(photo from here)

It’s not a secret that I’m a fan of hotels – the nicer the better!  I especially adore hotels that are luxe, grand, and too busy to notice that I’m not even a hotel guest because popping into one of these hotels is one of the easiest ways to take advantage of some free or nearly free services they offer their paid guests.  Below are all the times a visit to the the hotel may be perfect when you’re already out and about:

1) You need a taxi

4 and 5 star hotels are perfect for catching cabs in big cities where cabs are hard to find.  In fact, these hotels often have their own doorman/valet who gladly whistles for a taxi on your behalf.  Just don’t forget to tip them $1 for the service!

2) You want to use the restroom

It’s usually a toss up whether or not public restrooms will be clean – especially when you’re in a new city.  Why take the chance using a random public restroom when there’s a hotel nearby?  Just walk in like you’re staying there and locate the restroom in the lobby – there’s always restrooms in the lobby. I’ve done this so many times.  It’s actually amazing how intuitive the restroom location is when you just stroll in.  I usually find it on my first try.  Bonus tip: The nicer the hotel, the more likely you’ll find hand towels and (complimentary) lotion in the bathroom, too.

3) You need to store your luggage

Maybe you’re in a foreign city and sense you’ll be lugging your luggage around until your flight/train later that day.  Maybe you’ve just arrived to a city and you have time to kill before you check into your real hotel (which is clear across town).  Don’t drag those heavy bags around!  Drop them off with a bellman at a hotel – any hotel you’d like!  When you drop off bags, they never ask for your room number.  They merely hand you a claim ticket so that you can (conveniently) come back later to retrieve your bags; it’s the perfect way to make sure your luggage is safe for the day – all for the low price of a $1/bag tip when you pick it up!

4) You need recommendations for activities or directions

Hotel personnel give this info out day and night.  Why run to a gas station or convenience store for directions/recommendations when there’s a hotel nearby?  The kind folks at the hotel should know everything about their city inside and out.  If you can find a hotel with a concierge it’s all the better – the concierge do this for a living!

5) You want free internet access

The easiest way to get free wifi when you’re on the road is to bring your own laptop/tablet/mobile to a hotel lobby.  If you don’t have your own device, you can also seek out the hotel business center, which is sometimes free for guests.  If you’re using the business center, however, make sure you’re not lingering there since guests usually use those terminals to check their emails or print their boarding passes.  Stay away from super high end hotels on this one; I’ve found that low-to-mid-tier hotels are way more generous with their internet policies. High end hotels usually require access codes or guest information to connect to the internet even from a lobby.

6) You need stamps and/or you want to mail a postcard

If you’re dying to send a postcard back home but you can’t locate a post office, buy stamps at the front desk of a nice hotel.  They’ll either have stamps for purchase or they’ll offer to mail it for you gratis!  The nicer the hotel, the more likely you they will stamp it and mail it for you free. If you already have your postcard stamped, you can also drop it off with the front desk attendants.  They’ll make sure it goes out with everyone else’s.

7) You need a meeting/hangout spot

Having a quick meeting with your buddies?  Looking for a place to catch up with friends?  Why not ask everyone to meet at a hotel lobby?  Hotels don’t care if you bring food or drinks (though I wouldn’t recommend drawing attention to yourself by having a picnic in the lobby) and there’s always people in the lobby anyway. Plus, hotel sofas and lounge chairs are way more comfortable than what you’d find in a cafe.

8) You need a quiet place to get some work done

When you’re looking for quiet-time, forget the hotel lobby.  Head down to the floor where all the conference rooms are located.  There’s usually no one there and there’s a chance you’ll find free wifi, too.  If there is a conference going on, there’s usually snacks in the hallways outside the conference rooms so if you’re super hungry, you can grab and go.  Just don’t act like a leech when you’re grabbing that muffin and no one will even notice.

Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs released a map that shows travel warnings as of March 2013.  At initial glance, all the travel cautions make this visual quite jarring!  Study it longer, however, and none of the warnings are that surprising: First world countries are green; major European countries are green.  Avoid travel to Central Africa and most of the Middle East.  Everywhere else, proceed with caution.

Regardless of the color of the country on this map, do your homework before you travel and visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs Travel site for the latest safety warnings.  With the exception of some extreme situations (like, war-ridden destinations or countries with significant political unrest), keep in mind that every country has pockets of areas that are safe and not safe, which is true of any city as well.

One of the main ways I try to stay safe especially when I’m in one of the “blue” countries on the map is to sign up for tours that pick me up and drop me off at my hotel.  I don’t wander around at night.  I also do my research to make sure I’m booking hotels that are located in safe areas.  On the flip side, just because I’m in a “green” country doesn’t mean I let my guard down either.  In fact, in all my travels to-date, I’ve actually had more issues in “green” countries than any of the others!  The net my message is this: No matter where you’re going, be on the offense when it comes to safety and that can make the difference between a great vacation and a bad one.

