Holiday Travel Survival Guide

Can you name the three busiest travel days of the year, in order? (Answers are below)

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. Sleigh rides, mistletoe, pumpkin pie, roasting turkey, family reunions, and….. holiday travel. Gulp.

Thanksgiving to New Year is the busiest travel stretch of the year. And the week of Thanksgiving is unrivaled for the number of people taking to the skies. But, holiday travel doesn’t have to turn you into a Scrooge. With a little planning and the right attitude, you can survive any crowded airport or travel delay the season brings your way.

Early, early, early to the airport. There is no such thing as too early for holiday travel. If all is seamless, you’ll enjoy a croissant and coffee as you watch fellow passengers stress out. If the security line is longer than expected or you run into a traffic delay en-route to the airport, you’ll have a safety cushion built in.

Take advantage of all possible shortcuts. Check in on line – and make sure your cell number is in your ticketing record. Print your boarding pass or download it to your phone. Avoid parking at the airport – taxi, Uber, or have a friend drop you off. Pre-program necessary numbers into your phone so they are handy - airline, car rental, hotels, family/friends. Download the airlines’ app - there isn’t a faster way to get updates if you are delayed.

Pack light. Ship the gifts ahead; don’t bring them with you. If you only have a carry-on, you’ll save the time and cost of luggage check and collection. You’ll avoid the stress of a misplaced bag. And, you won’t worry about what the luggage handlers broke when they dropped a bowling ball on your bag.

Stay well-fed. Low blood sugar will make you cranky and stress you even more. Bring some nutritious snacks (no – gummies and goldfish crackers do not qualify) to munch on. Enjoy a meal during that long layover I recommended you build into your holiday flight schedule!

Keep your sense of humor. It’s crowded, flights are full, delays are inevitable, tempers are short. But, hey, it’s the holidays. Smile. Take a deep breath. Relax. Enjoy.

Answers, in order:

1. Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov 26)
2. Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov 22)
3. Friday before Thanksgiving (Nov 17)

Are you planning to travel during the holiday season this year?

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All Inclusive Resort Pros and Cons

Think all-inclusive resorts are only in the Caribbean and Mexico? How about the Maldives, Thailand, China, Japan, Africa, Italy, Morocco? French Alps for skiing anyone?

Adults only with emphasis on romance. Singles resorts. Family oriented with dedicated kid camps and staff. Sports and activity oriented. Focused activities such as ski resorts and dive resorts. Cultural immersion resorts. You name it, there’s probably an all-inclusive resort dedicated to it.

Disclaimer. I used to have a very snobby attitude towards all-inclusive resorts. I thought of them as an “Americanized” means for people to visit Mexico or the Dominican Republic. The last few months have been a bit of an epiphany for me and I thought I’ d share some pros and cons to this vacation option.

Pros

• All-inclusive. Well, duh. Not coming home to a huge credit card bill is probably number one when considering the advantages. Activities, drinks, food, entertainment are all part of the package.
• Unpack once. You have a home for a week or two or three. The nomadic lifestyle is for another vacation.
• Activities galore. Tennis, sailing, paddle boarding, golfing, skiing (water or snow), snorkeling, volleyball, hiking, biking, yoga, Zen meditation, cooking classes, wine tasting, and on and on and on. You can’t be bored at an all-inclusive unless you’re trying. This includes the kids!
• Relax and chill. Want to just enjoy some quiet R&R? Spas, private plunge pools, private lanais or balconies are waiting for you.

Cons

• Little interaction with local culture. This applies primarily to the gated resorts where you stay on property your entire vacation. Some people love this while others loathe it. Picking the right resort to meet your expectations will alleviate this con.
• Too regimented. Yes, frequently, activities and mealtimes have scheduled windows of availability. But, room service and light meal options are always offered between scheduled dining. And, if an activity time isn’t to your liking, you can opt for a private lesson or schedule your own activity time.
• One size fits all. This is true within each individual resort. I mean, if you go to a ski resort in the Alps, it is assumed that you will want to play in the snow. And, if you’re a multi-generational family, you’ll want to go where there’s a good kids’ program.

Recap

An all-inclusive resort isn’t for everyone. But, they are more diverse and flexible that many people realize.

A specialist is vital to find the resort that’s right for you and meets your group’s expectations. Whether it’s team building, multi-generational family reunion, destination wedding, sporting group, it’s critical to have a good fit.

What type of all-inclusive would you pick for YOUR group?

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Your Luggage Is On Its Way!

A few years ago, my brother and his fiancée had their wedding aboard ship before setting sail on an 8-night Caribbean cruise with family and friends, departing from New York City. And, yes, I was the travel planner for the event. – thank you!

My flight was delayed and then rerouted due to weather but I wasn’t particularly concerned as I was flying into New York a day early. So, while I might miss dinner or some down time with friends and family, I knew there was no problem making the sailing.

Which turned out to be true – for me. Not so true for my checked bag. I flew into LaGuardia instead of the originally scheduled JFK. After deplaning and watching the “last bag” sign make its revolution on the carousel, I proceeded to the airline’s lost luggage desk. That isn’t what they call it, but we all know that’s what it is.

