Melbourne

Although the city has a reputation for its changeable weather, March is an excellent time to explore the city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. In March, the scorching Australian summer fades into the background giving way to beautifully mild evenings, perfect for strolling along the South bank of the Yarra River. While Victoria is Audtralia’s biggest continental state […]

Is a Destination Wedding Appropriate For You?

Is a Destination Wedding Appropriate for You? Is a Destination Wedding appropriate for you? The answer is perhaps. It depends. Our opinion is that your wedding should be done your way. If you want a destination wedding then that’s exactly what you should do.  Destination weddings can be cost effective and stress free. They are especially perfect for second marriages. Whether it’s you and the whole gang, just the two of you, or a just a handful of close friends and family, you get to decide. Worried about what others think or how they will feel about being excluded? Communication is the key.  It’s important to have a plan before you announce your intentions. And, remember, when you return you can always have a party to celebrate with those special folks at home. Many couples ask whether they have to pay for their guests to attend. No, you don’t have to pay for the guests you invite, although some couples do.  If you don’t intend to pay, be sure to clarify which costs are included in your guests’ package. If you don’t intend to foot the bill and you’re concerned your guests can’t afford to come, or would spend money they don’t have, put the invitation out there, but be sure to tell them you’ll understand if they can’t make it. Emphasize that there will be a celebration when you return. This way there are fewer hurt feelings. You should absolutely work with a travel agent to ensure that you obtain group discounts for yourself and your guests. This will make the experience more affordable and increase the chances your friends and loved ones can attend, if you’d like. Depending on your planning window, a travel advisor may also be able to arrange a payment schedule for accommodations and activities for you and your guests. Is a Destination Wedding Right for You? Still Not Sure? Take Our Quiz To start planning your destination wedding today, contact a Certified Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist at Enlighten Excursions.  Request a Consultation

Where to Go When- Istanbul

Ahhh… This is the money shot! The blue sky beams brightly over Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. But, what are the chances that when you go to Turkey circumstances will converge so that you can get the money shot? It depends. When advising you when to travel, a number of sites focus almost solely on the costs. If you’re […]

Using Your Smartphone Overseas

Using Your Smartphone Overseas I recently had to figure this out on my own while traveling to France and Turkey, so I hope this article saves you a wee bit of research. While traveling around the US very few of us ever think about the antenna, or radio system, on our smartphones. But unless your phone has a GSM band antenna it is probably not going to work overseas. GSM which stands for global system for mobile communications, is the most popular mobile phone standard worldwide. According to PC Magazine, in the US currently AT&T and T-Mobile use the GSM band. Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular use the code division multiple access band or CDMA. GSM carriers put customer information on a removable sim card. So if your GSM phone is unlocked, then you can purchase a sim card once you arrive overseas and place it in your phone. Until you get your new sim card keep your phone on airplane mode to avoid international charges. What you are doing specifically when you buy a sim overseas is buying a daily or monthly plan on a local network in your overseas location and registering your phone on that network. This means however, that people won’t be able to reach you at your regular phone number, but you will be able to use your phone to reach them if necessary and to search the net, send and receive email depending on what plan you buy. If you are committed to keeping your CDMA phone, but want to stay connected while traveling then you may want to buy a basic unlocked gsm phone at a store or online in the US, that only calls and texts. Currently these cost $25 and up. You can even opt for a basic gsm android phone for between $100-200 if you want to access your favorite apps etc while traveling. Either way, once you do this then you can buy and register a local sim card in your overseas’ destination airport or city and be ready to go. Schedule a Consultation