I have been asked by female clients what five key wardrobe pieces I think are indispensable to pack for a trip to Europe. This is particularly important in this age of excessive baggage fees where everyone is trying to pack everything into a carry-on bag. So here goes:
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May 2013
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May 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tip: Why try Azamara Club Cruises
May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
photo credits; azamaraclubcruises.com
Why try Azamara?
You may never have heard of Azamara Club Cruises. It is fairly new and its parent company Royal Caribbean International also owns Celebrity Cruise Line. I had the pleasure of sailing on the Azamara Quest for seven days out of Seville ending in Barcelona.
Here’s what I found. The cruise line has two ships, the Quest and the Journey. The ships belonged to the now defunct Renaissance Cruise line but have been completely refurbished all the way down to their shiny blue hulls. A club like atmosphere is maintained on board with wine and select standard brand spirits included in the price. It is not uncommon to see…
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May 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tip: Germany & Christmas Markets
May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I know the last thing we want to think about in Chicago is SNOW. But believe or not your traveling neighbors are already planning their winter holiday vacations. One really beautiful way to get into the holiday spirit is visiting the many beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe.
Nuremberg, Germany has one of the best. The Old Town is decorated in its Christmas regalia and permeated with the tempting aromas of…
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Apr 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tip: “A Tip for Generous Americans”
April 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Americans are generous people. We are generous with our smiles, generous with our hugs and generous with our tips. Sometimes all of this generosity gets us into trouble. When we travel we are sometimes accused of being too friendly, too touchy and too tippy. By tippy I mean we that we tip too much.
We are accustomed to tipping 15-20% in the United States so when we travel we take that mindset with us. However, there are places outside the United States where this gesture which we consider a reward for excellent service is considered an insult. Japan is a good example. Prices in Japan…
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Apr 2013
Southwest Vacations Nationwide Sale ~ 4 Days Only!
April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Chicago Seniors ~ if you are looking to book a trip to Fort Meyers, Scottsdale, Phoenix or Las Vegas to name a few then check out this 4 Days ONLY Special from Southwest Vacations! You will find Reduced air rates, free nights, room upgrades and more in popular Southwest Vacations destinations! Book 4/8 – 4/11.
If you want to save even more, click here to see if Southwest Vacations has an exclusive promotion code for your upcoming vacation.
For more travel deals and tips make sure to check out our Travel Page!
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Mar 2013
Those of us who consider ourselves amateur “foodies” like nothing better than to dine out in a foreign country at the newest, coolest, most talked about local restaurants. We have done our homework, scoured the pages of Saveur, made copious notes on articles in Travel & Leisure, read a library’s worth of pieces at Concierge.com and committed to memory the “101 Best Restaurants in Europe” list from Forbes. All of this information is wonderful but it doesn’t necessarily mean a great dining experience. I have a tip that will!
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Mar 2013
Southwest Vacations has a great sale right now for the Montelucia Resort and Spa in Scottsdale! Book a flight + hotel vacation package of 3 or more nights to the Montelucia Resort & Spa Scottsdale, and save with a 3rd night free! Plus, receive a $75 resort credit. If you are needing a last minute winter get-away, this looks like a nice one. Book 3/22 – 4/25.
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Mar 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tips: 5 Tips for European Train Travel
March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Tip #1: When you need information
If a station has an Information desk–use it to plan your trip. Don’t expect the person at the ticket window to answer all your questions when there’s a line of impatient commuters waiting. This is especially important in crowded stations like Venice. Find Departing Train information by consulting the yellow posters at the stations
Tip #2: Facilities
Long distance trains often have restaurant or cafe cars. Medium distance trains may rely on a cart carrying sandwiches, snacks, drinks and coffee. Regional trains often carry no…
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Mar 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tip: How to Pack for a Cruise
March 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Packing for a cruise can be a challenge because it requires a bit of investigation before you select your wardrobe. I say select rather than “run out and purchase” because it is always better to take clothes that you have worn before, fit you well and are comfortable.
The investigation portion of the packing saga involves determining the appropriate dress code on the ship. Your travel agent should be able to help you with this and the cruise brochures and websites often have the information. Some ships are casual 24 hrs a day with no formal nights. Other ships have one or more nights where fancy dress is called for. On these nights you will see anything from “Sunday Best” to floor length evening gowns and tuxedos. The important thing is to…
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Feb 2013
Laurel’s Travel Tip: Cash or Credit?
February 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I am often asked by clients who are traveling abroad what is best to use cash or credit? I say both but for different circumstances. The days of traveling with only your faithful American Express Card are long gone. This particular card is often NOT accepted in many places because the fee they charge the vendor to process the charge is higher than other types of cards. The best card to take in my opinion is the Visa Card because it is so widely recognized. But be careful, check with your card company well before your departure date to be sure that they don’t have any additional fees when you charge in another currency. If they do, shop around for another card. I have had good luck with Capital One.
Use your credit card for large purchases like hotel bills, shopping, and restaurants. If you have a backup card, take it just in case there is a problem. Advise your credit card company where you will be traveling about a week before you go. It is not pleasant to have a hold put on your card because of
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Contact Laurel at Seidelman.laurel@gmail.com for assistance in planning your next trip!
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