Often times, traveling to new destinations create lasting memories for you and those you are with. I can remember my first time outside the United States, going to Paradise Island in the Bahamas. I was so excited to be going outside the country I failed to realize it was only 184 miles east of Miami.

Making memories is one of the reasons I got into this business. As I have traveled to new destinations I have realized that not only are memories made, relationships are built with people of that locale. Many times, the people are who make the destination. The beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, the monuments in Washington, D.C. and many theme parks of Orlando are all amazing. Without the people, your experience would be much different.

On a recent trip to Mexico, I was struck by the amazing people. They were all so gracious, loving and welcoming. Returning home I kept thinking about the people an less about the resorts I was there to see. Clearly, they made an impression on me.

As you travel the world I encourage you to get to know the people along the way. You never know when a simple conversation will make a lasting impression. The amazing poet Maya Angelou once said:

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Wherever you want to go we can get you there. Along the way do not forget the people. #peoplefirst

Recently I was reminded of the definition of a relationship; “a connection among people which they do things together in a productive fashion. A strong relationship occurs when the group outperforms what the individuals themselves can do.” I just love this! At Must Love Travel Group, relationships are a part of our company culture. We have built strong relationships with our team, with suppliers and our clients.

Our team works many hours behind the scenes to discuss opportunities for professional development and how they can best serve their clients. We have various learning channels such as webinars conducted by our suppliers, onsite education programs and conferences, weekly calls and interoffice correspondence. It is our goal as a company to be ready to work with our clients to book them in the perfect location. Building relationships within our team indeed makes us stronger as we learn and grow together with each other in mind.

Our management team has spent years building relationships with the suppliers that provide our clients with out of this world vacation experiences. Such partners as Disney Destinations and Universal Orlando have provided us opportunities to send our clients to great immersive family destinations that have created thousands of memories. Other partners such as Karisma Resorts, Sandals and Beaches and other all-inclusive partners, allow us to offer wonderful beach vacations, honeymoons, weddings and more to our clients. And we will not want to forget the cruise lines like Disney Cruise, Princess Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruises, that have taken our clients across the globe in exploration to not only warm destinations but Alaska, Europe, Asia and more!

Our clients, YOU! Nothing can be more fulfilling to us than building relationships with our clients. You may say a relationship with a travel planner? Yes! Our relationship with our clients provides them with unlimited access to the world! We get to know you over the many years of planning your trips that we become not only people who book your trips, but we know and care about your family, watch the kids grow, share the memories of time away from work and your hectic lives. We know what hotels you like, what type of activities the family is looking for, what food you like and don’t like, and the list goes on. Client loyalty is important to us and we work hard to build and maintain those relationships.

I am sure all of you have relationships that you value, such as your hairdresser, realtor, financial advisor, etc. I hope you have one of our travel planners on your list! If you have been reading our blog for some time, and are not connected with one of our travel planners or have never used one, send me a note so we can get you connected! You don’t have to be traveling soon, just get started with the relationship! I can guarantee it will be one you will cherish for many years to come!

Today I am sharing with you as I am sailing down the Rhine River in Germany! We are on the 5th day of our adventure aboard the Viking Ingiv. We have had a fabulous time visiting the Black Forest, Colmar, Heidelberg and today heading toward Kolblenz. This is bar far the most beautiful part of the journey! I often see the debate – do we start in Basel or Amsterdam – I would definitely say Basel. Save the best for the end of the trip!

Passing by Castles, beautiful homes, WWII train tressels designed to look like castles ( false facade) so that the opposition would not notice where the Germans were hiding. The river is unusually low, however, our Captian grew up on the river and assured us we would maneuver upstream just fine! Now our cruise director is sharing a fairytale of the 7 virgins who remain the rock until a strong handsome man comes to rescue them. The sharing of information is something I have enjoyed so much. The history and stories have made it so interesting.

Sailing on a river cruise is much different than an ocean cruise as you can imagine. The advertising we see on TV doesn’t really do it justice as the intimate nature of the cruise has so many wonderful benefits. First, the size is around 160 guests who very quickly get to know each other and begin sharing this journey together. Sharing in meals, tours and fun times in the lounge! Unlike other cruises that are so large, this cruise experience allows guests to share common areas as see the same guests more often. If you wanted to be alone – I am not sure this is the type of cruise you would like as everyone here at least is sharing with one another.

