Is Hawaii safe to visit?

Liz Hough on

Are you thinking of taking a Hawaiian vacation but aren’t sure if the recent volcano eruption will make for a bad vacation?  Are you concerned all the Hawaiian Islands are affected?  At Life is Better Traveling, we are here to help you get a better understanding of what is going on in Hawaii so you can make an informed decision to book that vacation. 

 

If you haven’t been following the eruption going on the past few weeks, the beautiful volcano of Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii is very active right now.  This volcano is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the Islands of Hawaii.  It is located on the southern part of the Island of Hawaii, and this Island is the most southern of all the Islands.  But how does this effect the other popular vacation Islands like Maui and Oahu?

 

Picture by: Pixabay

With increasing concerns from travelers and people who are looking to book their upcoming vacation to Hawaii, Governor David Ige and State Department of Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler have officially released a statement to answer questions to your concerns. 

 

Dr. Pressler commented, “The air quality for the vast majority of the Hawaiian Islands is clean and healthy. The emissions from Kilauea volcano are a non-factor for Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai. The weather is beautiful and warm with cooling trade winds everywhere in Hawaii and is exactly what travelers expect when coming here for a relaxing and fun vacation experience. This includes Hilo, Pahoa and the Kona and Kohala coasts on the Island of Hawaii.

 

 

Picture by: Pixabay

“The areas where precautions are required for people are in lower Puna where lava is flowing and downwind from there on the Island of Hawaii, particularly if they have respiratory problems. Because of heavy emissions of vog, as well as occasional bursts of ash plumes from the Kilauea summit, the southeast portions of the Island are also routinely experiencing concerning conditions. Those visiting areas south of Hilo should stay alert for air quality updates, especially when wind conditions change. Fortunately, when trade winds are blowing, the vog and ash routinely move in a southwesterly direction and out to sea away from the Hawaiian Islands.”

 

Governor Ige stated, “Hawaii’s air quality is being closely monitored on a continuing basis by scientists, meteorologists and the Hawaii State Department of Health. This team of experts says the air quality in the Hawaiian Islands is safe for residents and visitors, except in the affected areas.

Two other topics that I want to alleviate people’s concerns about are laze and the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. Laze is a natural reaction that occurs whenever lava flows into the ocean as it is doing now and has from time to time over the past 35 years. This is all part of nature’s way of creating new land for life to grow. Laze is limited to the area where the lava meets the ocean and is not a danger to people who keep a safe distance away.

 

“At the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, the state is actively directing protective actions to reduce the risk from lava flows moving nearby. The underground wells have been sealed and secured minimizing the threat to the safety of people and communities.

“The bottom line is that there is no reason for travelers to avoid making their vacation plans in the Hawaiian Islands due to safety concerns because of Kilauea volcano.

Visitors will be welcomed with open arms and treated to the hospitality, aloha, warmth and natural beauty that is found everywhere in Hawaii. The only area to avoid is lower Puna where the eruption is ongoing.”

 

 

Picture by: Pixabay

For the latest update on air quality in the Hawaiian Islands, please reference the State of Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard: http://www.ivhhn.org/vog/

 

If you are thinking of booking your next vacation to Hawaii make sure to contact one of our Hawaiian Destination Specialists, Mary Yohannan or Sonja Hester.  We are here to book all components including hotel, air, transfers, inter-Island flights, excursions, and travel protection.  Don’t book it all alone, have an expert make sure you will have the most amazing time in Hawaii. 

 

 

Remember, a Life is Better Traveling Travel Agent is here to help make your next vacation amazing!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

5 Travel scams to avoid when traveling

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Travel Scam #1: Free Items – Be aware of people who approach you with “Free” items, especially items that they try to put onto your body such as a bracelet or necklace. Many times the person will put on the bracelet and then demand money from you. When you don’t pay them they start to make a scene drawing attention to them and you. 

  • What to do: Avoid having people put anything onto your body and when someone tells you that it is “Free” believe that it is NOT “Free”

Travel Scam #2: Taxi Drivers – Taxi drivers get a bad reputation but that is because some of them do have a bad reputation. There are two scams I would like to let you know about with taxi cab drives.

