YOU KNOW YOU’VE BOOKED A CHEAP FLIGHT WHEN…

As you board the plane, you notice the co-pilot is frowning and wearing an “I’m with Stupid” T-Shirt.

The Captain announces over the intercom the Flight is delayed while he looks for his keys.

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We all know that you should never leave home without your toothbrush, and you’d be silly to forget your passport.   But too often it’s the little things that make all the difference on the road.  Here are eight non-essential travel accessories that you may find to be, well, essential.  If you have any of your own, feel free to post a note below.

1. Hot sauce

Anyone visiting Mexico, Thailand or Jamaica needn’t worry about the spice of their meals, but if you’re going to Europe, Africa, or just about anywhere else, a tiny bottle of hot sauce rescues any meal from certain doom.   Hot sauce rescues most airline meals too. Remember to keep it in a plastic bag for security, and just in case it breaks and spices up your luggage.

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A play of life and death, promised in a moment of mortal threat - so began the history of the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1633.  In the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and death from the plague, the Oberammergauers swore an oath that they would perform the “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” every ten years.  At Pentecost 1634, they fulfilled their pledge for the first time on a stage they put up in the cemetery above the fresh graves of the plague victims.

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This summer I had the opportunity to visit a truly outstanding resort: Beaches Turks and Caicos.  It was only for one night, but that was long enough to be very impressed with what the property has to offer.  The other three Beaches properties are in Jamaica (I have also toured Beaches Boscobel), and they have many of the same features and amenities, however the Turks and Caicos location is certainly the jewel in the crown.

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When you book virtually any cruise you can get the price adjusted if it drops before final payment date (usually 70 days prior to sailing). With Royal Caribbean’s new Price Guarantee, even if the price drops after final payment date, they will honor that rate by applying an onboard credit to the reservation equal to the price difference.  Book your Royal Caribbean cruise in advance to get the best sailing and stateroom locked up, and you are still guaranteed the lowest rate!

Travel can be expensive, but with a little thought and planning, you can really minimize your costs and travel more!  Here are some tips:

1. You don’t need to pay big bucks for water.  Take an empty bottle through security and fill it at a water fountain. 
2. Research current local currency exchange rates so you can shop for the best rate and avoid being scammed.     (more…)