When Everything Goes Wrong!

“A turtle travels only when it sticks its neck out.” Unknown

Sometimes you plan a trip, and then everything seems to go wrong.  In 2007 we were planning our trip to Greece.  It was number one on my list of places to visit, and I was excited that we were going.  I started planning the trip in January of 2007 and we were going to be there in September. 

Rethymno on the island of Crete, Greece

Our friends from Scotland told us they would meet us on the island of Crete the third week of our trip.  They were able to trade their timeshare for 2 condos on Crete for one week.  So we would be on our own for the first 2 weeks of the trip.   I knew we wanted to see some of the mainland, and definitly several islands.  I looked at doing the islands on our own, and then discovered that there was a 3 day cruise that went to Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos and then over to Kusadasi, Turkey (with an excursion to Esphesus).  I thought that would be a great way to see several islands in a short amount of time.  I booked the cruise with Louis Hellenic Cruise Line.  We were booked in an ocean view room on the Sea Diamond.  That taken care of I planned the rest of the trip, which included several nights in Athens, one night before the cruise and several after we returned.  I also booked a 3 day excursion with a small company in Athens, that would take us over to Delphi and then to Meteora.  And I booked 2 nights on the island of Santorini, before taking the ferry over to Crete to meet our friends.  Everything was arranged, we just had to wait till the date of our trip.

The Sea Diamond sinking near Santorini*

In April I was watching the news, and there was a report of a cruise ship sinking off the coast of Greece.  As I watched the news report, I realized that the ship that just sank was the Sea Diamond.  Our ocean view room had just become an underwater view room.  That was  a bit disturbing.  I contacted the cruise line, and they told me that by September they would have a replacement ship and that our cruise would still go on schedule, so not to worry.  Thank goodness no lives were lost when the ship sank.  It was very near the coast.

Then in August we started seeing news reports about fires all over Greece.  According to the news, all of Greece was on fire.  They were having record heat, and there were fires in quite a few different areas, including in Olympia - the original home of the Olympics.  The report said that the smoke was making it hard to breathe, even in Athens.  We got a little concerned, since we were only a week away from traveling.  But I looked into it, and at that time none of the fires were actuallly burning in the areas we were planning to be.

Baxter & Sadie at home

Then just 3 days before we were to leave, our housesitter cancelled on us.  We have 2 dogs, and we do not board them, they would be so traumatized if we boarded them for 3 weeks.  I didn't know what we were going to do.  Thank goodness one of my co-workers came to me and said she would be glad to stay with them.  She saved our trip.  I couldn't have left without knowing they would be well taken care of.  I was thinking, what else can go wrong?  I shouldn't have asked that.

We took off on Delta airlines the morning of our trip.  We were suppose to change planes in Atlanta.  As we were approaching the Atlanta area we noticed the weather was pretty bad.  The pilot came on an announced that because of bad weather we would not be able to land in Atlanta.  We were being diverted to the Birmingham airport.  We landed in Birmingham and we were not allowed off the airplane.  We sat on the runway for several hours, along with quite a few other planes who had also been diverted.  During that time we got refueled.  We were suppose to board our flight to Athens at 4PM, that time came and went.  We knew we weren't going on to Athens that day.  Finally around 6PM we took off for Atlanta. 

When we arrived in Atlanta, we were shuffled into the terminal and told to wait in line to get rebooked.  Since there were 11 planes that had been diverted, the line to rebook was very long.  While George waited in line I went off to call Access America.  I had purchased travel insurance, and since we were having a trip interrruption, which was covered, I thought I should call them and let them know. They said to keep receipts for everything, food, taxi, hotel and anything we had to purchase because of the delay.  We would be reimbursed.  Then I went and bought sandwiches for dinner, we were both starving.  We ate while in line.   Finallly we got to the front of the line.  The good news, they had a hotel room for us (at our expense - since it wasn't the airlines fault the weather was bad), and it was the very last hotel room available in Atlanta.  Everyone behind us would have to spend the night in the airport.  It was across town, so a long taxi ride, but it was a bed.  As for re-booking, they told us it looked like it would be 2 days before we would get out.  I let it be known that I was a travel agent, hoping that would help, and I told them we had a cruise booked, and if we didn't get there for 2 days, we'd miss the whole cruise.  Luckily a supervisor had come on just as we got up there, and he took pity on us.  He actually put us on the flight the next day, and he bumped someone else to do it.  I felt bad for whoever they bumped, but we took it.

So we spent the night in Atlanta, in a not so great hotel, and we came back the next day and spent a good portion of the day at the airport waiting for our flight.  I used that time to contact the cruise line, and our hotel in Athens - where we had missed our first night stay.  We did board the flight that afternoon.  I know a lot of other people weren't as lucky, they were stranded for another day. 

