My Vacation Lady is teaming up with Holland America Cruises to offer a 1 week cruise sale.
You will get a reduced deposit on your cruise and cruise tour bookings PLUS a value added coupon book with values of up to $450.
Look at some of the great discounts from the coupon book:
The Onboard Value Booklet
includes
• Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow for just $25 when added to any treatment
(while in port): Greenhouse Spa & Salon
• Any acupuncture treatment (while in port): 10 percent off — Greenhouse Spa
& Salon
• Nutritional consultation: 10 percent off —Greenhouse Spa & Salon
• Purchase one fitness class and receive a complimentary second class: $12 value —
Greenhouse Spa & Salon
• Any slot or blackjack tournament: two entries for price of one: $20 value
• $5 Casino match-play certificate
• $2 per-minute discount on stateroom call:$20 value
• $10 off purchase of second telephone calling card
• 15 minutes free with the purchase of any Internet time package
• $10 off Holland America Line bathrobe
• 14K gold earrings with any fine jewelry purchase of $500 or more: $100 value —
Signature Shops
• 7-bottle Navigator Wine Package: 10 percent off
• Complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries with purchase of Champagne
for stateroom delivery
• Receive a grande coffee beverage for the price of a tall — Explorations Café
• Dinner for two at the Pinnacle Grill with purchase of 7-bottle Admiral’s Choice
Wine Package: $40 value
• Purchase a souvenir glass and receive a complimentary second glass
• Receive a complimentary bingo card with the purchase of three
• 10 percent off order of fresh flowers
• Regular or Express Laundry Services: 10 percent off
• Holland America Line Master Chef cookbooks: 10 percent off
• Tuxedo rental: 10 percent off
• Black Label Photography purchases: 10 percent off (on purchases up to $500)
• $5 off Voyage or Destinations DVD: Photo Gallery
• Special $12 rate for one-year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine: 77 percent
savings
• Any item at shophollandamerica.com: 10 percent off (Mariner’s DreamTM bed
excluded)spacious, elegant
This sale is not applicable to Grand Voyages, flash fares or community appreciation fares.
Give My Vacation Lady a call at 732-418-0819 to book your Holland America Cruise today!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Airline Fees Cheat Sheet
It's so hard to keep track of all of the fees the airlines have started charging.
With the checked luggage fees, carry on luggage fees, overweight luggage fees, meals, priority seating, etc, it's no surprise that many cruise passengers would prefer to cruise from a port closer to home.
Just to help you figure out some of the fees charged by many of the airlines world wide, click here.
Just one example from my local area:
Fly from Newark to Fort Lauderdale with 2 pieces of checked luggage
Continental's fees (if you pre-pay online prior to arriving at the airport) $55
Jet Blue's fees- $30
These luggage charges are in each direction so even if the prices are the same, Continental is costing $50 more per person round trip. This might be something to think about when booking your flights.
With the checked luggage fees, carry on luggage fees, overweight luggage fees, meals, priority seating, etc, it's no surprise that many cruise passengers would prefer to cruise from a port closer to home.
Just to help you figure out some of the fees charged by many of the airlines world wide, click here.
Just one example from my local area:
Fly from Newark to Fort Lauderdale with 2 pieces of checked luggage
Continental's fees (if you pre-pay online prior to arriving at the airport) $55
Jet Blue's fees- $30
These luggage charges are in each direction so even if the prices are the same, Continental is costing $50 more per person round trip. This might be something to think about when booking your flights.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Non liquid toiletries help TSA 3-1-1 compliance
When the TSA started limiting the number and size of liquid that you are allowed to carry on to an airplane, passengers had to scramble to find small sizes of their favorite toiletries. The 3 oz, 1 quart size bag per person ruling makes it very had for passengers just to take a carry on instead of checked luggage.
