Always make two copies of the personal information page of your passport.  Keep one at home or leave with someone you can contact anytime – night or day, and keep the other with you – but away from the original.  Lost or stolen US passports bring thousands of dollars on the black market.  A photocopy helps the local U.S. Consulate reissue a new one in 24 hours.  Without a photocopy, it could take weeks.

On the same vein, NEVER let a shop keeper take your passport to a back room for processing. In fact, don’t let anyone take it anywhere that you can’t see it at all times!

Scan a copy of your passport and email it to your self.  You can access your email from anywhere and print it out or send it to the proper authorities via email.

Along with your passport, bring a complete list of all medicines you take (as well as all allergies that you have) along with you. Its easiest to put that information on a 3×5 card with a brief medical history on the back.  When you are sick, you may not be able to communicate (especially in a foreign country where communication is tough even when you are lucid if you are not familiar with the language!) so you will have this card to ‘speak’ for you.

If you think that you might use a credit or debit card in your travels, especially outside of the U.S. (or your home country), it’s a good idea to notify the issuer of the card before you leave so that your purchase or ATM request is not denied. And be sure to make a copy of the credit cards that you take with you so that if anything happens to them, you can notify the issuer immediately with all the information that you need to report it.

Put your phone number and the phone number of someone who is not on the trip with your luggage so that if your luggage is lost on the way to your destination, the airline, tour operator or cruise company can contact someone who can tell them where that luggage should be going.

Be sure to do your research before you go to an unknown country.  Find out about  politics, religion, money and cultural points about the country (or countries) that you will be visiting.  This way you will not be the ‘ugly American’ and will fit in and be respectful to them.  For instance, did you know that in Italy, in order to visit the Vatican and most churches, you must cover your shoulders and knees?  In this day and age of  shorts (both men and women), short skirts and sleeveless tops, you need to know that you must dress conservatively on the days that you plan to visit these places!

If you are going on a cruise, it is unlikely that you would know every port (especially if you are in a different port every day of the cruise!).  Go to the port/shopping talks that they have  or speak directly to the port/shopping person directly. They know the best ways to get around and can give you invaluable advice on everything from shopping to the best time to return to the ship.

These are just a few of the things that you can do to make your next vacation a fun and stress free one.  Have fun and remember that the best vacation always begins with a travel agent.

If you’re thinking about cruising in June, July or August, now is the time to book and save. Due to record reservation activity, effective March 22nd, Carnival Cruise Lines will increase pricing on all summer 2010 sailings.

          So it seems that now that people are taking more cruises, the cruise lines are going to be increasing their prices.  Well at least Carnival is – but you know how it is, if one increases their prices, the others will follow.  Looks like now is the time to book that cruise before the price goes up!

1- Write down what you plan to wear each day.  Look at your day by day itinerary and envision what you will do each day.  This will help you decided what you’d like to wear that day.  Check out the weather on the internet (weather.com is a great site for that!) to help you to decide for that day. 

2- Complete each outfit.  Lay the outfit on the bed, from head to toe.  Lay out your bathing suit, sandals, cover up, hat, beach bag, sunglasses.  Next lay out what you will be wearing that night, and so forth. This is an important step because this is where you will mix and match. As you build your daily outfits, you will notice a basic color scheme and you will realize that you don’t need as many coordinating items like shoes, handbags, hair accessories, etc.

3- Hangers are the secret. Hangers allow you to take your clothes directly from your suit case and hang them in the closet. For a bathing suit, hang the suit, cover up and beach bag all on one hanger.  This is a great way to make sure that you don’t forget anything.

4- Don’t overpack. Airlines charge fees based on the weight of your luggage. For instance, don’t stock up on magazines to bring on your vacation, magazines are heavy!  Bring one or two for the flight and put those in your purse to carry on.  (I always carry a large satchel type purse to carry on and put a smaller purse inside for later – the satchel is a good catch-all!)   Or bring a good book! 

5- Pack a smaller suit case inside to use as a carry on for the way home.  You’ll want to bring home items with you and you’ll also have a place for the dirty clothes.

