Research shows that the average person who plans their own trip spends over 30 hours researching it. That’s almost a whole work week and many people spend more time than that! As travel agents, we devote ourselves to knowing which cruise will be the best cruise for each client, while also saving them time and money.

How can you avoid wasting time and money on your cruise planning, and get to relaxing sooner? Here are some amazing cruise planning tips.

There are 18 cruise lines and almost 800 cruises in Alaska alone – that’s a lot to research. Save yourself time by working with an expert to pick your cruise..

Tip 1: Before You Choose a Cruise, Think!

The most important cruise planning tip is to think before you book! Don’t jump at the first low price or pretty social media post. Ask yourself, what are you looking to get from your cruise. Are you looking for the best cruise line for your family? Or perhaps a romantic trip for two with no kids? Is there a destination you have in mind?

The most important question to ask yourself is what is your budget? Since the pandemic, many travelers have decided to upgrade their travel and splurge on something they might not have before. But it’s about what works for you! We often see people jump at a low advertised price without realizing they will end up paying more in the end than if they had booked a higher priced cruise that included more. We often prepare spreadsheets for our clients so they can compare apples-to-apples.

If you are using a travel advisor, and you should, tell them clearly what you want so they can help you plan your perfect trip.

Questions to answer for planning your cruise:

• Who is traveling? There are cruise lines that specialize in kids and others that don’t allow children. Will it be multi-generational? Cruising solo is popular, is that you?
• Are you restricted to certain dates? If so, you might want to engage a travel agent (also known as a travel advisor), at no cost to you, who can quickly scan your date range and tell you what is available.
• Do you have certain destinations in mind or do you just want to cruise? Alaska is extremely popular and there is much to know to maximize your experience.
• Do you have a budget? See Tip 2.
• When you stay in a hotel do you stay at a Four Seasons, a Motel 6, or something in between? Cruiselines have the same types of differences in luxury and quality. As part of your research, make sure you know you are getting the cruise you want. The more you tell your travel advisor, the better they can match you to the right cruise.
• Make a list of what you will want, such as:
  • Wi-fi
  • Specialty dining
  • Drinks (many lines charge extra for soft drinks as well as wine, alcohol, etc.)
  • Gratuities. While technically optional, you should pay them. They can be as high as $20 per person per day as only a few crusielines include them in the price.
  • Spa services
  • Shore excursions
  • Room service. Many lines charge extra for this.

Tip 2: Consider Value Over Price For A Cruise

All too often, travelers get drawn in by a low advertised price, only to find out at the end of the cruise they owe money for all sorts of things. Watch for items like crew gratuities, wi-fi, soft drinks, even coffees and dining! These costs all add up, and this doesn’t even include shore excursions. This doesn’t mean cruising isn’t a good value–it is!

Speaking of the value of cruising, we often see people who have sticker shock over the price of a cruise. Then they compare a comparable land vacation and realize the value of a cruise.

If you’re planning a cruise, that more expensive looking choice may be a better value. Look behind the curtain of a “good deal” and make an informed decision. We’ve seen far too many people book a “cheap” cruise, then end up spending more money on all the extras, than if they had booked a “more expensive” cruise that included more. Don’t let that happen to you.

We prepare spreadsheets for our clients who are choosing between different cruises so they can see the actual cost and value of each.

Several cruise lines engage in more honest pricing. They will include beverages, Wi-Fi, port fees, crew gratuities, specialty restaurants, and sometimes even shore excursions. Booking a cruise with one of them can result in a much better and more relaxing experience.

Virgin Voyages includes more with Fair and Flexible pricing

Tip 3: How to Choose a Cruise to Get the Best Price?

This is one of our best cruise planning tips. While last minute deals still exist, nowadays the cruise lines often make the best offers to those who book early. We always suggest booking as early as you can with a refundable deposit. With a refundable deposit, it’s easier to get the price reduced if the price drops later. Or, worst case, cancel the booking and start a new one.

