Destination Spotlight: Turks and Caicos

It’s been a bit since I’ve highlighted any vacation destinations on my blog, so I thought it was time to bring it back. I know that sometimes it helps spark ideas for future vacations and I’m all for that! If you know me personally, you know that I’m not a big fan of traveling to the same place twice. I love to explore this great big world and hope to encourage others to do so as well. That being said, I thought that this week I would shed some light on the Turks and Caicos islands.

Turks and Caicos are made up of 40 islands, 8 which are inhabited. The majority of the population and tourism happen on the Providenciales (Provo) and Grand Turk islands. These islands are located less than 90 minutes from Miami. The main airport for Turks and Caicos is located in Provo, however there are options from there for flying to Grand Turk. Provo is very family friendly. There is an ordinance preventing any construction above 5 stories. There are also no traffic lights or Starbucks! English is the native language and US dollars are the local currency, however it is a British territory and driving is done on the left side of the road. There isn’t any public transportation on the islands either, however taxis and rental cars are easy to locate.

Turks and Caicos have year round beautiful weather. With 350 days of sunshine per year, they see very little rain, mostly during hurricane season, from June to November. The temperatures dip a bit November thru April, but remain consistently warm year round.

The beaches on the islands are some of the most beautiful in the world. Hundreds of miles of soft, white sand and crystal clear waters without any rocks, seaweed or pollution, thanks to being protected by one of the largest barrier reefs about a mile off shore. Grace Bay Beach is probably one of the best known beaches, located on the north shore of Provo. There you will find luxury accommodations and some of the most beautiful water. Long Bay Beach is located opposite of Grace Bay and is a great spot for kite boarding or horseback riding.

There are several different types of accommodations on the islands, including all-inclusive resorts, adults only resorts, small boutique style resorts and you can even stay on your own private island, Ambergris Cay. It can be a bit pricey to dine out and buy groceries on the islands, but the beauty makes it all worth it.

If you’d like to find out more about Turks and Caicos, I’d love to help you plan your vacation there.

Destination Spotlight: Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea, off the easternmost coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.  The distance between Cozumel & Riviera Maya is about 18 miles.  It's a popular cruise ship port of call, but you can also get there by flying directly into Cozumel or by flying into Cancun, taking transportation to Playa del Carmen, then taking a ferry to Cozumel.  Near hourly ferry rides to/from Playa del Carmen take about 30-45 minutes each way.  

Cozumel is known for it's crystal clear water, endless beaches, world famous coral reefs and spectacular sunsets.  Besides scuba diving, some of the top things to do on the island are visiting Stingray Beach, sailing on a catamaran, going on a mini submarine tour, going deep sea fishing or snorkeling.  I recommend renting a car and getting away from the touristy areas and really check out the beauty of the island.  The 185 square mile island is very safe and the economy is based entirely on tourism.  

The average temperature on the island is 69 to 91 degrees Farhenheit.  The dry season runs February to April.   It can be fairly wet, with brief rain showers the rest of the year.  However, the highest amount of rainfall typically occurs in September & October.  

If you plan to stay on the island, there are many different types of accommodations, including several family friendly and an adults-only all-inclusive resort. I can take care of all hotel and travel plans, allowing you to have a truly worry-free vacation.  If this sounds like something you're interested in, contact me for more information.

Questions Answered: Is Travel Insurance Worth the Cost?

Every time you book a trip, whether with a travel agent or on your own, I'm sure that you've been asked if you would like to purchase travel insurance.  If you're anything like I was, you think about it for a couple of minutes and try to decide if you really want to spend the extra money, when it sounds like it's one of those types of insurance policies that you don't even need (kind of like extended warranties when you purchase something).  However, as I have learned over the time that I have been a travel agent, most of the time, it's a smart move to get it and I have seen it be a great investment for several clients. 

I think that oftentimes, most people aren't exactly sure what the insurance policy actually covers and they assume it will really only cover you if there's a hurricane or another natural disaster.  My hope with this blog post is to inform you a little more on how it actually works and when it's probably ok to skip it.

Travel insurance is meant to protect you against unforeseen travel misfortunes.  Each policy is different, so it's very important to read over the policy thoroughly, however most policies will cover the following...

• Trip Cancellation & Trip Delay. The insurance company will reimburse you your non-refundable travel costs if your trip is cancelled, interrupted or delayed due to a natural disaster, illness, plane failure, labor strikes or the carrier goes out of business. Many companies will also offer a "cancel for any reason" policy, which gives you flexibility to do just that, cancel for any reason whatsoever, up to 48 hours before departure.

• Baggage & Personal Item Coverage. If someone steals something out of your bag or hotel room, or your luggage is lost or delayed... insurance will reimburse you for your loss.

• Emergency Medical Insurance. You wouldn't want to go without medical insurance in your every day life, you shouldn't when you're traveling outside of the country either. Of course you never expect to become injured or ill when you're on vacation, but unfortunately that happens all the time and medical care in other countries can be very expensive, especially if you end up needing to be transported back to the U.S. Most medical insurance policies will not cover you if you leave the country.

• Accidental Death or Dismemberment. As tragic as it may be to think about, travel insurance can protect you if you or a loved one dies on the trip or suffers a life-impairing accident.

• There are also a select few travel insurance policies that will offer a Best Price Guarantee as well. This means, if the same exact vacation that you have booked goes on sale for a cheaper price, you will receive the difference back. I've personally helped people save hundreds of dollars on their trips who have purchased this insurance policy.

• Many policies will also cover pre-existing conditions.

When is travel insurance maybe not necessary?

