Maximize A Short Visit to UK! (part 2 of 2)

We pick up with Paige's family in Edinburgh for 2 Âœ days, where they can actually walk to most of the best attractions all off the Royal Mile such as The Real Mary King Close Tour, St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour, Tartan Weaving Mill, walk to Arthur’s Seat and see a panoramic view of Old Edinburgh and more with all the shops to visit too. Another option is either taxi or take the bus near the Waverly Station/Royal Mile and see the The Royal Yacht, Britannia bus or the Botanical Gardens near there too or why not catch the bus near Waverly Station and take the 45 min to Rosslyn Chapel from the DaVinci movies. Even though they have been to the coast, Dean’s Village which is a 30 minute walk from the Royal Mile is a beautiful village to visit. If time allows, I also recommend going to see the Greyfriars Bobby, a skye terrier who guarded hits master grave for 14 years. Rubbing it is suppose to bring you luck, walk the cemetery just behind Greyfriars CafĂ© and then return to the cafĂ© for the most wonderful skink soup. They can still use a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus from the Royal Mile or anywhere around that area with narrative of famous places as well. And, there are lots of walking tours such as the Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour or Ghost Tour Pub Crawls. I also enjoy an evening of music in one the pubs such as Sandy Bell's or The Royal Oak which are both just a few blocks off the Royal Mile.

One of Paige’s wish was to stay at a Castle so their last evening in Edinburgh, they will taxi to Melville Castle which is claimed to be haunted. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, Sir Walter Scott as well as Queen Victoria on her visit to Scotland at the age of twenty-three. They will enjoy their last evening in the Castle and around the grounds before they head to the Edinburgh Airport the next morning for their trip home to the US. They allowed for a 3-hour layover in Heathrow to shop and get any duty-free items before the last track of their 8-hour flight home.

As you can see, they will experience a lot in just really 6 Âœ days since Âœ day is on the train to Oban but with beautiful country scenery along the way and the last day is all traveling – adding this up to 8 days total. Imagine what you can do and see if you did a 14-day trip to the UK.

Stayed tuned for my next few blogs where I will cover areas you can see with more time, to include those off-the-beaten attractions that you don’t hear about as much on the internet. One example is the The Clootie Well and its bits of cloth and clothing hanging off the trees and bushes. I hope this peaks your interest, so til next time! ~Gwen

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Maximize A Short Visit to the UK!

My friend, Paige, has decided to take her family of four to England and Scotland in May 2019 (just the beginning of peak season) and they will fit the trip into just 8 days total. Using the the travel tools shared in my #VisitClanHomelandsSeries, I am assisting her in planning to see the sights that are important to them for this trip and will share that planning experience in this blog series.

The tricky thing for an 8-day trip is that it also includes travel time between destinations.  The family wants to see both England and Scotland and include at least one day on the Scottish coast. Their main two destinations will be London and Edinburgh, 2 Âœ days each and 1-day in Oban, a beautiful city on the coast. This is where your research will pay off by checking train and flight schedules to utilize the best venue and time to travel between your destinations if you are not driving yourself.

In London, Paige’s family will maximize their sightseeing by using the train station near their B&B to get to Big Bus London Hop-On, Hop-Off Day Tour, Red Tour near one of its attractions such as the Tower of London. Once they start using the Big Bus, they can see other attractions such as Hyde Park, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, London Dungeons, London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and more the entire two days. If there is something off the route, then they just utilize a bus or taxi.

When it is time to head for Scotland, they will fly with Flybe.com from Heathrow to Edinburgh. The next stop is actually Oban so they will take the tram from the Airport to Princes Street, near the Scott Monument, walk about 2 blocks to the Waverly Station where they store their bags @ Luggage Point for the 5 hours they have til the train departs to Oban. This way, they can take just walk to the Royal Mile and enjoys shops or even take the tour at Palace of Holyroodhouse since it is only a few blocks from the station as well. Even this day is not a full day of travelling because they flew instead of using the train from London. The cost was actually less too! They arrive in Oban early evening, get settled in at their B&B and maybe walk around for dinner a wee bit. The next day, they are going to take use Staffa Tours and The Three Isle Tour to Mull, Iona and Staffa | West Coast Tours for the day where they get to enjoy actually being off the mainland. They may luck out and see Puffins on the Isle of Staffa and enjoy the Abbey on Iona too. They return that evening to enjoy some Scottish music maybe at the Royal Hotel with a lovely dinner and the next morning catch the train back to Edinburgh.

