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Smaller is better…

Especially when you have a lot of walking to do all day.

When planning this last trip to Walt Disney World we gathered the family around the dinner table and talked about what we were looking for from a Walt Disney World resort. Over the years we have stayed at deluxe, moderate, and value resorts, our last trip in October was at the moderate resort Caribbean Beach. A great resort with a great pool, sit down restaurant, and pirate themed rooms, but also one of the largest resorts on property. We were frustrated trying to get on crowded buses and walking a long distance to get to the pool and food, an inconvenience when staying in the pirate themed rooms. So this time the family decided we wanted something smaller, intimate, but with a great pool. The Port Orleans French Quarter was chosen.

The Port Orleans resort is two resorts in one. There is the Riverside resort where the building mimic large mansions of the South. The main area has a sit down restaurant, Boatwright’s, which features Southern style cuisine, and a large pool and playground for the kids. Riverside is the larger of the two resorts, and there is more space between the buildings so the parks shuttle buses stop at four different bus stops around the resort. Riverside is the only other moderate resort on property that has themed rooms, Princess themed rooms. These rooms are a lot of fun if you have little Princesses of your own as there are firework displays in the headboards, and Aladdin’s Magic Carpet is in the carpet. Riverside also has a boat dock where they have continuous service to and from French Quarter resort and after 10am to Disney Springs.

There is the French Quarter side where the building, sidewalks, fountains, and main lobby area mimic New Orleans’ French Quarter. The French Quarter has a nice pool with water slide and a kids’ splash zone. There is also an outdoor bar by the pool and an indoor bar where at night they bring in bands to play music.

The entire resort only has about eight buildings and even if you are in one of the farthest buildings it is only a 2-minute walk to the pool and food court. French Quarter is the smallest of all the moderately price resorts and you enjoy this when you head to the one and only bus stop. The buses were never crowded and they now have installed televisions with time tables as to when the next bus will arrive for each park or other destination. There were also never any lines when we left the parks for the French Quarter bus stop.

French Quarter also had a boat dock where boats would come every 10 to 20 minutes to either take you to the Riverside resort or to Disney Springs. We decided to use the boat a few times to head to Disney Springs and it took about 10 minutes to get there, but you went past parts of Disney that I have never seen before including the Tree Top Villas at Sarasota Springs, Disney Vacation Club clubhouse, and an amazing view of Disney Springs from the water. The boat dock at Disney Springs was conveniently located right around the corner from Art of Disney, and we never had to wait for more than 10 minutes to get a boat.

When traveling with small children who are tired, cranky, and hot from a long day in the parks, I was glad to not have to wait several rounds to get on a bus to get back to the resort. I enjoyed getting up early and walking down to the food court to get my cup of joe (and my husband’s beignets), and I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the French Quarter. I think our family has found our favorite Disney resort that we will stay at time and time again.

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What can a travel consultant can do for you?

Liz Hough on

Is your travel consultant doing their best for you?

I have to start this week’s newsletter with saying that I absolutely have the best clients any travel consultant could ever ask for. I love planning travel for all of my clients, so when I hear that something goes wrong, I have to find out why! Last week I had an amazing group of people take a nice romantic weekend getaway to Jamaica. The weekend was filled with great friends, good food, and fun. Unfortunately, the return home didn’t go as smoothly as the rest of the weekend. What should have been a 5-hour journey home turned into 15 hours of miscommunication, multiple flights, and several tired people who just wanted to get home to their families.

Now waking up the next morning and reading their emails, I couldn’t believe that they had gone through this nightmare but I was on a mission to find out what I could do for them. You see some travel consultants feel that once you have left for the vacation, their job is done. I don’t feel that way. Every one of my clients gets a document holder with all final documents including my business card to call even when they are on the trip. Let’s be honest, things happen, and I have been on my own vacation where I had to call 5 different companies to get one answer while standing in the middle of a room while on vacation. There are several hours of my vacation I am not going to get back! So when one of my clients is going through the same thing, I want them to call me so I can take care of it and they can relax.

So what are some of the things that a travel consultant should do for you?

