Flights for Furry Friends

It seems that travel is becoming more and more pet-friendly. You no longer have to leave Fido the dog and Felix the cat at home when you travel.

But be prepared to pay a hefty price to do so.

Airlines have been raising their fees for flying with pets. Owners with small pets (like a cat or small dog) can expect to pay about $70 to $125 each way. Flying with your large pet can cost upwards of $500 round-trip. And those are just domestic flights. Expect to pay much more for international flights.

Be sure to check each airline's policy on pets. Some airlines do not allow snub-nosed pets like pugs in cargo because they are sensitive to heat. And depending on the ground temperature where you're flying (over 85 degrees or under 20 degrees), your pet may not be eligible for cargo regardless of breed or nose type.

Don't be mistaken, many airlines are taking steps to become more pet-friendly. JetBlue created a frequent flier program for the 80,000 or so pets a year that travel with them. Delta, Southwest and Air Canada have lowered their fees for flying with pets on board.

Here are several tips to keep in mind when traveling with your pet:

• Only a select number of pets are allowed on each flight, book early to ensure a "seat" for Rover.
• Opt for non-stop flights if possible. This decreased the stress on both you, and your pets and lessens the possibility of your pet becoming "lost luggage".
• Avoid travel during periods of extreme temperatures. If you must travel in the summer, try to do so early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler.
• To avoid "accidents" feed your pet about four hours prior to flight time. Allow your pet water right up until flight time, but make sure you give your pet a chance to go to the bathroom before boarding.
• Make sure your pet's carrier is clearly marked. Write your pets name, your name, phone number, address, email address, destination, and destination contact information on the pets carrier. Attach a luggage tag containing this same information if you'd like. Also make sure your pet is wearing identification should something happen to your pet carrier. In case of any mishaps, you want the airline to be able to contact you as efficiently as possible.

Finally, keep in mind that if your pet gets nervous travelling by car, he or she will certainly be nervous about an airplane. If you question at all whether or not your pet will be able to handle the stress of flying, leave them at home, with a sitter, or at a kennel.

Making the Most Out of Your Honeymoon Decisions

Anyone who has gotten married surely knows that the honeymoon is one of the most important and romantic parts of the entire experience. As a couple, it’s important to choose a honeymoon that is going to fit both of your preferences and styles. This can be challenging at times, which makes it even more important to seek the help of a professional honeymoon specialist. You can spend hours upon hours first researching destinations, then researching hotels and whether or not it has the atmosphere, style and/or perks that are right for you. Then there are the differences in similar-looking resorts, cruises and brands to consider. Next you need to decide when and where to fly/drive from. Then what excursions or added tours you would like to go on …… The list just goes on. On top of all of this there is the actual wedding to plan for.

The best scenario is to describe all of the things you are looking to get out of a dream vacation and just hand that over to a professional travel planner who can then give you options tailored to your expectations. You might consider:

• Modern or tropical
• All-Inclusive or Ala Carte
• Cruise, Package or Tour
• Mountains, Beach or History
• Night-life or serene
• Daring or laid-back
• The list again goes on!

Do you feel overwhelmed yet? Many of the couples our honeymoon travel specialists talk with feel just that. They want to make sure they are not only getting the best value for their money, but are also going to enjoy a vacation that will live up to their expectations for a dream honeymoon. If you like planning your own vacation, great! It can be very exciting, but don’t forget, a travel specialist is always available to help reaffirm your decisions, look into any questions you may have and can often get you added honeymoon inclusions you otherwise might not have found.

Non-stop charter Air

As we look to wrap up our annual Apple Vacations Early Booking Sale (on July 21, 2009), it's becoming more evident that non-stop charter flights are going to be harder to get last-minute as seats drastically reduce. We have already filled whole planes from General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee on popular dates in January, and as our customers are realizing, booking early has never been so important as it is this year. One of the benefits of booking early is the fact that many of our travel partners are offering different levels of travel insurance, some of which include price protection in case the price drops on your specific package before traveling.

The last-minute deals we have seen this Summer could be a thing of the past as airlines and vacation companies cut back inventory. Don't get caught comparing the prices of Summer and Winter, because you could find yourself spending even more in the end.