Getting the Deal

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Carmen Shirkey

Friends and family (and sometimes complete strangers!) how I find the travel deals that I use. If you were to sit down and really think about it, you’d probably figure it out on your own (eventually) but I don’t mind sharing my secrets to save you the time.

The most important thing to know is how to do your reserach. Would you buy a car without doing your research first? Your destination and deals should be no different.

Find out all you can about the place you want to visit. When are the best times to go? What’s the weather like in the different seasons? When does everyone else want to go? If there’s a high-season, consider booking what they call a “shoulder season” – the time right before or right after the “most happening” time to visit. For example, if you want summer weather, but don’t want to pay summer prices, consider traveling just after summer starts to wind down. You’ll get similar weather for much less money – plus, you can avoid the crowds.

Then – and you should love this part – start shopping! But you should really shop around. Did you find a great deal on one Web site? Check it against another Web site (and another.) Did you find a hotel deal that you think can’t be beat? Think again, and call the hotel directly. Tell the booking agent about the rate you found, and they may meet or exceed it. Never, ever, take the first deal you find, unless it’s free, and even then, I’d look around to see if you could get a spa credit or something thrown in.

You’ll get better deals if you can be flexible. For example, each time I book a trip to Las Vegas, I look at the prices the week I really want to go, and then the week before and the week after. You’d be amazed at the extreme swings between the deals. If it doesn’t matter about the “when” you could find yourself excited about the “how much”.

Las Vegas is one of my favorite destinations, so I have signed up for every email, alert and Tweet I could find for Vegas. Your favorite hotel or airline might give you an incentive to travel with them – exclusive promotions make you feel like a high-roller. And it works for more places than Vegas.

If you’ve done your research, you should be prepared. But just in case, I’ll warn you to be careful when you book in “off” times to save money. If you book a trip to the Caribbean in the U.S. summertime, for example, yes, you’ll save lots of cash because it’s hurricane season. However, you may want to spend a bit of that savings on trip insurance, because the same reason that the trip costs less – the hurricane threat – could cause you to lose your shirt if you’re not covered. Shopping around for insurance, however, is another way to save.

Giving Thanks for Travel

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Carmen Shirkey

Yay! It’s time for Thanksgiving. My favorite part is sweet potato casserole. And the turkey. And the food coma. But it’s also time to be grateful and appreciate the good things you have.

This Thanksgiving, as with every thanksgiving, I’m grateful for love, family and friends. I’m grateful for my new husband, our home, and for our happiness.

I also give thanks for travel. Yes, for TRAVEL! I’m blessed to have been where I have been, and to be going wherever I’ll be going next. To head off into the wild blue yonder on a new adventure – for me anyway – is a blessing. To interact with a new culture. To see a new tourist attraction. To check places off of my travel bucket list. These are things I’m so grateful for.

I’m grateful for other things about travel as well. I’m even going to give thanks for the overly invasive screening policies that I’ll have to face as we fly to see the in-laws for the holiday. It may be a complete pain in the patootie, and it may be extremely uncomfortable as someone else feels up my boobs, but I’ll be thankful that we’re (hopefully) safe.

I’m also grateful for those that work in those security lines. I can’t imagine they find their job fun – as they deal with angry travelers on a daily basis. There are days when I resent the security personnel, but in the end, I’m glad they are there to help me stay a little safer.

I’m grateful for my passport – without it I wouldn’t be allowed to leave the U.S. and experience the world outside of its borders. I’m grateful that I was able to get my passport in my new name quickly – and I’ll be grateful for my first stamp on the crisp new pages.

I’m also thankful when I return home, safe and sound, each time I leave. A warm fuzzy from the cat and a nap in my own bed is always better after missing them for a while.

And lastly, I’m grateful for the opportunities to share my travel experiences and thoughts with the Bookend Babes!

Happy Thankgiving and happy travels!

Bella Italia

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Carmen Shirkey

People often refer to Italy as “Bella Italia.” It means “beautiful Italy” and it’s the perfect description.

Why do I think it’s perfect? Aside from the fact that I just got back from my honeymoon there?

Positano, Italy (Photo copyright Carmen Shirkey)

First, there’s the scenery. Whether you want history (Rome), seaside views (Amalfi), scenery that wows (Tuscany), art (Florence) or drama and whimsy (Venice) there’s something for everyone.

If you want to go just to eat, Italy will keep you rather busy. Pizza was invented in Naples, so it’s a must eat if your’re in the south or along the Amalfi Coast. If you’re in Florence, take a break from the beauty of all the art in the city and dine on a Florentine steak. And if you’re anywhere in Italy, take every opportunity to indulge with some gelato.

And then there are the people. I love Italians, and they’re a breed all to their own. They can offer their hospitality and be slightly annoyed by you all at the same time. They are so helpful and friendly, while being a bit abrupt. They speak loudly, and gesture a lot. They never let me practice my Italian. I’m not sure if it’s because I butcher the language or because they would rather practice their English (or both.) But they always seem to notice and appreciate my attempts.

