Pack Like a Pro

Last week I attended a local travel professionals meeting, which included a presentation on how to pack for a trip.  Though everyone in the room was a seasoned professional, one of our associates has packing down to a science, and we all took away some good tips.

Here are my notes on the tips I found most helpful:

The first thing I noticed was a brightly colored, wide, elastic sleeve, called a luggage hugger, around her roller bag.  This served two purposes:  luggage identification, and a backup to the zipper, in case it broke during travel.

 
She recommended vacuum bags to maximize storage, but pointed out to get the ones where you roll the bag, not vacuum it out, as you probably won’t have access to a vacuum at your destination, or a vacuum with the proper hose attachment.

Packing cubes can turn your suitcase into a “chest of drawers.” Use separate ones for shirts, pants, undergarments, toiletries, first aid supplies, and then you’ll never hunt for items again. These are especially good for trips where you are moving from hotel to hotel frequently. I am terrible about throwing all our clothes haphazardly into our suitcases when changing hotels, and then having to dig through them to find what I need. So I intend to invest in a set for our upcoming trip to Alaska, which is going to involve a lot of moving around.

 

 

For cruising, or other trips where you only have to unpack & repack once, a rolling garment bag is ideal because it can hold suits and dresses without wrinkling them.

Soft sided duffel bags are good for destinations like Africa where you have to cram bags into small planes.

Clothes wrinkle when they slide in suitcases, so don’t pack them in plastic dry cleaning bags.  Eagle Creek has a great packing system to help fold clothes neatly & compactly, and keep them from wrinkling.  

 

 

If traveling by train, a cable lock is handy for securing larger luggage which has to be stored in racks away from your seats.

 

And both of us never go anywhere without our travel power cord, as hotel rooms never have enough outlets for all our phones & electronics.  Note that you can't just take any power strip from home when traveling internationally, you need to buy one that is dual-voltage.  Mine has three regular outlets and 1 USB outlet.  For domestic travel I also have a nightlight with 3 outlets.

 

 

 

Here are websites where you can purchase travel clothing and accessories:

Luggage & Accessories: Magellans and Eagle Creek

Clothing: TravelSmith

Travel size products including toiletries, medications, food, and more:  Minimus

While I can't pack your bags for you, I can help you design the vacation of your dreams, and advise you on what to take along.  Just contact me at suzette@family-treks.com!

Virtuoso Gives More for Your Money in Madrid

Here’s a great example of how booking hotels with a Virtuoso travel advisor provides the best value. I recently booked a client at the Westin Palace Madrid. This is one of the city's top luxury hotels, a historic building commissioned by King Alfonso XIII, which first opened in 1912.


Westin Palace Madrid

 A professional review describes the hotel:

The lobby with its murals of vine-draped balconies and shadowy greenery looks ready for a royal ball. Its beauty is enhanced with inlaid-marble floors, velvety fabrics and Regency appointments. The staff is helpful and professional in English and a half-dozen other languages.


Reception

A dozen steps rise from reception to a small but elegant conversation area with a sumptuous 18th-century Flemish tapestry and high-end shops. Beyond, the dazzling stained-glass cupola of the main lounge is a genuine tourist attraction and the most famous feature of the property. Gathered around this lounge are restored frescoes and florid carpeting that make sipping a drink here all the more relaxing.


Hall Cupola

The revamped Rotonda serves breakfast and lunch buffet fare to one side of the lobby lounge with starched white linens, meticulously prepared buffet dishes, and exquisite service.  The popular bar, immortalized in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, is still a place to see and be seen. Rotating photography exhibits provide ample topics for conversation.


The Palace Bar

On the top floor, guests find the Westin Workout facility with panoramic city views and a sun terrace from which to enjoy them.

This grand dame has been wonderfully restored so it looks just like it did 100 years ago, but with the addition of the Westin touch, including Heavenly Beds, high speed internet, flat screen TV’s, and upscale bathrooms. As a Brownell colleague put it after her recent visit: “A great mix of tradition with our modern lifestyle. Comfortable, and wonderful personal service.”

Junior Suite

The base room rates for the peak summer season range from 225.50 € for a Deluxe Room to 455.59 € for a Junior Suite, or 260.50 € and 490.50 €, respectively, if including breakfast.