1.Be available – When looking for a travel consultant ask them if they are available after hours or on the weekends. Will they be there for your when you are on the vacation or even after the vacation? Make sure that they are available to help you when you need the help.

2. Friendly – Make sure your travel consultant is friendly from the beginning. It is tough to work with someone who isn’t excited for you to take this trip. They also might not be willing to help you if something goes wrong during the trip.

3.Knowledgeable – When a travel consultant has been there or done their research and they can make the travel planning easy for you, make sure you keep them for life. You want to make sure that you have someone who knows how to weed through all the options and is helps you make the best choice for your vacation.

4.Provide all final documents through the mail – I have talked with many travel consultants who still refuse to mail final documents to their clients. They tell me they are green so they just email everything to their clients. Emails get lost, so I believe is printing everything out for my clients and mailing it in a nice, easy to use packet. And if for some reason you need the documents later, I can always email them.

5. Follows-up – Whether you came back from an amazing vacation or a horrible vacation, your travel consultant should follow-up with you to see how everything went. A follow-up should occur within the first two weeks of you returning. Besides, you spent so much time together planning, why wouldn’t the travel consultant want to know how it went?

A travel consultant should be an advocate for you from the time you are planning your vacation with them until after you return home. Make sure to use these tips in helping you find the best travel consultant for you.

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.

Do you have anxiety about going to Disney?

Liz Hough on

This past weekend I had a booth at fitness expo in Allentown, Pennsylvania showcasing Disney Destinations. The expo was for the St. Luke’s Marathon on Sunday, so those who signed up to run would come in and get their race bibs and shirts. One of my independent contractors and I set up our booth, put on our glowing Minnie Mouse ears, and were ready to talk about all things Disney, and oh boy, did we talk Disney! We talked about everything from runDisney events to Disney cruises, but in our conversations with other moms, there still seems to be this hesitation or anxiety about taking the kids to Disney.

Disney should not be a vacation where anyone in the family has anxiety about going. It is known as the “Happiest Place on Earth” but for some people it can turn into the “Worst Time of Their Lives.” A lot goes into planning a Disney vacation, much more than planning a trip to Williamsburg or a cruise, but I am always telling people, you don’t have to do it alone! We are here to help!

I want to share some of the comments that I heard this weekend because it may be some of the same hesitation that you have or someone you know may have in taking their family to Disney, and what my response was to these anxious moms.

1.) Comment – “Disney is too expensive to take the whole family”

Response – “There are several resorts on Disney property that can be costly but did you know that Disney actually has three resort categories to try and fit all budgets? Maybe the first time you go you can try out a value resort which still offers many great amenities including pools and onsite eating. When promotions come out we can easily apply them to your reservation so you can even save more money!”

2.) Comment – “My kids are too young and they won’t remember it”

Response – “That is the best time to go! If you have kids under the age of three their admission to the park is free and they don’t have to be on a dining plan! If your kids watch Disney Junior and know who Sofia the First, Jake, or even the characters from Mickey Mouse’s clubhouse then they are going to have a blast. The first time I took my youngest was at 18 months and her face was so excited every time she met any of the characters, but mostly Sofia the First. There are plenty of rides that have no height restrictions, and adding Memory Maker to your package allows you to get hundreds of pictures taken that when your child gets older they can see their toddler self with their favorite characters.”

3.) Comment – “Too much to pack like car seats and strollers.”

Response – “Well let’s make sure you stay at one of the Disney resorts then so you can take advantage of the Magical Express where in the state of Florida on all buses and motorcoaches you don’t need car seats, so then you don’t have to bring them with you. You don’t want to rent a stroller from Disney as it will cost you as much as a park ticket for the entire weeks, but we have two stroller rental companies that we recommend in Orlando who deliver the stroller right to the resort so when you check-in they bring it out to you and when you check-out you just give it back to the front desk so the company can pick it up at the resort. No lugging strollers through the airport or packing in the car.

