Cunard Raising Fuel Surcharges - Is this just the beginning?

Cunard announced that they are raising fuel supplements from $3.85 to $6.00 per person, per day.  The supplement will be capped at $200 per person, per voyage. 

This supplement will be applied to each guest, including 3rd and 4th passengers in a stateroom whether an adult or child. 

The increased supplement will apply to all new bookings made on or after 12/31/10 for sailings departing on or after 4/14/11. 

This is the first cruise line to increase their fuel supplement.  Will this be just the start of having to pay increased fuel supplements for all cruise lines?

Celtic Tours Classic College Football - Notre Dame vs Navy in Dublin 2012

Updated October 18, 2011
Notre Dame and Navy have played each other since 1927.  In 1996 Notre Dame and Navy faced off in Dublin, Ireland. Over 12,000 Notre Dame and Navy fans traveled from the US to be a part of the game.  They will play each other again in 2012 - call 732-747-8187 now to reserve your spot!  Please ask for Mary.

Here are sample itineraries, although we can customize your trip as well - just ask.

New Itinerary 

Portmarnock, Co Dublin, Killarney, Louth  8 Days/ 6 Nights

SAMPLE INCLUSION COSTS

• 6 Nights 1st Class/Superior Hotels(includes 3 nights in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, 2 Nights Killarney and 1 Night Louth)
• 6 Full Irish Breakfasts
• 3 Hotel dinners
• 1 Dinner with Traditional Irish Entertainment
• Game Ticket
• Boxed Lunch at Game
• Deluxe touring motorcoach with Driver/Guide for all transfers and sightseeing
• Service Charges, Flight Bag and Travel Documents
• Services of Celtic Tours Representative in Ireland

ADMISSION TO

Guinness Brewery Storehouse, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Cobh Heritage Center, plus Blarney Woollen Mills

COST

From $2488 LAND PP Sharing

$798 Single Room Supplement

______________________________________________________
Almost Sold Out 
Dublin, Galway   6 Days/ 4 Nights

SAMPLE INCLUSION COSTS

• 4 Nights 1st Class/Superior Hotels(includes 3 Nights Dublin, 1 Night Galway)
• 4 Full Irish Breakfasts
• 1 Hotel dinner
• 1 Dinner with Traditional Irish Entertainment
• Game Ticket
• Boxed Lunch at Game
• Deluxe touring motorcoach with Driver/Guide for all transfers and sightseeing
• Service Charges, Flight Bag and Travel Documents
• Services of Celtic Tours Representative in Ireland

ADMISSION TO

Trinity College and the Book of Kells
 

COST

From $1678 LAND PP Sharing

$269 Single Room Supplement


________________________________________________


Sold Out. Please call for details 
Limerick, Galway, Dublin   8 Days/ 6 Nights

SAMPLE INCLUSION COSTS

• 6 Nights 1st Class/Superior Hotels(includes 1 Night Limerick, 2 Nights Galway and 3 Nights Dublin)
• 6 Full Irish Breakfasts
• 3 Hotel dinners
• 1 Dinner with Traditional Irish Entertainment
• Game Ticket
• Boxed Lunch at Game
• Deluxe touring motorcoach with Driver/Guide for all transfers and sightseeing
• Service Charges, Flight Bag and Travel Documents
• Services of Celtic Tours Representative in Ireland

ADMISSION TO

Guinness Brewery Storehouse, Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey
 

COST

From $2035 LAND PP Sharing

$429 Single Room Supplement



___________________________________________________


PLEASE NOTE:

AIRFARE

Inclusive Air rates will be advised at a later date including scheduled air and charter air where available.
 

OPTIONAL GOLF TOURS

Optional golf tours available with a minimum of 3 golf days

NOTE

Tips to the Driver/Guide is considered personal and is not included. 

Current Irish taxes are included as of July 2010 and are subject to change.


These can also be arranged:
Chauffeur Driven Tours
Golf Tour Packages
Self-Drive Tour Options
We can also arrange for an extended stay in Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy or other European Destinations.

Optional Sightseeing:
Tour the Ring of Kerry
Kiss the Blarney Stone
Exclusive parties for your groups can be arranged at any Irish Venue.
Hop on/Hop off tour of Dublin

Individual Policies
LAND TOUR INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS
Up To April 04, 2011: $50 Deposit Required to Hold Space
From April 05-September 01, 2011: Additional $100 PP Due
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: Additional $100 PP Due
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: Additional $200 PP Due
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: Additional $200 PP Due
Final Payment due May 24, 2012
*Insurance due at time of deposit. Those already deposited will have up to April 04, 2011 to purchase insurance.
**Air: Once airfares and schedules become available, we will advise you of the airline policy for deposits due, changes, cancellations and ticketing deadlines.

