Planning the Family Vacation part 1

Our family decided to take a big trip to celebrate my  wife's 40th birthday and her graduating from grad school. We wanted to take a cruise, and we wanted to go to Walt Disney World too. We figured we couldn't do both. Lets face it these kinds of vacations are expensive, or at least I thought we would not be able to save enough to do both. I was wrong. We discovered that we could take a cruise to Nassau, Bahamas that would be four nights AND have some time at Disney World. It was a tricky and we compared several travel agent quotes, online deals, rental houses, and even looked at using Costco travel. I am going to try to blog our process so that you can skip all the hard stuff and do the trip that works for your family. By the way we are taking this trip as a surprise that my son will not know about until we get on the airplane. If you know my son please do not spoil the fun by telling him. Thanks.

First step, where to stay. Once we decided we wanted to visit Walt Disney World, we had to figure out where we wanted to stay (on property or off). We had very good luck using Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) and thought about looking to rent a condo or vacation house in Orlando. We were surprised by the amount of homes that are accessible near the parks and some of the great amenities that were included with some of them. Things like a pool with a lift were very common in most of the places that we looked at, as well as roll in showers, and free cable and WiFi. the prices were amazing too. We were considering a 4 bedroom house that was 10 minutes away from WDW that was 132.00 a night (if you wanted the pool heated) which included the taxes. We came across many deals like that, which if you have a mobility impairment is very, VERY rare. This is a great option if you are on a tight budget because you can cook meals at home, have the flexibility to go to other parks if you rent a car, and did I mention private pool which is great if you have kids who are difficult to get out of the park. We saw many amazing properties but after crunching some numbers we decided that staying on property made the most sense for us since we changed our vacation to include a cruise. I believe when we eventually go back to Orlando (and we will once my son realizes that there are other parks besides Disney World there) we will definitely keep this in mind as an affordable and restful option. Stay Tuned.

Heaven on the beach!

It has been a solid week since we returned from our trip to Orcas Island and I must tell you I was a fabulous trip. The weather we perfect and sunny allowing for spectacular sunsets and starry sky's over the fire pit. Beach Haven is a wonderfully secluded gem that has had a loyal following for over 70 years. Families have literally been booking trips out to this rustic resort for decades, and I myself can say I my family will be joining those ranks (we booked for next year on our last day so we can say we will be back). While I have nothing but a glowing feeling toward this place I will say it is not for everyone. If you are addicted to your cellphone and the Internet, I am sorry to say it may not be for you (although you might just like to be unplugged from the web). Cell phone reception is spotty and most Internet providers do not have a data plan for out here. Also there are no televisions, you can bring one but I guarantee you you won't watch it. W

hat it lacks in cell reception it makes up for in the sheer tranquility of the area. So you can't play on Facebook. You can have a conversation with people over a fire pit, or game board.

Lets get to some specifics about the resort and the area. The accommodations we stayed in was the lodge (although they have a larger cabin that is accessible and sleeps 10). This was like renting a small house, there was three beds many couches and several tables that were tall enough to get your legs under if you are in a wheelchair. The doors were wide enough to get my 30 inch wheel through and there is a ramp entry way in the cabin that takes you into the kitchen via a covered porch. The cabin has an open floor plan and hardwood floors as is usual in a cabin built int he 40's were spacious and very accessible even thought the buildings are back to the 40s.

The staff are amazing, helpful, friendly, and what you want to find in a resort. Every question or suggestion for easy improvements were met with a warm smile and open minded curiosity. They went out of their way when I was trying to get specifics about the cabin measurements, and I continue to get great service from them even now when I had to call about a question I had. Best service I have ever had at a resort. They told us about a few places on island that we could get food, some places of interest that would be accessible with a little work from me and my family (adventurous is what they called it, and they were right). They even let us in on some local secrets (which I won't share because I don't want to be shunned).

