 per person per month. For example: if an item costs $150.00 they can pay $100.00 US dollars with the balance being paid with either credit card, travelers checks, or Mexican pesos.

3. To the best of our knowledge these restrictions do not apply to credit card or travelers checks transactions. They only relate to cash transactions.



Again we are still getting more information; however, you do want to advise your clients travelling to Mexico that they many encounter this situation and to make sure they travel with a credit card or travelers checks. They can also exchange their money into Pesos and purchase items in Mexico using Pesos, which might be a good idea if your clients are high ticket item shoppers.



I will of course keep you up to date as we verify all the little pieces to this new law and get better clarification for you

Mexico limiting the use of US $?

This has been tossed around a bit on some of my travel agent boards and I have not found any information on this on the Mexico tourism board or any of my trusted travel agent information sites.

This link is saying that in order to stop money laundering, Mexico is restricting the amount of US$ in cash that vendors can take to $100 per person. If you are purchasing an excursion and the price is $150, you can pay for it with $100 in cash and $50 on a credit card or traveler's check.

For my clients, their packages are prepaid and I always recommend paying any charges to their rooms on a credit card but for those who prefer to use cash, you might want to go back to traveler's checks, just in case, until this is deemed fact or rumor.

Just a tip:
If you are using a credit/debit card and the vendor is using the old fashioned machines that use carbon copies, ALWAYS ask for the carbon paper.

To see the link to the article, click here

2 More Reasons to Use a Travel Professional

Your honeymoon is the most important vacation that you will take as husband and wife. Why chance it to booking online without the assistance of a knowledgable travel professional?

These 2 articles were written by a travel writer/ombudsman and he has pointed out in both, that he does recommend using a travel professional, especially for booking honeymoons.

Help! My honeymoon went south
By Christopher Elliott, Tribune Media Services
(Tribune Media Services) -- Loyd Jobe's honeymoon doesn't get off to a good start when his flight is canceled. His airline sends the newlyweds on their vacation the next day, but they must pay for an extra night in their hotel. Is that fair?
Q: My wife and I recently booked a honeymoon in Costa Rica through Apple Vacations. On the morning we were supposed to leave, our flights on Delta Air Lines were canceled, and they didn't have any other flights until two days later.
I called Apple and they simply told me to call the airline. They refused to help. Delta's customer service was only a little more helpful. They ended up getting us to Costa Rica a day later on a different airline.
Because of this we missed one day at an all-inclusive resort and decided to stay an extra day. I again called Apple and asked them to refund our missed day and wanted to book an extra day on the end of our honeymoon. They would not refund any money for the missed day and charged us for the extra day.
I sent a letter to Apple's customer service like they suggested I do. I have not gotten any response from them after two letters. Any advice on this issue?

A: It sounds as if Apple could have done more to save your honeymoon. But let's take a closer look at the facts.
Delta canceled your flight, not Apple. So in a sense, Apple was right: You would have to talk with the airline about rescheduling your flight. At the same time, Apple advertises a "beginning-to-end" vacation experience, which includes employees greeting you at your departure airport and meeting you when you arrive.
Perhaps Apple raised the bar a little high when it promised "the ultimate in a quality vacation experience."
I contacted Apple, and a few other details emerged. First, the company says you were offered travel insurance, which would have protected your vacation investment. You declined, according to Apple.
So technically, the delay wasn't Apple's fault and you didn't buy its insurance. It owed you nothing, in a contractual sense.
But who cares about contracts? This is your honeymoon, and you booked a vacation with a company that you believed would take care of you rather than do just what's legally required of it.
I always recommend that for once-in-a-lifetime vacations like yours, travelers consider the services of a travel agent who specializes in honeymoons. I think an agent would be able to offer this kind of personalized attention you require for your Costa Rica getaway.
It turns out Apple asked your resort for a date swap, which would have allowed you to stay an extra day at your hotel, but it turned them down. I think you might have started a dialogue with your hotel, letting them know that this was your honeymoon and that you didn't really want to lose the last day of a special vacation.
Next time -- and I really hope there isn't a next time -- you might want to either send an e-mail to Apple Vacations or ask for a return receipt from the post office. The company had no record of either of your letters.
Apple contacted your resort again on your behalf and secured a $184 refund for the last night of your vacation. It also sent you two $100 travel certificates.

Help, my honeymoon flight's been canceled!
By Christopher Elliott, Tribune Media Services
(Tibune Media Services) -- Doug Miller's honeymoon flight to Costa Rica is canceled by US Airways, and he's left with only one option: a full refund. The airline later agrees to reschedule him on a flight the following day, but it won't cover his hotel bill. Is it allowed to do that? And is there anything he can do to make US Airways sweeten the offer?
Q: About a month ago, I took advantage of a Travelocity e-mail fare alert for a flight from Minneapolis to Costa Rica. The deal seemed too good to be true: $230 roundtrip on US Airways. I booked the flight for my September honeymoon and then went to a Web site and bid on our accommodations, which I also booked.
A few days ago, US Airways notified me that it had dropped a connecting flight to Costa Rica, and that our only option was a full refund.
I checked the ticket prices to Costa Rica and found that they had tripled. I felt like I was a victim of a bait-and-switch.
I called US Airways, which offered to fly us to Costa Rica a day after we were supposed to leave. But it would involve an overnight stay in Charlotte, which the airline was unwilling to pay for.
I understand that airlines have flight schedule changes, but I also feel that it is their choice and that if they choose to do so, they should be responsible for the consequences. Is there anything you can do?