Tip 4: Booking The Cruise

Once you’ve decided what cruise you want to take and when you want to take it, now it’s time to book it. That’s not where the stress ends though.

When COVID hit in 2020, we had quite a few clients booked on cruises. Some of these cruises cost tens of thousands of dollars! Worse, they had not purchased travel insurance. After lots of work and hours on hold, we were able to get all of our clients a refund. People who had booked cruises themselves, had to fight for refunds on their own.

Good travel agents fight for their clients in those situations. Car crashes, job loss, and personal or family illness can happen to anyone. By working with us, we can make it easier for you to recover your money if something goes wrong with your trip. And of course it is why we always recommend purchasing trip protection.

Many people are not aware that it doesn’t cost you anything extra to book with a travel agent. There are exceptions to that, as some travel agents do charge an upfront planning fee, but many, like us, do not. In addition, the travel agent will have your back if things don’t go right.

Working with a travel advisor can be the best way to choose a cruise.

Tip 5: Best Cruises for Families

We think a cruise is the perfect way for a group of friends and family to travel together. We’ve done it many times. Everyone gets to the same place at the same time. On board, you can spend as much, or as little, time together as you wish.

It’s great for multi-generational travel as the kids can have fun all day in the children’s program while Mom and Dad visit the spa and Grandma and the aunties play pickleball or take a painting class. Or, all the adults can just sip margaritas by the pool. Some groups only see each other at dinner because they are so busy with their own activities.  And the children’s programs are so much fun it can be hard to get the kids to leave at the end of the day.

The ship’s photographers will be happy to take as many pictures of your group as want with no sitting fees. You only pay for the pictures you want. No obligation!

Finally, if your group is large enough, there may be extra perks and discounts available. A good travel agent can not only help you choose a cruise but can save you many headaches by keeping track of what all the aunts and uncles and nephews and nieces want.

Popular cruises for families are the Royal Caribbean (RCCL) and the Disney Cruise Line (of course). But don’t overlook cruises like Celebrity and Princess who have excellent children and teen programs. Princess especially in great for Alaska and we consider the Princess Plus program to be one of the best values in cruising.

Tip 6: Cabin Selection on a Cruise

Some people care passionately about their cabin location, others not so much. If you don’t care, you can often choose to book a “guarantee” cabin at a slightly lower price. This means they guarantee you a cabin in that category such as a balcony or suite, but you won’t know which exact one it is until just before you board.

When choosing a cabin, here are some things to think about:

• Who will share what kinds of cabins? If the kids are teens, you can book a balcony cabin for the parents and an inside cabin, across the hall, for the kids.
• Do you need the cabins to be close together? Do you need the cabins to have a connecting door?
• Does the cruise ship sail up a coastline? (We’re looking at you, Alaska) If it does, then one side of the ship is going to have far better cabin views than others.

Tip 7: Best Cruises for Adults

Cruise planning tips for sailing without children. Two cruise lines do not allow children at all: Virgin Voyages and Viking Ocean.

Other cruise lines allow children but you will find fewer, depending on the season and itinerary. These include Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, and Oceania. We like Azamara for its extended stays at many ports.

Newcomer Virgin Voyages is winning every award in sight and is winning over veteran cruisers from other lines. Check out our posts about sailing on Virgin.

We also are big fans of Cunard, which offers a sophisticated experience. You can actually sail between New York and England, often for less than the price of flying business class. Seven nights of great food, entertainment and accomodation–and no jet lag!

Tip 8: Upgrades

In the not-too-distant-past, veteran cruisers would sometimes experience the “Upgrade Fairy,” meaning the cruise line gave them a free upgrade. Nowadays, that is incredibly rare. More and more cruise lines have programs in which you make blind bids on upgrades should they become available. Some examples are Princess Upgrades, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up, Virgin’s Level Up, and Celebrity’s Move Up.

We hope these cruise planning tips help you choose your cruise. If you need suggestions for getting the price on airfare, check out this post.

Check out this recent New York Times article describing why so many people of all ages are taking their first cruise.

