Dining Reservations - Maximize Your Vacation Time

Time is precious.  This is also true when on vacation.    Nobody likes to waste time waiting in lines.  One of the biggest time wasters is waiting at a restaurant to be seated.  How can you maximize your time away without compromising the experience?

Many vacation destinations are now offering advance dining reservations.  Disney allows guests to make reservations as early as 180 days prior to the vacation start date.  The online reservation system lets the requester see real time availability and book immediately.

Several of the cruise lines are also offering advance reservations for their specialty venues.  Having these reservations in place ahead of time lets you get on board with no worries for that special celebration dinner.

Check with your travel professional to see if advance dining reservations are available for your destination.

Bon Appetite!

You Deserve a Vacation - Now more than Ever!

The current state of the economy has everyone cutting back.  Families are making changes to keep up.  A lot of folks are having to take on extra duties to make up for shortcomings.

One area that should not be cut out is vacation time.  Studies have shown that time away relieves stress and can actually improve productivity.

There are ways one can enjoy a vacation without busting the budget.  Here are a few tips to consider:

• Plan a getaway during off-peak or low season for the best values.
• Take a shorter trip (5-days vs. 7-days)
• Look for options closer to home to save on airfare.  There are many cruise ports within driving distance to a variety of places.
• Consult a Travel Professional.  They can save you time on finding the best values.

These are just a few tips that can get you that much needed vacation without breaking the bank.  Have tips of your own?  Feel free to share.

Now, contact your Travel Consultant and get ready to relax.

Loyalty - What Keeps You Coming Back?

Last week, Carnival unveiled their new loyalty program, the VIFP Club.  The new levels and benefits of the "Very Important Fun Person" Club caused quite a bit of debate and uproar.

All this debate caused me to ponder why we loyal to certain brands.

Is it the comfort of knowing what to expect?  The vacation can be much more relaxing when you know how you will be treated and what the ship or resort has to offer.

Is it the overall value?  With today's economy, everyone is looking for the most bang for their buck.  This can also be tied back to the expectations too with being familiar with what the brand has done in the past.

Is it the status?  A lot of programs have unique identifiers for their most loyal.  For example, different colored room keys, etc.  This allows the staff to recognize the traveler as someone special.

Is it the perks and freebies?  Most loyalty programs offer some perks and benefits.  These can be anything from additional discounts to gifts and free services.  Everyone likes to get free things.  Also, going back to the value, it becomes a better value when there are extras or upgrades offered.

It would be great to think that a little bit of all these factors come in to play regarding loyalty.  What we also need to understand is that the companies offering these programs are businesses.  They too, are dealing with the economic issues that we as individuals are.  So, where do they make changes to improve the bottom line, but not affect their product?  Instead of increasing rates or cutting back staff, it would make sense to cut the "freebies" and little gadgets that a lot of people enjoy receiving, but really have no use for.

Hoping that as long as the company is continuing to put out the quality product that has come to be expected, the loyal will continue to be loyal.

Vacation Time for Your Pet too!

When planning a vacation, it is important to make arrangements for pets that will not be making the trip.  Nowadays, there are options other than the standard crate at the local vet.  A house/pet sitter is a great answer.  However, that is not always an option.   Many areas now offer pet hotels and resorts that are very reasonably priced.

Early planning is essential.  Take the time to research the facilities and even visit ahead of time if able.  Things to consider when choosing a place for your four-legged family member include:

• Type of accommodations - some offer indoor/outdoor "suites"
• How much playtime will be included - you may be able to purchase additional time 
• What other amenities are included - treats, one-on-one time, etc.

Different facilities and areas have various requirements for boarding.  Be sure to keep your pet up on current vaccinations as most will require to see the records.  

If time allows, schedule a day trip or short stay for your pet.  They get to become familiar with the staff and you get to feel at ease knowing how they are cared for in a short stay.

Think of it as planning a vacation for your pet and it will lessen the anxiety for both of you.

Exercise - Take it or Leave it when on Vacation?

Many folks have regular or semi- regular exercise schedules.  Do you think about your exercise regime when planning a vacation?  Nowadays, there is no reason to leave it all behind.  Unless, of course, that is one of the reasons for getting away.

Today, most hotels and resorts offer exercise rooms with the standard equipment.  Many of the moderate to upscale resorts even have personal trainers available for assistance.

The cruise lines also offer ships with a wide variety of workout options.  Some of the top of the line equipment can be found at sea.  If you prefer to have an instructor, be sure to visit the spa or watch the daily newsletter to see what days and times your class will be offered.  Note, some of the classes are an additional fee.

What is your preference?  Will you take your workout or leave it when you travel?  If it is a must go, a travel professional can assist in finding the best  resort/ship that will fit your exercise needs.

Relax, you're on vacation!

Connie Sims
Sims Family Tours & Travel
www.simsfamtrav.com
info@simsfamtrav.com

Traveling with a Passion

Everyone loves a vacation!  Time to get away from everyday schedules and chores.  Time to do something fun.  Doing something fun can have several meanings.  Some prefer to hang by the pool or beach.  Others like to do extensive shopping trips.  Some enjoy visiting historic places and museums.  There are vacations for all of these and more.

Some vacations can even take on a theme.  For example, Jimmy Buffett fans may enjoy visiting all the various Margaritaville Cafe locations.  While the trip itself may not have been designed specifically for that, it is fun to include these stops along the way.  Kind of like collecting sea shells from different beaches.

There are a variety of passions or hobbies that can add a little fun and playfulness.  Start a new trend on your next trip.

Full service vs. Self service - Makes Travel $ense

With everyone's busy schedules nowadays, it just makes sense to do things that help to free up time.  The current economy also makes it important to find the best value.

Planning a vacation is one of the activities that can take up a lot of time.  Especially when research is involved for new destinations and types of vacations.

This is where a Travel Agent/Consultant or whatever other term may be used to describe them comes in as a valuable time saving tool.  The education and day to day experience that agents have afford them the ability to offer suggestions on the type of vacation that is being considered.

We often hear "but that is the same price as the website".  Here is where the added value comes in.  Does the website personally respond to emails, answer the phone, return calls?  Will the website offer unbiased opinions and alternative suggestions?  Will the website be there after the deposit is made to answer questions?   Try getting the website to file a complaint after travel on something that may have gone wrong.

Think of it this way.  When driving down the road and the full service gas station is offering the same price as the self service station, which would you prefer?

My Fascination with Cruise Vacations

Since taking my first cruise in 2004 on the Carnival Miracle, I have been a huge fan of cruising.  It was such an awesome experience that I decided to make cruise vacations a cornerstone of our business.  I cruised with my family (including my parents and mother-in-law).  A lot of research went in to finding the perfect fit for all of us.  Nothing can compare to personal experience.  My fascination with cruise vacations has allowed me to experience over 20 cruises in the past seven years.

Cruise vacations are such a great value.  Their almost all-inclusive nature allows you to relax knowing your meals and entertainment are already covered.  The ease of visiting multiple destinations without having to pack and unpack for each is an added bonus.  The variety of entertainment and activities on board makes cruising a great choice for traveling with the extended family.

Each cruise line is unique and geared towards a different target audience.  Be sure to do your research and contact a qualified travel agent to make certain you are cruising on the line that will guarantee you an awesome cruise vacation.

Connie Sims, MCC
Sims Family Tours & Travel - "Where Vacations are Waiting to Happen!"