Here are some ideas from Smart Travel Magazine
Here are some ideas from Smart Travel Magazine
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Benefits of using a Travel Agent
Don't take my word for it. Travel agents have never disappeared with the arrival of the big online travel booking agencies. We provide a completely different service.
Check out this article
I especially like the quote from Warren Buffett:
Price is what you pay; Value is what you get.
Check out this article
I especially like the quote from Warren Buffett:
Price is what you pay; Value is what you get.
Monday, June 21, 2010
7 Health Benefits of taking vacations
Have you planned your 2010 vacation yet? If not, what are you waiting for?
This article was written by Chanpoy Rith and published on LifeClever.com in Aug 2007.
"Summer’s almost over. Have you taken a vacation yet? If you haven’t, will you?
Acccording to a 2006 survey by Harris Interaction and Expedia, 36 percent of workers don’t plan to use all their paid vacation days, and 37 percent never take more than a week off at a time.
So to convince you to take a much-needed break, here’s my list of how vacations can benefit your health and mind. While relaxation and exposure to culture are obvious benefits, there’s a wealth of other rewards too:
Live longer
A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent. Men who didn’t take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate and incidence of heart disease than any other men surveyed.
Improve your mental health
A study by Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense, or tired. Women who rarely took vacations were likelier to have stress at home and sleep less.
Revamp your relationships
I don’t have any fancy studies to back this one up, it’s just common sense. A real vacation is the ideal time to reconnect and revitalize relationships that have taken a toll from an on-call, always-on, and work-obsessed culture. My 9-hour work days and blogging duties have caused my relationships to suffer more than I’d like to admit. Yes, I too need a vacation.
Recapture your childhood
When was the last time you went out and play? I mean really play. Without worry of someone calling or interrupting you. Real vacations let you recapture that feeling of childlike exploratory freedom. You can wake up when you want, go to sleep when you want, and eat what you want. Most importantly, you can have fun without worrying about the consequences on work back home.
Gain self confidence
“Don’t put yourself on sale.” This is my favorite mantra from financial guru Suze Orman. While Suze’s target audience is directed to women, the advice applies to everyone. When you skip vacations, you put yourself on sale. If you have 2-weeks of paid vacation and don’t use them, you’re essentially working for free. By committing to a vacation, you declare to yourself (and to others) that you are important and deserve dedicated time for yourself.
Find creative inspiration
Most of the year, we live on a schedule. We eat at the same restaurants, see the same people, and experience the same environment. This monotony reduces the opportunities for inspiration and for new ways of thinking. By traveling to a foreign environment, we put ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, and allow our brains to think differently.
Become more productive
What? You can more productive by not working? Yes. By scheduling two weeks of vacation a year, you force yourself to make the other 50 weeks more efficient. Your scheduled becomes an award—a carrot. This means more incentive to eliminate distractions, work more efficiently, and get things done.
How to take a vacation
So now that I’ve convinced you, here’s how to do it:
Create a vacation fund
Put money into a vacation fund every time you get your paycheck. For a $2000 vacation, you only need to set aside just $77 dollars each paycheck (if you get paid twice a month).
Let your boss and coworkers know earlyAside from being nice and giving your employer time to make staffing changes, telling everyone at work makes your vacation concrete. It prevents you and anyone else from piling on work with no end in sight.
Don’t ask, declare it.
You know the classic aphorism: better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Instead of: “Hey guys, I’m thinking of going on vacation October 1-15th, is that a good time?”
Say: “Hey guys, I’ll be taking a vacation and will be in Buenos Aires between October 1–15th. Let’s work together on making sure everything is taken care of before I leave.”
Book your flights and hotels early
Yes, you’ll get cheaper rates. But since you’ve sunk money into it, you’re fully committed now. This makes it harder for you and your boss to delay or reschedule your vacation.
Pack light
I’m always afraid of airlines losing my luggage, so I pack everything into a carry-on, even for long two-week trips. For the rare moment I forget something, like a toothbrush or a razor. I can pick it up quickly at a store once I arrive.
