Most of you have heard of the new baggage fees the airlines are imposing on us.  I wanted to put a few links here so it would be easy to check the airlines if you have any questions.

The all seem to have slightly different rules so check the links to your airline if you have any questions.

Air Canada:
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/index.html

Air Tahit Nui:
http://www.airtahitinui-usa.com/traveldesk/baggage.asp

Air Tran:
http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

American Airlines: https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.dop=/travelInformation/baggage/generalInfo.jsp&anchorEvent=false

British Airways:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/baggag/public/en_us

Continental Airlines:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/check.aspx

Delta Airlines:
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/index.jsp

Hawaiian Airlines:
http://www.hawaiianair.com/Aboutus/Pages/Faq.aspx

Jet Blue:
http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll/,/?St=45,E=0000000000026924613,K=7740,Sxi=14,Case=obj(634)

Northwest Airlines:
http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/index.html

Quantas:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageCarryOn

Southwest Airlines:
http://southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

TACA:
http://www.taca.com/eng/tra/tbef/tbefbagpol.asp

United Airlines:
http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html

US Airways:
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/default.aspx

        

I thought I would comment on the three areas that some have issues with when the go on that dream trip.

If you go to an area that is warm there will be BUGS!  Most resorts have great programs to control bugs. Some do not.  It you book an unknown or low rated resort this may be an area that has been cut back or they may rarely control bugs.  Even at the best resort you may find a bug or two.  After all you are in the tropics and the surrounding areas are full of them!

Plan to bring bug spray.  If you want to tour the ruins in the middle of the jungle you will need it.  Some beaches have sand fleas, files etc.  Why go thousands of miles away from home and not be ready for this?  Yes, in many places you can by bug spray but the cost is many times what you will pay at home. 

There are bad people in every city in the world. But there are many more good people in the world.  Just like in your on home town there are places that you may not go to.  Ask your resort if you have any questions.  If you take a taxi ask the resort which taxis to take.  If you would like to venture out on your own ask a local.  They want you to have a great time and will steer you away from those areas that are not great. 

Protect your valuables!  We have traveled all over the world and have never carried our wedding rings.  We just don't want to worry about losing them.  If you leave money or other valuables in your room not locked up you may have issues.  Many of these folks get paid very little.  Most are very honest.  But just like your home town their is always one bad apple.  Don't let these people spoil your trip.  Think about what you are leaving laying around.  Ensure you safe is closed and locked.

Weather happens all over the world.  No way to know if will snow, rain or stay sunny when you are on your trip that you booked months ahead of time.  Let you travel agent know your concerns.  Afraid of hurricanes?  Discuss cancellation insurance with your travel agent or pick an area that has had no direct hurricane hits if you must travel to the Caribbean in October.  Make the best of your trip even if weather happens.  Talk to your resort about additional ideas of what to do if the weather turns bad.  Try this link for information on Caribbean storms:
http://www.stormcarib.com/

        

Many of you love My Space and I wanted to list our My Space page.  http://www.myspace.com/honeymoontalk   Please feel free to join.  We love to network with others.

Also another great resource is YouTube.  Check out our page at:
http://www.youtube.com/kerryfontenot

You will find some great honeymoon, resort wedding and vacation videos here.  The videos were shot buy those who lived it!

        

Travel agents are NOT created equally.  We are humans just like you.  We have our good and bad traits.  Some of us are great at some aspects of the business while others excel in a different area. We are all different. 

I have always suggested to all of my friends and neighbors to interview what I like the call their "resources".  I would never pick the first lawyer out of the phone book and hope he could help me.  I would ask questions and find out if he specialized in my type of issue.  The same goes for the person who does your taxes.  Do you need or want a CPA or will the part time bookkeeper do just fine for you?  These people and other "resources" can give you great practical advice and can save you thousands of dollars if you use them correctly.

You are going to be spending thousands of dollars on a great honeymoon, vacation or resort wedding.  Why not look for the right expert to help you do this correctly?

You can interview this person just like you would any other "resource".  Here are a few questions to ask:  Do you specialize in any a certain type of travel?  What are your business hours?  Can I contact you late in the evening?  What if I want to meet with you outside of your 9-5 hours?  If we have issues do you have an emergency contact number?  Do I have to pay in full or can I make a small deposit?  What types of payment do you take?  How long will I wait for you to call me back if I leave a message for you?  Tell me about the last(honeymoon, resort wedding, vacation) you planned.  Do you add any additional fees for us booking with you?  Can you meet or beat internet pricing, apples to apples?

