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Vacations needn’t be curtailed due to fear of travel

By Michelle Harman-Hirsch

Like the early explorers, Kyrene Corridor residents want to see new places, search for adventure and experience different cultures and climates.  We will never forget the tragic events of Sept. 11, but we can’t let fear prevent us from enjoying travel and family vacations.

“Taking vacations is essential, particularly for people who are really stressed,” says Dr. Maureen Lassen, a Kyrene Corridor area psychologist in private practice.

“Any kind of break is useful,” says Lassen, “but vacations can be more beneficial because they give us a change of scenery and allow our minds to rest without the typical cues that trigger worries.” 

Vacations not only offer a break from the everyday stresses in our work and hectic home life, but also help people change their perspectives and come back to their work more creatively and more productively, adds Lassen.

Several Kyrene Corridor area travel agents are assuring clients that traveling is safe.  While airlines have cut flight schedules and some would-be vacationers are naturally concerned about traveling, people still want to get away and relax.

Now can be an excellent time to plan a vacation, says Terra Travel owner Paul Seiferth.  Most airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines and tour companies are offering great deals as incentives to help inject new life into the travel industry.

Security measures have already been implemented to protect the safety of passengers.  Travelers can no longer expect to arrive at the airport 30 minutes before a flight departs or proceed right to the gate with their carry-on bag to check-in for a flight. 

Airline passengers are now required to show identification and tickets at several points before boarding an airplane. 

Golden West Travel president and owner Pam Hauer suggests travelers plan plenty of time for airport check-in and be patient with the changes in security procedures.

Hauer also suggests passengers take fewer carry-on bags and be aware of the items no longer allowed in carry-on baggage. 

This includes personal grooming items like nail clippers, tweezers, and razors; small tools, such as eyeglass kit screwdrivers and key chain style Swiss army knives, or any sharp objects; aerosol cans and even batteries in portable CD players. 

These items need to be packed in luggage that is checked through on the airplane.  Keeping this in mind when packing will help speed up the process for everyone. 

Tom Gierada, owner of Sunsational Cruises in south Tempe, says passengers should feel confident about the safety of cruise travel.

Gierada assures his clients that cruise lines have continually trained security teams on all ships.

In addition, cruise ship passengers and personnel now have to show identification, proof of citizenship and have their bags checked each time they board the ship. 

Some cruise lines have moved their ships out of areas such as the eastern Mediterranean, says Gierada, and will now offer more competitive rates for cruise travel in the Caribbean. 

For people who feel more comfortable traveling within the U.S., Seiferth suggests Alaska and Hawaii as popular destinations. 

The Delta Queen paddlewheel ship on the Mississippi, says Seiferth, is a trip that offers the fun of a cruise but allows passengers to remain in the U.S.  

For those still weary of airline travel, Seiferth suggests a drive to Los Angeles to take a Mexican Riviera cruise.

A drive from the Kyrene Corridor area to L.A. takes about the same amount of time as airport check-in, the flight and shuttle transportation to a Los Angeles port.

Hauer, of Golden West Travel,  suggests San Diego and Las Vegas are popular family vacation destinations.

For more travel destination ideas and special package deals, Kyrene Corridor residents can visit the Tempe location of  Terra Travel, northwest corner of McClintock and Guadalupe roads, for a special “Tent Sale” event, Saturday, Oct. 13,  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The event will feature representatives from several cruise lines and tour companies to answer questions.

We can all get caught up in day-to-day routines and responsibilities, but it’s a helpful reminder that budgeting time and money for vacations is important. 

Whether enjoying a cruise up the coast to Alaska, lying by the pool at a resort, making time for a romantic get-away or touring a theme park with our children, vacations are a great way to help us relax and replenish.    

Families can get into adversarial relationships because of time demands in everyday life, says psychologist Lassen. 

“Vacations give families a chance to renew relationships in a non-hectic setting and help remind us that these are the people we can have fun with.”

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