Fast Five Travel Tips: The week before you go

When the vacation is just around the corner, you have a lot to do. Here are 5 helpful tips IMHO.

1. Check the weather forcasts. This will help you pack better for your departure and arrival cities. It will also help you predict delays or other circumstances that might change your plans.

2. Contact the concierge at the hotel. Introduce yourself via e-mail, and let them know of your dinner requests or anything else that you might need. If nothing else, at least they should recognize your name if you DO need something while you're there. Don't be a last-minute Lucy.

3. Gather your frequent flier cards, confirmation numbers and itinerary. Photograph or photocopy for your house sitter or your "just in case" contact at home. Things are soooo much easier to find if you're not rushing at the last minute.

4. Gather your medications. Do you need any prescriptions refilled or labelled for travel?

5. Contact your credit card and place a travel advisory. Double check that your household bills or automatic payments are all set up before you leave. You don't want to miss a payment or risk insecure internet connections with your bank info when you are travelling. Only travel with the cards you need. Leave everything else at home or in your safety deposit box.

@cdntripseeker

Fast Five Travel Tips: Choosing a Hotel

Most vacations include a hotel stay. Choosing a hotel can be a big deal, especially if you are vacationing as a family. Each person has their own wants and needs. There's a budget involved, but most important is often the location. Just like in real estate... location, location, location.

1. First step is to determine what your vacation centres on. Are you spending 5 days at Disneyworld? Would staying on-site being a benefit? Or are you going to the beach, Seaworld, Universal Studios, or a museum? If that's the case, perhaps a central location is a better choice?  Is the hotel just a place to sleep, or do you like to lounge, kick back and rest at the resort?

2. Space. How much space do you need? Are two queen sized beds good enough, do you need bunk beds or a kitchen? What do you need to be comfortable? Most hotels have a pool.... but is it a deal-breaker if yours doesn't?

3. Safety. You need to be safe. It's no bargain if it's a scary, scary neighbourhood.

4. Price. Price takes a fair bit of research. Check all the popular sites... travelocity.ca, hotels.com, expedia.ca, hotwire.com. PLUS check the hotel's own website. They just might have the best price, or perhaps a package that suits your needs. Do you have a AAA card, or military discount? If yes, skip the discount sites and try the hotel itself first.

5. Research! Before you commit, check Tripadvisor.com  The good people of trip advisor offer a wealth of hands on experience, tips and honest reviews. Not everyone will have your tastes or priorities, however, I tend to agree and trust what the majority says.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Is it your vacation?

Finding the vacation that suits you is almost as hard as finding the right shoes to go to a high school reunion. You need to have some patience and be really honest with yourself about what you want and what your goals are. If you can't walk in your shoes, even though they are pretty... are they the right choice?

It IS your vacation when:

1) All members of the travel party have something they are looking forward to

2) You choose activities you are genuinely excited about

3) You can't wait to write in your travel journal/blog/tell your friends

4) You are living within your budget and not stressing about money

5) You are NOT doing things out of obligation, guilt or because somewhere you read you HAVE TO visit/see/do a particular monument/activity that you're not actually interested in.

Fast 5 Travel Tips: Long Weekend Edition

1. Be the hero at work and offer to work the long weekend shifts. Take your days off when the others return to work.
2. Travel after the long weekend. Flights & hotels will be about 25% less expensive.
3. Post-long weekend roads & airports will have less traffic & are therefore less stressful and more safe.
4. Mid week bargains are abound: movies, zoos, meals, & more
5. The less of a crowd at the park, beach, museum, etc... the more you will participate, linger, learn and enjoy.

@cdntripseeker