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Over the years that we have travelled the world, we have come across some ideas and products that made traveling easier and would like to pass them on to you. We have done all different types of Travel from road trips both in the US and Abroad. We flown all over the world, have done lots of cruises, and weekend getaways. We have learned a lot, had a lot of fun exploring new and different places.

The first tip that I would like to share with you is to expect the unexpected. No matter how much you plan and research your trip, there could be something that you did not plan for. Always have a backup plan for an emergency, a delay, a weather event and so on... Also, you should tell a friend, or relative your travel plans, someone should know where you are and when you will be back.

 It is so important, Buy Yearly Travel Insurance!!! Whether you go on two trips a year or twenty, you need to have Travel Insurance. And don't be cheap, get the best package available. It will cover road trips, cruises, flights, hotels, medical emergencies etc. Buying it yearly cost a lot less than for each trip, and then you don't have to worry about it.

Please do your research on where you are going and how you are getting there and back home. Are you driving, flying, taking a cruise, a train, a bus, or all those modes of transportation. If you’re going on a cruise, do you need to drive your car to your airport, park it, get on a flight, then rent a car to drive to the port, park it until you return from your cruise. Think about and plan your transportation well, consider the time and think about any delays all the way that would prevent you from getting to your designation on time.

Renting a Car. Seems like a simple thing, but things can go wrong and then you might be stuck without a car. Is your license up to date, not expired? For car rentals out of the country do you have your valid unexpired International Driving Permit, you will need one. Are you under 21, most rental companies will not rent to 21 and under. If you’re under 25 there will be a daily underage fee added to your rental. All rental car companies add a deposit above the price of the rental.

Book a vehicle that fits your family, don’t try to shove five people with luggage in a sub-compact car.  When you’re at the rental car counter make sure that you buy their Collison/Loss Damage Waiver (LDW/CDW) and Supplement Liability Coverage (SLI), it is the most important thing about your car rental!! Your personal car insurance will NOT cover everything, no matter what they tell you. Remember car insurance companies want something to happen, so they can raise your rates for the next 20 years, they’re in business to make money. Pay one time or pay for a lifetime of higher rates to your car insurance company!!

Traveling out of the country, either flying or cruising. Remember to always keep your passport with you, do not leave it in the hotel safe or in your luggage! Take it with you. If getting off a cruise ship at a port take your passport with you!! Yes, your ship card gets you back on the ship, BUT if you miss getting back on the ship, that ship card will not get you a flight home. Can’t stress this enough, carry it on your person, don’t leave it in bag on the beach, in a backpack, in a purse, take it with you, even in the water. Put it in a waterproof phone case along with a credit card and some cash and hang it around your neck. Your passport is your way home if needed! 

Put all your valuables, documents, money, credit cards, prescriptions, passports, copies, identification, phone charger, anything that is important in your personal item when flying. This way if your checked bag gets lost or delayed, you will have the important stuff with you.

Check out the location of your hotel, is it close to things that you might want to do? Read reviews of the hotel, just to get an idea of what other people thought. See what their parking policies are, do you have to pay for parking? See if they offer a shuttle to the airport, the port or local attractions. Ask the hotel if there is a resort fee on top of the room rate. Ask what is included in your rate, is breakfast included, is there even a restaurant in the hotel? Ask if all their amenities are available during your stay or is something closed or under construction? Ask if you must pay extra for a rollaway bed or a crib, and make sure that one will be available to you if needed. Ask what time is check in and check out, does it fit into your schedule? See if you can get either an early check-in or a late check-out, and is it free or do you have to pay for it? Join their Reward Program or if you are already a member let them know at the time of your reservation. See what type of discounts they may offer at reservation time. Find out their cancelation policy no-show policy, see how much they will charge you. When checking in, ask for a free upgraded room, you never know. 

If you must cancel /or can't make it after their deadline, don’t cancel, just call the hotel and change the arrive date to a week later, then wait 24 hour and then cancel it, you probably won't be charged for the cancel or no show.

Airport Tips- Be prepared for long lines and long waits and maybe delays. Place all important stuff and documents in your personal items, NOT in your checked luggage. Make sure you know your airline policy for the size of your carry-on and personal items. Get the airline’s policy on the weight of a checked bag. 

Don’t over pack, think twice about what you are bringing with you. Add luggage tags to everything! Take a permanent marker and write your name and phone number on the bottom of your suitcase, luggage tags do fall off sometimes. Put an Air Tag device in your luggage, carry on and personal item so you can track it if lost. 

Lock your checked bag with a TSA approved lock and add straps to your checked bag. You should also lock your Carry-on luggage. Your personal item, bag or backpack should be an anti-theft and RDFI. Pickpockets are everywhere! 

Get to the Airport way head of your flight time. Give yourself extra time to park your car, return a rental car, find your gate, go through security. Are you flying out of a major airport during a holiday, add extra time. Even if you have TSA pre check, clear or global entry give yourself plenty of time to get to your gate. 

When going through security have your documents and boarding passes ready for the TSA Agent. Get ready for the scanners, don’t wear something that takes forever to take off, belts, shoes, metal objects. You ever see that one person in line that must untie lace up boots, empty pockets full of coins and stuff and is so disorganized that they hold up the entire line, don’t be that person! 

