Six Tips to Protecting your Credit Card Information on your Next Vacation

Mary Yohannan on

Protecting your credit card information on vacation can be a full-time job!

These Six Tips will help you protect your credit card information from being stolen…

On my recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina our hotel had a laminated sheet on the desk warning clients that there has been a scam occurring in their hotel.  Someone will call your room and ask for personal information and your credit card information saying they are verifying what is one file with the hotel.  What I found amusing was that no hotel has ever asked me for my social security number, but these scam artists are asking for that information too.  I have heard of this scam at hotels with different variations, but do know that you should never give your personal information over the phone to anyone posing as a travel supplier, especially your social security numbers.

Besides the scams by phone, there are times when you are on vacation where someone will steal your credit card information.  I personally do not carry more than two credit cards with me when I travel and I only use one credit card with the other card as my back up card.  This helps me keep track of all my purchases and in case someone would steal this card, I will have the other card with me.  The real question is how do you protect your credit card and personal information when you travel?  Here are some tips on how to do just that so you have don’t have to worry.

Tip 1:  Designate one card to use on your vacation.  Put all your charges from the planning stages to the time the vacation is over, on one card so you can keep track of all your vacation charges.

Tip 2:  Avoid any fee based items that will be charged to your card during your vacation.  Hotels love to charge you for room service, movies, WiFi, etc.  Try to avoid paying for these additional services that would be placed onto your credit card.

Tip 3:  Take your own computer.  Many hotels and airports have computer terminals in their business center that you can use to print airline tickets, check email, etc.  Avoid using these computers and bring your own to check your email and bank information.  Never check anything on a hotel computer that requires you to put in a password that will access your personal information.

Tip 4:  Temporarily change passwords to accounts that you think you will be checking during your vacation.  By changing the passwords you will help protect your accounts when you get back and change the passwords again.

Tip 5:  Get a pre-paid Visa card for your vacation.  Pre-paid credit cards are great because they are not linked to any of your personal information and some of them may have travel protection in case you lose it.  Try to pay for your hotel stay, souvenirs, etc with this card.

Tip 6: Keep your room key from your hotel after you check out.  In 2003 a study was done by the Southern California law enforcement professionals and what they found was the hotel key has your name, your partial address, your room number, your dates of stay, and your Credit Card information including expiration date!  If you lose this card and someone can read not only will they have your credit card information but they may also be able to get into your room. 

Next time you travel make sure to protect your credit card information with these few simple steps. 

 

Safe Travels!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here to check out the Life is Better Traveling Team!

 

Global Entry vs TSA Pre-Check

Mary Yohannan on

Global Entry vs TSA Pre-Check,
What are the differences and which one should you get.

I finally decided I had enough of taking off my shoes, pulling off my belt, getting out the liquids and taking out my electronics for airport security, so I applied for TSA Pre-Check.  I was surprised how quick and simple the application process was, and I did everything right online.  Once my application was submitted, and I made an appointment at the nearest office to have my fingerprints taken and pay the $85 non-refundable fee.  Now the fee is non-refundable if you are denied, but if you are approved, the $85 fee means that your TSA Pre-check status is good for 5 years.  Not having to worry about taking my shoes off, belts, liquids, or computers out of my bag for 5 years seems like a good deal at $85.  Also, anyone under the age of 12 who is traveling with a person who has TSA Pre-Check on their boarding pass will also get to go through with them. 

 

So how does this all work?  After filling out the online application, and getting my fingerprints taken, I waited for my background check to clear.  About three weeks after my appointment I received a letter in the mail saying that I was approved and I was given a Known Traveler Number or KTN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The number is a bit hidden in the letter, but after searching for a while I found it. Then I simply put this number into all of my profiles with the various airlines.  If you have a profile with an airline to receive mileage, there is a section for KTN.  Not all airlines participate in the TSA Pre-Check but there are about 16 airlines that participate including the major airlines like United, Delta, SouthWest, and American.  Once you have made a reservation with an airline, as long as your KTN is in your profile or you have added it to your reservation, then your boarding pass will print out with TSA Pre-check on the top.  Now, I say it sounds simple but the first time I used mine, I did not have TSA Pre-Check on the top of my boarding pass and even bringing a copy of my letter with me, didn’t allow me access to the TSA Pre-check line.  I called the airline to find out why I didn’t have TSA Pre-Check status on the top of my boarding pass and I was told there were two possible reasons.  My name didn’t match exactly from what was in the TSA system to what was in their system or you need one cycle for your first use of your KTN and then it will automatically appear.  After checking my name was correct, I checked in online for my flight home and gladly found TSA Pre-Check at the top of my boarding pass.  So just in case you don’t have it on your first trip of using your KTN, it should appear on the next, especially if your name is correct on both ends. 

