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It's that time of year when plans are being made for the great annual family getaway.
What to do? Where to go? What to see? How much to spend? How much to pack?
All these questions weigh heavily in the back of the minds for those wanting to make lasting memories part of their vacation package.
Charlie Underwood, owner of Orangeburg's Travel Center Inc., says some of the most popular destinations for Orangeburg travelers this year include cruises to the Caribbean and trips to Alaska and Hawaii.
"We're also sending a lot of people to Europe this year," he said, adding that, although Hawaii is doing well this year, the South Pacific in general has not been as popular as usual. "But it's still early in the year. Through the years, it (the South Pacific) has been a very popular destination, particularly combining Australia and New Zealand."
Those trends follow ones for the state, according to AAA regional manager for travel Dayle DeLong. She said Europe, Italy, Alaska, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Barbados are the most popular choices among South Carolina travelers this year.
Disney World, Underwood said, remains a top choice for parents and children, with cruises not far behind.
"Cruise lines now have children's programs," he said. "It's become quite popular."
Rising gas prices are not affecting business or those wishing to travel this year, Underwood said, because many travelers only drive to the port or airport to board another mode of transportation to get where they're going.
"It certainly hasn't slowed down cruise bookings, and it certainly hasn't slowed down flights," he said.
Business starts to pick up at the travel agency after New Year's, Underwood said, with spring being the busiest time of the year for those looking to schedule summer vacations.
"Most of the trips we've scheduled have been seven to ten days," he said. "We do have a lot of short cruise bookings -- three nights, five nights. And ships out of Charleston are very popular."
In fact, cruises departing from Charleston, Underwood said, start booking nearly a year in advance, which brings him to some advice for travelers.
His number one tip? Start planning as far in advance as possible.
"The early bird gets the best price," Underwood said.
Also, when visiting a destination, don't pack too many activities or sight-seeing missions in one trip.
"If you have a limited amount of time, don't do everything you can possibly think of," he said. "Don't try to pack too much in your time unless you have enough time."
For example, Underwood said, it's not the best idea to try and visit a different country every day when traveling in Europe. The same goes for Hawaii. Only have a week? Just visit two islands. Those staying for 10 days can chance visiting three.
Not following that advice could lead to spending most of your vacation in an airport, Underwood said.
And, if driving to destinations with children aboard, Underwood suggests taking plenty of games to keep the little ones occupied.
Packing can be tricky as well. Want to take a different pair of shoes for every outfit? How about all your pretty things? What about half the closet? Underwood said that's the last thing a traveler should do.
"Lay everything out you want to take and start eliminating," he said. "Try to mix and match clothing as much as possible. Take clothing that can easily be washed and dried. Don't try to take the kitchen sink."
Not only will this help when hauling bags from destination to destination, but new airline restrictions make it necessary to take only the items you absolutely have to have.
When Underwood and his wife went on a trip to Europe for three weeks, they packed only 40 pounds of clothing between the two of them. The clothing, he said, was lightweight, easy-to-wash and dry in a hotel room or other lodging arrangement and could be used in a variety of combinations. Just remember -- you're on vacation, not auditioning for a fashion job.
"Don't take any more than you can carry for three blocks," he said.
Other travel necessities, DeLong said, include a passport and related paperwork. She said until January 2007, vacationers traveling to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada could cross boarders with simply a birth certificate or driver's license. But not anymore.
"Now you need a passport to fly" to those locations, DeLong said. And in 2008, those boarding cruises will need a passport as well -- including children.
"We are now recommending that they have it anyway," she said of clients boarding cruises to the Caribbean this season.
Prescription medications are extremely important as well. DeLong said travelers should get them refilled and ready before they leave and have a designated emergency contact back home in case they have questions concerning the medications while they are away.
Other tips include contacting credit card companies and banks before leaving home to alert them of travel plans so that accounts will not be frozen because of "questionable" purchase attempts and giving family members, friends or coworkers a copy of your itinerary so they are aware of your plans and location, DeLong said. A copy of your passport should also be stored somewhere in your luggage in case the original is lost or stolen.
Now that you have the basics of how to prepare for your vacation, one question remains: When is it too late to plan or book a trip?
Underwood said people waiting until the last minute can expect the usual problems -- increased costs, difficulty finding available flights, and so on.