The interactive version of the map can be found by clicking here.

(Photograph provided courtesy of Denver International Airport)

If you don’t travel often, the thought of going to another country can be scary: What’s it going to be like? What do I need to bring?  What if something happens to me?  It may seem overwhelming to plan for all the “what if’s” so don’t!  Through all my years of traveling, I’ve found there are only a few things worth doing in prep for an international trip, regardless of where you’re headed – knock off the 10 things below and you’ll be way more prepared than most travelers.

1. Check Entry Requirements

As US Citizens, we can go to a lot of countries with our passport and nothing else… but not all countries.  Always make sure to check the entry requirements of the country you’ll be headed to in case you’ll need to apply for visas or if you need to renew your passport.  Some countries only permit entrance if you have a passport with blank pages and/or if the passport is valid for at least 6 months.  The best place to check those requirements is at the Bureau of Consular Affairs Travel site.

When should you do this? ASAP.  I recommend checking entry requirements as part of the initial research you do when trip planning (depending on what it says you may want to change your destination).  If you’ve already booked your ticket, then check the entry requirements right after.  This gives you the max amount of time to apply for a visa or renew your passport – two things which could take up to 2 months to process if you don’t want to pay exorbitant fees for expedited processing.

2. Research Safety Concerns

Traveling is a lot of fun until someone gets hurt.  Be smart and read up on the travel warnings and safety concerns for a country before you get there.  The Bureau of Consular Affairs Travel Site is another good place to start for this one as it mentions potential areas to avoid, prevalent crimes, and common scams.  For more specific details, try googling the name of the destination and “safety tips”.  As a warning, however, try not to get scared off by everything you read — if there’s one thing I’ve realized while traveling it’s that petty crime is common in practically all parts of the world and most countries are perfectly safe for tourists as long as you exercise common sense (e.g., don’t leave your belonging unattended, stay away from dark alleyways, keep windows rolled up, don’t dress to get attention, etc.).

When should you do this?  ASAP. Like checking entry requirements, you should research safety concerns when you’re doing your initial planning.  Depending on what you find, you may want to pick a different destination.

3. Get Vaccinated

Hygiene (personal and food related) just isn’t the same abroad and neither are the insects/bugs that you may contact; you leave yourself susceptible to a plethora of travel illnesses if you aren’t properly vaccinated before you travel.  To start, check out the CDC’s Travel Health section to find out what vaccines you may need and schedule an appointment with your nearest travel clinic or family doctor to get the vaccinations you’ll need.

When should you do this? At least a month before you travel.  Some vaccinations require some time to kick in or require you to start them before you travel in order to get the full effect.

4. Invest in a Guide Book

Whether you’re on an organized tour or traveling independently, a guidebook always comes in handy.  Good guidebooks not only bring the attractions to life, they offer tips to avoid the tourist rush, common phrases you’ll want to know, and where to go if you’re in an emergency (among a ton of other useful advice to handle all your “what if” scenarios).  My go-to guides at the moment are those by Lonely Planet and Rick Steves.  I also love buying them on Amazon since it’s less expensive than buying from a bookstore.

When should you do this?  The earlier the better since it helps with travel planning, but if not, just make sure you’ve got a book in your suitcase before you take off.

5. Figure Out The Money Situation

Some countries only deal with cash; in others, credit cards are widely accepted.  Some vendors and exchange bureaus abroad only take crisp dollars (USD that is torn or worn is not accepted).  Make sure you do your research to figure out how much money to bring and the current exchange rates.  Personally, if I know that the ATMs in my destination country are safe to use, I bring just enough cash to pay vendors who requested cash payment and then a little extra for emergency use since I’d much rather withdraw from the ATM abroad (you generally get better rates that way).  To stay on top of exchange rates, I use the XE Currency app on my cell to get real time updates on all the currency rates.  If you don’t want to download an app, you can visit a currency exchange site and note the exchange rate.

When should you do this?  At least a week before departure so there’s time to go to the bank.

6. Prep Your Credit Cards

While we’re on the topic of money, if you want to make sure you can access it abroad, call your debit and credit card companies before you leave and let them know the countries you’re going to.  If not, there’s a possibility they’ll assume  your transactions abroad are fraudulent and deny them!   Another quick tip related to credit cards is the ATM card – make sure you have a 4 digit PIN.  ATMs abroad only accept PIN codes with 4 digits so if yours has more than that, you’ll have to change it to 4 digits if you want to be able to use it internationally.

When should you do this?  Anytime before departure.

7. Photocopy Credit Cards and Passports

This is for precaution.  If your credit card is stolen, you’ll be glad you have a photocopy with the collect-call number you can dial to cancel the cards.  If you don’t want to carry your passport around (it’s a good idea to leave it in the safe, btw), bring the photocopy of the passport  instead.  Also, if you lose your passport and you happen to be traveling alone, the US Embassy needs documentation that proves your identity.  A photocopy of the passport would suffice.  If you don’t have the photocopy, another US Citizen will need to vouch for your identity and in person, which would be a pain if you’re traveling solo.  Do you really want to call someone at home and tell them they need to fly to XYZ place to vouch for your identify?  Didn’t think so.  Bring photocopies.  As an extra tip, I take photos of my credit cards and passport and upload them to Google Drive so that I can access them anywhere there’s internet connection.

