A Must Do Weekend

I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while. Then on Saturday, my very dear friend mentioned her husband was off on a Siblings Weekend. He and his siblings agree to meet for a weekend, without spouses or kids; a destination, where there is no other family around. What a great idea.

This same dear friend and I and another friend went to Puerto Vallarta for a fabulous Girls Weekend in 2015. We had such a good time we vowed we would make it an annual affair. At this rate, it would be a triennial trip.

The concept of a weekend away, with long time close friends, who knew you when, is very appealing. But then reality strikes and the logistics of making it happen are daunting. Finding a time that everyone is available, a convenient and affordable destination, dealing with spouses, children, the furry “kids”, work and even parents, can make it feel too indulgent. It’s easy to let it slide or just give it up.

These weekend trips are not indulgent vacations. They are connections to those who played important roles in your life, some still do on a daily basis and some may live worlds away. Deep down inside, is that younger person, who those friends knew and can share treasured memories.

Despite your very different adult lives, careers, families and life’s struggles, there is still that younger person of 20 or even 50 years ago inside. How fabulous would that be to celebrate that inner you, with those confidants of yesterday year.

Wherever the roots of your earlier "gang" go back — college, high school, summer camp, former coworkers — find your pre-family buds. Don’t lose them, because they are your connection with a part of yourself you don't want to lose. Give them a call and start planning your next friends’ weekend. I'm going to.

Need help? We’re here to make it easy. All you’ll have to do is find the date!

Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

What would Don Quixote think?

Do you love surrounding yourself with rich history and vibrant scenery on your vacations? That's just what we have been doing, on this amazing AMA Waterways river cruise through The Netherlands and Belgium during tulip season.

On Friday, I'll be up close and personal to this village of Kinderdijk, nestled in the south of Holland just a stone’s throw from Rotterdam. This is every storybook image you have ever had, come true. It offers everything you want for the ideal Dutch experience. If the rain holds, I plan to bike through this. It couldn't be more magical. Here's what I'm looking forward to experiencing.

Kinderdijk is built in a “polder,” which is an area with no natural connection to outside water source. Originally a wetland, the area was drained by 19 windmills built around 1740, which are still working to this day to prevent the site from flooding – although they have a little help from automated systems and modern pumping stations!

This charming village has the largest concentration of historic windmills in the Netherlands, and they are quite the spectacle! So much so that they were declared a World Heritage site in 1997.

Incredible Views as Far as the Eye can See!

The historic windmills are surrounded by thousands of brightly colored tulips at peak season, creating a view that looks like it has leaped off of a canvas! This gorgeous scenery has been the influence of many painters and photographers – be sure to bring your camera with you to capture a shot of the windmills!

Kinderdijk is easy to get around; you can see all of the beautiful sights on a leisurely walk around the windmills, by taking a bicycle ride down by the canals, or for those with more luxurious tastes, see it all on a horse-drawn tram ride for sightseeing in style. Keep an eye out for some fantastic wildlife, too; foxes, martens, and the endangered purple heron can all be spotted here!

There’s Always Something Good to Eat!

When traveling abroad, one of the most exciting things to do is sample the local cuisine, and Kinderdijk does not disappoint! You can round off your day with some delicious foods – try a warm and gooey Stroopwafel, some young Gouda cheese in a sandwich with dark bread, or Bitterballen, a crunchy, savory snack made with chopped beef, butter, flour, and a blend of herbs and spices.

Visit The Molenhok restaurant for a cozy, casual dining experience, or The Grand Café Buena Vista for international flavor. Surrounded by waterways, Kinderdijk has an abundance of fresh seafood, with fish dishes for every taste. Top your meal off with a scrumptious hot chocolate – or a Heineken!

Location, Location, Location!

Kinderdijk is easy to get to, no matter where you are staying in Holland. Ideal for a day trip, it is close to both Rotterdam (which can be cycled to!) and Dordrecht, Holland’s oldest city.

Tulip season is only about 6 weeks and sells out early. If this is your bucket list item, we should book you now for 2019.

Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

Are you your own worst enemy?

Travel writer, Christopher Elliott, started his own consumer advocacy website in 1997. On a daily basis, Elliott receives dozens of emails that have added up to tens of thousands over the years. If you want help from his team of advocates, one is asked to fill out a long form that helps them evaluate the problem and work through the issues that have the traveler feeling wronged.

Elliot and his team, have divided complaints into those that can be handled on their own, with his guidelines, as either resolve on their own or avoid the problem completely. More complicated ones can use his advocacy services.

