Travelers Thoughts

Now, as for Sundays, as far as I can tell, the hotel and other rentals definitely begin reducing their prices a ‘little bit‘. Depending on your desired location and the hotel or whatever accommodations you have chosen, that ‘little bit’ can be equal to anything from a dinner out to a gallon of gas. As a matter of fact, recently when I was checking prices to stay in Savannah in the near future, some hotels were even offering gas cards in amounts of anywhere from $25 to $50 depending on your length of stay — and that was for either a two-night stay or a three-night stay. Now that’s incentive enough for me to go. How can you beat it? I believe with gas prices being what they are right now, incentive gas cards are a common practice in quite a few places across the nation.

I think also, the business travelers are frequent Sunday through Thursday travelers and many hotels are reasonably quiet during those days. The kids are most likely in school, the moms and dads and everyone else is working, so you can enjoy some adult time around the pool, if that interests you or in the jacuzzi. No need to be an old meany and chase the children out of the adult areas or quietly mention it to the hotel managers.

Yep. Business travelers and retirees. Good rates. And now that I am a retiree and living on a limited budget, my few travel excursions will definitely have to be planned when I can get the best deals. Although there are also discounts offered to senior citizens in many hotels, be sure you cross-check the rates with other discount opportunities. You might just find that your AAA membership card will get you the same rate, if not better.

In addition to finding good deals during the Sunday through Thursday travel times, you are going to find that the museums and botanical gardens and day tours and things like that are less crowded. The lines will be shorter wherever you go, the restaurants won’t be quite as crowded (and neither will the bathrooms). The guided sight-seeing tours might even seem to be a little more informative if you can actually hear the narrator.

Avoiding the traffic can be another plus if you are driving to your destination during the weekdays. If you live in a large city, there is no doubt that at some time you have witnessed the interstates crammed with cars because people are trying to get out of the city for the weekend every Friday. Conversely, returning to the city on Sunday afternoons, you are going to be sitting at a dead stop for long, long stretches of the interstate as everyone tries to return home again for that Monday work day. It is even worse on holiday weekends.

Since my work week has been reduced to part-time and occasional work, I am free to travel whenever and wherever I can afford to go. And since nothing makes me happier or more excited than visiting a new place and experiencing all that it has to offer, I will definitely be doing a lot more of that in the upcoming future while taking advantage of every little bargain I can find along the way.

You must plan these things according to rates and availability, of course, but no matter how inexpensive it is, you probably won’t choose to vacation there in the cold winter months when the outdoor sights and activities are not very accessible. Now spring would be great as well as summer, I believe. The gray whales and the humpback whales are in the area at that time for your viewing pleasure. (The seals and orcas are there year-round I am told.)

I know there are many lodging alternatives to The Wickaninnish Inn, but since some friends stayed there last spring, I have not been able to get it out of my mind. It is a lovely small hotel sitting out atop huge rock formations that jut out into that wild Pacific coast. The beach stretches out for miles and miles. The ancient lush, green forest surrounds the beach. Most of the rooms have incredible views. The restaurant is one of the finest in the country and the spa on the premises pays attention to every detail designed to make it an extraordinary experience for you. Their website alone gives you a little peek into paradise. (www.wickinn.com)

The most difficult thing for me personally, will be getting there. I happen to live at just about the most extreme opposite corner of North America — in central Florida — and I must get drugged up to travel by air. So it will be a flight into either Seattle or Vancouver, then most likely a car rental for the remainder of the trip. Although, there are now flights available from Seattle or Vancouver directly to Tofino, the small town just a short distance from the Inn. Either way, the hours involved in the journey will be more than worth it.

Tofino itself is quite quaint (must remember those words for Scrabble next time) and offers sight seeing excursions by air and by sea. There you will also find restaurants and shops to investigate for that one special souvenir or piece of art and such friendly people. Also, always close to my heart is really good food and I understand you can dine on some of the finest, freshest fruits of the sea that the Great God of Gourmet could ever hope to have available.

So my trip is still in the planning stages, but I can hardly stand it. I know how to pack light and how to pack in layers. I know to plan ahead for all the details of leaving my dog and my house for a period of time. I’ve learned how to psyche myself up for air travel. I know to book my spa appointment way ahead of time and I‘ve started my checklist already. If you can think of any little thing I might possibly overlook, keep me advised. Goodness knows, this will be a trip to remember, but I guess that’s what traveling for pleasure is all about — the memories.

As a senior citizen, I rather like that someone takes care of everything for me, but I was not sure I wanted to have to eat where ‘the group’ eats or sleep where ‘the group’ sleeps for six to eight days at a time. And honestly, six to eight days traveling with ‘the group’ was not exactly my style. My fear was that it might make me begin to feel like I was being held captive with a bunch of strangers. I guess if you haven’t tried it you won’t know if you would like it. So I tried it. And I liked it.

Last year, I made the commitment, plunked down my money and vowed that if it became too uncomfortable for me to handle, I would just leave that group bus tour, rent a car or hop a plane and find my own way home. What a delightful surprise awaited me.

From my hometown in central Florida, we climbed aboard the big blue bus (herein referred to as Big Blue) and away we went. The seating was very comfortable and there was a bathroom (very, very small though) on Big Blue the Bus. The windows were large and all aboard could see very well.

Our first stop was just across the Florida/Georgia state line where we had lunch at one of the southern cooking restaurant chains (not bad), stretched our legs, and had a short period of time to look around the gift shop before we re-boarded Big Blue for our next stop just south of Atlanta at a reputable hotel for our first night on the road. Now, I don’t know if you have ever noticed this or not, but once you have dined with strangers, they are no longer strangers. So as we traveled on, we all began to feel like we knew each other just a little better.

Well, our first overnight stay at the mid-priced, but very clean and reputable hotel was uneventful. We all had dinner together, breakfast together and continued on our way. We made another stop or two along the way for meals and breaks and finally reached our destination, Asheville, North Carolina. The tour was a great success thus far. The changing of the colors in the landscape was fascinating. The countryside was gorgeous — everything I though it would be and then some.

Asheville, with all of its views and vistas was the best of all. Once we reached there, though still staying in the same hotel (a little rustic cabin theme this time), we were all free to do as we wished or we had the option to join in on a little sight seeing and history tour of the local area. Since we had two nights in Asheville, I chose to strike out on my own for one of the days and take the guided Biltmore tour on the following day.

That decision turned out to be a wise one for me. I was able to dine and shop as I pleased and I actually met and spent some time with some of the artisans in some of the charming little shops. The Biltmore tour with the group the next day was pleasant, but once again I chose to dine separately from the group and head for bed early at the quaint little cabin hotel room.

On the return trip home, again the vistas were lovely but by this time, some members of the group had begun to become a little disgruntled with some of the other members of the group. Barbara’s husband was the worst, but I guess there always has to be “one“. When traveling with a group, never, ever bring up the subject of religion or politics, unless you are quite sure everyone feels exactly like you do. But being “one” of those that assumed his way was the only way, Big John just wound up annoying the hell out of everyone all the way home.

The last night the tour surprised us with the dinner. Instead of a regular dinner, they booked a murder mystery dinner for us. This proved to be a wonderful and needed surprise. We were a little tired, and needed a different sort of event. The murder mystery troupe that performed for us brought in local history to the mystery, and involved many of us in the plot. It was loads of fun!

Would I take another escorted group tour again? Definitely yes, but…not if Barbara and John were going.

