Unique-Journeys Archives - Unique Journeys LLC

10 Simple Travel Tips

Apr 21, 2022

Here are 10 simple travel tips to make your trip amazing. Be sure and check them out before you begin packing for your next adventure.

Be Cautious Don’t OverPack

Bring essentials don’t overpack. It just makes your travel more difficult especially if you have transfers or if you are not taveling to one location for the entire trip. Pack interchangeable outfits so you have variety. Example: 3 pairs of jeans for the week, not 7.

Bring Earplugs

Another great travel tip is to bring earplugs. Not many think about earplugs but they can be extremely useful for a multitude of reasons. For a long-haul plane ride, you may want to get some rest, and earplugs come in handy. (Some airlines provide them) Depending on where your room is located, such as close to the elevator or the pool, earplugs are the perfect solution for noise. Another option would be sound-canceling headphones, which help if you have loud people on your flight.

Don’t Overdue Your Hair and Body Products

Again, take just the necessities. Many people think they have to bring all their shampoo, conditioners, lotions, and body wash. These items really take up a lot of valuable packing space in your checked bag. They also should be packed in sealable plastic bags to protect the rest of your items in case they spill. It’s not a date it is vacation. Remember, if they are in your carry on you are only allowed containers of 3.4 oz. or less. They must all fit in a quart-sized bag and you are only allowed one bag per person. For more great tips about flying restrictions Click here. There is no real need to bring your own with you (unless you have a specific skin condition).

Carry a Small Towel

The hotel will supply large towels for all your needs but when sightseeing you can get wet or need to dry yourself off. A small towel is easy to carry and perfect for your needs. You might want to carry one of the fast-drying towels.

More Travel Tips

Bring a First Aid Kit

Don’t forget a travel first aid kit. Make sure it includes the essentials such as anti-acids, band-aids, antiseptic cream, Benadryl, and aspirin.

Bring Your Backpack

Staying with the theme of not over-packing, make sure your backpack is lightweight. When choosing what to take with you in the backpack don’t fill it to overflowing as your back will not be your friend after a couple of hours. You might want to consider testing the weight of your backpack and making sure it is not overpackedMore Tips

Bring a Small Journal

This is a huge travel tip. This journal is a great place to document your day; what you saw and what it meant to you. When you get back home from this amazing trip and you saw so much you will forget what day you did what and exactly where each photo was taken.

Bring an Extra Memory Card

Don’t forget an extra memory card for your camera and extra batteries. The worst place to be is viewing something spectacular and having to take time to delete photos to make room for more. Worse is if your batteries are not fresh and you miss that perfect photo. Plus make sure you bring a Universal Converter to be able to charge your electronics no matter where you travel. A power bank can be a great investment if you have multiple items to charge and you aren’t in a place where you can plug your devices in.

Pack A Light Jacket or Wrap

Don’t forget a jacket or wrap. Even on the plane, it can be cool or temps can change quickly. Nothing is worse than freezing and trying to enjoy a beautiful sunset or on a cruise.

Create a Packing List

Packing lists are really the only way to make sure you don’t forget anything before you leave. You can create your own customized list or there are many on Google.

You may be considering taking a cruise, 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.

How to Travel more Eco-friendly

Mar 24, 2022

Were you wondering How to Travel more Eco-friendly?

Are you wondering how to travel more Eco-friendly? The topic of being more sustainable travelers has been gaining massive popularity for the past few years. Many believe that it is far too challenging and costly to become a sustainably-conscious traveler – Wrong! Keep reading as we are sharing 6 very simple and easy ways how to travel more Eco-friendly, which you can start implementing straight away!

Bring your Own Water Bottle

One of the easiest ways to travel more Eco-friendly is as simple as bringing your own water bottle. From going on a road trip to America’s Best National Parks to heading to the airport for an extended weekend getaway, you will find numerous water fountains that you can freely use to fill up your own water bottle!

