The Art of Travel: Part 1 - Thinking About Going Away

Downtown Denver - Clock Tower

You look outside of your window and see the brewing of a hellacious storm. While you aren't against storms, you are tired of them. You don't want to see anymore rain, sleet or snow. Visions of a nice beach start wafting through your mind, or perhaps you envision yourself wandering aimlessly in the South of France, sipping on wine and enjoying the leisurely life of doing - nothing.

It used to happen to me a lot when I worked in the "Corporate" world. I'd find myself daydreaming about an escape and thinking to myself, "Hmmm, where do I just need to go?" I liken this period as the "outline." Just like a lot of artist out there, they will outline or draft what they want to paint, draw, or even write. This is the period of time where there isn't too much invested in it, and it may just turn out to be a passing fancy, and just fizzles out. But for those who are serious about getting away the process may look something like this:

• Rummaging through old photos and thinking about how much fun you had on your last vacation
• Scanning through your friends' Facebook pages and looking at their photos to gather some ideas
• Visiting some online visitor bureaus for some destinations you've been thinking about visiting over the years
• Pulling out your "bucket" list
• Spinning the globe and stabbing a finger at an unknown destination (I actually knew someone who did this)
• Checking your work account to see just how many vacation days you have available

It may start with initial daydreaming, but as you can see, a bit of work starts to take place as you decide if, in fact, you can escape get away on a nice vacation.

The next installment will be on selecting your destination. How do you decide where you want to go?

*Photo provided by That Chick Té

www.chicksthattrip.com

The Art of Travel

I have a love for travel, and despite some of the less than attractive aspects of traveling (in this new day and age), I am still excited when I travel. 

The art of travel comes into play from the first moment you think about getting away. While there may be multiple sub categories, the main categories in preparing for travel typically look like this:

• Thinking about going away
• Selecting a destination
• Planning or working with someone to set your itinerary
• Paying for your travel
• Gearing up for your future trip
• Departing on your travel
• Arriving to your destination
• Enjoying your time away
• Your return

In the next few weeks, I will address each of these components. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, each of the above-referenced aspects come into play. Artfully utilizing the strategies I will outline in the coming weeks, you can almost guarantee yourself happy travels!

*photo provided by That Chick Té 

www.chicksthattrip.com

Travel Insurance Myths!

Travel Insurance Myths!

I worked in the insurance industry for many years (in various capacities), and during that time, there was an expression that all of my colleagues and I would chant sometimes as our mantra (paraphrasing), "Insurance is something you don't want to think about until you need it!" 

In this installment, I've also included the link to Travel Guard's "10 Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance." (Ihttp://www.travelguard.com/whybuy/whytravelguard.asp?intcmp=clc-001-Nav-3-10Reasons ).

I can go on for hours with horrifyingly TRUE stories that have occurred because an individual chose not to purchase travel insurance; however, I will list just a few that seem to come up over and over again:

• Myth #1 - I don't need travel insurance because I'm only traveling domestically. - The reality is that if you are traveling and there is an amount that you can't afford to lose and/or cover, then you need travel insurance. Example (which actually happened to me on a trip to San Diego) - the weather is fine where you are; however there is a snow storm/electrical storm, or some other natural disaster that causes your flight to be cancelled; thus causing you to have to either a. spend the night (or nights) in the airport, or b. go stay at a hotel. Well, if you are like quite a few travelers out there, most people can ill afford to have to pay out-of-pocket to stay in a hotel in another city for an indefinite amount of time. Some will say, "Well, isn't the airline responsible to put me up?" The short answer is, "No." 
• Myth #2 - I'm young, healthy and in good shape, so I don't need travel insurance.  - Regardless of age, anything can happen to anybody at anytime. The strangest flukes can occur to the youngest, healthiest, most able bodied individuals. 
• Myth #3 - Travel Insurance is a waste of money. - Again, it depends on what you are willing to risk. If you have no problem eating a $1000 - $1500 airline ticket to Europe, and any non-refundable hotel deposits, because you or a family member falls ill right before your trip, then no, you don't need it, but again, most people do not have the means to eat an expensive airline ticket and non-refundable deposits for hotels and excursions; especially since most airlines (with the current exception of Southwest airlines) charge hefty change/cancellation, etc, fees.
• Myth #4 - I have health insurance through my employer so I don't need additional medical insurance while traveling in another country. - Again, the short response to this is, "It probably won't be covered." This is something that obviously is a case-by-case situation, and depends on your insurance coverage and/or provider. And, incidentally, travel insurance for business is handled differently than leisure travel, so keep that in mind. I had a heart-breaking situation when I worked in personal lines insurance. A ladies brother was involved in an automobile accident in Mexico (many years ago), and his health insurance, nor his auto insurance covered the loss because he drove his personal vehicle into another country and did not have proper insurance on his automobile, and his employer's health insurance did not cover any of his medical bills or transport back from Mexico to the United States. He was in a coma for over two weeks, and his sister was distraught because she had no money or means to get him back to the United States.

Needless to say, purchasing travel insurance is a personal decision, and far be it from me to tell anybody what they should do, but the reality is that a trip is an investment and protecting that investment should be of utmost importance and concern for the traveler.

 

www.chicksthattrip.com

You Can Go Anywhere!

You Can Go Anywhere!

 I can't tell you how many times I've been in casual conversations with people and they'll say, "Oh, I would love to go to (fill in the blank), but I could never afford that!" Then, I start digging and asking probing questions about their likes, dislikes, preferences, etc, and lo' and behold, I give them a general realm of how much that fantastic trip would cost, and they look at me shell shocked and say, "Damn, I can afford that!" 

A delightful blogger, Paula Pant, over at afford-anything.com, wrote an impressive piece entitled, "Quit Your Job, Travel, and Live Remarkably," (http://afford-anything.com/2011/07/01/quit-your-job-and-travel/). You can jump over and read the article for yourself, but what I thoroughly appreciated about the article was the quashing of such misconceptions that people have about those who do travel. For example, a lot of people think that if you travel a lot, then you (or your family) must be wealthy; you are going into great debt; or you have someone else footing the bill. Generally speaking, nothing is further from the truth. Those of us who have a passion and thirst for travel realize that any and all travel is possible. Proper planning and budgeting can get you anywhere around the globe. Whether it's a once in a lifetime trek to the Himalayas, or monthly jaunts to hit every major city in the U.S., you are your only limitation. 

Incidentally, there is always more than one way to skin a cat, errr, I mean, go on a trip. Some of the non-traditional methods out there are becoming ever popular among a segment of the population, and while these tactics may not be for everyone, some may be appealing to those who want to hit the road and stick to a tight budget:

• Couch Surfing - This type of travel is most definitely not for everyone, but for the more adventurous and trusting souls, this may be the perfect way to see the world. The premise behind this type of travel is that you essentially call on friends and family members, and spend time on their couch while you are traveling.There is even a site committed solely to securing lodging (these are not family and friends, but people who sign up on their site http://www.couchsurfing.org/).
•  Home Swapping - A wonderful move called, "The Holiday," (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet were the actresses in the movie); these two found themselves seeking an escape from their day-to-day lives, and with the help of an online house matching service, Kate spent the Christmas holiday at Cameron's ultra modern home in California; while Cameron trekked to Kate's modest, but charming home in England. I can not promise that your experience will be as fun-filled as it turned out for them, but if this is an avenue you are willing to explore, there are numerous services out there that assist in the vetting process (background checks, monetary exchange, etc).
• Educational Travel - It is becoming more and more popular. Typically the accommodations are fairly modest because the schools/institutions will utilize the dorms and or lesser expensive apartments in the city to accommodate the students; however, this is a great way to travel, meet people, and have an incredible learning experience to boot!
• Hostels - Well, they've been around forever. A lot of people swear by hostels; however, if I had to stay at a hostel, I'd be swearing. 
• Rent An Apartment - When you are traveling abroad, if you are going to be in Europe for an extended period of time (say two or more weeks), renting an apartment is an attractive alternative to save money. What I particularly like about the apartment renting concept is that you can have a primary location where you keep all of your "stuff," and if your primary base is in, say, Paris, you can jump on a train and explore other surrounding cities and spend a night or two in varying locations without schlepping all of your stuff. And even though you will need to secure accommodations in those other cities, it's far less expensive to explore while you are there on that continent, than to do separate trips flying from the U.S. to Europe. 