A: US Airways shouldn't have canceled your flight. But if it did, it should have offered an alternative flight that suited your schedule, rather than leaving you high and dry for the most important vacation of your life.
Did the carrier and its online travel agent, Travelocity, engage in a bait-and-switch? I can see how you would think so. But flight schedules change constantly, and your rights are outlined under US Airways' contract of carriage, the legal agreement between you and the airline.
Section 8.2 of the contract describes your rights in the event US Airways is unable to accommodate you. Basically, you have the right to a refund, or a flight of the airline's choosing -- but nothing more.
While Travelocity and US Airways did all of this by the book, I can understand why you would be disappointed. I mean, it's your honeymoon.
About your reservations ... you booked a too-good-to-be-true special and bid on your accommodations for your honeymoon. Don't you think that's a little risky? I always recommend working with a qualified travel agent who specializes in honeymoons, because you don't want anything to go wrong on this vacation. This is no time to cut corners.
But let's take the honeymoon out of the equation, and just assume it was a late summer vacation. Between US Airways, with its "customer commitment" and Travelocity, with its "guarantee," I just think this could have been handled better.
A brief, politely written appeal to US Airways would have been my first choice to get this resolved. Phoning the airline probably wasn't the most effective way to fix this. I'm surprised Travelocity just passed along the airline's decision without trying to do more, but in the end I think this was a case for US Airways to resolve.
I contacted the airline on your behalf, and it offered you a $75 voucher to cover your hotel bill during your layover in Charlotte.

My Vacation Lady has been helping honeymooners and vacationers, just like you, plan your dream vacations since 1994. We only deal with travel suppliers that offer 24/7 customer service- in case there is a problem or issue. Why risk your vacation to just few clicks of the mouse when you can have the assistance and guidance of an experienced travel professional?

10 days of clothes in 1 carry on?

Sceptical? So was I but if you watch this step by step pictorial article, you can see how it can be done.

Click here to read and see how a flight attendant can get 10 days worth of clothing into 1 carry on bag.

Vacations are good for you

How many elderly people, toward the end of their lives, have said "I wish I worked more hours in a day." Or how many say that they wish they spent less time with their friends and family?

This blog from Adam Goldstein, the president of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, put it very well when he said that all of his photos of his dad were from vacations- never of him walking out the door going to work.

How many vacation days do you want to give back to your boss this year?
It's time to take a vacation!

Are you booking your next vacation online?

This is an article that was published in Travel Weekly, a travel industry magazine and written by a travel professional, Richard Turen. He was able to verbalize what a lot of travel professionals think on a daily basis.

Please read the article and let me know what you think the benefits are of booking your next vacation online.


"To clients considering booking direct
By: Richard Turen
September 06, 2010

Dear client:

I hope and trust that you will book your next vacation with our firm. But we know there are alternatives out there, and we know you are receiving mailings and seeing ads that often urge you to book directly with a travel supplier online.

We enjoy an open and honest relationship with our clients. So I would like to share some straight talk with you about using toll-free numbers or websites to book your vacation directly with the provider.

The best-kept secret in the travel industry is that those who book direct are paying for something they are not receiving: the services of a professional travel consultant.

I realize you are being told that it is easy to book your cruise, tour or airline tickets online. You can do it yourself. Just trust the supplier to take care of everything and have your credit card within easy reach.

Be thrilled that you live in a time when you can just click and travel. It's all so easy, isn't it? Turn over your credit card number and personal information to someone in a cubicle in a reservations factory or, better still, to outsourced labor working out of a call center overseas. Now your credit card information is in Bangladesh, and your vacation will be expertly planned and delivered.

So why use my services?

Well, the first thing you need to know (the industry's best-kept secret) is that you are going to pay my fee or commission when you book directly because it is always -- not sometimes, always -- built into the price of any brochure program. It's the way the industry prices.

Tour operators and cruise lines, even top-grade hotels, love direct bookings because a portion of the travel agent's commission that is built in to every program simply goes into their pockets. They believe that it costs them far less to maintain order-takers in a reservations center.

One hotel chain, years ago, was actually using prisoners on work release to handle phone reservations. Most telephone res agents who work for cruise lines are commissioned salespeople with little knowledge of the industry. Their goal is simple: Try to get a direct booking, earn their smaller commission, and let the company pocket the rest of the total commission built into the fare.

So when you book something directly, you are making a sucker bet that the person on the other end of the line has your best interests at heart, will look out for further discounts and apply them to your record and will be there for you in an emergency.

Imagine what happens when you make a direct booking. Your credit card information is stored, and you receive a computer-generated invoice. That's it. You are now a travel statistic. The computer software that is now your "agent" will notify you when final payment is due, and you will receive final documents.

Of course, you will not receive any of the amenities available through our office, so you might actually be missing out on pricing incentives and advantages.

Let me state it as clearly as I can: With the exception of certain airline and hotel websites that run occasional online "sales," you will never receive preferred pricing on any online site.

If a tour operator or cruise line did not give us pricing that was equal to or better than what they offer on their site, no reputable travel consultant would ever again sell their product. It just never happens. You can always count on the fact that our pricing will be as good or better than any tour or cruise prices you see on direct booking sites.

But frankly, I don't want you to book with us because it is always a better value than booking directly. There are other, more important reasons that have little to do with price.

There is not enough space to list all of the things we provide to our valued clients that are never provided when you book directly with a cruise line or tour operator. But here are just a few to keep in mind:

We are going to compare what competitive companies offer. We are going to advise you on the very best product to meet your needs. We can point out the advantages and disadvantages of several options. Booking directly puts you in touch with a single-product sales person. That is all you get.

We provide special documentation and advice about ports, sightseeing options and even restaurants. We know the best times to do your itinerary, and we might have affiliated offices abroad that can make your vacation truly memorable.

One of the most important things we can do is analyze your travel insurance needs. If you book direct, you get no options, no discussion. You are offered only whatever the site happens to be selling. We offer a universe of options, and that often saves you money.

Suppose something goes wrong? Suppose someone gets sick, and you need help getting home in a hurry? Suppose your vacation experience was unsatisfactory? Who is your advocate if you are dealing directly with the company operating the program? You have none.

Perhaps the most important single thing that we do is give you an honest, unbiased view of both the upside and downside of the vacation option you are considering. Book direct and you get none of that. Everything about the product will be painted in glowing terms. Everything will smell like a strawberry.

Finally, a personal note.

When I go to sleep at night, I am generally aware of where my clients are traveling and what current conditions they are likely to encounter. I worry about my clients. I think about their welfare, and I think about ways that I can enhance their experiences abroad.