There are scheduled tours that are included and many that you can choose from also for an additional cost. I have found that the included tours have been just perfect for the region and the guides are very good. We added one additional tour which was the World War II tour in Colmar which was superb! Each evening before dinner we are briefed in the lounge of the next days activities with an explanation, given the menu and activities for the evening. It reminds me of a land tour but with a ship as your accommodation.

Dining has been very nice. There is one seating for dinner and the chef creates a different meal for each night as well as some staples. If you are a very picky eater you may not find it so appealing and have hamburger or steak every day! Two of the ladies at our table are picky eaters but they have managed to stay sufficiently nourished! With one seating each evening, you can sit anywhere, however, you tend to sit with the people you have met and stick with your wait staff. Ours has been excellent! Many have served on the larger ships and really enjoy sailing on the river.

The staterooms are very nice, with a little smaller bathroom, but sufficient enough for what you might need. The beds are very comfortable and I would highly recommend having the verandah as the rooms without are very dark and not as appealing. Having the verandah gives great views from your bed – and sitting outside with a cup of coffee and fresh air is great.

The common areas include the library, sun deck, lounge, dining room, and a few other deck spaces. It never feels crowded which is not what you might expect being on a smaller ship. As I said we are outside now and they have served us hot chocolate ( and you can add some spirits if so inclined), the heaters are on, although it is nearing 70 today, and they provide blankets if needed. The view has been amazing as the cruise director shares the history of each of the castles we pass.

Should you go on a River Cruise? I would say it is a definitely a bucket list item as you approach retirement or are in retirement. The schedule and tours are designed for the active mature adults. Early risers and people that like to head to bed before 11 are best suited for the schedule.

As we rounded our last corner before docking – they played, “ What a Wonderful World”, which was a perfect end to our Rhine Castle briefing!

This week I had to opportunity to participate in a leading travel industry conference – Summit. As you see from this picture, our first two days were filled with countless hours of what the industry calls, “Site Inspections”.

Why do we do this? For you, our clients. We are introduced to the Hotel Managers and many of the staff as we explore the resort, taking pictures, jotting down as much information as we can remember and of course, think of our clients and who might like to visit where. It is all about matching the experience to your desired experience. Sometimes we like to share some out of the box experiences with you too!

One resort really stuck out to me this week — Hotel Xcaret. Recently opening in 2017, this resort experience is one that is most unforgettable. Xcaret has what they call the All-Fun Inclusive program. The ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE® program redefines the traditional all-inclusive plan into a more complete experience. In addition to day and nighttime activities and elegantly crafted cuisine at the resort, you can enjoy full access to Experiencias Xcaret’s nature parks and tours, as well as each of their dining plans.

From the moment we stepped off the bus, it felt like you were just welcomed to a new world! It was inviting, comfortable, relaxing, innovative, beautiful and amazing. This resort is the first of 12 that will become Destination Xcaret. This is a family resort, and have everything a family would need.

Here is a little overview of the resort:

Inspired by Mexican hospitality and the saying “Mi casa es tu casa” (My place is your place), the accommodation experiences are beyond suitable to meet your relaxation needs on your vacation.

The All-View Suites at Hotel Xcaret México are wide and luxurious and are distributed throughout five buildings. Each suite features a contemporary design, as well as unique artwork, handmade by Mexican artisans, in addition to exclusive amenities and services.

Start your day with mesmerizing views of the Caribbean Sea, the rivers, or the mystic jungle, an experience that will accompany you during your stay.

The ten restaurants and eight bars at Hotel Xcaret México will take you on a journey through the flavors of the world, where Mexican cuisine of course, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, is the star.

Enjoy a culinary voyage in cozy and comfortable spaces, with remarkable service. All their menus have been designed with exquisite specialties that will meet your dietary lifestyle.

At their resort, your children will have access to the Xiiquillos Kids Club and the Xiipaal Teens Club.

Enjoy an authentic Mexican atmosphere, inspired by the Mayan culture, in the region where Hotel Xcaret México is proudly located.

Take a refreshing dip into inspiring infinity pools, coves, and beach area. During your stay, you will also have access to tennis and paddleball courts.

We will revisit Hotel Xcaret in future articles. I just was so excited about this resort I wanted to introduce it to you as soon as I could!