LAND TOUR NAME CHANGE or REPLACEMENT FEES
Up To April 04, 2011: No Charge
From April 05-September 01, 2011: No Charge
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: No Charge
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: $50 Per Change
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: $100 Per Change
From May 24, 2012-June 29, 2012: $200 Per Change
From June 30, 2012 Onward: No Replacement/Change Allowed

LAND TOUR CANCELLATION FEE
Up to April 04, 2011: $50 Per Person
From April 05-September 01, 2011: $100 Per Person Booked
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: $200 Per Person Booked
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: $400 Per Person Booked
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: 70% of Land Tour Cost
From May 24, 2012 Onward: 100% of Land Tour Cost
Group Policies

LAND TOUR GROUP DEPOSITS
Up To April 04, 2011: $250 Deposit Required to Hold Space
From April 05-September 01, 2011: Additional $100 PP Due For All Seats Sold
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: Additional $100 PP Due For All Seats Sold
From November 01, 2011: All sold seats must be advised with names
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: Additional $200 PP Due For All Seats Sold-Release of 90% of unsold seats
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: Additional $200 PP Due For All Seats Sold-Release of 90% of unsold seats
Final Payment due May 24, 2012-Release of all unsold seats
*Insurance due at time of deposit. Those already deposited will have up to April 04, 2011 to purchase insurance.
**Air: Once airfares and schedules become available, we will advise you of the airline policy for deposits due, changes, cancellations and ticketing deadlines.


LAND TOUR NAME CHANGE or REPLACEMENT FEES
Up To April 04, 2011: No Charge
From April 05-September 01, 2011: No Charge
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: No Charge
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: $50 Per Change
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: $100 Per Change
From May 24, 2012-June 29, 2012: $200 Per Change
From June 30, 2012 Onward: No Replacement/Change Allowed

LAND TOUR CANCELLATION FEE
Up to April 04, 2011: $200 Per Group
From April 05-September 01, 2011: $100 Per Person Booked
From September 02, 2011-February 07, 2012: $200 Per Person Booked
From February 08, 2012-March 30, 2012: $400 Per Person Booked
From March 31, 2012-May 23, 2012: 70% of Land Tour Cost
From May 24, 2012 Onward: 100% of Land Tour Cost


Call Mary McGrath at 732-747-8187 for details and reservations

Cycling on the Seas - Norwegian Epic - November 5, 2011

Come Join Us for 

Cycling on the Seas ~ November 5, 2011

on the New Norwegian Epic

Cruise to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau  

Your cruise vacation includes: Four indoor cycling classes just for our group! ~ $50 onboard credit per cabin ~ Travel Bug Vacation Planners tote bag

Other highlights include: Aqua Park, bowling, bungee jumping, ice skating, rock climbing, rappelling, volleyball Blue Man Group, Second City Comedy, Cirque Dinner Show, Legends in Concert, Murder Mystery Lunch, & the first Ice Bar at Sea!

$50 per person deposit will hold your spot! 

*prices are per person, based on double occupancy; other categories on a space available basis   3^rd & 4^th person rates are also available

For details contact Mary McGrath 732-747-8187 or email mary@thetravelbugonline.com 

Click here to read more about the New Norwegian Epic!

*Fares shown in U.S. dollars. Offers apply to select sailing. Fares are cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy.  Additional categories available as well as 3^rd and 4^th  person pricing.  Government taxes and fees of $121.23 additional per person. Onboard service charges are additional and will be automatically added to your onboard account, and is subject to your discretion. See ncl.com for details. IMPORTANT NOTICE: NCL is suspending the company’s fuel supplement for all voyages at this time. The Company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $65 per barrel. NCL may collect any fuel supplement charge in effect at the time of sailing, even if the cruise fare has been paid in full. Offers are based on availability, capacity controlled, not combinable with other offers, subject to change or cancellation without notice, and may be withdrawn at any time. Other restrictions apply. NCL is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. Ships’ Registry: BAHAMAS and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ©2010 NCL Corporation Ltd. Travel Agency disclaimer: Pricing subject to change and availability

 

TSA New Requirements as of November 1, 2010

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that it will require a full name (as it appears on the government issued ID they will use when traveling), date of birth and gender for all passengers traveling on or after November 1, 2010 regardless of when the reservation was booked. Failure to provide this information could result in a reservation being refused by the airline.

