Travel Tattles

Bequia, Caribbean

Bequia is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — is a bit of a backwater, but the slow pace and easygoing atmosphere is perfect for honeymooners exhausted by the stress of hosting their wedding.

This is a safe island and is only seven miles long.  All-inclusive resorts are nowhere to be found on this small, intimate island.  The weather is enjoyable year round.  Take a walk along a deserted beach into the sunset.

Dominica, Caribbean

Dominica is known as “the Nature Island” –  it’s lush, green and mountainous, with villages hanging onto the edge of volcanoes, overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. Trails in the tropical forest lead to waterfalls, plunge pools and hot springs.  Steamy.

Coming in at #4 is the third week of June.  School will finally be out across the US so be prepared to share your flights and family friendly resorts with lots of children.  I always recommend adult only properties for honeymooners.

Photocopy your valuable documents and stay on the grid

Make a copy of all your important travel documents: passport (picture page), tickets or printed itinerary with ticket numbers, credit cards, driver’s license, traveler’s checks, etc. Do the same for the documents of your family members who are traveling with you. If documents are then lost or stolen, you will know exactly what is missing, and you will have the numbers handy. Keep these documents in your room, preferably in the safe or hidden away, not with the originals. Also create a list of phone numbers for anyone you may need to call for money or assistance, along with numbers for back-up contacts in case you can’t reach someone – and be sure to copy this list as well.

With regard to your passport, keep it close to your body in an interior pocket. Finally, take the little bit of time it requires to register with your local embassy. This can usually be done online and greatly facilitates all contact with the embassy if either you need them or someone needs you.

Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean

Provo, as the main island is called, is where you’ll find almost all of the resorts, but the islands get more charming as you move east along the chain, culminating with tiny Salt Cay, where couples can walk for hours on North Beach without crossing another footprint.  My top two resorts that I love are the; Grace Bay Club and the Verandah.  Both offer an all-inclusive meal plan.

CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE UPON ARRIVAL:  I know you will be tired and doing anything more than grabbing your luggage and heading for the hotel shuttle upon arrival at your destination or for your car to get home ASAP is the only thing you want to do.  However, you should check your luggage before leaving the airport, just in case something is missing.  You can handle the situation with airline baggage claim office immediately and avoid having to make a trip back to airport once you have already arrived at your destination (which could be an hour trip or more) or home.  Remember, if something is missing and you go directly to your hotel or home, it will be your word against theirs.  Play it Safe:  CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT to avoid any discrepancies.

Costa Rica

With two tropical coastlines, pristine rainforest and plenty of spider monkeys, Costa Rica is a great choice for couples looking for a combination of ecotourism, adrenaline thrills and simple relaxation.  However, with this vast country, you realistically must have at least eight to ten days to travel from one side to another.  Visit the rainforests in the mornings while the wildlife is moving and visible when the temperatures are cooler.  Prestine beaches, waterfalls, kite surfing, hiking, rafting are just a few things to keep you busy on your adventure.  But nothing is more romantic that watching the lava flow from your bedroom at night!

Wednesday’s Suite Deals

Hawaii  -  8 nights – 3 Islands (Ohau, Kona, Kauai) - Starting at $4975.00 per couple.  Package Includes:  Roundtrip Airfare from Nashville, all inter-island air, Jeep Wrangler on each island, PLUS, 3 nights hotel stay on Ohau, Surf Lessons for two at Hans Heideman Surf Shop, visit Pearl Harbor and hike Diamond Head, 2 nights hotel stay on Kona, tour volcanoes, possibly view active lava flow, visit a Black Sand Beach and see Green Sea Turtles, lastly, 3 nights accommodations at the upscale, boutique, Ko’a Kea Hotel on the famous Poipu Beach on Kauai, enjoy the Historic Waimea Walking Tour, drive to Waimea Canyon Lookout (The Grand Canyon of the Pacific), then go snorkeling at the Salt Pond and then enoy your last evening at a garden luau.  Also included are your hotel taxes and some breakfasts and most importantly, travel insurance.

A deposit of $1688 (depending on the supplier) will hold your reservations with the balance due 60 days prior to departure.  This package price is valid through May, 2012, and is subject to changes or cancellation without notice.  Based upon availability and blackout dates apply.  Reservations are not confirmed until deposit has been approved and accepted.

Hawaii can be customized to your interests and your desires.  So start dreaming of Hawaii and then give me a call or text me to discuss your Suite Deal to Hawaii.

Life is a Journey . . . Make the Most of Every Opportunity – Travel!

Lisa, Destined 2 Wed / Your Travel Specialist  call (615) 534-0110 or text (615) 428-4802 Verizon BlackBerry IM

There will be so many investigations of this tragedy.  This is another reason why you should always purchase travel insurance.  The passengers who did not purchase travel insurance are on their own.  According to a maritime attorney, the guests aboard this ship who did not purchase insurance are stuck in Italy on their own, or possibly with the help of their travel agent to find the best way back to their appropriate airport for their return home.  Frustrating!

TWO KINDS OF LUGGAGE:    LOST AND CARRY-ON:  If at all possible when flying on the smaller commuter planes to destinations such as the Bahamas, Cozumel, Costa Rica, Antigua, Belize, etc., try to pack as much as possible into your carry on bag.  These small planes do not have enough cargo space or weight capacity to carry everyone’s luggage therefore resulting in your luggage not making the trip with you.  The baggage handlers know how much each piece weights and after that limit is met, then any bags that are not yet loaded, do not make the flight and sometimes those bags will wait until the next flight, if available.  However, most often they will sit at the airport waiting until your return flight back home.  So try to pack light when flying on commuter planes.  This is also the reason why you get to the airport as early as possible, at least two (2) hours prior to departure.  This helps in making sure your luggage is first on board.

With my latest trip to Cancun this past summer on Delta for six nights and the Dominican Republic on American for five nights, I travelled with only my carry-on, an oversized computer bag and my oversized purse.  I had plenty of room in my computer bag to bring home incidentals.  I will never check a bag again.  Besides, it’s getting way too expensive to check luggage anymore, especially since the airlines are charging for each leg of the trip.