Amazing Mexican Vacation

Here is a testimonial from one of our clients:

Hi Wendy,

Thanks again for setting us up with Isabelle to book through your agency for our Mexico trip.
We ended up staying at the Grand Riviera Princess for 2 weeks. I'm not sure if you like feedback on the trips that we book through you but I thought I would send a quick something & pictures.

The trip was awesome and we loved every part of it, we would recommend this resort to everyone. I have attached a few pictures from our trip of the resort/room for future guests that may want to book at this hotel. We found the pictures on the internet did not look so nice as we were hesitating to book there but when we got there we were shocked at how beautiful it was.

The food was great, 7 different restaurants to book at. Lots of choices at the buffet for breakfast / lunch.
The room was perfect size for the 3 of us. We used the gym in the mornings.
We used the free shuttle to Playa Del Carmen as that was a great way to get in other activities (ie. para sailing, jet skiing etc)
We went Nov 16-29 and the weather was over +30 the whole time (except for 1 day when it rained for approx 2 hours).

The only negative thing we found was the sports bar only served burgers and fries so if you wanted food after 10pm it would have to be either of those.
The last few days of the trip was around the American Thanksgiving Hotel so there were lots of families and kids...we would avoid the holiday next time as prior to that we did not see many kids around.

Other then that we loved it! Just thought I would share a few pictures / feedback with you for future guests. We will be making an annual trip so I'm sure you will hear from us again soon.

Take Care

Merry Christmas

Ellen

Travel Tips for Adventure Tour

If you want to enjoy the best of enthusiasm, excitement, enthrallment and challenge, then an adventure tour will be the right choice for you. Most people in this world love to go on an adventure trip just because they want to take a break from the mundane routine they suffer from in their daily life.

Here, you need to follow certain travel tips in order to make sure that you enjoy a great adventurous trip and come back safe and with wonderful memory of the expedition. The reason is that adventure expedition involves a great amount of risk due to the activities like trekking, hiking paragliding, snorkeling, rafting and mountaineering.

Here are some wonderful tips for your adventure tour. Follow these tips to enjoy the best of what you can during your expedition.

a) Physical activity:

It is extremely important to consider the amount of physical activity that you would like to involve in. If you want to simply travel across the world and have a look at exquisite places across the globe then you don’t require to possess extraordinary health fitness. If you are looking forward to enjoy the adventure like the trekking, hiking or mountaineering, then you require to be in the perfect state of health. The reason is that these activities require a good amount of physical exertion. Keep this in mind when you plan your adventure travel.

b) Activities:

Make a list of all the activities you want to involve in while on an adventure tour. Decide the activities you want to indulge in while you are on an adventure travel. This will let you plan your travel wisely and also allow you to enjoy the tour.

c) Shop with Lesli:

Adventure Travel Specialist Lesli Heron will work with you to tailor your travel adventure to your specific wants and needs. Her extensive knowledge and amazing attention to detail will ensure that you have the adventure getaway of a lifetime.

d) Set a budget:

You need to work within your stipulated budget in order to enjoy your adventure tour. Plan a budget and stick to it.

e) Terms and conditions:

Get a copy of the travel operator’s terms and conditions in black and white. Review the policies carefully

Keep Kids Safe During Holidays

Make sure your kids are safe when you travel this holiday season.

In 2008, 4,268 children 7 and younger were injured; and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in North Carolina. Of the 20 that were fatally injured, six were unsecured, the release said.

Here are some tips to help keep children in your vehicle safe as you travel this season:

· Children 12 and under should always be in the back seat.

· Infants should be in the back seat in a rear-facing child safety seat, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.

· When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).

· Young children too large for child safety seats should ride in booster seats in the back seat until they are large enough to buckle up safely without the seat, typically age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall.

· Be sure those child safety seats are installed properly; three out of four are improperly installed in vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Be safe and have a happy holidays!

Overlanding - The good old days!

I recently found some old photos of my overland trip across North West Africa and went down memory lane and wondered why it isn't so popular anymore. Overlanding started in the mid 50's/early 60's with the classic London to Kathmandu run. This route was then followed by the Trans Africa route and the phenomenon of overlanding took off in the 70's/80's but it still retained the pioneering feel with the key elements - mud, sand matting, potholes, canned food etc. Formal campsites were rare and wild camping was the norm. This freedom was the real joy of overlanding. You knew you had to get from point A to B in a certain period of time and what transpired in between was the adventure. But the world has changed, travelling a few decades ago was more innocent and friendly. There was less corruption, violence and general instability. The abundance of weapons has made overlanding a far less desirable option. And certain routes have lost their charm as with most things what was unique and off the beaten track now has infrastructure and commercialization. Wild camps are no longer the norm.
Overlanding still exists on a few routes so if you have got the time 3, 6 or 12 months it is a trip of a lifetime. One, that changed my life many years ago!

Trips to Book with a Travel Agent

It may seem cheaper or more practical to book a vacation online, however there are some vacations that should never be book online. Sometimes what appears to be an affordable vacation turns into an expensive nightmare. So when should you not book on the internet? Here are seven vacations to make sure you book with a travel agent.

1. Cruising

Travel agents remain your best bet for a floating vacation. Why? Two main reasons: First, cruise lines give travel agencies access to special deals that you probably won’t find anywhere else. And second, because a cruise can get complicated. There are airline tickets that have to be bought, hotel rooms to be booked, shore excursions and lots of options on the ship. Many times cruise agents will book group space on popular sailings, so they can offer their clients bonuses such as onboard money and champagne toasts. Also, because and agent has booked space on the best cruises, when a website tells you there is no availability the agent may be able to get you on that ship.

