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Thank you for your patience and feel free to reach out if you would like a no obligation quote! By Mary Kay DeSola   Kenmare, Ireland The Sheen Falls Lodge, located in Kenmare along the famed Ring of Kerry, is a family friendly five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel on 300 acres with views overlooking the Kenmare Bay and Sheen Falls. The entry to the grounds is flanked by stone pillars that lead you up the long drive to a circle of paved brick with a red tiered fountain in the center. The entrance to the hotel is to one side and the stunning views of the Kenmare Bay to the other. The staff is hospitable and welcoming and very kid friendly. The hotel has 85 rooms including classic rooms, superior rooms and a variety of suites, most with views of Kenmare Bay or the Sheen Falls. Many of the rooms can be combined in a variety of configurations to suit your needs. The rooms all include large marble bathrooms complete with amenities. They also have flat screen TVs and often DVD players with a selection of DVDs available at the front desk.  The lobby areas of the hotel are filled with couches and fireplaces to relax by. The hotel restaurant is The Falls which offers a casual dining menu as well as a formal menu and both have a children’s menu. Much of the menu is locally sourced, there is a well curated wine list and delectable desserts – all overlooking the Falls. There is also a cocktail bar for an afternoon pint or an evening nightcap and the Sun Lounge where they serve afternoon tea. The Falls Restaurant also hosts the breakfast which is included in the cost of your room and is spectacular. In addition to the buffet of fresh fruits, pastry and scones, cereals and more, you can have made to order eggs, pancakes, French toast and their house made salmon – it is definitely not to be missed.  The hotel offers plenty of activities including fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, falconry, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, golf, croquet and bicycles (some activities have an additional fee). There is also a spa with a pool (open to children from 9am-5pm), jacuzzi, sauna and steam room and of course spa treatments. They offer a kid’s program in the evening from 6:30-9:30 PM during school breaks and holidays. Don’t forget to head into Kenmare to do some shopping, relax at the pub or a have great meal – there are several good restaurants. There is also an ancient stone circle the you can walk to from the main street. The hotel staff can call you a cab for the ride into town if you want a break from driving. Kenmare is a prime location to stay as your base to explore County Kerry including The Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Skellig Islands or the Beara Peninsula. The atmosphere at Sheen Falls Lodge is both luxurious and relaxed at the same time and has exceptional service – of course it is not an inexpensive visit, but if you are looking for splurge there is no better place. Let me know if you are interested in a trip to Ireland and perhaps a splurge at The Sheen Falls Lodge! Its not too late to plan a Fall Getaway!
Give me a call or send me an email for more information or to talk about a trip to Quebec! marykay@thetravelexchange.biz (877) 344-0799 Ext 705 By Mary Kay DeSola   You’ve decided you want to take a trip to Ireland, awesome it’s going to be amazing! Now what? Tour bus? Rent a Car? Public Transportation? There are pros and cons to each option, let’s go over them. Tour Group – PROS – If you take a tour, once you choose an itinerary and pay, everything is planned for you. Your hotels are chosen and booked for you, most of your meals will be prearranged, your admission to the various sites is organized and your transportation taken care of. You will also have a guide who will have information that you wouldn’t get from touring on your own and you will also have a chance to see more and cover a lot more ground than if you tried to get around on your own. Your costs are presented ahead of time and this is generally the cheapest way to take a trip to Ireland outside of backpacking and hostels. CONS – Taking a tour means you will be following a tight schedule and you won’t have much time to do your own thing. Most tour schedules start early in the morning and stay in a new town every night or two so you will be packing and unpacking a lot. Additionally, while you don’t have to plan anything, you also can’t choose your hotels or most of your restaurants. During the summer, there are tour groups everywhere and the main tourist spot parking lots are packed with large buses and huge groups of people heading into the sites at one time. Keep in mind that you will be on the bus with a big group of people for several days in a row (and that there is a chance at least one of those people may be annoying…). Small Group Tours– There are some smaller tour groups where you would be in a smaller vehicle and a group of fewer than 20 people, these lessen some of the big tour issues and create a more intimate setting but you still must follow the strict schedule and the cost would be higher than the large tour groups. Self-Drive – PROS – Renting a car and driving though Ireland gives you the most freedom to spend your time as you please. Sleep in one day or get out and about early – spend some extra time in a place you love and choose a special hotel you were dying to stay in. You can decide to splurge on one hotel and skimp on another to stay on budget. This is how we did our family trip through Ireland and how we would do it on a return trip, we prefer to follow our own schedule!  CONS – You have to drive on the left side of the road and on the right side of the car! I’m not going to sugar coat it, the driving can be stressful. To be honest my husband did 99.9% of the driving but he said that once you got used to it, the highway driving wasn’t too bad. The country roads were tough and the toughest was driving The Ring of Kerry (We did survive though!). Another challenge with renting cars in Ireland is that you must pay for the additional insurance. Credit card companies DO NOT cover rental car insurance in Ireland and if you do not get the Super Collision Damage Waiver you will be facing a deductible that is equal to the cost of the REPLACING THE CAR. The cost of the insurance can sometimes be equal to the rental itself, so you are paying double – but still much better than paying to replace a car!
