Caves Travel

Please help Tameka Means reach her goal. She's working hard to help eliminate Alzheimer's and help care givers.

Tameka Clanton '06 and Steven Klein dance to end Alzheimer's at the Memory Ball (similar to "Dancing with the Stars" in that amateur couples take dance lessons and "compete" at a black tie event). Those who raise the most money will be awarded a special trophy highlighting their efforts.

For more information about Tameka's efforts visit ---> http://act.alz.org/goto/tamekaklein

Come join Jackie and her friends on a fun filled cruise aboard the Carnival Fascination leaving from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Nov 10 with stops in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados. Great itinerary, great prices and a great group of people.

We have a group going on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas out of Baltimore to New England and Canada. It's a fabulous itinerary at a great time of year. The dates are September 5-14. A few Interior cabins are left. $50.00 on board credit per cabin. Call now to grab a cabin.

Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Kevin, who made a costly assumption before a family trip to Mexico:

Several years ago, I was taking a spring break trip to Cancun with my wife, daughter (22), son (20) and son’s friend. On the morning of the trip, we pulled out of our driveway in Wisconsin at 9:00 am for the three-hour drive to Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and our 1:30 pm flight. As usual, I did one last check of everything (tickets, hotel, passports, lights off in the house, etc.) and immediately realized my son’s passport was expired.

I knew we had received new passports just over five years prior, but what I didn’t know is that passports for children under 16 are only good for five years! My daughter had been 17 when we last applied, so hers was good for 10 years, but since my son had only been 15, his had expired sooner.

The entire trip to Chicago I was on the phone with travel agents, customs office, TSA — basically anyone I thought might be able to help. Multiple thoughts of changing the trip, sending half the family or sending my son to another destination were entertained during our drive. We were smart enough to stop at a Walgreens and get a new passport photo for my son in case we were able to get him a new passport.

This was on a Saturday, and the first appointment available in Chicago for a replacement passport was the following Thursday. We were due to come home on Friday, so that was not a good plan. We went to the airport and checked everyone else in except my son and myself. I explained my dilemma to the Delta ticketing agent, and she advised us to show up at the government building in Chicago on Monday morning to see if we could get an emergency passport. So we stayed in Chicago for two nights while the rest of the group went to Mexico without us.

After a long wait, an extra fee for an emergency passport, and some shaming by staff at the passport office, my son was handed a passport at 10:45am and we dashed back to O’Hare to make our rescheduled flight. We arrived in Cancun a couple days late, a little more frustrated, but a little more educated.

It’s no fun when your passport or other important travel documents don’t work as expected. Whether they’ve expired or you’ve simply left them behind, realizing while you’re on the way to the airport is especially miserable, since at that point your plans are almost certain to be impacted, sometimes expensively. It may seem elementary, but no matter how confident you are that your passport or visa is valid, I recommend checking anyway as soon as you book a trip that calls for it (or beforehand if you’re booking at the last minute). The extra minute it takes to confirm can spare you from a much larger hassle later.

An expired passport is a common mistake, but it’s far from the only one. Other potential pitfalls include forgetting to ensure six months of validity beyond your scheduled travel dates, having not enough blank pages available, and traveling with a damaged passport, any of which can spoil your plans just as easily. To avoid getting left behind at the airport or stranded at a border crossing, make it a priority to keep your passport up to date and in good condition.

http://www.elliott.org/case-dismissed-2/travel-insurance-fine-print/

Why you should always, always read the fine print on a travel insurance policy Before Bonnie Solberg booked a South Dakota vacation, she thought travel insurance might be a good idea. It was. Her story serves as an important reminder that it's always important to read the fine print on your travel insurance policy.

Our April 26 cruisers are getting ready to sail on the Grandeur of the Seas for 9 nights. Sorry you're not with them? Well, we have another group going out on the Freedom of the Seas on October 12 from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Aruba and Curacao among other wonderful ports. Contact us for details.

BRAND NEW in Jamaica: Chabad’s Kosher Hot Spot in Montego Bay Enjoy kosher food, Red Stripe beer, and the beach, in Jamaica. Big up, Respect.

Cruise with WCBM's Bruce Elliott for 9 nights on the Grandeur of the Seas out of Baltimore from April 26, 2018 to May 5, 2018. Call for information and prices. There are a limited number of cabins still available.

We have another group cruise. This one is on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas leaving Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 24, 2017 and returning on Sunday, October 1, 2017. The cruise goes to Labadee Haiti, Falmouth Jamaica and Cozumel Mexico. Call us at 410-653-9369 for more information

A tip from cartoonist Chon Day on how to plan your next vacation. Published in The New Yorker in 1957. Follow our new cartoon Instagram for more drawings and drollery: http://nyer.cm/kHxtkyl

Here is information worth heeding:
Travelling This Summer? Renew Your Passport Now
Many popular visa and non-visa destinations require a passport with at least six months validity. In fact, the U.S. State Department recommends that you renew when you reach the nine months remaining validity. We’re in the busy summer travel season when the U.S. Passport office often experiences backlogs. Don't miss out on your business trip to China or Brazil or your vacation to the Caribbean or Europe. Airlines may not permit boarding and government officials can deny entry upon arrival for passports without sufficient validity. Avoid unexpected travel disruptions and uncertainty

Israel eyes a more affordable and accessible tourism experience “Israel is the only place in the world where students, women, and kids can go by themselves to swim in the Tel Aviv beach at sunset, bike through the mountains, or jog through one of the central parks,” says Amir Halevi, director general of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. “There is no other place w…

If Your Passport Expires Any Time in 2016, You Need To Renew It NOW Soon, things could get ugly.

Coming to Moon Palace in Jamaica

ci3.googleusercontent.com

Everyone loved Canyon Ranch so much last year that Bonnie is doing it again this year. Join her and her group February 21-24 for a sensational trip to Canyon Ranch in Lowell, Massachusetts. The price includes spa treatments and all of the classes are too much fun to really be exercise. Call the office (410-653-9369) and get started on a great vacation!

We have a group going to Cancun from May 9-May 14, 2016, staying at the Riu Palace Peninsula, a 5 Star All Inclusive hotel. Prices vary depending on room type but there is a discount on every booking. Join this group today and experience the wonders of Cancun. Call Nancy at 410-653-9369.

Looking to get yourself into shape after New Years and have a great time with a fun group of people? Bonnie has a group going to Canyon Ranch in New England from Feb 22-25. The price includes credit for spa treatments. You can exercise your butt off or just sit by the fire in the cozy lounge and read. Meals are so tasty you'll want to stay longer. If you're interested call the office (410-653-9369) and ask for Bonnie. Hurry though. Canyon Ranch limits the number of people in the group and there are only a few spots left.