With record numbers traveling each year, saving time at the airport is one way to help reduce time and stress.  Now that we have a daughter in tow, this has become even more important.  After barely making our flight for the Spring Break Cruise, I decided that it would benefit our family to explore getting TSA Pre-Check.

For those that aren't aware, TSA Pre-Check allows a traveler to skip the main security line to go into a terminal when flying.  You don't need to remove shoes, liquids, laptops, light jackets, and and belts.  According to the TSA website, the average wait time is less than 5 minutes.  Not bad for a little work on the front end!

I thought it would be a decent video to show what a travel agent packs with him on flights in his personal bag on flights.  I used to definitely over-pack.  Now, I try to go as minimal as possible.

When Sandy and I booked our cruise in June of 2017, we had a daughter that didn't walk, was generally happy, and slept through the night.

Fast forward to our cruise in March 2018, and Sarah walks and runs, throws wild temper tantrums, and screams herself sleep.  In general we had a great trip.  However, there are a few areas where cruising and traveling with a toddler was much different than at more of the newborn/infant stage.  Read about our trip to Mexico here and here.   The post for tips for an all-inclusive resort with babies is here
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Cruising is a great way to see new places, and experience relaxation and fun on a "floating hotel".  A while back I discussed some gratuity guidelines for all-inclusive resorts.  Gratuities work very differently on cruises.

Some of the most common questions I'm asked these days deal with the Zika Virus.  For travelers, especially those who are looking to have children in the near future, there are legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. 

​I always tell my clients to speak with their doctors if they are thinking about or are pregnant and considering traveling.  As a travel agent, I don't want to put any of my clients in a situation that they will regret.  My goal is to help book incredible vacations, not cause frustration!  The CDC has an excellent website that lists a great deal of information on Zika.

I'm by no means an expert.  But here is a quick summary of information I've found.

It doesn't take asking around to much to find someone that has had some sort of valuable stolen on a vacation.  Many times these situations can be avoided with some proper planning beforehand.  Below are some tips to help keep you and your valuables safe.

As many of our loyal readers know, we went to Mexico (Part 1 & 2) this past August.  Along for the trip we brought our then 10 month old daughter, Sarah.  We didn't have grandparents, friends, or another family to split childcare with.  It was just us 3!  And in all honesty, it was a wonderful time.  Looking back, one of, if not my favorite weeks of all of 2017.

Below are some tips that I put together for those that are thinking about going to an all-inclusive resort with babies, or have already booked their trip.  As Sarah gets older, I hope to create more of these guides.

Here is the first of what is hopefully a number of video blogs (vlog?).  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Earlier this year, the media began to highlight different problems and concerns with traveling to Mexico.  With a story of a young women from the Milwaukee, WI area drowning while on vacation, the news was heightened in the greater Wisconsin area that I reside in.

After reading more about the topic, and talking with other agents, I do have a few points that should be brought up from the “other side”.  (For clarification, when I refer to Mexico, I’m primarily referring to the  Cancun/Riviera Maya/Quintana Roo region as it is the most under scrutiny by the mainstream media).