Melissa at Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel

River Valley Bridal Fair 2012

2012-02-07T11:55:00.004-06:00

Please come visit our booth at the 2012 River Valley Bridal Fair!
February 19, 2012
Doors open at Noon
Fashion Show starts at 3:00pm

Great door prizes including $500 Travel Dollars & more to the Romantic Destination of your choice!!!! We are the travel agency sponsoring this GRAND PRIZE! So please come visit us!

( You do need to be present to win the grand prize! )

Can't wait to see you there!

Disney Review

2011-09-23T15:01:00.001-05:00

I am following my client's Disney review, and laughing hysterically!!
Check it out:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2766084

Thanks Tracy!!!

Amusement Parks!!

2011-09-20T11:39:00.002-05:00

Experts declare the world's best amusement parks in 2011 competition...

CLICK HERE for the full article

Have you been to any of these?
Tell me about it...

Best Amusement Park – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Best Waterpark – Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas
Best Children's Park – Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa.
Best Marine Life Park – SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
Best Seaside Park – Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Best Wooden Coaster – The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind.
Best Steel Coaster – Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Best Kids' Area – Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio
Best Halloween Event – Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
Best Christmas Event – Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Best Outdoor Night Show Production – IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Walt Disney World's Epcot, Orlando, Fla.
Best Water Ride – Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
Best Waterpark Ride – Wildebeest at Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
Best Dark Ride – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
Best New Ride of 2011: Amusement Park – New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
Best New Ride of 2011: Waterpark – The Falls at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas
Best Indoor Waterpark – Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas
Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction – Noah's Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa.

Cruising.....with fees...

2011-08-05T10:04:00.001-05:00

The days of all-inclusive cruises including the cost of all of your meals seems to be vanishing.
For a few years now, cruise ships have been offering "premium" dining at a higher price. ("Want a steak dinner? Splash out for a night at a higher price.") But in 2011, a mania for up-charging for meals may be kicking into gear.
Case in point: Royal Caribbean International has bumped up its fees for a couple of its so-called "premium" restaurants: Rita's Cantina and the Seafood Shack on Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.
Passengers used to pay $8 for meals at Rita's Cantina, for instance. They'll now pay a fee of $3 to dine at the restaurant and then pay a price for each item ordered a la carte, too. The 15 percent gratuity isn't included either. (A tip of the hat to Cruise Critic for breaking this story.)
The first absurdity here, I think, is that cruise company RCI considers Rita's Cantina and Seafood Shack to be "premium restaurants."
Rita's Cantina and Seafood Shack serve the type of food that ought to be included in the "all-inclusive" price in the first place. The menu at Rita's Cantina includes such glamorous items as chicken tacos ($2) and taco salad ($3), while Seafood Shack goes all fancy with a basket of grilled jumbo shrimp ($7). Cruise Critic says that these changes amount to a price hike, noting that a meal with guacamole, a quesadilla and grilled chicken that cost $8 in the winter now costs $11.25.
But, of course, that's because there's now ultra-premium restaurants, like Chops Grille. I'll agree that Chops Grille, with its selection of prime rib and lobster dishes, counts as a premium restaurant. I also agree that it's nice to have the option of splashing out on a fancy meal during a cruise. I'm willing to pay an extra cost for the meal, which is now $30 per person (a fee hiked by $5 this year).
Yet the danger here is that all cruise lines will begin to serve sub-standard food in their main dining rooms. After all, by making the dining hall experience less attractive, a company can make more money by upselling customers on fee-based meals elsewhere on-board.
I don't mean to pick on RCL, which offers an outstanding cruise experience overall. That corporation just happens to have been the latest one to do this.
Another example from this summer:
Norwegian Cruise Lines has put into place a $4 fee for late night room service. Room service used to be free. Royal Caribbean instituted this fee about two years ago.
In another twist, if you order a pizza to your room on Norwegian, you'll pay $5 at any time of day.
Thank you to MSNBC for this article. Click here for full article.

Guide to Cruise Tipping

2011-04-13T15:27:00.004-05:00

CLICK HERE for the full article

How You Should Tip

It is customary to tip cabin stewards and butlers, dining room waiters, assistant waiters and head waiters on the last night of the cruise. Alas, I have been present when tablemates have not shown up that night to avoid giving tips. I have answered waiters' anxious queries about the whereabouts of shipboard acquaintances and seen their chagrin..... (read full article)

When You Should Tip

The cabin steward and butler, the dining room waiters, and assistant and head waiter are tipped on the last night of the cruise. But there are exceptions to this rule. If you plan to do a lot of entertaining in your cabin, or if there is an infant or someone who is ill in your party, you will require extra service from your cabin steward. It is a good idea to give him/her a portion of his/her tip at the beginning of the cruise. You will be surprised how obliging that will make him/her... (read full article)

Whom to Tip and How Much

For the following guidelines, I am going to assume that there is a service charge added to the daily account, usually between $10 and $12 per person, per day—and that passengers will pay it and not opt out. These, then, are pourboires for exemplary service. Looking at it another way, I always try to tip roughly 10 percent of the cost of my cabin, which includes the service charge—and so I typically budget at least $15 to 20 per person, per day, on top of the service charge... (read full article)

Join us at the Australia Event on Monday!!

2011-01-21T11:14:00.000-06:00

Join Us at this Exclusive Australia Event:

Australia allures with its sophisticated cities, stunning coastal and mountain regions, indigenous culture, and world-class food and wine. This exclusive event will guide you to insight and perspective on the vast country and culture of Australia.

While you are there, get a chance to win roundtrip airfare for two to Australia*!

WHAT: There's Nothing Like Australia Event

DATE & TIME: January 24, 2011 at 6:00 P.M.

WHERE: Sheraton Bloomington, 7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN

ITINERARY:
6:00 P.M. - 6:15 P.M. REGISTRATION

6:15 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. WELCOME RECEPTION
Enjoy drinks & hors d'oeuvres while mingling with Australian locals, travel experts, and industry executives

7:00 P.M. - 7:45 P.M. EXPERIENCE AUSTRALIA
Learn to speak Australian, try Australia's very own Vegemite, learn Aussie
Rules Football, enjoy Australian music and entertainment

7:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. GRAND PRIZE DRAWING
Roundtrip airfare for two on Qantas Airways to Australia*

Ever wondered what it would be like to sail in Sydney Harbour, experience the vibrant cultural scene in Melbourne or dive the Great Barrier Reef? Join Travel Leaders at this exclusive event to discover your ideal Aussie adventure and register for a chance to win roundtrip airfare for two to Australia*!

TO CONFIRM YOUR SEAT AT THIS EXCLUSIVE EVENT -
RSVP by January 24, 2011
email: travelleaders@suntimetravel.com or contact our office in River Falls, Red Wing, or Rochester. See below for phone numbers and office address.

Delta 'bidding' and outsmarting the airlines

2011-01-18T10:32:00.004-06:00

OK, I've been reading and reading these articles for the last few days about the new airline 'bidding' on taking a bump. It's so frustrating, because does everyone even realize that there are rules in place so that the airlines have to pay up to $800 already? Please don't put a bid in for your flight for anything under $800.......or else you're allowing the airlines to get around their own rules!!!

Here is one article:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/01/17/how.to.outsmart.airlines/index.html
This is a great article.

Here is another:
http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/can-deltas-bidding-for-bumping-become-an-airline-cash-cow/
Coming from a travel agent, and I too have seen a lot of 'greedy' airlines, I agree with parts of this one!!!!
Hope this info is helpful in deciding whether or not to 'bid' on your vacation plans.......

Visit Australia

2011-01-18T08:46:00.001-06:00

http://www.australia.com/campaigns/nothinglikeaustralia/us/great-aussie-sale

Contact us for details on your dream trip to Australia!!!!!

Social Networks for Travelers

2011-01-13T09:43:00.003-06:00

I was reading this article, and it has a bunch of great links for networks for some great travel advice!! I love it!!!

http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2011/01/whats_the_best_social_network.html

IgoUgo is one of my personal fav's...

Boarding Pets

2010-11-03T11:08:00.003-05:00

http://www.nowboardingpets.com/

What a fun company!

Wedding Show at Treasure Island, Red Wing, MN Nov 7, 2010

2010-11-01T12:13:00.004-05:00

ISLAND DREAMS WEDDING SHOW
TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010

from 11:00am - 3:00pm

BRIDES STOP IN OUR OFFICE – FOR A FREE TICKET!

Stop by our Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel Booth
at the Island Dreams Wedding Show.
We look forward to seeing you!
Island Dreams offers you an elegant and fun opportunity to plan your wedding and to connect with the area's leading wedding professionals all in one day and one place! Discover the perfect menu, wedding accessories, flowers and more - everything you need to make your dream wedding as perfect as you've imagined. Make the most of your most precious resource, time and bring the fun back to wedding planning!

What? No more dirty cruise ships? Congrats!

2010-10-25T11:42:00.002-05:00

Found this article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39800327/ns/travel-cruise_travel/

So happy to hear that the cruise lines are shaping up!!!!

Embarrasing Travel Gear

2010-10-21T12:30:00.001-05:00

Too funny! These items could be very embarrasing!

http://www.independenttraveler.com/blog/?p=522

I think I'm going to have to snag a TUGO, for sure!!!

What NOT to pack (in your checked luggage)?

2010-10-04T13:26:00.003-05:00

I find myself reading articles like this, and really want to share this with everyone!!!
Most of it seems like common sense, but sometimes we forget....
Here is the article:

http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/what-not-to-pack-in-checked-luggage-when-flying/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tripso+%28Consumertraveler.com%29

There’s a general consensus about what travelers should definitely not check:

Electronic equipment:

- computers
- phones
- cameras
- I-pads

Valuable items:
- jewelry
- silver

Essential documents:
- travel papers including confirmation slips
- prescriptions and medications
- insurance papers
- passports
- sensitive work-related materials
……….and the list goes on.

Travel Leaders Pursuit of Paradise Sept 7-25, 2010

2010-08-30T11:08:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't want to win a FREE trip!

Click here for details on this pursuit, and to download your puzzle game piece!!!

I visited Jamaica for the first time!

2010-08-23T15:22:00.006-05:00

We had a wonderful trip to Jamaica....

Traveled August 2010

. . .

Overall impression was great!

We could not have asked for a better trip for our anniversary!!

Sandals Negril was wonderful!

Jeffrey the manager made sure we had a great time.

We were upgraded at check in to a

One Bedroom Penthouse Suite with Butler.

Boy, were we spoiled!

. . .

Here are my notes on Sandals Negril:

. . .

THE ROOM: At Sandals Negril, we had the pleasure of staying in a One Bedroom Penthouse Suite with butler. We had 2 butlers. The four poster bed, with white duvet cover, and pillows you could sink your head into for the night, was awesome. There was a plasma flat screen tv facing the bed, and another plasma slat screen tv in the living room area. The living room area had a couch and chair, coffee table and a table with chairs in the corner. The bathroom had a double sink, jacuzzi tub, walk in shower, and small separate toilet area. Huge bathroom area, plenty of room to move about. Our balcony was also very large, another couch out there, and table and chairs, and a nice drying rack for our wet clothes. Another drying rack inside. The view from our balcony was picture perfect.

I also had the opportunity to see two other room types at Sandals, the Millionaire Honeymoon Penthouse One Bedroom Suite with Whirlpool, and the Honeymoon Concierge Beachfront Walk-out room.

The Millionaire suite was almost identical to our room. It overlooked the gardens area, and was not as quiet as our room. The main road was not that far away, so I'm guessing at times, this room could be a bit noisy from the traffic.

The Honeymoon walk out was exactly what I would expect from a Sandals. Furnishings very nice, direct access to the beach from the little patio, fridge in room, and flat screen tv.

FOOD: We tried most of the restaurants. They all had very good food. Our first night was the main buffet area, and we watched the entertainment, and ate dinner. On your first night in a new resort, it's always hard to know what to do, and what to eat first. But the buffet was good.

We ate at the Beach Grill the next day, ordered some of the more casual food, quesadillas, fish, fries, burgers, etc. All of this was good, hard to mess that up.

We dined at Barefoot by the Sea the next night. The service was S-L-O-W, the food was good, fancy, but really good. But it took a long time to dine.... And although the service was great, it was just slow....this took some getting used to, to vacation on Jamaican time...

The next night we ate at Sundowners. Again, very good food. Service was much quicker here, so we enjoyed that.

The next night we ate at Kimono's, this was our favorite. It's dining teppanyaki style, where they cook the food in front of you. It was nice, because everything they cooked, we all got to eat, we didn't have to choose which meat we wanted. Food was great, service was perfect.

The last night we dined at the regular buffet, we didn't want to race to a dinner reservation or anything, and even the buffet was great. Some of the food was cooked to order, and we had tons of choices.

We did not try the 4C's italian restaurant, heard good things, but it just didn't fit into our schedule.

BUTLER SERVICE: For those that have never had a butler before (myself included) this service was so much more than I had anticipated. Our butlers made it clear that if there was anything at all that we wanted or needed, to just call them, and they could make it happen. They gave us our own cell phone to ring them anytime. We had breakfast out on the beach, lots of room service, they helped us order up a cab, and take a little shopping trip. They even went as far as let us use their own personal cell phones to call home, that is amazing!!!

Every time they made a dinner reservation for us, we had our own reserved table, always decorated with flower petals, and our name on it. And always the best table in the room. Even when we went to the buffet and no reservations could be made, our butler told us to call him, and he made sure we got a sunset view table.

OVERALL IMPRESSION OF JAMAICA: OK, so we didn't leave the resort too much. Why would you, when you are staying at a Sandals and have butlers waiting on your every need? No big reasons, in my mind....ha ha ha. We went down to Beaches Negril, and walked down to the Grand Pineapple. This area of the Negril beach has a much wider beach, and much busier than our little area of Negril. More beach vendors, more people, more action.

This area of Negril reminded me a lot of Cancun actually. Busy, lots and lots of resorts, and not a ton of security. I was able to walk by and in any of these resorts I wanted. The all inclusive resorts had wristbands, but the little mom and pop type resorts didn't. I am sure that some of the resorts in this area of Negril attract people that want the smaller-feel resorts, but it was not what we liked.

