Travel Tips | Suzette Mack Travel

Supplier Kudos: Supporting Clients in Tahiti

Travelers this year need to stay on top of rapidly changing travel requirements, and make sure they know how to meet them to prevent problems like denied boarding or unexpected quarantine. Our trusted travel partners once again have stepped in using their personal connections to give our clients an extra level of confidence while traveling.

French Polynesia unexpectedly announced they had to close their borders this week, but travelers currently in country are allowed to complete their travel plans. Getting back to the US requires a negative COVID test, and day of flight testing is available at Faa’a airport. But the hours are limited, presenting logistical challenges for travelers, especially those who have to fly or ferry back from outlying islands.

clear blue waters around the island of moorea with a lone swimmer

Would having to stay here be such a bad thing??

So I was thrilled to hear this news from our favorite supplier partner for French Polynesia: They arranged for testing to stay open later for our clients, and are stationing a concierge at the airport. Someone who has our client’s itinerary will be watching for them, and guide them to the proper location. And they have made sure that testing does not close until all our clients are tested.

Map showing the many islands that comprise French Polynesia

There is much more to French Polynesia than just Tahiti.

I have always booked my Tahiti clients with this supplier because they’ve provided outstanding in-country support. I could trust my clients were in the best hands should they need assistance, and I even used them for my own trip. This recent turn of events reinforces my confidence that they are capable of rapidly responding to quickly changing rules, and will go above and beyond to take care of my clients.

Painting on side of building on Raiatea. It's a woman laying on her back who appears to be floating, she's wearing a blue & shite thin striped dress.

The street art on Raiatea was a pleasant surprise.

Planning a trip is much more than just checking for the best rates and amenities and making reservations. We research HOW to book the trip, so that clients have the most flexible terms, the most appropriate travel insurance, and the most reliable support in their destination. And once booked, we continuously communicate with our supplier partners to make sure we have the latest and most accurate information.

Sunset seen from Windstar cruise ship over island in the distance

Goodbye, but I’ll be back!

Whether you’re ready to plan your next trip, or just want to talk about your travel dreams, I’m here for you.

February 5, 2021/by macktravels

Adventure, Expedition Cruise, Family Travel, Small Ship Cruise, Travel Tips, Wildlife and Nature

Tips For Picking The Perfect Wildlife Trip

If your goal is an authentic wildlife experience, then you need to choose your trip and your travel supplier carefully. You want to be sure your trip was designed specifically with finding and viewing wildlife in mind, above everything else. You are there for the experience, not the thread count!

Here are some of the key factors to look for:

Timing – You want to be in the right place at the right time. While you can see bears throughout the primary tourist season in Alaska, there is a specific time of year and location if you hope to see bears scooping salmon out of a river. The same goes for seeing baby penguins in Antarctica.

Black bears in British Columbia near a wilderness lodge

The bear viewing season is completely different in British Columbia. And there is one location unlike all others. Photo credit: The Chilko Experience

Size – Smaller is better for the group size, accommodations, and transportation. The less disturbance you make in the environment, the better chance you won’t scare wildlife away. In properly managed locations, wildlife is not fearful of humans which allows for close interaction.

Gray whale encounter in Magadalena Bay with Lindblad Expeditions

One of the most memorable wildlife encounters I’ve had was in Magadalena Bay with Lindblad Expeditions. Within their lifetime, the gray whales here were hunted. So it’s amazing they are eager to interact with humans now.

Expert Guides– You want experienced guides familiar with the area and the behavior of the local wildlife, as they will know where to go, and can read the physical and environmental clues. Some guides in Africa are very well known and sought after by the many companies who plan custom touring, so you need to plan ahead to hire them for your trip.

We got up before dawn to head out on an elk safari with our Vermejo Ranch guide.

Flexibility – Wildlife does not appear on schedule. Even when you’re in the right place, you often have to wait for the wildlife to show up. Or you have to be able to quickly move to where the wildlife is spotted. So don’t be alarmed if your travel itinerary doesn’t appear to have a lot of structure. You need to have patience, but with that comes great rewards.

