Seaweed Takeover in The Caribbean.

Liz Hough on

For the past couple of months there has been a growing issue in the Caribbean, Seaweed!  Now anytime we go to the beach we encounter seaweed and don’t really think too much of it.  We just walk around it and go on our merry way.  But what if there was a wall 10 feet high of seaweed and you couldn’t get around it.  The Caribbean is experiencing this mass amount of seaweed called sargassum.  It washes up on beaches from Mexico to Barbados, and can sometimes pile up so high that you can’t even get into the sea.  This would be a very disappointing vacation if your plans were to lay on the beach and cool off in the clear waters. 

 

So why is there so much of this sargassum this year?  There is a lot of speculation that it is from land pollutants getting into the water.  These nitrogen based pollutants are what the seaweed thrive on and what makes it grow faster and in larger abundances.  Some also believe that it is the warmer climates of the Earth and the shifting of the currents causing more seaweed to come on shore.  Could it be a combination of both, sounds like both pollutants and warmer climates are to blame. 

 

A lot of resorts are putting a lot of money and time into clearing the seaweed from their beaches.  Mexico plans on spending almost $10 million dollars to help remove it from the beaches.  The nation of Tobago has called the seaweed a “natural disaster.”  Some resorts are even putting up barriers out in the sea so that the seaweed can’t make it to the beach.  They are finding that it is helping keep it at bay but because there is so much of it they still have some overflow.  Keeping the seaweed in the sea is a good idea as once it washes up on shore and starts to rot it becomes very stinky and attracted a lot of skin biting insects.  This is definitely not good for tourism in the Caribbean! 

 

One of the other great reasons we go to the Caribbean is to go scuba diving or snorkeling in the crystal clear waters.  We love to look at the beautiful coral, fish, and turtles but the seaweed is so thick that people are having trouble even doing these activities.  It is believed that the rotting seaweed consumes the oxygen levels in the water so the animals are also suffering.  This may lead to the animals finding new homes further away from the shore.  There are some people who are brave enough to get past the wall of seaweed on the beach and get in the sea.   I am sure they want to get their money’s worth, but be aware that you must trek through that same wall of seaweed on your way out. 

 

So if you have a Caribbean vacation planned in the near future I suggest that you may want to find some water sports on the bay side, if available.  Also, consider taking tours around the island that don’t involve the water.  Make sure your resort has a nice pool or several pools that you can enjoy during your stay.  There are still many activities you can enjoy but just be aware of the sargassum.

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.

Do you pay too much in airline fees?

Liz Hough on

 

 

Traveling via airplane is a convenient way to get you to your destination in a short amount of time or sometimes it is the only way to get you to an overseas destination.   Planes have advanced so much over the years that more people are willing to fly to their destination and prices between airlines have become competitive.  But should this mean that you as the consumer have to pay for not only for your seat but to take your luggage, cancellation or changing a reservation, priority boarding, a snack, to use the bathroom, connect to Wifi, or upgrade to preferred seating.  These additional fees are called “Ancillary Fees” and most airlines are continually trying to figure out how to incorporate them into their business models.   Airlines are saying that the reason they want to charge ancillary fees is because it is better for the clients to “unbundle” these service from the base price as not everyone uses them.  It benefits the client who did not want that snack or have to use the bathroom on a long flight.

 

So where did all this start?  In 2007 the low cost airline Spirit decided that they wanted to charge their clients a fee to check their luggage to bring in additional revenue.  Quickly American Airlines followed by charging clients $15 per piece of luggage and like any snow ball effect, additional airlines started to get on board with charging clients to check their bags.  Today most airlines charge you to check at least your second piece of luggage and the fees can be really high, i.e. $200 plus per piece of luggage.  This means a lot of additional revenue for the airline companies.  From 2007 to 2014 baggage fees went from bringing in $464 million to $3.53 billion a year in additional revenue for the various airlines charging these fees.  The airline that profited the most from baggage fees is American/US Airways and surprisingly United did not make much of a profit from charging baggage fees. 

 

Now have you ever had to cancel or change your reservation?  The fees on this service can sometimes cost you more than checking your luggage.  Unfortunately, there are times in our lives when something comes up and we need to use this service.  Airlines again have profited from this ancillary fee.  From 2007 to 2014 cancellation/change fees went from $915 million to $2.98 billion in additional revenue for the various airlines.  I, personally, have always believed that you should be allowed one change in your reservation in case you need to take an earlier or later flight and not have to pay for this change.  I do understand that you would have to pay for any change in the cost of the flight but I do not believe that you should have to pay both for one change.

