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 the World of travel there is something new every week, if not every day. We continue to monitor government regulations, 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 are 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 enjoy the holiday season, we will be here to look out for you when the time is right to take that vacation you’ve been dreaming about all year.

Last week I began my message with the following reminder:

~ The Real ID Act deadline for States to meet minimum ID standards is scheduled to begin May 3, 2023. Now is the time to make sure your ID is compliant with the new regulations. A compliant ID will be required to board domestic flights.

However, this past Monday, the Department of Homeland Security delayed the roll out once again. The new date is May 7, 2025.

That said, the next time you are up for a drivers license renewal please do your self a favor and jump through the extra hoops to make sure you secure a Real ID.

You may be asking, “What is a REAL ID and why do I need one?”

The federal Government passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 basically requiring a minimum security standard for state-issued IDs such as a driver’s license. The enforcement date has been pushed back repeatedly over the years to give the States time to put procedures into place.

Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

So, now that you know you’ll need one to fly, your next question is probably “How do I get one?”

I’m happy to report that the process is quite simple in Virginia, albeit a bit cumbersome. You’ll need a combination of documents: one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, one proof of your social security number and your current driver’s license. Personally, the combination of my current Passport, voter registration card, current license and my social security card were enough to fill all of the requirements. Check the DMV website for your state to obtain the complete list.

While with the latest delay you don’t need to rush out and get one in the next 5 months, eventually you will need a Real ID to fly domestically.

I trust that each of you celebrated a lovely 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 Real ID Act deadline for States to meet minimum ID standards is scheduled to begin May 3, 2023. Now is the time to make sure your ID is compliant with the new regulations. A compliant ID will be required to board domestic flights.

~ When renting a car do a quick walk around taking video with your smart phone of dings, scratches, etc before leaving the lot.

~ 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. The holidays are a great time to 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 2023 and beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Slaydon’s Travel family to yours. We hope you are enjoying a day full fo the things you are thankful for.

During this season of thanks we are most grateful for the family of clients that we are able to serve. It is a pleasure helping all of you realize your dreams to see the world. We are looking forward to a 2023 full of travel dreams realized.

As you gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving, raise a glass from your favorite destination, share memories and give thanks that the World is once again open for travel.

Thanksgiving is early this year, which means the Holiday Travel Season officially kicks off this weekend with pre-Thanksgiving flights and runs through the end of the year.

Here are a few tips to help make this busy travel season a little bit more bearable.

#1 – Give yourself extra time – you’ve heard me say it before, but as always, I would rather you have time to sit an enjoy a cup of coffee at your departure gate than be stuck in a security line wondering if you’re going to make it to your gate before the final boarding call.

#2 – Be prepared to check a bag as the overhead bins fill quickly. With rising baggage fees it seems that everyone is carrying an extra piece of hand luggage. Checking a bag is my least favorite thing to do when I travel, however, more often than not, on a full flight the overhead bins fill before the plane does. Once they are full, passengers are required to check their bags at the gate and retrieve them from the baggage claim in their final destination. Make sure that you have a small bag that you can keep with you for medicines, keys and travel documents. You do not want these items in your checked bags. Also, if you have purchased a “basic economy” airline ticket most airlines do not allow use of the overhead bin for this type of ticket.

#3 – Pay attention to the route – if you are utilizing frequent flier tickets or companion certificates that can not be booked by a travel professional you need to be aware of the airports where you are changing planes. When traveling to points South or to the West Coast make sure you aren’t scheduled to change planes in places like Chicago that could be affected by Winter weather delays and cancellations.

#4 – It’s a little late for this Holiday season, but book early! It’s the busiest travel time of the year, flights are full, lots of people rent cars, resorts and cruise ships are at capacity, the sooner you book the better chance you have of getting the seat you want, the view you want, etc.

#5 – Expect to pay more than if you were traveling during the shoulder season. Again, it’s the busiest time of the year to travel. Schools are closed for at least a week, Colleges can be closed for a month or more. If you are expecting rock bottom prices this is not the time for you to travel.

#6 – Recharge – When traveling with electronics that might need to be charged en route, don’t forget to pack the necessary chargers. It’s also a good idea to pack a small power strip or outlet extender. The more crowded the airport is, the harder it is to find an available outlet.

#7 – Traveling with small children? Here is a link to my blog post about my top 3 tips for family travel.

#8 – Be nice! Sure, it’s stressful trying to get to Grandma’s house when flights are delayed or cancelled, but keep in mind that these airline crews, airport staff and baggage handlers are giving up their holiday with loved ones to make it possible. A “thank you” or friendly smile is just one small and easy way to spread some holiday cheer.

While no one ever begins a trip expecting bad things to happen and we certainly hope they don’t, remember you can always rely on the travel professionals at Slaydon’s Travel to help you in any way possible. Hopefully the above tips will help in avoiding a few mishaps, but if not, we are always more than happy to assist our clients when the unexpected occurs.

 

Contact me or one of the other travel professionals at Slaydon’s Travel. We can make getting there as easy as being there!

As we observe Veterans Day tomorrow, we wanted to thank those who have served and are serving. When you reach out for guidance on your next vacation please make sure we have your service record in your traveler profile. This insures that you receive all of the benefits you have earned through your service as you travel.

Through the years we have worked with countless numbers of service members, however this week I wanted to highlight the top three destinations that seem to draw those who have served.

#1 – Normandy – The most popular destination by far for those interested in Military history. The beaches of Normandy still hold a deep connection for service members young and old. Whether seen as a day trip when visiting Paris, or as part of a longer itinerary along the coast, or on a river cruise, this is a sacred place for all who visit.

#2 – Hawaii – many of our service members were once stationed in Hawaii and often want to return to take family members and introduce them to the destination. Others who have not been stationed in Hawaii still have a strong desire to visit Pearl Harbor. It’s a site that is included in nearly every Oahu itinerary that we curate.

#3 – Sicily – like Hawaii, many of our clients were either stationed in Sicily or visited during a Mediterranean Sea tour. Often they return with the entire family for an extended stay to retrace their steps, or the steps of family members.

Is there a spot that you visited while serving that you would like to return to? Or perhaps one that a family member served in that you are longing to connect the stories you grew up with to the destination? We are here to help you plan when the time is right.

Every life changing vacation is made up of a series of puzzle pieces that when put together correctly leave you with a memory that will stay with you forever. It’s my job to help you identify those pieces and help you put the puzzle together. Just one missing piece can turn the vacation of your dreams into a nightmare.

Three key pieces to make sure your vacation puzzle matches your vacation vision.

Communication – This piece begins at our initial consultation and is most important throughout, even upon your return home. It’s imperative that we both understand exactly what it is that you expect out of your vacation. Sure, mobility issues and food allergies are important things to share, but it goes beyond likes and dislikes. Ultimately, if you choose not to share that you have a lifelong dream of singing “Maria” at the top of your lungs while you visit the gazebo used in The Sound of Music, then how am I going to know to have the film crew on standby during your visit? It’s equally as important that you and your travel companions communicate in such a way that you each have the same vacation expectations. A vacation where you sit back in a beach chair while a waiter brings and endless supply of Pina Coladas may be exactly what you have in mind, but if your partner can’t sit still long enough to read a chapter of a book, doesn’t like the sand and likes to avoid sun exposure that vacation has the potential to go down in flames by day two! However, with the right communication we can find a destination that will offer you the rest and relaxation you desire and also offer the necessary distractions for your partner.

Be open – We all have a tendency to hold firm to a vision we have in our heads of the perfect vacation. I’m not suggesting that you throw that vision out the window. I’m suggesting that perhaps that vision needs to have a bit of wiggle room available. I’ve been a travel professional long enough to know that just because something was posted on the internet or written in a magazine article doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a realistic vacation goal. I’ve seen wish lists that would take even the most seasoned traveler weeks to race through that clients want to accomplish in half the time. While a week away from home seems like plenty of time to check items off your wish list as you race through Europe, if you want to stop and see them you’ll need either more time or fewer sites. Do you long to see the Northern Lights but can only that one week in August that the kids don’t have baseball practice? That’s not a realistic time frame for that experience.