Some concerns. If you are in a wheelchair the beach will be very difficult for you to navigate. It is a steep and pebble filled north west beach that isn't kind to the small casters of a standard chair. As always if you want to do it you can access the beach from an area near the larger cabin. I myself was perfectly happy sitting on the large deck (approximately 20 feet from the water) or hanging by the fire pit (same distance) star gazing. As my son discovered this wasn't Hawaii and the water here is cold. There are plenty of hard packed roads that go into the natural setting of the resort so you don't feel like you are missing anything. The town of Eastsound is an older town and do their best to give the disabled the ability to move around within reason. There are areas with no side walks so you may have to use the road.

 

Orcas Island offers a multitude of beauty to see, you just have to research it a little and you can probably find something you will want to do. I personally cannot wait to get back to the cabin onthe beach and roast some more hot dogs over the fire.

List sharing

So I have mentioned that when our family travels we create some pretty extensive lists. Anything from Things to do, Things to buy, stuff to pack, and places to eat. I thought I would share a few of them so you can see what type of things we put on them. Who knows you may have suggestions for me. Please share.

1. Things to do

Pull out luggage -gets the old closet smell out and lets you see if there is any damage to them

Look through toiletry bag - dump half crusty bottles, replace razor blades, make sure that you have what you need

Clean- nothing worse than coming home to a messy house. Especially after staying at a nice hotel.
Pull warm/cold weather clothing- depending on where you live you don't always get to wear shorts or a coat best to go through them early to see if they still fit

Contact bank and CC company - let them know where you are going so that you don't have your cards turned off for suspicious charges. Really important when going outside of the US.

Stop mail - or arrange someone to pick it up for you. Also a good ideal to put a few lights on timers to discourage anyone who might break in

Get cash & Disney gift cards - always take small cash for tipping and food/magazine vendors, or vending machines it is appreciated. Also if you are going to a place like Disneyland that has gift cards buy some. It is much than juggling cash around and it keeps you on budget.

Pack - aways my job and I am REALLY good at it

Put clean sheets on bed - after a long or short flight it is nice to sleep on clean sheets on your own bed.

Snacks - don't buy a $5 can of nuts out of the mini bar. Leave a little room and take something to snack on. Spend the extra on  another trip

Measure Kid- you want to know how tall they are so you can keep them from being disappointed when they are to short for a ride.

Pay bills - in the heat of doing all the travel stuff things can be forgotten. Trust me.

Pack DVD and portable player - I have a kid who is good on planes but can get board after the third hour of flight. This is why you bring some favorites for them to watch.

Checking out where you will check into.

I have learned the hard way that you must research the hotel that you are going to stay in. I have stayed at a Best Western in Anaheim that gave me an upside down lunch tray with lawn chair legs for a shower bench. It made all the water puddle on the floor and into the towels (could have been shocking for my wife when she used the hair dryer). Another experience was in Florida where we stayed at the Disney Port Orleans Riverside after our cruise disembarked. We discovered mold in the shower (lots of it), the hardest bed I have ever tried to sleep on and a questionable cleaning job (run a vacuum), plus no room service put me on edge. What I am saying is that just not all accessible rooms are created equal, and along those lines not all moderate rooms are equal either.

Our trip to Walt Disney World Resort in 2013 is over a year away and we are already scouring the Internet to figure out which place is best for me, my wife and our son (who will be 4). There are many great sites like Frommer's, Fodor's, and Trip Advisor that offer an unbiased review of the hotel. This is great because you get a ton of opinions. However you have to read the reviews because some of the complaints can be just nit picky little things like "the sheets were to rough", "I didn't like the soap", or "I had a pool view from my room that didn't look like the brochure". There can be serious ones like " we found cigarettes on the headboard under the pillows" and "there is old in the corner of the bathroom" which any reasonable hotel should want to correct right away.

We are weighing out several hotels on property for their location to the parks we really want to visit, reviews from independent sources, and information we have gotten from our travel agency. The front runners are the Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Beach Club, and The Polynesian. All of these have different ammenities that we may want to have access to. They are all located at different points of the resort so that we can have a home base near the parks that we may spend the most of our time at. As we get closer to the travel date the rates for next year will come out and there may be additional hotels we will look into with better rates. It is important to look ahead so that you do not get overwhelmed when you have to book. There is nothing worse than going into something blindly, as it can have a very negative effect on you vacation overall. I will revisit this as we get closer and review in depth each of our choices.

