Vacations are overall a time to relax and have fun, but they can also be a time when your health is at risk if you’re not careful and prepared.
From sunburns and insect bites, to food poisoning and getting lost, there are many things that can go wrong on vacation.
We’ve put together a list of 10 ways to stay safe and healthy on vacation. From packing the right supplies to being aware of your surroundings, these tips will help you enjoy your trip without worrying about your safety or well-being.
Cruising Into the Unknown: Tips & Tricks for a Smooth First Cruise
Taking your first cruise can be an incredibly exciting experience. But it can also be quite daunting, especially if you aren’t sure what to expect. That’s why it’s important to do your research and plan ahead to ensure that your first cruise is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Here are some tips and tricks that will help make your first cruise go smoothly.
Traveling to new places can be stressful. From planning to packing to dealing with jet lag, there’s a lot to worry about.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just arrived in a new city and you need to find your way to your hotel. You don’t know the language, you don’t know where anything is, and you have no idea how to get started.
Or maybe you’re new to air travel and the whole process is overwhelming. Check-in, security, finding your gate… it’s a lot to keep track of.
Luckily, there are plenty of innovative & helpful apps that can help take the stress out of travel. From translating menus and signs to finding your way around town, these apps have got you covered.
We all want to get the most bang for our buck when planning our vacations, and we all want to find great deals while we’re traveling.
It’s wise to keep an eye out for potential savings or good deals when exploring other states, cultures, and countries, right?
The problem, of course, is that scammers know we’re distracted looking for deals…so the scammers are looking for us!
Some of the most common travel scams target tourists, and they can be found all over the world. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself the victim of a travel scam.
To help you avoid being scammed on your next vacation, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common travel scams.
When it comes to enjoying a stress-free vacation, all-inclusive resorts are a perfect choice.
With all-inclusive resorts, you can have all the benefits of a traditional vacation – all the accommodations, entertainment, and activities you could want – but in one convenient location – and for one price!
Whether it’s a week filled with sun and sand at the beach, or an adventure-filled safari tour and cenote swim in a remote jungle, all-inclusive vacations offer something for everyone at price points for every budget.
We all have a bucket list. Whether it’s places we want to see, things we want to do, or experiences we want to have, we all have a list of things we want to do before we die. And while there are endless possibilities for amazing experiences out there, there are some that just stand out above the rest. Here are the top 5 bucket list trips you need to take in your lifetime.
Planning your own DIY vacation can be stressful and overwhelming for most people.
There are so many things to remember when planning a trip DIY style – from passports and visas, to insurance & documentation. It’s easy to make a mistake that can ruin your whole vacation.
We don’t want you to make the same mistakes that we’ve seen so many travelers make over the years. From a bride who missed her honeymoon to a husband that got his wife’s birthday wrong, these mistakes will make you think twice before booking your next vacation without a travel agent.
Air travel can be long, uncomfortable and boring no matter how long your flight is.
Did you know the average flight is over 4 hours long? That’s a lot of time to spend in a small space with limited options for entertainment.
And you’re not alone if you find the whole experience to be less than pleasant. According to a study by Expedia, 61% of people find flying stressful, and only 38% actually enjoy it.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
We’ve put together a list of 10 tips to make your next long flight more bearable below – follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to having a comfortable and relaxing journey!
Vacation is a time to relax and recharge, but can be quite an investment for many people. You work hard for your money and you deserve the best value for your budget. Today, I want to help you grow your vacation fund so that you can the break you need!
Did you know the average cost of a summer vacation for a family of four is over $4,000. Yikes! Even a romantic 7-day honeymoon for 2 can cost upwards of $3,000 when all is said and done – and that’s just with a basic one!
Most people decide to save for vacation by cutting back on spending in other areas, but that can be hard to do and often leads to feeling deprived or like you’re missing out on life.
But what if there were a way to make saving for vacation fun, easy and something you actually looked forward to?
Ever planned a vacation and it didn’t turn out even close to the way you wanted?
Chances are, you probably didn’t use a travel agent.
It’s kind of like when you need your car fixed – unless you’re a mechanic, you’re probably going to need some help.
I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t tell the difference between the fuel injector and an A/C compressor if my life depended on it.
The same goes for planning vacations.
There are so many moving parts and pieces, that it’s easy for something to get lost in the shuffle – especially if you’re trying to do it all yourself.
There are several reasons why you should use a travel agent to plan your vacation instead of planning it yourself, but I’ll give you my top ones here in case you haven’t used one before:
Here Are the Top 5 Advantages to Using a Travel Agent vs. Planning Your Own Travel:
1. Travel Agents Save You Hours of Planning Time & Stress
Let’s say you want to plan a family trip to a foreign country, but you’ve never been. Where do you start? What are the must-see sights? What’s the fastest & safest way to get around the country?
