Category: Travel Tips

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1. Not using a travel consultant or agent 

   There is no excuse not to use a good agent. If you are spending money on a luxury or once of a lifetime trip, this can be a truly worthwhile investment. Not only will you get expertise, but often agents can get you better flight routings and prices than you can get on your own, can immediate remedy when things go wrong (like cancelled flights) and even get you some added extras like upgrades.

2. Insisting that you have to travel miles to find the most luxurious place 

   The experience is the priority, and you don’t always have to travel a million miles to find that. Looking for that ‘luxury beachfront’ feel without having to fly across ocean? Consider Miami Beach, in particular, The Eden Roc in South Beach, where you will find ultimate luxury in their ocean view suites, renowned 5* Japanese Nobu Restaurant, and their lavish on-site spa. Guests can kick back in a beachfront or poolside cabana, receive personalized services and be in the lap of sunshine and luxury within 20 minutes of Miami Airport. The Eden Roc Extras deal will get up to 25% and breakfast if you book by May 31st

4. Not using your points and miles smartly 

   You can literally save thousands of dollars per trip if you know what your doing or have some help. Sign up for a travel rewards tracking service like Award Wallet, which is available as an app and online. It tracks your miles and points from 700 different loyalty programs, and tells you when they expire, so that you use them and not lose them. If you’re not sure how to best use those points and miles, AwardWallet has experts on staff that can help you redeem your miles, so you maximize potential savings on your next trip.

5. Thinking that the earlier is the ‘better‘

   When it comes to a luxurious or exclusive trip, while it’s nice to have everything ironed out well ahead of time, if you are flexible, you can find a tone of last minute luxury travel deals. Flight wise, download handy apps like hopper which not only can track your ideal flights (and let you know when they go up and down in price – thus when to book them) but also allows you to explore different destinations and see where it makes sense to go economically and when.

Check for last-minute deals –  If you want to travel but you haven’t made plans yet, find last-minute sales on HotelTonight.com or the mobile apps Booking Now or Last Minute Travel Deals, and keep in mind that Hotels.com matches prices. If you don’t have a specific hotel chain in mind, try Hotwire.com or Kayak.com to save as much as 60% off regular hotel prices.

Track flights – Too late to fly away? Nope. Track flights using a flight tracking app like hopper which will notify you of when your ideal flights go up and down in price, and when the best time to book them is. It’s also a great tool for being able to explore different destination and seeing where if affordable for you to go this Labor Day weekend.

BUT be aware of the best dates to travel – When trying to pick which days to travel, generally your best bet is to leave on Sunday, September 3rd and return on Tuesday, September 5th. The most expensive day to travel? Leaving on Thursday, August 31st could cost you over $150 more on airfare.

Compare car rental prices – Use CarRentals.com to compare prices on car rentals, and then review deals available through warehouse store’s travel sites. “Warehouse stores aren’t just a great place to buy oversized bottles of ketchup and a month’s supply of tissue paper—you can also use that membership to save on travel bookings.

Go camping or take a road trip – Forgo hotels and enjoy the outdoors while the weather’s still good, and/or make the journey part of the experience! You can often pitch a tent at a well-equipped campground for $20 to $30 a night. CampgroundViews.com is a great resource. Roadtrippers.com is also super helpful when it comes to planning your ideal road trip.

 

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Traveling by airplane is arguably a higher risk than traveling by car –air travel is full of opportunities for coronavirus transmission. And yet despite the travel industry seeing a drop in demand amid coronavirus- air travel reached a new high over the past weekend, with more than 2 million people passing through airports between Thursday and Sunday (according to a report by the Transportation Security Administration.) So what does the future of air travel look like for us amid COVID-19 and can we actually fly safely?

1. What measures the travel industry is taking to prevent the spread of the virus at airports and on planes?
Right now – mask wearing is being enforced, and measures like cue markers and plexi glass shields are helping to minimize the spread within the airport. Once on the plane currently most airlines will have masks and sanitizer available – and electrostatic spraying will be done prior to every departure.  In future we may even start using facial recognition technology taking over manual ID checks. We’ve also heard that when the middle seat does return, it may be with dividers, or facing the other way

2. Will airports and airlines actually invest in these kinds of measures, and can they afford to operate with them in the long run?
Yes,there are brilliant airlines out there who have begun implementing some extremely innovative initiatives. Etihad Airways for example – which is an international carrier that is CURRENTLY flying from Abu Dhabi to 29 destinations worldwide – has started implementing what they call The Etihad Wellness Program- an online guide used to set standards of hygiene and health. Once certain travel restrictions are lifted, Etihad will also introduce Wellness Ambassadors on board, to answer any questions and provide that enhanced level of care focused on in-flight health and wellness. In the long run – airlines will have to figure out their budgets but I think measures like this are set to become the new norm of flying. 

3. What about technology and travel apps – how are they helping?
Predictability and preparation are now key travel factors. App in the Air, for example, which acts as a personal travel assistant that keeps you up-to-date with your flight, will be introducing In-App Health Filters so when you’re searching for future flights using the app, new filters will include whether a mask is needed, avoiding middle seats and free cancellations. The apps landing page will also provide weekly updates –  on the countries you’re departing and arriving from, including government restrictions and airline and airport rules. 

 4. What about airports – particularly internationally, what are we seeing? In India, passengers have to show they have a CONTACT TRACING APP installed on their phones in order to enter the terminal. At Deli International Airport, luggage has to go through a UV sanitizing tunnel and at London Heathrow Airport they are running trials of temperature scans that look for travelers with a fever. Airports around the world are taking everything to the next level, and I believe these changes may transform travel and we know it for some time. 

I’ve been traveling a lot recently, which has given me a lot of time to fine tune my carry on (and the essentials I need in it.) Some things aren’t so obvious until you’re stuck in a pickle without them. So here’s what I suggest to take in a smaller pouch in that travel size bag.

Lip balm & Travel size hand cream– it’s easy to dehydrate in the air, so be sure to drink water and apply some lip balm and hand cream to keep your skin fresh and hydrated.

Hand Sanitizer – travel size versions can be found at almost any drugstore; apply during your journey and keep bacteria and stray bugs at away.

Snacks – you never know if you’re going to get fed or experience a delay, and airport food can be pricey. Pickup some healthy snacks like a bag of nuts or crispyfruit snacks which will leave you satisfied, but not heavy during your journey.

EmergenCee packs – traveling can have a big affect on your immune system, so keep it up to scratch by dropping one of these fizzy packs into your water during the journey.

Neosporin – apply to the nostrils pre journey to keep viruses and germs floating around at bay.

Eye mask – shut out that plane window light, so can get some rest and arrive fresh at your destination.

Neck pillow  – essential for the journey (from start to end) as it can be used on the plane, in the car/train or anywhere else when you just need that little extra sleep, without arriving with a neck ache.

Travel blanket – air conditioning on planes can be brutal, so keep warm with a lightweight travel blanket (it can be purchased on-flight on most airlines such as JetBlue.) Take it home, wash it, and re-use it!

Portable charger – it’s common to use up all your battery listening to music or texting/calling prior to takeoff, however you’ll need that battery the other side to contact your ride to your final destination (or to figure out where your’e going.)

Kindle/Kindle Fire – download a good book and the time will fly by.

Headphones  – there’s nothing worse than not having these should you want to watch a movie or listen to music.

Travel size facial mist – you can create your own by putting some lavender oil/lemon in a mini mister (buy at Duane Reed) with water.