Now for those who travel internationally, there is also Global Entry.  Global Entry is a program through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. The benefit of applying for Global Entry would be that once you arrive back in the United States, hopefully from an amazing river cruise, you simply check-in at the Global Entry kiosk and then you are on your way to get your luggage.  At the kiosk you will have to scan your passport barcode, place your fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and complete a customs declaration form.  Once these are completed, the kiosk will issue you a transaction receipt and will tell you how to get to the nearest baggage claim and/or exit.  So simple and it will save you time.

You can apply online for Global Entry using their Global Online Enrollment System (GOES), and pay the $100 non-refundable fee upfront.  Once your payment and application have been approved by Customs and Border Patrol, they will tell you to schedule an interview at your nearest Global Entry Enrollment Center through the GOES systems.  Bring your required forms of identification, and get ready to answer a few simple questions.  Once you are approved, you will receive a Trusted Traveler’s Membership number which you can easily access through the GOES system, and it will be mailed to you within a month. 

Global Entry also includes TSA Pre-check!  So for $15 more, I would suggest applying for Global Entry and once you are approved the that you can also put your Trusted Traveler’s Membership number into KTN field.  Even if you only travel internationally once a year or once every other year, this is a peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to wait in those long lines to get through customs.

Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

 

Have a Great Week!

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.

If the Airline Cancels Your Ticket, Do They Have to Reimburse You?

Mary Yohannan on

If the Airline Cancels Your Ticket, Do They Have to Reimburse You?

You have two options…

I recently read an article in the Washington Post about a woman and her husband who were on their way to Napa Valley from Chicago to celebrate their anniversary.  On their way to the airport the airline sent her a text that the flight was delayed and asked her if they wanted a refund.  A refund?  What about a later flight or placing them on another airline to get them to their destination?

The truth is that if there are no available seats on a later flight it could mean severe delays or even an entire cancellation of the trip.  What about the airline putting you on another airline to get you there?  Well, apparently that is a hot top in Washington as to whether or not “airline reciprocity” it should be mandated.  This would mean that if an airline can’t get you to your destination in a timely manner, then they would then have to find another airline that can and in a timely manner.  Unfortunately, right now most airlines have a “Contract of Carriage” that all passengers abide by when they purchase an airline ticket, and in the contract most airlines have a statement that explains it is at the airline’s discretion if they want to put you onto another airline’s flight.  

Some airlines are more willing to accommodate the passenger and put them onto another airline, especially when the circumstances are extenuating.   A few weeks ago when Delta had a computer system issue, they had hundreds of passengers stuck and stranded so they did everything they could to help get people to their destination including putting passengers on other airlines.  

So what are your options when an airline cancels your reservation, especially last minute?  First you want to ask the airline, do you have another flight that can get me to my destination in a reasonable time frame.  Sometimes the airlines will cancel your reservation and offer a refund if the delay will be more than 90 minutes.  You may be willing to wait longer than 90 minutes and get on a later flight, so you just have to ask.

The second thing you can do is cancel the reservation and take the refund.  If you take this option, make sure that there are flights available on another airline.  Sometimes finding space on another airline’s flight the day of can be like finding a needle in a haystack.  So before you take the refund, check what is available and what you will be willing to take.  

As life is so unpredictable including when we travel, it is a great idea to purchase travel insurance to help reimburse you for these types of inconveniences that can occur.

Click Here to check out the Life is Better Traveling Team!

Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

Have a Great Week!

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.

Best Exhibit Ever!!!

Mary Yohannan on

This is by far the BEST exhibit I have been to in a long time!

This is for all ages so please read.

We have been the to the Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh on several occasions since we moved to Pittsburgh two years ago.  The museum is three floors of activities for children of all ages, and even adults are seen playing around, including myself.  I have several favorite areas in this museum, but my utmost favorite is on the first floor where kids and adults can do hands on activities such as watercolor painting, using chalk and crayons to make masterpieces, model clay into fabulous bowls, and screen printing.  The screen printing is quite unique as you cut out an object(s), letter(s), or anything your creativity can come up with, out of newspaper.  You take the newspaper pieces to the screen, paint over your cut out, and what is left behind is a painted outline.  The best part is that the little kids think it is magic.