My bag went to its original destination – LaGuardia. The agent assured us that the bags would be sorted out that evening and delivered or held for pick-up, depending on traveler request. I was neither upset nor concerned as I could see that bags might end up at the wrong airport due to the circumstances. I requested the bag be delivered to my hotel. No problem!

Upon check-in, I apprise the hotel staff of the situation and they assure me they’ll let me know as soon as it is delivered. Wonderful! Now I’m off for a fun-filled evening in Manhattan with friends. Later that night, when I return to the hotel, I am informed the bag has not yet arrived.

I call the airline for a bag status and get my first dose of telephone un-service. First, there is the ubiquitous prompt menus – why is it that my choice is always way down the menu? And requires two or three different menus? Then enter the claim number – and if you enter it incorrectly too bad. You get to start over! When I finally get a live person, they need my name, claim number, and promise of my first born. OK, just name and number. But, why did I enter it if they are going to ask me anyway?

I am informed that my bag went to Newark – wait, what? I thought it was at JFK. And they’ll deliver it to LaGuardia. I very politely inform the agent that no, the bag is supposed to be delivered to my hotel, not the airport. She acknowledges this is in my “record” and that yes, indeed the bag will be delivered sometime tonight.

Wedding Day. Embarkation Day. Yay! I wake up very excited for my brother and his fiancée, plus anticipating a wonderful cruise vacation. I call the front desk to have the bag delivered. Yep. No bag.

No worries – I’ve got this. I have everything I need to get dressed and ready to go in my carryon. I’m forever telling clients to pack 24 hours’ worth of clothes in their carryon, just in case. Glad I followed my own advice. All is good.

Call to airline. Prompt menu. Claim number. Hold 5 minutes. Live person. The bag is still at Newark. Umm. I’m leaving on a cruise. How are you going to get the bag to me? No problem. We’ll deliver it to the ship.

OK – now I’m starting to get a little concerned. But, I have my wedding clothes with me, so if I don’t get the bag until we’re aboard, no harm no foul.

We get to the pier and checked into the ship (early boarding for wedding party and guests) and I notify the purser’s desk of the lost bag and planned delivery by the airline. They’re very gracious, tell me not to worry, that it happens all the time and when it arrives, they’ll deliver it to my stateroom. Feeling better.

The wedding and reception are beautiful. After the non-sailing guests disembark and we complete the muster drill, I check back with the purser’s desk about my bag. No joy.

Top-side to call the airline (better cell service). Prompt menu, request for claim number, 10-minute hold, etc. This time the agent tells me the bag is on its way to the pier and will be delivered prior to departure. I’m skeptical, but hopeful.

You know what’s coming, don’t you?

One, last call to airline as we set sail. Prompt menu, request for claim number, hold, I’m losing bars as we sail. Yikes!

Have you ever sailed past the Statue of Liberty while on hold with an airline’s lost baggage department?

Well, I wasn’t going to miss this, so I hung up and enjoyed the view. And it was a magnificent one. One of my sailing bucket list items: Sydney Harbor past the Opera House, under the Golden Gate Bridge, New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty, past Piazza San Marcos on the Grand Canal of Venice. I’m lucky, I’ve hit three of the four!

Did I ever see the bag again? How did I manage without it?

Tune in next week to find out. Same bat time, same bat channel!

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Travel Style Part 1 - Mainstream Cruising

First of four parts, dedicated to identifying the best style for a travel group.

These ocean going ships carry from 600 to over 6000 passengers. They are frequently called floating resorts – for good reason. Most of the amenities expected at a resort hotel are available - and they move, giving you opportunity to visit more than one destination, but only unpacking once.

Full gyms, spa services, multiple dining venues, nightclubs, entertainment options, pools, water sports, golf, even ice-skating! You name it and there is probably a cruise ship (or many cruise ships) that have it.

Ocean/mainstream cruising is a great option for larger groups, especially if you want to have some private activities on board. Private parties, activities, seminars, workshops can be organized on board. I’ve arranged ballroom dance classes, craft seminars, and receptions for various groups to give a few examples. Fully equipped meeting space is available for more formal conferences and workshops.

They’re also a great option for multi-generational groups with broad age ranges. Many have clubs and activities for toddlers through teens, as well as dedicated staff to entertain them both on and off the ship. And, not for just a couple of hours a day. These clubs run all day and into the night with flexibility for picking up and dropping off children. They also have babysitting services available for the younger set. Parents and grandparents can enjoy adult time while the kids are supervised and entertained.

Within this cruising style, there are multiple destination and cultural choices. There are cruise ships that specialize in Antarctica sailings to South Sea Island cruising to navigating the fjords and glaciers of Alaska.  You can visit the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, the coast of Asia, and around Australia. Cruising has become so popular over the past few decades, that there are few destinations along the ocean shores that one of these ships doesn’t visit. You can literally sail around the world.

Mainstream cruising is an option I would definitely recommend for consideration if your group is large, multi-generational, or your group has a special request that these “floating resorts” can meet.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’m here to help.