Tawanna, Author at Mom's Guide To Travel

Oct 07 2014

Spirit Air: What You Need To Know About The Dollar Store of The Skies

$650, $598, $800 – those are the ticket prices I pulled up when I was searching for a direct flight from Baltimore to Wilmington airport early last month. I was traveling to the Brunswick Islands, NC and the closest NC airport to this part of the coast was Wilmington. I’m not sure why ticket prices are so expensive to this small airport but they were averaging higher than what I’d pay to go further to places like Miami, Orlando, Texas and sometimes, California. The flight is only a little over an hour!

Enter Spirit Airlines in the 4th quarter of the travel planning process. The PR agency that was coordinating my visit found me a $120 roundtrip ticket on Travelocity to Myrtle Beach, SC, a 45-minute drive. So, they booked me on Spirit.

Why I never considered Spirit Air

I’d briefly heard about the airline in conversations about low-cost airlines but I never looked into the carrier for myself because 1.) I didn’t think they they served my market; 2.) I try to stay loyal to a few airlines in order to rack up the miles; 3.) I’ve generally been able to find affordable tickets on the major carriers; and 4.) Disclaimer: the majority of my travel is business and someone else is expensing my flights.

I’d never heard a positive review about Spirit Air so I was VERY apprehensive when I learned that I’d be flying with them. However, I chalked my upcoming “adventure” as a part of my research. Potential vacationers need to know the different ways that they can get to the Brunswick Islands from my area.

Here’s the bottom line: Some people need more affordable flying options – that’s what Spirit Air is to the airline market. That ultra-discount, more affordable option.

Spirit Airline’s Policy

The company makes no bones about who they are and what they offer. If you look at their bright yellow website or their inflight rack cards, you will see that they call their style of flying “bare bones travel.” This is what they write (I’ve underlined what you need to pay attention to if you are considering them)

Plane Simple: We add more seats to our plane because when we fly with more people, the cost per person goes down. Our seats are simple: They don’t recline, so you don’t wind up with someone’s head in your lap. And we don’t have Wi-Fi or video, so be sure to download a movie to your phone or tablet next time. A little cozier seating and fewer expensive extras mean lower fares for you.

I love the term “cozier seating.” The seats are tiiight! If you’re a tall or larger frame person or have any mobility issues, factor in that you will have to pay for a more comfortable seat.

Here’s what you should know about flying Spirit Air

They charge you for EVERYTHING. As long as you are clear on this going into the game, you won’t be surprised. What do they charge for?

1. Printing an itinerary/boarding pass at the airport if you show up without one. Cost: $10

2. Carry-on Luggage. A carry-on bag that‘s not considered a personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or small backpack. Keep in mind that the carry-on costs more than the checked luggage and the on-line price goes up the closer you get to your departure date. My Cost: $45

3. Checked Luggage. You are charged an extra fee if your luggage is over 40 lbs. The industry standard is 50 lbs.

If you get to the gate and end up having to check your luggage because it’s too big for the carry-on sizing bins, you will have to pay $100 which is twice as much as what you would pay if you pre-purchase your checked baggage allowance on-line. Remember also, that waiting to get to the airport to pay for a checked bag is more expensive than paying for it on-line.

4. Seat assignments. You will be charged if you want to choose your seat before the flight, no matter where the seat is on the plane. That’s how it appeared when I looked at the seat map for both of my flights. I found dozens of unavailable greyed out seats on the chart and the rest where highlighted with their respective prices ranging from $18-$40 per seat. In order to avoid a seat fee, you will have to accept Spirit’s assigned seating when you check in on-line and roll the dice that you’ll get someone easy-going at the airport or onboard the plane.

5. There is no first class, it’s all no-class. The first row is compromised of the BIG seats which are almost 50% larger than the regular seats and there are only 2 seats on both sides of the plane instead of three. You also get extra leg room, roughly 10”. Because of my ACL tear, I had to opt for the big seat on my return flight and pay the $40 price tag. On my flight going to SC, the agent hooked me up and put me in an emergency exit row when I asked. During online check-in, for some odd reason I was unable to figure out how to pay for my bag AND pre-reserve my seat. I wasn’t interested in taking a chance.

