Last-Minute Summer Vacation Ideas

It's not too late to book a Summer vacation.

#summervacation #summergetaway #universalorlando #waltdisneyworld #makemorememories

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Summer is just around the corner! Do you have any plans to make some memories? The summer months are some of the most traveled due to families with kiddos on break from school. Yes, this means that travel can be super busy but it doesn't have to be. Let's take a look at ideas ranging from escapes to nature's playgrounds, beach days, theme park thrills, and cruise getaways.

Disney Vacations

Walt Disney World Vacations

I know many of us live for theme park fun so let's look at some ideas for Orlando's Disney bubble. For *Mid-June for 6 nights, 4-day park tickets for 2 Adults and 2 Kids. Memory Maker is included so every ride, every picture with a cast member, and all of those magical moments are saved directly to your mobile phone. Transportation to and from the parks is provided by Disney via bus. Currently, there may be an opportunity for you to save up to 25% on your rooms! Value resorts start at $4,100+ Moderate resorts start at $4,300+ Deluxe resorts start at $7,500+ *Rates rise for the week of July 4th

Disneyland

Universal Studios Vacations

Universal Orlando

For all of us #potterheads who need to escape to a world of magical fun and tasty treats, let's look at Universal Orlando Resort. For *Mid-June for 6 nights, 4-day park tickets for 2 Adults and 2 Kids. Memory Maker is included so every ride, every picture with a cast member, and all of those magical moments are saved directly to your mobile phone. Transportation to and from the parks is provided by Disney via bus. Currently, there may be an opportunity for you to save up to 25% on your rooms! Value resorts start at $2,100+ Prime Value resorts start at $2,400+ Preferred resorts start at $2,800+ Premiere resorts start at $4,900+ (this includes unlimited express passes for everyone in your party for every day of your stay including check-in and check-out days. The value is $129 per person per day) *Rates rise for the week of July 4th

Universal Studios Hollywood

Get out in Nature

Yellowstone

History Lovers

National Parks

Beach Lovers

Most of my clients just do not know that with every Disney vacation they book on their own, they are already paying for an agent. Why not book with a dedicated agent to take the time and research all your wishes and help you have the vacation of a lifetime? Below you will find a collection of dates and budget levels to suit your wishes. As always, feel free to contact me at info@vintageexplorers.com, here in the chat, or via the contact page!

Travel Itineraries Do’s and Don’ts

In our family, we have our travel itinerary planning down to a science. We wanted to share some of these tips with you, too.

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Do Arrive a Day Early for Tours or Cruises

If you are planning a scheduled tour or cruise, arrive to the destination a day early. I have heard so many horror stories over the years of customers missing their cruise, due to a flight delay or cancellation. You spend a lot of money on your vacation. Arrive a day early to give you a little wiggle room, just in case you have any flight or transportation delays.

Don’t Over Plan

When you start planning your itinerary, it is easy to plan every second of every day. When you plan every minute of your vacation; you may miss out on the unexpected activities, restaurants, or experiences. These are some of the experiences that truly make your vacation special.

I see this “don’t” a lot at the theme parks. You will see families at the theme parks with the kids crying and the parents stressed out. At this point, your vacation is not fun. Take a break and head back to your hotel. Let the kids take a nap or relax by the pool. Then head back to the parks in the evening, when everyone is refreshed.

Do Allow for Plenty of Transportation Time

Other destinations may have different transportation times. For example, NYC can take more time driving from one spot to another than walking. Always allow plenty of transportation time to get from one spot to another.

Within the United States, we love using the free app called Waze. You can actually put in the address of where you want to go. Waze will tell you when to leave to make sure you arrive on time. This is a great resource when visiting other destinations within the US.

Don’t Forget to Consider Your Budget

When you start planning your itinerary, don’t forget to consider your budget. Every city around the world has activities that are free or nominal expense. These are usually the more local experiences, too. We always leave open time in our itinerary to explore the destination. We even ask the locals about spots that are more local and less touristy. This is when you find the true gems in a destination and save a little money.

Do Make Key Reservations

Our family does love the unexpected during our travels. However, we do still make key reservations, before we leave for our vacation. One of those key reservations we always pre-book is accommodations.

With travel, you always pay the highest price on accommodations when you walk into a hotel. In the industry, we call that rack rate. Booking your accommodations, before your vacation will ensure you have a place to stay. Plus, you will be able to take advantage of any discounts.

Another key reservation is your transportation. This can be your transfer from the airport or car rental. For car rentals, you will also guarantee your car and take advantage of deals.

If you are taking advantage of an Uber/Lift or taxi, be sure you download the app to your smartphone; before you arrive. This will save you some time and stress, once you arrive to your destination.

Don’t Book Your Connecting Flights Close Together

Most flights will have connecting flights. Be sure you pay close attention to your connecting flight times. This is why a travel professional is important to your vacation planning. We know how to avoid any travel issues during your vacation. For domestic flights, we like 1-2 hours between flights. For international flights, we like three hours between flights.

For domestic flights, 1-2 hours is the perfect amount of time to get between flights in any US terminal. This usually allows you some time for restroom and snack breaks. This also gives you some wiggle room in case your flight is delayed.

For international flights, we like 3 hours between flights. Since you may have to go through customs or a checkpoint on connecting flights, we like the extra time. We know these custom lines can sometimes be up to 2 hours, just waiting in the line.

Do Go With the Flow

Traveling is about experiences and capturing moments with your family. Things will never be perfect on a vacation. If you miss your restaurant reservation or it rains or something unexpected happens; it is okay. Just go with the flow! It is these moments that you will laugh about in 5 years.

We hope these do’s and don’ts help you plan your travel itinerary for your next vacation. If you need help planning your next family vacation, contact me at 804-585-3143 or info@vintageexplorer.com.

Best Bucket List Beaches for a Family Vacation

We love beach vacations in my family. We just love the sand in our toes, the smell of the salt air, and the sound of the crashing waves. We are not alone. Beach vacations are some of the most popular destinations we book. Today, I am going to share the Best Family Beaches for a Bucket List. Get your pen ready to take notes to add to your family bucket list.

#travelmore #worldtravel #waltdisneyworld #disneyworld50 #universalstudiosorlando #universalorlandoresort #wizardingworldofharrypotter #vce #vintageexplorers #travelbug #travelagent #travelplanner #familyvacations #adultsonlygetaways #vacationplanning #beachlife #beachvacation #beachinit #beachholiday #beachlife

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach in Hawaii

Our first best family beach for a bucket list is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach in Hawaii. We do love these islands. Hawaii has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Each island is so different with spectacular beaches. I think the best of the Hawaii beaches is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. Let’s first talk about the sand. The sand is black, which is amazing! Your kids will love playing and walking through the black sandy beach. The sand on this beach is black due to the nearby volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Another highlight is the turtles. At this beach, Green Sea Turtles wash up on shore to relax and take a nap. On our last visit, we saw close to 20 turtles just chilling on the beach. You can see these turtles up close, like really close. This is an amazing experience. You can pick up lunch nearby at one of the food trucks and have a picnic lunch at this amazing beach.

Trunk Bay in St. John’s

You can cruise or travel to Trunk Bay in the St. John’s Virgin Islands. Trunk Bay is part of the US Virgin Islands National Park. This means there is a lot of area to explore on land and in the water.

One of our favorite things to do in Trunk Bay is snorkeling. There is even a 225 yard long underwater coral trail that you can snorkel with your family. This is truly a beautiful beach with lush greenery, white sands, and turquoise waters. Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas

Do you love the color pink? If you do, the Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas is perfect for you. This beach is an easy beach to visit on a cruise or while visiting Nassau in the Bahamas. The pink color is from little bitty pieces of red coral that washes up on the shore of the Pink Sand Beach.

The turquoise waters of the Bahamas washing up on the pink sand of this beach is truly breathtaking. Plan on arriving early in the morning or later in the evening to get the most vibrant colors of this sand.

Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia

If you like camping and adventure, one of our favorite family beaches for a bucket list is the Cumberland Island National Seashore. You rarely hear about Cumberland Island when people talk about beaches, but it is an amazing island in Southern Georgia. You may remember hearing Cumberland Island was where JFK Jr. got married years ago. This island is a National Park. You can only get to this island by ferry. The ferry takes about 45 minutes to get from visitors center to Cumberland Island. Once you get to the island, you can hike to your campsite. These are “rough” campsites with no facilities.

The highlight of Cumberland Island is walking down to the beach. You may not see a single person in either direction. It is just your family and the amazing beach. You also may get lucky and see the wild horses that inhabit this island. It is truly an amazing beach experience for more adventure seekers.

Clearwater/St. Pete Beaches in Florida

The beaches at Clearwater/St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida are continually ranked the #1 family beach. The sands on this beach are so white and super soft. There are very little waves on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida, so perfect for kids. The waters are crystal clear and you will often see porpoise swim by you. We love the beaches in Clearwater/St. Pete, just a couple hours from Disney World and Orlando.

Maya Bay in Phi Phi in Thailand

Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are in Thailand. One of the highlights is Maya Bay in Phi Phi. This is the location of the The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio. The waters in Maya Bay are spectacular blues and greens with amazing rock cliffs with lush greenery. It is truly breathtaking.

Maya Bay is more popular, so plan on arriving early to get the best spot and best pictures before exploring the bay and waters. You can only arrive at Maya Bay via boat, so plan early.

There are so many amazing beaches around the world, but these are some of the best beaches to add to your family bucket list. If you need more guidance, I am happy to help you plan your cruise vacation. Contact me at 804-585-3143 or info@vintageexplorer.com.