Are you ready to escape the heat ??

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Are you ready to escape this heat and go somewhere cool down?  Have you decided that next year you are definitely going to escape the summer heat for a vacation?  There are several great destinations for a nice cool down in the summer; and it’s also a great time to start planning your winter getaways!
For summer travel, my hands down favorite destination to escape the heat is Alaska!!  There are just a few weeks left in this Alaska season; if you are ready to go now, it can be done.  Now and in the next couple of months is also the time to start planning your Alaska adventure for next year!  A great way to see Alaska is by the way of a cruise ship.  Alaska cruising is an experience like none other.  The beauty of Alaska is hard to put in to words or pictures; you have to see it to believe it.  An Alaska cruise gives you the option of cruising the inside passage and visiting the port cities of Alaska such as Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway.

 

                   

If you want to visit more of the interior of Alaska and experience places such as Denali National Park and Mt McKinley, a cruise tour is the option for you.  Cruise Tours are the best of both worlds; you get the cruise plus a tour to the interior which is not accessible by cruise ship.  Did you know that Alaska is twice the size of Texas?  Yes, it’s true… just telling any of the guides you are from Texas brings out that comment very quickly.
http://www.colorado-springs-vacation.com/images/colorado-ski-resorts-runs2.jpgIs it too late to escape the heat this summer?  Start planning your winter getaway and just the wintery thoughts will help to cool you down.   The most popular idea for winter vacation experiences are ski trips.   Now is the time to start planning your winter ski trip.  Ski resorts offer so much more than just skiing these days!  Many of the larger resorts offer gourmet dining and full service spas onsite.

Everyone knows you can head to Colorado and ski many of the big, popular resorts such as Vail, Aspen, and Breckenridge.  Did you know there are so many other ski destinations for your consideration?  New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada are a few more of the western US options; if you go east you can consider Vermont, New Hampshire, New York or Maine to name a few.  Are you looking for something even more exciting for your escape the heat vacation?  What about skiing in Europe, Canada, or even South America?
Another great idea to escape the heat is to plan now to visit some of the European Christmas markets?  There is still some last minute availability for Christmas Market river cruises this year.  Of course you don’t have to experience the markets via a river cruise; we can customize a trip for you to the destinations of our choice.  A couple of my personal favorites for Christmas markets are Germany (multiple destinations) Austria (Vienna and Salzburg), and Spain (Barcelona).  Of course there are Christmas markets in many other destinations as well.

                   

Hopefully the thoughts of these cooler weather vacation experiences have helped you escape the heat if only for a minute!
I’m here to help you plan your escape heat vacation experience when you are ready!

Kelley

Is Sandals for you ??

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Sandals Resorts are for Couples in Love.

Whether you have been recently married, married for 30 years, or just need time to reconnect and rejuvenate as a couple, Sandals may be just the perfect resort choice for you.  Sandals resorts are on islands throughout the Caribbean including Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Bahamas, and soon Grenada.  Sandals brands themselves as Luxury Included vacations with more quality inclusions than any other resorts on the planet.  Did you know that with your Sandals vacation experience both non-motorized and motorized water sports are included?  While it may vary slightly by resort, some of the watersports offered at the various Sandals resorts include Unlimited scuba diving for certified divers (lessons are available at an additional cost), unlimited snorkeling, glass bottom boats, kayaking, Hobie cat sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, stand-up paddle boards, and more.  If you aren’t a water bug, no need to worry, Sandals has plenty of land activities to keep you going as well!  Depending on your resort selection, some of the options include tennis, golf, rock climbing walls, beach volleyball, basketball, pool, indoor game rooms, state of the art fitness centers and more.   There are 2 Sandals resorts that even have their own private islands!

         

Every Sandals Resort has a Red Lane Spa that offers a wide variety of spa treatments for both couples and individuals.  While it is not part of the all-inclusive program, the spa is an indulgence I highly recommend based on personal experience!  Everyone can use a little pampered serenity from time to time!
Speaking of pampering, I highly recommend the Butler suites for your accommodations.  Sandals Resorts offer a wide variety of accommodations at each resort (some resorts have up to 26 room types!) with the Butler categories offering the best of the best.  Many people ask me, what would I use a butler for?  You’d be surprised at what all a butler will do for you!  Your personal butlers always provide an elevated level of service throughout your stay; you will have a special cell phone just to reach your butler.  Did you get down to the beach and forget your sunscreen or book?  Don’t go back to the room and get it, let the Butler bring that to you!  Packing and unpacking?  No longer your chore, the butler can help.  Would you like to arrange a private dinner on the beach, tours, spa treatments, reserve beach chairs or cabanas?  Ask your butler!  The list goes on…there is also no end to their creativity in making you feel special throughout your stay.

