May has long been a month of celebrations in our family, full of birthdays and anniversaries. My parents are celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary this week! Of course, they are celebrating while on vacation again this year. You may post a message to them on our Facebook page, or reply to this email and I will make sure they get your message. In trying to come up with a gift idea I was taken back to this article from a few years ago regarding traditional anniversary gifts. There are certainly some traditional gifts on the guide that are just begging to be interpreted as a vacation! I’m sharing the most obvious with you this week.

Year 3 – The traditional gift is leather. When I think of leather I’m immediately transported to the leather markets of Florence. Can you picture yourself strolling through the magical streets of Florence hand in hand with your spouse?

Year 7 – The traditional gift is listed as “copper and wool” this is just screaming for a trip to Scotland! What could be more appropriate than tracing your family tartan and visiting some of the iconic whisky distilleries as you explore this popular destination?

Year 11 – The traditional gift is steel. I’m picturing a long weekend in Napa visiting world class wineries and tasting straight from their stainless steel tanks.

Year 15 – The traditional gift is crystal. A visit to the iconic Waterford factory in Southern Ireland would certainly fit the bill for this. While you’re there you can also spend time getting to know the Irish people who are known far and wide for their friendliness towards visitors.

Year 20 – The traditional gift is China, which started off this whole concept of using a destination as a gift. I think you’ve figured out by now that China would be a great destination to visit for your 20th Anniversary.

Year 25 – The traditional gift is silver. There are many countries that are known for their silver products. One of the most popular is Peru. Maybe this is a good opportunity to visit the iconic Machu Picchu while you’re taking in the sites.

Year 30 – The traditional gift is pearl. Tahiti is known for it’s stunning black pearls. Your 30th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to escape to the south pacific and indulge in an overwater bungalow.

Year 35 – The traditional gift is coral. It’s time to dive into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef! To quote the author Dave Barry, “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”

Year 40 – The traditional gift is ruby. Rubies have been traditionally mined in Thailand. Perhaps this wasn’t even a destination you had considered before, but from the breathtaking beaches to the ornate shrines of Bangkok there is a something for every traveler to enjoy.

Year 45 – The traditional gift is sapphire. Picture yourself and your spouse enjoying a romantic dinner for two on your private terrace as you gaze over the famous blue roofs on the island of Santorini in Greece. Between the roofs and the beautiful sea there are many different shades, I’m sure one qualifies as sapphire, but you’ll need to be the judge and let me know after your visit.

Year 50 – The traditional gift is gold. Enter the golden gates of the Palace of Versailles and you’ll find yourself surrounded by even gilded statues and over the top opulence. Versailles is an easy day trip from Paris. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate your 50 years together than a trip to Paris, a city so closely associated with romance.

Year 55 – The traditional gift is emerald. What better way to celebrate than a trip to Ireland! The Emerald Isle is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy the sites. Even if you did visit for your 15th Anniversary, think about the fun you’ll have swapping stories with the locals over a pint while you reminisce about the changes over the past 40 years.

Are there destinations you’ve visited while you celebrated an anniversary? Perhaps this has given you some ideas to celebrate your next anniversary, click here and we can get the planning started today!

I wrote last week about more travelers returning to the skies and some tips to take the stress out of clearing the security check points. That prompted several questions about packing. Seems that after two years of being grounded, many of us have lost our packing skills, had an old suitcase dry rot in the attic, or simply need a refresher.

“I need a new suitcase, what should I look for?”

Personally, I love a good hard sided roller bag. Most of the time I stick with the 21” but there are a few longer trips where I will jump up to the 24”. I can’t imagine a trip where I would need, or want to maneuver the 27” roller bag.

Here are the must have items for me with the hard sided bag:

#1 – 4 spinner wheels, so I can move the bag effortlessly, in any direction. Some bags have nice roller-blade style wheels that seem to hold up a little bit better than the smaller hard plastic wheels in my experience.