If Athens is on your itinerary, be sure to read our article about one of the best museums in the world, the Acropolis Museum.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

Every week we share our favorite travel secrets and tips. You can view them all here.

The post Amazing Cruise Planning Tips appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Fall colors are just starting to pop and the elk have begun mating season. Because there are fewer tourists in the park after Labor Day, you don’t have to deal with the traffic in the more popular areas such as Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. I can stop my car to watch the occasional wolf or bear without having 40 cars surround me.

Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful place to hike in the fall. Normally the air is crisp in the morning, and it does not get too hot in the afternoon. And there is something magical about hiking in Yellowstone National Park during a brief snowstorm.

Where to Stay at Yellowstone National Park

Most of the lodges are open until the first week of October. And yes, there is still room at many of them. You can choose from lodges, inns, cabins, and camping sites.  Many close in early September but The Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Old Faithful Inn and Cabins, Lake Hotel and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins are open until the first week of October.

I always try to stay at the Old Faithful Inn for at least one night when I’m at the park. It is considered the world’s largest log structure and is truly awe inspiring. There is a path from the Inn down to Old Faithful and the Firehole River where you can see smaller geysers and mud pots erupt. Or you can sit on the porch and watch Old Faithful Geyser erupt. It is also a favorite spot for elk. Just give them space!

Another of my favorite places to stay is the Lake Hotel which sits on the bank of Yellowstone Lake.  It first opened in 1891 and was remodeled in 2012-2014. You can sit in the restaurant in the morning drinking your coffee and watching the steam rise off the lake. There are trails down to the lake as well as a few small geysers on the shore. Elk and bison occasionally wander around the hotel.

I try to stay at the cabins by the Mammoth Hot Springs during my stay as well. This gives me access to the north end of the park and Lamar Valley where you can see herds of bison as well as the occasional wolf. I prefer to stay in the cabins rather than the hotel because it is more rustic. It is just a short walk to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel which has a dining room and snack bar. Each cabin has a small porch which is perfect for watching the night sky. I’ve seen elk around the cabins in the morning.

There are many dining options from fine dining to casual dining. Fine dining can be found at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Hotel and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. I always make a reservation just to be sure I have a table. Snack bars, casual dining and convenience stores are located at these three locations as well as the Roosevelt and Canyon Lodges.  However, the Roosevelt Lodge closes in August.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers a few packages as well. These packages include lodging at one of the Park’s Hotels or Lodges plus some meals and personal time with one of the Park’s Field Educators. There are options for everyone with packages including more adventurous hiking trails to guided park tours.

You can book a room or a package through Yellowstone Park Lodges.

Getting to Yellowstone

You can get to Yellowstone National Park by flying into either Boseman, Montana or Jackson Hole, Wyoming and renting a car to drive to the park. Airports a bit farther away are in Billings, Montana (230 miles away) or Salt Lake City, Utah (320 miles away). I’ve always preferred to fly into Boseman and drive down the scenic Gallatin River Valley.

Entrance Fees

The entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park is $35.00 and is valid for 7 days so you can easily drive in and out of the park during your stay. If you think you will visit other National Parks during the calendar year, purchase the Annual Pass for $80.00. The Annual Pass for US citizens aged 62+ is only $20.00. Those currently in or have been in the military can obtain a free annual pass.

There is also the America the Beautiful Pass as well as a LIFETIME Senior Pass for US Citizens aged 62+. Both passes are $80.00. This pass can be used at over 1,000 National Parks and Recreational sites including sites.

Check out all the options at the National Park Service site: National Park Service Park Passes

I hope that this has inspired you to visit Yellowstone National Park in the fall either this year or next year. Please reach out if you have any questions about lodging, flights, or rental cars.  I am more than happy to help you plan your trip.

More About Yellowstone and Other National Parks

Our Guide to U.S. National Parks

Our previous Guide to Yellowstone

The post I Love to Visit Yellowstone National Park in the Fall appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Research shows that the average person who plans their own trip spends over 30 hours researching it. That’s almost a whole work week and many people spend more time than that! We cover the best cruise lines for adults as well as the best cruise lines for families. Keep reading for our tips on how to choose the best cruise lines for you.

