Traveling Moms

It was recently posted on GutsyTraveler.com that women will spend $125 billion on travel next year and that 80% off all travel decisions are made by women. A big portion of those women travelers are mothers. In fact, 40% of business travelers are women and this is increasing every day. We want to celebrate mom with some great travel blogs and articles you can visit that will give you great tips on being a traveling mom.

Here is a list of some of our recommended Traveling Mom Blogs:

* TheTravelMommy.com
* MomsGuidetoTravel.com
* TravelingMom.com
* Travelingmamas.com
* LuxuryTravelmom.com

Also check out this great Pinterest site on Traveling moms and their tips. Create a Pinterest board of your favorite traveling photos.

Here are a few great articles we found on tips on being a traveling mom:

1) Have job will Travel: How Working Moms Can Make Business Travel More Family-Friendly by Jamee Tenzer
2) The Traveling Executive Mom – 7 Great Ideas to Maintain the Bond!
3) Help a Reader: How to be a mom and a Road Warriorette?
4) Tips for Traveling Mom to Be

 

Want to give your Mom a $100 gift card to Colorado Bag’n Baggage? Enter our Facebook Mother’s Day Photo contest. Go to our Facebook page and click on the Mother’s Day Photo contest tab. Post a pic of your Mom on the go and than have your friends and family vote for the pic. The picture with the most votes wins the $100 gift card! Look forward to seeing your photos.

 

 

Travel Your Passions

Excursionist.com reasons on why to book with them.

Looking for a travel site that caters your trip based on your passions? Check out the Excursionist. We recently came across the site after reading a blog post by Pure Wow which talked about this new site and its great features.

The site allows you to search for your next trip based on your passions or destinations or both. From getting to spend a day with an archaeologist digging up dinosaur fossils, cooking with local chefs, or tracking animals on a safari with animal scientists, Excursionist finds unique experiences for your trip that you cannot find anywhere else online.

The new site has been mentioned in magazines such as Air Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, In Style and Luxury Travel as the next hot travel site. The great thing about the Excursionist is you can either add the special excursions onto your already existing trip or work with the Excursionist to create a whole itinerary including hotel accommodations. Can’t find what you were looking for, contact the Excursionist and they can help customize an experience for you.

Visit Pure Wow to find out how Pure Wow readers can receive a $100 credit to use towards the Excursionist.com’s services.

What adventure would you like to find for your next trip? Do you wish more sites were like this where they customize trips based on your passions?

Should Cell Phones Be Banned on Planes?

We all hear the same announcement when we are on a domestic flight to please turn off our cell phones before flight, but is this really necessary? As we become a more mobile world, more travelers are wanting to be able to use their phones. In fact, many international airlines have lifted the ban on cell phone use and have seen no adverse issues with it. Technology has been developed where cell phone usage does not interfere with the communications of the airplane with the tower or with the running of the avionics equipment.

The ban by the FCC has been in place for the last twenty years in America. The thought behind the ban is that cell phone transmissions could adversely affect the navigational instruments in the cockpit as well as interfere with wireless networks on the ground. There has been no real evidence that this has occurred. Some argue that the FCC and the FAA do not want to invest the money to do the testing and are leaving it up to the airlines to do so. The thought is to be on the cautionary side if something should occur.

OnAir is a company that specializes in mobile inflight service and is one of the main global providers. They have been working with airlines such as British Airways and Emirates. They only see it is time that all airlines will offer the ability to use your phone on flight. They hear from their clients that more of them prefer to use a cellular phone during light than Wi-fi.

The other issue that comes up with cell phone use is the noise nuisance on the plane. Many passengers want to enjoy a quiet and calm flight and do not want to add cell phone calls to the mix. OnAir found that most passenger conversations are not more than 3 minutes in length.

Many predict that all airlines in the future will allow you to use your cellphone. The question may be on if the airlines will work with cell phone carriers to collect fees to use this service. What are your thoughts? Should the ban be lifted? Do you think cell phones on planes are more of a hindrance than convenience on planes?

Money Saving Travel Tips

With gas prices going up everyday, many of us are looking for ways to save money. Another “staycation” may not be what you want to do, but there are ways to save on your trips. It may take a bit of research but its worth the  money savings in the long run.

At a the recent LA Times Travel show, three travel writers gave their tips on how to save money. Here are their tips.

