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10/31/2018
17 Annoying Travel Habits On An Airplane With holiday travel soon upon us, I found the following excerpts from an article written by Laura Begley Bloom, Senior Contributor, Forbes Women, to be very timely. The full article can be found on www.forbes.com, published on October 31, 2018.
What bothers you most when you're flying? Armrest hogs? Aggressive recliners? Stinky seatmates? Genfare — a company that works with transportation companies to update and improve systems for collecting transit fares — decided to get to the bottom of things. In a new study of 2,000 Americans who fly at least twice per year, the company identified the 17 top travel annoyances for airline passengers. 8/9/2018
Start A Travel Tradition! Do you have a tradition when you travel? If not, you should start one.
I have friends who no matter where they are in the world will seek out two things: the best local cup of cappuccino and the best local fish and chips (generally not consumed at the same time!). Other friends have sought out the Duck Boat tours (although this tradition may have stopped), and another friend tries to take a local bike tour to check out the neighborhood. I too have a few traditions. 6/17/2018
Where To Find Elbow Room On Big Ships Major mainstream cruise lines have all recently introduced new ships, the 4000 plus passenger mega-ships. The Bliss from Norwegian Cruises, the Symphony of the Seas (the largest ship in the world) from Royal Caribbean, and the Horizon from Carnival, among a few. They are the "hottest" thing in cruising, especially for those who see cruise ships as their vacation destination. What's the attraction? Exciting new amenities - race tracks, laser tag, water parks with unbelievable crazy slides, zip lines, new foodie venues including breweries and restaurants galore. And the list goes on. These mega-ships may not be your normal type of cruise or vacation, especially for those who prefer the intimacy of a small ship experience. There may be times, however, where a big ship experience is the best option for the group traveling, for example a multi-generational family or groups with a wide variety of budgets and interests.
The secret? You can get a similar small ship luxury experience on a big ship. Here's how: 5/24/2018
When Is The Best Time To Book My Cruise? (Updated post from May 2016) Photo courtesy of Azamara Club Cruises
When is the best time to book my cruise? A very common question, one I get at least 50% of the time when booking ocean and river cruises. The answer? It truly depends on you, the type of traveler you are and where you want to travel. Flexible? Not at all concerned about a getting your choice of itinerary, sailing date, cabin or cabin location? Live a short distance from the cruise port? Then yes, you could wait until closer in to the sailing date. You may find a last minute "deal", as cruise lines prefer to sail with as many cabins filled as possible. Watch out though, as they aren't always what they first appear to be. And if airfare is involved, air tends to be more expensive the closer in to travel dates.  Some may think travel agents no longer exist. To the contrary! Maybe smaller in numbers than years ago, but travel professionals are here and making a huge difference for leisure travelers. And don’t think that using a travel professional will cost you more than if you booked your trip yourself directly with the travel supplier. This is a common misconception.
Here are just a few of the benefits a travel professional, like me, brings to you: 4/30/2018
5 Classic Cafes In RomeThis article is from See Italy Travel, who have been so kind to allow me to share their insights and expertise with you. See Italy Travel specializes in creating remarkable Italy itineraries customized specifically for your needs and wishes. Italians call Rome the Eternal City. Each street evokes echoes of Italy’s epic past – from ancient temples to Renaissance fountains. With so many antiquities on
 A recent article written by a travel colleague had me thinking back to a similar experience I encountered a number of years ago. A lesson learned on how NOT to start my vacation. Thankfully it turned out OK - THAT time.
But it sure had me totally stressed out.  Calabasas, CA - (Nov. 20, 2017) - AmaWaterways proudly announced today its partnership with Master Chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Joanne Weir, as the lead sponsor of her new PBS series, “Plates and Places with Joanne Weir.” Two episodes of the series, set to debut in February 2018, were filmed in Fall 2017 during AmaWaterways’ Enchanting Rhine river cruise, capturing the culinary highlights on board as well as regional specialties from the cities and towns along the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. During the cruise, which took place on board the fleet’s newest ship, AmaKristina, Weir shared her love of cooking with guests through cooking demonstrations and the addition of small touches to the tasting menu at the intimate Chef’s Table restaurant.
 Travel Weekly is pleased to announce that professional travel advisor Laurie Marschall has been selected to participate in the STAR (Select Travel Advisor Recognition) Program during its annual CruiseWorld event, November 15-17, 2018. STAR participants demonstrate what it means to be a qualified professional in the travel industry and are selected based on strict qualifying criteria.
CruiseWorld brings together nearly 1,300 travel industry professionals to participate in a wide variety of specialization and certification programs, hands on workshops, networking opportunities 10/18/2017
The Butler Did It!We hire companies to clean our homes and our pools. We have people who cut our lawns, trim our trees, run our errands, wash our cars. We even take our pets to day spas. These services make our lives easier and better every day, right?  So why not do the same on vacations? You deserve it. Vacations are special- a time to reconnect with yourself, spouse or partner, a time to celebrate special occasions, a time to simply unplug. Transform your vacation and pamper yourself by
having the butler do it for you!  Credit, debit or cash? Clients often ask how best to pay for items when traveling internationally.
My answer really depends on where one is traveling. In most cases, I suggest using a credit card as often as possible. Credit cards subject you to the least amount of risk (banks cut off fraudulent use very quickly), and you get the most favorable exchange rates. I usually take two cards, in the event one is declined for some reason. One card is sufficient if you are traveling with someone who also has a card that can be used as your back up. Just make sure the cards have a large enough credit line to cover your big expenses (hotel, car rentals, etc.). Keep in mind some locations require a deposit that may eat into your credit availability. Advise your bank or credit card company where you will be traveling; otherwise it is almost guaranteed that your card will be declined, especially after the first purchase. These days notification can be done online. Also be sure to use cards without a foreign transaction fee. Those pesky fees add up quickly if you use your card often. Another question that comes up quite often is the need for a PIN when using a credit card. Quite frankly, I have never needed a PIN for regular purchases. However I have heard of some locations requiring it. I request a PIN from my card company just in case. Credit cards, though, are not perfect in all situations. When traveling to more remote areas or smaller towns that don't attract as many tourists, shops (smaller shops especially) may not accept credit cards. In many towns, including big cities, payment with credit cards require a minimum purchase, so if you are wanting a few post cards or a bottle of water, you'll either have to purchase more items or use cash. Credit cards are also the least best option to get local currency as they often come with higher fees and interest charges. So what about debit cards and cash?  A question I often get asked when speaking to people about European river cruises (or any river cruise, for that matter) is whether or not it matters the direction you go. Is it better to cruise downstream or upstream? I have always been under the impression that going downstream is better - you know, "going with the flow". In the grand scheme of things, though, I think either direction is fine. Cruise lines have designed the itineraries with the direction in mind. You generally have same port stops and of course the same scenery. So the decision is really personal preference. However, there are a few small and a few major differences regarding the direction which may be important to you.  When traveling with friends and family, I always seem to get in to the discussion on how and what to pack. I've seen a number of articles recently - each with a slightly different perspective. However they all had one tip in common: Lay out all the clothes you want to take, then put 50% back into the closet!
Well, depending on how many clothes you start off with, putting half of them back into your closet may be a bit drastic. However the point is spot on: Most people simply over pack.  When you spend thousands of dollars on a dream vacation, it can be difficult decision to spend even more on insurance. "Do I really need it? I've traveled forever and nothing has ever happened." Isn't this what often times goes through your mind?
So do you need insurance? Well, it depends, but in most circumstances it is a good idea to protect your travel investment. Think about what could happen.... |
Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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