One of the best ways to get away and still maintain a reasonable travel budget is often one of those all-inclusive trips. If you are patient and spend some time online, you can find deals that offer airfare and hotel rooms as well as your food and drinks. They don’t require a travel agent and you can book them yourself. The drawback to an all-inclusive vacation is that since everything is provided for you, you may not partake in many of the sights and sounds of the location. You may not do much more than just relax at the hotel. But a really good vacation does not mean you have to take in every single thing the area has to offer. Sometimes what you need the most is the rest and relaxation that you most likely will not get if you just stay home for your vacation.

Cruises are a great example of all-inclusive travel. They also are one price. Food, lodging and entertainment are all a part of the package. Some of the best parenting advice I have received was to take a cruise, it is perfect for kids. Make up your mind to cut down on the souvenirs for all of your family and friends when you reach the various ports, and a cruise will get you out of the house and take you to destinations that would be difficult to reach in any other way. You get to choose the length of time you want to be away. You get to choose from a variety of destination stops. You get to choose how active or inactive you feel like being. You also can book your cruise online. No travel agent necessary.

Now you need to remember that travel agents are in the business to know about the flights and hotels and sights and restaurants. They can be an incredible help with just basic information about the area. Most travel agents travel often. They usually know about the best deals available whether it is the best airfare or the best hotel rates. They can advise you if your vacation destination is a family friendly destination or probably more of a singles destination with singles activities available. If you don’t know exactly where you would like to go but you have a definite dollar amount that you want to spend, travel agents can suggest something that may just fit your budget and it may be some place that you would never have thought of.

If you have the flexibility to travel on the spur of the moment, airlines and hotels have some great last minute deals available. You never know when they are dealing with cancellations that could result in the perfect travel experience for you. The flight alone may be so inexpensive that you can afford a much more luxurious hotel or possibly take advantage of some particular sight-seeing adventure that you wouldn’t otherwise splurge on.

Even if your travel budget limits you to packing up the car and driving to your getaway, that in itself can be a vacation to remember. You could just fill up the tank and see how far it takes you, though I would not advise that during a holiday. You can stop along the way and buy some of the local wines or produce from the area. Stick to the hotel chains you recognize and that pride themselves on quality guest services if you have not made reservations for this trip. After traveling for hours in a car, you will definitely want to land in a place that has good beds and pillows and a place where you can get the rest you need to continue your trip.

In whatever manner is most appropriate for you, do take that vacation. Travel by boat or plane or automobile, but do yourself a favor — get out there and travel.

The first thing you need to start with is, of course, your budget. If keeping within the guidelines of a budget is not a priority for you then that’s just great! But for most of us, a budget is a necessity. You need to decide if you will be planning just a long extended weekend, a week or two, or longer. Believe me, even a long weekend can get you to that nirvanic state of relaxation that you need so badly and you can throw in some fun along with it.

Do your homework. Traveling on a budget can be reasonably easy if you get as much information as you can before you leave home. You can go online and plan your destination from the cost of the accommodations to trolly/tram/bus schedules to entry fees for the local sight-seeing excursions. If your budget is really limited, you may consider looking for accommodations that have a kitchenette so that you can keep cold beverages on hand or snacks or even those easily prepared meals. The difference in the price of a hotel room or efficiency with a kitchen will be made up in the cost of having to eat every meal out or paying upwards of $2.50 a piece even for basics like bottled water. And don’t forget, often traveling the week after a holiday can pare your expenses down a bit. If you are serious, you can find those travel deals out there.

Have you considered sharing accommodations with a few of those best friends of yours that are planning a vacation on a budget also? Depending on the destination, there are rental villas and apartments or condominiums available in most fair sized cities. You would not necessarily have to share every minute of your time with them — just possibly share the cost of that villa or condo. Sometimes hotels and some resorts will offer you a great deal if you book a block of rooms just as if you are handling a planned group travel vacation. Actually, that would be a planned group vacation.

Travel agents have a wealth of information available to you. They are ‘in the know’ when it comes to the best places to stay and the best places to eat and the best times to visit that destination you have in mind. If you are traveling with the children, a good travel agent can give you suggestions regarding entertainment and things of interest for the kids. They can also advise you if the destination you are considering is going to be a kid-friendly kind of place or a place primarily for adults with things of interest that no child of yours could or would enjoy.