We did go down to Rick's Cafe. It's pretty fun to watch the cliff divers jumping. We did not jump. I can see that this would be a lively place to party when the sun went down. There is even a pool you can swim here. Music is great, crowd is fun!

Beaches Negril

I also had the opportunity to see the two Beaches properties in Negril. Beaches Sandy Bay was right next door, and Beaches Negril was a short 5 minute cab ride away.

Beaches Negril was impressive, the beach was wide, and there were lots of activities going on around the resort. The water park and pool are very nice here.

Beaches Sandy Bay was very family friendly, I felt the beach was much smaller and more secure than that of Beaches Negril. The resort itself was quite small, no water park, and the pool was small too. The nice part though, you could take a free shuttle over to Beaches Negril if you wanted to use the water slides, and join more activities during the day. Full exchange privileges.

Beaches Sandy Bay

Travel Tips

2010-08-10T09:06:00.003-05:00

TRAVEL TIPS

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your next travel adventure:

Before you leave, use a printable checklist of items you need to pack, and where you'll be packing them (carry-on or checked luggage.) Include all your frequently-forgotten or last minute items: batteries, cell-phone charger, toiletries, etc, and leave blanks for the specifics about clothes, shoes, and other valuable items. Keep a copy of the list with you. If your checked baggage gets lost, you won't have to try to remember what it contained, and you can share the list with the airline.

Before traveling, always get an extra ATM card. A spare card can save the day if the ATM machine eats your card unexpectedly, or if you damage your card along the way.

Flight delays are more common these days with unpredictable weather and tighter security. It only takes a single episode of almost not making it to the port on time - or missing the ship altogether! - to make getting in town the day before... very much worth it! Plan to arrive a day early, and choose a hotel that offers transfers from the airport and to the pier.

It's easy to forget your cell phone, laptop, and other power cords when checking out of a hotel. Increase your chances of recovery by writing your name and contact information on a piece of masking tape and securing the tape to your power cord.

After checking into your hotel room, go back out and count the doors from your room to the nearest stairway. In case of fire, the stairway may be the only way out. If you had to crawl under a blanket of smoke, you could just feel the doors and count down until you know you have reached the safety of the stairway. Don't forget to pack your trusty flashlight, in case you need to exit during a blackout.

On cruise ships, most hallways and doors look alike. To help identify your room, bring along a picture of something familiar and tape it to your door. No personal pictures, for safety reasons.

Bring an insulated travel mug on your next cruise. Coffee and tea are abundantly available on board, but cruise cups are notoriously small, so you'll need refills for a proper morning jolt. If coffee's not your thing, the mug comes in handy for preventing spills in buffet lines. Poolside, the insulation keeps drinks frosty. Save luggage space by stuffing your mug with small items- scarves, ties, or even jewelry.

Do you have a favorite Travel Tip you'd like to share with others? Please send it to travelleaders@suntimetravel.com. We'll include it in a future Suntime Travel Newsletter.

For current Transportation Security Administration information for your upcoming travels,
contact your Travel Expert at Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel

Sandals Negril

2010-07-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

Has anyone ever been to Sandals Negril?
Would love to hear your comments or feedback, I will be traveling there this fall, and would love YOUR tips and tricks!!!

Tips for Healthier Travel

2010-05-21T11:32:00.002-05:00

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/travel/10-tips-for-healthier-travel-1411724/

Read this article, thought it was worth passing along. Great tips!

Also, if you haven't read the Travel Leaders tip site, this one is worth the reminder!!!

May is Disney Month

2010-05-14T14:58:00.002-05:00

May is Disney month here at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel.
I've been posting some fun facts about Disney on our Facebook Page
Are you on Facebook? I've been on Facebook more lately than my blog, so please visit me there, and become a fan!!!

What is your favorite Disney memory?
I have lots! One of my first memories of Disney was (of course) from when I was a child, and visiting Disneyland in California for the first time. We were walking in the park, and Goofy, who was dressed up for Christmas with his white beard on and Santa hat, came skipping by, and patted my Dad on the head. Now, as a child mind you, my Dad was the tallest man alive!! And to see this big ole character skip by and pat him on the head was the funniest thing for me!!! I still remember it to this day!

Become our FAN on Facebook!!!!

2010-04-28T11:49:00.004-05:00

CLICK HERE to become a FAN of Travel Leaders Suntime Travel River Falls, WI.

Please visit us on Facebook! We post many updates there as well as this blog, and we've got some great pictures there as well. Can't wait to see you there!

Barbados exclusive discount!

2010-04-26T12:09:00.003-05:00

I don't normally post about sales/discounts too much on this blog, but Barbados is one of my favorite spots, so I just HAD to!!!

Barbados —
Up to $300 savings, complimentary breakfast, free day car rental, and gourmet dining card
When you explore the beautiful island of Barbados you will save like never before. You will receive a discount up to $300, complimentary daily breakfast plus additional savings on dining, car rentals and tours with your air and hotel vacation to Barbados.

Please contact me for more details, and to book your next trip to paradise!!!

Airlines charging for CARRY ON luggage!

2010-04-06T14:53:00.003-05:00

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-33623430

Well, here it is folks! We all knew this was coming....the airlines yet again nickel and diming the traveling public. Pretty soon they'll start charging for use of the restroom onboard, seatbelts, oxygen....oh you name it, you will eventually be charged!!!!

I think this is ridiculous!
Spirit Airlines started this one, and hopefully it will be a while before the rest of the airlines follow suit.......hopefully.......

Flight Attendants battle the Carry Ons!!

2010-03-25T16:13:00.002-05:00

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/flight-attendants-battle-carry-crunch/story?id=10195036

The AFA is lobbying the government to pass a bill before Congress that would make a universal maximum size for all carry-on bags.

Flight attendants and passengers are being injured by excess amounts of oversized carry-on items.

Sun Country flies to London from $399 one way

2010-03-22T14:30:00.002-05:00

I thought this one was worth writing about.....
Sun Country (the hometown carrier) is starting service to London from Minneapolis June 11, 2010.

Here is the quote from their website:
Tally ho! It’s off to London we go!
Sun Country Airlines is proud to announce seasonal service from Minneapolis/St. Paul to London-Stansted, starting June 11th*. Everyone wants to visit London - one of the most intriguing cities in the world. Whether you are hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen, Big Ben, or even take a ride on one of the historic double-decker buses, London has it all - and Sun Country is excited to take you there. Or maybe you want to explore the many other wonders Europe has to offer. The Stansted Airport - only 45 minutes away from the heart of London - is Britain's third-busiest airport and offers many flights on other low-fare airlines to more than 160 destinations in over 30 countries - you’re sure to find everything you need here to enjoy a pleasant journey! The intriguing history of London is waiting to be explored around every corner - book today!

Seats are limited, and restrictions apply.
Contact us today to get your flight to London booked this summer!!!!!

Mexico and it's issues

2010-03-16T09:29:00.005-05:00

Once again we find that Mexico is back in the news, this time tagged with a Travel Warning

Click here to read the current warning:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_mexico.html

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the security situation in Mexico, and that it has authorized the departure of the dependents of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros until April 12.

We encourage people to use common sense when traveling anywhere, not just Mexico.

If you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming trip, please contact us!

2010 Survey!

2010-03-15T09:56:00.002-05:00

The link to our second-ever consumer survey is here.

Please take a few minutes and help us out with filling out this survey!!!

Best Beaches on a Budget

2010-03-12T11:33:00.003-06:00

I haven't blogged in a while, but saw this article, and loved it!

Best Affordable Beach Resorts
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-32625888

Aruba, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Antigua, Italy, and the list goes on and on.
Check it out!

World's Worst Airline!!

2010-01-28T11:00:00.002-06:00

This is an oldie, but a goodie!!!!

It's cruising time!!!! Welcome to the Wave Season!

2010-01-21T11:18:00.004-06:00

We at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel are happy to assist you with all of your travel needs. Now, it's time to talk cruising, and WHY you NEED us to assist you with all your travel plans!!

Please check out this article from The Today Show: CLICK HERE

7 Trips you should never book online
(According to Chris Elliott.....he's great!!)
Those seven trips Elliott says you should never book online include:
Cruising
Traveling around the world
When you don’t have the time
If you’re uncomfortable with the inter-Web
Traveling internationally
Doing something exotic
Special events

Please ask us for details on all of our cruise specials!!! NOW is the time!

Cruise stopping in Haiti?

2010-01-19T15:24:00.002-06:00

There has been some backlash for Royal Caribbean....including their stop in Labadee, Haiti so soon....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100119/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1063

They've been assisting in supplies and personnel, but there are still quite a few questions as to if it's right or not. What do you think?

Cougar Cruise?!?!?!

2010-01-18T15:17:00.000-06:00

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=14737.blog

May 16-23, 2010
The world's second Cougar Cruise onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

The first one was with Carnival in December 2009
It was a smashing success, with sell out crowds and a waiting list!!!

They say that Royal Caribbean is only hosting the event, not marketing it or organizing it.

I guess 2009 was the year of the Cougar, so we will see what 2010 will bring!!!!

Puerto Rico off the beaten path

2010-01-15T15:11:00.000-06:00

Thanks Bill for this great review!!! If you're looking for a resort off the beaten path in Puerto Rico, or any destination in the world, please contact me today for assistance!

Review. If you want to get away from the big crowds, Playa de Parguera in the southwest corner of the island
Is a delight. This hotel is the best I’ve ever been to for sun and fun relaxation.
Great for older adults (like me) who just want to sit and enjoy the sea and pool and drinks and etc.
Also great for parents with young children because of the great pool and everything (restaurant, vending machines, no place for kids to run off and get hurt)
Within an hour of several beaches, tourist villages, towns, and other “to do” stuff.
Parador de Parguera was $85 a night for double from Sun-Thurs., and $195 a night for Fri and Sat (but that included dinner and breakfast for two!).

Our room was literally 30 feet from the sea. Here’s my photo from our room:

Hastings, MN Wedding Gala

2010-01-13T14:22:00.003-06:00

Do you know a Bride or Groom planning a Wedding or Honeymoon?

COME VISIT US AT:
2010 Hastings Wedding Gala!
Sunday, January 24, 2010

Hastings Country Club
2015 Westview Drive, Hastings, MN
Noon - 4:00pm
Brides may REGISTER TO WIN one of three
$200 Bridal Bucksto be used at participating businesses

Come visit our booth!!! Tell the agent that you seen THIS notice on our BLOG, and receive a special small gift from Travel Leaders Suntime Travel.

Joan Rivers has problems at airport in Costa Rica

2010-01-11T14:36:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure you have heard this story or not, but in the travel world it's always amazing to me when things like this happen.
We have been telling our passengers for MONTHS now that their name needs to match exactly as it appears on their government issued photo ID, or they run the risk of being denied boarding. This rule is starting to be strictly enforced, as of August 2009.
So, in an attempt to heed to these warnings, we have been extremely careful in how we type the passengers name. I always tell people, when speaking over the phone, to grab their drivers license, and read it to me exactly. So if it's a middle initial, then we run the ticket with a middle initial. If their full middle name is spelled out, then we spell it out completely on their ticket.

In the case of Joan Rivers, the person that issues her ticket, apparently issued her ticket in the name of Joseph Rivers???? Not even close. So, we're thinking that the counter agent probably recognized her, and the security member probably recognized her as well, but when she got down to the gate, she was stopped. And what an ordeal it was.
Here is a You Tube link to the interview on the Larry King Live show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvDgCT7JlDQ

So from your friends here at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel, please make sure you are flying as the same name as your government issued photo ID, or risk being denied boarding.
Thanks!

Harry Potter in Florida!!!

2010-01-08T14:21:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if you all knew about this newest 'island' in Universal's Islands of Adventure, but it's coming soon, and I'm VERY excited about it!!!

It's the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!!

http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/harrypotter/

Check out this site, it gives you some early conceptual rendering pictures of rides, giftshops, Hogwarts, etc. What fun!!

I can't wait!!!

Discounted Walt Disney World tickets exclusively for Travel Leaders Suntime Travel friends and family

2010-01-02T11:57:00.009-06:00

Are you traveling between March 8 and March 20, 2010?
We have exclusive "Suntime friends and family" discounted Walt Disney Park Hopper tickets just for you!!

Adult tickets age 10+
3 day
4 day
5 day
and 6 day park tickets

We have these tickets with the basic, with the park hopper, and with the water park fun and more. You choose which ticket is best for you and your family.

Here are some sample prices:
Check this out-

The cost at the Disney gate for a 4 day premium park hopper pass (including water parks and Disney Quest admission) is $339.75.
The discounted pass cost for this same 4 day premium park hopper pass that I can get you is $250.00.

The cost at the Disney gate for a 3 day premium park hopper pass (including water parks and Disney Quest admission) is $ 332.30.
The discounted pass cost for this same 3 day premium park hopper pass that I can get you is $238.56.

We have a limited supply of these exclusive tickets, so please contact me today to purchase yours!!!!!

Terms and conditions: As always there are rules. Terms and conditions do apply, please contact us for more details. Limited number of tickets available. Prices subject to change, and availability is limited.

This is a valid offer, we are a travel agency that has been in business since 1984. When we see a good deal, we want to offer it to all of our clients, and hopefully obtain new clients. Please contact us today to get your discounted tickets

If you have not yet booked your flights and hotel arrangements, please let us help you with this as well. We also sell travel insurance, even if you did not book your trip with us! Let us help you protect your travel investment!!!!

In addition to this amazing deal for Disney tickets, we also have exclusively discounted flights for March 13-20, 2010. Flights originate from Minneapolis and are nonstop!!!! Pricing from $349 per person!! That's a heck of a deal right now, with the flights filling up!!!

CONTACT ME TODAY!!!

Hobbit Travel Closed!

2009-12-23T09:21:00.002-06:00

As some of you may have heard, Hobbit Travel has closed their doors. Temporarily? Maybe, maybe not, but for now there are likely a lot of stranded travelers with reservations paid and no airline confirmations.

Are you one of these passengers? Do you need to be rebooked on another airline?
Please contact us, we can help you make a new reservation. Our agency and our agents are professional and willing to help you out!!!

We've been in business a long time, and realize the importance of good service and VALUE for you....our client..... It's not ALWAYS about the lowest price. Sometimes the lowest price isn't the best value. We take the time to understand your needs and wants for your dream vacation, and will assist you in any way we can to make your dreams come true.

So take the time to meet our agents, and book with confidence with Travel Leaders Suntime Travel. Contact us: melissa@suntimetravel.com

Here is the latest article I read in the Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/79947677.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss

Flight to the North Pole

2009-12-17T09:26:00.005-06:00

Well, Sun Country has done it again. Our hometown airline continues to impress!!!!

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES ANNOUNCES ANNUAL“FLIGHT TO THE NORTH POLE”
Airline Partners with Greater Twin Cities United Way & Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

http://www.suncountry.com/hometools/releases/FlightNorthPoleService.shtml

St. Paul, MN—December 15, 2009
Sun Country Airlines will welcome 80 children, ages 5-12, to the Humphrey terminal on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, where they will board a Sun Country Boeing 737, and take a “Flight to the North Pole.”

Sun Country, the Hometown Airline, has partnered with United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters to give 80 kids a unique holiday experience. The children will board the “Flight to the North Pole” where employees of Sun Country including Pilots, Flight Attendants and agents will greet with holiday cheer. The plane will be decorated for this special event.

While the plane taxis for approximately 30 minutes on the ground, children will enjoy a detailed description of their “flight” to the North Pole. On-board activities will include singing holiday carols, writing letters to Santa, keeping watch for Santa and his reindeer and touring the cockpit. Also, a meal will be provided by Sky Food Catering. Following the “flight” the children will be greeted by Santa who will give them gifts donated by Sun Country employees.

"United Way continues to value and appreciate the wonderful partnership of Sun Country Airlines. This is a great example of how our local companies are stepping up to the plate this year to support our community. It is especially important during the holiday season and these economic times to provide some extra holiday cheer,” says Andy Goldman-Gray, senior vice president of Strategic Marketing, United Way.

"We are thankful to Sun Country for this unique opportunity to expand our young people’s horizons with an unforgettable ‘flight’ to the North Pole,” said Kimberlee Sinclair, Vice President of External Affairs for BBBS. “Generous supporters, such as Sun Country, and our volunteers are the sources of genuine magic in the lives of our children.”

Sun Country’s “Flight to the North Pole” will depart at 5:45p.m. from gate H3 at the Humphrey Airport and return by 6:30p.m. The Metropolitan Airport Commission has donated the funding to cover all airport fees.

"This annual event is very special to us at Sun Country,” said Wendy Blackshaw, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “We are delighted to partner with United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters because of the impact and active roles they play in this community.”

Please click HERE for the full article.

Disney World and Disney Wonder December 2009

2009-12-10T10:21:00.012-06:00

My family and I took a trip to Disney.
We had a fabulous time!!!
We started the trip at Fort Wilderness Campground Resort, then moved on to the Disney Wonder for their 3 night Disney cruise to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay, then we came back to Disney and stayed at Disney's Boardwalk Inn Resort.

Here is some info on my trip:

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

THE ROOM: At the Fort Wilderness Campground, we stayed in a cabin. These cabins are very roomy and large in comparison to a regular hotel room. When you walk in, you're in the kitchen, there is a full fridge, sink, microwave, stove, oven, all the kitchen utensils and cupboards full of dishes and pans. To the right is the table with bench seating, along with a few chairs (perfectly decorated to the up north woodsy theme) and onto the living room where there was a couch, and another couple chairs that match the kitchen table chairs. Up in the wall, is a pull down murphy bed, full size. Which we used a lot for snuggling in to watch movies and such at night.

Down the hall to the left from when you first walk in, is the bathroom, and the bedroom. In the bedroom there was another full size bed, along with bunk beds, that the kids LOVED! The closet was small but enough room, and we had plenty of nooks and crannies to store all of our luggage, and we had a LOT!

GOLF CART: We rented a golf cart, as it's almost necessary, unless you want to spend a lot of time walking and walking and walking. I do enjoy walking, so I did walk around a bit, but having the golf cart to ride around in was extra nice. The cost was $54 plus tax per night stay. That's a pretty expensive golf cart! UGH! But, I had figured this into our trip cost, so was prepared.

FOOD: We ate at Trail's End Buffet restaurant twice. It too was a bit on the spendy side, but the food was great. The salad bar was sufficient, and the meats to choose from was the highlight, the ribs and fried chicken, and carved roast beef were great. We did not do take out, but the menu was small, and we did not do Hoop-Dee-Doo or the Backyard BBQ, it just didn't work out this time. But thumbs up to the food.

ENTERTAINMENT: We did do the sing-a-long around the campfire with Chip-n-Dale twice while we were there, and I have to admit, it was not exactly what I was expecting. I was expecting these huge fire pits to roast marshmallows, and a stadium type setting so you wouldn't dream of seeing the characters, but to my surprise, it was so much better!!! There were 2 fire pits, rather small, but perfect for my small children, I didn't feel that they would be 'burned', and you could purchase the marshmallows right there, and the sticks came with it, I think it was around $4 or something close to that, so we didn't think that was too bad. They roasted the marshmallows, and then we took a seat while the guitar/banjo playing guide sang songs into the night. Chip and Dale did make an appearance, and they were up on the little stage, and then in an orderly fashion, they made their way around to see and take pictures with each and every individual that was there. Amazing!! So we each got a snippet of time with the characters. Very fun! We didn't stay to see the movies under the stars, it just got too late.

...
...

Disney Cruise onboard the Disney Wonder
3 night Bahamian Cruise

GETTING THERE: We used Happy Limo, and they were great. We paid approx $150 for our family of 4, including one car seat to get us from our hotel to the pier (nonstop) in a Town Car. The driver was exceptional (thanks Maurice!) and professional, he helped us load all of our MANY suitcases and stroller into the car, and we sang songs all the way there. (well, the kids sang songs, and Maurice laughed along with us) It was comfortable, and great.

THE SHIP: We had a category 6 stateroom with balcony, deck 6, stateroom number 6032. We were in a great location to the elevators and stairs, just right around the corner, and down 2 flights of stairs from the Walt Disney Theatre. Perfect! The bathroom is a split bath, so there are literally 2 bathrooms, one has the toilet and sink, and the other has the shower and sink. The kids had bunk beds, and we had a queen sized bed (2 twins pushed together). The cabin felt roomy, probably because of the balcony and the floor to ceiling windows.

FOOD: We had Cesar as our waiter, and James as our assistant waiter. They were great! The recommendations they had for meals was right on, and James provided us all with great entertainment while we waited for our food. The food was great, as expected. I wouldn't say that it was too much better or worse than any other cruise line that I've been on. But it was good.

SHORE EXCURSION: We did a shore excursion from Shore Trips, and we have always highly recommended Shore Trips, and this excursion was no exception!!! Booking this was simple and easy. Upon arrival in Nassau, our voucher stated for us to walk over to the boat to take us to the island for the adventure, but to our surprise, there was a nice rep waiting for us as soon as we got off the ship! What a nice surprise, we were not expecting a guide. The instructions were clear, so we figured that we could figure it out. After following the crowd down to the boat, we were on our way to the island for our stingray adventure. My kids (age 4 and 2) did not have too much interest in the stingrays, but the beach was WONDERFUL! We had plenty of time to enjoy all parts of this little island. There wasn't much there, but the weather was perfect, and we all enjoyed this day very much!

...
Blackbeard's Stingray Adventure in Nassau, Bahamas

...
Castaway Cay, Disney's Private Island

DISEMBARKATION: I have to admit, this was THE most orderly, most professional, and best disembarkation process that I have experienced. We had an assigned breakfast time, and got off the ship without any lines, crowds of people smashing luggage into each other, and happy and stress free. Everyone is happy here! Once we were through customs, which took a snap, we went to the bus, and they took a quick look at our key to the world card, and onto the bus, and on our way right away. The entire process was fabulous!

...
...

Disney's Boardwalk Inn

THE ROOM: The room was very large. I have stayed at Value and Moderate properties with Disney before, but this nice deluxe property had very big rooms. The beds were super comfy, and you practically melted right into your sleep for the night! There was a little patio out of our room, which was nice to see the courtyard outside of our room. Flat screen TV was a nice little perk. The vanity area had 2 sinks and lots of room to stand.

Holiday Travel

2009-11-18T13:59:00.004-06:00

Here is a great little article with some helpful travel tips for traveling around the holidays!
I've even been quoted in this one! Yay!
Check out these suggestions:
http://www.travelleaders.com/travelleaders/AboutUs/269625?ssSourceNodeId=5050

Before Leaving Home
The watch words from Travel Leaders experts are simple: "Be Prepared."

•Protecting the Home Front
•Keep Copies of Important Items
•Confirm Departures
•Checking-In Online
•Travel Fully Charged
•Dress Comfortably

Airport Arrival
While Travel Leaders experts agree on many of the strategies outlined, one piece of advice was voiced more than any other: "Get to the airport early."
•Increase Minimum Advance Time -- "No matter what the guidelines tell you, make sure you're at the airport well in advance," advises Melissa Gutting (Travel Leaders, River Falls, WI). "The normal recommended time is 90 minutes for domestic travel and 2 hours for international travel. When traveling around the holidays, plan on 2 hours for domestic and 3 hours for international. It's not worth it to add the stress of running late into the mix of all the other added stress building at the airports
•Airport Check-In

Airport Security
Over the past year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented its new Secure Flight Rule, which theoretically should not impact the airport security screening process. However, Travel Leaders experts have practical advice for further speeding up the process.
•Know TSA's Rules Before You Go
•Match Your ID with Reservation
•Know Your Carry-On Restrictions
•Minimize Security Procedures

Beyond Security
•Remain Alert
•Food
•Staying Healthy
•Keeping Kids Happy – "If you're traveling with children, bring snacks, bring games – anything to help keep them entertained so they don't feel the stress of holiday travel," explains Gutting, who adds, "Happy kids bring happy parents."Patel also suggests, "Hand-held games, books, coloring books and crayons are good ideas and easy to carry. Be sure you have extra batteries for electronics. Don't forget about you. Bring along that book or magazine you've been meaning to read, load up your iPod with holiday tunes or some of your favorite songs."
•Boarding Your Flight – "Expect to 'gate check' carry-on bags on the jet way," cautions Gray, who adds, "The airlines do not charge these bags as a checked luggage.""Are you flexible on your travel times or dates?" asks Gutting. "If so, tell the airlines that. Most of the flights around the holidays are flying in a sold-out situation, or perhaps an oversold situation where they will be looking for people to give up their seats. When you arrive at the counter for check-in, you can put yourself on this list, and be eligible for any vouchers or bumps or first class upgrades that become available, just for being flexible." But beware – always be sure to ask when the next flight they can confirm you for departs.
•Once On Board

Patience Is a Virtue
"Expect the unexpected," urges Anderson. Janowski is quick to add, "If a situation arises where you need airport personnel assistance, be pleasant."

"One of the first things I advise my clients to do when travelling during the holiday season is to remember the reason that they are running this 'Gauntlet of Holiday Travel' – to spend time with family and friends to create new memories," reminds Lederle."Remember, no matter how hard you try, there are going to be things you cannot control, like the weather, traffic and long lines," cautions Patel. "Recognize this now and remember that patience is truly a 'virtue.' Remember, patience is the key."

"Be flexible and be prepared," advises Elaine C. Goad, CTC, ACC (Travel Leaders, Tyler, TX)."Flights can be full and people can be cranky. Just don't join in the cranky crowd – it is the holidays. Be happy!"

"Keep your sense of humor and when all else fails, remember to give thanks for even having the opportunity to travel and visit family and friends," offers Lederle. "There are many who are not as fortunate."

Head to Barbados!

2009-11-02T10:44:00.003-06:00

Have you been to Barbados yet?
Eat it
Drink it
Shop for it
Cook it yourself

Thank you to the LA Times, for this very fun article on one of my favorite destinations in the Caribbean....
CLICK HERE to read the full article

Barbados does make the belly happy!!!!

Wi-Fi in the Sky, more airlines have joined forces!

2009-10-23T10:53:00.004-05:00

I think this is great news!!!
Here was my previous post:
http://melissasuntimetravel.blogspot.com/2009/07/wi-fi-in-sky.html

Here is the latest article I just read, thank you to Budget Travel .com, this is an informative article to say the least!!!

If you're wondering which airlines, which routes, how to get Wi-Fi in the sky, here is the link to this article for you!!!: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/10/03/AR2009100303214.html#

Here are the highlighted points:
1. Gogo is the go-to network
2. Costs are the same no matter the carrier
3. Monthlong Wi-Fi passes are only valid with one airline
4. The connection is good
5. Hotspots don't extend beyond U.S. borders
6. You can sign up in advance
7. No phone calls; no porn
8. Just because the airline has Wi-Fi doesn't mean your flight will
9. Airline seats aren't made for laptops
10. International access is on the horizon

AIRLINE WI-FI GUIDE
- Airtran Airways 100 percent of planes flying domestic routes have the Gogo service.
- Alaska Airlines All planes flying routes within the U.S. will be outfitted with Row 44.
- American Airlines Has Gogo service on 15 of its 767-200s (primarily used on cross-country flights) and later this fall will have it on 150 MD-80s (the airline's workhorse, used on all kinds of routes).
- Delta Air Lines The entire domestic fleet is expected to be outfitted with Gogo by the end of this year.
- Southwest Airlines Will begin installing Row 44 on all of its planes in early 2010.
- United Airlines Has signed on with Gogo to outfit 13 of its planes—those flying transcontinental routes—beginning late this year (i.e., right about now).
- US Airways Plans to start installing the Gogo network on 50 A321 planes in early 2010.
- Virgin America Gogo service is up and running on all planes flying routes within the U.S.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Northwest World Perks to Delta Sky Miles

2009-10-21T09:32:00.003-05:00

OK, so you've received a hundred different promos from the Delta American Express, but did you receive your NEW Delta Sky Miles number?

You should have, or will be shortly, they started sending all the new numbers out in October!!!

If you had a Northwest World Perks number, and did NOTHING with it. You didn't bite on any of their little promos they offered, you just sat on your number. (I did too actually....) Then you were automatically issued a new number with Delta Sky Miles and you need to do nothing more.