6- Unpack completely as soon as you get to your room or cabin (if you are cruising). Once unpacked, store your luggage.  Try to store your luggage under the bed – I find that under the bed in your suitcase is a great place to store things that you use but don’t want to leave out and don’t have room to put in either the closet or the drawers.  Space is tight, especially on a cruise, so you will need that extra space!

The only thing that I make sure that I have plenty of is underwear.  You can always re-wear a top, pants or skirt but who wants to wash out the undies to re-wear?  You have better things to do with your precious time on your vacation!  

Pack well, and you will enjoy your vacation!

Hope to see you there, it is at The Kove caterers, on Route 130 in Edgewater Park NJ.  It is right across Rt 130 from the flea market in Willingboro.   If you can’t make it to that one, come see us at the show at Valleybrook Country Club in Blackwood NJ on February 7, 2010.

Hopefully your new year will be happy, healthy and prosperous.  This should be a really great year to travel.  The cruise lines are all bringing down their prices to entice more people to cruise.  There are going to be more weddings this year, since people held off last year.  They want to get married and while they may not have the big fancy weddings that they would have had, they are still having the luxurious honeymoons.  A word to everyone getting married, don’t scrimp on your honeymoon.  It is a once in a lifetime trip…do it up and go where you’ve always wanted to go.  There are a lot of bargains out there which are not ‘cheap’ but they certainly are less expensive than they would have been in previous years. 

Another thing that you may want to consider if you are getting married this year is a destination wedding.  At most resorts, they will comp your wedding costs (the actual wedding itself, not the reception) if your wedding party is 10 or more rooms.  While you won’t have the large reception that you may have dreamed of, you will have an exotic wedding with your family and close friends, which may be more memorable than a large wedding!

And be sure to use a travel agent for all your vacation needs, whether it is for your honeymoon, destination wedding, babymoon or just a getaway.  If anything goes wrong, you will be glad that you have that agent to be there for you!  If you don’t have a travel agent, please call Two Sisters Travel at 1-800-614-8514 or email info@twosisterstravel.com and we will be glad to help you with any of your vacation needs.  Be sure to check us out on the web at www.twosisterstravel.com or on Facebook – just click on box on the right.   And if you are in New Jersey and getting married, come visit us at the Elegant Bridal show at The Kove in Edgewater Park on January 19th and at Ron Jaworski’s Valleybrook Country Club in Blackwood on February 7th.

Again, have a very happy new year and hope that it is the best one ever!

1.  Expert Guidance.  Travel agents are experts in the field of travel.  They are there to find the right product, at the best price, for your needs.

 2.  Personalized Service.  Using the services of a travel agency means you are not booking with an impersonal website or some voice a 1000 miles away.  You are talking to your neighbour, someone who knows you and what you value in your travel experience.  Someone who takes the time to find out what is important to you and finds the vacation that is just right.

 3.  Customer Advocate.  If you have problems while you are away, your travel agent is there to assist you in resolving your concerns.  If you book with a travel agency, you are less likely to experience flight, city or accommodation changes by the tour operator, as they know we will be there to stand behind you.

 4.  The best value for your travel dollar.  Travel agents inform you about all your choices, let you know about special promotions, and can advise on the quality of a particular product.

 5.  Convenient one-stop shopping.  Your travel agent can save you time and money by handling all aspects of your trip, from air tickets and hotel, to car rental, insurance, shuttles, tours and activities.

 6.  Unbiased Information.  Your travel agent works for you, not the travel supplier.  Their only objective is to get you the best value and satisfy you completely. 

 7.  Before and after sales and service.  Travel agents help you choose and plan your vacation, prepare for departure, and are there afterwards to assist with any question or concerns you may have in regards to your trip.

 8.  Escorted and Exclusive Vacations.  Some agencies offer tours throughout the year that are with a group and often come with an escort to assist you while you are away.

 9. Time Savings.  Your travel agent has an abundance of information at his/her fingertips and can pull up unlimited travel options quickly and efficiently.

 10. Maximum Choice.  Your local travel agent can offer you a wide variety of travel options and quotes from competing travel suppliers, which assists in finding you the best value possible.

Remember, your travel agent works for you but is paid by the travel supplier.  We want to make sure that your next vacation is the best one yet!  The best vacation ALWAYS begins with a travel agent!

1. Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.
2. Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.
3. Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.
4. Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 200 distinctive ships, 3000 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.
5. Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.
6. Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don’t come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; your CLIA-affiliated travel agency can handle all of the details. Once you’re on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid… talk about hassle-free.
7. Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon… and you only have to pack and unpack once!
8. Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children’s programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone.
9. Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock.
10. Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It’s a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.

** from CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association

Two Sisters Travel will be at the Elegant Bridal show on January 19, 2010 at The Kove in Edgewater Park, NJ and at the Elegant Bridal show on February 7, 2010 at Ron Jaworski’s Valleybrook Country Club in Blackwood NJ.  Be sure to come to the show, we will be there to give you some information to start planning your once in a lifetime Honeymoon! Just stop by our booth and sign up so that we can contact you to begin your planning. If you are thinking about a destination wedding, we can help you with that also. We can help you with all your travel needs, including your Bachelor and Bachelorette trips! Or if you just needs a girls weekend before the wedding, give us a call!

Remember that the best Honeymoon or Destination Wedding always begins with a Travel Agent!

Visit us on the web at www.twosisterstravel.com or click on the logo on the right.

If you would like someone to contact you now, please email us at info@twosisterstravel.com

NEWS PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact: Patricia OKavage
1-800-614-8514
716-809-4890
patty@twosisterstravel.com

PATRICIA OKAVAGE OF TWO SISTERS TRAVEL COMPLETES PhD @ SEA PROGRAM

Norwegian Cruise Line University’s new program at sea promotes continuing education for its star students.

Westampton NJ December 21, 2009

As the next generation of Freestyle Cruising® continues to evolve, NCL University – NCL’s CLIA-accredited online travel agent “college” – expands the higher education program for its travel partners from the computer to a real-life Freestyle Cruising experience at sea. This in-depth, on-board, weeklong event includes an NCL executive host, a 15-credit CLIA public relations seminar, behind-the-scenes ship tours, panel discussions and group activities. To qualify for this enhanced at-sea experience, travel partners must have completed, at a minimum, the Freestyle Specialist level at NCL U.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s online university opened its virtual doors in 2008 and is one of the most innovative and successful programs available to travel agents today. With thousands of registered students and growing, NCL U has enhanced its training from the interactive experience of its online program to a continuing educational experience that includes the PhD @ Sea program aboard its ships.

“At NCL, we highly recommend the use of a travel professional when booking an NCL cruise,” says Andy Stuart, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Passenger Services. “With NCL U, we are investing in our travel partners’ product knowledge, marketing and sales skills so our guests will know they are relying on an expert who knows our product inside and out.”

By earning NCL U’s PhD @ Sea certification, Patricia is considered among the most qualified and expert representatives for NCL’s cruise product. To reach Patricia please contact at 1-800-614-8514 or patty@twosisterstravel.com

This time we were in a balcony cabin.  It was nice sized but the set up made the room seem small.  There is a nice balcony, large enough for 2 chairs and a small table.  As you walk into the cabin from the balcony, there is a small TV above a small table with a chair in the right corner.  To the left is a love seat and small coffee table.  Next are two twin beds (which are made into a queen bed for a couple traveling – I was traveling with my sister so we had twin beds). The passage from the living area past the beds to the bathroom/closet area is very tight and only one person could navigate it at a time.

The bathroom was a nice sized bathroom.  There was a separate area for the commode which had a door that could be opened and closed.  On the other side of the sink was the shower, also with a door instead of a shower curtain.  That was nice because it kept the bathroom floor from getting wet from the shower.  The sink area was nice and big but did not have a lot of shelves so we had to keep our makeup and most cosmetics out in the room. 

There was not a lot of places to store items. The closet was small and there were 4 shelves next to the closet and then one shelf that was a safe.  The closet was barely large enough for 2 women considering that we had to hang most everything because we only had 2 shelves and 2 small drawers .  The dressing area was a joke, a small area at the foot of one of the beds.  I found that it was easier for one of us to get ready while the other did something to stay out-of-the-way… two people could not get ready at the same time in the bathroom/closet/dressing area. 

Here is a video of the cabin that I recorded when we got on the ship and were still in port at Miami: