Airlines Will add a "Holiday Surcharge" Happy Holidays :-/

Airline passengers just seem to not be able to catch a break! It seems that airlines will be adding a $10 "holiday surcharge" on this year! Gone are the competitive pricings of Holiday season 2008! It seems that American, United, Delta and US Airways added" $10 each way" surcharge for travel on three busy days around the Thanksgiving and New Year's holidays. Can some body say "Bah humbug" ?

It is thought that the airlines added the charge because it was a quick, and easy way to charge more on peak travel days. The Sunday after Thanksgiving November 29, is one of the busiest travel days of the year, while January 2 and 3 are popular with holiday travelers as well.

Apparently the airlines are losing money on the Business Travel. With the advent of Phone conference lines and webinars, companies are opting to use these tools for virtual meetings. Many companiies have been forced to cut down on their Conference budgets as well.

You can be sure that the prices will increase even more the closer we get to the holdays.
So how can we be frugal during this holiday season?
* Book your airfare now before the fares go up even more.
*Travel light. Take carry on luggage and avoid the luggage fees.
*if you are taking gifts for the family, consider shipping them via UPS, Fedex or Post office. You will end up saving tons of money.
* College students coming home for the winter break? Encourage them to ship their items ahead. Book their one way fares home NOW. They can book another one way ticket back to school late in January.The prices are sure to come down by then.

So there you have it! To all the holiday Travelers, safe travels and Happy Holidays! To the Airline Scrooge..... Bah Humbug to you too!

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Gail Walker aka "GailTravel is a Travel Consultant with her own online Travel site at
www.GailsDreamVacations.com. She specializes in Group travel, Bus trips, Family reunions, Cruises, Resorts, and Fundraisers for Non-profit organizations, including churches.
Contact Gail for a travel consultation or a Web tour. through this site, or 917-476-7305 or email
WLKRG5@gmail.com

Take Your Dream Vacation on the New State of the Art Carnival Dream

Your Dream Vacation on the New State of the Art, Carnival Dream

I got great news for anyone looking for that special Dream Vacation.
I was just informed this weekend that Carnival Cruise line took delivery of their new state of the Art ship named Carnival Dream.
Rather than write my own description I will just copy and paste whatI received in my correspondence from Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Dream represents a new class in the Carnival fleet! She combines a capacity to accommodate more than 3,600 guests with some brilliant new innovations, both inside and out. Our guest experience centers around creating fun, memorable moments in a social and friendly atmosphere. To that end, we’ve introduced two truly unique spaces – The Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor café with live music; and The Lanai, an outdoor area featuring a wrap-around promenade and whirlpools suspended over the ship’s side!

We also offer several new accommodation categories, including the Deluxe Ocean View staterooms – two-bath, five-berth cabins (perfect for families) and Cove Balconies located closer to the water line.
The innovations extend beyond brand new features to include the creation of the largest Cloud 9 spa in the fleet and, of course, Carnival’s own WaterWorks, featuring the longest water slide at sea.
Because we know that fun isn’t just about the actual ship features, we’ve produced exciting new entertainment choices, including a comedy club and outdoor laser shows on Lido Deck.
Also new is the “Fun Hub,” an intranet guest portal and the first-of-its-kind shipboard social network that provides a variety of helpful information onboard and allows guests to interact and connect with each other online.

Monday morning (9/21) the Carnival Dream departs from Rome (Civitavecchia) for its inaugural 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise, for the first of three voyages. The ship will then sail a trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome to New York followed by a special two-day cruise and two eight-day Caribbean voyages. Carnival Dream will then reposition to Port Canaveral for a special one-time nine-day voyage December 3 before launching year-round seven-day Caribbean service December 12, 2009


Take the Virtual Tour of the Carnival Dream Here.

Those living in the the New York Tri state area are in for a special treat. A Cruise to Nowhere on the Carnival Dream , November 13 - 14. Leaving from New York. This is absolutely perfect for that special birthday party, or anniversary party. How about a Pre-Thanksgiving Party , or girlfriend getaway? Ideas are limitless. Contact me and I will be happy to accommodate you.

PRICING FOR THE CRUISE TO NOWHERE - November 13-14, 2009 Leaving from New York City.
Inside Cabin- Starting from $389 pp
OceanView from $404 pp
Balcony $469 pp

Look for the Carnival Dream on www.GailsDreamVacations.com


Put your info in the form on the side --------------->
I will get in touch with you!
Happy Cruisn'

Help Me Help You to Plan Your Dream Vacation

There is nothing better to see than the smiles on a person’s face or hear the glee in the voice of someone who has just booked their dream vacation. That is why I love my Travel biz! But to help you plan, crucial information is needed.

Often I am left a message on my phone or voicemail saying “Gail can you tell me how much it cost to go to(you fill in the blank). Now I am more than happy to grant such a request however much more information is needed. So I will like to provide a blueprint for travel requests.

What type of vacation are you thinking of ? Would you want a cruise? A Resort? Adventure vacation? Spa Vacation? Would a 18 hole PGA Golf green and resort interest you? Or maybe its time for that long awaited family vacation.

Where do you wish to vacation to and where would you be leaving from? This greatly affects the bottom line. The time of the year and even the day of the week you leave on can affect your bottom line sometimes even in the hundreds.
How many people are going? Is this a romantic getaway for you and your spouse, or is it a Girlfriend Getaway. I always need to know how many adults and how many children with their ages.

What do you want to do on this vacation? Relax on a beach? Go kayaking? Go sight seeing? Take a cooking class? Research genealogy ? What is it you specifically want to do? What are you excited about seeing and doing?
Consider what type of hotel you would want to stay in. How many stars? 2,3,4 stars?

Would you prefer a large hotel near the main strip or a smaller quieter intimate hotel off the beaten path? Must it have a swimming pool? Would you prefer a hotel that includes breakfast?