When traveling anywhere, always, always plan ahead for medical expenses and basic unplanned costs. Check out the medical care available just in case the unforeseen becomes ‘the scene’. I cannot imagine anything more frightening than to have a sick or injured child when you are traveling and then to find out the nearest medical help is an hour away. Be sure you know if there is reasonable medical care in the vicinity and be sure you know how you would handle the expense. Most hotels and resorts have the basic emergency supplies but you should also plan to take your own travel emergency kit and pack it light, but pack it well.

The bottom line to this kind of traveling is plan, plan, plan. You and your family will have a terrific time if you have been thorough and haven’t overlooked any of those important details. So now it’s time for you to get started. Computer on. Browser up…clickety click click.

I simply cannot think of a better way to take a great vacation than to take a cruise. I am sure that many experienced travelers may think of it as limiting in some ways but if you are considering an all-inclusive travel experience, you really must consider a cruise. What is there not to like about paying one price and being completely free from having to check out some appropriate accommodations, planning your mode of travel, budgeting in entertainment and meals and all of the other planning you must do if you travel in any other way.

A cruise has it all. Where do you want to go? Do you want to cruise the Caribbean or the Alaskan waterways? There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Do you like to have a slow-paced, casual and relaxing vacation or do you prefer to dress up a bit and have a few more formal events available to you. There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Are you single and don’t want to get stuck with an entire vacation used dodging children and the noise and havoc that can wreak or are you the member of a family with teens or smaller children and you want to have things available to entertain them on your vacation? There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Are you gay or lesbian? Do you love blues or country music? Are you retired or a senior citizen? Are you physically handicapped in some way? Are you a gourmand and insist on fine food and fine wine? Must I continue to repeat myself — there is a cruise for you, I assure you.

Once you have decided if there is a specific category that you fall into and if that is the way you would prefer to travel, then call a travel agent or go online and start planning. Here is what you can expect on a cruise — almost all expenses covered in one price.

With the least expensive accommodations, your room may be on the small side but it will be clean and efficient and comfortable. You may prefer to stretch your budget a bit and go for the larger room with a balcony or a larger bathroom (that is my particular favorite, especially on longer cruises). I promise you though, other than sleeping, you will not be spending very much time in your room with all that is made available to you on a cruise. The meals are all provided and you may have never realized how much food you can eat until you have eaten your way through a cruise.

If you enjoy dancing and live entertainment, it is provided for you on your cruise. If you want to lounge outside in the fresh air and devour that new book you brought along with you, no problem. Lounging areas abound on the cruise ship whether you want to be in the sun or in the shade. If you want to try your hand at one of those rock climbing walls, a lot of cruise ships have them available. The cruise directors plan lots of fun games and competitions too, it’s amazing what crazy things people will do to win silly promotional items like a Carnival fanny pack. Take a while out to enjoy the pool and Jacuzzi too or schedule a massage or facial or a manicure or pedicure. It can all be available to you right there on your cruise ship.

The ports-of-call are so varied and it all depends on your chosen destination stops. When the ship arrives in one of its predetermined ports, you really must embark. You will find more shopping and vendors and eating and drinking establishments as well as excursions waiting for you. Depending on how long your stay is in each port, you will be able to see more and do more than if you had arrived at that destination by any other means of travel and visited it for a day or short period of time and you won’t have to find a place to sleep. Just get back on your ship, have a nightcap or a nibble in one of the many lounges or even in your room, then most likely when you awake the next day, another port awaits to taste and smell and discover.

Have I convinced you yet? Well, if this little message has not totally convinced you, then you need to do just a little more investigating. Ask your friends who have cruised. Go online and do a little research. Call a travel agent. I guarantee once you have been on a cruise, you will wait with anticipation until your next vacation time rolls around again and you can take another one. Bon voyage, my friends.