4.) Comment – “Food is expensive at Disney and so are the dining plans”

Response – “If your kids and you have specific snacks that you like I always recommend shipping them to the resort ahead of time. Go to the post office and get a medium flat rate box that will cost you around $18 to ship. Stuff the box with juices, snacks, Horizon individual milk containers, sun screen, etc. My last trip I sent down two boxes of food, one was 20 pounds which would have cost me $45 to ship by regular mail but was $17.45 in a flat rate box. I sent two boxes for under $40 and that left more room in my suitcase for clothes and shoes. Now this may make me sound like a bad travel consultant, but I am not going to sell a dining plan to someone if they aren’t going to get their money’s worth! If you plan on doing a lot of characters’ meals, and what I mean by a lot is around every other day, then the dining plan pays for itself. At that point it is like you are paying for the table service and getting a quick service and snack for free every day. And their quick service meals are a large amount of food!”

5.) Comment – “I don’t know the best time of year to go”

Response – “That is why you call me! There is a lot of historical data to show some of the best weeks to go to the parks without a large crowd of people, but let’s talk about how old your children are and when they are in and out of school.”

Disney is a great place to take the kids at any age. Whether they are toddlers and are in love with Disney junior characters or are teenagers looking for something thrilling, Disney does have something for all ages. So if you are on the fence about taking the kids on a Disney vacation, give me a call and we can talk about all the options that are available for you and your family.

Is 3 hours enough for a connecting flight?

Liz Hough on

Now a days with the variety of flights you can choose from to get you to your destination and the variability in prices, people have been opting for the less expensive flights with a layover. Flying on domestic flights US based airlines make it really easy to choose your departure airport and destination airport and will give you options of layover cities. Thanks to code sharing between airlines, we don’t have to book with multiple airlines and pay the taxes and fees twice, you can book with one airline but you may be traveling on two or three different airlines. Even though you are dealing with multiple airlines, the original airline that you booked the flights with is responsible to get you to your final destination no matter what.

When you are traveling internationally this code sharing between airlines doesn’t always occur, especially if you are looking to fly a particular airline or into specific destinations. I recently had two clients fly to Italy and they wanted to fly on a certain airline out of a specific airport. Unfortunately, that airline no longer flew to the city in Italy that they were visiting. I had to get them into Rome on one airline and then booked them on another airline to their final destination. That is right, two bookings on two separate airlines. If you miss the connecting flight, unfortunately it is on you. So how do you know how much time to leave for connecting flights when you have booked with two separate airlines?

The rule of thumb is that you leave AT LEAST 3 hours from arrival to departure for international flights and 1.5 hours for domestic. You still have to get your bags, clear customs, re-check your bags and then go through security for your next flight. All of this can take a couple of hours. Also, there is always mother nature we have to worry about too. She can delay your flight which will delay your arrival.

Now if you are flying internationally, flights back to the United States only have one or two departure times per day. You don’t want to miss that last 4pm flight back home because if you do then the next flight is the next day.

If you do decide to be on the safe side and take the flight itinerary with the longer layover, you may want to mill around for a couple of hours in the airport. Go shopping, eat something, have some coffee, or wear yourself down so you can get some rest. Consider purchasing the airline’s lounge pass. They have areas where you can get some rest, and recharge your cell phone and other smart devices. This can really be well worth the money, especially if you were unable to sleep on that overnight flight and your connecting flight is another couple of hours. Drinks, food, and a nice chair or couch to spread out on for a few hours can really recharge you.

Remember with connecting flights, you may think that you can make it to the next flight no problem, and you may just be able to do it. But throw in some obstacles like slow people deplaning, long security lines, concourse changes, customs, and security and you will miss your flight. Be on the safe side and give yourself extra time. Life is Better Traveling when we are relaxed and on-time.

Is convenience always better?

Liz Hough on

When you travel you always try to make it convenient for yourself. Some of the things that I have purchased over the years to make travel convenient include a blow up neck pillow, a blow up cushioned seat, smart tablets, versatile clothing, RFID blocking purse, belt with hidden compartment for money and credit cards, foldable shoes, various pieces of luggage and bags, etc. Some of these items were amazing and others were a complete waste of money. Now that I have two little kids to travel with, traveling seems like a huge task! Anything I can do to make it more convenient on myself and my husband, I will pay for it!

If you have or had little ones, you remember how getting through an airport, an amusement park, or even getting on a bus at Disney was a difficult task but the one thing that you bring for convenience is a stroller. Nowadays, there are some many strollers on the market and when you find that one you like, you take it everywhere with you including anywhere you travel. The problem with most strollers are that they are beasts! Even folded over they are bulky and weigh over 20 pounds. Now, if you have ever been to Disney then you know that the buses to take you to and from your resort are crowded with people, but most of the space taken up is by strollers. Those people with older children are the envy of the bus, and those of us with our beast of a stroller just give each other the sympathy nod. Same holds true when you are folding the beast at the end of the runway before getting on a plane.

Well, lucky for us we are at that stage with our kids where they don’t really need a stroller, but it is still a good idea to bring one along, especially for the toddler who likes to run away from us in the busy airport. With so many trips coming up this year I didn’t want to buy another stroller, but our umbrella stroller broke on our last trip. Out to the baby store we went, looking to pick up another umbrella stroller but instead we were intrigued by a new stroller on the market. Weighing in at 9 pounds and folding up to the size of large book, how could I not resist checking out this stroller. I had a huge smile on face at the thought of how this would make my life so convenient on our upcoming trips!

The lady at the store, Kathy who needs to be mentioned for having such patience, got out the box from the storage area in the back. Excited to see the product first hand as she had only seen the video of how to use, she came down the aisle with a huge smile on her face. The box for the stroller was the same size of the box that my laptop computer came in. All excited, we started to gather a crowd of employees who also wanted to see the world’s smallest folded stroller. Kathy opens the box that says no assembly required, and takes it out of the bag. As she says watch this, she tries to open it as she had seen in the video, nothing happens. She tries again, and nothing. Another employee takes the stroller and tries to open it, nothing. At this point, we have about 8 employees and 3 customers all around this book size, folded up stroller and none of us can figure out how to open it. My excitement for a stroller with such convenience has turned into frustration and concern about whether I would be able to figure out how to fold this stroller quickly. After losing several employees, the original Kathy, myself, my husband, and two other employees had figured it out after 25 minutes! Even though we watched the video several times, it took us 25 minutes to figure it out. After getting it open, I was disappointed by the lack of a sun screen/visor to protect a child and the stability of the stroller. I also did not like that the seat did not recline for the child. If you are interested in finding out which stroller I am talking about I have conveniently hyperlinked the video. You will be impressed, just like I was. Click Here for Video

I am impressed by this stroller company in general. They have several one touch foldable, light-weight strollers. We did purchase the stroller called the Qbit and it folds up small enough to go into bag that is provided by the company, and is around 15 pounds. Both kids have found it very comfortable to be in and me and my husband have found it very easy and convenient for all of our travel needs. I look forward to using it in a few weeks on our next trip. In the meantime, I am definitely going to be using it around town to check out the stability.

So next time you go to purchase that travel gadget that you will think will make your life so much more convenient, weigh the options, definitely try it out, and check for durability. If it breaks during your trip, then it won’t be so convenient.

A amazing article I had to share.

Liz Hough on

When you find something that resonates with you, you just have to share it!

Find out why I had to share this article….

My heart goes out to the small country of Belgium where their trusting and easy going nature, was taken advantage during the attack back in 2016. When we had an attack on our own country almost 18 years ago, we were probably in the same place, trusting and easy going. We have adapted to understanding that even though the world is a large place, we must now be suspicious and ask questions of all activities that make us uneasy. However, it doesn’t stop us from traveling! Taking the children to Disney World, driving to Colonial Williamsburg, shopping in Manhattan for a long weekend, or even taking that Caribbean cruise. We have learned that if we want to do or see anything, we have to adapt and turn that fear into confidence that if something were to happen, you would be able to stand up against it.

I recently read an article by a travel journalist named Wendy Perrin who wrote about why we shouldn’t fear traveling after an attack and the likelihood of becoming a statistic of a terrorist attack. She called it 7 Keys to Traveling Without Fear Despite Terrorist Attacks. I wanted to share this article because it was so well written and empowering that I hope it makes you feel the way I did after reading it, ready to TRAVEL.

