Why You Should Use A Travel Consultant For Your Honeymoon

Planning a honeymoon while planning your wedding can definitely add extra burden and stress! 

Let us try to describe why you should use a travel consultant for arranging and preparing your honeymoon.

One of the first decisions couples face when planning their honeymoon is whether to use the services of a travel agent. A do-it-yourself approach may sound alluring and adventurous, especially if you have a preconceived notion of your honeymoon. However, going it alone may pan out more adventures than you signed up for!

We realize that wedding planning can be quite stressful and time consuming. We feel that planning a honeymoon should not be. We begin with an initial meeting with you.  Getting to know you helps us guide you through the entire honeymoon design and honeymoon planning process holding your hand every step of the way.

Like working with a bridal consultant, a travel consultant can offer you many perks. In addition to doing all of your booking (for accommodations, transportation, and anything else you'll need in advance), you will also benefit from the agent's globetrotting expertise and access to insider discounts. In many cases, agents can obtain better deals for you than even the most discounted travel websites, and in some cases, your agent will be able to get you package deals.

Think how you’d handle these situations:
    1.    A few days before the wedding, you get a call.  Your flight is cancelled, and you had booked your own air online.
    2.    You also have booked your own accommodation, transport, etc.
    3.    Furthermore, you didn’t know about travel insurance.

So NOW, you have to figure out who to call first, what to do.  

In any of these instances, the services of a travel agent would prove invaluable. You would not have to worry. Your travel consultant would make sure alternate arrangements are made. Despite what you may think, your travel agent will probably save you money compared to what you could book on your own. And, if this is the first big trip you’ve ever planned, you really need a travel consultant – things go wrong, airlines change schedules, natural disasters get in the way, you name it. 

I handle my clients’ travel arrangements directly, so if the resort they have reserved goes on sale, for example, I am notified and can match the sale price for them.

I can also help troubleshoot problems.

If there is a flight schedule change or cancellation, I can act right away to resolve the issue.

With an online booking site, you don’t get that personal service.

They don’t know you or anything about your trip

- See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/why-you-should-work-with-a-travel-agent-to-plan-your-honeymoon/#sthash.CcqktnCh.dpuf

A travel consultant handle your travel arrangements directly, so if the resort you  have reserved goes on sale, for example, she will let you know. A consultant can also help troubleshoot problems. If there's a flight schedule change/cancellation, she can act right away to resolve the issue. One more thing is that with online booking sites, you don’t get that personal service. They don’t know you or anything about your trip.

So, now that you’ve decided you’d rather leave it to the experts, you need to find an expert – travel consultant, that is.

Many travel consultants, like us, require a nominal, nonrefundable deposit upfront. Don’t be discouraged by this policy. Often, it means you’re taken seriously, and your travel consultant will take her time in planning your honeymoon. Keep an open dialog with your travel consultant, and the end result is the perfect honeymoon for you.

Finally, keep your mind open to suggestions your travel agent may have.  

I handle my clients’ travel arrangements directly, so if the resort they have reserved goes on sale, for example, I am notified and can match the sale price for them.

I can also help troubleshoot problems.

If there is a flight schedule change or cancellation, I can act right away to resolve the issue.

With an online booking site, you don’t get that personal service.

They don’t know you or anything about your trip.

- See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/why-you-should-work-with-a-travel-agent-to-plan-your-honeymoon/#sthash.CcqktnCh.dpu

I handle my clients’ travel arrangements directly, so if the resort they have reserved goes on sale, for example, I am notified and can match the sale price for them.

I can also help troubleshoot problems.

If there is a flight schedule change or cancellation, I can act right away to resolve the issue.

With an online booking site, you don’t get that personal service.

They don’t know you or anything about your trip

- See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/why-you-should-work-with-a-travel-agent-to-plan-your-honeymoon/#sthash.CcqktnCh.dpuf

I handle my clients’ travel arrangements directly, so if the resort they have reserved goes on sale, for example, I am notified and can match the sale price for them.

I can also help troubleshoot problems.

