To maximize credit card points, I charge everything I can. That being said, I also ALWAYS have cash in my wallet. What if I need to tip a valet or someone at a hotel or buy something in a place where the credit cards are not accepted, or the system isn’t working, or I don’t…
Cruising Content on NerdWallet
I have a new client I am really excited about. I’m writing for NerdWallet in the travel area. I’m super excited to combine my love and knowledge of travel and my professional life as a freelance writer and reporter. Here are my first few stories, Best Cruises for Families, a review of my cruise last…
Reminder: Get Record Locators From Each Airline
Did you know if you’re traveling on two airlines on a single itinerary, each airline has its own record locator? I learned this the hard way once when I was traveling on Air France, a SkyTeam partner and connecting to a Delta flight. I had a problem with my Air France flight and couldn’t log…
Airplane Catering
I didn’t write this story, but as a somewhat loyal Delta flyer, I thought it was really interesting. What’s the deal with airplane food? I went to Atlanta to find out
Too Much to Carry? Handling Carry-on Weight Limits
The tiny airport with two gates in Cappadocia, Turkiye where the nice airline agent let me check in with an overweight carry-on. This isn’t going to be another post about the greatness of traveling carry-on only. For the record, I almost always check a bag and I think those of you who preach the greatness…
Wow! It has been 20 years!
On May 22, 2003, I walked out of a TV newsroom for the last time. I didn’t know what was coming next. I didn’t have another job. All I knew is I had to get out of the environment I was in. At some point, a job and career I had loved had become something…
Getting the Best Price for Airline Tickets
Deciding when to buy a plane ticket can be a frustrating thing. The prices go up and down, sometimes several times a day. I’ve even had times where I have been looking for a flight on an airline’s web site and from the time I selected flights to when I go to pay, the price…
What I Pack in My Carry-on
On a recent trip, four people in our group arrived in Italy without their luggage. Been there. Done that. It isn’t fun. I was surprised when each of the four people said they didn’t have anything packed in their carry-on bags in case something happened. My mom still calls her carry-on bag her just-in-case bag,…
In the Freezer Before You Leave
Here’s something easy to do before you leave your house for any extended vacation or even just a quick few days away. While I was gone on a recent vacation, a friend came to check on my house. Part of her routine is to check my refrigerator and freezer to make sure everything is good….
Travel Reward vs Travel Risk in the COVID Age
Miri the stuffed koala was very happy with a negative COVID test result in the Netherlands. In my opinion, we have entered the reward versus risk phase of COVID travel. Basically, is the reward of whatever trip you’re planning to take worth the risk of COVID to you? This post stems from my reaction to…
Hello Delta Customer Care? Anyone? Anyone?
This is the rule as stated on the agent’s computer. More than two months ago, I helped my parents file a complaint with Delta Airlines. The issues warrant not only a response, but compensation. Crickets. Nobody is answering the customer care line. The recorded message there refers you to the web site, which is the…
It’s a Very Tiny World
There are 7.9 billion people in the world and 11.56 million of them live in Belgium. I’ve had an experience this week that reminds me how small the world really is. I have had a soft spot for Belgium since 1985 when my family and I participated in an exchange with Friendship Force International, a…
Blinded By the Light
I want to know whose idea it was initially to add motion detection lights to hotel rooms. In theory, they seem like a good idea to only turn on when people are in the room, therefore saving money on energy costs and providing safe passage to the bathroom in the middle of the dark night….
Their Websites Say They Serve Breakfast. The Hotel Says No.
A happy breakfast? I don’t think so. When researching where to stay while I travel, I rely a lot on the internet for information about hotels. I start with a hotel’s official website and then look at reviews. Recently, I have learned not to believe much of what I see anymore on a hotel’s official…
It’s Tulip Time! (I Hope)
It’s finally happening. I am going to get on a big airplane and fly over an ocean to another continent. I hope. I have made final payment for my first overseas trip in the COVID era. Tulip bulbs are the money maker, not the flowers. In late April into early May, I’m going to see…
To Cruise or Not to Cruise. That was the Question.