Here is an intro to Wendy Perrin’s article:

1. Grasp how minuscule the statistical probability is of getting caught in a terrorist attack abroad.

According to the U.S. State Department, the number of U.S. citizens killed overseas by incidents of terrorism from 2001 to 2013 was 350. If you’re thinking home is safer, compare that number with the 3,030 killed in the U.S. by terrorism during the same period. More recently, of the 132 lives lost in the Paris attacks, only one was an American; and of the 15 people killed by attacks in Istanbul this year, two were of dual U.S.-Israeli nationality. In terms of street crime and gun violence, most of the U.S. cities we live in are statistically more dangerous than the places we visit abroad. Your risk of being killed in a car crash (one in 19,000), drowning in your bathtub (one in 800,000), or being struck by lightning (one in 5.5 million) far exceed your risk of dying from terrorism (one in 20 million).

2. Don’t confuse the probability of a terrorist attack with the probability of becoming the victim of a terrorist attack.

Is it virtually certain that there will be another terrorist attack in Europe in the next 12 months? Yes. Does that translate into a high degree of risk for the individual traveler to Europe? No.

Click here to read the entire article

NOTE: I am not endorsing Ms. Wendy Perrin, nor am I taking any credit for her article. She is a travel journalist who wrote an amazing article that I wanted to share with all of my friends on my Newsletter.

Oh No, I can’t go! Now what…

Liz Hough on

Is it worth it?

You plan all year for this vacation, sometimes even two years of planning went into that big trip. You have been saving for years and right before you are supposed to go on this amazing journey something happens. You can’t go! What are you going to do? You read through all the cancellation policies and most of them say “100% non-refundable 6 days prior.” Oh no, you are within that time frame. No refund! All those hard earned dollars down the drain.

Most of us are lucky that this scenario does not happen to us. However, life has a way of throwing curve balls so you want to make sure that when that curve ball comes your way you know exactly where to hit it, with insurance.

There are many insurance companies out there selling travel insurance. The question now becomes, Which one works best for you? Your travel agent is the best guide as to which company will provide the most coverage for your needs. You don’t need to purchase the “Platinum Plan” to get good coverage. Most times their basic plans, or gold plans will cover up to 100% of your non-refundable costs and give you very good health coverage too.

Some things you want to make sure you do when buying travel insurance:

Tip #1: Buy travel insurance within 15 to 21 days of your initial deposit to ensure coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Tip #2: Only buy “Cancel for Any Reason Coverage” if you really are on the fence about going on the trip. Most medical issues, for both travelers and immediate family members, are covered under their reasons for cancellation. The Cancel for Any Reason is an added cost that you may not need to pay.

Tip #3: Check what your medical insurance covers for out of country visits. Don’t buy additional medical coverage if you already have good medical coverage.

Tip #4: Renting a car? Check what your credit cards and car insurance coverage for any damage to vehicle overseas. Consider buying additional coverage if you already have high premiums here in the states or you don’t have enough coverage.

Tip #5: Make sure to get a comprehensive copy of your purchased policy from your travel agent. Each state has different policies so make sure you have received the correct one for the state you live in.

Tip #6: READ OVER YOUR POLICY!!! The more you know before you go the better. If you have any questions about the policy call the insurance company for a full explanation.

Make sure to cover your hard earned dollars by purchasing travel insurance. It really will give you Peace of Mind!

Remember our agency has the ONE Phone Call Guarantee! If something were to go wrong and you need to cancel your vacation, you make one phone call to our agency. We take care of the rest! On average, if you book your vacation on your own, you will call 5 different suppliers to cancel your vacation plans! We save you the time and the hassle with one call!

This country’s crown is crooked.

Liz Hough on

Favorite Place #1 – Budapest Hungary

I am so excited that we have finally reached my favorite destination. But first, I want to say thank you to everyone who read my last three favorite destinations and has shared them on social media to all of their friends. We have had an amazing response to each of them.

Now this last destination is not going to be a country like the others. Though I did enjoy the country side, there was so much to see and do in this city that I have to share my top five favorite places in…Budapest! If you have been to Budapest, you know how amazing this city is with its’ various periods of architecture, delicious food, interesting culture, and endless entertainment and shopping. Because there is so much that I loved about this city, it was hard for me to pick my top five favorite spots, but here they are.