Each year we have the opportunity to attend supplier conferences and this year is no exception. As travel professionals, we at Must Love Travel Group place a high value on education and are continually learning and growing in all areas of the travel industry. I think it is one of the fastest changing fields anyone can work in besides technology as there are always new and exciting itineraries, new resorts and technology to explore. Although education is ongoing, gathering with other agents around the world offers great networking and always proves to be a valued time.

This year we are traveling to Riviera Maya, Mexico. One of the travel and tourism the most popular destination for fantastic All Inclusive resorts. We are on the divide and conquer mission as we will have agents spread out on three pre conference familiarization trips to explore over 12 all inclusive resort destinations. Some will be new resorts to our portfolio and others will be old favorites that have been refurbished to meet the needs of travelers today. With the recent merger of Apple vacations with the Mark Travel Corporation we have many new resort locations to share with our clients! Now that is exciting!

Once we are in conference we will be updated with the latest information and be able to hear from the resorts directly on the innovative ways they are servicing their guests; our clients. The relationship that agents have with resorts is important as we seek to maximize our clients vacations, honeymoons or even destination weddings. We have time to speak with resort managers, wedding specialists and excursion companies. They will share the latest updates to their products and future plans for expansions, etc. It is always exciting to see the new unveiling of the future in travel not only to Mexico, but to many of the other destinations such as Jamaica, Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and many other wonderful islands.

In next week’s Weekender I look forward to share some exciting news with you and show off some of the wonderful resorts in the weeks to come! Stay tuned!!!

Laura

For me, the love of travel was instilled in around the age of 7 or so. I was very fortunate that my dad took me on many of his business trips each summer. Many of these trips were to conferences or meetings which meant another family member was also in tow.

These destinations often included cities like Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., Vancouver and Orlando. Each one of these destinations has unique offerings for all ages. The mountains of Colorado, the Riverwalk in Chicago, monuments in D.C. and amazing theme parks of Orlando. No matter the destination there is something for you to see and make memories while doing so.

Memories are one of the benefits of travel. The first time your child(ren) see the Magic Kingdom, stroll by the Cherry Blossoms in D.C. or realizing there is snow on the tops of mountains in Denver during the summer are all amazing moments that are not easily forgotten. Memories are what take away from each trip.

Some of my favorite memories traveling with my dad include amazing (yet boring) 7-course meal in Orlando at the age of 9, dinner cruise in Vancouver, fresh squeezed (expensive) orange juice in Orlando or watching a Presidential motorcade at the hotel next door in Philadelphia.

What are your favorite memories? Where do you want to go next to make new memories? We can take you there!

Last year we launched #MustLoveTravelMoments and since then have celebrated many wonderful travel moments with our clients as well as some personal ones. Memories are comprised of many moments and planning a vacation and taking that vacation can be filled with them. Often our travel planners hear about making memories when they are planning Disney Vacations as those vacations are packed full with character meet and greets, iconic theme park rides, or the magic of walking through the storybook created at each park. A guest at a Disney theme park doesn’t want to miss a thing! Then there are life-changing moments we have shared like Destination Weddings, Honeymoons and Anniversaries that have been set in on a beautiful Caribbean island. These are filled with excitement!

So what is it that creates a moment? Well, it could be different for everyone. I look for the things that would not have otherwise happened had we not been at a particular place at a particular time. My all-time favorite is getting to the Magic Kingdom super early to be in a good position to watch the characters arrive on the train to greet their guests. No, I don’t watch the characters – I watch the guests and their children! My heart melts every time. Another amazing moment for me was in Japan a few years back at the Tokyo train terminal. Among the hustle and bustle, there was this beautiful little girl on her mommy’s back staring up at me with a perfect little one smile! That vision is part of Japan for me. And yet another when traveling to my bucket list destination, Germany. Staying in a castle and toasting at the Hofbrauhaus and even understanding the language ( a tad) that I studied for years in school! A moment in time where the memory has forever been implanted.

We have moments in our everyday lives too that are more precious than we can say, and those need to be captured. We also have to plan to create moments and a great way to do that is to travel. The world is filled with diversity and wonder. Whether traveling domestic or international you will be sure to find moments to capture. Theme park destinations do a great job in setting the stage for moments, but so does our natural wonders like the oceans, mountains, historic locations and more. What about the first time you see a whale emerge from the sea, the red clay from a deep canyon out west, building a sand castle on the white caribbean sand or walk down a street that was once traveled by our founding fathers.