All reservations traveling or returning on November 1, 2010 and after, must include the following information, regardless of when the reservation was booked, in order to be in compliance with Transportation Security Administration requirements.

• - Full Name -first, middle name or initial*, and last, as it appears on the valid, government-issued photo ID that the passenger will present at the airport)
•- Date of Birth
•- Gender

Airlines may cancel any reservation which does not contain this information at least 72 hours prior to travel.

The spelling of the middle name or initial must exactly match the government issue ID used when traveling. Not entering this information at the time of booking could result in additional fees and delays at the airport.

Please visit http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm for full details from the TSA.

US Dollars in Mexico

The Mexican Government has passed a new anti-money laundering law which went into effect September 14, 2010. With this new law, the use of American Dollars (CASH) to make purchases in Mexico will change. Other payment methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks, Mexican pesos and non-American foreign currencies (such as Euros or Canadian Dollars) are NOT affected in any way by this new law.

The most noticeable differences will be: Hotels,Exchange Booths, and local banks will only be able to change a maximum of $1,500 USD CASH per person per month into Mexican Pesos. Previously there was no limit. Businesses (including restaurants and shops) will only be able to accept a maximum of $100 USD CASH per transaction - but the number of transactions per customer is not restricted. Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept US Dollars for any purchase at all (this may include shops, etc), however still accepting Mexican Pesos.

If a customer wants to purchase an excursion (for example) that costs $150 US dollars per person, customers will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD CASH and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit card, Mexican pesos, etc). Airlines are advising that within Mexico, they will only accept Mexican Pesos and credit cards for any fees (including baggage fees). Vacationers should never carry large amounts of American dollars with them abroad, but instead they should consider either using a credit card or ATM card to withdraw Mexican Pesos.

The New "Queen Elizabeth" Christening Scheduled for October 11

Cunard took delivery of its new ship, the Queen Elizabeth, September 30 during a ceremony at a shipyard in Italy. The ship will hold 2,092 passengers. Queen Elizabeth II will christen the ship in Southampton on October 11. The ship will take her maiden voyage to Lisbon and Seville following the christening.

Travel advice: Ten tips to avoid travel rip-offs - Telegraph

Great advice to protect yourself from being ripped off while traveling

Travel advice: Ten tips to avoid travel rip-offs - Telegraph

News from Princess Cruise LInes and Tahiti Tourism

Princess Cruises recently announced that one of its bigger ships, the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess, will sail a 28-day roundtrip voyage to Tahiti from Los Angeles in late 2011.

The sailing will also include stops in Hawaii and Samoa. “It's the first time Princess has offered a roundtrip sailing from Los Angeles to Tahiti in at least 20 years,” spokeswoman Susanne Ferrull told USA TODAY.

Scheduled to kick off on Oct. 22, 2011, the 28-day South Pacific sailing will include calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, Pago Pago, Apia, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti, as well as two crossings of the Equator.

Sapphire Princess is joining Golden Princess in sailing to the Pacific out of Los Angeles. The Golden Princess offers 14-day roundtrip cruises to Hawaii from the city's port.

Summer Bed Bug Advice while on Vacation

Expert Offers Summer Vacationers Travel Tips for Keeping Bed Bugs Out of Your Home

HEALTH CARE AND TRAVEL TIPS - TheCypressTimes

HEALTH CARE AND TRAVEL TIPS - TheCypressTimes

This is an excellent article regarding your health while traveling as well as information on pet travel and kids/teens traveling.

American To Upsell Premium Coach Seats At Checkin Kiosks

Business Travel - Airline News - American To Upsell Premium Coach Seats At Checkin Kiosks - Business Travel News

How far will they go? When will the additional fees add up to more than the cost of the airline ticket itself? It seems that the airlines really like to antagonize their passengers and what better way to do so than keep adding fees upon fees for things that used to be free?

Hurricane Season Travel Tips from AmadeusShare

10 HURRICANE-PROOF TRAVEL TIPS

Safety first, then relaxation

Hurricane season doesn’t have to hamper tropical trips.

Baby, it’s windy outside … and rainy.