I should be getting ready to go on a cruise in a couple weeks. But I’m not. We canceled it. It was the right decision for my travel buddy and me. Back in November, it appeared all systems were go for a cruise in late February, so it seemed like a good idea to make…
How I Find Private Tours
Private tours are my favorite way to maximize what I can see and do in a location and minimize the effort I need to put in to plan my adventures. I love booking private tours for many reasons. Because our guide was driving, I did not have to navigate this very narrow tunnel on Needles…
Why I Like Booking Private Tours
When I travel, I love to hire private guides to take me around. To me, private is always better than a large group tour experience and much simpler than trying to do everything myself. Here are some reasons why: You can change and customize the itinerary. Time is yours. When you’re finished somewhere, you can…
476 Days
It had been 476 day since I had: Been in an airport. Gone through TSA security. Eaten a snack in a Delta SkyClub. Boarded a plane. So I wasn’t too surprised when I got teary-eyed when I scanned my boarding pass and made my way down the jetway to get on the flying tube that…
The Revival of the Packing List
The three bags of clothes that will soon have a new home because they just don’t fit quite right. I’m rusty. Packing used to be so easy since I did it so often. I knew exactly what I needed and had the non-clothing items in a separate closet ready to grab-n-go. That’s not the case…
A Weekend of Firsts
Welcoming me to normalcy. I can’t tell you how many times this past weekend my friend and I said to each other, “this feels almost normal.” That’s because we took a staycation and spent a few days doing touristy activities, eating out, and staying in a hotel. We looked at cool things, wandered in and…
I’m Ready to Plan
It has finally happened. I think I am ready to plan travel. Like many people, I haven’t been on a plane since March 2020, which is the longest it has been between flights in my life. Now for the first time in more than a year, I have plans. Granted, they are 100% refundable plans,…
Travel Insurance & COVID-19
Hello fellow travel lovers. Hope everyone is staying healthy and doing their best to maintain their sanity. I haven’t posted much recently because I haven’t had too much to say. Like everyone else who lives and loves to travel, staying home has been tough. Back when all this craziness began, I was sure I would…
Credit Card Fees- Worth It?
I am all about the points. I have several credit cards that I use for different purposes to earn points. Most are geared towards travel, but since we’re all staying put for a while, those benefits aren’t doing me much good now. Some of the cards I have added temporary benefits to help offset the…
What’s Next?
Dreaming of the enchanting waters of Bora Bora, or anywhere outside of my house. This is the first time in years I do not have any concrete travel plans on my calendar. My family and I just canceled some plans for later this year because we didn’t want the stress of wondering whether or not…
Travel Dreams
Since I follow so many other travel bloggers and travel sites, my social media feeds (especially Instagram) are filled with beautiful photos of what it was like in Before Times, when we could freely go out and see the world. Now that I’m closed up and stuck in Florida for a bit, I’m trying to…
Travel Bookings in Uncertain Times
I’m definitely one of those people who likes to understand things and stay in control. Thanks to COVID-19, neither is happening right now. As we all know, things are moving rapidly. Every hour I hear of new things happening and changing. Many travel companies have already canceled trips scheduled through April. Even though it was…
Appreciating Diversity
There’s often a point while traveling when something monumental hits you. For me, a moment like that came in Japan. I was walking around alone in Tokyo. I have to admit, it was a bit overwhelming. I couldn’t read most of the signs, I didn’t hear any English, and people were moving really quickly. Near…
A Travel Must- Travel Insurance
I recently received this question from a reader, and thought it warranted a post. “I am wondering what thoughts/experiences you might have on travel insurance. This would be for me and my 3 daughters to travel to Hawaii for about a week in August. I am considering travel insurance because there are times that things…
My Travel Must-Haves
There are some items I always keep packed and ready to go. That way, I only need to concentrate on the clothes I need. There is a small bag of electronic accessories which includes: A phone charger A USB charging cord for headphones, battery packs, etc. A small power strip which is dual voltage Another…
Saying A Sad Goodbye… to a Suitcase
I’m preparing myself for a difficult goodbye. It is about time to retire a suitcase that has taken me all around the world. Sometimes the handle goes up, sometimes it does not. The housing that attaches the handle to the suitcase has come loose and is now connected thanks to a few pieces of duct…
Royal Caribbean Changes Policy… Again
It seems Royal Caribbean realized maybe they went a bit too far by saying anyone holding a passport from China, Hong Kong, or Macau could not board any of their ships, no matter where they live. I just got this email about my upcoming Caribbean cruise. ~~~ ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS Dear Guest, It’s important…
Royal Caribbean & Coronavirus
UPDATE 2-8: This email was concerning a Caribbean cruise leaving from Tampa, not a cruise in China or anywhere near Asia. I don’t know how RC and other cruise lines can keep anyone with a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport from boarding a ship without taking into consideration where they live. A US Green…
What’s Next?
