Author: JenniferRound

This weekend is Valentine’s. Typically we skip the restaurant scene for Valentine’s Day and have a quiet celebration at home. This year will be no different. While we haven’t narrowed down a menu just yet, I’ve left that to my 12 year old. We have settled on a dessert. The tiramisu won’t look nearly as neat or uniform as the one pictured above. However, it will do the trick of topping off a dinner that transports us around the globe as we reflect on our favorite meals.

How will you celebrate? Here are some ideas in case you still aren’t sure of your plans (fun fact -significant other not required, you can absolutely enjoy each of these by yourself)

#1 – take a virtual tour of your favorite museum – there are hundreds of museums available on Google that you can “walk through” at your own pace. My favorite is the Musee D’Orsay in Paris.

#2 – set the mood with music – a hand selected playlist to remind you of your journeys is a great way to transport back to your favorite spot.

#3 – watch the sunset – not at your top sunset spot? Perhaps there is a live stream from the same location. You can live stream from the Eiffel Tower or even the beach in Hawaii and nearly everywhere in between.

#4 – recreate that meal you still talk about after all these years. While the atmosphere and presentation will not meet the mark, the stories you exchange will be priceless.

#5 – spend some time together looking through the photographs of your favorite trips and what you enjoyed most about them.

bonus tips:

#6 – spend some time together talking about your next trip! What’s the number one place you want to visit when the time is right?

# 7 – make the tiramisu! Here’s a link to the Barefoot Contessa recipe we enjoy most.

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#1 – Contact me to get started with the planning, I’ll take care of the other 9 steps for you!

Travel restrictions and requirements seem to change on a daily basis. Don’t make the mistake of trying to navigate these changes on your own. Relying on the expertise and contacts of a local travel professional is a win-win. You have someone to rely on who plans dream vacations all year long, and you support a local small business in the process.

My calendar is beginning to take shape again with itinerary planning for late 2021 and into 2022. When you’re ready to start bouncing some ideas around, I would love to chat about your best course of action. You may simply reply to this email and we can set up a phone or video chat. I look forward to hearing from you, even if it’s just to test the waters.

Wow, don’t you just love that video and it’s message? It was released back in September by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

We’ve talked a lot over the past few weeks about the questions that are swirling around regarding travel. Yes, things are confusing right now, on that we can all agree.

However, with these cold weeks of winter grabbing hold, maybe it really is time for you to start planning your next vacation, or at least narrowing down that dream sheet. While there seems to be a “day” for everything now, this past Tuesday was “Plan for a vacation” day in the tourism world.

Studies have shown that just the act of planning a vacation can elevate your mood before you even step foot on the airplane.

We are also seeing signs that the airlines may actually increase rates when travel resumes. It seems the logic behind that is the pent up demand, travelers are less likely to balk at the higher fares after being grounded for a year or more.

My calendar is beginning to take shape again with itinerary planning for late 2021 and into 2022. When you’re ready to start bouncing some ideas around, I would love to chat about your best course of action. You may simply reply to this email and we can set up a phone or video chat. I look forward to hearing from you, even if it’s just to test the waters.

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As promised, I’m going to continue answering some of the questions I hear most often from clients. These are questions that go a bit more in depth, so I’ll share more in the coming weeks.

“Jennifer, you’ve mentioned trying to only travel with a carry on bag, how is that possible?”

I’ve got several tricks to share with you when it comes to packing light. Obviously different trips call for different wardrobes. The suitcase you pack for a week in the tropics will look very different than the one you pack when you head to Europe. This week I’ll tackle the Europe suitcase.

#1 – Start with the shoes. Wear your bulkiest pair on the plane, pack another pair. Maybe two pair if they are small. Build your outfits around the shoes, not the other way around.

#2 – Stick to a simple color palette. Black is my go to, adding color with accessories as I go along. Mixing and matching tops and pants will stretch your wardrobe easily.

#3 – Utilize pieces of clothing that you can dress up, or keep casual for different looks as you travel.

#4 – Leave the bulky items at home, if you’re traveling to a climate that requires you to dress warmly, go with layers rather than bulk.

#5 – Leave the hairdryer at home! Should you arrive and there not be one in your room, there is always one available at the front desk.

#6 – I use packing cubes as well as the rolling method, instead of folding my clothes. Done well, rolling prevents wrinkles and utilizes the space more efficiently. The packing cubes keep things nice and neat within the suitcase, especially when you get pulled aside for special screening when they open your bag. You don’t have to worry about items falling out.

