Hotel Tours in Cancun

It's been a while since I've done a blog and I'm so sorry!  I'm lucky to be busy and traveling a lot!
Jodi and I went to the Cancun/Riviera Maya area to tours hotels last weekend and I thought I'd do a little summary of what we thought!  This will be done over several posts as we saw A LOT of resorts!

Our 1st stop was at Secrets The Vine!  This adults only all-inclusive resort in Cancun is NEW!  It just opened in August!  The owners are really into wine, so they have wine tastings during the week as well as more house wine options than their sister resorts.  I really loved the rooms here, they are large and really nice.  The open bathroom concept may not be for everyone, but I don't mind it.  We ate lunch here and it was very good!  Overall, we really liked this property!
Here are some photos!

 

 

 

 

Our next stop was Sandos Cancun, which is not adults only, but is geared towards adults.  This isn't a huge property, which is nice if you don't want to get lost or have it feel too crowded!  Two of the pools are heated, which is a big plus in my book!  The rooms are nice, I thought the spa was great, and they have some really nice spots for weddings!  Here are a few photos!



 

 

That's it for now - more to come!

9 Unique Hotel Spa Treatments

Looking for that unique spa experience for your next vacation? Ever wonder what it would be like to experience a spa treatment with gold, chocolate, wine or even jojoba beans? Well this list will give you some great hotel spa treatments for your next vacation.




Charleston Place - Charleston, South Carolina

Treatment: Luxe 24 Karat Gold Facial & Diamond Radiance Facial


Charleston Place offers two of the most luxurious spa treatments a hotel can offer with its Luxe 24 Karat Gold Facial and the Diamond Radiance Facial. The Luxe 24 Karat Gold Facial combines 24 Karat Gold with innovative Japanese technology to give your skin a glowing, radiant look. While the Diamond Radiance Facial helps bring yourself back to a younger and more youthful appearance.


Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort Las Cabos - Los Cabos, Mexico


Treatment: Caviar Facial






The Cactus Spa at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort Las Cabos offers an 80 minute age-defying Caviar Facial that will repair, regenerate and promote cell turnover — and has the added benefits of botox in a topical form. Who says Caviar is just for eating?


The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba - Aruba


Treatment: Chocolate Wrap



The Chocolate Wrap from the Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba utilizes exfoliation and hydration crème. The lactic acid in milk is used to bring out the toxins to the surface of the skin so that it can easily be washed away. Besides, doesn’t it just sound appealing to be wrapped in chocolate?


Outrigger Reef Fiji - Sigatoka, Fiji Islands
Treatment: Warm Seashell Massage




The Warm Seashell Massage will help your sore muscles relax, and increases circulation. After your body is lavished with warm scented oils, the palm size shells are combined with a traditional massage for an exceptional massage. This luxurious massage experience comes complete with a traditional hand massage to melt away stress. Honestly, what's better than seashells while you are relaxing in a beautiful island paradise?



Keswick Hall - Keswick, Virginia


Treatment: The Keswick Reserve



Keswick Hall offers its unique 3-hour spa treatment, The Keswick Reserve, for all of the wine lovers out there. The treatment uses anti-oxidants as an anti-aging method and it begins with a Red Wine greeting. All of the treatments involve different types of wine and combine them into a unique spa experience. The treatments range from a 60 minute grape seed oil massage to a Shiraz body scrub and even to a Red Wine body mask.



Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos - Los Cabos, Mexico


Treatment: Jojoba Beans Exfoliation





If you are looking for a change from the common spa practices then try the Jojoba Beans Exfoliation treatment at the Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos. This invigorating spa treatment eliminates dead and dry skin to give that smooth, soft feeling back. This is the ideal treatment for sensitive skin prior to any body treatment.