#2 – A handle on the side of the bag. This makes it much easier when you are lifting the bag into an overhead bin, or simply into the trunk of a car.

#3 – An inside divider, preferably one that zips completely to separate the two sides of the bag. It’s great to help keep bulkier items from falling out of when you open the suitcase.

“Jennifer, that sounds great, but we’re planning an adventure trip where we will have strict luggage guidelines – should we still pack a hard sided roller bag?” 

No, if you’re heading off to hike Machu Picchu or to the track Gorillas in Uganda a hard sided roller bag is not your best option. In that case, I would recommend a durable soft sided duffle or even a larger backpack where you will have the option to put the bag on your back rather than have it hang by your side. These soft sided bags will make packing your jeep or small plane much easier. I would also recommend the use of packing cubes especially with a soft sided bag.

“Wait, packing cubes? I thought I was supposed to roll or fold my clothes.” 

There is no right or wrong way to pack your bag. This all comes down to personal preference. I’ve tried each scenario and what works best for me is a combination of packing cubes for smaller items and rolling the larger items. What have you found that works best for you? Share your tips on the Slaydon’s Travel Facebook page.

“Back to the shoes, how many can I really take?”

Of course, it’s your baggage, I can’t stop you from over packing. I can simply offer suggestions. I try my best to stick to two pairs of shoes for a trip, one pair of casual shoes that I can wear with any outfit (Usually a pair of Converse sneakers) and a pair of dressier shoes that I can wear out to dinner or on occasions where the sneakers are’t appropriate. You certainly don’t need a different pair of shoes for each outfit. One tip that you may find useful is when you start considering what to pack, pick the shoes first, then match the outfits to the shoes. This will eliminate the need for black shoes, brown shoes and navy blue shoes, especially if you limit your color palate and rely on accessories for pops of color.

“Remind me again what cross packing is, please?”

Cross packing is a great tool when you are traveling with a spouse, significant other or even a roommate. Instead of putting all of your items in one suitcase and having your travel companion fill their suitcase with only their own items, I recommend that you fill each suitcase with half of your items and half of their items. (Please don’t put all of your tops in one bag and slacks in another) Should one bag become lost or delayed you will both have access to your items in the meantime. Of course there is always the chance that both bags are delayed or lost, but that get’s back to why I try to always limit myself to carry on bags as opposed to checked bags. Obviously there are situations where that is not practical, but should both bags become lost or delayed, that’s where your travel insurance will kick in to help you get the essentials and you get to support the local economy where you’re vacationing by picking up some new items.

As more travelers return to the skies, we’re seeing more reports of long lines at the airport. This week I wanted to share some information that I hope you will find helpful the next time you’re faced with a back up at the TSA check point.

It sounds like a no brainer, but it’s important to know exactly what is in your carry on as you prepare to clear the security check point with TSA. Don’t wait until it’s time to put your bag on the conveyor belt to start pulling items out that need additional screening. Prepare them in advance so they are easy to access.

If you are wearing a jacket take it off while you’re waiting in line and put it in your carry on.

Empty your pockets and take off any jewelry or a belt that would delay your screening process. If you have a special pocket in your carry on to put each of these items it’s nice to keep them all in one spot in your bag, rather than using the small screening bowl only to wonder if you collected everything afterwards. If you do not have a spot in your bag for these items, I recommend that you carry an empty ziplock bag that you can put these items in as one easy to grab item from the screening bowl.

Everyone loathes taking their shoes off for security, but unless you are 12 or under, 75 or over, or have TSA pre-check, you’ll need to remove your shoes for security screenings here in the States. Obtaining Global Entry will allow you to keep your shoes on as well as it includes TSA pre-check. If you are considering one of the two programs, Global Entry is what I would recommend.

Expect that all electronics larger than a cell phone will now need to be pulled from your bag and put in individual screening bins as laptops have been for several years.

