Take Back Those Vacation Days!

Take Back Those Vacation Days!

Use it or Lose it, what??

In my previous career it was quite normal to bank your vacation hours so that you would eventually be in the status of “Use it or Lose it.”  For some people it took them years of not taking any vacations to be able to get to this status.  I, personally, have never understood why you would wait years to take vacation!  In fact, I would always have people asking me how I had time to take my vacations.  It was quite simple: I used the hours I earned.  There is a credit card commercial noting that 400 million hours of vacation time are lost each year by Americans!  400 million hours!  If a weeklong vacation is worth 40 hours that is 10 million vacations not being taken.  I think where I am getting confused is why would you want to risk losing your vacation time?  You have worked so hard over the years and have taken very little leave.  You have built-up your annual leave empire that you now officially have 6 six weeks cached and you are earning another three to four weeks for the year.  Four whole weeks of leave you HAVE to take before the end of the year.  Couldn’t at least one of them be taking nice, relaxing vacation!

I have found that where most people fail in using their four weeks is because they use it to do housework.  I will admit that I have taken a day or three to stay home to catch up, but to take weeks off for housework?  Now most people are saying that she probably doesn’t have any children, Wrong! Two toddlers who are the messiest tornadoes that I have ever encountered.  I probably could use more time to do housework, but to me it is housework and I feel like it is never ending.  I know that my mess will still be there to greet me when I get back from my vacation.  I think that most people would agree that a vacation away from home gives you peace of mind, even if that means housework is nagging at the back of your brain.  I say let’s leave the housework for those three day weekends when there is a federal holiday.  After all, that is what most of us probably end up doing during those long weekends.

We all work so hard throughout the year and work is stressful.  I don’t know a single person who isn’t stressed out by their job, their co-workers, their commute, their time away from their children, etc.  Your annual leave is for family time or personal getaways.  But GET AWAY!!!  You don’t have to go far.  Explore a city in a neighboring state and stay a couple of nights.  Take the kids to that amusement park they have been bugging you about, but make it a road trip.  Take the week and go explore the mid-west or rent an RV and go across country (one of my dreams!).  There is a commercial out there, I can’t remember by whom, but they exclaim “Take your vacation days back!”  Do it and get away!  

I always tell my husband that I don’t want to be in the nursing home when we are in our 80’s talking about things that we should have done.  I want to remember all the great things that we did, spark those memories, and laugh.  After all, you can’t put a price on memories especially when those memories give you warm feelings of relaxation.

P.S. Want to get away!  There are some amazing deals to the Caribbean for March and April to get away.  Call me or email me with where you want to go!

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

All inclusive resort, what does it mean?

What does it REALLY mean to an “all-inclusive” resort?

You found an amazing deal on a travel website for an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, so you decide to go for it.  You get to the resort and it is as beautiful as the pictures.  After settling
into the room you decide to head down to the pool for a nice refreshing cocktail.  You order your favorite drink over the rocks and the bartender asks you if you want to charge it to the room.  With a confused look on your face, you say you have the all-inclusive package, but the bartender tells you that it doesn’t include top shelf liquor.   With the drink in your hand, you agree to charge it to the room.

You start to wonder what you booked with this deal vacation you are on.  Is it just the top shelf alcohol that is not included?  What other items, activities, food, drinks, etc will you have to pay for?  Often when someone books an all-inclusive resort, they truly believe that they are paying for everything upfront including premium alcohol, food, activities, transfers, and resort sharing to name a few. Unfortunately, the term all-inclusive can sometimes mean more exclusive.  All of this is usually explained in the fine print when booking the vacation, but when you think you are getting an amazing deal who reads the fine print!  I know I don’t. 

The truth is, if you want an all-inclusive resort then you really do want to pay for everything upfront.  You have set your budget, and you want the food, drinks, transfers, activities, and resort sharing to all be included in that cost.  You don’t want to have to pull out your credit card for any extras.  But how do you know that everything is TRULY included in the pricing?  Besides reading the fine print, look for key words when a resort is advertising.  Sometimes you will read alcohol is included but that doesn’t mean premium alcohol.  When it comes to food, the advertisement may say that the resort is a la carte, but if you wanted to eat at one of the specialty dining restaurants at the resort it may not be included in the all-inclusive pricing.  Many resorts boast about their onsite activities including water activities, but have you ever noticed that they do no specifically say “motorized” water activities or games such as bingo.  Be cautious when the wording says “some” activities “may be included.”  Many times when you book your vacation you forget that you will need transportation to and from the resort.  Transfers can be very expensive once you get to the destination, so getting them included in the package pricing upfront will help save you money. 

Trying to find the best all-inclusive resort for your next family vacation, one where you won’t have to pay more out of pocket when you get there, can become overwhelming and exhausting.  The good news is I am going to give you 4 nuggets of advice to help you make it easier:

1.      Give up on the deal.  The saying “you get what you pay for” is always TRUE and when it comes to all-inclusive resorts it holds VERY TRUE!

2.      Sit down and figure out a budget like you would for any other vacation.  When you have a budget to work with you will find many more resorts that are going to fit your needs, without having to get out the credit card on vacation.

3.      Look for key words on the resort’s website that would indicate what is NOT included in the all-inclusive pricing.  These words include: some, limited, a la carte, minimal fee, varying, typically

4.      Call a travel agent.  Why make it harder on yourself than you have to.  Pick the destination and then let a good travel agent do the research on which resorts will fit your needs. 

Don’t forget to tell your travel agent at Life is Better Traveling to give you a quote for travel protection when planning your next vacation. 

 

P.S. Call me this year to plan your AMAZING All-Inclusive vacation.  I guarantee we will plan the perfect vacation for you!    

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

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