2. Traveling around the world

An around-the-world itinerary is usually far more complex than a straight-up roundtrip airline ticket. Never mind the hotel arrangements and activities you’ll want to plan. Travel agents are best suited to these kinds of vacations. Furthermore, many online booking engines won’t allow complex itineraries that go all over the world in a matter of days.

3. When you don’t have the time

If you work with a travel agent who knows your preferences, you might consider outsourcing the research for your next vacation. You end up saving time, rather than money but this may ultimately be more valuable.

4. If you’re uncomfortable with the Inter-Web

If you’re reading this blog online, this probably doesn’t apply to you. People should stay away from booking online if they’ve never done it before, and particularly if their next trip is a special event, like an anniversary or honeymoon. But even if you’ve booked on the Web before, you should think twice before doing it again. If a website looks sketchy, that’s probably because it is.

5. Traveling internationally

A weekend in London is one thing. However, if you’re headed off to a country whose name you can’t pronounce, you probably need to stay off the computer — at least when you book. Find a travel professional that specializes in the place you’re going. An international trip is entirely different than booking a weekend away and you may find you spend more money booking such a trip online, rather than with a travel agent.

6. Doing something exotic

This is for the trips that aren’t for everyone, such as sailing up the coast of British Columbia and Alaska or hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. When you deal with a travel agent, they make sure that you are on a trip that is right for you. They want everyone to be happy, so that next time you’ll book with them again.

7. Special events

A honeymoon, anniversary or class reunion falls into this category. But mostly, a honeymoon. Engaged couples have quite enough to worry about with wedding plans. Therefore the honeymoon should be relaxing, not an added stress or another item on a to-do list that's much too long to begin with. An agent can make sure your vacation is as close to perfect as it can be, from start to finish.

Ski in Style with Club Med

With your flights, meals, drinks, transfers, accommodation and even your ski pass included in the price of a ski getaway, it’s no wonder that so many people are going to Club Med for the holidays. While the Euro is still quite high, Club Med offers competitive prices and holidays free of any stress or hassle. So if all you want to do is embark on a snow adventure – you are at liberty to do so.

Club Med boasts 22 ski resorts which are scattered across France, Italy and Switzerland. Many of these resorts are offering fantastic savings to ski from now until April 2010. Thrill seekers, casual skiers and family groups are all catered for at Club Med Resorts. The most practiced skier can book just as easily as those who have never seen the slopes below. Skiers and boarders can revel in the natural skiing paradise of Arcs Extrême, a Resort that offers 200km of exceptional downhill skiing 3000 metres above sea level while the Club Med Resort of Avoriaz is perfectly suited to families. Club Med offers tuition in the ski offer so you can pick up a few pointers before braving the slopes. And don't worry, for those of you whose children fancy themselves the next ski Olympian, rest assured that the children's clubs will keep your little ones are in safe hands.

For those of you who like to indulge yourselves, Club Med has just opened an exclusive area at their Val d’Isere ski resort: The 5-Trident Space. This new, private section of the hotel is designed to provide a more up-market product for guests. Guests of the 5-Trident suites can indulge themselves with extras such as champagne in the private lounge, a ski room exclusive to 5-trident residents and a dedicated concierge.

Club Med is an ideal option if your clients are budgeting and want a winter treat but hurry, places are filling!

5 Ways to Cure Your Travel Hangover

Travel hangover (NOUN): the sad feeling you have upon returning home from an inspiring trip, otherwise known as the back-home blues or a hangover without the alcohol.

We've all had it, and there's no easy cure for it either. No matter how eager you are to return home from a trip, there's something about the trip that you're bound to miss -- whether it's the food, the culture, the sunsets, or the escape from reality. Here are a few ways to get rid of your "illness" a little quicker.

1. Take time to reflect: Before you get back into the swing of things back home, make sure you reflect on the trip you just took and take note of the things you learned -- about yourself and the place you went. If possible, share your reflections with your friends and family, as they will be better able to lift your spirits when you feel sad.

2. Get and stay busy: Once home, try to get out of the house as much as possible and engage yourself in the real world. Getting and staying busy will force you to spend energy on other things rather than dwell on what you're missing.

3. Be grateful: I once sent a letter and care package to a lady I stayed with in Vanuatu and she wrote back with such enormous gratitude that it really lifted my spirits even more than my deed lifted hers. We often forget to say thank you to the people who made our time abroad so memorable and special. All it takes is a little thank you postcard, which is a small thing for the gift you just got in traveling.

4. Make a difference: Your journey doesn't have to end when you return to home soil. In fact, there are several ways to continue your trip in a metaphorical sense by saying thank you (#4) or giving back to the people who gave to you. If you don't have the cash to make a donation to a local NGO, do your part to educate the people you know about what's going on in the world. Sometimes the smallest gestures have the biggest outcomes.

5. Plan your next trip: If you're really feeling bummed out and still dreaming big, who's to say you can't begin planning for your next great adventure? Book your next ticket abroad! That way, you'll have something to look forward to as well as back on.

While there may not be a sure fire way to cure your back-home blues, there are plenty of ways to turn your frown into a smile -- and maybe even make others smile in the process. The world is your oyster, but so is your home, so take advantage of having your loved ones beside you again, and take comfort that your next big trip is just around the corner.