Category Archives: Travel Tips

Girls Getaway 101

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Flamingo Beach – Costa Rica (2016)

I take a 4-night trip, every January, with one of my best friends of over 20 years. We go somewhere warm and tropical to escape our New Jersey winter and spend the time doing not much more than eating, reading, drinking cocktails & soaking up the sun. It’s pure heaven. We catch up on all the happenings since our last trip and laugh like little kids.

Plenty of people over the years have asked me how I “get away with” this annual excursion. I simply tell them, “It’s already on the calendar.” Just as I’m sure you plan family vacations, this friend-cation is really no different. Obviously there is a cost involved, but I’d rather drive my old car and color my own hair, than miss this trip! Everyone needs a break from their daily lives & responsibilities – you just have to make it happen.  So how do we do it?  These are the tips I recommend…

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2012 in Puerto Plata

1. Find the right partner(s) in crime. Whether you go with a group or a single companion, traveling with friends can be tricky. You all need to want the same thing from this escape, regarding both destination & activity level.  If one of you wants to lay on the beach all day, and your friend wants to zipline, parasail & tour the countryside, it’s generally not going to be as fun. Compromises can be made of course, and some things can be done individually, but for the most part, it’s easier to stick with the same schedule. My girlfriend & I happen to travel incredibly well together. We’re both up early, we both need our coffee right away, food is of the utmost importance & wine is a necessity. We like to relax, with little regard for schedules or planned activities. Our lives at home revolve around this pick-up or that meeting, which sport or what deadline, so when we’re away it’s nice to just go with the flow. But again, it helps if you’re all on the same page.

2. Timing is essential.  Keeping to the same week or weekend every year, makes it unobjectionable for everyone involved. Spouses, kids and caregivers all know when it’s going to happen and there becomes less & less discussion about it. For us, there seems to be the least amount of activity/commitment/obligation in January, so that’s when we go, but you need to find a time that works best for you. Maybe during the summer is better for your schedule, or one of the holiday weekends. Just pick a date and stick with it! Getting everyone on board that first year is definitely the most difficult, but by the 2nd year, you may only hear, “You’re doing that again?” After that it becomes routine and one of the most looked forward to events on your calendar!

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Our beach in Antigua – 2017

3. Length of Trip.  This one depends on how long you can be away from home, how much you want to spend and how flexible your schedule is. Work, childcare, vacation time, pets, etc., will all play a part, but it’s not impossible. If you’re flying, try to find direct flights and don’t stay too far from the airport – you want to maximize every second of your time. Four nights seems to work the best for us, but I have another friend that I only do one night a year with and that works too! I The key is simply getting away, even if it’s only for 24 hours.

4. The Destination. Beach? Mountains? Wine country? A night in NYC? The options are endless. We prefer long days in the warm sun, but your trip can take you anywhere! I will say, however, that all-inclusives or prepaid packages make everything easier – no splitting checks or trying to figure out who drank more at the bar, lol… your transportation and room fees are all covered, including incidentals like wifi & airport transfers. It’s one less thing to worry about as this trip should be as stress-free as possible.

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If you only knew how long it took and how hard we laughed, making this sign!

So pick your travel mate(s), find a date, and select a destination that you’ve always wanted to visit! We started our annual getaway in 2011, for only 3 nights, at an unfamiliar high-rise in Cancun. We got a good deal and had a blast, despite cooler temps and such a short stay.  We decided right then that this needed to be an annual tradition, and in less than a week, we’ll be leaving for Aruba – our 9th trip! When all’s said and done, it doesn’t matter where you go, how much you can spend or what you eat & drink, it’s a little “escape” that every woman deserves at least once a year!

Here’s a little slideshow of the incredible resorts we’ve visited so far!  We’ve lucked out with amazing beaches, incredible views and great weather (except for that one year in Puerto Plata!). We are very fortunate to have this friendship, and to have kept this tradition alive… Eventually we’ll be the two old ladies at the swim-up, but with so many years of crazy stories to share!

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All-Inclusives… Yay or Nay?

