The better deals for Holiday travel times is at least six months prior to departure.  Although, many travel experts claim that you should wait until 30 days prior to departure, in my experience, you will not get the best flight schedules or seating available if you wait until the last minute.

While working on this post, I reached out to some of our customer service managers in various airports to ask them what other questions brides frequently ask.  Their  tips include:  if you’re taking a special cake knife to cut the cake, please ship it or put it in your checked bag.  Wired bouquets are allowed through the checkpoint, along with rice, birdseed, sand and candy coated almonds.  If you’re taking gifts for your bridal party, it’s best to wrap them when you get to your destination in case they require additional screening.

Brides-to-be can definitely bring their wedding dress through a security checkpoint.  Ideally, the dress can lay flat in its garment bag or other packaging and fit through the X-ray machine. If it can’t, the officers can screen the dress manually, but this will require opening the garment bag.  Rest assured that the officers will use gloves for the alternate screening to avoid damaging the dress.  

We strongly advise brides to contact their airline to ask about taking their wedding dress on the plane.  While some aircraft have closets in first class that can hold the dress, others may not, which could cause challenges in storing the dress above the seat.  Airlines will also count the dress as a carry-on item, so be sure to learn about your airline’s carry-on policies to avoid having to check any items at the gate.

Another remedy that I have had brides attempt is to purchase an additional seat for their dress.  Yes, it is costly, but they are guaranteed that their dress is accommodated.  Plus, you have a little bit more extra room.

Next week, how to travel with your favors, gifts, cake knife, etc.

If any other issues arise while preparing to fly to a destination wedding, brides-to-be can call or email TSA’s Contact Center at 1-866-289-9673 or atTSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

Pack Lite for your Honeymoon

Zihuatanejo is a laid-back town with lovely beaches where you can watch the fishermen return each morning with the catch of the day to be cooked that evening for your delight.  There are many native markets that are scattered along the bay area.  Zihuatanejo’s history goes back hundreds of years when it was first discovered by the Spanish in 1522, who deemed it too small to be strageically important for matters of war or trade.

A 10-minute drive will take you to Ixtapa, the most modern city on Mexico’s west coast.  Palmar Beach is a two mile stretch that lies along the Hotel Zone.  Across the street are many village-style malls, craft shops, art galleries, cafe’s and all night discos.  Near the Hotel Zone is a marina that docks many luxury yachts , as well as restaurants and boutiques.  Ixtapa also has two 18-hole golf courses.

So planning a trip to Zihuatanejo will again, give you the best of both worlds, the old and the new which is filled with remote beaches and historical sites.

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

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 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.