My client just returned home from a detox trip to Thailand.
She has some great pictures and stories on her blog
Check it out!!!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Disney Fantasy March 2012
I had the opportunity to be on the inaugural sailing of this ship, so it wasn't it's typical 7 day itinerary, it was a short 3 day to Castaway Cay and back.
Here are some of the highlights
SHOWS: I had previously been on the Wonder, and to my surprise, there were 3 new shows that I had not seen, so that was great. One was Wishes, One was Believe, and the other was Aladdin. They used screens in front of and behind the cast members on stage, and they also used pryotechnics too. I was seriously blown away by the shows. They were even better than I had remembered the Wonder to be.
STATEROOMS: I had the opportunity to tour quite a few staterooms, inside, outside, balcony, one bedroom even the Roy O. Disney Suite, which was amazing. I have posted the pictures to our facebook page. The virtual portholes were impressive, I watched the interaction of the characters in the portholes for about 15 minutes, and I can absolutely understand the draw of these types of rooms.
DINING: Rotational dining is what Disney is known for, and the restaurants to visit are once again impressive. Our first night was at **Enchanted Garden, and the ambiance of this restaurant was like you were walking into a garden outside. The lighting was perfect, and the look and feel was wonderful. Mind you, this restaurant is on the 2nd floor. So to feel like you're outside, and be that low on the ship, was awesome. **Royal Court was our next night for dinner, and this was elegant, and you felt like a princess walking into this room. The little princess touches were great. Even the bread bowl was shaped like a carriage that would hold the royals themselves. **Animators Palate reminded me a lot of the one on the Wonder, with a few more magical touches. You got to draw a character on your placemat, and see it come to life on the screen while you ate. That was really cool. The chairs were designed to look like Mickey's pants, it was cool.
When it comes to Disney, there is so much MAGIC that is put into every single trip, I don't want to spoil it all for you, but there was plenty of magic all around!!!!!!
Here are some of the highlights
SHOWS: I had previously been on the Wonder, and to my surprise, there were 3 new shows that I had not seen, so that was great. One was Wishes, One was Believe, and the other was Aladdin. They used screens in front of and behind the cast members on stage, and they also used pryotechnics too. I was seriously blown away by the shows. They were even better than I had remembered the Wonder to be.
STATEROOMS: I had the opportunity to tour quite a few staterooms, inside, outside, balcony, one bedroom even the Roy O. Disney Suite, which was amazing. I have posted the pictures to our facebook page. The virtual portholes were impressive, I watched the interaction of the characters in the portholes for about 15 minutes, and I can absolutely understand the draw of these types of rooms.
DINING: Rotational dining is what Disney is known for, and the restaurants to visit are once again impressive. Our first night was at **Enchanted Garden, and the ambiance of this restaurant was like you were walking into a garden outside. The lighting was perfect, and the look and feel was wonderful. Mind you, this restaurant is on the 2nd floor. So to feel like you're outside, and be that low on the ship, was awesome. **Royal Court was our next night for dinner, and this was elegant, and you felt like a princess walking into this room. The little princess touches were great. Even the bread bowl was shaped like a carriage that would hold the royals themselves. **Animators Palate reminded me a lot of the one on the Wonder, with a few more magical touches. You got to draw a character on your placemat, and see it come to life on the screen while you ate. That was really cool. The chairs were designed to look like Mickey's pants, it was cool.
When it comes to Disney, there is so much MAGIC that is put into every single trip, I don't want to spoil it all for you, but there was plenty of magic all around!!!!!!
This slideshow is of the stateroom tour that I was able to do.
There are some really impressive cabins onboard the Disney Fantasy.
Just wait until you see the Roy O. Disney suite!!! WOW!
This slideshow is of our dinners.
The rotational dining is fun!
This slideshow is of the kids and teen areas.
This is an exclusive look, especially in Vibe, as it's not open to adults during the sailing. It's exclusive for teens.
The Oceaneer's Club and Lab are fun for me to see, as this is where my kids will want to hang out for the entire cruise. They love it!!!
