Page 25 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – September/October 2021

TRAVEL
What to Know Before
You Go on That Long-
Awaited Trip
By Sandy Fenton
With the summer behind us and fall/winter travel continuing to break records, there is still a lot of confusion out there, so I thought I would answer a few of my listeners’ questions in this column.
Q – My husband and I are taking our first flight since the pandemic this November to Italy and Spain. Any tips?
A – Yes, I think it is very important to note, especially if you are flying internationally in the near future, to do the following:
• Book a direct flight if possible.
• Check and double-check country and airline requirements.
• Makecopiesofyourvaccinecardandkeepseparatefrom the original (just as you should do with your valid passport).
• Plan very carefully and pay attention to all details.
• Be over-prepared.
• Be patient.
• Arrive early to the airport.
• Have extra cash on hand for incidentals, and just in case you need it for a last-minute issue.
• Always work with a trusted and experienced AAA travel advisor to ensure your long-awaited trip goes smoothly and is in perfect order. If you don’t have a travel advisor, get one now.
Q – What do you always have in your carry-on bag when boarding a plane, and is there anything new since COVID-19?
A – Now I bring extra face masks and more hand sanitizer than I used to, plus a bottle of water; snack bar (almonds/dried fruit); two pairs of reading glasses; pens and a small notepad; phone and charger; a plastic freezer bag with chewing gum, moisturizer, lipstick, over-the-counter meds and/or prescription meds; my passport/vaccine card and travel documents; money organizer; and a book or magazine.
Q – We miss cruising – and especially love new ships. Are there any new ships coming our way next year?
A – Boy, are you in luck! More than 70 brand new river, expedition and ocean cruise ships are scheduled for service between now and through 2023. Your AAA travel advisor can give you the rundown and get you on the ship and itinerary that’s perfectly suited to your wants and needs. (By the way, for my next column in the November/December AAA Now! magazine I will give you an overview of my first post-COVID cruise aboard the Viking Orion, and like you, I missed cruising so much!)
Q – Our extended family wants to vacation in Florida and celebrate the holidays this year at Disney and Universal Studios. Is there anything we should know now?
A – Yes, make an appointment today with a AAA travel advisor and ask about the new “Disney Very Merriest After Hours” beginning November 8 and featuring a four-hour “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.” Also ask about Universal Orlando’s 51 days and nights holiday celebration November 13 through January 12, 2022, featuring special holiday traditions, characters and unique seasonal experiences. Special promotions are happening now and will sell out.
Q – Are European Christmas Market cruises sailing this holiday season and is it too late to book?
A – Yes and maybe. Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Tauck are some of the river cruise companies that are planning to sail the Rhine, Rhone, Danube and the rivers of France during this holiday season beginning late November through the end of December. Once the rivers opened up this past July, travelers have been booking like crazy, and that includes the Christmas Market sailings where the demand has been unprecedented. However, with that said, you still never know
if there is space unless you talk with a AAA travel advisor. And on a personal note, I still dream and gush about my fairytale, magical and oh-so-memorable Christmas Market sailing from Budapest, Hungary to Passau, Germany I did eight years ago – and I can’t wait to go again.
”Let’s Talk Travel with AAA,” hosted by Sandy Fenton, is broadcast Saturdays 11:00 AM to noon on iHeartRadio’s WHP580. For more information, go to whp580.com and click on the link to “Let’s Talk Travel.”
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