Maximizing Moments November 2016

Maximizing Moments is a periodic newsletter that is designed to help make your precious travel time more memorable – in many ways.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Welcome to Maximizing Moments, November 2016.

In This Issue:
Home Away From Home
Thankful....
13 Things the Internet Won't Tell You...
Why I Should Have Used a Travel Advisor

 

Sometimes when you travel, you want to feel like you’re at home. Now we don’t mean piles of laundry, errands to run, and bills to pay home, but rather home in the sense that you have privacy and a space where you can settle in and feel completely at ease.

These five properties feature the comforts of home paired with luxury, white-glove service so you can truly relax and enjoy the destination and your “home away from home”**.

Tryall Club, Jamaica  About: This Caribbean retreat is a beautiful 2,200-acre gated property with a beautiful white sand beach. Accommodations: 87 private villas. Each villa is complete with staff that includes a chef, butler, and maid. Dining: Several dining outlets or private chef in villa Activities: Golf, tennis, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, motorized watersports For the Family: Complimentary kids’ club with daily activities Why We Love It: Forget returning home with piles of dirty clothes – while you relax in paradise, your clothes are cleaned, pressed, and packed for you! When’s the last time you actually returned home with a suitcase full of clean clothes!?

Farleigh Wallop, England About: Farleigh Wallop is a 4,000-acre 15th century countryside estate in Hampshire. Accommodations: 11 bedrooms Dining: Home features a guest and professional-grade kitchen Activities: Tennis courts, heated swimming pool, croquet lawn, cricket pitch, cinema room, billiard room, gardens For the Family: With extensive grounds to explore and plenty of activities, this is a great place for families. Why We Love It: So you can’t be a British Lord and live on a sprawling Downton Abbey-esque estate. You CAN rent the beautiful country estate Farleigh Wallop. This is a perfect base for multi-generational family or multi-family trips to England.

Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin
About: Located on the French side of St. Martin, Bemond La Samanna was designed with the guests’ comfort and enjoyment in mind.
Accommodations: Four beautiful 3- or 4-bedroom villas
Dining: Fully-equipped kitchen or 3 restaurant options
Activities: Tennis, watersports, snorkeling, scuba diving, fitness pavilion, spa, deep sea fishing, private boat charter, spa
For the Family: Camp La Samanna – a fun-filled activity program with treasure hunts, water balloon fights, and more!
Why We Love It: At Belmond La Samanna, you can enjoy the perks and amenities of a hotel but stay in your own beautiful private villa. Plus, Brownell is a member of the exclusive Belmond Bellini Club, so you can get extra perks and amenities!

Villa Sweet Bocas, Panama
About: Villa Sweet Bocas is a thoughtfully designed, full-service luxury villa in Big Bight Bay that borders Bocas del Toro Nature Reserve.
Accommodations: 7 bedrooms
Dining: State-of-the-art kitchen with a chef
Activities: hiking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, yoga, access to a 30-foot yacht and 42-foot Catamaran
For the Family: Outdoor activities + Wi-Fi and an entertainment system with Nintendo Wii and 1000 movies – how’s that for bringing the comforts of home with you on vacation?
Why We Love It: This overwater villa is the perfect Central American escape. The house concierge can arrange activities and anything you need during your stay.

Fregate Island Private, Seychelles
About: Fregate Island Private is a beautiful getaway in the Seychelles. Just four degrees south of the equator, it is truly a tropical paradise where luxury meets conservationism.
Accommodations: 17 private luxury villas with infinity pools
Dining: Multiple dining outlets serving fresh, locally sourced food
Activities: Pool, beaches, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, hiking, wildlife, spa, tennis, bikes,
For the Family: The Castaway Kids’ Club educates young travelers about the conservation as they venture through the stunning landscape on treasure hunts and other adventures.
Why We Love It: The property is dedicated to conservations, so you’ll find Giant Aldabra Tortoises, exotic birds, and vibrant marine life on or around the island. Fregate Island Private is a part of the Oetker Collection, and Brownell is a preferred partner – see the Oetker Collection Pearl Partner benefits here! 

