Gateway Express Travel of Minnesota

Note: This post is an update of one posted about a year ago. The original post was among the most "liked" of any I've done.

My agency's most popular sun destination is Mexico's Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous coast.

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information. That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose Gateway Express Travel, but there are many good travel agencies out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick

Silversea Cruises Rock!

Our annual bicker-fest with 6 relatives is well-underway! (Just kidding... our party of 4 couples get along great on these European Cruises!!!)

I’ve sung the praises of Silversea Cruises many times in the past - and here I go again! This time it’s more Asia than Europe though with 3 days in Turkey, a day in Israel and 2 days in Egypt... along with some Greek Isles and Athens.

This one is about as exotic as we’ve done... Istanbul, Kusadasi (Ephasis), Jerusalem, Haifa, Alexandria, Cairo (and the Pyramids) and Cypress.

I can’t think of a possible way the Silversea staff could be any more perfect in anything they do. How easily we can get spoiled!

Talk to you later... it’s cocktail time!

Dick

Cruising through the Aegean Sea

Well, we're 8 days from our luxury cruise from Istanbul to Athens aboard Silversea Cruise Line. Can't wait... in my business, we constantly see our clients off as they depart on their grand adventures while we just stay and work. Now, it's our turn!!!!!

We were puzzled over the State Department comments a couple weeks ago regarding increased terror threats in Europe. They really didn't warn Americans to rethink traveling abroad - they just said we should be more aware of our surroundings and be vigilant and careful.

Sounds like common sense to me... even if one is downtown Minneapolis at night after ball game, theater or dinner.

Cheers,

Dick

Cruising through Southern Europe

Those of you who know me are aware that I'll do anything to stay off the road during Minnesota summers. But, as the leaves start to turn color it's time to start thinking about breaking out the Tumi.

Our annual Autumn sojourn to southern Europe is just 5 weeks away. Again aboard Silversea Cruise Line, this year we'll be starting in Istanbul and ending 11 days later in Athens. Shortly after 9/11 2001, we did a similar itinerary but with a fair level of anxiety given the times. This "do-over" will be considerably more relaxed - and we are making our first-ever visits to Israel and to Egypt.

We have been urging our clients at our travel agency to "move up to luxury cruising" because the bargains are truly ridiculous! (Check back to my blog post on this.)

Cheers,

Dick

Listen to your Travel Advisor!

... and, if you don't have one, get one!

At Gateway Express Travel, we always advise cruise clients to get to the port city one day prior to sailing. Last week, a client embarking on an Athens departure declined our suggestion... after all, their KLM flight was arriving at 10:00 AM and the ship wasn't sailing until 6:00. What could go wrong, eh? Well, their 3:00 PM Delta flight to Amsterdam was two hours late departing Minneapolis meaning that they would miss their KLM connection.

Two of our agents worked well past our 5 o'clock closing time trying to get them to the ship in time. The best option, given the new arrival time in Amsterdam had them arriving Athens at 3:30 PM. The problem was that the cruise port is 2 hours from the airport - and there was the matter of waiting for luggage upon deplaning.

Without a Travel Agent, you're on your own!

Here is what we did for these poor souls:

• Protected them on a new flight to Athens.
• Notified the cruise line of the problem.
• Rearranged the transfer with the transportation company.
• Begged the cruise line to hold the ship (good luck).
• In the event that they would not make it, we booked an Athens hotel and booked flights to the next port.

Because we made sure the cruise line knew exactly where our clients were, they were able to determine that holding the ship for 15 minutes would be enough - and that, they were willing to do.

Even though they made it, it probably took 3 days to relax and enjoy their cruise. Don't let this happen to you!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Note #1: Even without the flight problem, having a day in Europe to rest away the jet lag is the way to go. Board your cruise ship refreshed!

Note #2: This is the second such horror story in two weeks. A nearly identical problem occurred with Alaska-bound cruise clients.

Follow Up to my last Post...

I wanted to add updates on two topics in my last rambling... first, many have heeded my earlier urging to seize upon the value opportunity and visit Europe in 2010. My travel agency's Europe bookings this summer have exceeded those of any of our previous 24 years in business! Travel in October and November is very strong... in fact much is already sold out!

