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Thinking warm?
Published 12:00pm Saturday, February 3, 2007Sub-zero sets in, and the wind-chill drives thoughts south. We start fantasizing about sandy beaches and days of long sunshine while scraping the windshield in the morning; dreaming of balmy waters and mid afternoon naps. Wondering what our skin actually looks like under 23 layers of long johns and turtlenecks and woolen mittens.
The midwinter get-away is a long established national pastime, particularly honored — or coveted — by those of us who live and work in Minnesota.
The travel industry has been riding a boom for decades, and even as other sectors of the economy suffer, the bookings stay relatively high. We want to sip margaritas in Mazitlan. We want to eat five-star dinners mid sea. We have annual favorites and far of visions of the places we want to see someday.
Traveling, like most anything, is an art and a skill. It can be done well or poorly. Travel industry professionals and seasoned travelers have a wealth of tips and secrets that can make your winter get away a breeze. Tips to stop you from breaking the bank. Little known hideaways. Tricks to spare yourself the slapping-of-the-forehead, muttering why-didn’t-I-bring-the- (whatever you may have forgotten) moments.
As peak season for travel hits, take some time to prepare yourself and make sure all the little details are worked out to your best advantage. If you work it right, and stick with a few tricks, you will be able to fully stretch out on that deck chair, without worry or strings attached.
Be prepared
Cathy Welle of D and E Travel cautions travelers that airline, cruise, and customs regulations change frequently. It never hurts to keep up-to-date with what you need and when you will need it.
“As of Jan. 23,” she said, “cruises are all requiring passports. That wasn’t always true, and lots of people don’t know. Since it takes six to eight weeks to get a passport, people can frustrate their travel plans or spend more money than they want to in getting an expedited passport.”
Make travel plans early, rather than leaving the details to the week before departure, Welle advised. Make sure that you have arranged all travel plans, gotten necessary documents, and have a general idea of any purchases you need to make weeks before you go.
Malaria is a health risk when traveling to certain regions of the Carribbean and Mexico. It is always a serious disease and can be fatal. However, risks are easily reduced by preventative action. Malaria medication, prescribed by a doctor and taken weeks before departure, is recommended for the following countries:
Mexico
Nicaragua
Guatemala
El Salvador
Honduras
Costa Rica
Panama
Buying a swimsuit the day before leaving for warmer locales adds stress and confusion, as does looking for a last-minute pet sitter.
Tracy Binek, travel consultant for Carribean Travel, says most people leave home in a jumbled hurry.
“It doesn’t make sense. They bought their tickets and scheduled time off of work months before,” she said. “Why wait to know what you’re packing, and calling the airline to see about baggage limits, the day before? People who travel a lot are good at being ready. They’re cool at the airport, show up with plenty of time, know where they need to be and aren’t flustered.”
And anyone, even a first time traveler, can play it cool with a few early phone calls, a few lists checked off, in the week or two before departure.
Get what you want
Binek, who works for an agency that specializes in Caribbean travel, says that people should be specific when making their plans.
“Rather than just wanting to go to the Bahamas, say, people should talk to their agents about what they really want. Do they want to have a spa at the resort, or a golf course? Do they want to be in a place with a lot of families and children, with baby sitters and kids programs available? Or do they want a couples only experience?” she said.
Travel agents know their stuff, there are resorts and cruises catered to every personal quirk imaginable. Vegetarians can go somewhere they won’t have to go hungry. Extreme sports enthusiasts can find parasailing, scuba diving, and mountain climbing in one neat package. Knowing your hobbies and your preferences can get you an ideal vacation, without all the irritation of the things you don’t want.
“People shouldn’t feel like they have to choose from a menu. They are the customer, and this is a service industry. It’s my job, the flight attendants job, and the concierge’s job at the hotel to keep them happy” said Binek.
Leave your worries behind you
Many a perfectly good vacation is spoiled by the last day’s depression of going back to an overload of work and a refrigerator full of old milk and leftovers. To really get away, make sure that all the details of home are taken care of before you go.
Have a house, pet, or plant sitter take care of your house and bring in your mail. If you’re lucky, you can get someone who will shovel your steps should it snow. At the very least, it’s nice to let the sitter know when you will be coming back, so that they can have the house warm and clean for you on your return. If you are gone for a longer stay, have the post office hold your mail.
Arrange your schedule so that you know what to expect from work when you get back. Plan projects for that first week at a staggered pace. Talk to whoever is filling in for you about what needs to be done.
Make sure that you have a list of important phone numbers with you while you are gone. Just knowing that you can call your doctor, your kid’s teacher, or your plant sitter if you need to will eliminate most stress.
Be healthy
Joe Marietti of the Minnesota Department of Heath encourages travelers to be health conscious.
“Getting sick while away can ruin the whole experience. But a little foresight and taking care can prevent most things” he said. Check the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for safety tips and immunization requirements.
Malaria and yellow fever are risks for some areas of the Caribbean and Central America, but risks can be reduced by prophylactic medications taken prior to departure. Be aware of water contamination, and the complications of “traveler’s diarrhea,” if headed to Mexico.
Most travel related illnesses and injuries are entirely preventable. Stress from leaving the comforts of home may make travelers more prone to infection. However, diligent handwashing, careful use of sunblock and insect repellent, and a supply of OTC medications can ward off most serious health concerns.
“Cruise ships all have medical staff,” Cathy Welle said. “Travelers should know that services are available, and it doesn’t hurt to know how to get the services should they need them.”.
Make your trip memorable
Cameras are key to any trip, but there are other ways to make sure your memories stay with you. Consider making a scrapbook that is half journal, half album, to keep your photos in. Send postcards to your friends. Consider buying an item special for yourself to commemorate the trip.
Some travelers begin collecting while on vacation. Others buy a piece of art to have framed at home, or a piece of jewelry they can wear all year long. Making a purchase that is significant to you, and that can be integrated into your life back home, will go farther than getting a tee-shirt or a cheap trinket.
Another way to keep your memories alive, and to make your vacation the best trip of your life, is to take a few risks.
“I once climbed a mountain in St. Lucia,” Binek said. “I am not a climber or an athlete. It was really hard, and I was bloody and dirty when I got to the top. But I’ll never forget it.”
Go ahead, try the conch fritters. Eat out at a place you normally wouldn’t. Visit a museum or try waterskiing. Vacations are a great way to try something you’ve always been curious about. Dress up. Cut loose. Get a massage for the first time in your life.
For next year
The travel industry continues to boom, and it continues to change. Binek and Welle both nod to Mexico as being a current hot spot.
“Mexico has changed a lot, too. You can have everything from a high-end to the traditional cabana on a beach”.
Welle also notes that all inclusive resorts are growing in popularity. People often opt for cruises because they offer everything in one neat package; food, recreation, entertainment.
“But lots of resorts are doing the same thing, now,” she said. “They organize activities and tours, have the same payment system that includes all your meals and drinks.”
Sandals resorts even offers the experience of multiple locations, enjoying all inclusive services at a number of their different locations.
Travel agents and the Internet, as well as travel publications, can help you plan out a perfect trip for next year. This year, just keep a few details in mind, and your trip should be a breeze.
