Disney Guest Blog by Katherine Wallace

This past September my family and I were fortunate enough to take a trip to Disney World! This was our fourth time in Disney as a family, but a first time for my nephew, Daniel, who is six. While our adult-to-child ratio may be a little unconventional for Disney (4:1), I can't speak more highly about what an amazing time we all had – yes, even grandpa!

My sister and Daniel flew into Orlando, while my parents and I made the long drive down from North Carolina. Dana was able to score us an amazing deal – six nights in a cabin at fort wilderness (perfect to accommodate all five of us, and a full sized kitchen to help us save money by preparing breakfast in the room), our park hopper passes, and best of all, a completely free meal plan. If you haven't used the meal plan at Disney before, it is really a must. The cost of buying food in the park can add up quickly, and, if you are frugal like me, that can lead to a lot of stress over money. We really feasted like kings and queens, exploring restaurants and resorts we would never have experienced before were it not for the meal plan. A favorite for Daniel was Chef Mickey's, a buffet prepared by Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang. As you eat your meal the characters come around to your table for photos and autograph signing.
Six days in Disney was really the perfect amount of time. This gave us a day in each of the parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios), as well as two extra days for relaxing at the water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). The water parks were a great hit with everyone. We spent hours floating down the lazy river, blasting through the water slides, swimming in the wave pool, and some of us (grandpa) even took the opportunity to nap! These water park days really relaxed and revitalized us to prepare us for our long days in the parks. It is pretty obvious what Disney has to offer for children, but you really shouldn't write Disney off as being solely for the kids. Adults can have a blast too. There are great shows (my favorite is the Lion King), rides for every level of thrill seeker (from tea cups to the tower of terror), and of course – shopping! If you are able to visit during the low season, it will really make a big difference to your trip! September was still very hot, but the parks were not busy and our wait times were minimal as most kids were already back in school, and at that time of year there are a lot of great package deals to be had so be sure to check with Dana before you go.
We told Daniel that Dana was good friends with Mickey, and that that was why we got all kinds of special treatment, like being invited to his restaurant for dinner. A few weeks after our trip when Daniel received a post card from Mickey, he said "I bet Dana asked him to write to me!" My whole family is really grateful to have been able to take this amazing trip - so many thanks to Dana for putting it all together for us and making sure that every day was truly magical!

Airlines Cutting Fares for the Holiday Season

To anyone that was sitting on the fence about holiday travel, here is an article that might help you make up your mind: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/10/30/airlines.holiday.fares.ap/index.html

How are car rentals outside of the United States different from those here?

As a shout out to my fabulous international clients, and my American clients who love to travel abroad, I’ve dedicated this week’s blog to international car rentals!

So we ask: How are car rentals outside of the United States different from those here?

Each and every country has its own rules and regulations, but here is a short list of some issues that you may want to consider before renting a car abroad:

You may need an international drivers license or permit in addition to your U.S. driver’s license. This goes for both Americans and the international community. Many countries do not recognize a U.S. driver’s license, but most accept an international driving permit (IDP). They are honored in over 150 Countries.
Some countries charge a fee for a permit that allows you to drive on their roads.
The rental contract may not be in English, for my monolingual friends this could be a problem. See if they will have any English speaking counter personal available to assist you in when you arrive. One way to avoid this mess is by renting the car online before you leave, through a well established company (or, for example, www.danasglobaltravel.com). You can get most terms and conditions online through the company’s website!
Your personal insurance or credit card coverage may not be valid or acceptable to the rental company, so you may need to purchase extra coverage. Before going away take a moment to see what is covered in your current auto insurance.
Rental cars in other countries tend to be much smaller than cars here in the US, so beware of that when you pick up your tiny rental abroad, don’t be shocked or angry, they simply don’t have them! Also, keep this in mind when packing or else your luggage and travel companions may not fit into the car!
Many foreign rental fleets will have a large percentage of manual transmission automobiles. They should have some automatic transmissions as well, but only a limited number. If you prefer not to drive a manual, consider reserving your car well in advance, and picking up your car as early in the day as possible
This may be stating the obvious, but remember: road signs will be in different and may even be in unfamiliar languages. Do some homework before you go and learn the signs…it could save your life!
The direction of the lanes may very well be the opposite of those in the States. Here is a link to a website that lists which countries drive on which side of the road: http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/#listofcountries
Road conditions will vary a great deal depending on the country that you are driving in. Some road conditions may be considerably worse and some will be considerably better! Look out and be aware before you rent a car.
Gauges may only read in the metric system, so you might have to remember your 5th grade math! 100 Kilometers=60 Miles. Gasoline in many countries is much more expensive than it is here in the States (and we do a lot of complaining about our gas prices, ha) and gas is usually sold by the liter, so re member 3.78 liters= 1 Gallon.
Many countries have very high taxes on rental cars, so book and pay in advance online so you will know your expenses before you go.
Some countries have both a minimum and a maximum rental age. So if you are under 25 or older than 75 look into local laws before you book a rental car!


