Honeymoon Talk-Kerry&Angel All About Honeymoons New Orleans

Antigua

Kerry — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:49:00 GMT

We have been to Antigua several times and I thought I would jot down a few thoughts for those that are thinking about traveling to this island.

Antigua is only 108 sq miles with almost 70,000 people living there. Half of the population lives near the capital of St. Johns.

It boast 365 beaches, one for everyday of the year! Angel and I have not been to all of them but we have been to many and they are speculator.

There are many good choices here for your stay. Both Angel and I liked the Sandals Grande on the island. Angel love the Mediterranean Village and I preferred the Caribbean Grove area. Curtain Bluff is also a great choice on the island.

Jumby Bay is on it's on small island and is another wonderful choice. In fact it would make a perfect spot for a destination wedding.

There are many activities in Antigua with most focused on the water. Angel and I loved sailing to Barbuda, Antigua's sister island. You can also zip line here and my favorite ride ATVs.

Want to be by yourself for the day? Try www.miramarsailing.com where you can have a super day for just the two of you!

Getting around is easy since you are almost always just 30 minutes from where you want to go since the island is so small. Taxis are everywhere and can easily be had by the hour or by the day. Car rentals are also easy to arrange but they drive on the wrong side of the road!

If you are looking for great beaches, warm water and great people Antigua just may be the spot for your Honeymoon or just a getaway.

All Inclusive or Not?

Kerry — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

Should we book an all inclusive resort or not? That is a question we are asked many times a week. Our answer is always the same, it depends.

Why are you traveling? Honeymoon or just a quick getaway. Are you looking for the cheapest upfront price or value?

Not all inclusive resorts are the same. Not even close in some areas. Find a good travel agent. They can help you through this. Angel and I have been to many all inclusive resorts and can tell you first hand there are huge differences. Knowing this and finding out what you value is key to answering the question All Inclusive or Not.

Most all inclusive do give you drinks. The real questions is what? When we tour resorts we take pictures of the bars. You can tell me you have top shelf liquor but I want to see it. We were just in Antigua and the resort we were at had lots of great names, problem was each bar had a little something different. Usually the more you pay the better the alcohol.

Like wine? Is that also included? What kind and when. Angel and I are not big drinkers so this really is not that important to us. It may be to you. An all inclusive will let you know up front what the price will be Vs buying your drinks one by one.

How about food. Same as before, the more you spend the better the food. If you are a 3 meal, 2 snack eater then an all inclusive may be for you. Last year Angel and I were in Mexico at a fairly new all inclusive resort that had one of the best steak houses I have ever eaten at before. Yes, you could eat their every night if you wanted to, it was all included. By the way we got our choice of several different cuts of steak and choice of several different kids of seafood. This quality would have been very expensive if you ate out like this nightly.

Activities is where Angel and I look for the most value. Since we are going to go snorkeling, sailing and diving we want to know up front what those cost are going to be. These can be a huge value depending on where the resort is located if not included in your price.

How about getting around. Does the all inclusive have any shopping tours or other site seeing tours they may add value to your trip?
Maybe the transfers to and from the airport are included with the all inclusive.

There are many all inclusive that are adult only. Again, this can make for a very quiet time around the pool. It also tends to make nightly dinner much more subdued without children needing attention.

When touring resorts that are not all inclusive we try and take pictures of the menus and restaurants nearby. This gives our clients a sense of how much meals may cost. We were just in the Bahamas and a mixed drink near Atlantis was $12.00. Yes, their were places cheaper and more expensive but are you really going to shop around on your honeymoon?

Usually when given a price for an all inclusive that is the whole amount. Tipping is usually included and so are all taxes etc. Make sure if you are trying to compare The All Inclusive to the Not, the Not has added all fees into the price. My favorite is the dreaded resort fee. This is usually in the fine print when booking on line. This fee could add an additional $20 or more per person. Some hotels let you pay this up front, others require you to pay it directly at the hotel/resort.

If you are on a budget we suggest you look at both choices. Choose the one that give you the best value. Many times it will be the all inclusive if you are active and plan to use the resort facilities. If not consider the not all inclusive resort.

