Weekend Getaway: Enchantment of the Seas

Liz Hough on

Well, we made it to the port and I breathed a huge sigh of relief!  Luggage taken by attendants, carry-on in hand, time to get through security.

If you have never taken a cruise before, security is very much like the airport security.  You have to present a government issued photo identification, passports preferred, and your cruise information.  You have to put your carry-on luggage through an X-ray machine and walk through the metal detectors.  You have to check in with cruise terminal personnel who will again verify all of your information, take your photo, and give you your cruise identification cards.  These cards act as your identification to get on and off the ship, cabin entry card, your ship money, and casino points card.  A.K.A. a cruise credit card.

 

People rate airports so I have to give my two cents on the cruise terminal.  The second cruise I was on was out of Miami back in 2006.  At the time, I wasn’t impressed with their cruise terminal at all.  I felt rushed, no direction, people wall to wall, and I felt it was tiny.  When we took a cruise out of Barcelona, I was impressed.  Spacious, open, very well light, people directing you, everything was clean, and bathrooms were around every corner, which is good if you have to wait to board.  I have to say I was equally impressed by Port Canaveral’s newer cruise port terminal.   Very much like Barcelona’s cruise terminal and there were personnel everywhere to answer questions and direct you.  Total time from when we entered the doors of the terminal to the time we stepped foot on the ship was 15 minutes.  Very quick!

 

So after we received our cruise cards we were able to board the ship.  If the ship is not ready for you to board, then you wait in the waiting area and they will call you by group numbers.  I understand that everyone is excited for their cruise so checking in early can cause back-ups but the down side is you may have to wait to board.  If you haven’t checked in online a few days before departure, then you will have to fill out paperwork.  To fill out paperwork you must get there earlier than 90 to 120 minutes before departure or you may not be able to board.  Lucky for us they were ready for us to board immediately.

 

 

 

 

Before you even get on the ship there are still a few more things you can do.  Get professional pictures taken, buy beverage packages, make reservations at the specialty restaurants, get security bands for your kids, and get more information on the Royal Caribbean brand.  We opted for the pictures as you don’t have to pay for them unless you like them.

 

Our first steps onto the ship lead us to the grand atrium area.  You see people sitting in chairs with their luggage that they didn’t give to the attendants, and the bar is already full.  We decided to start walking around the ship to become more familiar with where things were located.  Being a travel consultant I wanted to get some good pictures of the ship without too many people in them.  For an almost 20 year old ship, I was surprised how nicely kept it was.  I didn’t see too much wear and tear considering they do three night Bahama cruises back to back. The ship had plenty of lounges, bars, elevators, huge main dining room with upper level seating, two cafes for additional dining options, a specialty restaurant, a very spacious casino, large theater, spa, fitness center, rock wall climb, trampoline jumps, and several pools and Jacuzzis including an adult only pool and children’s splash area.  There was way more than enough to keep us occupied on a three night cruise.

 

In the customer service area they had their cruise planner (daily printed schedule of activities) which highlights what will be going on during the day.  Since we really aren’t pool people and we couldn’t get into our cabin until 1:30pm, we opted to do another activity, planning our shopping in Nassau.  They had a shopping concierge on the ship who gave tips as to what to buy in Nassau and where to buy it.  It was a very interesting lecture and we were able to set up our shopping game plan within that timeframe.  I highly recommend reading the cruise planner daily.  They have some interesting activities from basketball games, to charity events, Bingo, lectures, art auctions, wine and liquor tastings, dancing, and show times.

 

I must say I was so happy with the amount of activities that they offered that we almost forget that we could finally get into our cabin.  For a three night cruise I, personally, didn’t think that we needed a balcony.  I also didn’t want to be at the bottom of the boat.  There are a few select rooms on the upper decks called the Panoramic Ocean view.  They cost slightly more than just an ocean view but you get a floor to ceiling window.  I had seen these rooms on a ship inspection that I had done a few years ago and have wanted to stay in one since.  I do have to say that I was disappointed with how dirty the cabin was.  There were crumbs all over the carpet, the bathroom shower was grimy, the sink clogged, the toilet was not clean but we won’t get descriptive about that, and the window had an oil film on the outside of it.  The only thing that was clean was the bed.  A phone call to housekeeping and most of the stuff was cleaned up very quickly.