6. Edibles and Drinkables. You will pay for all snacks and beverages that the airline provides on board; this includes: water, coffee, tea, juice, soda, etc. They try to cut you a 2-for-1 deal but I don’t think many people are buying the “deal.” Cost: $2-$9

Make sure you read all the BIG print, there is no fine print about their services and non-services. They tell you clearly that they are “Bare-Bones.” Honestly, I was surprised that they didn’t charge for using the restroom as some countries in Europe do.

Sound advice you can take to the bank

Here’s my advice: Weigh the pros and cons for yourself. Are you willing to pay less at the expense of losing the things you (don’t realize you) appreciate? Sometimes, we say we want something without realizing what the true cost of that thing is.

After paying for my carry-on in both directions and my BIG seat on my return flight, I paid $90 + $40= $130 in extra fees. Add that to the ticket price and the total cost was $250 for the ticket. If I didn’t get a cool agent on my flight down there, it would’ve been another $25 or $40 for the seat. The $250 spent on flying Spirit was still significantly lower than if I had flown on another airline.

What you should do is add up all the fees, tack that on to your ticket price, then compare with a competitor airline and see where you stand. Factor in all the other items you don’t get with Spirit and determine if the savings is worth it to you.

The Cost of Convenience

Other factors to consider based off of passenger reviews I’ve read:

You could be delayed for hours without any favorable recourse such as:
- a refund
- routed to another airline
- re-booked at no extra fee
- a travel voucher

Looking back, I realize how lucky I made out with my flight. The plane left on time. The aircraft looked like a newer plane so my seat wasn’t dirty, nor were the windows or overhead. There was a little debris in the seat behind and across the aisle from me but that was the most dirt that I saw on the plane.

The last thing I can personally add about customer service is that It’s close to impossible to get anyone on the phone when you call the Customer Service number. I called to inquire about purchasing my seat for the outgoing flight and waited 15 minutes (for the sake of research) before I hung up the phone.

This is advice worth repeating: You get what you pay for. You need to know exactly what you are paying for with Spirit Air and what you get (or don’t get). Spirit is the Greyhound and Dollar Tree of the airline industry. They symbolize the cliche “nothing in life is free” (except for toilet tissue).

If you’ve flown Spirit Air, did I leave anything out? Am I forgetting something? Let me know if you’ve flown them and leave your experience in the comments so that others can read a diversity of experiences.

Oct 06 2014

5 Ways To Enjoy Yourself Visiting The Brunswick Islands

On Sunset Beach, even on a Sunday in late September, you can smell the hickory smoke wafting from someone’s barbecue. The early Fall sun and an accompanying mild breeze reinforce the laid back atmosphere on the smallest isle of the Brunswick Islands. Empty beach homes still fresh with the echoes of summer sit invitingly on the oceanfront, providing a backdrop for baby boomers still lingering, enjoying a Sunday stroll, bike ride or morning jog.

Before April of this year I had never heard of the Brunswick Islands. The Outer Banks was always the first to come to mind whenever I thought about North Carolina islands.

The islands in Brunswick County NC include: Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Bald Head Island, and Oak Island. I visited four of the islands this past week, enjoying stellar Fall weather (except for one rainy day), fun outdoor activities, beach lifestyle, and North Carolina seafood.

You can fit a lot into a 3-day visit to the Brunswick Islands if you try. What you’ll find when you get there is that most people don’t stress themselves trying to “fit it all in” while visiting. It’s a place filled with relaxed bodies moving in blissful slo-mo, so what’s the point?

How To Get There

Coming from the MD-D.C. area, the quickest way to get to the Brunswick Islands is by plane. The drive from the Annapolis area to these Carolina islands averages 7 hours but a flight from BWI to Myrtle Beach is only an hour and 20 minutes. If you fly on a discount airline like Spirit Air (provided you can tolerate their à la carte approach to everything) you can save hundreds of dollars on a ticket. My ticket (purchased just a few days before my departure) was only $120 roundtrip. From there, the drive was an easy 45 minutes.

Your other option is to fly into Wilmington airport. Prices from the MD-D.C. area average higher but you’ll have more departure times to choose from. The drive to the Brunswick Islands from Wilmington takes about an hour.

Visitors to the Brunswick Islands customarily come from Charlotte, Winston Salem, Virginia, NY, NJ, PA, and Ohio – the bulk of which come from other parts of North Carolina. There are plenty of other beaches in NC that you could visit for a relaxing Fall family getaway but I think you’ll find something truly special about the Brunswick Islands’ beaches. For non-North Carolinians, the Brunswick Islands is one of those last bastions of a “best kept secret.”

