Liz Hough, Author at LiBT Agents ONLY site

5 LESSONS we learned about having sick kids on vacation

Imagine, you have been planning a vacation for several months and the time has come to finally take it. You get there and the place is beautiful. Everything is planned down to the hour, and you feel excited that after months of preparation you are finally here. You get out your schedule and gather the family to tell them the game plan for the week. One of the kids comes up to you to tell you they aren’t feeling too well. Maybe you shrug it off saying something like it was all the excitement of getting here, or we have been traveling for a long time. You think, there is no time in the schedule for a sick kid, but then it happens. They get sick!

Now what? With months of planning you never took into consideration someone getting sick. Do you go to a hospital or an urgent care? Do you have someone come to your hotel or resort room? How will you get medicine? Is a nap enough to just hope they feel better when they wake up? Question after question starts to run through your mind. What do you do?

Pixabay

Personally having traveled to over 19 countries and counting, getting sick is always going to happen as there are germs everywhere. The airport, the bathrooms, the plane (OMG, don’t get me started on the number of germs on a plane), the bus, the lobby, and the hotel room to name just a few places. You and your kids can pick something up anywhere and quickly. I have learned a few really good lessons as to what to when you or the kids get sick while one vacation.

Lesson 1: Don’t panic. The first thing many parents do, including myself, is panic as to what they are going to do. Stay calm and find out what the symptoms are first. From the symptoms, try to figure out the amount of medical assistance that is going to be needed, i.e. hospital, urgent care, or just a trip to the pharmacy. Once you know this, find the nearest place.

Lesson 2: Know where the nearest hospital, urgent care, or pharmacy is located that will take your insurance plan. When you are vacationing in the United States many people believe that their health insurance covers any health-related issues. This isn’t always the truth, and people end up with large medical bills. Make sure to contact your health insurance company before traveling, and find out where the nearest hospital and urgent care are located that are covered under your insurance. Same holds true for when you travel internationally. If you do not have coverage outside of the United States, then I highly recommend purchasing travel protection.

know where local care is located if you get sick

Pixabay

Lesson 3: Understand that kids are resilient. They may be down for a day or two but they quickly recover. Give them the time they need to rest while making sure they have plenty of what they need to be comfortable and bounce back quickly.

Lesson 4: Be amenable to adjusting your schedule. When we had a sick kid in Walt Disney World, even with all the months of planning and reservations, we had to adjust the days where we just couldn’t make it to the parks. We found fun activities at the resort they could do and made sure there was plenty of time for naps. When we were in Charleston, South Carolina with a sick kid, we watched TV and played games on their tablet. We adjusted the schedule to make sure they were comfortable and got plenty of rest.

Lesson 5: Consider bringing some over-the-counter medications with you on all your vacations. It is so much easier to have the medications on hand, then having to find them. Some medications that you may want to consider taking include: cold medications, allergy medications, stomach medications, headache medications, aches and pains medications, and a traveling thermometer. When I got sick on one of our many Walt Disney World vacations I paid $4 for 2 tablets of a cold medication on property. Paying over $40 in cold medication for what would otherwise cost me $10 at the local pharmacy, was a waste of money. Yup, lesson learned.

NOTE: When traveling internationally, some medications may be illegal to bring into the country without proper identification. Try to make sure that you have all over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications in their original containers to avoid confiscation.

Yohannan Family in Animal Kingdom

Remember, don’t panic if your kids or you get sick on your next vacation. Take a page from the lessons that I have learned so you can enjoy your time with your family. It really is as simple as making adjustments for a few days while your resilient child springs back to their original, healthy self. After all, Life is Better Traveling!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation. Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs.

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Lost Luggage : It happened to me.

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When packing your carry-on bag for your next vacation, a good rule of thumb is to have two days of clothes packed. The thought is that if your checked baggage would be lost, you would have two days’ worth of clothes, and the clothes you were wearing, until they found your luggage.