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20170801_063332I was inspired this morning by this great list of all-inclusive resorts published by Caribbean Journal. Some I have visited before & some have been on my bucket list for quite some time. I’m a huge fan of the all-inclusive concept & have been checking them out regularly since 1998 with our 1st trip to Sandals 🙂 They’re certainly not for everyone, but the ease with which they operate, and all they have to offer, makes them a no-brainer in my book.

Sandals Royal BahamianI’ve been to Sandals, Beaches, Excellence, Melia, Iberostar & several other all-inclusive chains, big and small. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the more laid back, less cookie-cutter resorts, without an overwhelming number of activities or the invigorating “party” atmosphere. It could just be that I’m getting old, but I like to think at this point in life, I’m more than capable of entertaining myself… lol. Don’t get me wrong, I always love some local, live music in the evening & I’ll never pass up a good snorkeling or boating excursion. But usually I’m just there to relax, read my book on the beach, do a little sightseeing & enjoy a delicious meal each night!

The beauty of an all-inclusive (AI) lies in its simplicity… one-stop-shopping if you will. Pick your resort & then enjoy everything a small beachside village would have to offer, without ever having to leave the property. You’ll have the option of fine dining from all nationalities, shops, a beautiful spa, a gym, a water sports center & more. Easy peasy.

Pineapple Beach Club

Perfect local entertainment!

With that said, it becomes more a matter of personal preference when selecting the perfect AI. For me, it’s all about the beach & the food. I don’t need a super luxurious room, a fancy spa or lots of theater-style shows, but those amenities are important to some, and widely available.  I enjoy a good “adults-only” resort (or at least an adult “section”), but when traveling with my son, I need to adjust our requirements a little and include a good pool & an active kids club.

AIs are found mostly in Mexico and the Caribbean with an extreme number on the Yucatan Peninsula & in the Dominican Republic. You definitely get what you pay for, however sometimes the brand name alone, dictates a higher price but not necessarily a better experience. It’s important to read reviews & be clear on what type of resort you’re looking for. Here are a few things to consider:

– Size of the resort.  AKA… how far do you want to walk to the beach or to dinner.  Layout plays a part here as well… some resorts lie parallel to the beach, while others form a long, perpendicular strip from the main road to the sea.  Another trend seems to be combining multiple properties into one, creating a huge mecca of dining options, pools, etc.   It all depends on what you need to keep you entertained and your mobility level.

– Variety (and quality) of restaurants. If a buffet for breakfast & lunch and a few a la carte options for dinner are sufficient, any AI will do.  However, if you want access to room service, need to order breakfast off a menu or would like a high-end French meal for dinner, you’ll need to stay on the upper end of things. Some of the smaller resorts may only have 2 or 3 restaurants, but if their focus is on quality, you should still receive an excellent variety of fresh & creative food.  Some of the best food I’ve had at an AI was at the Excellence Punta Cana last year… here’s just a snapshot of the types of items available at the BREAKFAST buffet!

A Yogurt Bar… Why not?
Meat & Cheese Heaven

– Room accommodations.  Do you want to be next to the ocean? Do you need your own swim-out pool? Are 2 beds a requirement?  As with all resorts, most AIs offer a large variety of rooms and the cost will most likely be determined by the view & proximity to the beach.  Many AIs now also offer an exclusive section (usually adults only), that includes a private stretch of beach, select restaurants and other upgraded amenities – it’s up to you to determine if this extra expense is necessary.  Reading resort reviews on TripAdvisor or other trusted sites, is the best way to find this out for each particular resort.  Here’s a perfect example… our room at the smaller, Pineapple Beach Club in Antigua wasn’t the most luxurious, but it literally sat on the water, with a huge balcony… I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

Our waterfront room
Waterfront…

– Location.  Do you want to explore the town/culture/sights or just stay put? Some of the best resorts are often farther from any centralized “downtowns” or local hot spots.  Consider your sightseeing needs when making our selection.  Also, depending on the length of your stay, you’ll want to consider the drive time to & from the airport.  In Cancun, for example, most resorts are on the main strip, with a quick, 20-min ride from the airport.  If you venture out towards the Riviera Maya area, however, you’re looking at 45 mins to an hour.  For shorter trips, the closer the better, but if you have the time, the ride is often worth it.