Pull the quart sized zip lock back that contains your liquids, pastes and gels, each not exceeding 3oz and put the bag in the screening bin.

Any food or powders that you have packed in your carry on will also most likely need to be screened separately as well.

It’s not unusual for TSA personnel to require that books, magazines and large stacks of paper also be removed for screening.

You may be asking, what’s left in the carry on? There may not be much, and you’ve most likely got a train sized row of screening bins! That’s why it’s so important that you know exactly what you’ve got when you start the screening process so items aren’t left behind when you clear security.

Lastly, I also recommend that you tape a business card to any larger electronics such as laptops, tablets or other devices. Should you happen to leave one behind at security, agents can use the information on the card to have you paged or call you regarding the lost item.

What tips do you use to make the security process less stressful? For me, it’s Global Entry and it’s TSA pre-check benefits! By obtaining one of these two programs you can keep your shoes on, keep your liquids in your bag and avoid most of the stress of the TSA check points.

Tomorrow is Earth Day. This seemed like a good opportunity to revisit the Vacation For Good program that is central to all that we do at Slaydon’s Travel and helping our clients travel responsibly.

We are passionate about providing the opportunity for our clients to be able to take advantage, as they wish, of the many options available with regards to responsible travel.

While we realize that certainly not everyone will wish to take advantage of these offerings we feel strongly about making sure you are aware of the opportunities and the impact you can make.

What we want clients to realize is that they don’t have to sacrifice luxury to travel responsibly. The tips will not only leave the smallest footprint, but also the greatest impact as you travel. This World we live in is truly an amazing place if you take the time to not only see it, but to slow down enough to appreciate it. By adding just one of the Vacation for Good elements you will not only be traveling responsibly, but also ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy some of the same life-changing travel experiences for themselves.

#1 – Eat and Shop Locally – avoid the chain stores and restaurants. One of the best ways to dive into the culture of a new country and meet the people is to shop where they shop and eat where they eat. Local markets are a great way to meet and support the people who live in the communities, but also pick up some great local crafts and foods. Don’t forget to bring along your reusable shopping bags!

#2 – Use some of the space in your luggage to pack items to donate in your destination. Pack For A Purpose is one of my favorite organizations for this purpose. The founder of the organization uses a great analogy, especially for those of us raised in the South. She says that most of us wouldn’t dream of visiting someone without taking along a hostess gift. These 5 pounds of supplies are your hostess gift!

#3 – Take a walking tour when you visit a city for the first time. This will help reduce the number of buses and cars on the road, and it also gives you an opportunity to slow down and see the destination more closely. Bike sharing is another great way to see a new locale, and especially popular in many large European cities.

#4 – Choosing the right tour operator – There are many choices when it comes to planning the perfect itinerary. It is easy to get overwhelmed, that’s where the expertise of a travel professional comes in. Did you know that several companies already have programs in place that benefit the destinations you will visit? G Adventures and Tauck are two of the most well known.

#5 – Something as simple as avoiding travel during the peak season is a great way to vacation for good. You can get a great value and most often enjoy some fabulous weather by traveling during the shoulder or off-peak seasons. However, the benefits don’t stop there, you can reduce the impact on emissions, pollution and waste disposal, as well as extend the tourism related employment season. These factors make it a win-win situation for both the traveler, who doesn’t have to fight the high-season crowds and for the local who can make a more consistent living from the tourism market.

This is a story I share each year around this time. Tomorrow marks the 9th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. You may ask why I would share such a dark memory. My memories of that day are anything but dark, my memories of that day are centered around a community coming together. I think that’s a reminder we can use every year.

April 15th is now known as One Boston Day, where random acts of kindness are celebrated and encouraged.

Some of the acts suggested for this year from their website

~If you are healthy and feeling well, sign up with the Red Cross to donate blood.

~Give to your favorite charity

~Support the LGBTQ+ community by volunteering for or donating to a local organization uplifting equity work.

