Vacation Budget Planning for the Resourceful Traveler

Vacations don't come cheap, and making sure that every mint used in travel is money well spent is pivotal to deriving the most enjoyment out of a holiday experience. After all, not everyone enjoys roughing it the way serial backpackers do. Drafting a proper budget is key to maximizing fun and comfort within the budget.

Keep it real 

While everyone dreams of a luxurious vacation with all the frills, budgetary restrictions mean that some things have to be prioritized. A good budget plan that focuses on the essentials can help fit a great vacation to the resources available and may even help some find extra funds for a little something more.

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Go online 

The best recourse for planning an affordable vacation is to compare and contrast ticket prices and lodging online. The internet provides a wealth of information on the best deals one can get from a resort, hotel, or airline, whether one is traveling alone, with a significant other or in large groups such as with friends and family. Going online can also help the attentive traveler find last-minute deals, which can contribute significantly to savings while getting the best travel and accommodation arrangements possible 

Spending management for couples 

Budgeting can become a point of contention for couples who go out on vacation. Recently, it has been found that women and men typically spend money on different things when on vacation. Men, more often than not, spend on food and beverages whereas women spend mostly on souvenirs and duty-free shopping. Good financial habits during vacations involve reconciling and harmonizing these disparate habits.

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Couples will find that planning their budgets together will help them in some ways. Not only will it help them make the most out of their often limited resources but also help them strengthen their relationships through the value of compromise. 

Acclaimed hotelier John Jefferis, with over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, founded Coco Reef Resorts, which has locations in Tobago and Bermuda. Visit this Facebook page for more hotel and hospitality industry updates.

Difficult and demanding: How to deal with complaining guests

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Guests are the lifeblood of hotels and of the whole hospitality industry. It is important to keep every guest satisfied because anything less than excellent service can keep even the potential clients away. While it is true that "you can't please everybody", the job of hospitality management and staff is to ensure that everybody is pleased. So how do you handle guests who complain and are hard to please? Here is a step-by-step guide for handling difficult and demanding people:

Listen

Allow the guest to speak his or her mind. Don't interrupt even if they have said something incorrect or if you have an objection to their complaint. Let them voice their side before providing an explanation.

Apologize

The customer is always right – although it sounds unfair and biased, it's not advisable to go against it. Even if you don't have any fault in the matter, in behalf of your fellow staff members or the management of the hotel, you should always apologize for not meeting the client's expectations. A sincere apology can ease a guest's ire.

It also doesn't help to point fingers or blame someone else for the inconvenience. Simply accept the complaint and move on to the next step.

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Solve

If there is a problem that needs to be fixed, you need to find the solution. If a guest is dissatisfied, look for a way to turn the situation around. It is your duty as a part of the hotel to address any issues guests have and to solve it as soon as possible. If it's beyond your power, relay the problem to someone who does have the authority to address the situation.

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With over 40 years of experience, John Jefferis is a dominant figure in the hospitality industry. Find out more about his expertise by liking this Facebook page.

REPOST: Booking a cruise? 18 questions to go over with your travel agent

Booking your next vacation through a travel agent maybe a good option. However, here is an important list of questions to ask your potential travel agent before making any commitments.

Sandy Fenton with the Regent Seven Seas "Navigator" in Puerto Rico  | Image Source: pennlive.com

So you've finally decided this is the year you are going to take that much deserved cruise vacation.

Good for you! And by the way, you're not alone. According to the Cruise Line International Association, 22-million passengers will cruise in 2015.

I've had the great pleasure and good fortune to have cruised over 100 times. I am always asked for my expert cruising advice.

Never before has there been such an extensive offering of ships, cabins, itineraries, amenities, onboard activities and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Depending upon your interests, passions, lifestyle and the size of your pocketbook, just about every type of dream vacation at sea is yours.

If you're curious about ancient world history, fascinated with fine arts, interested in learning new culinary skills, need to unplug and relax or just enamored with the glamour of the golden age of travel, there is a cruise ship for you.

To make the most of your choices, talk with a trusted and reputable travel agency that has in-house cruise experts. It's your vacation, your money, and you want the best cruise vacation for your dollar.

