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The power of three

We are going to visit dear Uncle Dick in Los Angeles. Ten years since we saw him. He's 90 now.

Then on to nearby San Diego to sight see, including Sea World to witness my first music partner, Jack Lohman, introduce dolphins who leap from the tank into the air as if on cue. Actually, he does his spiel and watches for the shadows circling below as his cue. He now lives near Las Vegas. Days he is a city planner. Once a month he is Yukon Jack and livin' the dream.

I learned this when he called last night. We had lots of old times to recall. He told me about his then-wife who resented all the time music took away from the marriage. They had moved to Denver in late '71, the year before I left Ohio. When I went the following May, it wasn't to revive Jon and Mikel, but she didn't know that. When Jack told her I was in Denver, she screamed, "Oh no, he's FOLLOWING us!"

It's interesting how timing effects us. Jack called last night. The night before, Uncle Dick called and asked us if we could come for a visit. We've never been to visit sister Nancy in Sante Fe, and had planned to go in February, and that's three. Today, we called Karen Miller at Putman Travel to figure out the best way to do all three stops and use Frequent Flyer miles from Shelagh's mom. That should be interesting, too.

After nearly ten years, it's time to leave the hill again and fly 600 mph in a crowded metal tube eight miles high.

Canadian Lake Perfect Setting for Special Birthday Bash

Suppose you are having an 83d birthday party in the land of your birth, Canada. As Neil Young so elegantly put it, all your changes were there.

So you drive three days to stay where you always stay in the third floor room with a balcony looking at the lake. On your birthday, on the lawn below your balcony, 200 or so audience members sing you the birthday song, to the music of the Young People's Symphony led by Maestro Boris Brott and sung to you by popular tenor / actor Michael Burgess. Pretty cool, Mum.

Boris, his wife, and Michael sit with us at dinner that night. The conversation was delightful. A cake is delivered to the table. It is a changing of ownership night as well at Windermere House. The end of an era.

Later in the week, we went to the antique wooden boat museum. Gorgeous gleaming curved wood from the '20's and 30's, sleekness that lived in boat houses with a porch above and sleeping rooms.

And there it was, floating in a slip at the back of the museum. Neriva, first owned by the man who gave you your first kiss (but not on the boat!).

Shelagh and I stayed largely stunned as the happy confluence of coincidence, planet alignment and good planning combined for a sure winner in The Bestest Birthday Ever race. Shelagh is back to normal now; I remain stunned.

© 2008 mikewhitney

Our thanks to Karen Miller and Putman Travel for their additions to a great vacation.

Costa Rica

I've just returned from my first visit to Costa Rica; this is a wonderful destination with lot's to do for most anyone. Delta has daily flights from Atlanta to the country's capital San Jose, as well as Liberia which lies in the Guancaste region and only a 3.5 hour flight. I stayed @ the Paradisus in Playa Conchal (http://www.paradisusplayaconchal.travel/) which is a 45 minute ride from Liberia and located in the north on the Pacific side of the country. The Paradisus is an all-inclusive resort that has eight restaurants and is situated directly on a very nice beach. The resort is made up of 406 rooms, that are in bungalows that contain eight rooms. There are basically two different service qualities. There is the general, which is good enough, and there is a Royal Service quality. In general there isn't much difference in the room qualities or appointments, however you are given a few more luxuries and service amenities. Candidly, I didn't see the value in the 30-40% premium charged for this. The resort has a Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed golf course that is very well done. Green fees inclusive of cart run around $160-$75, which is reasonable for the caliber it represents. The grounds are well landscaped and filled with interesting plants. There is also an abundance of non-domesticated animals that roam the property freely. From Monkeys to Iguanas the diversity of the fauna adds a nice twist to this eco-friendly destination.

One thing that is fairly unique for an all-inclusive is how few people are around during the day. Generally, visitors to AI resorts spend most of their time in the resorts taking advantage of the ever-abundant food and drink. Refreshingly, most people are out on adventures most days, which is the primary allure to the destination. There is so much to do, from hiking to sport-fishing to zip-lining through rain-forest canopies it's an adventurers paradise. The fishing is phenomenal, for less than $800 you can charter a 34-foot boat fully equipped with fishing gear, bait, soft drinks, waters, beer, sandwiches and fresh fruit for up to five people. I would suggest booking this before you go, as the hotel charges a premium for buying through them. Fishing is good year round and different bill-fish species are generally available year round.

All the people I encountered were more than friendly and many go out of their way to make sure you are happy in their country. English is spoken in most places, but it doesn't hurt to know a bit of Espanol or carry a phrase book with you. I really enjoyed the food, and the dollar still goes a long way, not to mention it is accepted everywhere even though they do have their own currency. I highly recommend Costa Rica and I look forward to visiting again. Putman Travel has many pre-packaged or customizable packages to Costa Rica. Visit www.putman.com or call 1-800-6-Putman to speak with one of our agents.

Pura Vida!

Carnival Glory

Just got back from a 7 day cruise on Carnival Glory. There were 9 women that went (8 of us left our husbands at home). We drove to Port Canaveral on Friday and spent the night at the Raddison in Cocoa Beach which was great. We took a shuttle over to the ship on Sat. about 11:30 after leaving our car at the Raddison for the week. By 12:30 we were on the ship having lunch! The check in was by far the easiest that I have done! (this was cruise #8 for me) When we got back, we walked directly to the van for our shuttle back to the Raddison to get our car.

This was my 2nd cruise on the Glory. Very nice ship but a little confusing on a few of the decks because you can't go all the way through from one end to the other. We had a balcony room- beds were very comfortable and plenty of storage space. The bedding is wonderful! Our cabin stewart took good care of our room. We didn't see him very often but he did his job well. Except for the last day when he put a $1,430. charge on our room for in cabin beverages!!! It was definately a mistake and it was promptly removed with apologies from him!

Three stops on this cruise- Nassau, St. Thomas & St. Marteen. All are port stops (no tenders) so that is nice. We took a tour in St. Thomas and St. Marteen. They were both nice. We always take our tours through the cruise lines. I personally don't want to take the chance on doing my own - at least with booking through the cruise line we don't have to worry about the ship leaving without us! Plus the cruise lines have investigated the tours so we are at least on a fairly reliable tour (at least one would hope!)

The shows on the Glory were great, the casino loved our money! My biggest complaint with the Glory is the smoking in the Casino. It can get very bad and there are no smoke free areas in the Casino. You are very likely to get a smoker sitting on either side of you. The dining rooms and the Amber Palace are smoke free.

We thought some of the food was wonderful, some OK and just a little was just not good (tough meat a few times). Our wait staff was adequate at best, nothing to brag about. We were almost always the last table finished eating and it wasn't our fault! We were always in the dining room promptly when the doors opened at 6:15 and never left before 8:00! Many evenings our food was up and sitting there waiting for our waiter. We think maybe he just had too many tables, looked at 9 women at ours and figured no extra tips there- I'll concentrate on the tables with men! I don't know that this was really the case but I do know that we didn't have great service.

Bottom line- the cruise was good- I've been on better but it was well worth the money we spent. Any time I can put my feet on a ship- I'm a happy camper! Lisa T. at Putman booked our cruise and was great! Thanks Lisa!

Almost Free Passport Photos DIY

I was looking around for cheap way to get the passport size photos printed.

Found this wonderful size which lets you size any picture to meet any passport photo requirement (not just US). All in all it only took 2-3 min to get the photo edited and downloaded.

Following is simple process.

1. Take picture with while or half white background focusing the head on the center of the lence.

2. Upload the image to this site and crop to ensure head is 1 - 13/8 inch

3. Download the image to thumb drive

4. Goto any pharmacy to print 4 X 6, you will get yourself 6 passport size photos. (CVS charges 19 cents for a 4X6)


http://www.epassportphoto.com/

Winter in the Islands

Winter in the Islands

St. Thomas is alive in winter. Also the heart of the seven or so year old girl, her hair in perfect corn rows, sitting in a colorful bikini on a couch in the lobby of the hotel where we checked in. Her small fists stuffed inside the cups of her suit, holding them away from her chest, imagining the future.

My gaze fell on the Atlantic Ocean through the open wall of the hotel with a pool and restaurant before it. I saw a pelican crossing to the right, a seaplane landing to the left, and St Croix in the distance. Christopher Cross came over the house speakers singing Sailing. It was 82 degrees with the night before us. I wondered why I had taken an eight year hiatus from traveling.

Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main

Waves slammed against our cabin's portholes. We had expected there to be some rocking. With only 146 passengers and 90 crew, our motorized sailing vessel was small by cruise ship standards of ten stories and 3000 passengers. We were ready for some back and forth, up and down action.

One night, however, it felt like we had broken off from the rest of the ship, so wildly did we pitch about in the high winds and waves. Drawers banged open and shut. Home two days now, and the screen before me eyes is still bouncing as I rock to and fro over the wobbling keyboard. Steady as she goes, aye, matey. It was a great trip, especially on the last night out. The captain used our sails only, and the only sound was canvas slapping gently in the breeze.

