Make Mine a Cosmos Tour

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Avalon Waterways river cruises which is a part Globus Family of Brands.  Since it is technically still “National Plan A Vacation Week”   I wanted to share with you the Cosmos brand by Globus.   Cosmos is value escorted vacations in the US, Africa and Europe.  This year marks the 50th anniversary and to celebrate they will be sharing incredibly sweet deals off and on throughout the year.  Don’t you love their logo?  I’m all about turning travel dreams into reality!!

Cosmos offers the budget minded traveler extremely affordable tour packages to some of the world’s most amazing places.  With 8 different travel packages under $1,000 and each of them are minimum of 8 days, you can see how affordable they are.  We’re not talking out of the way places no one wants to see either.  Check these out:  Greek Odyssey 8 days; British Panorama 9 days; Cairo, Alexandria and the Mediterranean 8 days; Jewels of Morocco 10 days.

Each of these tours are expertly guided by folks who have an in-depth knowledge of the area, destinations, history and people of the tour.  Many of them have been with this company for years and absolutely love what they do.

Delphi - Greece

Sphinx - Pyramid

Cosmos has 4 distinct travel styles.  They are:

Regional Discoveries – If there is a particular region you would love to explore, these trips are ideal for you.  Expert tour guides will share in-depth knowledge of the area and its history with you.

Panoramas (my favorite) – These are whirlwind tours expertly guided that give you an opportunity to experience multiple cities and countries in a single adventure.  These are fast-paced, jam packed adventures so if you are wanting to see and do as much as possible this is the way to go.

Escapes – Vacations of a week or less that really let you spend leisure time as well as exploration time.  By traveling on the weekends, you are able to get a comprehensive trip with plenty of leisure time to explore on your own.

Rail Journeys – Yes!  These are magnificent tours conducted by rail.  Imagine yourself traveling the way we all did once, in the luxury of a rail car.  This is not the rickety old train from the old west but sleek modern luxury coaches.

Cosmos even caters to the single traveler.  Their “guaranteed share” reservations will put two (same gender) people together in twin rooms which keeps you from paying single rates.  Also, if there is not another single they will absorb the rate increase and you still only pay the double rate.  Not a lot of companies are willing to do that which is another reason I LOVE the Globus lines.

Another thing I find extremely agreeable about them is that all of the sightseeing and highlights are included in the price.  You can opt in for additional excursions at your own cost but so much is already offered you may not feel the need to add additional excursions onto your free time.  Here’s a little secret I learned from one of the tour guides I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.  They (the tour guides) call it the “Happy Line”.  Part of the exceptional deal you get when booking a tour through this group is that they have negotiated short-cuts to the front of the line for the tour group.  If you have ever stood in line waiting to go through an exhibit you know what I mean.  You don’t pay extra for this.  It’s all included.  They have also negotiated things like being able to actually go “inside” the coliseum in Rome and not just stand outside taking photos.  Imagine how awesome it is to have photo-ops that most people don’t have access to.  Again, it is all part of what you pay for at these amazing prices.

What else is included?  Let’s talk food.  Many of your meals are included in the vacation price but not all.  This means that you actually are able to step out and partake of the incredible culinary adventure around you.  Street food?  You bet!  I wouldn’t miss it.  Your guide knows the areas intimately and can steer you to whatever your heart desires.  They know the best places to shop, eat, people watch, photograph and anything else you have on your mind.  The hotels are included and are each exceptional.   Remember, Cosmos is part of the Globus Family and has received huge benefits from the incredible presence the brand has made in the marketplace.

Cosmos is all about value.  I know you want the most bang-for-your-buck and if you are thinking about touring another country of even the good ol’ USA, I highly recommend you look into a Cosmos tour.  Leave me a comment or shoot me and email and I will be happy to send you an e-brochure with all of the tours, information and pricing.

Happy Travels,

Edwina

Sandos Caracol and a Wedding to Remember

Imagine your dream wedding being in a beautiful beach side resort where you have friends and family with you for a week to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.  That is exactly what happened to Jessica and Frank.  They had been to Mexico before and decided that was where they wanted to have their dream wedding.

Jessica and I spent time discussing what was important to them for their wedding.  We went over numerous resorts, amenities, prices, wedding packages and location to find the perfect spot.  Since the wedding guests were each paying their own way, it was important that we found a resort that could accommodate most budgets but still be beautiful and provide the most wonderful wedding.  The wedding was to be casual and FUN for everyone invited.  They made their decision and chose Sandos Caracol as their wedding destination.