Disney Cruise Line Adult Exclusive restaurants are romantic onboard dinner destinations that cater exclusively to adults looking for the finest in onboard dining amid a refined and elegant atmosphere.
This next slideshow is all about Palo and Remy, these restaurats are hard to get into, are very exclusive, and are a luxury dining experience all the way around. There is a surcharge for these 2 restaurants only.
This next slideshow is all about Palo and Remy, these restaurats are hard to get into, are very exclusive, and are a luxury dining experience all the way around. There is a surcharge for these 2 restaurants only.
Staying along the adult only lines...I had the chance to enjoy Europa!!!
This is the evening adult area to enjoy. What fun! The pictures don't really do this are justice, but you can get a glimpse of just how cool and fun Europa nightlife can be!!!
Here are the pictures from Disney's Castaway Cay. We spent most of our time over in the adult only beach, but I have pictures of both beaches.
We had such a unique experience with the Fantasy and the Dream sailing around together. They have these songs on their blow horns, and when we were sitting at the private island, we could hear them tooting them back and forth at each other. It was SOOO cool, I literally stopped where I was and stood there and listened for about 15 minutes. So cool!
Some of the songs they tooted:
When you Wish Upon a Star
Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho A Pirate's Life for Me
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
It's A Small World After All
Hi Diddly Dee An Actor's Life for Me
Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest Put our Service to the Test
This is my last slideshow, and it contains pictures out and about around the ship.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Jamaica March 2012
We visited Negril, Jamaica in March 2012. We went with a group of friends, so we were looking into accomodations that would fit every budget, yet still all inclusive, and nice. We decided on the resort of: RIU Negril. This was a wonderful fit financially and location wise too. We all had a fabulous time!!! Our good friends even got engaged there :) Congrats to you Brent and Ann!!!
Here is my trip report about the RIU Negril:
ROOMS: The rooms were actually a little larger than I was expecting. We had a standard room with ocean view. I was expecting a typical standard hotel room, but I liked how roomy our room felt. The entrance area by the door was wide, the liquor dispensor and the minifridge were plentiful. Our bed however was a little disappointing. You can see from the picture below in the slideshow that our KING sized bed was indeed 2 double beds pushed together. Yep. I wasn't expecting that, and was not super happy about it, but it is what it is, right? Our balcony was small but sufficient. Air conditioning worked just fine, can't complain. The bathroom was small, you can see in the picture just how small that shower was. It was fine, but not spacious by any means.
BEACH: The beach outfront of our resort was nice. I like in Negril how you can wade out into the water and go quite a ways before it gets over your head. It's nice to just get a little wet, and no crashing waves, no undertow. I do like that! On the far end of our resort, the weeds and debris did wash up quite a bit, but the RIU did a nice job of keeping most of it clear most of the time. There were plenty of little shells to collect in the area (not that you can take them home...but some do try) Towards the South side of our beach, in between the two RIU resorts, there are some beach vendors. This area is nice to do a little shopping, without having to be hassled all the time just relaxing on your beach chair.
WAKE UP TIME: I do not like that you have to wake up at 6:00am just to get a chair on the beach. People wake up very early just to reserve a chair. It is a problem, I did not like it, but by the time we finally would get our butts down to the beach, people were getting out of their chairs, so it wasn't a huge issue. But this could be a problem for some... You also need to get up very early to make a dining reservation at the restaurants. You can make a reservation 2 days in advance only. This is never a problem, but you need to know the system. Get up early, make a reservation and you're good to go.
DINING: We dined in the buffet restaurant a few times, and the choices were plenty. I did feel a little like a herd of cattle when it was dinner time though. It's not super fancy, and very laid back. Wonderful for those that like it to be very casual, and don't want to dress up. It's a great fit for that. I, on the other hand, do like to get dressed up for dinner, and make it nice. We did that 2 times in our 4 night stay. We did the steakhouse 'Shadows', and we also did the fancy 'Sir Andrews' one night. Shadows was impressive, my expectations were low, but was pleasantly surprised, food was great, service was good. Sir Andrews was also good, food was much better at Sir Andrews, but the service was a little slow. It surprised me that there was only seating for approx 30 people max, at a resort that holds 420 guest rooms. Seems like it would make more sense to make some of these restaurants a little bigger. BUT there was always the buffet option as well, which always had many choices.