Seen and Heard On St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Twenty years ago, Roland lived in Massachusetts, near Boston. He was a "big shot". So, he sold everything and moved the family to paradisal St. Thomas. Now a self-described "small shot", Roland has owned Bumpa's in downtown St. Thomas for the past twenty years. It's a neat little restaurant on top of a store. He and his small staff do a great job on breakfast and lunches. He works hard and is happy, fit and tanned in his sixties, with a big grin and a sharp comment when needed. He told us about a wonderful encounter with one customer, young John Grisham, the now famous author.

He doesn't miss the bitter New England winters. I smile as I write this, because meeting guys like Roland is a rare event for me. He downsized his life, and chose happiness over money and stuff. More to the point, he gambled and won. Hats off to Roland. If you read this, Roland, thanks for the good food, and taking the time to tell your story again to yet another curious traveler.

Here are some of our travel photos on our fantastic Windstar cruise. We thank Karen Miller and the whole crew at Putman Travel for making it our best trip ever.

Mike and Shelagh Whitney's 25th anniversary vacation

Charleston Getaway

Well, I just got back from a weekend getaway to Charleston, and I had a wonderful time! As I have only lived in South Carolina since March of this year, this was my first time ever seeing Charleston and let me just say that I definitely want to go back!

My mother and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Historic District, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about it! This was by far the best Holiday Inn I have ever stayed in. Although the decor wasn't quite my taste, everything was spotless and the entire hotel--rooms and public areas--were beautiful and well-kept. The staff was helpful and friendly, especially the concierge Kevin McQuade. He is definitely a gem and if anyone ever stays at this hotel I would highly recommend utilizing his vast knowledge of the city.

Although the Holiday Inn was not quite as close to the Battery and the old market as many of the other historic district hotels, the price was right and the walk was not a bad one. The one thing I would suggest is avoiding their "Best 4 Breakfast" rate. This just adds $20 per person onto their regular hotel rates and (a) it is very diffucult to rack up $20 per person on their breakfast menu, and (b) you will not get back any monies that you do not use. Plus, I was not overly impressed with the breakfast itself or the service in the restaurant.

Friday night we walked down Meeting Street and ate dinner at Poogan's Porch. This has been touted as one of the best restaurants in Charleston, and has been visited by many famous people, and I now know why! The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious. Plus, they bring biscuits and special butter to your table before your meal and I could not decide which was better, the biscuits or the butter!

After dinner we did the holiday candlelight tour of the Edmonston-Alston house. It was neat seeing the house all decorated for Christmas with period appropriate decorations, and we also got to see the slave quarters and the Carriage house, which are not open for tourists on the usual day tours. Still, it was really neat to see what one of those Battery houses would have looked like pre-Civil War, furniture and all, and the tour for this house is short, sweet, and to the point, so even if you cannot do the holiday candlelight tour, I recommend it.

Saturday we rose early, as we wanted to see as much as possible during our one full day in Charleston. After breakfast, the first thing we did was talk to the concierge, Kevin, and I am so glad that we took advantage of his services! He took the time to figure out what we were looking for (we wanted to see as much as the city as possible, experience a good guide, and not have to do a ridiculous amount of walking), and paired us with the perfect tour--with Jane Thornhill, a true Charleston "society doyenne". Although the tour was twice the price of a walking tour--$40 per person, to be precise--Mrs Thornhill had access to all sorts of places that most tours do not have access to, she thoroughly impressed me with her knowledge, and I cannot express how great it was to ride around in her van and see everything versus having to walk miles and miles and still not see as much as we experienced.

We also went to the Farmer's Market in Marion Square, which operates every Saturday morning. There were a lot of wonderful crafts and food, although I was a little disappointed that there weren't more booths/tents. We also spent quite a bit of time (and I could have spent more!) at the Old City Market between East Bay and Meeting Streets. Although there was plenty of junk to be had, we also found plenty of treasures, including the art of an elderly woman who made Santa Clause statues out of Cypress knees--I fell in love with these!

The last thing we experienced in Charleston was the Holiday Progressive Dinner, and I am sad to say that I was thoroughly disappointed. The cost was $90 per person, and although the evening carriage rides between the three venues (King's Courtyard Inn, Circa 1886 Restaurant, and the John Rutledge House Inn) was neat, the food left something to be desired and I really do not feel that this dinner was worth the price we paid. I truly believe that we would have been better off talking to Kevin and getting suggestions from him on where to eat dinner!

All in all, the Christmas season is a beautiful time to experience Charleston (especially if you want to find some really neat and different gifts for friends and family), and I would certainly recommend the Holiday Inn Historic District to anyone looking for a quick getaway, a romantic weekend, a family experience, etc.!

Las Vegas in a Weekend

Is it possible to see everything Vegas has to offer in just one weekend?

No, but I sure tried!

I was lucky enough to get on one of the last direct flights that Allegiant ran out of Greenville/Spartanburg. They have now canceled these flights for the foreseeable future, but I was told that anyone is welcome to complain on their website if you want to possibly see them come back. I for one do not think they gave these flights enough of a chance to catch on.

That said, I flew out of Greenville early on a Friday morning and caught a red-eye back on Sunday night, which was nice because with the time change it gave me most of the day Friday, all day Saturday, and most of the day Sunday to explore "Sin City". And I only had to take a day and a half off work!

I stayed at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, which is at the far end of The Strip, near the airport. If you don't think you would enjoy the casino atmosphere of some of the other top Vegas hotels (i.e. Caesar's, Paris, Venetian, Mirage) then this hotel may be for you! The decor is very mellow and the atmosphere is upscale. The whole place is also quiet, even in the lobby area, which is something you just can't say for those other Vegas hotels. But you will sacrifice that Vegas feel and the opportunity to be right smack in the middle of The Strip.

Friday was spent at the pool, even though Mandalay Bay's main pool, "The Beach", was closed for the season. This was disappointing because it was in the mid-70s, and after the cold weather we had been having here in Greenville that certainly felt like pool weather to me! Later, I tried to go to the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet at the Rio, which I had heard great things about--but that was closed as well, for renovations! We ended up having to eat at the regular buffet. The disappointments were adding up, but the rest of the night made up for them. I was able to see the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino as well as the Wynn that night, and some friends and I danced the night away at Tryst at the Wynn. The nightclub was beautiful (especially the huge waterfall in it!) but the admission was steep ($20 for women, $30 for men) and the drinks were even more ridiculous ($10 for a Miller Lite, $17 for a Mojito). So if you're going to Vegas for night life...plan on spending. A lot.

Saturday we ate lunch at FatBurger, which is supposedly the home of the best burger in Las Vegas--personally, I like Five Guys Burgers and Fries better, but this was probably the least expensive place to eat in Vegas, besides McDonald's. And they did have awesome Cookies & Cream milkshakes!

After lunch we rode the rollercoaster at New York New York, which was interesting to say the least. $14 per person to ride and although it was a fun thing to do, it definitely wasn't my favorite thing in Vegas. We then walked from the New York New York to Caesar's, and stopped along the way to watch the Bellagio fountains, which give a show every hour on the hour. I definitely suggest watching the fountains once during the day and once at night, because both are great experiences, and very different from each other!

Caesar's was huge and beautiful--I could have spent the whole weekend just exploring this one hotel and casino! But we had other things to do, namely--see downtown Las Vegas, a.k.a. the Fremont Experience! This area was really interesting to see, and about $20 each way for a cab ride from the strip--not bad if you're splitting it with a couple other people. The drinks were much cheaper (huge frozen drinks with way too much alcohol for $14 a piece) and the $5 blackjack at Binions was a blast. We even stayed for the light show, but I was a bit disappointed as the whole thing seemed to be just an advertisement for LG.

That night we ate at another buffet, this time at the Mandalay Bay, simply because it would have cost almost as much to eat a sitdown meal with just a salad and sandwich, once you thought about leaving a tip for the waiter or waitress. Later that night we ended up at Pure at Caesar's, which was nice because we had free admission with our VIP cards (definitely pay attention to any business cards or booklets that they have in the cabs, because we got our VIP cards for Pure from a cabbie!) when it normally costs the same as Tryst to get in. It was also a little cheaper to drink (only $8 for a beer--it's sad when one gets excited about that). Pure also has a huge outside patio a few floors up with a great view of The Strip at night!

Sundays are surprisingly fun in Vegas, mainly because of the champagne brunches! We had ours at Mandalay Bay, and it was all you can eat with plenty of breakfast and lunch foods, and of course all you can drink champagne! After the brunch I decided to explore what I had not yet seen of The Strip before heading to the airport for my 11 PM flight. That afternoon, I got to see the Venetian, the Mirage, and Treasure Island, as well as catch the Mirage volcano going off and see the Bellagio fountains at night before going to the airport. It was a great way to end an exciting and interesting weekend.

So as you can see, although you may not get to see all that Vegas has to offer in just one weekend, it is possible to get to do a lot of different things...and I can't wait to go back!