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Packing Cubes – a great way to organize your packing!

7th in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

Packing clothes and accessories seems easy enough but these days there are so many accessories to make packing even more efficient for saving space in your bag as well as organizing it so it doesn’t become a disaster going in and out of it. As mentioned in my last blog, shorts are not always the best attire even in the summer season but here is another tip: Jeans aren’t the best type of pants to take as they weigh and are thicker than casual pants such as kaki or chino (cotton) pants. If it is a colder season, taking a pair of think long johns covers the need for layering instead. I usually take 4 pair of cotton pants with 2 shirts for each color for a 11-12 day trip. The other item you don’t need to take is lots of shoes! A lot of walking is majority of time in the UK can be uneven pavement/sidewalks and grounds. I recommend wearing hiking boots on the plane and just taking them off during the long flight and using slippers or sock booties over your socks and then pack one pair of nice but still casual shoes. If you feel you need to dress more formal, take only one outfit and pair of shoes to go with that outfit.

This covers your basic everyday wear for your trip, other than undergarments and socks. So how do you maximize your space in your bag is next. Packing Cubes! They will make your life so much easier when traveling, whether you have a carry-on or full-size suitcase. Tired of the jumble of clothes in our suitcases. I was constantly looking for undergarments or socks that were buried in some hard-to-find corner of a suitcase. I honestly just felt constantly unorganized. That’s no longer the case since I started using packing cubes over 7 years ago. I love that packing cubes make it easy to find undergarments and other small items, without tearing apart the entire contents of a suitcase. Most sets come in 4 different sizes. The secret is to roll each piece of clothing and then place in the appropriate size packing cube. I use my large cube for pants (I have had up 7 pairs rolled in it), medium for shirts and possibly pajamas, then the smaller ones I use for undergarments and socks. Note: I just lay the socks in the cube with the undergarments, I don’t roll each pair together as this makes each pair more bulky to pack. I have 3 sets and can use up to 2 sets in a carry-on size bag that I check-in and then I use one for the actually small bag or backpack that I carry onto the plane and put in the overhead bin. This cube of clothing is in case of emergency if my checked in bag is either delayed or lost at my destination. The last small bag you may have separate from your packing cubes may be your toiletry bag. Try to keep your items to a minimal in 3 – 5 oz. containers such as your shampoo, conditioner and etc. Buy the travel size soaps, toothpaste and mouthwash as you can always buy more while on vacation and it is saves on weight for more important items. Your smaller carry-on bag or backpack, you would pack that one cube of emergency clothes, medications, all your electronics, travel folder and any small snacks you want for the plane ride. Ladies, try to use a small baggallini type of travel purse that will hold a small flatter wallet, cell phone, gum, lip balm, sunglasses, etc. Men will usually have their normal tri-fold wallet. Remember, all the real important items after you check in will go into your money belt that you should wear at all times on your trip (except while sleeping but it will be quick accessibility in case you must evacuate quickly from your accommodations. I blogged about this occurring to me once in Edinburgh while staying at a Ramada Inn and the fire alarm went off at 11:30 p.m. at night.

My next blog will be on other items you should consider packing that do not take up any room in a suitcase as they are pliable but will be a necessity while walking around whether inside or outside. Stay tuned !

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Need a New Bag? Selecting your Luggage

6th in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

How do you pack for a trip? This may be a silly question but for international traveling, it really isn’t. The next few blogs will cover 1. Deciding on the size of your main Luggage and Carry-On Bags; 2. Organizing (you’re your stuff to pack) and 3. Items to pack to be used outside your Luggage when out and about.

One thinks that if you go to Scotland during the Summer months that shorts are the normal attire and less to pack. This is a myth! In all the years I have been traveling to Scotland, the only time I wore shorts was in July, 2006 and that was a mistake. Remember, Scotland can have 3 seasons year round (Sun, Rain, possible Snow pending the month and the temp could still be only 50-60’s in summer).

My average trip to Scotland is usually 11 days. I have used both a carry-on or a large suitcase size. I use carry-on more often when traveling by train and buses because sometimes I had to carry the bag up/down stairs at the stations or onto buses. The large check-in size I have used on less occasions but when I am only traveling via a hire (rental) car or when I am based in one city or only have 1–2 cities destinations. You also have to consider size when traveling via plane (usually Loganair) from the mainland to the Outer or Inner Hebrides such as Glasgow to Barra. You are even more limited in weight, even if the suitcase is a full size bag.

