I’m sure you have had the same type of headache.  Planning a trip.  For some reason, I have become the travel agent for my family and extended family.  Normally, my wife is very good about do this, but this time, she just gave me the reins and said, “book It.”

I’m not only booking a vacation for her and I, but also for my brother and his wife.  In January of this year, we took them on their first cruise.  Come to find out, they love to travel now.  So, I’ve planned a trip by rail through Western Europe, a quick getaway to Hawaii a couple days after we get back from Europe and then another cruise coming up in a few months out of Galveston, Texas.

I am worn out.  Booking our trip to Europe has been okay, if that was all we were doing.  I was able to make most of our travel arrangements through “Vacation by Rail” to tour London, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florance and Rome, but we decided to go over a few days early to go sightseeing around southern England.   Now, I had to make arrangements to stay two extra nights at the same hotel in London, our own airline reservations (first class of course for the 10 hour flight) and our tour schedule outside the vacation by rail package.

Then to top things off, one of our sisters is being promoted in the Navy in Hawaii a couple days after we get back from Europe.  Well, you can’t just drop everything and “pop” over to Hawaii without making plans.  We have to dive with the sharks, snorkel, see Pearl Harbor, and of course go to a luau.  And not just any luau.  I had to book the Polynesian Cultural Center.  For six of us, it was over $1200.  I have to say, it is worth it though.  Again, I had to book flights, hotel, rental car, and all of the other events we hope to see. (I wonder if I have any hair left)

In all this, there is a lesson for anybody who likes to travel and be “in charge” of making the arrangements.  That lesson is KEEP NOTES!  I keep a log of when I call, look something up and of course its cost.  This is especially important when trying to make flight reservations for others, if you want to be on the same flight or arrive at about the same time.  Our hotel in Europe were pretty easy.  I just told Vacations by Rail what I wanted and they took care of it.  However, for Hawaii, I had to do it all.  But that is okay.  I am a disabled veteran and have access to military properties.  Generally, there is a waiting list, but I got lucky.  The Hale Koa on Waikiki Beach had openings.  Rental cars are always easy.  I just go to Costco Travel.  The other difficult part is trying to coordinate everyone’s schedules for the sight seeing and luau.  Finally, I just said, book-it and quit worrying about the others.  Sometimes, that’s what you have to do.

Now, when we get done with these two vacations, I get to start gearing up for our cruise.  Oh Boy!