An expedition cruise will re-route the ship or stop dinner service to see a pod of whales. Photo credit: Lindblad Expeditions client in Alaska.

Remote Location– It makes sense that there is more pristine wildlife viewing when there are fewer people, so find a supplier who has exclusive permits or access to private land. The best Africa safari experiences are on private concessions instead of in the national parks.

Galapagos islands collage with Lindblad Expeditions ship and blue footed booby and baby

The Galapagos Islands are the perfect place to stay socially distanced. Except from the animals

Though you can’t always expect luxury, it doesn’t mean you can’t get it along with a great wildlife experience. Photo credit: Africa Inscribed Private Travel

Sustainability– It’s critical that tourism does not adversely impact the environment or the behavior of animals in order to preserve both. Most of the top suppliers in the industry have a solid reputation as good stewards of their destinations, but do a little research to be sure. You want to be sure your tourism dollars are helping, not harming.

“We were so privileged to be part of this conservation programme which was, without a doubt, one of our career highlights.” Photo credit: Africa Inscribed Private Travel

The best wildlife trips that incorporate all these elements:

Expedition cruises – Companies like Lindblad Expeditions and Aqua Expeditions have ships designed for this purpose, with only 30-100 passsengers that can get into remote locations, and launch zodiacs and kayaks to provide close-up experiences in very small groups.

Photographic gear that Lindblad Expedition guests can borrow for free.

Lindblad Expedition stocks a locker with high end photography gear and binoculars that clients can borrow for no charge.

Aqua Expeditions newest ship, Aqu Blu, was designed to travel in Indonesia year-round, including Komodo National Park. Photo credit: Aqua Expeditions

Small group escorted wildlife tours – A great example is Natural Habitat Adventures, with a group size averaging only 9 people. Their polar bear excursions in Canada are outfitted with vehicles and lodging designed specifically for the environment.

Polar bear checking out Natural Habitat expedition vehicle

Who’s the tourist here? Photo credit: Natural Habitat Adventures

Private wildlife tours– This is the ultimate wildlife experience catered to your special interests and abilities. They can even take you off the beaten path in popular tourist areas like national parks. (You can book many Nat Hab trips as a private tour at little to no extra cost, depending on your group size!) Booking a private car and guide in Africa offers a richer safari experience than the group game drives.

Looks like Yellowstone but it’s Vermejo Ranch in New Mexico! It’s larger than most national parks, and has its own herd of bison.

If you are traveling independently and want a great wildlife experience, splurge by booking a private tour with an expert guide. This is also ideal for photographers, as they can guide you to the wildlife, and you don’t have to jostle for position with other tourists.

For expert assistance with a wildlife-focused trip, contact me at suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.

Manta ray in Bora Bora seen on private snorkeling trip

In Bora Bora we booked a private snorkeling tour. The guide asked us what we wanted to see, and drove the speedboat to the perfect location. We visited five sites including this manta ray “cleaning station.”

September 29, 2020/by macktravels

Destination Reports, Hotel Reports, Travel Tips

Behind the Scenes With Suzette: My First Virtual Travel Conference

Virtuoso Travel Week wrapped up recently, a huge event normally held in Las Vegas, which went virtual for the first time. While I missed seeing my colleagues and travel partners in person, the outcome was the same: strong connections with the people who have the most influence over my clients’ travel experience, who will hand select their hotel room and VIP them, and who I will call on for support with a special request or a problem.

A supplier’s network of contacts and personal relationships with hotels in the destination are my most important consideration when selecting who to partner with for my clients’ trips.

Of course it’s a sales event as well, and I love getting the inside scoop on what’s new and what’s going on behind the scenes that you won’t find on the internet.

Some highlights this year:

An adventure tour operator has structured their pricing so 6-7 travelers can take over many of their tour dates as a private trip with no increase in cost. How great for family groups or couples traveling together!
A sneak peak at two new resorts: one opening soon in Sonoma wine country, and something completely unique on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

New hotels in Sonoma Wine Country and the Pacific Coast of Mexico

Exciting new hotels opening in late 2020 – reservations being accepted now!

Suppliers are working on vetting more private luxury beach houses, villas, and apartments so we can book them with confidence for our clients.
Some resorts have interconnecting 2-4 bedroom options, but they are not advertised on their website because they have to manually block them. We must contact our sales reps to book these.
A luxury cycling company has the motto is BIKE – EAT – DRINK – SLEEP. You can choose your priorities!

A Southwest national parks trip includes a visit to lesser known Snow Canyon State Park.

Hotels are coming up with creative ways to make the vacation experience special while still social distancing: private movie nights offered on bungalow patios, mobile bar carts instead of public bars.
A Sedona resort is debuting a new adventure center for hikers and mountain bikers. Talk with an expert to pick the right trail, and rent top of the line gear.
Several guest ranches are open through winter with fun programs for families.

Ranches offer a “home away from home” winter experience, with accommodations from lodge rooms to cozy private cabins to multi-bedroom fully-equipped homes.

One of the most exciting and innovative developments: A few resorts have announced homeschool packages, where they will provide remote learning space and staff so kids can keep up with coursework while the parents work.

Holiday space is starting to book up, and I can confirm that as I have had two clients this week find out the resort they wanted is not available. But many properties which normally sell out by now do have space. Cancellation policies are more flexible than usual (some even up 24-48 hours prior to arrival), so planning now is risk-free for at least several months.

Virtuoso exclusives in Bora Bora include 4th night free, daily breakfast (some with dinner, too), $100 hotel credit, and roundtrip airport shuttle.

Also check out Virtuoso’s recap of the 9 Best Things Learned at Virtuoso Travel Week.

I didn’t attend any cocktail parties, but I did get martini tips from a bartender in London. And I bonded over a love of boxers with the owner of a beautiful Tuscany resort who’s also a Michelin chef. (I don’t speak Italian, but I think our dogs may be betrothed now??)

Screenshots of meeting with Tuscany resort owner and luxury hotel in London

Il Falconiere, a Relais & Chateaux property in Cortona, and Egerton House, one of only 15 Forbes 5 star hotels in London.

Whether or not to plan travel now is a personal choice, but if you hope to get away in 2021 (or even 2022 for big trips like Africa), we should talk. Drop me a note or give me a call at 408-223-6155, I’m always happy to talk travel!

August 28, 2020/by macktravels

Adventure, Expedition Cruise, Family Travel, Travel Tips

Behind the Scenes With Suzette: Navigating Travel Insurance

As I wrote previously, my colleagues and I have invested a lot of time learning about the various travel insurance products available. While similar on the surface, they have nuances that can determine whether or not they provide adequate coverage for a client’s particular trip. So I am amazed that anyone would book a trip and simply click a box saying they will purchase the insurance offered by that supplier. (But at least they are buying some form of insurance!)

My clients tend to fall into two groups:

> Those that understand the value of travel protection, and expect me to send them a quote as soon as they’ve booked their trip.

> Those that say they have never purchased it because they’ve never had to cancel a trip, or it’s not worth the money.

First, I don’t know anyone who has a crystal ball that guarantees no unexpected emergency will happen that could cause them to cancel. Second, many clients are surprised to find out how inexpensive insurance can be. (The rule of thumb is 5-7% of the trip cost, and families pay even less on policies that include free coverage for children.) And there are many other benefits offered besides trip cancellation coverage which can make having a policy pay off.

Zodiac boat on snorkeling tour in Hawaii

Reimbursement for dropping personal items in the ocean can recoup the costs of an insurance policy. Take it from my personal experience! (Photo credit: Ryan Mack)

♦ Expert Tip ♦
Buy a policy as soon as you make any payment on a trip, otherwise you can lose out on coverage
for pre-existing conditions or financial default. You can add more coverage
as you book other components of the trip. And be sure you
understand all the terms and conditions to qualify for that coverage.

What do my colleagues and I learn in training sessions and updates from our insurance reps?