Le Méridien Cancun Resort & Spa - Cancun, Mexico


Treatment: Mayan Treat





The Mayan Treat is a chocolate and coffee based treatment offered by Le Méridien Cancun Resort & Spa. Enjoy coffee and chocolate with all the amenities of a traditional massage, body wrap, and exfoliation. This is an absolutely delicious experience which can be experienced in either 50 or 80 minutes and is a must for all coffee and chocolate lovers


The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico


Treatment: Seaweed Wrap with Guarana



The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta offers guests a natural seaweed wrap to help them unwind. The seaweed wrap, rich in minerals, helps detoxify the system and provides a firm up of the skin. The wrap hydrates the dry skin and relieves stress as your body releases its toxins and provides a relaxing and soothing experience.


Maroma Hotel - Riviera Maya, Mexico


Treatment: Aphrodisiac’s Chocolate Invigoration




Looking for something to do as a couple on vacation? Look no further than Maroma Hotel, Riviera Maya. This hotel offers its Aphrodisiac’s Chocolate Invigoration for a wonderful experience for couples. Both of your bodies will feel the internal heat and the chocolaty aromas. Your entire bodies will be exfoliated with natural cocoa. 100% pure chocolate and coconut crème is used and your body feels the heat as you are massaged by this warm, pure chocolate.

Viva Mexico - It's Ire in Jamaica!

Last month I had the pleasure to be invited on two travel agent award trips.  It was really crazy because they were only a few days apart!  My husband got to travel with me on this one and I'm glad we did both - but glad to be home!



View from outside the lobby



The first resort on our trip to Mexico was at the El Dorado Royale in the Mayan Riviera.  This is a really huge resort and while we had a garden view room, the location couldn't be beat!  Close to the beach, pool, and restaurants!  Also, close to where the meetings I needed to attend.  This is a great resort for destination weddings and I've done quite a few at this resort.

 


Azul Fives- beach area and part of the pool



While there, I took the opportunity to tour the newly opened Azul Fives.  This resort is great for family vacations.  They have 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites that were amazing!  They offer an optional all-inclusive plan.  The Penthouse suite was my favorite- it has a roof top deck area with a huge hot tub and grill area - perfect for a party with your friends!  I think this resort will also be great for weddings or for a trip with your extended family or group of friends!

After 3 nights at the El Dorado Royale, we spent 2 nights at a resort called Zoetry Paraiso de La Bonita.  This is a boutique resort with less than 100 rooms and is upscale, yet laid back.  The "basic" room here is over 1000 square feet.  The bathroom alone is larger than our guest room!  They are all about pampering here.  The food was great and it's a very relaxed resort.  Perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.  They also have a wonderful spa and heated mineral pool, which was where we spent a lot of time!  Our room had it's own plunge pool - the water was a bit chilly being in December, but it did get hot enough outside that I braved it and got in.  We spent almost the whole time reading on our new nooks by the pool and relaxing.

We came home for 2 nights before driving to DFW to catch our flight to Jamaica!  I was so happy to get invited to Sandals and Beaches STAR awards again this year!  It was the first year we were able to go and I'm glad we went in spite of barely recovering from our Mexico trip.  I always feel like I'm home when we arrive in the Montego Bay airport.  We stayed at Sandals Whitehouse, which is in the South Coast of Jamaica.  The ride from the airport is a little bumpy (Ok.. alot bumpy!) but it's worth it.  Our driver did a great job and we made it with no problems!  I really loved this resort, they have wonderful pools (one to fit the mood you're in), it's in a beautiful area, and has a great beach!  It was our 2nd stay here and I was amazed at how much the plant life had grown since our 1st stay!  They have a french pastry cafe and I had at least one crepe everyday!  We enjoyed the really warm temps and the pools were great to get into, unlike Mexico!  This was a trip with only one meeting, and it was great to have lots of free time to lounge and nap.  This is also a great wedding resort and since it's couples only, perfect for a honeymoon!

You can see more of these resorts and more on facebook or on my website.