A friend sent me this today and it perfectly describes me. I get antsy when I have nothing booked or planned. Right now, my next big trip across an ocean is booked. Barring another increase in tensions in the Middle East, I’m heading for Turkey in a few months. Istanbul has been on my…
Convincing Others
I was watching TV the other day, I saw something about Petra, and decided I wanted to go there. So, me being me, I immediately Googled cruises that went to Petra. I found one that looked amazing to me. It was 16 days, so by the time you factor in travel time, it’s close to…
Thinking About Canceling?
People know I always have my next big trip scheduled. That’s the case now, but my next big trip may or may not happen. I’m scheduled to go on a trip to Turkey in May, but I know politics and instability in the area might keep me from going. I’m not alone in facing uncertainty…
Not Everyone Will Get Along
“How do you know you’ll like the people?” I hear this a lot when I tell people I’m traveling alone but joining an organized group. The short answer is, I don’t, and chances are there will be at least one person who gets on my nerves. On the flipside, I’m sure I will annoy at…
My Favorite Phone Apps For Travel
I never thought I would be the kind of person who would use her phone as a camera, but I am. The camera app on my Samsung S8 phone is better than my old camera. My phone is always with me when I travel and in addition to the camera, there are many apps I…
Merry Christmas!
The Europeans know how to decorate their cities for the holiday season. Decorated Christmas trees really make the already beautiful city squares of Lisbon look even better. The lights make everything look really festive. The LED lights on the commercial street in Lisbon changed colors. Enjoy! Merry Christmas everyone! Hundreds of gold and silver lighted…
Major Trip Deviation- What to Do?
One of sayings I always heard with one of the the first groups I traveled with was “roll with the punches.” Another always said “don’t sweat the small stuff.” What happens when lots of little stuff turns into really big stuff? Here’s my current situation. I’m on a river cruise in Europe, weather and water…
Do You Speak English?
There are at least 6,500 spoken languages in the world. Luckily for most of us in the USA, English is the language with the most speakers and we often take that for granted. My non-traveling friends always seem to ask me the same question, how do I get by in a foreign country without speaking…
Fight For Your Rights When Traveling Solo
Sitting around the lunch table in Croatia, a few of us started talking about what it is like to travel solo. The ladies I was talking with graduated from college a decade before I was even born. They are all widows and are now traveling the world as a single traveler within a group. Their…
Pre-Departure Tasks
There are certain almost ritualistic tasks I go through before heading out on a trip. They may seem routine, but they get me excited because it means I’m about to go somewhere cool. Vitamin Preparation I take several vitamins and supplements each day and before I leave, I prepare them. Instead of taking many bottles,…
The Sport of Shopping
I’m an expert shopper on vacation. We can have five minutes somewhere and I’ll find something cool. It comes from years of practice and honing of my skills. As I look around my house, most of my knickknacks came from some foreign country. I remember buying all of them, and the experiences are part of…
To Pre-pay or Not to Pre-pay
I struggle with this. Do I save some money by pre-paying for things like hotel rooms or do I suck it up and pay a bit extra for the flexibility if my plans change? On one hand, saving money allows me to do more. On the other, I am locked in should the rate go…
To Club or Not To Club?
I’m in a quandary and it involves airline perks. On an upcoming trip, I’m traveling with two other people. I have Delta Medallion status and they do not. I have access to the Sky Club and they do not. Lounges like this huge one in Amsterdam are great places to eat, drink, and relax. I…
Welcome. Now Figure Out How You’re Getting To The Hotel
Airport transportation is one thing many trips have in common. No matter where you are going, you need to get to and from the airport. Many people ask me for my advice about airport transportation. One thing I do not like to do is to ask someone to take me to the airport or pick…
Traveling With Parents
Our relationship with our parents is cyclical. We begin our lives loving to spend as much time as possible with them. Then we assert our independence and drift away a bit. As we get older, we seem to find our way back and enjoy spending time together again. I’m at a point where I am…
How I Spend Sea Days
Ahhhh. Sea days. For me, they’re forced relaxation and days filled with nothing on an otherwise packed cruise itinerary. For others, they are days of boredom or packed with ship’s activities. During sea days, I spend lots of quality time with my coloring book. On port-intensive cruise itineraries like Europe, South America, Asia, Oceania (basically…
Choosing a Cruise Cabin
I write this post while sitting on the balcony of the best cabin on a cruise ship I have ever had. This balcony had enough space to work and relax while enjoying the view. I’m in an aft-facing balcony cabin on the deck just above the back patio of the buffet and right under the…