Packing Tips from TravelDivaLisa

Packing for your next trip can be a challenge, especially when you are trying to keep the bags that you check in to a minimum due to airline fees. With the busy holiday travel season upon us, this is even more important. The following are a few tips to help you minimize your bags while maximizing what you bring with you.

Make a list and check it twice. Making a list helps to eliminate any stress of packing at the last minute. It also can be used as a guide during the not so fun repacking at the end of your trip. A list is also beneficial should your luggage be lost or stolen as you may need to itemize the contents of your luggage for the airline.

Organize your toiletries. Choose a waterproof case to pack all of your toiletries. As bottles of liquids can be affected by pressurization, make sure that the bottles are not filled all the way to the top. You can also try this tip that I use often: use sandwich baggies. For example, unscrew the lid to your shampoo. Take the sandwich baggie and cover the top of the bottle and screw the lid back on tightly. This will seal the bottle and prevent any spillage.

Keep your “bling” to a minimum. Bring only the jewelry or any other high-value items that is necessary. You may want to consider not packing these items and stowing them in your carry-on luggage. When packed in your luggage, these items are prime targets for thieves, both at the airport and at your hotel if they are unable to be stowed in a room safe. Additionally, if you have these items in plain view while sightseeing, they may be tempting for a pickpocket.

Pack in the order of usage. Pack what you will need first, last. This will place these items at the top of your luggage so you won’t have to root around to find what you need when you arrive.

Make it neat. The neater your clothes are when they are placed in your luggage the more likely that they will come out the same. If you fold your clothes like the department stores do, it can also keep them neat as the better they are folded the least amount of creases. You can also interlock your clothes by overlapping two pieces of clothing and folding them together so that your pieces are cushioned by the other piece.

Tight is right. If you pack too loosely, you are wasting space in your luggage and inviting wrinkles. Use the insides of you shoes to stow socks, underwear or other small items.

Repack just as you pack. We all dread repacking at the end of the trip, but if you follow the same methods that you used when packing, everything will be stowed properly and will fit easily while using the space most effectively. To separate clean clothes from dirty laundry, pack the dirty items at the bottom of your luggage and put the clean on top. That way you can easily pull out and put away the clean items and route the rest to the laundry.

Label your luggage. Tag your luggage with your name and telephone number; however do not list your home address. If your luggage is stolen, you don’t want them to know where you live, so use your business address for safety.

Stand out from the crowd. As many luggage pieces appear to be similar in shape and color, you need to add something to your luggage to make it stand out and enable you to retrieve it from the baggage carousel quickly. I tie a brightly colored scarf to the handle of my luggage. You can also use colored duct tape to make an “X” on the side of your luggage. Be creative!

REMEMBER…!

Never pack necessities. Never pack your government issued photo IDs, passports, travel documents, medications and other valuables (see “bling” above). Place them in your purse or carry-on luggage.

What to pack or NOT to pack, that is the question. If you are wondering what you can or cannot pack in your luggage or carry-on, go to the TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) website, www.tsa.gov and click on “For Travelers”.

Traveling with gifts. If you are traveling this holiday season to visit family and friends, chances are that you will have gifts for them. Due to security reasons, the TSA does not allow wrapped gifts to travel with you without screening, so DO NOT wrap them as they will be unwrapped. Purchase wrapping supplies once you arrive at your destination or ship wrapped packages to your destination ahead of time.

Welcome to Hurricane Season!!

Today is June 1st and it is the beginning of the hurricane season which runs until December 1^st. Since the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a near-normal or below-normal season for 2014, it is important to make sure that you are ready, whether you are in a location frequented by hurricanes or if you are traveling to one.

If you’re planning on traveling to the Caribbean or United States East Coast, Gulf Coast, Pacific Coast or Hawaii, it’s best to keep informed of what is happening weather-wise in those regions.

                

Some great sites for information are the Weather Channel and National Hurricane Center sites:

Weather Channel Hurricane Update – CLICK HERE!

National Hurricane Center – CLICK HERE!

Please note that most cruise lines will alter their itineraries to avoid hurricanes. For example, if you are booked on an Eastern Caribbean cruise and St. Thomas is in a hurricane’s sights, your cruise line may alter the cruise to a Western Caribbean itinerary.

Tour operators are making travel planning easier at this time of year and are offering insurance where you can cancel for any reason. If you take this insurance and feel uncomfortable about traveling, you can just cancel and get a refund!

Keep in mind however, if it’s the airline, cruise line, tour operator, resort, etc. that does the canceling; they typically will offer you some options. Some examples of options are that they will offer to change your travel dates without penalty, change the destination or receive a refund. As every hurricane is different, your options may be different as well.

A little knowledge and planning prior to your vacation can go a long way. If you need to change your plans, rebook them or if you’re stranded in an airport somewhere, your travel agent is your advocate and can help you. If you book your own travel, you are on your own!

Contact me today to plan your next getaway at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call 330-329-9178!!

Let it snow...

People ask me when my busiest time of year is and this is the answer. Thanks to Travel Research Online, Open Jaw and Sean Kapitain. Please feel free to make me busier! Email me at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call (330) 329-9178.

What's the best way to communicate from a cruise ship?

As a travel agent, I am often asked by my clients about communicating with family and friends from a cruise ship. This article from USAToday - CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE - offers some great tips and pricing information to find your best option.

I am a cruise specialist, so please keep me in mind to help you find the best itinerary, ship and price for you. I also can help with groups.

Contact me today at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call me at 330.329.9178. Thank you!!

An Announcement!!

A little over a year and a half ago I announced the ending of my association with Unlimited Vacations & Cruises on my Facebook page. I am happy to announce that I have recommitted to my career in travel after spending most of the time taking care of my parents (and still do). My own home-based travel agency is called TravelDivaLisa.com (named after my blog at that web address).

My full service travel agency has a focus on customer service while providing travel planning at its most personal and professional. I will work as your concierge to find the best honeymoon or vacation for you and yours. I am excited about TravelDivaLisa.com and am ready and waiting to take care of all of your travel planning needs.

What makes my agency different from the others?

· I am available! You can call; send me emails or text message if you need me, especially if you have any concerns or problems while traveling.

· I can meet with my clients anywhere! I can come to your home for a consultation, meet you at Starbucks or you can come and meet with me at my home.

· I am focused on my clients and their satisfaction! At my previous agencies, I handled my clients in addition to the agencies’ clients. With my own business, I won’t be distracted away from my clients and can provide better customer service.

Contact me today for all of your travel planning needs by:

Phone: (330) 329-9178 (text messages also)

Email: lisa@traveldivalisa.com

Blog/website: www.TravelDivaLisa.com

I want to thank all of my loyal clients who have encouraged me and stood by me during this transition in my life. You mean a lot to me and I appreciate it! I love you guys!!!!!

Travel Wise | Handling money on trips abroad | Seattle Times Newspaper

Check out this great article:
Travel Wise | Handling money on trips abroad | Seattle Times Newspaper

If you have any questions on currency exchange, using credit cards abroad or need any travel planning assistance, please fee free to contact me at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call 330-329-9178. Thank you!!

~ Lisa

Thank you & Happy Holidays!!!

Thank you for all of your support and bookings in 2010. I truly appreciate it and your friendship. I certainly couldn't have succeeded without you!!


May you and yours have a safe and happy holiday season and a spectacular 2011!!

YouTube - United Breaks Guitars

YouTube - United Breaks Guitars

All airlines can be guilty of baggage mishandling from time to time. This is the first time I've heard of someone writing a song about their experience! LOL

Choosing Travel Protection for Your Next Vacation

Adding travel insurance to your vacation is a way of protecting your investment. This is why it is an important consideration when planning your next vacation. With travel insurance, the price of your vacation can be refunded (less the cost of the insurance) should any unforeseen circumstances arise.

To find the right travel insurance for your vacation, knowing your options is essential. Below are some points to consider that will help you choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation.

Types of Travel Insurance

The first type is a true comprehensive insurance product that covers cancellations prior to departure as well as for circumstances during your trip. This insurance can be purchased from your travel agent, directly from an insurance company or from the tour company or cruise line when you book your trip.

The second type is called a penalty waiver and is technically not insurance. With a penalty waiver, the cancellation fees charged by the tour operator or cruise line are waived should you need to cancel. Waivers are offered by travel agents and tour operators.

Types of Coverage

Comprehensive travel insurance covers much more than a penalty waiver. The coverage includes cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss, theft and emergency medical coverage. It also offers added benefits such as 24-hour emergency assistance and coverage due to bankruptcy of the airline, cruise line or tour operator.

Cancellation reasons that are covered are medical in nature due to illness or injury of either you, an immediate family member or a traveling companion. Some other unforeseen circumstances for cancellation may be considered and is dependent on the type and amount of coverage you choose.

If the comprehensive travel insurance is purchased at time of booking or within a week or two of booking, most insurers will waive any preexisting conditions. This insurance is ideal for seniors as it includes medical insurance that covers them outside of the United States, a coverage not included by Medicare and many other stateside medical insurance companies.

Penalty waivers are primarily used to cover cancellations prior to departure. Should you need to cancel your trip, the penalties that you would normally be charged will be waived. An added bonus is that penalty waivers allow for cancellations that are not medical in nature and can be for any reason. Some cancellation penalty waivers additionally include price protection and hurricane guarantees.

Typical Costs

Comprehensive travel insurance usually costs about 7% of the total trip price. This cost is generally higher than a cancellation waiver as it covers more and takes the age of the travelers into consideration. (For example, an 75 year old would be charged more than a 25 year old due to a higher chance of illness or injury.)

Cancellation penalty waiver costs depend on the length of your trip and can vary between tour operators. Waivers can offer different levels of coverage at corresponding price levels. Prices generally start from $29.99 and can run up to $159.00 per person.

Know Your Bottom Line

Make sure that you thoroughly read and understand your travel insurance or penalty waiver policy before purchasing. If you have questions, ask your travel agent or the insurance company for details.

To learn more about travel insurance/waivers for your next vacation, contact me at divalisatravel@gmail.com!! ~ Lisa :)

Booking Vacations Through an Agent vs. Online

Here's another interesting article from USA Today. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE!
Let me know what you think!!
For any travel planning needs, email me at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call me at 330-329-9178!

Travel agents vs. Internet travel agencies - Another View

The following is a link to a blog article that I found. It gives a true point of view of the value of a travel agent over an internet travel agency. Let me know what you think!

Go to: http://blogs.computerworld.com/15902/why_travel_search_engines_suck?source=rss_blogs

To contact me directly, email me at: lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call 330-329-9178.

Travel agents vs. Internet travel agencies

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I have often been asked why booking with a travel agent is better than if you book on the internet. A while ago I wrote an article for Associated Content addressing this. My article also addresses the fact that you can benefit your local community rather than a "big box" store, i.e., a Mom n' Pop store vs. Wal-Mart, for example. You can read the full article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/427603/the_internet_vs_your_local_travel_agency.html.

Please let me know what you think of the article. I would love your feedback.

Please keep in mind also, when you are booking with a travel agent, you are dealing one on one rather than with numerous agents, often located outside the U.S. (should you get a human being) if you book online and need to call in with a question.

I recently had a client that found a lower priced package online than what I could find. In this rare instance, I could not match the price she found (normally I can do so without a problem). She decided to go with the online agency, however to get the price that she found, she actually had to be on the phone with them for 2 HOURS as the site kept coming up with errors.

My question is – what is your time worth? If she was booking with a travel agent, she would have been booked and done for about $100 more total rather than spending 2 HOURS on the phone to save this money. With me, she could have just paid a deposit and her final payment would be due 45 days prior to departure. With an online agency, you have to pay in full. What would you choose?

When you are booking with a travel agent, you build a relationship with your agent. Your agent learns what your likes and dislikes are and will find the right vacation for you based on this information. For my clients, I keep their needs at heart when working with them. Does a dot com travel agency do that for you?

For personalized service, email me at: divalisatravel@gmail.com!!

Travel agent/client communication

We all have pet peeves. You know -- the little things that people do that drive us nuts. Well, one of mine has come up lately and I look at this as an opportunity to maybe help travel agent to client relationships. The better this relationship is the better job a travel agent can do for their client.

Have you ever assembled something and when you were done, you had several important looking parts left over? You then go back to the directions (that you didn't fully read the first time) to see where you messed up. Now you have to start over. Had you read the directions the first time, you would be done already. (I am guilty of this too!)

