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Let's get down to planning! Congratulations for selecting a few destination options for your next great adventure! When it comes to planning your trip remember their really isn't a WRONG way to do it. But if you'd like some insight as to how I do my personal travel planning, then here is a short tutorial. This is a lot of info and honestly, we're just scratching the surface. So come back to this page often. It can be found by directly at http://www.erikthetravelguy.com/plan.html Let's do this! General Here are some helpful articles and videos of mine to get the logistical juices flowing! Erik's Top 8 Reasons to Take A Cruise Erik's Top 10 Tips to be a Happy Traveler Global Entry Basics Travelocity, A Quick Read
Airfare If airfare is a consideration, then keep reading. If not, then skip this paragraph. There are essentially three ways to book airfare. First, is from the airline directly. Second is from an OTA (online travel agency) or finally from your travel agent or professional. If I'm booking a trip myself, then I'll check with an aggregate site such as Kayak to see pricing for flights. I try to book directly with the airline if at all possible. Again, here is some light reading and watching on the subject of air travel. Air Travel With the Kids Low Cost Airlines Hug A Commercial Airline Pilot
Hotels, All Inclusives, Air B&B's OH MY! Usually, I have a pretty good idea of the type of accommodation I'm seeking on any given vacation based on circumstances. But remember, you've got options and a lot of them! An all inclusive might be an excellent choice, a standard pay-as-you-go hotel or motel, a vacation rental, campground, or an Air B&B are your general accommodation options. If I have not selected to purchase a package (or bundle) from an OTA, then I try to book direct with the hotel brand whenever possible. Here are a few articles on the subject of accommodations: Air B&B - A Cautionary Tale Cruises Vs. All Inclusive Resorts Top 10 to Be A Happy Traveler
To Drive Or Be Driven Renting a car in the US is pretty standard. But, remember, cars generally rent by the day on a 24-hour cycle. A car can be booked as part of a package through an OTA, by a travel agent or direct with the car rental agency. Most car rental companies are present at airports, in neighborhoods, or in some cases, they'll pick you up. Here is a helpful article on the subject. Erik's Top 10 Car Rental Tips
So these are obviously just the basics. You experienced folks may have additional tips and tricks, so please leave them in the comments below. Of course now it's time to plan the itinerary and that is the subject for another post. Hopefully, this information will help you plan a successful, rewarding and memorable vacation! Happy Travels! Erik Erik the Travel Guy is a respected travel industry expert and host of the nationally syndicated PBS travel television series Beyond Your Backyard. He spends, on average, 25 weeks traveling around the world, hosting his show(s), making short-form travel videos and speaking at events and conferences. He lives in New York City and most enjoys spending time with his two daughters. Read Erik's Bio here.
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With the recent and sudden demise of "Wow Air", I thought I drop a quick note about flying with low cost airlines. Low cost carriers can be found all over the globe. Are they cheap airlines? Yes and no. Recently, the industry has gotten even more specific with the moniker of "ultra low cost" carriers. But for purposes of this article, I am focusing on American low cost carriers. So please read on if you are considering booking a ticket on any low cost carrier worldwide. Like every other purchase, there are pros and cons to flying with any airline and flying with one of these carriers is no different. Defining a low cost carrier is not exactly easy. But for now, I'll use the Wikipedia definition. "A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline (occasionally referred to as no-frills, budget or discount carrier, and abbreviated as LCC) is an airline that is operated with an especially high emphasis on minimizing operating costs and without some of the traditional services and amenities provided in the fare, resulting in lower fares and fewer comforts. To make up for revenue lost in decreased ticket prices, the airline may charge extra fees – such as for carry-on baggage. As of July 2014, the world's largest low-cost carrier is Southwest Airlines, which operates in the United States and some surrounding areas". Okay, let's start with a general consensus of low cost airlines operating in and around the US. Low cost airlines list:
I have flown on every single one of these carriers. Offering a critique might be as useful as an expensive orange peeler. I say this because every single one of these airlines I've flown has taken off and landed in the place I was going. Simple as that. Low cost carriers are capitalizing on consumers desires to go from point A to point B with no frills. But low cost carriers are competing for your business, not just with the legacy carriers (AA, United, Delta), they're also competing with other low cost carriers. Therefore, each low cost carrier is just a little different and the devil is in the details. Some charge for snacks and drinks others do not. Some have different seating configurations, boarding priority schemes while others do not. The key here is to think about what's important to you. All of these low-cost carriers have mobile apps and direct booking sites. Some have better customer service than others. But it’s important to note; if you select one of these carriers, then you are accepting the risk of flying with them. Not usually a safety risk. Low-cost carriers don't crash