How do we ensure clients are covered for pre-existing medical conditions, and what is considered a pre-existing condition?
How do we ensure clients are covered for financial default, and how is “financial default” defined?
How is “family member” defined?
What documents are needed to file a claim successfully?
Which suppliers offer “cancel for any reason” coverage and what are the terms?
What upgrades are available for unique situations not normally covered: pregnancy, a cancelled wedding, an ill pet, civil disorder?

Vacation home in Bodega Bay with view of ocean

Bliss in Bodega Bay, California.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
Losses related to a home, villa, or apartment rental booked directly with the owner are not ususally covered.
The booking must be made with a travel supplier, which include the companies travel advisors work with.

There are also travel packages that offer vacation protection plans with coverage that may be better than traditional travel insurance policies. For example, one of my clients was able to cancel their trip with less than 24 hours notice when COVID-19 was just starting to spread, and they didn’t want to be out of the country, because they had “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage. Most insurance policies cut off this benefit 48 hrs or more prior to travel. This can be an important factor in determining the best way to book a client’s trip.

It’s true that there are some things travel insurance doesn’t cover. In fact, I was quoted in a Forbes article on this topic. While it doesn’t cover cancellation for pandemics or government restrictions, a traveler is generally covered if they get coronavirus or fail a COVID-19 test. And you definitely want coverage if you fall ill and/or are quarantined in a hospital or hotel while traveling. Some destinations now require visitors show proof of insurance and coverage for quarantine expenses and medical evacuation.

♦ Expert Tip ♦
If you don’t need or want trip cancellation coverage, buy a barebones policy
to get the other benefits including coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, baggage damage/loss,
24×7 emergency support, and more. This is especially recommended when traveling
to a destination that may require large advance payments for treatment.

Traveleres on Lindblad expedition in Svalbard viewing polar bear on ice floe

Cruising in a remote location? You need travel insurance to cover evacuation from the ship to the nearest medical facility, and medical evacuation coverage to pay for transportation to the hospital of your choice. (Photo credit: Lindblad Expeditions client on Svaldbard polar bear cruise)

When it comes to travel insurance, most travelers don’t know what they don’t know. Our job as professional travel advisors is to know what questions to ask our clients, so we can recommend the products that would provide the best protection for their specific needs.

Disclaimer: The information presented here may not apply to all travel insurance products, and can change at any time. Contact the insurance provider to answer technical questions about benefits, exclusions, and conditions of any of the insurance they offer.

August 6, 2020/by macktravels

Destination Reports, Family Travel, Honeymoon/Romance, Hotel Reports, Travel Tips

Behind the Scenes with Suzette: Hotel Inspections

July 8, 2020/by macktravels

Adventure, Destination Reports, Family Travel, Travel Tips, Wildlife and Nature

Behind the Scenes with Suzette: Doing Business During a Pandemic

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, January 29 to be exact. I just reviewed it, and though the world has changed dramatically since then, it’s still relevant, as is the one before it (How to Travel Well in 2020). While travel is mostly paused right now, I’m going to pull back the curtain on the life of a travel advisor in a series of “behind the scenes” posts.

When people ask how I am doing, they are often surprised at how busy I continue to be, months after the crisis first erupted.

Me in March 2020

I can only speak for myself, but I suspect my life has been similar to most travel advisors. Here’s how I spend my time:

Managing cancelled trips – Unraveling all arrangements, re-booking for 2021 where possible. Requesting and tracking refunds and credits. Assisting with travel insurance claims, or transferring/pausing unused policies.

Managing upcoming trips – Staying on top of new payment and cancellation policies, preparing to pivot to a new plan as conditions change. Monitoring COVID-19 updates and restrictions for destinations.

♦ Expert Tip ♦

Passport applications and renewals have been on hold

since mid-March, and it’s expected to take months to catch up.

See the State Dept website for updates.

Educating myself – Attending webinars on the domestic trips that are in high demand as the country opens up, such as national parks, RV vacations, ranches and lodges, and private home and villa rentals. Keeping up with industry news to stay on top of new developments.