Now is a great time to start planning your 2019 Travel Moments. I would be happy to match you up with the perfect Must Love Travel Planner to begin making your moments! Email me at Laura@mltgrp.com and let me know your favorite travel moment or if you are wanting to start creating your 2019/2020 moments!

#MustLoveTravelMoments #2019MustLoveMoments #MustLoveTravelPlanner

Bermuda is one of the hottest destinations mainlanders are heading to these days. The island has always had its allure, but as the cruise lines have set special itineraries to this beautiful island more and more people are choosing it for their next vacation destination.

Bermuda is 21-square miles filled with natural beauty. The island has 3 regions, Central Bermuda, and the East and West Ends. Starting with the charm of the East End and St. George’s you are transported back in time with history hitting you at every turn. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site There is a lot to do here as you visit Tobacco Bay Beach, Tom Moore’s Jungle and the Crystal Caves of Bermuda. The Crystal Caves are an amazing natural wonder you will not want to miss. Mark Twain visited and wrote this in a letter.

“We visited a wonderful cave …“The most beautiful cave in the world, I suppose. We descended 150 steps and stood in a splendid place 250 feet long & 30 or 40 wide, with a brilliant lake of clear water under our feet and all the roof overhead splendid with shining stalactites, thousands and thousands of them as white as sugar, and thousands and thousands brown and pink and other tints.”

As you might imagine, Central Bermuda or Hamilton is where it is at for glamorous real estate, fantastic shoppes and nightlight. Front street is where you can sit at a local cafe and just soak it all in. For a little more of the natural beauty head to the Botanical Gardens.

If you are arriving by ship, you will arrive on South Shore and near the historical Royal Naval dockyard that anchors the island. Here you will see many wonderful beaches, take a shot of climbing up the historical Gibbs HIll Lighthouse and check out the island views. There is a unique charm located on South Shore as churches are colorful and quaint sightings of a little drawbridge and local dining that is sure to please.

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Bermuda. There is much more to see and do on this little island that you may want to consider it as one of your next vacation destinations!

Holidays bring family together.  For some, it is the one time a year everyone comes together for a grand celebration, while for others it is a small intimate dinner sharing games and great conversation.    Regardless of the reason you come together, it is a very special time that brings special memories.

More and more families are choosing to celebrate this time at a destination other than the family homestead.  They want to be together, but want a little something different and why not travel! It provides an opportunity to relax, try new things, have someone else cook for you and most important be together in a more stress-free environment.  

So what is the perfect destination and how does someone go about planning?  There are a lot of great destinations and it does take some planning. Here are just a few starter tips to get you thinking.

Tip #1.  Plan ahead!!  I like to see families planning a year in advance so that everyone has the opportunity to budget, get the time off and explore together the ideas.

Tip#2:    Have an expert help!  Ask your professional travel planner to start working with you and your family to explore ideas, communicate with family members and put together a perfect choice!

Tip#3:   Think of your budget and what you can afford to spend on a holiday getaway – this way you won’t be put in an uncomfortable position when the planning begins.  Get the whole family involved too, even the kids, they love to plan and anticipate exciting new opportunities.

Tip #4:  Agree to not have everything your way only!  Be patient and enjoy the process. Let’s face it, when there are a lot of people involved or even just another family traveling with you there can be differences.  Let your travel planner help with this. We have great ideas that will offer everyone the opportunity to meet their desired vacation expectations.

As you gathering some of this information, your travel planner will be able to point you in a direction that can get you started.  Great destinations like All – Inclusive resorts in Mexico, Turks and Caicos, for example, can hit a lot of budgets and offers many different activities for the whole family.  Of course, an all-time family favorite is Walt Disney World or Disneyland. These too can satisfy a variety of budgets, keep the kids entertained and well, frankly the adults too!  One of my favorite holiday vacations is a cruise. Entertainment, great ports, great food, and a variety of staterooms to fit the budgets and best of all relaxing! It is fun to try something different.

This year when you gather around the family homestead for your holiday celebrations, suggest something different for next year and start planning your next holiday gathering at an exciting destination!

We all have bucket lists right? Or at least we have some grand ideas of things we want to do in our heads but yet to write them down. I have a little bit of both! I have my list of things I would like to do by myself, another list of things to do with my husband and then there is the list of things to do with friends. Regardless of the list, there is one item I have on all of them and I was able to check one of those off this month! What is it? Well, my dream has always been to have the resources enough to at the drop of a hat ( or within days) to say I want to go ……. And then just do it! Yep – last minute travel to somewhere!

