Summer Getaways with Road Less Traveled Vacations

Temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer, and the kids are almost out of school (yay?). Summer is right around the corner! Have you made your summer vacation plans yet? Don't worry, it's not too late! There are still lots of incredible travel deals popping up for all types of travel and destinations across the world, so there's plenty of vacation fun to choose from.

I just wanted to write up a friendly reminder that as your trusty blog world travel agent (oh, how I wish that was an actual thing), I can book all sorts of vacations! Whatever you or your family are looking for...whether it be an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, a relaxing cruise to multiple destinations, a week in Orlando playing at Disney and Universal Studios, or touring exciting countries around Europe, I can help you build an experience you'll be bragging about for years to come! 

In case you're skeptical of working with a travel agent, allow me to ease your mind.

Here's what's it's like to work with me:

• My services are 100% FREE to you...as long as you book with me. The only exception to this rule is if you're simply looking for travel suggestions, extensive destination/accommodation research, and/or itinerary planning but would prefer to book your trip yourself. In those situations, I do charge a $75 fee for my time, expertise, resources, and unlimited correspondence.

• I can help book and plan as much or as little of your vacation as you desire. Totally up to you! If you want me to find you a great deal, book it, and then you take the reins for the rest of the trip planning, no problem! If you want me to take care of the whole shebang (minus booking airfare-only or vacation rental homes, those things I won't be able to help with), I'm happy to do so. :)

• As your travel professional, I'm with you every step of the way. From the second we start the pricing/booking process all the way up until your "WELCOME HOME!" Think of me as your personal vacation concierge. No vacation (or question) too big or too small!

• Too busy to research for the best deals? Leave that process to me! I have access to multiple booking engines so I can compare resorts, cruises, and various vacation packages to help you get the most bang for your buck. Couple that with personalized service and continued support throughout the duration of your vacation and you've got yourself the makings for an incredible vacation experience.

• Should something go awry with any part of your vacation reservation (i.e.- your flight gets cancelled, you miss a connection, your hotel reservation is "lost", your rental car fell through, etc.), I'm the ace in your back pocket to help get those issues fixed with minimal headache for you. You're on vacation after all!

• Not sure where to eat? Want to see multiple attractions but unsure how to optimize your time? Need entertainment recommendations, itinerary planning, and insider tips? I can help address those needs to complete your vacation experience...part of the beauty of working with a travel agent! Additionally, I have an extensive network of vendors and travel professionals well-versed in all sorts of destinations. I work hard to make sure your vacation dreams are as close to carefree as possible!

• And BONUS...when you work with me, you'll be supporting a small business! #blessyou

• Be sure to follow Road Less Traveled Vacations Facebook page for more travel deals and destination profiles (I update it weekly!). And if you'd like additional deals and info straight to your inbox or mailbox once a month, sign up for my eNewsletter here! 

And because I love what I do and the new people I'm meeting everyday, if you book a vacation package with me in the month of June, you can receive one of these perks:

Book a package totaling $3,000-$4,499 = FREE $25 booking credit

Book a package totaling $4,500-$6,499 = FREE $50 booking credit

Book a package totaling $6,500-$8,999 = FREE $75 booking credit

Book a package totaling $9,000 or more = FREE $100 booking credit

Booking credit could come in one of these forms--your choice! 

Onboard Credit for Cruises -- Disney Gift Card -- Visa Gift Card

**Travel must occur between June 2015-February 2016. Booking credit rendered to client after final payment has been made on their reservation.**

Are you ready to make those summer (or fall) vacation plans? 
Take a look at these current travel deals, email me at casey@destinationstoexplore.com and we can get started building you a getaway to remember!

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

This post has been in my drafts for the last 6 weeks. Over those weeks, I've been keeping a secret. More importantly, I've been working HARD on this secret. Today, I'm finally letting you in on it.