My clients pay the standard nightly rate, and then receive these complimentary amenities, simply because they are Virtuoso clients:  

• Daily buffet breakfast for two
• One lunch or dinner for two (first course, second course and dessert)
• Free high speed internet
• Late checkout
• Early check-in
• Complimentary upgrade on arrival, based on availability

So doing the math, a Virtuoso client gets an additional 51.20 € in value daily:
  Room rate difference (with and without breakfast) – 35.50 €

  Internet access: 15.70 €

  Plus any difference in room rate if they receive an upgrade

And over the course of their stay, there's an additional 100-150 € value for the complimentary meal.

 

And that’s not to mention the extra VIP attention all our Virtuoso partners give our highly valued clients – priceless!


Royal Palace

There are Virtuoso properties all around the world, from city hotels to beach resorts to wilderness lodges to spa retreats. Before booking your next hotel stay, no matter how long or short, contact me to find out how you can get the most for your money.

Europe Car Rental Tips

Here are some great tips from Auto Europe when renting a car overseas.  I use Auto Europe almost exclusively for my clients because they have great rates that are fully refundable, and they stand by their product.  They represent many car rental companies, so if you run into trouble at the counter, you can contact customer service 24/7 for immediate assistance.   And best of all, clients prepay in US dollars, and the rate is guaranteed against currency fluctuation (see last tip below).

Before You Go

Check if your personal homeowner's, credit card, or auto insurance provides CDW coverage, and if so, the limits and any restriction on vehicle makes or models.  However note that in some countries, such as Ireland, Italy, and Turkey, third party coverage is not accepted.  You can also add coverage for rental cars to your travel insurance policy for reasonable rate.

Make sure you have a large enough vehicle for passengers AND luggage, especially if you will be driving between hotels often.

Check if an international driver's license is required in your destination.  Even if it isn't, the small fee to get one can be worth the peace of mind & time savings in case you are pulled over by an officer who is not fluent in English.

When You Arrive

Make sure you understand the rental contract you are signing.  You can request the rental agreement in English from most of the larger companies.  If you do not want extra insurance, make sure you do not sign for it in error at the counter.

Inspect the interior & exterior of the vehicle before departing, and take pictures with your phone. 

Check what kind of fuel the car uses, gas or diesel.  Most car companies provide a full tank and you are expected to return it full.  But make sure you understand the conditions so you don't fill the tank and then also get charged for a full tank.

Make sure you have the numbers for roadside assistance.  If you've rented from Auto Europe, you can also call them toll free 24/7 with questions or to request assistance.

When You Return Home

Hold onto receipts for at least six months.

Check your credit card statement.  Most traffic violations are captured by camera & sent by mail.  If the rental company receives a citation, they'll automatically charge your credit card.

Check the exchange rate on the day of your rental. If the exchange rate is higher than when you booked the car, you may be entitled to a refund.  If it's lower, you saved money!



Seven Super Things at the Aquarium of the Pacifc

I am an aquarium snob.  But who wouldn’t be if  you have the Monterey Bay Aquarium in your backyard?  This means I rarely visit aquariums while traveling, because I worry they will fall short in comparison

But last fall we found ourselves with a full day free in Anaheim with our 12 year old daughter.  Our teen son was hanging out in Disneyland with his hockey team, but my daughter really isn’t into theme parks.  So we decided to check out the aquarium in nearby Long Beach, whose waterfront location was very appealing on this sunny day.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is much smaller than Monterey’s, but that was a good thing, as we only had a few hours.   And I quickly found that though smaller, there were actually many things that Monterey doesn’t have.  You see, the Monterey Bay Aquarium features local marine life, where the Long Beach aquarium has exhibits showcasing the entire Pacific Ocean, from Baja to Australia to The Bering Sea.
Here were our seven favorite exhibits:

The Lorikeet Forest, where you can offer a cup of nectar to the brightly colored birds

The Blue Cavern, where divers hand fed giant fish including sea bass

 

The touch pond were we could pet jellyfish

The comb jellyfish with their beautiful “Christmas lights”

The shark lagoon, home to a freshwater sawfish

Exotic-looking sea dragons camouflaged as leaves

Cute, though sometimes deadly, frogs including the infamous poison dart variety

 

(I don't recall if this guy was poisonous, but he had the best smile.)





Enchantment Resort– The Perfect Place to Gather the Family

On our way back from the Grand Canyon last February, we spent a night at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, a place that has been on my bucket list for a while.  And I was not disappointed, except that we could only stay 24 hours.

There are so many things to love about Enchantment:

* The stunning location, tucked into a red rock canyon, with its own private and direct access to hiking trails.  It’s just a short walk among cacti & red rock to a pretty spire.