Las Vegas in a Weekend

Is it possible to see everything Vegas has to offer in just one weekend?

No, but I sure tried!

I was lucky enough to get on one of the last direct flights that Allegiant ran out of Greenville/Spartanburg. They have now canceled these flights for the foreseeable future, but I was told that anyone is welcome to complain on their website if you want to possibly see them come back. I for one do not think they gave these flights enough of a chance to catch on.

That said, I flew out of Greenville early on a Friday morning and caught a red-eye back on Sunday night, which was nice because with the time change it gave me most of the day Friday, all day Saturday, and most of the day Sunday to explore "Sin City". And I only had to take a day and a half off work!

I stayed at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, which is at the far end of The Strip, near the airport. If you don't think you would enjoy the casino atmosphere of some of the other top Vegas hotels (i.e. Caesar's, Paris, Venetian, Mirage) then this hotel may be for you! The decor is very mellow and the atmosphere is upscale. The whole place is also quiet, even in the lobby area, which is something you just can't say for those other Vegas hotels. But you will sacrifice that Vegas feel and the opportunity to be right smack in the middle of The Strip.

Friday was spent at the pool, even though Mandalay Bay's main pool, "The Beach", was closed for the season. This was disappointing because it was in the mid-70s, and after the cold weather we had been having here in Greenville that certainly felt like pool weather to me! Later, I tried to go to the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet at the Rio, which I had heard great things about--but that was closed as well, for renovations! We ended up having to eat at the regular buffet. The disappointments were adding up, but the rest of the night made up for them. I was able to see the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino as well as the Wynn that night, and some friends and I danced the night away at Tryst at the Wynn. The nightclub was beautiful but the admission was steep ($20 for women, $30 for men) and the drinks were even more ridiculous ($10 for a Miller Lite, $17 for a Mojito). So if you're going to Vegas for night life...plan on spending. A lot.

Saturday we ate lunch at FatBurger, which is supposedly the home of the best burger in Las Vegas--personally, I like Five Guys Burgers and Fries better, but this was probably the least expensive place to eat in Vegas, besides McDonald's. And they did have awesome Cookies & Cream milkshakes!

After lunch we rode the roller coaster at the New York New York, which was interesting to say the least. $14 per person to ride and although it was a fun thing to do, it definitely wasn't my favorite thing in Vegas. We then walked from the New York New York to Caesar's, and stopped along the way to watch the Bellagio fountains, which give a show every hour on the hour. I definitely suggest watching the fountains once during the day and once at night, because both are great experiences, and very different from each other!

Caesar's was huge and beautiful--I could have spent the whole weekend just exploring this one hotel and casino! But we had other things to do, namely--see downtown Las Vegas, a.k.a. the Fremont Experience! This area was really interesting to see, and about $20 each way for a cab ride from the strip--not bad if you're splitting it with a couple other people. The drinks were much cheaper (huge frozen drinks with way too much alcohol for $14 a piece) and the $5 blackjack at Binions was a blast. We even stayed for the light show, but I was a bit disappointed as the whole thing seemed to be just an advertisement for LG.

That night we ate at another buffet, this time at the Mandalay Bay, simply because it would have cost almost as much to eat a sitdown meal with just a salad and sandwich, once you thought about leaving a tip for the waiter or waitress. Later that night we ended up at Pure at Caesar's, which was nice because we had free admission with our VIP cards (definitely pay attention to any business cards or booklets that they have in the cabs, because we got our VIP cards for Pure from a cabbie!) when it normally costs the same as Tryst to get in. It was also a little cheaper to drink (only $8 for a beer--it's sad when one gets excited about that). Pure also has a huge outside patio a few floors up with a great view of The Strip at night!

Sundays are surprisingly fun in Vegas, mainly because of the champagne brunches! We had ours at Mandalay Bay, and it was all you can eat with plenty of breakfast and lunch foods, and of course all you can drink champagne! After the brunch I decided to explore what I had not yet seen of The Strip before heading to the airport for my 11 PM flight. That afternoon, I got to see the Venetian, the Mirage, and Treasure Island, as well as catch the Mirage volcano going off and see the Bellagio fountains at night before going to the airport. It was a great way to end an exciting and interesting weekend.

So as you can see, although you may not get to see all that Vegas has to offer in just one weekend, it is possible to get to do a lot of different things...and I can't wait to go back!

Pilgrimage Cruise on Celebrity Constellation throughout New England and Canada

We departed the port at Bayonne New Jersey on a beautiful fall day, ready for our 13 night sailing on the Celebrity Constellation throughout New England and Canada. This was not to be an ordinary cruise, but was a pilgrimage, led by Father George Kloster with 48 people of numerous faiths represented.

Everyone was impressed with the Celebrity Constellation. What a beautiful ship! The service and food was exceptional. The staff could not do more to accommodate the needs of the group. With talks and Mass scheduled on board, there were frequent liaisons with the on board Event Coordinator to make sure everything was scheduled as required. Some of the folks in this group required assistance to get on or off the ship and Celebrity was waiting to help at all time.

The itinerary was great. We couldn’t have asked for a better time of year to have taken this trip. There was only one day of rain in Portland Maine, but that didn’t stop anyone from venturing out to explore the lighthouses around Portland. Other stops along the route included Newport Rhode Island, Bar Harbor Maine, Halifax Nova Scotia, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Boston Mass and the piece de resistance, Quebec City. If you’ve never been to Quebec, this city is a must see. It is as charming as any European city with cobblestone streets and alleyways and with French being the predominant language, its hard not to think you’re in Paris.

The highlight of our trip to Quebec was a group excursion to the Cathedral of St. Anne de Beaupre. Here our group had a Mass for the anointing of the sick and even folks not in our group, joined in. It was very moving.

At Bar Harbor we did an excursion to Acadia Park with a lobster bake. I don’t think any of us had ever had fresher lobster than what we were served that day. On Prince Edward Island we did an excursion to the House of Anne of Green Gables. The entire island was very beautiful and we had a wonderful Irish guide.

Every port had something different to offer and along with the fall colors, this was a wonderful trip. I can highly recommend this trip to anyone.

by Karen Miller

Walt Disney World...for Food & Wine lovers?

No, you're not seeing things--for a wonderful food and wine experience, look no further than Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

From late September through early November every year, Walt Disney World holds their annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. On top of the 11 countries normally housed in the World Showcase, Disney brings in food and wine from up to a dozen other countries, as well as highlighting one US state--for instance, when I experienced the Food and Wine Festival in 2004, they highlighted Florida, and this year, it was Oklahoma.

The great thing about the Food and Wine Festival is that you can purchase samples of the different wines to drink, or samples of the food to eat. The wines run from $3-$8 a glass, depending on the type, and the food samples are all snack-sized portions that cost $3-8, depending on what you are ordering. There isn't just wine, either--this year they highlighted some great beers (my favorites were a Turkish beer that I do not recall the name of and Brahma, a Brazilian beer) as well as some mixed drinks (such as frozen Irish coffees that were to die for!). The wines I have tried over the years have ranged from sweet Australian and German Reislings to American Rose champagne to Norwegian Cherry Wine, Polish Honey Wine, Chinese Plum Wine, and Floridian Mango Wine. The food highlights this year for me were the Canadian Cheese, Bacon, & Potato soup and the seared buffalo steak strips over creamed onions at the Oklahoma booth.

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, the food samples at the Food and Wine Festival count as snacks on the Plan, and what a great way to use your snack vouchers!

At the end of the day, you can head over the Food and Wine Center to purchase special Food & Wine Festival glasses, pins, t-shirts, and other memorabilia--or even bottles of the wines that you sampled that day! The wine bottle prices are actually very reasonable for Disney.

I would also like to mention that unless you are going over a Fall Break weekend in October, the fall season is a great time to go to Disney. The crowds are not as large as they are over major holidays and in the summer, and the weather tends to average 85-90 degrees and mostly sunny--much preferable to the 95-100+ degrees of the summer or the unpredictable cold snaps of December through February!

However, if you cannot make it to the Food & Wine Festival, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy food and wine at Disney. Having worked in the restaurant industry for some years, and having traveled extensively, in my opinion Walt Disney World still offers some of the best culinary experiences out there. For example, there are two amazing steakhouses on property--Shula's at the Dolphin Hotel and Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although both a bit pricey, you will likely never have a better steak than the Shula's filet or the Jiko filet with macaroni & cheese and red wine sauce. Shula's souffle dessert is world-famous and you will rarely find a better selection of different appetizers than what Jiko offers.

For those on a lighter budget, there are plenty of other restaurants to choose from at Walt Disney World that still offer amazing food. One of my favorites is the 'Ohana dinner at the Polynesian Resort, where the food is plentiful and served family style and you will never have a better light salad, sweet and sour shrimp, or bread pudding! For another great experience, try the Coral Reef restaurant at Epcot--if you have a small party (4 or less) you may get lucky and sit right next to the aquarium window. My husband and I got to do so on our recent trip and not only was the food amazing, but it was so much fun watching the sharks, stingrays, giant sea turtles and other fish swim by while we ate! You can also experience food from around the world at the restaurants of the World Showcase--namely the San Angel Inn in Mexico, the Biergarten restaurant in Germany, Nine Dragons in China, Teppanyaki Dining Room in Japan, and Le Cellier in Canada.