After many trips to Europe, I learned that two days’ worth of clothes in your carry-on is the perfect amount. It gets me through the first two days without having to open my larger luggage. On the other hand, I decided that I wasn’t going to lug around that huge suitcase anymore. I was tired of herding around the luggage carousel like a cow at feeding time. After a long flight waiting for my luggage to come out was even more tiring. I learned to go to Europe having only my carry-on allowance and never checking a bag again. Since having kids, I now have to check my luggage because it is impossible for me to lug suitcases and kids through an airport. So now my worst fear when I travel is that the airline will lose my checked luggage.

Questions run through my head like: What if they lose my bag? Will I have to find a store to buy the kid’s more clothes and shoes? How long will it take for them to find it? What if they don’t find? How long before they let me know if they have no idea where my luggage really is? Will I be reimbursed for these precious belongings?

Well, my worst fear happened to us. We didn’t lose a piece of our luggage but they lost our car-seat. Yes, the one thing that you truly need when transporting a child, the airline misplaced it. What did we have to do? It was actually quite simple and painless, and exactly what you would do if they lost a piece of your luggage. You need to go to the airline’s customer service counter located in the baggage claim area. Talk with their representative and tell them your baggage did not come out of the carousel. This is where you will start to fill out paperwork so you can start your claim. Most airlines will reimburse you for any checked baggage fees you had paid. For us, they provided us with a car seat that they had.

If your carry-on baggage was flagged to go under the plane and it was misplaced, do the same thing. Thanks to the US Department of Transportation, if an airline loses your carry-on luggage they are required to reimburse your carry-on fees for all flight segments and any “reasonable expenses” if they completely lose it, damage it, or it is has been delayed.

Remember to make sure to put your claim paperwork in a safe spot. Better yet, take a picture of the paperwork on your phone so even if you misplace it you still have a digital copy of it. Having piece of mind about what to do if your luggage is misplaced and two days worth of clothes in your carry-on makes Life Better Traveling!

New U.S. Travel Advisory Reaffirms Mexico’s Major Tourist Destinations are Safe to Travel

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We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the important updated U.S. State Department Travel Advisory system, classifying Mexico’s major international tourist destinations as safe for travel.

This week, the U.S. State Department introduced a new system for alerting Americans about possible security risks while traveling abroad. This system classifies every country based on four different risk levels, as outlined below:

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions

Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Level 3: Reconsider travel

Level 4: Do not travel

We are pleased to share that the following major international tourist destinations in Mexico, where Life is Better Traveling offers as destinations packages to customers, have been explicitly listed as having no travel restrictions:

Baja California Sur: Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo
Quintana Roo: Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Riviera Maya,
Isla Mujeres
Jalisco: Puerto Vallarta

The de-escalated warning confirms our consistent position that we consider the above tourist areas of Mexico a safe destination for you to enjoy. In fact, more than 35 million travelers come to Mexico each year, often as repeat visitors.

As part of this new system, different states such as Guerrero and Jalisco, can carry different warning levels by region. That considered, it is worth noting that despite the overall state’s higher advisory levels, there are no restrictions on U.S. government employees staying in the tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta falling within the same classification as major travel destinations such as Rome, Paris, and Bali.

Life is Better Traveling is committed to sharing information. As the new system continues to evolve and updates are received from the Mexican Tourism Board, we will endeavor to share the information.

Thank you for your supporting our family owned travel agency, and we look forward to continued success in providing the highest quality of service.

For more information about the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories, visit their website for ongoing up-to-date information.

Warning! Is your PA Driver’s License good to get through TSA?

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I probably get one person a week ask me if they will be able to get through TSA with their current Pennsylvania driver’s license after January 2018. For a few months I had to say no, and they would be required to either bring their passport booklet or passport card with them to get through TSA. (Click here to read my article on the Booklet vs Card) If you don’t have a passport booklet or passport card, and you don’t plan to fly out of the United States, then purchasing one of these seems like a lot of wasted money. So, what is the big deal with our PA driver’s licenses and why can’t we use them to do board domestic flights?

