Walking Tours to Celebrate National Walking Month

I may not walk 500 miles, but I do put in a lot of steps when I am on vacation. Everyone has their own preference, but I am one who wants to have my feet on the pavement! Not only is it good exercise, but it’s a great way to really explore, discover darling boutiques and interesting cafes, and hear “the rest of the story” when it comes to history.

Walking tours generally go way deeper than “And on your left is a church that was built in 1793. And on your right is another church that was built in 1795.” I love peeking into an old church building, but tell me something that makes it stand out! This is the kind of experience you have while on a walking tour.

There are so many walking tour options when you are traveling.

Free tours: Lots of companies offer “free tours”. While these are free, gratuities are appreciated (and expected) by the guides. You will find guides to be educated, knowledgeable, entertaining, and they bring so much to a tour. This is where you really learn the ins and outs of an area, the best places to go for local food, and so much more. Guides love when you interact and ask questions and they are equipped with answers. One of my favorite restaurants was discovered on a free walking tour in Zagreb, Croatia, when my guide suggested we check out La Struk. The locals know where to go and are happy to share this information. Generally they will point you to family-owned restaurants and shops. The only down side I have discovered in these tours is that the group size may be 20-30 people. The up side is that I have taken tours where I was the only one there and I got to enjoy a private tour!

These are some of the free tour companies I have used in the past. I encourage you to register for tours so the guides know how many to expect. If you do register, SHOW UP. Guides are counting on you to be there (and often guides pay the parent company based on how many people register). If you are a no-show, not only have you taken a spot that someone else could have enjoyed, but you may be costing the guides (small business owners) money.

https://www.guruwalk.com

https://www.freetour.com

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/

https://strawberrytours.com

Read tour descriptions carefully and make sure you are up to a walking tour, particularly in Europe where you may deal with cobbled and uneven streets.

Paid tours: Of course there are plenty of options for paid tours in different cities and we can look for the perfect tour based on your upcoming travel and personal interests.

Tours by Locals

Project Expedition

Viator

Shore Excursions Group

Are you a walker? What are some notable walking tours you have enjoyed?

Cruise Packing List – Cooler Climates

So you’ve committed to a cruise and now it’s time to think about packing. Yes, it can be overwhelming, but let’s go through it step by step and try to minimize any frustration.

My next cruise is to the Norwegian Fjords from Southampton, UK. Packing for this cruise will be quite similar to packing for an Alaska cruise. I can expect temps to be in the upper 50’s during our days in port and cooler in the evenings. Since we don’t have outdoor evening activities planned, I’m not too concerned about evening temps (40’s).

I urge you to avoid over-packing for so many reasons. First, cruise cabins are small and it is difficult to find space to put everything! Secondly, if you plan well, you can mix and match your clothes and have a wide variety of looks with a limited number of items. Check out the video below walking you through a Capsule Wardrobe. Bring only the amount of luggage that you can handle, which includes getting it on and off of trains or other modes of transportation.

For a 7-night cruise, you can plan on two formal nights. These are optional. People will come with tuxedos and ball gowns, as well as sun dresses and dockers. If you want to skip the whole scene, there are other dining options on board, including a full buffet. Other non-formal nights will find people in slacks or resort casual clothing. Shorts are discouraged in the main dining room in the evenings but welcome in buffet settings.

Daily wear for sea days or port days – this can vary based on style, but I will pack a couple of pairs of jeans (1 black, 1 blue), some black slacks, 5 tops, along with 3-4 dresses that can work for formal night, as well as main dining room. (I’m a dress girl – if you don’t like them, don’t bring them!) Some of my travel tops are lightweight and can be hand-washed easily in the cabin and hung to dry.

Outerwear – because my cruise in May, I will pack a down vest, an inexpensive lightweight raincoat, and a scarf. If you are cold natured, consider a heavier layer. There is nothing worse than being cold and miserable and forced to pay for an over-priced jacket during travel.

If you plan to do more active excursions, plan your footwear accordingly. Otherwise, most excursions will be fine with a sturdy athletic shoe, waterproof if possible. I also pack some lightweight flip flips to wear to the hot tub, and a pair of sandals what work with slacks as well as dresses.

Swimsuit and cover-up – even in colder climates, it’s nice to enjoy the hot tubs on board.