~Thank a Veteran for their service

~Support small businesses and local restaurants

~Come up with your own idea to spread kindness

Should you choose to participate use #OneBostonDay to share your acts of kindness on social media. I’d love it if you would use our #VacationForGood so I’ll see your acts of kindness as well.

Here is the article I wrote back in April of 2013, days after the event, as well as an update for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

I am not a runner, but I was in Boston on April 15, 2013. I, along with my family, made the trip to cheer on my brother, who is a phenomenal runner, in my very biased opinion, as he ran the Boston Marathon. The long weekend was full of fun, laughter and taking in all that Boston had to offer. We ate fabulous Italian food in the North End, sampled beer at the Sam Adams Brewery, visited the iconic Fenway Park, and watched street performers at Quincy Market.

Then, on the morning of April 15th, while my brother was preparing to run the marathon, we lined the streets of Boston to cheer on the runners. We stood shoulder to shoulder and clapped, whistled, and cheered for thousands of men and women we did not know, and one that we did. The enthusiasm was infectious. Together, the crowd worked to buoy the spirits of these runners, so full of endurance and determination. While not personally connected we all fed off each other. We cheered for the troops that walked the course in fatigues and boots, carrying full backpacks, we cheered for the wheelchair and hand bicycle participants. We cheered as the elite runners sped past, and we will cheer again.

The beautiful day, and hard work of over 27,000 runners and over 500,000 spectators, was soon interrupted when bombs were set off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Luckily, my brother is a fast runner, finishing the marathon in just under 3 hours. By 2:50pm, when the first bomb went off, our family was accounted for. We had taken an extremely crowded train to the equally as crowded family meeting area and were all within about 3 blocks of the bomb site. It was quite a while before we discovered the severity of the situation, however, it became immediately clear, by the number of emergency vehicles, sirens and helicopter hovering overhead that something larger than an industrial accident or car crash had occurred.

As word of the disaster filtered through the crowd we turned to our smart-phones for more information. We were unable to make calls, but the internet connection was still available, it wasn’t until a few hours later that we learned that cell phone service had been shut down, as a precautionary measure throughout Boston. It was through social media that we were able to quickly get a message out to friends and family that we were safe. We then set off on foot across town to the Omni Parker House hotel, where my brother was staying for the weekend. When we arrived at the Omni we were met in the lobby by the wonderful staff of the hotel. A hospitality room, stocked with tables, chairs, water, bagels and a large screen TV was set up for marathoners and their families. The Omni did a superb job of relaying the little bit of information they received. A few hours later we decided to set off again on foot in search of dinner. The streets were eerily quiet, except for the very strong police presence. By late evening we were able to take the train back to the hotel we were staying in just outside the city.

A long day had come to an end.

I’ve been asked many times in the few short days since about my thoughts on the safety of travel in light of the bombings. I learned a lot that cool spring day, much of it from the runners themselves who throughout their training and 26.2 grueling miles exhibited such determination and endurance. I know this doesn’t come as a shock to many of you that of course I will continue to travel. In fact, just this evening my family was discussing a return trip to Boston. I realize that the world we live in is increasingly becoming a hotbed for destruction and violence. However, I also deeply believe that we cannot let these acts of terror allow us to bury our heads in the sand, that is what “they” (whomever, they are) would like the most. I read recently that travel changes people, and people change the world. I know that the world needs change, it needs compassion instead of complacency, it needs much more than taking a vacation can provide. But, if in some small way I can expose my daughter to a world where people work together and cheer people along that they don’t even know, if I can show her our similarities and kindness there is hope, and that is why we will not only continue to travel, but return to Boston as well.

***Update – My family did return to Boston the following year for the Marathon. Brian even raised $2,650 for the victims from the 2013 bombing. Unfortunately 9 days before the race he was running a 5k charity run to raise money for foster children in Washington DC. He won that race and was playing with the kids at the finish. He stepped off a curb and fractured his ankle. He was in a cast for a few days but was able to find an orthopedic doctor that told him he wouldn’t do additional damage if he ran the marathon, but “it’s going to hurt like hell.” He did run on his broken ankle, he had to stop a few times and walk a good bit, but he finished. His time of 3 hours and 24 minutes was not quick enough for him to qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon. 