A good travel agent is already very knowledgeable about the destinations they sell and can help you plan your dream vacation without all of the stress. Researching your destination takes time on your own, but a travel agent can do it for you quickly and easily!
Think about your hometown. Wouldn’t it be easier to list off the “must-do” activities & places to stay in that area than someone who’s never been there or doesn’t know anything about it?
That’s just like a travel agent! They’ve most likely visited or researched the area multiple times, so they already know all the best places to go, things to see & do and how to navigate – you’ll save so much work by using a travel agent!
2. Travel Agents Offer You the Best Value for Your Budget
When many people DIY their own vacations, they often look for the “cheapest pricing”.
Let’s say a honeymoon couple has a budget of $5000 for their 7-night trip. A “DIY” traveler would start googling “hotels in X destination” and then probably proceed to filter for the “cheapest ones”, right?
But what if the “cheapest ones” don’t include daily breakfast, hotel taxes, have a really bad reputation in the industry or are located in a less than desirable area of the destination where travel to activities requires a 30-minute cab ride? No one wants these “surprises” when booking their own vacation.
On the other hand, a good travel agent will work with you to figure out what’s most important to their travelers.
Do you want an all-inclusive resort with top-notch dining options? Or maybe a boutique hotel located in the heart of the bustling city? A rental car? Travel by train?
When using a travel agent to plan your vacation, they will help identify what’s most important to you and find the best option that meets your needs – not just find you the cheapest options – that’s for amateurs. Travel agents focus on the best “bang for your buck!”
And remember, you get what you pay for when it comes to travel.
3. Travel Agents Can Pass on “Extra Perks”
When you book your own travel, you’re usually just another transaction for that website or call center.
But when a travel agent books your trip, they often have personal & longstanding relationships with the suppliers (hotels, resorts, tour companies, etc) and can often get “extras” for their clients because of it!
Maybe it’s an upgrade to a nicer room, a free bottle of champagne upon arrival, or a 10% discount on a tour or activity. These “extras” can really add up and enhance your overall vacation experience without costing YOU anything more!
And it’s not just the “big things”, but also the little things that can make a difference.
For example, perhaps the concierge at your hotel knows your agent and gives you a priority seating in their luxurious restaurant for your 10th anniversary dinner. Or, perhaps your tour guide goes out of their way to make your experience even better because they know you are a client of the travel agent who arranged the tour.
You don’t often get this type of attention or service when you book everything on your own.
4. Travel Agents Help You Avoid Vacation-Ruining Mistakes
Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, there are always new things to learn about the travel planning process – and that’s where a travel agent can help! With their vast experience and knowledge, they can help you avoid the most common mistakes people make when planning their own vacations.
Ever made a mistake when spelling your name on an airline ticket? Forgotten about the 6-month passport rule? Wore camouflage in the Caribbean? Entered the wrong dates for travel? Or accidentally booked a one-way ticket instead of a round-trip ticket? These may seem like small things, but they can have major consequences and ruin your entire trip.
But when you use a travel agent, they will take care of all the details for you – big and small – to make sure your vacation goes off without a hitch!
5. Travel Agents Provide Peace of Mind.
When you book your own travel, YOU are usually on your own and held responsible if something goes wrong. But when you use a travel agent, they will be there to help you every step of the way – before, during, and after your trip.
If your flight gets cancelled or you miss a connection, a travel agent will be there to guide you on rebooking your flights and making alternate arrangements. If your hotel situation is not as expected, a travel agent will be there to advocate for you and get the situation resolved. And if you have any problems or questions while on your trip, a travel agent will be just a phone call away to help resolve the issue.
What would happen if you planned your own trip and had an emergency occur? You would be on your own to figure everything out! Travel insurance, rebooking tickets, possible medical bills, etc. No one wants to think about these things, but they can and do happen. And if they do, you will be glad you have a travel agent in your corner!
And remember 2020? Do you know that many agents spent 8+ hours on the phone just to rearrange ONE airline ticket for their client? Who’s got time for THAT? That’s the type of peace of mind and level of service you can expect when you use a travel agent.
SUMMARY:
As you can see, there are many advantages to using a travel agent when planning a vacation. So why not let someone else do the work for you and take the stress out of planning your next trip? After all, vacations are supposed to be fun, relaxing, and worry-free!
Here at Love of The Magic Vacations, we specialize in bringing your vacation dreams to life while providing outstanding service and peace of mind every step of the way.