BARS/DRINKS: I had a personal favorite of a 'Dirty Banana' the last time we were in Jamaica, and the RIU's version of this drink was not the same, and not as good. So I found a drink I did like, it was called a 'Miami Vice'. This was a red, white and blue drink, yummy!!! The bartenders were good, I can't say that we had any one that was a stand out. The swim up bar was always hopping and busy, the first time I went over to the swim up bar to get a drink, I stood there for 10 minutes before the bartender even looked at me, and it took another 10-15 minutes to actually get a drink. That was about it for me. I prefer the quiet pool anyways, so that was fine. They were serving the rowdy ones, and that was good!!!!
OVERALL IMPRESSION: OK, so I've traveled a lot, and I do take my trips with a grain of salt most days. Things will go wrong, things will go right, and it's all good. My overall impression of this resort was that it's a 3-4 star and that's exactly where it should be. Everything was good, but not great. I would absolutely stay here again, without a doubt. It's all about expectations. It's not a luxury resort, but sometimes that isn't what you're willing to pay for when you just want to have fun and be safe.
Here are a few of my pictures from the trip:
Couples Negril was a beautiful resort. This resort reminded me a lot of Sandals Negril. They cater to adult only couples, and upscale service. The overall feel of this resort was much smaller, there are 234 rooms. Each of the beach and pool chairs have a floatie. You can take your floatie in the pool or into the ocean, and it's fabulous. There are more than enough chairs for the entire resort, so you never have to race to get a chair. I love that.
We were given a walking tour of the resort, and the overall feel of the place is that it's very relaxed and quiet, no kids, so that in itself is a nice feature. I really loved this resort, with all the inclusions, even though the price point is higher up front, your experience when you are there is so much better!!!!
Here are a few of my pictures from Couples Negril:
RIU Palace Tropical Bay was a lot like RIU Negril. The layout, the look and feel is so similar, it's a little hard to know where you are at times. But the rooms, the rooms were much nicer. The beach out front was a little less crowded, and not quite as weedy.
Here are a few of my pictures from RIU Palace Tropical Bay:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Stress Free Traveling
Here are some Travel Tips to help make 2012 stress-free:
Hydrate while flying to help prevent jet lag- Drink water, water, water. Don't drink caffeine or alcohol during your travels. Caffeine and alcohol cause sleep disruption while traveling, deepening "jet lag". Caffeine and alcohol can make your flights more stressful.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes- This will make you more comfortable, as the low pressurization of airplanes causes our bodies to swell. On long flights, the immobility of passengers and low pressurization of the airplane will take their toll and increase passenger discomfort. Try to get up to stretch and walk as often as you can. If it's not possible to get up, do some shoulder and neck rolls in your seat, lift your heels and flex your legs.
Wash your hands with soap and water- Practicing good hygiene before and during your trip can save you from days of travel illness. If water isn't readily available use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for optimum results. When using hand sanitizers, continue rubbing your hands together until they're until dry.
Learn about your destination- The best place to start your research is with your Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel expert. Many countries, while generally safe to visit, do have some risks. Let us help you learn about your destination in advance, sorting through the questions and answers to help protect your health and reduce anxiety while traveling.
Be cautious with water and food while traveling- You don't know how safe the water is, especially in developing countries. When in doubt, use bottled water. Don't eat from street stands.
Packing- Experienced travelers plan well and travel light. One of the quickest ways to ruin a trip is to be overburdened by unnecessary luggage. Don't overpack your carry-on. A wrenched back from pulling your carry-on from the overhead bin is a fast way to ruin your vacation. The most important item to remember is a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Do not bring expensive jewelery. Make a list of all the items you've packed before you leave home. Leave a copy of this list at home in case your luggage gets lost or stolen.
