3 posts from January 2008

Getting on a cruise takes our imaginations to the most unimaginable levels.

But what could spoil these wishful thinkings? It's when we forget the things we should had with us and we're already at sea. Bummer.

Main point is to have a checklist before packing and rate them according to their necessity.  Have come up with my own as to aid you in your travel by sea either you're a first-time cruiser or an experienced traveller.

1. Smart and stunning clothes

Stunning evening wear

A cruise spells luxury.  So, don't forget to pack casual and formal dresses. Cruises have formal parties EVERY night on board.  So, pack those stilletos together with your flipflops.  Fit into your luggage your most body-hugging swimwear and your devatatingly beautiful evening wear.

2.  Medicine

Medicine

Yes, cruise lines have first aid. But if you're on a specific medication, make sure they are in your hand carry so that if you need them, you don't have to wait for the hot on-board medic guys or nurses for relief. Though, seeing them will bring relief as well.

3.  Travel documentations

Travel documents

These are all-so important and you'd probably wonder why I still listed them here. I did so for the reason that this is one of the most forgotten stuff because we thought we had packed them because they are important when in reality, we haven't.

4. Credit cards

Credit cards

Even if you have paid for the cruise itself, you will spend while on board. Nightly open bar parties  and telephone calls and internet connections will be charged to your cards.

There, these are the things you should always put first in your luggage.  Forgetting them can make you jump in the open sea or cry for the ship to go back to where you came from.

There are times when booking for a room to sleep on besides our own can deprive us of a well-deserved slumber.

More often than not, we experience anything but joy in booking reservations at luxury hotels.  The lines are busy, or if not, hold time feels like eternity, choppy phone lines, and the most nerve-wracking part is when after waiting in vain, everything’s full. Trust me, been there, done that.

Booking nightmare
I remember when a long time friend asked me to be a bridesmaid for her wedding.  The Jewish ceremony was held at the beach front of a luxury hotel somewhere in Miami.  During that time, I was beaten with deadlines and was only able to call three days before the actual wedding for a room reservation.  I spent two hours on the phone for that long distance call from Chicago to Miami only to end up taking a 3 a.m. flight to be able to arrive at the hotel and get all dolled up at for the  8 a.m. wedding because the rooms were full.

These must-forgettable moments do not easily fade away and make us frustrated and just stay home and make up our own mini - luxury hotel experience.

But this should not be the case.  We have the choice to make booking at luxury hotels better.  Luxury hotels exist to make us feel like we deserve the best things in life.  My previous not-so pleasant run-ins with the reservations officer gave me the light bulb moment and made me realize these stress-free tricks to book at luxury hotels.

1.    Google your dream luxury hotel.
Going online can definitely take away the stress of waiting for an actual person to answer your call.

2.    Bid for the spot.
This may sound foreign to the ears, but luxury hotel biddings do actually exist and you can actually get a booking and stay at the luxury hotel that you won.  Bidding for a booking at a luxury hotel is just as fun and exhilarating as bidding in ebay or Christie’s .  

3.    Contact a travel agent.
You can find reliable travel agents or through the yellow pages or online.  They can do the works but you’ve got to have a hand in picking as well. It’s you who’s going to stay at the hotel after all.

4.    Visit travel forums
Take note, real people participate in these forums.  Plus, you’ll get first-hand and real-life experiences in staying at luxury hotels.  

5.    Book in advance.
The term, first come, first serve maybe an old-school advice in booking but definitely still proven effective.  This saves you from being slapped with the “full house” scenario.

Don’t settle
After all the hassle-free efforts, don’t ever settle for anything less than you know you deserve.  These ways do not only take away the physical strain but will also allow you to save a considerable amount of money as well.  In this case, getting the plush accommodations at luxury hotels means making up a few tricks under our sleeves.

Luxury spa

Besides from wishing for world  peace, I know one thing we all crave for as we  close our eyes at night, (if some ever sleep), the  one thing we hope for is a good place to relax without any worries. The bills, the pressure, the conflicts.. we all want to get away from them even just for one day.

And one way to make a quick and temporary escape (the least), is to go on a luxury spa vacation. 

People of all ages and gender need to unwind so as not to suffer burnout.  So, you have saved more than 20% of your salary for six months, skipped buying ice cream on the grocery list, and also skipped lunch outs with your friends, now you have the money to actually get out of town for a luxury spa vacation.

Mind you, a luxury spa vacation requires spending more than your usual face treatments. It's edge reflects on its facilities and treatments and the professional therapists who are expertly trained to do the treatments.
 
A luxury spa vacation lets you feel like royalty. It's like living in a parallel world where no pressure, stress, or anger exists.  But it does require us to dig deeper into our savings.

But what do you need to bring to the luxury spa? Surely, there are still basic stuff you need to bring in to make sure that your luxury spa vacation will be completely stress-free.

1.  A book you've been dying to read.

Yes, bring the book you have bought but never had the chance to digest. This will satisfy your inner desire to do someting you've been wanting to do but time seem to not let yo do it.

2. Your ipod containing all the songs you've been wanting to sing to.

Music is truly soothing to the senses. Doesn't matter what genre the songs are, as long as you like them, then indulge. You'll be able to sing until you can't sing anymore.

3. Your favorite pillow.

During your luxury spa vacation, you'll be lying most of the time, so it's the perfect time to bond with the pillow that cradles you to dozing off.

4. Your credit card.

Definitely need to bring this to your luxury spa vacation.  You may, wait, disregard that, you will find something that will surely scream , "buy me!' and you need the stash for those souvenirs

5.  Your jaw-dropping outfits.

Why are these included? Getting a spa treatment would definitely improve your hormones therefore bringing your natural glow. So match your rejuvenated body with your perfect outfits.

Make it a luxury vacation to remember
The best thing that you must bring to your vacation in a luxury spa is your positive attitude.  The treatments will all be worthless if your mind is still stuck with your deadlines and your sulking in misery over your tasks.  We all work hardest so spare yourself of the things and that would hinder you from having the best time of your life in a luxury spa vacation.