Use Environmentally Friendly Transportation

We just mentioned going on a road trip through the USA and boarding a flight, but both of these can harm the environment significantly with their CO2 emissions. If you are looking for environmentally airlines look for airlines that have implemented more sustainable policies and use biofuel instead! United Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa are examples of such! If you do not have your own electric vehicle, it might be interesting looking at renting one for your trip – this can also be a fun way to test it out and maybe consider buying one later!

Book a sustainable Accommodation

From luxurious tree houses to organic farmhouses, the list is endless once you start researching. If you are wondering how, you can become a more environmentally conscious traveler, you should definitely look at booking a more sustainable accommodation.

Support the Local Economy

By far our favorite way how to travel more Eco-friendly is supporting the local economy. Instead of choosing a large hotel chain, pick a small Eco-conscious guesthouse. Instead of choosing international tour operators, dive deeper and find small local guides. Not only are you not supporting mass tourism, but you are also getting to experience your destination from a lot more authentic perspective!

Eliminate Plastic

We fully realize that eliminating plastic might be easier said than done. You do not need to jump straight into “no more plastic” mode, but you can start making small changes not only to your travel habits but your overall daily routine to becoming more environmentally friendly by using less plastic. Some of the easiest ways are bringing your own re-usable shopping bag, glass food containers, and re-usable make-up removing cloths!

Unplug your Appliances

It is not just about your destination, but also what you are leaving behind when thinking how to travel more Eco-friendly! You are heading on a trip, so you are not going to be home for at least a few days. Why not go ahead and unplug your electric appliances then! It takes just a minute, but it helps significantly as no energy will be sent to it. A nice bonus is that you will be saving on your electric bill!

Now that you have our list of these 6 extremely easy and simple ways how to travel more Eco-friendly do you still think it is difficult and costly? We are sure that you are ready to implement at least one of these on your next trip. Even if it is just one, you know that you are contributing, and we are all hopefully slowly making a step towards traveling in a more environmentally-conscious way!

WHY YOU NEED A TRAVEL AGENT

Mar 21, 2022

Why do you need a travel agent? Let’s talk about that. That’s a question many people ask and there isn’t just one answer to that question. However, there are some answers that everyone has in common. I think a discussion of this is in order, so here goes.

Love of Travel:

As a consumer, you want someone who enjoys their job and wants you to enjoy your trip. They say if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. I believe that’s especially true with travel agents. I love to travel. But, more importantly, I love to experience travel through my clients’ adventures. Travel with family and friends creates memories that are more important than the trip itself. A love of travel leads me to my next reason to hire a travel agent:

Knowledge and Experience:

The fact is that with every trip I book for clients and every trip I take myself I gain a little more knowledge. It might be experiencing a new restaurant, learning a new phrase in a foreign language or seeing a site for the first time. While no one has been everywhere, my experiences and those of my clients enrich my ability to help my clients.

Stewards of your money:

You can be assured that I will do everything to get you the best “Bang for their Buck”, while also giving you the best experience possible. Whether it’s finding just the right cruise, giving you suggestions on the best tour and tour guides to enhance your experience or any of the other small details involved in taking a trip. My job is to see that you do get the experience you want.

In short, as a travel agent, I will treat your money as if it’s my own.

Contacts:

How many times have you heard the saying IT’S WHO YOU KNOW. In the case of your travel agent, it’s especially important. Want tickets to a concert? I can help with that. Need to set up a special surprise for someone? Consider it done. Over time I have built up a working relationship with all manner of professionals such as hotel managers, cruise representatives and tour managers. Not to mention the concierge at a great many hotels, who are a great asset. These contacts help me provide that extra service that sets your trip apart. It gives you the inside track.

Money-Saving: (Time is Money)

You don’t want to spend your spare time researching your trips when you can have me as your travel agent do the research for you. For a small fee, I will provide you with the best options and information which saves you money in the long run by avoiding costly errors.