I am fairly certain that the direct booking tied up somewhere in a supplier's software booking program is incapable of showing a "booking statistic" much empathy.

Contributing editor Richard Turen owns Churchill and Turen"

Making the most of your cruise time in port

This posting was taken and adapted from an article posted on Cruise Critic on Sept 6, 2010

Guide to the Best Cruise Ship Shore Excursions
ERICA SILVERSTEIN


Snorkeling through coral reefs, exploring ancient Roman ruins, hiking on glaciers, shopping at local outdoor markets; all these shoreside activities are as much a part of the cruise experience as enjoying the onboard amenities of your ship. Indeed, half the fun of taking a cruise is exploring exciting new places, tropical islands, bustling metropolises, exotic countries.

So to enhance each port visit, cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. The land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits.

You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in the Falkland Islands, go wine-tasting in Provence or rollerblade through Copenhagen. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip.

The benefits of booking ship-sponsored tours are many. You can skip the hassle of arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider is licensed and reputable and the ship won't depart until all of its tour buses have returned, even the tardy ones. You may also meet other shipmates whose company you'll enjoy back on the ship.

But ship tours are not always the way to go. The pleasurability and efficiency of tour operators varies from ship to ship, and some tour offerings are simply duds. All too often, shore excursions translate into time-consuming bus rides with drop-offs at shopping centers proffering souvenirs you can live without. Also, please note that the shore excursions offered by the cruise lines, represent a very large profit center for them. Yes, you will have security and ease but not often the best use of your time or money.

For example, after a long, hot (but worthwhile) tour of the Acropolis outside of Athens, passengers who thought they were being driven back to their ship were squirreled into a tacky little shop, belonging to the tour guide's brother-in-law.

To give you the skills to make the best decisions about your days in port, here is our advice on what to expect from a shore excursion and how to make the most of your time ashore.


What the Cruise Lines Offer
Cruise lines offer a mind-boggling array of tours, everything from basic snorkeling trips to more involved, overnight tours to see the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Here's a primer on what you can expect to see on offer.

Active vs. Sightseeing Tours: Shore excursions cover all levels of activity and interest and vary greatly, depending on what's available in each destination. Active tours could be anything from water sports to zip-lining, hiking, biking and dog-sledding. Activity-based trips might feature a day at the spa or beach, a pleasure cruise on a sailboat, wine or food tasting, a cultural performance or a visit to a museum.

Sightseeing excursions are typically bus tours that take passengers to the highlights and shopping areas of the port city or nearby destinations. Remember that excursions look different in different parts of the word. In the Caribbean, you'll find options like snorkeling with sting rays or transportation to private beaches; European tours focus more on sightseeing -- for example, full-day tours from the port of Livorno to the museums and cathedrals of Florence or multi-hour lunches, featuring local produce, meats and wine at a farmhouse in Tuscany.

Full vs. Half-Day Tours: Shore excursions vary in length. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit. Choose a full-day tour to see the most you can in one trip or for journeys to destinations outside the port city. A half-day tour might only focus on one specific itinerary -- a three-hour kayak trip or a highlights tour of a city -- but gives you free time to explore the port on your own before or after.

Guided vs. Free Time: Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists, dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home, while others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time.

Highlights vs. In-Depth: Some shore excursions -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place, in-depth.

Concierge or Boutique: Some of the newest trends in shore excursions include intimate tours that are limited to 25 or so guests. Many lines offer these boutique excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages, so you can customize your own tour, or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party. You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience.

Should You Opt for Independent Exploration?
One of the biggest questions cruisers have is whether or not to take a ship-sponsored shore excursion. The answer banks on your budget, as well as your inclinations. Port tours vary in price, depending on the cruise line, and can run you anywhere from $40 per person for a simple beach break to hundreds of dollars each for such higher-priced options as helicopter rides, golf and day-long or overnight tours. Taking a tour in every port can quickly inflate your onboard bill.

Shore excursions are worth it if you want to venture to attractions that are located far from the pier, learn more about an area through a guide or participate in physical activities where gear is required (biking, diving, golf). However, if all you want to do is walk around town, shop or visit the beach, it could be much cheaper and less time-consuming to get a map and go it on your own. For instance, in St. Thomas, the shops are a stone's throw from the ship, but beaches are a cab ride away. (Keep in mind it still might be less expensive to hail a taxi to the beach than to participate in a tour.) And, in tiny Monte Carlo, the castle, cathedral and casino are all within walking distance of your ship. Don't forget about arranging your own transportation, too. In Hawaii, many ports offer on-site car rentals or rental agency pickups. In Barcelona, you can easily use a combination of local buses, the subway and hop-on, hop-off tourist buses to get around.

However, in big cities like Athens, Rome and Florence -- which are far from the port -- it may make more sense to spring for a tour. It is also wiser to take a shore excursion in any third world country or in foreign ports, where language and customs might prove to be barriers. For example, in Brunei, you would definitely want to take the guided tour to sites like the biggest mosque in Asia -- Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. You'd probably never find it on your own. And, without guidance, you may not realize the necessity to respect local customs by covering your body from head to toe in long pants, long skirts and long sleeves. (Don't laugh -- this happened on a recent visit. Luckily, the locals are used to this and have a few robes on-hand to loan visitors.) In Tunis, you might not wish to participate in the aggressive haggling, conducted by the taxi drivers at the pier. Opt instead, for a ship-arranged tour to the souk or ancient Carthage.

The third option is the hybrid: book your own tour in advance through a local provider. You can often save money by eliminating the cruise-line middleman, or customize the trip to your interests. However, remember that, while the cruise ship will wait for any late-returning, ship-sponsored tours, you run the risk of getting stranded in port if your independent tour gets stuck in traffic and is late returning to the pier.