Secondly, I mentioned that we feel very safe in having cruise stops in Israel and Egypt in October. One of the great things about cruise vacations is that you can plan many months in advance and know that IF something "hits the fan" later on, the cruise line simply alters their itinerary to avoid civil disturbances or severe weather.

Go for it!!!!!!

Dick

Europe, Here We Come!

Strike while the iron's hot! If you have putting off a trip to Europe in the last couple years because of our weak economy and the lousy exchange rates which make things very expensive for Americans, the dawn has come!

Sure, we have our issues here at home. And you have all had a steady diet of news about the problems with the Euro - mostly due to the economic troubles of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. What you may not have surmised is that your buying power in Europe now is nearing all time highs.

We, at Gateway Express Travel, actually had a couple clients who had previously booked trips to Greece for late summer call us to cancel because of all the news of turmoil in Athens. We pointed out that this is absolutely the best time to see Greece because of the value. (Note: We are returning to Greece and Turkey in October so we are, in a sense, putting our money where our mouths are!) The other issue bothering people who see the constant clips of civil unrest on the network news is safety.

While a large portion of the Greek citizenry is upset over cuts to government goodies, the more terse agitation is the work of a small number of anarchists - the same ones that cause trouble whenever the G-8 meets... the same ones that caused trouble in St. Paul during the Republican Convention two years ago. These more violent demonstrations are localized around the capital building in Athens. But that's what the news industry loves... so that's what you see over and over!

Go for it! There are always reasons to hesitate: Volcanoes, Floods, Oil Spills, Hurricanes (the mere threat of), Economy, etc. Don't be dissuaded!

Cheers,

Dick

Another Note: I mentioned our October trip... included in our 10 day cruise are stops in Israel and Egypt. Despite all the news, we feel totally safe and are greatly looking forward to these visits! Of course, safe travels anywhere require a great deal of good old common sense! In 2001, we left for Istanbul on the very day the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan. Nothing bad happened to us.

On-Line Travel Booking is FUN!

A speaker at an annual Travel Industry Conference in Las Vegas asked the room full of agency owners and managers why people book their trips on-line. We came up with several theories which all seemed to point back to a common theme: Because they think it's cheaper. We were all "close, but no cigar". At least according to this market research analyst.

He said their findings conclude that they do so because it's fun! Well, you could have heard a pin drop in the room! To travel professionals who spend 40 to 50 hours a week doing this for a living, it is anything but fun. I started to think through some of our experiences...

A close relative who buys everything on-line including meat and tropical fish called me a year ago as he was researching a cruise vacation for 2 couples. They settled upon a great deal on a given Princess sailing. We checked into it and found a price that was $172 per person lower for the very same cabins! In addition, through our affiliation with Vacation.com, each couple got a complimentary bottle of wine and two plush robes to take home.

Last week he emailed me again... this time because he had just discovered that airfares have risen considerably. Best he could find to Fort Myers or Tampa for a week at their timeshare in December was $537 per person. We found and booked them on an air & car package for $496 per person including a luxury class car for the week!

Maybe you can buy commodities such as tropical fish or DVD's cheaper online but travel is NOT cheaper on the net. The net is great for "kicking tires"... we all look around online. But, our mantra is "Look, but Don't Book"!!!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Business Meetings and Incentive Trips

We do a fair amount of meeting planning for corporate clients. I just read 4 trade articles on the subject. Four gasbag 'experts' pontificating while saying nothing new!

One was billed as a "futurist". His article was entitled, "Futurist Predicts Eight Meetings Trends". Well, always wanting to be cognizant of new trends, I thought this article might be useful to us. Think again! More of the same old blah, blah. One example: 14 paragraphs of word pollution equated to, "As virtual meetings gain in popularity and present huge cost savings, there still is a need to get your management team or your sales team together in person for personal interaction." GOSH... do ya think?

Take a look at the Meetings Page on our website!

Cheers,

Dick

Deluxe Cruise for $649? RIGHT!

You all know that I have always been a big proponent of cruise vacations. They continue to be a very good value when compared with "land-based" touring.