Mykonos, Greece

We arrived in Athens a day late.  We landed at 10AM, by the time we got our luggage and cleared customs it was almost 11AM.  We were suppose to be at the pier and already on our ship, it sailed at noon.  I went to a travel agency in the airport and asked about transportation to get to the cruise ship.  She said we would never make it in time.  I asked about flights to Mykonos, which was our first port of call.  She informed me they were all sold out.  But, she told me, there was a ferry to Mykonos.  She got us tickets on that, and told us where to catch the bus to the port.  We got the bus and went down to the port.  We had lunch at a nice little seafood restaurant before boarding the ferry.  It was a nice ferry ride, with stops on several islands along the way.  We arrived in Mykonos, found our ship and boarded. 

Me in front of Parthenon, Athens

I have to say that the rest of the trip went very smoothly.  We were beginning to believe that this trip was just not meant to be.  But once we arrived in Greece, it was wonderful and we had the best trip.  We saw no evidence of fire or smoke, we had a wonderful cruise and the new ship was great.  We met our friends on Crete and spent a wonderful week with them.  And the flight home was uneventful.  When I got home I filled out the claim forms with Access America and we were reimbursed for all food including the seafood lunch in Greece, the hotel and taxi in Atlanta, the one night hotel in Athens that we didn't get to stay in, and the bus and ferry in Greece.  It was good we had travel insurance because all of that was well over $600.  Travel insurance is a good thing to have!

So, sometimes it seems like everything is going wrong, but you just have to persevere.  Does anyone out there have any travel horror stories they would like to share?

*Picture of Sea Diamond sinking was taken from the internet.

Road Scholar - Formerly known as Elderhostel

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Last time, I wrote about senior travel.  As a senior myself, I have to say that I plan to keep traveling as long as possible.  I had heard about Elderhostel quite a few years ago, and since I was familiar with the concept, which was similiar to the Youth Hostels, I thought at the time, when I am older I will give that a try.  Now that I am of an age where I am considered a senior, I decided to check into it.  The program has changed somewhat, and the name has changed to Road Scholar.

Colisseum in Rome

Road Scholar is a learning program that combines stimulating, not-for-credit classes on a wide variety of subjects with comfortable, inexpensive lodgings.   It is for adults of any age.  They even have programs that grandparents can do with their grandchildren.  Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel, offers 6,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more. Their learning adventures stimulate discourse and friendship among people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime.

Vermont

You can choose from programs close to home to overnight programs in cities and locations around the United States and the world, you're sure to find a Road Scholar adventure that captures your interest, dreams and desires.  When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience. Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. They can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, they handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. They have taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

They even have a scholarship plan for those who do not have  the financial means to participate.

Traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Denali NP, Alaska

From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what adventurers can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

You can go to a place that needs your help and volunteer while seeing the local area.  From tutoring schoolchildren or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning programs are an opportunity to make a difference in the world. www.roadscholar.org

Senior Travel



"A nomad I will remain for life,
in love with distant and uncharted places."
~ Isabelle Eberhardt ~

My husband and me
2 seniors at the top of Mt. Vogel
Slovenia

I turn 65 years old this week and I am officially a senior, although most days I really don’t feel like it.  As the baby-boomers reach retirement, there will be more and more of us traveling. Today’s seniors are healthier and more active than ever before.  When I think about seniors traveling, I still think of people closer to my mom’s age.  My mom stopped traveling a few years ago; she is 94 and no longer up to making a trip.  But, as a travel agent, I had several clients who were well into their late 80’s who were still traveling several times a year, to all sorts of exotic locations.  I certainly hope I will still be traveling when I am their age also. 

There are companies that cater just to seniors.  When I worked at AAA we worked with a local company called Gadabout Tours.  They would actually pickup at your door and either take you to a central location where the bus tour started, or if you had booked a trip where you had to fly somewhere, they would take you to the airport. This was a nice feature, especially for seniors who don’t always have transportation available. They do day trips from the San Diego area as well as longer trips, even cruises and European vacations.  See your AAA travel agent or contact them at 

 www.gadaboutvacations.com

There are companies all over the country that cater to seniors and home pickup is a feature many of them have.  When my mom used to travel she would book her trips through the senior center and it also included home pickup.  She traveled all over the world with the senior center and a lot of the people on the trip with her were people she knew from the senior center.