"If you're flying to your vacation destination, it may already be too late," he said. "The planes in many markets are much smaller than they used to be.
"Popular family destinations tend to fill up far more quickly. If you wait until May for a June or July trip, you may not even go."
DeLong said it all depends on the location but agreed that earlier is best.
"The further out you plan, the better chance you have of getting what you want," she said. "I think it depends on the destination ... three to six months (before) for most destinations is fine."
Cruises tend to book months in advance, especially for good deals and desired destinations. "You can sometimes find cruises at the last minute, but it's not as prevalent as it used to be," Underwood said.
Most importantly, Underwood said to remember timing is everything.
The most frequently asked question by those booking a vacation concerns the perfect time to travel to certain places while receiving the best price, Underwood said.
"The timing of your holiday has a lot to do with the pricing of it," he said. "Try to go on what we call the 'off season.'"
T&D Staff Writer Wendy Jeffcoat Crider can be reached by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5546. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
Top 10 'Hot Spots' for 2007
1. Croatia. Located on the Adriatic Sea, this newly independent country in Eastern Europe is attracting increased tourism, particularly among cruise ships. Visitors can enjoy cycling, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, diving and boating, among other activities.
2. Turkey. Another increasingly popular cruise ship destinations, which boasts Ephesus, where preserved ruins of Roman times allow visitors to walk the same streets as Cleopatra and Marc Antony. Offers sun, sea, sandy beaches, mountains, protected natural environments and lakes.
3. St. Barthelemy (St. Barths). Its natural beauty and diverse range of activities, including sailing, diving, fishing, windsurfing and other water sports, make this a new popular vacation destination.
4. Anguilla. Nestled in the northern Caribbean, the long, narrow island is home to 33 white sand beaches and offers vacationers activities ranging from diving among internationally known shipwrecks, swimming with the dolphins, hiking and mountain biking.
5. Cabo San Lucas. Located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula below southern California, it has been a popular site for West Coast socialites for years, offering an array of first-class activities, including championship golf, marlin fishing, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, dining in five-star restaurants and shopping.
6. India. Drawn by sights such as the Red Fort -- the palace in New Delhi -- and the Taj Mahal, India is quickly becoming a target on tourist maps. Activities range from heli-skiing, river running, mountaineering and trekking, wind surfing, snorkeling and photographing wildlife.
7. Brazil. Home of the Amazon (the largest river in the world), massive rainforests and Rio de Janeiro, one of the world's largest cities, visitors to this country can party with Brazilians during the spring carnival and visit Cristo Redentor, Christ the Redeemer, a 125-foot tall art-deco style statue.
8. Guatemala. Mayan ruins dot the landscape and a national museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts in this Latin American country, which also offers the Caribbean's most active volcanoes and highest mountains.
9. Santa Fe. At the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe offers great skiing on a 12,000-foot mountain with dazzling sunsets. Other attractions include fly fishing, The Chapel of San Miguel, Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sena Plaza.
10. San Diego. Shopping, unique dining experience, a beautiful harbor and a world-renowned zoo help define the city. Day cruises, kite surfing, championship golf, beautiful beaches, museums, cruises, gaming and attractions such as SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and LEGOLAND California make this a destination the whole family can enjoy.
Information courtesy of AAA.
Trip-planning tips
* Be sure to have a tentative budget and schedule so your trip planning can be accomplished in a realistic manner.
* Be sure to mention any special needs, expectations or requests, such as that your definition of "roughing it" is a room at a three-diamond hotel.
* Let your representative know if you plan on bringing the family pet.
* Let them know if someone you're traveling with has special needs.
* If you're leaving the country, you'll need a passport and possibly a visa or health documentation.
* If your destination is a country where English is not spoken as the first language, write down some useful phrases ahead of time.
* Make sure you are aware of any cultural sensitivity so as to avoid causing any offense to your hosts. You can also double-check with the State Department that your destination is a safe one.
* Find out the driving regulations or the availability and accessibility of public transportation, as well as other do's and don'ts that might be appropriate in planning your particular trip.
Information from www.aaa.com.
Family vacation packing list
Where are you going? What is the climate like there? What is the season when you arrive there? If you expect the weather to be hot, bring light clothing. On longer trips, bring some clothing detergent so you can wash your clothes in the hotel room. That way, you need not bring so much clothing with you.