1. The Mailbox Filled With Letters to Nowhere

At the edge of Sunset Beach just across the invisible area where an inlet once stood, you will find a precarious mailbox in the sand. Inside there will be a journal with thoughts, notes, troubles, wishes, and overall, letters to nowhere.

The Kindred Spirit mailbox is the 33-year old brainchild of Frank Nesmith and a former girlfriend. They planted the mailbox in the sand dunes and left a notebook and pencils for other beach-goers to leave their thoughts.

Now in his 80s, Nesmith says that hundreds of notebooks have been filled with notes from visitors around the world. When I asked him why he put the mailbox there in the first place, I expected a romantic tale of love. Instead, with a laugh he pertinently replied, “Because my girlfriend told me to.”

2. Brunswick Island’s Only Winery

Silver Coast Winery, located on Ocean Isle Beach, produces and sells award-winning wines featuring regionally grown grapes. The winery opened in 2002 and employs a winemaker who hails from New York’s Finger Lakes region.

If you visit this time of year, you can catch grapes on the vine as you progress through your tour of the winery. The payoff after your wine 101 lesson is a tasting flight of five of Silver Coast’s 15 different varietals. The crowd favorite and current best seller is the Seyval Blanc, a refreshing white wine with fruity finishes. It was one of my favorites, a glass of which I would have loved to have paired with a spicy shrimp dish. The Silver Coast Winery is non-pretentious and makes either a fun girl’s night out venue or a romantic alternative to the beach.

3. Kayak Through The Marshes

Just below the inter-coastal bridge that connects Sunset Beach to the mainland you’ll find a busy dock occupied by either incoming or outgoing boaters or kayakers with Summertide Adventure Tours. I was admittedly apprehensive when I saw the kayaks. Your first time at anything, you don’t know what to expect.

Fortunately, I kayaked with a fun group of women and a pair of patient and welcoming instructors. Kids are welcome to kayak on their own, generally speaking, starting at ages 10-12.

We set out for our kayaking trip at 9:15 am while the tide was still low. This didn’t mean we didn’t get caught in a few currents but the Summertide instructors are right by your side navigating you through the marsh (and talking you through the process if you run aground into one of the man-made land barriers) while you pass by waterfront homes. In the end, I found kayaking through the marshes to be a relaxing morning activity.

4. Fish For Your Dinner

Fishing is considered an iconic North Carolina pastime and locals can be found at the Oak Island pier early in the morning. Pay 50 cents to fish from the pier and get some pointers from the regulars reeling in their catch.

Our group of fishing ladies was all the rage on the quiet pier as we screeched and laughed, cheering each other on while we caught fish. Even the two novices in the group (ahem) enjoyed a successful morning. By the end of our two hours, we caught and released 6 fish and named ourselves the Fishing in Fashion team.

Fishing is not only a pastime in the Brunswick Islands but a part-time way of life for many people that live near the water. As we learned from the son-in-law of Captain Pete’s fish market, no one lives solely as a fisherman nowadays. There’s not enough money to be made just fishing for a living. However, what still remains is the ability to eat fresh off the water from either your own catch or someone else’s morning catch.

5. Climb a lighthouse

What was once the brightest lighthouse in America and second brightest in the world is still a spectacular structure in the Oak Island area. The Oak Island lighthouse was built in 1957 and activated in 1958. It’s an all-automatic, all-electric lighthouse that can take on 100-mile hurricane winds without budging.

Sitting at 153 feet tall, the lighthouse can be seen from over 15 miles away. The 135-stair climb puts you out on a platform 128 feet above the ground. If you can manage the climb and aren’t afraid of heights, you’ll be rewarded with views of the ocean, surrounding marshes, Caswell Beach and much of Brunswick County. On a clear sunny day the climb is worth the trek.

Admission to the lighthouse is free – tips are appreciated. Everyone who gives a tour of the lighthouse is a volunteer. Tours are conducted by appointment only.

Overall, you’ll find that a trip to the Brunswick Islands is a vastly different beach-going experience than you may be accustomed. Time seems to slow down and watches have little relevance. No matter which island you go to, whether it be the petite and secluded Sunset Beach or the second largest, Holden Beach, you’ll take a step back in time to a more simpler way of relaxing with the family at the beach.