How can you avoid wasting time and money, and get to relaxing sooner? Here’s how you can find the best cruises for you.

There are 18 cruise lines and almost 800 cruises in Alaska alone – that’s a lot to research. Save yourself time by working with an expert to pick your cruise..

Tip 1: Before You Choose a Cruise, Think!

Ask yourself, what are you looking to get from your cruise. Are you looking for the best cruise line for families? Or perhaps a romantic trip for two? Is there a destination you have in mind?

The most important question to ask though, what is your budget? Since the pandemic began, more travelers have decided to upgrade their travel and splurge on something they might not have before. But it’s about what works for you!

If you are using a travel agent, and you should, tell them clearly what you want so they can help you plan your perfect trip.

Tip 2: Consider Value Over Price For A Cruise

All too often, travelers get drawn in by a low advertised price, only to find out at the end of the cruise they owe money for all sorts of things. Watch for items like port fees and taxes, crew gratuities, wi-fi, soft drinks, even coffees and dining! These costs all add up, and this doesn’t even include shore excursions. This doesn’t mean cruising isn’t a good value–it is!

If you’re planning a cruise, that more expensive looking choice may be a better value. Look behind the curtain of a “good deal” and make an informed decision. We’ve seen far too many people book a “cheap” cruise, then end up spending more money on all the extras, than if they had booked a “more expensive” cruise that included more. Don’t let that happen to you.

We often prepare spreadsheets for our clients who are choosing between different cruises so they can see the actual cost and value of each.

Several cruise lines engage in, what we feel is more honest pricing. They will include beverages, Wi-Fi, port fees, crew gratuities, specialty restaurants, and sometimes even shore excursions. Booking a cruise with one of them can result in a much better and more relaxing experience.

Tip 3: How to Choose a Cruise to Get the Best Price?

While last minute deals still exist, nowadays the cruise lines often make the best offers to those who book early. We always suggest booking as early as you can with a refundable deposit. With a refundable deposit, it’s easier to get the price reduced if the price drops later.

Doing this trick can be hard to pull off though, since you have to remember to constantly check for price changes. That’s a big advantage that many travel agents, like us, can offer clients. If you book a cruise using a travel agent, we watch for price drops and will reach out if there’s a way to reduce what you pay or even upgrade without increasing the price. And of course, if you discover the better price, let us know so we can go to work for you.

Tip 4: Booking The Cruise

Once you’ve decided what cruise you want to take and when you want to take it, now it’s time to book it. That’s not where the stress ends though.

When COVID hit in 2020, we had quite a few clients booked on cruises. Some of these cruises cost tens of thousands of dollars! We were able to get all of our clients a refund. People who had booked cruises themselves, had to fight for refunds on their own. There are horror stories of people struggling to get their money back for vacations that never happened.

Good travel agents fight for their clients in those situations. And just because COVID is more under control, there are other emergencies that happen. Car crashes, sudden illness, even job loss. By working with us, we can make it easier for you to recover your money if something goes wrong with your trip.

The main thing is, many people are not aware that it doesn’t cost you anything to book with a travel agent. There are exceptions to that, as some travel agents are charging an upfront planning fee, but many, like us, do not. In addition, the travel agent will have your back if things don’t go right.

Working with a travel advisor can be the best way to choose a cruise.

Tip 5: Best Cruises for Families

We think a cruise is the perfect way for a group of friends and family to travel together. We’ve done it many times. Everyone gets to the same place at the same time. On board, you can spend as much, or as little, time together as you wish.

It’s great for multi-generational travel as the kids can have fun all day in the children’s program while Mom and Dad visit the spa and Grandma and the aunties play pickleball or take a painting class. Or all the adults just sip margaritas by the pool. Some groups only see each other at dinner because they are so busy.  And the children’s programs are so much fun it can be hard to get the kids to leave at the end of the day.