Guest Blog - Families Will Have the Slime of Their Lives on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Two Nickelodeon™ All Access Cruises

By: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon offer the ultimate family cruise vacation with two exclusive "Nickelodeon All Access Cruises" setting sail in 2011. These one-of-a-kind Nickelodeon-themed cruises give guests access to seven days of slime-filled entertainment all day, every day. The first sailing on Norwegian Jewel departs from New York on President's Day holiday, February 20, 2011, to Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island. The second sailing is on the cruise line’s newest and most innovative ship, Norwegian Epic, from Barcelona on July 24, 2011 with ports of call including Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain.

Families can experience a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation that is all Nickelodeon, all week long with exclusive programming that includes a chance for the whole family to get slimed together with the Ultimate Sliming experience; special viewings and premieres of never-before-seen episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit TV shows like iCarly, Victorious and SpongeBob SquarePants; signature messy game show Slime Time LIVE! and poolside events. Kids can also eat breakfast every day of the cruise with their favorite Nickelodeon characters and meet the stars of Nickelodeon’s hottest shows. This year’s star line-up is still to be announced, but promises to be just as exciting as past cruise guests who have included stars from iCarly, True Jackson VP, and the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. Plus, families can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising.

For more information on the only two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” offered in 2011 contact Michelles Destinations Unlimited today!

Australia

Today, I'm working on a trip to one of my favorite countries, Australia!  I thought I'd also go ahead and blog about it since it was on my mind!

Sydney - we had a lot of fun here!  There is so much to see and do, we didn't have time to do it all. 

The Blue Mountain 4x4 tour was amazing.  We spent the day on this small tour with 2 other people and our driver, who grew up camping in this area.  We started with a stop at an area where the kangaroos gather.  It was really crazy how close we could get to these wild animals.  We then went to a little town and stopped at this famous huge candy store (yummy!) as well as a hotel that was built in the late 1800's.  We were then off to see the "3 sisters" rock formation as well as going to some beautiful areas that most tourists don't get to see.  We got some amazing photos here!

On the way back to our hotel, we went to a little zoo - the Zoo's here are so great - you can actually get in the enclosure with the 'roo's, wallaby's and many of the other animals.  You don't see that in the States very often!

A quick summary of the other things we did in Sydney - the Sydney Aquarium was really awesome!  We spent quite a while there looking at HUGE crabs, rays, sharks, and other exotic fish.  There was the Taronga Zoo, a short ferry ride from where we stayed, and of course we had to see the Opera House!  We did a private tour, dinner, and the show, "Carmen".  This was on Valentines Day, so it was quite romantic!  We had a Sydney Pass which has a hop on/hop off tour of the city, and that really helped us get to know our way around!

After Sydney, we went to Cairns (pronounced  like Cans).  I think this was our favorite place.  Kind of a small town, but big (like Norman!).  The town had lots of shops and restaurants that we could walk to and this is where you would be able to hit the Great Barrier Reef!  We spent a day on our tour to go snorkeling, and it was so awesome!

We also did a train/sky rail tour to Kuranda and the Aboriginal Cultural center.  This was REALLY fun - we took the train up in the morning to the village of Kuranda.  We got to see the country side and met some nice English women (who were not enjoying the 80 degree weather like we were!).  Once we got to the town, we had some lunch and walked around.  They have a butterfly sanctuary, a zoo, Koala gardens, and more.  Then we took the SkyRail town with stops in the rain forest.  The Aboriginal Cultural center is at the bottom and you can spend as much time there as you want.

Our last stop was in Brisbane.  This is one of the only places you can cuddle a Koala, so we had to stop here!  The town reminds me a bit of Denver - they have the "Queen Street Mall", which would be similar to the 16th St mall.  It was a fun town to walk around in. 
We didn't realize it, but this is where the Australia Zoo is located (run by Steve Irwin when we was alive).  We only had 1 tour booked for Brisbane when we arrive, which was a city tour and the Koala cuddle, so we were able to take a day to go to the Australia Zoo.  It really was an amazing Zoo, although Steve was in the states, so we didn't get to see him (he was still alive when we went).  After all the Zoo's we had already been to, you would think we would have been tired of them, but they are all so neat!

