Travel Blog
Hi Everyone and welcome to my travel blog. Right now with the concerns of hurricanes and tornadoes, I will try to keep you all as up to date. I will send it out via my blog immediately after I read it. Anyone with travel plans that needs assistance changing travel plans please call our office. We want all our clients to be safe, well informed and confident we are there for you.
Don't be Fooled by the Great Deals Online
1/29/20093:01:03 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Taken from Jan 25th Article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Writen by Cindy Bridges and Debbie Barrera-Ruz.
Five Reasons to buy from a Travel Agent:
1) Agents have been there. Want to visit the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor on Hawaii's island of Oahu? A travel agent can tell you about the potential hassles involved with getting there from Waikiki Beach, like waiting for hours in traffic and then waiting in lines for your turn to visit the memorial. Instead, she can set up a guided tour, which will make your vacation smoother and more enjoyable. Planning a winter getaway trip but want to avoid the "spring breakers? A travel agent can help you choose a destination with sun, sand and fun activities that doesn't intersect with the party crowd.
2) Agents gets unadvertised deals. Because of the large volume of business agents do with airlines, hotels and resorts, agents will frequently receive special offers that those same airlines and hotels would never offer the general public. You might not know you can save an extra $500 if you plan your spring vacation is at least 60 days in advance.
3) Agents know things you'll never learn from a web site. The hotel's website will brag about the excellent buffet with five different salads and ten different desserts. But it won't tell you about the unusual half-hour wait in line you'll endure with your hungry children. And while you can learn about the Maul's Infamous Road to Hana onine, your travel agent can tell you to drive just a few miles further, so you don't miss the Seven Pools. And a travel agent will tell you to pack lunch for your whole family, because there's nothing to eat and nowhere to stop for food on the 52 mile long drive.
4) Agents will advocate for you. Agents are in the business to serve you, and they want you to come back. They know things like how to ensure you get connecting rooms as requested, or how to get you an upgrade to a suite room with complimentary champagne for your honeymoon. And if something goes wrong on your vacation, they can help you reconcile with the supplier.
5) Agents can save you time. You can spend hours searching the Web for just the riht hotel (price, location, amenties), just the right flight (departure times, connections, seat assignments) and just the right information about your destination. Do you have this kind of time? Most people don't. Be smart with your time, you have and visit a travel agent.
Business at Sea is anything but Business as usual
1/16/200910:17:48 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Business at sea is anything but business as usual.
- Complimentary meeting room and reception venues
- Onboard Services Coordinator available 24/7
- Ship to shore communications
Who Says You Can't Have Both 
- Cruise Ships
- Meeting & Conference Areas
- Amenities
- Activities
- Shore Excursions
Our Core Competencies Rock 
- Destinations
- Programs
- Customization Ideas
- Sample Agendas
- Sample Itineraries
1/11/200910:42:37 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Hi everyone, I received this letter from Celebrity Cruise Lines, and wanted you all to be aware of their new policy as of January 15th.
Dear Travel Partners,
Happy New Year! All of us at Celebrity look forward to another exciting year of growth and success with you, and to continuously sharing information about new programs, products and services as they emerge.
Today, I’m writing to inform you of a new gratuity policy, similar to that of most other lines. For our guests’ convenience, effective for every sailing beginning on or after January 15, 2009, gratuities will be automatically applied to our guests’ SeaPass account on a daily basis. This avoids the need for our guests to visit an ATM forcash prior to the end of the cruise, and averts any need to take time away from their spectacular cruise vacation to calculate out the amounts due each of our extraordinary staff.
Please note that this new policy does not apply to Celebrity Xpedition, nor did our former approach to gratuities,as gratuities have been included with that product since its inception. Please also note that all groups with existing prepaid gratuities will remain at the current rate, including all new,individual reservations applied to existing groups. However, prepaid gratuities at the new rate will be applied to all new groups created as of January 15, 2009.
Below is the new gratuity structure, which we will communicate to our guests through both guest documents andour web site.We also will inform them that these amounts can be adjusted at their discretion.