All-inclusives offer something for everyone and are often easier when traveling with kids or a larger group. It’s also nice to pay for everything up front & not have to worry about extra expenses once you arrive (other than trips to the spa, gift shop or unplanned excursions). Personally, I like to make as few taxing decisions as possible when I’m on vacation, so the concept works wonderfully well for me.  The only way you’ll know for sure, is to do your homework, get recommendations from friends & try it out!

Here are a few links to some of my favorites:

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Melia Caribe Tropical – Larger, well-established resort in Punta Cana.  Go for the upgraded “Level” if you’re leaving the kids at home 😉
Excellence Punta Cana – Beautiful, adults-only resort.  Amazing food & my favorite stretch of beach.
Iberostar Costa Dorada – Smaller, open-air resort on the north coast of the D.R.  Great food & service.

COSTA RICA
Flamingo Beach Resort – Experience “pura vida” at this laid back, boutique resort.  Soon to become a part of the Margaritaville chain… hoping that doesn’t spoil the atmosphere.  Here are some pics from last year’s visit 🙂

ANTIGUA
Pineapple Beach Club & Galley Bay – Both part of the Elite Island Resorts chain… Visited the quaint Pineapple this year (here’s my review), looking to try the more upscale Gally Bay soon!

NCL Breakaway… Beautiful Ship, but the Extras Can Add Up!

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Three weeks ago today, I woke up to this beautiful sunrise from my balcony on the Norwegian Breakaway. This was a last-minute booking, as my husband had to work, but my 10-year old son was off from school so I decided to take advantage of his vacation days & hit the high seas!

Departing from New York City, the Breakaway is NCL’s newest & largest member of their fleet. Sailing with almost 4,000 passengers, this is the biggest ship I’ve been on & I was worried that I’d spend most of my week clutching the map. I was pleasantly surprised however, by the ship’s easily navigable layout. And the crowds only became a problem when looking for the ideal lounge chair up on the pool deck or when trying to get on or off the boat (we spent almost 1.5 hours in line to get off the ship in NYC!).

There were several promotions available when I booked this sailing, however they did not apply to the “Balcony Guarantee” category we selected because of its great price. For almost double the cost of our reservation, I could have chosen our specific balcony cabin location & received 2 of the following free perks: 3 dinners at their “specialty” restaurants, an all-inclusive drink package, free wifi or prepaid gratuities. Honestly, when traveling with a 10-year old, I really didn’t think those upgrades would be worth the extra cost, so I stuck with our base fare of $649 per person and hoped for the best.

We did ok with our cabin assignment… On a “Guarantee,” the cruise line picks a cabin for you, in the category you select or higher, and you’re notified of the cabin number a few days before sailing. We ended up on Deck 11, which was very centrally located, but all the way forward on the port side. No complaints… it had a balcony and that’s all I really wanted for this trip! Our cabin attendant, Ruby, was wonderful and the little extra walk to the very front of the ship was not a big deal (and always made it easy to find our room!).

Unfortunately, to really experience all this ship has to offer, you need to shell out some extra cash, and be prepared to make reservations for everything – even the shows! The promos that NCL was offering clearly would have enhanced our experience, but we kept to our budget and still managed to have a great time. Here’s my take on whether the promotional perks that I skipped were really worth it…

DINING – There are 3 complimentary main dining rooms on this ship, each with a different atmosphere, but all offering the exact same menu. There is also a huge buffet restaurant on Deck 15 with food literally available all day long. I have always been pleased with the quality & selection of the food in these “inclusive” venues without feeling like I had to spend extra money to get a better meal at one of the specialty restaurants. On this cruise, however, I was a little disappointed. The buffet was very good & full of options, but the dining room meals were just ok and the service was spotty at times. The menu lacked creativity & variety and there were several nights that I couldn’t really find anything that appealed to me. I truly look forward to my evening meal on a cruise (it’s the actual highlight of my day… can you say “foodie”?), but many nights here I was disappointed.

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La Cucina, the beautiful Italian specialty restaurant.

The specialty restaurants (some being a set price per person, others with an a la carte menu) received rave reviews and the selections all looked delicious. There were options for steak, seafood, teppanyaki, sushi, Brazilian, & Italian (which I was tempted to try as the prices weren’t too bad, but I couldn’t get a reservation 😦 )We did try the sushi restaurant for lunch on our last day & it was amazing.

Bottom line:  If you want to eat well on this ship, (and by that I mean quality, not quantity), pick the specialty restaurant promotion or purchase one of the dining packages & make all of your reservations online before you leave, to insure entry into your favorites.

DRINKS – This area was interesting to me. On every cruise I’ve been on, there have always been an abundance of waiters walking around trying to take your drink order. As soon as you walk on the ship, they are usually pushing the “drink of day” and I usually get one… lol! Not the case here. No welcome drink as you boarded, no waiters to be found in the pool area, and in the dining rooms I was only approached once. Now that so many people are opting for the all-inclusive drink package, apparently they’re no longer hungry for that money. So for those of us who would like to have a drink here and there, and actually pay their outrageous prices, you’ll have to find a bar & wait in line.

Bottom line:  If you get the drink package, you’ll have plenty of places to wet your whistle. There are uniquely themed bars for martinis, beer, whiskey, margaritas and more. But the all-inclusive packages are pricey… averaging around $400 per person for the week. However, a single glass of red wine was over $10, so you’ll make your money back in no time. It truly depends on how many days you’ll be on the ship (vs in port) and how much you think you’ll drink each day. To me, this one is still a toss-up.

WIFI – We sailed on Carnival last year and paid approximately $60 for 120 minutes of internet access. It was fine… no file size limits and easily trackable minutes. This ship only offered “per megabyte” plans, not minutes, or you could purchase an unlimited plan for $210 for the week (almost 1/3 the cost of my cruise!). I finally broke down on the 4th day & bought the 300mb plan for $59, but was afraid to upload any pictures or even scroll through Facebook or Instagram for fear of using up all my MBs!

Bottom line:  If you need to keep in touch with the outside world, this perk may be worth it, or plan to cough up over $200 to stay connected.

GRATUITIES – This is that little bill that they tack on to your account each day to cover the tips of all the people who serve you during the week.  In the old days, they gave you actual envelopes that you filled with cash and handed directly to those people providing you with the service. Now it’s simply charged to your account, at the rate of $13.50 per person, per day. For a 7 night cruise, we paid $189. If you’re not happy with this amount, you can go down to Guest Services and have it adjusted, but then you’d really just look like a big jerk. 😉

Bottom line:  This is a set fee, so you know the cost right from the start. It would be the least valuable add-on offered, but if you didn’t need the wifi or you aren’t big drinkers, it’s a nice perk.

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In front of The Breakaway in Nassau.

All in all, we had a great time… our trip was fairly low-key, focusing on activities for the kids (although none of the kids we met were overly thrilled with the kid’s club) and not participating in too much of the ship’s nightlife. The itinerary was unfortunate as our beach day at NCL’s private island was cancelled due to damage from Hurricane Matthew & our late arrival into Nassau only gave us a few cloudy hours of beach time on shore. Our best day was in Port Canaveral, FL when we chose to just stay on the ship & enjoy the less crowded pool areas.

As for NCL’s concept of “Freestyle” cruising, I’ve realized after taking this trip, that the structure & formality of a traditional cruise vacation is something I actually enjoy! I missed getting dressed up for dinner, getting to know my servers in the dining room, looking forward to each meal without having to make a reservation or pay extra & being able to decide last-minute if we wanted to attend the main nightly show (at no additional charge!). As for the food, I certainly ate my fair share, but I just didn’t find the high-end options in the dining rooms that I’m used to.

