Just had this come up and thought I would share this story.

We recently finished a resort wedding.  They got married on the beach in the Caribbean.  This couple invited family and some friends to attend their wedding.  We set up all the arrangements and booked the rooms at the resort.  We helped the bride through the maze of options and made sure all was on track.

Just a note, you can have whatever you want in the Caribbean just like here. Rehearsal dinners, bachelor parties, wedding receptions and so on.  Just because you are near a beach does not mean you can't get the wedding of your dreams with all of the things you think should go with it.

Well this couple had a relative, let's call him Uncle Joe.  This guy was great.  We contacted him about the wedding and he went on and on.  He could find it cheaper on the Internet.  He could save so much money he was going to get them a bigger wedding gift.  He called us at least 3 times beating us up over the price of the rooms. 

I just looked though our emails and he sent us at least 6 notes about pricing.  Now mind you what he was finding did not have all of the cost involved.  We work with lots of folks who think they see a deal.  I just love how some online booking engine's don't add tax in when they give you prices.  Others don't add transportation to and from the airport to the resort.  You never really know what the real price is until you come back from your trip.  In fact my best sales pitch for those who think they have a deal is "call me with your credit card in hand and be ready to book when I meet or beat what you see". 

Anyway, Uncle Joe was convinced he could save lots of $$ and booked his two rooms himself.  I am guessing he booked the last thing he sent us and the cost was the same as what we put together.  He was not adding in a resort fee that the hotel would charge him when he got to the resort.  It was NOT included in his purchase.

Fast forward and the wedding is over and we are now talking with the bride and groom about their big day.  This is where we learn about what we did well and what folks really are looking for.  They had a great time and were talking about taking another trip back soon. 

I just had to ask, my wife did not want me to since we do this together I do try to listen to her but I had to ask about Uncle Joe.  Well he was there but did have a few issues.  Well that is too bad.  Even trips I have booked have had an issue or two that we have had to solve for our clients. 

First, he was at the airport for almost 3 hours before he got taken to the resort.  He had booked his airfare separate from his rooms and the transportation company had no clue when to pick up Uncle Joe since he did not let them know his flight arrangements. Had he booked with a travel agent this should not have happened.  In fact most of the wedding party did their own flights, using air miles etc.

Second, when he got to the resort there were not two rooms next to each other.  In fact they were on either end of a long building on different floors.  So the teenagers got a party room! The bride and groom thought this was great since they knew this irritated their Uncle.

Third, we had arranged late check outs for about half of the wedding party.  Those that did not have early flights checked out around 4pm.  Uncle Joe got kicked out at 11am and walked around with his family in tow for 5 hours.  Again, the bride and groom loved this because the kids got wet etc and this made for good watching from their hammock.


All in all I am sure Uncle Joe had a great time.  I guess?  Those are just a few things a good agent can help you with.  Why not pay the same price you see on line or lower and find a good travel agent?

        

Are all Travel Agents the same?  Are all people the same?  Of course the answer is no. But what is the real difference between one and the other agent?  How can I tell if this is the right fit for my needs?

We suggest you interview your choices.  Talk to them like you would any other service person you would use.  Ask them how many honeymoons have they booked recently.  Have you done many resort weddings?  What was your largest wedding you have done outside of the country? Where did you send these couples.  What is your favorite place to go when traveling.  And so on.

Some travel agents specialize in nothing.  They will do all types of travel. Business travel, family vacations, honeymoons, incentive travel etc.  We don't do it all.  We specialize in honeymoons, resort weddings and have started to do some family travel since after years of honeymoons we have clients that now have children and want us to help them travel since they got great service for their honeymoon. 

I guess it comes down to one word, "Experience".  So you want to book your trip on line and what do you get?  A whole lot to read and maybe just maybe the information you need to make a correct choice.  You then spend time on other web sites looking at reviews that may or may not have been written by real travelers.  You then look at the "Tourist Board" site of that country or area you want to travel.  Think they will give you negative information?