More travelers are returning to the air. Predictions abound that the mask mandate on planes and in airports will actually drop on the next review date of April 18, 2022. With that come more questions regarding how to make sure the seating area on the plane is clean. Of course there are no guarantees, but these steps on cleaning the space around your seat may help cut down on the germs.

How to sanitize your airline seat

Step #1 – Board as early as possible to give yourself ample time to sanitize the area without holding up other passengers

Step #2 – Make sure you have disinfecting wipes handy, and that you’ve read the directions. Some recommend that the surface dry on it’s own for maximum effect, this can take several minutes

Step #3 – Use the wipes on the surfaces around your seat including:

~ latch to the overhead bin if it’s not already open

~ tray table latch

~ both sides of the tray table

~ both arm rests, including all 4 sides and the button to recline

~ both seatbelt straps and latches

~ seat back entertainment screen and buttons (remote if offered)

~ overhead controls for air, light and call button

~ window pull – if you’re seated by the window

Step #4 – Do not use the seat back pocket for your items, keep them cleaner in your carry on bag.

Step #5 – Sit back, lather on the hand sanitizer, adjust your mask (if required, or desired), and enjoy your flight!

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Don’t get stuck at home this Summer because you didn’t check your passport! If you are planning to travel this Summer, now is the time to check that expiration date. If your passport expires in 2022 you need to renew it soon! Estimated turn around times are 8-12 weeks for standard processing and 5-7 weeks for expedited service.

Remember, your passport needs to be valid for the 6 months AFTER your trip. While adult passports are valid for 10 years, assuming they are in good condition and are not full of stamps; passports that are issued to children under 16 are only valid for 5 years, with the same stipulations. For families that had 2020 vacations postponed those expiration dates for the kids can sneak up quickly.

So, go check now! Don’t get caught in the backlog and miss out on the next vacation opportunity.

Travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels, however, there is a great deal of “sticker shock” when clients reach out to begin the planning process. We are consistently seeing pricing 40% higher than before the pandemic, in many cases 40% is on the low end. That said, this week I wanted to talk about price vs. value when it comes to investing your vacation budget.

“Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” ~ Warren Buffett

When looking at two trips, that on the surface look similar, it’s extremely important to dig a little deeper and really make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples.

For instance, while considering an Italian vacation that includes a few nights in Rome and a visit to the Vatican museum, two seemingly similar itineraries can actually be quite different.

Option #1 may have a lower price tag, but when you dig deeper into the itinerary you’re actually staying about an hour outside of Rome and during your two night stay you only get one full day in Rome. With the hotel location and travel time involved to get in and out of the city that doesn’t leave you much time. Oh, that trip to the Vatican museum? It’s optional, which means the cost isn’t included in the price, and it doesn’t offer “skip the line” privileges, so most of your day is lost standing in lines. Another apparent cost saver comes at the exclusion of lunch and dinner. You’re on your own for those, which does give you the option to explore on your own to perhaps discover your new favorite Italian bistro, but more often than not has you settling for the nearest or quickest option after you’ve looked at menu after menu and run out of time trying to decide on a restaurant.

Option #2 may have caught you a bit off guard with a higher price point than you expected. So let’s drill down a little bit to see why it appears so much more expensive. Oh look, the hotel is in the center of town, you’ll be able to walk to the major attractions! This tour also includes a trip to the Vatican museum, so you won’t have to stand in line to pay for a ticket. Wait a second! Does this say that you’ll be visiting the museum when it’s normally closed to the public? You will have a much more intimate experience without those crowds the museum is famous for. Did you notice that a full breakfast is included daily? Lunches and dinners, while not offered every day, are included several days during your visit. Gratuities are also included so you won’t find a tour guide or luggage attendant with their hand out every time you turn around.