With this bit of info, you need to choose your Main Check-In Luggage to accommodate clothing and other necessary items. Ask yourself these questions: How long is my trip? How will I be traveling once arrived, by train or plane which will determine what size suitcase you will utilize. If children are traveling as well, how or where shall I pack their clothes and accessories? Will it be a full size bag with both Children and your items? For 11 days with a carry-on bag (but is checked in) and then a smaller bag/backpack to carry on, I have taken 4 pair of pants, 2 tops per pant, appropriate undergarments, one extra pair of shoes and toiletries in my carry-on bag that I check in and then my smaller bag (that can be attached to the carry-on later) has one day of clothing (in check-in bag lost or delayed), medications, electronics, travel folder and munchies but I can still fit my little baggellini bag in the small bag as well.

Luggage Weights
Some international airlines have different size, pound and piece restrictions based on fare class and travel zones. Overall, the average weight and size for checked bags is 50 pounds and 62 inches. Average maximum size for carry-on luggage is 45 inches.

Loganair Hand Luggage: Loganair allows Fly and Fly Flex passengers to carry one item of hand luggage weighing up to 6 kg only and with maximum dimensions of 40 x 35 x 18 cm (including handles and wheels). Fly Flex + passengers may bring one 6 kg bag, plus a laptop. Loganair Hold Luggage Allowance: Fly and Fly Flex passengers may check up to 20 kg across a number of bags. Fly Flex + passengers may check 30 kg. Passengers can only check 15 kg on inter-isle services and on routes to /from Barra, Tiree and Campbeltown. Loganair excess baggage fees.

However, if these weight allowances are exceeded, baggage will only be accepted if space is available on board, at an additional charge of ÂŁ10, with a further ÂŁ10 charge for any additional items of luggage.

Now that you have determined which size you will check-in and what you will actually carry-on the plane, we will discuss the organizing and packing tools on the next blog!

As always,

Gwen
Gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com

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Your Pre-Trip Checklist

5th in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

While I am still at home before my holiday, I always prepare a “To Do Before Trip” Checklist and so I don’t miss any details and my trip goes smoothly. Even in this age of technology/internet, you are asking why I would have a paper trip folder, right! Ask yourself - what if my cell phone or iPad does not have internet when I arrive? This has happened to me and I lost a whole day working out the kinks! Or what if I lose my cell phone or iPad during my trip, where is else is my info located for quick access? I have had this happen to a friend for both phone and iPad but luckily she found both but she now still keeps trip folders. I also use a USB stick with all this information as well as medical information on it in my moneybelt!

This is my To Do Before Trip Checklist!