Why not spend your money with an agent who has been there and done that and has the resources to use if they have not.  Ask questions.  Your agent should be able to give you the same or better price Vs on line.  I will use us as an example of what you get if you were to use Angel and myself for your honeymoon or resort wedding.

We specialize in honeymoons, romance travel and resort weddings.  We do NO business travel, don't call us just for airline tickets or for Amtrak etc.  Can we do all of those things? Yes, but we are so much better doing just a few things well.

Would you like to travel to the Caribbean?  We have that covered.  This is a passion for us and has been even before Angel and I became agents.  St Lucia, I have visited there more than 14 times in past 22 years.  Jamaica we have spent more than 24 days there in the past 3 years.  St Thomas, St John, St Kitts, Martinique, St Martin, BVI, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Belize, Honduras,Costa Rica, Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua, I could go own.  No doubt we can give you current information of these area.  First hand knowledge that will effect your trip.  "Experience" 

We have also spent countless days in Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Key West and Niagara Falls.  I could go own and own but I will try not to bore you.  For those places that we have not traveled our selves we use vendors for our clients who have been there and done that.  I am thinking of one we use for Italy who has 20 years of romance travel in Italy and this person has lived and visits often to keep up with changes.

This is just some of what I mean by "Experience".  Want to get married in paradise? Make sure your agent has booked a group as large as what you are going to invite.  The average couple in the US invites around 150 folks to their wedding.  We have done a group larger than this for a resort wedding.  "Experience" Not all Agents or Travel Suppliers are the same.  We all have different talents and experiences.

When choosing your Travel Supplier look for Experience.  Ask lots of questions and you will save time, money and have a wonderful time!

Check out our website for more links and information at http://www.kerryf.allabouthoneymoons.com/

Enjoy!

        

Many people ask us what hotels or resorts do you like.  Where do you guys stay when you travel.  What resorts have caught your attention?

Angel and I travel lots and have stayed in many hotel rooms and resorts.  Some were great and many were not.  Those questions are kind of hard to answer since all resorts and rooms are not created equal.  We like to look at the whole experience.

Will you be spending lots of time in your room?  Are you looking for lots of activities on the resort or near it?  Is food important to you?  Is the hotel or resort convenient to the things we want to do in the area?

That being said here are a few that we love. 

Raffles Canouan is a luxurious five star resort surrounded by one of the world’s largest coral reefs and is on 300 acres of a 1,200 acre private estate showcasing 156 accommodations including spacious one to four bedroom rooms, suites and junior suites with garden or ocean views, and personality suites with private plunge pools. Located in St Vincent & the Grenadines deep in the southern Caribbean.  This is the kind of desert island I would liked to get ship wrecked onto!  Check out their web site at:
http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/Property/RCI/

One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas.  Contemporary luxury defines each guest room, suite, and villa. Amenities include butler service for all rooms and maid service 3 times a day!  You also get full guest privileges at nearby Atlantis, Paradise Island.  This is the perfect place to unwind but close to many activities.  Check out their site at: http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/flash.html

The Pearl Beach Resort in Bora Bora is without a doubt is romantic. Facing one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world and the mystical Mount Otemanu, this resort perfectly blends with nature and offers elegantly appointed bungalows built in the pure Polynesian style. The over water bungalows are outstanding for that special time away from home.  http://www.pearlresorts.com/bora/

Some may say these offer little value, how about a great all inclusive and the air fare will not sink your budget like some resorts above? How about the Iberostar Grand located in the Rivera Maya? The Iberostar Grand hotel is lavishness at its best. This is where adults come to experience a whole new level of luxury. In this five-star all-inclusive resort richness is all around you, from elaborate staircases and an extraordinary garden with every plant and flower conceivable to exclusive a la carte restaurants, and a cigar bar, concierge, and more.  Sounds too good to be true for an all-inclusive?  Angel and I have stayed here and the food was GREAT! 
http://www.iberostar.com/EN/Riviera-Maya-hotels/Iberostar-Grand-Hotel-Paraiso_3_117.html 