 

Do you like preferred seating?  I have personally used preferred seating for overseas flights.  The airline company that I have used give the client up to 6 inches in more leg room when you purchase preferred seating.  Now I did pay an extra $150 for my preferred seating but let’s be honest, on an overnight flight to Europe, I need that extra room to get comfortable to try and get some sleep. I have not paid for preferred seating on flights here in the US so I do not know how much extra room you get or if you even get extra room.  It seems like the flights that I have been getting on lately with preferred seating are those seats right behind first class but do not offer additional leg room.  Honestly, I feel like this should be called “second class” and then the rest of us in the back of the plane can be “third class.”  More airlines are starting to choose this ancillary fee for this service but consumers are not happy as it can force families with small children to either separate on the plane or make them pay this fee, especially when these are the only seats left on the flight.  Some airlines also have confused consumers with offering preferred seating first in the online booking process.  The consumer is confused if this is the only option left not knowing that if they decline they will be given a regular seat upon check-in.  If you are ever confused about preferred seating, call the airlines reservation line. 

 

The good news is that the United States Senate Commerce Committee took a look at all these ancillary fees and has decided they would like to make some changes.  Some of the recommendations that they want the airlines to take into consideration are:

  • disclosure of ancillary fees early in the booking process so it is easier for the consumer to compare flight pricing
  • checked and carry-on luggage fees are based on costs incurred by the airline, airlines should promptly refund fees for any checked bags that are delayed more than 6 hours on a domestic flight
  • airlines need to clearly state that “preferred seating” charges are optional
  • limit the amount an airline can charge for any changes.

These changes would really help the consumer understand what exactly they are purchasing when they want to take a flight.  Having all fees disclosed to you in the beginning of the booking process will help you understand what your options are and if you want to pay extra for the options.  There are many times that I don’t want to pay extra because I am just on a two hour flight.  When I take my 10 hour flights I may want to splurge a bit, but at least I would understand what exactly I am paying for what services to expect for on my flight.  Understanding your rights as the consumer is always important, especially when you are traveling.

 

Have a Great Week!

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.

When to Buy Travel Insurance

Liz Hough on

You plan all year sometimes even two years in advance to take that big trip. You have been saving for years and right before you are supposed to go on this amazing journey something happens. You can’t go! What are you going to do? You read through all the cancellation policies and most of them say “100% non-refundable 6 days prior.” Oh no, you are within that time frame. No refund! All those hard earned dollars down the drain.

Most of us are lucky that this scenario does not happen to us. However, life has a way of throwing curve balls so you want to make sure that when that curve ball comes your way you know exactly where to hit it, with insurance.

There are many insurance companies out there selling travel insurance. The question now becomes, Which one works best for you? Your travel agent is the best guide as to which company will provide the most coverage for your needs. You don’t need to purchase the “Platinum Plan” to get good coverage. Most times their basic plans, or gold plans will cover up to 100% of your non-refundable costs and give you very good health coverage too.

Some things you want to make sure you do when buying travel insurance:

Tip #1: Buy travel insurance within 15 day of your initial deposit to ensure coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Tip #2: Only buy “Cancel for Any Reason Coverage” if you really are on the fence about going on the trip. Most medical issues for both travelers and immediate families is covered under their reasons for cancellation plus, this is an added cost that you may not need to pay.

Tip #3: Check what your medical insurance covers for out of country visits. Don’t buy additional medical coverage if you already have good medical coverage.

Tip #4: Renting a car? Check what your credit cards and car insurance coverage for any damage to vehicle overseas. Consider buying additional coverage if you already have high premiums here in the states or you don’t have enough coverage.

Tip #5: Make sure to get a comprehensive copy of your purchased policy from your travel agent. Each state has different policies so make sure you have received the correct one for the state you live in.

Tip #6: READ OVER YOUR POLICY!!! The more you know before you go the better. If you have any questions about the policy call the insurance company for a full explanation.

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.

 

Ready to Use Your Magic Bands?

Liz Hough on

Walt Disney created Disneyland so one could be in the past, present, and future all in one park while letting your imagination run wild.  He created what has become the most magical places on earth including Walt Disney World.  Since 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened, Disney employees have tried to make sure that their guests have the best experiences possible.  However, with so many people wanting this experience and the increased popularity of a Disney vacation, overcrowded parks had become a problem.  Disney decided something had to change. They took a big risk and decided to incorporate new technology in this decision and came up with the idea for the Magicband, an all-inclusive wristband.  This was a huge risk has paid off nicely for Disney and goes perfectly with a quote Mr. Walt Disney has said “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

 

