1. Packing Cubes – Being organized on a trip is important. You need to know you have everything you will need and won’t find yourself in a strange place trying to hunt down some essential item. Using packing cubes keeps me organized! I pack the same type of items in different cubes – daywear outfits in one, evening outfits in a second, pajamas in a third, undergarments in a fourth. Shoes go in their own bags. In addition to being organized, the bags help my clothes arrive less wrinkled. This works best if you pack them full, but not bursting at the seams.  I like the Veken packing cubes from Amazon. I have two sets of these because longer trips require more bags.

2 . Hydration boosters – Travel can make you feel dry, so I always carry a small tube of lotion and a lip balm in my liquids bag. I also carry a tiny portable humidifier that works by placing it in a bottle of drinking water and placing it on the table beside your bed in your hotel.

3. Charging Tower – We all travel with multiple devices that need to be charged – phone, earbuds, smart watches, tablets, etc. Resort rooms & especially cruise ship rooms never seem to have enough outlets to plug everything in within close proximity. Having things charging all over the room, or having to unplug lamps, etc in order to charge a device is inconvenient and inefficient – not to mention a trip hazard! I always have a charging tower in my bag with both USB-A and USB-C ports so that I am certain I can charge all of my devices conveniently. This is one of the ones I personally use. Actually, I have them beside each bed in my house, it makes everyday life more efficient as well, and my guests really appreciate it!

4. Boredom busters for the plane, layovers and long transportation rides – Obviously I take my phone, but I also like to take my laptop, a book, a small notepad or notebook, pen and pencil, and something to read. I like to have choices. Sometimes the best ideas pop up when sitting in an airport or on a flight and I want to have a notebook to make notes. I’m old school, I still like to read an actual book and write with a pen/pencil in an actual notebook. I know it would take less space to do it on my phone, but to each their own!

5. TSA Approved Carry On Liquids Bag – Since the TSA liquids rule went into effect, I packed all of my travel size liquids into a quart size plastic slider top bag from the grocery store and just hoped it would stay closed in my carry-on or personal bag and I wouldn’t arrive with a huge mess. But several years ago I found these amazing heavy plastic bags with a real zipper top and haven’t turned back. I love that all of the liquids stay put and that you can leave it packed and just replace what needs to be at the end of a trip.

6. Wrinkle Release Spray and plastic hangers – I really don’t like ironing, not in my everyday life and not on vacation, so I pack a couple of travel size bottles of wrinkle release spray.  When I get to my room, I unpack, hang my clothes on hangers, spray them with the wrinkle release spray and let the magic happen!

7. RFID Passport Wallet – I always carry my passport with me when I travel, even domestically, especially if I am flying. I always use an RFID passport wallet to protect my personal information. Traveling is amazing, but you have to be smart. Protecting your identity on a trip is vital. This passport wallet does the trick!

8. A Tote Bag or Backpack – When you fly, you are typically allowed a carry-on and a personal item. My personal item is always a tote bag or a backpack. I put my small purse inside my personal bag for the flights, along with other things I may want to have access to during the flight or on transportation between the airport and my hotel/resort. Maximize your space!

9. Portable Power Bank – When we travel, our phones are our cameras as well as our entertainment on flights, so having a portable charger is extremely important. You need one you can keep in your bag for quick access and with a lot of charge. I don’t travel without one…or two. And don’t forget the charging cords!

10. Medicine/First Aid Kit – I take a little mini-pharmacy with me, not just my prescription medication, but any over-the-counter medication and first aid items that I might need. Purchasing ibuprofen or allergy medication at a resort or on a cruise ship can be pricey and sometimes hard to find. And if you are in a foreign country, it is unadvisable to purchase any medications there for several reasons. It may not be the medication you are used to at home, you don’t know how your body will react to it and the whole point of taking the medications with you is to avoid medical emergencies!

Several of these and more of my travel must-haves can be found on the list of recommended travel products on our website!

The post 10 Items I Don’t Travel Without appeared first on Adventure Therapy.