Me in Durbrovnik, Croatia
age 63

Another good reason to book with a company that is specifically for seniors, is that everyone on the trip will be your age, and you will, hopefully, have a lot in common with them.  Also, if you are a single senior, they will pair you with another senior of the same sex, so that you can share a room and therefore, the cost.  It is not unusual for a senior to suddenly find themselves traveling alone.  They lose their normal travel partner, due to illness or death, but they still want to travel.  It costs a lot more to travel as a single, but there will probably be several people in that situation in a senior group, and they will make an effort to find you a travel partner to share costs.

Depending on how well you still are able to get around, you may not be ready for a senior group trip.  A lot of seniors are still traveling independently, and should continue to do so, as long as they feel comfortable on their own.  But for those who are starting to have some health issues or mobility issues, or find themselves suddenly without a travel partner, remember there are options and you can still get out and go.  You just may make some new friends along the way.

Destination - Paris

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

Ernest Hemingway

“We’ll always have Paris.” My husband and I sometimes will turn to each other and say this. I guess because our trip to Paris was such a nice break. Paris's seductive charms are legendary, and for good reason: Inviting sidewalk cafés, beautiful sights, world-class museums, and great restaurants make Paris one of the prettiest and charming cities in the world.

Eiffel Tower

I’ve been to Paris twice. The first time was with my daughter back in 1989, and then the second time with my husband in 2003. We only had a few days each time, but it was enough to give us a chance to see the main sights and to soak up a little of the culture. When we went in 2003 we were actually on our way to spend 2 weeks in the Canary Islands with our friends from Scotland. We could not fly directly to Tenerife, we had to stop somewhere in Europe, and I decided that if we were going to stop, we might as well spend a few days, get over our jet lag, so that we would be more rested and relaxed when we arrived to visit our friends. I chose Paris, because my husband had never been there, and also partly because the anti-French movement in the states was so high, and I didn’t agree with it. I wanted to go to Paris to help with the tourist economy, and to let them know that not everyone in the states had the Bush-mentality. We stayed at a charming little hotel in the Montmartre district, and we spent 3 days just wandering the streets of Paris, seeing the sights, people-watching, and loving Paris.

Before I go on though, I would like to reiterate something that I have mentioned before. Yes, the French people mostly know how to speak English, and they are more than willing to do it. BUT – they find it rude when Americans assume they speak English and make no effort to at least try a little French. You can hardly blame them, you would find it rude if someone just assumed you spoke another language and just started speaking it to you. So, before you go, please learn just a few basic sentences. These are probably the only ones you will need, and the first two being the most important, always greet them with Bon Jour and then ask them if they speak English, before you start speaking it:

Do you speak English? = Parlez-vous anglais? [par-lay voo English]
Good morning/good day = Bon jour [bon-zhoo]

Excuse me/sorry? = Excusez-moi [ex-koo-zay mwah]

Good-bye = Au revoir [oh ruh-vwar]

Good evening = Bon soir [bon-swar]

Hello = Salut [sah-loo]

I don't understand = Je ne comprends pas [jhuhn kom-prohn pah]

I'm sorry = Pardon [pahr-dohn]

Thank you = Merci [mare-see]

You may not get it exactly right, but if you make an effort they will appreciate the fact that you tried. I love this quote from Mark Twain:

"In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language”

Well, at least he was trying.

Paris

So now you have practiced some basic sentences. You are heading off for the city of Paris. What should you do and see while there? With expectations running so high, Paris can be daunting: nearly every square inch of the city seems to be seeping with history and beauty. All of it is worth seeing and exploring, but there are some Paris tourist attractions that simply shouldn't be missed. Here are my Top 10 Favorite Things To Do.

Batobus boat on the Seine

The River Seine, walk along the banks and head for the Pont de la Concorde for some of the best views of Paris. And make sure you take a boat ride on the river. There are one hour boat rides, there are lunch and dinner cruises on the Seine. Or buy a pass that allows you to ride their boats all day long, hopping on and off at different destinations. We did that for one day when we were there, and it saved us a lot of sore feet walking to different districts. You can get a one day pass, 2 day or 5 day. It is inexpensive and it is easy to go down and get on a boat whenever you want to change locations. And the views from the water are something you shouldn’t miss, it gives you a different perspective on the city. To learn more about the passes go to http://www.batobus.com/english/ If you have time there is even a company that does longer trips on the river that include canals and waterways and will get you off the beaten track, so to speak, of the river.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame is one of the main tourist attractions in the city, and it really is a beautiful church. I’m not a religious person myself, but when traveling in Europe I do have to poke my head into these beautiful churches that are everywhere, just for the architecture. Climbing the North tower to see Paris from the hunchback Quasimodo's vantage is essential, too. So go in and look around and enjoy, it is really quite pretty.  And the best ice cream in the city is nearby.  It is right there on the little island next to the bigger island that you are on. It is the Berthillon ice cream shop and is located on the Île Saint-Louis, and is world-famous for its ice cream. So although it’s far less visited than, say, the Eiffel Tower, don’t expect to turn the corner and find that you’ve got the shop to yourself. On the contrary, you’re likely to be able to locate it simply by looking for the exceedingly long line that stretches from the window.