The ship’s photographers will be happy to take as many pictures of your group as want with no sitting fees. You only pay for the pictures you want. No obligation!

Finally, if your group is large enough, there may be extra perks and discounts available. A good travel agent can not only help you choose a cruise but can save you many headaches by keeping track of what all the aunts and uncles and nephews and nieces want.

Some of the best cruises for families are the Royal Caribbean (RCCL) fun ships and the Disney Cruise Line (of course). But don’t overlook cruises like Celebrity and Princess who have excellent children and teen programs.

Tip 6: Cabin Selection on a Cruise

Some people care passionately about their cabin location, others not so much. If you don’t care, you can often choose to book a “guarantee” cabin at a slightly lower price. This means they guarantee you a cabin in that category such as a balcony or suite, but you won’t know which exact one it is until just before you board.

When choosing a cabin, here are some things to think about:

• Who will share what kinds of cabins? If the kids are teens, you can book a balcony cabin for the parents and an inside cabin, across the hall, for the kids.
• Do you need the cabins to be close together? Do you need the cabins to have a connecting door?
• Does the cruise ship sail up a coastline? (We’re looking at you, Alaska) If it does, then one side of the ship is going to have far better cabin views than others.

Tip 7: Best Cruises for Adults

Some of the best cruises for adults include Regent Seven Seas, Viking, Seabourn, Silversea, and Oceania. We like Azamara for its extended stays at many ports. Newcomer Virgin Voyages is winning every award in sight and is winning over veteran cruisers from other lines. Check out our posts about sailing on Virgin.

We also are big fans of Cunard, which offers a sophisticated experience. You can actually sail between New York and England, often for less than the price of flying business class. Seven nights of great food, entertainment and accomodation–and no jet lag!

Tip 8: Upgrades

In the not-too-distant-past, veteran cruisers would sometimes experience the “Upgrade Fairy,” meaning the cruise line gave them a free upgrade. Nowadays, that is incredibly rare. More and more cruise lines have programs in which you can make blind bids on upgrades should they become available. Some examples are Princess Upgrades, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up, Virgin’s Level Up, and Celebrity’s Move Up.

We hope these tips help you choose your cruise. If you need suggestions for getting the price on airfare, check out this post.

Check out this recent New York Times article describing why so many people of all ages are taking their first cruise.

If Athens is on your itinerary, be sure to read our article about one of the best museums in the world, the Acropolis Museum.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

Every week we share our favorite travel secrets and tips. You can view them all here.

The post Best Cruises for 2024 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is filled with dramatic colors and shapes. You will see steam puffs from the hydrothermal features in the canyon’s walls. The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River add to the grandeur of the unique natural treasure.

There are overlooks giving very different views. You can enjoy trails and walkways along the rims and hike down partway into the canyon.

Old Faithful

The most famous geyser in the world. While not the showiest of the 500 geysers in Yellowstone, its regularity makes it incredibly popular. It erupts every 35 to 120 minutes for 1.5 to 5 minutes. Its maximum height ranges from 90 to 184 feet.

Mammoth Hot Springs

In the north of the park is Mammoth Hot Springs. You can walk on boardwalks or take a drive around the vibrant travertine terraces. In the winter, you can ski or snowshoe among the whiffs of sulfur along the Upper Terraces.

Be sure to stop by the Albright Visitor Center for information.

Also, be sure to visit historic Fort Yellowstone. In 1886, to stop poaching, vandalism, and squatters, US Army soldiers marched into Mammoth Hot Springs. Soldiers oversaw Fort Yellowstone’s construction. The sturdy, red-roofed buildings are still in use today as the Albright Visitor Center, offices, and employee housing.

Where to stay in Yellowstone

Inside the park, you can camp or stay in one of the nine historic park lodges. However, these fill quickly so we suggest you book a year in advance. We have stayed at both Old Faithful Inn and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

While we do recommend you stay in the park if possible, there is lodging on the borders of the park. On the north end, there is lodging in Gardiner and Cooke City Montana. To the west is West Yellowstone. To the east is Cody Wyoming.