#7 – Don’t pack for the worst case scenario. You can always buy things in destination if need be and support a local business in the process.

#8 – Depending on your itinerary and the pace at which you travel, local dry cleaners or laundry facilities can be integrated as well.

#9 – Plan out what items you’ll be wearing each day, keeping in mind that you don’t need two outfits every day for most itineraries. Perhaps there is a fancy dinner you are planning where dressing up a bit would be appropriate, however, that can most often be accomplished by changing out accessories rather than a completely different outfit that you will only wear once during your trip.

#10 – Keep a record of what items you used the most and what didn’t get worn. Refer back to that as you pack for your next vacation. It’s an easy list to leave in your suitcase between vacations.

Hopefully these are tips you can put into practice sooner rather than later, when the time is right for you to travel again comfortably.

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Happy New Year! I trust that you each had a safe and simple holiday season and are ready to dive into all that 2021 is set to deliver.

I thought I would start out the year by addressing some of the questions that I’m asked most often when it comes to travel.

“When planning our vacation, where should we splurge and where can we save?”

I love this question, because it shows that you are considering all aspects of your vacation, not just the bottom line. Saving can come by scheduling your vacation for the off season or even a shoulder season when the crowds are lighter and so is the price tag. Splurging can come down to personal preference and travel style, but a good rule of thumb is to plan something special for the end of the trip. Perhaps a lovely dinner in an Italian vineyard, a cooking class with a French chef, or even a photo session to get the entire family in your vacation photos at the same time.

“What is the best defense against jet lag?”

The best way to avoid jet lag is to start planning early. As soon as you get on the plane towards your destination, set your clock to the local time in destination. When on an overnight flight I realize that not many travelers are able to sleep, but at least set the stage for rest. Don’t stay up and wait for the airplane meal that you are unlikely to enjoy. Don’t get lost in the tiny screen in the seat back in front of you. Change into some comfy, non restrictive clothes, put on your eye mask, some relaxing music and at least get some rest, if not a few zzzz’s. Once you arrive at your destination, keep moving. The worst thing you can do is head straight for a nap. Walk around and get acquainted with the neighborhood, grab a light snack or lunch, stay active, albeit slower than usual and then eat dinner at a normal time. You can turn in a bit earlier than normal, but beware, the earlier you turn in, the earlier you’ll be up wandering the streets looking for your morning coffee with all of the other travelers the next day.

“When should I leave a tip for housekeeping, and how much should I leave?”

I suggest that travelers leave at least $1 – $2 per guest, per day for housekeeping. You don’t want to wait until the end of your stay as staff can work different schedules and perhaps not every day.

“What do I need to do to carry my medicine through security?”

Medicine can all be packed in your carry on bag. You should not pack medicine in your checked bag incase of loss. While I don’t recommend taking a full 90 day or even 30 day supply, you should take at least 50% more than you will need during the trip incase of travel delays. You do not need to take each medication in the original container, however, I do recommend that you take a print out from the pharmacy of the medications and doses that you are traveling with.

“Where is the best place to get foreign currency?”

I recommend that you use an ATM in destination. You will find that using an ATM will help you avoid additional fees associated with a currency exchange office, or even your local bank before leaving home. Of course, it’s always a good idea to let your bank know where you will be using the ATM so you are not restricted for suspected fraud and to verify any fees they may apply for use.

“Which credit card is the best to use overseas?”

This is a question for your credit card company directly. Each card carries different fees, so check with each of them before you travel. The most common fees that you will want to avoid are the added percentages to each charge as a foreign transaction fee, they can range from 0% – 3% on most of the cards I’ve seen.

I’ll answer more in depth questions in the weeks to come. In the meantime, if there is a question you would like answered please let me know.

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Traditions, customs, habits, beliefs, attitudes, whatever you wish to call them, we all have them. The holiday season seems to bring them out in full force. Perhaps they will be a bit different this year as we incorporate social distancing.

Whether it be lighting the Menorah that has been passed down in your family for generations, or heading out to the local tree farm to choose the perfect Christmas tree, they are part of who we are.

Through the years these traditions are perhaps tweaked or even evolve through circumstance. Not everything has to stay exactly as it was through the years. That is especially true this year as families shelter in place and connect digitally, rather than in person to prevent further exposure to the virus.

Growing up, I remember my Mom staying up all night on Christmas Eve to put together the finishing touches for not one, but two hosted meals on Christmas Day. We would start our day hosting brunch for friends and neighbors. Later in the day, family would arrive for a grand Christmas Feast.