The Eiffel Tower is of course the one place everyone recognizes and thinks of when they think of Paris. And you really must take a trip to the top of it, the views alone are worth it. And everywhere you walk in Paris, there is the Eiffel Tower, off in the distance. At night it puts on a light show. It is the symbol of the city.

The Louvre

The Louvre is the most famous art museum in the world. Some people go in and just head for the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, see them and leave. But there is so much more to see. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet). You might need a lifetime to really see it. The Louvre is definitely one of Paris' best attractions. Not forgetting the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, bask in the works of Vermeer, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and countless others. The palace itself is testament to a rich history spanning from the medieval period to the present. The adjacent Tuileries gardens are perfect for a stroll pre-or post-visit.

Musee d' Orsay and the Seine

The Mussee d’ Orsay is housed in a former railway station and is full of impressionist paintings and marble sculptures. French art dating from 1848 to 1915 with an extensive collection of painting from Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Degas and so many more. The interior of the museum is itself a work of art, with breathtaking views from one end of the train station to the other.

A quick note - there is a museum pass which you can buy that will save you money if you plan to go to several museums. It gives you entry to over 60 of Paris' world famous museums, art galleries and historic monuments including The Louvre and Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe which is located in the middle of the Champs Elysees is a fun place to go to. Do not try to cross the busy round-about street area to get to it. There is an underground tunnel that will take you across to it. Then go to the top of it and look down at the traffic which is weaving in and out. It is fascinating. We almost saw several accidents while watching, but surprisingly everyone made it around and out on the streets they were trying to get to. I would not want to drive in Paris, thankfully they have wonderful public transit.

Sacre Coeur

The Sacre Coeur is in the Montmartre district. This is the district that artists used to call home, but in the past few years it has become very touristy. It is still a beautiful neighborhood with cobbled streets and lots of little neighborhood shops, grocery stores and pastry shops. It is one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods in Paris. And at the top of the hill is the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. With its unmistakable white dome, the Sacre Coeur sits at the highest point of Paris on the Montmartre knoll, or butte. This basilica, which was consecrated in 1909, is best-known for its garish gold mosaic interiors and for its dramatic terrace, from which you can expect sweeping views of Paris on a clear day. Take the funicular up with a metro ticket and stop off at the Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre. And after expending all your energy climbing Montmartre's formidable hills and stairs, consider a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Street in Montmarte

The Latin Quarter is Paris' traditional center of great thinking. Some of the world's most important artists, philosophers, and writers have passed through the area throughout history, frequenting the centuries-old Sorbonne University or the many now-legendary cafes around the area. The Latin quarter retains the nostalgic charm of past ages, while still being an important hub of education and ideas to this day. It's also a lush, picturesque area of Paris, with lots of quiet squares and gardens, winding backstreets, and vibrant open-air markets.

Versailles

The Palace Versailles is a short distance outside of Paris. You can book a half day tour to the Palace, or you can go on your own by train. The train is relatively inexpensive (around 6 Euros) and it is only a 5 minute walk from the station to the palace. Versailles served as the kingdom’s political capital and the seat of the royal court for more than a century, from 1682 to 1789 – the year Revolutionary mobs massacred the palace guard and dragged Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette back to Paris where they eventually had their heads lopped off. The palace is steeped in history, and is beautiful. It is well worth exploring, especially the Hall of Mirrors. The grounds are also spectacular. Because so many people consider Versailles a must-see destination, the chateau attracts more than three million visitors a year. The best way to avoid the queues is to arrive first thing in the morning.

There are certainly many more places to see. To mention a few, the Place de la Concorde, Sainte Chapelle Church, The Opera House (think Phantom of the Opera), The Catacombs, and all the different districts within the city. Looking for an offbeat tour of Paris? Why not try exploring the city's 81 miles of canals and underground waterways, running all the way from the Ile Saint Louis near Notre Dame to the northern tip of the city at the Canal de l'Ourq? A boat tour of Paris Canals is a unique way to see the city from an insider's perspective. If you've already made the rounds of classic Paris, this may be the tour for you.

Cafe in Paris

Make sure you take the time to visit some streetside cafes. Yes, it does cost more to eat outside than inside, they charge more for that privilege, but it just feels so right when you are in Paris, and it is a good place to watch the people of the city. Enjoy some of the best food in the world in some of their restaurants, sip some wine, and enjoy being in the City of Lights.