What is a Magicband?  Magicbands are bracelets that you wear around your wrist and have a Radio Frequency Identifiable Device (RFID) in each band.  RFIDs are a great way to store information that can be quickly used later and by the end of this article you will see why they are a perfect way to get around the parks.  Let’s get back to exactly what the Disney Magicband is.  It is a bracelet or wristband with a RFID in it that contains all the information of your entire Disney reservations.  It will have which resort you are staying at, dining plan, Fastpasses, restaurant reservations, and of course your credit card information that is on file.  Now, having my credit card information on a device that is readable is a bit scary to me but when you check into the resort you must enter a unique four digit pin that is linked to your band.  Each person has a unique pin for their band.  You need this four digit pin to make any type of purchase on your band so if your band gets lost a person won’t be able to charge anything to your account.  The other great thing about the bands is that there are no identifiable markers on the outside to let someone know which resort you are staying at.  You may have your first name engraved on the back of the wristband so if your party is large and multiple people have the same color wristbands, you know which belongs to whom.  Also, if you lose your band you simply go to guest services and they quickly deactivate it for you.

 

How do you get a wristband and where do you use it?   For anyone who is staying on Disney property you will get a wristband.  In your My Disney Experience you will have the opportunity to select colors for each member of your party and any names you would like to have engraved on the inner part of the band.  The bands are simple in construction with a Mickey Mouse head imprinted on the top.  If you don’t like your jewelry simple, like me, don’t worry, you can add bling.  Small trinkets are available for purchase at several stores on Disney property.   Now, your wristbands will be mailed to your house or you will receive them at time of check in at the resort.  Once the band is on your wrist it is now the key to your room.   Simply place the Mickey Mouse on the wristband to the Mickey Mouse on the door knob, and you are in your room.  When you are ready to enter the parks you will place the Mickey Mouse on the wristband to the Mickey Mouse on the entrance pole and place your finger on the reader and you are in.  When you are ready to get your check after dining or check out at quick service, simply place the Mickey Mouse against the reader, enter your four digit pin, and everything is paid.  When your Fastpass time has arrived, simply place the Mickey Mouse against the Mickey Mouse FastPass pole and enter the ride.  I think we have a pattern going here: simply place the Mickey Mouse on your wristband to the reader and you are in!

The wristband has revolutionized how easy it has made families to plan their vacation and get around the parks.  You don’t have a room key, a park ticket, a FastPass ticket, and a Disney voucher to carry around anymore.  It is all now on your wrist.  The band is waterproof so if you go to the pool or one of the water parks you don’t have to worry about getting it wet.  It is a bit difficult to get on and off so they recommend that you keep it on for the length of your stay. 

 

Now comes the question of how does all that information get onto the band?  I briefly discussed the My Disney Experience application for choosing your color bands and what you want engraved on the inside. The My Disney Experience application can easily download this onto any phone from the Android or Apple store or by using your computer going to MYDISNEYEXPERIENCE.com.  Once you have made your reservation, make an account here and put in your reservation number.  All of your information will show up including where you are staying, dining information, park tickets, etc.  Set up your profiles for those traveling in your party and you can make yourself a fun Disney character, I am personally Goofy.   You can link tickets to each person accordingly especially if you are going to a special event tickets.  Once you have the profiles set up you can look at the restaurants that are available all over Disney.  On the 180th day from the start of your reservation you can start making dining reservations and linking them to each person.  Once you hit the 60 day mark you can start adding FastPasses to each person to ensure you get on the rides you want at the times you want.   You can add Memory Maker and link that to one person, preferably the ring leader.  All of this information is going to be right on your Magicband.    

 

Now once you get home, that information is still in your My Disney Experience and you can also look at your pictures.  The great thing about the Magicbands is that you can reuse them if you would like or you can always order new ones for your next Disney vacation.  I have to say that, I really enjoyed my experience with the Magicbands and I hope that you have or will too.

On a side note.  Our agency now offers day by day planning for those who do not want to or have the time to plan their entire Disney experience.  We have put together itineraries to fit all families and we will even put together your my Disney experience.  We do charge an extra fee for this service but this will alleviate even more of your stress of planning an amazing Disney experience.

 

Have a Great Week!

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.

Less Stress Disney Planning

Liz Hough on

Disney is one of the most magical experiences a person can have in their lifetime.  We all grew up watching Disney movies, wearing Disney paraphernalia, buying Disney toys, and some of us have even had the ultimate Disney experience by going to the parks.  As we get older we still have a place in our hearts for the joy and happiness that Disney has brought to us over the years, and now it is time we pass that excitement onto our children or grandchildren.  We think about taking them to Walt Disney World in Florida to hear their laughter and see their smiles as they ride the rides, eat giant turkey legs, and meet their favorite Disney characters.  Unfortunately, for most people a rush of anxiety hits almost immediately after all these wonderful thoughts.  The anxiety of how much will the trip cost, how am I going to entertain them for a week, which parks should we do, where to eat, dining plan or no dining plan, etc.  Yikes!  The amount of questions that floods one’s head is way too overwhelming that most people decide not to plan a Disney experience or put if off for a while.