If you are not a person that knows what you are allowed to bring though security, please look it up for yourself and everyone else. Flying is as stressful as you make it. One of the most important tips that we recommend in the airport is to be nice to other travelers and especially to the people that are doing their jobs to make it safe and easy for all travelers.

Inflight Tips- When you get on the plane, store your carry-on in the overhead bin and take your seat, so the person behind you can do the same, don’t hang out in the aisle. Please take the seat that you were assigned, even if it’s the middle seat! If you don’t like your seat, you should have bought a different one. And just because your family is all split up in different rows don’t except the person next to you to switch seats, they bought that seat because they wanted to. It is your fault that you did not plan well, not theirs or the flight attendants. 

Do what your flight attendants say and ask you to do, they are there for your safety. Causing a scene on the plane will either get you kicked from that flight, banned from that airline for life and maybe even arrested and put on the “do not fly list”. Besides the fact that it’s just rude to hold up everyone else that is on the flight. Also please remember that flight attendants don’t start to get paid to wheels-up.

Cruise ship tips- Don’t overpack, you don’t need three suitcases of clothing for a five-day cruise. Book a room that fits your family or friends, don’t try to shove four people into one room with one bathroom, get two adjoining rooms instead. The balcony’s rooms are best, they make the room feel so much bigger and the views are great. 

When you get to embarkation day have all your documents ready for security. Make sure that you keep everything that you need for the day with you, as your checked luggage won’t arrive outside of your state room till late afternoon usually. 

Do the muster drill as soon as the ship lets you, it is mandatory and could be either on your phone or in person depending on what the ship decides. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the layout of the ship. We do suggest that when they announce that the cabins are available and now open, you should go to your cabin. Your luggage should be in the hall by your room and your sea card will be by the room door in a slot. 

We recommend that you put a hole in the sea card (guest services will punch a hole in it for you) and attach it to a lanyard. You need your sea card to enter your room, buy drinks, buy stuff, sometime turn on the electricity in the room, get off and on the ship (along with your passport) in ports. 

Always bring an old plastic card from a hotel, gift card, with you on a cruise, you will be able to put that card into the slot in the room to turn on electric (if ship has the feature) instead of your sea card. 

Most cruise lines have an App, you should download before your cruise. Some of the App’s will let you send text messages to friends and family on the same cruise if you’re on their Wi-Fi. You can also bring walkie talkies to contact each other if you like.

One of the questions that we see the most about is passports off the ship while you are in a port. This is our answer: We would NEVER step off the ship without these seven things, whether is a foreign country or a US port.

1. Passport

2. Driver’s license 

3. Credit Card

4. Debt Card

5. Cash

6. Cell phone

7. Ship Card

The reason is simple with those seven items, if you miss the ship for whatever reason, you will be able to get back home.

Road trip Tips- whether you are going on a road trip to get to a specific place or just a road trip it is always good to be prepared. If you are driving out of your home country, make sure that you have an international driving permit. If you are taking your own personal vehicle then there as some things you should do first. Have your vehicle checked out, make sure that everything is in working order, brakes, fluids, heat, air, wipers, spare, jack, transmission, and tires. If you are going to a place where it snows and freezes it is recommended that you take a true 4-wheel drive not an all-wheel drive, there is a big difference. Make sure that all your paperwork is up to date, and you have copies with you. It would be a good idea to join a roadside assistance program before your trip. You should pack a vehicle emergency bag and put it in your vehicle. Included water, food, snacks, extra clothing, flares, emergency blankets, flashlights, socks, gloves, and a good complete tool kit. And enough money to fix your vehicle if something breaks down.

Renting a vehicle for a road trip, you should also include an emergency bag with the same items listed above. Again, if you are going to a place that snows and freezes rent a true 4-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive. Rent a vehicle that fits your family needs, make sure that you have enough room, and everyone is comfortable. Ask if the vehicle has navigation or google play in it. You will need to also buy the following at the counter of the rental place upon picking up the vehicle

1. LDW- Lost Damage Waiver

2. SLI- Liability Coverage

3. RSN- Roadside Assistants

4. Toll Pass

5. Gas- so you can return it empty 

It is the most important thing about your car rental! Your personal car insurance will NOT cover everything, no matter what they tell you. Remember your car insurance company wants something to happen, so they can raise your rates for the next 20 years, they’re in business to make money. Pay one time or pay for a lifetime of higher rates to your car insurance company!!

Try to plan out your trip, book hotels in advance, prepare for unexcepted, road closures, bad weather or unforeseen things. But most of all have fun, road trips are a great way to see the country.

“You get what you Pay for” when you travel. Book a hotel, cruise, airline, car, resort that you are going to be happy with. If you book a two-star hotel that is what you will get. If you book a flight without an assigned seat, you will sit whenever they put you. If the resort is five miles from the attractions or beach, you will have to figure out how to get there. Think about what you want and pay for it so you are happy and can enjoy your travels. 

Bathrooms in Foreign Countries. In a lot of foreign country bathrooms, you will have to pay to use them, it’s not much but you will need to have change in their currency with you to pay, some will take US dollars. And always carry some tissues with you a lot don't have toilet paper

Tipping- Tip the people that are helping you and tip them well, don’t be cheap.