You guys all know how much moving to Germany and living abroad changed my life, right? I mean, I wrote a whole blog about it. Experiencing expat life and, more importantly, getting to travel all over Europe, created a passion for travel in me that I haven't been able to shake. Leaving Germany and life filled with consistent travel was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I grew to be so attached to the way we jaunted off every other weekend, the way we always had trips to look forward to. Coming back to America and beginning a new chapter (including purchasing a new home and getting our sweet pup back), while insanely wonderful, also jolted me. I had quite a few rough days over the 5 months that we've been home, to say the very least. D and I often reminisce about our former life as we navigate the challenges of our new life. In doing so, I expressed my need to get back into the working world. Before moving abroad, I worked as a Nutritionist with a government supplemental food program. In Germany, my career was put on hold because of the lack of job opportunities on base. Then, my blog turned into a way for me to stay super busy and make a little side hustle to fund our travels. It also opened doors for me to be submerged in the travel aspects of social media and marketing. Running this blog full time was perfect for the situation we were in abroad and I LOVED the freedom of working from home and having a schedule that allowed me to be around for D and to fill our days with so much travel. Now that we've "returned to reality" (as I like to say), I knew I needed more than the blog to keep me busy.

I also knew that if I were to begin working again, I didn't want to return to the world of nutrition. That job WORE ME OUT...mentally and emotionally. And I was far from passionate about it. In fact, I quite hated it. Brainstorming with D before we moved home, we tossed around a lot of ideas for my future career...but one thing kept sticking out in my mind. Whatever I did, I knew I wanted it to have something to do with travel. Really, I NEEDED it to have something to do with travel. My sanity was at stake here. ;) A few friends kept mentioning how awesome I would be as a travel agent. Having planned dozens and dozens of trips (all different travel types, vacation sizes, and destinations), their comments really started to make me think. I had the credentials, I had the passport stamps, and I had the passion for travel...it was almost a no-brainer. Soon after we got settled into our new Florida home (and after many long conversations with D, counsel with loved ones, and never-ending prayers), I began the process of starting my travel agent career!
 

In beginning this crazy new endeavor, I had no idea where to start. I did my due diligence and researched my butt off for weeks. Did I want to work for a brick and mortar travel agency or would becoming a home-based independent travel agent be more my speed? Knowing I still craved the flexibility of creating my own hours and wanting to still be able to run this fun blog o' mine, the home-based option felt comfortable to me. I was excited about the idea of being my own boss, but I knew I still needed help to make that dream happen. That's when I found the amazing host agency of Destinations to Explore--a well-established, highly touted Florida-based host agency that houses a number of independent travel agents all across America. Working through a host agency is basically means for ongoing support (operational, marketing, sales, etc.), clout, and guidance. I like to think of them as my AMAZING mentors x 10...because they do so much more than guide me in building my new business. I'm constantly surrounded by travel professionals who know the business and are passionate about travel and helping others. In other words, I hit the host agency jackpot! Anywho, in the beginning of October, I signed on with DTE and began the process of building my new home-based travel agent business. EEEK! Since then, I've been working hard learning the travel agent ropes, training for various travel vendors, building marketing plans, networking lists, and preparing my heart to start this new endeavor. This whole thing scares me out of my mind, but I'm also overwhelmed with excitement. And typically, if things both terrify you and excite you, they're worth diving into. 

So, with all of that long winded story being said, today marks the official launch of Road Less Traveled Vacations! YAY!! In keeping with my blog's branding and hoping to feed off my current internet presence (hey, hey, blog world!), the name 'Road Less Traveled Vacations' seemed like it HAD to happen (work smarter, not harder is my new life motto). My SUPER talented cousin created the fun logo you see below (thanks, Linds!) and I couldn't be more in love with it. Just for clarification, if you see me talk about Destinations to Explore or Destinations in Florida and promote things through them, it's because my new business and my host agency go hand in hand. It's a Papa Bear/Baby Bear-type relationship. :)

This is where all the fun begins, guys. This is where your vacation dreams can be turned into a reality. This is where I take all the guesswork and headache out of your travel planning and make the entire process from the second you choose a destination all the way to the "WELCOME HOME!" a total breeze. I'm here to be that ace in your back pocket. Your one-stop shop for vacation deals, booking, and continued support throughout your ENTIRE vacation. And if crap hits the fan while you're on that dream vacay, I'm your fixer. Tired of battling vacation comparison sites for deals? I'm your deal maker. Not sure where to start? I've got the expertise to point you in the right direction. Aside from all-inclusive Caribbean vacations, cruises, USA travel, and exotic destinations all over the world (to name a few), here's just some of the vendors I'm certified to build dream vacations for:

Disney College of Knowledge Graduate (meaning I'm your Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney's Aulani Hawaii resort, & Adventures by Disney hookup!)

