Tips Archives - Unique Journeys LLC

How to Plan a Multi-Generational Family Vacation

Jun 13, 2021

Tips on How to Plan a Multi-Generational Family Vacation.

Do you struggle to get the entire family together? Would you love to finally organize a trip for all members of your family? Think of all fun you can have fun while spending time with each other?

A family vacation can be a fantastic experience; however, it needs to be very carefully planned before it ends up being a stressful nightmare. Keep reading to read our top 6 tips on how to plan a multi-generational family holiday!

Start Planning Way in Advance

The first step in planning a multi-generational family vacation is making sure that you are all on the same page. That is the reason why you need to start planning way in advance. First, the more people will be traveling together the more difficult it would be to coordinate the best time to go. Secondly, though, planning ahead of time also means that you would have enough time to discuss what each person’s expectations are. If you live in the same city, plan dinners where the main topic to discuss will be the upcoming trip, if you live far away from each other, plan family calls and have an agenda and topics to cover, such as the destination, how long are you going for, when are you taking the holiday, etc.

Build the Excitement

We would really stress the benefits of getting the children involved in the planning. Anyone who is invested in the trip will be more willing to go along with others and what they want to do. Purchase magazine articles, other sources periodically to get everyone excited and engaged with the planning process. You could even rent movies or DVDs about where they are thinking of going. Zoom meetings are also a good way to get everyone involved. If you are going on a cruise, you could have a zoom meeting with a representative of the cruise line, if going to a resort, there are quite a few YouTube videos you can access. Give the children that are old enough an “assignment” to find out interesting facts about where they are going. Then they can look for them when they get there and also so that they can report their findings in one of the planning meetings. Also, if you are going somewhere where there is a foreign language, everyone can try to learn some basic phrases and words. Also, learning about the different cultures and customs they children might encounter and why they are different from theirs so that they will have respect for the differences and understand that everyone has different beliefs, customs, etc. Maybe they can also find some recipes for local cuisine and try them out.

Have a Budget

When there are multiple people involved in a holiday, one of the most important topics is the budget. It is best to set a budget at the first stages of planning the holiday. If you are going on a multi-generational holiday, this means you will be traveling as a group. Group travels, though, can be expensive. Do not stress out too much, though, just have an honest discussion and determine what each person’s budget for this trip is. It is also a good idea to divide the expenses into different categories and maybe each person can pay for a different category.

Inclusives the cost is pretty well-known upfront and there will be very little outlay once you have paid for the trip. You might have to pay for drinks or excursions, but these would be at your own discretion and not something everyone would have to do. On AMA Waterways, for example, all shore excursions are included in the price. On most cruises, you can pay for your gratuities with the cost of your cruise too. Drinks are extra outside of meals, but then those who don’t drink won’t have that bar tab to worry about.

Find Balance Between Activities and Rest Time

One of the most difficult aspects of planning a multi-generational family holiday is deciding on the itinerary and the activities and places you would like to do and see. While there can be members of the younger generation, who would love to spend the entire day scuba diving or hiking, there might be elderly, who would prefer more time to relax and rest. It is important to remember that you need to make compromises and you are taking this trip so you can spend more time together. It is a good idea for each person to come up with a shortlist of what they would like to do during the trip once the families have decided on your destination. You can then have a common discussion and choose 1 or 2 items from each person’s list.

Do not be Afraid to Ask for Help

Planning a multi-generational family holiday can be extremely time-consuming, tiring, and stressful. It is important to remember that one person cannot make the arrangements for a few families. So do not be afraid to ask for help. You can either go to some of the other family members who can assist or if you are all too busy and occupied and find it too difficult to coordinate, you can even discuss the option of getting a travel agent, who would organize everything for you. A travel agent could actually save you money on this trip of memories.

Protection

We recommend purchasing insurance, as this pandemic has shown us that insurance is very important. We encourage everyone to take out insurance. We feel this is still very important going forward.

Just Enjoy, Have Fun and Create Memories Together

It is highly possible for some pressure to arise during the trip if some people are feeling left out. If this happens remind everyone why you have planned this multi-generational family holiday. It is to relax, enjoy, have fun, and most importantly to create memories together. Especially, if you only rarely see some of these people, it is vital to make the most of your time together and remember that you will only have this time now. Take photos, laugh, entertain each other, and create memories, which you will cherish long after you have gone back home.

If you choose to cruise this article may be of interest.