Sandos Caracol is a beautiful eco-resort in the Mayan Riviera south of Cancun and 15 minutes from Playa Del Carmen.  They are a family resort but do have an adults only area for those who wish a little more quiet time.  The resort staff was incredibly helpful and worked with us to make the wedding week both memorable and personal.  One of the most amazing things I love about the Caracol is the amount of indigenous wildlife that can be seen all around the resort.  There are carefully laid out walkways through the resort area where you can experience the beauty of the natural cenotes and mangroves.  Who wouldn’t like to have more to your wedding week than just a beautiful wedding?

Jessica and Frank chose to have their wedding on the beach.  Jessica chose a simple yet elegant dress and the bridesmaids work Mexican dresses in a variety of colors and sandals.  The gentlemen wore crisp white shirts with khaki pants and sneakers.

Did I mention that FUN was what this couple wanted?  Well, they found it.  The girls took a day to themselves by taking a trip over to Isla Mujeres and the boys spent a day fishing for the pre-wedding parties.  Everyone had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend time together during the days leading up to the big event.  Jessica told me that was one of the best parts of the whole wedding, the ability that they had to spend days not hours celebrating with their guests.

The wedding took place on the beach in the late afternoon.  Afterwards, the new bride and groom as well as their guests were led to a private deck where they had the reception and dinner.  The fun didn’t stop with the pre-wedding festivities as you can see here.

Bride and Attendants

Of course, a destination wedding is not complete without the dancing after the incredible private dinner and reception.

The Bride and Groom's first dance.

It was a PARTY!!

I was honored to be able to help Jessica and Frank make their dream wedding a reality.  They had guests arrive from all over the US and were happy that it turned into such an incredible experience for everyone.  Below is a quote that Jessica sent to my website after her return.

“Thank you for THE MOST amazing time of my entire life! All of my friends and family had the best experience at Sandos Caracol!  Their beach was the best beach I’ve ever stayed at. They were very accomodating and quick! I’d have to say my favorite parts were the beach, all of the animals and their activities crew(they were constantly getting some sort of fun time started!)  Everything went smoothly and beautifully! There is absolutely no way I could have ever achieved a wedding this memorable and extravagant in Dallas!! I will always recommend destination weddings now:) Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jessica F. 

If you are thinking of having a destination wedding, one of the main objectives for you is to learn what type of wedding you desire.  While Jessica and Frank chose a more relaxed, casual wedding, you can get any type of wedding you desire from the casual to the more formal traditional.  You can always find more information on destination weddings on my website  or by emailing me.  I would love to help you plan the perfect wedding.

Happy Travels,

Edwina

Travel Safety – Common Sense Tips You Can Use

I thought it was time to revisit the subject of travel safety since it often comes up with my clients.  This past week I had a call from clients who are taking their first trip out of the US next month and our conversation has prompted me to share with you a few of the tips and guidelines that will help you enjoy the most from your travel plans.

Before You Go

1.  Make sure you have  your passport!  This may sound silly to some but I have had someone wait until the last moment to apply for their passport and then had to move mountains to get it in time or have had someone call me a week before their trip and say they just realized their passport was not valid.  If you are traveling outside the US you will need a valid passport and it is never too early to apply for one.

2.  Make 2 copies of your travel documents.  This includes: passport, itinerary, airline tickets and confirmations, hotel reservation confirmations, any other confirmations you have received regarding your trip.  Place one copy in your carry on bag (if your luggage is lost or delayed, you still have your copy).

3.  Give the second copy of your travel documents and a list of phone numbers to someone at home in case of emergency.  This can be a friend or relative but it needs to be someone you can reach if you need them.  This might seem like overkill but if you ever need help you need someone with your information readily available.

4.  Leave your expensive jewelry at home!  You do not want to mark yourself as affluent when you are traveling.  Expensive watches, rings, bracelets even rings and earrings can temp the pickpocket or thief.  It is much better to be under-dressed than to set yourself up as a potential target.

5.  Register with STEP.  This is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs with the US State Department.  This basically registers you and your travel plans with them so that if you need them or someone needs to reach you because of an emergency at home in the US or if there is a disaster in the area in which you are traveling, the consulate knows where you are or are supposed to be.  It is free to register and is something I not only recommend but do myself.

6.  Use covered luggage tags.  You know the ones I mean?  The tags have a flap over them or have to be slid out of the packet to read the information.  This is just so that your personal information such as address, etc. is not visible at first glance to anyone close to your bags.

7.  Do NOT broadcast your upcoming trip on your Facebook, Google+ or Twitter pages.  Sharing the fact that you will be in Costa Rica for two weeks is not something you want everyone on the web to know.  I know how much you want to tell people but do it in a private email or over the phone, don’t broadcast it.  It’s like saying “Hey, I’m gone for two weeks, come rob my house!”  When you get home you will enjoy sharing the stories and photos much more anyway.

8.  Get travelers checks!  You do not want to travel with a large sum of cash.  Sure, having cash you can convert to currency of the country you are in is very handy but carrying large sums of cash is just asking for trouble.

9.  DO purchase travel insurance.  It is best to pay the small extra fee to get the “cancel for any reason” insurance.  You never know…

10.  Do I really need to mention drugs?  Ok, so I did.  Do NOT try to carry illegal drugs with you on a trip and do NOT try to buy them at your destination.  On another note, some drugs legal in the US are illegal in other countries.  Remember when a famous actor got caught in Australia (I think it was) with Human Growth Hormone?  You can check the with your travel agent or do a little research on you own.  Just know before you go.

Now That You Have Arrived

Most of the following tips are the same whether you are traveling here within the US or to another country.

1.  If you booked with a travel agent, you should have your transportation all lined out with a reputable company.  If you didn’t and need to find transportation at the airport, look for a well marked cab or other service.  I know the guy in the ugly green car said he was cheap but really… are you sure he’s a legitimate cab driver?  The best way to go is to have your transportation lined up before you arrive.  Most resorts offer transportation either by their own vans or by a reputable company.

2.  Once you arrive at your hotel and check into your room, if you found yourself unable to leave your valuable or expensive looking jewelry (not always the same thing) at home, please leave it in the hotel safe.  I promise you are only going to impress the wrong people by wearing it.  In a tropical destination, why not purchase some of the cute shell or beaded jewelry and wear that instead?  Ladies, we do not have to sacrifice our well being just to “look the part”.

3.  When you venture outside your hotel or resort, DO stick to known safe areas where tourists go if you are not familiar with the area, other cultures or countries.  As you would in any city in America, do NOT wander down alleys or dimly lit streets where there is not a lot of people.

4.  Do not carry a large sum of cash.  Remember the travelers checks? Only cash them as you need them.  They are much safer than cash.  Also, in many places you can access ATM machines if necessary.  I remember needing one once in Mexico.  My bank account looked much healthier in Pesos!   If you do have a lot of cash on you, please don’t pull it out in front of people.  You are potentially putting yourself in harms way.  Keep your cash and credit cards in different pockets or better yet, divide cash between the two of you so if you should get hit by a pick pocket, you will not lose everything.

5.  Men – Do NOT carry your wallet in your back pocket.  I know you’ve heard this but it’s true!  Back pockets are much easier to pick than front.  Ladies – if you must carry a purse, try carrying one that has a strap that will go across your body.  This is much harder to snag than a purse carried on a shoulder or over an arm.

6.  Always act like you know where you are going and what you are doing.  This is another one that may sound silly but if you look lost and look like you don’t know what you are doing, you appear to be a tourist and therefore a target.  If you are lost, look for someone in authority or worst case a shop keeper.  Just keep your head about you.

7.  Beware of strangers who try to sell you things or offer to show you around.  There are plenty of places to shop for great bargains and there are numerous reputable tour guides everywhere you could possibly want to go.  Sure, saving 30 bucks would be great but not if you got robbed or taken advantage of.  I’m not saying don’t talk to anyone. I love engaging with locals and other travelers.  Meeting and getting to know people is one of the best parts of travel.  I’m just telling you to be aware of the potential for scams.

8.  Most of all, be aware of your surroundings.  We sometimes get complacent with our surroundings especially when we are in a beautiful location where everything appears to be perfect.  You cannot afford to become complacent.  Watch things and people around you and pay attention to the little things.  Ask yourself this, would I go here or do this if I were in NYC or Atlanta or Dallas or LA?  If you would not, don’t do it where you are either.

I would love to hear any other suggestions for travel safety.  Please drop us a line below and share.

I believe strongly that a well-informed traveler is a happy traveler.  Be careful, be safe and

Happy Travels,

Edwina

A Beginners Guide To Group Cruising

Last week in the article Business on the High Seas, I shared with you some of the reasons businesses are choosing to use group cruises to draw customers to seminars, training and sales meetings.

But what if you are not a celebrity or business owner? Do you belong to a social group, networking group, church group or any other type of association with like-minded people? Then a group cruise could be a great benefit to you also.

For those who are interested in a group cruise for social reasons only, many of the same benefits apply. A group can be many things; family reunions, girls getaways, social clubs, weddings, culinary clubs or any other variety of group. If you are a group of this type, all you need to do is give your group information to everyone you are inviting and have your travel agent take care of everything for you. Each person makes their payment to the travel agent so you do not have the burden of handling everyone’s finances. For the individual, or host/hostess, group cruises are a great way to score a free cruise and enjoy time with your friends or family.

Imagine instead of everyone meeting at Aunt Millie’s house this summer for the family reunion, you all chose to get together for a cruise. Gone is the chore trying to figure out where everyone would sleep or who should be responsible for what duties in the kitchen. For the first time at your family reunion, everyone would have the opportunity to visit, enjoy each other’s company and explore different ports together.

Cruises are great for girls getaways too. By the time you each pay for a hotel room and meals in your chosen destination you could have paid for a cruise! Lounging by the pool, dancing til dawn, exploring other cultures, an assortment of excursions and priceless time together make cruising a wonderful option.

You might be surprised how many people you know who would join you for a group cruise. You might also be surprised how many people are already taking cruises when you mention it to them. Remember, any type of group is an opportunity. The key here is to be the host/hostess before someone else gets the idea. As the group leader, the only responsibility you have is getting the word out to your group. The benefits for you are tremendous. You can be cruising for free and you can score on board credits for yourself and your group.

If you would like to explore the possibility of a group cruise please feel free to contact me. My services as a travel agent are free to you as always. I am paid by the suppliers just like the online agencies so I never charge a fee. If you already have an agent, give them a call. They can help you with all the planning and coordinating of events. By using a travel agent, you can also make a small deposit and pay for your trip in installments. Often, we can get the initial deposit down to a very small sum depending on the sales at the time.

Happy travels,

Edwina

Galveston, Texas – Not Just a Beach Destination

I had the opportunity last week to spend a couple of days on Galveston Island.  It has been many years since I visited and honestly, did not remember much except for the beach.  You know how I like to explore, so I want to share with you what I found while there.

I really only had one full day in Galveston.  My plan was to visit Moody Gardens to see the aquarium and the rain forest and share beautiful photos with you but I fell prey to the history bug.  Moody is a wonderful place to visit and the experience is one I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Galveston.  The Caribbean exhibit in the Aquarium Pyramid is well worth the admission price.  Being able to walk through an underwater tunnel to view the beauty of the ocean is just unbelievable.  On the next trip, I promise to provide photos of the awesomeness of Moody.

Most folks from Texas know that Galveston is a cruise port.  We watched two Carnival ships and one Royal Caribbean in port during our short visit.  The pier area is also home to an abundance of history and things to see and do.

Carnival Triumph

The cruise pier is right next door to Pier 22 where you can find the Fisherman’s Wharf restuarant.  We stopped in the first night there for dinner and the food was far beyond my expectations.  After trying the sampler appetizer platter (the Shrimp Kisses are a must!), I ordered the crab stuffed Tilapia in a lobster cream sauce.  My mouth waters now just thinking about it.  My husband ordered the shrimp combo and was pleasantly surprised with shrimp cooked perfectly and seasoned amazingly well.  Everything we ordered was fresh and incredibly delicious.  If you are ever there be sure to ask for Cody or Ali.  They were loads of fun, very attentive and knew the menu inside out.

Stuffed Tilapia from Fisherman's Wharf

Shrimp Combo Platter - (after a few bites)

Docked near Fisherman’s Wharf is the Texas Seaport Museum which is home to the tall ship Elissa.  You can see her from the dining room at Fisherman’s Wharf.  She is a sailing ship from 1877 and in beautiful condition.  Here is what she would look like in the open ocean.

Elissa courtesy of Texas Seaport Museum

Among the other exhibits, the museum hosts a film about the Elissa which is included in the admission price of $8 for adults, $5 for kids to 16 and free for children under 5.

Just a short walk further down the block is the Offshore Energy Center which contains the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Museum which may not sound very interesting at first but believe me, it is truly a great experience.  We all know that oil is being drilled offshore, right?  We have all heard about the disasters that have caused the moratorium on drilling too, but what I learned through this exhibit was truly, truly fascinating.  Many of the exhibits are interactive but the really cool part is to walk out the door and step onto the offshore drilling rig.  Realizing that men are out in the middle of the Gulf working on these things is pretty mind blowing when you are standing on it.  I really enjoyed the short tour and the information they provided about how drilling is done and what ecological steps they take in doing so.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig

After a brisk morning of exploring, we headed over to a local favorite, Mosquito Cafe, for lunch.  We ordered at the counter and stepped onto the patio for dining.  This is a super little bistro right up the street from the Strand area of downtown.  The food was fresh, very tasty and healthy.  Yes, healthy and tasty can be had in the same meal and they do it wonderfully at Mosquito.

Ok, you know I can’t go anywhere without checking out the shopping scene.  I cannot help myself!  My first stop was the beach scene along the seawall where you can find the always present souvenir shops and beach wear.  I have to admit, there were really cute clothing items in some of them including, Hi 5 located at 1320 Seawall Blvd and my new favorite, Wings Beachwear.  Wings had a nice assortment of casual clothing and really good prices too.

After leaving the beach area, we wandered back down to the Strand historic district located downtown.  Strand Street is located just one block from Harborside Drive which is where the cruise port is located.  The entire area here between Strand and Market streets are laden with boutiques, shops, restaurants and bars.  Here are a few pictures of my new favorite spots.

Large shop with beach wear and accessories.

La Rumba is a huge shop with tons of cute clothing items.  Be warned though, the prices in the historic district are slightly higher than the exact same product in the beach stores.  The benefit is that the offerings, while some of the same, are broader with more upscale lines.

My new favorite boutique. "Yaga"

I LOVE the store pictured above.  The name is Yaga – Mo Betta Threads.  This store has the cutest line of women’s clothing.  The store is small but the lines they carry are perfect for cruising, casual yet refined.  Perfect!

All in all, the stores in the Strand area are a great place to browse, especially if you are looking for that little something extra to take on your cruise.  I saw some brands here that I have not seen anywhere else.

If you tire of walking the historic district, you can always take a ride.

Carriage on Strand Street

The other place I want to share with you about Galveston is the Seawolf Park, named after the Seawolf submarine lost in WWII.  The park has several areas for families, but the main attractions are the USS Cavalla SS-244, a WWII submarine and the USS Stewart, only one of two suriving destroyers.

Courtesy of Seawolf Park

USS Stewart

The park offers access to the submarine and destroyer for a nominal donation.  I have to tell you, I have developed a totally new respect for the sailors whose tours of duty were aboard submarines.  I am not in the least bit claustrophobic but I cannot even imagine living in the tiny, cramped surroundings inside of them for a day, much less for weeks or months on end.  There comes a solemnity during the tours of these two vessels when you start to realize these were the homes of many, many soldiers during war time.  Let us not forget that our freedom has a price and those who pay it for us deserve our respect.  Needless to say, if you are in the Galveston area, I highly recommend taking time to visit this park.  Your appreciation of our men and women in the armed forces will amplify after this short excursion.

After our day of exploring, we went to dinner at Gaido’s restaurant which has been in the same place on the seawall since 1911.

Gaido's Seafood

You cannot miss this sign but in case you don’t see it, just look for the giant crab right next to it.

Gaidos Giant Crab

Seriously, please don’t let the exterior of the building keep you from trying this restaurant.  It looks a little run down but once you walk in, the atmosphere is warm and inviting.  Everything we had was wonderful, I ordered the soft shell crab and my husband had the seafood platter.  The wait staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and the fish in particular.  It is definitely a place we will revisit.

As I left Galveston, I made a mental note to visit again soon.  I will be cruising out of Galveston a couple of times next year, so I’m planning to squeeze in another day or two.  If you are cruising or just heading there for a little beach time, let me know.  I’d love to share more with you.

Happy travels,

Edwina

The Birth of Passion

Merriam-Webster defines “passion” in part as:  intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction.  I believe one’s passion is a gift from God and I believe passion starts deep within one’s heart for some thing, some place or some activity that begins as a small kindle and with nurturing (and sometimes without) grows to a raging fire.  It’s the one thing that drives you or if you have suppressed it, the one thing that keeps rearing it’s head to be seen. That is how my passion for travel began, slowly.

In my early childhood years, I was bitten by the travel bug.  I never recognized it for what it was, only that I loved being on the road, in new places, meeting new people, experiencing new things.  I was often the child who was described as being the one with “ants in her pants” or “restless”.  Some things never change, I guess.  I still get very antsy when I don’t get out on the road for a while.

My mother is a retired school teacher who taught a vocational office education course.  Each summer she was required to spend a week in training. Those trainings took place in cities all over Texas and since she would be gone a week we went with her.  That, of course, meant that Dad would have to keep us entertained for an entire week in a new city each summer while Mom was in class.  You can only spend so much time in the pool at the hotel so every morning we would start out for breakfast and then off we went to explore and have some fun.  I discovered early on, that I had no favorite cities because each was unique and offered experiences worthy of being a favorite.  I’ve come to realize it was the adventure that mattered the most.  Travel and exploration of new places was firmly taking root in my heart.

Once, while in Corpus Christie, we had only been there two days when we were rushed out of town due to an impending hurricane.  That was devastating for me not because I missed out on seeing Corpus (it wasn’t our first time there) but because I spent all year saving up money to buy one of those awesome and often trashy souvenirs.  After much complaining and whining, Dad allowed for a quick stop for us to buy something to commemorate our vacation “that never happened”.  Photography in the 70′s was not what it is today.  As kids, our souvenirs were often the catalyst for recalling the memories we made.