Eventually, one has to start planning a Disney experience for the kids.  My advice is to jump in with both feet because I am here to tell you how to make it less stressful.  Yes, less stressful because there is no way to take all the stress out of planning a Disney experience for the family.  However, you can make it less stressful and enjoy the vacation as much as the kids will.

Like any vacation you should definitely start early.  Disney has a lot of properties, restaurants, parks, and experiences and if you don’t start early you could miss out on some spectacular offerings.  For example, most people start a year or 18 months in advance once they have figured out when they want to go.  The best place to start is to pick which resort you would like to stay at.  There are so many great resorts that will cover all of your family’s needs including: budget, pools, themed rooms such as the Princess themed rooms, or great restaurants right in the resort.  Once you have narrowed down your choices of which resort to stay at, you are a quarter of the way done with the planning.

Next, people consider how many days they want to go to the parks.  Most people stay 7 nights or 8 days so I always recommend a 7 day park pass.  This way if your flight gets there early on day 1 you can hit the parks, especially the Magic Kingdom since it is open late, sometimes 1am.  Even though you are staying on Disney property you don’t have to do just Disney.  Universal Studios and Sea World are close by and on a rainy day the Crayola Experience is a great way to keep the kids occupied.  However, you would need to rent a car, book a service, or call a taxi cab.  Once you have considered which parks you want to do you are now another quarter of the way done!

 

Let’s talk about dining.  In the good old days you used to be able to go into any Disney restaurant and get a table.  Things have really changed when it comes to dining at Disney.  You can start making reservations for your dining 180 days prior to your first day of arrival and for an additional 10 days of stay.  Some restaurants are so popular that you if you don’t call at midnight on the 180 day you may not get a reservation.  Getting tables for larger parties is even harder so picking where you want to eat and making those reservations close to the 180 days will surly get you a table.  When it comes to dining you also have to consider whether or not you want to add a dining plan to your reservation, which can only be done if staying on property.  The Disney dining plan is great if you plan to do a lot of nice sit down meals or character meet and eats, as these are costly.   The dining plan also helps if you don’t want to constantly be pulling your credit card out of your pocket.  It is already paid for, but make sure to understand how many meals are included with your plan.  If you miss a meal you will not receive a refund.   If you plan on doing a long weekend in Disney then I would not recommend using the dining plan.  Once you have figured out where to eat and if you want to add the dining plan you done with another quarter of the planning.  75% of your Disney vacation is planned!

 

The last part of your Disney planning experience is your day by day itinerary.  If you have never been to Disney before this can be quite a challenge.  There are so many great rides and shows to see in each park but it is impossible to get to do half of them in a day, especially when there are long lines.  When planning this part you want to plan with the family.  Let your family tell you want they want to do.  This way you can incorporate one thing from each family member into the day and everyone is happy.  Once you have an idea of the itinerary don’t forget to get on your My Disney Experience 60 days prior and reserve your FastPasses for those rides.

Great!  You are pretty much done now.  You only have to show up and enjoy your time at Disney.  One thing to remember is that sometimes thing don’t go as planned but that is ok.  There will always be something else to do.  The kids will not be disappointed by their Disney experience at all and will be talking about all the great memories for weeks after the vacation.

 

 

On a side note.  Our agency now offers day by day planning for those who do not want to or have the time to plan their entire Disney experience.  We have put together itineraries to fit all families and we will even put together your my Disney experience.  We do charge an extra fee for this service but this will elevate even more of your stress of planning an amazing Disney experience.

 

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.

 

Cruise Planning Mistakes 101

Liz Hough on

CRUISING MISTAKES!

I love to cruise.  Getting out on the high seas is so peaceful and beautiful.  The gentle sway of the ship back and forth really relaxes me.  But there are some things that can really ruin your cruise if you are not prepared in advance.  Now I can’t take all the credit for writing this week’s E-Newsletter.  I read most of these tips on Conde Nast Traveler but I have to share them as they are very good points.   So next time you start planning a cruise make sure to avoid these mistakes:

 

Mistake #1:  Bringing the extra-large suitcase!  Yes, staterooms are getting bigger and bigger and most of the time you can stow your larger suitcases under the bed.  However, this doesn’t hold true for all cruise ships especially those older ships.  If you bring an extra-large suitcase it may have to stay out next to the sofa the whole cruise.  Bring the smaller suitcase and roll your clothes to save space.

