Making Lasting Memories

Disney’s latest theme at their parks is “Let the Memories Begin.”  That is what vacations are all about isn’t it?  Making precious and lasting memories with the ones you love?  Well...that is exactly what we did during my family’s Walt Disney World vacation this past September.  In fact, there were so many memories, I am not even sure where to begin.  

I guess I could begin with the memory of us climbing through the storm clouds as we left the Branson airport and having my arteries shocked into overdrive due to a direct hit by a lightning bolt.  Thank goodness I took along some extra personal items in my carry-on bag.  What a memory!  

Or maybe I should reflect on the memory of my wife trying to step into a van we had rented on Disney property and hearing her blurt “OUCH” as she sprained her ankle.  I certainly have the memory of her searing my brain with her eyes as she declared it was my fault that she was distracted while trying to enter the vehicle.  

Better yet, one of the greatest memories was when my dear sweet mother was given a full-body massage by several of the TSA therapists at Orlando’s International Airport.   One man who witnessed the event declared, “wow, she is a pistol packing mama!” Come on people...does she really look that threatening?

But probably the most lasting, unforgettable memories took place on day 2 of our trip.  I had already received the wrath of Kahn for my involvement in the ankle sprain incident and was further encouraged to improve later that day when I was slow at going to get ice for dear wife in order to apply to the injured area.  The lesson was so learned that I was ready to jump at the next opportunity to be at my wife’s beck and call and do what I can to make her trip more enjoyable.  I was punchy at the same time, fearful I may have a relapse and fall short in the area of superior customer service.  I was so punchy that the next morning’s most memorable event was inevitable.  My wife had graciously offered to go get her own ice while I hurried into the shower.  We were very eager to get this day (day 2) off to a better start and get to one of the parks.  Remember the lightning and the ankle sprain?  That was all on the first day and a half of our trip.  So as she left to get the ice, I jumped in the shower.  A few minutes passed and I thought I had heard a banging on our resort room door.  Blood pressure rose and so did my level of fear because I was picturing my wife standing outside our room in her PJ’s, standing on a sprained ankle and not having her room key with a similar look on her face that she had the day before.  I was not going to let her down this time so I lunged out of the shower, leaped out into our room and there she was; she was sitting quietly on the bed with her ankle propped up, ice pack applied, looking at me in pure wonderment.  And there I stood, sopping wet, butt-naked with my heart racing and eyes wide open only to hear her ask...”what on earth is wrong with you?”  That was then followed by uncontrollable laughter.  Now that is a great memory!

There they are...the most memorable moments from our big family Disney grand gathering.

What are some of your great memories from some of your past vacations?

(Seriously...we did have some other great memories not associated with pain or fear of death etc, but these just stick out for some reason)

Airline Tickets: When Should I Buy?

This is a very common and frequently asked question and one with a variety of answers.  As airline costs have risen, more and more travelers are trying to find ways of lessening their impact on their travel budget.

There used to be a general rule that certain days of the week may offer cheaper fares, but that is not really the case at the present time.  A quick glance at some different airlines and travel scenarios will show you that the cost to fly out on a Saturday and return on a Sunday with a 5-6 month advance purchase will most likely cost you the same as if you were to fly out on a Tuesday and return on a Monday.

So how does someone find the cheapest airfare possible if the days of travel don’t really make a difference?  Well, how flexible are you with your travel plans?  Is it possible for you to leave very early in the morning or fly on what they used to call a “red-eye flight?”  Are you willing to make multiple connections between your home airport and your final destination?  Both the time and number of connections effect the price a traveler will pay. For example...a flight with Delta airlines that departs at 6:00am may cost you over $100 less than a flight that leaves at 9:30am. 

Are your plans solid?  Are you comfortable with buying your airline tickets 6 months or more in advance? I have purchased airfare at the 6 month mark of my trips and have saved as much as $50 per person for the same flights that I have gone back and looked at 3 months later. 

So you see that your answer to those questions will determine the price you pay and the possible amount that you may save.  There is no hard and fast rule.  Some think discount airline sites are the way to go, but again you will find that most airlines guarantee the lowest price if you go direct through them to buy your airfare.  And please know that waiting until the last minute will most likely not save you any money and you run the risk of losing out on the best flight schedules.

And as I just mentioned, here is something to consider that might get you some sense of comfort after you hit the purchase button with any of the major airlines; most of our major domestic airlines offer some form of “price guarantee” (see each airline’s policy for exact details).  The guarantee, in essence, is designed to make travelers feel better about going ahead with their airline purchase at any given time.

The Vacation Countdown

Are you one of those people that, as soon as you have your vacation plans and details all laid out and finalized, you begin the exciting process of counting down the days until you leave? If you are, then you are in the company of so many others that do the very same thing including my wife and I.

The vacation countdown is as much of the whole process as is actually booking flights, hotels etc. In fact, the countdown is really when things get fun around our house. It really becomes an extension of our vacation if you want to look at it that way.

Sometimes vacation plans are booked months before the actual vacation date and the time between booking the trip and actually going on the trip seems to drag on and on. If you find that to be the case, let me share with you some ideas of how to make that time before the trip more enjoyable and make it a part of the whole vacation process.