Sea World Parks & Entertainment Specialist

Orlando Vacation Expert Specialist

Celebrity Cruises 5 Star Certified

Royal Caribbean Cruises WOW! Expert

But the vacation building doesn't stop there...I'm THRILLED to be able to book dream EUROPEAN vacations & cruises for those looking to explore one of my most favorite continents in the world! I've been talking about amazing cities all over Europe for years, so if you've ever wanted to take your wanderlust to reality or ever emailed me asking advice on how to plan your Europe vacation, you should probably give me a call! ;) I'm ready to design the perfect European getaway you'll be bragging about for years to come! Did I mention my services are FREE?? Yep, F-R-E-E!!

Have I convinced you? Then what are you waiting for! Email me at casey@destinationstoexplore.com for your FREE VACATION QUOTE! And if you'd like to get my monthly newsletter filled to the brim with great deals, exciting destination profiles, and loads of information on current travel promotions, then click the button below and fill out the form! Don't forget to "LIKE" the Road Less Traveled Vacations Facebook page to have travel deals, info, and giveaways (yes, giveaways!) come straight to your FB feed! In addition, I'll be adding a tab to my blog navigation bar dedicated to Road Less Traveled Vacations. I'll be posting weekly travel deals and promotions there, so feel free to bookmark it and check back often! Lastly, be on the lookout for news on my Referral Program, so when you spread the word about Road Less Traveled Vacations and your friends book vacation packages, you get PAID! No, really! Tell your mom, grandma, friends, and enemies (I help them too, sorry). ;)

WHEW! That's my long-winded spiel. Sorry about that. But it is essentially why I've been a little more silent on the blog and very, very busy secretly planning this new (and exciting) business for our family. It's been a labor of love, so I hope you all will bear with me as I navigate balancing both this space and my new career. And as always, thanks SO VERY MUCH for your continued support! You guys are a large part of the reason this dream business has come to fruition for our family, so I can't forget to thank you for the encouragement you given me over the years. I am feeling very grateful this holiday season...for new opportunities, for our new life in Florida, and for the amazing things to come in 2015! Let's get traveling, friends!

Emerald Isle Family Beach Vacation 2014

One of the things D and I most looked forward to in moving back to the states was this very beach trip. You see, big family beach trips are our thing. My family's thing. Before moving to Germany, we were going on these family vacations almost every year (as long as no one was getting married or extremely ill). It's always been the same cast of characters...my parents, little sister, my aunt, uncle and cousins from Kansas (the Kansas cousins, as I've dubbed them on this blog in posts past), D (since we started dating), my cousin's hubby (since they started dating), and when they were still living, my MeeMaw & Papaw. In our younger years, we'd settle for a trip to good ol' Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As we got older and my parents realized us "kids" didn't need to be enterained 24/7, we started renting beach houses along the coast of North Carolina. More secluded, more relaxing...how real beach vacations with family are supposed to be. Besides, have you been the NC coast? It's a total dream. Who wouldn't want to spend a week (or forever) there? My home state is the bee's knees.

Prior to this summer, our last big family vacation was this beast of a European adventure. It was crazy, it was insanely fun, and absolutely a once in a lifetime vacation for my entire family. We all feel incredibly lucky to have been able experience Europe that way. Prior to that, our last family beach trip was in 2009...two years before Germany was even a thought. When my mom called this past January to tell me the family wanted to do a reunion beach vacation to Emerald Isle, just like old times, I cried after hanging up the phone. D and I both missed vacations like this. We missed spending time with our family. We'd traveled pretty much non-stop throughout some of Europe's most beautiful countries, but we always longed for a true family vacation...back in the comfort of North Carolina sand and sea.

Our week with family at the "Dreamsicle" on Emerald Isle was nothing short of magical. The weather was incredible (far cry from the sweltering heat & humidity of Florida at that time), the relaxation was abundant, and the time spent reconnecting and goofing off with our sweet family was worth its weight in gold. Tuck even got to join in on the fun. His first beach trip ever. My heart could have burst from being SO FULL after that week! We did almost nothing, too. No, really. Laying on the beach, winning at Bocce ball, watching the boys boogie board in the ocean, sunrise walks to the Pointe, having random dance-offs to beach music, sitting on the front porch chatting about anything and everything as the waves crashed in the distance, drinking wine and laughing until our sides hurt, playing pool pong and riding around in the golf cart for hours looking for deer and turtles, cooking family dinner and watching Dancing with the Stars all huddled up in one king-sized bed...there's about a million and a half reasons this family beach trip goes down as one of my favorite vacations ever. I actually think I only wore make-up one day that entire week. If that's not vacation, I don't know what is! Needless to say, after such a memory-filled getaway, it was a far way to fall during that car ride back to Florida when it was all over. The following week proved to be one of the hardest I've had since moving back stateside, but I chalk it all up to being so blissed-out from all the family togetherness. North Carolina & amazing family will do that to you. I'm living proof.