Oh Mama, The Bahamas

I already know that one of our stops will be Nassau, Bahamas so I decided to check out what kinds of stuff there is to do there, and also what if anything is wheelchair friendly. What I have discovered is that the accessibility in Nassau is improving as more and more travelers with special needs visit the tropical destination.Resorts and tourist hot spots do not want to alienate any of the visiting populace so they strive to make accommodations whenever it is feasible. That being said Nassau is a very old city and not everything will be easy to access if you can get into it. Here are some things that I have confirmed can be visited by a chair or scooter user:

Ardastra Gardens (Zoo and Conservation Center), this multi acre botanical paradise has been almost totally retrofitted to accommodate travelers with special needs. You can stroll through the gardens and view over 300 different types of animals and plants. I am told the dancing Flamingos are not to be missed.

Paradise Island  is where the well known resort Atlantis is situated. They have a limited number of  wheelchair accessible rooms and just about everything is set up so that someone with a mobility impairment can have a good time (just no water slides, and depending who you ask the beach. But there are other beaches)

The shopping districts are what you might expect on a Caribbean island. Some are accessible some are not, but if you are looking to spend some money at their stores I am sure they are willing to accommodate you. From the cruise terminal you can get to the Straw Markets and Bay Street which are pretty good in the accessibility department. I have read that you want to stay in the middle isle and edge because it can get pretty tight in the smaller isles. Also avoid Bay Street during the mid day rush because it can get very cramped if you are in a scooter or wheelchair.

Over all what I have found is that if you are visiting you will not feel short changed or that there was something you didn't get to experience. The people are very welcoming and warm...if you are not an obnoxious tourist (remember be nice to them, they will be nice to you). 

5 Fave Friday-The planning

OK this is something I have blogged about alot recently but it is only because I am at the beginnings of planning my own big trip (of which I am a year and a half from taking). Here are my five tips that will assist you in having a smooth trip.

5. Discuss and research you destination. This seems like a no brainer, right? Trust me when I say that I have been on vacation and have overheard " so what is there to do here?". This was in Hawaii and there were literally a thousand things to do within a few miles of where we were eating. It doesn't have to be a chore to learn about where you are going. Check out some library books in the travel section of your library and make some food (or order it) from where you are going. It is a perfect way to get in the travel mood. You just may have to plan two trips if you are not quite sure where you want to go. Also go to your local travel agent and get some of their brochures, pick their brains for things to do while you are there. MAKE IT FUN!!

4. Find out how much things cost. Think you know what milk cost in Kauai? How about gas? You have got to look this stuff up in order to budget correctly. Just FYI a gallon of milk cost more than gas when I was in Kauai ($5).

3. If you have a disability, a small child, or just don't get around like you used to keep it in mind for your planning. I will fully admit that if I travel somewhere that is a few hours off I am jet lagged for two days so I really do not want to be scheduled to the last minute (got to get a nap somewhere). If you have arthritis in your hip perhaps a two hour tour of Athens won't do you any good (no fun if you are hurting). I have said it before, don't be the people dragging your little kids around and not taking account that for every one step you take it is two or more for them.

2. Don't over pack. My wife and I were horrible about this for years until she went to Ethiopia. Then you realize that you can purchase things, wash in sinks and dry on clothe lines, wear clothing more than one day in a row. What I am saying is that there are many options, not just put half your wardrobe into your carry on. In fact do a trial pack and narrow down what you need, what you THINK you need, and what you WANT. It is what I do before a big trip.

1. Make your lists. My wife is a list maker, and before every trip we have three or four lists going. I used to tease her about it until one of her lists reminded me to take some things that I would have been in trouble without. Thanks to my diligent wife, I am now a list maker too.

Happy New Year, Happy Traveling

If you are reading this post you made it through the holidays, and for that I congratulate you. If you traveled I hope that we have been of assistance in giving helpful advice.

I don't know about you but after the holidays always makes me want to start planing a trip (which is what my wife and I are doing but it will not be until a year from now). She is finishing grad school in May of 2013 and as a reward for sticking with her studies we are planning a big trip. The first part a week in Walt Disney World, and the last part a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas. I will be posting about the information I find over the next year or so to illustrate how we do our travel preparation. Neither of us have been to the Bahamas (outside of the cruiseline's private island) and we are looking forward to seeing it. I am also looking forward to exploring the WDW resort more, as our last trip only gave us a day and a half there and that isn't nearly enough time there. There is a big difference between my last cruise and this one because I  will be traveling with a toddler (no red eye flights, or quick connections). I hope you will follow along with me on this planning stage, and leave me comments if you have advice that you want to share.

I leave you with my hope that you have had a great holiday season and will have a prosperous new year in 2012.

5 Fave Friday - Getting Home for the Holidays

It is that time again! Some of you will be or are already heading home for the Christmas-New Years holiday. This is the busiest time to travel no matter what your mode. If you are in the process of traveling maybe some of this will help, if you are getting ready to travel take this to heart. These are things to think about as you travel that will make your, and other peoples voyage smoother.

5. Be nice to the TSA people (they are just doing their job) - This time of year you hear a lot of bad things about the people who work security for airports, train stations, etc. I know well the effect that a bad security person can have on your trip (usually because it is the beginning or end of the trip). My advice to you is be as helpful as you can. Remove your shoes, any metal objects, let them know if you have medical prosthesis or other things that make you not the average Joe/Jane passenger. Give them a little slack, they deal with hundreds or thousands of people who are stressed just because they are traveling, and some who procrastinated because they thought they could cruise through the security line. I am not saying that you should do something unreasonable, but if it is just removing your jacket or being wanded, don't hassle them. If it is an unreasonable request politely ask for their supervisor, as is your right anywhere.

4. Have what you will need at the ready- Basic common sense tells me that if I am flying that I should have a picture ID ready to show the ticketing agent, security, and the lady that boards us on the plane. You will also want to have your ticket, boarding pass, or proof that you belong on the bus/train/plane/parking garage/etc. But I can tell you that I have had to wait for people who were shocked that the complete stranger behind the counter had no idea who they were. Grocery store (if you use a check to pay fill it out in line before you get to the register) rules apply in these travel situations. If you know you need to take off your jacket, keys, and shoes perhaps waiting until the last minute isn't the best plan for everyone.

3. Other people, be courteous- It seems like courtesy gets tossed out of the window when traveling in general, and during the holidays particularly. Remember the reason that you are traveling is that your holiday of choice has a message (treat everyone like you want to be treated) so how about walking the talk. Here is an idea, if you see an elderly person waiting in the taxi line having trouble ask if they need assistance ( and if you are not in a huge hurry let them get the cab before you), driving on a family car trip can be stressful try to be courteous and not drive aggressively or be a Griswold (see National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), see a struggling mom with a few kids, offer to take something off her hands,  or let her in front of you in line so that she can get the kids out of everyone's way. It is just a human thing to do.

2. Fill your tank before you go (check your fluids, fill your tires, get an oil change, make sure you have an emergency kit for the car and wheelchair). Just think ahead about what might go wrong on your trip, and have a plan. Don't freak out about it, or let it ruin your vacation. If you use a walker or wheelchair research the repair places where you are going. Do you have a baby or toddler look up the places that may have stuff the kids may need. Print it out and put it with your travel documents. Be proactive not reactive, if you don't use it there was no problem, it didn't hurt having it.

1. Relax - if you have followed this blog you know that our motto is plan it to death, then enjoy yourself. Bring a book, e-reader, or portable video game. This is suppose to be fun, AND you paid for this experience.

Happy Holidays from me to you! Safe Journeys wherever your trip is taking you.

Travel distractions

I want to take a minute to talk about a very important subject. What do you do on your way to your vacation destination? I personally like to do a variety of things to keep myself from going crazy while being stuck in my airplane seat, let me share what I did on the way to Kauai.