Per Wikipedia, the REAL ID Act of 2005, enacted May 11, 2005, is an Act of Congress that modifies U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for the state driver’s licenses and identity documents, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism. Part of this Act is to establishes new federal standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards. With these new standards, comes better security measures. So why is Pennsylvania not up to code with their driver’s licenses especially if this act went into effect in 2005?

Until May 2017, Pennsylvania law prohibited PennDOT from complying with the federal REAL ID Act. Act 3 of 2017 repealed this prior legislation and allowed PennDOT to seek REAL ID compliance, hence the extension. Pennsylvania is now looking into ways to be compliant with the REAL ID act, and it appears that compliant documents will be available to Pennsylvania residents by Spring 2019. So, what happens after January 2018 and until Spring 2019?

A few weeks ago, Pennsylvania and 19 other states were granted another extension. Now Pennsylvania residents can continue to use their current issued Pennsylvania driver’s license to board domestic, commercial flights until October 10, 2018. What happens after October 10, 2018? If Pennsylvania is not granted another extension, then to board a domestic, commercial flight you will need another form of identification such as your passport booklet or passport card to get through TSA.

Please Note: This article is only pertaining to domestic flights. If you plan to fly internationally, you will need a passport booklet to be able to through TSA and board your plane. Passport cards are not an acceptable form of identification for any international flights including Mexico, Caribbean, and Canada.

CLICK HERE for some Q & A for PA residents

Kids Cleveland… so many activities

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A few weeks before school started our family decided to take a day trips outside of Pittsburgh. We thought it would be a fun way to end the summer and I was excited to go somewhere new. We had heard amazing things about Cleveland, Ohio. After looking up a few places to take the kids, we packed the bags and the car, and were on the road early one Saturday morning.

As a family who frequently drives on the Pennsylvania turnpike and stops at their service plazas, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the Ohio turnpike service plazas. They were fairly new, clean, spacious, and had a Panera. I am always up for Panera Hazelnut coffee and a scone! In addition, there was plenty of space for the kids to run around to get their legs moving.

We decided that our first stop in Cleveland would be the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we wanted to take advantage of the weather. As we are members of the Pittsburgh Zoo, we always ask a zoo if they reciprocate their membership. Unfortunately, they said they recently stopped reciprocating with the Pittsburgh Zoo. Noteworthy, as a result of being a member of the Pittsburgh Zoo, some zoos do reciprocate giving you free or up to 50% off admission . The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has various activities you can pay extra to do. We really just wanted to see the zoo and not do all the other things, so we paid for the basic entrance fee. This gets you into the zoo and the rainforest dome.

We expected to be at the zoo for 2 to 3 hours, because it typically takes us that long to go through a zoo. We were there for 5 hours! The zoo is spread out over several acres of land, and some areas you will have a nice walk to get to them. Our family’s personal favorite section was the tree house with the snake slide. Be careful though, you do come down quite fast and wearing shorts can give you a nice brush burn. Also, there is a really cool surprise at the bottom of the slide!

One thing that was really a nice touch was the design of the facilities. A lot was taken into consideration to make you feel like you were in that part of the world. Each enclosure was conducive to the natural habitat of that respective animal. The rainforest is at the entrance of the zoo, so we decided to do this after the zoo. We really enjoyed the rainforest and the animals inside. However due to a long day in the sun, the hot environment was too much for our family. Most note worthy about this zoo, there is a lot of walking involved so if you have little ones I highly recommend bringing a stroller.

Our day trip was spent mostly at the zoo, as a result we didn’t get to do other activities. Our hopes of getting to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium which was built in a historic powerhouse on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River, did happen. Next day trip to Cleveland! Other activities that you can do with the kids in Cleveland include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Cleveland, and The Christmas Story House and Museum.

We had an amazing day trip even though we left early in the morning to get there at a reasonable time. We could have done more museums, but we really did enjoy the zoo. I can’t wait to go back, and this time we may even stay for an entire weekend. Remember, Life is Better Traveling.

