Save Money and Time with Hotel Perks

You may be surprised by the perks that a hotel will provide and it may be worth your while to do a little extra research on these perks when making your reservations.  These little 'perks' can save you both money and time on your international vacation.

1. Breakfast - If you start your day with breakfast, this will be very important to you, not to mention the time you will save from not looking for a place to eat in the morning.  Many international hotels know that they are catering to a very diverse crowd and will put out a huge selection of breakfast buffet items. We found that hotels in Asia provided the most diverse breakfast buffet to accommodate almost every ethnicity in the world!
2. Airport Transfers - Some hotels will include airport pick-up and drop-off in their list of perks.  San Jose, Costa Rica, Siam Reap, Cambodia, and Foz do Iguacu, Brazil were a few cities where airport transfers were included in the hotel rate.
3. Loyalty Program points - If you are a member of Hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards, IHG, and other hotel rewards program, points and point redemption work both domestically and internationally.
4. Welcome Drink and Snack - We found that many hotels in Asia will offer a complementary drink and snack upon check-in.

We found that the Golden Temple hotel in Siam Reap, Cambodia offered the best perks including 1-hour massage, welcome drink and snack, and airport transfers.

Since our visit, Golden Temple hotel has upped their game to include a full meal.

Trip Planning Checklist

There are many decisions to be made when planning an international trip. Research the place you would like to visit. Here's a checklist of items to consider. 

1. What is your travel budget? 
2. Length of travel / visit?  How long will it take you to get there and how long do you plan to stay?
3. Check government travel warnings.
4. Check travel documentation requirements.  Do you need a passport?  What are the passport requirements?  Most countries require at least 6 months validity between the time you enter the country and the expiration date on your passport.  Check the US government travel website for instructions on how to apply for or renew your passport here.
5. Is a visa required? Check the US government travel website on specific visa requirements by country. If a visa is required, some countries will let you purchase the visa upon arrival while other countries will require you to obtain the visa at the embassy (or consulate) of the country that you will be visiting prior to your trip.
6. Currency?  What currency is used in the country that you will visit and how will you obtain cash currency?
7. Language(s) - What language(s) are spoken in the country and specific area you will be visiting?
8. Method of travel? Car, plane, train, boat...
9. Join a tour group? Tour groups can be great if you are looking for a structured itinerary and you don't speak the native language.
10. Where will you stay? Hotel, Bed & Breakfast, Hostel, etc...
11. How will you get around once you are there? Public transportation, walk, drive, etc... 
12. Etiquette / Customs.
13. Food allergies / Food restrictions.
14. Medical concerns and required or optional travel vaccinations.  Many destinations in Africa require additional vaccinations.  Check the CDC website for specific vaccinations for your destination.

My thoughts on post-cruising - Disembarkation

I recently posted my thoughts on cruise embarkation.  Now I will share my thoughts on disembarkation.  For international cruises, such as the Mediterranean cruise that we sailed, we did not drive ourselves to the port, nor did we have a family member pick us up from the port, so we had to find our own way to the airport to get home.

Generally speaking, you can count on the boat being on-time / on-schedule for disembarkation.  The end of your cruise signals the ship crew that they need to efficiently get everyone off the boat, clean and prepare for the next set of passengers.  This is a crucial day for them and they can't afford to start this day late.  Their goal is to have a smooth and drama free day for everyone.  Therefore, they will offer transportation to the airport for an additional fee.  The advantages of taking the airport transfer from the cruise company is that you will probably get priority disembarkation and a smooth ride to the airport.  The cruise ship will strongly encourage you to take this option with announcements such as, "There will only be a LIMITED number of taxi cabs available from the port."  The truth is that the cruise company has zero control over how many taxis show up when they dock.  In our experience, every taxi cab in the city will line up outside the port ready to take passengers to the airport.  When the cruise ship uses the word, "LIMITED," they really mean "finite" as in "not infinite" number of taxi cabs. 

Bottom line: Cruise company charged $40 per person for airport transfer. Additionally, the cruise ship's airport transfer was a large charter bus which took a much longer amount of time to drive to the airport.  We took a cab for less than $40 total for 2 people.  We saved at least 50% by taking a cab.  Word of caution: Unfortunately there are a few unscrupulous taxi drivers out there.  One of our fellow cruise passengers was taken for a ride (literally) by their taxi driver.  Fortunately, this family was alert, realized the problem and asserted their request to go directly to the airport to their taxi driver.  If you are completely risk adverse and don't mind the extra cost of the charter bus, then you may want to take the cruise ship option.

