Country Roads - Take You Home on Your Next #Vacation

Have you ever wanted to go on a Road Trip?  Well it is not to late to start planning. a fantastic Vacation that will spark the interest of every family member.    Many people don't know where to start and this is where I can help you.

Get out an Atlas or your computer and plot out an area that you would love to explore.  It always help if you have some land marks, points of Interest, Lakes or National Park and Monuments.  The US is so filled with National Treasures that you will find a Nation Park in almost every state. Some people are taking trips and doing Genealogy and studying some family History.  There are lots of Road Trips that will allow you to do some Winery Tours, Cave or Caverns exploration, State or National Parks, checking out lighthouses.  What Interests YOU and just expand on it. 

One sample of a Great Road trip is to plan on attending a Family Reunion, but you can always include some sites of interest along the way.  To have a Great Road Trip there are just a few helpful hints.  Country Roads Take you home to where your Family Ancestors came from.  Secondary Roads offer a chance to get off those Freeways and start seeing what this country is all about.

Road Trips Tips:

1.  Rent a Car.  This will allow unlimited mileage and these vehicles are well maintained for less mechanical problems

2.  Get an updated Road Atlas, don't use a 20 year old Atlas as there will be some New Roads that have been created

3.  Drive a long distance on your first day of your trip,.  Most families aren't use to driving long hours, but if you do it mostly over a two day period then you will have more time to see the sites

4.  Always have your passport along with you.  You Can Not drive into Canada or Mexico without one.  You will be very disappointed if you are going along and then you find out for example that you would like to explore the back side of Glacier National Park, and you realize it is in CANADA. Be prepared to make some changes in your route.

5.  Hotels.  This is my best advise.  Be sure to know what discounts that you qualify for and when planning a route, estimate where you might need to stop for the night.  Call ahead around 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm.  Having an advanced reservation will allow you to get the best rate, plus you will find availability.  We found that when you are traveling across country and you come to a Large Cross Roads out in the middle of NO WHERE Hotels will be FULL.

6.  Cell Phones, First Aide Kits, extra Blankets and pillows.  If you have two drivers it is very helpful to have some comforts of home to get some sleep before you have another driving shift. (don't forget those chargers, Computers and traveling apps to help you get the driving times between Major Cities.

7.  Site Seeing is a personal thing so I will have to leave that up to your imagination.  We enjoy the National Parks as they provide learning experiences for the kids, magnificent beauty for the Camera Buffs and some amazing learning centers to become educated on wild life and wild flowers native to the area.

These are just a few tips I, as a Travel Agent would like to provide for that Road Trip that you put off until now.  Happy and Safe Travels.

Jeanne Felix, Travel Agent
Hearts on the Go Travel,
Division of Cordially Yours Travel
California registered Seller of Travel #1013939-40
http://www.travelatheart.com
http://www.facebook.com/travelagentjeannefelix

IS YOU PASSPORT VALID and READY TO TRAVEL?

Open your door to Travel and have a Passport that is ready to Travel to an International Destination.  Being Safe and Prepared by holding a valid passport for everyone in your family is something you can assure with a periodical look to make sure your Passports are Valid and Ready to Travel. 

There are people who have recently booked a Vacation, but their passport is going to expire.  Don't get caught in the cycle of planning your vacation, but not being prepared totally.

If you need to apply for a passport here is the perfect place to read all about the requirements - http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_4855.html

Planning an International Vacation requires your passport to be valid for a minimum of 6 months  past the return date of your vacation.  I advise my clients to make sure that their passport is valid for at least 9 months to give them a little lee-way.  All the expense that goes into planning and purchasing a Wonderful Vacation, shouldn't be met with an un expected denial to board. 

Recently the cruise lines have implemented requiring a Passport for certain cruise itineraries.  I try to make sure where the cruise is departing from and advise the clients that it is always a good idea to have a passport.  If you are visiting a foreign country but depart and return to the same US port you will not be required to have a passport.  WARNING NOTICE is if you are just traveling with a government issued ID you might have an emergency and have to depart from a foreign port.  This is where things can be a problem.  WISE to be prepared and just purchase your passport and make sure it is valid.  AN INFORMED TRAVELER IS A HAPPY TRAVELER. 

If you are looking for information on renewing your passport the best website is going right to the State Government Website   http://travel.state.gov/passport/renew/renew_833.html. 

Remember the  Adult Passports are valid for 10 years and Children Passports are valid for 5 years.  If you need to get a passport in a hurry the information is attached. 

Proper Legal Name on Travel Documents - Very Important Information

Travel Tip: Take the Hassel out of Traveling be taking a few minutes for preparation. Before making your reservations, check that you have the proper documentation. Cruise Lines and Airlines are very strict on having your name on the reservation as it appears exactly on the passport. Make sure the expiration is at least 9 month past the date of your return. Just a good thing to remember - if your passport is expiring soon apply for a new one. Happy Travels and hope your family vacation is truly hassel free.