Simple Journeys Travel

Ah yes, the hotel. Arguably one of the most vital connecting pieces of a traveling experience. They are very important, unless you enjoy sleeping in your car in sketchy alleyways.

But hotels cost money too, so how do we budget for them? Well, there are primarily three things to consider here:

Which hotel do you stay at?

Finding a hotel can be a bit tricky. It’s always best to find one online, in advance. You could just google it, or you could use a site more tailored to this type of thing, like expedia or Funjet.

Which room do you stay in? 

Most hotels will have many different room options. A double suite may come with more space and extra beds, and a villa may have the same and a sweet verandah for you to enjoy much better views and some fresh air. Think about what you want your temporary home to provide for you.

Do you want any extra goodies?

This is similar to the first one, just on a smaller, less important scale. Do you want to spend extra money on amenities, like room service, or spend that money on the actual reason you came on this trip. Also think about fitness centers, activities, valet parking, anything that is vital to your ultimate experience.

     Bonus advice) Always consider if you have kids with you as well. 

If so, you (they) may want to stay at a place that serves a nice breakfast, (a lot of places serve free breakfast) and a swimming pool, so take these things into consideration as well to help to really get the most out of your trip for everyone.

Figuring out hotels isn’t too complicated, but it’s just one more thing to add to the list, which quickly stacks up on you, and that’s a lot to handle.

If you don’t want to deal with planning a trip, then let us do it for you! You can message us anytime to discuss details, or you can click the link in the bio for a free quote!

Let’s get straight to the point today: we’re gonna talk a little bit more about money. 

Traveling is so expensive and there’s good reason for that. Once in a lifetime experiences don’t come cheap and they are totally worth the cash. But not if it will bankrupt you, of course.

Here are a few more tips on ways to make traveling less fiscally damaging.

For starters, try to book packages. When you book with hotel and flight packaged together it can often save money over buying the pieces individually. You can get flights and hotels wrapped up into a very nice little package. 

From small amounts shaved off here and there to real steals, you should always look for package deals wherever you can find them.

Next, if those flights are looking more ugly by the day, then you should try turning your attention to Google flights calendar. 

This will show you the cheapest dates available, without overloading you with information. Also, when looking at cheaper flights, be careful about booking basic economy or combining two one way tickets on multiple airlines.

Lastly, a wise decision would be to sign up for a flight alert service. These services, such as Pomelo Travel, will search high and low for deals on flights and send you alerts on the best ones. 

This makes things far easier for you, as you don’t have to do any searching, and the deals just come straight to you, often much cheaper than you could find yourself.

All of this may seem a tad exhausting and overwhelming, and that’s fair. Trying to set up a trip will often be exhausting, no getting around that…unless someone else (like us😁) literally sets it up for you!

If you have some questions about all of this, then please message us, we would love to help out and hear all about your trip ideas. If you want us to plan a trip for you, then click the link in our bio and you will find a beautifully free quote within!

Your plane takes off, soaring through the sky with a mighty roar, aiming for the clouds at the highest of speeds. As you watch the plane, you happen to notice that you are not on it. 

That’s a fair reason to panic. 

What are you gonna do if the flight gets canceled or if you miss it?

Well, stay calm, this is doable. Let’s look at the different options and situations:

✈️  If the airline cancels your flight, then it’s not your fault, it is theirs. It will be the Airline’s responsibility to get you on another flight. Talk to a ticket agent and see what you need to do for a new ticket.

They should work something out with you, but there is no guarantee that it will be same day. If it’s not, then you need to prepare and find somewhere to stay.

✈️  You can ask if the airline will give you a voucher to stay at a hotel for no cost to you, but there is no guarantee that they will give one to you. It depends on airline and situation, but it’s ALWAYS worth the ask.

✈️  Once that is settled, call up your primary destination, (A resort, theme park, etc.) and let them know you will be a day late. They most likely will not reimburse you for the night missed, but you don't want them to cancel your reservation as a whole. You will want to do the same for any transportation bookings you have made.

If you are coming home from a trip and you’re delayed, make sure to call anyone who may be house sitting, watching kids or pets, etc. and make arrangements for one more night.

If you are scared of missing your flight, then you may want to look into travel insurance, as it may cover some of these extra costs, depending on what plan you purchase.

Of course, if all of this sounds very overwhelming, then you can always book with a travel agent, and if something goes wrong, then you can just make your agent do all the work!

If you think this information has been useful, then save this post and use it as a reference if you are ever stuck in a situation like this, and shoot any questions you have!

If you are looking for places to travel to in Europe, then Ireland should definitely be on your radar. It’s a little bit smaller than other options out there, but it’s also a good deal different than what other countries have to offer you.

Let’s take a moment to see what an experience in Ireland would be like.

A gorgeous castle lays before you, the stone walls full of strength and longevity, containing a thousand tales within. Inside, you find the Blarney Stone, Which is the object of countless legends, and they say that if you place a single kiss upon the stone, you will be blessed with a grand eloquence.

Imagine standing on the edge of the Cliffs of Moher, the ocean seven hundred feet down below, crashing violently into the face of the cliff. The smell of salt is carried in by the fresh air, and the seas open themselves up to you, revealing an endless sight of blue and white.

What if you felt like a king for a night? Or, more accurately, ate like a king for a night? In Bunratty, a medieval banquet is prepared for you. You feast on ancient dishes revived from a time long past, and whilst you dine, Lords and Ladies themselves will serenade you with old music and instruments, opening the portal to the past.

These are just a couple of the big things you can do in Ireland. The cities are full of unique Irish culture, like authentic pubs and the sort. The scenery will be breathtaking on this once in a lifetime trip to Ireland.

If you want to know more about Ireland, then message us directly, we would love to help out however we can! If you want to see a quote for a trip to Ireland, then comment “Lower the gates!” down below!