Have you ever heard of or visited the Brunswick Islands? If so, what’s your favorite island? Even if you’ve never heard of or visited the area, I’d love to know what activity you could see yourself doing? Leave a comment below and I’ll enter you in a contest to win your very own Brunswick County beach bag and towel! Giveaway ends Friday October 10th at 11:59 PM EST.

I was a guest of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority for my trip to the area. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Sep 23 2014

Is Findery just another travel app?

Nope! Do we need another travel app? If you’re a fan of the social web and you love the social aspect of travel, then yes! Yes, we do.

Last week, social discovery platform Findery, released its Android app. The iOS version was released in May of this year. Its growing community of users have already shared “notes” in every country in the world.

Flickr founder, Caterina Fake, is the brains behind Findery. Just as photo-sharing site Flickr allowed people to tell stories through their personal photos, Findery allows people to tell the story of a place behind the picture. Some people are professional writers and photographers, some are not. However, everyone tells a story in their own way.

Findery’s Functionality

Findery allows users to discover new places through personal stories, unknown histories, and best of all, local tips. Users can create geo-tagged notes and share stories about meaningful places while collecting places they want to explore or even places they’ve been to and love.

On the “Discover” page, you’ll see Findery’s picks for the week, “Findery Favorites” (individual notes that people leave on a place) and “Noteable Notemaps” (a collection of notes that function somewhat like a photo album). This note I posted of my son in Annapolis, titled “Watching the Kayaks“, was chosen as a Findery Favorite.

Scroll down and you’ll find members, notes, and notemaps nearby your current location. If you need a little guidance creating a notemap, you can consult the Findery blog for instructions on How to Create a Notemap on your mobile phone.

You can set up tags, make the notemap private, people can leave comments, favorite it, or add the note to their own notemap. Users have created notemaps of places they want to visit before they die, inspiration, places that make them smile.

I’m currently creating a notemap for Greece, building out a potential itinerary based off of some interesting places on which people have left notes.

When you connect Findery to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, you can find your friends who are already using the platform and connect with them. I found 14 of the 6,084 people I follow on Twitter currently using the platform and only 1 of my 687 Facebook friends.

Findery feels “underground” right now and I have to admit that I love that about it. Eventually the masses will come.

Findery = Pinterest For Travelers?

Kinda. Findery almost feels like a Pinterest for travelers when you look inside individual Notemaps (in Grid view) on your laptop. Since Pinterest is dominated by DIY, fashion and food, travelers may find that Findery works better for them. I won’t get into comparisons in this post but anyone can use Findery in several different ways.

I enjoy using Findery from my laptop to share places that I visited that are no longer on my phone. It’s a neat way for me to share those travel photos (and experiences) that may have never made it into an article or a blog post. It’s also turning out to be a cool way for me to crowd source my Greece travel itinerary.

“Every Place Has A Story”

Findery’s tag line is so true. Every place does have a story, especially the places right around the corner.

You don’t have to travel far to find a cool place or find a cool story to share with your friends. What I like about what I’m seeing so far is that in addition to the tag line, “every place has a story”, every person has a different story to tell.

Sep 15 2014

How To Choose Fall Travel That Works For You

Trying to decide on your Fall travel plans?

In this post you’ll discover 5 things you should consider to figure out what Fall travel destinations work best for you.

Today’s early-morning forecasts in Maryland of 54° sent a clear message that Summer is officially over. The kids are in school, book fairs are in the works and school photos are underway. Summer’s travel memories are still fresh but Fall travel is now beckoning for attention.

And with good reason. Prices are lower, crowds have decreased, and the scenery in many parts of the States is dreamy.

Fall Travel Articles

By now you’ve probably seen a mirage of Fall travel articles highlighted by pictures of tricolor-leaved trees, pumpkin patches, apples, and festivals. With headlines like “14 Best Fall Getaways“, Top 10 Fall trips or “America’s Best Cities For Fall Travel“, your options are endless. Yet, how do you choose the best destination(s) for your family?

What To Consider For Fall Travel

Here are five things to consider when you’re trying to decide where to go for your Fall vacation.

1. Consider Your Budget

Before I start any concrete travel planning, I take a look at what my wallet is saying. I think about any upcoming house repairs we may have, what birthdays and events are on the horizon, and any grander future trips that we’re planning. Then I start to compare flights to various destinations to see where I can find a deal that fits within our budget.

2. Consider your time.

In contrast to Summer our Autumn schedule has less flexibility so we have to be strategic about our time. Both of our kids are in school and we do our best to keep them on the path of good attendance, although we don’t let that stop us from traveling.