Bad beach weather could be the fate of some of your customers visiting “hurricane belt” destinations—areas bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Between June 1 and November 30 each year, these regions are prone to “tropical disturbances,” ranging from brief episodes of heavy rain to tropical storms to full-fledged hurricanes.

That doesn’t mean Florida, the Caribbean and other tropical destinations should be off-limits during what also just so happens to be peak vacation season.

But a few planning tips can help you keep your customers happy and protected as they enjoy a vacation that’s hopefully soaked with sunshine rather than rain.

1. Safety first
Equip your customers with helpful hurricane safety tips—just in case. Make sure they’re aware of evacuation routes, and provide them with the emergency map for the hotel or resort where they are staying. Strongly suggest that your customers leave their detailed itinerary and contact information with friends or family staying behind.

2. Bottled water & batteries
Tell hurricane belt bound travelers to pack a few survival kit essentials in their suitcases, whether they are flying or driving to their destination. The American Red Cross recommends a flashlight, batteries, bottled water or water tablets, nonperishable snacks and a can opener. You might also suggest they keep cash on hand in whatever currency is accepted.

3. Go the refundable route
Purchasing refundable tickets doesn’t have to mean sky-high rates, especially through low-cost carriers. And since airline fees for changing tickets have skyrocketed in recent months, your customers may be better off with a refundable ticket—especially if the weather is going to be a factor.

4. Encourage insurance
You gotta love travel insurance. It’s relatively inexpensive to your customer, yet comes with a big commission for your travel agency—and in certain cases, it will ensure even non-refundable trips are “hurricane proof.” (Check individual policies for coverage information.) Amadeus Insurance is easy to add with one click from Amadeus Selling Platform. “Your customers will thank you in the event of an emergency, weather-related or otherwise,” advises Ronan Fradin, a product manager for Amadeus North America.

5. Avoid the higher ground
Mountainous and hilly regions in the hurricane belt are more likely to turn into danger zones when hurricanes strike, according to Forbes. The Dominican Republic has four mountain areas—and with them, a history of devastating mudslides. Whereas the Bahamas are smack in the middle of the hurricane belt, but with their relatively flat topography, aren’t hit nearly as hard as hillier destinations. Of course it’s impossible to say for certain whether one region will be safer than another during any given hurricane season, but odds will be on your side in flatter terrains.

6. Know your ABCs
The ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—may be the best-known, low-hurricane-risk Caribbean islands. Stick with smaller destinations and your customers are statistically less likely to be stuck in the eye of a storm. But be pre-warned, if a hurricane does hit, it will be harder to leave a smaller island rather than a larger one.

7. Focus on the fall
No one knows for sure when Mother Nature will strike, but hurricane season tends to hit its peak in late summer. October and November can still host bad weather, but the odds are in your customers’ favor that they’ll be out of the woods by then.

8. Seek the “sunshine guarantee”
SuperClubs offers a “sunshine guarantee” for its all-inclusive properties in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Curacao. Vacationers are given a full credit for each day that isn’t sunny—good for a future stay. Hyatt has a similar policy at several of its Caribbean resorts.

9. Wild, wild west
If your customers are extremely anxious about tropical storms, this probably isn’t the best time of year to book a vacation in the hurricane belt. Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University forecasted that the East Coast of the US and the Caribbean will get quite a battering during the 2010 hurricane season. Talk up Napa Valley or pretty Portland, Oregon, instead.

10. Don’t forget to have fun!
Leisure travel is supposed to be about letting go and enjoying life. Remind your customers that although bad weather is always a possibility, they should relax and enjoy their vacation. And if it’s too stormy to hit the beach, staying at a resort with a fabulous spa is the perfect silver lining to possible rain clouds!

TSA Guidelines Update

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that it will require full name (as it appears on their government issued ID), date of birth and gender for all passengers traveling on or after November 1, 2010 regardless of when the reservation was booked. Failure to provide this information could result in a reservation being refused by the airline.

Free or Inexpensive City Tours Offered by Locals

This is from an article written by by Christine Sarkis of SmarterTravel.com

Discovering New Cities With Friendly Locals

Finding a local to show you around is a great way to get to know a new city or rediscover an old favorite. But most travelers don't have friends in every city they visit, which is what makes the greeter programs that have cropped up in recent years so genius. Locals volunteer to show visitors around their neighborhood or city, offering travelers the chance at a resident's-eye-view, often for free! Here are some of the larger greeter programs:

U.S.