Jewelry – minimize! Consider a faux wedding band. Select another few pieces that you enjoy wearing and leave the rest at home! I have an Altoid container my eldest daughter decorated in VBS in 1998. It allows me to bring a handful of earrings, a bracelet, and I have a simple necklace I wear daily. The fewer choices I have to make each day, the better. Leave the good stuff at home! It also makes you less of a target by showing off flashy jewelry.

Medication – bring what you need, including over the counter meds (pain reliever, cold/cough meds) and keep them in your carry-on or day pack. Pack extra if they are life-saving medications. You could have a delayed flight and spend a couple of unplanned days in another country.

If you don’t wear it at home, you’re not going to wear it while you travel! We have grandiose ideas about being different when we travel, but if the shoes hurt at home, wearing them on vacation will not make them hurt less.

Don’t worry about wearing an outfit twice. Who really cares? Nobody. Even the people you are traveling with will likely not remember what you wore to dinner one night and that you are re-wearing it.

Ships do offer laundry for a fee. This is a current Royal Caribbean laundry price sheet.

What are your own packing tips? Drop them in the comments!

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

I have to take a minute to brag on the power of #teamwork and the magic that independent travel advisors can make!

On our Christmas Markets river cruise, one of my clients left his cell phone in a pub in Bratislava, Slovakia. All of this came to light at the end of the day as we departed the area.

Although my client had travel insurance and could have pursued that direction, he much preferred to get his phone back, as it had his vacation photos, and was also a new phone.

It was time for some quick thinking. I reached out to colleagues to inquire if anyone had a client who would be in Bratislava in the coming weeks. Thankfully, a colleague had a couple who would be on the same cruise two weeks later! Her clients happily agreed to pick up phone up in Bratislava and return it to the states. My colleague then packed and mailed it to my client.

THAT, my friends, is the power of networking and teamwork. When you book with an independent travel advisor instead of a large online company, we have a network to draw on and can often make magic happen, like the return of a cell phone. And a huge thanks to Hayes Travel Group for helping make this magic happen!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Travel Hacks!

It seems impossible but my calendar assures me that the holidays are just around the corner. Am I ready? Not even close. As Scarlet would say, “I’ll think about that another day!”

But I don’t need another day to share some great holiday travel hacks with you!

According to Wikipedia, over 55 million people travel for Thanksgiving, with numbers twice that of people who will travel between Christmas and New Year’s. Whether you are a November or December traveler, you are at risk for encountering some kind of hiccup during your travels.

1. Be flexible!

Last year, when I attempted to travel from Texas to California for Christmas on December 23, a major airline shut down nationwide. it was announced that nobody was traveling on December 23. I was rebooked for December 24. I showed up at the airport, only to face another day of shutdowns. I canceled my flight, filed a grievance with the airline, and booked a new flight on a different airline for Christmas Day. Not only did I miss two days of pre-Christmas preparations with my kids and grandkids, but my newly purchased flight was extremely expensive.

It was a disappointing event, to say the least. What was even more disappointing was watching fellow passengers who were angry. I mean screaming angry. I get that we were all frustrated. But what I saw was beyond what was warranted. People were downright nasty. The airline employees were not responsible for the shutdown and were doing their best. If you’re going to travel in peak times, you need to keep your wits about you and be flexible. This is travel and while I believe in the importance of travel, rarely is it a “life and death” situation.

If you ARE delayed and will miss a connection, immediately get in line with the airline’s customer service counter, but at the same time, check your airline app for alternate flights. You may have already been re-booked. At the same time, CALL the airline. Often you will get through by phone before you get to the front of the counter.

If you find yourself in a delay, please remember that you catch more flies with honey. Not that you want flies, though. Ha! Just be kind.

2. Travel insurance!

While travel insurance doesn’t cover everything, many policies do allow for delays. They also have coverage in case you need to cancel for a covered reason. This includes breaking a leg days before travel, injury/serious illness of an immediate family member, death of traveler or immediate family member, and more. I have parents in their 80’s and if they have a medical emergency, I will be at their bedside. For that reason, I purchase travel protection for international travel. (And really, at age 58, the medical emergency could be with me, as well!)

3. Pack light!

With so many holiday travelers, IF you can pack in carry on luggage, consider it. If you do need to check a bag, consider adding an Apple AirTag (Apple) or a Tile (Android) to your bag. [Affiliate links – if you purchaes through the links, I earn a small bit.] If luggage goes missing, it is easier to track. I will say that the amount of bags airlines handle on a daily basis is massive and I believe they largely do a very good job with getting bags to the correct destination. We all have our own “But they lost my bag…” stories, but usually your bag will arrive with you.