Vermejo Park Ranch, a Ted Turner Reserve

Communicating with colleagues – Sharing resources for finding the most accurate information about suppliers, destinations, and health and travel advisories. Sharing personal anecdotes about airline and hotel experiences so we can best advise our clients. And sharing news on our personal lives, to feel more connected during this difficult time.

Meeting with hotels – Learning when are they opening, what services are they offering, what health and sanitation procedures they are implementing.

presentation on hotel post-COVID 19 plans

An udpate from one of our California hotel partners. I hope to visit there soon!

Meeting with travel suppliers – Getting their expert insider information on destinations, updates on booking and cancellation terms, and their frank opinion on what to expect in the coming months.

Diving deep into travel insurance– Understanding COVID-19 coverage, staying up to date on procedures for claims and new policies, getting training on various insurance companies and their products. Despite some bad press about coverage being limited in a pandemic, there are still many ways travel insurance can protect a traveler’s investment. More on that in a future post.

♦ Expert Tip ♦

It’s very important to get a policy as soon as you make ANY payment on a trip,

in order to be eligible for all the coverage available.

You can update it later if things change.

I created an Instagram poll last month to see how people were feeling about travel. Here are the questions and the results.

If you’d like to contribute, send your answers to suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep dreaming!

June 9, 2020/by macktravels

Family Travel, Holiday Travel, Travel Tips

Why You Should Be Planning Holiday Travel Now

Supply vs Demand
The holidays have always been a popular time to travel, but now more people than ever are choosing to travel instead of exchanging presents. Popular destinations that typically require 2 weeks or more to experience, like Australia, New Zeland, and Africa, often start booking two years in advance.

Wildlife!

Minimum Night Stay Requirements
If you want to stay less than 7-10 nights at a resort, your choices drop significantly. The early booking bird may get to check out early, too.

Powder!

The Best and the Cheapest Go First
This rule of thumb applies all year round. You can wait to see if there are any last minute “deals,” but it likely won’t be the best rate you could have had. And if you want the best suite at a resort, you may find there’s a waiting list a year in advance.

Decorations!

Special Requests
Many of our preferred partner hotels will guarantee requests like connecting rooms or a particular location, but they are first come, first served.

Adventure!

You Can’t Find It Online
Many properties will not allow holiday bookings on their website due to the complexities of managing high demand and booking restrictions such as designated arrival dates. I work with my personal contacts on the sales team, who may know of inventory available that the front desk agents can’t see, and can prioritize my clients on waiting lists.

Jet skis and kayaks at Four Seasons Bora Bora

Toys!

Large Groups Have Limited Options
Since villas and private homes are all unique, they take more time and care to book. The holidays also bring peak rates with stringent cancellation penalties. You want to be sure you are booking with a reliable supplier who has personally vetted the properties, and provides support to call since there’s no on-site staff to address problems.

Wine!

What sounds better: Knowing where you are spending the holidays before spring arrives? Or scrambling to find whatever space is available next fall as you deal with all the other impending holiday tasks? Contact me at suzette@suzettemacktravel.com to get started now!

Happiness!

January 29, 2020/by macktravels

Travel Tips

How To Travel Well in 2020

In a podcast for travel professionals, I recently heard a quote that resonated with me, and it came from someone I consider a friend and mentor:

“In service experiences you don’t get do-overs”
Kerry Dyer, Brownell Travel

What immediately followed in my mind was that you don’t get a do-over on your dream vacation, either. I, like most of my colleagues, gave up a successful career to start anew in the travel industry, because we wanted to help make travel dreams come true for others. Yes, we are running a business with the goal of making money. But we chose travel because we love building the relationship with our clients, understanding their priorities and needs, and designing the perfect trip just for them. However there is no joy in finding out they were disappointed, or worse, they ran into serious problems. No amount of money makes up for the feeling that we let our clients down.

Meeting a baby gray whale Magdalena Bay in Baja (Lindblad Expeditions, March 2019)

Fortunately things don’t go wrong often. But it’s also not an accident that things go right most of the time. And I strongly believe the key to that is in my supplier partnerships, the people I entrust to take care of my clients wherever they are in the world, no matter what happens.