I listened to an audio book by Tina Fey called Bossy Pants. This book is in a word, hilarious. Tina Fey can tell a story and infuse it with so much humor that it will leave you crying (in a good way).
Another book I had with me was Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell which was about the history of Hawaii after European explorers reached the island. It was very interesting and also had plenty of current information to keep it from being a textbook. My final read was a guilty pleasure graphic novel called Fables about storybook characters in modern day New York (city and upstate). It is a very creative take on characters we thought we knew. Definitely not for kids as it has some language and adult situations.

We took the requisite amount of DVD's for the plane ride, and for our stay home nights. My son s going through a Pixar, and Thomas the Tank Engine phase. Needless to say I have seen Cars and A Bugs Life more than I wished, and I feel like a very useful engine for doing it (ask your kids they will know what that means).
For myself and my wife we took Salt (angelina action movie), The Kings Speech (just really good), and the Hangover (you have to stop thinking and laugh sometime on vacation).

Yes it does seem ridiculous to be on a island paradise and bring things to do indoors. But it is better to be prepared, than to be stuck with a bored toddler. More latter :)

Need a shot for a trip. Have I got the pace for you...

While preparing for my wife's trip to Ethiopia we discovered quickly that there were many inoculations that she would need to have. We live in a smaller city and our health department has quirky hours and are not open when we get off work. So what is a 9-5 adventurer to do when they need shots or travel medications and they can't get them from their own doctor. Well we found a cool alternative to trekking to the health department. The grocery store chain Safeway offers travel pharmacy assistance. If you follow their link you and pay $40 you can enter your itinerary and a travel doctor will review what the CDC recommends that you need to get for the areas that you are visiting. They will also write you prescriptions for any special medications that you might need (e.g. anti malarial meds and the like). Then if you choose you can go to the nearest Safeway travel pharmacy and get your shots and pick up your RXs. This is very convenient as you set up an appointment with the pharmacist and can do a little shopping while you at it. Check your area to see if Safeway offers this service in your area, or let me know if there are other chains that offer one like it.

Quick post for a quick tip.

Keep all of your travel documents together. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people juggling their carry-on, laptop case, and water bottle trying to get their tickets for the gate attendant. This just irritates the people behind you so here is an easy solution. REI, AAA, Target, and I am sure other fine retailers out there have cool little dossier holders that you can keep all of your travel paperwork together in a nice neat little case. This will alleviate your stress trying to not spill your triple shot non-fat mochaccino with whip. It will also let you not be the guy everyone wants to see seated by the bathrooms in the back of the plane (you know who you are, from my last trip. Like I said easy and quick.

Your New Best Friend

OK, as I have stated many times, it is good to use a professional travel agent for some things. After all like all professionals they know things that you won't. It is their job to assist you in making your trip restful and (in our circumstances) affordable. You wouldn't think of doing home dentistry (or maybe you would in which case I would mock you incessantly).

I am lucky that I have two agents that I have regularly used for years. One for the local jaunts, and destination vacations. The other I use for things that are a little more adventurous. I consider them to both to be friends. So it in this spirit that I give out another tip. Make friends with your agent, get to know them and their families. Let them into your life. This will enhance both of your abilities (yours to trust that they will do their very best in planning, and theirs to know exactly what you may need even when you don't voice it).

My travel agents are great because they can anticipate some of my needs. I really love to visit them and find out what is going on with them outside the offices. I write this because after a tough week of work I went to the mail box to get my mail and my itinerary was in there. I went in to ceremoniously open it with my wife, and after stripping away the white AAA envelope we discovered....It was gift wrapped by the brilliant Mary at AAA Mt. Vernon. It was a nice way to start off the weekend. And AAA Incorporated if you are reading this, you really should give that woman a raise as she is a great representative for your company.

More later...

Free to Be

It's a funny thing, vacation. You save up your money, you plan, you research, and then when you finally get to your destination, almost inevitably there's someone in your group who will say "So this is it?". That's when you need to think about activities you can do in addition to the primary purpose or destination of your vacation.