There are definitely museums and theme parks less than a tank of gas away. There are gorgeous beaches, beautiful lakes and well-known rivers, including the Suwannee River (you know, ‘Way Down Upon the…”) and the St. Johns River which is one of only three rivers in the nation that flows north.

In Florida, there is water, water everywhere and people are always drawn to water. Where there is water, there is all manner of fresh fish and seafood delicacies. This year, I intend to eat my way up through the Florida gulf coast until the money runs out and/or my clothes no longer fit.

I prefer the gulf coast (Florida’s Nature Coast) to the Atlantic coast and good thing for that. It appears to be a little sleepier, a little less populated and a little less expensive to travel through. Let me put it this way, if you are expecting Ritz Carlton- or Four Seasons-styled accommodations on the gulf coast, north of St. Pete/Clearwater area, fagettaboutit. If you can be comfortable in one of the more common, but reputable hotel chains, you are in luck. If you are looking for luxurious, world renowned dining experiences, fagettaboutit. But if you are ready to enjoy the local delicacies along your journey, especially seafood, bring along your most comfortable clothes, a bathing suit and join me.

The Florida gulf coast has its share of charming old estate-styled bed and breakfasts, as well as the usual moderately priced hotels and fishing resorts. On this trip, I am choosing the moderately priced hotels because I don’t intend to do anything but sleep there.

The beaches are not the most notable from just north of Clearwater until you reach our panhandle (where they are possibly the most beautiful, accessible beaches in the United States, excluding Hawaii of course). But along that strip of the coast you will find some of the best oysters, bay scallops, clams, shrimp and blue crabs you may ever feast on. And nothing along that strip of the coast requires formal or dressy attire — probably not much more than just shirts and shoes. That is how I like to travel, honestly — Florida Cracker style. Did I mention that if you get tired of the gulf-fresh seafood (ha), you will find some of that down home country cooking at just about every turn along Florida’s Nature Coast.

There are plenty of things to see and do along the way also, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. Fishing is a serious pastime, as is diving, snorkeling, bird watching, kayaking and canoeing. There are campgrounds, wildlife parks, hiking trails, underground caverns and beautiful crystal clear springs. You can get up close and personal with a manatee or a dolphin or view nature‘s beauty from the comfort and safety of a glass bottomed pontoon boat. There are pioneer museums, antebellum mansions and antique shops. This section of the coast still remains relatively unspoiled and I believe the very best way to see it all is by car.

Well, it is right here at my back door, but you really need to experience it. Contact your favorite travel agent, go online and do your own booking or just get yourself down here some way. Rent a comfortable, economical car and spend some time studying that map. It is pretty simple driving this part of the coast. Holiday travel or anytime travel is the time to make this trip. I’m leaving soon and can hardly wait. I’ll join Weight Watchers once I return.

1. First consideration is finances (for most of us). Will it meet your budget guidelines? And if it won’t, should you wait a while until you can afford it or choose a different destination. If you really, really need a break from the daily routine, then find a different location, maybe a little closer to where you live or where the cost of the accommodations is more budget friendly. You can save up and go to that dreamland destination next year. And always plan to have with you enough money or the financial ability to properly handle any unexpected situations that may occur.

2. How will you be traveling? If you are driving, you just need to plan those gas stops and combine them with bathroom stops. I always like to take snack foods when I travel by car. Some grapes, a couple apples, a few bananas and some cheesy crackers will get me a long way before I think I have to stop for a meal. I also like books on cd.

If you are traveling by air or rail, you will get the best rates if you plan several months ahead. Each of those methods are really easier and faster than driving and good planning is what will make for a great trip.

3. Now, who will be looking after your house and your pets. If you have the right sitter in mind, you can almost start breathing easy once those plans are in place. Always have a back up plan for Fido and Fluffy ’just in case’ the sitter runs into some kind problems. It would be a drag to have to cut your trip short to get back to your furry family members.