* The destination spa offering everything from traditional skin care & massage treatments to health & wellness consultations. Their menu is fun to read with entries likeFlower Essence Bath, Blue Corn Body Polish, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation, and Astrology with Crystals.

* Free onsite activities including pitch & putt golf, tennis, cycling and bocce ball.  

* Organized adult & family activities from yoga and nature walks to stargazing and watercolor painting.  (Check out the calendar!)

 * Camp Coyote to entertain and educate kids age 4-12, with theme days like Earth Friendly Tuesdays and Solar System Saturdays.  

* The cool architecture and authentic Native American decor – terra cotta tiles, adobe style structures, exposed wood beams, woven blankets and pottery.  

This is a fantastic, destination resort for any family, but it’s especially perfect for multi-generational reunions, or families traveling together.  The casitas are a great value, offering plenty of space & privacy, and all the comforts of home.  Ours had a small but fully equipped kitchen with dining table, and a large living room with a fireplace.   The patio had a gas grill, fireplace, and another large table, so guests can enjoy the wonderful mild weather year round.

A 3 bedroom casita can sleep up to 8, with a king bed, 2 queen beds, and a Murphy bed in the living room.  (Casitas can also be locked off to form separate 1 and 2 bedroom units.) And no worries about having enough bathrooms. There's one for each bedroom and another off the living, room, each with a shower & 2 sinks.  

If you are looking for a place to travel with your family, that has spacious accommodations for a group, offers activities for all ages, and is in a beautiful setting, then I highly recommend Enchantment Resort. 

And because they are a Virtuoso partner, my clients receive:

- Upgrade at time of check-in, subject to availability
- Continental breakfast for two daily
- $100 credit for spa services

Combine this with a great deal through April 30, your fourth night free!

The Most Important Question to Ask When Booking a Vacation Rental

Having rented private vacation homes for over 20 years, and having owned our own for the last five, I offer one piece of advice for families looking for a vacation rental.

Ask this question:  How often do the owners use the property themselves?

Whenever possible, I only book a property that is used frequently by the owners, or is checked upon regularly by them.   That doesn't mean they shouldn't have a property manager, but they should not rely on a third party to be the sole eyes and ears on their home.

These are some of the benefits to the renter:

 - You'll likely find a fully equipped kitchen, including appliances in good condition, lots of utensils, matching dishes.   Because we frequently spend holidays at our cabin, our renters will find everything they need to prepare a complete holiday feast. 
 

(And hands on owners are also more likely to decorate their homes.  Even if we won't be using our cabin over Christmas, we'll make a special trip to decorate it for our renters.)

 
- There will probably be a well-stocked  pantry including a good variety of seasonings and staples like sugar, cooking oil, etc.

 

- There are often extras like coffee grinders, good bar ware, a mixer, toaster oven, etc.  You don't realize how useful cheese graters are until you're missing one when you need it!

 

-  Better chance of having comfortable furniture and plenty of pillows and blankets, plus nicer home décor overall and relatively new electronics.  Good quality patio furniture (including sufficient chairs)  and a working grill are a must for warm weather destinations. 

-  Better maintenance overall, which means less chance of an unexpected problem. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than a broken dishwasher or wonky TV or DVD player.  Property managers only fix things if they are told they are broken, and renters often don't speak up.  A hands-on owner is going to notice the little problems and fix them before they become big ones.

 -  In ski cabins, owners often have plenty of racks for hanging up wet clothes and mittens by the fire, trays for collecting snow melt off boots, and a supply of good quality firewood.  Especially important when traveling during winter is an adequate emergency supplies including batteries, lantern, and candles.

 

If the owners have kids you will probably also find plenty of games, toys, puzzles, books, and family movies.

Remember, nobody will take as good of care of a home as its owner.  So that's a good reason to book through a property management company or a professional travel advisor, so you can ask very specific questions about the care and upkeep of the property, including how often the owners are on site.  

Amazing Hotel Sweets - Part 2

These hotels are offering fantastic sweets with their suites this holiday season!

A life size gingerbread house at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Santa comes for a visit at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

 

An impressive canned food drop-off station at the Hyatt Regency Savannah

 

 

North Pole Station at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver



The Kerry Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai spent over 200 hrs creating this amazing house

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver's massive candy castle

  

Beautiful entry in the "Once Upon a Time" gingerbread contest at the Sheraton Seattle

 

A hotel within a hotel at The Dorchester in London

 

Wishing Happy Holidays and Safe Travels to All!