  • Passport – check your expiration date, get it renewed if near departure date, don’t wait to cut it close! If you’re bringing the kids, make sure you have the right paperwork, including a passport for each, a letter of consent if only one parent is traveling, and documentation for adopted children. Make a photocopy, keep in your money belt and leave one with family member in the US.
  • Other IDs - Consider bringing a couple extra passport-type pictures, which can expedite the replacement process for a lost or stolen passport such as your driver’s license or work ID.
    ‱ Airlines, Accommodations, Transportation (I create an excel spreadsheet with all this information to include all flight information, accommodations’ confirmation #, contact person with addresses, phone numbers, etc. and then can give to my family in case of emergencies) This goes in my trip folder. Reminder: If you plan multiple cities via train, purchase your rail pass, you should purchase prior to your trip but if only for a day trip and returning to start destination, you can purchase same day of trip.
  • Credit Card/Bank Card(s) – most cards’ websites now have a way to notify them online when you will be traveling out of the country. If they don’t, call them. This is very important as if they are not use to seeing charges for you out of the country, they may lock your card until they have contacted you. Also, another good idea is to create a small card (business size) to keep in your money belt to include: your credit card/bank’s emergency phone number in the US (but not its 800 number) to call collect if you have a problem, include your last 4 Digits of each card # and Pin code. If you don’t know your credit card’s PIN code, ask your bank to mail it to you. Trick: I usually create a code to remember my PIN #. And, don’t forget to read your benefits section of your cards so you can see what they also will cover during your trip out of the country (extra on top of your travel insurance). NEVER make a copy of your actual credit card!
  • Medical Needs and/or Prescriptions - It's smart to make a list of specific medical conditions, ie. Diabetic, pacemaker and prescriptions in case you end up at a hospital as well as copies of prescriptions for eyewear/contacts and medicine in case you lose either to make it quicker to get replaced. Visit your doctor to get a checkup, and see your dentist if you have any work that needs to be done. If you use prescription drugs, stock up before your trip. ‱ Mobile/Smartphone(s) - If you plan to use, contact your provider to enable international calling or to “unlock” your phone. Consider signing up for an international calling, text, and/or data plan, and be sure to confirm voice- and data-roaming fees. Example: Verizon has for $10 a day unlimited texting, including pictures and calls. If you don’t have unlimited data, you can purchase more but I have 4 GB of data and have NEVER gone over, even with a 12-day trip and using GPS on my iphone.
  • Apps - Download any apps you might want to use on the road, such as translators, maps, and transit schedules. My favorite is Mobile Passport! This allows you to enter back into the US and skip the Kiosk and go straight to front of the line by having on your phone. This is only at 26 airports in the US. Check out their website: https://mobilepassport.us/ Other apps I have on my iPhone are my airline, Airbnb or booking.com, credit card and banks as well as my favorite exchange app Unit Plus as it converts not just money but Area, fuel-Mileage, length, temperature, time, volume and weight so I use this all the time, even when not travelling. Don’t forget to add any usernames or password onto your paper with your other credit card/bank info or have on your phone under passwords, etc.
  • US Embassy – STEP – Smart Traveler Enrollment Program https://step.state.gov/step/ I always register my trip with the closest Embassy in the Country I will be travelling in the most (usually Edinburgh) so if there were to be any type of emergency such as Mother Nature catastrophes or terrorism attacks, they know I am there and it makes it easier to reach them for help!

The next blog or two will be regarding Packing, from your checklist to which suitcase/clothing and how to pack with great new packing tools!

Until next time!

~Gwen
Gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com

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What is in a Name

"What’s in a name, a rose by any other name, a rose is a rose;" pick your clichĂ©, but in the case of MacNeil or McNeill there is more than a wee bit of difference and it may be comparing a rose to a carnation. While there are a great number of variations, the two most common spellings are MacNeil and McNeill and while not always true, the spelling does tend to give away quite a bit of information about what branch of the clan someone came from, where their ancestors lived in Scotland and where their ancestors immigrated and even to some extent when their ancestors immigrated.
Where does the name Neil come from? We may never know for sure, but legend holds that both branches are descendants from King Nail of the nine hostages, a King of Ireland sometime between the 4th to the mid-6th century. On the surface it makes sense given the proximity of Ireland to both Barra and Kintyre Scotland.

Generally, people with the surname McNeill have roots in the Colonsay/Gigha branch of the clan. This variation of the spelling is traced back to the McNeills that controlled Castle Sween in Knapdale in Argyll for the Lord of the Isles. People with the surname MacNeil had ancestors that inhabited the Outer Hebrides, most notably the island of Barra. This spelling of the name traces back through keepers of Kisimul Castle on Barra. Legend has MacNeils there from the 11th century.

Does the following hold true for every MacNeil or McNeill? Of course not, but it is a start and does hold true for a great deal of each spelling group, and it is a start. Add to this the time frame that your ancestors left Scotland and you get closer to which branch your ancestors came from.

The first real immigration of Scots to the new world occurred in 1Scottish Colonies in North America739 and was said to be led by Neil McNeill who lived on the island of Gigha. There were 350 in this group. Several of this group were members of his extended family with the surname McNeill. Once these Scottish families established themselves just north of present day Fayetteville North Carolina, they were quite active in convincing their kinsmen to follow them over. There were successive waves of Scots from the Argyll region right up just prior to the Revolution. You can be assured there were McNeills in each wave. So, if your ancestors came before 1770 or so and landed in North or South Carolina, then it is a good bet your ancestors are Colonsay/Gigha McNeills. Later immigrations went to New Zealand and Australia, being a safer bet than going to the American colonies at war. After the American Revolution, several more waves of Scots from Colonsay and the Kintyre region went to America, unfortunately sometimes by force. North Carolina continued to be their favorite destination. These McNeills spread though out the Southeast US.