You'll fall in love with this romantic city more and more the longer you stay to explore its sights and take in the French culture. Paris simply has a certain je ne sais quoi - that special something that you can't quite put your finger on, but whatever it is, it makes you want to linger in Paris for as long as possible. And remember, “We’ll always have Paris!”

I also recommend renting the video "Midnight in Paris", the scenes in this delightful movie will get you in the mood for your trip before you go.

*Some pictures taken from the internet

America's Cup Sailing Adventure

This is the third in my San Diego Adventures Series:

"If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality.  And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge,  because it's life or death."

Morgan Freeman

Abracadabra passes close in front of Stars & Stripes while racing on San Diego bay

On Wednesday, July 11th, my husband and I took a sail on the Stars & Stripes sailing ship which is an America's Cup Yacht.  This is the third and last adventure that my husband purchased for me as a Christmas present.  I had told him that I didn't want anymore "stuff" for Christmas.  We have too much "stuff" as it is.  I wanted to do somethings that I wouldn't necessaritly do on a normal basis.  He gave me three adventures, which I have spread out over the first half of the year.  The first was a kayak trip out of La Jolla to see the migrating whales.  A girlfriend came along on that trip.  The second was a bi-plane trip over Del Mar and down the coast.  My husband and daughter went along to watch, but they didn't go up, it was just me and the pilot.  I wrote about both of these experiences when I did them and you can read about them, if you are interested, by clicking on the link at the bottom of this posting.

Pulling away from the doc on the Stars & Stripes

On this trip my husband came with me.  We boarded the yacht at the embarcadero area in downtown San Diego.  Our 2.5 hour sailing adventure was done mostly within San Diego harbor.   We sailed slightly out of the harbor into the open seas, just briefly, before turning around and heading back.  We had San Diego's beautiful skyline and all the military ships as views as we passed by.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  As far as I am concerned, any day on the open water is a good day.  They actually let me take the wheel and sail the ship for a short time.

Sails being raised

The Stars & Stripes is an 80 foot International America's Cup racing yacht.  The Abracadabera is also an America's Cup yacht.  Both can be booked to go sailing on, and when both ships are filled, they actually compete in races in the harbor, with passengers onboard. Also available for whale watching trips is the 139 foot yacht "America" which is a replica of the yacht that started the America's Cup racing tradition back in 1851.

George and I sailing away

Stars & Stripes / USA 34 was designed by David Pedrick and built in 1994 by Goetz Boat Works for Team Dennis Conner’s single-boat campaign during the 1995 America’s Cup in San Diego. Stars & Stripes / USA 34 rose to notoriety by winning the Citizen Cup in 1995, earning the right to defend the Cup on behalf of the San Diego Yacht Club. But in one of the most bizarre twists in the history of America’s Cup racing, Conner chose to defend the Cup, not aboard his Stars & Stripes / USA 34, but rather using Young America / USA 36, which he had just defeated in the finals of the Citizen Cup. Team New Zealand’s Black Magic proved to be much faster, defeating Team Dennis Conner in four straight races.

Me at the wheel of the Stars & Stripes Yacht
in San Diego Bay

There is no place other than San Diego that novice sailors can participate in a hands-on authentic America’s Cup match race. These 2 yachts are possibly the last generation America’s Cup yachts that any public guests will ever get to sail. Why is that? Well the current racing for the ‘cup’ is being conducted in 45 Ft high speed twin hull catamarans. They are light weight, very fast and technologically advanced with revolutionary ‘wing’ sails compared to a traditional sail plan. These are not made to carry any more than 5 very professional sailing crew, fine tuned athletes whose fitness level has to be at their very best to scamper around continuously on these ‘adrenaline junkie’ machines. So….the chances of them ever carrying passengers is ‘zero’, and if the future of the America’s Cup is to stay with these vessels then the public will be waiting a long time to get on anything newer than the last generation “International America’s Cup Class” vessels that are here in San Diego. These yachts “Stars & Stripes” and “Abracadabra” are the “only pair” of these vessels in the USA.

We passed some sea lions
sunning themselves

Quite often people live in a city and don't really know that there are so many fun things to do right here at home. You can take a mini-vacation in your own city. I was told when we boarded that they seldom get people who live here on board, that almost everyone that comes to sail with them are from other places. They were quite surprised that we lived here, and it was true that everyone else on board that day were from other parts of the USA. That is too bad, we should spend time having fun where we live too.

My husband actually booked all of my adventure trips through a company called Xperience - www.XperienceDays.com .  They book all kinds of adventures, for cities all over America.  If you are interested in doing something fun and different, either in your home city, or somewhere you are going to be visiting, they have been a good company to deal with, and I would recommend them.  Their prices are reasonable, and they have been very reliable.