I wish everyday that we all lived closer together, but one thing always keeps us connected…our love & need for family time and the beautiful NC coast. We're already looking forward to our next Emerald Isle family beach vacation! It's a tradition I hope continues for years and years to come. :)

Do you and your family go on big family vacations?
If so, where to? 

6 Things You'll Miss After Your Disney Vacation (and 2 You Won't)

Disney World is a hard place not to love. Themed rides and pavilions, colorful balloons, adorable cartoon characters...Walt sure knew what he was doing when he created this mega successful empire. Since moving to Florida just 74 days ago, D and I have visited Disney World 7 times. WHAT?! Two almost 30-year-olds can't love Disney that much? Hush yo mouth, we do! And as annual passholders we probably forever will, because even having frequented all the parks in the height of hot Florida summer, I'd go back tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after that. You get my drift, we can't get enough! Maybe it's the nostalgia (both D and I went numerous times as kids), maybe it's the love of great movies (we're big Aladdin & Beauty and the Beast fans), or maybe Disney really knows how to host a super awesome vacation (hint: it's all three!). One thing's for sure, after every visit, we miss all the same things. I've compiled a little list featuring 6 things you'll miss after your fabulous Disney vacay...and 2 things you won't. Hey, no place is perfect! Although Disney's pretty darn close...

1| The Friendly Cast Members

The staff of Walt Disney World is probably among some of the nicest, most patient individuals in the entire universe. They deal with tired, ornery, demanding tourists all.day.long and still keep smiles on their faces. They truly make the whole Disney experience a more enjoyable one just from their radiating joy and willingness to go out of their way to say hello to you. And if you're wearing one of Disney's celebration buttons (birthdays, anniversaries, first visits), you'll be overwhelmed by the number of Cast Members that bestow well-wishes upon you throughout the parks. It is the happiest place on Earth after all!

2| Dole Whip
Oh my golly, Dole Whip. A Magic Kingdom "must-eat"! It's basically Dole pineapple soft serve ice cream (non-dairy, vegan, fat free, cholesterol free!--also comes in orange flavor). But you can also get it swirled with vanilla soft serve (my favorite combination) or with pineapple juice as a sort of Dole Whip float. When it's hot and muggy at the park, this stuff is the perfect snack to cool off with. Go early!--because the lines get long as the day gets hotter! Can only be found in Aloha Aisle in the Adventureland pavilion of Magic Kingdom, Tamu Tamu Refrehments in Harambe Village of Animal Kingdom, and at Captain Cook's at the Polynesian Resort. I'm still trying to convince D to get a machine in our kitchen. Ahh, someday.

3| Character Sightings
Am I too old to admit that schmoozing with Disney characters is still something that makes me giddy as a school girl? I still have my old character autograph book from back in my kid days. Oh, memories. But seriously, Disney characters are everywhere and I suggest you go hug a few. It just adds to the wonder and fun that is Walt Disney World! Be sure to visit Mickey at Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom--I'm still reeling over my experience there! I won't spoil it for you, but it's truly magical. Do it. Other character favorites? Any character breakfast (hello, Mickey waffles!), meeting Aladdin & Jasmin in Agrabah Bazaar of Magic Kingdom, meeting Gaston at Gaston's Tavern in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, and hugging Donald in Mexico at Epcot. If you're a Frozen fanatic, be prepared to wait in long lines (or get a Fastpass!) to meet Anna and Elsa at the Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom. They're the two hot characters of the year. But Mickey's still my main squeeze!

4| Being Totally Submerged in Another World
When you pass through that character-covered entrance with the giant words "Walt Disney World--Where Dreams Come True!" on just off I-4, you're entering into a whole other world filled with lots of imagination and fun. Disney World does an amazing job of making you feel like you've left your real life completely behind. It has dozens of its own resorts, hundreds of restaurants, its own gas stations, buses, McDonalds, Starbucks, and fire stations...anything you could need, you'll find it on the 30,000+ acre Disney World compound (it's literally the size of San Francisco). I love visiting Disney World just for this reason. Check your worries at the entrance, because in Disney World, you won't need 'em!

