When in Rome…

If you ever find yourself in Rome, I highly recommend seeing the Roman Forum

One of my favorite tours in Italy was that of the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy.  It is a sprawling mass of ruins, that once was the center of Pictures by: M. Yohannanancient Rome, with temples, courts, markets, and government buildings in full swing until the 4th century AD.  While it may appear that all that remains today are an array of ancient columns and arches, the forum is one of the most important archaeological sites in Italy.  Daily excavations occur unearthing new structures and buildings.  Many people will skip this part of Rome and head directly to the iconic Colosseum.  But I personally, love walking between and around ancient Rome.   If you aren’t interested in seeing the forum, you can still get a great view of the Eternal City from the overlooking Palatine and Capitoline hills.

The Basics about the Roman Forum:

Many tours through the forum will last around three to four hours especially if you combine a tour through the forum culminating with a tour of the Colosseum.  I personally loved our tour guide, Flavia, and I still use her today for all my clients who go to Rome.  She is a wealth of knowledge about the forum and the Colosseum, while enjoying a private tour.  She even showed us the expansive ruins at Circus Maximus.

Picture by: M. Yohannan

What is the best time to visit and what to know:

Most tour options include hotel pickup and drop-off.  If you would opt for a private tour with Flavia, then she would come to your hotel.We would make sure that all your admissions to the various sites are included, so that you can enjoy the skip-the-line entry.  On some days this will save you an hour or so in line.  I would recommend the Roman Forum to any visitor whether you are in Rome for multiple days or just one day.  It is a must see VERY ancient part of Rome. 

 

Picture by: M. Yohannan

Picture by: Mary Yohannan

Some “Know Before You Go” from Viator.com:

How To Get to the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is located in the area between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum in the southeastern end of Rome’s historical center. You can get there by metro and bus from most central hotels. The closest metro stop is Colosseo.

When to Get There
As the Roman Forum shares an admission ticket with the Colosseum, it stays consistently busy throughout the day and often has long lines. Choose a walking tour with priority access to jump the queue and maximize your time.

Discovering the Roman Forum Ruins
Inside the archaeological area, stick to the Forum’s main thoroughfare, Via Sacra, to pass by important ruins such as the Julia Curia and the house of the Vestal Virgins. Some of the forum’s most impressive ruins include the white marble arch of Settimio Severo, the first-century Arch of Titus, and the remains of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine. If you can’t get enough of ancient Rome, there’s plenty more history just outside the city with day trips available to Pompeii and the Appian Way.

Call or Email Mary to book your next European Vacation!

 

Picture by: M. Yohannan

Picture by: Mary Yohannan

 

Beware of booking online…

Beware of Booking Travel Online.  Read the fine print.

I recently had a friend ask me what to do when she needed to change their flight that they booked through one of these large travel booking engines or in the travel business what we call an Online Travel Agency (OTA).  The problem was that the airline they were using was now using Expedia or Travelocity exclusively and not offering direct booking on their website.  When they needed to change the flight, they had to call the booking engine company directly and not the airline.  They had a lot of trouble speaking with a person and once they did they were charged all these extra fees to change the ticket.  These fees were almost as much as the cost of the original airline ticket!  What could they have done to avoid this happening?

So many people ask me “why should I use you or any other travel agent when I can just book on-line?”  They are right, they can just book online.  Unfortunately, when you book online if something goes wrong you end up being your own travel advocate and it could end up costing you many hours, energy, and money to get it fixed. My friend not only had to pay the airline fees to change the flight (which can be up to $150 on domestic or $200 on international) but they also had to pay the travel booking engine fee.  For example, Travelocity’s fee to reissue an airline ticket is $40 per passenger in addition to the airlines fees of $150 per passenger.  A total of almost $200 per person for the change. 

Picture by: Pixabay

Many people don’t want to pay a travel agent a service fee, especially upfront.  However, when I looked further into these “fees” that were charged by booking online, many people are paying large amounts of service fees.  