• New York City: Big Apple Greeter has more than 300 volunteers and offers tours in 22 languages. To reserve a tour, fill out a visit request form at least three weeks in advance.
• Chicago: Chicago Greeter is run by the Chicago Office of Tourism. Tours of more than 25 neighborhoods and 40 themes are available in any of 15 languages. To reserve a tour, register at least seven business days in advance.
• Houston: Houston Greeters don't just offer tours, but also the chance to hang out with a Houstonian and get the inside scoop while jogging, watching a sports game, exploring a museum, or another activity. Register online.
• San Francisco: Guests staying at any Joie de Vivre hotel in San Francisco can sign up for a free neighborhood tour with a local. The Golden Gate Greeter program is available to hotel guests who sign up in advance.

International

• Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide Greeters pairs visitors and local volunteers with similar interests for city orientations. To book, fill out a visitor request form at least three days in advance.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: Cicerones de Buenos Aires offers tours of both popular and off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods. These two- to three-hour tours are free, but visitors are expected to cover any transportation, meal, or admission costs for the guide. Sign up online to book a visit.
• Paris: Paris Greeter is slightly different from other greeter programs because it costs 10 euros to cover the cost of pairing visitors with volunteers. Two- and three-hour walks are led by locals keen to share their favorite parts of Paris. To request a walk, book online at least two weeks in advance.
• Toronto: TAP, or the Toronto Ambassador Program, offers visitors two- to three-hour tours of some of the city's popular neighborhoods. To book a tour, sign up online.

Luggage Shipping Services

Losing your luggage can potentially ruin your vacation.  Peter Greenberg wrote a great article on his blog which gives the reader alternatives to checking your luggage with the airline.  Yes, it will probably cost a bit more than checking the bags at the airport, but think about the time and trouble you will avoid.

You can print your boarding pass at home and go directly to the gate (after passing through security, of course). You won't have to wait on line to check the luggage and you won't have to wait to pick it up when you return to your departure airport.  I know we have waited over an hour at Newark airport for our luggage to come through the turnstile.  And you won't have to wade through the crowded airport with your luggage in tow.

Here are a few services that will deliver your luggage for you:
LUGLESS www.lugless.com

Luggage Forward www.luggageforward.com

Sports Express www.sportsexpress.com

Luggage Free http://www.luggagefree.com

FedEx www.fedex.com 

UPS www.ups.com
Luggage Concierge http://www.luggageconcierge.com/

Watch a video from Peter Greenberg 

Dublin Named UNESCO City of Literature

Dublin Named UNESCO City of Literature

5 Things Not To Do When Shopping For Travel

Here is a review of an article written by Nina Slawek:

Highlights:

1. Don't get "deal obsessed"
2. Don't assume the airlines are out to "getcha"
3. Don't get a travel agent to map out a full vacation itinerary...and then book it all yourself on the web
4. Don't believe everything you read
5. Don't try this at home (DIY travel planning)

It still amazes me when a potential client will contact me and ask me to plan his or her vacation, then "steal" what I have spent hours of work on in preparing a proposed trip and book the trip on their own. What does this accomplish? Do they think they will get a better deal by booking on their own? If they have found a better price I am usually able to match it. Who will they call when there is a problem, a concern, or a simple question? Would they call a lawyer, an accountant, a doctor and ask them to do work for free? I don't think they would get very far if they tried.

I have not charged for my travel planning in the past and there are other agents who keep telling me I should at least ask for a retainer, a "planning fee", which would be non-refundable if the trip is canceled or not booked at all. I am at the point that I believe I will have to do this.

I used to feel that I could trust a new client to work with me and book their trip with me. But that is not always the case. At least with a "planning fee" which would be applied to the final payment, the work that I have done will not be wasted should the client decide not to book the trip. I believe if the client is serious about booking the trip in the first place, they wouldn't mind paying the planning fee. If not, they probably were the ones who would have "stolen" the trip anyway.

Any thoughts?

Engaged Couples - Visit Me on July 21 at Jacques Caterers, Plan It Expo Bridal Show

I will be displaying at Plan It Expo's Bridal Show on Wednesday, July 21st, at Jacques' Caterers, from 6-9 pm.
Please come by and say hi!

