In a mere 3 months I will be jetting off to Turkey!
I can't wait....I am ready for my vacation now. Maybe next year I should consider taking several shorter vacation instead of a 3 week vacation!
I'd like to start thinking about South America in 2008...particularly Argentina...Buenos Aires maybe???? I've been watching the new Samantha Brown Passport to Latin America show on the Travel Chanel and her episode on Buenos Aires really got me thinking...hmmmm...the "Paris of South America" is starting to look very good to me! And, the dollar is strong there now, but who knows what it would be next year!
And there is still the possibility of Ireland in the spring of 2008, so, South America may have to be in the fall of 2008, which would work out well, since it would be spring in the southern hemisphere...BUT...I still have to get through this years vacations!
Happy Travels!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 07, 2007
All is Right in the Airline World!
Can I just say how shockingly pleased I was after I hung up the phone with the Delta Airlines International Reservations Agent today!!!!!
I called Delta Airlines today in the hopes of adjusting the flight schedule they had changed for my trip to Turkey. I dialed the toll free number anticipating I was going to be put on hold for eternity and then have to deal with "some unpleasantness". I was completely surprised by my encounter! Yes, I had to go through the voice activated prompting system, and was put on hold for a few minutes, less than 5, and when I was taken out of the "holding pattern" I was actually talking with a live person!
The reservations agent could not have been nicer. I explained my situation and felt that 56 minutes just wasn't enough time at JFK. He started by telling me that 56 minutes is a "legal" connection time for international flights, BUT he completely understood that sometimes if there are delays coming out of Atlanta or getting into JFK those 56 minutes may not be enough time to get my connection! He then proceded to ask if I didn't mind leaving Savannah earlier, and I said, "No, that's ok with me"!
So, he changed my flight leaving Savannah to 7:15 am which allows me to get an earlier flight out of Atlanta. Yes, it means I have a 4 hour layover at JFK, but that's ok with me! And there was no additional charges since Delta changed the flights orginally!
Then I asked him if I could also change CL's flights even though we booked our reservations individually and he had no problem with that either....BONUS! So I was able to change both reservations and get new seat assignments! And even when he put me on hold to do all the changes, he came back and said it would take a few more minutes. Once it was complete he came back on the line and said he would email me and CL the new itinerary but we would still have the old confirmation numbers. True to his word, just minutes later I had 2 emails with our new itineraries in my in-box for both me and CL!
Whew...it's nice when things work out! :)
I called Delta Airlines today in the hopes of adjusting the flight schedule they had changed for my trip to Turkey. I dialed the toll free number anticipating I was going to be put on hold for eternity and then have to deal with "some unpleasantness". I was completely surprised by my encounter! Yes, I had to go through the voice activated prompting system, and was put on hold for a few minutes, less than 5, and when I was taken out of the "holding pattern" I was actually talking with a live person!
The reservations agent could not have been nicer. I explained my situation and felt that 56 minutes just wasn't enough time at JFK. He started by telling me that 56 minutes is a "legal" connection time for international flights, BUT he completely understood that sometimes if there are delays coming out of Atlanta or getting into JFK those 56 minutes may not be enough time to get my connection! He then proceded to ask if I didn't mind leaving Savannah earlier, and I said, "No, that's ok with me"!
So, he changed my flight leaving Savannah to 7:15 am which allows me to get an earlier flight out of Atlanta. Yes, it means I have a 4 hour layover at JFK, but that's ok with me! And there was no additional charges since Delta changed the flights orginally!
Then I asked him if I could also change CL's flights even though we booked our reservations individually and he had no problem with that either....BONUS! So I was able to change both reservations and get new seat assignments! And even when he put me on hold to do all the changes, he came back and said it would take a few more minutes. Once it was complete he came back on the line and said he would email me and CL the new itinerary but we would still have the old confirmation numbers. True to his word, just minutes later I had 2 emails with our new itineraries in my in-box for both me and CL!
Whew...it's nice when things work out! :)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
UGGGHHHH! Airlines!
I painstakingly selected my flights to Istanbul making sure I had at least 2 hours between landing at JFK and departing for Istanbul.
Now, in Delta's infinite wisdom they changed my flights and I now have only 56 minutes between arriving at JFK and connecting to the international flight to Istanbul. I really wish they hadn't changed the times, I know it happens all the time, but now I will have to get on the phone with them and try to impress upon them that I need 2 hours at JFK. I just feel more comfortable if I have that little extra cushion of time.
Of course, I could wait it out and see if the flights change again before my September departure date, but I've already tried to remedy my dilemma via email and I got the response that they could not help me through emails and I have to call the international reservations number...guess I will be spending some time on hold with Delta Airlines over the next few days...ahhhhh....just another angle in the world of travel...it's a pain, but I love it!
WoooHooo...this is blog post #100!!!
Now, in Delta's infinite wisdom they changed my flights and I now have only 56 minutes between arriving at JFK and connecting to the international flight to Istanbul. I really wish they hadn't changed the times, I know it happens all the time, but now I will have to get on the phone with them and try to impress upon them that I need 2 hours at JFK. I just feel more comfortable if I have that little extra cushion of time.
Of course, I could wait it out and see if the flights change again before my September departure date, but I've already tried to remedy my dilemma via email and I got the response that they could not help me through emails and I have to call the international reservations number...guess I will be spending some time on hold with Delta Airlines over the next few days...ahhhhh....just another angle in the world of travel...it's a pain, but I love it!
WoooHooo...this is blog post #100!!!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Let the countdown begin!
I know, I know, it feels, to me, my trip to Turkey is a lifetime away, but in reality it is only 113 days from today when I will be taking off into the wild blue yonder bound for Istanbul!
Yes I counted the exact number of days...pathetic? Maybe, but it keeps up my spirits to be thinking about September 22nd and boarding that plane.
I've already read all the chapters in my Fodor's Turkey guidebook pertaining to the destinations I will visit in Turkey and yes, I used my trusty hi-lighter pen and "sticky' flag page markers indicating sights, restaurants, and shopping experiences I don't want to miss! Now I just have to wait for the Rick Steves Istanbul guidebook and I will be set with reading/research material!
Of course there is still my internet "trolling" for recommendations on things to see and do. And once I have enough of that information I will put together my own version of a guidebook to take with me. Mostly it will have personal recommendations I found on the travel websites.
I am now officially proclaiming the countdown to my Turkey trip is underway!
Yes I counted the exact number of days...pathetic? Maybe, but it keeps up my spirits to be thinking about September 22nd and boarding that plane.
I've already read all the chapters in my Fodor's Turkey guidebook pertaining to the destinations I will visit in Turkey and yes, I used my trusty hi-lighter pen and "sticky' flag page markers indicating sights, restaurants, and shopping experiences I don't want to miss! Now I just have to wait for the Rick Steves Istanbul guidebook and I will be set with reading/research material!
Of course there is still my internet "trolling" for recommendations on things to see and do. And once I have enough of that information I will put together my own version of a guidebook to take with me. Mostly it will have personal recommendations I found on the travel websites.
I am now officially proclaiming the countdown to my Turkey trip is underway!
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