One of our summer sojourns sent us to El Paso.   For those of you who don’t know Texas, from El Paso it is just a short skip over to Juarez, Mexico.  Ah, my first trip to the land I came to love!  Dad took us across the border to shop. Yes, I was a shopper even back then.  I still have the silver ring and leather purse I bought on that trip.  Back at that time, there was dog racing there also.  Mom tried to always take one day off to spend with us while we were there.  The dog races was part of her “fun time” with us.  I don’t remember much about the dog races, I was much more into horses but while sitting in the restaurant/bar area I noticed a lady who had a drink with an olive in it.  Man, did I want one of those!  I practically begged Dad to get one so I could have the olives.  Oh, the innocence of a child!  He finally relented and asked the waiter to bring me some olives.  I didn’t know until much later that I was begging him to order a dirty martini!  El Paso was great but now, Mexico, THAT was the place to be!  The sounds, the people, everything was foreign to a child and yet so very exciting.

For many years, all I knew of Mexico was the border towns but I was fascinated by everything about it.  Border towns back then were not the dangerous meccas they have now become.  It was a safe place for families to cross over and experience another culture.  As a child, I vowed to explore Mexico from border to border.  With that, my passion truly took root in my heart.  I explored in books what I could not explore in person.  I’m still a road-trip kind of girl and love to get in a car and just GO!  One of my dream trips is to load up a Jeep with my husband and dog and travel Mexico from coast to coast.  The coastlines are beautiful but so much culture and adventure awaits throughout the interior.  Just what my “restless” spirit needs!

You might say that travelling by auto does not compare to getting on a plane and saving hours and hours of travel time, but have you ever wondered what you missed by jumping on that plane instead of heading cross country?  I always wonder…. what did I miss?  what’s down there?  where are we now?

Most who know me well, were not surprised when I went into the travel industry.  One girlfriend even asked “what took you so long?”. It was not something I planned.  I found myself with free time after selling our business and the opportunity came up.   Sometimes the best experiences in life are those you do not plan for.  That, my friends, is my passion.  I wish to pass my love for travel onto you and love helping someone’s travel the best it can be.  Please share your passion or comments below.  I would love to hear from you.

Happy travels,

Edwina

The Evolution of Travel – Luxevo

As promised, I want to share with you the incredible travel club,  Luxēvo™, our host agency, KHM Travel Group, has put together.  KHM is the host agency I am associated with, meaning they are the travel agency I work through.  They are a very reputable company who strives to create lasting and beneficial relationships with travel suppliers, as well as being very good to their agents.  They are one of the largest and fastest growing host agencies in the country.

KHM mentioned something about this travel club thing over a year ago at a two-day training seminar but like some of the other agents, I didn’t care much for the idea.  Frankly, multi-level-marketing schemes, time shares and vacation clubs all fell into the same category for me.  DONT’S!!!  Yes, there are more scams out there than there are reputable agents, and there are a TON of us but you know I wouldn’t recommend anything to you I wouldn’t stake my reputation on.  Anyway, they mentioned they were working on something but I already had my mind made up that I didn’t like it.  Oh, how wrong I was.

When our fearless leader rolled out the introduction of  Luxēvo™ in a webinar a few weeks ago, I was incredibly surprised.  This was no time share, MLM kind of thing.  This was amazing.

Luxēvo™ is a program that actually SAVES money.  It’s a combination of travel packages (at great prices) and LuxPoints which are rewards based on the amount you spend.  You actually earn $1 for every $10 you spend on LuxCursions.  Even the best ‘cash back’ credit cards do not offer that good of a return.  With membership you also receive the  Luxēvo™  Advantage Benefit Program which offers deep discounts for dining, entertainment, shopping, theme parks and so much more (and the discounts you can take advantage of are unlimited).  You also get your own personal concierge.  It just keeps getting better.

This IS the evolution of travel… to bring the strength of mass buying power and the availability of one-of-a-kind value based discount programs together with personalized service all in one neat little package.  Wow.  I was sold!

I immediately signed up for the training and am now a Certified  Luxēvo™ Agent.  I know this is not something that is for everyone but I can honestly say that if you use the Benefit Program you will save enough to cover your membership in no time.  You will get great deals on travel all over the world, (land and cruise) and you have your own personal concierge plus the discount program!  It’s a great package.

Ok, I know the big question is “How much is it?”.