Public Transportation – I am not all that familiar with Public transportation since it is not a very convenient choice for a family of 6. That being said, I understand that that Ireland has great public transportation options in and connecting the larger cities, but that if you hope to visit the countryside the options are slim or nonexistent. If you are seriously considering a trip to Ireland consider what is most important to you – cost and budgeting, flexibility and choice and if you are willing to drive or be part of a group trip. Give me a call and I can help walk you through the options! by Mary Kay DeSola  Have you ever taken a trip that you reminisce about so fondly, a trip so perfect that just the thought of it makes you ache to return? Maybe there were even some mishaps during the trip (like your flight home was cancelled and you ended up having to drive home in the worst rental car ever) but the whole of the trip was so wonderful that you skirt those memories aside. I'm lucky enough to have had a couple of those but one that sticks with me, even years later is Quebec City just after Christmas. I have a bit of a thing for Europe, Paris especially, and Quebec City is the perfect escape to give you a taste of Europe without the transatlantic trip. Taking a trip to Quebec around Christmas will definitely be chilly but it is a picture perfect winter village that the whole family can enjoy.
Auberge Saint-Antoine The Auberge Saint-Antoine is a beautiful blend of old and new Quebec. A contemporary boutique hotel surrounded by the cobblestone streets of Lower Town highlights the past with beautifully displayed artifacts from an archeological dig done on the site of the hotel. The room sizes are best for a romantic weekend or small family and the hotel has an onsite spa, gym, business center and private cinema. The restaurant Panache is not to be missed.  Things To Do Take a tour and see the changing of the guard at Citadelle of Quebec, an active military installation and official residence of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. Visit Musée de la civilisation à Québec, an interactive museum of Quebec's culture and history or The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the national art museum. Walk around town and visit some of the historic sights of Old Quebec - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During December the town will be decorated as a true Christmas village of times past. Be sure to ride the Funicular from Lower Town to Upper Town, stop in the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, visit the Christmas Market in Old Port or The German Christmas Market in Old Quebec and of course peek in the shops of the cobblestone lined streets of Lower Town for some souvenirs to bring home. Try some ice skating on the outdoor rink at Place D’Youville and then follow it up with some hot chocolat or cafe au lait in a nearby cafe. Getting There Quebec is about an 8 1/2 hour drive from the New Jersey area and an 1 1/2 Hour flight. Once you are there you don't need a car if you plan to stay within Quebec City. "Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. Children under 16 need only present proof of U.S. citizenship." according to the US State Department Website. (Disclaimer: Always check and verify passport and document requirements on your own prior to taking a trip) Its not too late to plan a Christmas Getaway to Quebec City or for The Quebec Winter Carnival which takes place January 27th - February 12th.
Give me a call or send me an email for more information or to talk about a trip to Quebec! marykay@thetravelexchange.biz (877) 344-0799 Ext 705 By Mary Kay DeSola In my last post I wrote about the pros and cons of traveling abroad with your kids. One of the cons was dealing with your kids on long flights and the jet lag. If you are thinking about going on a long flight with your family, how will the kids handle it? Here is my advice on when its the right time to take your kids on that first big trip and some ways to make it easier. Everyone has their own situation and there is no hard and fast rule to help you decide when your kids are ready for a long overseas flight. I should rephrase - when YOU are ready to deal with your kids on a long overseas flight! Are you ready to deal with your kids in these potentially stressful situations - will it still be a vacation (perhaps you’ve seen this essayabout taking a trip vs a vacation)? So before you start making gift bags to apologize to your fellow travelers, consider how your children will behave and how you will deal with it (and for the record I am against “I’m sorry gifts” on flights). Here are some things to consider before planning your first big trip:
Let's say you have decided to go for it and bring the kids, what are some ways to prepare yourself and your kids to make the process as easy as possible?