After my husband and I married, we travelled for the holidays with both my family and his. The first year we visited France and Italy. There was something magical about arriving in Paris on Christmas Eve and attending Mass at Notre Dame. While thousands of miles from home, we were able to recreate the tradition of going to Church on Christmas Eve.  We didn’t understand a word of the service, conducted in Latin, but it’s a story we recount often this time of year.

Ordinarily, the holiday season is a wonderful time to travel and not only make wonderful memories, but perhaps start some new traditions as well. With the vaccine beginning to roll out across the country the time to travel safely will soon return. When the 2021 holiday season begins I believe that we will have new travel memories and ornaments to add to our collection.

In the meantime whether you are able to gather with immediate family in a small group, or your holiday is spent on a zoom call, we hope you and your loved ones have a safe and simple holiday season. We will be here to look out for you when the time is right to take that 2021 or 2022 vacation you’ve been dreaming about since March.

Throughout the Winter season, due to the rise in community spread of Covid-19, we will be meeting clients through phone or zoom appointments only. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time to schedule your appointment.

It’s elf season! Even if you do not have one of Santa’s helpers at home, most likely you know someone who does. He, or she, stays out of the way, but really comes in handy when a reminder that they are “always watching” becomes necessary. The fact that they are always keeping an eye out for potential upsets made me think that perhaps in some way, using a travel professional is a bit like having your own “Elf on the Shelf”

Here are the top 3 similarities I came up with:

#1 – We are always keeping an eye out for you when you travel, and even before you depart. With constant changes in Covid-19 protocols, regulations and requirements there is something new every week, if not every day. We also continue to monitor supplier updates and air schedules, as appropriate.

#2 – Since we are always on the lookout, we can avoid some problems before they even arise, others can be worked out accordingly. Perhaps your flights have been delayed or cancelled? Often times we care monitoring your flights and working on a solution before you are even aware of the problem. It is not unusual for us to contact a client with a solution while they are still in the customer service line at the airport.

#3 – We have some really great connections! While the “Elf on the Shelf” may have a direct line to Santa that we don’t, we have built relationships with the general managers of some of the finest hotels and resorts around the World, cruise line executives, on site concierge managers and of course our private tour guides. With these connections there are special touches behind the scenes that you benefit from each time you travel with Slaydon’s.

We hope you and your loved ones have a safe and simple holiday season, we will be here to look out for you when the time is right to take that 2021 or 2022 vacation you’ve been dreaming about all year.

Throughout the Winter season, due to the rise in community spread of Covid-19, we will be meeting clients through phone or zoom appointments only. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time to schedule your appointment.

I trust that each of you celebrated a safe and simple Thanksgiving, and that by now, you’ve run out of leftovers. I wanted to share with you some of the random travel tips that I collect over the course of the year that really don’t fall into any particular category. So, this week, in a nod to one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions, the leftovers, enjoy these “leftover” tips.

~ The Every Kid Outdoors pass for 4th graders, that you hear me talk so much about every September, has been expanded this school year to include 5th graders who may not have been able to take full advantage of the benefits due to the pandemic. Here is a link to share with any 5th graders, parents of 5th graders and educators.

~ The Real ID Act deadline for States to meet minimum ID standards has now been extended until October 1, 2021.

~ The ETIAS, electronic travel authorization system for Non-EU citizens has been pushed back to 2022 with full implementation by mid-2023

~ Leave your camo themed clothing at home. Did you know it’s illegal to wear camouflage in nearly a dozen different countries?

~ Before you leave home, check with your mobile provider to see what options you have for upgrading to an international plan. Or, better yet, unplug and enjoy your vacation!

~ Regardless of whether you are putting your mail on a vacation hold or having a neighbor collect it while you’re gone, did you know that with the USPS informed delivery program that you can see what is being delivered each day? You’ll get an email each morning showing what is scheduled for delivery and know whether or not you are missing anything important when you return home.

~ Don’t throw your packing list away when your suitcase is packed. Instead, put it in your suitcase so when it’s time to pack to come home you can use it to make sure nothing is missing.

~ When you are on vacation don’t eat at any restaurant that you can eat in at home. Stick to local restaurants, not chains. Seriously, you didn’t fly half way around the world just to eat a Big Mac.

~ Allocate 10% of your vacation budget to spend with local artisans and in turn support the local community and its citizens.

~ Give the gift of travel – this holiday season, more than most, our desire to travel is stronger than ever. Until the time comes when you and your family are comfortable flying you can always start planning that next vacation. I would be more than happy to help you plan out an itinerary to present this holiday season for travel in 2021 and beyond.

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