A DOZEN QUICK REMINDERS FOR STRESS FREE TRAVEL!!!

1. Arrive at the airport early. This will help in a number of ways – you won’t be panicking in long lines as your flight time approaches and you still need to get through another long line in security. And, if you want to change your seat to the emergency exit row or the bulkhead, you at least stand a fighting chance.
   


2. Please get a passport. If you don’t need one now, you soon will and this is the absolute best way to verify your identity and nationality. Also, be sure that you know the Expiration Date on your passport since many overseas trips or visas require that your passport be valid for up to 6 months after you return.
   
   
3. If you are taking a cruise, be sure to log into the cruise line’s website as soon as you have made your final payment and fill in the Immigration and other necessary information. It will save you a lot of time when you are boarding the ship and whatever you do, never pack your passport! We once saw a couple of passengers delayed boarding while the cruise line located their baggage so they could retrieve their passports.
   
   
4. Here are a few more items you should never pack – Prescription medications, cameras, jewelry and your trip and/or cruise documents.
   
   
5. For Your own Peace of Mind - Make a copy of your passport and credit cards and keep them in a safe place, different from where the original documents are kept. And, when in a hotel or on board a ship, please remember to use the safe for your valuables and important documents.
   
   
6. Keep a supply of Zip Lock bags in all sizes. They are useful to carry make-up, liquids, gels and creams so that they do no leak all over your clothing. Larger sizes are also great for sorting groups of clothing like underwear, socks, children’s outfits, etc, etc…
   
   
7. Wear comfortable slip-off shoes when flying and wear or carry a pair of short cut socks. When you have to remove your footwear to get through security, they will slip off and back on easily and your feet won’t get cold or dirty as you walk through the security screening area.
   
   
8. If you are on a cruise, remember that you will have to put your luggage in the hallway outside of your cabin the night before you disembark. Do not pack everything – you will have to dress the next day for your journey home. Always keep a small carry-on bag in your cabin to carry your last minute toiletries, medications and the clothing or pajamas that you wore the night before.
   
   
9. For Airline flights, invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. They can be used to watch the movie, listen to music or just give you a chance for a good nap or to read your book. Also, your neighbor won’t keep talking to you if they think you are listening to something.
   
   
10. Things you need to bring along: Sunglasses and a good sunscreen especially when visiting the Caribbean, Mexico or the Bahamas at any time of year. A good pair of walking shoes, particularly for Europe where there are a lot of cobblestone streets. Always a good idea to bring along a simple first aid/medicine bag with some aspirin/pain relievers, antacids, allergy medications, topical antibacterial (Neosporin type item), band aids, motion sickness preventatives and the like. And… Don’t forget to bring your camera, extra batteries, film, memory card or whatever is needed. These items may not be easy to find while abroad and may be very expensive.
    
    
11. Put some identifying marking(s) on you luggage so that it can be easily identified. Remember that all black luggage looks the same at first glance. Place identifying information inside each piece in case an external tag gets separated.
    
    
12. Most important – remember to smile and keep your sense of humor – you’ll need it! A kind word goes a long way!
    
    

CRUISING FAMILY REUNIONS – MAKING MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME!!!

When is the last time you spent a week, or even 3 or 4 full days, to relax with your family – stop to smell the flowers as they say? Other than for a wedding or a funeral, when is the last time you took the time to visit great Aunt Milly or your cousin Jason – you were so close when you were kids. Do your children really know their cousins in Michigan or Aunt Sue who moved to California many years ago? With our busy lives, you may not be able to take many opportunities to spend the quality time that you desire, even with those who live in your own home. We mostly take our relationships for granted until it is too late.

What better way to get the family together than on a vacation and what better value for a vacation than a cruise? A family or family and friends reunion is a great way to relax, catch up on each other’s lives and become acquainted with those new family members – even introduce the kids to their cousins in Kansas or Oklahoma. The value is phenomenal – your “hotel”, meals and entertainment are all included in the price and paid up front. And, don’t forget to ask about the special amenities that are tailor-made for your group. If you can dream it, you can make it happen.

Many types of accommodations are available to meet individual family needs – from Suites to Inside cabins – with great bargains for triple and quadruple accommodations. You are able to see new places, experience new adventures and even enjoy an educational experience with your children, while still having fun. Best of all, there are no meals to cook, dishes to wash, car pools to drive or beds to make. You do not even have to entertain the kids all day – the cruise lines do a great job at that in a safe and secure environment. Your time is spent relaxing, seeing new places, meeting new people and spending quality time with those you love - making memories to last a lifetime. Want some privacy? Here’s good news – many of the ships are so big and there is so much to do that you don’t have to spend every waking hour with everyone else. No familial overload.

Make memories this summer or make plans for next year. The earlier you start to plan, the better the choices that you will have available. If you can dream it, you can make it happen. Don’t wait for the next funeral or wedding to see the extended family – Relationships are far too valuable.

PASSPORT RULES FOR U.S. LAND AND SEA BORDERS

On March 27, 2008, the Departments of Homeland Security and of State issued the final rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and is considered FINAL. This information is posted here to help ensure that you have the proper identification when traveling.

Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:

U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). These documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State. A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category. Please note that if, for any unanticipated reason, you must cut your trip short and return to the United States by air from a foreign country you must have a passport.

All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of accepted documents, see www.travel.state.gov.

The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.

We continue to encourage travelers to obtain passports to enable the broadest travel opportunities. Please visit www.travel.state.gov to obtain information on how to apply at more than 9,000 passport acceptance facilities in the United States.

OVERSEAS SPENDING - EURO VERSUS DOLLAR

Okay, so you want to go to Europe – been dreaming about it all of your life and this is your big chance. Then, the bottom drops out of the dollar and the conversion of Dollar to Euro is scaring you into thinking about putting your dreams on hold. But… you really want to go to see Paris, the City of lights or Rome, the Eternal City or eat Paella and stroll Las Ramblas in Barcelona or ride a gondola in Venice or have a romantic dinner in Sorrento. What to do?

We have good news for you – this is still a great time to take your dream vacation to Europe but... Listen up y’all – you need to do it on a cruise. Why a cruise?? A Cruise because you will pay for your dream vacation in dollars, not Euros. Everything that you do on board will be paid in dollars and even your shore excursions and pre or post accommodations will not have to depend on rate changes after you make your reservations – you are still dealing in US Dollars, just as though we were at home.

You will have some expenses in a foreign currency if you want to shop in the various ports but these are all controllable expenses and can be kept to a minimum if you so choose.

There is still availability for 2008 and some lines have already made their itineraries known for 2009 and 2010. So, What are you waiting for?