Even with the painting, a water floor, and sand area, the Children’s museum always goes above and beyond with their special exhibits.  On this particular visit the special exhibit was a childhood favorite for all ages, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.  The Children’s museum does not spare any expense when it comes to their special exhibits whether they are big or small, and this exhibit was no different.  I actually felt like I had stepped into the TV and was on the set of Daniel Tiger. 

The exhibit was cleverly planned in that all the houses, school room, chairs, toys and characters were child size.  As an adult it made me feel like a very tall person, but for the kids, everything was at their height level.  All the characters were child size so my children could play with them and even try to hug them.  Daniel Tiger’s hut was just big enough for the children, and so was the school room.  There was plenty of activities at each area for the kids to do including learning how to deliver mail like Mister McFeely.  They even had several wheeled mail pouches you could use to deliver the mail.  Daniel and friends have wearable fire trucks, ambulances, and trucks so they recreated them here out of heavy duty card board.  The kids loved them and you could hear several kids making the sounds of their respective vehicle. 

If you know Mister Roger’s neighborhood or have watched Daniel Tiger with your family, you know that there are many positive messages and they usually come in the form of a song.  Various stations around the exhibit asked that you write something down that made you feel good about yourself or leaving behind a positive emotion.  One station had green leaves and asked that you write down a thank you for someone who has done something nice for you.  Of course, if a child was having trouble with considering who this would be, there was a song that you can sing to help.  Once you had filled out the leaf, you would simply place it onto the tree and the tree started to resemble the tree where Katerina Kittycat and O the Owl live.

The Daniel Tiger exhibit will be at the Children’s museum until January 17, 2017, so if you live in the Pittsburgh area or find yourself out this way, make sure to stop in and see this amazing exhibit.  Children and adults of all ages will surly enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here to check out the Life is Better Traveling Team!

Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

Have a Great Week!

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.

Tired of Walking Through the Airport?

Mary Yohannan on

Tired of Walking Through the Airport?
You can have your own motorized luggage to get you through the airport in half the time…

Have you ever considered riding your suitcase around the airport to make it easier for you to get around?  I have not but it didn’t stop Chicago entrepreneur and avid traveler Kevin O’Donnell from taking his concept of a riding your suitcase through the airport and bringing it to fruition.  So let’s talk about the Modo Bag.  

What is the Modo bag?  It is a piece of carry-on motorized luggage that you sit on and it will take you around the airport at the highest speed at 8mph.  Since a person walks at an average pace of 3.1mph, this would be allow a person to get around the airport at twice the speed.  The person has control as to how fast and the direction of the luggage, all while sitting down on its lightweight aluminum chassis with comfortable foot rests. 

How does the Modo bag work?  Like any other device, you simply plug in the bag to get it fully charged, only 1 hour of charging, and then you are ready to take it for a stroll.  The charge is said to last up to 6 miles of drive time, and you can get over 4000 full charge cycles.  The bag even has two USB charging ports so you never have to fight for a charging station at the airport again.  

How much space is there for my belongings?  The size of the bag is pretty standard for a carry on which is 22”x14”x9”, the maximum allowance for a carry on.  However, a piece of luggage without all the additional equipment needed for the Modo bag would give you around 2,772 cubic inches of space where the Modo bag says that it gives you 2,000 cubic inches.  You are losing about a third of the normal storage space.  There are also several pockets on the outer portion of the suitcase to fit magazines, books, smart tablets, and your cell phone.  On the downside, the bag does weigh close to 20 pounds without any of your stuff in the bag.  

Can I fit myself and my husband on at the same time?  Probably not, as there is a weight limit of up to 260 pounds, but you were thinking it.  Possiby an adult and small child could fit on together, but again, it would depend on if there is enough room for both passengers to sit.  

Does the Modo bag comply with TSA and airline regulations?  Currently, the Modo bag does and the founder, Kevin, has used the bag on several of his trips with no hassles, just ohhhs and ahhhs.  

What happens if the airport is too crowded and I can’t ride my luggage?  I think that would be sad, but you can always tote your luggage behind you the old fashioned way.  

