STICKY POST
Friday, 30. May 2008, 19:20:07
Travel agent, book travel
The internet is for
LOOKING...the
travel agent is for
BOOKING.
Why do I need a travel agent?
Utilizing years of personal experience and trusted relationships with companies from around the globe, travel agents save you time and energy while providing incredible value for your travel dollar.
By using the services of a travel agent, you can plan every component of your travel in an enjoyable way. Travel Professionals take the time to get to know your interests and lifestyle - all while saving you money through exclusive deals and special fares.
info@sailawaytravel.biz
830-833-5785
STICKY POST
Saturday, 10. November 2007, 15:11:41
group cruise space, how to book group cruise, plan travel, plan book tour
...
Click here for:Most Recent Specials
We can also build a custom package to any destination of your choice!
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830-833-5785
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Tuesday, 15. July 2008, 14:59:11
State cancels contract, faces investigation after posters plaster London
By Alex Johnson
A state employee has resigned and officials have disavowed an international advertising campaign that led to calls for an investigation of tourism posters proclaiming “South Carolina is so gay.”
The campaign, which plastered the London subway with posters advertising the charms of South Carolina and five major U.S. cities to gay European tourists, landed with a resounding thud in South Carolina, where the issue of gay rights has long been a political flashpoint.
The advertisements were timed for London’s Gay Pride Week, which ended Saturday. The posters touted the attractions of the state to gay tourists, including its “gay beaches” and its Civil War-era plantations.
Read more...
Saturday, 5. July 2008, 00:30:34
Take a short cruise that departs from a port you can drive to, vacation in your own city, go camping in a state park or head to a nearby theme park.
These are just a few of the 18 ideas for summer vacations for well under $800 in the June 15 issue of the TravelSmart newsletter.
For vacationing in your own city or a nearby urban center, the newsletter points out that many hotels have lower weekend rates when business travelers are gone, often with amenities like free breakfast or passes to local attractions. Just outside Chicago, for example, TravelSmart recommends the Carleton of Oak Park at 1110 Pleasant St., which has 120 spacious old-fashioned rooms (all with kitchens) starting at $138, and 25 motor lodge rooms starting at $113. A free shuttle takes you to Oak Park attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright's home and Hemingway's birthplace, or take the fast commuter train to downtown Chicago.
Another idea: Join a day trip run by a local cultural institution. Many libraries, museums, historic societies and houses of worship offer reasonably priced day-long bus trips to interesting historic sites or parks.
Some of TravelSmart's ideas are tips, such as traveling in a group. You may be able to get a hotel discount for booking as few as five to 10 rooms for relatives and friends. Some hotels offer great deals for families, like Holiday Inn's ''Kids Eat Free'' deal in which children 12 and under can order free from a kids' menu with a paying adult, and the ''Escape! Family Time Package'' at certain Marriotts, which provide free meals for kids under 12, along with a free in-room pizza party.
The newsletter also says that it's usually cheaper to stay in a B&B than a hotel, and that many inns are offering free gas or discounts through ''Tanks A Lot'' program.
Packages are also always cheaper than booking components of a trip individually. Look for deals from airlines and travel agents that include air, hotel, a rental car and possibly tickets to a theme park or other attraction.
Amtrak also has rail-and-hotel packages, according to TravelSmart.
Ski resorts often have great summer programs that include kids' camps, sports, festivals and various adventures. TravelSmart recommends Vermont's Killington Ski Resort's ''Summer Adventures Package,'' which includes mountain biking, hiking, mini-golf, wall climbing and more, starting at $58 a person including lodging.
Other ideas from the newsletter include farm stays, retreats, summer camps for adults and living history museums.
Contact a travel agent for more details or to book!
Friday, 4. July 2008, 23:51:12
"Some Guests Make Up Elaborate Excuses or Lies"
Renee Ruggero
July/August 2008 issue
Tuesday, June 17, 2008;
Renee Ruggero worked as a purser for Princess Cruises for three years. She has left the industry but still cruises frequently with her family.
Hub for help
The purser on a cruise ship is part hotel receptionist, part concierge. Guests line up at the purser's desk to pay their on board accounts, to ask questions like "What time do the whales swim by?" and to complain about everything under the sun. On mega ships, there may be as many as 20 pursers, who listen to the same gripes cruise after cruise. When I worked, not a cruise would go by that a family of four didn't grumble and grouse about being squashed into a 160-square-foot cabin with nowhere to put their luggage. I empathized as much as I possibly could, but in many cases, the customer was not always right. On one cruise, for instance, a passenger accused a cabin steward of stealing his Rolex watch. After searching the man's room, I finally found the watch in his safe—it had slid under the lip in the front. The man never apologized for his mistake.
Read more...
Friday, 4. July 2008, 23:47:34
Eleven hundred and six steep stone steps that never seem to end.
We're hiking high above Positano along Italy's famous Amalfi Coast in the Lattari Mountains. This trail is less than three miles, but the elevation is steep. It's the toughest hike our Backroads hiking group, including my daughter Reggie and me, has attempted on this the fifth day of our trip. Reg is at the front of the pack; I'm in the back.
