5 Tips for a Perfect Holiday Vacation
Some people enjoy the planning and the anticipation of an upcoming vacation, others can’t commit to a set period of time far in the future. As a travel agent I frequently plan vacations more than a year in advance for my clients, for myself I can barely think past the weekend ahead. But when it comes to booking a holiday cruise (or any other vacation that occurs during a major school break), the old adage “failing to plan is planning to fail” may apply. That being said, here are my top 5 tips for a great holiday cruise.
Tip 1. Actually, the prelude about planning above is Tip 1. During the school holidays space is at a premium and if you wait until the last minute you may be looking at outrageous pricing. For multifamily or multi-generational groups the likelihood of obtaining cabins near each other dwindles with every passing day. Although passengers do plan a year or more in advance, September is prime booking season for holiday cruises. If there are to be “specials” this is when you’ll start to see them.
Tip 2. Stay Healthy. The flu or a cold is not only an unwelcome gift, it tends to keep on giving. A widely quoted study in the Journal of Environmental Health Research suggests you may be up to 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than you are in your normal day-to-day-life. So wash your hands every chance you get, take vitamins, try to eat healthy meals, and use lots and lots of hand sanitizer every chance you get. Oh, and get a flu shot.
Tip 3. Research your destinations. The plethora of information available on line these days is a godsend to travelers. Just Google “Traveler Reviews of _______” and you’ll get thousands of hits. Look at reviews of the destinations you’ll be visiting so you can plan on what you want to do there. But remember, opinions are like bellybuttons (everyone has one) so look at reviews with a grain of salt. Also see professional reviews on Fodors.com or Frommers.com, and take a look at the website of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Tip 4. Pack Smart. There are almost as many pages of packing advice online as there are of traveler reviews. Unless you’re one of those people who is always ready to go anywhere in the world on a half hours’ notice you might want to use a packing list. I did once go to Jamaica on less than 20 minutes’ notice, but that was before the days of the TIA, and my boss owned the airline. Still traveling with nothing but your briefcase and the clothes on your back isn’t recommended. My favorite item to bring on a cruise? A multi-socket plug (like you use when you have too many lights on your Christmas tree and not enough outlets nearby) – most cruise cabins only have one electrical outlet. A multi-socket plug allows you to use the hairdryer while still charging your camera batteries and heating up the curling iron.
Tip 5. Keep Calm & Sail On. Be flexible – glitches will happen, whether they be long lines, rude fellow passengers or delayed luggage. Don’t take it personally, and don’t take it out on the staff ... asking politely for help goes much further than demanding it. Allow twice the time you think you’ll need to get to airports, train stations and the like – too much time waiting at an airport gateway is better than missing your flight because of an unexpected traffic delay. Things take longer, and traffic is heavier during holiday travel; bring diversions (books, games, ipods, dvd’s, etc) and enjoy the wait – it’s a good time to decompress - instead of stressing out over getting there. If traveling with a chronic “last minute Annie” I’ll even lie to them, saying the flight departure or embarkation deadline is an hour earlier than it actually is. If you'll be flying to the port of embarkation, consider arriving a day early and spend the night at an inexpensive (but clean) hotel. It’s so nice not to worry about missing the boat! And lastly - get the insurance - don't make me tell you the stories of those who didn't, it pays for itself in peace of mind.
