Currency Exchange Rates

 A topic that I get asked a lot about is

foreign currency

Specifically should it be purchased in advance, once you arrive or should everything just go on a credit card?

My answer is always the same...it depends!

In order to try and help get at the right answer for the right traveler, I will ask a traveler about their spending habits in general.  Do they usually carry cash, or do they use their credit or debit card?  Have they aready checked on their cards to see what they will be charged if they used them internationally? 

Personally, I like having some pocket money when I first arrive in-country.  I use this to buy a coffee at the airport, tip a cab driver or bell hop, or maybe to get a quick bite if I have to wait for my ride. Some establishments and businesses will have a minimum purchase requirement to use a card, while some might not accept a card at all.

Credit and debit cards are pretty convenient, but it may not be the best way for YOU...you need to check with your issuing card company or bank to find out what fees are involved with a foreign transaction.  Most have a fee and I've seen them be as high as 10% although most are in the 3-5% range.  That can really add up!

You can get your currency in advance at some banks and some travel agencies.  You can find out what exchange rate they can purchase the currency for you...make sure that you ask about any extra fees such as shipping that will be added on to your transaction.  You can also purchase your currency at international airports.  AMTs are widely  available and might be another good option for you to take advantage of.

One thing I tell travelers that if they use a credit card to purchase currency, some credit card companies will treat it as a cash advance and charge the higher cash advance interest...NOT COOL!

In my book there are 2 big No-Nos...the first it NO TRAVELER'S CHECKS...NEVER!  This advice it the exact opposite of what I used to give back in the early and mid '90s...but things change and you will thank me for this heads-up.  Traveler's checks, especially Euro Traveler's Checks aren't accepted at most establishments due to fraud.  If you can find someone to take them, there is a stiff fee for the exchange...Remember...JUST SAY NO TO TRAVELER'S CHECKS!

The 2nd No-No is don't change money at your hotel or on the ship if at all possible.  If you must, you will pay a BIG convenience fee.  Try to plan in advance and change your money at a local bank in town. 

There are several other questions that you might need to answer before you find the best solution for you.  The key is to educate yourself about your options and then make the best decision for your situation.

~Trish

Airfares...

So I've been working on a lot of airfares to Europe...which isn't surprising since Europe is my passion and my favorite destination.

As I've been looking at air schedules and airfares, I've really been surprised that they are so high even when booked well in advance and there's plenty of availability.  It's not been unusual in the last few months for me to find fares over $1500 a ticket in coach for this fall and summer fares even higher than that!

It's really shocked some of my travelers although I haven't had anyone change their mind just based on the airfares.

I am excited to tell you that over the last 5 days or so, I've noticed that the fares on both domestic and international trips has dropped just a bit.

It may not last, so if you have a trip coming up now might be the time to get that airfare!

Thinking about my visit to the Normandy Landing Beaches

Today I'm thinking about the thousands of white crosses that I saw on Easter Sunday this year when I visited the American Cemetery in Normandy France.  Our service men and women are to be admired and thanked for the service that they are willing to give to our country.

On my visit I found that standing on the cliff at Pointe-Du-Hoc really left me humbled and proud.  The very deep scares left from the bombs really helped me see how big the explosions must have been and made me think about how frightened these young men must have been.  Yet, they had a job to do and had the courage and bravery to push ahead in order to liberate first France, and then the rest of Europe. 

My father spent 30 years in the Navy and my Grandfather also served.  I thank them both today for their service and sacrifice.

Thank you to all military personnel and their families all they do for me and my family!

Floriade 2012...only 316 days to go!

Once every ten years an event takes place in Europe….Ok, ok…so Germany’s Oberammergau Passion Play was in 2010 and is over-not to return until 2020.   Hmmm what to do in the mean time?

What’s that?  There is another event that runs every 10 years in Europe? I’ve never heard of it…what’s it called?  Floriade  and from today…May 24, 2011 there are only 316 days until the gates open!

Hmmm…Floriade?  So why haven’t I heard of it before?

Well, for one thing it’s only every 10 years and has only been around since 1960.  That means that in 2012 it will be the sixth Floriade.

Here’s a link so you can brush up on your Floriade history.

 http://www.floriade.com/floriade-2012/history

This is a flower show in The Netherlands and runs from April 5^th to October 7^th 2012…well; really it’s so much more than just a flower show!  I’ve pulled this quote from the Floriade website.

“The Floriade Park covers 66 hectares and encompasses 5 unique themed worlds separated by wooded areas. Each world has its own decor, programme and activities. Worlds in which you'll see, feel and experience nature in a totally different way each time.”

There will be an opening show on April 4, 2012 which will be repeated from April 5-9, 2012.  The website states that there will be around 2500 volunteers participating in the show!  The show will include music, dance and theater with beautiful gardens as a fitting backdrop.

Tickets are on sale now…you can buy your season ticket and enjoy six months of unlimited access for a very reasonable cost of 119 euro. Now for most of us a six month stay in The Netherlands is something that isn’t going to happen, but another vey noteworthy bit of news is that the beginning of the Floriade coincides with Tulip Time!

If you are a flower lover, or maybe a lover of “once a decade” evens, maybe 2012 will be the year to enjoy a Tulip Time River Cruise with an excursion to Floriade….Could be the best of both worlds!

Diet Vacation Plan...Cruise a River in Europe!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my client who just returned from a River Cruise on the Romantic Rhine with Avalon Waterways...she loved it!

She talked about the wonderful cabins, how great the staff on the ship was, how well organized the tours were and about the food!  What really surprised her was the ship served 5 or 6 small courses of wonderful mouth-watering choices, but didn't leave her weighed down.  She said that the walking and touring burned up all the calories that she ate at dinner.  She said she had gained 1 pound while on the trip!

What??? Only 1 Pound? 

The average ocean cruiser gains 8+ on a seven night sailing.  Some sources say 2 lbs per day….that 14 lbs in a week! 

So for those of you who have turned your nose up a cruising because of feeling herded and overfed these options is for you!  Imagine an active, enjoyable trip with just a bit of education, (history, art, culture and architecture) in a relaxed fun atmosphere without all the long lines.  Think about sailing with less than 150 passengers! 

So here's my new "Diet Vacation Plan"

...Take a European River Cruise!

Stroll over cobblestone streets, tread in the footsteps of Royalty in an ancient castle, window shop in a medieval town or even ride a bike!  Then go back to the ship, enjoy an evening of great tasting food with a regional specialty, a glass of wine, (maybe more) or tea and then have dessert! (Hey...It is your vacation and you were active all day!)

Enjoy yourself without over doing it and come home with 1 pound of memories!  It sure beats 8+

Oceania Cruises...tempting pricing for great itineraries!

Wow...what do you think about these itinerary names that Oceania Cruises has give to some of their sailings? 

Asian Wonders...15 days from Singapore to Hong Kong. Ultimate Panama Canal...21 days from San Francisco to New York.  Roman Revelations...14 days from Istanbul to Barcelona or my favorite, Legacies of Antiquity...12 days from Rome to Istanbul

Now, it doesn't take much for me to want to pack up and go, but with names like that my travel juices are really flowing!  The Asian Wonders itinerary really does appeal to me, but if you know me at all, you know why the Legacies of Antiquity is my favorite. 

It's Europe.  But not only is it Europe, it starts in Rome which gives me a wonderful chance to add a pre-cruise package for a few days so that I can really make my vacation something special.  If I really wanted to get crazy, I might even fly into Milan or Venice and make my way down to Rome, visiting the Tuscany and Umbria areas on my way.  I might do a wine tasting, olive oil or cheese tasting or maybe even set myself up with a cooking class.  I'd most likely contact one of my friends at either IC Bellagio or at IDI, (Italian Dream Itineraries) to help customize that part of my trip.

After the hardship, (wink, wink) of spending a few days in Italy prior to my cruise, I'd suffer in silence as I sailed for 12 days on Oceania's Marina...I'd try to tolerate the stops in Florence/Pisa, Corsica France, Sorrento/Capri, Sicily and Malta.  Then I'd steal myself for visits to Athens and Volos in Greece just waiting for my stop in Ephesus before spending the night on the ship and getting off in Istanbul Turkey.  I guess since I was ending in Turkey, I'd have to have a special shopping trip and maybe pick up a new rug for my living room.  Sigh...what's a girl to do?



Now since I'm a Virtuoso Agent, I'd make sure that I had the same amenities that I'd provide for my clients!  I'd have my free round trip airfare, pre-paid gratuities, my $100 stateroom shore excursion credit, $100 shipboard credit, $100 Canyon Ranch Spa Club credit, Welcome bottle of champagne along with my insider connections and knowledge of the best staterooms to help me get by without too much more suffering. 

So what do you think?  All of this starting for only $4999 per person  for an Oceanview stateroom...October 21st would be a great day to board the ship...

Corporate Social Responsibility – Helping Alabama

Good morning Everyone! 

So many people in the Southeast have been affected by the tornadoes that torn through our area last week!  I'm noticing that there is a lot of compassion for our neighbors and everyday we hear another amazing story...both happy and sad. 

There is always a need if we look, but right now we certainly don't have to look very hard or long to see it!  I have a lot of respect and admiration for those people who are taking vacation time to help out and also to companies who are allowing their employee to volunteer without docking time! 

Thank you ___(your name here )________ for stepping up and helping out!  My hat is off to you!

I wanted to copy in an article that our Debbie Szafran wrote on Social Responsibility..I thought it was very timely.  Without further ado...Here's Debbie!

If companies throughout the nation are looking for ways to appeal to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mission, Alabama’s recent devastation, due to tornado damage, is a place to begin.

Companies can give back to these communities through donations of money, supplies, time and talent. Many companies now include CSR as part of their meetings, conventions and incentive programs. Participants often express how rewarding it is to not only attend, but to bring hope to communities in need.

According to Convention South and a recent Edelman Global Consumer Survey, “67 percent of Americans believe it is no longer enough for corporations to simply give money away to a good cause, but they also need to integrate good causes into their day-to-day business. And, 61 percent of Americans have a better opinion of corporations that integrate good causes into their business, regardless of the reasons they do so.”

Alabama companies can reach out by requesting their company host the next national or regional meeting in the Tuscaloosa or Birmingham area. This not only brings additional revenue to the area, but there is also opportunity to bring attendees who are willing to provide service. Corporations have been known to rebuild homes, raise money for schools, restore parks by planting new trees, donate food to shelters, and the list goes on.

CSR can have a tremendous impact on the health of our planet and the well-being of people. Information on local causes that best fit your group activity can be determined through meeting and incentive companies and the local Convention Visitor’s Bureau.  Reach out today, and let’s help our area begin to recover through CSR opportunities.

Sutton & Associates, a division of Alabama World Travel, is a full service incentive travel and meeting planning company offering creation and design, site selection, contract negotiations, management, production, and on-site supervision. For more information, go to www.suttonplanning.com.