But from any vantage point, the views can't be beat—30-foot-tall cypress trees, juniper trees, candy-colored houses marching up the steep hills. Terraced gardens with lemons, olives, grapes, wild herbs, and yellow and purple wildflowers. Below us, sailboats and yachts bob in the sapphire-blue sea and ferries chug between the Italian islands. I feel like I've hiked right into a postcard.
Read more...
Friday, 4. July 2008, 23:43:47
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
WHEN our children were 4 and 6, the idea of taking them to Disney World for part of spring vacation was under consideration. For about five minutes. Instead, we booked a trip to Rome, Naples and Sicily.
The children finally got their trip to Disney a few years later. I have memories of some of the attractions, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Hall of Presidents. But though I can still recall meals we ate on that Italian trip, my mind is a blank when it comes to dining at Disney World.
Fast forward a few decades. Now that we have two granddaughters, Eve and Julia, 6 and 8, Disney World tops the list. On a recent trip, we expected to enjoy the experience with the children, sharing their delight at the attractions and rides, seeing it all through their eyes. But for grownup appeal? We had low hopes.
Our “princesses,” as they were addressed by all Disney personnel at all times, had the time of their lives. And, it turned out, so did my husband, Richard, and I, in ways we had hardly anticipated.
Read more...
Wednesday, 2. July 2008, 04:13:09
( I may not agree entirely with every point in this article; but in the interest of fairness I am posting it anyway.)
Are travel agents still worth using? As Christopher Elliott (the Travel Troubleshooter) pointed out in a recent column, it's definitely not a growth industry. The number of travel agents in the U.S. is down 30 percent since 2000.
Bucking the DIY trend in some respects, Elliot comes down firmly in favor of agents: They can be "your greatest asset when you're planning a trip." But that's only if they're competent and not fly-by-night. Among his four "secrets" for finding a good agent are looking for those certified, and easily accessible.
Agents usually aren't worth it for my own bare-bones style of traveling. But for a long, complicated trip to Asia, a cruise for example, Disney packages or for somewhere far-flung, an agent can be a great idea. The many time zones and linguistic and cultural differences you'll be confronting can make booking such trips on your own too time-consuming to be practical. Or if you're just not into the time it can take to attempt to do it all yourself and hope you get it right.
When I was living in India, I booked most trips myself—but I didn't hesitate to call in an expert for trips with lots of stops, starts, and complications, such as a visit I was planning to Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi (the so-called Golden Triangle). In addition to streamlining my ambitious itinerary so that it made the most geographic sense, my agent got hotel upgrades whenever possible. And he also got us a good deal.
I suppose, ultimately, it's a matter of personal taste: Some people find it rewarding to plan their entire itinerary, others are pressed for personal time and need someone else to step in and take care of the details.
In the end, I think it's premature to talk about the demise of the travel agent. There's clearly a place for them, still, and with lives getting busier, I don't see that ending anytime soon.
Read more...
Wednesday, 2. July 2008, 04:05:33
You'll need to stay positive and sane — here's how you can deal
By Christopher Elliott
Travel columnist
Taking a deep breath just doesn’t work anymore. Not this summer.
No, this summer calls for voodoo planes.
Read more...
Wednesday, 2. July 2008, 03:56:43
romantic cruise, the love boat
A basic question about cruises was answered by Cruise Critic: Are they romantic? The answer: Yes.
Read more...
Saturday, 21. June 2008, 05:00:19
baggage fees, airline fees, carry-ons
Cheating the new baggage fee system won't work — being smart will.
If your next airplane seatmate seems unusually roly-poly, it may be because he stuffed his pockets with extra underwear and layered on several outfits in an effort to avoid paying to check his bag.
Read more...
Saturday, 21. June 2008, 04:54:25
summer fun
Four months of summer left to go: the rest of June, July, August and the first part of September.
So get out that big magic marker and mark your calendar to remember to mentally downshift from now til September.
In celebration, here are five summer stories. No, wait. It's summer. Lite reading. OK, five summer lists.
Read more...
Saturday, 21. June 2008, 04:48:00
By MICHELLE HIGGINS
FIRST came the liquids and gels crackdown, sending road warriors to their corner drugstores in search of that ever-elusive three-ounce bottle of contact-lens solution. Then came tighter weight restrictions for checked baggage, causing logjams at airport check-in desks as vacationers promptly unzipped their suitcases, transferring shoes and other heavy items into carry-ons in an effort to lighten their checked luggage.
Now, just as travelers were getting used to the idea of $25 fees for a second checked bag, American Airlines has started charging $15 each way, or $30 round trip to check even the first one.
Read more...
Tuesday, 10. June 2008, 03:00:43
By Debra Alban
(CNN) -- Flying with a baby or toddler can have its fair share of turbulence. From finding a place to change diapers to keeping your child quiet to dealing with eye-rolling passengers, parents have their work cut out for them on a plane.
Read more...
Tuesday, 10. June 2008, 02:15:43
Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008, 2:05 PM
A new book from A.K. Sandoval-Strausz's, Hotel: An American History, is full of fun tidbits. Here are eight facts that surprised us.