If you are perusing river cruises here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

Why You Should Go on a Solo Trip

May 8, 2021

Many people nowadays talk about solo traveling and how rewarding it is. Wondering Why You Should Go on a Solo Trip? If you are one of the people who have never traveled alone keep reading as today, we are sharing why you should go on a solo trip at least once in your lifetime. From experiencing the absolute freedom to gaining confidence in your own abilities, planning a solo trip should be on your agenda!

Discover the Real You

Embarking on a Solo Trip Adventure is not particularly easy. You will definitely need to step out of your comfort zone – not once, not twice, but daily. You will face fears and situations you have never had to cope with before, and this is the beauty of traveling solo. In these challenging situations, you will see yourself and discover more about your personality than ever before. You will need to make decisions when under pressure and you will then have to take the time and reflect on these. This is an inward journey to discovering the real you, as you are taking the journey to travel the world.

Solo -All the Time is Just for You

If you are an introvert, you will definitely love having all the time just for yourself. There will be no need to adjust to another person’s schedule or plan. You will literally be able to spend hours and hours just sitting down and people watching in a random small cafe sipping on your favorite cup of coffee just because you want to. If you wake up in a particular mood in one of the mornings, you can just follow your gut feeling and do whatever you feel like that day, without having to worry about group plans.

Find New Friends

When traveling as part of a group, you can build walls, add barriers, or position yourself in a bubble from the outside world. When traveling solo, this is impossible. Even if you are not the most sociable person and you find it difficult to find new friends, you will have no other choice but to step outside of your comfort zone and be the conversation starter. We are all people who need interactions with others, and this is applicable for anyone regardless of their age or nationality. And trust us one of the main reasons why it is worth going on a solo trip is to find new friends all from different backgrounds, as this will even further broaden your mindset and horizons.

You will Gain Confidence and Independence

One of the most rewarding reasons why you should travel solo is all the confidence and independence that you will gain. Being on your own means that you will have no one else to count on besides yourself. For example, having to find your way once you got lost while dealing with maps or trying to communicate with the locals in their own language will be challenging, but you will find a way out of this and you will then feel a lot more self-confident in your own abilities.

You Will Experience Absolute Freedom

And finally, last but not least– why you should go on a solo trip? Because you will experience absolute freedom! The freedom of going wherever and whenever you want, on your own terms, as well as the freedom of being who you want to be with the people you want to be with. Traveling solo leaves all restrictions, all dos, and don’ts behind. Traveling solo means following your own wishes and desires – and if this is not experiencing absolute freedom, then we do not know what is!

Are you ready to embark on a solo trip adventure now that you know why it is so worth it!

Many tour companies set aside space for solo travelers as well as most cruise lines have a single supplement for cabins only occupied by one person.

Now that you are considering solo trip you may want to peruse river cruises. To make a perfect choice, here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact expert Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

5 Tips How to Save Money For Your Next Vacation

Mar 5, 2021

5 Tips How to Save Money For Your Next Vacation

Are you dreaming of heading on your next vacation, but struggling as you do not have the funds for it? We have all been there because let’s be fair traveling can be an investment, although it is worth every penny for the experience and memories.

There are a few amazingly simple and realistic ways how you can get the money that you need and that is why today we are sharing the 5 tips on how to save money for your next vacation. Keep reading and you will be surprised how easy it is!

Start early and tell your travel agent what you are looking for so they can monitor sales and specials.

The more information you give them, the better they are able to help you. They may be able to show you alternatives that will be just as good and may save you money. They can also let you know the best time of year to go to certain destinations in order to get the best price, such as spring and fall shoulder seasons. Experience counts.

Set a Budget and Stick to It

Step one of saving money for your next vacation is not just setting a budget, but also making sure that you stick to it. One of the best ways to get started is creating a spreadsheet with different categories, which you are spending money on each month. Make sure that you add every single dollar that you spend to the relevant category and you will quickly notice how much of your salary goes into unnecessary purchases. It would be great if you can first track your spending for two or three months. Once you have a good idea of this, you can proceed to the next step, which is calculating the budget for each category by eliminating the small purchases you are making every month like buying a coffee on your way to work.

These are relatively small, but when combined they add quite a lot to your overall spending for the month. When you finally have your budget set, make sure that you keep tracking every purchase you are making. The best idea is to subtract them from the final budget for a particular category and once you reach the 0, make sure to mark it in red. Having the large red cell should be a good reminder that you are aiming to save money for your next vacation!

