With summer upon us, one can’t help but to think of where to go next. I don’t know about you, but I get butterflies each year when the weather gets warmer, the sun is shining and it feels like any weekend could turn into something exciting. The possibilities are endless. Maybe you have had something in the works for a while. Your vacation time has been approved by the boss and your deposit has been paid! Some of you are more spontaneous and will fly by the seat of your pants and somehow find amazing deals in the nick of time. Kudos to you, let me know your secret.
I have personally used Booking.com, (click this link) https://tp.media/r?marker=523050&trs=299464&p=2076&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbooking.com&campaign_id=84 in recent years with great success. We found an amazing bed & breakfast, which I wrote about in my previous “Florence” post. My favorite feature was the ability to chat with the owners of this B&B without using another app or getting charged for international fees. There was a wide range of properties to choose from. We also booked our Rome stay with Booking.com, which was centrally located to so many sights. We were only a few blocks away from the Pantheon and Spanish Steps, not to mention the subway station.
Hotels aren’t the only thing available on Booking.com. There are options for flights, car rentals, taxi and attractions. Like most programs these days, they appreciate your loyalty. They have 3 “Genius” levels. Makes me feel so smart, even though I know the obvious truth. But hey, why not take advantage of this? I have no shame in admitting that I like to be rewarded for spending my own money. So let’s work the system. The more you use it, rewards will follow. Genius level 1 will give you 10% off stays and car rentals. After just 5 bookings, you jump to level 2 with a 15% discount, free room upgrades and free breakfast with select stays. And remember, these are any combination of a booking (flight, hotel, car). For the highest level 3, you enjoy all the perks of level 2 but also up to 20% on some stays and priority support should you need it.
Now let’s talk about what’s trending. Paris is, and always will be, popular. Don’t ever make excuses to prolong going to the City of Lights! I just had an instagram post about this dreamy destination. Here I am talking about Booking.com, when I am a travel agent. So if you ever tire of doing this yourself or just don’t have the time, contact me! This is not a chore at all and I quite enjoy planning vacations for others just as much for myself. I am creating itineraries for 4 clients to Paris, France for early next year. They don’t even realize what an amazing trip this will be, and I am so excited for them! I will be headed back to Paris myself and bringing my mother along next fall. I can’t wait to see the look on her face.
And we can’t forget about the summer Olympics taking place here. I’m sure if you wanted to head there this July, your dreams would not be fulfilled as I’m sure it is booked solid and has been for quite some time. My good friend will be there in July, as she has been fortunate to attend previous Olympics around the world.
Some of the other popular cities to visit: Istanbul, St. Augustine, Lisbon and Porto. A coworker recently went on a Southeast Asia cruise with Celebrity and had the opportunity to stay in Istanbul for one night as his stopover. Can’t you just smell the spice and food in this exotic city sandwiched between the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara? I would love a chance to see for myself one day.
You don’t have to leave the good ole USA to see St. Augustine, Florida. My brother and his family have had the pleasure of visiting. They’ve been back a few times. I think it’s always a safe bet when people return to the same vacation spot. So many places, so little time. St. Augustine is the oldest occupied city in our country where beautiful beaches, Spanish-influenced architecture and St. George Street exist.
And lastly, Portugal. I think Portugal has been underrated for a while now, but it has been all over social media lately. Lisbon and Porto are 2 popular cities here. Spain and Portugal are on my bucket list and I’m hoping to visit in the next few years. Every person I know that has been to Portugal has had nothing but the best to say and it is a must-see!
This is just a glimpse, once again, of the many places in the world that I personally want to see but you also may hear a lot of buzz about. I would love to have the opportunity to plan your vacation. Contact me through this website or email me at [email protected]. But, if you’re not afraid of tackling the world, try Booking.com. I think you will be pleased. It’s never too late to become a genius.