Just some other points to consider:
1. If you are cruising in Europe and are sailing on a cruise line like Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, the shore excursions you purchase from the cruise line will be in US$ rather than Euros.
2. If you are not very adventurous, sticking to the cruise tours are usually the safer bet.
3. If you are booking with a local vendor you find on line some might require local currency in cash, rather than credit cards. If they do accept credit cards, it might be payment in full prior to arrival. What happens if your ship doesn't make the port of call?
4. In many cases, My Vacation Lady can offer advise and opinions on shore excursions and might be able to offer private (and reliable) companies that offer shore excursions. These may be at a lower price, may offer smaller groups or may be more unique than those offered by the cruise line.
Let us know how we can help enhance your cruise experience with shore excursion assistance.

Is it safe to go to the Riviera Maya? YES

This article is yet another one that might scare tourists about the safety of Mexico.
Please note, that while I don't mean to downplay the seriousness of this event, it took place outside of the tourist area in a residential area of Cancun. This is the same as telling people not to travel to mid town Manhattan in New York City because of murders in Harlem or the Bronx or Brooklyn or Newark, NJ.

Almost all of my clients that fly into the Cancun airport head down to the Riviera Maya. Just so you can understand some of the distances, Puerto Morelos (where properties like Excellence Riviera Cancun and Secrets Maroma are near) is 36 kilometers or 22.5 miles south of the Cancun airport. Playa del Carmen is 68 kilometers or 42 miles south of the Cancun airport. This event took place NORTH of the Cancun airport so my clients who are traveling to the Riviera Maya, should feel safe on their vacation.

CNN) -- Eight people died early Tuesday after attackers hurled several Molotov cocktails into a Cancun, Mexico, bar, the state attorney general said.

Six women and two men, all Mexican nationals and employees of the tavern, were killed in the 1:30 a.m. strike, now under investigation by judicial police, according to a release from Francisco Alor Quezada, attorney general for the state of Quintana Roo.

Eight men hurled the explosives at the bar and fled in vehicles, the release said. No shots were fired. Although the tavern is just 5 kilometers from the city's tourist stretch, it sits apart from the area frequented by tourists, and the clientele is composed of locals, it said.

Top US Cities for Family Vacations

Where do you take your kids on vacation? Beaches and amusement parks are the typical go-to destinations when summer comes around, but urban life can be just as entertaining.

ABC News recently published a list of the top 10 cities for family vacations, which included Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago.

One of the other cities was New Orleans. Whether it's sampling delicious gumbo or touring the beautiful architecture in the French Quarter, travelers are sure to have a good time in this diverse and vibrant city. Let's not forget the zoo, aquarium, Mardi Gras World-where they can learn how they make the floats used for the parade. What about a swamp tour or a cemetery tour?

San Francisco, CA offers attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury and seaside views. A tour of Alcatraz is sure to thrill as well as a drive down the crookedest street in the world.

Families can take advantage of free admission to 19 Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., among the numerous historical monuments to visit. Contact your local congressman to get tickets for a White House Tour.

Boston, MA comes in at number two with its sports and shopping opportunities. Tours are available at Fenway Park, and the Museum of Science and New England Aquarium both provide interactive exhibits for adults and children.

Number one on the list is New York, NY. The city is ideal for family vacations because of its limitless number of activities. From Broadway plays and zoos to worldwide cuisine and views from the Empire State Building, the Big Apple has something for everyone.

The best thing about visiting these cities is that you can visit year round. You don't need to wait for summer.

Family only sections on planes?

I remember very well taking my kids on planes when they were very young, including a trip down to Florida when my son was 5 months old. I was concerned about keeping him quiet on the flight so that he didn't disturb the rest of the passengers. I know that now that my kids are adults, I dread being near a baby on any plane trip and cringe at the idea of being near a young child who will be kicking the back of my seat all flight long.

This article suggests a family only section of the plane. Not sure how that can be handled considering the airlines are now charging extra for "premium seats", extra leg room seats and some even window or aisle seats.

If planes could create a family only section, do you think the idea would fly?

2010 Travel Trends

In a recent survey of travel purchasing and travel styles, these were the results

2010 Consumer Trends

The average American traveler took four leisure trips during the past year and spent more than $3,500 on leisure travel services.

A leisure trip is 75 miles or more from home, requiring overnight accommodations.

Four different 'tribes' of leisure travelers emerged
Sensationals make up 28%: Mean age of 40; professional singles and couples with a preference for action/the club life
Familias make up 23%: Mean age of 42; family vacation oriented; dual-income households with children under 18; package-travel oriented
Touristers make up 23%: Mean age of 47; happily married; entrepreneurial/driven to succeed and favor 'no-mistake' travel. They take the most trips and spend the highest amount per trip
Extraordinaires make up 26%: Mean age of 52; more than one-third are grandparents; wealthy empty nesters seeking urban cultural experiences

Describing today's consumers as 'newly resourceful'...consumers have reaffirmed their priorities... and discovered that living with less was not as burdensome as they expected....
Because of the ever-growing array of easy-to-use tools...consumers visit an average of 20 websites before making a travel purchase.
Consumers are asking for and receiving instant feedback about price, value and suitability and reading countless reviews.
Travelers were asked to identify the fear most likely to keep them from planning a vacation: It was the fear of overpaying. That's why they spend so many hours researching online...
Yet for all the talk of the new frugalness, it is not just price that is determining our choices....They don't want to give up luxury. They do want another layer of feeling good about going away. They want to be connected in a good way. Travel remains an entitlement for many, but it does need to parallel their values
One place where consumers are giving themselves "permission" to travel is anything involving family, relationships, or getting in touch with oneself.

The leisure traveler profile is:
age 64+ 11%;
45-63 45%;
32-44 30%;
18-31 14%

The profile of those using traditional travel agents is:
age 64+ 13%;
45-63 39%;
32-44 28%;
18-31 20%
People in the echo-boomers (18-31) represent 14% of the total population of leisure travelers, but they represent a significantly higher percentage (20%) of the leisure travelers who use traditional agents. Why? Their long acquaintance of the Web is old hat and they are not nearly as taken in with what they can find on the Web; they are pushing back from overload and the time it takes for research.

