Life without baggage…

So you want to plan a quick weekend getaway for a change of scenery. Not having a lot of time or money you want to get the most bang for your buck. Years ago your biggest dilemma would have been to find the cheapest airline ticket on multiple travel search engines. But today airlines have taken an a la carte approach to what is included in your flight price and this can make what appears to be a steal for an airline ticket, actually a rip off. With an increase in baggage fees and lack of in-flight meals, it seems as though very little is included in an airline ticket outside of taxes.

When Spirit Airlines decided recently to add a charge for carry-on baggage they claimed that it was to give passengers a better value for their flight and to cut down on time at the gates. They also said charging only for what services a passenger uses will in the end save them money over other airlines base fares. Is it true?

I did a quick comparison of three airlines for a 2 night getaway from LaGuardia airport in New York over the Memorial Day weekend. I looked for flights that left on the morning of May 28th and returned May 30rd in the late afternoon or evening. I used the price selection option on the airline websites so that I could choose the least expensive option and not get any additional fees. For this length of trip, I would probably carry-on my bag but I also looked at the cost if I checked my bag. In the past, carrying my bag on would allow me to avoid the fee that most of the airlines are now charging for checked bags and assure my bags would be with me when I arrived. The airlines of choice for this little experiment*: Read more

Earth Friendly Airport Transportation

So you  are coming to New York and need transportation to and from the airport. You have several options…You could (A) take a cab (B) take the train (C) Use a car or transfer service. The best option for our environment would be of course using public transportation but if you are like me and haven’t mastered the art of packing light, the lack of elevators and escalators in the NYC subway system will make you regret you decided to visit the city.

For about 20 dollars more than a cab you can use a car service that has the earth in mind. NYC Green Car uses a fleet of only hybrid vehicles (mostly Toyota Camry’s and Lexus sedans) to drive you to any destination in the continental US. Read more

What Do You Carry In Your Carry-On?

I don’t know about you, but I have definitely been stuck without luggage in a few places. I remember one family vacation we went on where we ended up without luggage for nearly a week. It finally arrived the last day of our trip! There’s nothing worse than not having a toothbrush, deodorant, clean undies, or your special face-wash.  Well actually, not having it and having to buy it all over again is much worse. If you just can’t get it all in one bag and you do have to check-in your luggage, make sure your carry-on is carrying what you need. These days, if I’m checking my luggage, I pack 2 carry-ons.

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Need Help Planning the Ultimate Girls Getaway?

Our Top Five Tips for Planning a Great Getaway

Whether you are planning a trip around the world or an overnight in a neighboring city here are some helpful tips to make any all girls getaway the best possible.

1. THE MORE PEOPLE TRAVELING THE MORE THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND PRE-PLANNED.
I can remember clearly spending 3 hours with a group of friends on vacation roaming from restaurant to restaurant trying to make a choice about dinner. It is easy to decide what to do and what to see when you are only traveling with one other person. That all quickly changes when you are trying to get 4 or 6 people to decide what to do as a group. Try to choose vacation packages that include some meals, tours and activities when you are planning a group trip. If you can purchase tours and activities before leaving home it saves you from wasted hours in the hotel trying to please everyone’s desires. It costs you upfront and you lose some flexibility but it will help you to remain friends by the end of the trip.

2. START SMALL AND SIMPLE
If you have never traveled together don’t make your first trip the round the world cruise. Try a short trip to a city or destination that offers several options and things to do. You will learn quickly if you like traveling with your friends and what their individual quirks are. If you want to take in all the sights and “must sees” and your friends could care less and would rather hit all the shops, you may not want to visit your dream vacation spot with this particular group of friends. Once you know each others travel styles you can plan girls getaways that meet all your needs.

3. LET EVERYONE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLANNING AND START EARLY.
If you are like me, you enjoy and are good at planning trips so it is easy to jump in and plan for the group. In the end though, it is everyone’s vacation and they may not enjoy everything you do. Start planning a trip with 4 or more people at least 4 months in advance. This will allow everyone to budget accordingly, research the destination and communicate their desires for the vacation. If possible let each person plan one activity, whether it is a tour, a place to eat or a store they want to shop in. This way every person comes from the weekend having done something they wanted and can’t complain that someone monopolized their vacation. Set a deadline for when the activity must be confirmed with the group and parameters for the time and cost of the activity. Sometimes you will not be able to do some of the things that one traveler is really excited about. For instance, it will be hard to take the full day Napa vineyard tour if you only have two days together in San Francisco. Unless this is something that is a priority for everyone in the group it will take up entirely too much of your getaway to be a worthwhile activity. Instead you should plan to enjoy the sights in San Francisco this time and/or find a shorter vineyard tour that only takes a few hours. If only one person wants to participate in this type of tour they should plan to come a day early or leave a day later to incorporate this full day activity. Let each person know they have to compromise but that you will do at least one thing that each individual wants to do.

4. CREATE A “GETAWAY FUND” THAT EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES TO FOR GENERAL COSTS.
You will at some time have to tip the bellman for handling luggage or pay for cabs around the city. Make sure you don’t end up paying for them all by having everyone contribute to the “Getaway Fund” upon arrival. I suggest at least $5.00 per day per person and that you let the person least likely to accidentally purchase a new pair of shoes with the fund, manage it. At the end of the trip you can re-divide up the remainder or use it for a farewell shared dessert your last night!

5. END THE TRIP WITH ONE BIG SPECIAL PRE-PLANNED ACTIVITY.
If you are in Hawaii, you should always save the Luau for your last night of the vacation. You should save a celebration activity for the end that allows you to reminisce about the getaway and celebrate your time together. Plan a fun brunch at a restaurant that has a great view, food and atmosphere. Plan a dinner your last night at a place where you can each get dressed up and have a farewell toast. Regardless, don’t end your vacation without a celebratory fun activity that is planned before you leave home. This will allow everyone to prepare and for you to end your Ultimate Girls Getaway with a Bang!

 

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