We've moved

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
My Vacation Lady's Blog
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...