Last week I checked off that by planning a very very last minute trip to Jamaica with a friend, who too is a travel planner with our company. We have traveled many times together and we just know what we both like to do, what we like to eat, when to work and when to relax. You might say we are perfect travel companions in that respect. Our trip came up because I have been caring for my dear mom whose terminally ill and is at home. We don’t have a large family as it is just my brother and myself along with our dad. My brother is out of state but has come in to help as much as he can, but for the most part, I am the closest caregiver. My Aunt wanted to visit from another state and help out so I could get some rest time so when my friend asked if I could get away it seemed like a perfect time. 4 nights in the Caribbean fit the bill.

Last minute travel proved to be exhilarating! That may seem like an odd way to put it, but it was! From the moment we said let’s do it and got the ok from our spouses, we searched the resort and booked it, checked out flights and booked those, finished up some household chores, and packed a carry-on of only the essentials and took off! 3 days and we were off! We selected an All- Inclusive, Sandals, Royal Caribbean, as our destination because we didn’t want to worry about where to dine, and what to do. It was all there! Now typically, Sandals isn’t a “girlfriend” getaway, as it is for couples, but we wanted to see it and made it work. With free wi-fi, we were able to keep up with our work and stay in contact with my parents.

Packing for this trip was the easiest thing I ever did. It maybe took me 30 minutes! I threw in a few bathing suits since that would be the main activity, a few sundresses, two pairs of shoes, minimum makeup and toiletries, and my computer! That was it. I was sooo proud of myself for having done that as everyone laughs at me because I typically need one suitcase for my shoes and jewels! So since packing was so easy – so was unpacking when I got home!

We took advantage of the entertainment provided by Sandals, which was excellent! There was something going on every night and since there are a few Sandals properties in the Montego Bay area, you have privileges to utilize all the amenities at each of them so that made it more fun. Our room was in the most perfect location. Just about 20 steps out our patio door was a beautiful pool right on the beach. We had the best of both worlds. I felt a little guilty but I hogged the float for the entire 4 days! I only got off to go running to the bathroom, because our favorite person to see was Clarissa who just handed us our tropical delights right in the pool! Can I say amazing! Our food was prepared and brought to us if we didn’t want to head to the restaurant, and there was such a variety that we felt like we were also on a culinary journey.

I have also always wanted to crash a wedding, and even though we didn’t officially “crash” a wedding, we did stroll by several that took place at the resort while we were there. It was hard to resist photobombing, but we remained respectful!! LOL. Destination weddings are very popular and Sandals does know how to make them special. In fact, romance is a fragrance that is all over a Sandals property. Candlelight dinners, photo shoot opportunities, couples celebrating makes for the perfect backdrop. So you see when I say we made it work, we simply enjoyed the resort and meeting all the people. Relaxation was our motive!!

I am so looking forward to doing this again someday. It was one of the best getaways I have ever been on and yes it was so exhilarating!

Traveling internationally can be somewhat intimidating if you haven’t done it often. And even if you have you still need to be prepared. I have traveled flights from 2- 17 hours and as I write, I am waiting to board an 18 minute flight! What? Yep! They just announced it will be 18 minutes. I think I could have driven there faster!

The first thing I do when traveling internationally is to check out the planes and if I am not able to afford the upgraded seats I try to select a flight that has seating with just two seats on the side. The price of this flight may be slightly more, but it is worth the money. It is always more comfortable and getting up and down is much easier. Just have to keep in mind that planes can change, but typically, they stick with the same seat configuration.

Getting ready for the flight I always have some tried and trues in my carry on “personal” bag, which is usually a tote or backpack and some hints for inflight as well.

• My own technology! Pack your own device with movies already downloaded just in case your seat TV is out of order! Nothing can be more disappointing. Include your own earbuds and extra external battery. Some flights do have plugs, but not all work!
• Neck pillow, eye mask and blanket. These are often provided on most international flights, however, having my own I have found I have even used it at my destination to catch up on some sleep or if my flight has a long connection or delay I have it with me.
• Bring some healthy snacks. Again, you will receive snacks, but not always healthy. Stay away from carbs that will add further fatigue to your vacation.
• Take the time to rest. Even if you don’t fall completely asleep, close your eyes and rest.
• Get up! Take a short stroll around the cabin to keep your blood flowing.
• Pack personal items such as toothbrush and other items to stay refreshed. Sometimes a change of clothing is needed as well for a longer flight.