In my opinion there are two major factors to consider when deciding whether or not to purchase travel insurance...financial risk and medical concerns.  Are you concerned about losing money due to a canceled, delayed or interrupted trip, lost bags or medical expenses?  Is a large part of your trip non-refundable?  Are you leaving your home country, where your medical insurance won't cover you?  If you answer yes to any of these questions, I would highly recommend adding a travel insurance policy to your vacation package.  If you're traveling domestically and maybe using airline miles or staying with family or your able to cancel your room at the last minute, travel insurance may not be necessary.

Check with your credit card companies to see if they offer travel insurance as one of their perks.  Only 15% of credit card companies offer this, but it's definitely worth checking it out to see if this is something you could take advantage of.  

I hope this information is helpful for you to use when deciding whether or not to add travel insurance to your vacation package.  Always read over the policy thoroughly to see what is and isn't covered so that you make sure you understand what benefits you're getting.  

Happy Traveling!

Destination Spotlight: Jamaica

Next up on my destination spotlight series is Jamaica.  Everything is "all right" on this island paradise and the theme of every vacation here is to relax to the max.  This beautiful Caribbean island is located south of Cuba and can be reached in just under 4 hours on a non-stop flight out of St. Louis.  It's the third largest and third most popular island in the Caribbean.  Locals here are English-speaking, although it may sound a little different to you and I.  They speak Patois (pronounced patwa), which is based on a combination of English, Spanish and French.

Jamaica has a tropical climate, with temperatures averaging between 73 to 89 degrees.  Their average temperatures are among the highest in the Caribbean and stay that way most of the year.  When is the best time to visit?  Here are some things to note...

• January-March: peak travel season, great weather, lowest chance of rainfall.
• April-June: can be a little rainy, crowds increase during spring break.
• July-October: flights & room rates are usually lowest, but it is located in the hurricane belt, so you will likely see lots of rain and even hurricanes during these months.  Decreased tourism and increased rain showers cause many key attractions & hotels to close.
• November-December: hurricane season has tapered off, great weather, crowds pick up during Christmas break.

Jamaica has three major tourist destination cities.  Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril.  

Montego Bay is located on the northwestern coast of Jamaica.  It is the second largest city on the island and top resort destination.  It offers many upscale and all-inclusive resorts, as well as plenty of beaches, outdoor activities, dining and entertainment options.

Ocho Rios is located on the north-central coast of Jamaica.  It's particularly famous for it's waterfalls (600 foot high Dunn's River Falls) and amazing beaches.  You can also swim with dolphins at Dolphin's Cove, hike to the Blue Hole or go zip-lining or bobsledding at Mystic Mountain.

Negril is located on the western edge of Jamaica.  It is a resort town with a carefree, easygoing attitude.  Many beaches here are clothing optional and frequented by the party crowd.  You can walk on the white sands along Seven Mile Beach or go along the coastline to Rick's Cafe, where you can watch cliff divers and the amazing sunset.

Besides it being one of the best destination wedding and honeymoon spots, there are plenty of activities for everyone.  

While visiting Jamaica, you should also try the local cuisine.  Their national dish, Ackee & saltfish, is considered a must try.  There is also bammy, which is usually eaten at breakfast and tastes similar to cornbread.  The most popular Jamaican cuisine is their jerk chicken, pork, beef or conch.  

No matter where you visit in Jamaica, one thing is certain, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful beaches will be "no problem, mon".  

Destination Spotlight: Costa Rica

If you're looking for more than a vacation destination and want to add some adventure, Costa Rica may be the perfect place for you to visit.  Costa Rica, which is about the size of West Virginia, is located in Central America.  Nicaragua is to the north and Panama is to the south, with the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east.  Costa Rica varies between coastal plains, dense forests and rugged mountains, while 25% of the country is made up of national parks and reserves.  You can visit volcanoes, river valleys and hundreds of beaches there as well.  It is one of the world's most biologically diverse countries, with more than 500,000 plant and animal species.  

Costa Rica has a tropical climate.  The dry season, also known as "summer", runs from December to April, while the rainy season, "winter", runs from May to November.  Some regions see constant rains during the rainy season.  The humidity is higher on the Caribbean side than it is on the Pacific side.  As with many tropical destinations, the busiest travel times occur during Christmas and New Years and the week before Easter, requiring interested vacationers to book far in advance and expect higher prices.

A few interesting facts about Costa Rica...

• The primary language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, however English is widely spoken as well.  
• The currency there is the colon, however U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
• There is clean tap water throughout the country.
• Compared to the rest of Central America, prices are relatively high, due to the country's high standard of living.
• The government provides free education thru 11th grade to it's citizens, as well as free healthcare.  
• It's one of the safest countries in Central America.

There are so many opportunities for adventure in Costa Rica.  Some of the options include...

• rappel down a waterfall
• go on a canopy tour
• zipline through a rainforest
• bathe in a hot spring
• go whale watching (Costa Rica has the longest humpback whale watching season in the world)
• go snorkeling, scuba diving or surfing 
• walk through a cloud forest
• hike to one of the world's most active volcanoes
• trek through a rainforest and see unique wildlife in one of the many national parks
• go whitewater rafting 
• relax and watch the sunset on one of the many beaches 

There are several types of accommodations available in Costa Rica.  You can relax at one of the all-inclusive resorts on the Pacific side or explore the country by doing one of the many different escorted or self-drive tour options available.  You could also combine an all-inclusive resort with a tour, allowing you to relax and see all that Costa Rica has to offer.  No matter what you're looking for, I can help you plan your accommodations and itinerary, making it a trip you'll remember forever.  

Contact me for more information or to get started planning your next vacation.