When should you do this? Anytime before departure.

8. Research Electricity

If you plan on charging any devices (laptop, cell, batteries, etc.) while you’re abroad, figure out what the power plugs in your destination country look like as well as the electrical voltage used.  Then, buy adaptors and a converter, if necessary.  Personally, I’ve only been successful charging laptops, cell phones, and camera batteries when abroad.  Anytime I’ve tried to charge my hair straightener, it’s been futile, so the lesson learned is to keep the devices simple and don’t expect them all to work well even if you have the adaptors and converters.  It sucks, but there’s not much else you can do here.

When should you do this? A couple of weeks before departure so that you have time to purchase adaptors and converters.

9. Make a Packing List

I’ll just say it: I hate packing!  It’s my least favorite part of any trip because it takes so long to do!  To fix that, I started making a list of things to pack so that when the time came to actually pack, the process was tons simpler.  I recommend you start a packing list and write down items as they come to mind.  This way, when the time comes to actually pack, you can be pretty sure that you’ve thought of everything.  I also make a list of outfits I plan to wear.  It may seem like overkill, but it actually prevents me from overpacking!  Try it and let me know what you think!

When should you do this?  Get the list going as soon as you’re sure you’re going on the trip and add items to it over time.  Don’t forget to add any prescription medications to the list!

10. Print Out Itineraries & Confirmations

The worst is being on vacation and running into problems with vendors with which you’ve already communicated.  Maybe you booked a room with an ocean view but the hotel gave you a garden one instead.  Maybe the tour was supposed to pick you up at 9am in the lobby but it’s 9:30am and they are no where to be found.  Or, maybe you’re at the airport checking into a flight but the desk agent can’t locate your itinerary.  The best way to get through these situations is to bring hardcopies of all confirmations, vouchers, and emails between you and tour agencies, vendors, hotels, airlines, etc. to reference in case you run into hiccups.

When should you do this?  The week of departure.

If there’s one thing I rarely ever do when traveling, it’s iron my clothes.  I hate ironing.  There are just so many other things I’d rather do than whip out the clunky ironing board and cheap iron from the hotel room closet.  By the way, have you ever noticed the hotel room iron always has water left in it?!  Why can’t housekeeping add draining residual water from the iron to their housekeeping checklists?  This is a travel conundrum I’ll never understand.

Anyway, given that I often travel for work, I can’t look like a slob when I show up the next day  so over the years I’ve managed to figure out some ways to get rid of wrinkles without ironing (because who has time for that?!).  Here’s what’s worked for me:

1) Pack clothes that don’t need ironing - Duh, if you don’t pack things that wrinkle easily, you won’t need to iron.  As a woman, I can get away with some cotton tops or tanks that won’t need ironing but will still be business appropriate if paired with the right skirt or pants.  For the men, lots of places sell wrinkle-free pants and shirts.  I’ve heard they work great.  The more non-wrinkly clothes you pack, the more likely you and the iron will never even have to meet!

2) Steam them in the shower - Hang the clothes in the bathroom, close the door, and take a hot shower.  For really deep wrinkles, dab some water on the wrinkles before you start the shower.  Let the steam from the shower “soften” the wrinkles and you’re good to go!  I’ve gone so far as to leave the clothes “steaming” for the whole rest of the night; I can’t go into the bathroom, but at least I don’t have to iron.

3) Spray wrinkle releaser – I love, love, love wrinkle release sprays!  They work so well.  When you get to the hotel room, take out the wrinkle-prone clothes, spray the wrinkle releaser, and hang to dry.  Not only do the wrinkles disappear like magic, the clothes smell fresh afterwards.  You can make your own wrinkle relaxer spray by combining 1 part fabric softener to 10 parts water in a spray bottle.  If you’d rather buy one, I keep a bottle of this at home and it’s worked so well, I’ve even spotted Mr. T using it occasionally – which says a lot because he is obsessed with the iron (he even irons his t-shirts and jeans).

4) Pack your clothes in a folder – I just discovered these pack-it folders a year ago and they are great at keeping all your clothes crisp and wrinkle-free.  It does take longer to pack, however, since you’ll have to fold all the clothes into nice little-department-store-clothing-stacks but the pack-it folders come with a folding board so it’s not that bad!  Plus, it’s definitely quicker to fold and stack than it would be to iron the stack.  This may be the best thing I’ve discovered in my quest to avoid using the iron on the road.

What tips do you have for keeping clothes wrinkle-free when traveling?

