New Year… New Favorite Tips!

Claudia Fenner is a writer, photographer and travel enthusiast from Dix Hills. She loves to plan her family’s vacations as well as help her relatives and friends with theirs. Have any travel questions you would like answered? Email her at travelingclaudia@gmail.
com. Happy Travels!

I  hope that 2019 opens up some new and exciting travel horizons for you! I have discovered and used some “tips for trips” this past year and would love to share them.
    My old fave, The Parking Spot, has closed their location at JFK (their LGA location is still going strong) and a new parking venue, Jiffy JFK has opened in its place. On our last few trips we have parked at Jiffy and had a great experience each time. Go to www.jiffyjfk.com to see their rates and join their loyalty club. Just by signing up you get one free day and for every six days purchased, you earn one free day. Their coupon specials are right on the site too. Friendly attendants and frequent shuttles makes this a stress-free way to park at JFK.
    Hotels are always anxious for you to book your reservation directly on their website and they sweeten the deal by offering their “Best Price Guarantee.” Major hotel chains will not only match a lower price if you track one down on another booking site, but  will  take off any additional 25% for finding the lower rate. You have to locate the lower rate within 24 hours of making your reservation on the hotel site and then fill out their easy on-line claim form. Make sure that when you compare rates they are the same type. If  you booked a refundable rate (usually more) and submit a nonrefundable (usually less) rate as the lower price, they won’t approve your claim. To view a variety of rates at once, try www.kayak.com. They list over ten booking websites, which makes comparing very easy.
    Buying travel insurance on a pre-paid trip, such as a cruise, gives many travelers piece of mind in case the unexpected happens. Before you spend extra on that, either go online or call the credit card company that you are charging that trip on. Some credit cards actually include travel insurance for free. There is usually a reimbursement limit and a specific list of situations that are covered. But, for basic travel insurance this could save you a lot of money.  It’s worth your time to find out. 
    Last but not least, a great website to help you plan your vacation is www.lonelyplanet.com.  It’s chock full of ideas, itineraries, maps and activities that can enhance your time away.
    Happy 2019 and Happy Travels!

“Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.”