Those are just a few of the questions you could ask.  I know what some of you are thinking.  I want to book on line.  How do I ask those questions.  No need to ask those questions since you are the travel agent.  You are doing some of the work of an agent but not getting paid.  Make sure to read all the fine print since if something does go wrong you will want to know how to get help.

The reason to find a great travel agent is this person can save you TIME and MONEY!  A great travel agent is a great resource for life.  They will never add fees to your booking unless they tell you up front.  They will always attempt to meet or beat Internet pricing.  A great agent will use some of the same wholesalers that sell on the internet and many others that you do not have access to.

Find a great Travel Agent and you have a "resource" for life!

        

It is always funny when folks ask me where is the cheapest place to book their vacations.  I think about the times where I have seen and heard about issues that most don't even think about unless something goes wrong.  They ONLY seemed to be worried about "How Much Is It".  This in my opinion is NOT a great attitude to take.

Why would you spend thousands of dollars on something that means so much to you but you really do not understand what you are getting for that money? 

I suggest you interview your travel professional.  What areas do they specialize in.  Do they know about the type of travel you are looking to purchase?  One example I always give is we do no business travel.  I know travel agents that do business travel and they are great at it.  We are not. Can we do it, yes but we recommend others.  The questions should be similar to any professional that would help you with an issue, i.e. accountant, lawyer, doctor, general contractor, mechanic and so on.  You could ask about fees, charges, payments, contact hours, etc. Do you feel like you can work with this person or company? This should not take long but you must do your homework in order for you to get value from your travel professional.

Yes, this is hard to do with an Online company.  I suggest you go slow and make sure you know what you are getting if you purchase online. 

Again, you must spend some quality time to ensure your honeymoon/vacation is what you want it to be.  Look at every phase of the trip.  Are transfers to and from the airport included?  What kind of transportation, private car or a huge bus full of people stopping at 12 resorts before they get to yours.  I did not know it at the time but I once lost a sale because of $23.  It is hard to believe but true after I quoted the trip this person went to a big online site and found it for $23 less.  So they booked it.  Since we knew the family we later found out they stopped at 9 resorts and wasted more than 3 hours getting to their resort.  We had quoted non-stop transfers.  So for $23 they would not have stopped but once at their resort.  They also had huge issues going back to the airport.  They had to leave the resort much earlier than the non-stop transfer would have left the resort.  They wasted almost 5 hours to save $23.  Ouch!  I know the bride was not happy.

This goes to point out,  Buyer Beware!   Ask questions!  Know what you are buying.  A good agent can deliver the same or lower prices Vs online sites.  Did you hear that?  But we will also try and deliver value. 

I know a couple that I talked to about a Hawaii trip with for several hours one afternoon.  They were very excited. I would be to, they were going to Maui and Kauai.  They had huge plans and it was my job to help them.  I sent them several options and they choose what they thought they wanted.  I tried to contact them to leave a deposit but they never called me back.  It happens but I always want to know why.  I am sure you are the same way.  We later found out from a friend of theirs that they booked online and saved $53.  Did they have any issues?  You bet, the savings came from the airlines.  This online booking engine flew them into Honolulu with transfers to Kauai on another airline.  Problem was the airline they flew in on did not have a  baggage agreement with the other airline.  They had to deplane and get their baggage.  They spent an hour trying to figure out how to get to the other airlines building.  After lugging their luggage around they finally got there.  Same story on the way back.  I could have easily booked this flight for them and saved them the $53 but would you want to do this on your vacation?

I guess it comes down to communication.  If you book online know what you are getting.  Same if you book with an agent.  Ask questions.  If you see a lower price talk to your agent.  Tell them where you saw it.  Make them explain the difference from what you see online Vs what they have quoted you.  Many online sites also allow travel agents to sell their packages. 

Find a great travel agent and they will save you money for life.  Find a bad one and it will hurt for a long time.

Ask questions.

        

Where do I start?  This area is so diverse I am really unsure how to begin.  What I plan to do is give you a general overview of some of the islands that make up Hawaii. In future post I will dig down into each of these islands.

Hawaii is known as the "Aloha State".  Many use it as a greeting of Hello or Goodbye. There are over 1.2 million people that live in these islands. The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu and the language is English.  They are 5 hours behind Eastern Standard Time and 6 hours during Daylight Savings Time.  The average water temperature is 74 degrees.

There are six major islands Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii’s Big island.  We will talk about Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island during this post.