I look at the kids’ calendars and see where they have school closings and random holidays. If we only have four days, then chances are we’re not flying anywhere that requires us missing half a day of our vacation.

You may find that you have to take into consideration your kids’ sports commitments and school events such as recitals and fairs and performances. I remember how limited our options were when my son played football. Most Friday and Saturdays were booked with games so for the most part travel was off the table for us.

3. Consider how you want to get there.

This consideration is a product of budget and time. If you’re working with budget constraints then that will influence HOW you decide to travel, flying generally being the most expensive form of transportation.

If you’re dealing with time constraints this can also influence how you decide your Fall destination. If flying will get us where we want to go without eating up too much time or breaking the bank, then we’ll consider flying to a destination. If you’re only interested in driving, then by default you’re limiting where you can go.

4. Consider what you want to do.

For most, Fall travel is less about hitting up beaches and more about leaf peeking, covered bridges, picturesque drives, pumpkin patches, apple picking and festivals. This Fabulous Fall Getaways article researched by MyFamilyTravels.com and TakingTheKids.com is a comprehensive round up of destinations around the country as well as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In this roundup, you will find over a dozen getaway ideas complete with corresponding activities to enjoy in various destinations.

5. Consider if Fall is the best time to visit.

Prices may generally be cheaper in the Fall but not all destinations are the same. Keep in mind that the weather may be much cooler then you would like and chances of rain are higher.

If your kids or anything like mine and they crave being in the water, visiting a destination like Charleston in October may be cruel and unusual punishment. Luckily for us, our family lives there so we can visit any time throughout the year. Generally speaking, we avoid beach destinations altogether, preserving those for warmer weather.

You may find that traveling in the Winter to a destination may prove to be a better choice for your family, depending on your interests.

For example, if your kids are bigger fans of Christmas than they are of festivals, a destination like Grapevine Texas may be best for the month of December where they can enjoy light shows, Christmas displays, a parade of lights, and a vintage railroad experience. That’s where we plan to go for our December getaway.

TIP: Check out the destination’s Events Calendar on the Tourism Board’s website. This can help you make some hard decisions as well.

So what’s on your Fall travel schedule? A few places I like for Fall: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Niagara Falls, NY; Breckenridge CO; The Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania; Kent, Connecticut; Nantucket; and Vermont.

This article represents sponsored content. However, as always, all opinions expressed within are my own.

Sep 03 2014

A Video Tour Of Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Check out this YouTube video I made about Puerto Vallarta:

[Transcript]

What do you know about Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular beach resort destination on the Pacific Ocean’s Bahia de Banderas. American writers and artists first sought Puerto Vallarta as a retreat in the early 1950’s. In 1963 John Huston filmed The Night of the Iguana in a small town just south of Puerto Vallarta, really putting it on the map for American travelers.

Today Puerto Vallarta is a thriving city, profiting well from international tourists. Its beauty can not be underestimated. Puerto Vallarta’s diverse topography allows for a variety of activities: scuba-diving, zip-lining, horseback riding, hiking, rafting, or simply relaxing on the beach.

Dining in Puerto Vallarta

Where should you eat? Just about anywhere. El Malecon boardwalk is a wonderful place to start and a must-see for visitors. Restaurants sit should to shoulder and line this colorful boardwalk overlooking the beauty of the Ocean.

If you want to see the city, learn a little of its history and eat at the same time, take a street food tour with Vallarta Food Tours: It’s easy to book and fun to explore.

Sleeping in Puerto Vallarta

Where should you stay in Puerto Vallarta? If you’re looking for great value for your dollar, consider staying at The Casa Magna Marriott in Puerto Vallarta. The resort is a short 10-minute ride from the airport, situated directly on the beach and offering dual views of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

The Marriott offers both European packages as well as all-inclusive packages. For a stress free experience, go for the all-inclusive and enjoy.

Family Travel in Puerto Vallarta

Traveling with Family?

Swim with Dolphins
Play with Pirates
Enjoy a day trip to Yelapa
Walk on a taco food tour
Snorkel, scuba dive, zipline, go tubing and more

When should you visit?

November to April is high season so you’ll enjoy better pricing outside of that time. Early June can be extremely warm and rainy season tends to run from mid June through October.

What have you heard about Puerto Vallarta that you want to know more about? Need help planning your trip and itinerary, let someone who’s been there before take it off your hands and do it for you!