Well, other than let your travel agent know, as we keep records of all of this stuff for you....

Were you one of those that already had a Delta Sky Miles number, and are now wondering what to do??? Let's say you have a NW number and a Delta number...... Then the merge happened.....

YOU DO NEED TO MERGE THESE ACCOUNTS!
This will not automatically happen for you!
Yes!!!
You must merge your accounts.....
Here is the website: delta.com/mergeaccounts

Confusing as usual!!!
But the basics are: If you have 2 Delta Sky Miles numbers now, you need to merge them, they will not automatically merge.

2009-10-19T15:11:00.005-05:00

- H1N1 INFLUENZA, JOB LOSS, HURRICANES -
PROTECT YOUR TRAVEL INVESTMENT

Travelers need to take the proper steps to cover vacation travel plans during uncertain economic challenges, the upcoming flu season, and our current hurricane season.

Emergencies can happen before or during your trip.

Don't forget to pack your travel insurance!

What if you lose your job due to involuntary termination or layoff?

What if you become too sick to take your trip, or need medical assistance while on your trip?

What if there's an emergency back home and you have to cut your trip short?

What if your luggage doesn't show up when you do?

What if you lose your wallet or identification?

Severe weather anywhere in the world- from thunderstorms and downpours to full-blown hurricanes, can frequently impact vacations at this time of year. Weather-related flight delays can lead to missed air connections and cruise departures. The best way to cover your vacation investment against the impact of severe weather is through a travel insurance plan that includes comprehensive trip cancellation, interruption and travel delay coverage, as well as 24-hour assistance and emergency travel services including emergency cash transfers, replacement of lost travel documents, coverage for emergency medical needs, and email and phone messaging to family and friends.

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your upcoming trip.

We can provide you a quote in just a matter of minutes.

Contact your Travel Expert at Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel today!

25 Happy Anniversary Suntime Travel 25

2009-10-12T09:47:00.002-05:00

1984 - Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel - 2009
We would like to say
"THANK YOU"

to our valued clients and travel partners who followed

Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel's successful path over the past 25 years!!

We've come a long way from a little one person travel agency with one desk and one phone in Prescott, Wisconsin in 1984. Over the years we've expanded to additional office locations, servicing the areas of Prescott, River Falls, Hastings, Red Wing, Rochester, and beyond. Our dedicated staff is committed to meeting the needs of our customers.
THANKS FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE 25 YEARS, 1984-2009!

Luggage/Baggage Fees go up again!

2009-09-30T11:29:00.003-05:00

No big surprise I guess, but it's still funny to me the nickel-dime, nickel-dime action going on at the airlines!!!
Did you know......
Now with USAirways, they charge the SAME service fee to call in for a ticket as we at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel do.....that is insane! Do you think when you call USAir, they give you the same service that a travel agent would?
Same service fee, WAY different service.....

Also, the luggage and baggage fees are on the rise.....big shocker.....
The first bag is now $20 and the second bag is now $30 IF you prepay online
But at the airport it's up to $25 for the first and $35 for the second. (non-prepaid)

I'm assuming that the other airlines will follow suit, as they all do beat to the same drummer in most cases.....

Have you been on http://www.suntimetravel.com/ yet?
We have a fabulous guide that can assist you in planning for your luggage fees, and so much more! Click on Traveler's Tools, and click on Airline Luggage Guidelines and Policies, then click on your specific airline. How helpful!!!!!!!!!

As with all of these nickel-dime fees that the airlines are charging, who are they helping, and who are they hurting? Ultimately, it's always the traveling public that is hurting......always.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day!!!

2009-09-29T11:08:00.002-05:00

This just announced from Disney!!! For 2010 travel!!!!

You all know that I'm a true Disney fan, and I just want to share my enthusiasm every time they put out a new promotion......
Disney wants to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. So they're celebrating their good works by giving each of them a one-day admission to a Theme Park at Disneyland@ Resort or the Walt Disney World@ Resort, free* (must pre-register, and restrictions apply)

The 'What will you celebrate' campaign will be coming to an end at the end of 2009.

Contact me to help you book your next Disney vacation!!!!!!

Family Reunion in Serbia

2009-09-25T10:17:00.002-05:00

http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/event/article/id/92909/

I'm not sure if this link will work, but I had the pleasure of assisting Vera with a visit to her family back in Serbia that she had not seen in decades!!! Some of which she had never met!!!

In the photo above, she had T-shirts made up for her family members, that say "Someone in River Falls, Wisconsin Loves Me."

I was truly moved by her story. Thank you Vera for sharing this with us here at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel.

More iPhone Apps

2009-09-22T09:29:00.004-05:00

http://www.travelsavvymom.com/blog/family-travel/top-iphone-apps-for-kids/

I found this great little website, for us Travel Savvy Moms out there!!!!

The list at the Apple iPhone Apps Store can be overwhelming. Here are the 10 applications this author's children like best. Many are free, and all work in airplane mode.

Totally fun!!!!

YouTube Family Travel to Disney

2009-09-16T16:42:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Travel Leaders on TWITTER, for posting my video!!! How fun!

Now you can see me........yes me!!
I'm online...... Minnie Mouse ears and all!!!

Check it out:
Insider tips for family vacations to Disney - watch video from our expert!

CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/j4HGV

Twitter with Travel Leaders!

2009-09-09T10:30:00.004-05:00

For those fellow tweet friends out there, check out the Travel Leaders Twitter page!!
http://twitter.com/TravelLeaders

Currently, you can see my fellow co-worker Jody talking about destination weddings, and the owner of Suntime Travel Debbie talking about eating ants with her family!!
WILD!!

http://bit.ly/DZHeV for Debbie

http://bit.ly/j4HGV for Jody (and others)...scroll down to Jody Meyer...

Thank you to Travel Leaders for posting these great videos, it's great to get first hand info from agents who have seen and done quite a bit in this business!!!!!

World Perks will now be Sky Miles

2009-09-08T12:28:00.004-05:00

For those of us lucky enough to be in the midst of this 'integration' (is what they're calling it), updates are much needed, as there is some very confusing and conflicting information out there!!!

Here is the latest info, that will hopefully clarify how our World Perks accounts will become Sky Miles accounts...... This came from an email from Northwest Airlines.

"In October, the WorldPerks program will officially merge into the SkyMiles program. At this time, you will receive a new SkyMiles account number which will be sent to you via e-mail and in a new SkyMiles Program welcome kit that you will receive in the mail. Your existing WorldPerks status and account information will be transferred into your new SkyMiles account, including your redeemable, Elite qualifying and lifetime mileage balances. This mileage deposit into your new SkyMiles account will be considered activity, which extends your 24-month mileage expiration date. Moving forward, as long as you have any qualifying earning or redemption activity in the account at least once every 24 months, your miles will never expire."

So as you can see.........

Please refer back to my previous blog posting:
http://melissasuntimetravel.blogspot.com/2009/04/prevent-your-frequent-flyer-miles-from.html

YES, your frequent flyer miles will expire.
The answer to that question is YES!!!!!!!
So make sure you're proactive and are preventing this from happening! Buy a flower or a magazine or something to keep those accounts active. That's the last thing you'd want is for all of those precious miles to expire right out from under your nose!!

Now the posing question...... when does the ticker start for this '2 year' expiration? Does it begin when you get your Sky Miles account, or does it date back to when you were a World Perks Member........stay tuned, hopefully we can find the answer together.

Clear as mud.....

As always!

Airlines want you to pay for the privilege of purchasing a ticket

2009-09-04T16:34:00.004-05:00

DON'T WE DO THAT ALREADY?

I read a lot of articles in the travel industry, and rarely do the airline 'rules' make any sense in the real world. How is it logical that once you've paid for an airline ticket, you cannot do a name change. In the real world, if you buy a shirt but your friend wears it, the retailer doesn't charge you a fee for this change...... Airlines are goofy. Really goofy!

Here is an article posted by Charlie Leocha with consumertraveler.com, and once again it really makes sense!!!!

http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/airlines-want-you-to-pay-for-the-privilege-of-buying-tickets-dont-we-do-this-already/

Andrew Zimmern visits Travel Leaders

2009-08-26T13:47:00.002-05:00

Andrew Zimmern visits Travel Leaders for a Special Edition of Bizarre Foods

Even though this is not OUR agency, I thought you'd like to see what Andrew is up to, and how much he LOVES Travel Leaders!!!!!

Stay tuned for more Bizarre Foods blog posts!!
We love Andrew Zimmern!!!!!!!!

Andrew-- Take me with you on a Bizarre Food hunt!!!!!!!!!!

What's the most Bizarre Food YOU have eaten in your travels?????
Comment for me, would love to hear from ANYONE on this subject!!

Survey

2009-08-13T08:55:00.003-05:00

Do you have time to take a quick survey?

YES????

THANK YOU!!!!! (click link below)

We invite you to take our Travel Leaders' Travel Trends Survey!
A survey is being conducted to gauge trends and travel interests among Travel Leaders' clients throughout the United States. This is an anonymous survey and all answers will be combined, across the country, to reveal the top responses.
Among the questions included:
· If you could win a trip anywhere in the U.S., which would you choose?
· What is your dream international destination?
· If you won $5,000, how much would you use toward (travel, shopping, paying bills, investments, savings)?

It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
Thank you for your participation.

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Travel Agents ARE making a comeback!!

2009-08-12T13:39:00.003-05:00

Check out this CNN article!!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/08/12/travel.agent.comeback/index.html

Are you aware that WE.....yes, us...your friendly travel agents, can most times MATCH what you're seeing online?

Trust us..... Trust me......... it's worth it.

Like we've always said -- Without a travel agent, you're on your own!

Oberammergau & Munich 2010 including the Passion Play

2009-08-06T10:49:00.004-05:00

Experience the legendary Passion Play in Oberammergau and take a scenic drive from Munich through the stunning landscapes of the Bavarian Alps.

From $1525 per person (minimum 2 people)
Begin and end Munich, Germany
5 day/4 night Package

Select Dates: June 15, July 4, August 1, and September 3, 2010

Deposit of $100 per person due at the time of booking
Balance de Jan 15, 2010

Please call for more details!!!
And as always, prices are subject to change
LIMITED AVAILABILITY, so please CALL or email right away!!!!

If you don't know anything about Oberammergau, please click this website, it has some great details:
http://www.oberammergau-passion.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=56&changelang=2&lang=2

Disney World Packages for 2010

2009-08-03T15:35:00.004-05:00

Of course I have to talk Disney..........today's a great day!!
The 2010 packages are open now for booking! YAY!
It is very typical for the first of August for Disney to raise their prices for the entrance ticket, and this past weekend was no exception. Apparently there are people on blogs and such that are pretty upset about this. Why, I ask?
Disney has been typically raising their prices the first of August for years, why would a recession/depression or whatever you'd like to 'categorize' what we're in economically right now.... Disney is one of the few companies that is actually MAKING money in this economic crisis. Isn't that a good thing?

Well, I'm a Disney lover, and a HUGE fan, and I say --if it's not broke, don't FIX it....
Tee-hee-hee, enough of my soap box!!

This little blog entry is to let everyone out there know that the 2010 packages can now be booked, and I'd LOVE to help you plan your trip to Disney for 2010!!!
How about combining it with a Disney Cruise, or perhaps a beach vacation over to Tampa / St. Pete?

Anything you can dream, I can help make it come true!!!

Call me, or email me!!!

Wi-Fi in the Sky??

2009-07-23T12:05:00.002-05:00

I just received communication from USAirways that they are now going to offer Wi-Fi in the sky!

WOW!

I'm pleasantly surprised by this new announcement!!!

Here is a little more detail according to USAir:

"Although the cost of service hasn't been determined yet, Aircell's current prices for Gogo Inflight Internet range from $5.95 to $12.95, depending on the length of flight and type of Wi-Fi enabled device used. We'll be sure to let you know more as we get closer to the early 2010 launch date."

Awesome...

Travel iPhone Apps

2009-07-14T13:40:00.003-05:00

Christopher Elliott, you're the best!

Here are his personal recommendations for his 5 favorite iPhone apps to use while traveling:

Aroundme — Where’s the nearest hospital? How about a good hotel? If you’ve ever landed in a city and wondered “what’s close by?” then this little app is the perfect traveling companion. It tells you where to find the closest banks, bars, gas stations and movie theaters, thanks to your iPhone’s built-in GPS.

Cheap Gas! — In your search for inexpensive fuel, it’s impractical (not to mention wasteful) to drive through your neighborhood to take a real-time survey. This free app does all the work for you, pinging the site GasBuddy and displaying the cheapest fuel in your area. Want to get there? This app will show you a map, too.
google_protectAndRun("render_ads.js::google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);

CheckPlease — If you’ve ever wondered how much to tip your server at a restaurant, this is the app for you. Just type in your total, give it a percentage, and it handles the rest. Perfect for someone like me, who is really bad with numbers. This app even lets you split the bill among several people. There’s a 99 cent version that cuts out the ads and a better display, but for me, the free version works just fine.

FlightTrack — Ever wondered where in the world your flight is? FlightTrack offers a ready answer, allowing you to follow any flight worldwide. You can scan live flight maps that include weather radar, check gate numbers, and search flight schedules up to 11 months in advance. This nifty app even allows you to send an email update with your flight status to a friend or colleague. The basic version of this costs $4.99.

WorldMate — For most business travelers, WorldMate needs no introduction. Its new iPhone app offers a variety of must-have features for any traveler, including a currency converter, flight updates, integration with Google maps, and an online travel planner with the ability to consolidate your itinerary. Some of the more advanced functions require that you plunk down $39.99 for the “gold” app, but if you travel a lot, it’s worth the investment.

http://www.tripso.com/today/5-almost-free-iphone-applications-you-absolutely-must-take-on-your-next-trip/

United Airlines charging travel agents?!!!!!?!!!!!?!!!!!?

2009-07-14T13:11:00.004-05:00

Seriously.........
What is this world coming to, when the airline won't allow travel agents to issue a ticket to the client credit card?
I'm not sure if you have read the many many many many many articles on this recent issue, but PLEASE write to your state senator, and make the airlines understand that ultimately it's the CONSUMER that suffers when changes like this are made.

The consumer always loses, when airlines get greedy!

