Airfare: Price vs Convenience - how do you choose?

Are you watching the show 'Amazing Race'?  I love this show!  Well, last night the teams had to get from Australia to Tokyo, and had to decide whether to take a non-stop flight or a connecting flight.  The flight with the connection was scheduled to get into Tokyo 15 minutes sooner than the non-stop.  Hmmmm... what to do? 

Many travelers face this question all the time, but usually not in the context of a race, but rather in the context of price.  Though not always, non-stop flights tend to be a bit more expensive than connecting flights so many travelers find themselves trying to decide between price vs convenience.  "I'm trying to stay within a budget, so do I take the less expensive connecting flight? But I'm going to the Caribbean and I really want to hit the beach ASAP so maybe I take the more expensive non-stop which gets me there sooner."

It can be really tough sometimes to think it all through and make a good decision.  Using a Travel Agent or Specialist can certainly help you to weigh the options and make a good decision.  Of course it depends on different scenarios, where you are traveling, time of year, etc. but in general I always think it's best to fly non-stop whenever possible.... even if it's a bit more expensive.  Connecting flights = the unknown.  Even if your first flight gets off on-time, and things seem to be running on schedule, you never know what challenges may be awaiting you at your connecting airport - weather delays, equipment delays, staffing issues, etc... (Remember the snowstorm in Europe that shut down many airports this past winter?  Yes, I had clients affected by that mess!)  Not to mention your bags (if checked) have to make that connection as well.  It can make for a very stressful beginning to a vacation if all those factors don't align correctly, and you don't want to have your trip start off that way, right?

Of course, that's not to say that a non-stop flight is without issues, but again, that's where it's important to weigh your different options.  Some people don't like to be on a flight for longer than 4 hours if at all possible, so they prefer connections so that they can get off the plane, stretch their legs and move around, get some food besides peanuts, email, maybe do some shopping.  For some people, that alone is worth it to have a connecting flight.  And there are alot of really nice airports these days with some pretty amazing services, so it's getting much easier to kill time in the airports.  I was in Atlanta Hartsfield airport recently and it's beautiful!  You can get a massage and visit the spa right in the terminal! Wow! So you can certainly make the most of a connecting flight, but for me I always try to go non-stop whenever possible.  I once took a 17 hour flight from Johannesburg to New York, the longest flight of my life, but it was worth it not having to stop over.  My bag got lost on the way from NY to Chicago, but at least I knew it made it back to the States and wasn't stuck in Europe or Africa somewhere.  I like ease when traveling and I like to minimize things that are beyond my control so for me, I go for non-stop flights whenever possible.

Oh, and the Amazing Race teams that took the connecting flight actually got into Tokyo an hour and a half LATER than the teams with the non-stop flight, and I'm sure the team that ended up in last is wishing they had chosen differently!

Fiesta Americana Grand: $600 in Resort Credit Experiences

Enjoy a majestic experience that will change the way of living your holidays this winter season.

A stay in Fiesta Americana resorts is always grand, but now that they're offering you $600 in special resort extras, a stay in either Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancún Resort & Spa or Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa is even more special, more unforgettable and more luxury-packed.

EXPERIENCES SUCH AS:

· RELAXING MASSAGE more info
· EXCLUSIVE WINE TASTING more info
· BEACH CABANA more info
· ROMANTIC CANDLELIGHT SETTING more info
· FITNESS CENTER more info
· WELCOME IN-ROOM AMENITY more info
· OTHER DAILY SPECIAL AMENITIES more info

Cancun Room rates starting from $229** l Los Cabos $205**


Offer valid for new reservations made between now and April 30, 2011, and for stays between now and April 30, 2011. With a minimum stay of three nights, guests will receive US$600 in Resort Credit Experiences. Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa includes a Chardonnay relaxing massage at Somma Wine Spa; Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa includes a relaxing massage at Gem Spa. Both resorts include wine tasting experience for two, romantic candlelight setting, welcome amenity including wine and hors d'oeuvres, private beach cabana for one day, wireless Internet, daily in-room coffee service and fitness center. Offer does not include incidental charges, transportation, laundry and dry cleaning, outside tours, excursions or gratuities for outstanding service. Resort Credit Experiences cannot be applied toward the following items: beauty salon services, spa products, telephone charges, gift shop purchases. All hotel reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance. Offer is not valid for groups/conventions, and may not be combined with other promotional offers. Some of these services can be provided on site with additional extra charge. Rate based on double or single occupancy. Subject to availability at time of reservation. Offer not valid for groups or agreement rate. Other restrictions may apply.