We had a good time in Brisbane, but it's probably our least favorite of all the stops.

When we go again, we for sure want to do Cairns again, that was our favorite!

Greece and Turkey - better late than never!

In July of 2006, my husband and I along with my Mom and her husband and friends Pat and Karen went to Greece and Turkey.  It was amazing!  Here's a little trip summary!

We started out in Athens for 3 nights. We got into Athens late that 1st day after traveling for about 36 hours, so we were ready for bed!

The next morning, we got up and did a 1/2 day tour around Athens.

We ended the tour at the Acropolis after seeing temple of the Olympian Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Pan Athenaeum stadium.

They were doing construction/restoration at the Acropolis, so it was a little disappointing to see all of that stuff in front of what we wanted to see.

It was really interesting to see these ruins and to think about the people that were there so long ago.

That night we walked around and went to a great place to eat in a little area way up a hill off of this big shopping plaza. The food there was all really good. There are a bunch of roof top restaurants, and the next night we ate at one of those, with a great sunset and view of the Acropolis.

Something we noticed about the Greeks we met are they are a very passionate and trusting people. As we walked around and saw little news stands (selling drinks, snacks, magazines, ect) I noticed that the person is inside the little building and you could totally walk off with out paying! One time we had to make sure he saw all of the stuff we had because he wasn't looking all that hard. It was really interesting to see. Here in the US we'd never see that!

On Friday we were shuttled to our cruise ship, the MS Perla. This is a VERY small ship. My husband and I had paid extra to get a suite, and after seeing my Mom's cabin, we were glad! They are very small rooms! Overall, the staff was really great and tried hard. The food wasn't that great, so we ate off the ship when in port several times. Here is a little bit about the ports we stopped at.


Istanbul- What a GREAT city. Surprisingly secular, they are very friendly and there was SO much to see here. My husband and I were actually thanked by the local people we spoke to for coming. They all took US Dollars as well. Because of a delay in leaving Athens, we didn't as much time here as we would have liked, but we did get to do a private tour for the 6 of us, and our guide was great.

Our guide took us to the famous Grand Bazaar and we got a few things there. It was funny because they want to dicker with you and we set a price in US dollars, but didn't have enough in US, so we gave him Euros and told him to just keep it. The owner of the store started just handing us things to make up for the difference!!

We got to see the Blue Mosque that 1st night (we nicknamed it the "stinky foot mosque" because everyone has to take off their shoes and it smells like feet)

We also went to a carpet factory and got to see how they make the rugs and we did buy one... wish I'd had the $30,000 to get the big beautiful silk one, but we got a small one we can hang on the wall.

The next day we got to wander around the area where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are before they opened to the public.

I have a great respect for the Turks after seeing all they have done to restore Hagia Sofia, which started out as a Catholic Church, was then a Mosque (which means all the pictures of Christ, Virgin Mary, ect were painted over in white) They have managed to save so much of that Christian art, it's amazing how long it lasted, even after being painted over!

We then went to Topkapi Palace, home of the worlds 7th largest diamond.

It was a really fabulous palace, and I can't imagine getting to live like that! This Sultan was very rich, and it was interesting to see all those jewels!

I could talk more about it, but trust me, it was great!

Mykonos - We didn't do a tour here, we tendered in to port and just wondered around. It's a pretty town with some very picturesque spots and there are some neat old windmills close to the shore. There are LOTS of clubs here, it was a party island. We did some shopping and people watching and checked e-mail at an internet cafe. We ate in port and it was really good. I'm a very picky eater, and I still had lots to eat. They like to have yoghurt with honey for a dessert, and I can't stop eating it! :) Not the same as when we were there, but it's good!