I've done a lot of trips, and we've done a lot of research. The one thing that I'm proud to say is that when we do a destination trip, such as our upcoming Disneyland vacation, we usually have researched the subject enough to have come up with some alternative ideas, in the event we get restless. You may think that there's nothing else to do in the greater Anaheim area, but that's not the case.

If you decide you've just had enough of the parks (and who doesn't get to that point, sooner or later), you can rent a car and in less than an hour be on a beautiful sandy beach overlooking the ocean. You can head to San Diego for history, or LA for glamour. You can catch some nature by exploring the state parks in the area, and maybe get a little outdoor recreation in too.

Citysearch.com is a great tool in these instances, and it's something that you can access easily at the last minute, even while you're away. If you don't want to bring a laptop or smart phone, check with the concierge at your hotel -- you might get some suggestions that only a local would know. Talk to other vacationers or staff members. What are their favorite places to go when they are in town, or in the area? Where do they like to eat, that is off the beaten path? They may not initially want to share their "secrets" with you, but if you're polite (and persistent) you may find some hidden gems.

In short, be open to being spontaneous. While traveling with a disability requires pre-planning and research, it does not require an itinerary that is set in stone. Be flexible and have fun -- this is your vacation after all, and you've definitely earned it!

What Can Brown Do For You?

(or for that matter, what can FedEx do for you?)

#4 -- My fourth tip for domestic travel is consider shipping some of your medical supplies or other items ahead of time to your hotel. I've done this on a couple of occasions, when luggage space was at a premium or if I was staying somewhere for an extended period of time. It would also be a huge help if I were traveling alone and wanted to cut down on the amount of stuff I had to lug around.

You'll need to check in advance with your hotel. This probably works best in a large hotel with a concierge, or a smaller boutique hotel that prides itself on service. Don't assume that this is a service they will offer or allow, as many hotels may not have ever come across this kind of request. You definitely don't want to count on them accepting and holding your package, only to get to your destination and find out they refused it.

Also be sure to ship with a tracking number (that's where UPS or FedEx has it over the regular mail -- more expensive but worth it). That way you'll not only be able to check progress before you leave home, but also see who signed for it and when it arrived. Very helpful if you check in and no one knows what you're talking about!

This is not only a great way of saving luggage space, but with the new baggage fees in effect, and limits on weight and number of checked bags, it could end up saving you a lot. This is also good advice for anyone traveling with young kids, who tend to require lots of STUFF (ie diapers, formula, etc.). Save money by buying this stuff at home, rather than paying the resort price. That will leave you more money for those awesome oversized sunglasses and that t-shirt that says "I've been to California and all I got was this t-shirt."

More later!

You must have money.......

OK, so I know what you are going to say. “Well you must have money to be traveling to all of those places.” No. I am not independently wealthy, a trust fund brat, or even middle class. Plain truth -- I and my wife were low paid mall employees when we decided to do our first Disneyland vacation. If you really want a trip badly enough you can find many little ways to scrounge the money. It might not be a chi-chi trip but really a room is just a place to sleep when you are not out enjoying yourself. My wife and I each tightened the belt. We started the week with $20 spending money and whatever was left at the end of the week went into a savings account -- by the time of the trip we had a good start. It wasn't always easy (there are always DVDs or books that we wanted) but we kept our eyes on the trip.

And we had a great time. We stayed off property at the Best Western on Katella (where I learned not all shower benches are created equal) that had a short walk to the IHOP (cheap breakfast that lasted until mid afternoon). We brought our own snacks from home (trail mix, granola bars, etc.) and saved tons of money on drinks by bringing refillable water bottles with filters. We also made the most of our souvenir money by choosing a few special pieces (for us, one great memento is a piece of artwork or print that we can display in our home -- daily reminders of some great trips!).

Not every trip has to be exotic or upscale. Budget trips can be every bit as fun. Or you can just start with day trips or overnight trips. Don't let there be a barrier in the way. There will always be a reason you can't do something . Try making a reason that you CAN do something.