5| Fireworks
Who doesn't love fireworks? If you don't, then Disney World might not be for you...grouch. Almost every park has a fireworks show of some sort every day. Current favorite? The Frozen Firework Spectacular in Hollywood Studios (limited time showing--ends Sept 28th!). I am admittedly not a fan of Frozen, but good gosh is that show a stellar one. I will not tell you I cried the first time I saw it. I won't. Other great firework shows? Wishes at Magic Kingdom and IllumiNations at Epcot. You'll leave your Disney World vacation on a fireworks high, no doubt about it!

6| Being a Kid Again

Want to wear a Goofy shirt and Mickey hat? Do it. Want to eat chocolate covered Mickey ears? Eat it. Want to sing and dance at a parade? Dance away! Everyone else is! That's one of best things about Disney World...you'll have this uncontrollable desire to revert back to childhood and do all the things kids do. This is the one place you can and no one will judge you for it! The kid-like wonder is palpable here and it's hard to resist all the varieties of fun found in each Disney park. I still enjoy the parades just as much as I did when I was a kid. Some things in life never change!

You Won't Miss...

1| Crowds
No one visits any amusement park and expects it to be empty, that's just crazy thinking. But since the Frozen phenomenon and the introduction of the newly completed Seven Dwarf's Mine Train ride in Magic Kingdom, the crowds at Disney World have been kind of insane. It's also peak season, so yeah, nuts. D and I were finally able to ride the Mine Train ride over Labor Day weekend when the line went down from a 90-minute wait in mid-July to 45 minutes now that the kiddos are back in school. Want to get into the new Fantasyland restaurant Be Our Guest set in Beast's castle? Good luck! Reservations can be made for dinner 180 days in advance and every time we've tried making them before our Magic Kingdom visit, no dice. Crowds are seriously the pits.

2| Strollers
As bicycles are to Amsterdam, strollers are to Disney World. They are EVERYWHERE. You get stuck behind a caravan of them and you're basically screwed. While necessary for wrangling children, they're a bit of a nuisance for us child-less visitors. Watch out for your ankles, too. Flat tires are a common occurrence.

TRAVELER'S TIP:
Save yourself the sweat and tears (literally) and wait to visit Disney World in any other season than summer. It's utterly miserable to walk around the parks when it's 95 degrees and 90% humidity. The amounts of sweat that will uncontrollably pour out of you is ungodly. If you've got no other option than summertime for a Disney vacation, make sure to drink plenty of water (a Dasani bottle will only cost you $2.50, but you can ask for tap water at any of the restaurants for FREE!), take breaks from the heat (there are plenty of shops to wander in for A/C), and carry around a few paper towels to wick away the sweat when you get too gross (believe me, you'll need 'em). When it simply gets to be too hot & humid, make a beeline straight to the Hall of Presidents and take a 22 minute sweat-break. You'll leave freezing, and it's the greatest thing EVER.

Have you ever been to Disney World? 
What do you miss when you leave?

Cruise Planning: Where to Start & How to Make It the Best Trip Ever- Part 1

Prior to a year ago, cruise vacations weren't even on my radar. I had all those preconceived notions about cruising clouding my head...crowds of people, cramped spaces, sub-par food, tons of old people (like nursing home old), sea sickness...yadda yadda. Nothing about it sounded appealing. I also rode that elitist independent travel high-horse. You know the one...where you think that you can't possibly enjoy and glean everlasting travel memories by spending one day at any destination. The one where you think cruisers are missing out on unique travel experiences that can only be found by straying off the beaten path and getting in with the locals. The one where you can't fathom spending the day attached to a tour group and you're quite sure following around a woman holding up a red umbrella is some cruel form of travel torture. Yeah, I used to think all those things, too. I was a believer that there was no way cruising could provide anyone with out-of-this-world travel memories and pleasant vacationing conditions. But, I'm here to tell you it IS possible to cruise and have the best vacation of your life. It is possible to have those coveted unique experiences in exotic locales that will keep your friends jealous for years to come. I'm living proof of it. You'll have to work for it, but the reward you'll reap will be worth every second spent researching and planning. After cruising 2 different times this year on 2 different cruise lines (with a third sailing coming up for us in October!), I've gotten lots of emails asking how I planned our cruises and where I found the best deals. You asked, so I'm here to reveal all my tips and tricks to get you started building the cruise vacation you never thought you'd be taking. There's a lot to tell, so I'll be braking this series up into multiple posts so you get every single detail. I'll have you as a cruising convert in no time! :)