Leave your Crackberry at home
The same goes for your laptop and cellphone. You’re not really on vacation if you’re on a leash. In other words, your boss is just letting you out for a walk.
Wear headphones
Who can afford the quiet comfort of first class these days? Chances are, you’ll be in coach next to a noisy baby or talky grandmother. Make your flight more enjoyable and bring noise-cancelling headphones. It’s the polite and universal way of saying, “don’t talk to me.”
Try sleeping pills
I’m not a fan of taking unnecessary pills, but its impossible for me to fall asleep on a plane. If I’m changing time zones, I’m wrecked for 3-4 days after landing. To counteract insomnia and jetlag, I take sleeping pills on long flights. Prescription sleep-aids like Ambien and Lunesta supposedly don’t have the groggy side-effects that over-the-counter drugs do.
Don’t plan every minute
Vacations shouldn’t be about stress. So don’t plan everything to the minute. Make a general schedule and a list of what you want to see and do. If you don’t get to it all, it’s another reason to go on vacation again.
Don’t cut your vacation short
If work calls and asks you to come home early for an “emergency.” Don’t. Most emergencies aren’t emergencies, and by saying no, you empower others to handle difficult situations without you. If you really can’t get out of it, use your return to negotiate for additional vacation days. Compensation for your return flight should be expected. Remember, don’t put yourself on sale."
This article was written by Chanpoy Rith and published on LifeClever.com in Aug 2007.
"Summer’s almost over. Have you taken a vacation yet? If you haven’t, will you?
Acccording to a 2006 survey by Harris Interaction and Expedia, 36 percent of workers don’t plan to use all their paid vacation days, and 37 percent never take more than a week off at a time.
So to convince you to take a much-needed break, here’s my list of how vacations can benefit your health and mind. While relaxation and exposure to culture are obvious benefits, there’s a wealth of other rewards too:
Live longer
A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent. Men who didn’t take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate and incidence of heart disease than any other men surveyed.
Improve your mental health
A study by Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense, or tired. Women who rarely took vacations were likelier to have stress at home and sleep less.
Revamp your relationships
I don’t have any fancy studies to back this one up, it’s just common sense. A real vacation is the ideal time to reconnect and revitalize relationships that have taken a toll from an on-call, always-on, and work-obsessed culture. My 9-hour work days and blogging duties have caused my relationships to suffer more than I’d like to admit. Yes, I too need a vacation.
Recapture your childhood
When was the last time you went out and play? I mean really play. Without worry of someone calling or interrupting you. Real vacations let you recapture that feeling of childlike exploratory freedom. You can wake up when you want, go to sleep when you want, and eat what you want. Most importantly, you can have fun without worrying about the consequences on work back home.
Gain self confidence
“Don’t put yourself on sale.” This is my favorite mantra from financial guru Suze Orman. While Suze’s target audience is directed to women, the advice applies to everyone. When you skip vacations, you put yourself on sale. If you have 2-weeks of paid vacation and don’t use them, you’re essentially working for free. By committing to a vacation, you declare to yourself (and to others) that you are important and deserve dedicated time for yourself.
Find creative inspiration
Most of the year, we live on a schedule. We eat at the same restaurants, see the same people, and experience the same environment. This monotony reduces the opportunities for inspiration and for new ways of thinking. By traveling to a foreign environment, we put ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, and allow our brains to think differently.
Become more productive
What? You can more productive by not working? Yes. By scheduling two weeks of vacation a year, you force yourself to make the other 50 weeks more efficient. Your scheduled becomes an award—a carrot. This means more incentive to eliminate distractions, work more efficiently, and get things done.
How to take a vacation
So now that I’ve convinced you, here’s how to do it:
Create a vacation fund
Put money into a vacation fund every time you get your paycheck. For a $2000 vacation, you only need to set aside just $77 dollars each paycheck (if you get paid twice a month).