 

After our Bingo Loss we are onto to Nassau!

 

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.

Disney World for All Ages

Liz Hough on

Typically when you think of Disney you think of little children running around to get pictures with Mickey Mouse or their favorite Princess.  It is one of the most fun places to take children and grandchildren but it can also be fun for adults.

 

Disney World has many resorts that will fit all types of budgets which are sure to bring out your Disney side.  Looking for a relaxing day at the adult only spa Senses or take a guided fishing trip where you are sure to catch some nice size bass.

There are fireworks cruises that are sure to amaze your senses as you are surrounded by fireworks above and the reflections below in the water.  What about a Behind the Scenes tour?  Ever wonder how they start the trains in the morning or maybe take a private tour to learn about the history and backstage secrets of Disney.

Consider Disney with your friends.  Here are some tips that are sure to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Tip #1:  Book early. Disney releases reservations for various restaurants and tours up to 180 day prior to arrival.  If you are looking to dine at one of their more high end restaurants or want to take an in demand tour, book on that 180th day!

Tip #2:  You don’t have to go to the parks.  There is a lot that Disney has to offer that is not in one of their parks.  Shopping and eating in Downtown Disney is a whole day event and you don’t have to pay to get in!  Check out MyDisneyExperience.com for all they have to offer.

Tip #3:  Did you know that you can make a dinner reservation at any of the resorts hotels, even if you aren’t staying at that hotel or on property.  Try a luau at the Polynesian Resort or try an intimate seven course dinner at Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian resort.

Tip #4:  The pool costs nothing!  There are several pools on property that are unique and relaxing.  Spend a day catching some sun and a Margarita or two!

Tip #5:  Is your husband a baseball fan?  Come during spring training and you can watch the Atlanta Braves spring training camp going on at the ESPN world wide of sports complex.

Tip #6:  Try something different.  Have you ever done archery or taken a horse drawn carriage ride while watching the fireworks.  Want more adventure?  Try the Wild Africa Trek where you will cross precarious rope bridges and enjoy up-close views of Nile hippos and crocodiles.

Tip #7:  Call your travel agent to help with setting up something special for you and your group.

The planning process should be fun and exciting but many times there are a lot of decisions to be made.  Just remember that plans can change but once you have made that final decision there is a sigh of relief that comes with knowing your vacation is just around the corner.  Also, don’t forget to invite friends and family so you can start making lasting memories.

 

We have helped HUNDREDS of family make their Disney vacations amazing so let us help you too. Fill out the form below to get started planning your next Disney Vacation.

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.

 

Planning Ahead….

Liz Hough on

It is 2018 but not too early to start planning for your 2019 vacation.

 

There are several steps you take when planning a vacation and you may not even realize you are going through them.  Here are some of the initial travel planning steps…..

 

Step 1 “The Thought”:  Do we want to take a big vacation or do we want to do something low key?  This step gets you started thinking about whether or not this year will be the year you take that big overseas trip or do you just want to take a 7 night cruise.

 

Step 2 “Where do we want to go?”:  Now that you have in mind what kind of trip you want to take it is time to decide where you want to take it.  This can be one of the most difficult steps in the process.  There are so many places you want to go but then there are so many places you have been and would like to go back.  How do you decide?  You make a list of just 5 places you want to travel to.  Why 5?  Because you don’t want to make the list too long.  Write some reasons why you want to go each place.  The place that has the most reasons why you want to travel there should be the place you choose to go!

 

Step 3 “How do we want to get around?”:  By step 3 you are moving full steam ahead in the planning of your trip!  Depending on where you are considering going there are several means to get around: cruise, rail, motor coach, or air.  Sometimes you don’t have a choice.  But if you do, consider trying a means of transportation that you haven’t tried before, i.e. a river cruise or the rail system.

 

Step 4 “Call your travel agent”:  This is the easiest step by far.  At this point you have some great ideas that you can’t wait to share with your travel agent.  This is where your travel agent is able to get together some information for you regarding pricing, tours, and time frames so you don’t have to spend precious time searching on the internet.

