Travel Tips: How To Make Your Family March Break Vacation 5 Star

White sand beaches, turquoise blue water and a smile on your family’s face is what everyone is hoping for this March Break. Family vacations can create some of the best memories, so avoid possible pitfalls this March Break by making an informed decision when booking your trip. Be Sure to Manage Your Expectations Many Ontarians want to escape to a 5 star all-inclusive resort for March Break, but did you know that the rating systems vary and are based on metrics such as:

• The country’s standard of living
• Hotel’s location & proximity to the ocean or other landmarks
• Various amenities & activities available at the hotel or resort to travellers

Consider that rating systems for hotels and resorts abroad are not always comparable to Canadian standards. It’s important to consider that different living standards and practices may exist outside of Canada, including services such as:

• Water & electricity
• Accommodations
• Services
• Food, food preparation & water quality

There is no standard international star rating system for hotels and resorts. Every tour operator and/or association has its own quality rating system for rating hotels and resorts located abroad. Be sure to know what your expectations are and do your research. Look at online reviews and testimonials. The best types of reviews are the ones that come directly from your friends and family. Ask Your Friends & Family for Referral Destinations & Hotels If you’re booking a March Break trip and you are not familiar with a particular destination, ask your friends about possible vacation spots and if they were satisfied with the trip and the arrangements. First-hand references are hard to beat. But remember, you are hearing an opinion based on other people’s likes, dislikes, and standards. Their idea of a good hotel could be quite different from yours. Book with a TICO-Registered Travel Agency  To verify if a travel agency or website is TICO registered, check our online directory. Take the TICO Traveller Quiz to see what type of traveller you are. Sign up to receive quarterly travel consumer protection email updates. For more travel tips and information, visit the Smart Traveller Guide. All travel agencies and websites located and operating in Ontario are regulated by TICO. Registered travel agencies and websites provide additional consumer protection for your travel investment that may not be available when booking with travel agencies and websites based in other countries or provinces. For more information about how TICO helps, click here.