With my wife and I, it does not matter what type of trip it is; whether it is a cruise, a trip to Mexico, a Walt Disney World vacation, we find ways of counting down the days so that time seems to go by faster. In today’s smart phone world, Apple and Android have several apps available to add to your phone so you can see the days counting down no matter where you are. One of my favorites is an app for Walt Disney World vacations simply called “WDW Countdown” by PLR Concepts. It is an App found in Apple’s app store (not sure if it is available for Android phones as of yet, but I know they offer some as well).

Another way we have fun with the countdown process, especially before our Disney trips is by making a paper chain like we did in school way back in the day (and I mean way back). About 2-3 months out from our trip, we have a “chain making party” where we will sit down to make the chain and maybe throw in a Disney movie to watch as well. Then every day that passes from then until the day of the vacation includes a removing of a link to show that the time is indeed passing and the trip will soon be here.

Another idea is to start having themed dinners on the weekends relating to the type of trip you are about to go on. Maybe you booked a Caribbean cruise. If so, then you could have a “Caribbean-themed” meal and pop in some Reggae music to further set the mood of the tropics and invite some friends over to help celebrate your excitement.

Again, for those who have booked Disney trips, you can schedule a movie weekend where you pick one Disney movie to watch every Friday, Saturday or Sunday before your vacation. You can buy some Disney popcorn bowls and add more Disney magic to the evening.

Try to come up with things that get everyone in the family involved. Memories can actually be made well before the actual vacation if you and your family stop and savor every moment, even the moments leading up to the trip. I hope these ideas help and maybe make you think of some of your own. Or maybe you have some ideas you would like to share. Feel free to comment and share your countdown stories and memories.

Walt Disney World 101...Part 4 (Disney Dining Explained)

Mexico...My Little "Secret" (Part 2)

Well I am finally back to finish my review of our latest trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. As promised in the previous installment, this review will cover our stay at AMResort’s first Riviera Maya property, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.

I must admit that for the first time in all of my travels, I went into this trip with very high expectations based on reviews I had read prior to our trip. That is in violation of my own rules about travel. I usually try to down play the overly positive and take the extreme negative with several grains of salt. But this time, I had listened too much to all of the VERY positive remarks as they related to the service at Capri. So many reviewers had mentioned that they were always greeted by name after the first day of being at the resort. So I was very excited to be able to experience what I call “Ritz Carlton service” at a non-Ritz Carlton resort. That was my mistake because I basically set the resort up for failure in that regard by possibly having unreasonable expectations based on some other’s supposed experience.

The service was good so let me get that out there right now. You will not be disappointed in the service once you arrive. The staff is very friendly and courteous. They will do what they can to help if you need assistance of any kind. You will receive a plethora of “hola’s” during your stay from every staff member that you pass along the way. So again...the service was good. But it was not near the level of great that I had read about before arriving. No one ever remembered our name after the first day. Some servers were less than good, but that does not take away from my overall opinion. Some pool bar servers were actually not good at all, but some other fantastic servers made up for their incompetence and lack of attention. You will find that variety at most resorts so I will not give Capri a bad review based on just a few bad server apples.

The same goes for some of the restaurant staff. Some servers were awesome while some others were non-existent after the first greeting, especially during breakfast in La Riviera.

Moving on...the food was good as well. The breakfast buffet was probably one of the best I have ever experienced as far as food and selection goes. One of the best omelet makers in the world works at Secrets Capri and her name is Rita. Make sure you try one of her very fluffy omelets during your stay. She is also a very warm and friendly person so say “hola” to her as you wait. We tried basically every restaurant during our stay and we enjoyed every one. There are 5 restaurants including their outside grill. All have nice ambience and some come with an awesome view of the Caribbean which always makes a meal taste better in my opinion. Some meals were better than others, but no complaints as far as overall taste and quantity. And don’t hesitate to order room service. It was always prompt and they have a nice variety offered on their room service menu.

The resort is smaller than some of the other all-inclusive resorts up and down the Riviera Maya.  It has a more intimate feel which I like.  The grounds and common areas are beautiful and the beach was fantastic.  They have added some new pool chairs which are very comfortable and we never had any issues when trying to a find nice spot by the pool or out on the beach.

The room was smaller than my previous stay at Secrets Silversands, but it was adequate and well appointed.  The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was huge and came with dual sinks, nice large shower and also a whirlpool tub.  We had an ocean view room with a balcony and the view was something that kept making me stroll out to the balcony to take it all in realizing it was not going to be my view anymore after 6 days.  The only complaint I have about the room was the furniture on the balcony.  It was very uncomfortable.  We had to stack towels on top of the chairs just to be able to sit for any length of time.  I hope management addresses that at some point.

Hastening on.  I have to mention the spa.  Probably one of the nicest spa experiences we have had.  Their facilities are beautiful and you cannot help but feel relaxed as soon as you step through the doors.  Yes the prices are high for any of their treatments, but you are on vacation for crying out loud so plan on splurging a little.  It is well worth it if you take the time to enjoy all that their spa has to offer.  Make sure you get to the spa about an hour before your appointment so you can relax in the saunas and pools. 

