The Curse of the Ocean View Room
Last week it happened again. I got an email from someone in destination who had booked an ocean view room. They were dismayed because they couldn’t see the ocean from their room. It seems logical, doesn’t it? You pay for an ocean view room, you should be able to view the ocean from that room.
Right?
Well, like many things with planning vacations, what is logical isn’t necessarily the case.
The fact is, if a resort sells an ocean view category and an oceanfront category, and you care about seeing the water, book the oceanfront. Some resorts are especially liberal in deeming the ocean view designation to a room.
Is My Flight a Codeshare?
What?!? My ticket says UNITED!
Somewhere, in what I’m sure is a smoky boardroom, some airline executive decided it would be a great idea if two airlines could both sell seats on the same flight. This is called a CODESHARE FLIGHT. This can be quite confusing if your itinerary says you are on “Airline A flight 1234″ and you go to the ticket counter of “Airline A” and they tell you that you’re actually traveling on “Airline B”. All of the sudden you’re running late (because “Airline B” operates from a different terminal completely), you’re confused and you’re upset.
There’s a whole long story about why codeshares exist and why. At the point you’re running breathlessly between terminals though, the long story doesn’t matter. The part that matters to you, and to me, is how to make your flight and get where you’re going.
How can you know in advance if yours is a codeshare flight? How can you tell which counter at which to show up to check in for your flight? Generally, you do need to check in at the counter of the airline who is actually operating the flight.
How do you figure that out?
Well, it is supposed to be on the itinerary. In my experience, it generally does appear on the itinerary but to someone who doesn’t travel often it isn’t obvious why the other airline name is there. I think it should appear in bold letters “THIS FLIGHT IS OPERATED BY CONTINENTAL AIRLINES”. So far no one has asked me to come run an airline though, so that usually doesn’t happen.
As a travel professional I can generally spot a codeshare flight because of the flight number. Usually, but not always, if the flight number is a four digit number starting with a number higher than one. (like…3200 – 4799 for instance) that is a pretty good tip off that that might be a codeshare flight.
A more reliable idea is to, when you call the airline the night before the flight to reconfirm everything (you do call the airline the night before your flight…right?) Just ask. Ask the airline agent, “Is this a codeshare flight?” “At which counter do I need to check in for this flight?”
Have you ever traveled on a codeshare flight? Was it clear at which counter you were to check in? What do you think should be done to make the situation more transparent?
Are You Beach Centric, or Pool Centric?
I am writing this post from the balcony of my oceanfront room at Iberostar Grand Paraiso in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico. I have stayed at this resort two other times but this is the only time I’ve had an oceanfront room. (When traveling as an agent as a guest of the resort, one happily accepts the room one is assigned.)
I have spent many hours on this trip parked out under a palapa on a lounge chair having my hours of leisure reading interrupted by an occasional dip in the Caribbean Sea. The beach butler also intruded from time to time.
As I walk through the resort to find wireless signal to check on the office I have to walk past the main pool. There are many more people at the pool than at the beach. There are also countless more people actually in the pool than there are actually in the ocean. I would wager, however, that almost every person in and around the pool asked about the beach quality when choosing this resort.
Almost 100% of people we talk to ask about the beach itself when choosing a resort. Many of those same people barely spend any time there.
What makes so many more people spend their time at the pool when they’re in a beach destination? I would guess it has to do with proximity to the pool bar, lack of wildlife in the pool, and the fact that walking to and from the pool doesn’t involve getting all sandy. (Which is also ironic because getting ones toes in the sand is one of the thing people fantasize about when anticipating a vacation.)
Part of choosing the right vacation is knowing what kind of vacation you actually want. Are you pool centric or are you beach centric? Which is actually more important to you? Do you know?
If you’re one of the many many people who spend their vacation days at the pool rather than the beach, then stop agonizing over how long the beach is and how soft the sand it. Concentrate on the pool.
Where do you stand on the pool / beach issue? Tell me in the comments.
What People Complain About on Vacation
Many people we work with on vacations don’t complain about anything. The complaints we do get, however, seem to usually be one of the following.
