travel tips Archives - Erica James Travel

08Feb 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 29: A Couple Who Travels Together

Podcast

In this episode, I talk to Leonard and Jernita about their travel journey as a couple. Their story is amazing - their first date was in Panama, and their first kiss was outside the US! Highlights from this episode: [16:45] Send a copy of your itinerary to friends and family. Always send a copy of your itinerary to friends and family, and just in case something doesn’t go right, have an exit strategy – even if you don’t end up using it. [21:19] Traveling together. Pre-Covid, Jernita and Leonard travelled together three times a year, with one of them being a major trip. Although they have different individual travel styles, travelling together has allowed them to broaden their own perceptions of travel. “You don’t have to leave the country…

27Jul 2020 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 6: The Beginner’s Episode to Travel Points

Podcast

Everything you need to know about points, miles, airlines and credit cards I know you already like free things, right? How about free travel? Yay! I love free travel and I think you do too, right again? I invite Samantha Rosen of The Points Guy on the show to discuss everything you need to know about points, miles, airlines and credit cards so that you can travel the world at little to now cost! Travel has always been part of Samantha’s life since childhood but she knew nothing about travel points and miles until she joined The Points Guy. And in a very weird way, she used her lack of knowledge as a starting point to teach others on the same topic. The best thing about the tips she…

23Jun 2020 by EJtheTravelDiva

Episode 3: Steps New Travelers Should Do

Podcast

Can you believe I started traveling 12 years ago? I can’t believe it’s been that long and how much I’ve learned since. Some of these things I wish I knew back when I started my travel journey but that’s okay because YOU don’t have to learn the hard way. In the show today, I give tips on how you can prepare for travel as a first-time traveler. What’s even more fun? It’s firsthand information with my firsthand examples and experiences! These include: How you can travel for free. Yes, FREE! Why during the Coronavirus is the best time to apply for your passport How you can avoid airport security stress. How you can have a vacation that suits you and someone to help you when you have problems. The…

06May 2020 by EJtheTravelDiva

What You Need to Know to Cancel Your Vacation & Receive a Refund

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Learning Lessons

As a travel agent, I understand the importance of traveling with travel insurance. I also know how risky it is to travel without it. That is why I consistently offer travel insurance to my clients, multiple times, to encourage them to protect their investment as well as themselves. I’ve heard so many times, “I know I am going on this trip, so I don’t need travel insurance.” The basis of that statement is not knowing the many benefits that travel insurance provides. Many people have the mentality that travel insurance is just for canceling your vacation. But it is for so much more. Travelers are often surprised to find out that travel insurance not only covers trip cancellation, but also: Trip InterruptionTrip DelayMissed ConnectionBaggage LossBaggage DelayMedical ExpensesEmergency Evacuation Since trip…

14Mar 2020 by EJtheTravelDiva

How to Choose the Right Hotel for a Staycation

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

Have you ever felt like you just need to get away, for vacation, or just need a break from your everyday life, but flying somewhere is just not in the plan? Because I travel so much, sometimes I feel like I am having withdrawals when I start feeling this way. Sometimes, I feel like I just hit a brick wall and need a mini getaway. That's when I think, Staycation! I normally do a staycation, every year, during Labor Day Weekend and I always select my favorite spot, Drury Inn in Franklin, TN. I recently decided to do another staycation, but decided to mix it up and see how other hotels compare to my favorite spot. This staycation, I decided to select Hotel Indigo located in Downtown Nashville. The two…

14Mar 2020 by EJtheTravelDiva

7 Things New Travelers Should Do

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

Are you new to the travel world? About to set off on your first international experience? Maybe you’re just looking for a nice checklist for your upcoming trip overseas? Whatever the case may be, I want to share my list of the seven most valuable things to do as a new (or returning) traveler. If you complete all of these items, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of amazing travel experiences! Apply for a passport: US passports are valid for ten years which ends up costing approximately $16-18 per year. With a passport, you can see the world and are not limiting yourself to travel only within the states. If someone calls you and says, “Hey, I won a free trip to Spain, let’s go!” you can hop…

11Nov 2019 by EJtheTravelDiva

Things You Should Not Do on A Plane

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

As we are living in a civilized world, there is proper etiquette that should be maintained to be a part of society. Don’t you think? What are your thoughts on airplane etiquette? I know most people are traveling for vacation, and everyone is excited, letting loose, having a good time without a care in the world. I get it. I feel the same way when I travel. However, we can’t let everything go out of the airplane window because, after all, we are still among many other people. Here are six behaviors I believe no one should do on a plane, ever. Using the speaker on your phone is not okay! If you forgot your headphones and the airline could not provide you with any, then you are out of…

19Oct 2019 by EJtheTravelDiva

How to survive long-haul flights

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

My very first long-haul flight was to Germany, and I was completely unprepared. I looked at this flight as being no different from a domestic flight from Nashville to California--of which I have done so many times. However this time, I didn't sleep well, watched everything on the provided entertainment more than once, and was completely uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to get off that plane! After my flight to Germany, I vowed that I would never make the same mistakes again. After all, I am a Virgo, and we are usually prepared--if not, we will at least never make the same mistake twice. So, on my next long-haul flight to Paris, I was more than prepared and felt that I hit preparation meter out of the park. Even more recently,…

19Oct 2019 by EJtheTravelDiva

5 Things You Should Never Put in Your Checked Bag

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

Being a travel agent, I have learned, through speaking with numerous clients, about their travels, that I take for granted that many people know. For examples travel terms and rules. I thought everyone knew the difference between carry-on and checked luggage. However, I have come to realize that there are people, that don't travel often and are not familiar with those terms---knowledge some of us take for granted. Now there are rules to what you can put in your carry-on bag versus your checked bag. The most common rule is the rule of 3, when it comes to liquids. If you have 3 oz or less, it can go in your carry-on bag but if it is over 3 oz, it needs to go in your checked bag. However, there…

18Aug 2019 by EJtheTravelDiva

15 Things To Do Before You Travel

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Travel Tips

When you are planning to travel for vacation, there are so many things to do and remember to do before you depart. I like to start a checklist about two weeks ahead of time so that every time I think of something, I write it down and once I complete the task, I mark it off, making sure that I don’t miss anything from my checklist. I have a lot of things going on in my life, as many of us do, so a checklist helps to get things from your mind onto to paper and you can come back and visit it at a later date. Amongst the million things that I normally added to my checklist, here are a few things that will always be on my checklist…

Tag: travel tips