Patmos - we were here pretty darn early in the morning at 7am. We decided to just wander around the town. This little dog decided to come with us, he was very cute, I wish I could have taken him home! We did a little shopping and sat at a cafe and my husband and my Mom's husband Mike decided to have real Greek coffee. I only wish I had a picture of Mike's face as he drank the "sludge" at the bottom of the cup! He's a brave man to try to eat that part of the coffee! We didn't stay here long as we were off to another port, this one in Turkey.

Kusadasi, Turkey - AWSOME! This was such a great port! We again had a private tour and our guide 1st took us to the House of the Virgin Mary. This is the place where many think she lived out her last days. It was very interesting to be there.

We then did what was a highlight of the trip - Ephesus. I actually had no idea what it was, only that anyone I told about going to Turkey, said "You HAVE to go to Ephesus!" When we 1st arrived there, I must admit, I was thinking "Not another ruin!" (they all start to look the same after a while)

BUT, I quickly changed my mind. This is a ruin where you can only see about 11% of what is there. Again, I have such a respect for the Turks as they are waiting for better preservation technology to reveal the rest.

What we could see was huge! You could actually walk on the streets they walked on and see where the carriages had made marks in the marble after many years of use. You could see a public toilet (the 1st pay toilet)- which was heated and had plumbing!

There were some cute Japanese guys who took a picture while sitting on the toilet.. so funny! :)

They had a underground tunnel from the Library to the Brothel, and you can still see the marks in the marble where there is a symbol telling men where to find the brothel! We could see where the shops were. It was just really amazing to be standing in this city that was so large thousands of years ago.

Rhodes - Rhodes was fun. We did a tour here where we walked around Rhodes, and then took a bus up to Lindos, where there are some more ruins, and you have to climb up like 300 steps! My Mom, our friend Karen, and I decided to stay at the bottom and do a little shopping while the husbands went up. It was really hot, but they managed it! After going back to Rhodes, we were hungry. My hubby, Karen and her husband Pat and myself decided to go eat in town. We were starving and wanted some good food while in port. We found a great little place to eat at. The waiter convinced us to get this big mixed platter of stuff that had a little of everything. My husband asked for a beer, and the waited asked what size. My husband didn't ask how big the sizes were, but asked for a large. When he brought the beer, it was like 2 liters in a big glass boot!! I think 3 or 4 people could have shared it! We were laughing so hard when we saw Marlon (my husband's) face! We didn't drink it all, but almost! Our food was great, and there was enough for my Mom and Mike to have eaten with us. We wished they had eaten with us when we got the bill- it was like 82 Euro (almost 100.00 us) for the food! So, we learned 2 lessons while in Rhodes, as how big the beer is and how much the food is!! It was still good, but would have been easier to split 3 ways instead of 2! :)

Crete - We decided to do a tour called a Taste of Crete. We went to a vineyard and tasted some wine and also got some olive oil. They make all kinds of stuff from olive oil- soap, lotion, and other similar stuff was all over in Greece. We then got to walk around the city and stopped at a museum. We then went to a restaurant and got to taste a little of everything Greek. It was really good and I had more yoghurt with honey!

Again, we didn't have much time in this port, but had a little time to wander around.

Santorini- this was such a beautiful city. We had to tender in and then took a VERY winding bus up to the top. Many years ago there was a big volcano that sunk much of the island. So, basically you are living on a cliff - think hills like San Francisco, but like x50! It was very nice there and we did a few stops on our bus tour. Our guide was making us a little crazy adding "a" at the end of every word, so we took off and wandered around on our own as soon as we could. We again ate at a little place there, and it was great. We got back to the ship just in time to take off.

We went back to Athens for a day before heading home. It was a really awesome trip!!

Aruba - some of the nicest people in the Caribbean!

In Sept of 2009, my husband and I went to Aruba for our annual Vow Renewal trip.  This is a very different island from others we have been to.  This is a small island, so it's easy to see it all!  There are casinos, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, and it has some very friendly locals!

