Travel Blog

Planning Your Winter Travel!


You have heard numerous times what to do when planning your winter travel. Be it business or vacation, the same rules apply :

1. Check your documents for validity.

2. Make the names on your passports match your tickets

3. Be sure nothing is expired or expiring, ask if you have not been told how long past your return travel  your passport needs to be valid.

4. Be sure you do not need a visa for entrance to the country you are visiting. 

5. Pad your trip by a day if at all possible, or go down the night before to the connecting point in your trip. If you are going to the Caribbean, fly to a warm destination and then leave for the island the next day.

6. With cruises it is crucial that you pad the trip by a day even in good weather so you make the check in on board the ship.

7. Check your seats, if you book 6 months out, often the airlines have unnotified schedule changes and change aircraft, even if you purchase seats they can be lost. Travel agents will notify you but you should always check ahead of time.

8. Be sure you have your travel agent or tour operators emergency information, if you cannot get your agent due to off hours, most agencies have services that will  help, but email your travel company first because most organizations will be on call during emergencies with extra staffing to assist you.


We are here to make your life easier, but sometimes things are out of our control, we cannot always be responsible for TSa pre check that doesn't work due to Airline checks, it is not guaranteed 100 percent of the time.

A great travel agent will keep you in the loop no matter what the circumstance! Try us you might be happy you did!

In the mean time if you are looking for a great vacation, try the Galapagos but plan well ahead, especially if you are trying to travel over a school vacation or a holiday.

Have a great winter everyone, looking forward to working with you!


  • Recharge with a Stress-Free Escape

    1/6/2022 1:07:44 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Image via Unsplash

     

    Have you ever considered going on an escape? Whether you visit relatives, explore a new locale, or seek to escape from everything familiar, traveling doesn’t have to be stressful. If the thought of getting away from it all appeals to you, here are some tips to make it happen.

     

    Pick a Destination

    The first step is deciding what works for you (and your family, if you’re not traveling solo). For sun-seekers, you might want a beach destination to get a beautiful tan. If immersing yourself in our national parksand scenic mountain towns beckons, be inspired by Today’s list of best vacation spots.  

     

    A great travel hack is to check out hotels that are in the financialdistrict of your destination, like in NYC. Because these are mainly used for business travelers, you can often find amazing deals seasonally.

     

    Choose the Best Time

    There is always a good placeto visit any day of the year. The cheapest flights are generally on the days no one wants, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The cheapest times are early morning or late evening, 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. You might want to check out other airports within driving distance too. Compare all of your options for pricing and flight times.

    If stress-free is what you’re going for, booking a direct flight is the way to go. Yes, they’re more expensive, but they could save you hours in delays, layovers, or even cancellations due to weather.

     

    Working with a skilled and experienced travel agent from Dream Come True Travel can also help you find the best deals and time them to stretch your dollars, so you can enjoy an incredible vacation and build lasting travel memories.

     

    Don’t Leave Anything for the Last Minute

    If flying, check-in online up to 24 hours before your flight. Sign up to be notified of any delays. Make it a practice to add at least 30 minutes to everything you do during the holidays. If you would typically arrive at your local airport at noon for a 2 p.m. flight, arrive at 11:30 a.m.

     

    To get the scoop on how long the TSA wait time is at your airport, download the TSA mobile appor check out My TSA. Speaking of airport security, familiarize yourself ahead of time withTSA regulations. You’ll breeze through security if you know how to avoid pat-downs (sparkly tops are not the best choice for the body scanner!) and having your bag pulled because you forgot to take out your water bottle. Also, if you’re traveling with gifts, leave them unwrapped in case they need to be inspected. Better yet, send them ahead of time!

     

    Fly Comfortably

    Bring what you need to make your flight comfortable. Bring your water, snacks, pillow and blanket, eye mask, compression socks, sanitizer, and wipes. Since you will be traveling for some time, you should prepare your entertainment too. Download some podcasts, music, and movies on your phone.

     

    Leave Your Worries Behind

     

    You can’t truly enjoy your vacationif you’re worried about work, so before leaving, make sure your co-workers, staff, or employees know what to do in your absence. The last thing you want is to be bombarded with emails and calls while you’re trying to relax.

     

    Also, take steps to secure your home while away. Of course, having a home protection service is invaluable, but if you don’t have one, there are other ways toprotect your home:

     

    ?     Before leaving, make sure every window and door is locked.

    ?     Schedule a hold on your mail so it doesn’t pile up in your mailbox.

    ?     Let a close neighbor or friend know you’ll be away, and ask them to keep an eye on your home for any packages left on your doorstep or anything else that looks out of the ordinary.

    ?     You may want to hire someone to maintain your yard, if necessary.

    ?     Install timers on your lamps and TV, or you can use an app on your smartphone to control these electronics yourself.

    ?     Even if your Facebook account is set to private, you may not want to announce that you’re not there for 10 days unless someone is staying in your home while you’re away.

     

    Hopefully, you’ll head home at the end of your getaway feeling refreshed, renewed, and full of great memories. Maybe you’ll have started a new tradition. Happy travels!

     

    ~ Author : Leslie Campos

     

     

  • My London Experience!

    11/28/2017 10:16:27 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment


    Traveling to London has never been so easy!

    Take a long weekend, and explore, holiday shop, do everything on your bucket list you have ever wanted to try!

    My london experience was whirlwind, leave Friday night, arrive Saturday, work, tour, eat, expore, mingle, fly home!

    I visited all the areas of London that you would want to see in two hours during a private tour!

    Staying in Trafalgar Square was a blast, walking to everything, seeing U2 perfom from the roof top of the Trafalgar St. James Hotel, while munching, drinking and mingling with some of the best people I know!

    How do you do it?

    Plan what you want to see, how you want to see it, add in a tour or two, make sure you make time to shop, and walk, and munch along the way.


    Tea has never been so incredible till you have it at the 11 Cadogen Gardens hotel - shopping is close by!


    If you or your children are Harry Potter Fans:


    If so, make sure they travel to London before 28FEB18 to visit the 'History of Magic' exhibit at the British Library. Your clients will have a chance to see rare books, manuscripts, and magical objects capturing traditions of folklore and magic that inspired the author of the Harry Potter books.  Art fans headed to London this winter should not miss the Cezanne exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. And don't forget about OVO, the new Cirque du Soleil show at the Royal Albert Hall, 07JAN to 11FEB18. 

     

  • 10 Reasons To Use A Travel Agent In 2017

    10/11/2017 5:23:03 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Image result for travel agent photos

    Courtesy of Travel Market Report

    In this season for giving thanks, we at Travel Market Report want to thank all the professional, smart, caring  travel professionals who have supported and befriended us this past year. 

    In their honor, we bring you 10 reasons why you should always use a professional travel agent—and this year more than ever.

    1. Buying travel is a unique purchase, because you are buying both a product and a service. 
    A travel agent know how to sell both parts—the airline and resort and cruise line that best match your needs, and the service that will guarantee your vacation is seamless and stress-free.

    2. Travel agents are trained to take a critical look at each piece in your trip puzzle.
    They make sure each piece meets your specific needs, so you’re happy with every penny you spent.

    3. They can make sense of the multitude of offers from cruise lines and airlines and hotels.  
    This year travel companies are offering more brands than ever before in history—on land, in the air and on the seas. Is Fathom the right cruise for you? Is Delta Light good enough? A travel professional can decipher the subtle differences and choose the one that fits your requirements for this unique trip.

    4. Travel professionals save you time and money.  
    Whether they charge a fee, as many do, or base their businesses on commissions, the time and money you spend with them will be returned to you many times over in the form of perks, upgrades, convenience and great service. 

    5. They are your advocate.  
    Whether you need an upgrade to an ocean view or a ticket out of harm’s way after an earthquake, your travel agent will be there for you, intervening with suppliers on your behalf.

    6. They are the experts.  
    Like a doctor or an accountant, a travel counselor will ask the right questions, listen to your answers, understand your pain, and offer expert advice to guide you in making one of your most important decisions—how to spend your invaluable time off. Because there are no do-overs for a vacation gone wrong.

    7. Knowledge is power.  
    From the visa and passport requirements to the name of the maître d’ at the best restaurant in town, a good travel agent has the inside information that makes your trip perfect. 

    8. They have your back.  
    When things go wrong, a travel professional knows whom to call to get it fixed on the spot. If your flight is canceled, just have a seat and pick up the phone while the rest of the passengers are lined up trying to rebook. Didn't get the room category you booked? No need to argue with the front desk. One call will get it corrected.

    9. They are your personal shopper. 
    Over time your travel professional gets to know you and your family, your likes and dislikes. You are so much more than a sale to them—and they provide the human connection that makes every transaction more pleasant and meaningful. Plus by supporting local businesses, you support your community.

    10. They can offer customized experiences that no one else can.  

    After 20 or 30 years in the business, a travel professional has the connections to arrange for the side trips, the special passes, the upgrades and little touches that are not available to the general public. Because in this wide and amazing and wonderful world, you just don't know what you don't know. So ask someone who does—ask your local travel agent!

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