Changing Prices: Prices change. It’s a fact of life. If your friend booked a month ago and you want to book today, you’re probably paying a different price. If you called for a quote a week ago and were just waiting to get your paycheck before you made deposit, the price you were quoted may very well have changed. How to avoid it: Book as early as possible.
Airline Schedule Changes: Sadly, schedule changes are also a fact of life. Charter flights seem subject to more dramatic schedule changes than scheduled carriers. How to avoid it: I’m not sure there is a way to avoid an airline schedule change short of buying or leasing a private jet.
Cancellation Fees: Fortunately, most people don’t cancel, so this isn’t an issue for most people. Depending on how close to your departure date you cancel, the cancellation penalties could be as high as 100%. How to avoid it: Purchase travel insurance (or don’t cancel).
Luggage Fees: Luggage fees are an unfortunate sign of our times. I don’t think they’re going anywhere either. Depending on the airlines and your luggage, fees can add a sunstantial amount to the cost of your trip. How to avoid it: Pack judiciously and be very clear on the baggage policy of the airline in question before booking your trip. One airline might appear cheaper, but once you factor in the luggage fees, it may not be the case.
Assigned Seats on the Plane: Right after you book, your reservation goes to one staff member whose job it is to look at it and figure out what needs to happen with regard to your assigned seats. If it is a land only reservation..easy enough. If the flights are on a carrier where you must go online and pay a fee for the seats, the booking agent is instructed to call and let you know. If it is a charter flight where there are not preassigned seats, that gets closed out too. If it is on a scheduled carrier, we look at the seating chart and assign the best possible seats. If no preassigned seating is available, the booking agent is instructed to let you know and we look at the flight day after day up until the day of the flight to see if we are able to improve your seat situation. Sometimes it just comes down to assigning the seat at the airport on the day of departure. We do our very best, but we don’t have the ability to throw passengers out of a seat. As much as we’d like to, the airline doesn’t give us that right. How to avoid it: Book early.
Room Requests: Frequently people have a request regarding their room assignments. Groups like their rooms to be assigned together. Some people want to be in a certain building or near a certain restaurant or pool. Sometimes people want a higher floor or a specific floor. We do make our room requests directly to the mangement of the hotel. Room requests are, however, requests. Sometimes the hotel is able to fulfill them and sometimes circumstances dictate that they cannot. How to avoid it: Be really clear on the room type you have booked. Know what is confirmed and what is just on request. How to avoid it: Understand the difference between what is confirmed, and what is on request.
Oceanview Rooms: Many resorts offer an oceanview room category as well as an oceanfront or maybe a beachfront room category. In this scenario, oceanview would be less expensive. It also offers the least view of the water. Some resorts are very liberal with how they define which rooms are oceanview. If you can see the slightest sliver of water in the distance while standing on your tippy toes on the balcony..BINGO! it’s an oceanview room. How to avoid it: Be clear what your expectations are for your view. Book accordingly.
Mattress Comfort: Just like Goldilocks, some people find their mattress too hard, some find them too soft. Others find them just right. How to avoid it: Generally speaking, at lower end resorts you’re going to find harder beds. (They last longer and need replacing less frequently.) At higher end resorts you’ll find pillow tops and high thread count sheets.
Knowing what past guests were most likely to complain about might help you know what to do to avoid being similarly unhappy.
You’ve Missed Your Flight. Now What?
You've missed your flight. What happens now?
You’ve missed your flight.
What now?
Perhaps you overslept. Perhaps there is bad weather in the area that kept you from getting to the airport in a timely fashion. Maybe there was a 50 car pile up on the freeway and you were held captive behind it.
Whatever the reason, you’ve missed your flight and now your vacation threatens to start without you. What do you do?
The first thing you must do is get to the airport. If you still want to try to make your vacation and not throw away the money you spent on it, you must get to the airport where you stand the greatest chance of catching up to your trip.
Your next course of action is to throw yourself on the mercy of the ticket agent. Especially in the case of a bad weather incident or something else that affects a large number of people, the agent may be sympathetic toward you and let you stand by (or even confirm you!) on a later flight. No matter what the reason, getting short tempered with airline personnel isn’t going to win you any points. Fall on your sword and beg for mercy.
