Cruising is a wonderful way to enjoy a variety of destinations while only packing and unpacking once. It has gained immense popularity for a reason! For most, the ship itself is also a remarkable destination, and a critical piece of the overall vacation experience. To help you have the best vacation possible, here are 10 mistakes to avoid when cruising. One of the best parts of traveling is getting to taste and savor all kinds of new and delicious foods, whether you’re driving across the state or flying across the world. And, without a doubt, it’s fun to let go a little and eat things you wouldn’t normally eat during a week at home—that’s part of the freedom and excitement of being on vacation! But we all know the feeling when we’ve had way too much for too many days in a row: the total lack of energy, the bloating, dehydration, headaches, or hangovers, the pronounced jet lag, the increased susceptibility to getting sick. All of these things can really get in the way of maximizing your travel enjoyment. And if you’re someone with food restrictions, you know the added frustration of trying to find good food that will be good to you, too! Travel has been HOT for the past 18 months. Post-pandemic, people are wanting to get out there and make up for lost time. Instead of putting off their vacation until "someday", they are finding ways to take the trip NOW. This is resulting in some interesting travel trends I'm seeing right now. 1. Europe is HOT! People were cooped up in the U.S. for several years, so now folks are eager to expand their horizon and explore across the pond. In 2024, Europe will be even more popular as France hosts the Olympic games. Therefore, if you are interested in visiting Europe in 2024, now is the time to plan for it. I am in the travel business because I truly love helping you make the most of their precious vacation time. I enjoy assisting with all of the tiny little details you may not even realize need to be done. But it's not just a business with checklists to be crossed off. Every single one of you and your trips is personal to me. I am thrilled when your trips go smoothly and you are able to enjoy them without a care in the world. But I am also happy to step in when issues arise, even when I'm on my own vacation. I am here from start to finish for you, because I understand how precious your vacations are. Q: How much do you charge for your services? A: NOTHING - I love this part! I help you plan a fabulous, stress-free vacation, assist you in case of issues, and you often pay less or receive more perks than if you booked on your own…all without charging you fees. It’s a win-win-win! Q: Then how do you get paid? A: I get paid commission by whichever cruise line or resort you book, after you travel. I am not paid by the hour, so I only receive compensation for my time when you reserve your trip through me and after you complete your vacation. I love all things Disney, and souvenirs are no exception! Just the mention of the word and I envision myself browsing gift shops looking for the perfect item to bring home. However, while many trinkets call my name, I buy very few things at the parks. Instead, my favorite souvenirs are free ... or should I say, included. You see, my favorite Disney souvenirs are character photos. One very magical aspect of our trips to Disney is saying hello to Mickey and his pals. Over the years, we have met hundreds of friends, in many variations of costumes. In the process, we have created precious memories with conversations had, the antics that took place, and the mishaps that occurred. (Yes, Donald, we know you didn't mean to poke MJ in the eye!) It's National Travel Agent Day! For me, that means many emails from various suppliers, expressing gratitude for the work that I do. I am thankful to be part of such a dynamic industry, doing a job that I love and look forward to daily. I truly believe I have the best career in the world. However, as I reflect on my business, I realize that many people still don't really understand my role as a travel planner. As such, here are 5 things your travel agent wants you to know. 1. My Services are Complimentary Yes, free. No charges, no service fees, no hidden costs. I have tried and tried again to make this known, telling anyone who will listen, posting it on social media, etc. Yet, not a week goes by when someone doesn't comment that they thought I charge a fee. Or, sometimes I'm in dialogue with a potential client and she asks me when I will be sending my bill. Friends, suppliers pay me to help you. I don't charge a cent. While I have been privileged to explore many places, there is much more of the world that my heart longs to see. I venture to say I'm not alone. Most people I know have a list of places they'd like to visit, and experiences they'd like to have, but they aren't quite sure how to afford it. Today, I'd like to encourage you that it may be more doable than you think, by offering 10 simple ways to save for vacation. These aren't magic money makers, but a way of looking at your life and refocusing your priorities. People could easily look at me and say, "Of course you can travel a lot, that's your JOB!" While that is true, it still requires resources, and a focused effort on my part to save what we need. My husband has a fabulous job, and I contribute with my business. However, we live in San Jose, which Business Insider calculated to be the 6th most expensive place to live in the world. Therefore, while we are financially stable by all definitions, we don't have excess cash to throw around. We make choices in our everyday lives which allow us to take some incredible trips. By sharing some of my strategies with you, I hope you'll be encouraged that you, too, can save up for that dream trip. Let's face it: as parents of little ones, a vacation sounds completely magical. An opportunity to get away from the normal routine and escape the responsibilities of home for a few days would be delightful. The thought of it is enough to carry us through those sleepless nights or toddler tantrum episodes. That is, the THEORY of family travel sounds wonderful. Reality, however, may seem a bit daunting. After all, there's so much gear. And unpredictable schedules. And eating habits. And mood swings. Need I go on? Today, I'd like to encourage you that enjoyable vacations ARE possible for parents with little ones. All it takes is some good decision making and adequate planning. To help set you in the right direction, I have a few helpful hints and tips to share. Without further ado...how to travel with little ones and LIKE it: Location, Location, Location Yes, I recommend you choose one, and only one. (Two at the most, if you are feeling ambitious!) With so much gear to haul, and settling in to occur, you don't want to spend multiple days packing and unpacking. That's more time spent working and less time enjoying your destination. |
This section will not be visible in live published website. Below are your current settings (click inside this section to edit the settings): Current Number Of Columns are = 3 Expand Posts Area = Gap/Space Between Posts = 12px Blog Post Style = card Use of custom card colors instead of default colors = Blog Post Card Background Color = current color Blog Post Card Shadow Color = current color Blog Post Card Border Color = current color Publish the website and visit your blog page to see the results AuthorLisa is the travel loving, animal adoring, Mickey Mouse hugging owner of Dreams Delivered Travel. Categories
All
|