Bottom line: This is a gorgeous ship with tons to offer. The public areas are beautiful and everything is new and spotless. Kids will have plenty to do during the day, but if they’re not into the Kid’s Club, finding something to do at night will be a bit of a challenge. For the adults, there seem to be enough bars, shows and of course the casino, to keep everybody busy. Our particular itinerary wasn’t great, but the usual route should be adequate for most. Don’t rule this one out, especially with the convenience of leaving from New York, but it’ll be tough to find a bargain if you want to take advantage of all this ship’s extras.

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Wearable Treasures!

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What souvenirs do you buy when traveling? T-shirts? A shot glass? Christmas ornaments? In addition to picking up a small piece of local artwork, I almost always come home with a piece of jewelry. It could be a ring with a stone native to the area, a high-end piece that I found for a great price, or a simple beaded bracelet from a local vendor on the beach. In any case, I love having a unique jewelry design that I can wear as a memory from each trip.

I recently came across a line of bracelets that was based on this very premise… Melanie Vandersluis began collecting bracelets from each of her travels. After a 7-week trip to Israel, France & Greece, she came home and decided to turn this passion of hers into a business.  Melanie Audrey, her Montreal-based company, creates beautiful, hand-crafted bracelets using natural stone beads or sturdy paracord designs. Each comes with its own unique story based on the people and places she’s encountered while traveling. Click HERE to read Melanie’s story 🙂

Santorini Stacks
4 Bracelets in One!

I have to say it took me a while to put my order together because I wanted them all! My first choice, however, was an easy one. Santorini, Greece is currently at the number one spot on my travel bucket list, so the set of Santorini Stacks was a no-brainer! Featuring 4 separate bracelets, each with Picture Jasper stones around the back and then one each of Larvikite, Clear Quartz, Larimar & Lapis Lazuli on front. Each stone has a wonderful meaning and worn all together, they are perfect!

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My general love of travel drew me to the Passport Wanderer. Made with 2 kinds of Jasper beads & Larvikite, these healing stones look great and the story sounded like my own personal fantasy (even though it’s written from a man’s point of view… lol!)

This is a great, neutral starter and would mix nicely with any of the other bracelets in this collection.

 

Screenshot_2016-08-26-09-46-38-1My final pick was the Heart of Gold bracelet… created for the kind of person that everyone should aspire to be. I’ll be keeping this one for myself but I’m sure to be ordering these for some special people in my life! This beautiful bracelet features Rose Quartz, Coral & Picture Jasper.

All of Melanie Audrey’s bracelets can be ordered in a small, medium or large & can easily be shipped to the U.S.  They come packaged in a little burlap bag & each story is included inside. Please note all prices are listed in Canadian dollars, so you’ll have to do a quick currency conversion to get the US price.

I love these bracelets & their stories… Thank you to Instagram for introducing me to Melanie Audrey! Check out her gallery at @bymelanieaudrey & shop right online at www.melanieaudrey.com.

Screenshot_2016-08-26-10-28-13-1Here are a few of my “treasures” from past trips… Starting at the top left I have a Mother of Pearl Ring from Puerto Vallarta, a set of white, yellow & rose gold rings from Bermuda, a Swatch Watch from Curacao, a CZ Necklace from St. Thomas, my “Pura Vida” bracelet from Costa Rica, my diamond Palm Tree Necklace (that took me 2 years to find) from St. Kitts, a rainbow bead bracelet from my most recent trip Punta Cana and a great Turquoise ring in sterling silver from Cancun.  Jewelry is definitely my weakness!!!

Tuesday’s Travel Tip – Cruising!!!

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Planning a cruise?  Already booked?  My FAVORITE site when it comes to cruising is www.cruisecritic.com. They offer professional & traveler reviews, detailed ship information, port guides & so much more. From dining room menus, to debarkation tips; best beach bars to roomiest cabins… this site has it all!