Most of Disney's restaurants offer differing and wide wine selections, and for the more adventurous, the bars of the World Showcase offer a wide array of drinks to choose from--amazing Margaritas in Mexico, great beer choices in Germany, champagne in France, tangerine daquiries in Morocco, and sake in Japan, just to name a few.

So the next time you think that Disney is only for families with children, or that you won't be able to find any great culinary experiences there, think again!

Bushmills 8

N. Ireland Golf Trip

Just fresh back from a week in Northern Ireland, playing some of the greatest golf courses on the planet. It all started back in Feb of this year, after a round w/a few friends and a cocktail or three. We had all heard many great things about the area, and so being in the travel business, I was put to task of planning the trip.

After a few days of tweaking the itinerary based on available t-times, and days that Gringo’s can play, we had a firmed up trip.

Our trip began w/a flight into Belfast, on a non-stop flight from Newark. There were eight of us, and we were met by our driver and guide Nigel. A couple of words of advice; I’ve done many many golf trips to Scotland and Ireland. Two foursomes is ideal, it’s manageable and mobile. Of course having the right group of guys makes a difference, but once you get over eight, you start having too many people to make happy. Second word of advice, hire a driver and van or bus. The driver actually acts as more than your driver, he handles dinner reservations, recommendations and helps load and unload luggage. I like to think of them as “enablers”; forget your deodorant and don’t want to waste precious range time, no worries your enabler will handle it whilst you are chasing your orb around the links. Granted it costs an extra couple of hundred of bucks for the service, but it makes for a brain-free trip.

Once we got our luggage loaded in our Mercedes Van, we headed to our first course. As luck would have it, it was an afternoon t-time which left us just enough time for a swing by the Bushmill’s plant for a tour and tasting. A couple of hours later, and a couple of drams fuller we were off to our first course Port Stewart.



http://www.portstewartgc.co.uk/
Port Stewart is set in a beautiful little town right on the north coast of Ireland. It was unanimous in our group that the Strand course is the most scenic first nine holes of golf any of us had ever played. A few more things about golf in Ireland, you don’t get a cart (buggy) unless you have a medical certificate. Pull carts (trolley’s) are available and only cost $6-8 to rent. You can request caddies in advance, but don’t beat your farm that they will be there. It’s a request @ best. Most of the caddies in N. Ireland are actually members of the club. Don’t expect white gloved service, they don’t offer to clean your ball or wipe your clubs like American caddies. They do hump your bag, help with yardages, and generally add a lot of charm to the experience. But most importantly, they help you look for your ball. The rough at all the courses we played could only be described as severe. The caddy fees range but a good average is 25 pounds sterling (currently $54) plus tip. Speaking of tip’s, here is one for you, ask the pro before teeing off what the caddie fee is, and what is the range of tips. We had a few in our group who asked the caddies at the end of rounds how much they should pay and astonishingly enough it was about double what the pro said. No wonder they love American’s so.

We stayed in Derry the first two nights @ the City Hotel. Certainly adequate enough, but on the lower end of 4 star hotels I’ve stayed. The location in Derry is great though. You are in walking distance to lot’s of resteraunts and plenty of bars. Our plan included a full –Irish breakfast which are big meal. The City Hotel had an extra good breakfast buffet. Our next day was a trip to Ballyliffen. Ballyliffen is a great spot, with two great golf courses, the Old and the Glashedy. We were scheduled to play @ the Glashedy course, but as luck would have it, we ended up playing the Old Course which our caddies said was slightly better than the other. This is another outstanding links course that is set on the Northern most tip of Ireland. The views are tremendous and the course is great. I’m not sure why this one isn’t ranked on the top 100 world courses. Our next course is currently ranked 12th in the world according to Golf.com http://www.golf.com/golf/courses_travel/topcourses/top_100_world/2007/0,29923,orig-10,00.html and it is Royal Port Rush.


RPR is a very proper club, with a great facility. This was probably the most elaborate clubhouse of all the courses we played. Port Rush is a spectacular area, with lot’s of great vistas. They say you can see Scotland on a clear day from the club. This is a very difficult golf course, the rough is very penal, it’s a must to have a caddie here. There are several blind shots, that could ruin your day if you don’t know where to hit it.

From here we drove to just outside of Belfast and stayed at the Culloden estate. This is great property; it’s an old manor house converted into a four-star property. Unfortunately, we arrived late and left the next morning and didn’t get a great deal of time to enjoy the facility. Our next morning took us another 80 minutes down the road to the jewel of Ireland, Royal County Down.

Our timing couldn’t have been better, the Walker cup had just concluded from being played there five days prior, and their Club Championship was held just the day before. Needless to say the course was in great “nick”, and we Americans had a lot to be proud of since our boys had just won.


The weather was refreshing cool, and the winds were gusting up to 50 miles and hour. Oh, did I mention the greens were “stimping” at 14 before the winds picked up. The course was brutal, the fairways were intentional very firm and running fast. All but the most accurate, controlled tee-shot would wind up finding 12-18 inch rough. The greens were very firm on top of being lightning fast. I actually had a ball blow off the putting surface and back down a short-sided swell, after it had come to rest for a couple of minutes. In most cases you would need to play a wedge shot ten yards short of the green to hold it. Even though the conditions were extreme (no one came close to breaking 90 in our group), it is a spectacular course in a breathtaking setting. I’ve had the good fortune to play many of the top courses around the globe and I can’t think of one any more special.

We left shortly after our round (2 Guininess) for another 1.5 hour bus ride down to Portmarnock, which is just outside of Dublin. The Portmarnock hotel is on the grounds of the original Jameson (of whisky fame) home. It’s a good property, with adequate but limited facilities. It was definitely a step down from the Culloden. We played Portmarnock Golf Links the following day which is another top rated course. One bit of warning, there are two courses with very similar names. I would recommend playing both, but if you only have time for one make sure you play Portmarnock Golf Links.

All in all probably the best golf trip I’ve taken, and a must for any avid golf traveler.

Western Caribbean - Carnival Cruise

Had the best time on this cruise! Cayman Islands, Cozumel Mx, Belize, and Roatan Honduras. Roatan was the most fun. Carnival is truly the funship, the staff is great but remember to pay the extra $40 per person for unlimited softdrinks while aboard, kinda got juiced out, other than that it was great.

The ports of call and shore excursions were alot of fun, there is never a shortage of fun things to do on any of these stops or while on the ship.

The staff at Putnam Travel were exceptional from start to finish especially Glena Arve. Glenda went above and beyond our expectations for our trip and added the personal touch that exemplifies quality customer care. I will definately use Putnam again thanks to Glenda.

Our Magical Disney Cruise

Wow - where do I begin? We had promised our kids a cruise a couple of years ago when my husband and I took a anniversary cruise by ourselves. We decided back in January that this would be the year. We decided on the five day four night cruise. With an 11 and 6 year old we weren't sure how tummies might handle the waves, so we opted for a shorter than longer cruise this time around. As our trip approached we all began to get very excited. We could hardly wait til we boarded the Disney Wonder. As we boarded they announced our family name and home state. It was very clear from that moment that we were beginning a "Magical " vacation. The food, staff and ship were excellent.

Our trip to Castaway Cay was somewhat disrupted by rain. On the island we had planned to snorkle in the lagoon in search of the hidden Mickey. We didn't let a little rain stop the Richardson's. We had so much fun that day. The kids both participated in the Crab Race - which was so cute. After lunch we all swam out to the floating playground and let the kids play for a while. Soon it was time to say good bye to Castaway Cay and enjoy our "Pirates in the Caribbean" theme dinner. But before we even let the island the Captain came over the intercom and apoligized for the weather and informed us that we would be leaving shortly but we be turning aroung the next day and doing it all over again. What an awesome surprise! Apparently this is called Disney Double Dipping. This does not happen very often but it happened during our cruise. We woke up on Wednesday morning back at Castaway Cay. We had beautiful weather and even more fun the second time around!

Disney sets the bar very high. The shows were over the top. The last show was beyond words. It actually snowed in the Wal Disney Theatre. Real snow - not paper! Where else could you find snow in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? I would highly recommend a Disney Cruise to anyone with children or grandchildren. It is way better than just going to Disney World. I just keep telling everyone that it was "Magical". You just have to experience it to understand. We're going for the 7 day next time around and we can't wait!

Navarre Beach, Florida

I just came back from vacationing in
Navarre, Florida. It is about an 8 hour drive from Anderson, South Carolina. The drive is all on the freeway until the last hour where you drive through some small towns in Alabama. There were miles of cotton fields.

