| Join our Newsletter List |
 |
| Forward this newsletter to a friend! |
 | |
|
| Vol 3 , Issue 10 |
October 2009 |
|
Greetings!
It seem crazy to be talking travel as I sit at my dining room table surrounded by Christmas! Not by choice mind you... and I'm a Christmas junkie!
My husband had to put my daughter's summer tires in our storage locker today, and in doing so had to move a bunch of stuff and decided he should bring up the boxes of Christmas decorations for me! The Toronto Santa Claus Parade was on TV so I thought I'd turn on the radio... guess what... yep, Christmas music. I'm sure you'll all join me in the phrase "It's too soon!"
So... back to the travel. This edition of the newsletter has, once again, a little bit of everything from hidden hotel fees, to pub crawls to vampire vacations!
Enjoy... |
| Lonely Planet names top 10 destinations for 2010 |
|
An edited extract from Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2010 - the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year. Out now. © Lonely Planet Publications, 2009
Lonely Planet has picked the brains of its authors, staff and travellers and come up with the top 10 countries to visit in 2010. Countries include El Salvador, Greece, Germany, New Zealand and more.
|
| Hidden Hotel Fees |
|
From independenttraveler.com
 Hotels have always offered their share of unreasonable fees -- such as exorbitant taxes and dollar-a-minute telephone charges -- but in recent years the industry has begun upping the ante. Ever been socked with a $25-a-night "resort fee," or had the pleasure of paying $3 simply for having a safe in your room, even if you never used it? These are just a few of the pesky fees that hotels are tacking onto travelers' bills. What fees might apply to your stay, and more importantly, how can you avoid them? |
|
Beyond the gumbo: A gastronomic tour of New Orleans |
|
|
Lesley Chesterman, Canwest News Service
In the French Quarter of New Orleans, lacy wrought-iron  balconies adorn three-century-old buildings, and the smell of sweet pralines and fried food permeates the air. On every second block you'll spot famous restaurants like Galatoire's, Brennan's, Antoine's, Arnaud's and K-Paul's.
It's also a city that's been through hell and is still struggling to rebuild. Happily, the restaurant sector is one that's back in action.
When Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005, close to 2,000 people lost their lives in the storm and ensuing floods. Every New Orleanian I spoke to lost his or her home, and most restaurant owners were forced to gut their restaurants and rebuild. Even in the French Quarter, one of the few areas in the city that was not flooded, restaurateurs lost their wine cellars and refrigeration systems due to loss of power and overheating. Due to the mass evacuation, restaurant employees were scattered all over the country.
"We're sensitive to the fact that the rest of the world is sick of hearing about it," says Times-Picayune restaurant critic Brett Anderson. "New Orleans is still a city in the process of rebuilding. The first signs of progress have been in the opening of restaurants. These people took it upon themselves to do something about it."
Read the restaurant stories here. |
| This guy walks into a bar ... |
|
|
On a pub-crawl walking tour, Rob McFarland finds fun in the company of strangers.
Travelling on your own can be both the most liberating and soul-destroying of experiences. On the one hand you have the ultimate flexibility over your itinerary; on the other hand you have no one to share it with.
Think back to any memorable travel experience and often it was as much about the people you were with as it was about the place you were in.
Ironically, cities can be the hardest places to meet like-minded people. It takes a special type of person to walk into a busy bar on a Saturday night and strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to them.
During his travels, Sam Cook saw first hand the increasing popularity of independent travel and decided to set up a tour company in New York that allowed travellers to meet, socialize and learn a little about the city.
 In March he started Uncle Sam's Walking Tours and now offers a range of 10 including daytime, pub and nightclub tours. I meet him and seven others outside the White Horse Tavern on a Friday night for a pub crawl through one of New York's most engaging districts: the West Village.
|
| 10 Vampire Vacations |
|
Diana DeCicco, Forbes Traveler
 Even before Bela Lugosi muttered those infamous words "I never drink... wine" in his 1920s stage and film versions of Bram Stoker's Dracula, vampires have been ingrained in our culture. Never more than now. Writers Anne Rice and Stephen King helped keep vampires alive and recent television shows, movies, and books like True Blood and Twilight have introduced vampires to a whole new generation.
Indeed, tour groups around the world are helping the vampire imagery come to life with excursions to a number of eerie places-from the legendary Bran Castle (a.k.a Dracula's Castle) in Romania to historic vampire haunts in New Orleans. Even the small town of Forks, Wash., has become flooded with Twilight-crazed fans hoping to catch a glimpse of locations made popular by the sexy teen vampires.
Read the full story here...
See Slideshow of the top 10 Vampire Vacations! |
| Special Cruise Departures |
|
7 Day Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise
20 March 2010
There is still some room on this great itinerary aboard the Carnival Dream with ports of call at Cozumel, Mexico; Isla Roatan, Honduras; Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico.
 If you enjoy snorkeling or diving, this is a great cruise for you! Both Roatan and Belize are renowned for their underwater life!
Non-divers can soak up the sun on one of the beautiful beaches or shop in the local markets.
7 Day Southern Caribbean Cruise
21 February 2010
A few cabins are left on this fabulous cruise aboard the Carnival Victory departing round-trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 There is a new island everyday on this cruise!
St. Thomas, USVI; Dominica; Barbados; St. Lucia, WI; Antigua;
and St. Kitts, WI
Each island has its own special charm. Whatever you choose to do, you'll appreciate the individuality of these islands!
Time is running out... book now to avoid disappointment! |
| Questions & Answers |
|
Q - "Can't I get a better price on-line?"
A - The simple answer is generally "No".
Most of the tour operators don't allow companies to discount their pricing. This assures a level playing field for all. They never offer a lower price on their own websites than we, as travel agents, can get for you, our clients. If they did, they would surely lose the support of the thousands of travel agents selling their product.
So take advantage of me... I do all the work and you still get the same great pricing!
Send your questions to Janna. | |
|
|
|