If there is a flight schedule change or cancellation, I can act right away to resolve the issue.

With an online booking site, you don’t get that personal service.

They don’t know you or anything about your trip.

- See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/why-you-should-work-with-a-travel-agent-to-plan-your-honeymoon/#sthash.CcqktnCh.dpuf

I handle my clients’ travel arrangements directly, so if the resort they have reserved goes on sale, for example, I am notified and can match the sale price for them.

I can also help troubleshoot problems.

If there is a flight schedule change or cancellation, I can act right away to resolve the issue.

With an online booking site, you don’t get that personal service.

They don’t know you or anything about your trip.

- See more at: http://www.estateweddingsandevents.com/wedding-planning-2/why-you-should-work-with-a-travel-agent-to-plan-your-honeymoon/#sthash.CcqktnCh.dpuf

xoxo

YourTripMate

-Travel Consultant -

Feel free to contact us thru:

Email: abbatourandtravel@gmail.com

Twitter: @YourTripMate 
LINE: yourtripmate
Whatssap: +62 87878405640

Common Travel Mistakes We Should Avoid!

Even the most meticulously planned trip is subject to snafus, but with a little insider know-how, you can avoid making the common mistakes that can derail a vacation. Stick to the guidelines below, and you're more likely to have a trip that's memorable not for lost luggage and rushed sightseeing, but for the thrill of discovering a new place and savoring it.

1. Overpacking

At home, with your complete wardrobe available, there's no reason not to run through work, workout and working-the-clubs outfits in a single day.

But when your life is crammed into a couple bags, your fashion morality changes.

Those socks you wore on the plane should be good for another go.

The purple tee you slept in ought to be alright for a third wear.

Yesterday's undies? Well ...

According to a recent survey by Travelodge, two-thirds of travelers typically return from a trip with at least six unworn outfits.

The lesson: You don't need a new set of anything for each day of a trip. Figure on at least two wears for (almost) everything.

2. Not buying something you like as soon as you see it

You think you're gonna circle back to that shop.

You think you'll see a cheaper, better version somewhere else.

You won't.

That evocative street painting or those Metallica nesting dolls you didn't buy? Now not having them will haunt you for the rest of your life.

When you see something you like, just buy it and live without regret.

3. Trusting "near city center" descriptions

"Near city center" is like a Bible verse -- open to vast interpretation.

When you find the money you saved on your "near city center" hotel is being spent on 30-minute commutes and outrageous taxi fares, you know you've committed one of the cardinal sins of travel.

Online booking websites do not describe specific location of the accommodations they put on. Discuss what you want and dont want to your travel consultant.

4. Taking the "super" shuttle

Wait on the curb for a ride in a sweat-soaked van or bus (i.e. DAMRI BUS) and risk being the last one dropped off on a nine-hotel run, all in the name of saving a few bucks?

Your time is worth more than that.

Adam Carolla brilliantly sums up this classic travel blunder in his book, "In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks."

"The shuttle is the worst a few Rupiahs you'll ever save. It adds 90 minutes to whatever a Town Car or cab would have been. You have the unenviable choice between being dropped off last or being dropped off first and having a bunch of losers who can't afford cab fare and have no friends or loved ones with cars knowing exactly where you live."

The lesson: Take our private car service where we will take you directly to wherever your destination is after landing at Lombok International Airport.

5. Trying too hard to chisel out a bargain

There's no faster way to become embittered with the locals than going toe-to-toe with a market full of hungry sales people and shopkeepers.

Yes, we understand there's principle involved, but do you really need to whittle the equivalent of fifty cents off the price of an embroidered handbag that's going to sit in the back of a closet anyway?

Just buy the damn thing and spare your heart the cortisol burst for when it actually needs it.

6. Buying cheap flip-flops

You think, "I'm only gonna wear 'em for a week, I might not even take 'em home, why buy the good ones?"

The answer comes when you blow out a toe strap and shred the bottom of your foot a mile into a hike across the local lava beds.

And now you have to go back.

7. Fearing street food

No one wants to get sick on vacation, but why travel all the way to Lombok and not eat the local grub?

The locals don't like food poisoning any more than you do. If they're in line, consider the place vetted and assume you're going to be fine.

Click here for ideas on local food Lombok can indulge you.

8. Over-reliance on guidebooks

Making a travel plan using only your guidebook is like making a plan to stand in line at the bank for a week.

Guidebooks are great -- we use them all the time -- but it's best to pull just one or two suggestions per day from a guide that thousands of like-minded travelers have read or downloaded.

Again, plan your trip with a travel consultant will save you from wasting a lot of money, effort, and possibilities of becoming stressful in arranging your trip. 

9. Obsessive photography

The obsession/obligation to document every street scene, templs and starter course kills the spontaneity and visceral experience that should be the backbone of travel.

It's now so easy to take photos that one click leads to another.

Before you know it, you have 300 pictures on your phone comprising old buildings, blurry sunsets and plates of food.

Congratulations. Your trip is now defined by low-quality images on a handset that, trust us, nobody back home wants to spend 20 minutes scrolling through.

10. Not printing out reservation details

They're already on your phone and computer, so why bother with hard copies of your hotel name and address?

Because your phone, computer, tablet and other electronics might not work with the local network as soon as you land, especially after crossing oceans.

Now where are you supposed to go? 

*This post is inspired by this.

How to Choose the Right Sunscreen

For starters, SPF stands for sun protection factor. The numbers don't refer to how long you can spend outside without getting a sunburn, they refer to the amount of UVB protection the product offers. Sunscreens with SPF 15 filter out 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 filters out 97 percent, SPF 50 blocks 98 percent, and SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays.

The thing is, wearing a sunscreen with a higher number won't allow you to stay out longer, since the effectiveness of sunscreen decreases over time. Plus if you're active, either swimming or sweating in the sun, the moisture can wash sunscreen away, leaving your skin less protected. So choose a sunscreen with at least an SPF 15. If you have fair skin that burnseasily, choose a higher SPF. Since UVA rays lead to wrinkling and sun spots, you want to make sure the bottle also says it's a broad-spectrum sunscreen, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunscreen every two hours — don't wait to see if your skin is turning red before reapplying since a sunburn may take up to 24 hours to appear fully.

The sunscreen aisle of the grocery store or drugstore these days is big and confusing. The shelves are loaded with gels, sticks, sprays, and oil-free versions in addition to the traditional lotions we grew up with.

What's the best kind to get? That depends on you, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The best sunscreen is the one you're willing to use every day. The next step is to ask yourself these six questions to help make a perfect sunscreen match:

6 Questions to Ask

1. Are you sporty? Then the gels are best, as they adhere well while you move and sweat, he says.
2. Do you break out? Then the oil-free kind is best. Do you have dry skin? Use a creamy sunscreen. 
3. Do you have sensitive skin or rosacea? Then stay away from chemical blockers, opting for mineral (or physical) blockers instead. They use either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which sit on the skin's surface. Chemical blockers are absorbed into the skin and can be irritating.
4. Are you shopping for your kids? Then the stick kind is best as its formulation is waxy, which keeps it from dripping into their eyes. If you have a baby or toddler, choose a mineral/physical sunblock (think zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that may be less irritating to the skin. But if you have a baby who is less than 6 months old, you should keep her out of the sun. "Babies have much more sensitive skin than adults, and sunscreen should be avoided," states the American Academy of Dermatology's web site.
5. Are you bald? It doesn't matter what kind of sunscreen you use, just make sure to slather the sunscreen all over your head. Or better yet, wear a hat. Even better? Do both, said Whitney Bowe, MD, assistant medical director for cosmetic and laser services at Advanced Dermatology PC in Westchester, N.Y. 
6. Are you hairy? Then the sprays and gels are best as they don't take forever to rub in, clinging to hairs like creams do, Zeichner says.

Apply It Right

Apply your sunscreen about 15 minutes before you go outside so that it has a chance to adhere to your skin in a cool environment. If you put it on while you're outside, you could sweat it off, Bowe says. 

You probably need to use more than you think: at least 1ounce -- or a full shot glass worth -- for your whole body every two hours, more often if you've gone swimming or have been sweating, Bowe says. Your face needs a nickel-sized amount. 

Seems like too much? It's not. Research has shown that most people only apply a quarter to half the amount their body actually needs. And that can leave you, well, burned. "Applying half the amount will effectively give you protection of the square root of the SPF," Zeichner says.

Reapply right after swimming and sweating. If you've been using a water-resistant sunscreen, check the label to see how long the water resistance lasts.  

Don't forget your lips, which need a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Got an old bottle of sunscreen? It may be time to replace it.  If you’ve had it a year or more, check the expiration date on the bottle.

With sunscreen has already been applied on u,
u can have a blast in Lombok for sure! ^^

Novotel Lombok - A 4* Hotel in Southern Part Lombok

This four-star Novotel offers the best in exciting activities and facilities for families, couples, honeymooners, and anyone ready to live life to the fullest.Located on the southern shore of Lombok, under an hour drive from the international airport, you’ll be playing on the white sands of the hotels unspoiled private beach in no time. Boasting its very own natural lagoon, four beautiful pools, two restaurants that overlook the ocean, and a health and treatment spa. The Kids Club will leave quite an impression on your children, with tons of fun activities and games. World famous surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling are a must, as well as putting enough time aside for relaxing and resting in the hotels spacious elegant rooms.For that perfect holiday you’ve been looking for, the Novotel Lombok Hotel has you covered.

Novotel Lombok

Kuta Mandalika Beach

Deluxe Room

Suite Room

Suite Room

Private Pool Villa

Superior Room

Romantic Dinner

The Top 10 Travel Quotations You've (probably) Never Heard

By Aaron Hotfelder

As an inveterate quotation-hoarder, I am always on the lookout for concise yet powerful expressions of wit and wisdom related to travel. Here are ten of my favorites, followed by a couple comments on why I find them so memorable and meaningful...

10. "We are sad at home and blame the weather and the ugliness of the buildings, but on the tropical island we learn... that the state of the skies and the appearance of our dwellings can never on their own underwrite our joy nor condemn us to misery." - Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel. Travel is many things-- mind-altering, exciting, challenging-- but it is not a panacea. Those who travel abroad because they're unhappy at home will find that travel does not cure all of life's ills.

9. "When one is traveling, one must expect to spend a certain amount of money foolishly." - Robertson Davies, as quoted by Chuck Thompson in Smile When You're Lying. It happens. Whether it's indulging at the hotel mini-bar or being ripped off by an unscrupulous taxi driver, people often see their money evaporate at alarming rates when they're traveling. Expect it, and most importantly, budget for it.

8. "Very many people spend money in ways quite different from those that their natural tastes would enjoin, merely because the respect of their neighbors depends upon their possession of a good car and their ability to give good dinners. As a matter of fact, any man who can obviously afford a car but genuinely prefers travels or a good library will in the end be much more respected than if he behaved exactly like everyone else." - Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness, as quoted in Rolf Potts' Vagabonding. A reminder that it's your money and your life: do with it what you want. Every dollar spent at home is a dollar that can't be spent abroad. 

7. "There are two things to do in Juneau, drink and get drunk." - Chuck Thompson, quoting a friend, in Smile When You're Lying. It isn't just Juneau; there are only two things to do in a lot of places. Not every travel destination is a winner, and sometimes you're left in the middle of nowhere splitting a bottle of booze with a friend. Still, there are worse ways to spend an evening, or a week.

6. "Sublime places repeat in grand terms a lesson that ordinary life typically teaches viciously: that the universe is mightier than we are, that we are frail and temporary and have no alternative but to accept limitations on our will; that we must bow to necessities greater than ourselves." - Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel. In our normal, workaday lives, the experience of being "humbled" is often an embarrassing or upsetting one. But standing in the midst of Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu, we are happy, ecstatic even, to be humbled. It's a great, great feeling.

5. "You must kill ten hours to make two hours live. What you must be careful of is not to kill ALL the hours, ALL the years." - Charles Bukowski, The Captain is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship. The most powerful force in most people's working lives is inertia: we do what we do because it's what we've always done. But surrendering one's life to inertia is a tragic mistake.

4. "As for the idea of a native country, that is to say, of a certain bit of ground traced out on a map and separated from others by a red or blue line: no. My native country is for me the country that I love, that is, the one that makes me dream, that makes me feel well. I am as much Chinese as French, and I don't rejoice about our victories over the Arabs because I'm saddened by their defeats." - Gustave Flaubert, in a letter to Louise Colet, The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857. As true today as it was when Flaubert wrote it in 1846, travel provides a window into the lives of the oft-derided Others: illegal immigrants, people from the Middle East, Asian factory workers who "steal" American jobs. Travel reminds us of what shouldn't need reminding: these are people too.

3. "The fool, with all his other faults, has this also: he is always getting ready to live." - Epicurus. Couldn't have said it better myself. If not now, when?

2. "We have a new joke on the reservation: 'What is cultural deprivation?' Answer: 'Being an upper-middle class white kid living in a split-level suburban home with a color TV.'" - John Fire Lame Deer, Lame Deer: Seeker of Visions. Ouch. Okay, this one hits a little too close to home. Still, it's a reminder that there's a hell of a lot more to life than watching TV and clicking aimlessly on the internet. A whole world awaits.

1. "Often I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am... Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of your food, your closet full of your clothes, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating." - Michael Crichton, Travels, as quoted in Rolf Potts' Vagabonding. I can't tell you how often that final sentence pops into my mind whenever I'm hanging on for dear life during some insane taxi ride, or arriving in a new town after midnight. No, travel isn't always comfortable, but it's always, always invigorating.

Got a favorite travel quotation of your own? Share it in the Comments. ^^

Things to Pack That Will Save Your Money

For you who are watching your wallet and purse, it's important to stick to a budget, find money-saving travel deals, and get the best possible exchange rate. Additionally, those looking to save cash would do well to pack strategically. The right travel gear can help you keep costs down while traveling. Pack these following items to save money on airline bag fees, laundry-service charges, and other expenses.

Empty Carry-On Travel Bottle

Don't specifically buy those travel-size product. Those are a waste of money. Instead,  pack your own carry-on travel bottles filled with your favorite products. 

Sunscreen Stick

If you're traveling a place like Gili Trawangan or Senggigi (which are tourist major destinations), any sunblock for sale in local shops will probably be really expensive. The wallet-friendly solution is to buy solid sunscreen at your hometown. Neutrogena and Coppertone both offer stick sunscreen, which may be carried onto a plane in any amount since it's not a liquid. Bonus: It will never leak all over your stuff.

Snacks

Once upon a time, airlines were as liberal with edible treats as your grandma. Now, many airlines sell marked-up bagged snacks that you could buy in the store for a lot less. So bring your own bagged candy, crackers, and nuts and save a few bucks.

Duct Tape

Like a Swiss Army knife, duct tape has myriad practical uses. But unlike a Swiss Army knife, you can take it on a plane. Use the tape to put things back together if your suitcase gets ripped by rough-and-tumble baggage handlers, thus saving you from having to spend money on a new bag during your trip. If you're heading to a place with an unfavorable exchange rate, purchasing a big-ticket item like a new suitcase could really eat up your budget.

Other creative uses for duct tape include covering blisters on feet, removing lint from clothing, and creating a makeshift hotel-room safe by taping your wallet and jewelry to the underside of the bed.

Empty Water Bottle

Most travelers know this trick, as is evidenced by the lines that sometimes form at water fountains near boarding areas (we have it in SoeTa Airport - Jakarta). Well, just avoid the overpriced newsstand bottled water by packing an empty bottle in your suitcase and filling it up after you've gone through security. To save space, opt for a squishy, foldable flask like the Vapur Anti-Bottle.