Here are 20 questions to go over with your travel agent before making any commitments:

1. Where and when do you want to go?

2. Do you want to fly or drive to your point of departure?

3. Do you have a favorite itinerary?

4. How long do you want your cruise to last? 3-5 days? 7-14? Over 2-weeks?

5. What type of accommodations do you want? An inside cabin, a veranda stateroom or a luxurious suite with butler service?

6. Will you be traveling alone, as a couple, with a family or a group? If you are traveling with a family, how old are the kids? Do you have teenagers? Will you need baby-sitting?

7. What type of onboard activities and entertainment do you want?

8. What type of shore excursions interest you, and when do you make these bookings? The cruise lines have come a long way in expanding their port excursions, and the most popular and unique tours fill quickly.

9. Do you prefer a smaller, more intimate vessel or a gigantic mega liner with all the bells and whistles - or something in the middle?

10. Do you want a port-intensive itinerary with overnight stays or several relaxing days at sea?

11. How important is your dining experience? Many cruisers, myself included, consider the dining experience one of the cruise highlights. Choose carefully as every cruise line is different.

12. How important is personalized service, amenities and attention to detail? I have found the quality of service varies from line to line, and even among ships from the same line.

13. Are you celebrating a special occasion?

14. Do you want an all-inclusive cruise experience where all alcoholic and soft drinks, tipping and specialty restaurants are included in one price?

15. Do you (or someone you're traveling with) need medical care or special assistance?  A good rule of thumb - the larger (and newer) ships carry more medical staff and equipment.

16. What should you pack - casual and/or dressy clothes - for all ages?

17. Do you need a passport? If you don't already have one, get one. If you have one, be sure it is updated.

18. Last, but not least, what is your cruise budget?

There is a cruise perfectly suited for you and your family - and now is the time to take advantage of the savings and added values offered by the cruise lines. 

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Visit John Jefferis on Facebook to learn more about the many beautiful islands of the Caribbean.

REPOST: Generation X spends the most per day on luxury travel

How much do you spend on your vacation? Simon Thomsen of the Sydney Morning Herald discusses how millenials spend more traveling than retired seniors.

One generation has taken a surprising lead in the luxury travel market. | Image Source: smh.com.au

Never mind the parents spending your inheritance on travel: Generation X has an even better time when it hits the road.

Virtuoso, the global luxury travel network with $US14 billion ($17.8 billion) in annual sales, has crunched its numbers, finding that while retired travelers spend more overall, Gen X goes short, sharp and flash to burn through more cash every day they're away.

Sofitel's new Sydney property will appeal to cashed up travellers visiting Australia. | Image Source: smh.com.au

Seniors spend 56 per cent more on travel annually – $US11,077 ($14,000) each – than Millennials at $US7110. Generation X's bill is $US8458 at a daily rate of $US627, which is nearly 20 per cent higher than Millennials at $US527, and the frugal seniors at $US471. Boomers seem modest by comparison, with an annual average of $US9907 per trip and $US522 per day.

Where are you going?

Seniors are away the most, at 23.5 days a year, followed by the Boomers on 19. Gen X and Millennials, who need to get back to work, have just 13.5 days.

Singapore has been named 2015's hottest tourism destination by Virtuoso. | Image Source: smh.com.au

What they do on holidays is where the differences begin to emerge with the older sector opting for a cruise – 26 per cent of Boomers, 42 per cent for Seniors – as their preferred adventure.

Millennials and Generation X-ers opt for private or escorted tour experiences (38 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively) and hotel stays over cruises (both at 15 per cent).

And while Baby Boomers are the largest segment of travelers, Virtuoso has seen a surge in Generation-X clients to overtake the Senior market (born before 1946).

US-based Virtuoso, which recently announced it would use Sydney as its regional base for its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, books around 12 per cent of its turnover from Australia and New Zealand, has seen both countries make its seasonal top 10 list for overseas visitors, especially in Q1 2015 as northern hemisphere travellers seek to escape the cold.

Not surprisingly, the USA's nearest neighbours, Mexico and Canada, head the list, with New Zealand just pipping Australia as preferred destination.