What is a budget you would like to work with? Do you have a limit, or do we throw caution to the wind.? These are just some of the questions that as a Travel consultant I would need to be answered to help you plan your dream vacation.

Happy Travels!

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I am looking forward to helping you plan a fantastic vacation. Fill out the form to the right for more information.
www.GailsDreamVacations.com

A new Discount Airline in the' Hood- Jet America

There is a new discount Airline in the tri-state area. Jet America.com begins flying out of Newark Airport on July 13. They boast of $9 one way fares but trust me there is a catch. This airline plans to go the way of RyanAir and charge fees for a lot of their services. They will charge a $5 convenience fee to book on their site.
Jet America will charge an additional $20 for a round-trip with an assigned seat, $20 to buy a ticket by phone and $10 to book on the Web site (www.jetamerica.com).

Baggage Fees
A first bag fee of $20 each way and a second bag fee of $20 each way.

The airlines will service New York City via Newark Airport, Toledo/Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Lansing/Michigan, South Bend/Indiana, Orlando/Melbourne Florida

I am all for saving money any way you can. This may be a good alternative to the higher priced airlines. Just remember to read all the fine print.

I always point my clients to affordable travel opportunites, including airfares. If you find one cheaper than my site, then I say "go for it". Is all about helping people!

Happy Traveling,

Planning a vacation? Email me WLKRG5@GMAIL.com
www.GailsDreamVacations.com

Travel Requirements Changing June 1, 2009

Travel Requirements Changing June 1, 2009

As of June 1, 2009 there are new travel requirements to enter into the U.S. American citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports will have to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document, that is approved by the Department of Homeland Security. One of the acceptable forms is an enhanced Driver's License. Passports will continue to be required for air travel.

For more information Read about the new travel requirements

Need help with findig somewhere to go with your Passport? Contact Gailtravel by filling in the form to your right or emailing me at WLKRG@GMAIL.COM
www.GailsDreamVacations.com

CDC says its Safe to Travel to Mexico

CDC says its Safe to Travel to Mexico

CDC has removed its recommendation that U.S. travelers avoid travel to Mexico because of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus. The previous health warning has been downgraded to a Health precaution.

Taken from the CDC site:
CDC recommends that travelers at high risk for complications from any form of influenza discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of travel in the context of their planned itinerary to Mexico, and may want to consider postponing travel. Travelers at high risk for complications include:

Children less than 5 years old
Persons aged 65 years or older
Children and adolescents (less than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
Pregnant women
Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders
Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities


In addition Carnival cruiselines announced they are returning to their original Mexico itineraries as early as the end of May based on the CDC recommendations.
Expect the other major cruiselines to follow suit!

Read more from the CDC here.

Now that the warning has been lifted, and CDC says its safe to travel to Mexico I expect prices of cruises, resorts, and tours to plummet, making some good Vacation options for bargain hungry travelers!

Its great to see things are getting better for Mexico.

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Go to www.GailsDreamVacations.com for great prices to Mexico or anywhere in the world.
OR
Fill out the form on this blog or email me WLKRG5@GMAIL.COM

Medical Travel Trips

Medical Travel Tips

Nurses in the United States just comepleted yearly celebration of Nurses Week 2009. Its Celebrated each year from May 6-12. The last day of the celebration is the actual birthday of Florence Nightingale. The theme for this year is "Nurses building a Healthy America" which is exactly what we do.

I am no longer in the traditional hospital setting that many people envision most nurses as belong. The nursing profession has branched out in so many ways since Florence was around. I am a Nurse Case manager which involves alot of teaching. I absolutely love it.

What I like even better is combining my nursing expertise with my newest love of travel. For example many people flocked to my blog as they were seeking of information regarding the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) and how it would affect their travel plans. Its remarkable how many misconceptions prevailed about that subject.

Recently I was speaking to one of my patients who I case manage, who was preparing to leave for vacation. I was providing her some medical travel trips. I realized that it’s a good idea to share with my readers. So here we go!



1- If you have a chronic illness or condition ( heart, diabetes, pregnancy etc) make sure you get clearance from your doctor to travel, especially if it’s a long trip or you are traveling by plane.

2- Please do not put your medications in your suitcase. Always Keep them in your carry on bag. If your plane is delayed or if your suitcases take a trip of their own to some exotic island without you, you don’t want your medications going along too. Last summer coming home from Convention my husband decided to pack his medication in one of the suitcases. Our flight kept being delayed and delayed and delayed. Finally it was canceled. For a while our bags were no where to be found. My husband had a fit and said my Medications were in there! Long story short, we were this close to having our bags shipped to Laguardia without us. We finally got our bags after hours and hours of waiting. He learned his lesson!

3- Keep your medications in their original bottles. – In case of emergency, your doctor’s name, dosage and name of pharmacy and is on it.

4- Make sure you have enough medications for the trip and a few extra days over. If your flight is delayed for some reason, or another unforeseen situation occurs you will be covered. I even suggest taking a week's worth.

5- Have a plan if you lose your medications. A friend or family member can ship a new prescription or new supply to you. A few of my patients have actually had to do this.

6- Keep a list of all your medical conditions, doctors’ names and telephone numbers, and list of medications in a small note book. This also stays in your carry on bag.

7- Carry a “First Aid" kit with you- medication for motion sickness, anti-diarrheal medication, antibiotic ointment, band-aids, , pain reliever, cold medicine. Custom tailor this kit to suit you and your family’s needs. Of course this is also in your carry on.

8- Very important! Always purchase Traveler’s insurance. you never know when you may need it. You or a family member may become ill. Or maybe a family emergency calls you home early., You will never regret it!

I'll be providing some more Medical travel tips in future blogs.