Tell us what your favorite Cleveland Kid’s Activities are, or where in Cleveland you like to take your family…

Inside tour of Buckingham Palace

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The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is in the summer months…

A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of England’s most famous landmarks, Buckingham Palace. This royal palace has served as the official London residence and administrative office of the British royal family since the 19th century. However, access to the public is limited and exclusive but worthwhile for those who arrange a visit.

Year round you can always view the palace’s opulent exterior through the gates. The best time to visit Buckingham Palace is during the legendary Changing of the Guard ceremony when the royal guards change shifts. This tradition that dates back from 1689, and eventually moved to Buckingham Palace in 1837 when Queen Victoria started to use the palace. The best time to see this 45-minute ceremony would be on a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 11:00 am but can be canceled in bad weather.

If you are visiting London in the summer months, you can get a peek into some select state rooms. See the Throne Room, stroll through the palace gardens, and admire masterpieces by artists such as Rembrandt and Canaletto in Queen Victoria’s Picture Gallery. The palace interior is only open to the public during summer, from late July until the end of September, with tours running daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (until 6:30 pm in September). You’ll want to book this coveted experience in advance with our travel agency.

Things to Know Before You Go from Viator.com

The palace is a must for history buffs and royal enthusiasts.
Pair a stop at Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guard ceremony and afternoon tea for a quintessential London experience.
Tours of the palace interior are only available in summer from late June to late September, while the queen is on holiday in Scotland.
If the Royal Standard flag is flying atop the palace, it means the queen is in residence; otherwise, the Union Jack flag is flown.

Tips to surviving a Hurricane

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Would you know what to do during a hurricane while on vacation?

With so many hurricanes this season, it seems like as soon as one moves through we are concerned about the next one. We are watching various weather outlets to determine if the path will be near us or even go through us. We are all concerned for the people in those areas who have been affected and wonder when they will get help.

I personally have never been through a hurricane. Yes, the aftermath storms, but an actual 200mph, heavy rains, damaged buildings hurricane, no. It does make me think that I could be in the Caribbean, Florida, or Outer Banks on vacation with my family when a hurricane does come through. So if that were to happen, what would I do? Do you know what you would do?

I think most people try to get out of the area that hurricane is projected to come through. Unfortunately, if you are on an island or a long peninsula, this may not be an option. You also may not be familiar with the area to know where to go or worse, you don’t speak the language. So what are your options?

Many resorts and hotels are now implementing inclement weather precautions into their policies. They have plans to evacuate people from resorts and move them to parts of the island that may not see as much force come through. They are also working with the local governments to provide additional shelters throughout the island to shield you and your family. If you are “stranded” at a resort due to a hurricane, they are also offering reduced rates for those extra nights.

It is best to make sure the whole family stays together the entire time. Remember, that you are your voice for your family. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to be separated.
Here are some tips in case you run into an emergency hurricane situation while on vacation:

1. Start to charge all cellphones, smart tablets, computers, and charging blocks as soon as there is a threat

2. Try to get a flight or rent a car so you can get out of the area if you don’t have a car or flight

3. Order bottled water and non-perishable food to be brought to your room

4. Organize a bag that is filled with 2 to 3 days’ worth of clothes for everyone in your family in case you are moved from your resort/hotel. Make sure to pack all medicines into this bag.

5. During the hurricane, make sure your shelter is away from any glass windows.

6. Call your travel agent/travel protection concierge services for additional help in getting to a safe place

Remember, hurricane season is considered June through November. If you are planning a vacation in the Atlantic region, our travel agency high recommends purchasing travel protection.

Tips to Traveling Safely

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Are you becoming nervous to travel?

Here are some tips on how to feel more confident when you travel

We recently had a booth at the Wine and Food festival showcasing wine-themed river cruises. I love talking about Europe, as we have traveled to 19 countries in Europe, and I love talking about river cruising. I was surprised at how much I ended up talking about the “fear” of travel. With the recent events in Spain, England, and France, I had a lot of people tell me that they wouldn’t travel over there anytime soon because of “all the things that have happened.” It is not uncommon for people to feel a bit uneasy at the thought of going to a place where something bad has happened to innocent people. Eventually, time heals and people start to feel more confident in traveling again, but it does take time.