Travel & Adventure Show in Chicago

My family and I went to the show today and we had such a great time! There were so many different vendors represented, so I was pleasantly surprised to see such a great variety. Everything from local (MidWest area) hotels and resorts, to Mexico, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, Alaska, hotels, resorts, tour companies... wow, so many wonderful things to do and places to see.

I also got to meet alot of wonderful representatives, which, for me, is always the most enjoyable part of going to these shows. It can get really exhausting walking around, carrying heavy bags of brochures, weaving your way through crowds, etc... but meeting the reps and learning about some new places, is always very fun and worthwhile to me. We were able to ride on a camel, my daughter got her face painted and a balloon twisted into an animal (she chose a snake, which to me seemed like an awfully easy choice for a balloon animal....anyway...), we petted strange and exotic creatures at the 'wild encounters' table, we watched some cultural shows, and really had a great time!

One great side benefit (if you like to walk, of course) is it is amazing how much exercise you can get! I told my daughter, of course on the way out, that we should have worn a pedometer to see how much we walked. Just from the parking garage to the show hall alone felt like AT LEAST 5 miles. I'm sure it was probably only about 1 mile, but still, it's quite a trek! My goodness, just walking through that loooooooooong, heavily heated people tube TO the convention center, is a workout in and of itself. So between walking to/ from the parking, and all around the show, you get in a decent amount of exercise. Oh! and just a word of advice, try to park on the nearside of where the walkway is (Level 2 preferably), and leave your coats in the car. You will be hot immediately once you step foot in that walkway, and then you'll just be lugging your coat around. There is a coat check for a fee, so that is an option, but I'm glad we just left our coats in the car.

The show will still be going on Sunday, Jan 30th so if you have nothing to do today, you should go and check it out! Hours Sunday are 11-4 at Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Bears or Packers... who's your pick?

So I'm not the biggest of Football fans, but who doesn't love a good playoff game, right? This Sunday Chicago will host long time rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in a fight to the finish play off game to see who will go to the Super Bowl against either the Pittsburgh Steelers or.... um, the Jets right? =) Even though I'm not an 'official' born and raised Chicagoan, I have lived here the longest of anywhere in my life (my 16th year in this great city!) so I consider myself an adopted Chicagoan and hence able to root wholeheartedly for the Bears. You can definitely feel the tension and the rivalry spirit in the local community, though! Even though the game will be played at home in Soldier Field, many are predicting that the Packers will shine and win this Epic game. I certainly hope not because I'd love to see the Bears in the SuperBowl! My family and I will most likely be watching from home and the comfort of our warm comfy couch, but I know there are some big parties and events planned for this BIG game! Everyone be safe out there this weekend, and GO BEARS!

Happy 2011!

Although we are now into week 3 of 2011, I wanted to wish everyone a happy and prosperous year! Better late than never, right?! I have lots of ideas and changes coming soon to my business and also my blog, so stay tuned. I won't bore everyone with my list of goals and aspirations for the year, but I am happy that this is the first year that I've actually put this down on paper. In years past I've made mental lists, but I've found that that may not always be the best way to go about goal setting. Although I did in fact achieve some goals that I mentally set for myself for 2010, I want to quantify this a bit more, so at least I've started the year off right with my written list. I am also working on my travel 'bucket list'.... again, something I've done mentally in the past, but writing it down will be so much easier to keep track of goals that I've reached or not reached. I think I will try just a general bucket list, and then at the end of each year, I can see how much I completed and crossed off the list! Sounds good, yes? =) Are there any travel destinations on your bucket list this year that you'd like to share?

Thanks again for reading and stay tuned for more updates and changes.

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Another Beach Thursday!

On our recent cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, we had a port stop in St Thomas, USVI.  Wow, St Thomas is so beautiful!  We were lucky that we missed the tropical storm that had come just days before, so the weather we had was absolutely beautiful - sunny and hot just like I like it!  We did a tour around the island and stopped at beautiful Coki Beach, voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  And we were not disappointed!  (Well, until it was time to leave!)  The water was crystal clear, the sand in the water was so soft your toes just squished right in, and the water so warm.  Even though there were a few other tour vehicles there, it didn't feel overcrowded or too commercial.  There was a small snack shop for some light refreshments or a cold drink (We had a Carib beer!), rentals for beach chairs and snorkeling equipment, and a couple small souvenir stands.  There is also a very large community of iguanas that were literally everywhere!  I have never such big lizards up so close, just right out in the trees or walking on the road!  And they can move pretty quick too!  We really loved Coki Beach... I wish we could have stayed longer, both at the beach as well as in St Thomas, but hopefully someday we will be back!