Where does this leave the Barra MacNeils? Maybe Shakespeare had it wrong, there is a “a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” In 1838 Roderick MacNeil, head of the Barra MacNeils, who had squandered the family fortune, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Colonel Gordon was a tailor-made villain. In addition to Barra he bought several other islands in the Hebrides, which he forcibly cleared of the natives. In 1851, Gordon tricked 1500 inhabitants of Barra (a high number of which were MacNiel families) to show up for a meeting, where legend has it, they were overpowered, put aboard waiting ships and sent to Nova Scotia and Quebec. Many had only the clothes on their back and almost nothing in the way of money. The few that failed to show for the “meeting”, found their home burned and were removed on later ships. Some “passengers” were even put in irons. Contemporary reports in Quebec describe the new arrivals chances of surviving the winter as “grim.” Grim as it was, survive they did and went on to populate Canada and the Northern US all the way to the west coast. So, if your ancestors came through Canada mainly Nova Scotia and Quebec, around 1850’s chances are they are Barra McNeils.

What is in a name? In our case a lot of rich history of some very brave people who overcame some very great obstacles. We their descendants should be proud.

Needham Bass

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Remember, remember, the fifth of November


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Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, or simply by the date- the 5th of November, is a Britain-wide celebration remembering the treasonous act attempted by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators.

Guy Fawkes Mask

Born in England in 1570, conspirator Guy Fawkes was executed in 1606 for attempting to blow up the English Parliament building in what came to be known as the Gunpowder Plot. In a time when his religious beliefs weren’t allowed by law, Fawkes and a group of other Catholic conspirators, looking to overthrow the current Protestant regime, had planted at least 20 barrels of gunpowder under the building prior to the attempted attack.  He failed. And now we set off fireworks to commemorate that he didn’t explode the government and the monarch.

Since the failed Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, people across the country have celebrated Bonfire Night on November 5th. In Scotland, this night was once a time of rowdy and raucous festivities - described as an evening of “prankish fun” - it is now a night of community wide celebration and wholesome fun, despite its more sinister origins.

One Scottish tradition was the burning of Guy Fawkes. Effigies of Guy were made across the country, usually consisting of a jacket and trousers stuffed with straw. They would often then be wheeled around towns while the owners shouted “penny for a Guy” with the money raised going towards buying fireworks.

Guy would then be placed on top of the roaring bonfire.

Sources used in this article:

https://www.biography.com/people/guy-fawkes-9292436

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/in-pictures-bonfire-night-in-scotland-1-3938555

http://www.potw.org/archive/potw405.html

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How to Drive “Right”

4th in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

Are you driving while on your holiday? If so, let’s prepare you for this scary at first but not so much later, wonderful experience! In my last blog, I mentioned that most hire (rental) cars are manual unless you specifically request an automatic. If you are like me and haven’t driven a manual in over 30 years, the last thing I was going to do was sit on the right side of the car, driving using my left hand on a stick and actually on the left side of the road!

I first started learning the traffic signs a few months prior to my trip by using the “Know your Traffic Signs” https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519129/know-your-traffic-signs.pdf) as well as some interactive driving apps. The interactive apps are actually utilized by UK citizens to prepare for their actual driving test but are free to anyone. SmartDriving UK has different apps you can download on your computer/laptop or cell phone. I believe the 2 most important apps are the 3D interactive driving and the signage. I read all the apps and took tests as well and it allowed me to feel much more comfortable on the road. Signage is much different as well as parking on UK roads. https://smartdriving.co.uk/ I also found this youtube which was my favorite of all the ones I watched to learn more regarding roundabouts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diu1k_5H45k If you will be driving on any ferries, use this link to know what to do and it not just driving on. https://www.wikihow.com/Drive-Your-Car-on-to-a-Ferry

What documents are required to drive in the UK or Ireland? Your passport and a current US driver’s license. However, after reading multiple travel websites, it would not hurt to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). I acquired mine with AAA for $20 and it also includes a photo of yourself, like the passport. If you were in an accident, the police would prefer this type of license versus our US driver’s license. You can do this online as well. https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

What if you are a pedestrian only traveling only by train, buses, or plane? You can look at these transportation venues on-line for schedules and tickets. Some of train systems offer different types of passes based on length of a trip which I have used and are great. My favorite is Scotrail and it goes all over the entire UK. I have used the FlexPass in the past and bought it in advance.
‱ https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
‱ www.raileurope.com/uk/train-tickets
‱ www.nationalrail.co.uk/
‱ https://www.britrail.net
Ferries – CalMac is the most common in UK
‱ https://www.calmac.co.uk/ - between all the Inner and Outer Hebrides Island
‱ www.northlinkferries.co.uk/ - Orkney and Shetland Islands only
‱ https://www.stenaline.co.uk/ - to Britain-Ireland-Holland-France-Rest of Europe
The most common plane services to Inner and Outer Hebrides Islands are Loganaire.com and Flybe.com.

