Author: TravelWithTarsha

Top 5 Tips For Using Airline Apps

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Who doesn’t love EASY when it comes to airports and TSA?? I can’t promise these 5 tips will make getting through security any easier, but we can dream, can’t we?  Below are the top 5 tips I find most useful to start my plane ride out on the right foot. (after that, I have to just smile and wave :))

First things first, download the airline app you’re traveling on.  If you don’t already have one, it’s free to register for a frequent miles number with your airline and plug that number into your profile in the app.  This will ensure that you earn rewards for the flight and it unlocks all the cool tools to hopefully give you a ‘leg up’ while in the air!

  1. Super-easy check-in process  With the tap of an icon, you can check in, select the number of bags you’re checking and joila!  No more running down to the hotel business center (just to find out their out of paper!) to print your boarding pass
  2. Up to the minute flight status   Avoid speeding to the airport just to get there and find out your plane is delayed an hour!  Check the flight status 30-45 minutes prior to when you plan to leave your house. (Set a reminder to check the status if it helps)
  3. Choose, change or upgrade your seat assignment   View a seating chart of your plane.  If you have connecting flights, tabs are available to see charts for each leg of your trip.  You may be able to use your frequent flyer miles to purchase seat upgrades, wifi connections, and more.
  4. Locate where to eat and relax at a connecting airport   Most apps allow you to search any airport to see descriptive or interactive maps so you can navigate your way to the connecting flight or plan your next meal and (shopping spree) during a layover.
  5.  Keep up with your baggage  Pinpoint the location of your bags as you flow through the trip.  It really comes in handy if you happen to miss a connecting flight or in the event of your bags not making it onto your flight.

Technology definitely has made it more manageable (and easy) to fly these days.  Who would’ve thought that your phone would become your boarding ticket!  One last tip for the techie’s that rely on their phone for just about everything:  Set a reminder on your phone one day before the flight to check-in early.  That’s it! I hope you find these tips helpful.  Fly happy, my friends!

reminder on your phone one day before the flight to check-in early.  That’s it! I hope you find these tips helpful.  Fly happy, my friends!

The MEX-BEST Thing!

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OMG! I absolutely ADORE traveling to Mexico!  The Hubs (Stan, my Husband :)) and I just returned from celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary at Secrets Maroma Beach in the Riviera Maya.  It was our third time (yes, tres) to that resort because its simply beautiful!  For this 5-day excursion, All-Inclusive is definitely the way to travel in our opinion, it’s the best value out there!  Be sure to read to the end of this post for some TIPS WHEN TRAVELING TO MEXICO!)

Poolside pic1

The last time we visited (June 2013) it poured five of the seven days we were there.  Although we managed to have fun, rain tends to put a damper on the whole beach thing, ya know? THIS time, however, it was blue skies the entire time and the highlight of the trip was our Anniversary Photo shoot taken by Adventure Photos ! (Hola, Perla & Mario! Our dynamic photographers)  Here’s a few of our favorite shots…

Wading in the water

Wading in the water

We seemed to always be laughing and smiling… wonder why...

We seemed to always be laughing and smiling… wonder why…

Okay, so does anyone else think of the old Toyota commercial?

Okay, so does anyone else think of the old Toyota commercial?

A few tips when traveling to Mexico:

  1. Make sure your passport isn’t about to expire (our old ones were due to expire 4 weeks prior to the trip!)
  2. If you want to upgrade (we like to sit first class for our anniversary) do it EARLY – airlines like to use first class as an incentive for their Miles Members, so if you don’t wanna get trumped for a good seat, pay with your reservation or upgrade as soon as possible!
  3. Before you leave the US, get plenty of $1‘s for tipping – We tip EVERYBODY, it usually gets us better, more attentive service from everyone from concierge, to bartenders to servers.
  4. Take preventive OTC meds like ibuprofen, antacids, airborne, etc.  The food and water is of much better quality than when we went on our honeymoon 18 years ago, but because you can eat and drink whatever you like, you want to be overly prepared!
  5. Make a plan!!! I can’t stress this enough!  There’s so much to do and see and once you’re there, your brain will be inundated with tons of stuff to do, and if you don’t have at least an idea of what you want to get out of your vacation, you may end up coming home needing ANOTHER vacation to rest up or even worse, you may MISS OUT on doing what you truly paid your  money to go do!
  6. Lastly, but not least – PLAN TO ENJOY no matter what!  So what if your plane was delayed or the room wasn’t ready or you don’t care for the food selections, find happiness in the sheer JOY of being free to go and do and see!

Wanna be able to take a trip to Mexico and other great places like this for a LIVING?  JOIN ME today – learn how I get to travel for a living and LOVE it!

Let’s Travel!

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I’m SO happy you found me and decided to Travel With Tarsha!  For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the adventure of traveling – pretty much anywhere that required packing a bag.  Discovering new places, visiting family and friends or journeying back to a beloved quiet place with my Husband, is what I look forward to as soon as I unpack from the last trip.

Over the years I’ve had the chance to visit some fantastic destinations and I’m OVER THE MOON about this new journey with SURGE365 – I finally get to fulfill my dream of being able to TRAVEL for a LIVING!  Come back often to Follow my journey, whether you want to comment on the pics, suggest cool places to eat or simply see where I’m headed next.  No matter the reason, Travel With Tarsha and enjoy the trip!

SurgeBW

If you’re inspired by what you see and REALLY want to Travel With Tarsha, begin your own SURGE365 adventure and JOIN ME today!  Travel More, Live More, Enjoy More!

See Ya!