As quoted in USA Today: "Credit card processing costs are escalating at a high rate," says United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski, noting that United's distribution costs, which include credit card fees, totaled $710 million last year. "We're continuing to explore ways in the current economic environment to reduce our costs and run an efficient airline."

Unbelievable.

Please contact your congressman to REJECT this new policy, and make sure that the other airlines won't follow suit.....
Click here to find your United States Senator; click here to find your U.S. Representative.

To read more click on any of these website articles below:

USA Today article

Eye For Travel article

Breaking News 24/7 article

Another USA Today article

United Breaks Guitars Story

2009-07-09T16:24:00.003-05:00

Have you heard about the United Breaks Guitars video?

It's super cheesy, and funny, and yet a little sad at the same time!!!

Hopefully the airlines will take this as a lesson on what 'not' to do with their customers baggage!!!
Here is the link to You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enbcchicago%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Flocal%2FUnited%2DBreaks%2DGuitars%2Da%2DSmash%2DHit%2Don%2DYouTube%2Ehtml%3Fyhp%3D1&feature=player_embedded

Here's the article describing what happened:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/United-Breaks-Guitars-a-Smash-Hit-on-YouTube.html?yhp=1

Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010

2009-06-26T08:57:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't LOVE the Winter Olympics?!?!?
I think Vancouver is a fabulous city to host it in 2010!
Here is a link to the Vancouver website to see the schedule of competition for the Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/about_vancouver/2010_olympics/2010_olympics

If you have never visited this part of the country, this is a great time to see it!!

10 Tips for Photographing Vacations

2009-06-20T11:42:00.003-05:00

For anyone who knows anything about me, they know that I'm a photo-taking nut!!! It's escalated since I've had children, there just seems to be so many more moments to capture these days!!!!!!!!

Here are ten simple tips to get you on your way to taking better pictures.

Thank you to Kodak Gallery for this list of 10 helpful tips for picture-taking while vacationing.

1.) Do your homework
Look at travel guides, postcards and picture books of the area. Learn where the best photo opportunities are. Remember key events, festivities, and landmarks. You'll be inspired to take better pictures.
Learn the features and operation of your camera. If you're still learning how to use your camera, take the camera manual along — it's good reading on the plane.

2.) Tell a Story
Use pictures to tell the story of your trip, from the time of your departure to your return.
Capture the details. Take pictures of signs, ticket stubs, menus, local maps and more.
Capture the emotions. Take individual pictures of each member of your travel party with their favorite landmarks, rides, eatery or animal.
Carry a small note book to jot down quick details to use later.

3.) Capture the local flavor
Unique subjects make great pictures. Keep an eye out for the unusual and snap a picture when you come upon it.
Interact with the locals. You’ll learn more about their culture and take better pictures while capturing details you may have missed. (Always ask permission).

4.) Create a photo menu
Take pictures of everything you eat, especially the unique and different items. Your memory of how good it tasted may fade, but you'll have pictures. After all, eating new foods is as important a part of travel as seeing new sights.
To create a more dramatic picture, move in close and fill the frame.

5.) Look for themes
Look for common themes in your travels and take lots of pictures. This will help you tell a unique story that is just yours.

6.) Always carry your camera
Your camera won't do you any good sitting in the hotel room. You never know when an opportunity will arise, and for many photos you may not get a second chance.
A point and shoot camera is compact and easy to carry with you, be it a hike through the woods or an evening at the opera.

7.) Have fun
Take candid pictures. Ignore the impulse to force your subjects to pose.
When taking pictures of a group, don’t work too hard to position them. Let them relax and fall into a natural pose.
Blend into the environment while taking pictures to avoid making your subject self-conscious.

8.) Take lots of pictures
Not every picture will be perfect. Taking multiple pictures will give you more to choose from.
When taking pictures of children, wait for the right moment, then shoot lots of pictures quickly.
Look for themes in your travels and capture them often to highlight your story.

9.) Accessorize
Expand your picture-taking capability. Check into an accessory wide-angle or telephoto lens for your camera. It might be just what you need to capture architectural details or the local culture.

10.) Protect your gear
Sand, water, snow, and heat are your camera's worst enemies. When you're not taking pictures, keep your camera and supplies safe in a camera bag or zippered plastic bag.

Disney iPhone Apps

2009-06-15T14:15:00.002-05:00

Walt Disney World Apps
Disney World Wait Times provides up-to-the-minute standby and fastpass distribution return times for every attraction and restaurant at Walt Disney World, across all six parks. It also provides real-time social commenting on everything, so you can share your thoughts and experiences (ride closures, great deals at shopping facilities) all over Walt Disney World with the entire community. Last but not least, it provides location and mapping services for restrooms as well as every major stop across the parks.. shopping, attractions, dining… so you can always find what’s “near you” in every major category. Just 99 cents!
WDW Dining Disney provides menus for nearly every restaurant across every park in Walt Disney World. Indispensable for those on a dining plan, as it lists every menu item that is applicable. If you’re hungry for a certain food, you can find it fast with this application. An essential tool at Walt Disney World. 99 cents.
Magic Kingdom Tour Guide will give you the best strategies for having fun at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. (Note that this app provides info for just the Magic Kingdom, not all of Walt Disney World). It will help you find age-appropriate attractions for everyone in your party, including height requirements. $1.99.
Walt Disney World Resort Times Guide - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information across all of Walt Disney World. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.
Disneyland (California) App
Disneyland Resort Times Guide - - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information for the two Disneyland Resort parks. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.

Thank you to Mouse Savers for this article:
http://www.mousesavers.com/iphoneapps.html

7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant

2009-06-11T15:21:00.002-05:00

OMG, this article made me laugh out loud!!
Thought I'd share.....

Thank you to Yahoo News for this fun article!
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-28078669;_ylc=X3oDMTF2YWJnM21wBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA2Fubm95YXR0ZW5kYW50LTYtMi0wOQ--

7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant
Our anonymous flight attendant has worked for a well-known commercial airline for 12 years. She dishes on what irritates her most in passenger behavior.

1. Bring your pet on the plane and then act like an animal.
Over the years, I've seen a pet on a passenger's lap, a pet tucked into a seatback pocket, and a pet loose in the aisle (I nearly hit one with my beverage cart). All of this is against federal regulations. People tell me how well-behaved their pet is, but they can't follow the rules themselves! Your pet must stay in its carrier while you're on the plane. Yes, even if you've paid a "pet-in-cabin" fee.

2. Shove your bag into the first bin you see and then walk to your seat in the back of the plane.
You think you're clever, I know. You expect to grab your bag on your way out of the plane, but you're selfishly inconveniencing others. I can't lie and say we flight attendants don't take some small satisfaction when we tell you, "We couldn't identify the bag's owner, so we sent it to cargo." It's a security issue, for real. Carry-ons need to stay near their owners! So don't look so shocked when we say, "The signs will direct you to baggage claim. You can pick up your bag there."

3. Think that because you're on an airplane you're off-duty as a parent.
Stop expecting us to have spare diapers, formula, medicine, toys, playing cards, or batteries for DVD players or Game Boys. It's an airplane, not a 7-11. Take your kid to the restroom before you board. Leave the dry cereal and Legos at home and bring snacks and toys for your kids that won't make a horrible mess.

4. Drag on an oversize bag that's too heavy for you to lift by yourself.
I won't be compensated for any injuries I might sustain if I heft your bag into the overhead compartment for you. (And other passengers shouldn't have to step up and take the risk either.) The guideline is simple: You pack it, you stack it. Try this at home as a test (and this is to you ladies, especially): After you've packed your bag, put on the shoes you plan to wear on the plane and see if you can lift your bag and place it on top of your refrigerator. You can't? Pay the fee and check the bag.

5. Gripe that you haven't been seated in a roomy exit-row seat.
The exit rows weren't created as a reward for people who are tall, overweight, or just plain nice. They were designed to help passengers get out of the plane in an emergency. The people seated in an exit row must be able to see and speak clearly, open the emergency door, and help others. I prefer to see uniformed military, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants sitting in those seats. While the gate agent may assign exit-row seats first, the flight attendant makes the final determination about who gets to sit in them. And the quality of our choices is one of the frequent concerns of Federal Aviation Administration officials when they audit airlines for safety practices. So please don't complain. I'm just doing my job.

6. Act like you don't know the meaning of the words "under the seat in front of you."
Someday I will be muttering "under the seat in front of you" in the old-age home for flight attendants. What is it that you don't understand? To be clear, items should not be stowed behind your calves, under your feet like a footstool, in the open seat next to you, or in your lap. It's under the seat in front of you. And it applies to everything you carry on board. Items stored carelessly can trip others, or dislodge during takeoff and get lost, or inconvenience others. And while I'm on the topic: Please don't wrap your purse (or umbrella strap) around your ankle to keep from forgetting it. What will happen in an emergency, when every second counts and there's no time to disentangle yourself from your precious bag? Will you drag it ball-and-chain-style down the aisle of a burning plane?

7. Whine about the high price of flying.
When I hear people complain about coach airfares, I know they're not keeping up with the news. Fares have rarely been cheaper. In recent years, it's not uncommon for you to be able to cross the continent for under $130 each way, with a maximum of one layover. It's a bargain! At that price, you're barely paying for the fuel to get your body there—never mind the cost of shipping your 50 pounds of gear. You're already on the gravy plane. People point to first class ticket holders and want to know why they don't get the same treatment. Wake up folks: You're getting a great deal. If you want even more, pay more!

Passports Now Required

2009-06-05T09:38:00.005-05:00

Thank you to Travel Leaders for posting this informative article:
http://www.travelleaders.com/suntime/265835

Helpful links:
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State website, with further info on the WHTI:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Here is the link to more information about the U.S. Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

Applying for a NEW passport? Here is the link for these forms: (you do need to apply in person, but can fill out the forms in advance)
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Welcome JetAmerica to Minneapolis!!!

2009-05-28T08:47:00.003-05:00

Although change can some times be hard, we here in the Minneapolis market have seen quite a bit of CHANGE in the past year!!! From Delta gobbling up Northwest, to Southwest FINALLY making an appearance here, to JetAmerica sliding in to corner the less-traveled markets!! Uf-dah, we've had a roller coaster of a year..... But like our Minnesota nice, we welcome the change, and hope for good things in the future!!

Competition is good, keep it coming!!!

Thank you to Yahoo News for this article.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/New-lowcost-airline-targets-apf-15348934.html?.v=5

New low-cost airline targets smaller markets
Low-cost carrier JetAmerica aims to serve smaller markets it believes bigger airlines neglect
Victor Epstein, Associated Press Writer

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A new low-cost airline will begin serving mid-sized U.S. cities that it thinks larger carriers have left behind.

Clearwater, Fla.-based JetAmerica said 34 nonstop passenger flights a week will start July 13 at Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Melbourne, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; Minneapolis and Lansing, Mich. Twenty-eight flights start or end at Newark Liberty International Airport. The carrier will add six more flights -- from Toledo to Minneapolis -- starting Aug. 14.

JetAmerica is targeting small and midsize cities like Lansing, which has seen the number of daily flights at its Capital Region International Airport fall from 35 to 12 the past five years. The decline is part of a national trend that has seen airfares increase at those airports as daily flights have decreased.

Robert Selig, head of the Capital Region Airport Authority, said JetAmerica will give Lansing business travelers direct access to New York City and carry leisure travelers to central Florida.
"We don't have access to either one right now," Selig said. "So, this is going to fill a major void in our schedule."
Filling that void won't be cheap.

The Lansing, South Bend, Melbourne and Toledo airports are subsidizing JetAmerica with $1.4 million in grants in its first year, along with about $867,000 in waived airport fees and $1.1 million in marketing and advertising assistance.

South Bend, Toledo and Melbourne received their grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program, which has awarded $104 million to 223 recipients since 2002 in an effort to restore lost service and bring air fares down.
Newark and Minneapolis, each of which serve more than 20 million passengers a year, are not offering assistance to JetAmerica.

John Weikle, chief executive of JetAmerica, said the subsidies will help insulate the new carrier from spikes in jet fuel prices. Higher fuel prices have contributed to the failures of at least four major airlines since 9/11. Smaller carriers have also been hurt.
Surging fuel prices helped bankrupt ultra-discounter Skybus Inc. last year. Weikle founded that Columbus, Ohio-based airline known for its $10 fares. The bankruptcy cost 450 employees their jobs.

JetAmerica's pricing scheme will share some Skybus characteristics.
Prices will start at $9 a seat and top out at $199. The $9 price will apply to the first nine to 19 seats on each plane. Passengers will pay $15 to check a bag. Food, drinks and in-flight TV will also come at a cost.

The carrier is starting out with one leased Boeing 737-800, expects to add a second in the first month, and have as many as four by July of next year. Weikle's business plans calls for an additional 189-seat jet to be leased every four months.

Each Boeing 737-800 can fly to four cities a day, Weikle said.

Weikle estimated JetAmerica's revenue at more than $50 million in the first year and about $150 million in the second. He compares his business model to that of Wal-Mart Inc., which started out by serving cities of less than 50,000 people because competitors were not interested in them.

JetAmerica plans to serve Melbourne, Fla., with at least six flights a week. Richard Ennis, executive director of Melbourne International Airport, said JetAmerica's planes and nonstop routes persuaded him to support the carrier. Melbourne, a coastal community about 70 miles southeast of Orlando, recorded a 45 percent decline in passenger traffic at its airport from 2000 to 2008.

Ennis said carriers with larger jets like the Boeing 737-800 charge less per seat, which is an advantage enjoyed by Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport.
"It's the only way I can beat them out," Ennis said of the neighboring airports.

Free Things to do in Europe!!!

2009-05-12T10:35:00.005-05:00

Thank you to Yahoo News for this fun little article.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090511/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_european_freebies;_ylt=AkSJr.JdHnpv_Tkf9LzKeCc8sM0F

10 free things to do in Europe this summer

If you're taking advantage of the relatively strong dollar this year by heading to Europe, you'll be looking for ways to save even more when you get there.

Here is a list of 10 free and fun things to do in Europe, compiled by the European Travel Commission:

_In Madrid, the Palace of Liria, the 18th century residence of the Duchess of Alba at Calle Princesa 20, offers a collection of Spanish art, along with Flemish, German, Dutch, Italian, English and French paintings, with guided tours Fridays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.