Happy Driving!

~Gwen
gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com

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Where To Stay and How to Get Around

3rd in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

√ Airline tickets taken care!

Now, where are you staying or how will you travel to the places you are visiting?

Let’s start with accommodations first! There are so many websites on the internet to book with as well as to compare prices, so how do you decide which to use without your head spinning around? So just like your airline tickets, you can use of the same sites for hotels or even rental cars. (Hopper.com, Airfarewatchdog.com, Kayak.com, Experida.com) to do comparisons. For the past few years, I have continued to get great prices with AirBnb.com and Booking.com. If you have a group of 4 or more and need 2 rooms, then sometimes looking for a full apartment is better. You also want to take into consideration some of the following items: En suite (private bathroom), lifts (elevators if you can’t handle stairs), wifi, if you hire (rent) a car, parking or are you near rail stations or bus routes if you are not in walking distance to tourist sites and eating places.

Next, getting around. If you are hiring (renting) a car, remember that unless you specifically request an automatic, you will get a manual (stick)! Take into account that you will be driving from the opposite side of the car, opposite side of the road and there are roundabouts everywhere. Use the same sites for rental cars above and remember that sometimes you get discounts booking accommodations and car if using a site like Expedia, etc. Check out VisitScotland (https://www.visitscotland.com/travel/) as this has the top rentals. I used Hertz and reserved thru AAA since I am a Plus member to get a discount. AARP gives discounts as well so use your age to your advantage if needed!

NOTE: When hiring a car-DO NOT pay for the collision as part of the rental as you can have this with Travel Insurance and your credit card has coverage as well. I will blog more about this and requirements for driving (licenses and learning the ropes to drive) in the UK and Ireland in the near future!

Finally for this blog, the next important step after airline tickets and accommodations is Travel Insurance. Accidents happen everywhere and you should always be covered. I never leave home without travel insurance and neither should you. I was introduced to TravelGuard (AIG) years ago thru British Airways and have used them since. I actually cancelled a trip to Canada in 2014 and got all my money back except for the travel insurance fee! You can get a quote and pick the package deal you prefer, I use the Silver Package. You can check out other travel insurance companies as well such as World Nomads. They both give free quotes without any obligation. VERY IMPORTANT – always purchase with a week or two after booking your flight and accommodations, even rental car so you can include in the total price for your quote.

Until next time!

~Gwen
gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com

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I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane!

2nd in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series

Now you that you answered the “when” and “where” for your trip, it’s time to look at your Travel Budget. Let’s start with Airfare for this blog.

Finding the best deals on flights can be wee bit tricky but over the years, I have found that signing up for “price alerts” such as Hopper.com, Airfarewatchdog.com or Scott’s Cheap Flights has helped in keeping the prices down. I don’t always use their site to buy my tickets but I know I can check the airline directly and usually get the same price. You also want to compare prices so use search engines as well like Kayak.com, Google Flights or Skyscanner.com.

So how far in advance should one buy their tickets. The average for Europe flights which include the UK and Ireland is approximately 120 days. I have bought tickets in October for the following year’s April trip and bought in May for October trip both with great prices. All because of the price alerts I received. They say practice makes perfect which is not necessarily always true but by spending some time looking at flights, you’ll know what the average prices are during the year. This helps you spot those good deals.

If you have the opportunity to use any unused sky miles or avios points, use them! If not, sometimes signing up for a specific credit card will get you miles quickly to use for your flight as well. There are tons of credit cards that give you miles for purchases but my favorite that I have used for the past 8 years is Capital One Venture card. It has the best all-around deals I have found for travel and points.
Time to start researching prices! My next blog will cover the accommodations, travel insurance and actual transportation methods once in the UK for your Travel Budget items.

More from me in 2 weeks!

~Gwen
gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com

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