or have more mechanical problems than others just because they are low cost. The same, basic functionality of a low cost carrier is the same as the big carriers. They are governed by the same government agencies as well. The risk I'm talking about has everything to do with the number of aircraft the low cost carrier owns and the number of flights they offer per day in their departure and arrival cities or towns. I fly on low cost airlines about 30% of the time because 70% of my travel these days is work-related. Often time, low cost carriers have limited schedules. Not always, but when I travel for work, I need a lot of options. So this is my cautionary warning, when flying on a low cost carrier, lower your expectations. I don't mean to sound persnickety or elitist, I'm simply reminding you, the business model is different on a low cost carrier. Once again, read the fine print and know what the cost of your ticket includes (and what it doesn't). On a related note, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the low cost carriers that fly (seasonally and/or year round) to and from your home airport. Deals can be found if you have some advanced warning and regardless of your airline of choice, respect your travel days and treat as such! Happy Flying! Erik PS. For quick tips on airport car parking and airport arrival time and check out these videos:
 Do you need a short refresher course on who and what Travelocity Is? This is the blog post for you. Before you get travelling, you’re going to make some arrangements and Travelocity is one of the resources available to you. Travelocity is an online travel agency. Which means they sell travel products and services online as opposed to a brick and mortar storefront (like a traditional travel agency). Essentially, they (Travelocity) buys travel products and services in bulk and sometimes at a discount (think hotel rooms, cruise tickets, car rentals, attraction tickets and tours) and sells them to consumers. Travelocity is owned by Expedia Inc. Travelocity’s competitors include direct booking sites, travel agents and Booking Holdings (including Booking.com and Priceline). So why buy from them and not directly from the airline or hotel company? It has to do with the “published rates” each of the suppliers can advertise. Personally, I like booking directly with the supplier, but Traveocity has built a big business packaging vacations so consumers save money! They also are competing for your loyalty with promotions, price alerts and interactive apps making it super easy to book when your ready. Great travel deals for deals for hotels can be found on Travelocity but remember to read the fine print before you book. Also, look for customer service options including emergency contacts and 24-hour live customer support should things go a little sideways on your travels. The bottom line is to shop around when searching for inspiration or pricing for a particular vacation. I usually start with Kayak (an aggregator), breeze through the OTAs such as Expedia, Priceline, Travelocity and Orbitz and then compare buying directly with the hotel, airline or resort. Hope this helps! And, happy booking, people! Have you booked with Expedia or Travelocity? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Erik PS. Here’s a little explainer video about the definition of an OTA. and helpful tip about what you bring with you on your vacation.
Erik The Travel Guy is a respected travel industry expert and host of the nationally syndicated PBS travel television series Beyond Your Backyard. He spends, on average, 25 weeks traveling around the world, hosting his show(s), making short-form travel videos and speaking at events and conferences. He lives in New York City and most enjoys spending time with his two daughters. In my opinion, the best way to get "travel inspired" or get to traveling is by watching really decent travel videos. Of course, that's what we make but we're not the only ones who make them! But since you're here, these are some recent videos we've produced to help you get your creative juices flowing. Think of this as your personal Travel Channel of inspiration! We update this post from time-to-time and if you find a video you like, leave it in the comments below. Places
Tips
Cruise Ships
More Travel Video Fun
Erik the Travel Guy is a respected travel industry expert and host of the nationally syndicated PBS travel television series Beyond Your Backyard. He spends, on average, 25 weeks traveling around the world, hosting his show(s), making short-form travel videos and speaking at events and conferences. He lives in New York City and most enjoys spending time with his two daughters. Read Erik's Bio here.  This is your invitation to be inspired. This is your invitation to participate in the world you want to live in, and DO the things that make your world better for YOU.
This week, Erik helps in your inspiration, via a "radio experiment" designed to put you in the proper mindset for travel. Erik also talks with Chelsea Ketron from the tourism bureau of Bristol, Tennessee about all the cool stuff happening there, and gives a ton of tips on cruising, passports, and more. Listen below and/or subscribe to us on iTunes, so you never miss an episode! |
AuthorI am on a mission to get you traveling more often. As the host of the nationally syndicated television television for PBS and the Create channel, "Beyond Your Backyard," I travel (on average) 25 weeks per year. I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet cool people, experience new places, eat delicious food and work with the best production crew in the world. Hopefully, through this blog, you will join me on my travels and be reminded just how exciting it is to be alive! Archives
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