Welcome to the Inaugural Issue of
Maximizing Moments by Smith Luxury Travel
Maximizing Moments is a periodic newsletter that is designed to help make your precious travel time more memorable – in many ways. Enjoy!
In This Issue:
5 Thanksgiving Travel Tips
Important Passport Update
7 Rookie Travel Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Spring Break 2016 Destination Ideas
Aurora Borealis in Near Real Time!
Whether you’re driving or flying, traveling before and after Thanksgiving can turn into quite a headache. With people across the US eager to get to their loved ones (and the turkey!), lines at airports and traffic is inevitable. But don’t let the journey get you down! We’re sharing our 5 tried and true Thanksgiving travel tips to help you survive this week’s travel and make it another memorable experience.
- Plan ahead and arrive early. The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, so plan ahead. If you’re driving, think about the rush hour times for each city you have to drive through. Even consider a scenic route—sometimes the distance might be longer but you won’t end up sitting bumper to bumper. If you’re flying, arrive extra early. You’d rather be sitting at your gate reading a book or enjoying some fantastic people-watching than having a panic attack at the never-ending security line¹.
- Stay connected.
Download key travel apps so you immediately know of any flight delays or traffic issues. GateGuru is a favorite of ours, providing detailed airport maps and real time flight updates. If you’re driving, download Waze. It connects you with other drivers, and you can see their updates on traffic, accidents, police traps and more; I can’t tell you how much time I’ve saved by taking Waze’s suggested routes, even when they didn’t seem to make sense at the time!
- Be ready for the unexpected
Weather delays are simply unavoidable. Prepare for unexpected hiccups by arriving early (see #1), building in extra time between connections, and packing necessities in your carry on (see below). And always remember that when you plan your trip with Smith Luxury Travel, I will be your advocate if things go bump—keep my number handy.
- Pack Smart
If you’re flying, avoid checking a bag as best you can. If you have to check one, be sure to keep necessities in your carry on. Medications, toiletries, chargers, and valuables should be with you at all times. Headed out on the open road? Pack a small cooler with drinks and snacks—you never know what food options (or lack thereof!) lay before you.
- Relax
If something goes wrong, take a deep breath and relax. Some issues are simply unavoidable, so do your best to be flexible and patient. In 5 years, your bad travel day will turn into a funny story to share around the Thanksgiving table.
¹Speaking of security lines, it makes sense to sign up for TSA Pre, an expedited security screening program. If traveling internationally, sign up for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports. Of course, these programs must be signed up for well in advance of any travel, which won’t help you this Thanksgiving, but you could have an easier time with security and immigration control for your next trip if you sign up now!
There’s nothing like adding a new stamp to your passport and filling up those pages. If you’re planning on adding new pages to your passport, you better act fast due to this passport update! Starting December 31, 2015, the US State Department will no longer be issuing additional pages for passports. When you run out of pages, you will need to order a new passport. But rest assured-if you fill up passports quickly (you lucky duck!), all new passports issued starting January 1, 2016 will now be the jumbo, 52-page book.
And remember – renew your passport when it is 6 months from expiration. Each country has different requirements, and you don’t want to miss your trip because your passport is expiring! (Click here for more on that!)
If you have any questions about this passport update, contact Joanne at Smith Luxury Travel.
Even the pros fall prey to common rookie travel mistakes. From overscheduling to buying too many heavy souvenirs, they share 7 mistakes they made during their first few international trips.
- Trying to wing it
“Thinking I could “wing it” with limited time – When we had one day to spend in Nice before our flight home, we ended up wandering aimlessly up and down the waterfront and eating in a really touristy restaurant. I should have hired a guide or done more advance research to make better use of our time, especially since we had two young kids to entertain.” –Suzette
Solution: Ask your travel advisor to arrange for a guide or give you suggestions for what to do.