So my responsibilities to my clients are:

Select the suppliers carefully depending on my client’s needs, the type of trip they desire, and the destination.
Cultivate strong relationships with these suppliers so we have mutual trust and respect, and can work effectively and efficiently to make our client’s trip the best it can be.

Tahiti Cruise (Windstar, August 2019)

Why is this important going into 2020? Because travel demand continues to grow at a rapid pace. I celebrated my best year ever in 2019, earning a place in Brownell’s 1887 Club. But this growth also meant there were more challenges in booking and managing travel, and who I choose to partner with in 2020 and beyond is becoming more important than ever.

Frozen Charles River (Boston, Jan 2019)

Suppliers are competing for resources. A supplier who has their own guides and vehicles, and also has strong personal connections, and is highly regarded by his or her colleagues, can more reliably offer the best service versus suppliers who are outsource everything to third parties. This really comes to light when problems occur, asthe true test of a supplier’s worthiness is how they handle a crisis.

Most recently we’ve seen travelers throughout France finding it difficult to rely on public transportation. Our suppliers have been lining up private drivers on short notice so our clients’ touring plans are not impacted. Airline strikes have forced clients to rebook or reroute their trips, and incur additional costs. While this is a “gray area” with travel insurance suppliers, our strong relationship with our insurance rep has smoothed the path to quickly resolve claims.

Lovely evening stroll in Antibes (Dec, 2019)

Private home and apartment rentals are growing in popularity, but they are prone to fraud, and quality control is difficult. I can attest from personal experience (before I was in the industry and knew better) to the panic that ensues when you show up at your rental, late at night, with no key to be found, and the management office closed. Fortunately my problem was resolved in a few hours once I was able to reach the homeowner and get a spare key from a nearby relative. We seek out partners who have direct relationships with the property owners/managers, provide 24×7 emergency support, and have demonstrated a commitment to customer service.

Meeting the Vermejo Ranch residents (New Mexico, Sep 2019)

Yesterday an article came out advising travelers where they should not go in 2020. The primary reasons were overtourism, which was becoming detrimental to the environment or residents, to the traveler experience, or both. The concerns are legitimate, but rather than avoid these destinations, they can be experienced in a different way. Our supplier’s personal contacts, resources, and innovative ideas can get my clients away from the crowds, and often provide a more authentic experience. But I won’t send a client “off the beaten track” with just anybody.

Christmas Market on Marienplatz (Munich, Dec 2019)

The last industry event I attended in 2019 was the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes. It’s not just a networking event, it was an opportunity for me to meet one on one with potential suppliers to ask hard questions about how they run their business and what advantage they offer over their competitors. And now I have a name and a face, and a shared experience, which has created a connection between us when I reach out to talk about a potential trip. (Spending an hour trying to find your Uber driver in Antibes who doesn’t speak English is a good team building exercise!) In ANY business, building relationships is crucial, but even more so in the hospitality industry.

Walking up the same red carpet as the film stars in Cannes (ILTM, Dec 2019)

The good news is that I have many wonderful suppliers who are great partners, that care just as much as I do about my clients. So I look forward to helping clients fulfill their travel dreams in 2020 and beyond.

~ Happy New Year From My Family To Yours!! ~

Boston University Graduation (May, 2019)

January 1, 2020/by macktravels

Adventure, Cruises, Destination Reports, Family Travel, Honeymoon/Romance, Small Ship Cruise, Travel Tips, Wildlife and Nature

Packing Lessons Learned On A Windstar Tahiti Cruise

The packing guidelines for our 7-night Windstar Dreams of Tahiti voyage seemed pretty straightforward: beachwear/casual during the day, resort casual in the dining room. But as I thought about the various excursions we booked, my packing list became quite long, and I still wasn’t sure what to expect on board. As I unpacked, I couldn’t help but judge how I did. Here’s my breakdown,

What I Should Have Brought

More sunscreen – We just barely had enough. Brought 2 tubes of lotion and 1 can of spray (Costco sized) for 4 adults. By the second to last day we were using more sparingly since we worried about running out.