Be aware of a taxi driver who refuses to turn on their meter as soon as you get into their taxi cab. Sometimes they will tell you that you can get a better rate only to take you on the scenic drive and you end up paying a lot more. Also, taxi cab drivers will start to ask you a lot of questions to get you talking while distracting you from knowing how long you have been in their taxi cab. Again, when they are VERY interested in knowing about you they are also increasing the meter which means costing you more money.

  • What to do: Make sure to have the driver turn on the meter before you start to move to ensure that the meter is actually working. Find out in advance which taxi cab companies are reputable. If the driver starts to ask a lot of questions, tell them you are tired and just really want to get to your hotel.

Be aware of the taxi cab driver who tells you your hotel is overbooked or closed. Many times, they will tell you this and then make a recommendation which is a more expensive hotel, and they pocket a large commission.

  • What to do: If your hotel is truly overbooked or closed your travel agent will let you know in advance or your hotel will contact you directly. If you have not received information from either one of these two places, then your hotel is ready for your stay. 

Travel Scam #3: ATM Scams – These are becoming more and more popular. Sometimes a “friendly” person will come up and tell you that you can avoid the service fees. They tell you to cancel out and put your pin number in again so they can show where to avoid the fees. While this happening another person close by is gathering your information from a reader. Also, someone might approach you after you have left the ATM saying that you dropped $20 or 20 Euros. Don’t take the money, this is scam. They want to know where on you your wallet is so they can bump into you later and take your wallet is located. Men, always put your wallet in your front pocket.   

  • What to do: Do not let anyone distract you at the ATM. If someone comes up to you while at the ATM cancel your transaction, take your card, and leave. Also, don’t let anyone know where on you your wallet is. 

Travel Scam #4: Hotel Calls during sleeping hours – Be aware of scammers who call your hotel room saying they want to confirm the credit card information that they have on file. They may tell you that they have this card with the last four digits of something you don’t have, which then prompts you to give them the correct credit card information. The hotel collects your information during booking and at check-in or check-out. They will not call you in your room to collect information. 

  • What to do: If you do get a phone call to your room, politely tell the person that you will come downstairs to give them your information. If they tell you that you don’t have to do that they can do it all over the phone, tell them you prefer to do it in person or not at all. 

Travel Scam #5: Free Food – Be aware of the free food that is brought to your table. In the U.S. we are very accustomed to having bread brought to our table while we are waiting for our meals to arrive. However, when you are in a foreign country many times the waiter will bring you various small dishes of appetizers like pickles, cheese, etc. They will tell you that it is part of your meal but when the bill comes you have various extra charges for those appetizers sometimes as much as the meal. 

  • What to do: if the waiter comes with something you didn’t order then question what it is and why they brought it to your table. Do not accept anything that you didn’t order and if they put it on the table and leave, take it right back to the kitchen. 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

 

 

We went looking for Dracula but instead fell in love with Romania…

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Yes, believe it or not I had spent an entire week in Romania traveling around the country with a guide in his very tiny vehicle, while enjoying the country of Romania.  How did I come about taking this journey through Romania?  One word…Dracula!  I absolutely love Halloween and so one year my husband had the great idea that we should take a Dracula tour around Romania during Halloween.  Intrigued, I looked into tour operators who did this and actually found a reputable one.  After everything checked out, I booked our flights, hotels, and tours and we were off to Bucharest.  Unfortunately, no Dracula tour was offered over Halloween so we opted for the beginning of November.   This ended up being a great time of year to go because it wasn’t too hot or too cold. 

 

I would love to talk about our whole trip in one article, but it would be way too long, so for this article I am going to focus on Bucharest, Romania. So what is there to see in Bucharest, Romania?  Surprisingly, a lot!  On our day we opted for a full-day, private sight-seeing tour of Bucharest.  We first stopped at the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum which I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect.  After touring the grounds for two hours, we ended up having an amazing time looking at various structures that have been built throughout Romania including wooden churches dating back 1000 years.  All of the buildings and monuments were physically transported from all over Romania and placed here to preserve them. 

 

Did you know that Bucharest is one of the few cities like Paris, New York, and Rome to have an Arcul de Triumf (The Triumphal Arch)?  That’s right, it is located in one of the busy intersections so if you were going by it and blinked, you might miss it.  This city also has its own little Times Square with billboards and lights that take over the side of buildings.  Some are in English, but most are in Romanian. 