Create a Savings Account dedicated for Travel

After you have your budget set, you can proceed to stage 2 of how to save money for your next vacation. Go to your bank and create a savings account, which is completely dedicated for your travels. Be strict with yourself and make sure that even if you need additional money during the month, this will be a bank account you will not dip into. You should also make sure that at the beginning of each month, once you get your salary you transfer some funds from your main account to your savings account.

Start small and plan well with only transferring the amount you can afford. The idea is not to have the full amount you need for your next vacation immediately. This is a long-term tip how to save money and once you have a good understanding of how much money you can put aside each month, you can make these transfers automatic.

Cancel any Non-Essential Subscriptions

We bet that you have at least a few subscriptions that are either non-essential or you can certainly live without. A lot of times, people would get a subscription or even just a trial that would then result into a monthly subscription without even having the need for. It would be great if you can get your latest bank statements and go through every single transaction that has been made, as this is the best way to find out how much money you are paying throughout the month for different subscriptions. Be savage and cancel everything, which is non-essential. If you are having doubts and thinking how convenient it is to get meals delivered straight to your home, think about how much better you will feel when you are sunbathing on the beach and sipping on a delicious cocktail, instead!

Eat at Home

Once you have started tracking your monthly purchases, you will notice how much money you are spending on eating out. It is inevitable because most people think that cooking at home is very time-consuming and it is much easier to grab some food on your way home. The results from eating at home and even creating lunch boxes for work, however, can be noticed very soon after you have made this a habit. One of the best ways to get motivated to eat at home more often is to track how much money you have been able to save in the first month after you have started this habit using your budget spreadsheet. Then transfer this additionally saved amount straight into your saving accounts dedicated to your travels. You will be surprised how fast it will start growing.

Sell any Unused Items

Last but definitely not least, on our list of the 5 tips on how to save money for your next vacation, we will talk about selling any unused items. We all have them and if you start decluttering your house, you will quickly find out how many items you have that you are either not using or you have completely forgotten about. We bet that you will find kitchen gadgets still in their boxes somewhere in your attic or clothes hanging in your closet still having the tag on. These are great items that you can go ahead and sell. Nowadays, there are many different platforms and apps you can use to organize and plan your sales. This is a great tip not only to earn some money but also to clean your house!

Which of the above-mentioned 5 tips on how to save money for your next vacation will you try first?

If you are perusing river cruises to make a perfect choice, here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact expert Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

The Best Credit Cards When Traveling

Jan 31, 2021

Best Credit Cards

Check out the best credit cards to use when traveling. If you have already started planning some of your next international travels, you are definitely wondering what would be a good way to save some money.

Are you prepared?

Here are the best credit cards to use when traveling. From the no foreign transaction fees to accessing a huge range of luxurious travel benefits, a good credit card when traveling is a must-have. Keep reading as today we are sharing the 4 best credit cards when traveling!

Heading to Europe you might as well leave your Discover credit card at home. We are not aware of them accepting Discover at any location in Europe.

Be prepared when traveling….

Capital One Venture(One) Rewards Credit Card

Capital One offers two of the best credit cards for traveling – the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The former is perfect if this would be one of your first travel credit cards and you do not want to spend any money on the annual fee. The latter, on the other hand, has an annual fee of $95, however, the benefits are endless. While both have no foreign transaction fees, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will also allow you to earn 2 miles on every dollar. Overall, the Capital One VentureOne is better for the more casual credit card spenders, while the Capital One Venture is perfect if you are planning on spending over $10,000 per year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

With an annual fee of just $95 and absolutely no transaction fees, even when abroad the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best credit cards when traveling. If you spent $4000 during the first 3 months, you will earn a total of 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards, which account for around $750 in travel. One of the main benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the huge number of partners they have, which means that you would get a lot more flexibility with choosing how to redeem your credit.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the more premium credit cards you can get, with an annual fee of $550. If you are frequent travelers taking multiple trips per month, though, this might be the best choice for you. One of the main perks of joining is the 75,000 Membership Rewards Points you will receive once you spend $5,000 during the first 6 months. Besides earning 5x points for any flights booked directly with an airline, you can also make good use of the $200 of Uber savings on both rides and eats in the USA. Enjoy a wide range of luxury travel benefits such as getting access to the exclusive American Express Global Lounge Collection when traveling with Delta.

Some things to Consider

One more thing to have in mind before heading on your next travel adventure, however, is that some countries would have particular requirements when it comes to paying for your expenses. While credit cards can be widely used and accepted in the USA, there are countries, such as Cuba and Ukraine where it is better to pay in cash or just a general debit card. It is also good to keep in mind that in some countries paying by card is not as common and you should always have some cash in the local currencies prepared. Last but not least, if you are planning your holiday to Europe, you should know that while American Express cards can be used, the number of merchants accepting them is very limited. Having a Visa or a Mastercard in Europe can save you a lot of trouble.

Are you planning on applying for a travel credit card and saving thousands every year or would you prefer to stick to the old-fashion way of paying – in cash or debit card? Which one of the above mentioned best credit cards for traveling would you choose?

TIPS:

Make sure you notify your credit card company ahead of your trip so that they don’t think your card is being used illegally.
You will want to make copies of the face of the card so when they contact the credit card company if it’s stolen, it makes it easier to replace. Keep those copies in a separate place with the copy of the passport.
Suggest you carry small denominations in currency. Most local purchases are small and don’t keep a lot of change.
Keep receipts on large purchases since sometimes it can be reimbursed at the airport on departure because of the VAT tax. (If you make a large purchase the sell most likely will give you a form to take for reimbursement. If not, ask if your purchase is eligible.)

Now that you are perusing river cruises to make a perfect choice, here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact expert Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

Dec 31, 2020

5 Things to Pack When Going on a Cruise

Are you planning a cruise vacation filled with great memories?

Are you already thinking about the main essentials that you need to pack? If yes, keep reading as we are sharing the 5 things to pack when going on a cruise and we are revealing more than the basics such as swimsuit,

flip flops and passport!

Binoculars

You might be surprised by our first choice of items to pack when going on a cruise, but a small pair of binoculars is a must-have in the open ocean. You might be thinking that everything it is to see is endless blue waters, but you are wrong. Along the way, you can see various marine creatures and birds. Not only this but as you are sailing through the sea you can see various small islands further in the distance, which would be difficult to notice with a naked eye. Trust us, you will witness a whole new world with just a small pair of binoculars.

Sunscreen and Aloe Vera

We bet that during your cruise you would want to spend most of your time outside on the deck and enjoying the warm sunny days. Be sure to pack the combination of strong tropical sun rays and continuous ocean breeze will certainly feel pleasant and refreshing on your skin until you go back to your cabin and look at the mirror. The sun in the middle of the ocean can be extremely dangerous and you can get sunburnt extremely quickly. That is the reason why tons of sunscreen, as well as various lotions with Aloe Vera, are among the top 5 things to pack when going on a cruise.

Sea Sickness Medication

The worst thing that can happen while you are enjoying your cruise holiday is to get seasick. Those who will be taking an international trip and sailing through the open ocean should know that there is a high chance that the ship will meet some strong and rough waves. Most cruises are prepared for situations like this and they would have some medications for the passengers. Even still, it is always a good idea to pack your own and know that you are well prepared. This is certainly one of the must-haves of 5 things to pack when especially if this is your first cruise ever.

Water Shoes

One of the main things that you would want to pack when going on a cruise vacation is to swim in the refreshing waters and enjoying various activities across the tropical beaches you will be visiting. Even some tropical beaches, however, do not have the sandiest beaches, and sometimes walking barefoot is not advisable. In other places, on the other hand, it is necessary to wear water shoes when snorkeling. If you are going on a longer cruise, it might be a challenge to research every pit stop along the way. So better be safe than sorry and pack a pair of water shoes with you!

Waterproof Phone Case

Finally on our list of the 5 things to pack when going on a cruise is a waterproof phone case. Taking a cruise vacation involves a lot of water and sand. At the same time, though, we are sure that you would love to take as many photos as possible and capture all the fun moments, that is the reason why you need to also consider using some protection for your phone. Not only will you be able to still use your touch screen and camera, but a lot of phone cases nowadays are even meant to be used underwater. Always check the manufacturer’s notes when getting a waterproof phone case, though.

Did you consider these 5 essential things to pack when going on a cruise?

Which one of these were you most likely to miss packing to go on your cruise?

NOW IS NOT TOO SOON to begin taking steps to find your next exciting river cruise. Unique Journeys is a valuable asset to make certain you get the right cruise at the right time and for the right price. Don’t go it alone and risk not having the best experience possible. Together we will give you the vacation you deserve.