Do you have any tips for surviving an overseas flight with kids or dealing with jet lag?
By Mary Kay DeSola Have you ventured on a trip out of the country with your kids? According to the 2012 Profile of US Travelers Visiting Overseas Destinations, only 8% of US Travelers abroad were accompanied by children. That number includes the Caribbean so I can imagine the number visiting Europe, Asia and beyond is much smaller. Is taking a European trip something you’ve wanted to do or does it not interest you? There are always two sides to every story, lets start with the reasons people don’t want to travel overseas with their kids.
Traveling outside of the country with kids can be a big deal and its not for everyone. Many families prefer to travel within the US with their kids, there are a million places to see and lots of fun things for kids to experience. Families have different priorities and a jaunt over to Europe may not one you yours! But Wait! There’s another side of the story! Maybe you’ve always dreamed of a trip across the pond and have been thinking about traveling abroad with your family, there are many reasons to go! Yes, it’s going to be pricy to travel abroad with kids. It’s also pricy to spend a week at Disney World, spring break at Atlantis or to go on a cruise, it all depends on your family and their interests. The main cost will be plane tickets. Keeping an eye out (or asking your Travel Agent!) for good times to travel is key. We went to France a few years ago and flew home on a flight that arrived 36 hours before the kids had to get on the bus for the first day of school. That was not ideal timing, but it was $400 cheaper a ticket – a savings of $2,400 versus traveling earlier in the summer. Since the kids were still on Paris time they were up at 5 AM for the first day of school, so it all worked out! Maybe you didn’t have the chance to travel before you got married and you don’t feel like waiting to be an empty nester before you do. It may not be the same as a honeymoon but If you have the opportunity you may want to travel with your kids before they get too old to want to hang out with you! Yup, it’s a long plane ride and there will be a big time change. You are the best judge of your kid(s) and if they can handle it. I’ll have another post coming up soon about deciding if you are up for an overseas flight with kids and ways to make it more manageable. Every kid is not going to love a trip to Europe, you will tell them how lucky they are, ask them “do you know how many kids get to do this?” They may not give a darn or they may absolutely love it! I’ve had people ask me “But what did you do there with your kids? Weren’t they bored?” There are lots of amazing things for kids to see and do on a trip abroad that will give them a chance to experience history and culture unlike ever before, and yes have FUN (not to mention lots of yummy food!). I’ll have some posts coming up soon that will give you a better idea of ways to make your trip fun for you and the kids. If traveling to Europe or elsewhere abroad is something you really want to do, you are prepared and know what to expect, you can have an amazing trip, even with kids in tow. Let me know if you’d like to chat about taking your family on a trip abroad or if you are looking for fun vacation ideas right here in the USA…
I’d love to help you plan the best trip for your family! marykay@thetravelexchange.net https://www.facebook.com/marykaytravel/ 877-344-0799 x705 By: Laura Tracy I was a bit shocked the first time I priced out a Polynesian Bungalow for myself. It was only for a 4 night stay, but it came out to something in the neighborhood of $8000. How is that possible, it's just a hotel room and I only sleep there right? Clearly. I did not book that room and instead went with a standard theme park view room that was significantly cheaper, I did take the opportunity to tour one of the bungalows though and here are my thoughts on why it might be worth it: 1. It's two bedrooms and two baths: For larger families this room is going to be much more comfortable than your standard room. Besides having 2 bedrooms, it also has 2 bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer/dryer. The bed setup is even better, 1 bedroom has a king, the other a queen and a bunk-sized pull down, and the living room has a double sleeper sofa and a bunk-sized pull down. You add all that up and you're talking sleeping space for up to 8 people.  2. A room with a view: The bungalows are all located along the beach of the seven seas lagoon with a fabulous unobstructed view of Magic Kingdom. So much so that those jerks obstructed my view a bit in my cheaper theme park view room. This pic below is pretty much what my view was, so imagine what the view from the back deck of one of those is like!  What's better than a fabulous view of Magic Kingdom? How about a view with a plunge pool? That's right, I said a plunge pool. Each bungalow has a rear deck overlooking the seven seas lagoon. The deck is furnished with a small table and two hanging basket chairs, two lounge chairs, and a small 2-4 person plunge pool. Now, I do not recommend the plunge pool for very long. After all, it's like sitting in bath water, but I really enjoyed having a drink and sitting in one while I watched the electric water parade and the Wishes Fireworks. It felt like I was on my own little island.  