First things first...DO YOUR RESEARCH! It's tedious (I won't sugar coat it), but integral to finding a cruise that suits your travel wants and needs. You'd have to do the same in planning any other kind of vacation, right? So, just hike up your bootstraps and get to it! Now, where do you start? Once you've picked a destination (ie. the Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Alaska, Asia, etc.), you'll need to find a cruise line that sails to your ideal locales. There are quite a few to choose from and in varying price ranges (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, Costa, MSC, Holland America...the list goes on and on). Keep in mind, not all ports are created equal. You may have a few key countries or cities you're dying to see, but those may also be grouped into a cruise that sails to places you could care less about seeing. Find a sailing with a good selection of "must-see" ports and consider the rest bonuses. Or just stay on the ship in those less desirable ports and have yourself an impromptu "sea day." Sometimes those are my favorite! Also, keep in mind not all cruise ships and cruise lines are created equal either. Some have amazing amenities, outstanding service, and unparalleled attention to detail. Others? Not so much. The key is to decide what amenities and standards are important to you (and are within your budget) and compare the various cruise lines and their respective ships. The truth is (in our experience, at least) the more you pay, the better everything is. From the service, food and staterooms, all the way to what ports you stop in. If you pay a bit more, you'll get a bit more. It's the way of the world, my friends. You do, indeed, get what you pay for.

Once you've narrowed down where you'd like to sail and what kind of vacation experience you're looking for, then you can really get cookin'. Hone in on that budget and start combing through cruise search sites for prices and sail dates. It's always a good idea to check with the cruise line's website to see if they're offering any deals or lower prices for booking directly with them. In addition, if you feel comfortable working with a travel agent, feel free to give them a ring and see what kinds of deals they can score you.

Sites to Search:
Cruise.com- We used this site to book our upcoming Spain & Canary Islands cruise in October. They've been so helpful and we scored some unbelievable deals and cruiser perks (like on-board credits and prepaid gratuities!). They also offer some pretty great travel insurance via Travel Guard.

Cruise Critic- This site is the end all, be all of cruise planning. I ADORE Cruise Critic! I've used it more than any other cruise planning site out there. It's chock full of any and every kind of cruise info you'd ever want to know...from port reviews to specific stateroom reviews on specific ships...you'll find it on Cruise Critic straight from the people who've cruised before you. Be sure to register and take part in their extensive cruising forums. There you'll find lots of info on shore excursions, cruising in's and out's, and my personal favorite, tour sharing! Saves you lots of money, people! But, more on that later.

Cruises.com- Very similar to cruise.com...just with an extra "s" on the end.

Military Cruise Deals (for military families only)- we haven't used this site yet, but I've heard great things! Especially for Caribbean sailings.

Cruise Compete- I used this site a lot in my beginning stages of planning to see what kind of deals are out there. On this site, you can send out requests to different travel agencies and they email you quotes on your requested sailing. The results pop up in a little chart so you can compare agents and see who's giving the better deal and how to get in contact with them.

TIP: Check to see if your credit card company offers any options for cruise deals and bookings. D and I booked our first cruise through my Discover Card and their Cruise and Vacation Desk. We scored a free room upgrade, on-board credits, and 5% cash back on our entire booking! You might be able to book using your reward points, too!

TIP: Don't forget to think about all the other expenses that come along with cruising aside from the fare itself. You'll need to budget in any possible air fares, pre or post-cruising hotel stays, gratuities, drink packages (sodas, bottled water, fresh juices, specialty coffees, and alcohol aren't included!), shore excursions, transfers to and from the port, travel insurance (which I highly recommend getting), and spending money while exploring ports of call.

TIP: Do you have a specific time of year you can travel? Or are you flexible? If you've got some wiggle room, try and find a cruise that sails either at the beginning or end of your destination's prime season. That way, you'll miss the crowds and you'll score a better deal on your sailing!