This was the 1st trip we have done in the Caribbean where we didn't do an all-inclusive resort.  We stayed at the Bucuti Resort, which is the only adults only resort on the beach.  It was very nice - we stayed in a Tara Suite, which was beachfront.  One great thing about the room was they had dehumidifiers, which kept everything in the room nice and dry - if you've ever been to the Caribbean, you know this is a nice change from the norm!   Breakfast was included, which was great!  We did eat at some local places, which was a bonus of not doing all-inclusive.  There was an Italian place right near the resort, which was very good.

We did some really fun tours.  There was a tour of the island where we went to the  California lighthouse, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, the Ostrich farm, the Natural Bridge, and swimming at Baby Beach!  Our tour guide with ABC Aruba was GREAT!  He spoke 7 languages and really knew his stuff!  He told us why everyone in Aruba is so nice - they are raised to be nice!  When the kids are young, they are taken to Baby Beach during school for a fun break in the day.  They are told that all the tourists they see are what keep their Moms and Dads employed and that they need to be nice to them.  I can honestly say that it works - EVERYONE we met here was SO NICE!  It was amazing!

We also did a great snorkeling tour.  We did 2 stops, one of which was at a sunken ship from WW 2.  Very cool - I only wish we had been able to go diving to see more of that!  I can make a recommendation on who to use for the snorkeling, we had a catamaran and there were only 12 people on the boat, unlike some of the others there that had 50-60 people!

The shopping was pretty good here, there are high end shops as well as the normal souvenir type places.  They don't have a lot to export here, but Aloe is one thing they do have a lot of.  You can get some really good lotion made out of it and there is a Aloe factory you can tour.

Our vow renewal was really great, we did it at sunset.  Our photographer did an awesome job!  I would highly recommend him!  He was also the wedding planner did a wonderful job doing what we wanted!

I think Aruba is a great destination for anyone who wants a great beach and nice locals - good for kids and adults alike! 

Jamaica!

So, I'm finally writing about my favorite country in the Caribbean so far - Jamaica!

I've been to Jamaica 10 times, and the last time we were there is not my last! There are so many great things to love about this beautiful island!
It's very easy to get to and there is a lot of air service going in, so the rates are usually quite good. You don't have to overnight anywhere to get there like some islands and you don't get in really late at night (in most cases, depends on where you leave from)

You have MANY choices in accomidations. You can stay in a villa (small, medium, and large), an all-inclusive resort - which you would be able to do a family friendly, adults only, couples only, or more risque. There are also more upscale resorts, some of which will offer an all-inclusive or EP Plan. Then, there are the smaller, more intimate resorts. There really is something for everyone here!
There is A LOT to do in Jamaica; Horseback riding, swiming with dolphins, Appleton Rum Factory, Black Rivier Safari, Canopy tours, Blue Mountains, waterfalls to climb, snorkeling, diving, loominus lagoon tours, and so much more. There are still things we want to do that we haven't done when we've been there before!

Many people are scared that Jamaica isn't safe. I'm not sure why they got that reputation. Yes, there is crime there and you will see poor people (which I think to some makes them think that there is more crime because they are poor). I can also guarantee you that there is crime near your home, work, or school. Kingston is the area where most bad things we hear about happen and it is not a tourist area, so generally in Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay, Montego Bay, or Negril and the South Coast (where Jake's and Sandals Whitehouse are located) you're going to be just fine. The crime rate against tourists in Jamaica is very low, so as long as you use your head, you should be just as safe there as you would be in any other Caribbean island.

Personally, I consider myself a Jamerican and can't wait to go back!

Sometimes, you gotta make lemonade outta those lemons

I've had quite a few clients experience some various issues while on their vacation. I wanted to give some tips on how to deal with some of these situations.