(A rare quiet moment on the beach in Cabo)

A lot of visitors find this blog when they are looking for advice on choosing among Cancun, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta for their next Mexico vacation.  Some find this blog when they are trying to figure out if Mexico is safe to visit.  I wanted to address that here because I think the safety in Mexico is so misunderstood so here it goes: Cancun, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta are all ridiculously safe!   They are all safer than many cities in the US.  In fact, millions of people visit Mexico every year and they come back safely.  These three popular tourist destinations, especially, are safe for couples, families, children, babies and even safe if you’re traveling solo.  The only caveat is, stay in the tourist zone!  

In fact, Mr. T and I travelled to Cabo at the height of the “Mexico Travel Advisories” a few years ago and upon walking around the city, we were astonished that everything felt just as safe as it’s always felt.  We asked the ex-pats living there if tourism had suffered at all as a result of the negative press and they said it perfectly, “Barely.  The people who have always come here still do.  They know it’s safe here and they come year after year.  But it is nicer that it’s quieter here.”  See?  Totally kosher to go to these popular Mexican destinations.

Where I would NOT go, however, is anywhere near the border of Mexico and the US.  I’d avoid Juarez like the plague since it suffers from one of the highest murder rates anywhere (although this has improved over the years) - you can thank the violent Mexican gangs for that one.  It’s the horror stories from Juarez that’s giving Mexico it’s bad rep.  But, to say you’re not going to Mexico because of dangers in Juarez is like saying you’re too scared to visit San Francisco because there are murders in Chicago…which, by the way, had 530+homicides in 2012!  With stats like that, we should all be scared to go to Chicago.

Anyway, I love Mexico and have been a long time fan of Cancun, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta.  I’ve been to each city at least twice and will continue to go whenever I want a quick getaway.  The only time I will think twice before going to those cities is when the official US Travel Warning on Mexico advises against it.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, my final message for all you lucky soon-to-be vacationers in Cancun, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta is to relax and get packin’!  Don’t forget to bring the SPF and a cute bathing suit, and get ready to get your margaritas on!

(Photograph provided courtesy of Denver International Airport)

So the other night I was in the midst of planning my “Mega Summer Trip” (details to be announced later) and I realized that one segment of my trip involved getting into an airport super late and departing out of the same airport really early the next morning.  The ol’ backpacker in me thought that perhaps I could spend the night in the airport and avoid paying for a hotel room that I’d likely only use for only 5 hours.  It’s perfect –  I’ll save on a night of accommodations, and it’s not like I haven’t slept in airports before.  When I backpacked through Europe years ago, I slept in all sorts of random public spaces and mastered keeping track of my luggage while doing so.

Having been to all these airports, I can’t say I’m surprised.  I’m especially NOT surprised about LAX’s ranking.  That dingy airport is an embarrassment to Los Angeles and way overdue for a makeover considering 60M people pass through it annually.

You’ll have to check out the website for details on all the other best/worst airports around the world.  After all that, however, I’ve decided it’s probably best to pay for a hotel room that night – I can’t put a price tag on sleep quality.

(Photo credit)

If there’s one question I get asked most often, it’s how I manage to travel so much (or to so many countries) while working full-time.  So, why not address it here?

First of all, it’s not hard to travel.  Anyone can do it as long as they make it a priority.  It’s prioritized pretty high on my list as I’ve always known I’ve wanted to travel… so, I’ve always looked for jobs that provide ample vacation days or allowed me to earn travel rewards like mileage or hotel points.  Like I always say, “Will work for SPG points!”  :) Along the same lines, it also helps to date someone who also earns travel rewards through their work – just kidding (sort of).  In all seriousness though, here are some ideas for satisfying your wanderlust while working full-time:

Maximize your long weekends

If it’s a long weekend, you’ve got at least 3 days off work already.  All you have to do is take another couple of days off and you’re at 5 days.  That’s enough to jet off to at least one city (or city in a nearby country) for a quick break.  If you don’t believe me, here are some random places that are totally doable in 5 days just to get your ideas flowin’:

• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Napa & Sonoma, California’s wine country
• Montreal, Quebec
• Any of the Hawaiian Islands
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Nassau, Bahamas
• New Orleans, Louisiana

Heck, if you don’t want to take any days off, you can still use the 3 day weekend to do some exploring.  3 days is actually plenty to go to most cities in the U.S. especially if you just want to drive somewhere.  If you need help, pick up this book.

Celebrate your holidays abroad

Companies usually give people Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years off during the winter holidays.  This is the perfect time to get a string of days off and head somewhere exotic while using minimal to no vacation days.  If you can’t fathom celebrating the holidays without your loved ones – you don’t need to!  Bring them along!  In fact, I’ve seen lots of families that are on Thanksgiving trips together or Christmas/New Year trips together – start a new tradition (this is going to be my tradition one day).

Work remotely while you’re away (a.k.a. embrace a fakecation)

I know, you’re supposed to be on vacation so doesn’t working defeat that purpose?  Not if working remotely helps you extend your trip longer!  I did just that on my last trip to Maui.  I took a few days off, worked a couple of days, and planned my trip strategically to fall over two weekends.  That instantly gave me 9 days away (1 work week + 2 weekends)!  Even accounting for flight time, that is plenty of time to explore a new destination.  If your job already lets you telecommute or “work from home” every now and then, you’re already half way there.  If it doesn’t, it never hurts to ask.

Work extra hours to save for vacation

If your job offers you flex-time, you can work extra hours to “save up” and then use all those extra hours as part of your vacation days.  For instance, if you worked 9 hour days instead of the normal 8 hours, you’ll have 1 extra “vacation day” after about 2 and a half weeks.  Combine those days with your real vacation days and you’ll be able to take more time off… which means you can explore cities or countries farther away.

Ask for unpaid time off

No one said you have to stick to the number of vacation days your company allows.  If want to take unpaid time off, there’s no harm in asking for it.  One of my friends used to do just this and had no work issues with this ever.  And she was jetting to  India, Jamaica, Aruba – wherever and whenever.  Just be responsible about it.  Work out a plan with your boss and make sure there’s coverage for you while you’re away.

Take a leave of absence

Save your paycheck and take an extended leave from work.  Use that time off to travel the world (or to look for a job with more vacation days) – you’d be amazed how little it takes to travel the world.

Visit a “region” and see more in one trip

With all the strategies above to increase the number of days off you can take at a time, plan your next trip so that you’re visiting a region of the world.  For instance, hit up a few neighboring countries at a time instead of just one country.  Or, spend an extended time really exploring all the major cities in one country.  Below are examples of regions that I’ve explored and the approximate number of days it took:

• Belize (Belize City, Ambergris Caye): 6 days
• Panama (Panama City, San Blas Islands): 6 days
• Germany, Netherlands & France (Cologne, Amsterdam, Paris): 10 days
• The Baltic (Tallin, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Riga): ~10 days
• Germany & France (Bavaria & Paris): 14 days
• Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay & Chile (Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Foz de Iguazu, Montevideo, Santiago, Vina del Mar): ~ 15 days
• Switzerland, Egypt & Greece (Zurich, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini): ~18 days
• Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia & Malaysia (Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Siem Reap, Kuala Lumpur, Bali): 22 days

The only word of caution if you’re visiting a region is to do your research and (obviously) plan for the type of traveler you are.  I like to see the major sites, get a sense of the culture, and taste the local cuisine.  I’m working full-time so I don’t have the leisure of hanging out in a city for a long time; I’ve got to maximize that airline ticket and the few days I have.  It also helps that I’m not a big museum person nor do I usually shop for souvenirs (unless I’m in Paris) so I don’t need to plan extra days for those activities.  But, you might.  Take all that into consideration when you’re planning.  By the way, if you’re not sure how to plan a trip like this, read this post: How To Plan A Trip In 4 Easy Steps.

There you have it!  I wish I had something more magical to say about optimizing the vacations while working full time, but it just comes down to maximizing your days off and planning your trips so that you’re taking full advantage of your days off.  And back to my original point, if you make traveling a priority, it’s totally doable.  You don’t need take big multi-country trips to see the world; you can start by exploring your own state, country, and neighboring countries.  Happy travels!

I just read Yahoo’s “8 places to go before you have kids“, and I don’t buy all of it.  Some places are totally doable with kids (most European countries in fact) and everywhere is doable with a nanny in tow.  Conveniently, though, I’ve actually been pondering this travel question lately… but I’ll rephrase it:  What are the trips you should take without (young) kids?  And preferably, while you’re energetic, independent, up-for-anything, and can handle traveling sans creature comforts (if needed)?  Those are the places you should hit up either before you have kids or if you can drop them off somewhere… ’cause once you have kids, traveling is just not going to be the same from a monetary, leisure, and experience standpoint.  I’m not saying it’s going to be worse.  I’m just saying it’s going to be different.

1. Amazon Rainforest

You really have to chuck the creature comforts if you want to visit the Amazon.  While a trip here offers some of the most au-natural and Discovery-channel worthy experiences (you can actually live with the locals on this tour), the Amazon is hot, humid, and not pruned for tourism.  When I was there, my guide literally made a hiking path for us using his machete!  Plus, you’ve got to deal with wild animals, fire ants, tarantulas, and every other kind of nasty insect that thrives in wet, sweaty environments.  Add to that, you may only have cold showers, fixed meal times, and no peace and quiet (the rainforest is surprisingly really loud)… and piranhas.  Lots of them.  With all that said, adding kids in the mix is going to: 1) take away from the experience of just “being” in the Amazon and 2) add to the list of worries you’ll have while you’re there – this isn’t even considering all the travel immunizations just to prep for the trip, too.

2. African Safari

Along the same note as a visit to the Amazon, an African safari is also a trip best taken by adults.  For those who haven’t taken one before, participating in a safari is a test of patience (it could be hours before you see anything interesting) and requires the participants to be pretty darn quiet the whole time lest you want to startle a lion or elephant.  Last I checked, patience and quietness aren’t exactly the characteristics that make kids so precious.  Also, depending on where you stay, there’s a good chance that your lodge or camp is in the middle of a giant national park. This means that you’re staying in the animals’ ”stomping grounds”, which means you just might wake up to an elephant traipsing poolside (true story), families of warthogs roaming by the bathroom (true story), a heard of buffalo blocking your path to the breakfast area (true story), or even gorillas (did you see this video yet?) visiting your campground. With all those possibilities to watch out for, making sure your kids are quiet and patient may be the last thing you’ll be concerned about.

3. Bora Bora

If you fancy tropical islands luxury tropical islands and you have the funds to spoil yourself on a trip to the South Pacific, by all means, go to Bora Bora before you have kids. Or, drop the kids off with the in-laws, nanny, friend, whoever and just go!  There are two main reasons I say this: #1 Bora Bora is expensive to get to and expensive once you’re there.  Lunch for two is at least $50 (we’re not even talkin’ gourmet here) and dinner will cost at least $100 (again, still not gourmet here).  If you’ve got the money to take your whole family there, then you probably have the money to pay for a nanny, too, but that brings me to point #2: 99% of the visitors to Bora Bora are couples.  You don’t really want to be THAT person who brings along a bunch of kids, do you?  People head to Bora Bora to honeymoon and celebrate milestone anniversaries.  They are looking to turn up the romance and indulge in R&R.  Don’t be the family that spoils that for them.  If you’re dead set on visiting French Polynesia with the kids, go to Moorea or Tahiti, but save Bora Bora for a vacation before or without the kids.

4. Any kind of trip that requires extended physical activity

(photo credit)

Some trips are centered around an extended period of physical activity like hiking to Everest Base Camp (this takes at least 2 weeks plus there’s always the threat of altitude sickness), biking through Tibet, or kayaking for a week in the Bahamas.  These types of trips can be intense and physically demanding!  Unless you’ve got super active kids who can handle the long days, this type of experience may be best reserved for adults… and even then, reserved for the adults who are in really good shape!

Hmm, I’m impressed.  When I started this list, I thought there would be way more things on it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are lots of cool family vacation options – especially if you have well-rounded, curious, and healthy kids!  Traveling is the best way to learn about history, other cultures, and the world around us – it almost seems like a shame not to use it as an opportunity to share that exprierence with the kids.  That said, the truth is that traveling changes with kids (there’s just so much more to think about, plan for, and pay for) so here’s to sowing all your wild (travel) oats while you can!

Timing when to buy airline tickets can be just as frustrating as timing when to buy stocks – hard, confusing, and probably not worth it.  My general rule of thumb is to try to fly on off-peak travel days like mid-week and buy my tickets as early as possible.  This infograph below is a nice visual of some general ticket buying tips:

Source: Angie’s List

While I love Europe for its history, architecture, food, and culture, let’s be real – one of the best things about a European vacation is the opportunity to shop!  It’s the only place where this American can buy European designer goods at a discount.  Hello, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Christian Louboutin!

Here’s what you need to know to make sure you get a good deal:

• Even though prices are in euros, they are usually still less than the price you would pay if you bought them in the US.
• Prices are not the same all over Europe so if you’re on a multi-country holiday, it may pay to wait to buy.  Prices tend to be lowest in the country of the designer’s origin.  For instance, Chanel will be cheaper in France than in Germany and Mulberry will be cheaper in Britain than in France.
• Do your research beforehand so you know how much the item is in USD; this is the only way to calculate your savings!
• Make sure to bring your passport or at least a copy of your passport so that you can get the Value Added Tax (VAT) refund – this is key!

Ahh, the VAT.  Getting the VAT back is the best part of the whole shopping trip.  For those who are unfamiliar with VAT, this is the additional tax that is baked into the listing price of the item.  As a visitor, you don’t need to pay the tax so you’re entitled to getting the tax back as long as:

1) you shop from a store that participates in this program (most design houses do), and

2) you meet the minimum spending requirements which varies by store

The amount of VAT baked into the price varies by country, but I’ve seen ranges from 15%-25% (Europeans pay a ton in taxes).  You don’t get all of it back since the company that processes the refunds subtracts the “handling fee”, but it is still substantial.  As an example, I got at least 12%-13% back on my purchases in Paris recently.

Here’s how to get the VAT refund:

• Shop from a store that participates in the program.  There are usually stickers on the stores for Premier Tax Free or Global Blue, which are two of the major processors for tax free shopping.  Even if there are no stickers, it is worthwhile to ask the store if they participate in the program before you make the purchase.
• When you make your purchase, ask the associate for the Tax Free forms.  Then present your passport and the sales associate will fill out additional forms using the information from your passport.  Make sure everything on the form is correct!
• At the time of purchase, you may need to indicate if you want the refund as a cash refund or on your credit card.  Once the purchase is complete, save all the receipts, forms, and do not open or use the items you purchased!  In order to qualify for the VAT, the goods have to be exported outside of the EU so keep the shopping bags sealed.
  