 

** The original blog can be seen here:  http://www.brownelltravel.com/blog/home-away-from-home/

 

As 2016 begins to wind down, we reflect on this year. And despite all the crazy, there have been so many special experiences, travels, and moments. We are so thankful for…
…our clients who are eager to see the world and DISCOVER MORE
…our travel partners friends who make each trip so special
…our team that is so passionate about creating exceptional travel experiences
…our world and the beauty of it and its people that rise above the noise
…and much more! Our team shares what they are thankful for below**:

“I am thankful that I work with supplier partners who are not only amazing professionals but also fun and nice people that I genuinely look forward to seeing. I consider them colleagues in every sense of the word.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Carrie Mahoney

“I am thankful that, despite everything going on, people are still traveling. By doing so they have the opportunity to see new places, meet new people, experience new cultures and have all of the lovely serendipitous moments that create a lifetime of memories. I am grateful for those brave enough to turn off the news and take that one simple step to explore so that they can come home and spread the word that the world is a big beautiful place and, at the end of the day, we are all not that dissimilar.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Kelly Millington

“I’m thankful that there so much beauty in the world — beautiful scenery, beautiful people, beautiful cultures, beautiful experiences — and that we can experience such beauty through travel.” – Brownell Independent Advisor David Ourisman

“I am thankful for the camaraderie, inspiration and support I derive from working with travel, and the colleagues I have met, and will continue to meet in the New Year.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Gigi Williamson

“I am thankful for the beautiful sounds of travel – the singing children at a village school in Zimbabwe…the mariachi band at the Mexico beach resort…the lulling languages of each new place we visit…the boom of fireworks over the city skyline…the “wow” of my children’s voices as they make a new discovery…the laughter of my travel companions. Travel creates some of the most beautiful songs of our lives.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Susan Whitson

“I am thankful for all the wonderful memories that travel gives all the people you meet and all the new discoveries you make! I remember the kind family that took me and my friend into their home in Sumatra the year we graduated from college, the roasted goat with peanut sauce we ate in celebration of making new friends, and the volcano we climbed as clearly as it happened last year!” – Brownell Independent Advisor Michelle Cowell

“I am thankful that travel continues to bring my far-flung family together, and that we have the opportunity to be ambassadors for our country as we meet people around the world.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Sam McClure

“I’m thankful that I have had an opportunity to transform traveling from “getting from place to place” to really seeing and exploring not just “places” but destinations, and sharing those new experiences with my clients, colleagues, family and friends.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Joanne Smith

“I am thankful that there is a travel agency like Brownell! I cannot stop going on and on about the dream Brownell Academy was. What a welcome to Brownell! From the incredible professionalism that touched everything, to how kind everyone is, to having the best in the business willingly share in round tables, hallways or bar stools zooooom to awards given for graciousness and spirit and have it all culminate with confetti overhead!!! I am THANKFUL!” – Brownell Independent Advisor Tate Hallford

“I’m thankful for a caring and empowered Delta Sales Support agent yesterday who spent over an hour on the phone with me to get a solution to a problem.” – Brownell Vice President Bowden Sarrett

“I am thankful that we, as travel advisors, can improve the world we live in by introducing people to new places, new ideas, and new traditions. The more we travel, the more we expand our understanding of our world. We grow as people. We connect meaningfully with others. We traverse boundaries and we erase racism. Travel is now more important than ever before.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Jessica Hart

“I am thankful for the global perspective on life that travel affords and the friendships I have now with people around the world.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Martha Rhodes

“I am thankful to be a part of The Brownell Family!” – Brownell Ambassador Laura Clark

“The travel related thing for which I am thankful is my suitcase. When my suitcase is out, I am so happy because I know something special is going to happen; I’m going to connect with a dear friend, collect a new memory with my children, take a destination I have read about from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. My life is going to be enhanced through travel in a matter of moments when I see my suitcase. I put on Chantal Kreviazuk’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and I thank my lucky stars that I live in this world, and I’m about to go see more it.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Kristen Meckem

“I am thankful that travel inspires & gives me HOPE, by reminding me every day that there is more good in the world than bad, that we have more in common with others than not & that at the end of the day, we are all seeking the same genuine happiness whatever little corner of the world we live in.” – Brownell Independent Advisor Kim Heflin

** The original blog can be seen here:  http://www.brownelltravel.com/blog/thankful/

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The ability to research, plan, and book your own vacation sounds good on paper. But sifting through endless Google results and wading through countless reviews (don’t even get us started on the reliability of these) takes valuable time and energy. Plus, the Internet is not the most reliable source.
There are plenty of things you simply can’t find out online, and who wants to roll the dice and risk money and vacation time on a blind booking? If you still think the Internet is the way to go, here are 13 things online travel sites won’t tell you (and your travel advisor will!)**.

1. What To Do When Things Go Bump
Sometimes things go bump that are out of your control when you travel. Your flight is delayed, your luggage is lost, you miss your train, you have a forced overnight — you name it, it can happen (and it can all happen in the span of 24 hours). Time is one of our most valuable assets, and you don’t want to waste precious hours of your vacation on the phone with the online booking website, airline, and hotel trying to find answers. And don’t even think about the international calling fees – oh my!
When you book with a Brownell advisor, we can tell you what to do — and often that is to relax and have a glass of wine (from the complimentary bottle sent to your room) while we get this settled on your behalf.

