Kulula Airlines - an Airline with a Sense of Humor!

Kulula Airlines is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn't take itself too seriously. Here's a picture of one of their planes - named "This Way Up".

This is just one of several planes adorned with very creative - and fun - themes. One is "Flying 101" and another is named "Camouflage".

Here's a link to their website fleet photo gallery.

https://www.kulula.com/info/aircraft-pictures-kulula-fleet-photo-gallery.aspx

If that won't open, just go to www.kulula.com and enter the gallery from the home page.

Too bad Kulula doesn't fly in the U.S.!

Cheers,

Dick

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

Grand Velas Resorts are Fabulous!

Last January we loved our stay at the Grand Velas Resort Riviera Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta. In fact, we liked it so much we thawed out at the Grand Velas Resort Riviera Maya near Cancun.


Now we're back in the freezing winter wonderland of Minnesota and the memories of our stay in Mexico last week are all we have to keep us warm!

We have always loved luxury cruises - most notably Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruises - largely because of the extraordinarily friendly and efficient service… and the fabulous food. The Grand Velas resorts are every bit as good as those two cruise lines - and that's saying a lot!!!!

Our travel company, Acendas/Gateway Express, recommends Grand Velas Resorts for the very finest in all-inclusive resorts!

If this sounds good to you, I would be happy to share more and perhaps give you some tips. Just email me.

Happy Landing,

Dick

A "Not-So-Great" Cruise Vacation...

Piggybacking on my last post, all cruises should not be painted with the same brush. There are huge differences between cruise lines, cruise ships and itineraries. 

A client of our travel agency just returned from a cruise vacation a bit less than pleased. They have enjoyed a couple cruises in the past and have loved the experiences. This one? Not so much.

Having previously sailed on 1,500 to 1,800 passenger ships of a cruise line that we feel good about selling, this trip was on a 3,000 passenger ship of a line that we don't typically recommend. They said the service was slow and not nearly as cordial as with their previous cruises. And, the dining was - well, let's just say that the Buffets were the best part of their dining all week.

These clients had specifically asked for the ship & line they went on. Our mistake was that we assumed that they knew what they wanted. Rather than trying to persuade them to consider other choices, we "took their order". 

They stressed that they had a good time and that, all in all, they had a nice vacation. Their final comment in telling us about the pro's and con's of this experience was that, "we learned that 1,500 passenger ships are much better than mega-liners that are twice that size". They now believe that maintaining quality food and personal service on these floating islands is impossible. We agree, but need to point out that some cruise lines are more capable than others. 

People rely upon travel professionals to guide them to the best choice and the best value. This time, we didn't perform to our own expectations.

Dick

Cruises for People who (think they) Hate Cruises

At our travel agency, when we ask people who say they won't consider a cruise vacation, the reason most commonly sited is that they don't like the "regimentation" that goes along with being two of 3,600 passengers. I couldn't agree more! It's unfortunate that these super tankers in the cruise industry get all the attention, thus distorting many people's image of cruising.

How about spending a week or more on a ship that carries fewer than 200 passengers and has a crew to passenger ratio of almost1-to-1?

We took our first-ever "expedition cruise" aboard Silversea Expeditions' 120 passenger Silver Explorer a few months ago… and absolutely loved it!  For more on our  "Jungles & Rain Forests of Panama and Costa Rica" adventure, scroll back to my post of December 31st.       

In addition to Expedition Cruising, there are two other "new" ways of seeing the world that are rapidly gaining popularity… River Cruising and Adventure Cruising.

 River Cruising is totally different from Ocean Cruising. The 5 leading river cruise lines have built over 130 new vessels just in the last 5 years - and their average size is about 140 passengers. This is the quintessential experience for people who hate cruises!!!!!  I talked about our first river cruise in this post.

 Adventure Cruising is lovingly referred to as the "Un-Cruise"! If you really want to get "close to nature" and see Alaska, Hawaii or the Sea of Cortez off the Baja Peninsula in a way very few have ever experienced these areas, this is an idea for you.  You'll love active adventures on Zodiacs combined with extraordinary comforts aboard 60-passenger ships. This is different than anything you've done before. Here are some details of a typical Alaska Adventure.

Any of these three adventure segments will change your view of "cruise vacations"!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Wailea Maui gets better and better!

In my early days of travel, I visited Hawaii numerous times. In fact, I thought of it as a home away from home! But having had limited experience with other tropical destinations, what did I know? 

Well, after 30 years of extensive travel, I can tell you that Hawaii is No Ka Oi. (is the best.) 
I constantly hear people say that the long flights discourage them from Hawaii in favor of Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. But, in my view, some things are well worth the effort - and Hawaii is! 

Except for Waikiki, Hawaii is a relaxed and atmospheric place that is always hard to leave. The Hawaiian people are the most gracious on Earth - and that goes for the "Mainlanders" that now call Hawaii home. From the moment you step off the plane, the aroma of orchids and other tropical flora make it clear that you have just arrived at a very special place! 

On our last visit to Maui, we returned to a Wailea Beach resort where we had stayed over 18 years earlier. It indeed was like coming home. If you are "thinking Hawaii", I would be happy to share our experience and give you some things tips. Email me.

Finally, if you are a golfer, Wailea area courses are spectacular. The picture I use in the "About Me" panel of this blog was taken at the Gold Course at Wailea. 
Happy Landings,

Dick

Tips for a Perfect Maui Vacation

I recently met a guy who had just returned from a 25th Anniversary trip in Hawaii. (Wailea, Maui to be exact.) He and his wife were very disappointed with their gorgeous 5-Star resort. (You may ask how anyone could be "disappointed" with a 5-Star hotel?) The place was beautiful, the service was great… the problem was that it was crawling with families with small children!

Your first thought might be that this mainly impacted their time at the pool or on the beach but it affected the entire experience. They knew immediately that they were in trouble - upon settling into their room and changing into tropical clothing they went to the lobby bar for an "Aloha Cocktail". There were a number of preschool-age kids running around the lobby area just 30 feet from them. One was yelling at a sibling; the sibling was crying. How's that for romantic?

My 'new' friend related that the restaurants were very nice and the food was excellent but, again, they were far from relaxing or romantic. He added that the menus reflected the nature of their clientele.

As it happens, there is another 5-Star resort hotel right next door and I have stayed at both over the years. The ambiance of the two could not possibly be more opposite. Years ago, both were elegant... now one remains so with an adult clientele while the other began marketing itself to family vacations a few years earlier.

If you look at the websites of both, you will not be able to distinguish between them. Both look fabulously classy with pictures that could possibly be interchanged. The only hint, if you have a trained eye, is the water slide in the distant background of one pool picture. A good travel consultant (like any of mine at Gateway Express/Acendas Vacations) would have known the difference and saved this fellow's trip!

Cheers,

Dick

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Silversea Expeditions are Spectacular!

After many cruise vacations in Europe (mostly Mediterranean), we wanted to see what all the buzz over Adventure Travel was.  Our favorite cruise line, Silversea, launched their new Expedition Cruise division a year ago so a vacation with Silversea Expeditions was an easy choice for us.

Still, we had to decide what kind of adventure sounded good. After combing through the itineraries, we settled upon "The Jungles & Rain Forests" of Panama and Costa Rica. And, in retrospect, we made a perfect decision! The experience was spectacular!

In mid-October, we boarded the Silver Explorer in Colon, Panama for our passage through the Panama Canal from the Caribbean side to the Pacific side where we would spend the next 7 days venturing into the jungles, reefs and rain forests of Panama and Costa Rica. For our entire week, the ship would anchor offshore in small bays and we would go ashore ashore via Zodiacs.

Our first excursion was into the Darien Jungle... by far, the most exotic experience of our whole trip! Our Zodiacs took us far up the Chucunaque River to an Embera tribal village that is only visited by a handful of small expedition groups each year. Because this journey can only be made during high tide, we couldn’t venture out until mid-afternoon... which meant that our Zodiac ride back to the ship was after dark in a tropical downpour and fairly rough seas. We were soaked - but that seemed to be perfectly fitting for a tropical jungle adventure! (Being soaked isn’t so bad when it’s 83 degrees!) On this evening, we particularly enjoyed our cocktail hour and our gourmet dinner!

We spent the ensuing days hiking through various rain forests where we were treated to up-close views of dozens of species of tropical birds including the colorful Macaws and Toucans. We were particularly fascinated with the 3 species of monkeys that we encountered - Spider, Capuchin and Howler Monkeys.  