  • If you choose the cash refund:
    • The processing company takes out more commission so your net refund may be lower than if you took the credit card refund.  For instance, a cash refund may get you 12% back versus 13% back if you opted for the credit card refund.  That 1% could be significant depending on how much you’re spending.
    • You’ll get the refund at the airport prior to departing the European Union.  The refund will be delivered in euros so you’ll have to exchange it back to dollars if you’re headed home after that, which could result in paying additional commission to the Exchange Bureau. But, you’ll get the money right away.
  • If you choose a credit card refund:
    • You could get a higher refund amount than if you opted for the cash refund.
    • Similar to the cash refund, you’ll process the paperwork prior to departing the European Union, but it will take 4-6 weeks for Premier Tax Free or Global Blue to process and then issue the refund on your card.
• On the day you’re departing the European Union, make sure to arrive at the airport 30min to an hour earlier than you normally would.  Go to the customs desk, show them the sealed shopping bags and the associated forms and receipts, and ask for a customs stamp.  Your forms will not be processed without a customs stamp so this is important!
• Once you get the stamp, there’s usually two things you can do: 1) stand in another line to show them the forms with the customs stamp and to receive your cash refund, or 2) mail in the forms using the pre-paid envelope the sales associate gives you and wait for your credit card refund.
• If you’ve opted for the cash refund, you’ll be done at this point.
• If you’ve opted for the credit card refund, you may wait up to a couple of months before you’ll see a credit on your credit card.  Since you’re dealing with a foreign company to get your refund, I recommend taking pictures of all the forms so that you have a copy in case you do not see the refund processed.  I’ve never had issues asking for a credit card refund, but it is nerve wrecking to wait for the credit card refund especially if it’s substantial.  In case you want to follow up on the refund, that photo of the forms will undoubtedly come in handy.

Happy shopping!

(photo source)

(I didn’t have to pay a cent more above the standard room rate for this beautiful villa!)

I can’t believe I’m at my 100th post today!  Holy, where did the time fly?  And I can’t believe I even have this much to say about traveling!    If you’ve actually read all my posts from the beginning, you are a trooper and deserve a medal (yes, I’m talking to you, mom!).

In honor of such a momentous occasion, I thought it was about time I start posting something useful.  So, why not talk about hotel upgrades?  I tend to get them a lot.  If you recall, I recently got upgraded to presidential suites on two separate occassions, which is uh-friggin’-mazing even for me.  Usually I’ll get standard suites but I’ve also had two bedroom suites and  villas (remember when I raved about this villa and this one?).  The best part is that these upgrades are always complimentary!  Depending on the hotel, the upgraded rooms may come with enhanced amenities like free bottled water, slippers, robes, and/or luxe toiletry kits.  Heck, you may even get complimentary breakfast and hors d’oeuvres!

If you’re new to the hotel game, here are some of my tips for getting the suite life (see what I did there?):

1. Join the hotel loyalty program

When you make the reservations, sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program even if you don’t plan to stay at the hotel again.  Not only will the front desk staff treat you better when you check in, you may get an automatic upgrade just for being in their loyalty program (check out Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ loyalty program, iPrefer).  Others will give you free upgrades after only a few stays (Kimpton Hotels’ program gives you upgrades after 15 stays)!  While loyalty programs are usually free, some chains offer guaranteed upgrades if you join their program.  Check out the Ambassador program at Intercontinental Hotel & Resorts.  For a membership fee of $200, you’re guaranteed room upgrades – depending on the property you’re at and the length of stay, the fee to join could more than make up for the price you would have paid for that upgraded room.

2. Obtain status in the loyalty program

Earning coveted hotel status is one of the best ways to get upgraded, and the best part is that it isn’t that hard to get status!  For instance, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), my absolute fave program, upgrades its gold and platinum members as long as there are rooms available.  You can get SGP gold status after just 10 stays.  Alternatively, spend $30,000 annually on the Starwood American Express card and you’ll get automatic SPG gold status.  If that’s still too much, the Platinum American Express card has an annual fee of $450 but comes with SPG gold status and travel perks with other hotels and airlines, too.  If you travel a lot, those fees pay for themselves when you get the better rooms!

3. Redeem hotel points for free upgrades

You’ll earn hotel points through the loyalty program whenever you stay at the hotel or through a hotel branded credit card.  With credit cards, you generally earn 1 point per dollar spent and more when you’re spending at the hotel itself; it varies depending on the card.  Earn enough hotel points and you can redeem a chunk for free nights or a smaller chunk for an upgraded room.  The number of points required for an upgrade varies depending on the property but as an example, upgrade certificates start at a 1,000 points/night at SPG and 5,000 points/night at Marriott.

