This is my first Edition of SafariTails. HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

I hope you will set aside a few minutes to read it at your leisure.  You should find something that is of interest to you, including travel tips, trip reports, travel information, and upcoming trip information.  Please add Destined To Travel to your mailing list for future reference.  I promise I won't bombard you with useless emails.  You may also feel free to unsubscribe.

Did you know .....Safari is the Swahili word which means journey.   When we refer to going on safari, we associate it with going to see the animals in the wild, mostly in Africa.  However, a safari means any journey to any

destination. 

Trip Tips:

Always keep a copy of the first page of your passport with you, in a place other than with your passport. 

Be sure and notify your credit card company when you are traveling internationally.  Many travel card companies will only authorize $50.00 and deny further international charges if you have not notified them in advance.  Check your credit card company's website or call and inquire.

It might be advisable to carry at least $100 in local currency of the country to which you are traveling.  If available, ATM's may not be conveniently located.  Most taxis or street stall vendors will only accept their local currency.

Check with your agent on a 'cheat' sheet of the country's currency exchange rates.  It will ensure a quick check when you need to determine a quick exchange rate.

Look for more in next issue....

Traveling Soon, you should know:

American Airlines followed suit with other major U.S. carriers by raising its checked bag fees on tickets purchased starting Feb. 1.  Those fees are now $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second bag (paid at the airport).  Elite frequent flyers, first-class passengers, military personnel traveling on active duty, and other types of passengers are exempted. 

Upcoming Trips:

South Africa, November 12-24, 2010

$5250.00 per person, based on double

(including airfare) Perfect trip for an

unbelievable price, only 4 spaces remain.

Still in the Planning Stages:

February 2010, New Zealand

March 2011, Botswana, Africa

April 2011 Cherry Blossoms in D.C.

(with Tour of the White House TBA)

Sep-Nov 2011 Kenya and Tanzania

Feel free to send me an email if you are interested in any of these trips in the planning stages. At that time, I will send you deposit information.  I hope you will join me for future travels. 

See Kay this year at:

SHOWS, SUGAR PLUM AND MORE

March 11-13 OC Fairgrounds

April 17 - Earth Day, The Living Desert

October 23, Claremont Village Venture

November/December TBA (OC)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

A SAFARI ADVENTURE

Let's talk about an African safari.  Have you  dreamed about an Africa safari or just visiting a specific country in Africa?  Let me help you plan it.  I am an Africa specialist, having traveled throughout East, South and Southern Africa.  I can work with you to design a trip that will fit within your budget, guaranteed departure for two people.  Just give me a call and give me a chance.  It may be more within your reach than you think.

Trip Report • Kenya

I returned from Kenya In November 2009.  It was a fabulous trip that took my group to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Nairobi.  There was very little we did NOT see.  Cats, cats and more cats were everywhere, and so many baby cubs, cheetah, lion and leopard.  What a treat.  You almost never see all three in one safari.  Of course, there were a lot of dead carcasses on the Plains, but it is the cycle of life and only the strong survive. Nature has it's way of weeding out the weak and building the strong.  This was no different.  Those too weak did not survive during this terrible drought, but with the many young being born, it will get better and the cycle will begin again. 

WAY TO GO>>>>>

Tanzania/Zanzibar May 23, 2010

I'm heading out with a group of eight traveling to Tanzania, and ending in Zanzibar.  Look for my next trip report when I return.

PASSPORT/VISA CHANGES

Most countries have begun to enforce the policy to have two pages marked VISA, back to back available for entry/exit stamps.  Because immigration doesn't always fill one page before they start another, you must pay attention prior to taking an international trip.  Countries will turn you away if these requirements are not met.  All passports must be valid for SIX months AFTER you return from an international destination. You may be refused entry if this requirement is not met.

INNOCULATIONS:

Be sure you complete all your required shots, if applicable, prior to thirty days of your departure.  Always check the cdc.gov

website if you have any questions.  Keep your innoculation card with your passport always.  Remember Yellow Fever shots MAY be required soon in ALL African countries.  Be prepared.

 Did you know.......

Travel agents are paid by the supplier, not the client, typically 8-10% of the cost of the trip. Some agents who put together F.I.T. (Foreign Independent Travel) may work many many hours, months and up to a year, depending on trip and time limitations, of planning, without pay to arrive at the perfect trip.  You may not be charged for this service, but if you cancel, remember how much work might have gone into this planning.  You should have a reasonable expectation of traveling barring unforeseen circumstances, before contacting a travel agent. The only time a client might pay is when a travel agent charges a consultation/research /trip-planning fee, as high as $500.00, that is applied to your trip cost.  If you cancel, you forfeit that cost.

Airlines  no longer pay commissions.  This is the reason most agencies have tacked on a $35.00 to $100.00 fee to book your air arrangements. Some agencies have stopped doing air-only ticketing altogether.  Other agencies charge a planning fee as described above.