A similar thing happens to me when quoting or giving information to clients. This is the common scenario. A client calls or emails me and prefers to receive their quote/information in email form, so I email them fully answering all of their questions. Usually, I get a response with more questions. This is common and expected. A good travel agent would rather have a client ask me questions now rather than later.

To be clear, I am one that always says to ask me anything and to not be afraid of asking a "dumb" question. I am going to get so called "dumb" questions (most of the time they are not) as that are part of the nature of my job as a travel agent, so I am not bothered by that. Also, I realize that many people have not traveled extensively (if at all), so they will have questions that they may think are "dumb", but due to lack of travel experience they need to ask them. This is normal and expected. It is also normal not to notice a thing or two.

However, when multiple questions that are asked would have been answered in full if they had fully read my email that is really annoying. It is almost like they just scan the email, pick and choose what they want to read and ignore the rest. If the answers they are looking for are not in giant neon flashing letters, they will never see it.

I, however am a good travel agent and value my clients and I resist the urge to send a smart alecky email in response. However, when I do respond, I often just copy and paste the answers from my original email. That usually takes care of it, but this step could have been avoided had they read my email in full. Both of our time has been wasted.

Please remember if you are asking for a quote or information from any travel agent, please read or listen to everything they give you so that you can ask any questions in relation to getting further information or if you think of anything new to ask or comment about. A good travel agent will want to do their best for their clients and this will help them to do so.

If you have any suggestions related to this topic or any other customer service issue, please feel free to comment or contact me at divalisatravel@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you and I promise to read everything you write!

Honeymoon & Vacation Planning

Honeymoon planning

Recently I met with a really nice couple for honeymoon planning. My favorite trips to book are often honeymoons and Disney packages. The people going on these trips are enthusiastic, funny, optimistic and above all, excited. That excitement gets me excited about the trip I want to book for them, to fulfill their dreams in a way.

Honeymooners often have a "vision" of what they want for their honeymoon. (Sometimes it's a budget-based vision, but that's okay too!) It is a fun challenge to bring their vision to life for them or if possible, to pleasantly surprise them! What can be really interesting during honeymoon planning is that each couple's vision of their perfect dream honeymoon can be completely different. And sometimes completely different than what their agent expects. This is where we take ourselves out of the picture so that we focus on what our clients want and need for their trip. If we leave ourselves in the picture, it simply doesn't work.

Give Us More Info, Please!

This might be a little bit of a rant, so please bear with me. :-)

During honeymoon planning it is important to be a part of the process. If you give me good, detailed information, that helps me find the best trip for you. For example, if you tell me that you want nonstop flights -- no connections, that's fine. But if you qualify this with "I'm a nervous flier" or tell me that you're claustrophobic, that tells me exactly what you want and why it's important to you. I don't care why you ask for certain things, but if you tell me as much as you can, honeymoon planning or vacation planning will go much easier.

On the flipside, if you are very specific and tell me that you only want nonstops and you can only go on these dates, that's what I'll give you. Standard procedure after I've given these to you is that I call to follow up and see if you have any more questions or if you're ready to book. Sometimes when I follow up, I am told that you already booked online. When I ask if it was the same as what I quoted you following your parameters, I am often told "no, we're leaving on a different day now" or "no, we are changing planes".

Can you imagine how frustrating/confusing this is? I have put a lot of work into pricing your request and when I am told that you can do things that you ruled out when you first contacted me I feel a bit like my time has been wasted. Not to mention, I just worked for you for free with a lot of time and effort with zero outcome. Please note: I don't get paid unless you book with me. Ultimately, it is your choice how you book your trip, and all that I ask is to give me or your agent a fair chance for your honeymoon planning and vacation planning.

Contrary to popular belief in the travel agent community, I believe that competition is good for us and keeps us "real". There is enough business for all of us in the travel business, and it is our job to promote ourselves and tell you through our actions and words why you should book with us and what makes us different. We have to show you why we may have more value to you than an online travel site or the other travel agency nearby.

Between the traveler and the agent, there is a relationship. The more give and take from each side, the more patience, the more communication, the more information, the better it is for both of us.

For questions about honeymoon and vacation planning, contact me at divalisatravel@gmail.com!!