Navarre Beach has beautiful white sand and the water is bright blue. The city just completed rebuilding the beach and the dune walkways last year because it was swept away from Hurricane Dennis in 2005. They added 200 feet of new sand to the beach. There were surfers there the day we went to the beach. The waves were huge due to the tropical storm that was heading toward shore. The tropical storm did not worry me as I have lived in Florida before for many years. It was actually nice to hear the rain all night long. I am sure the people who live there get nervous whenever a storm arrives as they have been hit quite a few times from hurricanes.

Further down the beach there are rows and rows of beautiful homes of all colors that have just been rebuilt or are in the process. Most of this part of the beach is vacant until the homes are completed. Once completed it would be a really nice place to retire.

East River Smokehouse had really good food and live music at night. TC's Front Porch has the best burgers and the place reminds you of the beach even though it is in town. It is set up like a deck with all sides open so you can enjoy the outdoors. The place that really gives you that tropical feel is Juana's Beach Bar which is located on the inter-coastal side. It is a tiki hut with the sides open, straw-style roof, and sand as the floor. They have volleyball outdoors and a wonderful view of the water. There is a restaurant next door called Sailor’s Grill which has an open deck.

There is something for the entire family to enjoy. You can relax on the beach, canoe on a river, stroll along a nature trail, or visit the Zoo or Butterfly House. Navarre is located in between Destin and Pensacola. It is a nice drive to both places to go shopping. The best part of my vacation was visiting family at my sisters’ homes who both live in Navarre.

Contiki Tours to Europe for 18-35 Year Olds

In July of this year I took a 12-day tour of Europe with my sister. The tour was through Contiki Tours on their “Amsterdam to Barcelona” tour, which is one of their Superior tours. I chose a guaranteed departure date, as I booked my own flights, and decided to do a pre-night before the tour started in Amsterdam.

Let me preface this by explaining that Contiki is an Australian-owned company. They specialize in vacations for 18-35 year olds and when you go on a Contiki tour, this shows! I had an amazing time on mine, which, according to our tour conductor, was not quite the norm for the shorter Contiki tours—we literally had people aged 18-35 on it, with numerous couples, and most of the people were from Australia—but everyone was friendly and open and ready and willing to make the tour as fun as possible.

Our tour started with a bang in Amsterdam. Having heard mixed things about the city, I was actually very impressed by the cleanliness and the friendliness of the people. My sister and I especially enjoyed the Rijksmuseum and the Heineken Experience! We then headed to Paris, where we experienced amazing food and beautiful architecture, especially the Notre Dame Cathedral. We even got to see a cabaret show in Montmartre, and that was the experience of a lifetime!

From Paris we had one day in Switzerland and one day in Chamonix in the French Alps, where we enjoyed some great shopping and beautiful scenery. Our second to last stop was the French Riviera—we stayed in Nice and had a wonderfully relaxing day on the beach, then got to see Monaco as well. We spent about 12 euro to rent beach chairs for a day, as Nice has a rock beach, and that was probably the best money I spent on the entire trip! The chairs were so comfortable that I napped the perfect July morning away. Finally, the tour ended in Barcelona, Spain, but unfortunately we were there on a Sunday and almost everything was closed. We caught a glimpse of the Sagrada Familia and the Columbus monument, as well as doing a little shopping along Las Ramblas, before catching a Flamenco show and finishing off our trip with a night at Port Olympia.

The Contiki experience was definitely an interesting one. In order to keep their prices extremely affordable, the hotels were mostly 3 star hotels and many of them were a little farther from the city centers than I would have liked; however, they were clean and of course we were too busy sightseeing to spend too much time in our hotel rooms anyway! Our tour conductor was extremely knowledgeable and approachable and I will never forget our bus driver maneuvering that big motor coach through the Alps. Over the course of nearly two weeks, we became very friendly with the other 47 people on our tour—I’m sure we even made some friends for life.

All in all, if you are a young person looking for a great time and a great deal on a trip to Europe, Contiki Tours may very well be perfect for you!

Putman Travel: What is the best time to go to the Caribbean?

Putman Travel: What is the best time to go to the Caribbean?

What is the best time to go to the Caribbean?

One of the questions we often get is, "when is the best time to go to the Caribbean?". The answer depends on how the customer defines "best". Some define it as weather, others as price, and others as climate difference as compared with where they live. I wanted to use this post to help answer these questions in each context.

First, I will tackle the "best weather" scenario. The Caribbean is a sub-tropical climate. The temperature variance is slight year round. For example, in Greenville, SC where I live we range from daily highs of low thirties up to +100 as exampled in the above graphic. Granted these are the extremes, and in general we have a wonderful climate, but the point is you could infer that we have around a 70 degree variance based on daily highs through a year. Typically, the Caribbean has much less variance. It could potentially get only up-to a high of 67 during the coldest periods and the high's rarely get above the low 90's. So in terms of temperature, it's pretty darn nice year round. You are never going to get "cold", and the extremities of summer are much milder than what we experience in the south east.

Secondly let's talk about price as it relates to the "best" time to go to the Caribbean. In general there are two seasons. The high season runs from December 16 until April 15th. The rest of the year is the off-season. Generally you can expect discounts of 20-50% during the off-season.

Lastly some customers define the "best" time to go as when is the weather substantially better in the destination than it is at their home. A lot of this depends on where your home is. But often people are looking for a change in temperature. Therefore, the "snow-birds" tend to flood the Caribbean in winter, which in terms increase demand (with the same amount of supply), which allows the hotels to charge a premium for this time. And granted even from this area, it's nice to be able to escape February coldness to be able to slip some shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops and enjoy the sunshine. But if you refer to the graphic above, you will see the variance between Greenville this week and Montego Bay is 20 degrees, and Jamaica is COOLER. Again this is above normal for Greenville, but this helps me illustrate my point. Sometimes a cooler change in climate is welcomed. And I imagine most who are reading would never consider going to the Caribbean to cool down.

The summer and fall are often overlooked as what I call the prime-time to go to the Caribbean. It's where several "best" elements converge; good temperature, better pricing, and variance from my home temperature. There are valid concerns over hurricanes during this period, but with today's ability to track these days in advance this will allow you to make decisions well before any storm is a threat. Try the Caribbean during this time, take out travel insurance that covers cancellations, and enjoy a great vacation at a great price.

Awesome Alaska

I really don't like the over-used word "awesome". However, when it comes to Alaska, there's no better word. When you hear other people describe Alaska, adjectives tend to flow more than other destination descriptions, magnificent, glorious, spectacular.......

My family enjoys cruising, it's a great way for our us to travel. There is enough space and activities where we can let our children ages 9 and 11 go their own way. So when the opportunity for us to try out an Alaskan cruise presented itself, we pulled our schedules together in about 10 days prior to departure.

We flew into Anchorage, where we were met by Holland America ground representatives. After collecting our bags we had to wait around for about an hour due to some disorganization on their part. After traveling from GSP through Atlanta through Salt Lake City and 5.5 hours from there to Anchorage, an hour delay seemed like ten. Most of the cruise ships depart from the small town of Seward, which is a 2.5 hours trip from Anchorage. There are several options to get from the Anchorage airport to Seward, the most popular being a train or bus, either of which you can purchase through the cruise lines. They both take the same route, which is more like a tour than a transfer. The route basically has you hugging the coast line most of the way. You cut through forest, mountain ranges with the opportunity to see lot's of unique vistas and possibly wildlife that you may not see elsewhere.

We cruised on Holland America's Statendam for a seven day inside passage cruise heading south. This cruise is great for those who are looking to learn more about this diverse eco-system. Holland actually has a naturalist on board most of their sailings, who provides lectures, as well as wild-life spotting alerts as you sail. It's not unusually that an announcement comes over the P/A system while you are having dinner; "if you will look out the port side of the ship @ 10 o'clock you will see a pod of Orcas meandering". The cruise itself is as much about the views while sailing as it is the ports of call. The ports of call for this sailing are Haines, Juneau, and Ketchikan. There isn't much to do in Haines other than the excursions offered by the cruise lines. We choose to not do an excursion there and spent the day walking around the small downtown and actually heading back to the ship early. Juneau on the other hand has a bustling downtown area, which is right where the ship docks. In Juneau we took two shore excursions, one was a "gold-panning" trip and the other was a mountain biking trip. The gold-panning was authentic in the fact you actually go to a mining site and you do get to pan for gold. However, on the way back they tell you it's not economically feasible to make any money even if you automate the process, as all you get is a few specks per full pan. This was a so-so experience. In the afternoon we took a mountain bike tour to a glacier. I would highly recommend this excursion, it gives you a nice experience in the wild. The tour caps off with a visit to the Alaskan brewery. Ketchikan is where we had the best excursion experience. The ship arranged for us to board a 22-foot open air skiff with a captain, for a few hours of fishing in the bay. First you take a short walk to the docks, where you are fitted with rain-weather gear, regardless of the weather, then you are led out to your vessel. After a 20 minute exhilarating ride, we dropped anchor and began to fish. In a matter of 2.5 hours we caught over 100 pounds of fish. We caught halibut, flounder, shark, from "bottom-fishing". Then trolled and snagged a 5lb King Salmon, and a 15lb Coho Salmon. After catching the fish, we went to a really neat campground and had the fish prepared in a boulibase. A description of the camp and the food wouldn't do justice. It has to be one of the more scenic places I've ever been. This excursion isn't cheap, but it was certainly the best I've been on.