Top 5 Favorite Places in Budapest

#5 Heroes’ Square or in Hungarian, Hősök tere – The square is surrounded by the Museum of Fine Art and Palace of Art, but to me it wasn’t about what surrounded it, it was about what it stood for: Freedom. In the front of the monument is a large stone dedicated to the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of their people and their national independence for over a thousand years! That is right, a monument dedicated to those who fought in wars and battles a thousand years ago. A country that didn’t forget anyone and built a monument to remember everyone. It really is something amazing to be standing in this semi-circle of statutes and monuments that was built over a 100 years ago.

#4 Matthias Church – If you didn’t know Budapest is actually split by the Danube river into two parts, one side of the river is the Buda side and the other side is the Pest side. Matthias Church on the Buda side in the Buda Castle District. When you come upon the church you are expected to be in awe by it’s massive steeple and architecture, but what catches my eye every time is the multi-colored roof. This orange and yellow roofing stand out on top of the light gray, almost white façade. This church was where coronations of Kings, and burials of royalty took place, and when you walk into the church you can see why it was the chosen venue. Ceilings so high you think they touch the sky, and ornate stained glass windows, and a large amount of seating.

#3 – Fisherman’s Bastion – Believe it or not, the Fisherman’ Bastion is actually a terrace on the Castle hill. To me it appears to be an ornate wall protecting the Castle hill, or what we typically call the wall to a fort. This wall does get its’ name from the guild of fishermen that were responsible for defending the stretch of land in the Middle Ages, and the seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes who settled into the region in 896. There are several stairways, and walking paths that boast the most beautiful views of the Danube river and the Pest side. On a clear day you can get amazing pictures of the Hungarian Parliament building. Since you will be doing a lot of climbing stairs and walking, just down the way is a mascarpone shop that showcases amazing edible art and demonstrations on how to make some of their pieces.

#2 – Bridges of the Danube – The Bridges that connect the Buda and Pest sides are each different. Some have enormous rock statues in front of them and other are more modern with large gateways as an entrance. When we took our tour we were told that during World War II throughout Europe several bridges where destroyed, but Budapest was one of the few cities whose bridges were not destroyed.

There are eight bridges in total, and my two favorite bridges are the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge. The Chain Bridge is very close to the parliament building and gives easy access into the main cultural center of Budapest. This stone bridge was built in the early 1800’s and was the second bridge to be built over the Danube river. Stone lions guard over the passengers who come and go, and at night they light the bridge up beautifully so that you can get really good pictures of the bridge in the foreground and Castle Hill in the background. The Liberty Bridge acted as a toll bridge for some time and this can be seen by the houses that were built at both ends of the bridge. There are four Turuls statutes, one on each pillar of the bridge. If you don’t know what a Turul is that is ok, neither did I, they are falcon-like birds, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.

#1 Hungarian Parliament Building – I had seen pictures of the inside of this building prior to actually going into it, but seeing it in person was absolutely breath-taking. You first walk up a grand staircase fit for a king into an area where all the walls are gold! That is right, gold! It is absolutely breath-taking and unfortunately, my pictures won’t do it justice. Guided tours are the best way to get around this building as there are so many rooms, and some of them are very long with nothing in them. They are called waiting rooms, but I could fit two of my house into this long, wide room. I must say I was a bit surprised when we came upon the Holy Crown of Hungary. A beautiful crown with a slightly crooked cross on top. We had asked our guide if that was symbolic for something, and he told us no that someone has either dropped it or knocked slightly resulting in the cross tilting to one side. It surprised me that no one wanted to fix it but after 300 years of it being this way, I guess it is now a tradition.

I love ending my newsletter about the food of the country. Hungary is known for its paprika and this bright red colored pepper is used in every dish. It may appear to an outsider that the Hungarians even worship this pepper as it is embroidered onto table clothes and proudly displayed in shops. Make sure to buy some to bring back with you. If you are used to the paprika here in the states then it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it is sure to make your tastebuds dance! I was pleasantly surprised how flavorful fresh paprika is and when properly used, can really make a dish pop in color, flavor, presentation.