 

The planning process should be fun and exciting but there are a lot of decisions to be made.  Just remember that plans can change but once you have made that final decision there is a sigh of relief that comes with knowing your vacation is just around the corner.  Also, don’t forget to invite friends and family so you can start making lasting memories.

 

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.

The Top 3 motivators for purchasing Travel Protection, which one do you say?

Liz Hough on

In my last newsletter I discussed the importance of making sure to give your friends, family, or neighbors a printed copy of your itinerary in case something were to go wrong on your vacation.  It is great that they have this, but what do YOU have to protect yourself and your family when something goes wrong?  Who are YOU supposed to call when you have to go to the local hospital or medical express station?  Who do YOU call when you missed your connecting flight which also caused you to miss boarding your cruise?

Your travel agent should be there to help with you some of those concerns, but we don’t always know the nearest hospital or medical facility that will ensure your best well-being.  When you have travel protection, the travel protection company is who you call!

Before 2001 only 10% of leisure travelers purchased travel protection.  Since 2001, each year the amount of leisure travelers who have purchased travel protection has exponential grown.  At Life is Better Traveling, 95% of our clients who book their vacation with us also purchase travel protection.  Why do they book travel protection?  There are three main reasons why someone purchases travel protection:

1)     I want to cover my hard-earned money because the trip was expensive and/or I had to pre-pay a large amount.

2)     My medical coverage does not exist outside of the United States and I want to make sure that I am covered.

3)     I am nervous about unforeseen events occurring and I know that travel protection will give me the peace of mind I need.

I bring up three good points that most people will ask or say to themselves right before or right after they have purchased their vacation.  I am sure even you have asked yourself one or more of these three things.  With so many online travel agencies, airlines, and other suppliers making it so easy for you to purchase travel protection for your vacation purchase.  They tell you all the reasons you should purchase it and it sounds so appealing to purchase it, but do you know what you are ACTUALLY getting when you press the shiny “Purchase Travel Protection” button?

Stayed tuned for next week’s newsletter about knowing what you get when you purchase travel protection.  Also, if you know someone who is about to take a vacation and haven’t purchased travel protection, please forward this to them and tell them to sign-up for my HIGH CONTENT newsletters about travel at LifeisBetterTraveling.com.

 

 

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.

 

Passport Card vs. Passport Booklet

Mary Yohannan on

Passport Card vs. Passport Book

Which one is better?

I recently read an article on Facebook about a lady whose daughter booked her and four of her friends on a week-long vacation to Turks and Caicos.  The daughter booked everything through an Online Travel Agency (OTA), which I will not name, but an OTA is Expedia, Travelocity, or Hotels.com.  The ladies were excited, all packed, ready to go, and at the airport the lady whose daughter booked the trip was denied boarding.  She had a passport card instead of a passport book.  She could not get through to the OTA so she called a local travel agency and one of their travel agents told her what to do so she could get to Turks and Caicos.

So why couldn’t she board with a Passport Card?  According the U.S. Department of State, a passport card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at, here is the big red flag, land border or sea ports-of-entry only.  The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.  As this lady was flying to Turks and Caicos she was required to have a passport book.

Picture from Pixabay

So why is there a passport card?  The passport card is very convenient to have as it is the size of a driver’s license and can easily be carried around in your wallet.  It is much less expensive than getting or renewing a passport book.  The passport card also contains an RFID chip that according to the U.S. Department of State does not contain any personal information.  When the chip is read, it “points” to your secured information in one of the government databases.  Border Patrol can then access your information and photo identification.  Each card comes with an RFID blocking sleeve, just in case.

If you plan on crossing the Mexican or Canadian border often, a perk of having the passport card is that you can go through Ready Lanes.  These are certain lanes at the border that can expedite inspection when you are crossing the border.  Not all ports of entry have these lanes, but if you are interested in learning which ones have these Ready Lanes you can visit www.travel.state.gov.

If you are an avid cruiser and leave from ports of call in the US, then having a passport card is a convenience.  But next time you are flying out of the US, please keep in mind to grab that passport book on the way out of the house so you don’t get denied boarding at the airport.  Having the wrong identification will surly have you starting your vacation off on the wrong foot, and could cause delays in getting you to your destination. 

If you have any questions about photo identification for travel, please contact me with any questions or visit www.travel.state.gov.

NOTE: Life is Better Traveling always recommends a Passport Booklet even when cruising out of a US port.  Why?  If something were to happen and you were left behind on the island, you would need a passport booklet to return back into the states.  The Passport booklet is just a few dollars more, and is good for 10 years, so we always recommend getting a passport booklet. 

 

Hotel Rooms, how to tell if they are clean

Mary Yohannan on

What is REALLY in your hotel room? 

5 Places You NEED to be Checking

 

Recently I have been traveling a lot which means I have been staying in a lot of hotel rooms.  Some of the hotels received not so good reviews, so I was cautious as to what to expect in staying there.  For one of the hotels, the reviews consistently said that it wasn’t the cleanest.  I understand everyone has different perspectives as what is clean, but I always like to be prepared.  After seeing several shows on what actually gets cleaned in hotels, I have started a cleaning and checking routine when I walk into any hotel room.    Here is what I do:

      1.  Check the bed/mattress for bed bugs.  I look for reddish coloration, tiny black marks, and yellowish small dots around the edges where the mattress is sewn.  You can also move the mattress back from the wall to see if anything starts to move up the wall.  Needless to say, if I see any of this, I immediately ask for another room.

     2.  Check the sheets.  If there are hairs, discoloration, or any visible stains this to me is a clear indication that the sheets have not been changed since the last person occupied that room.  It has been known for years that the top spread does not get changed between guests, but the sheets must be changed for me to stay in that room.

    3.  Check bathroom.  There are several things in the bathroom that need to checked. 

        a. The shower/bathtub needs to be looked at closely.  Is there hair in the drain still?  Is there mold anywhere including on the shower curtain?  Are the last person’s shower items still there?

        b. I also lift the toilet set to see if there are any stains under the seat and also to see if the toilet bowl has been cleaned.  There are many times I have walked into someone else’s “stuff” still in the toilet. 

        c. I check the towels to see if they are damp.  They may not have been used by the last person, but were in there when they showered and got ready. 

        d. Is the sink area clean?  Is there a new soap dish or is it a re-usable one?  I also bring my own toiletries so I don’t have to worry about the ones they provide, but you should check them to see if they have been used by someone else. 

    4. Make sure the locks on the doors work.  This sounds simple but I can’t tell you how many times I have been in a hotel room and the dead bolt to the door doesn’t work, or the lock on the patio door doesn’t work.  I don’t take those things lightly, as anyone can easily get into my room when I am not there or when I am sleeping. 

    5. Clean all touchable items in the room.  Once most of my checks have passed and I have decided it is a good room to stay in, I get out my antibacterial wipes or a nice cleaning wipe and start to wipe down all things that people touch.  The remote control, the phone, any light switches, all door handles, mini-refrigerators, coffee-makers, etc.  I try to wipe down as many things as I can especially when the kids are in the room because they tend to touch everything!

    6.  Check under the bed!  Some beds you can’t check under, but the ones that you can you will find the most interesting things people leave behind.  I check under the bed because I want to make sure there are no cleaning products stored under there or anything like old food.  This can turn into a bad situation when you have kids who like to play on the floor. 

These are a just a few things that I do to make sure that I have a pleasant stay at any hotels, and to make sure that my family and I are safe. 

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!

 

Photos by Mary Yohannan

I use a Travel Agent for the same reasons you do…

Mary Yohannan on

I use a Travel Agent for the same reasons you do…

I have not always been a travel agent.  Before I was a travel agent, I used a travel agent to book my vacations.  I needed help, support, and understanding of the “W’s.”  Where, What, and WOW.  I always wanted to make the most of my time while I was on the vacation, but for me the problem was that I didn’t have the time to do all the research.    

I always knew where I wanted to go whether it was a region, country, or city, but I didn’t know the logistics of the best routes to get there, where to stay, what to see, and what was one thing that was going to WOW me while I was there.  Now, when I say WOW me I don’t mean that I needed my adrenaline at the highest level.  I just wanted one thing while on the vacation that for me to look at it, taste it, or feel it and I would say WOW.  Something that would leave such an impression on me that every time I would think about it I would experience that same feeling over and over again.  Even with all the guide books that I purchased, there was always one suggestion from our travel agent that gave us the WOW. 

Today, I will still use a travel agent to book a vacation for me if it is a place that I have never been to and want to make sure I get the full experience.  How do I find a good travel agent?  If I don’t personally know someone who I met at a professional development conference, then I go online.  A survey done in 2016 found that of those asked how they found a good travel agent, 47% of the people said online and 31% said through word of mouth.  So how did they find a good travel agent online?  There are many websites where you can put in your zip code and find travel agents in your area and who specialize in the area where you want to take your vacation.  You may still get a long list of agents to weed through, but the best way to determine who is the best to work with is by their reviews.    

Travel Leaders has a really good site where you can find travel agents in your area and the agents will list their specialties including European vacations, Australia, etc.  It will also show you if they have any reviews.  The reviews are posted by actual clients of those agents who have used them to plan their vacations.  Another good place to look for honest reviews from clients is on a travel agency’s Facebook page.  These reviews are posted by actual clients as you can see their avatars next to their reviews. 

When I am reading reviews, there are a few key things that I look for.  Do the reviews talk about making the planning stage easy or effortless.  Do the reviews say that the person will work with them again.  Do the reviews explain what the travel agent did for them.  Do the reviews include any WOW’s that occurred while they were on the vacation. 

As I always say, if you find a good travel agent DON’T let them go!

P.S. I would love for you to check out my reviews from all of my amazing clients…CLICK HERE

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?

Mary Yohannan on

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!

Are the Disney Dining Plans Worth Your Money?

Mary Yohannan on

Disney easily comes up in conversations with random people I meet, but when they find out I am a travel consultant they always ask20160515_191819 me if the Disney Dining Plan is worth the money.  I have read so many different opinions on various Disney blogs, Facebook pages, and travel agent outlets about people’s views on this subject matter.  It seems like people are split, some love it and some say it is a waste of money.  Well, we recently went to Disney and I decided to add the Disney Dining Plan to our package so I could see if it is worth it. 

Before I go into if is it worth or not, I must explain that there are several dining plans available through Disney.  Because of the variety, I am wondering if those who feel that the Dining Plan is not worth the money may have been talked into the wrong Dining Plan for their family, see chart below for quick reference.  Why so many options?  It is easy to understand, there are many cultures and different types of families that go to Disney so they are really catering to everyone.  One family may say that a particular plan has too many meals for their family while another may say this is the perfect amount for us.  I will tell you, that no matter which plan you choose for your family, it will be perfect. 

For my family we choose the Disney Dining Plan which includes 1 quick service, 1 table service, and, new for 2017, 2 snacks per person per night of stay and 1 resort refillable mug.  The refillable mug can be used at your resort.  You cannot use this mug in the parks to get refills, but I will tell you that we did take our mugs along with us to the parks and asked for ice water, which is free.  We then transferred our ice water into the mugs.  With each table service meal, we were able to choose one entrée from the menu, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage.  When you choose an entrée you are not limited to a select menu specifically for those on the dining plan.  You receive the same menu that everyone receives and get to choose any of the entrées including steak or salmon.  Dessert at Disney is fantastic!  It is gourmet and no matter what you choose it will not disappoint. 

However, having dessert every day could be a lot for some people, as it was for me.  There is a little known fact that isn’t shared by the wait staff, but some restaurants now allow you to substitute your dessert for an appetizer.  You have to ask your server when you sit down if this is one of the participating restaurants and which appetizers are included, but you may have an option of a salad instead of the that rich chocolate cake. 

Quick service meals are just like the combo meals that you get at any of your local fast food places, and snacks include a variety of foods including popcorn, cookies, cupcakes, a banana, or the famous Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. 

When you purchase a dining plan that has several table services with it, you must make your reservations in advance.  You can start to make your dining reservations up to 180 days prior to your arrival date for the entire length of your day, but not to exceed 10 days of stay.  What this really means is on the 179th day you can call to make your reservations.  I would recommend calling to make your reservations.  It is much faster and you will also be able to make any additional reservations such as Pirate’s League or any tours, all with one phone call.  If you don’t make a reservation in advance, you could be told that the restaurant is full for the day or you may have a two-hour wait.  A two-hour wait with hungry children is not fun for anyone!