Heading back into San Diego harbor

Our Crew, Jared and Michael,
 lowering the sails

You can also book the America's Cup Sailing trip directly with the company that sails.  Also, if you wish to read about the history of America's Cup Sailing or about Dennis Connor, they have a lot of information on their website:  http://www.nextlevelsailing.com/yachts/stars-and-stripes
To read about my sea-kayaking trip to see the whales, click on this link:
http://www.havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-sea-kayaking-adventure.html
To read about my bi-plane adventure, click on this link
http://www.havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-bi-plane-adventure.htm

San Diego Harbor

Passport & Visa Information

"Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photo."  Al Gore

If you are going to travel anywhere outside the United States, you will need a passport.  Some places also require a visa.  The visa is something that certain countries require citizens of other countries to purchase before they can enter their country.  Before you travel to any country, you should check to see if a visa is required of U.S. citizens. Most of the time you will have to apply for and have the visa before you leave on your trip.  Some countries, such as Turkey, allow you to purchase the visa as you enter.

Traveling abroad does not have to be difficult.  There are things you need to know before you go on any trip.   By going to this website http://travel.state.gov/travel you can get all the information you will need to get a new passport, to renew an old passport, or to find out how to replace a lost passport.  This website also has information on almost every country and what the visa requirements are for U.S. citizens.  It also gives you travel warnings for areas that may be having problems.  The website can also be used if you are overseas and need emergency assistance from your government.  There is a whole page of travel advice and how to have a safe trip.  Everyone should check out the information before heading out on a trip.

You can register with the State Department before going on a trip.  The program is called The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  You let the state department know your travel plans through this program and this will help them contact you if there is a family emergency or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.  This information is private and they will not release your information without your authorization.  To sign up go to https://travelregistration.state.gov

Now that you have your passport and any visa you might need, go and travel the world.  It is an exciting world out there, with so much to see. And if you want a fun travel book to take along on the trip, why not find a copy of "When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home" by Erma Bombeck.  It will keep you laughing the whole trip. Enjoy, and travel safely.

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Tip:  Before leaving home, make a photo copy of the inside of your passport - the page with your picture and all your information.  Keep this photo copy in a separate place from your passport, but where you will have it if needed.  If you should lose your passport while traveling, having the photocopy will help with getting you back home.

Finding the Best Airfares

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”  

Leonardo da Vinci

United Airlines plane on take-off

We’ve all been there, late at night, on the internet, looking for the best airfare. You may have heard that the airlines open up the best fares around midnight on Tuesday.  Supposedly price jumps are on Friday and airlines play a wait and see game to see if other airlines will match the higher fare over the weekend.  If not, the fares will drop again on Monday, and other airlines might try to start a “fare war” which will keep lowering the price on Tuesday.  Usually the other airlines will match their competitors’ rates by Tuesday evening, and that is when the largest stock of cheap tickets are available.  But if that happens, the lower fares will usually be pulled by Thursday to make room for the weekend price jump.  Fares are almost always more expensive on the weekends.

Of course all of this is just theory and doesn’t always hold true.  Shopping for airline tickets can be both confusing and frustrating – ticket prices change frequently and with seemingly no rhyme or reason.  It does help if you understand how airlines price their tickets.  If you have ever talked to other travelers on your flight then you know that the price you paid for your ticket can be drastically different from the price the person next to you paid.  The best website I found that explains the airlines pricing is at this website: http://www.farecompare.com/ask-rick/understanding-airline-ticket-prices-why-your-seatmates-airfare-cost-more-or-less-than-yours/

They used to say that waiting till the last minute would give you the best airfare.  That is certainly not true today.  Most airlines have cut back on the number of flights they are doing, because they want to fly as full as possible, and today many flights are even overbooked as a result.  According to some experts the best time to buy a domestic ticket today, is 6 weeks in advance.  For international flights they recommend 24 weeks.  As a travel agent, clients were always asking me whether they should buy a ticket at that price or whether the price might go down.  I always told them it was basically a crap shoot, their guess was as good as mine.  You never know what the airlines might do, and they are just as likely to go up.  If you are happy with the price, then I say grab them and don't second guess yourself.

Flying Economy Class

When looking for airfare the key is to be as flexible as possible.  Flying in the middle of the week is usually less expensive than the weekends.  Try odd connections.  If you are flying long distance and have a stop somewhere, try looking at several different possibilities.  Some of the search websites will automatically pick the stop which is the most convenient, but you can key in different combinations and you may find cheaper flights that way.  For instance, we were flying to Zurich a few years ago.  When looking for flights most of the combinations were coming up with stops in Philadelphia or New York, but I keyed in Washington DC, and got the flight for less.  Sometimes you will have to book 2 separate tickets to get the fare, one ticket from San Diego to Washington DC, and a second ticket from DC to Zurich.  But if you save enough money, it can be worth it.