Heads Up originated here.

Liz Hough on

Are you ready to pack your bags?

Favorite Place #3 – Great Britain

Many Americans prefer that their first visit to Europe be to Great Britain because the main language is English. It is an easy transition and the most people feel comfort in knowing that if something were to go wrong, they know the language and can communicate easily. One thing that we tend to feel a bit uncomfortable doing in Great Britain is driving, as they drive on the opposite side of the road and some of the lines on the roads are confusing (have you seen those squiggly lines?). A great way to get around easily, and quickly is by train. There are also several motorcoach tours with various activity levels and timeframes.

John, did you know that Great Britain is actually made up of four countries? Well, it is actually called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The island of Great Britain itself is comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales which is where I am going to pick my top 5 favorite places.

Top 5 Favorite Places in Great Britain

#5 York – York is about a four-hour drive north of London, but it is worth the drive! When you think of England and a tour with Tudor style buildings, this is that town. You can easily walk around to the various shops, enjoy a meat pie, or walk along the castle wall. My favorite part of the town is the oldest street in all England called Shambles. This street was even said to be mentioned in the 1086 book DomesDay, but to me it felt like I was walking down Diagon Alley, for all you Harry Potter fans. Crooked buildings, tight streets, crowds of people, and tiny stores make up this street and it is really something to see.

#4 Highlands – The Highlands is not a city but a region of Scotland that contains a lot of hills, lochs, and mountains. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Great Britain, and on a clear day you can really enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. We were there in October, typically the rainy season, but each day we had beautiful weather and clear skies, which gave us the most amazing pictures. Seeing Loch Ness was really something that I always wanted to do so standing next the Loch getting our picture taken seemed so surreal and exciting. Unfortunately Nessie decided not come out that day. Taking a boat ride on Loch Lomond was another highlight as the surrounding area is so lush and beautiful. When in Scotland, make sure not to miss out on seeing a Scottish Cow, pronounced Coo by the Scottish. Also keep an eye out for jewelry made out of Heather.

#3 London – There is one thing that I clearly remember I loved about London: the public transportation. It was very easy to get around whether we took the iconic red bus or the Underground, we were able to easily get to our destination. We decided to do all things Royal so we visited the Tower of London to see the royal crown and jewels. As much as I appreciated the jewels, I was more interested in the armor and weapons that they had cached 300 years ago! Room after room, it felt like it was never ending. We also opted to take a tour of Kensington Palace to see the Princess Diana collection. So many beautiful dresses to see but the building itself was a bit outdated and plain inside. While in London, you must take a walk in one of their many parks. You never know what type of art or activity you may come across, but on a beautiful, warm day there are plenty of activities to do. Grabbing a pint at a local pub is a must, and this was where I was introduced to Strongbow a “dry” cider produced in Great Britain. Having this on draft was a smooth as a lager and not sweet like a hard cider you would get in the states. Since we have been to London, you can now purchase Strongbow here in the states and it is now produced in several flavors. I have not had it since London, as I am afraid the formulation has changed to suit the American taste buds.

#2 Bath – Bath has been a bucket list item for me since I was a teenager. The white townhouses all lined up in a half circle, the beautiful country side, and of course, the Roman Baths. Seeing pictures of people in the early 1900’s in their bathing suits soaking in the baths hoping for some healing or enjoying the warmth of the water, is something that had me curious. The Roman bath building is quite large containing the main bath area, but there are also several springs that are equally fascinating. The water is so clear that it is hard to believe that it is unfiltered. I will warn you that there is a sulfur concentration in the water so there can be an unpleasant smell while you are there, especially in warmer weather. You can also taste the water from a special fountain found in the restaurant on site. I did not as I was told it tasted really bad, and was a darker color than they had expected. There are several archaeologists that have been digging and uncovering artifacts from hundreds of years ago. You can also view and even touch some of these pieces.

#1 Edinburgh – Edinburgh is my second favorite city in all the places that I have visited. You sense the great things that happened in this town, and because the façade of the buildings has been virtually untouched, you get this feeling of going back in time. It is very easy to get around Edinburgh but make sure to bring good walking shoes, as the Royal Mile is something to really see but hard on the feet. I really enjoyed walking through “Closes” which are alleyways that sometimes underground. Many people hang their clothes out to dry in these areas, and this is also where the saying “Heads Up” originated as they would throw their bed pan material out the window to the street below. My favorite tour was of Mary King’s Close which is an underground city that has been untouched since medieval times. Seeing how people lived at that time is sad but a good reminder of how much we have progressed in the world. Edinburgh Castle is a must and if you are there when the Military Tattoo is being held, I highly recommend seeing this show. Once you are done at the castle a stroll down the Royal Mile to get in some shopping and/or whiskey tasting is must. Once at the end, make sure to visit Holyrood Palace, home of the Queen of Scots!

I always like to end these segments with food of the region! Fish and chips can be purchased everywhere throughout Great Britain, but the best Fish and Chip places that we found were those where the construction workers would eat. Once place was just a Fish and Chip store with no seating, and it was the best Fish and Chips that I have ever had. Another interesting food that is easy and quick is the meat pie! You don’t have to get meat as there are cheese and vegetable options, but these great to get when you are hungry but want to still walk around to take in the sites. Let’s end with some Haggis! A food staple in the Scottish culture and one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever had. If you don’t know what haggis is or how it is made, skip knowing, and try it. Believe me, your taste buds will thank you!

Disney Dining Plan, Is is worth it?

Liz Hough on

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, we recently went to Disney and I decided to add the Disney Dining Plan to our package so I could see if it is worth it.

Before I go into if is it worth or not, I must explain that there are several dining plans available through Disney. Because of the variety, I am wondering if those who feel that the Dining Plan is not worth the money may have been talked into the wrong Dining Plan for their family, see chart below for quick reference. Why so many options? It is easy to understand, there are many cultures and different types of families that go to Disney so they are really catering to everyone. One family may say that a particular plan has too many meals for their family while another may say this is the perfect amount for us. I will tell you, that no matter which plan you choose for your family, it will be perfect.

For our family we choose the Disney Dining Plan which includes 1 quick service, 1 table service, and 1 snack per person per night of stay and 1 resort refillable mug. The refillable mug can be used at your resort. You cannot use this mug in the parks to get refills, but I will tell you that we did take our mugs along with us to the parks and asked for ice water, which is free. We then transferred our ice water into the mugs. 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, 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. I have put together some additional information in the chart below that shows the various dining plans available and what is offered with each dining plan. This will help make it easier to find what will work best for your family.

When you purchase a dining plan that has several table services with it, you must make your reservations in advance. You can start to make your dining reservations up to 180 days prior to your arrival date for the entire length of your day, but not to exceed 10 days of stay. What this really means is on the 179th day you can call to make your reservations. I would recommend calling to make your reservations. It is much faster and you will also be able to make any additional reservations such as Pirate’s League or any tours, all with one phone call. If you don’t make a reservation in advance, you could be told that the restaurant is full for the day or you may have a two-hour wait. A two-hour wait with hungry children is not fun for anyone!

So are you ready to find out if the dining plan is worth the money? For a family of four going to Disney for seven nights, who elect the Disney Dining plan, it is a little over $1000. (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 between $33 to $40 per person per day. One character meal is around this same cost, 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 snack 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. When you receive your bill it will tell you how many of that service you have left. So 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 area 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!

Next time you are at Disney, consider using one of the dining plans that will work best for your family. It is well worth the money.

Don’t forget that at Life is Better Traveling we have a whole Disney Concierge service available for your next Disney vacation. For a small Disney stress-free vacation planning fee, we will set-up everything for you including your My Disney Experience, dining, FastPasses, tours, Magical Express, and spa services. You don’t have to plan a thing, we will do it all for you with our daily itineraries that are specific to your family’s Disney needs and wants. Planning a multi-generational family Disney vacations? No problem, we will have the whole family enjoy together time and some alone time, that it will be your best Disney vacation yet! At Life is Better Traveling, we want you connecting with your family and friends and enjoy more of the vacation and less time planning it! Call us today about your upcoming Disney vacation planning.