A lot of the beauty recognized in Alaska is of her glaciers. And I doubt there is a better way to see these other than on a cruise. The ships actually go inside of passages that are national and state parks, to get you really up close to nature and these massive glaciers, some of which are six miles wide. Our cruise came to an end in Vancouver, where we stayed a couple of extra days before heading home. In closing, Alaska is well worth the effort getting there, and I if you are only going once, cruising is a great way to see her.
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Entertainment at Disney World

by Donna Quinn

While we all know that Disney World Resort is a great place to take kids but, something that many vacationers often forget is that there's plenty to do there as an adult, too. After all, while the resort's littlest visitors may be overwhelmed by meeting Mickey Mouse in person, the Disney company knows that parents often need something a little more extravagant to keep them entertained. And since entertainment is what Disney does best, they've created a number of exciting ways to bring out the kid in every adult.

Disney World has a number of fabulous live shows in their theme parks every day and night, and most of them are included in the cost of the park passes. Many of these shows are incredible spectacles, easily on par with anything you could see at the best theaters in the world. Most are family friendly, too. All shows have handicapped/wheelchair seating available.

For instance, there's Finding Nemo: The Musical, a wonderful production in the Animal Kingdom, which is an amazing combination of puppetry and musical theater. There's also The Festival of the Lion King, which combines elements of a parade with the flavor of a tribal celebration, and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which mixes live action with animation. There's usually no trouble getting seating, and they even allow photographs! During certain times of the year the shows do fill up quickly so it is best to arrive early so you won’t miss out.

Disney also has something they call "4-D" movies, which takes the 3-D concept a little farther. They use a combination of effects to make the experience a little more immersive. Sometimes, it will be something fairly simple, like having things will actually drop down from the ceiling. But, in the It's Tough to be a Bug! feature, it goes even farther. They'll announce that "the cockroaches are leaving the room," and while you're watching as they're scampering across the screen, you'll suddenly feel something brushing against the back of your legs. It's really amazing, no matter what your age.

Some of the shows are so extravagant that they almost defy description. At Disney-MGM Studios, for example, they have a unbelievable show called Fantasmic! It combines live performance, lasers, animatronics, fireworks and "dancing" water to show Mickey (in his Sorcerer's Apprentice gear) tackling the forces of darkness. The whole production is set to the music of various Disney films, and it's a very nice experience. It can be a little loud, so I wouldn't recommend it for little kids.

Although most of the shows I've mentioned are free to attend with your park pass, there's one excellent show that requires its own ticket. Cirque du Soleil is famous for their spellbinding performances, and they've managed to create a uniquely captivating performance at Downtown Disney. Their show, La Nouba, combines everything the troupe is known for -- opulent sets, brilliant choreography, theatrical lighting and provocative music -- with traditional circus acts like the high wire, the flying trapeze and acrobatics. I've seen the show twice, and it's amazing. If you want to catch it, however, you must book your tickets in advance, as it tends to sell out. It's not inexpensive, but it's absolutely worth it.

And that's just the start. There is no shortage of entertainment attractions at Disney World, and they make a real effort to keep the shows fresh and exciting. In fact, if you haven't been to
Disney World in a few years, there's a good chance that there will be an entirely new lineup of shows to catch.

One attraction that everyone loves are the parades. One of the best parades is the Electric Light Parade that is scheduled twice each day in the Magic Kingdom. There are parades at all parks and are scheduled at various times during the day.

With so many options for entertainment, it can be a little bewildering to know exactly where to start. That's where having an experienced travel agent can help. Since I'm an expert on the Disney Resorts, I can help you decide which shows you want to see, and even arrange reservations. It's one of the best parts of my job.

In my next blog, I'll be talking about some smart and easy ways to get the most out of your Disney World experience.

An Introduction to the Disney vacation experience

Donna Quinn

I love Disney. Their resorts and theme parks are great places to have a family-oriented vacation, combining plenty of high-quality entertainment with clean facilities and excellent service. Not only do they have plenty of ways for small children to enjoy themselves, but they've also remembered to include things for older children and adults. For a true vacation from everyday life, you'll have a hard time finding anything better than what
Disney offers.

That said, the Disney experience isn't exactly a budget product. While Disney has tried in recent years to give visitors more options and flexibility, it's still a somewhat high-end product, and you pay for what you get. But, with an experienced travel agent to guide you through the variety of options available, it's possible to get the most out of your Disney vacation.

Let's start with the basics. The two main options for most travelers in this region are Disney World and Disney Cruise. We sell some of the other options, such as the Disneyland packages, but most people in this area would rather go to Disney World, because it's closer. I'll be talking about Disney Cruise in another blog, but in this post I thought I'd talk a little about how I can help you get the best out of a visit to Disney World.

Walt Disney World Resort is located in Orlando, Florida, and it's a huge complex with four theme parks (The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom), two water parks, six golf courses, a sports complex, a race track, several resort hotels and plenty of places to shop, eat and watch live entertainment. Because of the staggering number of options available, our clients generally purchase a resort and theme park package for the trip.

One thing that many people might not know is that Disney has changed the way it sells its vacation packages. While this may seems like a small change, its impact on visitors and their budgets is substantial. Not that long ago, when you called Disney to arrange a visit, they only had a limited number of packages available. You would give them the number of nights you were planning on staying, they would tell you exactly what parks and other locations within the resort you could go to based on that. Some people found it a little limiting, so they changed it.

Now, the packages available from Disney are much more flexible. Instead of getting what Disney thinks you should have, they now try to make sure that you get what you want. For instance, the number of nights you spend at the resort no longer has to match the number of park passes that you get. In other words, you can go stay where you want, go where you want, and do what you want. It's a much better program, and I think that it's also a little better for people who are more budget-conscious.

The biggest change is how they handle the park passes. You can have a "base ticket," which is where you have a pass for one park per day, or you can have a "hopping ticket," where you can hop from park to park each day. The "base ticket" is good for people who want to visit a particular park, like The Magic Kingdom, but aren't really interested in the water park or the golf courses, for instance.

Another big thing that has changed dramatically is the meal plan. The vast majority of my clients purchase the meal plan, which is more reasonably priced than it ever has been before. It's a very flexible plan that gives you one table service meal, one counter service meal and one snack per day. The meal plan works out to be much cheaper than if you ate the same meals without it, and it also simplifies the resort experience. And, since you can mix them up any way you'd like during your stay, it's also a great way to check out the dozens of excellent places to eat at Disney World.

In my next blog post, I'll be talking a little about the entertainment options available at Disney World, both for kids and adults, and getting into a little more detail about how I can help you plan your visit.

Jeju, South Korea's Pearl

Jeju is a small island off the south west coast of South Korea. We arrived by way of an Air Korea 55 minute flight from Seoul. Jeju is a beautiful resort island, with spectacular mountain ranges peaking up all over the island. The island is almost a complete oval and is 41km from south to north and over 70km east to west.
We stayed in the Seogwipo area of the island which is on the southern side. We stayed at a remarkable hotel SEAES. All the accommodations (22) are individual cottages, styled in traditional Korean. However the conveniences are all modern and top of the line. At the property there is a Japanese and Korean restaurant. Both are very pricey and limited in the time they are open. Even though this is probably the most expensive property in the area, it lacks conveniences, especially if you don't have your own car, as it is too far to walk to any other venues. Cabs are abundant, always right around the corner and cheap. Most cab rides within the area are $2usd.
There is plenty to do in the area, there are beaches, magnificent westernized hotels, casinos, golf, waterfalls all within the area.
One day we hired a cab to give us a day tour of the island. We had the concierge at the Hyatt map out four sights and labeled them, then walked us outside hailed a cab and explained what the driver was to do. The driver was extremely professional and took very good care of us. We visited a green tea farm and museum, a wonderful botanical garden made up of 100-200 year old bonsai called bungae, a scenic mountain view and a hill-side temple. The drivers fee for lugging all four of us around for the day was $68usd.
The food ranged from American-Continental-authentic Korean. There is actually a defunct Hooters, that sits in the Hooters Plaza. Meals ranged from $24 for a buffet breakfast at the Hyatt to a $7 Bibimap at a mid-level Korean restaurant.
The island offers a lot and if you are in the area and are looking for a relaxing vacation.

Royal Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Posted by Mike

My family and I just got back from a
Royal Caribbean cruise this past week which left from Port Canaveral. We had a great time and Royal Caribbean certainly has great service and quality.

We flew down on Allegiant air the day prior, as the schedule doesn't allow to arrive on the same day as the cruise departs. Allegiant flies into Sanford, the other Orlando airport about 20 miles north of Orlando. Allegiant air is not an IATA carrier, and therefore do not have to adhere to all the "protection" rules a normal carrier would. The service was fine and the equipment was MD-8x series which has a 2x3 configuration. The flights were on time and check-in was pretty much like a normal carrier.