What if you don’t have time to heal and you are traveling soon after an incident has occurred? How do you prepare yourself mentally to travel? Have faith, hope, and believe! Here are some tips with helping increase your confidence to travel.

Tip #1: Lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place. This is also typically true when it comes to attacks. Once a city or area has been attacked, a large amount of security surrounds that area to make sure it is secure. It becomes very difficult for anybody to try anything suspicious because everyone is on edge and quickly responds by contacting the appropriate authorities. This is typically the best time to travel to these places because you have added security, and you get to experience a city or area come together like they have never done before.

Tip #2: Set up private tours and transfers. With a private tour or transfer, you have less people to worry about if something goes wrong. You have your own personal concierge or chauffeur that can get you away from the area quickly and safely, rather than having to worry about a large group of people all trying to get on a large motorcoach. Private tours also take you behind the scenes of some places so your guides will know the in’s and out’s of the place.

Tip #3: Each day make sure you have your smart devices fully charged. Information is key! If you are feeling unsafe, then you need to be connected to the world to find out what news outlets or bloggers are saying is going on where you are. Also make sure you have data and voice plans available for your phone.

Tip #4: Be open minded about changing your travel plans. If you feel so uneasy or find out information that makes you more concerned about the area you are in, then try to change up your destinations. Make sure to have your travel consultant’s information on hand and give them call to make a reservation at a hotel in another city or country and arrange a private transfer. Yes, it is going to cost more money to change your plans, but hopefully you will feel much more relaxed.

Tip #5: Be aware of your surroundings. This sounds like something you know you should be doing but it easy to forget where you when you are walking around an amazing place. Knowing where you are and making sure you understand where to go in case you have to get somewhere quickly, is key! Every day, when you plan out where you are going, make sure you know exactly how to get back to your hotel or the US Embassy quickly. Like James Bond, have an escape route.

Traveling is a part of life for everyone. Whether you go a museum on the weekend or travel abroad to visit 1000 year old sites, it is part of who we are. The best way to protect ourselves and make ourselves feel more confident about travel is to be prepared. If you have trip coming up, consider trying out some of these tips to help make you feel more at ease so you enjoy your time traveling.

Deposit, when to put it down.

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When to Put Down that Deposit on Your Next Cruise

The best cruise prices come when you book in advance! This is especially true when you book 12 to 24 months in advance. I recently sat down with a business development manager of a huge cruise line, which I am not going to name, but our agency does sell their cruises. We talked about the newest promotions coming out and I told her that I felt like her company always had promotions going on and I asked if they were finding a decrease in overall cruise sales. She informed me that their sales have been better than ever because of their promotions. She explained that many years ago, the business model for cruise lines was to have “fire sales” close to departure dates to fill cabins. You would be able to get the best deals IF you waited until the last minute.

That was a big risk for cruise lines because if people couldn’t take last minute vacations, those cabins would remain unfilled. About two years ago, a new CEO came into the company and wanted to get rid of the “fire sales.” Instead, they wanted to put into place the “incentive” for people to book early. The earlier they book, the more they save because every so many months, we are going to increase the pricing slightly.

Not only will they increase the pricing slightly, but they will put out promotions that are combinable with each other. For example, if you wanted to take an Alaskan Cruise with a cruise tour, you can take advantage of the buy one get one 50% off on the cruise and the $250 off the cruise tour portion. If there is a flash sale of an onboard credit or beverage package, you can stack promotions on top of each other. The best part is that if you put down a deposit 12 to 18 months prior to the cruise departure date, you are getting the better value for your cruise than the person who booked last minute.