But cruise lines' pricing has become a total joke. First Class lines like Royal Caribbean (just to name one) are showing us and you "special offer" prices like $649 for an ocean view cabin on a 7 night cruise. In reality, this cabin costs you almost double that figure... about $1,000 not including airfare. The simplified explanation is that all their costs of "parking" at the various stops are referred to as "taxes"... and the price you saw does not include taxes or fees.

This is more than deceptive! If you paid $70 to park your car at the airport (government parking facility) for 4 days, is it a "tax"? Port costs are a normal cost of operation the same as their payroll costs or provisioning costs. So why is that not included when they determine what they need to sell that cabin for in order to make a nominal profit?

I have always defended the cruise industry against moronic criticisms. Look at my post "Travel Writers are Dinks" from two years ago for a good example!

Cruises are wonderful... but a good 7 day cruise with airfare is going to cost you at least $1,400 per person even with the great specials that are out there now.

Cheers,

Dick

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Here's Why You Need a Travel Agent

My agency's most popular Sun Destination is the Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we claim to feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous Mexican "sun coast".

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information. That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose us, but there are many good ones out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick

El Dorado Resorts in Mexico set a New Standard!

Sometimes, at my travel agency, we just swerve into "a find". Our founding of Gateway Golf Vacations several years ago was unintended. A corporate traveler, knowing that one of our corporate agents was a golf fanatic, asked if she had any ideas for a golf trip for 4 guys. She did; they went; they loved it; within 6 weeks, he referred over a dozen other people to her. By the end of the winter season, she had booked over 60 people to this place.

It is the same scenario that led Gateway Express Travel to feature the three El Dorado Resorts on the Riviera Maya. We were aware of these resorts and decided to try one of them for our own winter escape. We were impressed well beyond our expectations and came back singing their praises to our clients. Just this season we have sent dozens of couples - including honeymooners - and a large destination wedding group. I won't bore you with all the reasons why our clients have loved these places and have referred others to us. If you do want to check this out, click the link above!

Do something REALLY special for your next sun vacation!

Cheers,

Dick

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Why I Love Hawaii...

As you see from my comments on the recent sojourn to Puerto Rico, my first love will always be Hawaii. But I got to thinking about why I'm so partial. After all, many tropical spots have warmth and a lot of sun.

Stepping off the plane in Hawaii, you are greeted by the aroma of Orchids and other flora. You would think that would be true in the Caribbean as well... but it's not! At least not to the degree that you are immediately aware. In Hawaii - even Honolulu - the scents are striking!

But here's an element that I have always felt but hadn't really thought about... as you step off the plane and into the air terminal - again, even in Honolulu - the ambiance is one of relative peace and calm. The area around the carrousel might be momentarily busy but it's not frantic as it is in airports in San Juan or Cancun or Montego Bay. Leaving a Hawaiian airport, you never get hustled or hassled. And you will never feel like you're battling the crowd.

Lastly, as I have preached for years, there are no more hospitable people on Earth than the Hawaiians (including the "mainlanders" that now live and work in the islands). The Hawaiian people are simply the element that makes this land so special... at least in my book. The level of service and graciousness in Mexico and much of the Caribbean has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. Hats off to those we have come in contact with throughout our travels. BUT, as friendly and nice as they are, they just can't quite equal the Hawaiians.

Again, just my opinion!

Dick

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Puerto Rico Vacations... Nice, but not my Cup of Tea

I just returned from San Juan where we managed a corporate incentive group... my first time there since about 1980.

While "the city" still stinks, resort development away from San Juan has grown considerably - and those areas are lovely! I played golf out at Dorado Beach on one day and found the people to be friendly and the ambiance to be very nice.

One of the new areas that is shaping up to be world-class is out toward the rain forest about 45 minutes east of the airport. The "anchor" is a Trump development that includes two very nice golf courses. My feeling is that this area is still a year from being a "go to" place, but you should put it on your list of future destinations!

As with so many tourist areas during this lean economic time, the people we came in contact with were gracious and eager to serve. They truly appreciated our presence.