Prepare for the unexpected – now, this doesn’t mean pack for the worst case scenario! This means that you can’t let a missed connection or a rainy day in London ruin your entire vacation. Sometimes those moments that don’t go as planned end up being the most memorable time during your vacation. One of the stories that gets told quite often around our house is when we got lost in Venice. Just a hint, if you see cars, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and go back over the last bridge you crossed.

Contact me or one of the other travel professionals at Slaydon’s Travel when you are ready to start piecing together your vacation puzzle. We can make getting there as easy as being there!

 

Happy Halloween! It’s a season full of treats, my favorite is the pumpkin ice cream at our nearby pumpkin patch. But anyone with kids knows it’s also the season of tricks! It seems the level of surprise gets more elaborate each year. Travel, on the other hand, shouldn’t be full of surprises!

Have you ever been tricked into believing any of these common travel misconceptions? While there are certainly any number of myths that we could discuss, I’m going to stick to the top 3 travel myths this week. 

#1 – “Waiting until the last minute the vacation price will go down.”

Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many times a family, couple or individual traveler put off purchasing the vacation they want because they think the price will get lower as the trip gets closer, in the end the price sky rockets and they miss out on a great deal and stay home. Even if a cruise line or a resort offers a rare last minute deal, often the inflated air cost to get to the destination negates any savings and only escalates the stress level of the traveler. In most cases the further in advance that you book, the better the value.

#2 – “I will get a better exchange rate if I get Euros before leaving home.”

While it’s always nice to have a few Euros in your pocket before heading overseas it is not always your best value. You have to make sure that you are aware of the exchange rates as well as the fees and/or commissions that your bank is charging. It’s always a good rule of thumb to compare these charges to the ATM charges you would incur overseas. ATM’s are common place in international airports and you can often sidestep the commissions charged for currency exchange. We always recommend that you talk to your banker about where you are traveling and make sure that you can access your account through the ATM machines in those countries.

#3 – “Using a travel professional will cost more than if I book my own trip on the internet.” 

Quite often the opposite is true. Nothing compares to the value that a travel professional can add to your vacation. Trusting a professional can stretch your vacation budget and get added values and amenities that you didn’t even know existed. On the flip side, it can also prevent your investing your hard earned vacation budget on the wrong vacation. Any travel professional would hate to see a client invest their vacation time and budget into the wrong vacation just because the client thinks it’s a good deal.

I hope this has helped to clear up some very common misconceptions about travel and vacations. Now if you hear any of the above, you won’t be tricked! As always, if there are any questions or concerns that you have about your upcoming vacation, we at Slaydon’s Travel are here to help.

 

Staying organized at home can be difficult enough, but when you’re removed from your routine things can get off the rails pretty quickly.

Here are a few tips that may help you stay a bit more organized on your next vacation.

Packing cubes – whether your preferred packing style is to fold or to roll, either will work in a good set of packing cubes. You can use them a number of ways. Put entire outfits in them, keep your items separate by packing pants together, dresses together, etc. The best part is when you arrive at your destination and unpack (yep, that’s the next tip) you can simply pull the cubes out and the organization remains.

Unpack on arrival – You can’t utilize what you can’t see – empty your suitcase when you arrive so you’ll get a refresh of the items you brought and can more easily get up and out in the mornings. No more digging through a suitcase to find what you need.

Collapsible valet – these are fantastic and pack flat in your luggage. When you remove your watch, jewelry and empty your pockets at the end of the day put everything in the valet. No more worries about leaving something behind since it’s all in one spot. Disclaimer – the first time I used one of these was at at a conference, it was great for making sure I had everything together, the downside was that I left the room key in the valet at least three times and had to get a new key at the front desk because I didn’t grab the key on the way out. When purchasing a valet I would suggest a bright color if you can find one. Mine is black leather and the black room key seemed to disappear inside.

Keep your list with you – when you finish packing, don’t throw your packing list away, put it in your suitcase or carry on. When it’s time to pack up and move on, or return home you can check the list again to make sure you haven’t left any items behind.

Travel journal – keep a daily log of the things you do while on vacation. When you return home people are going to want to know what you did, where you ate and what you saw. Spending a few minutes each evening recapping your day will help you remember the name of that gelato shop, or the bakery that had the best croissants you’ve ever tasted. You may find that information will come in handy on your next trip as well.