Know Before You Go!

We (AJ! and Sharon) of As You Wish Luxury and Romance Travel is so excited about your vacation!

Life is short—and vacations are shorter! We care about you and your experience, so before you leave home we want to share a few quick tips with you to protect yourself and your valuable vacation time. We figured you may have some time now to digest this information at this time. I would like to wish you a very safe and fun trip and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.
 

Here are some excursions you may want to consider from As You Wish Luxury and Romance Travel by clicking here! You can book directly through this link.|

 

Here are some important steps you can take to prepare for a fun and safe trip:
 

• With most airlines, you can check in 24 hours before departure. Use the 6 digit confirmation code and your last name. If you do not have that code, let us know and we will supply that to you. Many airlines are requesting data from your passport. So have that handy when you are checking in online. Meanwhile, as soon as possible you should purchase seats and checked and carry on luggage. It costs more if you wait until you arrive at the airport.
   

• Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1 It has been determined that liquids, aerosols, and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The one bag limit per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring. Consolidating the bottles into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear the items. 3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure. Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience. 3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
   

• Are You Taking Any Prescriptions or Other Medications? Pack enough to last your entire trip, including some extra in case you are unexpectedly delayed. Ask your pharmacy or physician for the generic equivalent name of your prescriptions in case you need to purchase additional medication abroad. Get a letter from your physician in case you are questioned about your carry-on medication; some countries have strict restrictions on bringing a prescription or even non-prescription medications into the country without proper medical documentation. For TSA guidelines on taking medication click here: https://bit.ly/2TyzmCR
   

• Since this is a domestic flight, you are to arrive 2 hours ahead of time to the airport. If your flight leaves at 6 am or earlier, there is no need to arrive at the Cleveland Hopkins airport prior to 4 am. Security nor ticket counters open much before 4 am. After 6 am, we strongly advise you to show up at least 2 hours ahead of time.  This will ensure you will get through security in a timely manner. However, it is important to check with your local airport security.
   

• Please read your travel documents carefully. Most of the time you will not need any of your paperwork as everything is accessed using your Passport or Driver's Licence, but it is good to have a backup copy.
   

• Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home. It is always a great idea to let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Carry the other copy with you stored separately from the originals.
   

• Credit and Debit Card Protection While these payment instruments can be compromised just about anywhere, it can really leave a bad taste in your mouth when it happens on vacation. Since the main components of your trip are prepaid, we recommend purchasing a re-loadable Visa Debit Card and use this for the smaller purchases you might want to make with local vendors. We also advise you to make a copy of the front and back of the credit cards you will be using in addition to your passport ID or driver's license information in case they get lost and keep this information in a safe place.
   

• Resort Travel Clubs - Time Shares in Sheep's Clothing A growing annoyance we are seeing for our clients has been the sometimes relentless attempts to get them to the resort timeshare presentation. Many of these cautions apply to the resort onsite rebooking programs as well. I would love to be able to wrap you in a bubble to protect you from them - but since I can't. Here are a few things to think about before you agree to attend a timeshare presentation:
   

  • Attendance is not required. They may offer all sorts of incentives for you to do so - perks or free excursions - decide whether this is a good use of 3 to 5 hours of your vacation time. 
     

  • If you do go - don't succumb to the pressure to sign on the dotted line to get some special offer. Once you return from the euphoric vacation bubble, I can almost guarantee that if you decide it is something you want - you will be able to negotiate a better deal on the resale market.
     

  • Some things to keep in mind:
    
    They do not disclose everything - I know - what a shock! They rarely mention that you will be required to pay anywhere between $120-$200 per person /per night when you check in to cover the all-inclusive amenities. This is on top of what you are paying for the reserved resort time, as well as the high upfront purchase cost.
     
    We spent a lot of time choosing just the right destination and resort for this trip - who knows what your needs will be over the next 10 years or so - do you really want to be locked into one experience to justify the investment?
    
    The prices they show you to use for comparison (and make you think you paid too much) are called the "rack rates" - rates that are rarely used. These resorts regularly offer 40-65% off with no strings attached. Besides - once you are working with a resort directly, you most likely will not be able to get the security and service provided to you at no additional cost from Romantic Journeys. We also have ways to match many of the additional perks as well!
    
    If you do find a deal that you think is too good to pass up, we’re here to help you – just call or email us while you're traveling, give us the details, and we'll review the fine print and compare the deal you've been promised with the specials being offered by competing resorts or cruise lines. That way, you can make an informed decision before you whip out your credit card.
    
    Our agency phone number: 844-748-9474
     

• The Resort Tips Even though you are paid in full, they may still want an imprint of your credit card for incidentals. If your room is not ready when you get there, they will hold your bags, so start your vacation, just make sure you take your passports, backpack with you. You may want to check with your cell phone provider to check rates prior to departure. You may be able to add international for a small fee.
   

• If you purchased travel insurance: Remember if you have any problems i.e. lost luggage, delayed flight, sickness, etc. check your travel documents to understand what is covered. We encourage you to contact them about ANY problems or questions you may have and then please contact me and I will work hard to resolve the issue. You can also contact them for any legal services, restaurant, shopping, golf, nightlife recommendations too!
   

• Considering an excursion? Feel free to book your trip at the resort or you can begin to plan or purchase your excursions via our special link by clicking here!
   

Please let me know what questions I can answer. I appreciate your business and will follow up on your return. I wish you all an amazing vacation!!!
 

Best Regards

As You Wish Luxury Travel