Club Membership is:

• One-time Enrollment Fee of $150.00
• Low Monthly Membership Fee of $25.00
• No Annual Membership Fee
• Discounted travel Included!
• Earn Reward Dollars Included!
• Advantage Benefits Program Discounts Included!
• Personal Concierge Included!
• Personal Certified Luxēvo Agent Included!
• 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
• No contracts or term limits

Elite Club Membership is:

• One-time Enrollment Fee of $175.00
• Low Monthly Membership Fee of $30.00
• No Annual Membership Fee
• Discounted travel Included!
• Exclusive, Elite-only LuxCursions Included!
• Earn Reward Dollars Included!
• Advantage Benefits Program Discounts Included!
• Personal Concierge Included!
• Personal Certified Luxēvo Agent Included!
• 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
• No contracts or term limits

Did you see the 30 day money back policy?  You can opt out and get your money back if it’s not everything you thought it would be.

If you didn’t fall out of your seat yet, wait til you hear this.  You know that familiar television ad where a well known satellite tv provider offers you $100 for referring a friend?  We do that too.  No, this is not an MLM!!  It is a one-time referral bonus for you for each person you refer.  You do not receive any type of financial compensation for recruiting people.  It is just like the television ad, it’s an incentive for you to share something you do with people who want to travel and enjoy the same discounts you do.

Please take a moment to look over the website if you are even a little bit interested.  Just click the picture below.  There are some great videos to help explain it to you.  I truly am proud to represent Luxēvo™ as a Certified Agent.  And… Yes… I am a member!  I’m already enjoying my discounts at restaurants and movie theaters in my neighborhood, planning our first LuxCursion and you could be too.

Luxevo ~ The Evolution of Travel

Happy Travels,

Edwina

Budgeting for Dream Vacations

In a recent poll of Yapa Now’s Facebook followers, friends and clients, you shared with me the top reason you do not fulfill your travel dreams.  The #1 reason was budget.  In this economy and job insecurity for so many, it is not a surprise that vacations take a back seat to more important financial concerns.

Do you save for your vacations?  Do you find it hard to save for vacations?  Or, do you wait until you have vacation time and plan your getaway based on funds available?  As a travel agent who works with world wide suppliers, I want to share with you some ways to find yourself taking that dream vacation without breaking the bank or forking over a large sum of cash when the time rolls around again next year.  It is possible to experience luxury vacations on a budget when you learn how.

Tip #1 – Book Early

Did you know that you can book air reservations 11 months in advance?  Why does that matter, you ask?  Like layaway, that means that for a small deposit you can make your reservations for the air and hotel and have another 9 1/2 to 10 months to pay it in full.  This allows you to take advantage of the early booking bonuses available and also take advantage of the air prices when they are at their lowest.  You can then makes payments toward your trip at your convenience.  If you want to pay monthly, weekly or even quarterly, it is at your convenience.  I have found that many people find it easier to make payments toward something than to “save” that same amount.  We are all used to making payments, right?

The bottom line is you get the most bang for your buck and you do not have to pay it all at once.  For many, the amount of the deposit can be as low as $200 for an air/hotel package.

Tip #2 – Cruises

Cruises are another great way to book with a small deposit.  There are sales running all the time where you can book your cabin with as low as a $50 deposit.   The sales often include on board credits (obc’s) which give you additional money to spend that is not coming out of your pocket.

Tip #3 – Think All-Inclusive

All-inclusive resorts are a thing of beauty for the budget minded traveler.  For some reason, the AI’s have gotten a bad rap among people who expect luxury (and the price tag that comes with it).  The AI resorts have all the amenities of the European plan resorts and often offer more.  With the all-inclusive, all of your meals, drinks, tips and various activities are included at no charge.  No, the restaurants are not all buffet style.  They usually offer one large buffet style restaurant, two or more theme restaurants, snack bars and lounges.  The food is excellent and often multi-cultural (French, local, Japanese, etc).  For example, a resort in Mexico could cost you approximately $2,000 including air for 5 nights for two people.  Add to that the amount you are saving by not paying for meals, drinks and extras, no extra charges and you can see why they are an excellent choice for the budget minded.

Tip #4 – Travel Club

I am not a fan of time-shares or any way, shape or form of MLM’s.  My first bit of advice is to steer clear of them when looking for budget friendly vacation options.  With that said, my host agency, KHM Travel Group, just launched a new vacation club.  It truly is the evolution of travel and the extras included in membership are outstanding.  I will post another article about it later but for now let’s just look at some of the incredible positives.  Luxevo offers you a tremendous amount of savings on vacation packages including cruises.  Yes, you can find great deals anywhere but where do you find a vacation you purchase that rewards you with Luxpoints of $1 for every $10 you spend.  Luxpoints never expire and can be used for your next vacation.  Not even the best rewards point credit cards offer that much.  Click on the picture below if you want to learn more about Luxevo or watch for my post about it later this week.  I will go into detail about the membership and advantages then.

Luxevo ~ The Evolution of Travel

Tip #5 – Beware the Scams

Unfortunately, every day there are dozens of new scams hitting the internet.  There is no way to find them all or list them all.  The best advice is the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.”  If you are determined to book vacations on your own, do a little homework first.  Check the airlines for costs of flights to your destination, check the resorts to see what their average daily rate is and compare that to the “deal” you are seeing.  Also, check the fine print.  Sure it looks good, but are you getting transportation from the airport to the resort or are the taxes and fees included?  Don’t let lack of knowledge lead you into a bad financial decision.

In closing, if you can dream it, we can help you make it a reality and within your budget!  There are so many options available for the destination of your choice that there will be something you love that work for you financially.  If you have tried doing the homework, you know how hard it can be to find that special place.  Using a travel agent takes the research out of the equation for you.  Let us do the leg work and you reap the benefits.

Happy travels,

Edwina

Discovering Historic Bed & Breakfast Travel

When someone mentions Bed & Breakfast, what is your first thought?  Do you immediately turn away from the thought because you opt for the luxury of a new modern hotel?  Or do you have a hard time imagining what it would be like to stay in someone’s home?  Let me share with you what I have experienced in B&B’s as well as my love for them.

History of the B & B

The Bed & Breakfast has been around in the US since early settlement days.  As settlers moved further West, families along the way would open their homes to them and provide a place to stay as well as breakfast the next morning to send them on their way.

During the depression many families opened their homes to travelers in hopes of supplementing the family income.  During the 50′s, the boom of highways throughout the US and the motels that rapidly sprang up caused a decline in the B&B or “tourist house”.

As our nation and travelers in general became fascinated with our history, many of the historic homes throughout the country have been converted into an opportunity to step back in time if even for a night.

Today’s B&B

Today’s bed and breakfast inns are often historical in nature and they are my favorite.  Turn of the century homes have been converted into guest rooms and the owners usually work hard to restore them as historically accurate as possible.  Here are a few pictures of an awesome B&B in Gonzales, Texas where we stayed a weekend.

Our room

Awaiting Breakfast

I must tell you how much I adore staying in a B&B.  For the price, which is comparable to hotel rooms, they are my first choice when available.  I am a bit of a history junkie so being in places filled with antiques, being treated like royalty, learning the history behind a town or building, is right up my alley.  It is easy to get spoiled.

Not all of them are historic homes, they come in all shapes and sizes.  In Texas we have many that are off-the-beaten-path places with cabins along a lake or somewhere else aside beautiful scenery where breakfast is brought to your cabin in the morning.  The opportunity for relaxing in nature is often just what the doctor ordered in our stress filled lives.

Whether you are looking for a quick overnight stop or a relaxing vacation, the bed and breakfast option is one you should consider.  Give it a try… you might find a whole new way to travel!

Happy travels,

Edwina Parker

Travel Insurance? You bet!

I wanted to share with you two examples of why you should always choose to buy travel insurance for your travel plans.

Recently, I had a client who was a guest at a destination wedding in Mexico.  She made the first reservation for herself and her son and did not want to pay the additional money to purchase the “cancel for any reason” insurance.  She was positive she would not want to cancel or have any unknown problems.  A couple of months after the deposit was made her son got a new job and could not go to the wedding.  She also decided to change her departure date.  Unfortunately, for her, the change fee from the airline was $150 and the change fee for the resort was $50 for cancelling her son’s reservation.  She lost $200 on that change alone.  To change her departure date cost her another $200.  In the beginning, she made a $400 deposit which was gone now and she had to put up another deposit just to hold the reservation.  The travel insurance would have cost her a total of $179 and none of the fees would have been charged.

The other incident happened with the same wedding.  One of the guests applied for his passport months in advance of the trip.  He called me on the Sunday before his Wednesday departure saying that he had not received his passport and that there was a problem in getting it approved.  To make a long story short, we held his flight reservation until the night before the flight in hopes that everything would be finalized and he could pick his passport up at the local office.  We had to cancel his flight but left his room reservation in place.  Through a few well placed phone calls and emails, we were able to get his passport printed in the local office the very morning everyone was to leave.  As soon as he called and said he had it in hand, I got him booked on the next available flight.  He arrived only a couple of hours after everyone else.  The best news of all was that with the additional insurance he purchased, the cancellation of the first flight had no fees and the new flight was purchased at the same time the credit for the first was being issued.

The moral of the story is:  Always, always purchase the travel insurance.  Any plans can change at a moment’s notice through no fault of your own.

Happy travels,

Edwina Parker