Oahu is home of the world famous Waikiki Beach.  Most of the population of Hawaii lives on Oahu. Honolulu is a world class city and it sits directly on this beach. Great hotels are located here and others offer value a few blocks from the beach. Shopping and Nightlife are world class in this city.  Don't like the city then try the North Shore.  This is the home of world-class surfing!  There are also several wonderful world class resorts located outside of the city.

Looking for history then do not forget to visit Pearl Harbor.  Get there early since lines can be long. Also, visit the Iolani Palace for a look back at the Hawaiian monarchy. Oahu is NOT just a concrete parking lot.  There are many jewels on this island. 


Kauai has a very small population, near 60,000 people.  The island is very lush and known as the "Garden Island".  The north side of the island has many mountains and waterfalls.  The best beaches are located in the South.  Don't miss Waimea Canyon.  Mark Twain called it the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific".  Nightlife is spotty since most are tired at the end of a busy day on the water or hiking this beautiful island.  You should get a rent a car to explore this island.

Maui has a population of 130,000 people.  This is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands.  Make sure to visit Haleakala Crater. Watching the sun come up or set here is breath taking.  You must make some time for this.
Beaches in the west and south are great.  Also, plan a day and drive the road to Hana.  Ask your resort to help pack a picnic lunch for you and take time and stop at one of the many waterfalls and have lunch.

The Big Island has a population of 150,000 people.  The largest of the Hawaiian islands.  Best know for Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.  Kona coffee is grown here along with macadamia nuts and orchids.  This is the perfect island to take a helicopter tour.  World class resorts are also located here.  Beaches are good and there are plenty of water activities to keep you busy on the island.

Since it is an 8 hour flight to Oahu from Dallas we suggest you plan to visit at least 2 islands while you are there.  Getting from island to island is not hard and can be done very easy.  Work with your travel planner to ensure you pick the best islands for you and your loved one.  We only touched on a few things for each island, about which books have been written about!

Feel free to email us or call us with your questions.  Don't be afraid to post your questions or comments on this site.

        

This will be a general overview of Jamaica.  Jamaica is located south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea.  There are almost 3 million people that live on the island. The largest cities being Kingston, Spanish Town and Montego Bay. The island is large compared to other Caribbean islands.  Getting here is easy since many airlines fly here.

Jamaica is the perfect place to have a resort wedding or a laid back honeymoon.  I first visited Jamaica way back in the mid 80's and did not like it.  I made my observation by spending 8 hours on the island from a cruise ship.  I visited several times from a cruise ship and still was not convinced this was a great location.  I was WRONG!

Angel and I traveled there and stayed for a week and fell in love with the island a few years ago. We have been back several times since then. There is natural beauty at every turn. I think at the port folks can get pushy.  They know you are there for only a short period of time.  We have shopped in small craft markets in the middle of the island with no problem.  Just like my hometown(New Orleans) there are a few areas that you should avoid.  Ask your resort if you have questions.

The resorts in Jamaica are world class.  Some of the best all-inclusive are here.  Sandals, Couples, Iberostar, Grand Lido, and Hedonism.  All offer great rooms on great beaches.  They also do resort weddings. If you are looking for something smaller that may have a local feel try the Jamaica Inn, Goldneneye or Royal Plantation.

There are many activities to take part in on this island.  The beaches are great and many hotels or set on wonderful beaches.  There are several world class golf courses on the island, ask your resort if they have an affiliation with one.  Watersports are everywhere!  Most resorts can help with diving and snorkel questions.  How about a raft trip down a lazy river, climbing Dunns River Falls or my favorite Mayfield Falls.

There are many craft markets located throughout the island.  Visit at least one while you are on the island.  The airport has great shopping for higher end goods and there are small malls some in resorts that also have great deals on these goods.  Do not forget to pick up some Blue Mountain Coffee.  I think this is the best coffee in the world. 

No doubt in my mind you will have a great time in Jamaica. In the future we will break down the different tourist areas on the island.

Next time we will touch on Hawaii!

        

Resort Weddings or as some call it a Destination Weddings are growing quickly.  This is a topic we will have lots of post on but we wanted to give out a few tips to get started.

Many brides and grooms are finding that they can spend less than a domestic wedding due to the fact that most resorts now cater to weddings and include everything from the Wedding Coordinator to the food, drinks and entertainment.  We all like to save money!

The average domestic wedding averages $25,000 as apposed to the average Resort/Destination Wedding coming in at around $16,500. The other bonus is that the guests pay for themselves and get to have fun too. For a little more than traveling to a domestic wedding, the guests get a mini vacation that is truly enjoyable.

We have seen the prices vary by time of year and resort so don't be discouraged if you want to spend less or more!

Here are a few tips to remember if you think you may want to have a Resort Wedding.

1   Find a good travel planner.  This is key since all flights, transfers and rooms must get done 100% or you will   
     have unhappy guest.

2   Pick the right location.  If you fly to Hawaii for an 8 hour plane ride this may keep many family members with  
     small children at home.  Discuss this with your travel planner while picking your location.

3   Consider an all-inclusive resort since you pay once up front for meals, drinks, rooms and most activities.

4   Get 10 or more rooms.  Most resorts will give discounts if you book 10 or more rooms.  Talk to your planner 
     and take advantage of this discount if possible.

5   Some resorts have only one wedding a day.  Even during the busy May-June times.  Some resorts will have as
     many weddings as they can book.  Do you want a resort where you are the "Queen" for the day or one that
     you may see many other brides at the same time?

6   If you want the picture perfect spot at the resort book your wedding early.  The best spots go fast just like the
     best venues here book up quickly.

7   Ask for all that great free stuff!  Your travel planner should do this for you but many resorts give free upgrades,
     wine, dinner under the stars, etc. to the bride and groom.  It never hurts to ask!

8   Consider creating a Personalized Wedding Website.  Many on line sites have these for free.  Use this to help 
     get the word out about your resort wedding.

9   Consider signing up for a Honeymoon/Resort Wedding on line Registry.  This is an easy solution for those who
     want to give a gift but don't won't to pack it or ship it.  Make sure you are NOT locked into just spending those 
     dollars on your Resort Wedding travel.

10  Discuss all of the details with your travel planner.  Will they send out packets to your guest and pay for the
      postage, do they have an 800 number for out of town guest and do they add any additional fees?


We or course have an on line Personalized Wedding Website for free and we have a link to an on line Bridal Registry at http://www.kerryf.allabouthoneymoons.com

Call us at 800-519-0605 or 504-324-2121 if you have any questions or email us at angelf@allabouthoneymoons.com.  

Next time:  Jamaica!

        

Check this website out for Travel Insurance.  They give you many options to choose from.  Very easy to use.  Read through and choose the best coverage for you.

 

Travel Insurance is always a difficult thing to discuss and decide on getting or not getting. I once heard someone say, "Insurance is not for what will happen but for what could happen". 
Most of the time you will never have to use it. But if you are one of the unlucky ones it will save you big $$$.
We always suggest folks consider it.  Insurance covers many issues that your travel agent can't really help you get through.

My big issue is when people take a long vacation out of the country and do not know they have no health coverage.  This is the one area to look into before traveling out of the country.  If you get sick or really hurt do you have coverage?  Most people do not.

The following is from a newsletter we sent out a few weeks ago.  It may help to answers some of your questions.

You travel half-way around the globe to experience an exotic locale, lugging along your kids, your laptop and your new digital camera with the mega-zoom lens. Everything is postcard perfect until the end, as you’re waiting for a cab to the Cairo airport, eating some koshary you picked up from a street vendor, you realize your bags are gone, including your laptop and your new digital camera with the mega-zoom lens. Luckily you still have your kids. But what now?
Or say your husband falls off the Great Wall, fractures his leg and needs to be airlifted to a hospital 100 miles away? Or an ambitious snowstorm not only covers the mountain you were set to ski, but also the resort? In all of the situations above, travel insurance saves the day.

Like all other insurance policies—house, car, health—you never expect travel insurance to go into effect, but you’re relieved when it does. It covers a wide range of travel-specific situations, including trip cancellation, lost bags, sudden illness, medical troubles, essential items you’ll need if your bags are delayed, transportation to medical facilities and more.

You spend so much time and energy researching, planning and paying for the perfect vacation, it makes sense to add travel insurance to the equation, ensuring that all your hard work does not go up in smoke due to some unforeseen event or illness.

Yet travel insurance is not for everyone. A three-hour plane ride to stay at the Marriott near Aunt Hester’s house needs no extra coverage. But when you plan to visit an unfamiliar part of the world, travel during times of unpredictable weather, drive through underdeveloped countries or engage in physical activities, then travel insurance is just as important to pack as your toiletry bag.

Here’s a list of the most popular types of travel insurance you may want to consider for your next vacation. Of course, if you have any questions or need more information about travel insurance, please call us at the agency at any time.