 

 

My favorite tour of Bucharest was their parliament building which is called the Palace of the Parliament, and was built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.  It was a long and arduous project building this massive complex, but it is now the largest parliament/administrative building in the world, even larger than the Pentagon.  The palace houses the Romanian Parliament which consists of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Senate, as well as the National Museum of Contemporary Art. The building boasts one of the largest convention centers in the world. 

 

 

You can see the massive parliament building even in the thick fog.  This was the view from our hotel room. The view from our hotel room. You can see the massive building even in the thick fog.

 

Walking through this massive building makes you feel as though you don’t belong there.  However, the building is so massive that curiosity really got to us.  There are marble stair cases, meeting rooms that are larger than my house, carpeting that rivals the carpeting in Kensington Palace, and many treasures.  We only did a 2-hour tour but we could have easily done an entire day in this building. 

 

It is quite cheap to travel around Romania as when we were there one USD was equivalent to almost four Romanian Leu.  Full meals would cost us $3 and that was with a beer.  The food is very good there, and if you ever go you must try the smoked lard. 

 

NOTE: I must give warning that in the 1980’s when many people were forced out of their homes and into apartment style living.  They had to leave their pets outside.  Bucharest and southern Romania have a large dog population that roams freely and they sometimes form packs.  As Americans, we are kind to our animals but if you were to travel here you must be cautious when approaching any animals. 

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

5 LESSONS we learned about having sick kids on vacation

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Imagine, you have been planning a vacation for several months and the time has come to finally take it. You get there and the place is beautiful. Everything is planned down to the hour, and you feel excited that after months of preparation you are finally here. You get out your schedule and gather the family to tell them the game plan for the week. One of the kids comes up to you to tell you they aren’t feeling too well. Maybe you shrug it off saying something like it was all the excitement of getting here, or we have been traveling for a long time. You think, there is no time in the schedule for a sick kid, but then it happens. They get sick!

Now what? With months of planning you never took into consideration someone getting sick. Do you go to a hospital or an urgent care? Do you have someone come to your hotel or resort room? How will you get medicine? Is a nap enough to just hope they feel better when they wake up? Question after question starts to run through your mind. What do you do?

Pixabay

 

Personally having traveled to over 19 countries and counting, getting sick is always going to happen as there are germs everywhere. The airport, the bathrooms, the plane (OMG, don’t get me started on the number of germs on a plane), the bus, the lobby, and the hotel room to name just a few places. You and your kids can pick something up anywhere and quickly. I have learned a few really good lessons as to what to when you or the kids get sick while one vacation.

 

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Lesson 1: Don’t panic. The first thing many parents do, including myself, is panic as to what they are going to do. Stay calm and find out what the symptoms are first. From the symptoms, try to figure out the amount of medical assistance that is going to be needed, i.e. hospital, urgent care, or just a trip to the pharmacy. Once you know this, find the nearest place.

Lesson 2: Know where the nearest hospital, urgent care, or pharmacy is located that will take your insurance plan. When you are vacationing in the United States many people believe that their health insurance covers any health-related issues. This isn’t always the truth, and people end up with large medical bills. Make sure to contact your health insurance company before traveling, and find out where the nearest hospital and urgent care are located that are covered under your insurance. Same holds true for when you travel internationally. If you do not have coverage outside of the United States, then I highly recommend purchasing travel protection.

 

know where local care is located if you get sick

Pixabay

 

Lesson 3: Understand that kids are resilient. They may be down for a day or two but they quickly recover. Give them the time they need to rest while making sure they have plenty of what they need to be comfortable and bounce back quickly.

Lesson 4: Be amenable to adjusting your schedule. When we had a sick kid in Walt Disney World, even with all the months of planning and reservations, we had to adjust the days where we just couldn’t make it to the parks. We found fun activities at the resort they could do and made sure there was plenty of time for naps. When we were in Charleston, South Carolina with a sick kid, we watched TV and played games on their tablet. We adjusted the schedule to make sure they were comfortable and got plenty of rest.

Lesson 5: Consider bringing some over-the-counter medications with you on all your vacations. It is so much easier to have the medications on hand, then having to find them. Some medications that you may want to consider taking include: cold medications, allergy medications, stomach medications, headache medications, aches and pains medications, and a traveling thermometer. When I got sick on one of our many Walt Disney World vacations I paid $4 for 2 tablets of a cold medication on property. Paying over $40 in cold medication for what would otherwise cost me $10 at the local pharmacy, was a waste of money. Yup, lesson learned. 