Do you want to experience more than just the resort while in the Caribbean?  No worries, Sandals Resorts have that covered for you as well!   Each Sandals resort has an Island Routes tour desk onsite.  While you can plan some of your adventures in advance, you will have the option of checking out the options once you are in your destination as well.  Tours will vary by resort and location, but some of the fun tours to check out are zip lining, swim with the dolphins, horseback riding, climbing waterfalls, ATV adventures, catamaran sails, rafting, and more.

                                         
This is just a short summary of Sandals Resorts and all they have to offer.  Let me know when you are ready to book your luxury included vacation experience!

Kelley

 

Can we afford our celebration travel ??

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Have you heard about a travel gift registry?  It works just like a traditional gift registry for a wedding, only your guests and friends give you gifts to make your honeymoon or other celebration travel perfect.  Travel registries are great for Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, but are also great for anniversaries, vow renewals, milestone birthdays, graduations, even the ever so deserving babymoons.
                  

Many couples are well established and don’t need any more towels, dishes, picture frames or another toaster.  Asking for cash gifts is not always appropriate or acceptable.  A travel gift registry can solve this problem and make it a win-win for all involved.  List anything you want to do on your trip and let your guests and friends pay for a portion of your trip!  Recent data shows that average bride and groom are getting approximately $2500 for their honeymoon registry.  Celebration travel for other occasions is quickly catching up!

 

Sure, towels and a Mont Blanc pen sound nice. But do you ever wish of going to an exotic island and getting pampered by your own private butler? Think it’s out of reach? Not with a travel gift registry!
If you want more information about travel gift registries, please visit http://www.cruisevacationsandmore.com/pages/registry

No- You don’t need a Passport !!

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Did you know that there is no passport required for the US Virgin Islands?  You can visit the beautiful islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix without a passport.  Each island is beautiful and unique in its own special way.   Each island can be an independent destination, or you can combine them for a true Caribbean sampler.  Generally speaking, the best time to visit the US Virgin Islands, and of course peak travel season for the islands, is December – April, but it is a great year round destination.   The average annual temperature on the islands is 75°- 84°F.  Hurricane Season is June – November with peak season being mid-August through mid-October.  December – February fall to the cooler side and are slightly windier.   Since the islands are a US Territory, the unit of currency is the US Dollar.  While there is a wide range of accommodations throughout the islands, all-inclusive resorts are not commonplace.

      
St. Thomas is your island for bustling beaches, nightlife and shopping.  St Thomas offers a wide variety of attractions, beaches and activities such as watersports, golf, tennis, sightseeing, restaurants and nightlife. The capital city, Charlotte Amalie, is a major port of call for duty-free shopping.   St Thomas is a heavily developed island with a definite North American atmosphere and lacks a bit of Caribbean distinction.  Despite this, and largely thanks to the many cruise ship passengers, this island is high-volume tourism (among the highest in all of the Caribbean).  St Thomas is the most visited island of the 3 US Virgin Islands.
       

 

St. John is just about the opposite of St Thomas.   St. John is tailor-made for nature lovers with unspoiled scenery and quiet surroundings with much of the island being a National Park.  St John is just off the coast of St Thomas and is an easy ferry ride away.  This makes for a great day trip, or a combination vacation of the 2 islands.  St John is also a great island to get away from it all and truly relax and rejuvenate.  With plenty of water activities, beaches, and nature trails, there is certainly enough activity to provide the right balance for your vacation.  St John is also the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands.
   

 

St. Croix is the largest of the Virgin Islands and retains an unhurried island atmosphere.   St. Croix is most typical of other Caribbean islands.  It has a great balance of attractions and shopping, yet a very relaxed atmosphere and great historic architecture.  St Croix is divided basically in to 4 areas:  Christiansted, the North Shore, the East End, and Frederiksted. The varied terrain includes arid rockiness as well as a verdant rainforest, mango, mahogany, and tree ferns that dot the landscape, while beautifully secluded beaches entice water lovers.   One fun fact, Point Udall on St Croix is the easternmost tip of the United States.

 

   

 

I hope you have enjoyed your brief introduction to the US Virgin Islands and will consider 1 or more of them for your next vacation experience.

Kelley