1st, always remain calm (or as calm as you can be depending on your situation)

Remember that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar - IE, be nice to whomever you are dealing with and they are more likely to help you or give you what you want.

One common situation with all the airlines is cancelled or delayed flights. This is a really stinky situation to be in, I've been there myself more than once. What to do? If you get to the airport and find out your flight is cancelled or delayed, talk to the person at the ticket counter. Some airlines are outsourcing the airport personnel and they aren't as helpful. The people at the airport should not ask you to call the airline (you are standing right there after all!), they are the ones who should take care of getting you on another flight. If they don't (or won't) then ask for a supervisor or manager. If you still aren't getting any help, then you may be forced to call the airline. Try to be as calm and nice as you can to whomever you are speaking with and have them give you your options.

If you're at the gate and your flight is delayed, which may make you miss your next flight, go to the gate agent and see if they can get you booked on something else, or put you on a different airline. If there is a long line, you might go ahead and call the airline from your cell while you're waiting to see who you reach 1st. Sometimes calling is quicker than waiting in line when there are a lot of people waiting for that flight.

If you are traveling on a vacation package (with Funjet, Travel Impressions, Worry-Free Vacations, ect) they have 24 hour service to help their clients during travel. Be sure to print out any travel documents you get from me and read thru them to get familiar with where this information is located in case you need it.

If you have a flight delay or cancellation, there is a chance you may not get to your destination the day you wanted to. Try to make the best of the situation and don't let it ruin your trip. this is where you gotta try to chill out and make that lemonade!

Another problem that happens on occasion is you get to the hotel, and they don't have a room for you. This doesn't happen real often, but it does happen. Hotels can overbook at times - so, what do you do? Generally, most resorts (in places like Mexico, Jamaica, ect) will put you up at a resort that is equivalent or better than the one you're booked at. All of the vacation package companies have people located at the destinations to help you in situations like this. If you're not happy with what your hotel is suggesting, ask for a manager. If they still aren't making you happy and you're booked with a vacation package company, call the people at your destination (this is also a number that will be located on your travel documents) They are there to help you, so just ask.

What if you get to the hotel, and they have rooms, but don't show you have a reservation? This doesn't happen often either, but it's usually just human error and is easily fixed. If you're booked with a vacation package, the same people mentioned above will be able to assist you. I've had clients who have had this happen, and it was fixed with a simple phone call and a fax to the hotel. Usually, what has happened is the information was entered wrong when the information was received from the vacation package company or the fax that was sent wasn't received.

Hope this helps you and I hope you never need my tips! If you do, try to make the best of the situation and don't let it ruin what will hopefully be a wonderful vacation!

A Few Important Tips

I was trying to think today about some of the important things people need to consider when they are traveling. There are so many depending on where you are going, but here are a few I thought of that apply to pretty much everywhere.

Lock your bags! I can't emphasize this enough! There are TSA approved locks you can get from pretty much anywhere that sells luggage. If the TSA needs to search your bag, they have a key, but it will keep out other airline personnel, and anyone else that may get access to your bags. I can't tell you how many times I have heard of people having the most random stuff taken - one of my clients had all her honeymoon lingerie stolen from her bags on the way to their honeymoon destination. A friend of mine had her CD player and other things taken from her bags. So, the lesson here is LOCK IT UP!

Another thing I offer all my clients and recommend is travel insurance. You NEVER know what will happen before you take your trip that would cause you to not be able to go. A death in the family, serious illness or injury, or even loss of your job can occur unexpectedly. Most travel insurance will also cover you while you're on the trip for things like travel delays, lost/stolen/damaged luggage, medical expense, and emergency medical transportation. A friend of a client of mine was touring some Mayan Ruins in Mexico and fell. She broke her hip and had to take an ambulance back to the US because she couldn't fly. She did not have travel insurance and had a HUGE bill! A new thing with travel insurance if booked with certain companies is they will cover the price difference in the event your package rate drops after you book. Certain restrictions apply, but I've had many clients be very happy they opted for that kind of policy when the rate went down by a very large amount of money. Most insurance is not very expensive, around 50-100 per person, but it can save you big in the event something happens.