Mistake #2:  Not booking your shore excursions in advance.  Nowadays every cruise line uses the internet to make it easier for their cruise clients to make their excursion reservations.  They have them broken down by port, pricing, and activity level.  Some cruise lines are better than others with how descriptive they are but overall you get the idea of what to expect on the excursion.  If you are taking the time to read them online and find one you like then simply add it to your cart.  You can also make a list and send it to your travel agent, but make sure to book early or it may not be available by the time you board the ship.

Mistake #3:  Not bringing your own conditioner.  Most cruise lines provide you shampoo in the dispenser adhered to the shower wall and soap.  Ladies, make sure to bring your own conditioner because you want those formal night photos to look fantastic.

Mistake #4:  It’s HOT – not talking about the weather, but the amazing deals!  A deeply discounted cruise is a great deal, right?  Well, I have always been told that if it is too good to be true it is.  You really want to see Alaska and that deal for May is amazing but are you prepared for snow?  Or how about a really discounted Caribbean cruise in September but be prepared for hurricanes with tidal waves.  Always consider the climate or season for the areas you will be traveling.

 

Mistake #5:  Flying in the same day as your European cruise.  I have always told my clients that they should arrive a few days earlier when taking any type of European cruise.  Sometimes the cruise line does not stay in port overnight the day you board so you will miss out on an amazing city.  Take the time and explore the city where your cruise begins.  Arriving early also allows you peace of mind knowing you will make it to the ship on time.

 

Mistake #6:  This one ties in with Mistake #4.  Not expecting rainy weather on your Alaskan cruise.  Rain and sometimes snow are very common when taking an Alaskan cruise.  June seems to be a good month to try to stay dry but there are no guarantees.  A raincoat and umbrella are a must for an Alaskan Cruise.

 

Mistake #7:  Booking a cruise during a school holiday.  Unless you have children where you have to get your vacations in when they are out of school, booking a cruise during any type of holiday or school break is not a good time for those looking to have a more adult friendly cruise.  This does not hold true to all cruises, but I would try to avoid any Caribbean or Hawaiian cruises during holidays.

Mistake #8:  Assuming everything is included onboard.  This can be a bit confusing for some first time cruisers.  The pricing you receive is for mostly basic amenities unless you are cruising with an All-Inclusive cruise line, which are more expensive.  Specialty dining, fitness classes, spa treatments, excursions, gratuities, and even soda packages are a few of the extras once onboard.  Now a days a lot of cruise lines have been giving away onboard credits for you to try out some of these extra amenities, but don’t be fooled, some are quite pricy and your onboard credit will not cover the full cost.

 

This was a great article written by Heidi Sarna, Bon Voyage Magazine with some additional tidbits from me.  I wanted to share this article with everyone because I believe that at least one of them has happened to us on one of our cruise adventures.  As always, make sure to ask your travel consultant questions about your next cruise.  We are here to make sure that you have the best experience possible and avoid mistakes like those above.

 

The anxiety of how much will the trip cost, how am I going to entertain them for a week, which parks should we do, where to eat, dining plan or no dining plan, etc.  Yikes! 

How to Spot a Dirty Hotel Room

Liz Hough on

How Dirty is Your Hotel Room?  

I have been watching a lot of Hotel Impossible on Netflix lately.  I am strangely drawn to this show where one guy evaluates hotels that are in the decline.  He revamps everything from management, the front desk area, and the cleaning crew’s philosophy on what is actually a clean room.  By the end of the show the hotel looks great, the staff is unified, and bookings start increasing.

It does have me thinking though – if all these places he is visiting have issues with cleaning, am I doing a good job finding inadequacies when I stay at a hotel.  After all, the first thing I do when I enter my hotel room is get out my antibacterial wipe and clean down the remote.  But what else am I missing?  I have come up with a few tips on what to “spot” if you have a dirty room.  I came up with these from my own experiences and from watching the show.  They have helped me on several occasions even when we have stayed in big name, five star hotels.  These tips even hold true if you are renting a house at the beach for a week.  Those cleaning crews really don’t have enough time to clean everything!

Tip #1:  Make sure you have antibacterial wipes or Clorox wipes with you when you go on vacation.  Clorox now has a convenient small pack in the travel size section.  Make sure to wipe down the remote (dirtiest thing in the room based on several studies), any handles i.e. toilet, facets and the inside door, the toilet seat and cover, the telephone even the ear piece, and if you have a kitchen you may want to do a bit more work there if you are planning on using it.

Tip#2:  Check for bed bugs!  Bed bugs are the worst thing you want to bring back with you.  In order to find them you have to pull

Our hotel room in Venice

the fitted sheet back and expose the mattress all together.  Look in the seam of the mattress at the top and bottom curves.  Some people see bugs and some people see what looks like dirt.  Either way, if you find them get another room immediately!  Don’t trust your bed bug spray that you bought at the hardware store is going to work.  Let the hotel call someone in to take care of it.  It you are renting a house, then definitely use the spray but keep all luggage outside until you know it has worked.  The last thing you want is bed bugs to get into your luggage and you bring them home!