Recently I was looking for fares from San Diego into Buffalo, NY, and a return ticket from Boston back to San Diego.  We are doing a cruise that goes from Montreal to Boston, but I had decided to fly to Buffalo first and go over to Niagara Falls for 2 days prior, then drive up to Montreal to pick up the cruise.  Part of my reasoning being that flying into Montreal and out of Boston was a really expensive ticket.  Everything I had priced on that was around $800 per ticket.  Flying into and out of 2 American cities was much less expensive for some reason.  And besides, Niagara Falls is on my list of places to see. 

So I started my search for Buffalo, and found that most of the airlines arrived so late in Buffalo that if would not be practical for getting from the airport over to the falls that same day, which I wanted to do.  The one exception was Southwest Airlines which had a flight that lands at 5:30 PM.  I then looked at Southwest flights from Boston to San Diego.  I could have gone that way, it worked, but the flight was not non-stop from Boston, and I knew that United had a non-stop, because we had flown them from Boston before.  So I then checked the one way fare for United and added the one-way fare on Southwest.  I came out $50 per ticket cheaper by buying 2 one-way fares on 2 different airlines, and I got the times that worked for me, which I wouldn’t have gotten with either airlines if doing a round-trip with them.

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Tip:  Remember to check Southwest Airlines websites when looking for domestic flights, and some of the cheaper European companies websites (such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet).  These airlines do not pay to be on the popular comparison ticket websites such as Expedia or Travelocity.  The only way to book them is through their websites or by phone.  But it is worth checking their fares before booking someone else.
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Ryanair plane

Did you know that there are several airlines in Europe where you can fly really cheap? They don't always use the international airports, for example, several of these airlines use Beauvais airport in Paris as opposed to Charles DeGaulle airport, which is the one most people fly into and out of. But there is transportation available to get to these airports.  Ryanair and Easy Jet are the two I used most often as a travel agent. http://www.ryanair.com/en   http://www.easyjet.com/EN There is sometimes a fee for luggage, and there are definite limits on size and weight, as these are smaller planes and limited on cargo space. So if you are going to use this as a way to get around Europe, be sure to pack light.

Consolidators also are a good way to go when looking for international airfares in particular.  They usually have to be booked through a travel agent.  Consolidators purchase tickets on flights at a cheaper rate.  They actually have a contract with the airlines, and they have a block of seats which they can sell.  The airlines cannot sell those seats until the consolidators release the seats they have not sold.  The travel agent will call the consolidator and get a fare for the destination you are looking for, and then the agent will add a fee to that to cover their commission.  If you are working with an agent on a tour or cruise, the agent may waive that fee because they are making a commission on the other portion.  It never hurts to ask for the discount.

Also, there are tour companies who will sell air only packages, or air with car packages.  These companies have also purchased blocks of seats on the airlines.  One company that I used to work with all the time is Pleasant Holidays.  They have air only packages to Hawaii, and I found that I could quite often get air fare for less through them.  I had clients who had booked timeshares in Hawaii, or were going to be staying at the Military run hotels, so they only wanted airfare.  Quite often I could do an air and car package for less than we could find air on its own.  The client usually wanted a car anyway, and this saved them quite a bit of money.  Another reason to check with your travel agent.

Some first-class seats make into beds, which are great for long trips

And of course thrown into all of this, you have to consider the fees the airlines now impose on almost everything.  Luggage fees, fees for premium seats (with a few extra inches of room), fees if you want an exit row seat.  And if you want a meal, that will cost you on most flights today, as will a movie on some flights.  It's always good to look at those things and compare them.  Southwest doesn't charge luggage fees, so something to think about when booking.  And I also take into consideration flying on airlines where I have mileage.  Because if I get enough mileage accumulated I can upgrade to first class, for a fee, but well worth it on long trips.

It can be frustrating finding a fare you can live with.  It's always a gamble.  Should I grab this fare, or will it go lower?   Chances are it could go higher too.  Sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and decide that you are going to commit, and once you do there is no going back.  Good luck with your hunting.

Just wanted to let my readers know that I have a guest post on another blog - Get Rich Slowly, which is a personal finance blog.  If any of you are coming from that blog to check out my travel blog, then welcome to Have List, Will Travel and I hope you find some articles that interest you.  For my regular readers, I invite you to go to the GRS website and read my article there - it is about budgeting for a trip, and feel free to leave a comment.  Just click on the following link:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/07/01/reader-story-budgeting-for-travel/

Destination - Fall Foliage trip to New England

"Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station."

Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

There are many areas of the United States that has beautiful fall foliage.  I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and in the fall the trees all turn yellow and orange, and it is quite pretty.  But whenever one thinks about taking a trip to see the fall foliage, they think of the New England states.  And I have to say that they really do have quite spectacular fall colors.  We took a trip there in the early fall of 2005, and plan on going back to that area this year to see more of the area in the fall season.

Old Mill in Vermont

The main area people travel to for the fall colors, are Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  There is much to see in these 3 states, even without the fall colors.  But if you go late September or early October, you will see a spectacular fall color show.  However, remember that this is a popular tourist season and make sure you have booked hotels in advance.  The place is full of tourists and tour buses, and hotels sell out.

You can always book a tour, or a cruise.  Most tour companies have Fall Foliage Tours.  Many of the cruise lines do cruises that go from the Boston area and up the coast, then down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec or Montreal, with stops to see the fall colors in those areas.  Or you can plan the trip out on your own, flying to one of the cities near where you want to be, and renting a car.  As long as you have your hotels booked in advance, you should be fine, and you will be able to see things without a constant group around you, and you can get off the beaten path.  That is what we did in 2005, with our friends who had come from Scotland to see the area with us.

Leaving Burlington on our
Lake Champlain cruise

On our trip we flew to Boston, where we spent a few days seeing the sights.  Then we drove to Vermont where we had booked a resort in a place called Smuggler’s Notch, which is near Stowe.  We spent a week there doing day trips to see the area.  We were close to Burlington and Montreal, and spent a day each exploring those places, including a boat trip on Lake Champlain.  

The Trapp Family owned lodge
 near Stowe

We loved the town of Stowe, Vermont.  The Trapp family, who came to the US during the war, settled in the Stowe area because it reminded them of their home in Switzerland.  They were made famous in the movie “The Sound of Music.”  They still have a lodge there and you will see information about them around town.  Also, Ben & Jerry ice cream has their plant there, which you can take a tour of, and get free samples.  It really is a fun tour to take.  Cabot Cheese is also made in the Stowe area, and you can take a tour and visit their outlet store.  I loved their horseradish cheddar cheese.  The Stowe area also has lots of covered bridges, water falls, rivers and nature paths to hike.  And the road that goes from Stowe to Smugglers Notch had some of the prettiest fall foliage colors anywhere, with the trees across the road it was almost like driving through a tunnel of color.

Train at the Sheburn Museum

We also spent a day at the Shelburn Museum which is many acres of land covered with architecture that represents the past.  It has log cabins, a lighthouse, a side-wheeler ship, a carousel, circus and doll museums, an old print shop, a jail, weaving and blacksmith shops, a covered bridge, a steam train, and an old schoolhouse.  All of those things are real items that have been placed there, and you can go into them, and look around.

Squam Lake
 On Golden Pond house & dock

After our week in Vermont we headed for New Hampshire.  We had rented a condo in Lake Winnipesaukee for another week.  That was also a lovely area.  We did day trips from there, and visited the city of Portsmouth and did a day trip up the coast of Maine, where we had a lobster dinner.  We also visited the White Mountain area, which is not to be missed.  Especially pretty was an area known as the Flume, which we hiked through.  It was an easy hike, with good paths, lots of water falls and rapids to see, and well worth the stop.  We also took a tram ride to the top of Canon Mountain one day, and a boat ride on Squam Lake, which is also known as the lake in the movie “On Golden Pond.”  And yes, we saw loons while on the boat trip, as well as the house on the lake that was used in the movie. 

Mount Washington Hotel

Another day we headed to Conway and Mount Washington.  Mount Washington has a beautiful old hotel which we had to go into and explore, and from there you can also take the Cog Train up to the top of the mountain, which is the highest mountain on the east coast.  The day we were there it was so overcast, we opted to not go on the train

The Flume, White Mountains, NH

Our last day in New Hampshire we headed up to an old house called “The Castle in the Clouds” which was across the lake from our condo.  It is a beautiful 1914 arts and crafts style home on the top of the mountain, with spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee.  It is open to the public, and was well worth going to.  Even the drive up is beautiful, especially in the fall.

We enjoyed the whole area, and I especially loved eating the lobster in Maine.  The fall foliage was quite nice, and the White Mountain area has spectacular scenery all year long.  No matter how you decide to explore the area - on your own or on a tour, it is an area well worth exploring any time of the year.

Cape Nedick Lighthouse in Maine

Castle in the Clouds