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, the is also Big Sky Montana to the northwest. We once rented a ski lodge there in the summer for about 12 family members and had a great time, despite the long drive.

If you want to also visit the Grand Tetons, you might wish to stay on the south end near Moran Wyoming.

Other Nearby Parks

Yellowstone is fairly close to several other magnificent national parks, so you should plan to see several. Plan a longer vacation and visit Mt. Rushmore, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

How To Visit

Road trip. A popular road trip to Yellowstone, with stops at Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. We can help you plan yours. Especially this summer, we suggest you map it out and reserve your accommodations before departing. To stay at a famous park lodge, you need to reserve many months in advance.

Want more information of visiting American National Parks? We have a guide.

Want More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel tips and information every week. You can see them all here.

The post Yellowstone National Park in 2023 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Did you know that there are over 2,000 U.S. national parks and recreation sites? And you can visit them all with a national park pass, one of the best values in travel. To help you, here is our guide to the basics of U.S. National Parks.

Because this guide is an overview, look for our upcoming deep dives into specific parks such as Yellowstone National Park in 2023 and the Grand Canyon. We’ll be covering a number of our favorites.

First, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the eight U.S. presidents who developed, shaped and expanded our incredible U.S. national parks system. In fact, Yellowstone is the first national park in the world.

U.S. National Parks: There’s One Near You

Regardless of where you travel in the United States, there is almost certainly a national park, monument, or federal recreational land close by. To help you find them all the National Park Service has a great search by state function on its main page.

U.S. National Parks: Park Passes

We consider a park pass a travel essential. One pass can gain you entry to over 2,000 destinations. Most of these can be purchased online before a visit, or just pick one up at your first park visit.

The basic annual pass is $80.00. We think it is a remarkable value given all that it covers.

A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children aged 15 or under are admitted free.

But there is even more value with a number of special discounts, including:

• There is a free pass for fourth-grade students.
• Any travelers over age 62 can obtain a lifetime senior pass for only $80.00.
• The Access Pass is free for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.

For a full list of the different national park passes click here.

Finally, a few parks now require reservations as well, depending on the time of year you visit. Be sure to check ahead of time as you may now need a reservation for popular parks such as Glacier, Arcadia, Rocky Mountain, and Arches. Previously, Yosemite required a pass but does not at this time.

U.S. National Parks: Special Tips

Of course, we have some special tips for you.

• Be sure to download the National Park app to your phone. It is incredibly informative and useful. If you have kids, check out the Junior Ranger program.
• Bring hats, snacks, and most importantly WATER.
• Get a map at the park entrance. Depending on the park, you might not be able to rely on cell phone coverage.

Smokey Bear Fun Fact

By the way, the Park Service insists that his name is Smokey Bear. We are all wrong when we add “the” to his name.

Guide to U.S. National Parks: Lodging

Probably like most people, you think about camping and hiking when you think of U.S. national parks. That is not wrong, as opportunities for both are everywhere in the parks. But don’t forget the magnificent national park lodges.

For campers, the National Park Service has this very helpful search engine.

And of course, you can make a visit much more memorable by staying at one of the grand old national park lodges. But if you want to do this at the most popular parks, plan ahead as the reservations fill quickly. Park lodging is managed by various concessions with differing systems.

Hawaii?

Remember, one of the best U.S. national parks is on the Big Island of Hawaii. Why? Volcanoes! Learn more here.

History?

Read about historic Fort Pulaski National Monument, an important Civil War and Underground Railroad site.

Alaska?

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, without the cruise ship

Yellowstone?

A personal take on Yellowstone National Park

So Which U.S. National Parks Are Mainly Underwater?

The ironically named Dry Tortugas National Park is our wettest park, as it is 99% underwater. Biscayne National Park is 95% underwater. For obvious reasons, both are popular dive locations.

Flying to Your Visit to U.S. National Parks? Check out our 6 Tips for Getting the Best Airfare

Looking for More Travel Ideas?

You can find our tips and ideas here.

The post Guide to U.S. National Parks appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.