Here are a few more tips we found to save money on your next vacation.

Airfares
a) Be flexible on dates and locations: The day you travel can affect the price of your airfare. Also, if you are not looking for a specific location but maybe just a beach locale, search a variety of destinations to find the best deal. Also, if you don’t mind the time it may take, connecting flights vs direct flights can save you money.

b) Travel during “shoulder seasons”: This is the time between peak and off-peak season. You can often find a better deal during these times.
c) Buy package deals: A hotel/airfare combo deal is usually better in the long run.
d) Useful websites and codes: Check out the following websites for help with airfares and special discount codes: Travelocity, Airfarewatchdog, Kayak.com/explore, Yapta.com, Itasoftware.com, and bing.com/travel.
e) Smartphone Apps: many travel sites offer special offers through their mobile apps that you cannot get via their website.
f) Know your Hub: Try to book with the airline that has the closest hub to your home. It will offer the most flights and usually the best deals from your city.
g) Fees: Know the fees that an airline charges.

Hotels
a) Family travel: research family-friendly hotels that over perks and discounts for kids
b) City next door: Often the city next door to where you are going may have cheaper hotels. Investigate on if the drive is worth the savings.
c) Vacation homes: planning a longer trip than a few days? A vacation home most likely will be a better deal than a hotel.
d) Home Exchanges: save on hotel costs completely by exchanging homes with someone. Check out Homeexchange.com.
e) Opt for suites: Typically a two bedroom suite will be less expensive than two individual rooms. Check to see which is the better deal.
f) Useful websites: BiddingTraveler.com (helps you execute the optimal bidding strategy on Priceline), Hotels.com (find good last minute deals on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), Luxurylink.com (discounts on high end villas and hotels), and homeaway.com (rentals).

Car Rentals
a) One way car rentals: When you are visit multiple locations, you may pick up a car at one spot and then return it at a completely different spot. If you can split the car rentals between the destinations, you can usually save a some money.
b) Insurance: A lot of auto insurance companies and some credit cards provide rental insurance. Check to see if your insurance or credit cards provide this to save on rental insurance from the car rental business.
c) Size: Don’t need much room, opt for a smaller car to save on cost and gas
d) Filling up: It is usually a better deal to fill the car up on your own before returning it vs. taking the car rental business’ offer.
e) Autoslash.com: Offers discount coupons on car rentals, continually checks on lower rates and coupons until your trip date and will automatically apply any discounts that it finds.
f) Car seats: check to see how much car seats are to rent. This cost to rent the car seats may be cheaper than the fees you will have to pay with the airlines for checking them.

Food and Entertainment
a) Deal sites: Sign up for Groupon or Living Social where you will be visiting to get deals on restaurants and more. Or use Yipit.com that gives you deals from 787 services in 118 North American Cities.
b) Ask your Concierge: Often your hotel concierge will know about the best deals around the city and will have coupons and connections for you.
c) Food: Bring snacks and your own water bottles to your hotel room. If your room has a microwave, stop by a local grocery store to pick up some meals that could save you on meals during the day. Ask the restaurant where you are eating dinner if they will give you extra bread. You can use that bread for the next day for breakfast.

Social Media
Use your social media sites to find recommendations from friends and family. Follow airline and travel site Facebook and Twitter pages for special deals. Follow bloggers that have the inside scoop on deals and more.

It may take a little digging but the money savings and the getaway will be worth it. What are your saving tips when you plan a vacation?

 

Spring Luggage Cleaning

It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking of tackling spring cleaning around our house.  As you are cleaning your closets, attics and garages, don’t forget that your luggage needs some special cleaning as well. In fact, it is recommended to clean your luggage after every use. From cars, airports, airplanes, hotel rooms and more, your luggage is put in many different environments where it could have been exposed to germs and more. A recent spot on the Today Show featured Budget Travel Editor Nina Willdorf and she featured her tips on keeping your luggage clean.

Here are a few tips shared on the show on little things to do after a trip to your luggage:

1) The Once-Over: Purchase some Lysol wipes and and wipe down your bag including the wheels and handles. Make sure to spot test your luggage first with a wipe to make sure it doesn’t damage the fabric.

2) Wine spills: Ever had a wine bottle or some other liquid spill over your luggage? First make sure to use a hand vacuum to clean up any glass that may be in the suitcase. Use newspaper to absorb the liquid. Leave the rolled up paper in your closed bag for 2 – 3 days. Wine Away is a great tool for dissolving red wine stains. Febreze Auto is also great for removing odors. Avoid mishaps like this by purchasing the Vinnibag which keeps your fragile items safe and secure.

3) Bed Bugs: Think your bag may have been exposed to bed bugs? Immediately, dump everything washable into your laundry on a hot wash and dry cycle. Wipe and spray down your bag with 91 percent isopropyl alcohol which will kill any bugs on contact. Vacuum all the crevices in your bag. If all else fails, you can use a product like Nuvan Prostrips. Simply place your luggage in a garbage bag with one of the strips  and the strip releases a gas that kills the bugs. Make sure to put your case in a plastic bag for storage afterwards.

4) Grease stains: Grease stains may occur after having your luggage go through a baggage carousel. Hard case and nylon cases, you should be able to clean but leather and canvas bags will require professional treatment.

5) Shampoo explosions: Use a spray bottle with water and spray it on the saturated area. Use a wet/dry vac to suck the moisture out. Try not to get your case too wet. This will only drive the soaps deeper into the fabrics. Try to avoid this hassle by putting your liquid items in ziploc bags or toiletry bags.

Other great products to invest in for cleaning your luggage:
a) Aluminum luggage: use a mild cleanser and gently go over the entire bag. Rinse and dry of with clean towels.
b) Ballistic Nylon luggage: Use gentle soap and water to wipe away stains.
c) Hardware: Using oil on hinges, handles or locks will cause more harm than good. To maintain the luster of the hardware, best to polish them lightly with a good quality steel wool and “re-seal” them with a clear nail polish or by using lacquer.
d) Hardside luggage: Use a gentle soap and warm water and rinse well. Cleaning erasers, mild abrasives and toothpaste can work well to remove scuffs and scratches. Use any good silicone-base automobile or furniture polish to preserve the luster of the covering. Do not use a combination cleaner-polish.

Before cleaning any luggage, make sure to read the instructions provided by the luggage brand. Certain solutions may not be suitable in particular brands of luggage. Always spot test an area of a piece of luggage before cleaning all of it. Always make sure to use mild soaps and wipes when cleaning. Harsh chemicals can destroy the beauty of your bag.

When storing your luggage, make sure you allow it to air out regularly. This will help prevent mildew from forming as a result of humidity. Extreme temperatures can also age your luggage as well.

How do you keep your luggage fresh and clean? We would love to hear your tips. Happy Spring Luggage cleaning!

Does your Luggage Reflect your Personality?

They say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but what about by the luggage that you carry. We found this article on VisualNews.com that designates different personalities with the bag that you carry. Do you agree? Which description best describes you. Click on the image for a larger view.

Resurgence in Using Travel Agents

Do you suffer from “Decision Fatigue”? It is said that the average person visits 21 sites online during nine sessions while preparing for a trip which leads many to decision fatigue. There are a lot of great tools to use online for booking your next vacation but many are finding that going to a trusted travel agent is saving them time, money and enhancing their travel experience. Although for short trips or trips to places you have visited before, you will find that booking your travel arrangements online will work. It is for those places that you have never visited and extended stay trips where a travel agent may come in handy.

Why use a Travel Agent?
Often they know more than you do about a specific location. They are better connected to hotels, restaurants and more than you are. They often can get you perks that you couldn’t online and can usually find you better rates. They also know the lingo of the travel industry and are familiar with the trends of when pricing will go up or down and availability.  If something happens on your trip, you can rely on your travel agent as a safety net or resource to get out of a jam.

Not all travel agents are the same. Make sure to do your research before booking with an agent. Your must trusted source is your friends and family. If they have a great travel agent, ask them more about that person. You may want to see that your agent is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) which means they have worked five years full time in the industry. Also check with the Better Business Bureau. Over 7000 complaints were filed last year. You want an agent that has good reviews through the BBB. Another great resource is Virtuoso. They list some of the best travel agents in the industry from over 350 agencies.

Other tips to follow when booking with an agent:

1) Get all your vacation details in writing so you have backup.
2) Verify your reservations.
3) Pay with a credit card and not cash.
4) Be alert for any travel scams out there.
5) Ask your agent questions about a place you have already visited or feel is overrated to see if your opinions are similar.
6) If the agent doesn’t ask a lot of questions, they are probably not the best fit. The agent should be asking as much as they can to find you what will make you the happiest on your trip.

Do you prefer to do all the vacation research and booking on your own or do you rely on a travel agent to help you? What do you feel is important for travel agents to consider or do when helping out a client? We would love to hear your responses.

Spring Travel Has Sprung

Hard to believe that it’s March 1st! With the start of March, many of us are thinking of Spring travel. In fact, we were inspired to make some Spring Travel windows in our stores this month.

With gas prices rising, many of us are looking for the best deals out there this spring season before price hikes occur this summer on airline fares, hotel rates and more.

Travel Ticker put together a list of hot spots for spring were you can find reasonable rates at hotels.

Here are their picks:

1) New Orleans: Don’t miss out on Jazz Fest in April and May. The average hotel rate during this time is $87.

2) Miami: Hurricane season starts in June and peak travel time in Miami is December – March. it makes sense to book during Miami’s shoulder season in April and May. You can save anywhere between $25 – $80 during this time frame.

3) Tahoe: Find prices as low as $69 a night during March and April.

4) China: Great weather and find fewer crowds in Beijing and Shanghai in March and April.

5) Ecuador: The peak summer rates occur in May so you can beat those prices by going in March or April. Galapagos Islands anyone?

 

 

Looking for new hotels to try out this spring break season? Travel & Leisure gave their picks for top hotels:

Country Destination: The Pig, Brockenhurst, England: Perfect for adventurous foodies.

Beach Locale: St Regis Bal Harbor Resort, Miami Beach: Includes twenty-five beachside cabanas and personal butler service.

City Bound: Sofitel, Bangkok: Has rooms inspired by the 5 Chinese Elements

Rain Forest Ambitions: Mashipi Lodge, Ecuador: Aerial Gondolas that take guests through a cloud forest

Island Seclusion: Anantara Bali, Uluwater Resort, Bali, Indonesia: Spend some alone time on sprawling suite terraces that have over sized whirlpools on them.

These are just a few suggestions. Where will you be heading for your spring travel this year?

Reality Show Inspired Vacations

Amazing Race kicks off their 20th season this weekend. A show based on traveling around the world is definitely one that sparks our interest. Have you been inspired to go on a vacation somewhere after watching a reality show. Travel industry experts are giving proof that reality shows that many think are silly and outrageous are having an influence on the travel industry.

Travel + Leisure magazine recently wrote an article that talked about how a recent episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey that took place in the Dominican Republic resulted in a 300 percent increase in web traffic for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana. The hotel is now sold out for New Year’s.

This trend of reality inspiring travel has been happening for a while. The popular MTV Real World has been influencing young travelers since 1992. The CBS reality show, Survivor has influenced tourism in Malaysia, South Africa, Tahiti, New Zealand and New Guinea. The Travel Channel’s show No Reservations, Jersey Shore, The Bachelor, Keeping up with the Kardashians and the Real Housewives series are a few more shows creating buzz for various locations around the world. Travel agents are taking notice of the locations featured on reality television.

Want to take your employees on an Amazing Race or Survivor Adventure? Check out Anderson Vacations. Experience Amazing Race in the Rockies where you will find Roadblocks, Detours, and Pitstops. Or Anderson Vacations can help you design your own adventure.

Has television influenced a recent trip you made or a future trip? At least you will  not have to worry about getting a rose, starving on a island or rushing through an airport like the participants of some of these reality shows.

For the Love of Travel

As we celebrate Valentines this month, we think of our love of travel. What inspired you to want to travel the world? Was it an amazing experience when you were a child or maybe an adventure you took when you were in college? During our fast paced times, we may lose that true inspiration as to why we love to travel.

Featured below is a link to a film from Tripfilms where they asked a variety of travel writers why they love to travel. Let us know where your first love of travel began and why you still love to travel. Post a comment here or on our Facebook page by the end of the day on the 13th and we will pick a winner on Valentine’s Day.  We will pick one random post to win a $100 gift certificate to Colorado Bag’n Baggage for your next adventure.

For the Love of Travel – travelers talk – Tripfilms.