Can I purchase the Modo bag today and what does it cost?  Currently the Modo bag is still being perfected but they do plan to start shipping out bags in January of 2017, and if you wanted to pre-order one you can do so for the price tag of $995 plus the cost of shipping.  I honestly do think this is a steal as you have your own personal charging station for all of your electronic devices, you have the ease of getting around the airport without walking, you can use it for other activities such as a work bag that you ride to work, you get 4000 full charge cycles which should last the average traveler many years, and no matter what age you are, you will look pretty cool riding around on one of these.  

If you want to see how the Modo bag works, please feel free to visit their website…Click Here

 

 

Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

Have a Great Week!

 

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.

Which Disney Resort is Right for Your Family?

Mary Yohannan on

Which Disney Resort is Right for Your Family?
Here is my secret for picking the right Disney Resort…

Choosing a Walt Disney World resort is like car shopping.  There are over 20 various resorts to choose from in three different budget-class categories. What this leaves you with is a stressful decision that leaves you covering your eyes and randomly picking a resort.  I am here to tell you the secret of choosing the right resort for you and your family. 

First I want to tell you why you should stay at a Walt Disney World resort.  Convenience, amenities, dining, and your sanity.  Let’s start off with convenience, which includes saving time too.  It starts as soon as you land since you have access to Magical Express, Disney’s shuttle bus to and from the Orlando International airport.  You don’t have to worry about renting a car, an added expense, and you don’t have to worry about your checked luggage.  Special luggage tags provided by Disney are simply placed onto your checked luggage by you before you leave for Orlando.  Once in Orlando, the luggage is taken by Disney employees and it is delivered to your room later that day.  Once you and your family have deplaned, you simply follow the signs for the Magical Express, swipe your Magicband at one of their kiosks and get the bus which goes to your resort. Another convenience is that resorts are in close proximity to the parks and some resorts are even within walking distance to the parks.  This saves you time and money on a rental car and parking.  Friendly staff!  This one sounds a bit strange, but personal experience has taught me that I always encounter the friendliest staff when I stay at a Disney resort, even at eleven o’clock at night when I just returned to the hotel and starving!  Early bird FastPasses.  Did you know that when you stay on property you can reserve your FastPasses 60 days prior to your check-in date?  This helps you get ahead of the game and reserve FastPasses for some of those hard to get FastPasses such as the Meet and Greet with Elsa and Anna or Toy Story Mania!  When you stay off property you have to wait until 30 days prior to arrival to make your FastPass selections. 

Resort amenities in Disney are like no other.  Did you know that three of Disney’s resorts have themed rooms?  Caribbean Beach has pirate themed rooms where the beds are shaped like pirate ships, and the Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside resort has Royal Guest rooms where the back boards display fireworks at the push of a button.  Art of Animation has four different themed rooms, three of which are suites sleeping up to six adults.  Each resort has at least one themed pool with some of the most elaborate water slides I have ever seen.  Complimentary Wi-Fi, extended theme park hours, and laundry service are just a few other benefits of staying at one of the Disney properties. 

No matter if you are staying on property or down the street, when you visit the parks you inevitably end up eating.  Only those who are staying on property have the option to include one of the Disney Dining plans to their reservation.  I have written a whole article on whether or not the dining plan is worth the money, and it is!  Also, your dining plan is automatically linked to your Magicbands.  No credit cards needed.

Now some of you may be thinking that I should include Disney’s Magicbands as a perk for staying on property.  Well, the truth is that you don’t need to stay on property to have a Magicband.  There are specialty Magicbands that can be purchased and linked to your My Disney Experience account.  When you stay on property, part of your reservation is getting NEW Magicbands from the array of colors available.

So now that you have all the AMAZING reasons why you should stay on property, here is the secret of knowing which resort is perfect for you and your family: BUDGET.  It really does come down to what you and family have budgeted for the trip.  There is a resort for every budge,t so make sure that you stay within that budget.  When a client comes to me and tells me their budget, my first follow-up question is does that budget include meals, souvenirs, and extras?  If you have set a budget and that is the maximum amount you can spend, then you need to consider these extra costs.  Estimate these costs then subtract them from your budget and this is the resort category where you and your family can stay.  Now you have now narrowed it down to a category.  Take a look at the resorts in your category and see what amenities each resort has and how it will benefit your family. 

For example, for me and my family the room is just a place for us to sleep and get cleaned, so I am not worried if it is close to the pool or has a river view.  I am concerned with how large the resort is because the larger resorts have more bus stops which means buses get crowded during peak times to get to the parks.  I also like to have table service available at the resort in case the first night or last night we don’t want to stay in the park, we can still enjoy a sit down meal together.  These are just some of my personal preferences, but if you have not stayed at a Walt Disney World resort before then these are some questions you may not know to ask.  If you talk with a Disney Travel Consultant, like myself or any of my independent contractors, these are some questions that we will be sure to ask you. 