Over the years, Elliot says, he has become a “very careful traveler. When I read nothing but horror stories all day long, you get this sense, you’re glad that it wasn’t you.”. “When my people read about the horrible things that happen, inevitably we get to the point where we realize they could have avoided it by using a travel agent.”

Here are Elliot’s top 6 to do's, to avoid, stress and trouble and have a happy, before, during and after vacation.

1. Take the time to fully understand what you are booking


“Just because you can look up a fare and book it, that doesn’t mean you understand the airlines’ complex fare rules. The travel industry has its own rules and sense of logic, and most people don’t understand it,” he said, noting airline ticketing and refund rules and hotel prepay restrictions. “It’s all illogical and even airline customer service departments have a hard time explaining it.” A common problem is “’the airline spelled my name wrong on my tickets.’ Airline websites only print out what you, the consumer, put in. In most cases, if you catch your mistake within 24 hours, you can get it corrected with no charge. It’s amazing how many people do not review their confirmations.

2. Purchase travel insurance


“Even just thinking about travel insurance isn’t common,” said Elliott, who believes half the complaints he and his staff review could have been avoided if the consumer simply had purchased travel insurance. “Everyone thinks, ‘My vacation is going to be fine. My connections will be fine.’ And then they end up losing everything and contact me to get help. They send threatening letters to the local newspaper, or ‘7 On Your Side,’ and that can sometimes work. But it would be so much easier if they just purchased travel insurance,”

3. Do your due diligence


“Read the fine print before you purchase. Read it twice, and click once,” Elliott said. “If you had taken the time to read everything, you might not even have purchased the product.”

4. Plan for the unexpected


“People are overly optimistic when it comes to travel. “They think planes take off on time and that hotel rooms will be ready when they arrive. All of their dinner reservations will go flawlessly,” he said. “The people who contact me for help thought nothing extraordinary would happen, but of course, something did. Travelers need to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

5. Pack your manners with everything else


“Often you will find people are their own worst enemy. When something goes wrong, they make it worse by their rudeness. A customer service representative is a human being, and if you treat that person, who probably isn’t happy about the events surrounding your misfortune either, politely, you may never need to contact me,” he said. “But so many people have an event on the first day of their trip, they get really bent out of shape trying to fix the problem, and they end up ruining the rest of their vacation. If they had packed their manners, they likely would have had a much better trip.”

6. Book through a travel agent


“Most of the people who contact me think they can DIY their way through their vacation,” he said. “I tell them, next time, find yourself a good travel agent, not just any agent. You’ll keep yourself out of trouble that way. A good travel advisor tells the clients everything I do, so the consumer can make an educated decision and protect themselves.”

Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

Tales of a Real ID

I was filing out some paper work and had to send a copy of my driver’s license. Fortunately, I noticed it was expiring in June, on my birthday. Since I will be taking the Filoli group to The Netherlands to see the Tulips, then back to SF for a few days, then off to the Maldives, I thought I better take care of renewing my license. As a fine upstanding citizen, I went to the DMV website to see how to renew on line.

Well to my surprise they are all over this Real ID Act. I have blogged several times about states having to comply with the federal requirements. Basically, if you don’t have a Real ID, by October 2020, no getting on a domestic flight, visiting a military base or certain federal facilities, without a passport. Okay, so I assumed my renewal would take care of that and my new license would be a Real ID. Not the case. Leave it to the government to complicate things.

In California and I assume it will be similar in other states, you can renew your driver’s license on line. But that will not get you a Real ID. Meaning every time you fly domestically, you would have to have your passport with you. Well that wasn’t going to cut it.

In order to get a driver’s license, that is a certified Real ID, you have to appear in person, at the DMV. In addition, you must bring 3 types of approved ID that prove you are who you are and that you live where you say you live. Your current driver’s license is not one of those items.

In California, driver’s licenses are valid for 5 years. In 2020, I would need a Real ID license, so I might as well jump through the hoops now and be ready. Luckily you can make an appointment on line. Mine is for May 18th, thinking I should be somewhat over the jet lag and not looking too haggard for my photo. Still giving me 2 weeks before my license expires, in case I have to reschedule. I will show up with my passport, my utility bill and my Social Security card, which will get me my real Real ID.

If you license is expiring between now and October 1, 2020, apply for a Real ID. If you license expires after Oct 1, 2020, you may still want to apply for a Real ID before that date. Especially if you fly a lot domestically or don’t have a passport (can’t image you are reading my blog and don’t have a passport!).

I’ll report back on the process, at the DMV, after May 18th. For more info on the CA DMV click here.

Call me, let's talk! 415 931-1945.
Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com