3. Location! Location! Location! The Polynesian is conveniently located on the Magic Kingdom resorts monorail line. I cannot stress enough how awesome this convenience is. From the bungalows, you have about an equal walk to the front of the resort as you do the the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). This means that you can actually walk to the TTC for the monorail to Epcot as well. The monorail is not perfect, it does occasionally stall or have to stop and wait for one on the track ahead, but it is sooooooo much better than sitting on a bus. Soooooo much better, and 9 times out of 10, it's faster too. I like what I am hearing, but what kind of savings tips can you offer? Okay, so clearly there is not much you can do about the price. It is what it is and if you want to stay there, you need to prepare yourself for the price tag. However, here are a few strategies for saving: Go during the "off" season: Pricing on all resorts when they are the slowest is the lowest; Disney calls this "Adventure" or "Value" season and there is almost always some promotion running to entice you to the more expensive rooms. The added bonus of traveling during these times is that the parks are much, much slower. I took a picture in Epcot one time in the last few days of August and you would have thought that the park was closed.  Share and share alike: 8 people to a room is a lot. So if you have another family member or friend who is itching to stay in one of these, consider splitting the cost. It's still going to be expensive, but if you can get a promotional rate and split it with someone as crazy as you are, it just might work out! Start a Disney Savings Account: The Disney Savings account has a promotional element to it that gets you a $20 gift card for every $1000 spent on a Disney vacation. Now, there are some requirements as far as how long the account is open and what you can use it for, but free money is free money. You combine that with the added flexibility of being able to "fund" the account with a credit card and a savvy rewards card user could really compound some dollars out of the process. Nothing better than money earning money! Rent DVC points: This one is a bit trickier. When you rent DVC points, you are essentially renting someone's timeshare that they are not going to use. You would have to rent enough points for the dates that you want and you would want to make sure that those dates are available (you may need to book 7-11 months in advance). As a result, I highly recommend talking to someone who has done it before and who is well versed in how it works. Since I am a DVC owner, and have rented and rented out points many times, I would be happy to explain it. Email me today! Get a travel agent: I know, I know, this one is self serving since I am an agent and own an agency, but I cannot stress enough how much having a travel agent in your corner can help. Between snagging a promotional rate before it runs out, helping with dining, and explaining the whole fastpass system, a travel agent can easily be the best vacation decision you make. For most destinations (like Disney) our services are totally free, so it's a win-win. By having a solid strategy for my clients, I have saved them anywhere from $500 to $1000 per night on the bungalows specifically. Here is a peak at a short Disney commercial about the resort!  Vacation is supposed to be relaxing, so why is it so stressful to plan? Well, most times it's stress that we put on ourselves because we worry if we're going to truly get the best deal, pick the right hotel, get gouged on flights, and so on and so on. It's no wonder so many folks put off planning a vacation for as long as they can. So, how can you minimize that unnecessary anxiety? Here are a few fool-proof ideas: 1. Stay away from review sites! (You know which one I mean): This one is probably the toughest. It's so tempting to see what other people say about your destination, but consider the types of reviewers that those sites attract. You either get the best (people who are just happy to get away), the worst (people who would complain about anything and everything), the professional reviewer (someone who is paid by the destination or their competitors to leave either a positive or negative review), or a fair and balanced review. As I am sure you can imagine, that last one is pretty rare... ....no one kissed my forehead and tucked me in, 1 star! 2. Follow the flights: If you are looking to save a few dollars, flight flexibility is the key. There are always consumer reports and travel magazines that publish the cheapest flight purchasing days based on their findings from applying complicated algorithms, but if you are planning a last minute getaway, you may not have the luxury of purchasing on day 76. If this is the case, and you are not locked into a particular destination, do a "Google Flights" search to the area and then click on "Explore Destinations". This will show you a google map with lots of pricing for flights that originate from your selected airport. This is has been enormously helpful for me when I am searching for flights to the Caribbean! Also, google flights lets you see the pricing snapshot on the Calendar drop down, so perhaps switching one day could also save you on the price! 3. Scrimp on flights and/or excursions not the resort! This one is tough. As a travel agent, you do not know how many times I have heard, "Well, we're just sleeping there". Yes, you are just sleeping there, sleeping where you spend at least 1/3 of your resort time. It's a good bet that a bad resort will have bad beds. Plus, if weather confines you to a yucky room or a yucky resort, you will start regretting your choice very quickly. The other bonus about selecting a great resort is that you don't necessarily have to leave property if everything you need it right there. This has always been comforting to travelers who have concerns about traveling to areas that have a reputation for safety issues.  