So if you are thinking about taking a Walt Disney World vacation in 2016 or 2017, now you know how to choose the right resort for you but if you still need some help, don’t hesitate to call us.

Click Here to check out the Life is Better Traveling Team!

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Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

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Have a Great Week!

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.

Worried about being scammed by a travel agent?

Mary Yohannan on

Worried about being scammed by a travel agent?

Here are 5 tips on how to protect yourself

For the past couple of weeks I have been writing about reasons one would use a travel agent and to watch out for hidden fees with those large Online Travel Agencies (OTA) like Travelocity.  I recently learned that in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, a lady who was a travel agent had been scamming people out of their hard earned money.  She had a brick and mortar office, was a member of the local chamber of commerce, was “licensed” according to the news station (but there was no elaboration on what they meant by being licensed), and even generated invoices for booked vacations.  Unfortunately it appears that she had her own debts to pay before her client’s vacations bills.  I am sure after reading this you are reconsidering using a travel agent, right?  Don’t be!  I am going to give you some tips on how to make sure that your travel agent is legitimate and how to avoid being scammed out of your hard earned money.

Tip #1:  Check their credentials.  Ask them if they have taken any course work related to travel and tourism.  Do they have certifications in the travel industry, are they rated on Angie’s list, the Better Business Bureau, or another reputable business rating website?  Are they part of any networking works like chamber of commerce, Business Network International (BNI), or the Women’s Business Network (WBN)?  And you should always ask for references!   Asking for a past client’s phone number or email address to give them a referral should be easy.

Tip #2:  When booking with a new travel agent, only give the deposit amount required to secure your booking, payment for any trip insurance, and any service fees your travel agent charges. Service fee amounts should be clearly stated on anything you sign.  Unless you are booking within a 90 day window of departure, you should not have to put down the full amount.  If your travel agent is requiring you put the full amount down, ask to see the supplier’s brochure and look in the very back for their deposit requirements.  If you feel uncomfortable about booking at that time, politely say “it was more than you were looking to put down at this time so you will have to get back with you later.”  Then get up and walk out!

Tip #3:  In a world where credit cards are so easily used and they seem to be like potato chips where we all don’t just have one, please always use your credit card.  There is built in fraud protection on most, if not all credit cards nowadays.  Use this card to make your deposits and final payments.  I would recommend against using a debit card unless you have been working with this person for years.  Please be aware of any travel agent who ONLY takes checks as their form of payment as it is very easy to set up an account to take credit cards.  Always check your credit card statements to ensure that the charges discussed are the exact charges on your bill.  And don’t be afraid to ask questions if you find an error.  An honest agent will review everything to find any mistakes.

Tip #4:  Once you have made your reservation, your travel agent should give you an invoice with a reservation number of the supplier being used.  If they have not, please ask them for this information.  This gives you the opportunity to call the supplier directly or go on the supplier’s website to verify your booking.  Now this sounds easy enough, but if you are part of a tour group that the travel agent has put together you will not have supplier reservation numbers.  The best way to double check your tour is legitimate is to call one of the hotels you will be staying at and ask them if your group is booked.  

Tip #5:  Always listen to your instincts.  If you don’t click with your travel agent then please don’t feel like you have to stick with them.  Find someone who works well with you and your family.  If you feel like something is wrong, ask a lot of questions or just leave.  You have the right to ask questions.  My mother has always told me that “if it sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true.”  There are deals out there that are really good, but do some research.  Before talking with your travel get an idea of the cost of the vacation you want to take but remember that your travel agent can sometimes get you the same price or lower with added amenities.

Click Here to check out the Life is Better Traveling Team!

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Life is Better Traveling is pairing with TracyLinn.com to put on event about Wellness for Women called “It’s About Time!”

For more information on this amazing event that will be at Duquesne University on October 1st, please visit the website...CLICK HERE

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Congratulations to Mary! 

She recently earned the distinguished Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from the Travel Institute, the travel industry’s oldest education organization.  She completed a comprehensive exam-based training program that demonstrates extensive industry knowledge and experience, and she must continue to fulfill stringent education credit requirements each year. 

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Have a Great Week!

 

 

 

All photos, rights reserved by those who produced them, and Yohannan family.