These are just a few things to keep in mind to get you started. Check with your Travel Planner for some more ideas to make traveling long distances a breeze!

You never know when the opportunity to sneak away to an exotic island, visit Europe or maybe another great location on your bucket list. We have had many clients over the years be surprised by a relative that wants the whole family on a vacation or they may have just won an incentive trip from their company and they have to get their ducks in a row so panic sets in. What do I need? Where do I get it? How long will it take? These are all great questions and important to make sure you are all set and ready to go. I have 3 things I have found for our family that has prepared us for any such occasion to get out of town!

• Passports: Passports are needed anytime you travel outside of the country. They are not needed for domestic travel, however, having them as your identification is not a bad idea. Purchasing them even if you don’t have a trip scheduled is a great idea! Passports can be costly, approx. $150.00 per person. So this is a great item to budget out. The entire family doesn’t need to get them at the same time. You can get one a month or every few months. Passports for Newborn to 15 years of age are good for 5 years and 16 or older are good for 10 years. You will want to take this into consideration and plan the times for renewal as well. Visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html for all the specific legal information regarding passports
• Credit Cards: You may not be thinking of it now, but one snag when traveling abroad and wanting to purchase items on your credit card is a foreign transaction fee. This is typically 3% of the purchase price. There are some travel credit cards that waive this fee, which can be helpful if you are traveling where you intend to use your card often for dining, tours, souvenirs, etc. There is a lot more to think about with Travel Cards and I ran across a great article that will be helpful to you. The key is that this item too, takes time to get so planning ahead will relieve the stress! Check out this article for more in-depth details. https://creditcards.usnews.com/travel
• Cell Phone Coverage: A simple call to your cell phone provider at any time to discuss international plans or plans just to use when you travel will have you ready to go. It is not just your calling that you should be concerned with, but text and especially data. If you are not in wi-fi, your apps and data can really add up. Check out this article in Smart Traveler for an in-depth look at phone plans and considerations. https://www.smartertravel.com/2018/01/30/best-international-phone-plans/

These are 3 simple things that can be done ahead of time and at any time to get you prepared for travel anywhere!

Have you ever been on vacation and thought, wow I think so and so would love this place! Or you have spent all your vacation time traveling to family and friends and just wish you could for once go somewhere other than the homestead? Not that you don’t like home, just that you might want to see some more of the world. Well, you can. Next time you are together with family or with a group of friends, suggest you take a trip together. Multi- family travel has become more and more popular as it gives everyone a chance to get away, but still enjoy being together.

Here are some tips that will help you and your travel professional pull it all together.

1. Have an idea of everyone’s budget. The budgets can vary on location, however, there are many locations that will allow families to stay in different room types, or have different package ad ons that will fit their budget. Be willing to give a little. You may prefer the Cadilac when others are good with the Chevy. Your travel professional can work on finding a location that will work for everyone but you may have to compromise a little to get everyone there.
2. Plan ahead. Working on plans for next year’s vacation is best. Even though your travel professional can put together travel close in to your travel date, when working with multiple families, it is better to plan ahead to explore the best deals, give families on different budgets to pay for the trip and plan the details of the trip.
3. Designate a point person. This person will be the main person speaking to the travel professional, however, it is always important that the travel professional touch base with each family. This will allow that family to convey some of their particular needs making it a smoother process. Let’s face it – the telephone game is often reality.
4. Plan time for your family. Even though you travel as a group – planning time apart from the whole group will be important to keep the peace! I often suggest not staying in one accommodation, like a large house where everyone fits! It is not always cheaper, and if there are any little differences it can make for a long vacation. Having several accommodations can help get you the alone time needed.
5. Have realistic expectations. This may go without saying, but have the frank conversations before you travel. Discuss, things like the number of activities you would like to do together, dining likes and dislikes, bedtime and wake time. Don’t catch yourself at 7PM with a group of 20 people saying where should we eat?

Traveling together can be so much fun! There is always something to do something with – guys don’t have to shop against their will and girls don’t have to watch a sports game on the big jumbo tron if they don’t want! There are so many places to go and see – why not do it together!

That is a loaded question! Everyone thinks they have the latest tips and tricks to purchasing airfare and although there may be some trends airfare is a line item on your budget that needs a healthy amount to cover you for your vacation.

