Flights get canceled; it’s an inherent part of travel. Sometimes it’s just one flight due to a labor shortage, other times it’s hundreds of flights after a computer malfunction. When it happens to you, what should you do first?

If we booked your flight, then our first call should be to us. We’ll handle not only rebooking your flight, but we can also notify any airport transportation services and hotels we might have booked for you at your final destination. We can also get you into a nearby hotel if you need to stay overnight.

If you booked the flight on your own, it’s wise to act fast when your flight is canceled. If you’re at the airport, find the airline’s service desk and join the queue that’s surely gathering there. While in line, quickly find and review the airline’s cancellation policy to make sure you know what you’re entitled to. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide a full refund in many cases.

While you wait, you can also contact an airline representative via phone or social media to rebook your flight quickly. Pro tip: most people will call the airline’s U.S.-based number, so find an international number for your airline in Canada, Mexico or England to possibly reach an agent sooner. They’re all working with the same reservation system, so international agents can assist you just as well as the agents at the desk.

If the line is too long, look for a self-service kiosk to scan your boarding pass. Many kiosks have the functionality to switch your flight then and there. The quicker you handle this problem, the faster you can secure new seats and keep your vacation on track.

With hot topic issues like climate change, carbon footprints and over-tourism on the mind, it’s important to consider travel’s role in the grand scheme of things. And the reality is that travel can cause a lot of stress on popular destinations and on our planet. The issue is bigger than any one person, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we as individuals can do to confront it.

The next time you travel, consider how you can do so more mindfully, responsibly and sustainably. Don’t know where to start? Try some of these quick tips. 

Avoid the Crowds

Wondering how you can help? One of the best ways sustainable-minded travelers can protect popular destinations is to travel during off-peak seasons. That means visiting places like Venice and Barcelona in the fall and spring instead of the busy summer months or checking out Mexico in the summer instead of during bustling spring break. And the benefits go both ways. Not only does visiting during off-peak times help the destination, it often means a more enjoyable (and sometimes cheaper) experience for travelers too.

Be Choosy With Your Activities

Excursions and sightseeing are some of the best parts of a vacation, they’re also an easy way to make a positive impact while traveling. Money talks, and travelers can make a huge difference in a community when they opt to support locally run and operated shops, restaurants, accommodations, experiences and tours.

Don’t know where to start? Work with a travel advisor to help determine which tours and experiences are the best choice for you. Thanks to our connections throughout the industry and first-hand experience, advisors are a valuable resource for understanding what specific tour operators offer and how they give back to the community. 

Pack With Care

You know what they say, sustainability starts in your suitcase. Ok, maybe people don’t say that, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. You can easily up your sustainability game by adding a few items you probably already have laying around at home to your carry-on. For example, cutting down on single-use plastics during your travels is easy when you pack items like reusable water bottles, shopping bags, stainless steel straws and cutlery, collapsable food containers and even a coffee cup for that morning cup of Joe. 

And, if you’re really committed to the game, you can even experiment with new personal hygiene products like zero-waste toiletries — aka solid shampoo, conditioner and soap bars —, tooth tablets and deodorant paste. It may sound strange, but these quick swaps can make you a more eco-friendly traveler and they might even reduce your time spent in grueling TSA lines thanks to traveling sans liquids. 

Cancun and the Riviera Maya region of Mexico are known for their incredible beaches and turquoise waters.  There's more to this area than meets the eye and more to explore than an all-inclusive resort.  World-class resorts like Banyan Tree Mayakoba feature incredible dining experiences.  NIZUC Resorts & Spa features incredibly private villas that feel like a home away from home.  Properties like Chable Maroma focus on providing holistic experiences to clear mind body and soul.

Whatever experience you are looking for, you are sure to find it in Mexico.  Stay inspired, keep traveling and never let that dream go!

One of Europe’s most legendary rivers awaits you on this exciting journey along the Rhine River, which begins in Switzerland and visits France, Germany, and Holland! Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Basel, Switzerland, then head for Breisach, Germany, at the foot of the Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French-German border. Here you’ll find the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty, best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, and marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and the fascinating astronomical clock. Stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city, or stop in Mainz for a guided walk and a visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum. Sail to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, and a visit to the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, then pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge—the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Last stop in Germany is Cologne—a 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral.

At the conclusion of your Rhine River cruise, you’ll spend time in colorful Amsterdam. See the treasures of this 700-year-old city on an included canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Spend free time discovering world-famous museums, and an abundance of restaurants in the vibrant, modern capital of Holland.

Includes taxes, port fees, pre-paid gratuities, included tour options while sailing and meals on board the ship, a total of 8 nights of accommodations (7 nights on the ship and 1 night in Paris after the cruise) plus additional DFT group exclusives. 

This does not include flights, transfers, beverages outside of included Avalon happy hour, travel insurance and additional add on pre- or post- night hotel stays. 

This is an all inclusive adults only resort that includes preferred club amenities, round trip transfers, and travel protection.

• We are dedicated to you and finding you the right destination and experiences for your travels. Traveling is unique to each person, family and group.   We take the time to listen and learn about what you want from your travels and then use our expertise, experience and knowledge to find just the right fit for you!
• We can assist and advise you with all your travel needs:  finding the right destination, flights, accommodations, transportation as well as tours and experiences.  

• Unlike impersonal on-line booking websites, we are personally invested in ensuring that your travels are all that you want and need them to be.
• We spend hours gaining expertise, knowledge and first-hand experience that can take your travels to the next level.
• We are not loyal to certain brands or resort/hotel chains. Our focus is learning about and then finding you the best options for your travels!

Fill out our travel questionnaire and book a telephone consultation with me so that I may learn more about your upcoming travel.

Let's Chat! During our telephone consultation, I will learn more about your upcoming travel and your travel style. We will discuss where you want to go and what you want to experience as well as where you have been and what you loved (and did not love) about those experiences.

After our consultation, I will send you a trip proposals and, together, we will work to make it exactly what you want! 

While we finalize all the details of your trip, please enter your information into our database so that we have all the necessary information to book your trip!

Once you have approved your travel, we will book all your travel arrangements!  Check out our travel tips!

Between booking and travel, we will be there to answer any questions, book any tours or excursions you may want and address any travel issues (like flight changes) that may arise.  Plus, we will electronically send travel documents that include the details of your travels about four weeks prior to travel!  Be sure to check out our packing tips!

Time to go!  More than ever, we are so grateful that you entrusted us with your travels!  Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance.