You Are Totally Worth It

Take a look at these small upgrades to enhance your travel experience!

Somehow there is nothing more relieving than passing through customs after a long overnight flight to Europe and seeing a driver standing there with a sign bearing your last name — and a smile!  Your driver can help you to a nice, clean sedan and be on the road to your accomodations with a cold bottle of water in the time it takes to wait in the taxi line and try to communicate where you need to go.  In the Caribbean and Mexico, private transfers can be the difference between a 30 minute direct ride to your resort and a 1 1/2 hour trip that stops at 4 other hotels along the way.  Why not splurge a little and start your vacation off on the right foot?

2. Private Sightseeing Tours

Have you ever arrived at a site and see a mile-long line of people waiting to purchase tickets, or a group of 30-40 “sheep” being herded around with a shepherd tour guide holding an umbrella up in the air?  If that does not look like the way you would like to see a city, consider upgrading to a private tour guide.  The cost can be quite reasonable and the value you receive can be huge.  You can move quicker, learn more and focus on the sites and information you are really interested in.

3. Premium Economy Upgrades on Your FlightsIs Business or First Class still a little bit out of your financial comfort zone?  Why not consider upgrading to Premium Economy, AKA “Comfort Seats,” on your flights?  The cost can be very reasonable, and those few inches of extra room, and sometimes added amenities, can make the difference between a comfortable journey and a cramped, restless flight.

4. Airport Lounges

Do you have a long layover along your travel route?  Consider purchasing a day-pass for your airline’s Airport Club Lounge.  It can be an excellent way to spend a few hours — many include complimentary Wifi, snacks, beverages, and comfortable seats in a quieter location.  Check to see if your Frequent Flyer program or Credit Card company offers you any discounts or perks for admission.

5. Travel Insurance

Very simply put — Travel Insurance can be a lifesaver!  Even if you state that you are going on your vacation NO MATTER WHAT, you can’t predict weather, illness, injury, cancellations, or any other surprises that can come up when life happens.  Travel Insurance should be budgeted into the cost of every vacation!

6. Upgrade That View

Now, I understand that you may not spend a lot of time in the room at a resort or in your cabin on a cruise ship, but I do know that one of the most common complaints I hear is about the view.  At least check to see how much the difference is to upgrade that view.  You might find that it is a small price to pay for waking up to a beautiful sea view instead of the parking lot!

7. Pre-Cruise Extensions

Cruises usually start boarding around noon on embarkation day and require that you be on board at least 2 hours before the ship departs.  That actually leaves a very short window of time to arrive, get checked in, and safely in your cabin.  I ALWAYS recommend that my clients arrive at the port city the night before departure — just to eliminate stress from all of the “what ifs” of delayed or cancelled flights, major traffic jams on the interstate, etc.  Most cruises, as well as land tours, leave from very interesting cities — why not arrive a day or two early and see what they have to offer?  That’s what we did in beautiful Barcelona!

Being offered any or all of these small upgrades to your vacation is a HUGE part of why using a travel professional is the way-to-go in travel planning.  We know how much each one of these suggestions can enhance your experience — and isn’t that what you really want when you take that much-deserved vacation — a more custom experience with added value?  Watercolor Boutique Travel can help you choose the upgrades that bring the most bang-for-your-buck to your next travel experience — YOU ARE TOTALLY WORTH IT!!