Our first cruise (Alaska) was another disembarkation story all together.  We docked in Whittier, AK.  We booked a group charter bus (not with the cruise company) to take us from Whittier to Anchorage.  Since we did not book our transportation off the boat through the cruise company, and we were not VIP, we had practically the lowest priority in getting off the ship.  Additionally, since the crew needed to start cleaning our rooms, we had to vacate our rooms.  The disembarkation process took so long, we started getting paranoid that our independent chartered transportation would leave without us.  I'm somewhat ashamed to say this, but we ended up leaving the boat by pretending we were part of an official cruise boat excursion group.  Essentially, we did not wait our turn, and followed another group off the boat.  We did not miss our independently chartered transportation.  The charter bus company is very familiar with cruise boat disembarkation process and patiently waited for all of the other passengers who had also booked travel to get off the boat.  No one was left behind.

Baggage - Not that I don't appreciate the hard work and services provided by the ship crew, but the baggage system has never worked for me (personally).  The last night of the cruise, you are expected to have your luggage packed and placed outside your door by 9 PM.  Then you have to search for your bags at the port the next day.  If the cruise boat gives me the option, I always opt to take my own bags off the boat.  I see it as a win-win.

My thoughts on Adventure Tours

I recently shared my thoughts on taking group / day tours.  Now, I will share my thoughts on "adventure tours."
"Adventure tours" meaning organized tours that involve at least 1 strenuous activity such as biking or hiking.

During my most recent international vacation (Brazil), I booked an adventure tour through Rio Hiking.  Each tour has a 'rating' of Easy, Medium, or Hard.  These 'ratings' are to be taken seriously.  We booked the Tijuca Hike tour which was rated "Medium."  The round trip hike was 4.6 km / 2.85 miles and a total time of 2.5 hours.  Read my detailed blog post about the hike here.  The hike was so strenuous that I was actually thankful I had trained and completed a half marathon prior to the trip.  Here is a video from the hike.

In conclusion, 'adventure tours' are great if you are looking to get in your workout while on vacation and see spectacular sights that are not so accessible to the general public.

My thoughts on group tours / shore excursions

I'll admit, I'm the type of traveler that likes to "freestyle" my vacations, while packing in as many activities as possible.  (Unless you count my 2-month study abroad trip to Europe when I was in college,) I've never been on a multi-day, all-inclusive group tour.

However, I have been on several guided group tours.  I have found that joining a 1-day tour group can save time and money if:

1. The location is not accessible by public transit or walking.
2. I'm on a tight schedule (i.e. cruise ship port).
3. I'm super interested in learning the history of the area and I don't think my guide book will cover it

If you've never been on a guided group tour, I've included a video from my Ephesus, Turkey visit including footage of our amazing tour guide, "Bill."  "Bill" really knew his stuff.  I took this tour during my Mediterranean cruise, when the boat docked in the port of Izmir. Just to be clear, this was not an official cruise ship excursion, our group was formed prior to the cruise on the discussion forums of CruiseCritic.com.  Carolyn (a fellow cruiser) was our unofficial leader and organizer of this tour.  She setup everything with the tour company and got us organized and ready to meet our tour guide on schedule.  The tour company and tour guide was fully aware we were on a cruise stop.  Tour Guide "Bill" managed our time efficiently so that we could see everything on our agenda and get us back to the port on time.

Here's a list of a few day tours I have enjoyed:

• Ephesus, Turkey
• Chichen Itza, Mexico
• Victoria, British Columbia
• City Tour of Frankfurt, Germany
• Corcovado and hiking Tijuca National Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Myths about Cruising

Prior to the cruises I took, I received lots of advice from friends, family, and the Internet, some of which were just not true in my experience.

Myth - You must make all of your travel arrangements through the cruise company or you might miss your boat.  Unless you are perpetually late and completely risk-adverse, you can make travel arrangements on your own.  The cruise boat company will make it crystal clear as to what time you must be on the boat in order not to be left behind.  It is up to you to ensure you are on the boat on time.  The boat will not leave early.  If for some reason you miss the boat, you can still embark at the next port.

Myth - You must book all excursions through the cruise company or you might miss your boat. (In my experience cruising, I have never witnessed the boat leaving late because a boat coordinated excursion was late.)  On my 2nd cruise, I joined group excursions with folks from online message boards for half the cost of the same excursion through the boat.  We worked with reputable professional tour companies that delivered us back to the boat on time.  Some places you visit will be small enough for you to walk, and larger cities may offer public transportation.  Do your research before you go.

Myth - Cruising is cheaper than booking the same vacation on your own because everything is included.  First of all, everything is NOT included.  There is a mandatory service charge per person per day that is charged to your credit/debit card at the end of the cruise.

Other items not included in your cruise fee:

• Alcohol and sodas
• Bingo / Gambling
• Spa treatments - Facials, massages, etc...
• Internet access / Long Distance phone calls
• Medical services.  There is an infirmary on board.  Their services come at a price.
• Premium Dining Restaurants
• Miscellaneous activities such as rock climbing and surfing.

Myth - A cruise boat is so large, you will not get seasick.  You will not get seasick if you are not prone to motion sickness and/or if the waters are calm.  I experienced 30 foot waves on my cruise and got seasick.  The entertainment show was canceled and almost everyone I saw was seasick.