The best part of traveling is to meet people who lead unbelievably different lives. In addition to visiting that remote tribal village, we spent a couple fascinating hours with a woman who runs an animal rescue facility deep within a Costa Rican rainforest. Adding to our visit, an injured sloth was brought in while we were there. 

As mentioned above, elegant cocktail hours and gourmet dinners are especially enjoyable after being “hosed down” in the mud room upon returning to the ship from the day’s expedition! (I exaggerate - slightly!) Having enjoyed the luxury of traditional Silversea cruises in the past, we wondered how the ruggedness of exploration cruising would mesh with the elegance for which Silversea is known. No problem!!!! The two elements complimented one-another perfectly. Nice job, Silversea!

We’ll definitely do another expedition trip in the future.

Happy Traveling!

Dick

Travel Experts? Really?

Occasionally, I read one of those ubiquitous "Travel Tips" articles that pop up on a daily basis - just to get a few laughs.

Most of them belabor the obvious and seem to show that they think their readers are about 4 years old! Today's case in point: "Ten Tips for Smoother Trips" imparts such wisdom as:

• Park with your car's nose out.
• Don't pack urgent items in your checked luggage.
• Have your hotel contact information with you.
• If you travel to a given foreign country frequently, keep your leftover currency on hand for future visits.
• Don't forget to tip Skycaps. They depend on tips to make their living.
• Remember your flight number.

Think I'm making this up or embellishing it? Well, I'm not - sadly!

These people actually get paid for writing this crap!

Happy Traveling!

Dick

Cruising Europe - by Ocean or River

Hi Everyone,
With the terrific popularity of seeing Europe via Cruise Ship - both Ocean and River cruising-  I thought I would blab on the differences between the two cruise modes. As a veteran of many Ocean Cruises in Europe, I enjoyed my first River Cruise last year... so here's my 2-cents worth:

Strong Points for River Cruising:

• Smaller ships carrying 100 to 140 passengers promotes a more intimate ambiance and a more personal interaction with crew.
• Beautiful scenery while on the move. River ships are cruising during the day whereas ocean ships sail during the night.
• River cruise stops are typically small towns and villages - and the ships dock right in the middle of town so you can walk to most of the attractions.

Strong Points for Ocean Cruising:

• Larger ships provide more creature comforts and more options for lounging (cocktail hours and late evening lounging), dining, entertainment, spas & fitness, etc.
• Full days in port and glorious days at sea. More like a floating resort.
• Cruise ports are typically at large cities with greater variety of attractions and activities.

See what I mean about "different"? 

In actuality, river cruising is better compared to driving through Europe or a Motorcoach Vacation. A terrific alternative to the hassles of driving or riding the highways of Europe vs sitting back and taking in the scenic wonders from rivers rather than highways. And, you are relieved of having to change hotels every couple days - and all the hassles that entails.

Bottom line is that there are two types of travelers to whom we strongly recommend river cruising:

1. People like us who have seen all there is to see of ocean ports.
2. People who ordinarily would wear themselves out with an arduous driving excursion through Europe. (Here's hint: Virtually all the big Tour Companies in Europe are opening up River Cruise product - either their own ships or in a marketing agreement with an existing cruise company.)

As with all forms of vacations, choosing the right line and the right itinerary are the make or break factors in having a memorable vacation. Find a Travel Professional that knows their stuff!

Cheers,

Dick

Your Government at Work!

Don't tell me that the government isn't out of control:

Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering a new consumer rule that would require travel agents to disclose airline commissions...

"The DOT’s rulemaking, its third major aviation consumer protection rulemaking under the Obama Administration, was submitted to the Office of the Transportation Secretary on July 17. The new rules would also make travel agents and tour operators “adopt minimum customer service standards when they sell air transportation".

Someone should tell Obama, the guy who last winter said, "Nobody uses travel agents anymore", that airlines haven't paid commission for 8 years!

Good Lord!!!!!!!!!!

Dick

(Here's the news article just to validate my source.)

Amusing Travel Stuff (I hope!)

Sometimes it's just fun to pass along some interesting travel stories, quips and tidbits. Several news clips have been piling up on my desk - some amusing, some informative. From my favorite Cigar Lounge, I hope you find these interesting... 