One last important tip is to arrive at the airport early! We no longer live in the days when you could arrive at the airport 30 mins before your flight. With the luggage scanning, security, and other airport hurdles we have to go through, most airlines cut off check in at 45 mins to a hour before your flight. I had a client call me at about 6am one day because the airline wouldn't let them check in for her 625am flight - she said her taxi was 5 mins late causing them to miss. 5 minutes should NOT cause you to miss your flight - plan to arrive at least 90 mins before the flight so if some sort of unforeseen delay happens on the way to the airport, you'll be OK arriving a little late.

I hope these tips have been helpful to you! More to come!

Luggage Fees?

So, I'm going to vent a bit!

A few years ago, a little airline called Spirit Airlines started up and decided it would be fun to charge for every little thing individually - seat assignments, luggage, ect, and since they were a discount airline, it worked OK for them and people didn't seem to mind. Unfortunatly for us, the other airlines (who are not always so discounted) decided "Hey, that's a great idea" and now charge for luggage (due to the extra fuel consumption they say), some charge for seat assignments, and even drinks (although US Air decided to stop charging for drinks when the other big airlines didn't follow suit)

The only airline who didn't do any of this is Southwest. Man, I love that airline! They are the only airline who regulary posts profits when all the other ones don't - how is that? They don't charge for seats, drinks, luggage, or even change fees when you need to make changes to your reservation! Most airlines now charge at least $150.00 in JUST the change fee! Really airlines? You think it costs you that much in processing (when travel agents are usually doing the work - for FREE)?

I'm so sick of having to make sure my clients factor in luggage costs to the cost of their trip. If the airlines need the money, raise the price, don't surprise them at the airport with a luggage fee. The only thing charging fees has done is made everyone try to squeese all their stuff in a carry-on and the cabin is then really stuffed full.

What's next - charging to use the bathroom?

My 1st Blog

So, I'm pretty new at this whole blogging thing, but I'm going to give it a try! Something that has been on my mind for the past month or so is Mexico. I get at least a call a day asking me if it's safe to travel there. Like anywhere in the world, there are bad parts and good parts. The tourist areas are generally safe. Obviously you would want to use caution, like anywhere else, but if you look at the numbers, you're safer being in the tourist areas of Mexico than some popular US cities. Crazy, but true!

I feel like going postal sometimes when I hear the things some people say. Look, Mexico is a beautiful country and has some really great resorts, fun and interesting things to do, and the people are generally very friendly. Yes, bad things happen there - bad things happen EVERYWHERE! Even my hometown of Norman, OK has it's share of drugs, crime, and murder. Does that mean I want to hole up in my house and never leave? NO! I use my brain and normal safetly precautions!

If you don't want to go to Mexico because you've been tons of times, I get that, but don't cross it off the list because you think there's a good chance you'll get kidnapped, shot at, or murdered. You have an almost 100% chance of coming home safe and sound - and probably sunburned! I found a great blog site that says it all- do the math!
http://www.thetruthaboutmexico.com/2009/03/spring-break-in-mexico-do-the-math-kids/

Another blog about Mexico that I think is GREAT is these 2 Canadian guys who when to all the tourist areas looking for trouble - what they found will surprise you - nothing but fun in the sun!
http://www.whatisreallyhappeninginmexico.com/

Anyway, my point is, stop listening to the media who only wants to blow things way out of proportion - think for yourself, and use common sense! The current travel advisory is basically about the border towns and isn't new, it's an update to one issued about a year ago. Honestly, I would never reccomend going to a border town, unless it was the border of Canada!

I hope this has helped give you some prespective on the whole thing, and maybe you'll think twice before you give someone going there a hard time or before crossing it off your possible vacation list.