Need more ideas?  We suggest you contact your local travel agent.  They know the market and can fit you into the right resort for the right price.  Any prices you see on line your travel agent should be able to meet or beat.  Once booking you now have someone to follow up on all details.  Have a question about the type of beer or wine a resort serves.  No problem your travel agent and find this out for you quickly.  Want to make a spa reservation?  They can also do this for you.  These and other questions are easy for them to get answers for you and all for the same price as you booking yourself.  Why would you book without an agents help?

Don't forget about our website at http://www.kerryf.allabouthoneymoons.com

        

Just back again spending 8 days in St Lucia.  What a great place for a honeymoon or a well deserved vacation.  While there we got to visit and spend time at many of the resorts located there.

I thought we would talk about some of the activity's we did while there. The Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party was a blast.  We grabbed a taxi from our resort and were there in just a few minutes. If you like good local food and lots of local music this could be for you.  We went early since Angel hates big crowds.  It can be crowed late so think about getting there early.  What a great time visiting with the local vendors and listening to the local music.

We also spent time at Marigot Bay.  What a picture perfect place to spend time.  There are several great resorts located here but our favorite was Discovery at Marigot Bay.  Try JJs or the Rainforest Hideaway if you are hungry.  If you go to St Lucia don't miss this area since you will walk away knowing you were in paradise.  There are several tours that stop here.  If you don't take a taxi try one of the tours.

We also hiked the rainforest.  We spent several hours looking at the beautiful tress, birds and flowers of St Lucia.  If you have never walked through a rainforest I suggest you go through with a guide.  There are many tours that give you a guide and many locations have vendors that will guide you through, just ask your taxi driver to bring you to the best guide on the island!

There is a zip line tour that has 9 platforms.  If you don't mind heights this could be for you.  You are in the middle of the rain forest gliding through the air.  What better way is there to spend a few hours?

The beaches here are great.  The water sports are also great.  Spending time at Rodney Bay was fun.  What a great place to sail and swim or just lay out and be lazy.

Here is one of my favorite links for more information on St Lucia  http://www.stlucia.org

        

This really is the big question.  What am I getting for my hard earned money?  Well that depends who you ask and if you are ready to do lots of reading.

If you decide to book on line get ready for lots of research.  But how do you know if it is correct?  Just because the web sites says it is so is it really?  Are you reading an opinion written by someone from another country?  When was that picture taken?  How does it look after the storm or after the staff just had a strike?

Let's start by looking at the star system.  This resort or hotel gets a 3 our of 5 stars.  What does that mean?  Some sites will give you their definition of their ratings but most are so board it is easy to see why not all 5 stars are 5 stars. 

Looking closer almost all web sites have some resorts and or hotels with no ratings.  How can that be?  Some are the biggest names in the world.  Why?  Just this one item should make all would be users question the ratings.  How can you rate resorts but not rate some of them?  Don't you think the web site would want you to have all of their information?

If you can't trust this rating system who can you trust?  How about your local travel agent? 

How about the reviews some sites post.  Every notice that some of the same names post something about the same resorts in the same family.  How can some of those post be believed since anyone and that means anyone can post.  We once had a client that wanted to book a room at a resort that was reviewed on a big travel site.  It had 2 reviews and both were great.  We had never been to this resort and did some checking with others who had been.  We ended up not sending our clients to that resort.

Once you work your way through the maze of ratings and reviews next comes the different parts of your trip.  Do you need airfare, room for how many days, transfers, activities, spa, etc.  Most sites throw all of this together in a nice package with not many options or give you so many options you have a had time picking the correct one for you.

There is not a 14 day period that either Angel or myself talks to someone who got a great deal on line and wants us to see what we can do. 

The first thing I see is that they have got a quote for an over night flight.  First of all why would the web sites post those first.  They make you think your saving $$ but unless you have a friend or cousin that lives in San Juan you will spend just as much for a hotel room for the night and taxi to and from the airport. 

Second, where are the transfers or what kind did you get.  Unless you get a rental car how do you plan to get from the airport to the resort or hotel?  If they did not select a transfer or the resort does not give them a transfer this becomes an extra expense.  Also how far away is the hotel or resort?  Is the transfer on a huge bus with 40 others and will stop and 10 other stops before they get to your stop?  What if you could go non stop for just a few dollars more, would you pay the difference?

Third, room categories are not all the same.  There are better rooms in every category.  All rooms on the second floor may have an ocean view but two of them or located next to an elevator.  What kind of bedding will you get?  King or a double.  Many times this is not listed on the final copy of your receipt from some sites. 

Fourth if you have to cancel before you travel what are the fees and penalties? What are the rules that you will be held to if something does happen.  Who will you call if something goes wrong and you are out of the country?  Did they offer several different kinds of trip insurance?  You may not need some or most of the coverage they are trying to sell to you.

I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

We suggest you find a travel agent and talk with them.  Plan to use them since almost always they will have the same or lower prices that you see on line.  But how do you guys get paid is what we hear a lot.  The same way the big on line travel agents get paid, from the resorts and airlines.  The difference is we live near you and need your ongoing business.  A good agent is looking for a long term client . A good agent will do the work for you and make sure to answer all of your questions while taking the guess work out of your travel plans.

        

I say when dealing with the airlines good luck!  Angel and I have flown on most of the national carriers and many international carriers and for the most part they do get you from one place to the next. But........

If you are looking for anymore than this be ready to pay for it.  Most airlines now have bag fees that can add up.  We just flew to see my parents and this fee cost us an extra $60 per person in addition to the normal airfare.  This seems high to us.  While in line we saw many folks being charged for additional weight. 

If the plane is late or your flight is canceled due to weather(no ones fault) have a back up plan.  You should always have the 800 customer service number for the airline you are flying.  Use your cell phone and dial that number the second you think there may be an issue since there will be many others doing the same.  The wait on the phone will be long and so will the lines at the counter.  At least you have two options for service.

Take advantage of most airlines reminder services.  You can elect to receive emails, phone calls etc. This is key when things go wrong.  On the way to the airport your flight may get canceled and you could easily get this message and start working the phone in order to get on a different flight even before you get to the airport.  Go to your carriers web site and sign up for this free option.

Food. Need I go on?  Give me a break.  I know this is hard but how much smaller can the bag of peanuts get?  This weekend I swear I saw the smallest bag of peanuts ever!  Why even give these out?  This is almost an insult to those that paid $400 for their tickets.  Just tell me you don't serve food.  I suggest you plan snacks out before you get to the airport.  Snacks are just so costly at the airport.  Really think about this for long flights.  It is just so easy to carry on your favorite candy bar or bag of nuts, why would you not do this?

Watch your seat assignment.  This is the one thing that makes Angel go crazy.  If always seems on a full flight,  we get to airport with our seat assignments and we check in a bag or make a small change and the counter person changes our seat assignment.  Yes, it is the computer etc. but if you want to seat near your honey I suggest you always check your boarding pass anytime it gets reprinted.  Mistakes do happen don't let them happen to you.

Long flight, bring a pillow and blanket.  A travel pillow and blanket are easy to pack on a carry on and many airlines have limited the number of pillows and blankets on each plane.  So if you get cold or just like having a pillow, we suggest you bring your own to ensure you have one.

Magazines are also extinct on many flights.  If you need to read to pass the time bring your own.  Again, we suggest for you to plan this out and buy them before you get to the airport since you will pay full price and they may be out of your favorite.

The good old days of air travel may be gone but with a little planning you may just have a great flight.

        

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!