The study also reported agent usage based on factors other than age, including gender, ethnicity and income....Women, Asians and the affluent are overrepresented among agency clients.

Two-thirds of leisure travelers based a trip on a life event such as a wedding, birthday or anniversary celebration during the last year.

The researchers commented that: 'It's a new consumer mindset. Given all that is going on with the economy and difficult times for family and fiends, it's OK to travel if you have a reason. You can justify it when there's a life event happening'

More Vacation Safety Tips

More Ways to Avoid Theft on Vacation

August 19, 2010 3:16 pm
by Jaclyn Liechti published in the
Smarter Traveler

Our recent story on how to avoid theft when you're on vacation garnered some helpful reader tips about keeping your valuables safe when you travel. In fact, smart vacationing begins before you even shut the door. Dinek writes, "Don't 'advertise' on Facebook and other sites that you're going to be away from home." Thieves can use this information to target your home while you're away, so if you do want to brag about your travails, be sure to check your security settings to make sure only close friends and family know you'll be away.

While on the road, there are many steps you can take to make yourself less suceptible to petty theft. "Be careful where you park," writes Millicent, "We look for busy streets with lots of people around and good lighting if we have to return in the dark." If you didn't drive your own car, Joanne's advice will come in handy: "In many locations rental cars are very easy for local thieves to identify, so always learn how the door locks work before you leave the rental office. Also, keep your purse or carry-on in the trunk, not on the floor or seat of the vehicle."

Pickpockets are a common menace in popular tourist destinations, but with a little prep you can impede sticky fingers. "Here is a simple one," says Travelingprof. "Wrap your wallet with one of [those] thick rubber bands. Why? Have you ever tried to get a wallet out of your pocket with one of those thick rubber bands wrapped around it?" Reader dinek recommends a money pouch or belt worn under your clothes, and also has advice for those traveling out of the country. "Leave [your] passport in [the] cruise ship/hotel safe and carry [a] photocopy ... Just carry your driver's license as picture identification." This way, if your information is stolen, you still have the necessary documents to return to the country.

Packing Tips

Another great article from the Independent Traveler

Some travelers jam two weeks' worth of gear in their bags for a long weekend. Others pack a bit too lightly and forget important things like medicine or passports. Savvy travelers strike the perfect balance and bring just what they need -- with a little help from our list of road-tested packing tips, of course!

Packing Methods
When packing your clothes, you don't want to neatly fold them individually as you would in a dresser. If you do, they will crease when compressed. Here are a few alternatives:

Rolling Your Clothes
Backpackers swear by this method. Rolling works well with pants, skirts and sports shirts. Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves and then roll from the bottom up.

Fold Clothes Together
Take two or more garments, for example trousers, and lay half of one pair on top of the other. Fold the one on the bottom over the pair on the top. Then take the other and fold it on the top. This gives each pair some cushion where you've folded it so it's less likely to crease or wrinkle in the folds.

The Bundle Approach
This ingenious method of packing, which we learned from Judith Guilford, co-founder of the Easy Going travel store and author of the "The Packing Book," has now become our favorite. It's a bit difficult to explain without a demonstration, but we'll do our best. You need luggage that opens up and lays flat to do this. You will also need a flat, soft, pouch-like rectangular "core" with dimensions that are at least 1/2 to 3/4 the size of your luggage compartment. This can be a pouch filled with underwear or something similar.

Start with your sports jacket or the longest, most wrinkle-prone item you have. With the collar or waistband flat, place it against the bottom edge of the bag and drape the rest of the garment over the opposite side of the bag. Take another garment and place it in the opposite direction, flattening and smoothing out both garments in the bag and draping the remainder over the side. If you have trousers or other narrow items, do the same with them in the narrow direction of the bag. Keep alternating your items, ending up with the most wrinkle-resistant clothes you have.

When you finish, place your "core" in the middle. Now you're going to start folding the garments over the core and each other in the reverse order you put them in. If you fold something over and there's excess draping over the sides of the bag, tuck it underneath the bundle you are creating.

What you will end up with is a bundle of all of your clothes that looks like a pillow. You can pick it up in one piece. It's compactly packed and doesn't waste an available space in your luggage. Plus, because of the way things are folded, your clothes will wrinkle less.

To find something in the bundle, lay it flat and unwrap until you reach the layer you want. Take the item out and refold the remainder. If done properly each layer should result in a self contained bundle at each layer.

Tissue Paper
For delicate items, try tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep repacking. We only use this approach for evening clothes that we don't want to crush.

Tips for Air Travelers
• You may not pack liquid or gel substances in your carry-on unless they are in individual three-ounce containers, enclosed in one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag per passenger. Any larger containers of liquids and gels must be packed in your checked luggage.
• Be aware of restrictions on the size and number of bags you may bring onto your flight. Many airlines now charge a fee for every checked bag or have lowered the maximum permitted weight limits for checked luggage.
• Do not lock your checked bags except with TSA-approved locks; otherwise, if your bag is selected for random screening, agents will have to break the lock to get inside.
• Do not overpack your bag. Screeners will have a difficult time closing your luggage if selected for inspection, which will only lead to wrinkles and the potential for lost articles.
• Carry all film with you onboard, as screening equipment for checked luggage can damage undeveloped film.
• Place any packed belongings you don't feel comfortable with strangers handling in clear plastic bags. (I've been doing this for year- I use gallon size ziplock bags and put undergarments in them.)
• Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other; instead, spread them out throughout your bag.

Is it worth saving a few dollars....

Everyone is looking to save a few dollars on travel these days but after you read this article, please let me know if you feel that it was worth it.

As I have said before, how cheap does a bad vacation or trip have to be, before it becomes ok...

Walt Disney World announces Fall and Winter Promotions

Fall brings a number of special events to Walt Disney World Resort, as well as three offers that will help clients book early and plan their vacations. Beginning with Night of Joy (Sept. 10 to 11) and continuing with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (select nights from Sept. 14 to Nov. 1; separate admission required), Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (Oct. 1 to Nov. 14; theme park admission required), Children’s Miracle Network Classic (Nov. 11 to 14; separate admission required) and Festival of the Masters (Nov. 12-14), guests will have so much to see and do during this upcoming season.


Travel agents can help their clients select one of the three special offers below that best fit their vacation needs during select dates. Travel agents can book their client’s vacation by Nov. 21, 2010, and help them save at least 25 percent on a room at a select Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Plus, by upgrading to a package, they’ll get special benefits and magical extras. This offer is valid for stays most nights Oct. 3 to Nov. 23 and Nov. 27 to Dec. 25, 2010, and Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, 2011.

Clients who purchase a four-night, five-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at select Disney Moderate Resorts by Dec. 20, 2010, will receive a free Disney Dining Plan. This offer is valid for arrivals most nights from Oct. 1 to 7, Oct. 22 to 28, Nov. 12 to 18, Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 and Dec. 10 to 21, 2010, and Jan. 1 to 5, Jan. 9 to 13, Jan. 21 to Feb. 3, Feb. 11 to 17, Feb. 25 to March 3, May 27 to June 2 and Aug. 19 to Sept. 29, 2011.

Clients who buy a five-night, five-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels by Nov. 21, 2010, can get a Disney Gift Card worth up to $500 free. The offer is valid for arrivals most nights Oct. 3 to Nov. 23 and Nov. 27 to Dec. 25, 2010, and Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, 2011. The Disney Gift Card can be use at participating locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort for shopping, dining and more.

Let My Vacation Lady help you figure out which fall promotion is best for your next Walt Disney World Vacation.

Avoiding a Large Phone Bill When Traveling

By DAVID A. KELLY July 27, 2010

UBIQUITOUS connectivity has its downside, especially when it comes to the price of using your cellphone abroad. The proliferation of smartphones and the increased use of data have made it easier than ever to rack up huge communications bills while traveling overseas, even on a short trip.
“Many leisure travelers with iPhones are going to Europe, not turning off their data and allowing their apps to continue downloading data,” said Ken Grunski, chief executive of Telestial, a company that provides wireless services for travelers. “U.S. travelers were already getting hammered with expensive voice calls that start at $1 per minute. I know of people that have returned home to $1,000 or more roaming bills.”
Luckily for tech-savvy travelers who want to stay in touch, there are ways to avoid spending a small fortune. Here are some options.

Getting the Right Phone
Many countries outside the United States rely on a wireless network technology called GSM. But two major American carriers — Verizon and Sprint — use different technologies in most of their standard phones. Owners of those devices will need a special cellphone when traveling to many countries.
Verizon users have a fairly convenient way to deal with this problem. If you’ve been a subscriber for six months or longer, Verizon will lend you a global phone free of charge for trips of 21 days or less; the customer pays only the two-day FedEx fee of $9.99. Once you receive the phone, call Verizon to activate it and select an international rate plan (with the $4.99 a month plan, a call from, say, France, will cost 99 cents a minute compared with $1.29 without the plan; texts, which cost 50 cents per message sent and 5 cents per message received, are not included). After the trip, just ship the phone back. AT&T and T-Mobile have GSM networks, so many of their standard phones will work overseas, although you’ll still need to sign up for an international roaming plan to keep rates down. For example, with the $5.99 a month AT&T plan, calls from many Western European countries to the United States are only 99 cents. A package of 50 roaming texts costs $10.

Another option is to buy an inexpensive travel phone from a company like Telestial (telestial.com) or Planet Omni (planetomni.com). They typically cost less than $50. For example, Planet Omni’s Kit V520 ($49) offers a dual-band GSM phone, SIM card with both a United States phone number and a global phone number, and $5 in airtime. The service allows you to receive free incoming calls in France, Italy, Spain and Britain on the global number, and free voice mail in 60 countries. Costs for outgoing calls depend on the country. For example, an outgoing call from France to a United States landline is 99 cents per minute, while a call to a mobile phone is $1.49 per minute. Telestial’s Passport package (starting at $99) provides free incoming calls in Europe, as well as calls back to the United States for 49 cents per minute.

Data Deals
With everything from Internet radio to online maps to multitudes of apps, iPhones and smartphones can consume huge amounts of data. It might not be a big deal at home, but using all those apps on the road can add up quickly. If you plan on using a lot of data services while traveling, make sure you check with the carrier to see if it offers international data roaming plans. For example, AT&T offers data roaming plans for the iPhone and smartphones that provide 20 megabytes of data usage within 90 countries for $24.99 per month, and up to 200 megabytes for $199.99 per month.
These charges are in addition to whatever your usual monthly charge is in the United States, but the cost pays off if you use a lot of data, especially when you consider that the standard international roaming rates for many Western European countries are about $20 per megabyte (according to Mr. Grunski, of Telestial, some Web pages are half a megabyte, so downloading, say, five pages in a single day could cost you $50 without a plan).

In addition, AT&T recommends that iPhone users go to their settings and turn off data roaming and options to fetch new data. They should also reset their usage tracker to zero so they can keep an eye on new charges, and make sure to use Wi-Fi instead of their phones’ 3G services to check e-mail messages or use the Web.

SIM Cards
Frequent travelers may want to consider another money-saving technique: replacing a phone’s American SIM card (the little electronic memory card that identifies and configures your phone) with a local (or country-specific) SIM card. In general, when you do that, all incoming calls will be free and outgoing calls (local or international) can be significantly cheaper. Be aware that replacing the SIM card means that your phone has a different number, so you may want to let your contacts know, or set your phone to forward all calls to the new number before you go. Your phone also has to be unlocked so it can work with other carriers’ networks — your cellphone company can provide information on how to do this — and it needs to be compatible with the wireless services in the country you’re visiting.
“Even with an international roaming package on AT&T, it can cost 99 cents a minute or more for voice calls,” said Philip Guarino, an international business consultant and founder of Elementi Consulting in Boston. “The moral of the story is, dump your American SIM card and buy a local one instead.” When Mr. Guarino travels he simply buys a SIM card at his destination airport and uses it for cheap local calls.
“In a pinch, even if I call directly from my phone using a foreign SIM card, the average direct-dial rates are about 60 cents U.S. per minute, which is cheaper than using my original U.S. SIM,” he said.