More casual clothes – I needed more options for the downtime between the end of excursions and happy hour/dinner. While many people were lounging in swimsuits, we usually were in the water all day so we would shower as soon as we boarded. I could have used a bigger variety of t-shirts, tanks, and shorts for relaxing on deck.

Cultural show onboard Windstar Wind Spirit in Tahiti

A typical afternoon onboard the Wind Spirit, where the aft deck and pool bar was a gathering place for socializing and events.

A baseball cap – My wide-brimmed sun hat got a lot of use, but I didn’t want to wear it unless I was out on an excursion. And with the wind and humidity, I pretty much wanted my hair covered at all times. I now have a nice souvenir from Bloody Mary’s on Bora Bora!

On a catamaran with the Wind Spirit in the background in Moorea

In this sun it’s essential to keep your head covered and make sure hats won’t fly off in the wind.

Suzette Mack outside Bloody Mary's in Bora Bora

Bloody Mary’s is a must-see in Bora Bora, it’s such a unique place. And has great food!

Travel coffee mug – From past cruise experience I knew I would want one, but forgot to pack it. I am early riser and LOVE my morning coffee. A larger travel mug would have saved me extra trips between the espresso bar and upper deck where I enjoyed watching the sun rise or the ship pull into port.

My first stop each morning, it opened at 6:30 am!

Special mention:
Rain gear – I actually did not need this, since it only rained once and stopped before we went ashore. And all our activities were water based, anyway. But I dodged a bullet because when it did rain one brief time, it poured. My hat and travel umbrella were fine for a light rain or quick trip outside, but if I had signed up for a hike or other land excursion, I would have been miserable. (Full size umbrellas are provided in the cabins.)

What I Should Have Left Home

“Special” deck shoes – I had bought a pair of slip-on closed toe deck shoes just for the trip. I ended up wearing my favorite cute Birkenstocks (yes, they exist!) when I wasn’t wearing my water shoes, and also had tan and black sandals for dinner. Moral of the story: just bring one pair of non-skid, comfortable shoes for hanging out on deck.

Sunset over Raiatea from the Windstar Wind Spirit cruise ship

The deck was often wet around the pool and hot tub, or after mopping by the crew. They kept the yacht immaculate!

A few dinner outfits – I could have gotten away with 2 fewer blouses and one less pair of cropped pants. There were 3 casual evenings for dinner, so I really only needed resort casual outfits 4 times.

Dinner at Candles on the Windstar Wind Spirit yacht

This was a casual dining evening on deck, but these clothes also were suitable in the dining room, except the guys would change into long pants. Some guests even wore t-shirts and shorts.

My sweater – I was prepared to be cold in air-conditioned areas, but that was not the case. I never needed more than a blouse to pull on over a tank top if I felt cool (which was rare). A light scarf would have been fine, too. But my daughter wore a sweatshirt quite often in the air-conditioned cabin, so it depends on how sensitive you are to that.

A few hundred francs – I really only needed about half of what I obtained in advance from my bank. And I should have asked for more small bills, as I only used it for tour and transfer gratuities, and small purchases from local vendors. They were usually happy to take a mix of USD and XPF, or even USD only.

Currency conversion was easy. 100 XPF (or CFP) is approximately 1 USD

An extra purse – My go-to travel purse is a small, water repellent cross-body with several pockets that I can stuff in my carry-on bag when boarding a plane. I packed a larger “cute” purse thinking I would use it on shore for shopping. I never took it out of the closet. Most of the time my beach bag was my purse, since I also was carrying sunscreen, insect repellent, a phone charger, and flip flops or water shoes.

What I Was Glad To Have

Insect repellent – The wind kept many bugs away, but there were a few places where I would have been miserable without repellant. And After Bite saves me when I do get bit, since I react badly to mosquitoes.

We really enjoyed our visit to a vanilla plantation. The insect repellent in those bottles is made from the nuts on the plate.

Lots of swimwear – I had 3 swimsuits, 2 pairs of water shorts, 1 long sleeve and 2 short sleeve rash guards, and a cover up. Since we were in the water every day, that allowed 2 days for each suit to dry which was necessary because there was no place outside to hang them. I swapped the coverup for the rash guard when we were done snorkeling.

