Tips for more convenient Holiday Travel

If you are traveling via air this holiday season, there are some things that you can do to make your travels more convenient and less time consuming. Happy Holidays to all!

1. Know before you go.

Familiarize yourself with the 3-1-1 rule.
The 3-1-1 refers to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) guidelines that limit each airline passenger to three ounce bottles or less, one quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag, and one bag placed in the screening bins at security. There are some exceptions, like baby formula, milk and prescription medications. You should make sure to declare those items at the checkpoint.



2. “Simplifly” your overall security experience.

The TSA asks passengers to practice these additional measures to make the airport screening process easier:
· Pack an organized carry-on bag to help security officers see what’s in your bag. Do a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, then toiletries.
· At the checkpoint, have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection.
· Remove your coat and shoes and place them in a bin.
· Place larger electronics such as laptops and DVD players in a separate bin (iPods and smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on).
· When in doubt, leave it out, or check the TSA’s Web site to see the list of prohibited items: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm.



3. Two key pieces of advice for holiday travelers to remember: Come early and be patient.

Expect crowds. Be patient. By following the above tips, it will help ensure your journey starts off on a positive note. Other holiday travel tips to consider:
· Do not wrap gifts – they are subject to search.
· Most bottles of alcohol cannot be carried on due to the 3-1-1 rule.
· 3-1-1 also applies to holiday items like perfume, after shave, lotions, salad dressing, salsa, creamy dips, jams and jellies.

Belize - What a sight!

Belize



Belize has seen its share of visitors throughout history. Pirates, traders, the British, slaves and loggers, at one time or another, have cut a life into the country’s wild jungles and Caribbean coastline. Today, a new visitor fuels the economy for Central America’s newest country: the tourist.



Most start in Belize City, the coastal town and former capital of Belize (the government moved to centralized Belmopan in 1970), which is accessible via cruise ship or by a handful of U.S. and Caribbean-based air carriers. As the cultural and business epicenter of Belize, allow a day or two to explore the city’s winding streets, peruse street vendors and shops, and soak in the varying architectural influences – from small shacks to the sturdy English colonial structures, some of the last remaining vestiges of the British colonization of Belize. That British influence is also why English is the country’s official language.


But tourists rarely visit just for the ambiance and history of Belize City. With the second longest barrier reef in the world, vast expanses of rain forest and mountains, and an abundance of Mayan ruins tucked within the lush surroundings, it’s what lies outside the city that has made tourism Belize’s largest industry.

The barrier reef, running parallel to the coastline for 185 miles, is a diver’s delight with a diverse eco-system of differing coral sizes, shapes, colors and aquatic species, including turtles, manatees and crocodiles. On the surface, the popular cayes (pronounced “Keys”; low-lying islands made up mostly of sand or coral) of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye and their hotels, resorts and restaurants provide a pleasurable diversion from the reef activities.



Moving inland, tropical rainforests, caves and waterfalls make for spectacular adventures and photo ops. Hiding within the lush surroundings throughout the country are Mayan ruins. From Belize City, a favorite Mayan excursion is to the ruins at Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and trading post during the Post Classic and Classic periods and is the most excavated site in Belize.



With roughly 294,000 residents taking up a land mass about the size of Massachusetts (which by comparison, has over 6.4 million residents), there is plenty of space for visitors to explore Belize’s countryside and coastline without feeling crowded. For more information on Belize and the many educational and ecotourism adventures available, contact your local Carlson Wagonlit Travel expert.

Babymoon becoming ever more popular

The term “babymoon” is relatively new to expecting mothers’ lexicon. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s become a fast-growing trend for pregnant women to get in a little vacation, or “babymoon,” before the baby is born – a much deserved last hurrah before the long days and often sleepless nights of parenting set in.


The trend has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon with small B&Bs and five-star hotels from London to Los Angeles, Dubai to Atlanta, offering packages designed to pamper moms-to-be.

Packages can include special amenities such as a pillow menu, relaxing oils, a subscription to a parenting magazine, sweet treats such as ice cream or cookies, a baby welcome gift, and if the property has its own spa, a prenatal massage and spa treatments to help soothe pregnancy aches and pains. Most packages are designed for two, so there is usually a romantic touch slipped in such as special dining arrangements, flowers and a couples massage or spa treatment.

The upscale W Hotels is one of the larger hoteliers to offer a babymoon package at locations nationwide. Their “Baby Me” package includes many of the amenities mentioned, and also includes a stylish baby bag, a baby onesie, and a photo keepsake (at select locations).

Enjoying a babymoon is the easy part, but for many pregnant women, travel can sometimes be a challenge, so you should carefully consider the transportation means based on your pregnancy stage and health. The fastest, of course, is hopping on a plane, but the comfort factor (not to mention the potential for delays) could be a deterrent unless you’re in first class. You’ll want to check with your travel expert on your preferred airline’s guidelines for pregnant women; some require a doctor’s notice to permit you to fly particularly in later stages of pregnancy. Rail travel is a safe and comfortable alternative, but travel time to your destination can be a bit long. However, you’ll have plenty of leg room, space to get up and stretch, and restrooms and dining cars when the need arises. It’s wise to discuss your travel plans with your doctor before you make any final arrangements.

If you’re an expecting mother, take the first step to a stress-relieving babymoon getaway by calling Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit.