Last Minute Getaways on the Dime

Perhaps it was the polar vortex or maybe just the mid-week blues, but today I just wanted an escape.  Unfortunately, I’m working today and I will be going out of town tomorrow so an escape today?  Just wasn’t in the cards.  That being said, I know I can’t be the only one craving a getaway, so I wanted to share my tips for getting away without breaking the bank….

For the lovers of City Life

Cities make for a great getaway because they have it all- culture, shopping, good eats and entertainment for everyone in the family.  However, the amazing culture and entertainment can come at a price. Larger cities like NYC, D.C. and LA will likely cost you a pretty penny for a weekend stay.  So my tip is this- try out some of the smaller cities in your country. (This holds true for not only America, but pretty much any country in the world.) Smaller cities are much more affordable, but what they lack in size they make up for in charm, culture, and local cuisine.  Most small cities have parks, kids museums and a lot of other great things to do!  Some of my favorite smaller American cities are: St. Louis and Minneapolis.  (Check out my blog post http://danasglobaltravel.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-to-check-out-in-minneapolis.html). *Disclaimer- I would never recommend going to Minneapolis in the winter ;-)

Tip: Go away during off-season

Most hotels in large cities cater to business travelers.  You can get great deals on weekends or holidays!

Tip: Utilize the Visitor’s Center

There is a reason it’s called the Visitor’s Center….it’s designed to help the visitors! These centers often give out coupon booklets for museums, shows, meals, etc.  Just about every city has a Visitor’s Center, so check it out! Also, make sure to ask about any free activities that might be going on in the city while you are there.  Who better to ask about what to do than someone who knows the city inside and out?!?

Calling all Beach Bums!

If you can’t handle another day of single digit temps or are suffering from seasonal affective disorder, this might be the section for you!

Tip: Take the Path Less Traveled

Check out the lesser-known beaches.  For example, did you know the Alabama coast is known for its soft white sand?  The Florida Panhandle -- lovely and less crowded- sounds like a win to me!

Tip: Timing is Everything

If you want to dust off your passport for some international travel, there are always great deals in January-early March to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and on cruises. (Also, of course, during hurricane season from June-November.)

Tip: Test Your Flexibility

Driving to an airport an hour or two away might just save you hundreds of dollars. The cheapest days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday.  Also, prices will be lower to any destination if you go during their shoulder season.   

Tip:   If you want to getaway today or any day, drop me a line or go to my website: www.danasglobaltravel.com

Did I miss any last minute getaway travel tips?  If not…what are you waiting for?

Bon Voyage!

Fall & Winter Cruising

(A photo I took of the Disney Fantasy on my cruise October 20-27, 2012)

Many people rule out the fall as a time to cruise because it is hurricane season.  I however, am not one of them. Of the 6 cruises I’ve been on 4 have been during hurricane season and my 7^th cruise will also be during hurricane season, just a few months away.

If you don’t like swarms of people and you LOVE a good bargain fall and winter cruising might just be for you! Kids are back to school meaning most families will be home and therefore fewer people on board overall. Also, if you are going with your honey it’s worth noting that although there will be kids on most cruises there will be far fewer during the school year (aside from holidays).

Ports in the North Eastern US and Canada provide amazing views of beautiful fall foliage. Autumn is a great time to visit small towns and fishing villages along the coast. If you don’t want the crisp autumn air, try a Caribbean cruise where you will still have warm temperatures, but not the sweltering heat of summer. Some travellers shy away from the Caribbean because of hurricane season, but it’s worth noting that captains keep in touch with meteorologists and can quickly change routes to keep your vacation rain and hurricane free! So as long as you are flexible about which islands you visit, it’s a win!

Cruises out of Baltimore, MD, Charleston, SC and Port Canaveral, FL often have special rates for Caribbean Cruises during the fall.  The lower rates generally continue throughout the winter until March, when the spring brea

k traffic begins!