We rented a car and drove to Port Canaveral and stayed at the
Radisson in Port Can. The Radisson is only 2 miles from where the ships depart and they offer free parking and also free shuttle service to the ships.

Avis also is close by and offers free shuttle service to and from ships and generally no drop charge.

The drive from Sanford is only about 75 minutes, and for the savings of taking another carrier to Orlando, you can more than pay for the extra night hotel cost.

On the way back we opted to hire a service that picked us up at the pier and took us to Sanford. We used Capital One limo, and got a 15 passenger van (which holds 10 passengers plus luggage) one way for $150, which worked out to $15 per person. Someone else on the cruise just took a cab and it cost the same.

Your New York Experience: Know Before You Go

by Sue Bryker

Although New York City is a great place filled with wonderful tourist destinations, there are a few hazards to visiting. However, an ounce of prevention is usually all it takes to keep your dream trip from becoming a nightmare.

Getting around the city is one of the biggest hurdles for many first time visitors. The city is a sprawling labyrinth of buildings, streets and people, and it can be very intimidating for those who aren't used to the bustle.

If it's your first time to New York City, I'd also recommend spending your first day on a bus tour, which allows you to see many of the sights in a safe environment. It's also a great way to learn great places to go on your own. (See my first post for several great tour ideas.)

But what about those twin modes of transportation for they traditional New York experience: taxis and the subway?

Although traveling on the subway is a truly local way to see the town, it's often one of the least pleasant parts of being in the city. Not because of crime (although it does happen), but because the subway is used mainly by daily commuters and city residents who may not be too patient with tourists.

So, how can you have a safe subway experience? Just take a shuttle to Grand Central Station, and take the tour. When you're done, you can take the shuttle back to Times Square.

Taxis are generally safe, but that doesn't mean that all cabbies have your best interests at heart. You pay by the mile in a cab, and some disreputable cabbies may try to take advantage of your ignorance about the city to take long routes from one place to another. Here's another important thing to know: four people can fit in a cab. Sometimes, cabbies are reluctant to take on that many passengers, and will recommend you split up your party. That means you have to pay for two cabs ... and two tips! But, by law they have to accept four riders (although that's the maximum). Don't let a driver tell you any different, either!

So, what's my recommendation? Instead of taking the subway or a cab, you can also use the public bus system. It's much easier to navigate than the subway, it's generally cleaner and it's very safe.

I also don't recommend trying to drive in New York City. The traffic is horrible, the parking is expensive, and unless you really know where to park, you are very likely to wind up with either a ticket or a towing bill. Public transportation is cheap, easy and relatively safe.

As an ex-New Yorker, I'm also able to help you set up an itinerary that takes full advantage of the time you have and the sights you'd like to see.

For instance, many folks arrange their trip by the sights they'd like to see, forgetting that navigating the city can take hours out of their day. But, it doesn't have to be that way! The last thing you'd want is to spend all day on an exhausting itinerary planned by someone who may not know that the South Street Seaport and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are across town from one another. A little planning can free up huge amounts of time, giving you a chance to really enjoy yourself at each destination. I can also help you find accommodations close to the things you want to see, and help you find the best deals on rooms.

There are other dangers out there as well. Petty criminals like muggers and pickpockets often target tourists, relying on their disorientation and awe at the surroundings to make them easy targets.

My best tip is simply to have your wits about you. After all, just because places like Times Square have been cleaned up, that doesn't mean that it's completely safe. Pickpockets and other criminals who prey on tourists tend to look for specific things, such as people who spend a lot of time staring up at buildings. It's almost like having a sign painted on your back reading "Victim Here!"

But, since you're there to look around, what can you do? It's simple: When you want to stop and admire something, try to step to the side so that you aren't standing in the way of other people who are walking.

For women, the fear of having their purse snatched can take away from enjoying the sights. Here's a simple tip: Carry your purse across your shoulder, and on the inside of your coat. It can't be easily clipped and snatched, which means that potential a cutpurse will look for an easier target. It's just one less thing to worry about.

I have tons of other commonsense advice, and I'll be glad to share it with you. It's part of my job to help you have a safe, fun experience in the Big Apple. The more you know, the better prepared and confident you'll be, and the more you can focus on having a great time in New York City.

Your New York Experience: Eating Your Way Through the Big Apple

by Sue Bryker

Last week, I told you about how an ex-New Yorker and travel agent like me can help you book an itinerary that gives you the exact experience you are looking for. This week, I thought I'd focus on the tasty details of eating in the big city. With so many things to see, you're sure to work up an appetite. Thankfully you'll be in one of the culinary capitols of the world.

Let's start with the big names. Sardi's is the world-famous place to eat in New York, and they offer a variety of menus depending on the time of day you visit.

A favorite of mine is Frankie & Johnnies, which is a former speakeasy. They have two locations, both of which are frequented by a lot of celebrities. I was eating there one night, and Tom Selleck was eating only a few tables away!

New York City was a haven for Irish immigrants, and it's second only to the Emerald Isle itself for great Irish food. I'd recommend The Playwright Tavern & Restaurant. It's owned by Irish folks, the entire staff is Irish, and they serve great Irish fare. I've eaten there many times, and I'd personally recommend any lamb dish, which are all excellent. Make sure you wash it down with a Guinness!

Another great ethnic food option is Italian. Pellegrino's is personal favorite of mine. It's a family-owned place, and they've been there forever. It's also right next to La Bella Ferrara Pastries, so you can eat a great lunch and go right next door for dessert.

And then there's the Jewish delis. If you find yourself in Brooklyn, I'd recommend Junior's. It's a nice Jewish deli, owned by nice Jewish folks. It has a world-famous cheesecake.

For memorable and family-friendly place to eat, I'd recommend visiting a themed restaurant like Mars 2112 in Times Square. It's an immersive experience that starts with a virtual-reality ride of a rocket launch and landing on Mars.

If you plan to spend the day shopping, you'll probably be able to eat at your favorite stores. Macy's has a great lunch counter, and Barney's Department Store has an excellent restaurant. It's a good way to eat like a local, and both are great places to spot celebrities, too.

For a romantic night out, I'd recommend dinner and dancing at the Rainbow Room. Or, if you'd like to have a more traditional New York City experience, you could dine at Tavern on the Green, followed by a Hansom Cab carriage ride through Central Park.

And lastly, no visit to New York City would be complete without eating the way the locals do. Like a hot dog from a street-corner cart, which are usually fantastic. (Especially the later in the day you eat them, because they've been marinating all day, and are inundated with flavor.) You should also try the bagels at any Jewish deli, which is a classic flavor of the city. And, of course, you should try the pizza. My rule of thumb is that unless it says Pizza Hut or Domino's, it's probably an authentic New York-style pizza place. Even chains like Sbarro make their pizzas to cater to the local tastes.

Of course, that's only the basic list of what's available to eat in New York. As a truly cosmopolitan city, you can find foods from nearly every nationality at a range of prices. As your travel agent, I can help you find anything you are looking for. And as an ex-New Yorker, I can help you do it in the best way to get the most out of the experience, whatever your budget.

Next week, I'll be talking about some smart ways to keep your trip fun and safe! Stay tuned.

Your New York Experience

by Sue Bryker

In May of last year, I took my fiancé to New York City for the first time. It was Memorial Day weekend, as well as the tail end of Fleet Week, and all of the major tourist destinations were packed with people. He grew up in Greenville, and hadn't been to any city bigger than Atlanta, so the hustle and bustle of the city was nearly overwhelming -- particularly when we had to navigate through the huge crowds around Times Square.

This is a situation a lot of first-time travelers to the Big Apple face. New York is huge, busy and filled with strange sights and sounds. In other words, it's incredibly intimidating. For a typical visitor, just learning how to get around can be a challenge: Do you take a cab, the subway or a bus? What's a better sight, the MoMA or the Metropolitan Museum? And where should we eat?

Thankfully, as a former New Yorker, I knew just how to make the most of the experience. Instead of fretting about all the details, we were able to make the most of our vacation. I was able to give him my personal tour of the city, he was able to relax and enjoy himself. As a result, the trip was romantic, memorable and affordable.

Having a knowledgeable person to guide you can be the difference between a good travel experience and a horrible one. That's one of the best things about my job as a travel agent. I can put all my years spent getting around the city to good use, and I can help people have the exact New York City experience they are looking for, without being overwhelmed by the details.

But where do you start? One of the first things I ask folks who are thinking about taking a trip to New York City is: "What kind of experience do you want to have?"

You see, not everyone has the same ideas about what the "New York experience" is. For some people, it's the view of Manhattan or a close-up of the Statue of Liberty. For others, it's shopping at Macy's and taking in a Broadway show. For others (like my fiancé) it's seeing the blue whale suspended from the ceiling of the Museum of Natural History. And, for a good many people, it's visiting all the places they've seen a hundred times in their favorite movies and TV shows.

