Planning Ahead….

Liz Hough on

It is 2018 but not too early to start planning for your 2019 vacation.

 

There are several steps you take when planning a vacation and you may not even realize you are going through them.  Here are some of the initial travel planning steps…..

 

Step 1 “The Thought”:  Do we want to take a big vacation or do we want to do something low key?  This step gets you started thinking about whether or not this year will be the year you take that big overseas trip or do you just want to take a 7 night cruise.

 

Step 2 “Where do we want to go?”:  Now that you have in mind what kind of trip you want to take it is time to decide where you want to take it.  This can be one of the most difficult steps in the process.  There are so many places you want to go but then there are so many places you have been and would like to go back.  How do you decide?  You make a list of just 5 places you want to travel to.  Why 5?  Because you don’t want to make the list too long.  Write some reasons why you want to go each place.  The place that has the most reasons why you want to travel there should be the place you choose to go!

 

Step 3 “How do we want to get around?”:  By step 3 you are moving full steam ahead in the planning of your trip!  Depending on where you are considering going there are several means to get around: cruise, rail, motor coach, or air.  Sometimes you don’t have a choice.  But if you do, consider trying a means of transportation that you haven’t tried before, i.e. a river cruise or the rail system.

 

Step 4 “Call your travel agent”:  This is the easiest step by far.  At this point you have some great ideas that you can’t wait to share with your travel agent.  This is where your travel agent is able to get together some information for you regarding pricing, tours, and time frames so you don’t have to spend precious time searching on the internet.

 

The planning process should be fun and exciting but there are a lot of decisions to be made.  Just remember that plans can change but once you have made that final decision there is a sigh of relief that comes with knowing your vacation is just around the corner.  Also, don’t forget to invite friends and family so you can start making lasting memories.

 

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!

Flying with kids can be stressful!

Mary Yohannan on

Flying with kids can be stressful!

Here are 5 tips on how to keep your sanity when taking kids on a plane trip

Having two little ones myself I find that my anxiety for flying increases a few days before the flight.  It is not because I am afraid to fly but how will my kids be on the flight.  I always notice the “God, please don’t seat them near me” glances our way when we walk on a plane with two little ones.  I even had one older lady tell her husband that she hoped those kids would be good on this flight while we were sitting down behind her.  She kept glancing our way with disapproval the whole flight.  The best part was after we landed and she was getting up she told us they were perfect on the flight. 

Now my husband and I always wait until everyone is off the plane so we don’t have to rush to gather up all our stuff.  As people pass us in the aisle they compliment us on how well behaved our children were.  We always thank them for the compliment but it makes me feel good that I am doing something right to keep my kids occupied the whole flight.  I am going to share with you what we do so you too can have a peaceful and enjoyable flight with your kids or grandkids.

Tip #1:  Bring food and drinks!  I know that you can’t get more than 3 ounces of fluid through security but between the newsstand and Starbucks you can buy milk, water, or juice.  Make sure to bring their favorite container to drink out of so it is like they are drinking the same thing at home.  Also, bring their favorite snack.  It always seems that as soon as they sit in their seat they are hunger.  Having that snack handy keeps from your child having a fit even before the door on the plane is closed. 

Tip #2:  If your child is still using a binky or pacifiers make sure you bring plenty along.  This helps to keep them calm and it will also help with their ears for altitude changes.  I find that my children fall asleep with having their binky and the gentle sway of the airplane.  This makes me happy because now I have time to relax and take in a movie too.

Tip #3:  Bring their favorite toy.  The way to keep your child from kicking the seat in front of them is by putting their favorite toy in the pocket in front of them.  They will think you are being silly by putting it there but I find that telling my child that her toy needs to be secured in a seat also and the toy seat is this pocket, I don’t get any questions.  No kicking and no angry older lady glaring at you during the flight, hopefully. 

Tip #4:  Bring the electronic tablet for your little ones.  Not everyone believes in letting their kids watch TV or movies, but I am not one of those parents.  My kids love Disney movies and Nick Jr. educational shows.  Sesame Street is another household favorite.  Download or buy your kids favorite shows on the tablet that you are going to take.  When I say favorite shows or movies, I mean the ones that they watch at home already and ask for by name.  It doesn’t work out well if you decide to buy something new thinking they will like it on the plane.  Don’t risk it, play it safe with something they already know and keeps them calm. (*NOTE: make sure you download the movie to the tablet so that you aren’t required to use the wi-fi on the plane!)

Tip #5:  Bring along your own small pillow and blanket.  Please don’t use the pillows and blankets from the plane on your children.  They get reused and many people use the pillow to prop their feet up after they have taken off their shoes, YUCK!  Having their own blanket that smells like home is relaxing.

Tip #6:  This always happens to me, as soon as we sit down my child says she has to go potty!  Going potty on a plane by yourself is difficult in such a confined space let alone fitting an adult and a toddler in there.  Now we know, go before you get on the plane.  Also, change that diaper right before you board also.  Yes, people change their baby’s diaper right on the snack tray but luckily my husband and I have it down where we can easily change them on our lap in 10 seconds flat! (BTW…wipe down the snack tray before putting your drink or snack on it!)

I don’t think there are any guarantees that your child won’t have a fit at some point on a flight you take with them but I truly believe that I can do everything in my power to minimize the probability.  This has worked very well for us and the proof is from all the compliments that we receive.

Are you ready to take that next family vacation?  Simply fill out the quote below and we will be in touch!

Have you KISSED this?

Mary Yohannan on

Kissing this might bring you luck…

Photo by James Sterganos

Everyone wants the gift of eloquence and the luck of the Irish.  Some say the Irish are gifted with this by kissing a stone, the Blarney Stone to be exact.  It’s all down to the Blarney Stone, not Leprechauns. For over two centuries people have been coming to Blarney Castle in the south of Ireland to kiss this stone set into the battlements in the hope of gaining a silver tongue. It used to be that you were hung over the battlements from above by your ankles, and I guess it was luck if you made it back up alive.  These days there’s less risk involved in leaning backwards from the parapet walkway while holding securely to a metal railing.

The origins of this magic stone are still debated. Was it Jacob’s pillow, St Columba’s deathbed pillow, or the stone that gushed water for Moses? Was it brought to Ireland after the Crusades or given to the Irish by Scot Robert the Bruce in gratitude for helping him defeat the English in 1314? We’ll probably never know. But after you kiss it, tour the ruined castle, visit elegant 19th century Blarney House, and wander around the lake, you sure will have some good stories to tell back home.

If you’re thinking of a trip to Ireland, make sure to visit this magic stone in the South of Ireland near Cork.  You can easily get there as a day trip from Dublin, or if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, try a self-drive itinerary.  You don’t want to miss out on the luck of the Irish, after all, when in Ireland!

Call us today to book your Ireland trip.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect Ireland vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

Phone:  919-606-4604

Email: mary@libtagent.com

About Mary Yohannan, CTA

Travel is a passion of mine and it is something I absolutely love to do.  When I personally travel, I get feelings of excitement, relaxation, interest, curiosity, and a bit of anxiety.  When it all comes together I have created a memory that reminds me of all of these emotions.  I have traveled to 17 European countries, and in each country, I experienced what I just described.  I felt excitement when we were roaming the canals of Venice and thinking this is nothing like Italy in Epcot Center.  I felt relaxation in Scotland when my husband and I enjoyed an anniversary dinner on Rose Street in Edinburgh drinking Scottish beer.  I was interested in touching a 1000-year-old entrance to a library while in Ephesus in Turkey.  I was curious what smoked lard and Palinka tasted like in a small café in Bucharest, Romania.   I was anxious going up the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch in Switzerland while my head was pounding from altitude changes.  The best part of travel is that when I am not traveling and I think of those places I instantly get a smile on my face regardless of the emotion that I felt.

#1 Rated Travel Agent in Pittsburgh by Travel Leaders

 

Take Back Those Vacation Days!

Mary Yohannan on

Take Back Those Vacation Days!

Use it or Lose it, what??

In my previous career it was quite normal to bank your vacation hours so that you would eventually be in the status of “Use it or Lose it.”  For some people it took them years of not taking any vacations to be able to get to this status.  I, personally, have never understood why you would wait years to take vacation!  In fact, I would always have people asking me how I had time to take my vacations.  It was quite simple: I used the hours I earned.  There is a credit card commercial noting that 400 million hours of vacation time are lost each year by Americans!  400 million hours!  If a weeklong vacation is worth 40 hours that is 10 million vacations not being taken.  I think where I am getting confused is why would you want to risk losing your vacation time?  You have worked so hard over the years and have taken very little leave.  You have built-up your annual leave empire that you now officially have 6 six weeks cached and you are earning another three to four weeks for the year.  Four whole weeks of leave you HAVE to take before the end of the year.  Couldn’t at least one of them be taking nice, relaxing vacation!

I have found that where most people fail in using their four weeks is because they use it to do housework.  I will admit that I have taken a day or three to stay home to catch up, but to take weeks off for housework?  Now most people are saying that she probably doesn’t have any children, Wrong! Two toddlers who are the messiest tornadoes that I have ever encountered.  I probably could use more time to do housework, but to me it is housework and I feel like it is never ending.  I know that my mess will still be there to greet me when I get back from my vacation.  I think that most people would agree that a vacation away from home gives you peace of mind, even if that means housework is nagging at the back of your brain.  I say let’s leave the housework for those three day weekends when there is a federal holiday.  After all, that is what most of us probably end up doing during those long weekends.

We all work so hard throughout the year and work is stressful.  I don’t know a single person who isn’t stressed out by their job, their co-workers, their commute, their time away from their children, etc.  Your annual leave is for family time or personal getaways.  But GET AWAY!!!  You don’t have to go far.  Explore a city in a neighboring state and stay a couple of nights.  Take the kids to that amusement park they have been bugging you about, but make it a road trip.  Take the week and go explore the mid-west or rent an RV and go across country (one of my dreams!).  There is a commercial out there, I can’t remember by whom, but they exclaim “Take your vacation days back!”  Do it and get away!  

I always tell my husband that I don’t want to be in the nursing home when we are in our 80’s talking about things that we should have done.  I want to remember all the great things that we did, spark those memories, and laugh.  After all, you can’t put a price on memories especially when those memories give you warm feelings of relaxation.

P.S. Want to get away!  There are some amazing deals to the Caribbean for March and April to get away.  Call me or email me with where you want to go!

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!

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.

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.