To get the most out of this site, be sure to join the “Community” for access to all the forums. There are message boards for First Time Cruisers, Ports of Call, each individual cruise line, specialty cruises, etc. This is a great spot to do your research before booking, or to gather more information once your trip’s been confirmed.

mercuryFor me, the most valuable forums on this site are the “Roll Calls.”  These are specific threads where you can meet other cruisers who are booked on your sailing. You simply search by cruise line, then by ship & departure date to connect with the people who will be sailing with you. It’s a great opportunity to share information & get answers to any questions you may have. You can also hook up with other families who have kids the same age as yours or plan excursions ahead of time as a group to save time & money. Most of the people you will meet are experienced cruisers and have a wealth of information to share.

We’ve had so much fun with the people we’ve met & have gone on some great excursions with these groups – usually at about half the cost of what the cruise line would charge for the same outing… everything from zip-lining in Costa Rica to swimming with the stingrays in Grand Cayman.

Some cruise lines even offer a Cruise Critic “Meet & Mingle” party for everyone in the Roll Call once you set sail. Or a member of the group may organize a more informal meet-up on their own. In either case, it’s a great way to connect with the people you’ve been talking to for the months leading up to your cruise. And most times, there are cocktails involved, so don’t miss it!

Honestly, I’m not always up for making tons of friends on vacation, but cruises can be overwhelming in terms of info & options, especially for first-timers. The more knowledge you have going into the cruise, the more relaxing & enjoyable it will be.  I’ve relied on this site for over 15 years & 16 cruises… so I’d have to say it’s well worth a visit!

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Babies in the Back?

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plane.jpgTaking a baby on an airplane seems to be the thing parents fear most when traveling. What happens if they cry? Or they don’t sleep? What about their ears? I faced all of these fears on my son’s first flight to Florida when he was just over 2 months old, but I went for it & with a little bit of prep, everything went smoothly.

My first piece of advice is this… When flying with infants or young toddlers, book your seats as far in the back of the plane as possible (the last row is truly ideal). This gives you the most privacy if you’re nursing, you won’t have the entire plane watching you if your child starts crying or acting up and if you need to walk around a bit to calm your baby down, you’ll have more space & less of an audience. It also keeps you closest to the bathroom for clean-ups & closest to the kitchen for heating bottles, rinsing cups, getting extra snacks, etc.

I also remember being really concerned about my little one’s ears. Since they can’t “yawn” or chew gum to keep to keep their ears clear, plan to nurse or give a bottle during take-off and landing when the cabin pressure changes the most severely. The sucking keeps the babies ears regulated and avoids the painful “popping” that can occur at these times. Even a pacifier will do the trick. For older kids, a lollipop works wonders.

There are a few items you should definitely pack to ensure a smooth experience…
– An extra change of baby clothes (in case of an unexpected “explosion”)
– Ziplock baggies (perfect for dirty diapers, soiled clothes or anything “wet”)
– A large, tumbler-style cup (have the flight attendant fill it with hot water before you take off and drop your bottle or food in it for heating)
–  Wipes… and more wipes!  Good for everything from wiping down the armrests to cleaning up the baby.
–  Favorite blanket or stuffed animal (or whatever item comforts them to sleep)
–  Baby Benadryl or Tylenol (as a last resort… and I say this jokingly, however it’s sometimes a necessity if they have any kind of congestion, allergy or teething pain that can be accentuated by the cabin pressure.)

Being prepared for every scenario is obviously a good strategy, but don’t go into it fearing the worst. Flying is amazing and the staff & crew are usually more than happy to help you out. The key is to start early and get them used to the process – in fact, fly as much as you can before they turn 2 & you have to buy them their own seat!

P.S.  I know sitting in the back of the plane sounds awful… and it also means you’ll be the last ones off.  Don’t worry.. chances are your baby will have JUST fallen asleep about 10 minutes before you landed & your gate-checked stroller is going to take its sweet time making its way out of the cargo hold… so there’s really no rush 😉

 

Here’s my little guy… he’s an easy, seasoned traveler now & has racked up some serious miles over the past 10 years, but he still starts out every flight like this… Safety first! Lol!