Travel Girl Adventures

08/03/2019

Planning on traveling to Europe in 2021 or beyond? Make sure you have all of your documentation, or you won't be leaving home...Be sure to plan ahead!!

https://www.etias.us/etias-us-citizens/

ETIAS, is a visa waiver program created to screen travelers going to Europe's Schengen Zone. It was conceived to improve security around European borders.

08/03/2019

Are you ready?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/travel/is-your-id-approved-for-travel-these-are-the-latest-rules.html?fbclid=IwAR2SPo2o6wG2TmH_M-i6rcGjaTeZ2hEaKL9RRX3eZL-juV8WYmU2svH9Ylo

The Real ID Act requires that driver’s licenses meet standards set by the Department of Homeland Security by October 2020. Many states are already compliant and others have been given extensions.

11/10/2018

I have never been a martini person, but I love doing martini tasting!!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-choices!
📷: Steph J.

04/09/2018

Don't let this offer sail past!! $1 deposits for Holland America cruise sailings - valid today only!!!

27/08/2018

Sounds like fun unless....like me, you're allergic to pet dander / fur. It would just be my luck that I would end up sitting next to someone that all but rolled on the ground with the dog repeatedly while enjoying the opportunity. I wonder who pays for the amblance and ER care after the plane has to divert to the nearest airport because I can no longer breathe and my rescue inhaler isn't opening my airways?

Food for thought...

23/05/2018

Not sure if you need a vacation? Check out these subtle signs that show you do need a vacation!!

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/how-to-tell-you-need-a-vacation-by-paying-attention-to-these-5-subtle-signs-9173720

At the risk of sounding like a whiner, I’ll just come out and say what I know all of you are probably thinking most of the time: Adulting is hard. Figuring out how to tell you need a vacation can honestly be so confusing, especially when you consider…

17/05/2018

The beauty is unparallelled, don't you want to go?

Shop for fine black pearls. Get lost amongst waterfalls and winding jungle roads. Snorkel crystal clear waters. In 2020, discover what it truly means to live on island time by cruising to the South Pacific.

www.azamaraclubcruises.com/south-pacific

15/05/2018

TOTALLY on point!! This list can be used around the world, not just Europe. Couple of secrets...

~ Purchase an adjustable travel adapter. I LOVE my Tumi Grounded Adapter!! I can adjust the prongs to suit the voltage and prongs of the country I'm in. That way, I do NOT have to travel with a small bag of random adapaters and trying to figure out what goes where!

~ Giving up my curling iron (all trips) and blow dryer (though most hotels / cruise ships will provide them in your room / cabin). I have hair that will curl in corkscrews, be wavy and weirdly stick out all at the SAME TIME!! So I do still bring a curling iron with me. I may not use it, or I will only use to smooth out or to make similar curls already existing after washing my hair. So I have a small collection (read - enough to start my own curling iron store!) that I only use when traveling. Both domestically and internationally.

~ Best advice you will probably ever see for your travel first aid kit: 1) go and buy those small travel size stick deoderants from the "travel" section or "sample" section of the store - why? you can rub the stick deoderant on areas of your feet that are prone to blister AND (buy a separate one!) another sample stick deoderant to rub between your thighs - especially if you plan on wearing shorts! This is for men and women both! 2) Buy waterproof bandages for your trip. I travel with Nexcare bandages, assorted sizes. Don't bother to bring the really small ones - you'll end up replacing them more than once a day! 3) travel with moleskin and a small pair of scissors. Moleskin has saved many a >bad< blister when used directly on my skin.

Do you have any great suggestions to make travel easier that you would like to share?

https://www.smartertravel.com/2018/05/09/packing-for-europe-tips/?source=112729

Knowing what to bring is important when packing for Europe, but so is knowing what not to bring. For best results, leave these eight items at home.

07/05/2018

If you're planning to cruise in the next week 18 months, this is a >must< read. A few things to keep in mind; gratuities - unless you book a blue water or river cruise that pays for your gratuities in advance of your sail date, you will find a daily charge, per person in your cabin, for gratuities. This one aspect of cruising is vehemently argued for and against. My two cents? Pay it. The staff covered by those automatically charged gratuities deserve it and frequently that money is sent home to provide for their families. Anyone deserve more? GREAT!! This is why I always carry cash onboard, plus I might bring chocolates or candy for my room steward (delivered my 2nd day on the cruise).

Another tip - for those that enjoy a mixed drink of the adult kind...if you do not specify a brand of liquor, chances are your drink will be mixed with a higher priced brand. At home, I prefer margaritas of my own peculiarities, on cruise, I prefer a tequila sunrise with additional grenadine with my baseline tequila being Jose Cuervo (why? Because it's a mixed drink. If I wanted to sip tequila, my preference is Herradura or Patron. ) I have found that bartenders use a higher priced tequila - with >little< taste difference. But there sure is a price difference!!

Always make sure you cruise, to have a thorough conversation about what is NOT included in your cruise rate!!!

Here are 11 cruise line fees that might take you by surprise.

28/04/2018

I LOVE strolling down small walways / alleys to appreciate the beauty of intimate spaces....

We have a love affair with the Mediterranean and it starts right at the bottom of our feet. It’s in every detail of the cobblestone alleyways, elegant esplanades, cliff-side footpaths, waterfront promenades, and roads made of marble. When we walk through the cities, towns, and villages of the Mediterranean, it’s almost as if we’re strolling hand-in-hand on a spectacular walk through time. Will you join us?

www.azamaraclubcruises.com/mediterranean

22/04/2018

I have a hard time sleeping on planes, do you?

If you don’t take long-haul flights very often, everything about the experience can seem intimidating—the interminable hours aloft, the sketchy choice of seats, choosing an airline you know nothing…

20/04/2018

If you can't afford to insure your vacation, can you really afford to go?

Just one simple move to the left landed the 74-year-old woman in a Japanese hospital for eight days and on a costly medical flight home.

20/04/2018

Why do you travel? I travel to reach new adventures!

Travel to discover the good life.

20/04/2018

No white sneakers!

If you want to blend in with the locals in Paris, these are the tips you need.

23/03/2018

Planning a trip to Maui? Wish you could take your dog with you as you run along the beach? This might be your best solution.....

http://www.mauihumanesociety.org/content/55023e863f81e/Beach_Buddies_Visitor_Program.html

16/03/2018

Planning your vacation? Does it include France? You may not know that France (and other countries) have a tendency to strike against modes of transportation. Below you can find the calendar for France (does not cover the entire of summer)...Be prepared!!

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180316/french-rail-strikes-here-are-the-37-days-to-avoid-travelling-by-train

French rail workers announced a wave of rolling strikes from April to June that threaten to cause travel misery for passengers across the country. Here's a look at the dates you might want to avoid the country's trains.

16/03/2018

Travel Hero right here!!

https://cruisefever.net/carnival-adds-new-upgrade-program-for-those-who-book-through-travel-agents/

Carnival Cruise Line has added a new program called Be The Hero. Be The Hero is an upgrade program designed specifically for those who book their cruises though a travel agent. If you needed a reason to book your next cruise through a travel agent, you’ll want to know about Carnival’s new progra...

15/03/2018

Be prepared!

09/03/2018

ABSOLUTELY! Why? Well, let's talk about your vacation....

Are you planning on traveling to a country that drives on the otherside of the road? Plan on looking at the sites while walking instead of where you are actually placing your feet? Does your vacation plans include experiences on two or four wheels under your control? Ever trip over "nothing"? Always in control of your limbs regardless of overuse, dehydration (and it doesn't take a lot to become dehydrated), medications, alcohol or excitement?

What about cuisine? Do you have a Pepto Bismul stomach (if not, hopefully you ae brining the chewables to use BEFORE you eat a meal you have never experienced before!). Plan on enjoying the local grappa?

What about incidents at the hands of another, such as being in a crowd and you suddenly fall and can't get up because the crowd around you is moving around and on you? Keep in mind, it is >not< unusual to "keep" you in the care center pending your payment in full. Very few U.S. based insurance plans cover out-of-country incidents!

Not to mention what might befall you before you vacation! As a Travel Agent, I cannot >make< someone purchase a travel protection plan, but I do share that if you are spending $x amount, a travel protection plan will cover your investment. Investment?

Yes, your vacation is an investment. Its dividends are memories and experiences. And why would you not protect them (and yourselves)? All travel protection plans are not the same. Only a discussion with a professional can help you determine what is right for your vacation.

https://www.afar.com/magazine/do-travelers-really-need-emergency-medical-insurance?utm_campaign=fb_sf&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social

Illness or injury on vacation in a foreign country can be financially ruinous at best and life-threatening at worst.

01/03/2018

Looking for a fun 3 - 5 day cruise that includes your beverages? Norwegian Cruise Lines' ship the Sun, includes all your beverages (on select sail dates, covers most of the summer sailings)!

Even better - Norwegian is offering a $50 per person deposit on its' cruises FLEETWIDE!!!!

Contact me for more information -
Toll-Free 855-358-0174
Email - [email protected]

05/02/2018

Planning on getting your passport this year? Better hurry - prices go up on April 2nd!!

http://abc7ny.com/travel/travel-alert-passport-fee-to-increase-soon/3023468/http%3A%2F%2Fabc7ny.com%2F3023468%2F

If you're in the market for a passport, you can save $10 by getting it before April.

30/01/2018

Hurry, this sale only happens once a year and it will be gone before you know it − Contact me to lock in the biggest savings and best availability today before the best deals end January 31!!

~ Reduced Rates
~ Free Gratuities
~ Onboard Credit
++ MORE

30/01/2018

For your consideration - 2018 vacation ideas!!

For a better value, give me a call!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2018/01/25/unexpectedly-affordable-vacations/1062844001/

24/01/2018

Flying soon? Review some helpful tips - especially the one about sanitation!!

https://www.smartertravel.com/2015/12/22/8-things-you-should-always-do-on-a-plane/?utm_content=buffer143da&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

If you think finding your seat and fighting for overhead space are all you need to do when you get on a plane, you could be putting your comfort (and your health) at risk.

09/01/2018

You might find some of these conditions on any ship, but do you really want to take the chance?? Rely on a professional - that can make the difference between a good vacation and great vacation!

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/01/08/carnival-triumph-p**p-cruise-ship-passes-new-cdc-sanitary-inspection.html

The Carnival Triumph earned a rare distinction back in November: a failing grade from sanitation inspectors.

30/12/2017

Plan on drinking while on your cruise? Plan smart...

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3115

Seasoned cruiser, newbie or somewhere in between -- the rules of drinking on a cruise ship apply to everyone.

23/12/2017

ENJOY!

14/12/2017

Turks & Caicos' is a great local for scuba diving! Even if you don't want to scuba, it's a wonderful place to explore more time with your family. It's ~not~ too early to plan for Spring Break!!

855-358-0174

29/11/2017

New to cruising? Looking for a better cabin location for your next cruise? Here are a few things to keep in mind....

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3086

24/11/2017

While I am not a fan of Airbnb, this list can spure your imagination for other gift experiencces.

Remember, in the end, experiences count for more than just "things"...

http://www.travelandleisure.com/gift-guides/best-experience-gift-ideas -bnb-travel-gift-card

Give your favorite traveler the gift of an epic experience or adventure. The best experience gift ideas will stay with them for a lifetime.