It was the end of the day on a beautiful afternoon in a scenic destination. To get there, many had to travel on multiple flights plus a train, a long trip. For one couple, starting with the cancellation of their originating flight and a cab driver who took them to the wrong backup airport, the trek involved three changes of planes, a 24-hour delay, and loss of a deposit on the first night’s hotel accommodation. Looking at an impressive sunset over the soaring mountains of northern Alaska, one gentlemen philosophized, “The only trouble with travel is that we had to travel to get here.”
As they travel, for some the bucket list does not grow smaller; it expands as new possibilities entice. In financial planning—in answering the question, “What is the money for?”—“travel” often is cited as a major goal. Increasingly one sees young families with children in tow on international flights or on cruise ships as travel is an essential element in spurring a sense of wonder and discovery. The go-go phase of retirement is a call to see the world before “slow-go” or “no go” conditions impede. Business travelers may parlay a trip into a companion vacation holiday.
As one for whom travel and adventure is a consummate hobby, I have learned a few things. If you are taking a cruise or meeting a group, go early. Take an extra few days at the originating point to overcome jet lag, deal with flight cancellations, delays, or bags that fail to arrive. You will see and discover more and be refreshed when the ship sails or the tour starts. Many embarkation points are in attractive and interesting cities like Barcelona, Spain, for example, that merit in-depth exploration.
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Many cruise lines and tour operators advertise “free air fare.” It isn’t free. It’s buried in the price. Request the “land only” price for a tour, or the rebate for dropping the free air fare on a cruise, and then shop the itinerary. You may do better, or at least break even, with more control over timing and seat selection. If you hate middle seats, you will do well to deal with airlines directly.
Cruise lines and tour operators contract with airlines for group fares from gateway cities. You may encounter circuitous routings when nonstop flights are otherwise available. The fewer changes of planes, the less likely your bags are to be mishandled. Group fares are for basic coach seats. Some airlines offer upgraded economy seats at higher fares (e.g., Economy Comfort on Delta; Premium Economy on Air France). Trust me, it’s worth it, even at an increase in cost. If business class upgrades are offered, you can shop those. If the group fares turn out to be compelling, you have the option of plugging those in after you shop.
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Put your name, cell phone number, flight number(s), and destination hotel on a little sticky and tape it to one of your bag tags. Most people have their home address on the tag and guess what? You are not home! Also put itinerary information on the top of your clothes in your bag in case bag and identification tags get ripped off.
When you book a seat, check www.seatguru.com. The site offers seat charts by airline and equipment types for most major airlines, and will detail the pros and cons of a specific seat. On a recent cross-country flight, a little girl was in tears because the seat had no window. Some seats have obstructions to leg room or do not lean back, especially those immediately in front of an exit row.
When booking a hotel or rental car, using various sites to shop is fine. Once you get a price, you may wish to contact the hotel or car company directly to see if you can do better. Even with the branded hotel sites, sometimes contacting the front desk can result in a better price or nicer accommodation. An experienced travel agent also may be a resource.
Travel. It’s work, but with planning and creativity, highly rewarding!
Lewis Walker is President of Walker Capital Management LLC. and Walker Capital Advisory Services, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor (R.I.A.) Securities and certain advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis Walker is a registered representative of SFA which is otherwise unaffiliated with the Walker Capital Companies. ▪ 3930 East Jones Bridge Road ▪ Suite 150 ▪ Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 ▪ 770-441-2603 ▪ lewisw@theinvestmentcoach.com