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption – The most common type of travel insurance, trip cancellation covers deposits or non-refundable payments if a trip is canceled or interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances. This coverage is generally meant for illness, injury or death suffered by you, your family or travel companion. But it can also cover supplier situations, such as a cancelled cruise due to a propeller problem or if a tour operator defaults the week before you trip.

• Emergency Medical Coverage – Before you leave on any international trip, check your health insurance; the policy you have in the United States does not cover you the same way overseas, especially when a pre-existing condition is involved. With emergency medical coverage, if you have an accident, or if you fall ill because you drank tap water, you will be reimbursed for the medical expenses incurred. Coverage varies from policy to policy, and you can tailor medical travel insurance to cover that which your regular health insurance does not cover overseas.

• Emergency Evacuation or Emergency Transportation – While falling ill and staying in a hospital in a foreign land can rack up a hefty bill, nothing compares to when you need to be medically evacuated from a remote area, which can incur a charge as high as $100,000. Emergency evacuation insurance covers this transportation to a hospital or other medical facility. This is key coverage to have for those traveling to remote areas of the world, those with chronic illnesses or who are pregnant, or those who are involved in hardcore adventure travel.

• Property Loss – Covers your luggage and personal effects in case they are lost, stolen, damaged or indefinitely delayed. The next time you plan a trip, pack a little peace of mind by purchasing travel insurance.

Give our agency a call and we’ll set you up with the perfect policy that fits your plans and your budget.

        

Yes, you get two for one if you visit this island!  This is the smallest island in the world to be split between two different nations, France(St.Martin) and Netherlands Antilles(St.Maarten). Getting here is fairly easy with connections from our area through Miami. It is located about 150 miles south of Puerto Rico with a total population of 80,000. We will talk about St. Martin first.

St. Martin is combined with Guadeloupe and is an overseas department of France.  They can vote in French elections. 

Marigot  is the capital city and very French.  The entire city is only 4 streets wide so it is fairly easy to find your way.  It is filled with restaurants, small bistros and fine shopping.  Yes, "GREAT" shopping as my wife Angel would say. You will find all the BEST brands of merchandise here.  The island is duty free but be sure to check with your travel supplier about your limits.  Try the West Indies Market and shop along the Waterfront. 

Angel and I thought eating lunch at the Marina Royale was wonderful.  Perfect setting and great restaurants. Try Chanteclair on the waterfront at the Marina Royale.

St. Martin also has one of my favorite beaches Orient Beach.  This is a 2 mile long clean, white and wide stretch of beach located on Orient Bay.  CAUTION!!!!!  There are at least 2 clothing optional resorts located on the south side.  You will see some nudity on this beach.  Snorkeling is fine here since the reef off shore protects the beaches and it is located in a protected marine reserve.  This beach is not to miss if you come to the island.  There are beach bars and restaurants that line the beach.  Find one that makes your potion and relax.

There are many lodging picks here.  If you are looking for 5 star service we suggest you try La Samanna.  They also do a great job with resort weddings.  The Esmeralda Resort is also a nice choice here. There are also many villas here and in St. Martin that are also nice for a week's stay.  You will not find many huge resorts on this side of the island.  Most resorts are under 100 rooms.

Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St. Maarten. The Dutch side is about a third of the 37 square miles of the entire island.

St. Maarten also has lots of shopping.  Angel call this "volume" shopping.  You will find the 4 for $ tee shirts here and so on.  I have no idea how many small shops in and around front street there are but there must be 300!  If she must shop and you get tired there are many restaurants and bars that line Front Street and will give great beach chair service while you wait on your honey to finish her shopping.  Can you tell this has happen to me a few times?

Beaches on this side of the island are good but, sorry the other side is better in my opinion.  Again, they are not bad and better than most in the states.  But you are so close to Orient Bay they all pale in comparison. Great Bay is nice with lots of activities.  Maho beach is also nice with the airport next to it the jets pass overhead only feet above you.  At least rent a car of take a taxi to the other side of the island while you are here.

There are great resorts on this side of the island as well.  We like the Wesitn Dawn Beach a very nice resort on a great beach.  Looking for something bigger with a great casino?  How about the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino. There is value at this resort since you are within walking distance to the capital and great shopping and restaurants.

Again, Angel and I love sharing with you.  If you have any questions you can post them here are email us at:
angelf@allabouthoneymoons.com or kerryf@allabouthoneymoons.com.  Call us at 504-324-2121 or 800-519-0605. You can always log into our site at http://www.kerryf.allabouthoneymoons.com.

Next time we will share a few tips on Resort Weddings.