Read more...
Monday, 9. June 2008, 02:58:10
Posted on Sun, Jun. 01, 2008
BY EILEEN OGINTZ
What's not to like -- from a kid's perspective anyway.
The way they see it, a cruise ship is vacation heaven, better even than a theme park.
There's all the food -- and free room service. ''You'll be stuffed when you leave,'' says 11-year-old Matthew Moris.
Read more...
Friday, 6. June 2008, 22:38:54
Wednesday, 4. June 2008, 17:23:37
haifa, Los Cabos, riviera maya, cancun
...
To book contact Sail Away Travel
info@sailawaytravel.biz
830-833-5785
Mention "online blog special".
Saturday, 31. May 2008, 11:16:17
productivity, heath benefits of travel, benefits of travel
Health Benefits
Taking vacations can improve health in several measurable ways.
For example:
An annual vacation can cut a person’s risk of heart attack by 50 percent.
Middle-aged men at high risk for coronary heart disease who take frequent annual vacations are 21% less likely to die of any cause and 32% less likely to die of their coronary heart disease.
Homemakers who vacation only once every six years or less have almost twice the risk of developing myocardial infarction or coronary death than do homemakers who take two or more vacations a year.
Blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of epinephrine – a stress hormone – decline on holidays of only one or two days.
Recuperation and improvement in exhaustion are facilitated by free time for one’s self, warmer (and sunnier) vacation locations, exercise during vacation, good sleep, and making new acquaintances, especially among vacationers reporting higher levels of work stress.
Travelers rate their overall health one full point higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) while on vacation. They also get three times more deep sleep after their vacation.
Read more...
Saturday, 31. May 2008, 10:34:28
Half Moon, Jamaica, Jamaica Inn, honeymoon
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Published on: May 30, 2008
In many traditions, the number eight symbolizes a new beginning and the promise of eternal love. Particularly in Chinese culture, the number eight is considered the most fortuitous of all numbers. With the upcoming 8/8/08 date, Jamaica's resort properties are offering wedding and romance packages in honor of the day.
Read more...
Saturday, 31. May 2008, 01:05:25
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Shores fringed with miles of pristine, turquoise waters. Soft, white sand beaches that stretch for miles. And turquoise clouds?
Yes, looking up from the soft sands of Grace Bay, the cloud bottoms were actually turquoise.
"How can that be?" I mused as my eighteen-month old son stood holding a striped blue and white beach chair, his tiny feet immersed in the sugary white sand crystals that for the moment, were my refuge. He stared at the gentle waves on the beach, ready to run into the surf, arms outstretched with a little boy smile. I gazed at the endless blue water before me, and then up to the cottony clouds that were indeed tinted with a brilliant shade of aqua.
My question was answered. The breathtaking aqua water color was reflected ...mirrored...on the bottoms of the clouds. Yet another affirmation as to why the Turks & Caicos Islands are still my favorite beach destination.
Read more...
Friday, 30. May 2008, 16:18:38
Photography tours, sightseeing, travelbound
Travel Bound is offering new "Thru the Lens" photography sightseeing tours of scenic cities, such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Jerusalem, London, Prague, Venice and 12 others. Agents can book 18 new photography half-day sightseeing tours priced from $164 to 207 per person.
Professional photographers accompany travelers to picturesque spots in each city – covering many famous sights, including some off the beaten path. Photographer-guides are chosen for their experience with travel photography or photojournalism and their knowledge and enthusiasm for their home city. Travelers supply their own cameras and receive a friendly critique of their digital photos at the end of the tour, usually over a glass of wine or other drink in a bistro or café. Travel Bound offers Thru the Lens tours in: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Cairo, Florence, Glasgow, Istanbul, Jerusalem, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Prague, Rome, Venice and Vienna.
Friday, 30. May 2008, 15:52:17
pain in the gas, save on driving cost, gas price
Travel companies around the nation are offering ‘gas relief’ promotions. So, you want to hit the road this summer, but you're afraid filling up your vehicle will be too much of a strain on your wallet? Worry not, traveler. Companies around the nation are helping ease your pain at the pump.
Read more...
Friday, 30. May 2008, 15:39:41
airline fees, baggage fees
Coffee, tea? Exorbitant fee?
By now, you've heard that American Airlines is charging many of its passengers an additional $15 fee for their first checked bag. Though customers and consumer groups alike are protesting the charge, few have noted that it's just the latest of many add-ons tacked onto the price of some tickets. Bringing golf clubs on your trip to Florida? $25 each way on some airlines. Want to redeem reward miles? $25 handling fee, maybe even a $100 penalty. Need to change your itinerary? That may cost you up to $250.
We’ve entered a new era of air travel—one dominated by fees for services that were once included in the ticket price.
Read more...
Friday, 30. May 2008, 15:03:23
The internet has been a significant area of growth and vastly changed the travel distribution system in the past decade but the traditional agency segment remains significant and compelling, according to a new study.
PhoCusWright says agencies are deserving of careful study and consideration.
According to their report, US travel agents sold $110 billion in 2006, representing 41% of the total $266 billion travel market.
Read more...
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