Links of Interest:
http://www.international-license.com/?gclid=CPiZit-xrJYCFQMQswodLV9nyA
This is a link to the International Driving Permit website, you can order your license right on the internet

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html
Refer to the section on International Driving Permits

To receive tips like these weekly go to www.danasglobaltravel.com and sign up for Deals & Steals! It features many long weekend trips for $250 or under that include both hotel and air, plus each edition has travel tips. You can find the sign up space in the bottom right hand corner of my website.

Outsmarting the Airlines

I realize that flights and airlines are most people’s main concern. So below are a few websites you should refer to prior to booking your next flight.

Many flights are chronically late, go to www.flightstats.com enter the flight numbers you are thinking about and you will find out the odds of that flight being on time.

On departure day check out the FAA’s website site: www.fly.faa.gov and you will see if there are any delays in your specific destination.

I hope this information makes your next flight slightly less stressful.

Thank You

Thank you so much to who ever sent flowers on my site! I cannot see the names, but please know how much I appreciate it, if you let me know who you are, I will enter you into the booking contest and give you a personalized thank you!
Don't lie and say it was you if it wasn't! I will catch you...and you will have bad karma! ;-)

Dana's Global Travel 2nd Annual Turkey Day Give Away

As with my previous contests, every booking made on my website, www.danasglobaltravel.com, between October 7th and November 21st counts as one entry into the contest। The lucky winners will be drawn on Turkey Day, November 27th, 2008! Prizes will range from luggage tags to discounted hotel stays!
The booking has already begun! So best of luck, and thanks to those who have already booked! Feel free to contact me with questions!

Referral Bonus Reminder!

As I mentioned in the newsletter, I greatly appreciate all the referrals I have been getting from my family and friends recently. This has been more helpful to me than you know, and I appreciate everyone’s continued support! Starting this month, I will begin rewarding my friends and family that refer me to people. If you pass along my card or give my name to someone, please let me know! Prizes will vary: luggage tags, magnets, hotel discounts, and even free hotels!

ROAD TRIPS

Since the price of airline travel (and all those extras) is on the rise, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the good ole’ family road trip. I, for one, am a big fan of road trips. Some of my best memories come from being locked up in a car with friends or family, forced to make raw communication our main form of entertainment. Below are some of my favorite road trip tips:

How can I make our time together in the car more enjoyable for everyone?

Check your route ahead of time and know of any constructions plans that might cause unnecessary delays. If you have a GPS, this is time when they come in most handy!
Find areas of interest to take breaks along the way so that your trip is less tiresome…rest stops are the most convenient, but a nice walk in the park is better! Do some research into your route before you leave and see if there are any landmarks along the way like the world’s largest ball of twine, largest frying pan, etc.
Play car games to help shorten the trip. Hunt for the license plates and see how many states you can find, or have a race to see who can add up the license plate numbers the quickest
Bring along travel games to help shorten the ride. Avoid items with lots of small pieces.
See who can find the license plate from the furthest state or country.
Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks. This is a time and money saver that can prevent whining and crankiness from kids from 1-91.
Music! Make sure you have some good tunes to sing along to on the road. Plug in your iPod, burn some CD’s, or find a good station on the local radio. Can’t all agree on the music? Visit the public library before you go and check out a book on tape (or CD).
Remember that getting there is half the fun, so enjoy your time together!

Suggested Links:
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/ Fantastic website that has anything and everything roadtrip related from how to find the cheapest fuel while on the road to campfire baking times!
www.SeeAmerica.org This is the ultimate guide to a road trip in America, they have attractions, tips, and things are broken down by state or region! Check it out!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/traveltips/08/15/family.road.trips/index.html This is an Article from cnn.com, its all about family road trips and what to do with the kids in the car!
http://cfc.wjla.com/affinity/affarticle.cfm?id=288 This article has some great tips for bringing your family pet along on the road trip! So my fellow pet lovers, be sure to check this out!

Welcome to Dana's Global Travel Blog

Greetings Friends, Family and Clients!

Welcome to Dana’s Global Travel Blog! I’ve decided to switch from newsletter format to a blog in order to keep things interactive; I hope you will all feel free to leave me comments and suggestions through the blog, and be sure to check back regularly. Each month I will be covering a new travel topic, and including a summary of any changes to the travel industry that you need to know about. You may just pick up some valuable tips! Every now and then I will be featuring a guest blogger, a blog written by one of my customers to share a recap of journeys they have been on. If you’d like to write a guest blog, please let me know!