4. Accommodations can make or break even an otherwise well planned vacation. Be sure that the hotel where you will be staying doesn’t just happen to be resurfacing their pool or under some other kind of construction that will effect your stay there. There is not a ’good deal’ good enough for your accommodations to not be comfortable and quiet when you need to relax and get a good night’s sleep. Also, make sure your hotel is located conveniently to those sights you are there to see as well as restaurants and shopping.

5. Packing is important. Here is the tip of a lifetime - PACK LIGHT. Take as few bags as possible. Take clothes that you can layer and mix and match and take two pair of comfortable shoes. Leave your good jewelry at home. Be sure you have your insurance cards, driver’s license, passport if needed and your medications.

6. Keep a check list and go over it frequently. Be sure you have everything covered several days prior to your departure. That way, you have some breathing room to handle the little last minute things that might present themselves.

7. Loosen up. Getting a break from your job and daily routine is reward enough, so don’t get so up tight in your planning that you need a vacation before your vacation. And while you are away, try at least one thing you’ve never tried before. It could be a new food, learning a new sport or just a new dance. Come home renewed with something new to add to your old world.

8. Working vacation? If you can work remotely, on the internet, you can potentially work from the road for smaller vacations and not lose any income. This affords you to take more frequent trips. Cheap laptops are great for travel, don’t have to worry if anything happens to them. If I will work for 2-3 hours most days, it’s like I was not “off work”, so I can travel 6-10 times a year without counting it as vacation time.

Most experienced travelers, at least the ones that are not independently wealthy who can afford to have their manservant travel with them, will always suggest that you pack as few bags as you think you possibly can, then divide those things in half and repack.

Choosing the right suitcase is of utmost importance. The bag must be made very well, but it doesn’t have to have that ever-so-chic designer label on it. It need not cost a fortune either. The bag is going to get banged up and beat up, so do not take that 200 year old steamer trunk your great, great, great grandparents used to come over from Ireland. It’s a little heavier than you need anyway, it probably doesn’t have wheels and you won‘t be taking every belonging you own like they did — hopefully.

Everyone in the world seems to travel with a black bag(s). I used to think it was just a hoot that my mother would always crochet a bright red or orange pompom and attach to each of her bags when she would come for a visit. Turns out she knew exactly what she was doing. When those bags went round and round on the luggage conveyor, we all could spot hers immediately. We were all reasonably embarrassed too, but the lady had a good plan. So when you choose the piece(s) of luggage you are taking, make sure they stand out from the other hundreds that are going on the plane — or boat or train of whatever. Choose a color that will embarrass anyone under twenty. Hot pink might be good or my personal favorite, day-glow green. Just make sure you can recognize your bags easily.

What you put in that luggage is definitely important. Extremely comfortable shoes are a must. And take two pair of them so you can wear one pair one day and another pair the next. Your feet will thank you. You can pack one pair of shoes for those more formal occasions if you are planning any.

Those clothes you have chosen to take, are they comfortable enough to sleep in? That seems to be my only criteria as far as clothing. Take what you want, just make sure your travel wear is comfortable, make sure you have layers, make sure you carry colors that can be mixed and matched (blacks and tans go with most anything) and make sure you can wear those pants with several tops and vice versa.

Leave your most precious jewelry at home. The end. No more discussion. Take along the pieces that won’t make you appear to be a flashy, trendy tourist. Take those simple pieces that will go with almost anything you wear. If your bags get lost, that rare ruby pendant that Aunt Sadie got from the Maharaja of Menamoomoo will be tucked away at home in your safe deposit box.

So I think that should help out a bit. And when you arrive at that exotic location and find that there are no elevators and it is seventy-eight steps to your room and no bellman, you will be glad you gave some thought to these things. You’ll have me to thank that you only have ONE light bag, that is has some defining element to its appearance, and, of course, that it has wheels.