Our client selected the Ritz-Carlton hotel near the airport. Though not my choice for location, the hotel was excellent! Service and accommodations were both top drawer!!! We were on the Concierge floor and spent much of our free time in the Club Room where the Champagne glass was bottomless... and the staff outstanding. What a treat!

Cheers,

Dick

More on The Big Easy... New Orleans

Just a few added comments on our recent New Orleans Holiday... since none of you are going to concern yourselves with the non-tourist parts of the city. (We have some family history there, so are unusually interested in the city as a whole.) We stayed at the stately, ornate Omni Royal Orleans on Royal street - one block off Bourbon St. It is just as it has been in the past. The classic luxury hotel in the French Quarter is the Royal Sonesta but it is right on Bourbon Street - a negative! The difference in ambiance between two streets just one block apart is striking. Royale Street contains art shops and galleries as well as some awesome "proper" restaurants while Bourbon Street is... well, Bourbon Street.

Our four favorite restaurants are Arnaud's, Antione's, Gallatoire's, and Brennen's. The cigar lounge at Arnaud's was one of our favorite stops... Sign of the Times: Even 'sinful' New Orleans has imposed strict limits on cigars. Arnaud's opened a lounge next door to the restaurant to get around the ordinance.

The only one of these great venues that is right on Bourbon Street is Gallatoire's - our favorite. Imagine a restaurant that strictly requires jackets being amidst the trashiness of Bourbon Street! Imagine the finest restaurant you can think of - then place it in the middle of the carnival midway at the State Fair! Talk about culture shock as you exit this fine establishment after a gorgeous dinner... into the cesspool that bourbon Street has become!

Well, those are the things that make N.O. so unique! What a great city! If you are thinking of visiting, I hope you will enlist my travel agency - Gateway Express Travel - to guide you. But, whether or not you do, I am happy to give you some tips and recommendations.

Cheers,

Dick

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New Orleans, "The Big Easy"

We just returned from Thanksgiving in New Orleans... over the years we have visited this great city many, many times but this was our first time since Katrina.

The French Quarter has recovered nicely but evidence of the storm remains out around Lake Pontchartrain. An area where the shrimp boats would dock that contained a number of fun, casual restaurants is just plain gone. A lot of houses out there remain boarded up and the foliage around the city - particularly in the Garden District - is not what it used to be. (Obviously, we did not venture into the "lower 9th Ward" where the devastation was the worst.)

But, back to the Quarter... all the high-end hotels and our favorite restaurants are back to normal and the Hurricanes at Pat O'Brian's are as potent as ever. (We can fully attest to that!) Unfortunately, the sleaze factor is also back to what it was but that can be avoided simply by staying off Bourbon Street.

The "Big Easy" is a great city... but, like Las Vegas, a couple days is enough.

More on our New Orleans stay later.

Dick

Luxury Cruises: Which Line is Best for You?

Unrelated to my last couple posts on our fabulous Silversea Cruise, there was news last week that caught my eye. (I really do try to vary my themes here but had to put these thoughts up before moving on.)

As my "vast following" knows, there are 4 cruise lines in the Luxury class. My travel agency has heartily endorsed three of them. But now one of the three, Regent Seven Seas, has announced that it is doing away with their evening dress code requiring jackets for gentlemen in the dining rooms. They claim that their passenger surveys have shown that people do not want to "dress up" for dinner any more.

I know that we live in a more casual society these days - and I realize that this is great news for some luxury cruisers - BUT, there are still a lot of us out there that really do enjoy spiffing up for their gourmet dinner in an elegant dining room. We like the "mix" provided by Seabourn and Silversea... on a 7 to 10 day cruise, we'll have a couple formal evenings (Tuxedos or dark suits), a few casual evenings (elegant resort wear) and the rest informal (jackets required; ties optional).

We have sailed on Regent twice in the past but will not in the future... but it's a personal choice. Regent's research and ultimate decision will likely be attractive to some competitor's guests while it pushes some of their clients to the other lines. The great thing about this is that everyone has choices - as long as they are informed choices!

