Small Upgrades to Enhance Your Travel Experience
Many people like to stick to a budget when they travel, but there are several not-so-expensive upgrades you can make to have a huge impact on the quality of your trip.
1. Private airport transfers There is nothing more relieving than passing through customs after a long overnight flight to Europe and seeing a driver standing there with a sign bearing your last name…and a smile! Your driver can help you to a nice, clean sedan and be on the road to your accommodations with a cold bottle of water in the time it takes to wait in the taxi line and try to communicate where you need to go. Why not splurge a little and start your vacation off on the right foot? 2. Private sightseeing tours You know how you arrive at some sites and see a mile-long line of folks waiting to purchase tickets? Or a group of 30-40 “sheep” being herded around with a shepherd tour guide holding an umbrella up in the air? If that looks like your worst nightmare, consider upgrading to a private tour guide. The cost can be quite reasonable and the value you receive can be huge! You can move quicker, learn more and focus on the sites and information you are really interested in. 3. Premium Economy upgrades If you've traditionally travelled economy class, why not try upgrading to premium economy? The cost can be very reasonable and those few inches of extra room, and sometimes added amenities, can make the difference between a comfortable journey and a cramped nightmare. Business or first class (ahead of the curtain, as Rene and I typically say...) is certainly even better and can sometime be arranged through flight consolidators for a more reasonable price. If you're uneasy trying to do this yourself, connect with a Travel Professional (like me) who can usually help with this. 4. Airport Lounges Do you have a long layover along your travel route? Consider purchasing a day-pass for your airline’s Airport Club Lounge. It can be a very civilized way to spend a few hours and many include complimentary Wifi, snacks, beverages (sometimes alcoholic as well) and comfortable seats in a quieter location. Check to see if your Frequent flier program or Credit Card company offers you any discounts or perks for admission! (Of course, if you're travelling business or first class internationally you're almost always entitled to this at no extra charge.) 5. Travel Insurance Very simply put….Travel Insurance can be a lifesaver! Even if you swear that you are going on your vacation NO MATTER WHAT, you can’t predict weather, illness, injury, cancellations or any of those other nasty surprises that can come up when life happens. It should be budgeted into the cost of every vacation. 6. Upgrade that view Even if you don't plan on spending a lot of time in your hotel room or in your cabin on a cruise ship, it's worth it to at least look into an upgraded view. At least check to see how much the difference is to upgrade that view. It might end up being a small price to pay for waking up to that full-frontal sea view instead of the parking lot or, heaven forbid, an inside cabin on a cruise ship... 7. Pre- cruise extensions Cruises usually start boarding around noon-ish on embarkation day, and require that you be on board at least 2 hours before the ship departs. That actually leaves a very short window of time to arrive, get checked in and safely in your cabin. It's generally recommended to arrive at the port city the night before departure….just to eliminate stress from all of the “what ifs” of delayed or cancelled flights, major traffic jams on the interstate, etc. Most cruises leave from very interesting cities…why not arrive a day or two early and see what they have to offer? Being offered any or all of these small upgrades and recommendations to your vacation is a HUGE part of why using a travel professional is the way-to-go in travel planning. We know how much each one of these suggestions can enhance your experience….and isn’t that what you really want when you take that much-deserved vacation? A more custom experience with added value?
After all...YOU ARE TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!!