Tip #3:  Since I was a child my mother never let me touch the bed cover, duvet, or comforter that was on the bed.  That was always the first thing off the bed on onto the floor.  Hotel policy should be to change them after each guest and clean them but that doesn’t always happen.  After all, they are heavy and thick so how can one person lug 20 of them on their tiny cart.  Check the bed cover for any stains.  The top of the cover typically has bright colors so you may not be able to detect any stains.  Flip it over and look at the white part underneath.  Any stains need an immediate call to housekeeping.  This also holds true for the sheets.

Tip #4:  Check the toilet!  I know that this can be disgusting but from watching the show I have really learned that places aren’t very good at cleaning the toilet.  Just because they lay that piece of paper over the lid that says it has been cleaned, most times, it hasn’t.  When you lift the lid try to look under the lip of the toilet or if you are even more daring take a piece of toilet paper around the lip of the toilet to check it was cleaned.

Tip #5:  Check the shower and especially the shower curtain.  I am finding that more and more hotels are not cleaning their shower curtains.  One time I even had one curtain switched out and the newer curtain had more mold and soap build up than the other one.  This was not acceptable and I told them they needed to find one that was either straight out of the packaging or washed.

Tip #6:  The one thing that most people don’t seem to check is the pillow.  It is very easy to change out the pillow cases, but I know that when I change out my pillow case my pillow sometimes needs to be washed too.  You should check both pillow cases and the actually pillow for stains.  Hotels have tons of pillows so they can easily get you more.

 

Remember, that you are a guest at their hotel.  You have right to request things to be switched out if they have stains, mold, soap scum, are dirty or even broken.  Most of the time the rooms that I have been staying in are brand name hotels and are over $150/night, not your highway motel with a rate at $49/night.  There are many websites that allow the consumer to rate hotels including TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Hotels.com to name a few.  If you may be concerned about the hotel you are going to be staying at you may want to consider checking out the reviews or even making a review based off of your personal experience.  Either way, make sure to protect yourself the next time you are staying at a hotel.

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.

 

What type of Traveler are You?

Liz Hough on

I absolutely love my job and the best part of my job is meeting new people.  I love hearing how someone had an amazing time on their vacation! When I hear this it means that I am doing a good job by pairing them on the right vacation.  But how do I know which vacation is right for each person?  I ask a lot of questions that help me understand what type of traveler you are.  You are probably thinking, “what kind of traveler am I?”  Here are some of the categories I have come up with: Active, Eco-friendly, History Buff, Beach, and Laid-back.  Believe it or not each person is a type of traveler and sometimes you may be more than one.   So read the categories below and figure out which type of traveler you are.

1. Active Traveler – the Active traveler is someone who doesn’t stop.  They want to enjoy every single moment of their vacation.  They get up early to be on the streets observing the locals and tasting that fresh baked bread as it comes out of the oven.  They usually sign up for at least one tour every day.  The Active traveler isn’t worried about where they are staying because they feel that it is just a bed, someplace to rest for a few hours.  They want to spend their time and money exploring and learning as much as possible.  Active travelers are also the most likely to enjoy some type of physical activity during their vacation!

2. Eco-Friendly Traveler – the Eco-Friendly traveler is someone who wants to do something better for the environment or a community.  Ecotourism is a very popular way to travel today.  Many people choose vacations where they submerse themselves in nature or helping a community.  They trek around the jungle or enjoy the sounds of the ocean while trying to do something good for the Earth.  The resorts they choose to stay at have little carbon footprint on the earth and believe in all natural products and foods.  This is a very healthy and rewarding way to travel!

3. History Buff Traveler – I love this category of traveler because I personally fall into this category.  I love reading about the places we are going to visit and preparing for everything we are going to see.  A History Buff is someone who likes to walk through old cities and take in their surroundings.  They appreciate and enjoy the history of the places they are in.  They typically like a city’s architecture, museums, shops, pubs, and/or attractions.  In some ways the History Buff is an Active traveler as they want to see everything and may get up early and stay out late, but they know their limits.  The History Buff has purchased travel books so that they know the general history, but they always look for guided tours so that can hear the local versions of the history.  Listening to stories and exploring off-the-beaten-path locations is the best part of their vacation!