Travel Laundry Detergent

Even if you're planning to pack enough clothing to avoid using laundry services during your trip, an upturned glass of drinks or a leaky bottle in your suitcase could make a mess of your plans or clothes.

Pack travel laundry detergent and stain remover to use in case of a spill emergency (a small package of Rinso, Attack, or Daia would be perfect). 

Traveling with laundry detergent could also save you from having to buy replacement clothes upon your return. Let certain stains set for too long and they might never come out.

**taken from www.smartertravel.com with some changes 

Let's Get Lost

Let's get lost with us ^^

Feel free to contact us..

LOMBOK is not only Senggigi and Gili

Eating Out in Lombok

Lombok means "chili" in Sasak, so it's no surprise that traditional Sasak food is often fiery hot. Lombok is a melting pot of cultures and this is reflected in the styles of food available, ranging from Dutch-influenced breads and martabak to authentic Chinese cuisine, spicy Padang food from Sumatra, and traditional Indonesian fare.

Fish Satay

Sate pusut is a delicious local satay, with meats, spices, and coconut pressed onto flat skewers and grilled. Satay tanjung is a tasty specialty from the Tanjung in north Lombok, but also found in the cities, featuring fresh fish and spices wrapped on skewers and grilled. Lemper are small parcels of sticky rice filled with shredded chicken or beef and spices, wrapped in coconut leaves. Lontong are small conical shaped cakes of rice that have been wrapped in leaves and steamed. Some satays will be served with Lontong.

Sate Rembige
Another kind of famous local satay in Lombok

Bulayak Satay

Lombok is famed for its specialty chicken dish ayam taliwang (small, free-range village chicken), which actually originates from the neighboring island of Sumbawa. A whole ayam kampung is grilled over coconut husks and served with sambal. Pelecing ayam is grilled chicken broken into pieces, added to the spicy and piquant sauce, and slowly simmered, turning the marinade into a delicious red coating.

Taliwang Chicken and Plecing Kangkung

Being a Muslim island, pork is not readily available except in the tourist areas and at Chinese restaurants and lamb is rare. Goat (kambing) however, is very popular. A whole young goat cooked on a spit is the meat of choice for celebrations, parties, and festive occasions, especially the Islamic festivals of Idul Adha and Eid-ul-Fitri. Beef is also freely available on Lombok and a staple in Lombok diets (unlike their Hindu cousins in Bali). 

Large tuna, snapper, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, and a huge variety of shellfish are found in the seas off Lombok. Ikan (fish) are generally served whole and baked, fried, or more often, grilled on outdoor barbecues over a fire of charcoal and coconut husks. Local cumi cumi (squid) and udang (prawns) are cooked in fiery sambal, braised in oyster sauce, or deep fried.

Fish Dish at Cianjur Restaurant
Pic Courtesy: Derrick Chang

Particularly popular in Lombok are pelecing kangkung and pecel, sold from kaki lima and warungs everywhere. Pelecing kangkung is locally grown kangkung (a type of leafy water spinach) boiled and served with fresh bean sprouts and topped with a fiery red chili and tomato sauce. Pecel is a variant that combines kangkung, cabbage, and other vegetables, fresh bean sprouts, and sometimes tomato with spicy peanut sauce and prawn crackers. Lalapan is a plate of fresh cabbage, snake beans, and cucumber served with spicy sambal. Beberuk (or Beberuq) is a typical Sasak side dish of finely diced snake beans and small, round eggplant, with tomato, chili, shallots, lime, and spices. Ares is a unique dish made from the inner stem of the banana tree and mixed with coconut milk and spices. Olah-olah is made from the heart of banana tree flower mixed with coconut cream, mild spices, and finely chopped snake beans. Rujak is unripe fruit such as mango or papaya, mixed with ripe apple, guava, or pineapple, coated in a hot and sweet and sour sauce of sweet soy, palm sugar, and chilies.

Ares 

Beberuq

Mixed Rice (Nasi Campur)