By the booking

Here's where everyone's going this year, based on Virtuoso's forward sales to March 2015.

1. Mexico

2. Canada

3. New Zealand

4. Australia

5. Argentina

6. United Kingdom

7. Costa Rica

8. South Africa

9. Hong Kong

10. Chile

Meanwhile, the Peter Jackson Hobbit effect as no doubt helped produce a dramatic rise in interest for Aotearoa, with Virtuoso's "Hot List", measuring year-over-year growth, putting New Zealand in second place behind Singapore.

Aruba, if you're searching the map, is a tiny Dutch-controlled south Caribbean Sea island just off the coast of Venezuela.

The hot list

1. Singapore (up 155%)

2. New Zealand (up 95%)

3. Aruba (up 36%)

4. Israel (up 32%)

5. Puerto Rico (24%)

6. U.S. Virgin Islands (up 23%)

7. France (up 22%)

8. Bahamas (up 20%)

9. Chile (up 20%)

10. Spain (up 20%)

Looking for luxury

Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch says there's been a big shift to luxury accommodation as Australia developed high-end places such as Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Tasmania's Sapphire and more recently, One & Only on Hayman Island. Internal domestic travel has upgraded to these places.

"Australian luxury product has come a long way and we're seeing an increase in short breaks – two to three days – at these places," he said.

"The core market is still for luxury expeditions and cruising."

Sales in Australia rose 15 per cent in the past year.

The drop in the Australian dollar won't have much impact on the luxury sector, but it will give visitors to Australia more money to play with when they get here.

The age of agents

His other point, as the head of a company that's overseen more than US$32 billion in travel, is that any predictions that the internet age will see the travel agent go the way of the video store and photo lab are way off the mark.

"This is a profession that's doing really well," he says, arguing that the shifts wrought by online are similar to the ones experienced by stockbrokers

"Brokers who were truly were wealth advisers made the shift and the good ones did well," he said.

"Some people think travel agents are just order takers, but in the luxury market they're a trusted, collaborative travel adviser.

"Finding someone who will listen to exactly what you want and will deliver on that promise is the very definition of luxury travel."

Find the best travel deals and the hottest destinations by following this John Jefferis Twitter account.

Reel trip: Five movies that inspired travel

Movies aren’t just about good stories, great acting, and superb editing and cinematography. Films can also be an escape to a different reality and an inspiration to see the world with your own eyes. These five films highlight beautiful, exotic, and travel-worthy spots around the globe.

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Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

This biopic tells the story of Che Guevara and Alberto Granado’s motorcycle trek across South America back in 1952, using their medical training to help lepers. This trip took them through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and then to Miami before going back to Buenos Aires.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Set in Tokyo, Japan, this movie is about Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlet Johansson) who met in Japan and formed an interesting relationship amidst the confusion and hilarity in an intriguing city. The film features Shinjuku and Shibuya, two of Tokyo’s loudest and most colorful cities, landmarks such as The Tokyo Tower and Mt. Fuji, as well as various shrines and temples.

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

This film follows Walter Mitty, a hyper-imaginative daydreamer and a photo editor for LIFE magazine who’s led a very boring life, who goes on a real-life journey in search for a photographer when his job is put on the line. He goes from New York City to Greenland, Iceland, Yemen, and finally, Afghanistan.

Into the Wild (2007)

The film showcases the adventures of Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who hitchhikes to Alaska after giving away all his life savings. His crazy, visionary, and reckless journey took him to Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Mexico.

Eat, Pray, Love (2010) Based on the real-life memoirs of Elizabeth Gilbert, this movie shows the author (played by Julia Roberts) on a pilgrimage to Italy, India, and Indonesia in a bid to nourish her heart, soul, and stomach. There are other movies that can inspire someone to get up, pack a bag, and hop on the next plane to some exotic getaway. Who knows, the next movie you watch can lead you to a life-changing adventure.  

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REPOST: To Attract Millennials, Hospitality Marketing Turns to Content

Many of the world's leading hotel brands have beefed up the use of content to integrate multiple marketing components to attract more millennials, the fastest-growing customer segment within the hospitality industry. Know more about this story by reading the article below:

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Hospitality marketing is shifting toward content to lure guests to hotels, particularly the younger, digitally savvy crowd.