_Rome's picturesque Trastevere area on the Tiber's west bank, a charming and colorful neighborhood, hosts a festival the European Travel Commission describes as "Fellini-esque" for eight days in the second half of July, the Festa di Noantri, with a religious procession, food and entertainment.

_In Leipzig, Germany, Porsche gives free factory tours where you can see cars like the Cayenne and the new Panamera assembled on antiseptically clean floors. The tour includes a museum with exhibits covering Porsche history. If you feel like upgrading your free tour, various packages for purchase include lunch and even driving experiences on a track. Details at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap_travel/ap_tr_ge/storytext/travel_brief_european_freebies/31975015/SIG=10vuvnq75/*http://www.porsche-leipzig.de.

_In Paris, the Friday Night Fever — http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap_travel/ap_tr_ge/storytext/travel_brief_european_freebies/31975015/SIG=10stiam5r/*http://www.pari-roller.com — is a mass group tour by inline skaters of the city at night. Meeting point is Place Raoul Dautry in the 14th Arrondissement, between the Montparnasse office tower and the Paris-Montparnasse train station, at 10 p.m. The route varies every week but always covers roughly 19 miles and returns to the starting point at 1 a.m.

_Visit a sculpture park in Oslo with more than 200 works by Norway's most famous sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. The figures depict people in all stages of life and various emotions; details at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap_travel/ap_tr_ge/storytext/travel_brief_european_freebies/31975015/SIG=10vq60aoe/*http://www.vigeland.museum.no.
_In Lisbon, the Gulbenkian Museum houses a magnificent collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Asian and European art. Exhibits include Japanese prints, Persian tapestries and European paintings from Rembrandt to Rubens to Renoir.

_Sandeman's New Europe tour company is offering walking tours of nine European cities — including Paris, Madrid, London and Berlin — free of charge except for optional tipping. The latest addition to the list is a three-hour tour of Prague. Details at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap_travel/ap_tr_ge/storytext/travel_brief_european_freebies/31975015/SIG=10um1tvc9/*http://www.sandemans-new.com.

_Zurich is known as an expensive city, but a visit to the Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster) is free and the13th century building includes two modern art treasures: a large stained-glass window done by the artist Alberto Giacometti in the 1940s, along with five stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall in 1970.

_A monument to Frank Zappa, creator of the 1960s band the Mothers of Invention, can be found in Vilnius, Lithuania. Zappa is of Lithuanian descent, and the monument is located in an area known as Uzupis, known for its countercultural leanings, cafes, galleries and other artists' hangouts.

_In Amsterdam, at the Wooden Shoe Factory, you can watch typical Dutch wooden shoes being hand carved and painted while learning the lore behind them, which dates to the 14th century. Details at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap_travel/ap_tr_ge/storytext/travel_brief_european_freebies/31975015/SIG=112q1a58g/*http://www.woodenshoefactory.com.

Cruise with your favorite Disney Channel stars!! Disney Cruise Line

2009-05-11T12:42:00.008-05:00

How much fun would that be to rub elbows with some of the Disney Channel's stars and rising stars?!?!? Contact us to book your Disney Cruise today!!!!!!
Or how about adding a Disney World package on to one of these great cruises!!!!

Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises!!

Here's your chance to see and meet sensational stars from big shows and original movies on Disney Channel! More stars are scheduled to appear, so check back soon to find out who!

3-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 9 to 12, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 16 to 19, 2009—Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 23 to 26, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
July 30 to August 2, 2009—Debby Ryan (The Suite Life on Deck)

4-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 12 to 16, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 19 to 23, 2009—Musical Act Mitchel Musso and Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 26 to 30, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
August 2 to 6, 2009—Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock)

*Schedule and talent subject to change without notice. Not all stars available for each sailing.

Call us to help you book one of these great cruises!!!

Swine Flu, just the facts

2009-05-08T12:28:00.004-05:00

The Facts:
-- According to Mexico’s Health Minister, José Angel Córdova, of the 159 deaths reported during the flu outbreak in the country, only 16 were confirmed to be associated with the swine flu.
.......... Only 10% of the number originally stated by the media
.......... Population of Mexico City: 26.7 million people
.......... Relative percentage of people infected in Mexico City: 5 ten millionths of one percent
.......... The United States reports 38,000 deaths per year to the regular flu

-- According to Quintana Roo State Secretary of Tourism, no fatal cases of influenza have been reported in the main tourism destinations: Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Huatulco
-- The BBC has reported the influenza is in decline, according to Mexican Health Minister, Jose Cordova.
-- CNN reports, the health alert drop in Mexico City is a sign that Mexico City is successfully overcoming the influenza and the preventative actions taken are producing positive results, states Mexico City Mayor, Marcelo Ebrad.
-- The World Health Organization is NOT recommending travel restrictions. Scientific research indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease, according to the WHO.
-- CNN’s travel expert, Peter Greenberg states the H1N1 reporting has been blown out of proportion and has created an unnecessary ‘abundance of fear’. Watch the interview here.

Listen to what guests currently in Mexico are saying:
“If you watch the national media, you are misinformed.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsCL-WAdLSo

“If you're thinking about coming to Mexico, the rates are down, the airfare is cheap, so get down here before the rest of the country finds out.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sAw9ud5ZDs

Continental, Northwest, Delta Merger (mileage)

2009-05-08T09:10:00.004-05:00

I was just reading this timeline……….wasn’t sure if you all were aware
I thought that October 2009 was an interesting one……CO will no longer be a partner with NW and DL, so you won’t get miles from CO on your World Perks……..

Here is the web link: http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_skymiles/sm_wp_integration_program/index.jsp

SkyMiles/WorldPerks Integration Timeline
We're working to align the Delta SkyMiles and Northwest® WorldPerks programs to create the world's largest and best airline loyalty program—and there's a lot going on.
Check out the timeline below for the latest news and an overview of what's happening in 2009.
And remember that your base miles, elite qualification miles, membership status, lifetime mileage, and lounge memberships are safe and will be honored.The timeline will be regularly updated with the latest program news so check back often.
October 2008
Delta and Northwest merger approved.

November 2008
Delta & Northwest Elite Upgrade Reciprocity began. Delta announced expanded alliance partnership with Alaska Airlines.

December 2008
American Express named as the exclusive co-brand credit card issuer. American Express will continue to be the co-brand credit card partner for the current and integrated SkyMiles program.

January 2009
WorldPerks & SkyMiles Program alignment begins.
·Continental Airlines® announced it's leaving SkyTeam® alliance in October 2009. SkyMiles and WorldPerks members can continue to redeem miles for Continental Award Tickets until further notice.
·SkyMiles members can earn Medallion status via segment qualification.
WorldPerks program changes include:
·Award fee alignment to Delta and competitive industry levels.
·Saturday night stay requirement removed from Award Tickets.
·WorldPerks Platinum Elite members receive six systemwide upgrades.
·WorldPerks members may now book Award Travel on Northwest operated flights at low, medium, and high mileage Awards in Economy Class.
Interesting fact: Delta has offered Platinum Medallion upgrade certificates since 1997 and Northwest has had a Saturday night stay requirement for Award Tickets since 1999.

February 2009
Account linking and mileage transfer launched.
WorldPerks and SkyMiles members can link and transfer miles between WorldPerks and SkyMiles accounts; link accounts before April 15, 2009 and earn 500 bonus miles.
Interesting fact: So far more than 350,000 accounts have been linked. We encourage all others to link accounts today.

March 2009
Continued alignment of Delta and Northwest program benefits, including details of mileage upgrade reciprocity for all members and systemwide upgrade reciprocity for Platinum Elites/Platinum Medallions.
Effective March 1, 2009:
· WorldPerks Platinum Elites and SkyMiles Platinum Medallions receive two reissue and redeposit fee waivers and pay $50 for every other instance.
· Similar to SkyMiles members, WorldPerks members now earn an incremental 50 percent mileage bonus when booked in Y, B and M coach fare classes.
· SkyMiles program removes Saturday night stay requirement for booking Northwest Award Tickets.

April 2009
Communicate new benefits to Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers in the United States.
For Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles and Delta Reserve Credit Cardmembers:
·Use Pay with Miles on Northwest operated flights.
·If you redeem a companion certificate over the phone your $20 direct ticketing fee is waived, effective March 26, 2009.
·Companion certificates issued after April 20th, 2009 can be redeemed online.
For the Platinum Delta SkyMiles and Delta Reserve Credit Cardmembers:
·If you redeem an Award Ticket less than 21 days prior to departure your award ticket redemption fees are waived.
·If you redeem an Award Ticket on a partner airline your partner airline award handling fees are waived. For SkyMiles Platinum Medallions, unlimited partner airline Award handling fee waiver.
Interesting fact: WorldPerks and SkyMiles members will be able to use Platinum systemwide upgrade certificates or book mileage-based upgrades on both Delta and Northwest flights to six continents.

May 2009
Begin communicating detailed information regarding the integration of WorldPerks into the SkyMiles program and the additional alignment of program benefits.
New benefits coming this month:
·WorldPerks and SkyMiles members’ ability to redeem mileage upgrades on both Delta and Northwest operated flights.
·WorldPerks Platinum Elites and SkyMiles Platinum Medallions’ ability to redeem systemwide upgrade certificates on both Delta and Northwest operated flights.
·The ability for SkyMiles members to book low, medium, and high mileage Awards on Northwest operated flights and the expansion of the new three-tiered Award structure to Northwest premium cabins.
Interesting Fact: In 2008 Delta issued more than 3 million Award Tickets, and 500,000 of these Award Tickets were flown on dates when other airlines blacked-out award travel.

June 2009
Launch ability for WorldPerks members to book Award Tickets on Delta operated flights at all low, mid, and high mileage Awards in Premium Class.

July 2009
Communicate launch date for when SkyMiles Gold and Platinum Medallion members will be eligible for Complimentary Medallion Upgrades on Award Tickets.

August 2009
Announce the 2010 SkyMiles Medallion/Elite program details and tentative launch date of a new domestic SkyMiles co-branded debit card.
In addition to the existing 2009 Medallion/Elite Program benefits, the 2010 SkyMiles Medallion/Elite Program will have four elite levels

September 2009
Communicate final and complete details regarding the integration of the WorldPerks program into the SkyMiles program.

October 2009
Continental Airlines leaves SkyTeam Alliance and no longer offers our SkyMiles and WorldPerks members the ability to earn or redeem miles on Continental flights.

November 2009
Program integration enters the final stage.

December 2009
WorldPerks members transition into the SkyMiles program.
·All 2009 WorldPerks Elite Qualifying Miles, Elite Qualifying Segments, and mileage balances will be transferred from WorldPerks accounts to their linked SkyMiles accounts to ensure proper status for 2010.
·WorldPerks members who do not have a SkyMiles account will receive a new SkyMiles number, and all WorldPerks EQMs and mileage balances will be transferred to their new SkyMiles accounts.
Interesting fact: The SkyMiles program will include more than 74 million members once WorldPerks members become part of the SkyMiles program.

January 1, 2010
Launch of the new 2010 SkyMiles Medallion program.

January & February 2010
Mail new SkyMiles Medallion credential kits.
Non-Medallion members will receive a SkyMiles membership card upon completion of their first Delta activity.

Cruise Terms Test Your Skills!!!

2009-05-07T10:58:00.009-05:00

Match Game
How knowledgeable are you on cruise terms?

Match the defination to the word:

1. Basis two

2. Cross-selling
3. Alumni rate
4. GRT
5. Berth
6. Lido deck
7. Port
8. Draft
9. Space ratio
10. Magrodome
11. Quarter deck
12. POE
13. Tender

14. Starboard
15. Bow

A. Small boat that ferries passengers

B. Figure determined by dividing GRT by passenger capacity

C. Pool deck area with informal, buffet-like dining

D. Glass skylight that slides to cover pool area

E. Facing forward, the left side of the ship

F. Discounted rate given to those who have sailed a line before

G. The front of the ship

H. Offering client something in addition to the cruise, but related

I. Bed in a ship, also can refer to the docking space of a ship

J. Pricing per person, based in two passengers sharing

K. Depth of water a ship draws

L. Facing forward, the right side of the ship

M. Stern or rear part of upper deck reserved for ship's officers

N. Point of embarkation

O. Gross registered tonnage;determines volume of public spaces

Chicago Exhibit Welcomes Potter Fans to Hogwarts

2009-05-06T14:09:00.003-05:00

Harry Potter has captured the attention of many readers young and old, and with the series of movies, the fan base just keeps growing for generations.

Thank you to USAToday for this great article:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-04-28-potter-exhibition_N.htm

By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

CHICAGO — Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is finally admitting Muggles.

Muggles — non-magical humans — are never seen at the mythic school where Harry Potter learns spells, potions and defense against the dark arts, but they're welcome at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, where more than 200 props and costumes from the blockbuster movies re-create Hogwarts in an exhibition that opens Thursday.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition takes visitors from the Hogwarts Express train platform through the Gryffindor common room, classrooms, the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut. The tour is populated with creatures from the seven novels by J.K. Rowling and six Potter movies: life-sized centaurs, Buckbeak the hippogriff, dementors, thestrals and Dobby the house elf. Along the way are vignettes featuring dozens of elaborate costumes and icons of the Potter universe, including Harry's magic wand and round glasses.

Read More....
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-04-28-potter-exhibition_N.htm

Swine Flu --Perspective people.....perspective!

2009-05-05T16:08:00.004-05:00

OK, we've all been overexposed to the media these past couple weeks, with all the constant -in your face- approaches to the swine flu. What, in reality, IS the impact that this is having?
I don't believe that the flu is what is spreading like wildfire, it's the media! It's once again being blown so far out of proportion, that some people actually are afraid to leave their homes! Yipes!

I just received this communication from GOGO, and I am finding it extremely informative, so hopefully this will help put some things into perspective.
-----------
Hi everyone- First and foremost, thank you for all of your support and hard work over the last few days – I know it has been very challenging. As always, the Mexico team’s goal is to provide you with honest, forthright information that you case share with your clients, both agents and end consumers. Here is the low down on our own experience, as well as the facts released from both the U.S. and Mexican Government. I am part of a task force on this issue, and I hope you will find this information useful – if there are other questions please let me know. Our goal is to provide as many facts as possible and have you come to your own conclusions.

