Blog Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Erica James Travel Agency

18Aug 2019 by EJtheTravelDiva

8 Ways to Be a Good Travel Companion

Over the past couple of decades, my friends and I have done a lot of traveling together. I have traveled with friends who like to ball out of control and those who have absolutely no money and don’t tell you until you arrive at the destination. I’ve traveled with neat and tidy friends and friends that are extremely messy. I’ve shared a room with self-aware friends and friends that have no clue they are annoying to share a room with. After traveling with so many different types of friends, I have put together a few suggestions on how you can be a good travel companion: Be your best self inside the room. You are sharing a small space with someone for several days. Everything you do in the privacy of…

27Dec 2017 by EJtheTravelDiva

Solo Cruising Day 4: Thrills and Chills

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Solo Travel

My morning started at around 1:30 a.m. when I awakened realizing that I had dozed off last night with the TV on. Yes, I went to bed early, I had eaten too much the night before, remember? Anyway, I ended up watching two good movies that I would have normally avoided because I am not a fan of Nicole Kidman. I find her to be boring and she seems to select the worse movies. But I am getting away from the point. So....I watch M. Night Shyamalan called "Split" and another movie called "Lion". By this time, it was 5 a.m. I turned the TV off so there would be no change of getting caught up in another movie. Then I found myself waking up again to the sounds of…

24Nov 2017 by EJtheTravelDiva

Solo Cruising Day 3: No Commitments

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Solo Travel

The Norwegian Escape arrived in Falmouth, Jamaica on this morning and I was up and ready for what the day had, in store, for me! I started my day with what is was now beginning to be my ritual--showering and onto the balcony for the au natural drying session as I write my blog. On this day, however, I had to put some pep in my step because I ordered room serviced and I needed to be ready for when my breakfast arrived. Breakfast on the balcony overlooking the ocean is the best (only if you are on the Starboard side of the ship). My breakfast arrived. I enjoyed it and the view before exiting the ship. I had to be at my excursion meet-up spot at 9am. I arrived…

22Nov 2017 by EJtheTravelDiva

Solo Cruising Day 2: Be In The Moment

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Solo Travel

On this day, I slept in until my body naturally woke itself. What a great feeling to naturally wake on your own with no agenda insight to control your day. I turned on the T.V. and watched the last half of an animated movie before I finally rolled out of bed, pulled back my curtains to a beautiful view of the ocean--stunning! The day was beautiful. Perfect weather. "This is vacation" I thought to myself. I opened the balcony door and allowed the sounds of the ocean to fill my room with peaceful bliss. After showering, instead of drying off with a towel, I sat on my balcony and allowed the natural wind to do it for me. "It's amazing..." as I think to myself, looking out into the blue…

19Nov 2017 by EJtheTravelDiva

Day 1: Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Solo Travel

The alarm goes off at 3am and I get up to get my travel day going. I woke up this morning feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Excited that I am embarking on an adventure and nervous that I am doing it alone. Now, I have traveled alone plenty of times, but once I arrive to my destination, there is usually someone or something waiting for me. This time, I didn't know what was waiting for me---a good time, sadness, feelings of loneliness. I wasn't sure, but I was willing to find out. Fist stop, the airport. I was starving to I grab a table at O'Charley's in the Nashville airport. My server takes my order and ask where I'm headed. I reply, "On a cruise." He responds,…

19Mar 2017 by EJtheTravelDiva

Having Access to a Travel Agent is a Good Thing

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

Twice, in one week, I received a call, from a client, in a panic because "someone told them" that they could not cruise, with their passport because it did not have at least six months validity on it. One client stated that she could not get off the cruise ship and see the ports of calls because her passport needed to be renewed. These are the calls that I receive when my clients listen to other travelers. Thankfully, my clients picked up the phone to verify the information they received with their travel agent - me. I explained to both clients that, they actually did not need a passport to cruise on closed-loop cruises that start and end in the United States. U.S. citizens embarking on a cruise that both begins and…

17Jun 2013 by EJtheTravelDiva

My Sister’s Travel Regret

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Learning Lessons

One of my wishes, as a travel agent, is that all travelers select their vacation accommodations based on what they wish to experience rather than what they want to pay. Often times, when people call me about traveling, they select their resort and room accommodations based on price, no quality. Sure you can vacation in a less expensive room, but the question is--is what you are giving up worth it? Regardless of recommendations (which is one of the reasons you select a good travel agent), some travelers just want to book based on price and not quality. My sister is one of those people. I recently went to Las Vegas with my sister. Upon check in, they asked if we would like to upgrade our room, for a…

15May 2013 by EJtheTravelDiva

Club MoBay

Airport Lounges, Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Tours and Activities

Fresh off a four day stay in Jamaica, I will have to say that Club Mobay was the perfect departure experience and end to my visit to Jamaica. Club Mobay is an airport lounge experience located in the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Through my Club Mobay pass, I was able to skip the stress and chaos of long departure lines and sail straight through security all the way to enter the relaxing atmosphere of Club Mobay. I arrived at the airport four hours before my flight departed--three hours before gate check-in time. This allowed me plenty of time to experience and enjoy all that Club Mobay had to offer. There were two rooms--one for families and one for adults only. And of course, I decided to…

19Apr 2013 by EJtheTravelDiva

My AHA Moment with Shared Transportation

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Learning Lessons

I went to a Travel conference in November that was held in Orlando, FL. I went with the intentions of gathering new ideas and learning ways to better Erica James Travel in 2013. Although, I was inspired by all the information that I received, I also realized a few important things about traveling and being on vacation. I was attending a conference, however it was still vacation to me and I wanted to be treated as such. It is my perspective that I am on vacation every time I travel, and I do not want to compromise on things that are going to enhance my travel experiences. There are some things I simply have learned by experience that I will not compromise. I do not want to compromise on transportation.…

06Mar 2012 by EJtheTravelDiva

A Simple Beautiful Vacation

Blog, Destination Reviews, EJtheTravelDiva Blog

One of my favorite movies was Jim Carey's The Truman Show. I thought it was such a cute and touching movie. The life lived in that movie was very simple, quiet and relaxed. Something that is on the other end of the spectrum from my current life. Because that life depicted in The Truman Show was so different from my every day life, I was extremely excited to visit Seaside, FL (not too far from Destin, FL) where the movie was shot. Normally when I vacation, I am in a popular hotel or resort. This trip, I decided to try something different and I was pleasantly surprised with white picket fences, a town square, bicycle rentals and ice cream shops. I not only stepped out of Nashville, TN, but…

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