Address:
500 Palmer Ave
North Middletown, NJ
732-787-2830

 

Why You Need to Take a Vacation

I read an article by Brian Tracy entitled "Four Essentials For Happiness".  His four steps are:

1. "The key to happiness" in which you desire to have happy relationships in your life.
2. "Enjoy your work".  You spend a major portion of your life working, so your job should be something you look forward to, that challenges you. 
3. "Become financially independent".  Money is often the biggest worry in someone's life.  By managing your money, you will be able to enjoy the niceties of life and free yourself from worry.
4. "Enjoy excellent health".  Without your health, the other three become unimportant.  Take care of yourself; don't take it for granted.

Brian Tracy has suggestions as to how to achieve each of the above "four essentials".  His first suggestion is to take stock of what would make you really happy in each of the four areas and to think about this on a regular basis, because some things may change over time.

Secondly, he says to set specific, measurable goals for improvement in each of the four areas.

And lastly, and I think most important of all, he says to "resolve to do something every day to increase the quality of some area of your life - and then keep your resolution."  This last one can apply to your need to take time off and relax.  Take a vacation - you deserve it.  How many people have vacation time accrued but are afraid to take it because they don't want to take the time off from work.  They feel there is too much to do, things won't get done while they are away.  Or maybe a person is self-employed.  I can relate to that.  In this case, it may be that if you don't work, you don't get paid.  You don't want to take that time off because of that.  But think of the last time you did take a vacation.  How did it feel when you went back to work?  In most cases, the answer would be that the person is rejuvenated, ready to get back to work, and feeling good to do so.

Many Americans are workaholics and America itself is known for burnt out workers.  In an article written by Eve Tahmincioglu, of msnbc.com, it is stated that "Companies are beginning to realize the benefits of vacations for their weary workers — fewer sick days, smaller health care bills and a more motivated workforce. Unfortunately, not all employers get this, and sometimes it’s the workers themselves that don’t get this, either. They have a perverted view that not taking time off and keeping their nose to the grindstone will advance their career, or keep their jobs from ending up on the chopping block.
But in fact, it could lead to burnout, emotional and physical illness, and end up jeopardizing their careers, their lives.  So take vacation, people!"

“Taking a vacation is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” says Kathleen Hall, founder of The Stress Institute in Atlanta. “If you don’t have the opportunity to relax and reflect you get stressed, and chronic stress is the driver of most diseases — heart disease, obesity, insomnia.”

"It is important for people to take their vacations — meaning vacations of a week or two long. Taking a day or two doesn't do as much good," explains Wallace Huffman, economics professor at Iowa State University. "Productivity could increase by up to 60 percent for employees in the month or two following a good vacation."

And don't think that you can take a vacation and keep up with work at the same time.  You are doing yourself (and your family) a disservice and you are allowing your job to rule your life.  Disconnect your cell phone, your IPad, your Kindle, your Blackberry.  Have someone cover for you at work.  Leave the laptop at home.  Your vacation is a time to relax, not just work from a different locale.  

“In order to have a successful long-term career, you need to manage your career, plan to take time off regularly to allow your body to regenerate so not to suffer from burnout, exhaustion, depression,” Huffman advises. “This becomes even more important as people live longer.”

Workplace legal expert Robin Bond offered these vacation tips:

• Inform others in advance. Let co-workers and clients know of your vacation time as soon as you plan it, and send a reminder of your absence as the dates approach. Advise clients whom they can contact when you are away.
• Have a buddy system in place. Get projects to a good stopping place before you leave, and ask a trusted colleague to serve as a backup in case any urgent problems arise in your absence. Be sure to return the favor.
• Schedule around busy business cycles.
• And relax!

After all, why are you working in the first place?  Hopefully, as in essential # 2, because you enjoy it.  You are also trying to accomplish #3, which is financial stability, and along with that, set up a savings plan as you would for anything else, and put the money aside for your yearly (or more often) vacation where you can relax, recharge, rejuvenate, and stay healthy (#4 above).

And when you are at your destination, close your eyes, take a deep breath in, blow it out, and congratulate yourself!  You did it, you let go!

Who Will Help You When You Encounter a Problem?

Another reason to contact a travel consultant for your vacation planning - who will  help you if you book online at one of the large internet sites?  What happens if you need to change your plans?  What if you want suggestions for places to visit, restaurants, things for the kids to do, etc?  Some people (perhaps many) believe they will save money by booking their vacations on their own.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  It is good to do some research on your own but why would you invest thousands of your hard-earned dollars in an online booking site, without being able to have a dedicated travel consultant in whom you can trust? 

Your consultant can help you choose the right destination based on your wishes and needs.  Let's face it.  Everyone wants to save some money.  But when it comes to your vacation which you have waited sometimes an entire year to come, make sure you treat yourself nicely.  Would you rather come home and say, "I saved $600 by booking the cheapest room at the resort, but when I saw some of the other rooms, I wish I had spent the money on that" or would you want to come home and say, "I am so glad we went with the oceanfront room with the concierge services.  We had such a great time and we deserved it!"

Your travel consultant has contacts with the various suppliers, whether cruise, resort, city packages, and can guide you to making the perfect choice for your trip. 

Do you think you will get this help from an online agency?  Have you ever called with a question?  And what happens when you call again?  Do you get the same person?  Probably not.  Do yourself a favor and call your travel consultant.  

Tips for Taking Great Vacation Photos

Taking pictures while on vacation is a great way to keep the memories alive.  Taking GREAT pictures while on vacation is something many of us strive to do, but often fail.  Here is an article I found on taking vacation photos.  It has a lot of useful information and maybe next time your vacation photos will have that WOW factor.

Disney Dining Plan Extended Through December 21, 2010

Combine Disney hotel and theme park tickets and get Disney Dining Plan Free 

Requirements:

• 5-night stay at a Disney Value or Moderate Resort
• Value Resort guests receive the Quick Service Dining Plan
• Moderate Resort guests receive the standard dining plan
• 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket is required

Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: May 3 – Aug. 14, 2010
• Travel Window: Valid for stays most nights Aug. 15 – Oct. 7, 2010, Oct. 22 – Oct. 28, 2010, Nov. 12 - Nov. 18, 2010, Nov. 27 – Dec. 2, 2010 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 21, 2010

Sample Pricing:

• $1,843 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Moderate Resort. That’s like paying $77 per person, per day!
• $1,440 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying $60 per person, per day!

Restrictions apply and this offer is subject to availability at the time of booking.  Please call 732-747-8187 for details.

Norwegian Epic Inaugural

We are back home from the two-night Inaugural of the Norwegian Epic.  Thank you to NCL for the invitation and for your hospitality.  We had a wonderful time on the ship and the Epic is absolutely beautiful.
To view my photos, click here.

There is so much to do while on the ship.  For sports fun there is the Aqua Park, the Epic Plunge, bowling, bungee jumping, ice skating, rock climbing and rappelling, climbing in the Spider Web, volleyball, batting cage, squash court, basketball, hockey, soccer, and dodge ball on the multi-use sports deck.  The Pulse fitness center is large and has yoga, stretch classes, total body conditioning, Gravity Blast, seminars, TRX (stretching with bands), and spinning.  There are 18 bikes in the spin room and they are set up with Activio Heart Rate monitors.  Each person chooses how hard they want their workout to be and the monitor will calculate their target heart rate.  Each individual's heart rate will show up on the screen at the front of the room but it is shown as a percentage so only the student knows what their training level is.

For entertainment, don't miss the Blue Man Group, Second City, Cirque Dinner Show, Legends in Concert, Howl at the Moon (dueling pianos), and Slam Allen's Blues Band (playing at Fat Cats), and the Murder Mystery Lunch.  For shows that require reserved tickets, make sure to get there about a half hour prior to get a good seat.  Because they were setting up for NBC's coverage of the Macy's fireworks, we didn't get to go to Spice H2O's nightclub but that is where the Spice H2O beach club is by day and at night the pool is covered with a dance floor.  Sounds like lots of fun!  We did go to the Bliss Lounge late at night where they had a great DJ and lots of dancing. 

The Spa is 34, 000 square feet with 24 treatment rooms.   There are even Spa Suites available which gives quick access to the spa area along with other perks.

You could compare the entertainment onboard to Vegas, but the value is much better on the ship.  In Vegas, you would pay $100 per person for the Blue Man Group; $68 per person for Cirque Dreams; $35 per person to go to a water park.  You get all this on the ship and pay as low as $49.90 per person  per day for your trip.  That  includes your food, accommodations, and fun!  And don't forget, NCL offers union, military, teacher, and veteran discounts.

There is also the first Ice Bar at sea where you will put on a lined and hooded parka and gloves (provided by NCL) and go inside the ice bar for a maximum of 20 minutes.  You will be provided with two drinks (more like shots than full size drinks).

There are twenty dining options onboard, including 24 hour room service. Many of these options are included at no charge while others do have a cover.  Three are private for Villa occupants only.  We ate at O'Sheehan's, which has an Irish pub atmosphere, at Taste, which is one of the main dining rooms, and at Moderno, which is a Brazilian steakhouse.  If you have never eaten at a Brazilian steakhouse, don't miss this one!  We loved the look of La Cucina, an Italian restaurant that looked like it was set outdoors in a courtyard.  There is even "pizza anywhere" where you can order pizza from wherever you are and it will be delivered to you.
 
The casino is nice and roomy (I only hope that one day all cruise ships will go smoke free, at least indoors!), and the Garden Cafe, which is their indoor buffet, is also nicely set up where the stations are set apart and there are no long lines with which to contend.  There are plenty of intimate lounges where you can sit and relax and listen to someone entertain you.

The kids program is great, with the breakdown as follows:  ages 2-5, ages 6-9, ages 10-12, and ages 13-17.  The programs are complimentary.  Kids can get a backpack and soda package for $39.50.  In the backpack are a T-shirt, baseball cap, sunglasses, and a wristband for the soda package.  The Youth Counselors are well trained and your children will be in good hands.  The ship has Nickelodeon at Sea, which is exclusive to NCL.  The Aqua Park has lots of slides (too scary for me!) and the kids that were on the ship had a lot of fun there.

The villas are beautiful and come with special benefits.  Courtyard villa occupants receive butler and concierge service; 24 hr room service from a special menu; access to a private Courtyard area complete with pool, sundeck, hot tub and their own fitness area; breakfast and lunch at a specialty restaurant; champagne, hors d'oeuvres, bottled water and soda; in room espresso/cappuccino machine; priority embarkation and disembarkation.  In addition to all these, Garden Villa occupants also receive six bottles of liquor of choice and limo service from the pier to the airport.

We stayed in cabin 10171, which is a deluxe balcony.  I liked the way the room was set up - the beds are rounded at the edges and there really are no straight lines in the room.  The toilet has its own sliding door (opaque glass which some people commented that they didn't like, but it was fine with me) and the shower also had a sliding door with opaque glass.  The shower was nice and strong, there was plenty of room, but I do wish they had a little place to put your foot when shaving your legs.  The only amenities provided are shower gel and shampoo so bring your own conditioner, lotions, and shower cap if needed.  One thing to note:  if you are on the 8th deck the balconies do not have a cover over them, so we could look down on those balconies.  You wouldn't be able to sit out on the balcony if it were raining or if you wanted privacy.

The whole look of the ship was elegant and open.  There were beautiful paintings on the walls, mostly with a flower motif.  The interior of the ship was not dark, but cheerful and very welcoming.  The crew was wonderful.  We met many of the team from Miami and the one thing we noticed among all of them was how happy they were with their jobs and how much they admired Kevin Sheehan, the CEO of NCL.  Trivia - Kevin Sheehan was once a NYC cab driver.

We had a wonderful time on the ship, wished it could have been for a week.  The food was great, the crew friendly, the cabin comfortable, the entertainment outstanding, and the decorations pretty.  There are some promotions going on now, not just for the Epic, but for all of NCL's ships, such as their "Hello Balcony" promo where if you book an oceanview cabin you will be upgraded to a balcony.  In the case of the Epic where there are no "oceanview" cabins, you would be upgraded from a balcony to a deluxe balcony.  There is also a promotion for reduced air plus an onboard credit.  These promos won't last long, so act now to avoid being disappointed.

Get Your Passport Now

The U.S. State Dept has announced new fees for passports and consular services effective July 13, 2010.  The new fees are shown below. Currently the fee for an adult passport is $75.

There are also reputable companies you can use to expedite a passport and visa.  A Briggs is one of them and if you need a passport in a hurry, they are quite helpful. 

Please check the State Department site for more information regarding passports and visa.

 

State Department Fees (July 13, 2010)	Execution	State	Expedite	State Dept
	Fee	Dept	Fee	Totals
Lost/Stolen Passport Book	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
Mutilated/Damaged Passport Book	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
New Passport Book (16+ years)	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
New Passport Book (Under 16 years)	$                25	$                80	$                60	$              165
Name Change (1+ year since issuance)	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Renewal Passport Book	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Secondary Passport Book	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Add Visa Pages to existing Passport Book	$                 -	$                82	$                60	$              142
Name Change (less than 1 year since issuance)	$                 -	$                 -	$                60	$                60