WHAT IS SWINE FLU?
Swine flu is influenza, and as such people should take the typical precautions that they would with any other illness: Wash hands often, cover your mouth while coughing and stay home if you are sick. This having been said, the impact of the swine flu illness has been considerably smaller than the media has led us to believe. Read on……

RELATIVE PARAMETERS:
A) - Population of Mexico City – 26.7 million people. Deaths confirmed to be swine flu – 16 (see below)** Relative percentage 5 ten millionths of one percent

- Population of the United States 306 million people. Annual deaths associated to the flu 38,000. Relative percentage – 6 one millionths of one percent.

- Population of Asia 3.8 million people. Deaths associated to SARS -700 Relative percentage: 2 ten thousandths of one percent

B). Part of a press release from the Health Minister of Mexico which contains information of great importance:
“Mexico’s Health Minister, José Angel Córdova, **informed that of the 159 deaths occurred during the flu outbreak in the country, 85 remain as suspicious, 16 have been confirmed and in 58 there was no relation to the new virus.** In the case of the 16 deaths confirmed with swine flu, 11 were in México City, 3 in the State of México, one in Oaxaca and one in Tlaxcala.” The end result? Only 16 of the deaths have been 100% associated to swine flu – that is 10% of the number originally stated by the media.

C). No Confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in any of the resort areas we work with. The Mexican Government is researching the information regarding the students that allegedly got swine flu in Cancun to research if it was indeed swine flu or the regular flu. No cases have been reported in the state of Quintana Roo at all – Cancun, Rivera Maya, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Please see attached letter from the State Government.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TAKEN IN MEXICO CITY: as you have seen in the media, there has been distribution of face masks, a reduction in public gatherings, mall closures and cancellation of some public events, such as soccer matches. These were PREVENTATIVE measures, not reactions to an increase in the number of people getting sick. The media had a field day focusing on this - The Mexican government made some tough decisions in order to take the responsibility of curbing this illness as fast as possible. Know what people in Mexico City are saying today? They are dying of boredom because there is nothing to do! ( CBS Sunday Morning 5/3/09)

MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
Myself and 7 other people from HQ were down in Acapulco for a Trade Event from April 23 - 29th. Acapulco is a 3 hour drive from Mexico City. We did not see any sick persons or an escalation in health activity or impact of the flu in the area were we were - convention center, main roadways, restaurants etc. We were around 3,000 other participants in the trade show, many of them from Mexico City.

Am I discounting the swine flu? Absolutely not – I flew home on Wednesday and had a doctor's appointment set for Thursday morning. Which they promptly called to cancel! When I explained where I had been for a week and that there were 3,000 people in attendance, I was told that I could come to in speak to a doctor, but without exhibiting a fever or other systems, they would not give me a blood test, swab test or prescription for Tamiflu. I went to the doctor, who showed me the US State Department Guidelines, for giving flu tests or prescriptions, and they were pretty detailed. End result? The government instituted guidelines because people were “overreacting” to the information provided from the media, creating an “infodemic” and medical offices could no longer handle the volume……… P.S. Myself and the others are fine – other than having been a little stressed out! J

From the Palm Beach Post - PLEASE NOTE THIS IMPORTANT DEFINITION – the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the term pandemic (and its number scale) to refer only to geographic spread and not to the severity of cases an illness. The two most recent pandemics — in 1957 and 1968 — were relatively mild. When we went for a number 4 to a number 5, it was based on the number of countries it had spread to, not that the number of case had doubled or tripled.

5. THE END RESULT OF AN INFODEMIC: from a recent Travel Weekly Mexico E letter L
“ Although the scope and severity of the swine flu outbreak is still unclear, recent worldwide health scares have dealt a severe blow to tourism in affected countries. For example, during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in parts of Asia, travel to the region plunged. SARS, which killed more than 700 people and sickened hundreds more, was blamed for a 20% reduction in air traffic to the region. Fearing the spread of SARS, some countries in Asia closed their borders to visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong, while others instituted strict health screenings at airports and border crossings.”

The impact on our Mexico business? More than 32,000 room nights and $6.1 M in cancelled or rebooked land sales, the majority for travel in May.

OUR RESPONSE – for the next 3 weeks we will gather additional information, and continue to communicate what we find. Then we will make some strategic decisions on how to begin promoting the Mexico product again. We are getting ready for a comeback!

As always, in traveling anywhere – even at home in the USA, exercise appropriate care where you are – and enjoy the destination and take back happy memories with you. Thank you and looking forward to your future support!
Colette Baruth Vice President of Product - Mexico & Latin America LibGo Travel, A Division of Flight Centre USA Inc

What if the world starts thinking like airlines....??

2009-04-30T10:48:00.002-05:00

OK, this is an oldie but a goodie.......

Thank you to tripso for posting this again. I have read this one, and a couple other that are similar, but it always makes me giggle.

Hope this brightens you day too!!!

The following scenario may sound far-fetched when applied to buying a pair of shoes. But substitute the word airline, and …

Customer: “I’d like to buy a pair of the “Supercool Superfast” running shoes you have advertised for $39.99, size 8 medium.”

Clerk: “Certainly ma’am, that will be $159.99.”

Customer: “Wait a minute,the advertised price said $39.99.”

Clerk: “Yes, but that’s per shoe.”

Customer: “That’s still only about half of what you are charging me.”

Clerk: “Yes, but that doesn’t include the fuel costs involved to get the shoes to our store. And of course sales tax, a fee to cover our store security, and local taxes from China where the shoes were made. Plus there’s a couple others, I don’t remember them exactly.”

Customer: “That doesn’t really seem right.”

Clerk: “And that final price does include a surcharge for my personal assistance. We do have to charge a little more when you don’t order online.”

Customer: “So I could have gotten a better price without actually coming to the store?”

Clerk: “Yes, if you could have figured out our Web site, I have been told it’s a little confusing. And then there would have been a restocking fee if you didn’t like the shoes.”

Customer: “So there really were no shoes available at the advertised price?”

Clerk: “No, the ad is correct. But actually, it’s all explained in the fine print. You know the price would have been cheaper if you came in Tuesday or Wednesday night. And the least expensive price is only available for size 5 narrow. Most sizes are more. Just be glad you don’t need one of our premium sizes.”

Customer: “Well, I need the shoes, and they are supposed to be great. So fine, I’ll take them.”

Clerk: “Great, and would you like laces for an additional $20?”

Swine Flu Updates

2009-04-29T12:42:00.003-05:00

Looking for the most comprehensive updates?
Here it is.........more information than you could possibly want, from twitter messaging to Centers for Disease Control to World Health Organization alerts, and more.....

Drumroll please..........
Here it is:
http://www.netvibes.com/btc#Flu

We're all trying to stay updated, and this is a great resource.

Swine Flu and Travel, Everyone's Talking!!!

2009-04-27T10:30:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Yahoo News for this article: (please read it!)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090427/ap_tr_ge/us_travel_brief_swine_flu_airlines;_ylt=Ag42NS.ZdLz5koQcgDUbHtQ8sM0F

As of right now, the airlines have not cancelled any flights due to the Swine Flu.
Many are offering a waiver to make changes, but most are to change your ticket by a week or two at most.....

(Yahoo News) U.S. health officials declared a public health emergency Sunday, saying 20 swine flu cases have been reported so far in New York, Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California, primarily linked to recent travel to Mexico. Canada became the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu Sunday and multiple nations including New Zealand and Spain also suspect infection. Some are moving to quarantine travelers from affected regions and advising their citizens to postpone travel to certain areas in Mexico.
U.S. officials said they will begin asking travelers about illness if they're entering the country from regions with confirmed swine flu.

As of right now, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines are all offering some form of waiver. Each are a little different, and none are a full refund that I've seen.....

Happy Vacations

2009-04-22T10:04:00.005-05:00

Not-So-Happy--Happy Vacations.......

As some of you may have heard, Happy Vacations is re-organizing........
http://www.happyvacations.com/

If you currently have a trip booked with Happy Vacations, and are looking to re-book onto another similar trip, please CONTACT US!!! We'd be more than happy to assist you! We have many tour providers that we work with that have been graciously offering exclusive discounts for us to help you out.......

We will need your current reservation information to submit, and then we can assist further.

Here is what the Happy Vacations website currently says:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2009
Happy Vacations to Reorganize
Several weeks ago Happy Vacations secured limited financing as an interim step towards a recapitalization. The company has been in discussions with a number of interested parties to add more capital and to potentially buy all or part of the company. Those discussions continue. Happy Vacations, however, has yet to obtain the needed funds and has no choice, at least in the interim, to cease current operations.
“The company has some viable components that are less affected by these very difficult economic times, and we will build on these to emerge from reorganization as a stronger company.”
“After 40 years in the business we at Happy Vacations are heart-broken about the turn of events and our difficult decision to disrupt our current operations. We truly appreciate the support and concern from our Travel Agency and vendor partners. We apologize for any disruption, inconvenience or losses.” said David Marshall, President, Happy Vacations.
Happy is working with other travel providers to protect as many travelers as possible and will distribute this information throughout the week. Travel Agents are advised to take immediate action to ensure that your clients’ trips are not disrupted.
Check this site for future developments.

Twitter's the word...Twitter...tweet tweet!!!

2009-04-22T09:44:00.003-05:00

Here are some of my fav's

Travel Leaders (of course!!): http://twitter.com/travelleaders

Andrew Zimmern (love this guy!!): http://twitter.com/bizarrefoods

I'm a huge Disney fan (this twitter site is un-official, but I like it): http://twitter.com/TheDisneyBlog

Another great site with great YouTube links, thank you to The Disney Blog: http://thedisneyblog.com/2008/06/26/disney-parks-slowly-moves-onto-twitter/

Barbados: http://twitter.com/BarbadosTravel

Do you have a favorite that you'd like to share with me? Please drop me a line!!!

Princess Cruise Lines Twitter

2009-04-21T16:27:00.004-05:00

Do you Twitter?????

This term is unheard of for some, and old hat for others....but if you don't "Twitter", maybe this would be a fun way to start twittering.....

Here is the webpage to follow: http://www.princess.com/goldendrydock/

Here is the TWITTER page to follow: http://twitter.com/PrincessCruises

There will be a daily photo progress report and other fun tweets. Check it out!!!!!!

Prevent your Frequent Flyer Miles from Expiration!!!

2009-04-17T10:24:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Money Blue Book, for posting this great article:

This post dates back to October 2007. I'm sure there are updates to these programs, but here are some great tips to keep your account active....

I used to fly a lot and racked up a lot of frequent flyer miles over the years, but now I have to be extra careful. Airline travelers who don’t use their frequent flyer miles…well, frequently, may soon discover that their miles have expired. It is a growing trend, but airlines have shortened the time period that an account can remain inactive before miles expire. In most cases that time period ranges between 1 to 2 years.

Here Are the Expiration Policies For Some of the Biggest Airlines(current Oct 2007):
AirTran: Points in A+ Rewards expire after 12 months.
American Airlines: AAdvantage® miles expire after 36 months of inactivity.
Continental Airlines: OnePass miles do not expire. There is a written policy that says they do, but the airline does not enforce the policy.
Delta Airlines: Delta SkyMiles expire after 2 years of inactivity.
JetBlue: TrueBlue points expire one full year from the date that they are earned.
Northwest Airlines: Northwest WorldPerks miles expire if none are earned for 3 calendar years.
Southwest Airlines: Rapid Rewards points expire after 2 years.
United Airlines: Mileage Plus miles expire after 36 months of inactivity. Starting December 31, 2007, miles will expire after 18 months of inactivity.
U.S. Airways: Dividend Miles expire after 18 months of inactivity.

How You Can Easily Prevent Mileage Expiration
The way to prevent your miles from lapsing due to inactivity is to simply generate miles-earning activity for each airline that you have an account with. Other using than using a specialized miles-generating credit card rewards like the Starwood Preferred, another relatively easy way is by making a purchase at the airline’s own shopping portal, where you earn miles for each purchase. This will allow you to earn a few miles, enough to reset the inactivity clock. Most of the popular stores such as iTunes, Best Buy, and Circuit City can be found at each airline’s shopping website.

Links to the Major Airlines’ Shopping Websites:
American Airlines: AAdvantage® eShopping
Continental Airlines: ShopOnePass
Delta Airlines: Delta SkyMile Shopping
Northwest Airlines: WorldPerks Mall
United Airlines: Mileage Plus Mall
U.S. Airways: Dividend Miles Shopping Mall

Make Sure Your Purchases Count To Reset the Account Activity Clock
--- To ensure that you receive mileage credit for the purchase made through the airline’s shopping portal, make sure your shopping cart is empty before doing the click through. For example, don’t visit Best Buy, add something to your cart and then revisit Best Buy by clicking through the airline’s shopping portal website. You may not receive mileage credit for the items already in your cart. Visit the store through the airline’s website first before making purchases to receive proper mileage credit.
--- There is no minimum mileage you need to earn to reset the inactivity clock. If you can make a quick purchase for a $1 item that allows you to accrue a few miles towards your frequent flyer plan, that is sufficient to reset and prevent expiration.
--- One way to track your miles and monitor your most recent activity in each of your frequent flyer accounts is by using USA Today’s downloadable MileTracker application.

Too Small Cruise Cabins?

2009-03-26T09:55:00.003-05:00

How small is TOO small?????

I read this great article on USA Today, and thought it would be an interesting post....

Today's debate: How small is too small for a cruise ship cabin?

Norwegian Cruise Line created quite a stir this week with the announcement that it's next ship, the Norwegian Epic, would have some interior cabins that take up just 100 square feet.
Just how small is 100 square feet? Consider that even some of the balconies on existing NCL ships are bigger. And even the smallest cabins on most other mass-market cruises ships have at least 35% to 50% more space.
NCL's new budget acommodations, dubbed The Studios, will be clustered around a communal living area on the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic called the Living Room, giving passengers who book the cabins a bit more room to spread out. Still, it's going to be a tight squeeze.