As almost everyone knows, New York City has been the setting of hundreds of films, and there are plenty of tours to show you where your favorite flicks were filmed. From Central Park (The Fisher King, Elf and The Producers) to the Empire State Building (King Kong and Sleepless In Seattle, just to name a few) to the Upper West Side (where some of Woody Allen's movies were filmed), there are few places in the city where a camera hasn't rolled. Not surprisingly, there are a number of tours that focus on the major sights, as well as tours of locations used in specific movies. You can even see the real-life locations that inspired movies like The Gangs of New York. And if you prefer TV, there's even a number of tours like "Kramer's Reality Tour," which is run by Kenny Kramer (the guy who inspired the Seinfeld character). If there's ever been a movie or TV show shot in New York, there's probably a tour that covers it.

Speaking of TV, there's also the Museum of Television and Radio, which is a wonderful experience. (I'm a little biased, because I used to work there.) Instead of having regular standing exhibits, they show old TV shows! In addition, they often have special events where you can meet the people who created and starred in some of America's favorite shows. Of course, to see the people who made your favorite show, you'll have to plan your visit in advance.
And if you really love television, why not take a tour of the NBC Studios? Located in Rockefeller Plaza, the studio tour allows you to see where shows like Saturday Night Live and the Today Show are filmed. It's also home to the Top of The Rock, which is a great alternative to the Empire State Building view. (Which, at $20 a pop to visit the 86th Floor Observation Deck, isn't exactly the best deal in town.)

But let's not forget the stage! Catching a Broadway show is a must when you're in New York City. Or, if you're on a budget, there are plenty of excellent off-Broadway productions. My current personal favorite is Spamalot, which is based on the comedy of Monty Python. Another popular show is Jersey Boys, but it can be difficult to get tickets for. As a travel agent, I can help people get tickets for anything, but costs will vary depending on the dates. Advance planning is the key, but if you're willing to pay $500 per ticket, I can get you something for next week.

City tours are a major tourist highlight, and it's a great way of seeing all the major sights without having to learn how to navigate the city. It's also one of the best deals in New York, because tour companies like Gray Line and Big Apple offer “hop-on, hop-off" service. That means that as they are telling you about the next point of interest, you'll be able to get off and spend as long as you like at it. Then, when you are ready to leave, all you have to do is go back to the spot you were dropped off at and wait for the next tour to stop by. The next tour bus will be along in only 15 or 20 minutes!

If you'd rather see the city from the water, there's the Circle Line tours, a series of boats that go around Manhattan. It's great for getting perfect photo views of the city.

There's also DUCK tours, which use refurbished amphibious vehicles from World War II. They'll drive you around the city, and then drive right into the waters around the city to give you a guided boat tour. It's a lot of fun, and it's a lot more rambunctious than the typical bus tour. These tours will begin operation in April 2007, and you can combine them with a hop on/hop off bus tour through Gray Line.

As you may have guessed, there are tours for almost any interest. There are tours that focus on architecture, for example. There are walking tours, such as the literary pub crawl in Greenwich Village. You can learn about the favorite places of Samuel Beckett and Edgar Allen Poe, and see the pubs where they spent their time, and where they drew the inspiration for some of their writing. You can also try some of the "insider" tours at landmarks like Yankee Stadium or The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Or, if you're an investor, you might like to take a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, so you can see the furious business of stock trading in action. While you’re in the financial district, you can also tour the Federal Reserve Bank’s Gold Vaults, which store more than 25% of the world’s gold bullion. Those who wish to pay their respects to the victims of Sept. 11th can also visit Ground Zero, just a few blocks away.

Shopping is also a major attraction, and there are few places better than Fifth Avenue. The famous street is home to stores like Brooks Brothers, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany & Co., not to mention Saks Fifth Avenue. If you’re looking for bargains, the Fashion and Diamond Districts may be more appealing.

There's also plenty of shopping around Times Square, particularly if you have kids. You'll probably want to visit Toy's 'R' Us (the biggest toy store in the world) and the Disney Store, followed by a chocolate-covered visit to Hershey's.

And then there are the museums! You can easily spend a day each in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the two Guggenheim Museums, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art, the Frick Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Museum of Design or the Whitney Museum. If you're on a schedule, however, taking in all the great art and history can be a challenge. I usually recommend going to see a specific exhibit, rather than trying to see everything in a hurry. My personal favorite is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, because there are many famous paintings on display, like "George Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. If you like world history, I'd recommend the Egyptian art exhibit and the Arms & Armor medieval exhibit also found in the “Met.” Or if you’d like to view beautiful art but don’t have time for a walk around a museum, check out the Chagall murals, “The Source of Music” and “The Triumph of Music,” on display daily after sunset in the front windows of the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts.

Other classic points-of-interest for any history buff are the tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. They're great, particularly if you have family members who were immigrants. The Statue of Liberty herself is fascinating, although the inside of the statue is no longer open for security reasons. You can still enter the pedestal, however, which houses exhibitions about the history of Lady Liberty and early immigration to America. Timed tickets are available for the Statue, so make sure you have all the necessary details before you hop on that ferry!

But, we've only scratched the surface of what's available on New York. As your travel agent, I can help you come up with an itinerary that includes the exact things you would like to see and experience in New York City. And as an ex-New Yorker, I can help you do it in the best way to get the most out of the experience, whatever your budget.

Next time I'll be talking about one of the most important parts of having a great time in the Big Apple ... eating! Stay tuned.

Walt Disney From An Adult's View

As everyone knows Walt Disney is for kids right. Well in our small little group we were all adults. I decided to do an independent Fam so I could try saving a little money. I guess it would be better to say so I would have more money to spend. We decided to fly instead of driving so we could enjoy ourselves more. We stayed at the Sheraton Four Points which is moderate property. The room had the standard amenities along with a half size refrigerator. For the small amount of time we actually spent in the room it adequately met are needs. The hotel did provide a free shuttle to the parks, but we decided to use a rental car so we would have more freedom over our schedule.

We bought 5 day hopper passes before we left. Hopper passes allow you to hop between the 4 parks unlimited. Unused days don’t expire remember to get a hand stamp when leaving a park though. With your Iatan card you can get your pass for half price. We went at a really great time of year where nothing was too crowded except on the weekends. When we went was also great because that’s when everyone starts there Christmas Programs. On many of the attractions you can do a fast pass, there is a limit you can only have 1 in 2 hour period or until your current fast pass is over. What is a fast pass? You take your park admission ticket and put in to a fast pass machine which gives you a voucher to come back to the ride in an hour or so. This is good because you don’t have to stand in line and the wait is minimal. You can be enjoying something else until it is your designated return time.

Of the 4 parks Magic Kingdom was our least favorite. There are a few things I did enjoy Splash Mountain was great. It’s not just a typical wet ride it has some cute characters and surprises. Tomorrowland was interesting as well. MGM was ok there is so much more they could do. The ride at MGM that lives up to its name is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This is not your typical drop ride. You go up and down in and out of darkness in an elevator. Put it this way the kid in front of us with his dad said his prayers before going in. At Christmastime MGM also has the Osbourne Family lights. It is only lit at dusk and quite a sight.

Walt Disney’s newest park is Animal Kingdom and it is right up there next to Epcot for me. Bug’s life is a 3d movie adventure that helps you understand a Bug’s life it has a few surprises. There is a river raft ride that will soak you but the blowers will dry you off. You also can go a safari ride through Africa. Plenty of opportunities to see wild animals in close simulations of their environment. They have guides all over the park to give you information about the animals and the environment.

Epcot of course is my favorite and it has the 2 parks in one. To me Epcot is more geared towards the adult kid than to just the kids. The attractions are there for you to actually learn something. In the world showcase you of course have the opportunity to learn about the different cultures. You can sample authentic cuisine and the staff are from that country to add to authenticity. I recommend Norway, Mexico and China their exhibits and attractions are very nice. Japan however is a big disappointment don’t expect to see kimono’s.

In addition Walt Disney World we also went to Sea World. The park was open limited hours and the luau took place after the park closed. There are only 2 rides at Sea World we decided not to go on either. The shows are great but be prepared to walk great distance back and forth due to show times. There is also a possibility to get wet at times. Dolphin Stadium was closed when we were there but Dolphin Cove was open. Dolphin Cove gives you the opportunity to feed and pet the Dolphins. Since I love dolphins and collect anything with dolphins this was the best part of my trip. The Luau was very nice and the entertainment was terrific they kept the crowd involved.

One night we also went to Capon’s dinner show. This was based on the time of Al Capone all of the staff was involved in this production. To get in you had to knock and give a password and then have your mugshot taken. It was a full show and everyone in the audience was part of it. Normally the price is $40 but you can get half price coupons anywhere.

Shopping can be found in Old Towne. Souvenirs and collectibles at great prices. They probably have anything you can imagine buying when in Orlando. It also has a county fair atmosphere with haunted houses, games and rides.

All in all we had a great time but we were ready to come home and get some rest.