After that, get comfortable. You may have to go through several flights before you actually get on one. Don’t drive home and try to get yourself confirmed on a flight later to avoid this uncomfortable part of the process. The people with the power to help you are at the airport. Unless you get to the end of the day and there are no more options, stay at the airport.
At some point during this process you do need to call your agent to let them know what’s going on so that they can notify the hotel and any ground operators of the change to your schedule. In some cases, your agent may even be able to help you out making alternate arrangements. In most cases though, the people with the power are the airline personnel at the airport.
Be polite, be consistent and BE THERE. That’s the key.
Have you ever missed a flight? What did you do?
Choosing Souvenirs
What is your favorite souvenir to bring home from your journeys? Especially now, in these days of baggage fees, it is a weighty consideration to decide what to lug home with you.
For years, my choice has been refrigerator magnets. I realize that many people prefer a clean refrigerator, but I like being reminded of my travels every time I’m in my kitchen.
Here are a few of my collection:
Guess where I got this magnet? That's right..Corfe Castle in Dorset..(Southern England)
This one is from the Borghese Gallery in Rome. I love ones like this where it is not immediately evident where they are from.
I got this one before I took the train from Anchorage to Whittier to catch a cruise.
Guess where this one was from? I like the one I got from the Houses of Parlament better. Its just the logo...very understated...(It broke though..so I don't have it any more.)
This is the Astronomical Clock in Prague. This one gets extra points because it isn't obvious where it comes from unless you're familiar..plus it was locally handmade.
Do you have a favorite souvenir? What is it? Tell me in the comments.
How Not To Vacation Like Clark Griswold
How can you avoid this?
Home Alone, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, National Lampoon’s Vacation. While these movies were funny to watch in the theater, I don’t think anyone is looking to have similar experiences. But, part of the reason they are so funny is that we can relate. Who hasn’t had something go horribly or at least mildly wrong on vacation? Maybe your experience wasn’t as bad as Clark Griswold’s but wouldn’t you like to avoid a repeat?
So how can you assure that your vacation will go as smooth as possible? Knowing that everything isn’t under your control, what can you do to increase the odds of having the kind of flawless vacation that will bore your friends when you tell them about it later?
Actually, knowing that everything isn’t under your control is exactly the first step in having a vacation that no one would want to make a movie about. You can’t control the weather, you can’t control traffic and you can’t control security lines at the airport. What you can control is the amount of time you allow to deal with each of these potential issues. So, allowing yourself plenty of time is the first step to a stress free vacation. Allow yourself plenty of time at departure and again when it is time to start your return trip home.
There are some things that are under your control. For instance, several days before your trip, locate your passport and any other travel documents that might be required for your trip. Know where they are, review your itinerary and assure that you have all of the confirmations and documents that you’ll need. If you have any questions, call your agent for clarification.
Another tip is to be sure that there are no warrants out for your arrest. Before international flights, the airlines are required to transmit passenger information to Homeland Security and from time to time a warrant comes up and will result in a passenger being detained.
Amazingly, in over 20 years in the business, we have never had a single person return from a trip and tell us they wish they had taken more luggage. I’ve found that packing a few days before the trip (or at least gathering everything I intend to take into one place) allows me to really consider each item and if it really needs to come.
While on your trip you can still take steps to make your trip as smooth as silk.
Drink plenty of fluids. Eager vacationers tend to overindulge in sun and alcohol, both of which have a dehydrating impact on your body. Dehydration can make you feel dizzy, weak and/or ill.
Have a massage or do something special for yourself. Getting extra sleep perhaps including a daily nap will help you stay healthy and happy on vacation.
Finally, push yourself to do something you normally wouldn’t do. Try a zipline, try sailing, paint a piece of pottery, sing at karaoke night, try yoga…do something you haven’t done before. You never know what you might fall in love with.
Have you had a Griswold type experience on vacation? Share it in the comments along with how it could have been avoided.
What Will The Travel Insurance Cover?