NCL executives say the maximum-two-person Studios, which the line is designing with a stylish, modern vibe, are aimed at a younger crowd looking for a fun, low-cost way to cruise. There will be 128 of the cabins in all.

Cruise Loggers, what do you think about the idea of super-small cabins for the budget traveler? With the economy tumbling and consumers looking for ways to save on travel, is this a concept that comes at the perfect time? Or is 100 square feet -- the equivalent of a 10 foot by 10 foot space -- just too small to work for a cruiser no matter how low the price?

Tell me your opinion!!!

What is really happening in Mexico? The REAL Story...

2009-03-24T10:34:00.006-05:00

Thank you to Gogo WorldWide Vacations for this great info! Dated 3-24-09

We wanted to provide a full overview with respect to the recent update to the US state department alert regarding travel to Mexico There is a ton of misinformation out there, and it is very important that we work to educate you on what the real deal is. GOGO has been working with the Federal and local government to create tools that will help you to provide up- to-date, truthful information to respond to questions you may be receiving.

1. The State Department Alert is NOT NEW. It is only an update to an alert that was published over 12 months ago, and is simply to educate consumers on issues they should be informed on. The State Department has travel alerts published regarding travel to hundreds of countries in any given moment, and they can all be found on the State department website.
· “The US government issued an update to an existing Travel Alert. It has NOT issued a Travel Warning. The difference is significant and as Leslie Bassett, Business Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico “…the alert does not intend in any way to discard Mexico as a tourist destination...”

2. What is the short answer on "What is happening in Mexico? "
NOTHING in the destinations we sell. Basically, the issue is associated to drug cartels and the extra pressure being placed on them by Mexican President Calderon. The areas that are affected are cities on the U.S./Mexico border, as that is the point of entry for drugs coming into the U.S. – these border towns include Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, and Nuevo Laredo. None of the issues are regarding the resort areas, which are safe and sound as you will see from information supplied further on in this email. The areas in questions are not resort areas, we don’t sell any product there, and they are literally THOUSANDS of miles away from the areas we do sell.

See the map below:

3. Want to see feedback from spokespersons in the industry? Here is a great article written by Pauline Frommer..... http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=878358

4. A different perspective - Feedback on Bill O’Reilly’s recent commentary on TV: http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=3189

5. Want to see real time, real customer feedback? We have consumer testimonials from customers that were interviewed in various resort destinations LAST WEEK!

CLICK HERE!!!

6. For additional information and to keep updated, please go to http://www.mexico-update.com/ . There is a further enhanced map to the one above, where it shows mileage distances between all resort destinations. Just move your mouse over the map and the information will pop up. There is also information on anything being seen in the news, and the website is updated daily. Perfectly fine to send out to customers as well.

7. Your help is needed! The concern regarding travel to Mexico has been increased by the amount of misinformation that is out there. Please help spread the word on what is really happening and forward this information to anyone who has questions. We need to ensure that correct information is out there.

THIS IS HOW VISITORS ARE ENJOYING CANCUN TODAY.

Testimonial 3 (US Consul in Merida and US Visitors) URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_tPnygd-Ts

Testimonial 7 (US Consul in Merida: difference between Travel Warning and Travel Alert)URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldpeNlfrZak

Testimonial 1 (US visitor)URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_gJY5sbr88

Testimonial 2 (US visitors: couple) URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0gxBQ0V1g

Testimonial 8 (US meeting planner)URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_baXLzdEaBM

From the Puerto Vallarta CVB: "We want to share with you the Testimonial Video of the Spring Breakers in Puerto Vallarta filmed this week"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=398XtV2O4WM

Travelers in Playa del Carmen:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJNDzaV0CzQ&feature=channel_page

https://webmail.libgotravel.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.whatisreallyhappeninginmexico.com/ -Various testimonials from all different Mexico Destiations of visitors there this week and last week.

Where Have I Been?

2008-12-04T14:04:00.006-06:00

visited 16 countries (7.11%)

visited 22 states (44%)

Worst seat onboard the airplane? The Good / Bad / Ugly!!

2008-11-15T10:59:00.004-06:00

Have you ever felt that you were the unlucky one that got a horrible seat onboard the airplane?

Last row of the aircraft?
Seat that doesn't recline, for whatever the reason...?
No window in your 'window' seat?
How about that lovely seat right next to the stinky bathroom???

Ever had one of these experiences?
Check out the Seat Guru!!
I have a link to the right called 'Select the BEST Seats'
I think you'll find you'll really like this tool, when selecting your seat onboard the airplane!!

It gives you such things as:
- Detailed seat map graphics.
- In-depth seat specific comments denoting seats with limited recline, reduced legroom, mis-aligned windows.
- Color-coding to help identify superior and substandard seats.
- In-seat power port locations.
- Galley, lavatory, Exit Row and closet locations

Although there are no guarantees with airlines, including a last minute aircraft change.....that's happened to me a time or two...how frustrating!
Anyways, this information will hopefully give you a fighting chance to know some of the good the bad and the ugly seats out there!!!!
Check it out!

Frequent Flyer Miles with the Northwest-Delta Merger

2008-10-17T15:39:00.003-05:00

So many people have been asking what will happen to their frequent flyer miles once the big scary merger takes place. I think we may have some answers.....
I found this link to a conversation on USA Today with some great info for YOU (and me, of course), the traveling people...

Please check it out and tell me your thoughts!

CLICK HERE

Getting Around the 3-1-1 Rule

2008-10-09T12:58:00.004-05:00

This article was published by Leslie Baumann, M.D. (The Skin Guru)

I have read several of her blog entries, and found them to be helpful in many ways.
This blog entry was from May 2007, but I thought my readers might also find it useful!!!

You can click HERE to read the full article

Here are some tips from her column:
1. Yes, toothpaste counts. Put a travel size tube in your plastic bag to start.
2. Remember, the rule is that containers can't be larger than three ounces - so don't try to bring the remaining three ounces of a six-ounce shampoo bottle.
3. Your eye cream can double as a nighttime facial cream (that's what I do when I'm traveling). Similarly, a separate eye cream isn't absolutely necessary - just pat your regular moisturizer around your eye area. Let your products do double duty.
4. Look for stick foundation, rather than liquid, so your makeup doesn't take up valuable space in the plastic bag.
5. Bring lipsticks and lip balms instead of glosses to save even more space.
6. Avoid liquid eyeliners and eye shadows - stick to powders to avoid problems.
7. This is the one time you will hear me recommend a bar soap for the face (but look for the gentlest you can find). These don't need to go in the bag.
8. Save your favorite perfume samples or visit a department-store perfume counter and pick some up before you leave. They're a huge space saver.
9. Going to be outdoors during your trip? Buy sunscreen when you arrive. Not only will you save precious room in your luggage, you'll ensure that the sunscreen is at maximum potency (unlike years-old tubes you might have lying around the house).
10. One thing you should never skimp on when flying is hydration. Look for small spray bottles of water that you can mist on your face during the flight. Follow that up with moisturizer, and you'll lock in moisture to fight the effects of airplane air.
Finally, take inexpensive, small items that you won't mind leaving behind. Flying internationally? Think of it as freeing up room to shop the duty-free stores on your way home.

Disneyland Sept 2008

2008-09-22T10:03:00.002-05:00

I had an amazing time in California, visiting Disneyland and California Adventure Park. I attended a conference here, and they treated us like royalty. We had fabulous motivational speakers!! It really pumps you up!

The slideshow you see here includes lots of pictures.
Pictures of:
-- My hotel room at the Disneyland Hotel
-- Susan Egan (who played Belle on Broadway) absolutely amazing!!
-- Richard Sherman, one of the Sherman Brothers. He and his brother Robert were Walt's right hand men for songs!! His playlist includes: Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, It's a Small World, Parent Trap, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, and so much more!!!
-- Out and about around the parks

Here is another picture of the Sherman Brothers

(copyright release wikimedia)

Test your Geography Skills

2008-05-15T09:31:00.003-05:00

Client Trip to Lisbon

2008-02-21T14:58:00.001-06:00

I had a client that traveled to Lisbon in February 2008. They are very well traveled, and chose Lisbon as a unique place to relax and take a breather from life for a little while.

Here are some pictures they shared with me, and it sure does look like a great place to visit!!!

The narrow streets of Alfama in Lisbon take you back centuries in time.

Just walking around Lisbon is great sightseeing. Even the laundry is beautiful.

Here she is at Fort of Belem, guarding the harbor where Portuguese explorers discovered the new world 500 years ago.

Even teenagers and 20 somethings don’t mind being with parents when in Lisbon. This 21 year old, explores a castle at Sintra.

Hotel recommendation. Solar dos Mouros is just a few steps away from the Castle, Alfama, museums and restaurants. Ask for the river view and get a breathtaking view out your window every day. The 18 room hotel has original paintings and pictures that make it a special treat.

Viva Las Vegas Jan 2008

2008-02-13T10:15:00.003-06:00

I have visited Las Vegas many times.

This trip, we stayed at Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood used to be The Aladdin Hotel and Casino. It was recently changed over to the new name, and it only has "PH" on the side of the building. This is for sure a hotel to see and be seen at. People get pretty dressed up for a night on the town!!! The location of this hotel is right next to the Paris Hotel, great location mid-strip.

We went to the Blue Man Group show at the Venetian, and that was great! We loved it!

I'm a big Cirque du Soleil fan, and I normally try to get to one of those shows, but we tried this show, and it was very fun.

Planet Hollywood has a spa facility, and it was lovely. It's located upstairs from the casino, so tucked away from the noise of the casino.

They do try to sell you timeshare here, so watch out! We were asked about this numerous times, it got a little annoying.

Every time we visit Las Vegas, we eat at the Harrah's buffet. It's our favorite, and still the best! One thing we noticed when we were at Harrah's this time, we noticed a new bar and grill for Toby Keith, called 'Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill' It looked really fun, but we didn't go inside.

Disney World Sept 2007

2007-10-13T10:26:00.006-05:00

Anyone who's ever met me, KNOWS that I absolutely LOVE Disney, and all things Disney.
I have visited Disney World several times. I've stayed on site at Disney Resorts, and also have stayed off site at different hotels.

I get excited helping to plan your vacation to Disney. I have many suggestions and tips that have proven useful for most people.

Please contact me to help you plan your Disney Vacation today!!!!

Here is what we did in Sept 07:
Day 1: Flight to Orlando, checked into our hotel "Disney's Pop Century". Pop Century was a great value resort, the food court was large with many selections, and a lot of places to sit. The refillable cup was a good deal. We then headed off to Downtown Disney. Visited the toy store, and ate at the counter service 'Earl of Sandwich', awesome sandwiches!!!!!!! I was quite impressed.
Day 2: Played at the 'bowling pin' pool, which was heated, so that was nice. Basically hung out at the resort most of the day. Took naps, and headed over to the Magic Kingdom for the Halloween Party. We ate dinner at the Crystal Palace with all the Pooh characters. The buffet was good, nothing extra special, pretty much exactly what we had expected. We all dressed up in costume for the Halloween party, so that was fun. The halloween party started at 7pm, and we made it until about 8:15pm before it started to rain. The first parade was rained out, but we did watch the 2nd parade, which was amazing, and nothing like any other parade Disney does. We also seen Cinderella's carriage, and the villian show before heading back to the hotel.
Day 3: Ate breakfast at Boma's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Always our favorite. They have a wonderful breakfast buffet, with made to order omelets, fresh fruit, bread, etc. Spent the day at Animal Kingdom. Watched the Nemo show there, excellent!!! Ate dinner at Ohana's at the Polynesian Resort
Day 4: We started at Epcot to do the Nemo ride there, then headed over to the Magic Kingdom. Watched the afternoon parade, and then ate dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. Great food, served family style, and character interaction that we love! We also visited the Baby Care Center. This impressed me, it felt like home with the high chairs, changing tables, tv set up, etc. It was perfect for those few minutes to feed the baby, and wind down a little bit.
Day 5: Ate breakfast at Chef Mickey's, good food, good character interaction, very upbeat and fun. Went over to the Magic Kingdom to visit the princesses. Ate lunch at Cosmic Rays. Ate dinner at Cinderella's Gala Feast at the Grand Floridian with Cinderella, Prince Charming, the stepsisters and stepmother.

If you need more info on any of these things, please feel free to contact me!!

Barbados Sept 2007

2007-10-08T13:31:00.003-05:00

I traveled to Barbados in September 2007 with a group of travel agents.
I learned a lot about the island, and wanted to share some great info!!!

The island:

- A valid U.S. Passport is required for all U.S. citizens.
- The island was erected from a coral reef, unlike most other islands in the Caribbean that were formed from volcanoes.
- Because it's on a coral reef:
---- The water is the 2nd most pure water in the world, next to the Swiss Alps, which means you can drink the water right out of the tap!!!! It's true!!
---- There are some great underground caves to visit
- Barbados is the number one destination for those living in the Caribbean, to vacation to.
- It is 19 miles from St. Lucia, and approx 45 minutes by plane to Caracas, Venezuela
- English is the native language
- No topless sun bathing allowed
- Cameflouge is illegal, and will be confiscated. It is allowed for their military only.
- Drive on the left

Here are some pictures out and about in Barbados:

Here are some pictures from the Bougainvillea Beach Resort:
(This is the hotel I stayed at while visiting the island.)

Here are some pictures from Little Arches:
This 10 room resort is similar to a bed and breakfast.

Here are some pictures from Hilton:

Here are some pictures from The House:
This resort really impressed me. Upon arrival you are greeted with a smoothie, and are invited to check in where ever you'd like. So if you want to relax by the pool, the ambassadors will come to you where ever you prefer. 2 ambassadors are assigned to every room, so it's all about SERVICE here!!! One of the pictures in this slide show are the private plunge pools. Very unique at this property.

Here are some pictures from Crystal Cove:

Here are some pictures from Accra:

Here are some pictures from Colony Club:

Here are some pictures from Almond Beach Club:

Here are some pictures from Almond Village:
This all inclusive property is great for anyone! I especially liked it for families. There was a separate section with pools and slides of all shapes and sizes for all ages of children and babies.

Here are some pictures from Sandy Lane:
(This is the resort that Tiger Woods got married at!! Very upper scale, very nice)

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