Security:

Social media is alive with horror stories about travel scams. You have seen or heard them about people who have booked accommodations and when they get there to find out they are non-existent or the rooms they end up with don’t look anything like the pictures on the websites. With me as your advisor, you can be assured you get exactly what you have booked. I deal with reputable suppliers, so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

Taking care of the details:

When you plan a trip, whether a cruise, tour, or just flights and hotels, there are deadlines to be met. Missing them can mean you lose not only your space but the funds you have put down for your deposit. When you have a travel agent looking out for your booking(s) you can relax knowing everything will be taken care of at the appropriate time.

Keeping up With Current Conditions:

Not only do travel agents keep up with current weather and other trends, but in these days of Covid-19, they keep up to date on the requirements put out by the CDC.. They have a great website and we can help you navigate the regulations for each destination. These vary from country to country and even on a daily basis. I can make sure you have the information needed to make your travel run smoothly. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Advocacy:

Lastly, no one wants to think that anything will go wrong on their trip, but at some point, there are going to be circumstances that will create a problem. No one can control or fix everything, but once a problem arises, your travel agent is your best friend. I will intercede on your behalf and get the best resolution possible for you.

While there are some things a travel agent can’t fix: weather, strikes, health issues, we are there to help you in the event you need assistance with a problem.

Your trip represents your dreams for a great time with your friends and family. It may be something you are planning for the future. Everyone has a bucket list. Once we have established a relationship and know what your future plans are, I can help you with your long-range planning.

WHEN YOU HAVE A TRAVEL AGENT YOU HAVE A TRUSTED COMPANION.

We are in a different world today than we have ever been and for this reason, it is more important than ever to depend on the knowledge and expertise of a travel agent. I am committed to making sure you have the most up-to-date information available to make your vacation what you have dreamed it would be.

We have all waited to be able to travel and now is the time to savor the joy of travel with friends and family. To that end, I have created several articles with tips to help you with the decision-making process. Being prepared for long flights will save you time and energy when you arrive at your destination https://unique-journeys.com/biggest-mistakes-to-avoid-when-flying-long-haul/.

“I just wanted to thank you for your hard work and dedication for booking my family’s trips year after year. You make sure that we get the air flights that we want and the times that work best for us, thank you. You search for our lodging until we are satisfied, and they have been beautiful, thank you. Thanks again for all your hard work. We look forward to booking more trip with you.”

Anthony, Gena and Chance

Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Flying Long Haul

Jan 11, 2022

The 4 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Flying Long Haul:

Long Haul flights 7-15 hours long

Do you have an upcoming international flight and are already feeling overwhelmed? From 7 to 15 hours, long-haul flights are no joke! Stressing out with planning, the fear of flying, and not being able to sleep on planes are some of the most common issues, travelers experience when flying internationally. Keep reading as today we are sharing the biggest mistakes to avoid when flying long-haul!

Pack Extra Layers

Wearing fancy, formal clothes to get an upgrade is a common misconception with people traveling long-haul. As soon as you board the plane, you will realize that it is freezing cold, and you will regret not packing extra layers. Having nothing but a dress on with some cute sandals might seem right if your end destination is a tropical island, however, if you need to spend 10 hours in the air in the extremely cold passenger cabin, you will regret this decision. Just be comfortable and do not count on the thin blankets provided by airlines – make sure to bring your own extra layers with a long haul flight.

Not Hydrating

One of the biggest mistakes passengers admit to doing is taking advantage of the free alcohol during long-haul flights. There are multiple reasons why people choose to have a few glasses of wine or whiskey – from calming down their anxiety of flying to allowing them to fall asleep. While you can definitely have a glass of an alcoholic beverage, it is important not to forget to hydrate properly first. Not only does alcohol dehydrate you, but various research has proven that alcoholic drinks have a bigger effect on you in the air. Make sure to drink at least 0.25 liters for every hour you are on the plane and double that amount if you are having alcohol as well!

Preparing to Do Lots of Work

A lot of people plan to catch up on their work while traveling long-haul. In most cases, however, this does not happen! While many airlines now offer complimentary Wi-Fi for their frequent passengers, you need to keep in mind that nothing is always certain when you are in the air. Another common issue is not having enough space to set up your laptop, your planner, your documents, and all the additional papers you might need to finalize your work. Last but definitely not least, oftentimes travelers get distracted by the entertainment system and forget about all the work they were preparing to do. You can definitely still get some work done but be realistic with your expectations!

Forgetting Items on the Plane

You might be surprised to hear that, but one of the biggest mistakes that travelers make, especially on long-haul flights is forgetting their items on the plane. From essentials, such as passports, phones, and wallets to smaller things like books, snacks, and headphones, the list of items forgotten on planes every day is endless. Regardless of if you are in a hurry or not for your next flight, make sure to always double-check your seat, the floor under your seat, and most importantly the seat pocket in front of you! The largest number of things forgotten during long-haul flights are either in the seat pocket or under the seat, so make sure to check it twice before you leave the plane. While sometimes you might be lucky other times, items left on planes are lost forever!

We hope that our list of the four biggest mistakes to avoid when flying long-haul will help you have a hassle-free international journey next time!

Top 5 Train Rides in Missouri

Oct 29, 2021

Top 5 Train Rides in Missouri

If you are a train-lover, Missouri is one of the best places to go. There are many different train rides around Missouri that offer short or long rides. Some have themed days, others have amazing four-course meals, and almost all have beautiful sightseeing. Here we will discuss five of the top train rides around Missouri.

Best Dinner Train: Silver Chef, Branson Scenic Railway

The Branson Scenic Railway is known for its Polar Express train ride during the Christmas holidays, but it can also be enjoyed any time of the year. This train starts and ends in Branson, Missouri, and travels through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. A normal round-trip excursion costs between $2-$29 depending on age.

If visiting between April and October, couples and families can also enjoy a four-course dinner train, which leaves every Saturday at 5 pm. The dinner train runs from $69-$79.

Best Train for Themed Events: St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway

The St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway offers 2-hour roundtrip rides every Saturday at 1 pm on their ninety-five-year-old railcars. The train starts and stops in Jackson, Missouri. The train rides start between $10-17 for a normal Saturday ride, to $28-45 for a dinner train ride.

They also offer many themed events monthly, which can include Murder Mystery rides, Santa Express, dinosaur train, Chocolate Express, and a Historical Ghost Train. Check out their website for more details and themed events happening this month!

Best Train for a Short Ride: The Belton, Grandview, and Kansas City Railroad

The Belton, Grandview, and Kansas City Railroad is in Belton, Missouri. It is a short train ride at only 45 minutes round trip. Train lovers will enjoy the 1920’s passenger cars and the 1950’s locomotive train rolling through Old Towne Belton. Train rides are $12 for all ages 3 and up.

Best Train for Sight Seeing: Missouri River Runner, Amtrak

The Missouri River Runner goes between two major cities, St. Louis and Kansas City. If you are a lover of wine, it also stops off in Hermann, Missouri’s wine country. And for all the history buffs, it has a stop in the city of Independence, which is President Harry S. Truman’s hometown. The entire ride from St. Louis to Kansas City can take a little less than 6 hours. Tickets can be purchased on the Amtrak website.

Best Train for Kids: Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad Association, Glencoe

Visit the Wabash, Frisco, and Pacific Railroad for the most unforgettable miniature train ride. Hop aboard the 12-inch gauge steam railroad and travel the 2 miles through the woods and next to the Meramec River. The full round-trip ride takes about 30 minutes. Tickets are $20 for a full passenger car, and each passenger car can fit up to 5 people.

After enjoying your train ride you may be considering taking a cruise, 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.