According to Skift, hotel brands are pumping more dollars into their content marketing budgets. The most innovative brands are developing sophisticated online content marketing campaigns that sell not just the hotel, but the whole destination experience. In this new wave of marketing, a hotel is just one character in the story of a traveler’s journey.

Brands are betting this approach will appeal to millennials, the fastest-growing customer segment within the hospitality industry, who are willing to pay more for a better experience. To stand out from competitors, hospitality brands need content that can “entertain, enlighten, inspire and/or educate in some way,” Skift reports.

The Rise of Content

The hospitality industry’s shift toward content reflects an overall trend of growth in content marketing. These days, content is the “atomic particle” of all marketing, including paid, owned and earned channels, Altimeter reports. No longer is content just a company blog or newsletter; rather, content comprises the multiple forms of media that fuel social, PR, and advertising. Top brands create “culture[s] of content,” where content is shared and made across the enterprise.

The most innovative hotel brands are using content to integrate multiple marketing components that enhance one another in “content ecosystems.” According to Skift, the best brands integrate live events, aggressive social media, branded website content, apps, and user-generated content to entice potential guests. Marriott’s new global content studio will create and distribute digital content across platforms with travel- and lifestyle-related content. The content, Marriott hopes, will reel in that coveted segment of next-generation travelers.

Millennial Connection

In addition to changing the world of hospitality marketing, the millennial generation is also driving changes in hotel experience. Millennials represent about a third of all US travelers; by 2025, they will represent over half. They also are expected to spend incrementally more on travel services than any other age group, according to MMGY.

Reflecting this demographic shift, new lobby designs reflect millennial desires for spaces that combine work, play, food and drink, Robert Rausch reports at 4Hoteliers. Hotels are creating new ways to check in, pay room bills, and research nearby activities utilizing technology.

Brands such as Kimpton Hotels are using content to sell their unique experiences to younger customers. The hotels’ websites feature visually stunning designs and content that’s evenly split between hotel information and destination experiences. Kimpton’s site pulls together more visible third-party reviews, a blog, slide shows, Google maps, and more to give potential guests all the information they need in one place. Kimpton’s techniques are quickly being adopted by larger hotel brands, Skift reports.

These “content ecosystems” could majorly pay off for hotels as millennials command more of the hospitality space. While content marketing can be challenging, brands that get it right are rewarded by customers’ willingness to share their positive experience. For hotels, that could mean positive reviews on third-party review sites that will, in turn, drive more traffic to the hotel.

Learn more about the latest trends in the tourism industry by following this John Jefferis Twitter account.

Foodies unite for the s finest cuisine

The food in the Caribbean islands is amazing! With exotic touches, fresh ingredients, and influences from different cultures, it is difficult not to appreciate the appetizing cuisine present in the Caribbean. Foodies will love visiting these islands, if not for their sights, but for the food they serve:

Anguilla

Often described by reviewers as the Caribbean island with the best food, Anguilla is truly a foodie's paradise. From street stalls that serve everything in sling to its fancy restaurants, the food here is exquisite.

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Barbados

Barbados is well-known for its flying fish sandwiches and locals love the seafood delicacy marinated in lime, cooked with egg and hot sauce and served fresh off the grill. Another highlight of your visit will be the Rum and Wine festival in November, where famous chefs and connoisseurs from around the globe participate.

St. Martin

If you don't know why you should visit St. Martin, think of food. The island offers a French twist to Caribbean cuisine. From fresh fish to freshly baked croissants, you will definitely love the food here. And for those who don't know, on Tuesday nights the main boulevard transforms into a pedestrian-only block party serving barbecued street food.

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St. Lucia

Enjoy Friday night on the local "jump ups," a party blending food, drinks, music, and dancing out on the streets. With foreign influences from the French and the British, the menu of St. Lucia is diverse but delicious. With food like cacao gazpacho and confit of duck in a white chocolate mash – which foodie can say no?

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Find more reasons to travel to the Caribbean by visiting this John Jefferis Google+ page.