Do you want to see bears?
The best time to see bears in Alaska is from May through July.

Do you want to see moose?
Good news! You have a good chance of seeing them all year.

Do you want to see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are hard to predict, but the best opportunity to see them in Alaska is in Denali from August through April. Summer is not a good time due to the lack of hours of darkness.

Do you want to go fishing?
Peak fishing season in Alaska is June through August.

Have you considered the hours of daylight and darkness?
When planning the time for your visit to Alaska, it is important to know that during the winter months, Alaska is dark most of the day and in the northern regions of Alaska, they have 24 hours of darkness. In the summer months (May-Sept), the opposite happens, it is daylight nearly all day. From mid-May to mid-July some parts of Alaska have 24 hours of daylight, which they call Midnight Sun Season.

The temperature is also a big consideration.
During the summer, the daytime temperatures typically range from the 60’s to the 80’s. During November and March the temperatures are typically in the 20’s-30’s. It is colder during the winter months.

Do you want to go on an Alaskan Cruise?
Alaskan cruises are typically in operation between May and September, but the actual sailing dates are different for each cruise line. Smaller ships start their cruise season in mid-April.The routes and itineraries also vary by each sailing. There are so many different ones, we recommend you work with one of our travel advisors at Adventure Therapy Travel to find the sailing that works best for your family.

Do you want to do a land tour of Alaska?
Many people want to go to Alaska to see the Northern Lights, the wildlife, Denali & Mt McKinley areas, and the glaciers. The hiking trails are usually clear of snow by mid-May. One thing to remember is that the mosquitos are usually active from early June through early August, so bring some repellent with you. Fall foliage usually peaks around mid-August to mid-September and is most striking above the tree line in the tundra.

Have you considered combining both land and sea options with a cruisetour?
We currently have a group rate for a cruisetour September 11-23, 2023 that will spend 5 days on land in Alaska exploring the Denali and Mt McKinley regions and then will get on a 7 night cruise, for a total of 12 days. This gives you the opportunity to truly experience Alaska, both by land and sea. By going in September, there is the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights and hope in Denali, and also seeing the whales before they migrate to Hawaii for the winter. The mosquitos will be dormant at that point, which is a real plus!

Ready to Get Started? We are ready to help!
Contact your Adventure Therapy Travel Advisors today or call us at 606-407-3172 or email susan@adventuretherapytravel.com to ask about the group rate for our cruisetour or to plan a different Alaskan cruise or land vacation.

The post 10 Things to Consider About Traveling to Alaska? appeared first on Adventure Therapy.

Upon our arrival at the airport, we passed through customs and immigration with no issues. We had to do some paperwork and get a Covid test prior to leaving home, but it was easy. Don’t stress about going to a Sandals or Beaches resort due to the new travel requirements – contact one of our travel advisors who can walk you through the process with ease. Also, if you are concerned about navigating the Turks & Caicos Customs & Immigration, we can help you make arrangements to be escorted through the process like the VIP that you are!

With our bags in hand, we headed straight to the transportation curb outside the airport and a gentleman asked where we were going. Beaches Resorts provides complimentary round trip transportation between the resort and the airport, so we were able to immediately board a van for the 15 minute drive to the resort. Easy!

The moment we stepped out of the van at our resort, we were greeted with cold towels and cold drinks – most appreciated! Our luggage was sent to our room and we were shortly escorted there as well. One thing we could have done, and suggest you do, is make your dining reservations with the concierge prior to leaving the lobby when you arrive. If you download the Sandals app on your phone, you can read about the different restaurants and what they serve prior to your trip. When you arrive, the concierge will be able to give you advice and answer any of your questions. I will say that there are a few things we would definitely repeat on a future trip – the conch fritters at Barefoot by the Sea, the chicken parmesan mac and cheese at the mac and cheese food truck, and the fruit punch anytime we walked past a bar! It wasn’t your average fruit punch – this was amazing, especially with a couple of slices of lime! 