4. Tell them you’re celebrating a special occasion

If you’re celebrating your honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday, make sure the hotel knows – the earlier the better!  I start by making a note on the reservation, and then follow up with an email to the hotel concierge a week before my stay to let them know: 1) I love their hotel (it’s easier to catch bees with honey), 2) I’m celebrating a special occasion, and 3) it’d make my stay to get an upgrade.  Higher end hotels are super cool about this and have totally hooked it up prior to arrival.

5. Milk that mistake the hotel made

This one requires that you’ve already settled into your room.  If you spot anything unpleasant during your stay, report it!  Maybe you’re next door to super loud neighbors.  Or the A/C unit doesn’t work.  Or the water pressure in the shower is nonexistent.  Whatever it is – call the front desk, report the issue (nicely), and ask for another room.  If they don’t have any other comparable rooms available, they’ll generally move you to an upgraded room – free of charge!

6. Ask nicely

If all else fails, flash your best smile, befriend the front desk staff, and ask for what you want.  If you’re going to do this:

• It helps to be specific: a higher floor room, a room with a view, room facing the golf course, room overlooking the ocean, etc.
• If helps if you’re asking during off peak seasons/days/times.  These periods are different for every hotel, but the point is, your chances of an upgrade are better if the hotel isn’t fully booked.  Some also think you have better chances if you ask during the late afternoon or early evening since hotels will know if they have cancellations by then, but I’ve received upgrades at all times of day.

Anyway, what do you have to lose?  The worst they can say is “no” in which case, you’ll still be in the original room you reserved had you not asked!

Finally, if you’re going to try any of these tips, don’t forget to book directly with the hotel itself!  In my experience, reservations made through an intermediary (e.g., Priceline, Hotwire, etc.) or a travel agency are considered “second tier”.  Not only are these reservations more likely to get bumped, but they’re often excluded from earning any hotel points or perks so your chances of a complimentary upgrade are even slimmer.

Do you have some tips of your own?  Share the wealth - I’d love to read them in the comments below!

Baggage fees, schmag-gage fees! Finally someone’s dissected all the fees and they are presented in this infograph below.  The other bonus is that it’s a nice depiction of all the low cost carriers in Europe, so next time you’re planning your European getaway, you can refer to this handy dandy chart for the list of budget carriers. 

PS.  How is Ryan Air even still in business?  I shudder at the thought of paying 135Euros just to check in a bag!

Wasn’t traveling so much simpler before the airlines started deconstructing their pricing strategy?  Everyone could check in at least 2 bags for free.  Flights came with complimentary meals.  And you didn’t have to pay extra to sit in an exit row or bulkhead seat.

Nowadays those “perks” are reserved for the airline’s best customers – people logging at least 25,000 miles annually.  Everyone else?  We have to pay an extra $15-$100+ for seats with more legroom.

The good news is that there are a couple of scenarios where, if you resist the urge to pay for these preferred seats, there is a good chance you’ll actually end up in one!

1) You’re flying alone and the seating chart indicates there are only a few to no regular seats left.  But, there lots of preferred seats available!

Chances are if you leave your seat assignment to the airline, you’ll end up in one of the preferred seats anyway.  Since you have a ticket, they have to seat you somewhere…and if there aren’t any regular seats left, they’ll seat you in the section that still has availability – the “preferred” section! Cha-ching!

2) You’re flying with others and all of you are on the same ticket.  The only way to all sit together is if you pay extra for the preferred seats.

Again, wait for the airline to give you seat assignments.  Airlines always try to seat people from the same ticket together so there’s a good chance they’ll place you in the preferred seats – free of charge.

What about the other times?  Paying extra for the preferred seat may make sense — you get more legroom, board earlier, and deplane sooner (preferred seats are usually in the front of the cabin)…. but you know, those seats are so much better when you get them for freeeeeeeee!

(photo credit)

Have you ever looked up tipping guidelines for the U.S.?  Ridic, right?  By the way, the fact that we’re even expected to tip contradicts the idea that a tip is given for good service, but I’ll save you from that soapbox.  Anyway, living in the U.S., I always make sure to have some ones in my wallet since you never know when you’ll need to valet your car, order home delivery, or call a cab.  This kind of attention to tipping also extends to when I’m traveling abroad so I can minimize the number of social faux pas I’ll commit (’cause I already know I will be guilty of something!).

Side note:  The U.S. has one of the highest tipping expectations around the world.  The only country I’ve ever been to that didn’t expect nor require a tip?  French Polynesia (it’s the Tahitian hospitality!), although I’m not sure how long that will last as they are growing more Westernized everyday.

In the spirit of sharing “tips”, check out this cool illustration of tipping etiquette in popular countries courtesy of mint.com.  Keep in mind, these are only guidelines — the best way to really know what is expected of you is to talk to a local (if you don’t know any locals, you can check out this lengthy guide, too)!

Click here to enlarge.