Restaurant Service Per Person, Per Day
Waiter $3.65
AssistantWaiter $2.10
Dining RoomManagement $1.00
Stateroom Service
Butler (Suites Only) $3.50
Stateroom Service $3.50 ($4.00 for ConciergeClass/AquaClass)
Alternative Service
Other Service Personnel $1.25
The above amounts total $11.50 per person, per day for guests in staterooms; $12.00 per person, per day for guests in ConciergeClass or AquaClass accommodations; and $15.00 per person, per day for guests in suites.
Please feel free to contact your Celebrity Sales Representative or me with any questions.
Here’s to another fantastic year!
Dondra Ritzenthaler
Senior Vice President, Sales
1/8/20092:30:48 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
KAUAI - UPDATE 12-08
OVERVIEW: Kauai, Hawaii's most beautiful island in my opinion, welcomes you to enjoy stunning beaches, to play on famous golf courses, to scan the horizon for migrating whales and to walk through some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. For vacationers who want to avoid the crowds of Oahu and Maui and see Hawaii in a much more natural setting, Kauai is the perfect alternative. But, don’t think for one moment that there is not plenty to do: helicopter rides, zipline, kayak, boat excursions, luaus, hiking trails, excellent shopping, horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, and on and on. This is by far the most relaxing island in Hawaii. Perfection.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa – This 5 Star hotel has it all: Open air lobby beautiful entry with ocean view, wonderfully updated rooms with Flat screen television, fabulous pool area with rivers, slides, adult privacy areas. Second largest SPA in Hawaii & 24 hour fitness center with lap pool. Fine dining, beautiful gardens, long and excellent pathway along beach area, golf course with clubhouse dining. Fun “Stevenson’s Library “social area with: lounge, live entertainment, pool tables. Perfect resort for weddings. Nicest property on Kauai.
Sheraton Kauai Resort – Newly renovated 4 star property on beautiful Poipu Beach (best beach on Kauai), with great swimming, surfing, snorkeling. Nice pool area with water slide. Movies shown under stars on 50 foot screen. Nice SPA and fitness center. Excellent food. Garden building across the street is an excellent value with more privacy, less expensive with beautiful pool. Excellent new program: You tidy we treat – If you tidy up you room instead of housekeeping, you receive a free buffet breakfast for two! $17 per day, per room resort charge that includes Internet, coffee in room, parking and fitness center usage. Great resort!
Whalers Cove - Beachfront Kauai vacation rental, featuring spacious rooms, tasteful décor, fully-equipped kitchen and daily housekeeping. Enjoy gorgeous views of the Pacific from your private lanai, soak up the sun around the ocean front pool, take a leisurely stroll down the white sandy beaches and take advantage of some of the best snorkeling on the island right outside your front door! $15 daily resort fee which includes: Internet, coffee. No air conditioning, but not a problem with the cross-ventilation.
Makahuena at Poipu - One, two, or three-bedroom condos are all oceanfront, individually furnished and distinctive. Full kitchen, washer and dryer, data port, cable TV, VCR, wet bar and private lanai. Play tennis, enjoy the jet spa and the swimming pool. No air-conditioning. This is a Castle resort, very well located to shopping areas.
Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation - Located in the Poipu Resort area on a beautiful sandy swimming beach. Kiahuna Plantation is situated on 35 acres of landscaped lawns and gardens filled with tropical flowers. Great for families, golfers, and tennis buffs. This condominium resort features a nice pool with water slide (across the street) and several championship tennis courts. It is across the street from the Poipu Shopping Village which features a variety of restaurants and shops. No air conditioning
Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club – Very nice 4 star centrally located property, with huge beautiful pool w/ whirlpools, spacious guest rooms, food excellent with 5 restaurants (including Duke’s Canoe Club), nice large beach area, several shops a short walk away, 24 hour fitness center, SPA, convention center, golf connected to property. Nice walkway along beach. Great specials available.
Castle Kaha Lani - Located oceanfront of Kauai's Royal Coast in the heart of Lihue, the Kaha Lani Resort is surrounded by miles of white sandy beaches and lush tropical gardens. These condominium suites feature one- and two-bedroom spacious units all with full kitchens, laundry facilities, and views of the Pacific Ocean. The resort features barbeque areas, a putting green, a tennis court, and a nice swimming pool. No air conditioning. Excellent value with great specials.
ResortQuest Aloha Beach Resort – Has Kauai's only protected swimming and snorkeling beach, two swimming pools, jet spa, fitness room, shuffleboard deck and volleyball courts. Two nice restaurants, two lounges, 260 rooms, 26 cottages, nice moderate property very close to excellent shopping. Free Internet and no resort charge. Nice moderate property of excellent value. Very comfortable.
Outrigger Waipouli – Very nice, new condo property centrally located in Kapaa. Spacious, beautiful two-bedroom units with complete kitchens and washer/dryers. Across the street from grocery stores, shops and very close to fun activities like the Smith Luau & Fern Grotto. Nice pool area w/ slide, and located on the beach. Grills for barbeque, free Internet, no resort charges, excellent value.
ResortQuest Kauai Beach at Makaiwa – Newly renovated beachfront property. Excellent walking beach, but swimming is at your own risk. Nice pool, spa, tennis courts, basketball, and fitness center. Luau’s six nights a week. 20 minutes from airport and no resort charges. 3 star property with good value.
Coconut Marketplace – Located in Kapaa, this visitor-oriented complex is on the busy Coconut Coast near resort hotels and condominiums. Sixty shops sell everything from snacks and clothes (as locals call flip-flop sandals) to scrimshaw. There are also two movie theaters with first-run features, restaurants open from breakfast to evening, and a free Wednesday evening Polynesian show at 5.
Best Western Plantation Hale Suites - Spacious suite accommodations with: complete kitchens and private lanais. There are also three outdoor pools, picnic and barbeque areas, whirlpool spas, Shuffle Board, croquet, nearby tennis, and much more. Excellent location near shopping, restaurants, attractions, snorkeling, golf courses and more.
Hilton Kauai Beach Resort – Nicely renovated resort with 350 guestrooms, SPA, fitness center, 3 swimming pools with flume & lava tube water slide, separate children’s pool, manager’s cocktail reception nightly from 5–6 pm, nightly torch lighting with Polynesian dance show, 2 restaurants. Very nice, value oriented, centrally located property.
ResortQuest Islander on the Beach – Nice casual, charming, 3 star condo property. Directly behind Coconut Plantation Marketplace affords easy access to shopping and restaurants. Great location for drives to all parts of
Kilauea Lighthouse - purpose now is to serve as a resting spot for seabirds, in the first half of the 20th century, the Kiluaea Lighthouse was a beacon visible from 90 miles in any direction. It is a freestanding structure 52 feet high. It was deactivated in 1976, around the same time it made the National Register of Historic Lighthouses. The promontory on which it is located is at the Hawaii’s northernmost point. It is open to the public during the daytime. Admission to the grounds is $5 per adult and free to children
Hanalei Bay Resort - resort offers 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas that are fully furnished and equipped with kitchen amenities. 2 swimming pools w/ whirlpools & waterfalls, tennis courts, a restaurant (temporarily closed), and a secluded white sand beach, nice for snorkeling. Property itself is gorgeous, but the villas really need to be updated.
ST. Regis Princeville Resort – Under construction, set to open July 1, 2009. Princeville shops a free shuttle away. Great golf, zipline, horseback riding, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling.
Westin Princeville Ocean Villas – This new condo property is simply spectacular: 3 Villa categories: Studio Premium Villa, One-bedroom Premium Villa & the two combined is the Two-bedroom Lockoff Villa. All villas have: full kitchen or kitchenette, washer dryer, Westin Heavenly Bed, Flat Screen TV, Internet, DVD, private lanai, Bose Wave Radio. Free valet parking 1ST night & free self-park after that. Four swimming pools w/ whirlpools, children’s pool, barbeque stations, SPA & fitness center. Fantastic food with the Nanea Restaurant & Bar & Princeville Market, along with two other bars. Resort is not on the beach but offers convenient shuttles to the beach. Close to world-class golf at the Makai Golf Course at Princeville at Hanalei or Prince Golf Course at Princeville at Hanalei. Great!
For more information on booking any of these hotels, please call our office