 

4.  Beach Traveler– Beach Travelers really enjoy the beach.  Warm weather, white sand, and most importantly plenty of sun!  This type of traveler has going to the beach down to a science.  They have done their research on places and resorts, and if they find a destination that they really like they will go back there several times.  Beach Travelers tend to have the ultimate relaxation vacation because they don’t have anywhere else they need to be.  It’s all about soaking up the sun’s rays and re-energizing their body!  Don’t be fooled thinking that the Beach Traveler just lays on the beach all day, no sir.  They love the water too so snorkeling, paddling boarding, riding wave runners are just a few water activities that they love to do.

 

5.  Laid-back Traveler – the Laid-back traveler is the best type of traveler to take on vacation with any of the other type of travelers.  The Laid-back travelers are very happy to be away from their normal routine and most of the time are willing to do anything you want to do.  They don’t care what type of hotel or resort they are staying in, they just enjoy being away with their friends or family. They may want to have some time for themselves to just take a day and relax or sight-see on their own.  But they are interested in joining you on your adventures and will always say yes to the next vacation idea!

 

The great thing about a traveling type is that it sometime it changes.  In the middle of winter when we have had snow every day for 60 days straight, I am ready to be a Beach Traveler.  When I was younger I was more of the Active traveler as I didn’t want to miss anything.  Now, having kids has now made me more of the Laid-back traveler.  No matter which type of traveler you are there are so many amazing vacation to be had, so keep on 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.

 

Travel Agent Scams Local Families

Liz Hough on

For the past couple of weeks I have been writing about reasons one would use a travel agent and to watch out for hidden fees with those large Online Travel Agencies (OTA) like Travelocity.  I recently learned that in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, a lady who was a travel agent had been scamming people out of their hard earned money.  She had a brick and mortar office, was a member of the local chamber of commerce, was “licensed” according to the news station (but there was no elaboration on what they meant by being licensed), and even generated invoices for booked vacations.  Unfortunately it appears that she had her own debts to pay before her client’s vacations bills.  I am sure after reading this you are reconsidering using a travel agent, right?  Don’t be!  I am going to give you some tips on how to make sure that your travel agent is legitimate and how to avoid being scammed out of your hard earned money.

 

Tip #1:  Check their credentials.  Ask them if they have taken any course work related to travel and tourism.  Do they have certifications in the travel industry, are they rated on Angie’s list, the Better Business Bureau, or another reputable business rating website?  Are they part of any networking works like chamber of commerce, Business Network International (BNI), or the Women’s Business Network (WBN)?  And you should always ask for references!   Asking for a past client’s phone number or email address to give them a referral should be easy.

 

Tip #2:  When booking with a new travel agent, only give the deposit amount required to secure your booking, payment for any trip insurance, and any service fees your travel agent charges. Service fee amounts should be clearly stated on anything you sign.  Unless you are booking within a 90 day window of departure, you should not have to put down the full amount.  If your travel agent is requiring you put the full amount down, ask to see the supplier’s brochure and look in the very back for their deposit requirements.  If you feel uncomfortable about booking at that time, politely say “it was more than you were looking to put down at this time so you will have to get back with you later.”  Then get up and walk out!

 

Tip #3:  In a world where credit cards are so easily used and they seem to be like potato chips where we all don’t just have one, please always use your credit card.  There is built in fraud protection on most, if not all credit cards nowadays.  Use this card to make your deposits and final payments.  I would recommend against using a debit card unless you have been working with this person for years.  Please be aware of any travel agent who ONLY takes checks as their form of payment as it is very easy to set up an account to take credit cards.  Always check your credit card statements to ensure that the charges discussed are the exact charges on your bill.  And don’t be afraid to ask questions if you find an error.  An honest agent will review everything to find any mistakes.

 

Tip #4:  Once you have made your reservation, your travel agent should give you an invoice with a reservation number of the supplier being used.  If they have not, please ask them for this information.  This gives you the opportunity to call the supplier directly or go on the supplier’s website to verify your booking.  Now this sounds easy enough, but if you are part of a tour group that the travel agent has put together you will not have supplier reservation numbers.  The best way to double check your tour is legitimate is to call one of the hotels you will be staying at and ask them if your group is booked.

 

Tip #5:  Always listen to your instincts.  If you don’t click with your travel agent then please don’t feel like you have to stick with them.  Find someone who works well with you and your family.  If you feel like something is wrong, ask a lot of questions or just leave.  You have the right to ask questions.  My mother has always told me that “if it sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true.”  There are deals out there that are really good, but do some research.  Before talking with your travel get an idea of the cost of the vacation you want to take but remember that your travel agent can sometimes get you the same price or lower with added amenities.

 

Now you are prepared to work with any travel agent!

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.

