Most people have heard luxury travel vacation horror stories about lost, stolen or damaged luggage. But in this day in age, there are a lot more restrictions about what you can and cannot pack or bring aboard, in addition to more ways to be ripped off by con artists and petty thieves. Avoid these travel stresses by following some common sense luggage safety tips.

Have a Back Up Plan

Assume that everyone at the airport is unable to help you. This means you must help yourself. First, purchase travel insurance that covers lost or stolen luggage. Make sure your luggage tags are secure and within plain sight. Bring your own luggage tags from home as a backup. Don’t put your home address or phone on your luggage tags. This alerts everyone you are out of town and where you live. Plus, should your luggage get lost as you depart, you won’t be at home to receive it. A good idea is to use the address of your travel agent who specializes in luxury vacations. That way, they can receive your personal items and safely hold them for you. Pack a few clothing items in your carry-ons, just in case. Clothing is the hardest to replace when traveling, and if you have an extra set, you will save yourself some time and money should the worst befall.

Who doesn’t like to save on travel and lodging costs and make arrangements from their home? The Coastal Vacation Club, an online travel industry and wholesale travel club, helps their members do just that. The club is comprised of individuals who already own and operate their own travel business. Working together, these groups of people use a number of different vendors and online bookings to pass along tremendous savings to their members. A central agency along with a team of directors train each business owner to use specific strategies to secure discounts and other perks.

Have you been thinking about getting away? Is cost an issue?

When you join the Coastal Vacations Club, you can save up to 85 percent on your travel and lodging and receive other benefits as well. This online discount travel site locates significant discounts on everything from plane tickets, condos and hotels.

How would you like to have a comfortable, home-like environment for about $200-$300 per week for a fully equipped condo, for example? Or maybe you’d like to relax and enjoy yourself without worrying about what vacation is costing you. So why pay retail price for your vacation when there are so many available discounts online?

Coastal vacation scam artists take people’s money with promises of phony vacations. Many of these offers use words like “cheap Hawaiian vacation” to lure travelers.

Most people dream of taking a coastal vacation. They may hope for a cheap Hawaiian vacation package or dream of a coastal vacation resort weekend.

But many coastal vacation scams disguise themselves as legitimate offers. Police report an increase in coastal vacation scams in recent years.

The Internet spawned a new breed of coastal vacation scam artist wanting to cheat honest consumers out of their money. Anyone who types in cheap Hawaiian vacation package into a “Google” search engine will find over one million his.

The Federal Trade Commission reported 3,600 consumers scammed in 2002, amounting to $3.5 million. How can consumers tell the difference between a coastal vacation scam and an honest cheap vacation package?

1. Many people operating coastal vacation scams will ask for a credit card or other financial information early in the conversation. Many of these so-called vacation companies want consumers to give their financial information online for a “cheap Hawaiian vacation.”

The desire by the company to receive financial information before the consumer feel comfortable doing so should indicate a red flag and a possible coastal vacation scam.

Are you currently seeking a family trip or a romantic getaway? Have you scrounged the paper trying to find the best deals and help choose a perfect destination only to come up empty handed and frustrated? If so, then you might need the help of a Coastal Vacations Director.

According to many newbies and also experienced travelers, Coastal Vacations Directors are more then travel agents. They are dedicated and experienced professionals who work with travel agencies and call centers. They know the travel industry inside and out and work diligently to match you with the trip that you heart and soul wants at a price that your pocketbook will enjoy.

I’ll let you in on a little more details about Coastal Vacations Directors and how you can use them to your benefit…

First of all, you should keep in mind that many Coastal Directors are truly gifted whereas a handful of them are a waste of time and money. To find the best one, you can first contact a reputable Coastal Vacations call center to work with. To do so, you should ask the call center staff and agency these questions:

Looking for a getaway close to Metro Detroit? Look no further. Lexington, Michigan is located in the beloved thumb of the Lower Peninsula. Only an hour and a half drive from Southeast Michigan it brings outdoor activities for hunters, fishermen and sunbathers alike.

Lexington is location on the shores of Lake Huron providing boaters a wonderful place to water ski, snorkel, swim and relax. Boaters are able to rent slips in the Lexington Harbor and enjoy the amenities that the downtown area has to offer. Quaint little shops ranging from fudge shops, clothing stores to the historic General Store, there’s something for everyone’s taste.

Downtown Lexington is home to great restaurants and entertainment. Looking for a gourmet sandwich or pizza? Make sure to visit Smackwater Jacks. Smackwater Jacks offers visitors, such treats as, freshly baked Focaccia bread, homemade soups, cappuccino’s and of course their famous sandwiches and pizzas. Visit the Cadillac House if you want to catch a game on their big screen or share a cocktail with many of the locals in the area. Lexington’s newest addition is their theatre, The Lexington Music and Theatre Company. Catch plays put on by local area actors. If you are looking to play some golf, visit Lakeview Hills. Lakeview Hills offers challenging courses through water, sand and trees. Golf isn’t the only game they offer. After having some dinner, challenge your partner to a game of bowling.

So you decided to visit Walt Disney World this year? Now the fun begins as you plan everything you wish to see and do. As you plan all the details of your trip, you will first need to decide where you would like to stay in Orlando. If you research all the available hotels in the Orlando area you will overwhelmed with the number of choices you will have.

With thousands of hotel rooms in the area, from on-site Disney hotels to off-site large and small hotel chains, you really have quite a few decisions to make before you choose one. In order to determine what will work best for you, you should consider both your budget and the needs of your traveling party.

The number of people in your party and their ages and needs should guide you to where you should stay when visiting Walt Disney World. Usually, large parties benefit from suite type hotels or even renting a home during the stay, as most hotel rooms are geared for a total of 4 persons (2 adults and 2 children). Travelers with small children like to stay close to the theme parks and enjoy the ability to commute back and forth from the parks to the hotel with ease. The ages of your travelers should also be considered, as some of the family-budget type hotels may not be enjoyed by seniors or honeymooners.