The VoIP Option
Internet-based voice services (VoIP) such as Skype (skype.com) or Truphone (truphone.com), which charge as little as 2 cents for calls to regular phones, are among the cheapest ways for international travelers to communicate. This spring, Skype announced support for the iPhone, allowing iPhone users to make or receive Skype calls over either Wi-Fi or 3G connections. One good option for travelers wanting to use Skype or Wi-Fi while traveling is Boingo Wireless. For $7.95 per month, travelers can sign up with Boingo (boingo.com) for unlimited Wi-Fi access in hotels, restaurants, cafes, airports and more in over 70 countries. Coupled with Skype or a similar VoIP product on an iPhone, smartphone or computer, it’s hard to beat the value.

Last, but Not Least
Don’t forget the old-fashioned calling card. When Mr. Guarino travels, he often uses discounted international calling cards from local cafes or newsstands.
“The rates to the U.S. are about 3 cents per minute, plus the cost of the local call,” he said. “It’s a good option for making a call from a land line, especially if you have a conference call to make where you don’t want to worry about call quality.”

Sandals Resorts cuts ties with Apple Vacations

A couple of years ago, Sandals announced that it would cease sales through Apple Vacations. Rumors were flying, at that time, about the reasons. Some said that since Apple owned a stake in AMResorts, the management company for Secrets, Zoetry, Dreams and Now properties, they were in direct conflict with Sandals. Now that Secrets has 2 properties in Jamaica, it is something to consider. Another rumor, back then, that Apple didn't want to classify or rank Sandals properties uniformly equally, as Sandals required. Again, these were all rumors back then. Now, we hear that as of Aug 2010, Sandals is again pulling their line from the Apple inventory:

"Unique Vacations International (UVI), the company that acts as the worldwide sales and marketing representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, terminated its wholesaler agreement with Apple Vacations. UVI said the move is part of an overall strategy to partner with fewer companies that give priority to UVI, particularly Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts. Sandals bookings that have already been made through Apple will be honored. The change only applies to new bookings going forward.

UVI said it is investing in the traditional distribution system and will continue to grow this sector and to richly reward wholesalers, tour operators and agents who share its goals. The company did not specify why Apple Vacations in particular would not be included as part of its distribution system going forward. A spokesperson from Unique Vacations told Travel Pulse that the decision to terminate the relationship was made by UVI, not Sandals.

In a statement from Apple Vacations, Tim Mullen, senior vice president, said Apple had been notified on July 20 by Sandals and Beaches Resorts that it would no longer be able to sell their properties. No reason was given, according to the statement. The move was puzzling, Mullen said, because “Apple Vacations continues to increase production to Jamaica each year. Specifically, Apple has increased its 2010 production by 34 percent over 2009 and advanced sales are up more than 20 percent for 2011.”

Mullen said Apple Vacations continues to be optimistic about the growth of business to Jamaica, as well as the continuing improvement in the quality of products at the destination. Mark Noennig, vice president and general manager of Apple, told Travel Pulse that UVI’s move had taken Apple by surprise. “There didn’t seem to be any particular reason for this to happen, but we’ve accepted it and are moving on,” he said. “Apple doesn’t want to speculate on it. Business to the Caribbean has been very good. There’s a lot of new product there. We’ve been doing a lot of business with Couples. Secrets does very well for us, as well as Iberostar, Superclubs and Riu. So we’re not going to feel a lot of impact. Apple has the most charters into the Caribbean of anyone, so we are very committed to the region and will continue to move forward aggressively.”

Will we see Sandals back up in Apple's inventory soon? Time will tell.

If you bought too many souvenirs...

We all do it. We go on vacation and feel the need to buy souvenirs for everyone from the person watering your plants on up to your family. Your luggage is now overloaded, overweight or just won't carry anything else. What do you do?

Here are some suggestions that came from an article from the Independent Traveler.

Packing Problem: Too Many Souvenirs
You could always just pack less and leave room in the bag for some extra souvenirs. But who really wants to do that? After all, in the current context of expensive baggage fees, empty space in your suitcase is valuable real estate. And if you only brought a carry-on bag, some souvenirs you might purchase, like liquid-filled snow globes, may be prohibited past the airport security checkpoint. So with no room in your bag for anything larger than a postcard of Tuscany and only a carry-on in which to cart two weeks' worth of clothing, how do you get those bottles of pricey Italian merlot back to the States?

Many travelers ship souvenirs back home -- especially large or fragile things like handmade Moroccan rugs or Waterford crystal. A reputable shop that caters largely to tourists (and sells big and expensive items like furniture) will likely ship your goods back home right from the store. However, without shipping insurance or a tracking number, you have little control over the fate of your purchase.

A second option is to mail the item yourself. We recommend using major international shipping companies like UPS and FedEx as opposed to a local post office because overseas postal services (especially in developing areas) may be unreliable. Check out the major international shipping companies' Web sites before you leave to see if there's a location near where you will be traveling; if so, write down the address and phone number and stick it in your wallet. Also look up restrictions, shipping costs and shipping times. And make sure to get your shipment insured and write down a tracking number!

Your third, probably cheapest option is to pack a squashy, foldable bag that takes up little room in your suitcase. A soft duffel or zippered tote bag will work. If you end up with a mass of bulky souvenirs, you can unfold the extra bag and check it at the airport. Although you may end up paying a checked-bag fee for an extra piece of luggage, this might be a more economical way to cart your souvenirs home than paying for international shipping, which is not cheap. Wrap some T-shirts or sweaters around any breakable items.

I'm going to add another option: Take disposable clothes with you on vacation and throw them out after wearing them. By taking clothes that you have no intention of bringing home, you'll have more room in your suitcase for souvenirs. I've done it with underwear, shoes and more. Rather than packing your best, pack stuff that you are ready to get rid of anyway. Wear them and toss them. It will leave space and weight left in the suitcase for all of the new stuff you are going to buy :)

5 Ways to Upgrade your Vacation

This is an article that I found on the Independent Traveler.