Packing for family vacations
For each child, bring:
* Four t-shirts and four pairs of pants or shorts for the weekend, or seven t-shirts and seven pants or shorts for a week, and detergent to wash the soiled clothes in the hotel
* Three sets of pajamas for the weekend (in case they spill juice on their PJs before bed) or seven sets of pajamas for the week
* Slippers
* Swimsuit for beach or pool
* Underwear; thermal if in cold climate
* If cold, scarves, gloves and warm socks
* Shoes
* Socks
* Two nice outfits
* Children's soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb
* A sweater or two and two pairs of jeans if it will be cold
* A small toy to occupy each kid
* If you are going to the beach, bring along water toys for beach play and an inflatable beach ball and a sunscreen of at least SPF 15
For the women, bring along:
* Three tops and two bottoms (one a pair of chino or wool pants, depending on weather) that mix and match for a weekend; five days plotted from head-to-toe for a week or more. Take a long skirt with a bit of flow and a colorful print wrap blouse
* Seasonless jersey mid-knee-length dress
* A cotton, structured sundress with wider straps for warm climates
* A white shirt
* A lightweight (for warm weather) or cashmere (for cold) cardigan
* A tank or camisole top with a built-in bra for layering
* A shell or vest for layering
* Khaki pants
* Dark, trouser-shaped denim jeans
* Plaid Bermuda shorts or cropped pants for warm climates
* A blazer
*A lightweight trenchcoat for warm weather; a long warm coat for cold weather
* Tissue-weight (if warm climate) cotton or cotton-nylon neutral-colored T-shirts in a variety of shapes
* Beads, pearls and earrings
* Cleanser, moisturizer, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, makeup, perfume
* Swimsuit for hotel or beach; for the islands, a bikini is fun and easy-to-wash
* If needed, beach cover-up (a long shirt, a tunic or sundress can double for this)
* A fabric or leather-trimmed pocketed beach bag big enough for a towel, a book and sunscreen, but small enough to shop with.
* Underwear
* Two pairs of shoes, one brown or black, one a color like red or metallic. Metallic heels are good for dressing up; metallic flats go from beach to the street. Peep-toe flats are stylish now and comfortable; espadrilles and wedges are also good. Dressy (beaded or mother-of-pearl) thongs can go from the pool to dinner.
* Yoga pants can double as pajama bottoms
* A large structured tote for the plane
* A smaller structured purse
For the men:
* Clothes for one week
* Swimming trunks
* Shaving cream, razor, aftershave, cologne
* Shoes
* Sandals
* Sweater
* If cold climate, thermal underwear, scarves, gloves and fleece clothing
If your children are very young and still drink from a bottle, bring:
* At least four bottles each
* Brush for washing the bottles
* Dishwashing liquid
* Milk powder
* One bottle of distilled water, just in case
* Sterilizing tablets
* A container for sterilizing the bottles
Miscellaneous items to bring on any family vacation:
* Any prescribed medicines, a pain reliever, contact lens solution
* Camera
* Extra film
* Sunblock
* Insect repellent
* Torchlight
* Money belts to keep your passport and emergency cash
* Dish washing liquid
* Lavender oil (for a relaxing bath for you and your children. Also doubles up as a first-aid kit in the bottle. Good for healing small cuts and bruises.)
* Tea tree oil (antiseptic for first aid)
* Foldable umbrellas (one for each member of the family)
* One notepad, one box of crayons, one stack of white paper
Additional vacation tips:
* Have some traveler's checks at hand.
* Get travel insurance and be prepared.
* Check your visa. Make sure all your travel documents are ready.
* Make sure you are not too close to your credit card limit. You need to be able to use your credit card in case of emergencies.
Information from www.family-vacations-plan.com and "InStyle instant style" (2006)
AAA in Columbia will hold two seminars for travelers beginning next weekend.
The first, a passport clinic, will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will give individuals and families the opportunity to apply for passports.
And on April 3 at 6 p.m., a seminar for first-time cruisers is planned, giving travelers the opportunity to get information about cruises, including tips on packing, documentation needed, etc.
Both events will be held at the AAA office, Dutch Square Boulevard, Columbia. For more information, call 803-798-9205.