7 Things to Stay Away From When Booking an All Inclusive Vacation

7 Things to Stay Away From When Booking an All Inclusive Vacation

1. Traveler Reviews – Opinions are always different from another person. Don’t search for reviews written by others. Chances are they could be lying, exaggerating, and chances are they have never been there and want to cause problems. Reviews can be misleading, and untrue. Form your own opinion and travel experiences. If you keep reading reviews, you won’t be traveling at all. You do not want to go to that route. Yes, its nice to value others opinions and ask for them, but ultimately you are the one traveling, Try it out.

2. Over-tipping – It is All Inclusive for a reason right? Everything is included in the price. Don’t go tip crazy. Of course you will want to tip your bell boy who takes your baggage to your room and take your baggage to the lobby area after your vacation and also to tip your room maker, but do not go crazy tipping every single person at the resort.

3. Excursions – When they over pressure you and bother you everyday about going on excursions, chances are they are an arm and a leg. They advertise it so well saying its great, come and don’t miss out and then you get your hopes up and then it’s not as exciting as they said it would be. Do things on your own. It is the best way. Selling excursions may be more expensive than going out on your own.

4. Travel Insurance from the booking company/tour operator – Always decline travel insurance when you are booking. It will cost you more. Buy travel/medical insurance separately or unless you have benefits through your place of employment that already has insurance, go ahead, but don’t jump into buying traveling insurance with the travel provider.

5. Star ratings – Yes, that is one of the first things we see when booking an all-inclusive trip. Everyone’s expectations are different, everyone’s taste as well, we may want more, we may want less. Our perceptions of cleanliness, drinks, food taste, taste buds, room comfort, resort amenities are different. Again it is similar to reviews. Form your own star and review ratings.

6. Beach Soliciting – stay away from those wanting to braid your hair. You never know where their hands have been, or how long they have not washed the brushes and products they use for your hair, or those people who are selling you cigars. Chances are they are giving you fake cigars that are loaded with banana leaves. If they are walking by the shore line and see you, they will always come bother you. Keep saying no and walk away and ignore them. Any local for that matter. You had just come out of the water. They expect you to have money on you all the time and on an all-inclusive trip. Don’t fall for it and walk away

7. Orientation – When you board your bus at the airport and take you to your resort, they give you a pamphlet of your resort, and they will tell you that the next morning there is orientation to get to know your resort, your flight information back home, and all that. They will try to sell you excursions and persuade you to do so, but I wouldn’t waste time being in a meeting where the beach, and the water, and your meals await you. Vacations go by so fast. Don’t want to waste a second of it.

Interviewing Myself About My Social Media Journey

A few people have been asking me questions lately about my Social Media journey, and what empowered me to start being active in this whole new way of communicating to the world instantly. Well, here are questions that I am going to be interviewing myself with:

1. How many years have you been active in Social Media?

In May of 2000, I joined AsianAvenue.com, Black Planet, Migente all around that time. Which is about 15 years and almost 2 months, that I have been active, then couple of years later, I joined Myspace.

2. How did you educate yourself in Social Media?

When I began to be educated on what Social Media really is. I began writing, changing my layout of my pages in Asian Avenue, Migente, Black Planet and Myspace. I had hours of fun changing pictures, writing short stories, shout-outs to people, putting avatars, symbols HTML, Style CSS codes. That is when I began to really enjoy myself, and then that is where I launched myself into the Internet world.

3. What was your very first Blog Site to write in? (+ Other sites)

LiveJournal was my first website that I started to write in, then I went to Blogger from Google. Now in present day, I have been on WordPress the longest.

4. What have you been through to get this far to Social Media today?

Well, as a lot of people in Social Media and blogging begin to think in the beginning, ask a lot of questions and inquire on How are people going to engage into my postings? How Can I get out there to be noticed? What do I need to do to be successful? Well, I went through so much to get to where I am today. I began to do extensive research online about how to attract readers, and amongst how to get through the challenging aspects of it all. I then began to learn to tag my posts, so it can be seen by so many people, then I began asking questions and getting feedback from others who are in the same boat as me and who have gone through it all. Soon after I began to get comfortable with it all, I was in a whole new world of communication. It was not easy. For months I did not receive any comments, readers, and those who were engaging into my site. So I put it into action and began to make friends all over the internet, and then my journey officially began.

5. What would you say was the most struggling aspect of your Social Media Journey. Does it still apply to you in present day?

Well, the most struggling aspect of social media, is that right now there is just so many bloggers, so many people in social media and they all want practically the same thing. To be noticed, for people to engage, share, like, and comment on posts. I must say the getting noticed part is the most difficult aspect of it all and which audience you want your content to be available to.

6. Does your family and friends support you in your journey through Social Media?

Yes, definitely. Without the support, foundation from my family and friends, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t be here conducting this interview for myself. I thank them very much for standing behind in what I love to do, what I am pursuing in all of this, and as well as inspiring the world with my writings, talents and so much more.

7. What do you like to write about?

I like to write about various things such as travel, tips, advice, inspiring stories, stories that have happened to me, promoting others, recipes, causes, and much more.

8. Did you ever have writers block?

Yes, several times. Sometimes as a writer, My mind freezes up and do not have anymore capacity in my brain to come up with new topics, and what to do next. Then after a few days go by, things start coming back to me, and begin to write again.

9. What advice do you have for aspiring and up and coming social media activists?

Just to take your time with social media. Do not rush into getting so much viewership, and engaged readers. It takes time to establish yourself. Well, not all the time. Also to always make sure your site is searchable, to add keywords, tag posts and engage in other peoples social media journey as well.

 

 

Toronto’s Pearson International Airport – YYZ – My Love For The Airport

Since I was 7 years old, I embarked on my first journey through Toronto Pearson airport on my way to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and I will never forget the time when I came into the airport. I was so excited and happy. Now every years twice or 3 times a year, I travel through this awesome airport. So much to see in the airport and do before your flight. So many new shops have been open, and everything has become so modern and sophisticated and its easy to go to your gates after you check in prior to boarding. The beauty of the planes landing, taking off, and coming to the gates is something so awesome. From the biggest planes to the smallest. I just love air travel. It is so fantastic. I love it when other passengers ask me questions and stuff. It is like written on my forehead or something hahaha. The Airport code is YYZ for Pearson Airport. I know this well by heart now, and I love going to the airport even if its dropping off someone. I am always the one to be dropping off people and having them be on their way to their flights because everyone knows that I know the ropes and how to manage well at the airport. It takes a little research and patience with everything. Once you go to the airport it is pretty straight forward on what to do. you just have to prepare before you go, you have to do everything in your power to make your airport stay and your experience a happy and pleasant one. Don’t go to the airport not knowing diddly squat about it, don’t go to the airport being completely clueless. research research research, that is the way to go, but again if you have doubts, you can still ask airport personnel but everything would be more simple when you do research right?

A few blogs ago I wrote about tips before, at the airport and after the airport on what to do. If you have any questions in regards to anything you don’t understand at the airport, let me know and I will help you. It can be Toronto, It can be Los Angeles, it could be an airport in Europe, just ask me and I will guide you through simple steps you can do to avoid hassle at any airport across the world. Gotta love my Pearson Toronto Airport 🙂