Tag Archive for: saving time while travelling

Let’s Start Planning Your Summer Vacation!

Summer is here! It’s time to break out the sunglasses, the BBQs, the sandals and just relax. I’m sure the big buzz at your office right now is all about where everyone is going for their vacation.

Like all other aspects of my life, planning is key when it comes to vacations.

Here are a few travel resources I’ve found to make sure I’m ready for the perfect vacation:

NextVacay – The first step for planning the perfect vacation is figuring out where you want to go. The idea behind NextVacay is totally brilliant. You input your closest airport and their software will sift through all of the flights going in and out to find when an airline is offering amazing deals. For instance, I put in NYC airports and I get emails about cheap flights to Bali, Lisbon and Tokyo.The more flexible your situation the better, plus it’s really good for people who don’t know where they want to go. You get 1 month free trial and after that it’s $25 for the year. So it’s relatively inexpensive to try and you could save a lot more.

TripAdvisor – So you know where you want to go, what’s next? Make the most of your trip, whether you’re briefly visiting a destination or staying for a few weeks. Definitely plan some time to cruise TripAdvisor. It really helps you to narrow down the best attractions to see which restaurants are worth visiting. I have major FOMO when it comes to these things so checking this site guarantees I won’t miss out. I love being able to check other people’s experiences and see their candid reviews. I always make sure to add my favorite and not so favorite places when I return. If you’re interested in reading some of my reviews you can see them here.

MeziSo you know where you want go and what you want to see, now you just need to book somewhere to stay. If you’re going to a big city or popular resort you can easily become overwhelmed by options. Do you pay a little more to be closer to the city center? Or stray further out and rent the whole apartment? Mezi is an app that helps you find the right hotel for you, based on your personal preferences. The twist is that it’s all done by artificial intelligence. It’s a little but futuristic and AI can use deep learning tools to search through hundreds of options and create links that we might not notice – it could find your perfect getaway! If you try the app I’d love to hear what you think about it!

Global Entry – I tell everyone I meet about this – it’s the best thing I’ve ever done! If you travel even one time per year, it’s worth doing. This program has several benefits for 5 years and a $100 price tag. First you are eligible for TSA Precheck within the United States. That means you get to basically skip the line at security, keep your laptop in it’s bag and forego taking off your shoes and sweaters. Plus, when you’re returning to the US you get to bypass all the lines! I wrote a blog post explaining why this is a must have for any regular travelers.

Some people have their holiday planned a year in advance and others are hoping to snag a last-minute deal when trying to Vertaa lennot for the cheapest plane fares they can possibly find. Maybe, if you’re a last minute planner, this can help you be more organized.

Packing for Two Weeks in Europe in Carry-On Luggage

I Listen to this. The government says that airlines collected $3.4 BILLION in baggage fees in 2010! $3.4 Billion! How many of you contributed to that ridiculous number? Jay and I definitely have – we even did on our short trip to Miami. Don’t judge us.

It’s just so difficult to pack smart especially with the 3.0 oz. liquid rule. How will I bring my sunscreen? I slather on tons of it because covering health news has made me paranoid about looking old and getting cancer.

Anyway — back to the baggage fees… It IS possible to travel for two-weeks – in Europe with only carry-on luggage. I know it’s possible because my good friend and fellow Hofstra University alum – has done it! It’s true! And she’s sharing all her secrets so we can all save money and time. Take notes… Read more