So are you ready to find out if the dining plan is worth the money?  For a family of four going to Disney for seven nights, who elect the Disney Dining plan, it is a little over $1000.  (Now that is just for the Dining plan, not including park tickets or resort stay.)  For four people on this seven day Disney vacation, it comes to between $33 to $40 per person per day.   One character meal is around this same cost, so if you do one character meal you have paid for your entire day right there!  Even if you are doing non character meals, your meal cost with entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage can easily reach the $40 to $50 range per person.  When you look at the numbers you really see that you are paying for table service but getting a quick service meal and snack for free.  I, personally, find that the dining plan is worth the money and saves me time when we are there.  My meals are planned out, they are paid for, and everyone is happy because the food is so good. 

Now, one thing you must know is that tip/gratuity is not included.  The suggested tip is based on your total meal cost prior to deducting your plan.  It is up to you, how much you want to tip unless you are a party of six or more than 18% is automatically added to your bill.  When you receive your bill it will tell you how many of that service you have left.  So if you had six table services to start and just finished eating, then your bill will show that you have five remaining.  You can always get your entire amount of allotted meals from the concierge or guest services area at your hotel.  It is important to note that meals do not roll over after your stay.  If you don’t use them up you will lose them so I highly recommend planning out your meals for each day you are at Disney.  Also, the meals are to be used at your discretion.  If you want two table service meals on one day and two quick service meals another day, it is up to you how you use them, but again, use them up!

 

P.S. Call me this year to plan your AMAZING Disney vacation.  I always recommend to start planning your Walt Disney World vacation 8 to 12 months in advance so we can start planning everything out for you.     

Not Getting our newsletters?  Sign Up Below…

When to Buy Travel Protection…

Mary Yohannan on

You and your travel agent have been planning your vacation for several weeks.  You have come to a decision and are excited to be putting down that initial deposit.  You are done with travel planning for now, or are you?  One last thing that your travel agent should be talking to you about at this time is purchasing travel protection for your vacation.   You are probably not even thinking about travel protection, but I am here to tell you that you should be and this is the time to think HARD about it! 

The pressure of purchasing it right after you just put down a large deposit can be too much think about, and I am here to tell you, that is OK.  You don’t have to purchase the travel protection plan right away.  Most travel insurance companies allow you to purchase travel protection up to a certain number of days prior to departure of your vacation.  You will not receive time sensitive provisions, which we will discuss in a bit, but you will still receive good coverage.  My recommendation is that you make sure you have made up your mind to purchase travel protection before final payment of your trip is due.  At this point, you have had enough time to really think about the coverage you will receive and whether or not it is right for you and your family. 

Most travel insurance companies offer a few BONUS waivers or time sensitive provisions if you purchase travel protection within in so many days of your initial deposit on your vacation.  The most common two are:

  1. Pre-Existing Medical Condition Waiver.  What this typically means is that if you have had any medical conditions so many days prior to the effective date of your policy, then they would be waived and possibly considered a covered reason if you needed to cancel.  Some travel insurance companies are 60 days prior to the effective date and others are as far out at 180 days. 
  2. Supplier default or insolvency of a supplier such as an airline, cruise line, tour operator, or other travel supplier. 

You really are getting more coverage when you purchase your travel protection within the travel insurance companies requirements to get these time sensitive provisions.

Over 95% of my clients purchase some kind of travel protection to cover their vacation.  The next time you get ready to book your vacation, I HIGHLY recommend that you add the amount of travel protection into your budget.  It makes it a lot easier for you to make the decision to purchase it right away so you get the time sensitive provisions, and you don’t feel that it is an added expense.  A good rule of thumb in figuring out this expense, is if you are under the age of 55 travel protection will cost you between 10 – 15% of your total vacation.  If you are over the age of 55, travel protection will cost you between 10 – 20% of the total cost of your trip.

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. 

Not Getting our newsletters?  Sign up below!

Verified by MonsterInsights