Aside from price and value, the other considerations that a travel professional can assist with are the pace of the itineraries you are comparing. A vacation that spends several nights in a location before moving onto the next is going to offer a far more immersive and enriching experience than one that moves to a new city or even a new country each night.

A travel professional can match your travel style to the vacation that will not only maximize your travel budget, but exceed your expectations, all while taking overwhelm out of the equation. Let us know if we can help you get started when the time is right.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! A day when everyone you meet seems to be Irish! Will you celebrate with a pint of Guinness? Perhaps it’s time you learn to pour your own perfect pint?

What comes to mind when you think of Ireland? Is it the emerald green rolling hills? The iconic scenery of The Quiet Man or Game of Thrones?

Ireland is one of my favorite European destinations. When I think back on my time spent on the Emerald Isle I’m drawn to my visits to the local pubs and the towns so small that they were barely dots on the map.

It was in these tiny towns that we were able to really interact with the locals. Where my sister-in-law was approached by an elderly Irish man who gleefully asked her “Are ye gettin’ enough Craic*, lassie?”

It’s where we met Mary, the B&B owner who also ran the local pub.

It’s where we played Snooker with the locals. There wasn’t a charge to play, only to power the light above the table.

Sure, the larger towns like Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Galway are iconic and in some respects not to be missed, but it’s the small towns where you become a traveler instead of a tourist. The same is true across the globe. 

Maybe you feel like you’ll blend in easier in a big city, or that you will find it easier to get someone to speak your language, but will you really get to experience the culture? Ultimately, isn’t that why we travel?

Do you want to really experience the next destination you visit, rather than simply checking the boxes of sites that were recommended by friends and websites?

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When is the last time you really unplugged from your device? Can you make it through the day without your phone? Most of us can’t, myself included. I’ll admit that if I happen to leave my phone at home or at the office accidentally, I’ll go back and get it pretty quickly.

As a society we’ve come to rely on having that technology at our finger tips. The statistics I get each week on this email indicate that around 50% of you read this on your phone rather than a computer or tablet.

Can you really enjoy a relaxing vacation if you’re always looking at the screen on your phone rather than the stunning surroundings you are visiting? Or, is it because you are plugged into the office that you feel like you can get away for a week or more and not be buried under a pile of work when you return? The struggle is real, I get it, but when we talk to our kids we find out that their favorite parts of vacation aren’t necessarily the experiences or the sights. When asked, most kids will tell you their favorite part of a family vacation is the time they spend away from routines at home, the time they spend with you, no housework, no yard work, no phones, no email, just the family making memories together.

This week I wanted to share with you a few ways that you can ease into unplugging during your next vacation.

Sure, selfies are a great way to get the whole family in the picture, but some vacations deserve more than selfies. That’s why we have teamed up with the folks at Flytographer who have photographers all over the world. We handle all the details for you and all you have to do is show up and the photographers from Flytographer will capture your vacation memories and send you the link to digitally download the high res images from your photo shoot. The results are stunning.

Instead of turning to social media for restaurant suggestions why not ask a local where they eat. Better yet, we’ve also teamed up with suppliers who will match you with a likeminded local family with whom you can share an evening of conversation over dinner in their home. It’s a really fantastic way to immerse yourself in a destination and get a greater understanding of the differences and similarities of every day life.

Most of us would draw the line at actually leaving the phone at home during a vacation, but a day out on the water is a great excuse to at least leave it safely at the resort. Don’t get so caught up in nonstop social media posts that you miss the whale breaching beside your boat, or don’t quite catch the green flash as the sun sinks into the sea after a beautiful sail. Take time to really experience your destination as well as the time you are spending with the ones you love the most. The memories you make together on vacation will last long after you return to the office, and perhaps will provide you with the much needed mental fuel to make it to the next vacation.