Now, go on and get to traveling!

*Image used from: http://flash.atlrec.com/diggy/images/jetsetter.jpg

www.chicksthattrip.com

Benefits Of Using A Travel Professional!

On the Today Show, there was a great segment on the benefits of using a travel professional. Obviously this is on my radar since I am a travel professional, but also given the recent incident with the cruise ship in Italy, many people are understanding the benefits of utilizing a travel professional to assist them in the "ins and outs" of setting up any insurance claims they will need to file for such occurrences, like the one that transpired on the Costa Concordia.

Happy viewing!



http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/46054707#46054707

www.chicksthattrip.com

The Destination Is Only Part Of The Journey!

"Lhasa had never been anything for me other than

a way station en route to Everest.

Now, for the first time, I was focused on this 

place and its people."

High Exposure, by David Breashears

I recently finished reading David Breashears novel, High Exposure. I would do a grave injustice if I attempted to recount the events he described on his multiple ascents of Everest; however, the quote I chose to use in this post resonated with me, because I've often felt that during our travels we tend to disregard everything else, until we reach our final destination; but what could we be missing along the way?

A friend of mine took a road trip during the holidays, from Arizona down to the Santa Barbara area, and then back home through Palm Springs, on her "Tour de California". As I read her post, I thought about how many times I have driven through Palm Springs, but never stayed in Palm Springs. Sure, it's a wonderful stopping point to stretch your legs on that journey to and from Arizona to Los Angeles/San Diego, or any other Southern California destination, and lest not forget the crucial stopping point in Cabazon to survey delightful finds at the outlet mall; however, it was always a place I went through to get me where I wanted to be.

 This year, I plan on doing some travel to areas that are oftentimes places where you simply gas up and continue on until you reach your final destination, but in my travels, these little (not that Palm Springs is little) places will be my destinations, and not just for passing through.

I look forward to blogging about these destinations, and I hope that as you plan your travels for 2012, you consider staying a night or two, in some of the lesser known places as you make your journey to your final destination.

 *photo from: http://mi9.com/uploads/landscape/1972/icy-mountain-on-the-ocean_422_24970.jpg4.me/view

www.chicksthattrip.com

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy & prosperous New Year!

Chicks That Trip 

photo used from: http://www.vectorjungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/champagne_background.jpg

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday celebration and a Merry Christmas!

Chicks That Trip

*photo used from: http://www.alpinewreaths.com/images/T/Traditional-Wreath-Berryt-Red-Velvet-200.jpg

Wrapping Up The Year!

Wrapping Up The Year!

Despite the hectic time of year, I always like to take a  step back and look at all of the accomplishments, hits and misses I achieved throughout the year. While 2011 started out a bit shaky in terms of the economy, there have been marked improvements in many segments in the U.S., and we can only hope for more improvements in 2012.

Travel is a significant indicator on our economy, and I can say this with great certainty; people are traveling. There was a decline from 2008 - 2010 in both leisure and business travel; however, there have been significant upticks in both sectors to show that 2011 was a great year for the travel professional, and if the market analyst are correct - 2012 should be even better!

I have talked to a significant amount of travel professionals throughout the course of the year, and most have stated they have had modest to substantial increases in their 2011 travel bookings, and are optimistic about 2012 (I should throw in there, cautiously optimistic). 

Next year is going to be amped up to another level for me, as I'll be launching two new websites as well as working on some of my own personal goals. There are going to be some changes here too, so make sure to swing through at the beginning of January when I unveil some exciting additions/changes that will be taking place here at Chicks That Trip - Lobby Bar Confessions.

Enjoy the remainder of 2011 and I look forward to writing more interesting and informative pieces in 2012!

Cheers!

www.chicksthattrip.com

Holiday Gift Ideas

Holiday Gift Ideas

It's officially the holiday season and let me tell you, I can tell. I have received numerous inquiries from my friends (specifically from the male persuasion), seeking suggestions on what to give as gifts to their loved ones. Gift giving is typically a very personal experience (barring those horrible white elephant types of events that a lot of companies hold); so when I receive these requests, I do provide multiple suggestions, but I also attempt to put the onus back on them to come up with their own personal gift - something from the heart, or at least that shows they put some thought into the purchase. With that being said, I am a cold, hard cash person...but that is frowned upon by most people, so I refrain from suggesting that too often.

Free Gifts:

• One of my most favorite gifts was a coupon book that an ex-boyfriend gave me. It was to be redeemed for various tasks to be performed and redeemed by using the hand made coupons. In addition, one of my really close girlfriends gave me the same gift a few years ago. Hers wasn't hand made (the booklet was purchased at a store); it included a lot of funny and useful coupons like, picking you up from the airport, or an all expense paid girlfriends' night out.
• In that same vain, if you have friends who have children, or rarely get to go out, offer to babysit gratis one evening for them. Or, if you are feeling really generous, you may offer to take care of their children overnight or for a long weekend. Trust me, this gift could mean more to someone than any item you pick up at Macy's.
• If you are a person who can cook (I've done this before for a few of my girlfriends), offer to prepare a meal for them to wow their girlfriend/boyfriend or a new suitor. A few of my girlfriends have asked me to do this for them so that they could have a home cooked meal for a beau they were trying to impress. Or, it doesn't have to be a date, you can offer to prepare a meal a month (or other designated length of time) for a friend or family member that may be short on time. They will appreciate the gesture, and all it will cost you is some time (since they will provide the food).

Inexpensive Gifts:

• Tickets to a museum or movie are always great stocking stuffer gifts.
• Kidnapping a friend, family member or spouse for a day excursion is always a fun idea. Pack a picnic lunch and take them to the park, beach, lake or the mountains. 
• Put together a photo collage from a trip that you've taken with friends or family. It will not only be a thoughtful gift, but the memories will be forever captured in a lovely scrap book, poster or frame.
• During the holidays, cooking exchanges abound because they are time to get together with friends, but you also obtain varied types of cookies and baked goods that you can package up and give as gifts. The cost of flour, sugar, butter, milk, eggs and extracts are a nominal price to pay for gifts that will provide a much needed sugar rush in this time of year. And for our diabetic and dieting friends, there are a bevy of recipes that are just as delicious as their original recipes!

General Gifts:

• Spa gift certificates are my favorite. Wherever you or the recipient live, you are bound to be able to locate wonderful spas in their area. If you are at a loss on where to locate a spa, try http://www.spafinders.com/. 
• During these shaky economic times, for those individuals that wear perfume and cologne, this is the best time (next to Mother's Day & Father's Day) to purchase gift sets. You get a few extras like lotions and bath gels for the same price you would pay for just the bottle of perfume/cologne. Also, since a lot of us have been cutting back recently, this will be a welcomed gift by those who are running low on their favorite fragrance.
• Plan an extravagant night out. Car services have significantly reduced their hourly rates, so you can hire a sleek Town Car and be delivered to your restaurant and club(s) of choice without the worries of driving. You are free to indulge in your favorite restaurant; sip on a delicious adult beverage, and relax at your favorite jazz bar, or dance the night away - whatever your heart desires.
• Awww, you knew it was coming. The gift of travel. Plan a weekend, week or longer vacation. When you work with a travel professional, they can assist you in coming up with a spectacular vacation package to present as the ultimate gift. Imagine sweeping your loved one away on a weekend filled with culinary bites and wine beyond compare, in the luscious Napa Wine Country. Or, perhaps you want to partake of a bottle of Veuve Cliquot while sitting at a nondescript restaurant on one of the  intimate streets of Paris. And for the more adventurous set; perhaps a ski vacation to Switzerland where you can ski by day and cuddle at night by a roaring fire, ensconced at a cozy inn by the mountains.

I can go on all day, but perhaps some of these ideas can assist in your quest to find the "perfect" gift for your friends and family.

Enjoy your holidays and try to stay stress free!

*photo used from: http://christmasstockimages.com/free/decorations/slides/xmas_decorations_and_tinsel.jpg

www.chicksthattrip.com