TIP: Booking 7 months to a year in advance can offer lower prices and numerous cruiser perks. Fares go up as sailing dates get closer. Waiting until the last minute to book will most likely have you scraping the bottom of your wallet and put you in undesirable spots on the ship. Booking in advance also gives you time to plan excursions and pre/post cruise travel plans, as well as obtain necessary travel documents (i.e.-passports, visas, etc.).

TIP: Make sure to look for cruiser perks! These can be in the form of on-board credits, prepaid gratuities, reduced booking deposits, free room upgrades, complimentary beverage packages, or spa credits (just to name a few). Don't book a cruise without getting one or more of these perks added on to your sailing. There's so many of them out there, why not score some free stuff!

Just for reference (and if you've been a loyal blog reader of mine, you already know this), D and I are BIG fans of Celebrity Cruises. I will sing their praises until the day I die! In fact, we just recently booked another cruise with them set for next May. If you're in the market for being treated like royalty while sailing, Celebrity is the way to go. They are one of the higher-priced cruise lines, but worth every single penny. We've also sailed with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's sister company, but had a little less than desirable experience with them. That's not to say we won't sail with RCI ever again...we'll just pick our ship a bit more wisely. Our upcoming cruise in October is with Norweign Cruise Line, so I'm interested to see how they'll compare to my beloved Celebrity. Fingers crossed!  

 Stay tuned for more in this cruise planning series. I've got lots of great info to share!
And make sure you link up with the lovely Jenni at Story of my Life for Blogtember! Today's prompt was to pass on some useful advice or information (hence all my cruise talk), so search your noggin', write about something you know, and share it with us all!

Istanbul: Grand Bazaar & Spice Market

The next stop on our tour of Istanbul was the Grand Bazaar. I have to say, this was the part of the day I was least looking forward to. While researching Istanbul before our cruise, I stumbled across reviews of the Grand Bazaar and many of them warned us of pick-pockets, pushy salesmen, and vendors out to rip you off. Not the sort of thing you want to remember Istanbul by at all. So, we made mental note of the warnings and asked our tour guide to make a quick stop there anyway. When in Istanbul, right?

Upon arrival to one of the 18 different entrances to the bazaar, we could already tell this place was a total tourist trap. Hoards of people clambered around everywhere, pushing and shoving their way to the entrance (and to the teeny tiny bathroom just outside the gate). Once we were inside, the crowds spread out. With over 5,000 shops and 60 different streets to turn down, to say this place was large would be a complete understatement. It was MASSIVE. Not at all what we expected in terms of size. But it was quintessentially Turkish, like a scene out of a particular Disney movie. Ahem. I wholeheartedly expected to see Aladdin and Abu peek around the corner (I realize Aladdin might not be Turkish, but the bazaar totally had that Aladdin vibe). Anywho...the Grand Bazaar, while expansive and maze-like, left much to be desired where shopping is concerned. Even with 5,000 shops in house, many of them were the same as the next. Rows of carpet shops, chachki sellers, pashmina stores, jewelry huts, and tea houses...but very limited variety in each. After walking through multiple alleyways, we rarely saw anything unique. Just the same set of shops, one right after the other. Prices were quite expensive, too...especially for the kinds of things being sold. So, we bought a few postcards, tried some Turkish Delights (ehhh, so-so), and purchased an ornament for my travel Christmas tree, then made our way back outside (after begging for directions) to meet back up with our tour group. As part of our tour on Day 2 in Istanbul, we made a stop at the Spice Bazaar. 

More on that below...

The Spice Bazaar was very similar to the Grand Bazaar, but on a much smaller scale and included more tea, nut, and spice vendors than souvenir peddlers. D and I enjoyed the Spice Bazaar much more than the Grand Bazaar, partially because it was less crowded, but also because the vendors were friendlier and the prices were lower. You seemed to get more individualized treatment in the Spice Bazaar. D and I got to sample a wide variety of pistachios (I had no idea there were so many kinds!), traditional Turkish Apple Tea (brought a box of it home, too), and ate our weight in Turkish Delights made with real organic honey instead of sugar like the stuff sold in the Grand Bazaar. Much, much tastier! Don't get me wrong, the Grand Bazaar is still something to be experienced, but save your Lira and belly for the treasures of the Spice Bazaar. You can thank me later. ;)

Missed any of my recaps of Istanbul? No worries, you can catch up here!