As travel planners, we are familiar with the standard air prices from some of the most traveled cities and can give you a good idea of what you should budget for airfare for your next trip. There are a few tips that do help such as purchasing airfare around the 50 days prior to departure time, planning to travel the middle of the week and sometimes purchasing airfare on Tuesdays around 3 or after that may hold true to getting you a great price.

Here are a few guidelines that we have found helpful when looking for airfare for our clients.

1. Know your airlines. Which airlines depart for airports that you frequent. By watching these airlines you can follow their trends.
2. Don’t use sites that search several airlines at a time. There are airlines that do not post their flights on these sites and therefore you may not find the best price.
3. Watch when you compare pricing for the ancillary charges such as seat costs, and bags. You may land on an airline site, such as Spirit whose airline charge usually will produce lower rates, but then after adding ancillary charges, your price may be higher or very similar to other airlines that may be providing more, such as larger seat sizes and refreshments.
4. Consider the flight you are taking. If it is a flight longer than a few hours, you should consider the comfort of your seat. It may be worth the extra $50.00 to have a comfortable seat.
5. Time of departure, arrival and layovers all need to be taken in consideration. Often the early morning departures are the lower fares. That may look good on paper, but considering that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights, these early morning departures saving money may end up exhausting you – and if you travel with children – do I need to say more? Not only are you departing and arriving early, you then face waiting around for your hotel room to open. This can be several hours and you could have slept a little longer in the morning and arrived right when the room is open!
6. A basic budget for most domestic departures can be $250.00 – $350.00 per person. Of course, there are some less and some more, but this is a great place to start. Signing up with airline programs also allow you to watch fares. Frontier is a great one. They often send out notices of significantly discounted rates – the key is be ready to buy – they go fast! One additional item — make sure you have a place to go before you purchase air as you won’t want your hotel sold out either!

These are not all tried and true but may answer some of your questions. The bottom line, traveling by air gets you to where you need to go, but needs to be considered in your vacation budget in order to plan the rest of your vacation fun!

Destination Vegas

Vegas is one of those places the invokes many feelings, thoughts, concerns, and fun! Vegas lights, Vegas casinos, Vegas shows, one has to admit Vegas goes big!

I just returned from Vegas with my family. I have three “newly” adult children and we wanted to experience some of the things we could do by staying in Vegas and not having to rough it so to speak.

The highlight of our trip was by far visiting the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. No one could put in words or even take a picture that could adequately describe their experience standing in the edge of this amazing natural wonder. We decided to rent a car and drive ourselves rather than taking one of the bus tours. It turned out to be a great decision for us. We were in our own time. The drive was very easy, clearly marked, and great roads.

Our first stop in the drive was the Hoover Dam. The power source for many states. You can choose to just drive over or you can walk. We chose both! There are tours to visit the inner workings and learn all about the dam or you can just take it in yourself.

Hopping back in the car and heading to the west rim we drive across the barren land. Even though there was nothing green in sight we could not help but express it as beautiful. At one point we drove through an area that was filled with odd-looking trees! We find out they were called Joshua Trees. You could see them for miles!

Soon as we turned the corner there it was!! The Grand Canyon! Ahhhh! We visited the Hualapai Indian ranch. There are about 1350 Native American Indians in this tribe in Arizona. They have created a great tourist site to view the canyon via helicopter, boat, or just walking around. The Glass skywalk was worth every penny as you venture over the canyon. We ended our day eating at Sa NYU Wa restaurant, a one of a kind Grand Canyon experience. Food was excellent!

The rear of our week was filled with shows and shopping. Blue Man Group at the Luxor never disappoints. Fun at Excalibur with the dinner show cheering for our favorite King. A slip of the hand watching the magic of Nathan Burton winner of America’s Got Talent. All of them were perfect family fun. To view all the lights we decided to not only walk the strip, but also take the Big Bus Tour. Our guide was wonderful and shared the little secrets of the strip.

We celebrated our daughter 18th birthday at a fantastic Brazilian steakhouse in our own little room. Dining at Otto in the Venetian we were treated to Opera and even chimes in a few times!

Vegas was filled with girlfriend trips, guys getaways, honeymooners, no frills weddings even at the local Taco Bell, and yes plenty of families. There are some crazies here as I may call it, but good planning can make this a very enjoyable trip.