2. Exactly Which Room You’ll Get
You can request a king or connecting rooms or a view of the beach. But it’s just a request. You could end up with twins overlooking the parking lot, especially if you book a cheap, cheap rate. Meanwhile, our travel advisors invest much of their time traveling to properties and understanding the differences between room categories. They use that knowledge to help you decide which room is best for you and then work with our on-property contact to ensure you get that exact room type.

3. The Hotel Area
Sure the neighborhood looks great. It’s in a hip area close to restaurants and shops, but did you know it’s next door to a discotheque? Those clubs in Spain go strong into the wee morning hours. And that hip neighborhood that seemed really cool online is actually where all the college kids and post-grads hang out. Not exactly where you want your 13- and 15-year-old hanging out.

4. What Your View Is
“A great view” doesn’t have a clear definition, and the Internet doesn’t tell you what that view will be. It could be a great view of the beach — or of the parking lot with a glimpse of ocean if you lean over the balcony and crane your neck. Do you want to take that gamble?

5. Who Else Will Be There
That fabulous resort in Key West looks like the perfect spot for a family spring break…and 300 college kids within an 8-hour driving radius agree with you! The peaceful nights you imagined by the pool are replaced by cries of “Tequila!” from the bar.

6. Online Prices Aren’t Necessarily the Cheapest
There might have been a time when the rock bottom prices online were actually the cheapest (and you also got what you paid for). Now our hotel partners are one the wiser and will often match whatever you find online or explain why it is so cheap. So your travel advisor can get you the same price PLUS add valuable benefits and amenities that can seriously add up.

7. Whether Your Money Is Safe
Sometimes that #1 villa on that Caribbean island at a rock bottom price is too good to be true. And sending a $4000 wire transfer can be a costly error. A client once fell for that scenario and ended up the creek without a villa! We make sure your money is safe and secure, especially when you’re making online transactions. (See My True Story Below.)

8. How Clean Your Rental Apartment Will Be
Renting an apartment or villa is a great way to feel like you’re in a home away from home in a new destination. But online websites don’t necessarily include all the information. One Advisor had a client book an apartment in Europe and arrived to find it filthy. With no one to call, the client turned to the Advisor who quickly secured a clean, trusted hotel.
Our Brownell Advisors can find villas, apartments, and homes that have been vetted by our trusted partners. We will know whether there is a fence around the pool (imagine having toddlers steps away from a pool), air conditioning, when the maid service comes, and more.

9. The Cancellation Policy
So they will give you the cancellation policy — it will just be paragraphs of small print. Your travel advisor can help you understand the restrictions with each booking and help you get travel insurance as well.

10. The Location
Believe it or not, some websites don’t actually tell you the hotel name until after you’ve paid in full (and it’s more than likely non-refundable). It might be located only a mile from the downtown area, but you can’t exactly walk across the interstate. And speaking of that, who wants to listen to interstate traffic all night either?

11. Current Status
Online booking agents don’t have the most up-to-date information about a property and its surroundings. The hotel bar or swimming pool may be undergoing renovations but the booking engine doesn’t tell you that. Or you may luck out with a fabulous hotel, but there is a high rise going up next door. A 6 AM jackhammer wake-up call is no way to start your day on vacation. Or ever.

12. How to Get Home
Flights get cancelled and delayed more often than we like, and it’s simply become a part of traveling. Even the most roll-with-the-punches traveler can end up in a difficult situation if a leg of their trip is cancelled or they miss a flight due to delays. Try as you may to get through on the 1-800 number, the Internet is not good at helping quickly and efficiently when you’re in a pinch. A client of mine recently had his flight to Tokyo cancelled and, because he did not book it through me, I could do nothing to help him, and the company that did book it, was completely unhelpful.  He ended up standing in a queue for 3 hours in order to book another flight for the next day. One vacation day gone, just like that! A travel advisor has a 24/7 dedicated air phone number that can get you on the next flight ASAP.

13. Special Amenities and Upgrades are Not Likely to Happen 
If you’re looking for an upgrade or special treatment but you nabbed the rock-bottom price during an online flash-sale, you’re just another customer who booked the lowest rate. And in a sold out situation, you’re the first to be moved to a different property.
Through Virtuoso and our preferred partner programs, Brownell clients are at the top of the list for a upgrade, receive special amenities and benefits, and are privy to a strict no-walk policy at hundreds hotels. 

We’ve Got Your Back
The person on the other end of the phone at the call center is not your advocate. Nice as he or she may be, their end goal is to make the numbers work. Our Advisors have their clients’ best interest in mind every time. We use our personal relationships with travel partners around the world to right any wrongs and fix any hiccups. When you travel, you can rest assured knowing we have your back.
So before you spend hours researching and find yourself in a tricky situation, contact a Brownell Travel Advisor. We’ll make sure your trip is tailored to your unique needs and preferences, and you can enjoy your trip!

** The original blog can be seen here:  http://www.brownelltravel.com/blog/things-the-internet-wont-tell-you/

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I’ve been with Brownell Travel for a little over a year now and, through the absolutely amazing Brownell Mentoring Program, several Educational trips throughout the year (a Caribbean cruise, Aruba, Maui, expedition cruise through the Mediterranean Isles, Cancun and the Riviera Maya, St. Lucia, Australia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique), 2 years of Brownell Academy, and one trip to Virtuoso Travel Week, I have learned so much!

Before I was in the travel industry, I used to make all of my own travel arrangements, using (gasp!) the internet, with online travel agencies (OTAs), Home Away and VRBO, and booking direct on hotel, villa, rental car, etc. websites.  I never realized that I could be traveling so much better and that I was literally leaving money on the table because I may have been paying the full rack rate at luxury hotels without getting any of the benefits of using a Virtuoso affiliated and/or preferred partner agency such as Brownell Travel! But, my biggest mistake came with what I thought was a well-researched and planned vacation with my family during President’s Week 2014 to Anquilla.  If anything could go wrong with this vacation, it did!

However, if I had used a travel advisor, it would have gone quite differently:

1.  My Villa Rental Would Not Have Been A Scam
I thought I had thoroughly researched my villa rental and never thought that using VRBO would not be safe, but the listing associated with the villa I was renting was “hijacked” by a phishing scammer.  I spent hours researching our options on an island we had been to at least a dozen times before, so I felt comfortable going direct to an owner for our vacation rental.  What I didn’t know was that the phishers were so ahead of the game with respect to website hacking technology, they could “hijack” the specific listing without the user nor the property owner nor VRBO from knowing it was done.  Long story short, my $3,500 deposit for a beautiful villa on the southern coast of the island was in the hands of a thief in England and I would never see that money again, nor did I have a villa for my family’s vacation, which was only 45 days away.

Lesson Learned:  If I had not gone “direct” to what I thought was the owner, or the owner’s agent, I would have had the protection of a villa rental agency that would have fully vetted all properties being represented. The VRBO and Home Away website security was inadequate when up against hackers who knew how to get around their firewalls in 2013/14.

2.  I Would Have Booked Early With Confidence Knowing My Advisor Used Credible Suppliers
In my panic to find accommodations, I paid significantly more than was in our budget due to a lack of availability during the peak season.  We were able to find a villa, but it took several hours and almost 100 phone calls until one fabulous villa owner (whom I spoke with directly and verified name, address, phone number and that they actually owned the villa) took mercy on my family and rented us her villa at a significantly discounted rate (but still double the original budget!).

Lesson Learned:  Book early with a legitimate rental property agency to prevent having to over-pay at the last minute.

3.  My Advisor Would Have Provided a Comparison of Buyer Protection Plans Even though I had purchased the buyer protection plan from the online rental agency, my policy did not cover losses when the actually booking was done outside of the website domain (remember, the listing was “hijacked”, so even though I thought I was still within the VRBO system, I was not).  No recovery of the lost $3,500 deposit and, even if I had paid with a credit card, the original charge was now outside of the 30- or 60-day window to dispute a transaction. Even my bank, which I had used to wire the funds to the “rental agent” could do nothing because of the timing.

Lesson Learned:  The buyer protection plan offered through many suppliers and OTAs have significantly limited coverage terms and conditions.  Always read the fine print, understand what is covered and what is not covered and comparison shop with an independent travel insurance company (I now almost always recommend Travelex Insurance Service to our clients, with a few exceptions, a company that has been put through a vigorous vetting process before becoming a preferred provider with Brownell Travel).

4.  I Would Have Been Advised to Purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance Protection
I did not purchase travel insurance for the very expensive peak travel period airfare for our vacation.  Fast forward to February 2014 – one of the worst snowstorms of that very snowy winter hit on the morning of our departure.  Our flight to St. Martin was cancelled and our airline said the earliest we could get a new flight was 4 days later – halfway into our vacation! I re-booked us on another airline for 2 days later and, even though we were given a full refund by the original carrier, our new flights were twice as expensive.

Lesson Learned:  Always purchase travel insurance in the event of a trip cancellation, delay or disruption.  This mistake was not only costly, but we also lost 2 days of our vacation with no refund for those days when our villa remained empty, etc.
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Had I regretted not using a travel advisor to plan my family’s vacation? The memories still haunt me!

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From Smith Luxury Travel & Brownell Travel and all of the Independent Travel Advisors Affiliated with Brownell Travel, we wish you a Happy, Healthy, and Thankful Thanksgiving!

Thank your for reading the March 2016 issue of Maximizing Moments!