- Not sleeping on the flight
“Being so excited I was going to Europe that I stayed up the ENTIRE flight by choice…..I paid for it the rest of the trip!” –Louisa
“Biggest rookie mistake is not sleeping as much as possible! Get comfy right away, skip the meal service (but carry protein bars!), drink water only, wear earplugs and an eye mask, and get to sleeping.” –Martha
Solution: sleep!
- Bag too heavy during train travel
“BIG Mistake: buying so many bottles of olive oil, soaps, perfume, limoncello, & lotions BEFORE taking our last train in Italy. Hiking all that stuff up the train platform and into the luggage cart was not easy.” –Debbie
Solution: be cautious when buying souvenirs. If you know you want to bring back heavy items, wait as long as possible before purchasing.
- Too many activities on arrival day with children
“Don’t plan anything on arrival day. I planned an afternoon gondola rowing lesson in Venice – assuming my children would nap on the plane or when we arrived, and that wasn’t the case. I wanted to have something planned so I could take advantage of everything. But that first day, especially with children, should probably remain “free”. One child rowed with me and the other slept in the hotel.” –Ginny
Solution: Understand that jet lag can leave children—and adults—dragging on the first day (especially if you make mistake #2). Plan low key activities, an early dinner, and an early bedtime so you can hit the ground running on day 2.
- Weighing yourself down with heavy souvenirs
“Bringing home heavy breakable souvenirs such that I could not pick up my suitcase. Always bring home light, small, non-breakable things for friends and family, and always be able to PICK up your suitcase” –Rebecca
Solution: You might find the most beautiful pottery in your destination, but trying to cram a set of plates in your bag can put you over the weight limit (hello heavy baggage fees!) and they can break. If you fall in love with a heavy, breakable item, ship it home. You’ll love getting it in the mail after your trip!
- Trying to do it all yourself
“Though we had an amazing month long honeymoon in Spain, we spent way too much time driving ourselves. In hindsight, choosing to spend more time in fewer places is always better!” –Susan
Solution: Self-drives are fabulous ways to experience a country and have the freedom to stop and go as you please. They are also roots of stress if you get lost. Make sure you have plenty of time if you want to self-drive and that there is a GPS.
- Over-packing
“You can and will wear things more than once when you travel. You’re traveling, not walking the runway. Leave space in checked bag for lightweight souvenirs. A large, divided purse along with an expandable Longchamp bag is great for your carry-ons. Also, it’s nice to put small bags in carry-on with essentials (chap-stick, hand-sanitizer, lotion, earphones) for easy access.” –Winn
Solution: Over-packing is a rookie mistake that can still plague even the most seasoned travelers. Avoid it by packing neutrals that can be worn more than once and bringing accessories that take up minimum space to add pops of color or patterns.
But of all of these mistakes, the biggest one you can make is not going! The world awaits you, so don’t put off travel – make your “I’ll go someday” a “I’ll go today!”
SPRING BREAK 2016
Don’t wait until the last minute to book your Spring Break 2016 trip! The top properties fill up quickly, and time is running out. Call Joanne at Smith Luxury Travel before availability is going, going, gone!
Not sure where to go? Here are our top 10 Spring Break destinations (in no particular order)!
- Hawaii
Say “aloha!” to Hawaii!
- England
London is Calling!
- Turks & Caicos
Yep. You can definitely relax on this beach.
- Mexico
Yes, it really is this beautiful. Photo taken at the Riviera Maya.
- Colombia
Rich in both history and geography, Colombia has something for everyone!
- Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands or British Virgin Islands? The choice is up to you.
- Colorado
If skiing is more your style,Colorado is the place to be.
- Costa Rica
Ziplining, Surfing, and hiking – oh my!
- Cuba
Traveling to Cuba before massive tourism takes over is a must-do!
- Spain
Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada…the must see list goes on and on!
If Iceland Isn’t On Your Bucket List – It Should Be
Four days ago, one of my Brownell Travel colleagues posted this photo of the Aurora Borealis as seen in Iceland. If seeing this isn't in your bucket list, it’s time to get it on there!
Thank You For Reading Maximizing Moments
Joanne
