FAQs

I would recommend bringing good walking shoes (for the centuries-old stone you’ll walk on in Rome), a cheap water bottle (that you won’t mind accidentally forgetting on La Sagrada Familia’s steps), and an extra phone battery (to make sure you capture all the beautiful angles of the Eiffel Tower as you wander the Parisian streets). If I’m traveling to country known to have some pickpockets, I like to bring a small zippered crossbody bag to wear on the front side of my body.

Typically, reservations for Disney resort packages will open about mid-year for the next year, so that’s when you can start actually booking it. However, since reservations for dining and magical extras can be done 60 days in advance, if you think you want one of those (like a visit to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique), then you’ll want to be booked before that time so you can make your reservations as soon as it opens for you. Booking for Disney cruises can be done about a year to two in advance. If you’re interested in a themed cruise like Very Merrytime, Halloween on the High Seas, Pixar or Marvel Day at Sea, then the sooner the better as those fill up quickly!

A bowl game package is typically 3 or 4 night trip that includes a charter flight, transfers to and from the hotel and game day transfers with game tickets. We do offer land only packages too, which would include your hotel stay and game day transfers and tickets. A lot of the times we will stay at the team hotel, so you are able to see coaches and players walking around which is exciting for the fans. With different events, like watch parties for basketball games and Hawkeye Huddles there are Hawkeye related activities to do almost every single day.

Families should start planning their spring break vacations as soon as they know they want to go on spring break. It is such a busy time, so availability is low and prices are high. The sooner the better when it comes to spring break.

A better question would be what should you pack in your carry on. There are many things that one can bring on a plane that are not allowed through TSA. For example, any liquids should be less than 3.4oz/100ml and fit into a quart sized container through security, however you can choose to bring an empty water bottle to be filled after you’ve cleared security! I recommend packing some headphones, an extra pair of clothes, entertainment such as a book or a device with pre-loaded music/podcasts, & movies, a foldable tote, lip balm, dry travel snacks, and a large scarf that can be folded into a pillow or used as a blanket!

I always say, the sooner the better, once you are locked in on dates you should start booking. There is no way to know if fares will go down, but the longer you wait, they will more than likely go up due to availability.

You can always exchange foreign currency to have some cash on hand like Euros, British Pounds, Pesos, Canadian Dollars.
CRBT Downtown 1st Ave location carries on hand the above-mentioned currencies. For high amounts please allow 2 weeks to order and receive your currency. They will exchange for a fee if you are not a customer of the bank and will waive the currency exchange fees for clients. Please ask me for additional information if needed.

Denominations Useful are for Euros 5,10,20,50. You should not need higher bills than that. Please note that for some currencies their small denomination is in coins (ex: Euro). Be sure to spend all of your coins before returning home as they will not be exchangeable to US Dollars upon your return.

Cash will be used as tips and restrooms in Europe so make sure you do carry some with you.

Denominations Useful for Pesos are 100,200 and 500. 100 Pesos will equal around 5$.

If you need to use an ATM, be sure to use one that is attached to a BANK to avoid being charged double conversion fees. When you withdraw cash from an ATM if you have the option select the OPTION for YOUR BANK to make the conversion. Your Visa will also charge you a foreign withdrawal fee on top of the conversion rate. I recommend exchanging some cash but is completely up to your discretion.

If you need to exchange currency it is best to do so locally rather than in an airport or in the destination, as their rates will be higher.

There are a total of 63 National Parks in the United States.  

The best routes are as follows:

1. Glacier National Park Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park
   Recommended time 7 – 10 days
2. Utah’s Mighty Five highlighting Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park
   Recommended times 7 days
3. Arizona’s Most famous highlighting Grand Canyon National Park, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend
   Recommended time 10 days
4. Best of Colorado highlighting Eldorado Canyon State Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
   Recommended time 8-14 days
5. California’s Mighty Tens highlighting Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Channel Island National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Sierra National Forest, Pinnacles National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Redwood National Park
   Recommended time 8-14 days
6. Wyoming’s Best Hits which will highlight Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park
   Recommended times 10 days
   New Mexico to Texas highlighting White Sand National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park
   Recommended time 5 days
7. Dakotas Black Hills highlighting Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Deadwood South Dakota, Devils Tower National Monument, and Thermopolis
   Recommended time 5 days
8. Olympic Peninsula Loop highlighting Olympic National Park
   Recommended time 3 days
9. Washington Beyond the Coast highlighting Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascade National Park, Maine highlighting Arcadia National Park
10. Blue Ridge Parkway which will highlight The Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
    Recommended time 5 days
11. Beyond California Coast which will highlight Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park
    Recommended time 5 days
12. West Virginia Wonders highlighting New River Gorge National Park, Blackwater Falls State Park
    Recommended time 3 days
13. Florida Keys highlighting Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park
    Recommended times 5 days
14. Oregon Mighty Six highlighting Crater Lake, Mt Hood National Forest, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, McLoughlin House
    Recommended days 5-7 days