Let your boss and coworkers know earlyAside from being nice and giving your employer time to make staffing changes, telling everyone at work makes your vacation concrete. It prevents you and anyone else from piling on work with no end in sight.
Don’t ask, declare it.
You know the classic aphorism: better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Instead of: “Hey guys, I’m thinking of going on vacation October 1-15th, is that a good time?”
Say: “Hey guys, I’ll be taking a vacation and will be in Buenos Aires between October 1–15th. Let’s work together on making sure everything is taken care of before I leave.”
Book your flights and hotels early
Yes, you’ll get cheaper rates. But since you’ve sunk money into it, you’re fully committed now. This makes it harder for you and your boss to delay or reschedule your vacation.
Pack light
I’m always afraid of airlines losing my luggage, so I pack everything into a carry-on, even for long two-week trips. For the rare moment I forget something, like a toothbrush or a razor. I can pick it up quickly at a store once I arrive.
Leave your Crackberry at home
The same goes for your laptop and cellphone. You’re not really on vacation if you’re on a leash. In other words, your boss is just letting you out for a walk.
Wear headphones
Who can afford the quiet comfort of first class these days? Chances are, you’ll be in coach next to a noisy baby or talky grandmother. Make your flight more enjoyable and bring noise-cancelling headphones. It’s the polite and universal way of saying, “don’t talk to me.”
Try sleeping pills
I’m not a fan of taking unnecessary pills, but its impossible for me to fall asleep on a plane. If I’m changing time zones, I’m wrecked for 3-4 days after landing. To counteract insomnia and jetlag, I take sleeping pills on long flights. Prescription sleep-aids like Ambien and Lunesta supposedly don’t have the groggy side-effects that over-the-counter drugs do.
Don’t plan every minute
Vacations shouldn’t be about stress. So don’t plan everything to the minute. Make a general schedule and a list of what you want to see and do. If you don’t get to it all, it’s another reason to go on vacation again.
Don’t cut your vacation short
If work calls and asks you to come home early for an “emergency.” Don’t. Most emergencies aren’t emergencies, and by saying no, you empower others to handle difficult situations without you. If you really can’t get out of it, use your return to negotiate for additional vacation days. Compensation for your return flight should be expected. Remember, don’t put yourself on sale."
Friday, June 18, 2010
Carry on Luggage and TSA security
This excerpt came from the Independent Traveler:
Airport Security Confiscates Your Prized Possession
If you plan correctly and make sure everything you're packing in your carry-on bag is permitted on an airplane by the TSA, you shouldn't have any problem getting your luggage through the airport security checkpoint. But if you're a procrastinator who carelessly throws a bag together as the airport van is waiting in the driveway (or if you simply forgot about the rules), you may have some trouble getting through security. So when an officer finds your four-ounce bottle of designer perfume and permanently removes it from your carry-on bag, is it lost forever? Not necessarily.
According to the TSA Web site, "If you bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint you may be criminally and/or civilly prosecuted." Keep this in mind before you start to argue with the guard who is taking away your jumbo-sized tube of toothpaste. It's not worth it. If you try to bring anything through airport security that is not allowed on a plane, or anything that the security guard deems dangerous (no, it doesn't necessarily have to be listed on the TSA's inventory of prohibited items), airport security has the right to take your property and dispose of it. If the security officer has confiscated something that has value to you, politely ask him or her if you can take the item away from the checkpoint. If you're lucky and the officer says yes, here are your options:
If you're certain you have plenty of time before your flight takes off, you can go back to your airline's check-in counter and either check your carry-on bag or ask to have the prohibited item placed in your checked luggage. Keep in mind that you will have to wait in line at the check-in counter and at the security checkpoint all over again, so you may need an extra hour or two before your flight is scheduled to depart. There is no guarantee that the airline staff will be able to help you out, so don't return to the check-in counter unless you have time to spare; otherwise, you may risk missing your flight for nothing.
If you haven't checked a bag and you drove to the airport, take your item to the parking lot and place it in your car. Again, be very aware of how much time you have, especially if you've parked in a lot that is a lengthy walk or ride away from the airport. You will have to wait in the security line all over again.
Did someone drop you off at the airport? If he or she is a very good friend (or someone who owes you a favor), give that person a call and ask him or her to turn the car around. Promise to bring your helpful friend a souvenir from your trip.
Some airports still have storage lockers. If you are lucky enough to be in one that has lockers, you can store your items in the locker for the duration of your trip and claim it upon your return.
I really see a new business opportunity here! Someone should open a shipping kiosk right at the security area so travelers who tried to take things that are prohibited by the TSA can just ship them back home. Obviously, this wouldn't apply to dangerous items but it would work for the expensive bottle of perfume, wrapped gifts and more. Anyone looking for a new business opportunity?
Airport Security Confiscates Your Prized Possession
If you plan correctly and make sure everything you're packing in your carry-on bag is permitted on an airplane by the TSA, you shouldn't have any problem getting your luggage through the airport security checkpoint. But if you're a procrastinator who carelessly throws a bag together as the airport van is waiting in the driveway (or if you simply forgot about the rules), you may have some trouble getting through security. So when an officer finds your four-ounce bottle of designer perfume and permanently removes it from your carry-on bag, is it lost forever? Not necessarily.
According to the TSA Web site, "If you bring a prohibited item to the checkpoint you may be criminally and/or civilly prosecuted." Keep this in mind before you start to argue with the guard who is taking away your jumbo-sized tube of toothpaste. It's not worth it. If you try to bring anything through airport security that is not allowed on a plane, or anything that the security guard deems dangerous (no, it doesn't necessarily have to be listed on the TSA's inventory of prohibited items), airport security has the right to take your property and dispose of it. If the security officer has confiscated something that has value to you, politely ask him or her if you can take the item away from the checkpoint. If you're lucky and the officer says yes, here are your options:
If you're certain you have plenty of time before your flight takes off, you can go back to your airline's check-in counter and either check your carry-on bag or ask to have the prohibited item placed in your checked luggage. Keep in mind that you will have to wait in line at the check-in counter and at the security checkpoint all over again, so you may need an extra hour or two before your flight is scheduled to depart. There is no guarantee that the airline staff will be able to help you out, so don't return to the check-in counter unless you have time to spare; otherwise, you may risk missing your flight for nothing.
If you haven't checked a bag and you drove to the airport, take your item to the parking lot and place it in your car. Again, be very aware of how much time you have, especially if you've parked in a lot that is a lengthy walk or ride away from the airport. You will have to wait in the security line all over again.
Did someone drop you off at the airport? If he or she is a very good friend (or someone who owes you a favor), give that person a call and ask him or her to turn the car around. Promise to bring your helpful friend a souvenir from your trip.
Some airports still have storage lockers. If you are lucky enough to be in one that has lockers, you can store your items in the locker for the duration of your trip and claim it upon your return.
I really see a new business opportunity here! Someone should open a shipping kiosk right at the security area so travelers who tried to take things that are prohibited by the TSA can just ship them back home. Obviously, this wouldn't apply to dangerous items but it would work for the expensive bottle of perfume, wrapped gifts and more. Anyone looking for a new business opportunity?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Bahamas Departure Tax Increase
This news release came from my Sandals sales representative.
BAHAMAS DEPARTURE TAX INCREASE:
Bahamas departure tax is increasing from $15.00 to $20.00 effective July 1, 2010. This will apply regardless of when the airline tickets were issued. The difference in departure taxes will be collected at the airport directly from the passengers.
BAHAMAS DEPARTURE TAX INCREASE:
Bahamas departure tax is increasing from $15.00 to $20.00 effective July 1, 2010. This will apply regardless of when the airline tickets were issued. The difference in departure taxes will be collected at the airport directly from the passengers.
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