NOTE: When traveling internationally, some medications may be illegal to bring into the country without proper identification. Try to make sure that you have all over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications in their original containers to avoid confiscation.

Yohannan Family in Animal Kingdom

Remember, don’t panic if your kids or you get sick on your next vacation.  Take a page from the lessons that I have learned so you can enjoy your time with your family. It really is as simple as making adjustments for a few days while your resilient child springs back to their original, healthy self. After all, Life is Better Traveling!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Lost Luggage : It happened to me.

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When packing your carry-on bag for your next vacation, a good rule of thumb is to have two days of clothes packed.  The thought is that if your checked baggage would be lost, you would have two days’ worth of clothes, and the clothes you were wearing, until they found your luggage. 

After many trips to Europe, I learned that two days’ worth of clothes in your carry-on is the perfect amount.  It gets me through the first two days without having to open my larger luggage.  On the other hand, I decided that I wasn’t going to lug around that huge suitcase anymore.  I was tired of herding around the luggage carousel like a cow at feeding time.  After a long flight waiting for my luggage to come out was even more tiring.  I learned to go to Europe having only my carry-on allowance and never checking a bag again.  Since having kids, I now have to check my luggage because it is impossible for me to lug suitcases and kids through an airport.  So now my worst fear when I travel is that the airline will lose my checked luggage. 

 

Questions run through my head like:  What if they lose my bag?  Will I have to find a store to buy the kid’s more clothes and shoes?  How long will it take for them to find it?  What if they don’t find?  How long before they let me know if they have no idea where my luggage really is?    Will I be reimbursed for these precious belongings?  

 

Well, my worst fear happened to us.  We didn’t lose a piece of our luggage but they lost our car-seat.  Yes, the one thing that you truly need when transporting a child, the airline misplaced it.  What did we have to do?  It was actually quite simple and painless, and exactly what you would do if they lost a piece of your luggage.  You need to go to the airline’s customer service counter located in the baggage claim area. Talk with their representative and tell them your baggage did not come out of the carousel.  This is where you will start to fill out paperwork so you can start your claim.  Most airlines will reimburse you for any checked baggage fees you had paid.  For us, they provided us with a car seat that they had. 

 

 

If your carry-on baggage was flagged to go under the plane and it was misplaced, do the same thing.  Thanks to the US Department of Transportation, if an airline loses your carry-on luggage they are required to reimburse your carry-on fees for all flight segments and any “reasonable expenses” if they completely lose it, damage it, or it is has been delayed.

 

Remember to make sure to put your claim paperwork in a safe spot. Better yet, take a picture of the paperwork on your phone so even if you misplace it you still have a digital copy of it.   Having piece of mind about what to do if your luggage is misplaced and two days worth of clothes in your carry-on makes Life Better Traveling!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

New U.S. Travel Advisory Reaffirms Mexico’s Major Tourist Destinations are Safe to Travel

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We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the important updated U.S. State Department Travel Advisory system, classifying Mexico’s major international tourist destinations as safe for travel.

This week, the U.S. State Department introduced a new system for alerting Americans about possible security risks while traveling abroad. This system classifies every country based on four different risk levels, as outlined below:

  • Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
  • Level 2: Exercise increased caution
  • Level 3: Reconsider travel
  • Level 4: Do not travel

We are pleased to share that the following major international tourist destinations in Mexico, where Life is Better Traveling offers as destinations packages to customers, have been explicitly listed as having no travel restrictions:

 

  • Baja California Sur: Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo
  • Quintana Roo: Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Riviera Maya,
  • Isla Mujeres
  • Jalisco: Puerto Vallarta

The de-escalated warning confirms our consistent position that we consider the above tourist areas of Mexico a safe destination for you to enjoy. In fact, more than 35 million travelers come to Mexico each year, often as repeat visitors.

As part of this new system, different states such as Guerrero and Jalisco, can carry different warning levels by region. That considered, it is worth noting that despite the overall state’s higher advisory levels, there are no restrictions on U.S. government employees staying in the tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta falling within the same classification as major travel destinations such as Rome, Paris, and Bali.

Life is Better Traveling is committed to sharing information. As the new system continues to evolve and updates are received from the Mexican Tourism Board, we will endeavor to share the information.

Thank you for your supporting our family owned travel agency, and we look forward to continued success in providing the highest quality of service.