All Fun Must Come to an End :(

Liz Hough on

It seems like each cruise line has their own “private island” where they make a stop for you to enjoy various water activities, light shopping, heavy eating, and/or a relaxing day at the beach.  We stopped at Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay.  Unlike Nassau, we had to take a tender from the ship to the island.  I have taken many tenders on my various cruises and I have to say they are not my favorite.  Either you are one of the first people to get on the tender that you end up sitting there waiting for it to fill or you are the last people to get on and are stuck on the top deck with the sun beating down on you.  We were the former.  Coco Cay is only a mile long island that offered many activities from beach volleyball, scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, beach spa treatments, and a floating, bouncy area for the kids or brave adults.  We opted to kayak and snorkel.  I am so glad that we choose the kayaking tour.  We had a great tour guide who was from South Africa.  She was one of a handful of people who lived on the island for a contractual period of time and even though this sounds like a fun experience it apparently can feel like Gilligan’s island and buying personal products can be difficult, i.e. deodorant.

 

The kayaking tour was an hour and a half.  I am happy to report that we had calm waters that day so it was very easy to paddle.  Now when I am on the beach and I look out into the water and see the various shades of blues, I have always assumed that the really dark areas were deep.  This is not the case at all.  The darker blue areas actually had more seaweed growing there than the lighter blue areas but in either case we could get out of the kayak and stand in the water.  This was convenient when we found a conch along the way and got out to examine it.  We also encountered several sting rays with a wing span the length of our kayak, and I also got to hold a sea cucumber, which is nothing more than a big squashy blob with hundreds of tiny legs.   I highly recommend the kayaking adventure because you get to see a lot of the island when you are out on the water and you also get to see a lot of sea creatures in the safety of the kayak.  No sharks, but our tour guide was hoping so badly to see one as they were her favorite creatures.

 

 

Now as I had said earlier, we had booked the kayaking and snorkeling tour.  Thinking this would be one activity we were surprised to hear that the snorkeling portion was on our own.  Now snorkeling is not my favorite activity.  A lot of energy and muscles are used that I personally don’t use on a daily basis but when in paradise act like you are in paradise.  The area they have enclosed for the snorkeling is really nice.  There is a natural reef and several man made reefs that they put in for fun.  When looking at this area on the beach it didn’t seem too large but half way through I was exhausted.  I had to take several breaks on the floating islands they have for us weak people.  The good news is there are three lifeguard stations around the area in case you get to tired to make it back to shore or get stung by a jellyfish.  If you are interested in snorkeling then I recommend do it in halves.  Surprisingly, these two activities with lunch made the day go by so fast.  Before we knew it we were back on the tender.

 

We had one last excursion to take the next day it was the Kennedy Space Center.  Unfortunately when we got back to our room the excursion had been cancelled due to lack of interest.  We were also told to set up a transfer at the Customer Service desk and when we got down there around 6pm they told us that they were not handling transfers anymore and we would have to do it once we got off the ship.  This was a bit confusing but the next day we opted for early departure from the ship and decided instead to rent a car.  When you get off the ship there are several buses for transfers to the airport and you can pay them right there or you can go a little further down the way to pick up a shuttle for any of the major car rental companies.  We rented a car from Enterprise and took our own tour of the Kennedy Space Center.  I absolutely loved the Kennedy Space center.  Their motorcoach tour was amazing or maybe it was the fact that our bus driver was amazing.  He was a retired engineer from NASA and knew his way around the island.  Our 10 minute tour turned into a private 40 minute motorcoach tour of areas I don’t think we were supposed to go to.  We actually drove behind the launch pad where the shuttles took off and saw one of the ground plates.

 

 

 Now Florida is notorious for their thunderstorms and this day was no different.  As the storm clouds started to roll in we decided to head back to Orlando to grab some lunch in Downtown Disney.  I did have a plan to eat lunch in Downtown Disney at their new restaurant the Boathouse then do some shopping at the Disney store for the girls.  Unfortunately the rain had other plans for us.  We opted to eat at Bongos café since that was the closest to the parking garage.  In all the years that I have been going to Disney, this was the first time eating at Bongos.  I remember when it first opened it was so hard to get a reservation and they would have live entertainment at night.  The food was really good and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are in a Cuban restaurant.  With the rain beating down as hard it was we decided to call it a day and head to the airport to return our rental car and get through airport security.

 

My overall impression of Royal Caribbean was good.  I can’t say that I had a great experience because I didn’t get WOW’d.  I am still going to take a vacation on one of their Oasis class and Quantum class ships and I am sure that I will be over the moon WOW’d.  But, Enchantment of the Seas was a good weekend getaway cruise which if that is what someone is looking for then I would recommend this cruise.  Nassau has changed a lot since I was there last and I felt comfortable and safe doing my own thing instead of booking a tour.  There is still a lot for me to see there so I wouldn’t mind going back some day.   Either way, it was a great weekend with the hubby with lots of rest and relaxation.

 

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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