With every trip we book, we off
er travel insurance. Some people take it, some don’t. But most people ask the same question: “What does the insurance cover?”
The answer to this question is “It depends”. (Sorry, Nicki!)
There are different kinds of insurance. Many tour operators offer their own coverage. Of course the coverage on these varies based on how the tour operator has set it up.
Another option is to purchase insurance from an actual travel insurance company. Travel Guard and Travel Insured are two examples.
The basic things that most travel insurance policies cover are things like:
Trip Cancellation – If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason like a death in the family or if you or a family member becomes ill and that keeps you from traveling, then your travel insurance normally reimburses you for any penalties that you incur for the cancellation.
Trip Interruption – Reimburses unused hotel arrangements plus additional costs to change or purchase a new airline ticket if you can’t travel due to circumstances such as illness or injury to you, a family member, or traveling companion, jury duty, subpoena, or a traffic accident on the way to the airport. So if someone on your trip, or someone back home becomes ill or injured, this coverage will help mediate some of your financial loss for returning home prematurely.
Travel Delay – Reimburses additional transportation costs or unused hotel arrangements should your flight be delayed 12 or more hours due to weather, strike or other job action, or equipment failure of a common air carrier. The plan reimburses you a certain amount for the unused portion of your trip, additional accommodations, meals and “catch up” transportation expenses. This is the coverage that comes into play when there is a horrible snowstorm that makes you misconnect, or perhaps a mechanical delay. This coverage would have helped when Philip got snowed in at the Houston, Texas airport overnight. (Yes, Houston Texas)
Emergency Evacuation – Arranges and pre-pays the cost of emergency medical transportation if a serious illness or injury occurs during your vacation that requires medical evacuation. This is the coverage that would have come in handy for our client who burst their appendix while in Jamaica. He had to be transported by air ambulance to Florida for the surgery and subsequent medical care. Afterwards they almost lost their home due to the crippling debt caused by the expense of just the air ambulance. This expense isn’t covered by almost anyone’s normal health care policy.
Medical Expense – Reimburses medical costs should you incur hospital charges or other medical bills as a result of an illness or injury during your vacation. This is the one that has come into play many times when we’ve had clients fall and break bones, or become ill during a trip. Our own Terrah once had a burst eardrum on the way to Hawaii and this coverage reimbursed her expense for seeking medical care away from home.
Baggage/Personal Property - Reimburses you for baggage or items lost, stolen, or damaged during your vacation. I got to use this coverage a number of years ago when I was standing knee deep in the beautiful blue waves in Cancun taking a picture of my daughter with our hotel in the background. A big wave unexpectedly swept me off my feet and ruined my camera. I was able to buy a new camera upon my return home, courtesy of the travel insurance we’d purchased. More recently, Nicki lost her Chi flat iron during a trip. She wasn’t sure if she’d lost it, or if it had been taken by her assigned roommate, but it didn’t matter. The insurance covered it and now she is living the frizz free life once again.
Baggage Delay – Reimburses for the purchase of necessary personal items if your bags are delayed by the airline for 24 hours or longer. I had clients who were on a long planned trip to Italy that ended up coinciding with the funeral of Pope John Paul 2. Their bags ended up not arriving in Rome with them, and the delivery of the bags was complicated by the restriction of all but essential vehicles into Rome due to the funeral. They were luggage-less for 4 days. Because of their insurance they were treated to some authentic Italian fashion, not to mention authentic Italian toothpaste and other toiletries.
You need to be careful about what you’re buying, though, and have a really clear understanding of what your policy covers. If there is a particular situation that may come into play, ask the question of your agent to see if the insurance you’re considering will cover that situation.
One difficulty we’ve run into is with destination weddings. Some tour operators, including our most popular ones, offer a “cancel for any reason” coverage with their insurance. This type of coverage, however, must be purchased at the time of the initial deposit. It cannot be added later. The insurance purchased from an insurance company can be added later. The problem is that the kind that can be added later, doesn’t cover if the bride and groom decide not to get married. That isn’t a covered reason. I highly recommend that if you’re attending a destination wedding that you get coverage that covers cancellation for any reason. No matter how wonderful they seem, you never know what might happen.
Don’t try to sort through all of the options by yourself. Ask your agent, and buy the right coverage for you.
Eight Ways to Have a Miserable Vacation
Make your vacation miserable.
1) Don’t budget enough money for your trip.
Talk about a lasting vacation memory! How about a monthly reminder in the form of a credit card bill?
Also, nothing helps you relax on vacation like not bringing enough money with you. Feeling bad about not leaving tips, or not having the resources to really enjoy your trip are both very pleasant.
2) Cut it close leaving for the airport
Wait until the last possible moment to leave for the airport. There isn’t likely to be traffic or long lines, right? Challenging your driving skill to try to avoid missing your plane is a great way to switch gears into vacation mode. It will relax your traveling companions too.
Better yet, go ahead and miss your plane. Paying change fees and hoping you’ll make the next flight…maybe missing the first whole day of your vacation…nothing like it!
3) Leave things at home that you need.
Are you on a daily medication? Leave it at home! Are there other items you need to be comfortable? Chap stick? A certain lotion or other toiletry? Leave it at home. There is no need to be relaxed and healthy on vacation.
4) Don’t use a travel agent.
When you book your trip, do it yourself online. That way, when you have a question or a special request, you can spend hours trying to find answers and help. Also, when you’re on your trip and have a problem, you can be on your own as well.
5) Pack too much.
Nothing adds an air of festivity to your vacation like dragging heavy bags. Not only that, but paying lots of baggage fees is fun!
6) Insist on your own way.
Nothing is more fun than traveling with someone who isn’t able to be flexible. Likewise, traveling in a foreign country and expecting the food, the people, the customs and the laws to be like that in ones own country leads to lots of vacation hijinks.
7) Drink too much and act like a fool.
Don’t let anyone tell you that excessive drinking impairs your judgment. Getting sloppy drunk is a vital part of any successful vacation.
Let bumps in the road ruin the whole trip.
Almost no trip goes completely flawlessly. When you do experience an issue (let’s say, your seat assignment isn’t what you expected, or your room isn’t ready when you arrive) be sure to let it put you in a foul mood. In fact, to really hit a home run, let it ruin the whole remainder of your vacation.
Getting a Connecting Room
I need a connecting room.
“We’d like connecting rooms, please.”
It’s a familiar and common request. A large party getting two rooms want to be nearby each other rather than being spread across the resort. Perhaps it is a family with teenagers. They want two rooms so they have more room, and they want two bathrooms, but they want to be able to supervise the kids, make sure they’re tucked in safe and sound.
The fact is, almost no resorts actually guarantee connecting rooms. There are some resorts, like many of the Riu Palaces, where the front doors are paired two by two so it is a higher certainty that you’ll be assigned rooms where the front doors face each other. The pair of front doors are down a short hallway, so it is almost like connecting rooms with private access between the two rooms.
At other resorts the connecting rooms are fewer, so its harder to get them.
There are resorts where they have a pair of connecting rooms as a specific roomtype. Take the Azul Sensatori, for instance. They offer a connecting oceanview suite room type. The room consists of two of their normal oceanview suites that have a connecting door. It bears noting that it is more expensive to get a pair of connecting rooms, in this case, than two separate rooms. The resorts know that when a family needs or wants a connecting room, they are willing to pay for it.
Another option is an all suite resort. Take the Marival Residences in Puerto Vallarta, for instance. The Marival completely consists of 1,2 and 3 bedroom suites. A one or two bedroom suite would be a great alternative to connecting rooms. What doesn’t work, though, is getting a suite instead of connecting rooms at a resort that consists mainly of normal resort type rooms. If the resort only has a handful of suites, they charge a premium for them. We have families or small groups of people all the time wanting us to price the suite versus the two rooms…it will be more expensive than two rooms. (Unless it is an all suite resort.)
Having said all that, when you do request adjoining rooms, the resorts really will do everything possible to assign them to you. It doesn’t serve the resort’s best interest to have your family spread across the resort. They want to make you happy. They really do.
What experience have you had with connecting rooms? Put them in the comments below.