That's where you need a knowledgeable travel advisor... one who will ask you a few lifestyle questions and steer you to the right cruise line or resort! Our agency will continue to sell all three... we just want to be sure we match the right client with the right line!

Cheers,

Dick

Mediterranean Cruising at it's Best!

Another Mediterranean cruise is over but, as always, the memories will last forever... especially those fun little moments that are inevitable when traveling with seven relatives for 12 days!

Okay, I'm just kidding! Our family "eightsome" has done this seven times now and we couldn't enjoy one-another's company any more than we do! (Oh, I love those little opportunities to needle one particular member of the cast! But, it is all in fun!)

Well, since my last post (below) we re-visited all the naked guy statues of Florence, and spent three glorious days along the French Riviera - the Cote D'Azur - and ended our journey in Barcelona where we put our lives at risk with a bike tour of the city. Yikes! A band of about 14 bikers led through congested city traffic by a crazy guide! Actually, it wasn't that scary... we saw the whole city in 3 hours in a way not possible with any other mode of transportation. We know that because we saw it 4 years ago in a conventional way - sightseeing minibus.

Back to the French Riviera including Monaco, we visited the ports of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo. Stunning!!!! Counting the multi-million dollar yacht's we saw in the harbors was a challenge... must have been over a hundred! And some at Monte Carlo (pictured above) were the size of small cruise ships! The coolest of the cool were the small, historic seaside or hillside villages in the area... Villefranche, St. Paul de Vence, and more. As with all of our travels, dining seems to be the center of activity (Of course, one needs to trudge through museums, galleries and ancient villages in order to work up an appetite!) and these areas offer so much. Whether it's a four course lunch or just a coffee on the harbor front, it doesn't get much better!

But, all good things come to an end. Now, it's back to work!

Cheers,

Dick

Silversea Cruises Rock!

Hi from the Cigar Lounge aboard Silversea Cruises' magnificent Silver Wind en route from Sicily to Livorno (Florence). This is absolutely the way to travel!!!

Having sailed all three of the "luxury class" cruise lines over the years, Silversea is definitely our personal favorite. The newly renovated Silver Wind is gorgeous, the service is impeccable and the cuisine is exceptional!

Before sailing, we spent another (our 4th) evening at our favorite seafood restaurant in Rome. No pictures this time though... we arrived in a fierce rain storm and the closest the taxis can get to the restaurant is about 500 feet away, across a cobblestone square at the Parthenon. We were absolutely soaked! In fact we enjoyed wonderful seafood as if we had dived into their natural habitat!

I will give you all an update along the way... just to make you feel bad!

(Okay, we spend most of our lives sending clients off on these adventures while we just work - so everyone gets their time!)

The "tag line" of our travel agency is "Traveling in Style"and this is absolutely it.

Cheers,

Dick

All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico

Before I get to the main topic here, it's time announce that the summer season at our lake place is giving way to a new travel season so "Break Out The Tumi Luggage" once again! Those of you who call Minnesota and Western Wisconsin home already know this: 2009 has been the year of the Lost Summer! The weather has been pathetic for sun worshipers and boaters. (Great for golfers and fisherman, however.) The hot, sunny summer days have few and far between so it is being easier to leave it for an Autumn of Travel... Boston this weekend to visit our son then off to Rome, Florence, the South of France, and Barcelona with Silversea Cruises. Can't wait!!!!!!

Okay, on to business: The Riviera Maya is peppered with outstanding all-inclusive resorts that are taking a big bite out of the cruise industry. It's interesting to follow the history of "all-inclusive" resorts. They first surfaced in the 80's as an answer to the burgeoning cruise industry that was literally killing the resort industry. As they started out, the food quality was semi-awful. But it got better and better through the years. But, still, until the El Dorado Resorts entered the scene with their Gourmet Included product about 10 years ago, the cruise lines still offered more 'bang for the buck' and more quality. Now, we send almost all of our clients to these resorts... no wrist bands; no buffets, no scrambling for reservations!

Note: El Dorado resorts are for adults only but their sister resorts, Azul Resorts, are family oriented and feature the same "Gourmet Included" service. For more observations, look back at my June 22 post.

Cheers,

Dick