The big lesson here is to ask questions. Get the answers and have a great time!

Don't forget you can visit our website at http://www.kerryf.allabouthoneymoons.com/

Travel Ratings

Kerry — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:45:00 GMT

Recently we have received lots of travel magazines and other magazines with ratings in them. To be honest those are my favorite issues. My guess is you also like them since many magazines always have some kind of ratings in them.

First before you look too hard at those ratings, it would be nice to know who made them. Did the readers vote? Did the editors vote? Did they get paid to do this rating from their advertisers?

Second how long did the readers, editors, etc have to vote. Was this only open for 1 day, 2 weeks or 3 months?

Third and very important to me is can you vote more than once? Can I log in or send an email 1000 times?

My two favorite travel magazines just came out with polls. Just like anyone I agree with some of the ratings and others I have to wonder what went wrong.

I get those publications and scream how can they get it so wrong! My real issue is this, Angel and I visit many resorts every year and we see these resorts first hand and know the good and the bad. There are a few bad ones that keep getting in the top every year.

Maybe folks going to those resorts really love it. Maybe folks going to that hotel answered the email to vote and others did not reply. Or maybe some of those folks have never been to other hotels or resorts and just have no idea how to compare them.

MAYBE. I caution our couples to be very suspect of all ratings. Buyer Beware.

In fact I just stayed at a 4 diamond resort this past weekend. You have to be kidding me. Everything outside of the room was very nice but the room was a dump. I just could not believe it. I guess it got enough points for the nice pool and the great bar that it got a high rating. I am glad I did not pay for this room.

This is the one big reason you should find a travel specialist to help you through the maze of resorts and hotels that are around the world. Your travel agent has been there or knows another agents that can give them feedback.

Beware of polls, ratings etc. unless you know and trust the source.

Is is really worth it?

Kerry — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:08:00 GMT

We recently got to attend an event where we got to interact with lots of people thinking about their honeymoons. We were at a local bridal show.

The one question we get more than almost any other question would be, "Is this or that place really worth the $$?"

Since Angel and I have been doing this for awhile I usually give my quick 5 second handy reply, "It depends"!

What a hard question to answer about travel. So I go here are there because I can save an extra $ or because there is some extra value with that choice Vs the other?

It really comes down to what is important to you. Anytime you are leaving your home you should think about what is in it for me.

Do I want to relax? Eat and sleep? Be really active during the day and dance the night away. Do I like to fish or surf? Does the room really matter with a great view or is looking at the bushes all day just fine.

Do not look at your choices in the total $ cost. This will be a huge mistake. Yes, we all have budgets and we must stick to them but does your travel agent know this? Why are you looking at honeymoon trips that cost $7,000 for the week when you should be looking at the $3500 honeymoons?

Narrow your choices down to 3 that do fit your budget then look at what each offers. Does the resort give you free breakfast? Maybe one choice throws in a tour of the area. Another may have an upgraded view of the ocean. Can I relax at this resort or do they provide many activities? I think you get the point.

What is important to you? Spend time with your partner planning what you want to get out of your honeymoon then you will have the answer to that question.

Why use a Travel Agent to Help?

Kerry — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:56:00 GMT

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?

Travel Agents are they all the same?

Kerry — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:05:00 GMT

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!

What do you like?

Kerry — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:43:00 GMT

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

More St Lucia

Kerry — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:22:00 GMT

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

What am I really getting?

Kerry — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:41:00 GMT

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.

It's not our fault but thanks for flying with us!

Kerry — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:11:00 GMT

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.

Airline Bag Fees

Kerry — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:49:00 GMT

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

Bugs, Thugs and Weather

Kerry — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:30:00 GMT

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/

Networking

Kerry — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:14:00 GMT

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!

Finding the right Travel Agent

Kerry — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:52:00 GMT

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!

Booking Travel

Kerry — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:06:00 GMT

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.

Hawaii

Kerry — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:18:00 GMT

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.

Jamaica

Kerry — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:30:00 GMT

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 Overview

Kerry — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:57:00 GMT

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!

Trip Insurance

Kerry — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:22:00 GMT

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.

St. Martin/St. Marteen

Kerry — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:11:00 GMT

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.