4. Know what is important to you: Are you a foodie? A sports nut? A beach bum? It's so important to know what you want when you are looking at resort and destination options. It's not realistic to think that a resort can be everything to every guest (although many of them do make an honest effort). So, if you know that the quality of the beach is very important to you, keep that in mind when you are conducting your research. Also, be realistic about your expectations when you are there. If you are getting bad service, that is one thing, but keep in mind that these resorts want you to be happy. So, if something isn't right, speak up! 5. Get a Travel Agent!:
I know I say this one a lot and it's a controversial opinion for folks who like to plan out the details themselves. Remember, however, having a travel agent doesn't mean that you have to turn over the reigns to someone else, it just means that you have someone to bounce stuff off of. Someone who may have intimate knowledge of your destination, resort, or the deals that are out there sometimes. There are so many benefits to using an industry expert, to name a few: they have access to lots of deals without having to do a ton of searching, they may have important knowledge about your destination or resort, you would be contributing to the bottom line of a small business, most planning will come with little or no cost to you, and you never know how much they can save you! Written By: Laura Tracy for The Travel Exchange Planning family trips can be tough, but throw in a few more family members than usual and it gets downright complicated. Between varying budgets, interests, and ages, it could be hard to find something that fits everyone. One of the first, and most important, decisions to make is where everyone will meet up! As the organizer, you may need to make some tough decisions on behalf of the group, so here are some suggestions that I give to my clients based on the things that matter the most to groups; budget, weather, and ease of planning.  10. Adventures by Disney: Budget: $$$ Weather: Depends on destination and time of travel Ease of Planning: 1-Very Easy Activities: High Level Notes: Adventures by Disney is a little known offering that provides a Disney trained tour guide to some fabulous destinations. Some of these destinations include itineraries in Europe, Asia, and even in the United States. These trips are great for smaller groups because Disney plans out everything and it requires almost no up-front work for the organizer. The only negative is that these trips can be very expensive. Having one price for everyone is helpful, and it is Disney, so you get what you pay for, but you would definitely want to be sure that your traveling companions have the room in their budget.  9. St. Croix, USVI (Buccaneer Gallows Bay) Budget: $$ Weather: The weather is beautiful all year round! Ease of Planning: 2- Somewhat Easy Activities: Moderate Level Notes: St. Croix is a moderate selection all around for any family. With very steady temperatures and only a minimal rainy season, it could be the best place to go if inconvenient schedules are a factor. Buccaneer Gallows Bay is a resort that is known for its on property offerings, including free activities for guests of all ages. It was even one of the filming locations for the popular ABC TV show, The Bachelor.  8. Captiva Island, FL (South Seas Resort) Budget: $$ to $$$ Weather: August to end of October is hurricane season and the winters can sometimes get cold. Ease of Planning: 2- Somewhat Easy Activities: Moderate Level Notes: The South Seas Resort on Captiva Island is a self-contained paradise. The resort features six restaurants, 18 swimming pools, and 18 tennis courts, and plenty of unique options for group activities to pass the time. Guests love this resort so much that they often book their next stay before they leave!  7. Vail, CO (The Osprey at Beaver Creek) Budget: $ to $$ Weather: You can’t go wrong any time of the year! Ease of Planning: 2- Somewhat Easy Activities: High Level Notes: The Osprey at Beaver Creek is a ski in/out resort with many amenities located in the heart of Beaver Creek Village. This resort is only 15 feet from the Strawberry Park Express Lift and features heated pool, hot tub, fitness facilities and more. The resort is also a short walk to the activities of the village and wonderful restaurant options, so it would be a great choice for families who would like some time all together, but also some time to enjoy the area autonomously.  6. Tour Group- Europe (e.g. Insight or Trafalgar) Budget: $$ to $$$ Weather: Depends on the destinations Ease of Planning: 1- Very Easy Activities: Low Level Notes: Looking to just pick an itinerary, send it to everyone, and let them worry about booking themselves? Then a guided tour through some of the popular European tour providers may be the answer. It’s difficult to identify a particular tour group for this one because they all have their own specialties, but once you narrow down some possible destinations, you can find reviews for them everywhere. In this case, having a travel agent may also be useful since they would be able to recommend a particular tour based on your budget and desired destinations. Or you can get adventurous and have your travel agent develop a unique itinerary just for your family!