For first time cruisers keep in mind that cruise vacations include accommodations, meals, snacks, Vegas style entertainment, casinos, parties, pools, exercise classes, gym’s, dance clubs, bars, piano bars, sports and a whole lot more!  You receive a daily itinerary in your cabin that has activities listed from early morning until late at night. Everything aside from alcohol is included in the price! 

Fall and winter sailings can be as low as $200 per person for a 4 night sailing! For exact rates and itinerary options or if you have any questions do not hesitate in contacting me!

Bon Voyage!

Let the River Run...

One of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry is river cruising. Its popularity has been increasingly growing over the past decade.

While a small segment of the population has already been on a river cruise, many of us have not and don’t even know much about them. So I wanted to take the time to educate people on this awesome way to see the world!

So where do these river cruises go?

Anywhere there is a beautiful river with charming cities along it you’re likely to find a river cruise there, Europe is the most popular destination with cruises on the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Seine and other European rivers. However, there are also river cruises in Egypt, Southeast Asia, China, the Amazon and even the mighty Mississippi right here in the USA!.

Why would I go on a river cruise and not a tour or an ocean cruise?

A river cruise is truly the best of both worlds. You have the floating hotel aspect where you only have to unpack once, and yet you are able to see multiple places as you would on an ocean cruise. But the benefit of river cruising as opposed to ocean cruising is that you truly get to the heart of the destination you’re visiting. River cruising takes you inland, so you get to see the smaller, quaint destinations in the interior of the countries you visit. Since historically trade was done on rivers, some of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the world can be visited on a river cruise! So you have the benefits of a tour in that you go inland, without the hassle of going from hotel to hotel on a bus..instead you can be sipping a glass of local wine and watching the beautiful landscape roll by! Another perk is that the ships are smaller, more intimate vessels generally holding 150-200 people.

So what are the accommodations like?

River cruise ships offer a wide range of accommodations. They are spacious with great beds, full entertainment systems, and bathrooms that are larger than on most ocean liners! Most rooms even have balconies. They also have spectacular views of the landscape, historic towns and castles along the river banks!

What’s it like on board?

River cruise ships are small, but with many of the amenities you’d find on a larger ship. They have fitness centers, pools, bars, restaurants etc. River cruises have made an effort to truly educate their passengers on the places they are visiting. They bring on local entertainment in the evenings. So if you are cruising in Russia, you will have local dancers and musicians playing for you! They also serve local cuisine. The chefs go to the local farmer’s markets at port so in the evenings you will dine on food grown within miles of where you are.

What’s included?

On a river cruise all meals are included. On many river cruise lines you’ll find that beer, wine and spirits are included as well! Your land tours are even included with most cruise lines. So for the price of your cruise you’re getting accommodation, meals, drinks and your tours! They even have tours to suite everyone’s needs. They have active tours, bike tours, and slower paced tours for those who aren’t in the best physical condition.

Well, I hope you’ve learned something about river cruises.  If you’d like more information don’t hesitate to contact me. If I don’t respond, it’s probably because I’m on a river cruise myself!

Bon Voyage!

Holiday Travel Guide

Holiday travel is known as a huge hassle. Everyone has the stories of waiting in the endless lines at the airport, lost luggage, delayed flights and backed up lines going through security due to the packages everyone is carrying on board. Well, I can’t do anything about that! However, I can give you some tips to make the booking process go slightly smoother and hopefully give you one less headache this holiday season!

Here are my tips:

·      Book Early

I generally suggest booking your holiday travel as far out as possible. The prices during the holidays are always going to be higher, but they will be a little bit higher 6 months out but MUCH higher 6 weeks out!