"Most travelers can't afford five-star hotels and first-class airfare, but there are plenty of inexpensive -- and sometimes free -- ways to add comfort and small luxuries to a trip without clearing out your bank account. Things like a leisurely morning meal or a few extra inches of legroom in coach can make a big difference on an otherwise budget-minded getaway. Following is a quick list of five low-cost upgrade suggestions simple enough to try on almost every trip you take.

1. Ask for an upgrade.
You don't necessarily have to have tons of miles or tons of cash to fly business or first class, as many airlines offer low-fee upgrades based on availability at the time of check-in. These same-day upgrades can cost as little as $25, and often check-in agents can upgrade you for any connecting flights -- and in some cases for your return trip as well.

Even if no seats or upgrades for a higher class are available, you may be able to get a better seat, sometimes even for free. As more airlines have designated certain seats in coach as "premium" seats, they may offer you a seat in the front section of coach (where seat widths or pitch may be more generous), or perhaps right behind one of those exit row seats that have one seat taken out so you actually have two full rows of legroom -- more than enough space even you're built like Wilt Chamberlain.

If upgrades are available, the agent can usually tell you the exact cost, and you can accept or decline the offer. (You may not even have to go to the desk, as this option is also becoming more common for both online and kiosk check-in options.) At the very least, most check-in agents will scan their seating charts to try to find you the best available seat at no extra cost, just for the asking. You almost can't go wrong inquiring politely about any upgrade options; if you travel regularly, you'll be pleasantly surprised over time at how well this works.

2. Avoid long lines by buying tickets in advance.
An excruciating wait in a ticket or admission line can tarnish an otherwise great vacation day; shuffling along in the heat (or cold) with a horde of other folks in the same predicament is no one's idea of a good use of precious vacation time. Fortunately, most popular establishments have learned this lesson and now offer ways to purchase advance admission tickets -- which in many cases may offer a set entrance time as well, further reducing time wasted standing around.

This option is usually best employed at very popular attractions with instant name recognition and broad appeal: the American Museum of Natural History, the Uffizi, Disney. There is usually a small fee for the service (usually in the $2 - $4 range), but getting to skip the mile-long General Admission line and grab your tickets at Will Call -- or better yet, have your tickets mailed to you in advance -- is almost always worth a couple of bucks.

If you are traveling as a family or with a group, you might even find that buying a museum membership pays off, even for a one-time visit. For example, a year-long family membership at the American Museum of Natural History costs $115, and includes unlimited admission for two adults and up to four children all year long. Meanwhile, regular admission for two adults and four children is $92.

If you have even the most remote plans to visit again, the family membership is the way to go. Additionally, the AMNH will even let you have other family members use your membership -- so, for example, I could give my brother and his family my membership card, and they could all attend as well, on their own time. Check out these and similar options when you visit museum and theme parks; potential price savings aside, lines for members tend to be shorter than those for the general public.

3. Upgrade your rental car affordably.
One thing you can rely on about most rental car upgrades is that they're usually an add-on to the amount you are already paying, not a completely "new" price per se. That is, when you upgrade a rental, you are paying only a pre-determined upgrade fee, not necessarily the going full price for the higher car class.

For example, say during booking you see an economy car for $18 a day, and a full-size car for $50. If you book the economy car, and then are offered an upgrade at the rental desk, typically you will be quoted a few dollars per day more for the upgraded vehicle, perhaps $5 a day per rental class -- but not the full $50 you were originally quoted.

When reserving a car online, sometimes you will be offered the option to upgrade during the booking process; on a trip to Cleveland last year, I upgraded three full car classes for $3 a day. Learn more tactics for upgrading your car rental in How to Save on Car Rentals in a Recession.

The risk here is obviously that no upgrade is available, and that you are stuck in the economy car. Unless you are going to be driving a lot, this may not be a deal-breaker.

4. Use a travel agent.
Handling the countless tiny details of travel planning can sometimes feel like torture by 1,000 small cuts. Despite the glut of Web sites that offer endless flexibility and options for booking your own travel, somehow the whole process seems more grueling than ever. If you can find a good travel agent, the hassle of searching for and purchasing airline tickets can be offloaded entirely for fees starting around $35. A good travel agent can quickly filter out all the stuff you don't want and drill down to see things you can't see, such as seating charts, to find you the right flight at the right price with the right seats.

Especially when traveling as a family or with a group, when getting seats together can be critical to a sane and safe trip, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and anxiety by having a pro put together a sensible and reliable flight itinerary.

While your agent is at it, you might have him or her look into rental cars, hotel rooms and more -- and, if the price is right, go ahead and book it. Researching and reserving these yourself usually requires visiting multiple Web sites and can take a few hours of your time, so having a travel agent book them for you can save you time ... and it may not cost you anything more in fees.

5. Use room service.
To many folks, room service sounds like an extravagance, but the truth is that the cost of a meal delivered to your room is almost always exactly the same as if you went down to the hotel restaurant. The menu is the same, the prices are the same, the beer costs the same and the water is still free. The gratuity (usually 18 percent these days) is almost always added automatically, and at most properties you can put the meal on your hotel bill, so you don't even have to pick up your wallet.

Unless the hotel breakfast is included in your room cost, I find this option particularly attractive in the morning. While waiting for and eating breakfast, I can check in at work, dispatch e-mail, read the newspaper or watch the morning news, which for me beats slumping down to a hotel restaurant first thing in the morning by a country breakfast mile. Often you can order your meal the night before and choose a predetermined delivery time.

You will want to take a close look at the menu prices, as hotel breakfasts can be on the pricey side (although not always) and may be a more expensive option than popping down the street to the local coffee shop. But for a morning or two it won't break the bank, and the benefits are worth it. An omelet, buttered toast, some fruit and a pot of coffee delivered right to your room while you are still in your PJ's? There's the lap of luxury for you -- breakfast in bed.


Go Anyway,
Ed Hewitt"