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JAMAICA – Once You Go – You Know

I Left My Heart In Jamaica!!

So…. On my recent return trip to Jamaica, as we were in the process of landing in Montego Bay, I was soooo excited to be back; but it wasn’t the same excitement that I always feel when I return to Jamaica. It was a feeling like I was returning home. Jamaica has definitely become my second home, and I love traveling there several times a year. According to the locals and my friends in Jamaica, I am now considered Jamerican.

I first traveled to Jamaica back in 1989 for my honeymoon, and returned again the following year for my anniversary and loved it. Since then, I have been traveling there multiple times every year and it never gets old. If I can somehow figure out how to live there, I’d die a happy woman.

So what makes Jamaica so special? It’s not just one thing, but the entire Jamaican Culture. The mixture of beautiful beaches, and vibrant Jamaican culture makes it my number one destination to travel to and send my clients. Anyone who knows me, knows that if you ask me about Jamaica, it’s like asking me about my grandchildren; you just can’t shut me up once I get started.  What are the Top Ten Reasons to Visit Jamaica??

Everyone should visit Jamaica because the beaches alone will take your breath away. When my husband and I traveled to Jamaica for our annual anniversary trip last February, (his first visit there) we stayed in Montego Bay and he loved it. However, we took a day trip to Negril (known for it’s beautiful Seven Mile Beach of amazing blue water and white sand). He was hooked and announced “we are coming back here next year!!”. No argument from me.

Jamaica is know as the island of All Right, everyone should take a trip here at least once in their life because there’s something for everyone in the beautiful tropical climate. Each region is different, from Montego Bay to Ochos Rios to Negril. There are water sports and hiking for the fitness enthusiast, and there are beaches and charming places to stroll and shop for the more relaxed. There’s unique music, food, and dance. You can easily have a romantic getaway, or a sporting adventure, a family holiday or even a corporate event.

No matter how many times I travel to Jamaica, I find something new to love about this amazing destination, and always look forward to my return.

Would you like to hear more about Jamaica and why it is the most amazing vacation destination? Give me a call, shoot me an email, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Likely, you’ll want to book your next vacation to Jamaica.

Jamaica…… Once You Go, You Know!!

TRAVEL IN COLOR – NOT BLACK AND WHITE

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group TravelCulinary & Vineyard Group TravelWellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward ProgramsDestination Training EventsCorporate Wellness RetreatsTeam Building RetreatsFitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation RetreatsJuice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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9 Things You Should Never Pack in Your Checked Bag

9 Things You Should Never Pack in Your Checked Bag

So….  I had a client who traveled to Europe the beginning of this month and the airline lost her luggage!!!  Not just for a couple of hours or a day, for her whole ten day trip!!!   She still had a fabulous time, but what a nightmare.  Even though I was in contact with the airline baggage department daily, sometimes multiple times, my poor client did not get her bag back until she returned home.  So, now I am in the process of putting in her claims so that she can recoup what she had to spend to replace those items.

With that said, here are 9 tips to follow of What NOT To Pack In Your Carry On Bag.

Jewelry and Valuables

Of course, it’s not probable that your checked bag will be lost by the airline. Opt to take less expensive jewelry, not items that cannot be replaced.  While only only about .012 percent of passengers’ bags are reported damaged, lost, or delayed, you don’t want to happen to fall in that .012 percent.

Most carriers require passengers to submit claims forms when bags are lost. The airline will then tally the depreciated value of the contents of your missing suitcase, and if your claim is accepted, that is, the airlines will pay no more than $3,300 per passenger for bags lost on domestic flights. All in all, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive compensation equal to the full value of your lost possessions.

Identification, Passports, Boarding Passes, and Essential Documents

All necessary documents, whether they’re work or insurance papers or other sensitive information, should be kept with you in your carry-on bag. However, if you must check them, another solution is to back them up. If you plan to put papers of importance in checked luggage, keep copies (either hard photocopies or copies on a flash drive) on your person. And any documents that include sensitive or private information should be kept out of your checked luggage altogether.

Cash and Credit Cards

All checked bags are screened electronically, but select checked bags are opened by TSA agents and screened by hand. When packing a checked bag, be aware that a security agent, a stranger, may be rummaging through your things at some point. There have been reports of TSA workers stealing electronics, money, and other valuables from passenger’s luggage; however, such occurrences are rare. But as a precaution, your cash, checkbook, and credit cards should be kept with you in your carry-on bag.

Laptop and Electronics

Take it from the TSA,  Electronics should be packed in carry-on luggage because they are typically fragile, expensive, and more prone to breaking if transported in checked baggage.

Lighters, Matches, and Flammable Items

The TSA has a handy checklist of prohibited items on its website that you can refer to for prohibited items. Items of note include lighters, matches, and flammable objects, which anyone going on a camping trip (or travelers who smoke) might need to pack.

Lighters without fuel may be packed in checked luggage. However, lighters with fuel may only be packed in checked luggage if they’re in a Department of Transportation-approved case.  Matches are prohibited in checked baggage and flammable items, such as paint or liquid fuel, should be avoided as well.

All of Your Clothes

If your luggage disappears into the mysterious black hole of missing checked bags, you’ll thank me later for suggesting you put a clean pair of underwear and some socks aside in your carry-on bag. An entire outfit is recommended, just enough to get you through a day or two at your destination in case your airline loses your suitcase. Other daily essentials, tooth brush and key toiletries (though liquids must be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces), and whatever else you might need if your bag gets lost should be placed in your carry-on as well.

Medications

I’m going with a theme here…. If you can’t live comfortably without it, don’t pack it in your checked bag. You know the old cliche, “better safe than sorry,” should be lingering in the back of your mind when you’re organizing your luggage. Accordingly, prescription drugs are best kept on your person.

Passengers are permitted to bring liquid medications onto planes, even if they exceed the 3.4-ounce limit for carry-on liquids. But you’ll need to officially declare your oversized liquid medications when going through the checkpoint. Tell a security officer stationed at the checkpoint that you’re carrying liquid medications, and hand them over for inspection. It’s also helpful if you have a doctor’s note or a medical ID card, but it’s not required. The TSA also suggests that travelers label medications to facilitate the screening process.

Breakable Items

Don’t blame it all on the baggage handlers. However, I’ve seen how some baggage handles just toss my luggage into the pile.

Fragile items should always be packed in your carry-on bag. If you just have to bring home that wonderful bottle of red wine you picked up in Italy, use a product like the VinniBag, which will protect the contents of your bag in case the bottle breaks.

Food and Drink

According to the TSA, flyers should avoid putting food and beverages in checked bags.  Bottled drinks are likely to explode or crack in transit, thus ruining that cashmere sweater tucked away in your bag. And if your flight is delayed or your luggage gets lost for a while, your packed food might spoil.

As well, If you’re traveling internationally, you may be prohibited from bringing food to your destination. Each country has its own rules about what kinds of foods can be brought across borders. Check the embassey website of the country you’re visiting for more information.

TRAVEL IN COLOR – NOT BLACK AND WHITE

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group TravelCulinary & Vineyard Group TravelWellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward ProgramsDestination Training EventsCorporate Wellness RetreatsTeam Building RetreatsFitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation RetreatsJuice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.