For more information about the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories, visit their website for ongoing up-to-date information.

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Warning! Is your PA Driver’s License good to get through TSA?

Liz Hough on

I probably get one person a week ask me if they will be able to get through TSA with their current Pennsylvania driver’s license after January 2018.  For a few months I had to say no, and they would be required to either bring their passport booklet or passport card with them to get through TSA. (Click here to read my article on the Booklet vs Card)  If you don’t have a passport booklet or passport card, and you don’t plan to fly out of the United States, then purchasing one of these seems like a lot of wasted money.  So, what is the big deal with our PA driver’s licenses and why can’t we use them to do board domestic flights?

 

 

Per Wikipedia, the REAL ID Act of 2005, enacted May 11, 2005, is an Act of Congress that modifies U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for the state driver’s licenses and identity documents, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism.  Part of this Act is to establishes new federal standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards.  With these new standards, comes better security measures.  So why is Pennsylvania not up to code with their driver’s licenses especially if this act went into effect in 2005?

 

Until May 2017, Pennsylvania law prohibited PennDOT from complying with the federal REAL ID Act. Act 3 of 2017 repealed this prior legislation and allowed PennDOT to seek REAL ID compliance, hence the extension.  Pennsylvania is now looking into ways to be compliant with the REAL ID act, and it appears that compliant documents will be available to Pennsylvania residents by Spring 2019.  So, what happens after January 2018 and until Spring 2019?

 

A few weeks ago, Pennsylvania and 19 other states were granted another extension.  Now Pennsylvania residents can continue to use their current issued Pennsylvania driver’s license to board domestic, commercial flights until October 10, 2018.  What happens after October 10, 2018?  If Pennsylvania is not granted another extension, then to board a domestic, commercial flight you will need another form of identification such as your passport booklet or passport card to get through TSA. 

 

Please Note:  This article is only pertaining to domestic flights.  If you plan to fly internationally, you will need a passport booklet to be able to through TSA and board your plane.  Passport cards are not an acceptable form of identification for any international flights including Mexico, Caribbean, and Canada. 

 

CLICK HERE for some Q & A for PA residents

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Inside tour of Buckingham Palace

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The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is in the summer months…

 

A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of England’s most famous landmarks, Buckingham Palace.   This royal palace has served as the official London residence and administrative office of the British royal family since the 19th century. However, access to the public is limited and exclusive but worthwhile for those who arrange a visit.

 

 

 

Year round you can always view the palace’s opulent exterior through the gates.  The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is during the legendary Changing of the Guard ceremony when the royal guards change shifts. This tradition that dates back from 1689, and eventually moved to Buckingham Palace in 1837 when Queen Victoria started to use the palace.  The best time to see this 45-minute ceremony would be on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 11:00 am but can be canceled in bad weather.  

 

If you are visiting London in the summer months, you can get a peek into some select state rooms.  See the Throne Room, stroll through the palace gardens, and admire masterpieces by artists such as Rembrandt and Canaletto in Queen Victoria’s Picture Gallery.  The palace interior is only open to the public during summer, from late July until the end of September, with tours running daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (until 6:30 pm in September). You’ll want to book this coveted experience in advance with our travel agency.

 

 

 

Things to Know Before You Go from Viator.com

 

  • The palace is a must for history buffs and royal enthusiasts.
  • Pair a stop at Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guard ceremony and afternoon tea for a quintessential London experience.
  • Tours of the palace interior are only available in summer from late June to late September, while the queen is on holiday in Scotland.
  • If the Royal Standard flag is flying atop the palace, it means the queen is in residence; otherwise, the Union Jack flag is flown.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Tips to surviving a Hurricane

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Would you know what to do during a hurricane while on vacation?

 

With so many hurricanes this season, it seems like as soon as one moves through we are concerned about the next one. We are watching various weather outlets to determine if the path will be near us or even go through us. We are all concerned for the people in those areas who have been affected and wonder when they will get help.

 

I personally have never been through a hurricane. Yes, the aftermath storms, but an actual 200mph, heavy rains, damaged buildings hurricane, no. It does make me think that I could be in the Caribbean, Florida, or Outer Banks on vacation with my family when a hurricane does come through. So if that were to happen, what would I do? Do you know what you would do?

 

I think most people try to get out of the area that hurricane is projected to come through. Unfortunately, if you are on an island or a long peninsula, this may not be an option. You also may not be familiar with the area to know where to go or worse, you don’t speak the language. So what are your options?

Many resorts and hotels are now implementing inclement weather precautions into their policies. They have plans to evacuate people from resorts and move them to parts of the island that may not see as much force come through. They are also working with the local governments to provide additional shelters throughout the island to shield you and your family. If you are “stranded” at a resort due to a hurricane, they are also offering reduced rates for those extra nights.

It is best to make sure the whole family stays together the entire time. Remember, that you are your voice for your family. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to be separated.
Here are some tips in case you run into an emergency hurricane situation while on vacation:

1. Start to charge all cellphones, smart tablets, computers, and charging blocks as soon as there is a threat

2. Try to get a flight or rent a car so you can get out of the area if you don’t have a car or flight

3. Order bottled water and non-perishable food to be brought to your room

4. Organize a bag that is filled with 2 to 3 days’ worth of clothes for everyone in your family in case you are moved from your resort/hotel. Make sure to pack all medicines into this bag.

5. During the hurricane, make sure your shelter is away from any glass windows.

6. Call your travel agent/travel protection concierge services for additional help in getting to a safe place

 

Remember, hurricane season is considered June through November. If you are planning a vacation in the Atlantic region, our travel agency high recommends purchasing travel protection.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Tips to Traveling Safely

Liz Hough on

Are you becoming nervous to travel?

 

Here are some tips on how to feel more confident when you travel

 

We recently had a booth at the Wine and Food festival showcasing wine-themed river cruises.  I love talking about Europe, as we have traveled to 19 countries in Europe, and I love talking about river cruising.  I was surprised at how much I ended up talking about the “fear” of travel.  With the recent events in Spain, England, and France, I had a lot of people tell me that they wouldn’t travel over there anytime soon because of “all the things that have happened.”  It is not uncommon for people to feel a bit uneasy at the thought of going to a place where something bad has happened to innocent people.   Eventually, time heals and people start to feel more confident in traveling again, but it does take time. 

 

What if you don’t have time to heal and you are traveling soon after an incident has occurred?  How do you prepare yourself mentally to travel?  Have faith, hope, and believe!  Here are some tips with helping increase your confidence to travel.

 

Tip #1:  Lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place.  This is also typically true when it comes to attacks.  Once a city or area has been attacked, a large amount of security surrounds that area to make sure it is secure.  It becomes very difficult for anybody to try anything suspicious because everyone is on edge and quickly responds by contacting the appropriate authorities.   This is typically the best time to travel to these places because you have added security, and you get to experience a city or area come together like they have never done before.

 

 

Tip #2:  Set up private tours and transfers.  With a private tour or transfer, you have less people to worry about if something goes wrong.  You have your own personal concierge or chauffeur that can get you away from the area quickly and safely, rather than having to worry about a large group of people all trying to get on a large motorcoach.   Private tours also take you behind the scenes of some places so your guides will know the in’s and out’s of the place. 

 

Tip #3:  Each day make sure you have your smart devices fully charged.  Information is key!  If you are feeling unsafe, then you need to be connected to the world to find out what news outlets or bloggers are saying is going on where you are.  Also make sure you have data and voice plans available for your phone.

 

Tip #4:  Be open minded about changing your travel plans.  If you feel so uneasy or find out information that makes you more concerned about the area you are in, then try to change up your destinations.  Make sure to have your travel consultant’s information on hand and give them call to make a reservation at a hotel in another city or country and arrange a private transfer.  Yes, it is going to cost more money to change your plans, but hopefully you will feel much more relaxed.

 

 

Tip #5:  Be aware of your surroundings.  This sounds like something you know you should be doing but it easy to forget where you when you are walking around an amazing place.  Knowing where you are and making sure you understand where to go in case you have to get somewhere quickly, is key!  Every day, when you plan out where you are going, make sure you know exactly how to get back to your hotel or the US Embassy quickly.  Like James Bond, have an escape route.

 

Traveling is a part of life for everyone.  Whether you go a museum on the weekend or travel abroad to visit 1000 year old sites, it is part of who we are.  The best way to protect ourselves and make ourselves feel more confident about travel is to be prepared.  If you have trip coming up, consider trying out some of these tips to help make you feel more at ease so you enjoy your time traveling.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  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. 

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!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

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