This all sounds good and made sense to me, but I really wanted to see the numbers for myself. I pulled a couple of reservations that our agency made last year and the clients were sailing this year. I looked at the promotions they were under and the current promotions available. When I recreated their bookings, the clients would be paying at least a $100/person more if they booked this month compared to what they booked last year! That is if their cabin category was still available. One group we had booked, that entire cabin category was sold out. It was good that they booked the cabins they wanted when they did!

If you are thinking about taking a cruise next year, especially if it is an Alaskan cruise, I would recommend that you call our agency today. We can help you determine which itinerary will be best for you, and make sure that you get the cabin category you want. Most deposits for cruise lines are fully refundable up until 90 days prior to departure for a 7-night cruise, so put down the deposit just to secure your space.

Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

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Disney Dining Plan, Is It Worth It?

Disney easily comes up in conversations with random people I meet, but when they find out I am a travel consultant they always ask me if the Disney Dining Plan is worth the money. I have read so many different opinions on various Disney blogs, Facebook pages, and travel agent outlets about people’s views on this subject matter. It seems like people are split, some love it and some say it is a waste of money. Well, several family trips with the dining plan and hundreds of clients who have been on the dining plan, the verdict is in, and we all think YES!

For my family we choose the Disney Dining Plan which includes 1 quick service, 1 table service, and 2 snacks per person per night of stay and 1 resort refillable mug. The refillable mug can only be used at your resort but a nice tip is to take it with you to the parks to hold your Free ice water. With each table service meal, we were able to choose one entrée from the menu, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage. When you choose an entrée you are not limited to a select menu specifically for those on the dining plan. You receive the same menu that everyone receives and get to choose any of the entrées including steak or salmon. Dessert at Disney is fantastic! It is gourmet and no matter what you choose it will not disappoint. However, having dessert every day could be a lot for some people, as it was for me. There is a little known fact that isn’t shared by the wait staff, but some restaurants now allow you to substitute your dessert for an appetizer. You have to ask your server when you sit down if this is one of the participating restaurants and which appetizers are included, but you may have an option of a salad instead of the that rich chocolate cake.

Quick service meals are just like the combo meals that you get at any of your local fast food places, and snacks include a variety of foods including popcorn, cookies, cupcakes, fried rice, Mickey soft pretzels, a banana, or the famous Mickey Mouse ice cream bar.

Now the Disney dining plan was the perfect amount of meals and snacks for my family, but some families have teens or growing, hungry children who eat a lot more or need more snacks, so purchasing another plan to fit their family’s needs would be a better option. On the other hand, if you have members of your party who do not eat a lot of food, not including small children, any dining plan might be too much food for you and your family. We always advise our clients to know what is best for you and your family, so we can make sure to fit your needs.

So are you ready to find out if the dining plan is worth the money? For a family of four ( 2 adults and 2 children under age 9) going to Disney for seven nights, who elect the Disney Dining plan, it is a little over $1100. Now that is just for the Dining plan, not including park tickets or resort stay. For four people on this seven-day Disney vacation, it comes to around $40 per person per day. One character meal is around this same cost, if not more, so if you do one character meal you have paid for your entire day right there!

Even if you are doing non-character meals, your meal cost with entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage can easily reach the $40 to $50 range per person. When you look at the numbers you really see that you are paying for table service but getting a quick service meal and two snacks for free. I, personally, find that the dining plan is worth the money and saves me time when we are there. My meals are planned out, they are paid for, and everyone is happy because the food is so good.

Now, one thing you must know is that tip/gratuity is not included. The suggested tip is based on your total meal cost prior to deducting your plan. It is up to you, how much you want to tip unless you are a party of six or more than 18% is automatically added to your bill. Also on your bill will be the total remaining allotment of your meals. If you had six table services to start and just finished eating, then your bill will show that you have five remaining. You can always get your entire amount of allotted meals from the concierge or guest services at your hotel. It is important to note that meals do not roll over after your stay. If you don’t use them up you will lose them so I highly recommend planning out your meals for each day you are at Disney. Also, the meals are to be used at your discretion. If you want two table service meals on one day and two quick service meals another day, it is up to you how you use them, but again, use them up!