Cash and credit cards- "Take it from one who knows- bring twice the money ...and half the clothes!" We do not advocate carrying large sums of cash for security reasons... but at the same time it's a good idea to carry some American currency in cash, if only to tide you over until you get to an exchange facility. One of the safest ways to carry your passport, credit cards and cash is in a neck pouch. When worn inside your shirt or blouse, a neck pouch will be a most helpful protection against theft.
Carry a list of credit card contact phone numbers separately from your purse or wallet, and also leave a copy with someone at home in case you lose your cards while traveling. If you lose your card, you are usually liable only for the first $50 or so of fraudelant charges if you contact your credit card company immediately. Credit cards usually allow you to receive the best possible rate of exchange. You'll want to contact your credit card company before traveling to make sure your card will be accepted in the country of your travels. Most credit card companies are increasingly vigilant about protecting their customers from credit card fraud - they may freeze your account due to unusual or "suspicious" activity if you fail to notify them of your travel plans in advance.
Protect your Travel Investment- Travelers need to take the proper steps to cover vacation plans during uncertain economic challenges, the flu season, and our unpredictable weather in winter and spring. Emergencies can happen before or during your trip. Don't forget to pack your travel insurance! We can provide you a quote in just a matter of minutes.
Hydrate while flying to help prevent jet lag- Drink water, water, water. Don't drink caffeine or alcohol during your travels. Caffeine and alcohol cause sleep disruption while traveling, deepening "jet lag". Caffeine and alcohol can make your flights more stressful.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes- This will make you more comfortable, as the low pressurization of airplanes causes our bodies to swell. On long flights, the immobility of passengers and low pressurization of the airplane will take their toll and increase passenger discomfort. Try to get up to stretch and walk as often as you can. If it's not possible to get up, do some shoulder and neck rolls in your seat, lift your heels and flex your legs.
Wash your hands with soap and water- Practicing good hygiene before and during your trip can save you from days of travel illness. If water isn't readily available use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for optimum results. When using hand sanitizers, continue rubbing your hands together until they're until dry.
Learn about your destination- The best place to start your research is with your Travel Leaders/Suntime Travel expert. Many countries, while generally safe to visit, do have some risks. Let us help you learn about your destination in advance, sorting through the questions and answers to help protect your health and reduce anxiety while traveling.
Be cautious with water and food while traveling- You don't know how safe the water is, especially in developing countries. When in doubt, use bottled water. Don't eat from street stands.
Packing- Experienced travelers plan well and travel light. One of the quickest ways to ruin a trip is to be overburdened by unnecessary luggage. Don't overpack your carry-on. A wrenched back from pulling your carry-on from the overhead bin is a fast way to ruin your vacation. The most important item to remember is a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Do not bring expensive jewelery. Make a list of all the items you've packed before you leave home. Leave a copy of this list at home in case your luggage gets lost or stolen.
Cash and credit cards- "Take it from one who knows- bring twice the money ...and half the clothes!" We do not advocate carrying large sums of cash for security reasons... but at the same time it's a good idea to carry some American currency in cash, if only to tide you over until you get to an exchange facility. One of the safest ways to carry your passport, credit cards and cash is in a neck pouch. When worn inside your shirt or blouse, a neck pouch will be a most helpful protection against theft.
Carry a list of credit card contact phone numbers separately from your purse or wallet, and also leave a copy with someone at home in case you lose your cards while traveling. If you lose your card, you are usually liable only for the first $50 or so of fraudelant charges if you contact your credit card company immediately. Credit cards usually allow you to receive the best possible rate of exchange. You'll want to contact your credit card company before traveling to make sure your card will be accepted in the country of your travels. Most credit card companies are increasingly vigilant about protecting their customers from credit card fraud - they may freeze your account due to unusual or "suspicious" activity if you fail to notify them of your travel plans in advance.
Protect your Travel Investment- Travelers need to take the proper steps to cover vacation plans during uncertain economic challenges, the flu season, and our unpredictable weather in winter and spring. Emergencies can happen before or during your trip. Don't forget to pack your travel insurance! We can provide you a quote in just a matter of minutes.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
River Valley Bridal Fair 2012
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!
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!
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