·      Try to Be Flexible with your dates

I realize this isn’t possible for everyone, but the more flexibility you have the greater your chance is of finding a flight that is reasonable. For example: the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the WORST day of the year to travel. Traveling on Thanksgiving Day itself is generally more affordable and easier. There are fewer people, no lines and fewer delays.  Plus, if you get a morning flight you can make it to your destination in time for Thanksgiving Dinner! Plus, it gets you off the hook for helping prepare the meal ;-)

·      Be Careful with Connections

When booking flights during the holiday season be extra careful of your connections and make sure you have enough time between flights.  Flights during the Holidays are often delayed and you don’t want to arrive in your connecting city to find out that you’ve missed your connecting flight. Avoiding tight connections may save you the hassle of having to get moved to another flight or having 10 minutes to sprint through 4 terminals while carrying Christmas gifts for 30 people…. arriving at your connecting flight covered in sweat and so miserable that you make the Grinch seem like Santa.  My advice is no less than a 2 hour connection during holidays.

·      Arrive at the Airport Early

Most of us have navigated our home airports enough to know the minimum amount of time we need to be at the airport before a flight. During the holidays, these rules DO NOT apply. Example: If you generally get to the airport 1 hour before your flight plan 2 hours for holiday flights. If you generally get to the airport 1.5 hours prior to a flight plan 3 hours for Holiday flights…Catch my drift? The security lines are longer, more people are checking bags, more children are travelling, etc.

·      The Early Bird Catches the Worm

As a general rule of thumb not just for holiday travel, but anytime time of year is early morning flights tend to be on time more than flights later in the day. So if you can get out on the first flight of the day.

I hope these tips help make your holiday travel a little less stressful! If you have any questions about your holiday travel plans do not hesitate in contacting me!

Bon Voyage!

Why use a travel agent?

As the travel industry changes from brick and mortar to click and order the role of a travel agent has become unclear to many people. I wanted to clarify what it is we do and how we can be of value to you in today’s world of online travel.

Q: Does it cost a consumer more to use a travel agent?

A: NO! Vendors and suppliers pay travel agents. It doesn’t cost you any extra! There are some travel agents that charge a service fee; I am not one of them.

Q: Can’t I find better prices online?

A:  Probably not. Travel agents have access to a ton of deals and inventory that consumers do not. In some cases we have the ability to match and beat prices you find online, and we have access to net rates.

Q: Can’t I just find what I want myself?

A: Absolutely! However, it will take you a lot of time and energy that some people just don’t have. Travel Agents are trained and educated in their field. We’ve toured the cruise ships or sailed on them. We’ve received vendor and destination education. We serve as your trusted advisor to find out what it is you want and find the best hotel, cruise, tour, vacation that matches your specific needs. Many people these days are using site like Tripadvisor, but keep in mind that anyone can write anything on a website, and typically those who will take the time to write a review have either had a REALLY GOOD or a REALLY BAD experience. Often these sites don’t capture the average opinion. A travel agent will be educated and able to tell you about the property from a nonbiased perspective, and will be able to make sure it meets your personal needs so you have the best vacation possible.

Q:  Aren’t you a little biased, being a travel agent and all?

A: Probably! So don’t take it from me, take it from….

Business Insider

 http://www.businessinsider.com/6-reasons-it-pays-to-book-with-a-travel-agent-2012-5 - http://www.businessinsider.com/6-reasons-it-pays-to-book-with-a-travel-agent-2012-5

 Forbes (3 articles, they love us- what can I say…)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/10/30/hurricane-sandys-lesson-to-travelers-use-a-travel-agent/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/01/20/why-you-need-a-travel-agent-part-1/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/01/22/why-you-need-a-travel-agent-part-2/

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/uk-travel-agents-comeback-idUSLNE86I00S20120719

Time

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/23/travel-agents-make-a-return-trip/

The New York Times

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/travel/are-travel-agents-back.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Technorati

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/travel/article/the-travel-agent-is-dead-long/

Gadling

http://www.gadling.com/2012/10/04/why-we-really-dont-want-travel-agents-to-die/?a_dgi=aolshare_twitter

And if I didn’t convince you of our worth, at least book your travel on my website: www.danasglobaltravel.com

Thank you for your continued support to those that book through me or another travel agent!

Bon Voyage!