I found that Travelocity charges a “Processing Service Fee” for all cruise line reservations.  There is no set amount so it may vary depending on the price of your cruise.  When booking vacation packages they have a “Facilitation Fee” that you pay them for facilitating your travel arrangements.  Again, there is no amount so it probably is a percentage of your total amount of the vacation package.  All of these fees are incorporated into your final amount. 

Other travel booking engines like Expedia have similar fees but you really have to look deep in their website to find them.  What ends up happening is that you are paying service fees to the online booking site, and you still have to go through an automated system when you need to make a change.  Also, do you know where your money is going?    When you book with a travel agency like Life is Better Traveling, service fees go towards supporting a family which goes back into your local community. 

Now back to the question I get a lot “why should I use you?”  Why not pay a travel agent service fee to have the same person throughout the entire planning process, during the vacation, and even after the vacation?  Someone who knows your whole vacation intimately so that when you call them, it is a quick and easy phone call, no automated system or long hold times. 

Also, working with a travel agent gives you peace of mind that when something goes wrong you have someone who is in your corner and already knows your information and details.  You won’t have to repeat it 10 times like my friend did with the booking engine company!  

Picture by: Pixabay

Did you know that travel agents can sometimes get you extra amenities, meals, or other special treatments that you won’t get from booking on-line.  Want a free massage, a suite upgrade, a $250 resort credit, or a free tour?  Yes, these are all incentives that, if available, a travel agent can provide to you.  There are many times that I have been able to get my clients more incentives than that “deal” they thought they were getting if they would have booked online.

When it comes to finding a travel agent find someone out there who has a niche for where you want to travel.  Try them out.  They may or may not be a good fit for you.  When picking a travel agent make sure you do your research. You don’t want somebody who doesn’t know what they are doing or hasn’t been to the places they are selling.  I am speaking from experience, having had a great travel agent for our first  Mediterranean cruise.  She helped us find tours we never would have found on our own.  So when you find a travel agent you love, DON’T LOSE THEM!!!!  

Good travel agents are like good doctors, they are hard to find but when you find them hold onto them, even if you have to pay a service fee!  Besides you will be spending a lot of money on your trip and you want the special touches and reassurance that a travel agent can give you. 

Call us today to book your Europe trip.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

Tulips in Amsterdam

What an amazing site to see, tulips in all colors carefully landscaped to look like it is a river of tulips. 

Picture by: Pixabay

Not many people know about the amazing Tulips that bloom every time this year in the Netherlands.  If you love flowers, then I highly recommend that you make a trip to see the tulips in around Amsterdam. 

If you have ever been to Europe in the Spring time you see many vases filled with tulips.  These tulips originate in Holland.  The sight of them all over Europe is a sign that summer is on its way.   Here are a few ways to visit the famous tulip fields in the Netherlands.

Kuekenhof Gardens

Just outside of Amsterdam in the quaint little town of Lisse, is the famous Keukenhof Gardens.  These gardens are one of the most iconic places to see various displays of tulips.  They offer viewing of millions of varieties in every imaginable color, and they are immaculately landscaped to make the grounds look they are flowing with tulips. Tours depart Amsterdam regularly, with round-trip transportation allowing travelers to visit Keukenhof with ease.

Picture by: Pixabay

If you are already heading the town of Lisse you may also want to stop and see the 17th-century Keukenhof Castle and grounds.  You don’t want to miss the Black Tulip Museum (Museum de Zwarte Tulp) shines a light on the region’s history and the development of tulip varieties.  This museum is centrally located so you don’t have to worry about getting there.   

I would recommend choosing a tour from Amsterdam that visits Keukenhof and allows you time to explore Lisse.  After all, there are also many amazing sites to see in Amsterdam including the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. You can take a leisurely stroll among the beds of vibrant tulips and combine your visit with other Amsterdam highlights such as the bustling Albert Cuyp Market—where shoppers browse for sweet treats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and, of course, colorful tulips.

Remember, a Life is Better Traveling Travel Agent is here to help make your next European vacation amazing!  Make sure to contact us for the latest promotions to Europe.

 

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