All of your meals and beverages are included at Beaches and Sandals resorts, as are your gratuities. They have a strict no-tipping policy, the staff are even wearing buttons that say “no tips, please”. The only exception is if you have a room with a butler, and that is at your discretion whether to tip the butler or how much to give them. I would be prepared to give your butler a nice tip, however, because the level of service is out of this world.

The resort is divided into themed villages, each with its own personality, unique guest rooms, and conveniences. Centered in the resort is the Italian village. This section is on the beach, surrounds the main pool, and is home to several of the restaurants and shops. Next to the Italian village on the beach is the Key West Village. This is a more quiet area, perfectly suited for adults and for families with babies that might need to nap during the trip. There is an adults only pool in this area where you can relax, enjoy the sun, or read a book in a more serene atmosphere. There are a couple of restaurants in the Key West Village, but it is mostly guest rooms and cottages. On the opposite side of the Italian Village is the Caribbean Village. This is a beautiful area, also on the beach, with a relaxed atmosphere, similar to what you find in the Key West Village. It is home to the nurse’s office, what I would call the main gift shop, a kids club called Camp Sesame, Creative Crafts (where everyone in the family can make their own beautiful creations to take home to remember your trip), and several restaurants. Directly behind the Italian Village are the Pirate’s Cove water park and activities area and the French Village. The French Village is not on the beach, but is a short walk from the beach through either the Italian or Caribbean Villages. You will find the food trucks, a bakery, and some quick service restaurants in the water park and French Village area.

There was no shortage of included activities to choose from. The younger kids will love Camp Sesame, Beaches Resorts Sesame Street themed kids club. Preteens and teens will love the water park area with water slides, a lazy river, and a surf simulator which is staffed with lifeguards and people to assist those trying their hand at surfing. There is also a large game area, with pool, ping-pong, foosball, etc., as well as an X-BOX lounge. There is nightly entertainment – karaoke, family feud, trivia and more. Of course there are swimming pools all over the resort, but the shining star is definitely the beach! The sand is white and soft, and the colors of the water at the shore constantly change. The water may be turquoise, sea-glass green, sapphire blue and or beautiful Caribbean blue. It is like watching a living lava lamp (yes, that’s my 1970’s reference for the day). You can sit on the beach and soak up the sun, or enjoy some shade under an umbrella or in a canvas clamshell. You can snorkel, take a Hobie Cat sailboat out to get an amazing view of the resort from the water, kayak, paddleboard, windsurf, or take a glass bottom boat tour. All of these activities are included! If you are PADI certified in scuba, your scuba is also included. If not, you can take scuba classes for a fee. There are also catamaran cruises and excursions available for a fee – we can help you with any of those.

Final thoughts and assessment – We loved Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort and cannot wait to return with our families! The food was great, the service was impeccable, the room was perfect, and there was so much to do for everyone in the family! We give it a 10/10! Let us know if you would like to plan a trip to a Beaches Resort, we have several Sandals & Beaches specialists in the agency who would love to help you! 

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7. Take a walk down the Royal Mile 

The Royal Mile is the road that connects the two royal residences in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle and The Palace at Holyroodhouse. Edinburgh Castle is at the top of the hill and at the bottom of the hill is The Palace at Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is actually made up of five streets – Castle Hill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, and Abbey Strand. Along your way, you’ll find plenty of places to shop and eat. Take your time and duck into some of the alleyways and stop and take in the beautiful architecture of the Old Town. You will also want to be sure to see the following churches (the Scots call churches kirks):

•  St Giles Cathedral – once a Catholic cathedral, but now protestant. This was the home church of John Knox who led the protestant movement in Scotland. 
• 1688 Canongate Kirk – this is where the royal family worships when in Edinburgh

6. The Scott Monument

The Scott Monument is a gorgeous piece of architecture in its own right. It is a monument to Sir Walter Scott. But it also offers one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle, so be sure to take some photos here.

5. Greyfriars Kirkyard and Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a cemetery. It’s said to be where JK Rowling found the inspiration for several of the names in her Harry Potter books, such as Thomas Riddle and McGonagall.