The one thing that I wish AMResorts would address is the tipping or gratuity policy.  They (and a lot of other resort chains do as well) advertise that their pricing also includes gratuities.  This should mean that employees at the resorts should decline gratuities when offered since their superior service is supposed to reflect the idea they have already been tipped.   But it appears that sometimes bar service is somehow on par with how much you have have tipped a particular server or bartender throughout your trip.  The resorts need to go one way or the other.  Either train their staff to refuse tips because they are already included or lower the room rates and then make it clear that your rate does NOT include gratuities.

Before I close I also want to give a shout out to AMSTAR tours.  They are on-site at Capri and they (and their drivers and tour guide) do a great job with excursions so look for them on the main level once you arrive. 

In summary, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa is a very nice resort and we had a great trip while staying with them.  Just go into your trip with reasonable expectations and you will not be disappointed.  You can view photos of the resort by clicking on this link...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa

Joplin Tornado: How You Can Help

Mexico...My Little “Secret” (Part 1)

I find it interesting that a major all-inclusive resort chain would choose to name one of their products “Secrets.”  No business anywhere of any kind wants to be a secret.  Maybe their goal was to aim for a name that would conjure up an image of exclusivity. That might well be the case with AMResorts when they decided they would build their first Secrets Resort and Spa in Mexico’s Riviera Maya back in 2003.  You get a sense that they almost like to keep their resorts a “secret” when you compare even the size of their gated entrances to those of some of the other big name resort players throughout the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area.   

But before I get into my review related to the resort itself and share my little “secret” with you, let me start by offering some tips on how best to navigate your way through customs and beyond once you arrive in Cancun.  First...have your customs and declaration forms filled out BEFORE you get off the plane in Cancun.  Sometimes this is unavoidable since Mexico does not always equip incoming planes with the proper number of forms needed.  But that was not the case on our latest American Airlines flight and, to much surprise, several passengers were huddled in a cramped gate area immediately off the plane because they did not have their forms pre-filled out before they landed.  The Mexican officials will not let you head on down towards the customs area unless you have your forms filled out.  So try really hard to get your hands on those forms before landing in Cancun.

Then, once you have navigated the customs and immigration area with luggage in tow, head straight through the sliding doors and outside to the transfer and transportation area with purpose.  If you are traveling to Mexico for the first time, do NOT wait until you arrive in Cancun before you start considering how you will get from the airport to your hotel or resort.  This will sound like an understatement to those who have been to Mexico before, but vendors in Mexico are pushy!  If you don’t know where you are going or what you are doing, they will sense that like a lion smells food on the Serengeti.  Make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before arriving in Cancun and then follow your transfer company’s instructions to a T.  Vendors inside the airport (after you leave the customs area) will act as if they need to see your reservation or confirmation to “help you make sure you know where you are going” which they don’t so keep your eyes looking forward and walk with purpose past their nonsense and out to the area where you were told to go. 

We chose USA Transfers again for this trip and they were wonderful.  They greet you by name and offer clean and well-maintained vans for their shuttle service whether private or shared.  Their prices are reasonable as well. Various other suppliers that I use such as GOGO and Pleasant Holidays all use reputable transfer companies and have clear instructions to follow so, again, make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before heading off on your vacation.

Second tip to consider.  Take along about $100 to $200 in US dollars and try to take along small bills such as $1’s and $5’s.  Even though most resorts will advertise that “tips are included,”  most every employee still expects some form of small gratuity when fetching you a beverage or calling a taxi etc.  If you go down with larger bills and then try to buy something to get change, you will most likely be given pesos in return.  So try as best as you can to set aside some money just for tipping.

Third tip...be patient for crying out loud.  Remember that you are the visitor.  You are the tourist.  Your ways are not their ways.  Your customs are not their customs.  Mexico has its own speed.  Schedules can sometimes have a plus or minus of 15-30 minutes (usually a plus).  Be patient with that and with the drivers and guides that you come across.  Remember that English is NOT their national language and the fact that many of them speak both Spanish and English means they are probably more intelligent than you and I.  So when your bus makes it 4th or 5th stop, take a deep breath and remember that you are in Mexico where life is harder for most of its citizens and they have the same goals as you and I which is to provide for ourselves and our family and try to live as comfortably as we can and at peace. 

Fourth and final tip...spend a day away from your resort.  The local economy is better supported when tourists remove themselves from the confines of the resort.  Taxi drivers, tour guides, local vendors and artisans reap the benefits of your visit when you buy their wares or use their services.  These service providers and vendors are mostly those who have called Cancun and Playa del Carmen their home for most of their lives versus some of the employees at the resorts who may have been transplanted in because of their education and their ability to speak English fluently. So get out and experience more of what Mexico has to offer.  While their sales techniques can be a bit much compared to what we are used to in the United States, you will still meet some of the nicest, most hospitable people found anywhere on the planet.  So get out there and see what they have to offer.

So now please stay tuned for my review and observations of AMResort’s first resort of the Riviera Maya...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.