Susan’s Top Five List of Blooomington/Normal Winter Escape Travel Tips

You will be so grateful that you chose your neighborhood airport for a number of reasons. First, the free parking. Yes, your plane ticket may cost a little more and may include changing planes instead of flying direct to your destination than if you flew out from Chicago or St. Louis, but the time and money you will save will quickly add up.

Airport parking for a week in other cities can cost $50 to $75 bucks, plus the gas to get there, and the two hour plus drive to and from during really nasty winter weather. If you make reservations to leave from BN and your flight is delayed or canceled, you can drive back home in minutes instead of being stuck at the airport for days. And at the end of your trip, when you are just desperate to sleep in your own bed, when your flight lands, your bed is right around the corner, instead of hundreds of miles away.

Yes, we all need to wear sunscreen year round to avoid skin damage, premature aging and even skin cancer. But when you have been covered up for months and suddenly you are rocking your tankini on a sandy beach, you just can't wait to get an all over tan that will make your friends back home sigh with envy.

Have you ever seen someone turn purple from over exposure? It can make you very sick and even send you to the hospital. The sun can cause major damage to you before you even get to your second rum punch. Cover your ears, toes, and any exposed hairlines if you aren't wearing a hat all day. Even with a high SPF waterproof sunscreen on, you can achieve that radiant glow that you crave. Pack the aloe vera gel just in case you overdo it. Both products can be triple the price in the gift shops because you can't live without em, so stock up before you leave.

Sure you have a great smart-phone that takes awesome photos and videos, but do you really want to risk it falling in the water or getting lost at the beach? In years past, I would grab a disposable waterproof camera just so I could take photos of sea life when snorkeling.

My husband bought me a waterproof case for my Flip video camera last year and I love it. I took it everywhere without fear of losing it to the elements and it made the attached Jamaica vacation video possible. My smart-phone stayed safely in the room safe during our adventures and since it wasn't with me, I didn't have to answer any pesky phone calls from work.

Thanks to banking institutions stepping up their anti theft practices, if you use your credit card in an area you don't normally live in or travel to, they may turn it off for your protection. This happened to me one year when I was on a trip to Mexico. I used my ATM card to get out some extra cash in Ixtapa, then found out while trying to pay for a burger at O'hare Airport that my card had been reported as stolen by the bank.

It was a Saturday night at 9pm, we had a two hour bus ride ahead of us, and all I really wanted at that moment was a Big Mac and fries. It couldn't be fixed until Monday. Now I go into my bank and tell them ahead of time where I will be and for how long, and they make a notation not to find those charges suspect. Travelers cheques are also less acceptable than they used to be, so bring cash with you.

Everybody loves U. S, Dollars, so bring at least one hundred dollars in singles and fives so you have tipping money and don't have to get change back in foreign currency, and you won't need to exchange any money before you leave.

So you saw this great deal online for a last minute trip at a really low price and since you have just enough room on your credit card you are ready to go. What could go wrong? Everything. Did you consider travel insurance in case you have to cancel at the last minute because of a family emergency?

What happens if a hurricane starts attacking your resort before you get there? What do you mean there is a blizzard here and all the flights are canceled for three of the four days you were supposed to be on the beach? Plus, you didn't read the fine print about the hundreds of dollars in extra taxes and fees that are added on to that “super low” priced trip you found on your own.

Trust me, travel agents can save you money by finding the best deals, get you upgrades and special treatment that others couldn't dream of, and take your phone call if you get stuck in a bad situation. Many times they can also give you personal advice about your destination because they have been there themselves. Let the professionals do the work for you, and you will stay out of harm's way.