Greyfriars Bobby was a little Skye Terrier named Bobby whose owner passed away and the little dog came and sat by his grave in the kirkyard for 14 years until he died. He is now buried by his owner. A statue of Bobby is just outside the kirkyard in front of a pub named after him. 

4. The Grassmarket

The Grassmarket is a neighborhood where you will currently find restaurants and shops, and on Saturdays it is home to an outdoor market with local artisans and food vendors. But its past is a bit more notorious and dark. On the corner of one of the main streets is a stone circle where public hangings took place – a red X marks the spot on top of the circle.

3. Victoria Street

Victoria Street is a beautiful street with colorful buildings that curves upward from the Grassmarket. This is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. There are a couple of shops dedicated to Harry Potter wares, but there are also a lot of other shops that beg to be explored. The street itself, being named after Queen Victoria, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Don’t miss this one!

2. The Palace at Holyroodhouse

This is the official residence of the royal family in Edinburgh. If the family is not in residence there, the palace is open for tours. You will want to get the audio tour headset (included in the price of the ticket). The palace is both beautiful and full of history. Don’t miss visiting the ruins of the Abbey and walking through the gardens. 

1. Edinburgh Castle

A trip to Edinburgh is not complete without visiting Edinburgh Castle. The castle is a fortress set on a steep hill called Castle Rock. The hill was perfect for defending the castle, but all of the walkways and streets are cobblestone. If this will be a challenge for you, take advantage of the taxis that run continuously between the top and bottom of the hill. Plan your day to be at the castle at 1:00, as they fire a cannon (with a blank) each day at that time. There is a cafe’ and there are restrooms just off the very top of the hill, called Crown Square. On each of the four sides of Crown Square is something you will not want to miss:

• Do not miss going to see the Scotland Crown Jewels – they are called the Honours of Scotland. There will be a queue forming outside the building, but it moves fast. These jewels were all used in the coronation of King Charles III in 2023, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II before him. There is a glass case over them, but you are close enough to get an amazing look at them. If it is not loaned out for an exhibit at a museum, The Stone of Destiny will also be there. This is a large flat piece of limestone that the throne sat on for both King Charles’s and Queen Elizabeth’s coronations. As you leave the room with the crown jewels, you can also visit the royal palace. 
• The Great Hall has one of the most amazing wooden beam ceilings in the world. The architecture of the room itself is beautiful. 
• The Scottish National War Memorial is a memorial to Scots who fought in World Wars I and II and other conflicts since 1945. 
• The Tea Room is in the Queen Anne building. You will definitely want to make a reservation for afternoon tea while you are at the castle – it is an amazing experience and everything was delicious. If you make your reservation online, it includes the purchase of your ticket into the castle. Afternoon tea in Great Britain is a must, but enjoying it at a royal castle is iconic!

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Lagangarbh Hut

The wee white house in Glencoe is called Lagangarbh Hut. It now serves as an overnight refuge for hikers and climbers wanting to explore the beautiful and challenging peaks nearby.

Bidean Nam Bian Mountain

The three sisters (Hope, Faith, and Charity) in Glencoe. 

These are the three peaks (Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada, and Gearr Aonach) on the Bidean Nam Bian Mountain. The Three Sisters are the most photographed landmark in Glencoe. Rising up about the beautiful green valleys, the peaks face the road and are best seen on foot. These peaks can be found in the Scottish Highlands, northwest of Glasgow and Stirling. 

Legend says there were five sisters. Gaelic myth suggests that the reason there are only 3 mountain peaks now is because the youngest of the five sisters were swept off their feet by two handsome Irishmen. They left the area leaving their 3 sisters behind.

A few scenes within the Harry Potter films were located at Glencoe. The most iconic one would be the filming of Hagrid’s Hut. It was built onsite in Glencoe (It is no longer there.) across the road from Clachaig Inn- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The Forbidden Forest was also filmed here. 

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