Tips for saving money while cruising

Here are some of my personal tips on saving money while cruising:

DIY Spa Day

1. Instead of paying for the 'soda package,' bring your own.  Most cruise companies will let you bring your own sodas on board.  At meals you can request a cup of ice instead of water and the fill up the glass yourself.  On all of the cruises we have sailed, we bought sodas at the ports of call and brought them on board the boat.  No cruise boat employee ever questioned us or gave us a hard time about it.  On the flip side, do NOT try to bring your own alcohol on board.  You can only consume alcohol purchased on the boat.
2. Don't book your excursions through the cruise boat company.  You can explore each port on your own or arrange a group tour with others on your cruise by joining a cruise forum such as CruiseCritic.com.
   
3. Instead of spending Sea Days paying for extras (i.e. spa treatments, Bingo), we would work out in the gym (included), hang out in the buffet area playing cards, or enjoy the hot tub or pool.  The cruise boat usually has a small buffet going on all day and will let cruisers hang out in the general breakfast dining area even if there is no food currently being served.  Plan your own spa day by packing your own mud mask and moisturizers.  You can even make it a group spa party in your cabin with a few friends. 
4. Add-on dining options add up.  The first cruise I sailed charged $5 to $10 per person per meal for "premium dining restaurants."  My next cruise charged $25 per person / per meal for "premium dining."  I stuck with the "included" dining options.
5. Unplug!  Instead of paying for Internet on the boat, find free WiFi hotspots while you are at port.  Look for coffee shops and businesses advertising "Free WiFi."
6. Arrange your own transportation (on and off the boat).
   

My thoughts on Cruising - Embarkation

I have sailed on 2 cruises.
Cruise #1 - Alaska 7-day July 2008
Cruise #2 - Mediterranean 12-day December 2009

On my first cruise (Alaska), we flew into Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, took a charter bus from the airport to the dock.  We embarked, attended a safety seminar, spent Day 1 at sea, then days 2-5 traveling North stopping along ports along the Alaskan coast. Day 6 was our 2nd day at sea and Day 7 we disembarked and headed to Anchorage, AK.

Here's what really happened...

We flew into Vancouver.  We pre-booked the charter bus (through the cruise line) to take us directly to the boat.  We got on the charter bus and the bus driver announced that the boat was not ready for us to embark and he would drive us around Vancouver (aimlessly for 3 hours) until the boat was ready for us to embark.

As my charter bus drove around Vancouver aimlessly for over 1.5 hours, the bus driver tried his best to become our tour guide pointing out neighborhoods as we drove by.



I had not eaten anything on the plane or prior to getting on the charter bus (as I was told that there would be plenty of food once I got on the boat).  At this point, it had been at least 8 hours since my last meal and I was very, very hungry.  There was absolutely no water and no food on this bus.  I approached the bus driver and asked him to stop so that I could get off.  He stopped the bus and was very courteous toward me; I assured him I would find my way to the embarkation point myself.

I ran to the nearest restaurant (Old Spaghetti Factory), and asked for the "express meal."  Ok, there is no "express meal" at the Old Spaghetti Factory, but they were extremely accommodating to my stomach.  Thank you Old Spaghetti Factory, I'll never forget you.

After my meal, we walked around Vancouver and eventually walked to the port and embarked on our Alaskan cruise.

Lesson learned: The cruise company will encourage you to arrange your embarkation (and disembarkation) with them.  They promise that you will not miss your boat if you book with them, but the flip side is that you have no control how or when you will get there.  In my next cruise (Mediterranean), I did not arrange any transportation with the cruise company.  I flew in a few days ahead of the cruise and enjoyed sightseeing in Barcelona before taking a cab to the embarkation point.

My TripAdvisor Profile

View all of my travel reviews and see a detailed map of my travels on my TripAdvisor profile page HERE.

Reasons to Travel Abroad

I have been traveling around the world since I was 4 years old.  One of my first trips abroad was to Lagos, Nigeria.  What an amazing experience!
Over the years, I have visited 30 countries across 6 continents and I have no intention of stopping.

Reasons to Travel Internationally:

1. Meet interesting people (you might never have had the honor) and make new friends.  My favorite part about traveling is meeting the locals and 1) learning first hand about their culture, and 2) get their perspective on my culture.
2. Learn culture and history.  Our world is not just the immediate area we live in; there is an entire planet out there to explore!
3. Get out of your comfort zone.  Instead of sitting at home watching the travel channel, have a little (or a lot of) adventure in your life!
4. Learn a foreign language.  Practice your foreign language skills with native speakers.  Locals will usually be more accommodating if you at least make an effort to learn a few phrases in their language.
5. Bragging rights!  Only a a small percentage of USA citizens ever leave the country in their entire lifetime.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of reasons, just a few points to get the discussion started.  Feel free to comment and add your reasons for traveling internationally.