 5. Hawaii (Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa) Budget: $$ to $$$ Weather: There really is no bad time to go to Hawaii, but the best times are March to May and again September to Novemeber. Ease of Planning: 3- Not Very Easy Activities: Moderate Level Notes: Hawaii is a dream destination, but buyer beware it can get very expensive. That’s why I selected this particular resort. It’s price point makes it a very good value, plus it happens to have quite a lot to do. There the usual on-site amenities like a fabulous pool, hot tub, fitness center, and..oh yea, the BEACH! What is extra nice about this resort is that it is also within walking distance of two shopping center areas (one more luxury pricing and the other more standard) as well as a little grocery store called the Island Gourmet.  4. Charleston, SC (Isle of Palms) Budget: $ to $$ Weather: The best time to visit Charleston is when the humidity is not 100%, so perhaps anytime from October to May (but watch out for hurricane season). Ease of Planning: 2- Somewhat Easy Activities: Low Level Notes: Even if the weather is not quite hot enough for the beach, there is still plenty to do. I selected the particular area known as the Isle of Palms for large family groups specifically because of the vast amount of rental options out there. Some of the luxury houses are as large as 10 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms with a private swimming pool. Yes, this house could cost $10K for the week, but if you are splitting it amongst 10 parties, it suddenly becomes a very reasonable trip. It’s especially nice to be able to have a kitchen so that the group does not have to eat out for every meal. The other nice thing is that while the Isle of Palms is quiet and a bit out of the way from Charleston, it is still close enough to take day trips into the city to see the sites. There is incredible shopping, dining, and historical sight-seeing tours that would make it easy to plan something for the whole group, or for heading out separately. Kiawah Island resort is also a terrific alternative to Isle of Palms, especially if you have golf lovers in the family! Interested in planning a family reunion? Let us help you get started! 3. A Cruise Getaway Budget: Depends on the Line but can sometimes be a great value $ to $$$ Weather: Depends on the destination Ease of Planning: 1- Very Easy Activities: Moderate Level Notes: Oh boy are cruises great! Everything is self-contained on a floating city and when it comes to dealing with planning the trip, you are looking at minimal work. Get a travel agent and it can be even less. Plus, depending on the number of state rooms your group needs, extra savings could also be a great perk. Often times cruise lines will work with groups to give them discounted pricing or even a cabin or two for free depending on how many are booked. It might be nice to just set something up, send the pricing information and booking instructions to your family, and then step back and let everyone worry about their own reservations. A few do’s: Do review the cruise line and ship carefully and make sure it is a good fit for your family, do select a destination appropriate for the time of year you are traveling (don’t try to save a few bucks and risk a hurricane), and do consider planning some fun welcome party for your group once you get on board (sometimes this can be done at little to no cost). It’s nice to start off altogether, discuss times when you will and will not need to be together, and perhaps take a few nice pictures to kick off your voyage!  2. Club Med or Sandals Budget: $$ to $$$ Weather: Depends on which destination you select, but generally the high season is from November to May (sometimes earlier) because the summers are hot and hurricane season is hard to predict. Ease of Planning: 1- Very Easy Activities: High Level Notes: With Club Med and Sandals destinations, you get what you pay for. These resorts tend to have an incredible array of activities for everyone in the family (from toddlers to great-grandma) and they are all included in the price. The nice thing is that it can appeal to everyone, whether you want to sit on the beach or take sailing lessons, there is so much to do. These properties do tend to offer discounts to groups (depending on their size) and can sometimes offer some great deals on group dining or events. Traditionally, Club Med tends to be priced a little lower than Sandals, but they are both a great value when you factor in the amenities, dining, and accommodations.  1. Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL Budget: $ to $$$ Weather: There is really no bad time to go to Walt Disney World, however the summer months are sometimes not unlike walking on the surface of the sun and the winter months do get cool enough that swimming may be out of the question. Ease of Planning: 3- Not Very Easy Activities: High Level Notes: There is nothing quite like Walt Disney World (and even Universal Studios). While there are both fans and critics of each, like any other vacation, proper planning and setting expectations makes all the difference. The popularity of these destinations means some level of pre-planning with regard to accommodations, dining, and park visits. The options and atmosphere make this particular destination for family reunions incredibly magical, but also incredibly complex. I highly recommend if you are interested in planning a family reunion to the Orlando area that you seek out a reputable and experienced travel agent who specializes in these destinations. A family reunion to DIsney (or other Orlando destinations) may take a bit more work up front, but the memories will be quite incredible! This listing is not meant to be all encompassing. What's important to remember is that each family is different as are their needs. Please contact us if you would like information on these or any other destinations and we can tell you more! If you have a particular destination that you have recently visited for a family reunion, please feel free to share your thoughts and reviews in the comments below. You do not need to sign in to comment! Interested in planning a family reunion? Let us help you get started!By Laura Tracy for The Travel Exchange  Congratulations on getting engaged! How wonderful for you and your betrothed that you have made the decision that you want to spend the rest of your lives together. It truly is an incredible thing to do and you are both so lucky. Enjoy the rest of your beautiful, perfect night, because everything is about to get crazy. Time to get started: If your dream has always been a big, extravagant wedding, and you like the stress of getting everything organized, hearing endless complaining, encountering unexpectedly rude behavior from family and friends (so you really can’t say anything), and having to negotiate the strong preferences (and personalities) of two families, then this article is not for you. By all means, enjoy. If you have often looked at your guest list and thought “I only really want to celebrate with half of these people” or “really? who cares what color the table linens are?” well then read on…..
Going to the chapel: Sometimes it’s just not that easy. Between navigating religious requirements, ceremony rehearsals, site fees, officiant fees, who to invite to the rehearsal dinner (and someone ALWAYS gets mad), and so on, your blessed event could start to feel a lot less bliss and a lot more frustration. What could be better than having someone worry about all of that for you? Essentially, just show up with the dress, lol. Nice little extras: Having a destination wedding can make it easier for you to show appreciation to your guests who made it all the way out. Leaving things in their room, a welcome reception in place of a rehearsal dinner, late night s’mores on the beach, the possibilities are endless. But whatever you end up doing, it will be much easier since you know where everyone will be! Get there and stay there: What a relief to not have to worry about transportation for you OR your guests. No need to worry about limos or buses or even hotel shuttles.  Let someone else do all the planning: You will have a destination coordinator, but why not get a travel agent also. Most travel agents would jump at the chance to help you with your wedding booking and, since it is technically group travel, they will likely go above and beyond to ensure that you and your guests are happy. By hiring a travel agent, you get the added value of not having to worry about yours or anyone else’s travel arrangements for the value price of $0 (travel agents are paid by the supplier). The other nice thing about having a travel agent is that they do not work for the resort, so you could use them to get some honest feedback or even advice before you pick a final destination. They can also help setup group excursions and transportation for extra fun that may be out of the resort contacts prevue. Get out your checkbook: Not really! A destination resort has an interest in wanting you to get married on their property because it is a guaranteed group booking. Often times they will offer you freebies, your group a discounted rate, special meeting rooms and other free perks, and even help you keep the ceremony and reception costs down. Don’t be afraid to ask about those specials because the financial savings is the biggest perk of a destination wedding! One final tip: This is not just your wedding, this is your guests’ vacations. So be a little understanding about folks wanting to spend some time with you while you are all there together, but make sure to plan an exit. Consider actually starting your honeymoon a day or two after your wedding on a different island or at a different resort. This way people are not offended that you want some alone time, you deserve it! Contact Us Today about planning your dream destination wedding! |
Travel Agents & GuestsPersonal experience is what makes these blog posts unique. The articles are written by subject matter experts who want to provide you with honest and practical advice for travel in the U.S and abroad! Archives
August 2018
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