An Incredible Opportunity for your Children: A Free D-Day Electronic Field Trip sponsored by the The National WWII Museum

The 75th Anniversary of D-Day Electronic Field Trip is presented by The Cain Foundation in Honor of the Men of the 30th Infantry Division and all WWII Veterans!

On May 2, 2019, The National WWII Museum will stream a live interactive journey into D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history and a turning point in World War II. Guided by student reporters from the United States, England, Canada, and France, classrooms around the world will embark on a virtual transatlantic adventure to discover the lessons and legacies of Operation Overlord, the code name for the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. 

LTD loves meaningful travel!  We encourage everyone to travel with their children to accomplish at least five benefits and some of the science behind why you should make traveling with your children a priority.  Here are the five things that your child may gain from family travel:

Buy a Two Day Pass at Universal Studios Orlando and Get Two Days Free!

Universal Studios Orlando has a great deal for your spring break or early Summer Vacation! 

Get a 4-day pass to Universal Studios Florida for the price of two!

Make memories with your children and give them the gift of TIME, but save at the same time!

The 2-park 4-day promo park-to-park ticket lets you visit both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks on the same day.

The National Museum of the Pacific War is a Meaningful Experience Centered on The US World War II Pacific Campaign

Since 1967, The National Museum of the Pacific War has expanded to occupy a six-acre campus and gained a reputation as one of the premier military museums in the Nation.

Honor the Greatest Generation Like T. Fred Harvey

To hear the history of the museum first hand and learn more about it, enjoy our interviews with WWII US Marine, T. Fred Harvey, wounded in action on day 9 of the Battle of Iwo Jima, and Brandon Vinyard, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the museum. 

Glenn Paige, Michael Lawrence and Chris Haley will be pushing "Fred" 26.2 miles around the museum to hopefully make him the oldest Marine to complete Marine Corps marathon October 25, 2020. 

👉🏼👉🏼 Click Here to DONATE for his custom racing chair 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 https://bit.ly/2BqfTN4

Over the years the Museum was upgraded and enlarged with additions to the original facility:

JW Marriott Austin is an Unparalleled Upscale Hotel Experience to Explore Activities, People and Culture of Austin Texas

The JW Marriott Austin is a great location for exploring healthy activities, scenery, people, and the culture of the unique city of Austin Texas.

Located only 15 minutes from Austin International Airport, in the heart of the downtown area, The JW Marriott Austin is a perfect example of luxury in a city that is very casual.  

To see the reviews of the JW Marriott, prices and make reservations at TripAdvisor CLICK HERE!

1.  Check in

The JW has the most courteous employees around.  From the minute you step foot in the lobby (see below for Valet commentary - who are not employees of the hotel), your every need is catered to expediently and with a smile.  At the front desk, despite the afternoon rush of arrivals and departures, a staff member was there to greet us and check us in efficiently without any wait.  Water was offered, and luggage was arranged to be delivered to our room.  

The US State Department Continues Travel Advisory for Certain Areas of Jamaica and the Caribbean

Should you travel to Jamaica on a Cruise Itinerary or to a Resort?

Despite the Advisory Issued for Montego Bay, Cruise lines are still visiting this port and tourists are still visiting and becoming victimized at the many resorts all around Jamaica.  Please, at least follow the advisory for certain areas of Jamaica and all of the Caribbean.  

The US State Department issued a warning on January 10, 2018 for certain areas of Jamaica.  You can view that warning here:  US Jamaica Travel Advisory.  It is a level 2 warning which means "Exercise Increased Caution."  Last weekend the Jamaican Prime Minister declared a State of Emergency in certain areas of Jamaica, such as Montego Bay.  Why?  The murder rate is twice as high as in any other parish; last year there were six killings a week on average, and since the start of the year “general lawlessness” has intensified.

Repeated sexual assaults at some of the most popular vacation spots have forced the U.S. State Department to issue several safety warnings to American tourists in the last few years.  Since 2011, the Embassy in Jamaica has recorded 78 reports of rapes or sexual assaults of American tourists. Year after year, the State Department has issued warnings of "sexual assaults perpetrated by hotel employees at resort hotels."

This is not what many of us want to hear as we plan for our holiday Caribbean cruises, longing for some warmth, sun and surf.  

What should you do to keep safe if your ship docks in Jamaica?

1.  This does not affect every port.  The ports of Ochos Rios and Kingston are not affected.  

2.  Take the usual safety precautions:  Don't wear flashy clothes or jewelry, Leave your valuables in the safe and keep what you must bring close to your body in secure bags.  Here is an example that LTD uses on every adventure and it is worth it:

See LTD posting on Security for your overseas trip.

3.  Book a cruise ship excursion for high risk areas like this rather than venturing out on your own.  Just picking up a taxi for a "tour of the island" can lead to putting yourself in situations that you would rather not be in.

4.  Listen to what the US State Department recommends and download the Smart Traveler App for up to the minute information about your destination! 

According to the US Department of State Do not travel to:

Some areas of Kingston due to crime.
Some areas of Montego Bay due to crime.
Spanish Town due to crime. 
Violent crime, such as home invasions, armed robberies, and homicide, is common.  Sexual assaults occur frequently, even at all-inclusive resorts.  Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from driving outside of Kingston at night. 

Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. 

If you decide to travel to Jamaica:

Avoid walking or driving at night.
Avoid public buses.
Avoid secluded places or situations, even in resorts.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
Review the Crime and Safety Report for Jamaica.
U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist. 

Despite all of these warnings, the Jamaican Tourism Ministers says it is still safe to travel to Jamaica. Always remember that these warnings are not just for Jamaica either, the trend of targeting travelers is happening all over the Caribbean! 

If you are injured your travel insurance policies should still cover you, but better not to need them!

Stay safe and travel on!!!

The Centurion Lounge in DFW Dallas Fort Worth gets a Well-Deserved Expansion and Face Lift

When Traveling through DFW use your American Express Platinum Card to gain Access to the Centurion Lounge Near Gate D12 for a good meal and refreshment before your flight.  

The American Express card comes with a hefty fee, but the luxury provided can be offset with using their offers. The luxury you gain can be oh so nice!

It is worth taking the Skylink to this location if you have time.  Allow 10 minutes walk and time for Skylink to get to the Centurion lounge if you are not arriving or departing from D Terminal.  

How Well Does TMobile Inflight internet and Texting Work?

LTD recently made the switch from Verizon to T-Mobile using the #GetOutoftheRed program. On our first flight we immediately gave the T-Mobile In-flight Internet and Texting a Try.

We can't set our location as 25000 feet above the Eastern Seaboard but we can assure you, that is where we are right now!

If you are or may become a T-Mobile customer, first check to see if your favorite airline or phone is compatible with this benefit.

According to the T-Mobile Website:

Not all flights offer in-flight texting service from Gogo. To check if your upcoming flight offers this service, contact your airline.

T-Mobile In-flight Texting is supported on the following US-based airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Line

1. Preflight 

Customer service made sure our phones were set up to use this service.  We had a lovely and cheerful agent in South Florida help.  The preflight set up is easily explained on the T-Mobile website and includes information such as making sure you have WiFi calling enabled.

2. Signing on

The interface was easy. First make sure that your plane is on Wi-Fi well being in airplane mode. Once the plane has reached cruising altitude you can connect to google in-flight Wi-Fi network.

Review of Hilton, The Main, Downtown Norfolk, with a Hip Virginia Vibe and Great Location

Set in a vibrant downtown entertainment complex, this sophisticated and artsy high-rise hotel is a great location to explore this trendy spot in Norfolk, Virginia.

Hilton The Main is just over 1 year old, the newest hotel in downtown Norfolk. LTD had the opportunity to stay at The Main for a midweek getaway.

To Check other reviews of the Hilton, The Main Hotel, rates and book at TripAdvisor Click Here!!

Your Guide for How to find Low Cost Air Online using Kayak Explore and Google Flights Together

If you need a vacation but don’t know where to go, this may be the time to test LTD’s method of finding the best price. Be open to suggestions of places to see and just make Meaningful and Healthy Travel Happen!

Most people pick a destination and then begin to search for deals, but sometimes we do the opposite! This allows you to explore new places!  Let’s face it: For some destinations the airfare is what keeps us from going!  Now with so many “airfare deal” websites, it can become confusing.  Let the internet do the work for you!


Need a vacation?  LTD’s advice to book a cheap flight starts here:

By applying the strategy of finding a great deal's price and then figuring out WHY you want to go there, LTD has traveled around the world without spending TONS of money in business class, premium economy and economy.

What is the best way to find flights if your plans are set?  ARC and Expedia published a study on the best ways to book. 

Where exactly can you find these airfare deals? We start our search with Kayak Explore.