Lastly, there’s the atmosphere. There’s just something about Italy that you can’t put your finger on. It’s the way it feels. It’s the way it smells (good and bad.) It’s the horrible traffic and the awesome public transportation. It’s the monumental size of the sites. It’s the varied and sordid (and interesting) past. It’s the ability to walk everywhere. It’s the way the sun shines. It just IS Italy.

In my next life, I want to come back as an Italian.

Travel Trouble: When things go wrong

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Carmen Shirkey

annoyed woman If you travel a lot (or even a little) something, sometime, is bound to go wrong. Maybe your flight gets canceled. Maybe your layover is too short, and you miss your next flight. Maybe a hurricane disrupts your vacation. It’s a sad but true fact of life – nothing ever goes exactly as planned.

If you know how to travel smart, however, you’ll find yourself better prepared to deal with life’s little practical jokes.

Travel Trouble 1: The airline sends your bags on a whole different trip than it sends you. The best thing you can do for yourself is to pack a few different outfits and all your essentials (including your medications!) in your carry-on bag. There’s a product called Space Bags – they are your friend. Space Bags allow you to pack more in less space by taking the air out from between your clothes. By being prepared, you’ll still be PO’d when the bags go missing, but you also won’t have to wear the same underwear for three days while you wait for their return from Bora Bora.

Travel Trouble 2: Mother Nature messes with you. I’ve been on three trips now where acts of nature have made things more difficult. Again, it’s the being prepared part that will help you manage the mayhem. For example, I was in Aruba for a week, and knew that a hurricane was rearing its ugly head in the Atlantic. I kept informed about it’s path, and when I realized that it was going to hit Miami – one of the legs on my journey home – I was at the concierge immediately trying to change my flight. I had to wait until the airline would allow changes at no charge, but because I was one of the first to act, I was lucky enough not to be one of the hundreds stranded at the airport. Be aware, and you’ll be prepared!

Travel Trouble 3: Your flight is delayed, which means you’ll miss your connection. I’m not advocating anarchy, but I am advocating that you be your own advocate. The instant you learn that your flight is delayed, take action. The last time this happened to me, the gate agent requested everyone remain in their seat and he would get to each person in his own time to get them reassigned. I said “the heck with that!” and rather then wait, I went to another gate and another agent that didn’t have 200 people lining up waiting to get another flight. Since I took control of the situation, instead of the situation controlling me, I was able to get us the last two seats that would get us to our connecting city on time.

So when it comes to travel be a boy scout (or a girl scout.) Be prepared! Which means, you should always have a book on hand to entertain yourself while you wait for the troubles to get sorted out.

Travel Is Sweet!

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Carmen Shirkey

gelato I have something of a sweet tooth. I have no problem finding a sweet treat no matter what city I’m in. I definitely have some favorites, though.

1. Gelato in Italy: I can’t find its equal in the U.S., and believe me, I’ve tried. And don’t go saying “it’s just ice cream.” Oh, no, it is so much more than ice cream. It’s much more flavorful and much creamier – due to the process from which it’s made. When I went to Italy with my BFF, we actually scheduled gelato breaks into our day. Thanks to our Rick Steeves guidebook, we knew where the best gelaterias were in each of the cities we visited. I had chocolate gelato in Venice, lemon gelato in Florence and – my favorite – one scoop of raspberry and one scoop of white chocolate in Rome.
Chocolate in Brussels: O.M.G! Fresh Belgian chocolate is some of the most melt-in-your-mouth chocolate I’ve ever eaten. The main square in Brussels, the Grand Place, is lined with the likes of Godiva, Neuhaus and more. Once again, Rick Steeves was right on with what to try, and I can assure you that the box of goodies didn’t last very long.
Belgian waffles in Brussels: If you leave Brussels without a stomach ache from eating too much, you didn’t see it properly. You can’t turn a corner without the smell of Belgian waffles wafting into your nostrils. It’s like a cartoon, where a smell picks up the character by the nose and floats him to the source. You can select your toppings, and I went with the standard chocolate and powdered sugar. It was like eating a warm sugar cookie and getting the best hug ever at the same time. Yes, it was that good.
New Orleans beignet: New Orleans has a delightful little donut-like treat called a beignet, which are usually served with powdered sugar. The best place to get one? Café Du Monde. Grab yourself a cup of chickory coffee (or in my case, milk) and a couple of beingets and grab a table – if you can find one. Oh, and get lots of napkins, and try not to wear black, due to the fact that you’re likely to be covered with more powdered sugar than actually made it into your mouth.
Vegas crepes: Anyone taking a trip to Vegas always gets the same advice from me: Head to the Paris breakfast buffet (called Le Village Buffet) and get yourself some crepes. They’re made as you wait, and you can choose the filling. I know what I like, and I like raspberry filling, drizzled with chocolate sauce on top. Mmmm, mmmm, good.

Hungry yet? What’s your favorite regional treat?

(If you’re planning a trip to Europe, I highly recommend that you arm yourself with the Rick Steeves guidebook for wherever it is you’re going. He really does have the insider tips on the best noms!)