Reef shoes – I already had closed-toe Tevas, so I had the rest of the family buy inexpensive reef shoes. These protected our feet from the coral on many beaches, and while snorkeling with sharks and stingrays in shallow water without fins. We also had flip flops for sandy beaches.

The coral on this beach and in the water is sharp! The elegant Wind Spirit is in the background.

I should note that I lean towards minimalism, and prefer to dress casually whenever I can get away with it. The beauty of the Windstar Cruise is that almost anything goes. There were many people who dressed up more, and they didn’t look out of place, either. The only attire I didn’t see on board were formal gowns, suits, ties, and sports jackets. The only exception was the crew, for special occasions. Some women wore lots of jewelry and accessories, some had none, and I made do with one set each of gold and silver.

Our fearless crew, with the captain on the far right who is from Bulgaria. (He has a wonderful accent!) On our last night they sang a farewell song to us.

The most important advice I can give is be sure to protect your feet and your skin from the elements, especially on shore excursions. It is practically impossible to be underdressed, even in the dining room. As long as you make an effort, you are fine!

After a lesson on how to tie and wear a pareo, we had to bring some home as souvenirs!

August 18, 2019/by macktravels

Travel Tips

Air Travel Tips for a Non-Expert, From a Non-Expert

You heard that right. I am a travel advisor who is not an expert at air travel! I can’t tell you off the top of my head which aircraft have lie flat business class seats, or which have the most leg room in coach. But I have traveled enough to be a bit savvy on dealing with hiccups while traveling.

Glaciers in Alaska

I’d like to share some air travel tips from friends’ and family experiences over the holidays:

1) Be proactive to get yourself rebooked once you realize you are going to miss a connection due to a flight delay or cancellation. If you are already at the airport and are waiting in line for an agent, get on the phone and call the airline. They may be able to help you first. And also try sending a tweet to the airline. I have found they often reply in minutes and ask you to send a direct message with your reservation number.

Flying over the Midwest or England?

2) Research other flight options available. If you don’t like what the airline offers, tell them what flight you want to be on. And don’t take the first “no.” You may have to call back to try to get a more helpful agent.

In the situation we had, the traveler (an inexperienced young adult) was rebooked on an evening flight, so there would have been a 6-7 hour layover and extremely late arrival for a 2 day trip! I called and explained the situation, and got him rebooked for a noon flight.

Yes, they can make flights a bit bumpy, but clouds are really beautiful.

3) Get a good flight tracking app. I am very happy with FlightView because not only can I learn of delays before the airline notifies me (and sometimes before the gate agents know), but I can check the status of the aircraft’s previous flight.

Here’s an example of how that helped us:

A friend’s early afternoon flight was listed as on time. Then I checked the status of the incoming aircraft. It was delayed and not scheduled to arrive until AFTER the scheduled departure time for my friend. Clearly the flight was not going to depart on time, unless they got another aircraft, and the delay would certainly cause a missed connection.

I called the airline and told them what I saw. The agent chuckled and said “You’re right,” and then rebooked the traveler on a flight two hours earlier.

View out of airplane window of snow capped mountains in Mexico

Yes you can find snow in Mexico!

This leads to the final tip:

4) Start monitoring your flight early! We had to leave an hour earlier than planned for the airport, but we had enough of a buffer that it was not terribly stressful.

As I mentioned, I am not an air booking expert, in fact I don’t even book airline tickets for clients. I use the airline websites for most of my travel. However, if these tickets were booked through an air ticketing expert, which many of my Brownell Travel colleagues are, there would have been no need for me to call the airline to sort things out.

It’s always ok to call the airline for help no matter how you book your ticket. But travelers who book through an air specialist have extra support, someone who has their back and knows the airline’s responsibility for delays and cancellations. And in some cases, an air specialist sees the problem before you do, and fixes a problem you don’t even know you have!

View out of airplane over San Jose, California

Heading home, that’s my neighborhood in San Jose

January 16, 2019/by macktravels