Speaking of packing light, don’t pack valuables in checked bags. Leave expensive heirloom jewelry at home. If your bag did get lost, could you do without its contents?

4. Jewelry!

Consider leaving your “good” jewelry at home. While safes can be safe, taking along valuable jewelry puts you at risk for theft in a couple of different ways. When you wear a ring that boasts a 3 carat diamond, you are noticed but may be noticed by the wrong people. This tells people you have money and you likely have cash in your wallet or handbag, not to mention the value of the jewelry itself. Resist the urge to bring the nice pieces and consider a plain wedding band instead. You want to avoid drawing attention to yourself, especially during crowded holiday travel when you may get distracted and potentially have your valuables stolen.

5. Airport security!

Since 9/11, TSA is a very real part of airport travel. When you are prepared, your experience will be easier.

One of the challenges is LIQUIDS. Take time to review the Liquids Rule. Large bottles of cologne, health & beauty products, beverages, and more, will be removed from your bag and disposed of. There are exceptions with medications, formula for babies, and more. A sealed water bottle may be taken through security if it is needed for medication. You need to present it to the TSA agent and tell them. They will give it an extra screening. It can be easier to bring an empty water bottle and take advantage of the airport bottle fill stations. [I love this Brita water bottle with filter!]

Listen carefully and be prepared when it is your turn for screening. Not only will the process be easier for you, but people behind you won’t have cause to become impatient.

6. Gifts!

If you are flying to your destination, you may be traveling with holiday gifts. On occasion, TSA may need to unwrap your lovely gifts in order to see the contents clearly. A hack I have found is to ship what I can to my destination (a family member’s home). I even ship a roll of wrapping paper and roll of tape. Upon arrival, I spend some time wrapping gifts.

7. Booking travel!

Holiday travel is expensive. There’s no way around it but planning ahead can help cut down costs. Depending on your plans, can you move your travel a day or two? If so, you may save a bit of money.

Avoid the urge to shop only by price. Itinerary is just as important as price. Sometimes the lower price options have unreasonable connections, or you may be flying through a city that gets inclement weather often. (I avoid Denver and New York during winter months!) You get what you pay for comes into play here! If you are delayed and miss a connection because of a weather-related issue, the airline is not obligated to provide hotel and meals for you, as they usually do when it is a mechanical issue. Plan your connections carefully and assume that your flight may have a delay. If you are delayed by 30 minutes, will you still make your connection? If not, find another itinerary.

Many airlines offer low or basic economy flights. These flights are sold at a bargain price, but you are not allowed to select your seat, and you will even have to pay for a carry-on bag. If you are traveling solo, this may be acceptable to you, but realize you will be toward the back of the plane and in a middle seat in most cases. To some, the savings is worth it.

Book directly with the airline in order to have access to the best customer service in case of flight delays.

It’s unavoidable, but you pay more for prime travel season and that includes holidays. Budget for it, plan ahead, and book early.

Where are YOU gonna go this year?

Flight Delays

Even the best itinerary can go awry if a flight departs hours late and you miss a connection. In the last 10 days, one family of six was delayed overnight in Zurich; family friends (family of five) delayed in Dallas overnight after their flight from NC was delayed; a friend delayed in New York overnight because her flight left London two hours late; four clients delayed in Dallas for several hours.

I try to look at the situation in that maybe you are delayed for a reason you’ll never know about. Perhaps you are being protected from something worse.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

In case of a significant delay, immediately get in queue with customer service, but at the same time, CALL the airline and also check your airline app (often they will give an option to re-book online). You may be re-routed before you get to the front of the queue. You may need to stay in queue for a hotel voucher, although some airlines will email vouchers.

Some practical tips for coping with delays:

KINDNESS – the customer service reps aren’t responsible for delays. Be kind to them. It breaks my heart to see people screaming at them as they try to do their job. Guess what? That won’t help. Some over-priced airport chocolate or a coffee may brighten their day. Just sayin’…

SNACKS – don’t get hangry! Many airport restaurants and shops close as it gets late. Keep protein bars, raisins, nuts, etc. in your backpack.

MEDS – medication should always be kept with you and not in a checked bag. Don’t forget over the counter meds, too. I recently paid $8 for two doses of airport cold medication because I had forgotten to pack some.

REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLES – stay hydrated – and not at the bar. This one is my favorite because it includes a filter. I don’t drink sodas and dislike having to pay $4+ for a bottle of water.

GAMES – keep a deck of cards or other small games in your backpack. Games are a fun, interactive way to pass the time. (Save screentime for desperate measures!)

How do YOU handle delays?

Travel Insurance

While we all love to talk about destinations and the fun side of travel, it’s time for an important conversation about travel insurance. First, my disclaimer that I am not an insurance agent. I am a travel associate who offers travel protection. For specific information about coverage, I refer clients back to the insurance company, as I won’t get into the legalities of interpretering insurance and want to leave that to the professionals!

People seem to come in one of four camps when it comes to the insurance conversation:

“Isn’t it a gimmick – a way to make us pay more?”

Do you consider your auto or homeowners insurance to be a gimmick? Year after year, I pay premiums to protect my two most expensive worldly possessions. I have made one auto claim in 10+ years. Does that mean my coverage was a gimmick? Absolutely not. YES, to purchase insurance, I pay more for my travel – 10-15% in most cases. And yet, I know if I need to cancel for a covered reason (generally health/injury/death of myself, a co-traveler, or family member), I will receive a refund for my nonrefundable expenses and have a chance for a “do-over” for my travels. Additionally, the policy I choose also offers emergency medical coverage during travel, as well as coverage for delays and interruptions during travel, lost luggage, and more. Is my peace of mind worth the price of a policy? Absolutely.

“I bought it once and they didn’t pay out.”

If you had a policy and did not get payment on a claim, I understand it leaving a bad taste in your mouth and I would feel the same way. Travel insurance, like all insurance, is extremely specific. Are insurance companies excited about paying out? Absolutely not. Are they required to pay out based on the policy and situation? Absolutely. Does it takes work? Absolutely. Will you want to pull your hair out when you may submit the same documents multiple times? Absolutely. Will I help you through this process? ABSOLUTELY.

“My credit card offers coverage.”

Fantastic! My Chase Sapphire card also has some coverage. For smaller trips, this may be enough. Evaluate your trip and the coverage your particular card has and determine what is right for you. (Affiliate link for Chase. If you apply for the card and are approved, I receive bonus miles.)

“Absolutely – we won’t travel without it.”

These clients have seen insurance work and understand its importance.

Let me introduce you to a few of my clients who have had to file claims.

One recent couple who planned a big cruise overseas. The wife said she had a gut feeling she needed to buy insurance. Fast forward to a month before travel when the wife called me and tearfully told me to cancel their cruise. Her husband had received a difficult diagnosis and would not be able to travel. As they were processing difficult news and the loss of a long-awaited dream cruise, they were grateful they had made the purchase and they just received word that they are receiving back every bit of their non-refundable charges.

After Covid re-opened cruising, another couple took an anticipated 11-day cruise to Alaska in 2022. The first few days at sea were enjoyable. They visited their first port, and at the end of the day, came down with “cold symptoms” that ended up being a solid case of Covid for both of them. They were now quarantined to their cruise cabin, ruining the next seven days of cruising. Upon their return to the home port, they could not fly back home due to Covid rules with the airlines, so had to rent a one-way car rental and drive home. Not only did their travel protection reimburse for the car rental, but it also reimbursed them for the portion of the cruise that they were quarantined.

My last example to share includes a couple who were flying home from their travels. As their first plane was delayed, they missed their connecting flight home. Airlines normally will put you up in a hotel except this was weather related and not covered by the airline. Thankfully they had travel insurance. I arranged for a hotel in their connecting city, and their shuttle driver took them through a drive-through to pick up some dinner en route to the hotel. (This was before Door Dash days.) They flew home the next day, filed a claim, and had their hotel and dinner reimbursed in a short period of time.

My reasons for buying it are simple. I have people who depend on me on a regular basis. If something happens to them, I need to be able to be at their side. If it means cancelling a trip, so be it. But it’s comforting to know that I would have the chance for a “do-over” after filing a claim. (And really, at 58, something could happen to ME, too!) There are also policies that include “cancel for any reason” coverage. These policies are significantly more expensive and most of my clients are not inclined to cancel without a covered reason, so I don’t find them to be the best value.

John Lennon said it best – Life is what happens when you’re making other plans. Stuff happens. (Even Forrest Gump knew that.) Make sure you are prepared by protecting your travel investment.