Pampered Pooch Program. The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay (near San Jose) invites guests to bring their dogs in June for complimentary treats. The resort’s Pampered Pooch Program provides the same luxuries that human guests experience. 


America's Rudest City: Travel + Leisure magazine has anointed Los Angeles as America's Rudest City beating out New York and Philadelphia. Want the whole "Rude 20"? Just ask me. 


Traveling in Style! The Rocco Forte Savoy Hotel in Florence wants guests to enjoy a one way private transfer in a Mercedes E Class from/to Florence airport or Florence main train stations. 


Best City for Walking: The Best City in the World for walking is Hong Kong. Budapest is #2, Paris is #3. Venice, Prague and Boston are high on the "strolling list" as well. 


Best Place in the World for Fine Dining: The French Riviera has so many Michelin-starred restaurants that the company's guidebook now includes an inset map of the region .


Trip Advisor: Don't put all your faith in Trip Advisor and other similar forums. Many glowing reports are submitted by owners and managers of that resort - and poor reports are oftentimes posted by competing resorts.


Happy Traveling!


Dick

Where is the Prettiest Place You Have Ever Visited?

That is the question of the day on the chalkboard of the coffee shop where I start most days. There were some very good responses such as the Amalfi Coast, Denali National Park and Tuscany. 
But this one really has me puzzled: Mayan Ruins... a bunch of old stone relics in the middle of a hot, stinking desert... Pretty? Really?
(How about the 2 hour ride in a dirty van with no air conditioning to get to the ruins?)
Sure makes a guy wonder, eh?
Cheers,
Dick

I Love Mexico; I Hate Mexico

Proving again that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we received post-trip comments from two people who were part of the same spring break group to the Riu Santa Fe in Cabo San Lucas.

• One had nothing good to say about the resort or the trip - nothing!
• The other loved it and is already planning to go back there next winter.

Not much more that I need to say!


Cheers,
Dick

Trust Your Travel Advisor!!!!

It happens very infrequently, but once in awhile a client of our agency returns from their vacation trip "less-than-thrilled". Yesterday, a good client returned from Cabo San Lucas and reported that, although there were a lot of good things, the experience was poor - and they won't go back to Mexico.

It turns out, they ignored almost everything we advised. First off, we urged them to book a resort that we have had great "happy traveler" results but they opted for a lesser (cheaper) property.
Then, because they were going during the very busy "high season" period, we urged them to book the premium section of the resort which would allow them special privileges including better access to the specialty restaurants. 
They "passed". 
Then, they did not heed our advice about eating at restaurants away from the resorts, staying in the mid-day sun too long, etc.

It's quite sad... their $2,500 vacation was largely ruined... and they have a negative view of a very nice sun destination.

Why don't people listen to us?

Journey Well,

Dick
P.S. Don't put all your faith in Trip Advisor and other similar forums. Many glowing reports are submitted by owners and managers of that resort - and poor reports are oftentimes posted by competing resorts in the area. When your travel advisor makes recommendations, they are based upon their own personal experience or those of the clients they have sent there previously.

Cabo San Lucas is Hot...

... in so many ways!
There are 3 "hot", sun destinations going these days.... Costa Rica, Punta Cana and Cabo San Lucas. (More on the first two another day.) We just returned from our 3rd trek to Cabo and enjoyed it even more than on previous visits. This place rocks!

Those of you who know me are aware that I'm not that big a Mexico fan. (Hawaii is my first love, second love and third love!) But, man cannot live on Hawaii alone!

Each time we go to Cabo, we find something new. This time it was the new Capella Resort which is situated "through" the mountain from downtown. Yup, I said through! The only access to this incredibly upscale resort is through a 1/4 mile tunnel that was drilled through the mountain that separates the town from the Pacific Coast.

Literally built into the beach-side of this very large rock, the Capella Resort gives you seclusion only 1/3 of a mile from nightlife of downtown - Cabo Wabo and such!

If you can't afford to stay at Capella, you at least should dine there- and be sure your credit card accounts have plenty of available credit. (But, a word of warning.... you won't get past the front gate without being on the resort or restaurant reservation list.)

I'm exaggerating a bit... it IS pricy, but well worth the splurge!

Cheers,

Dick

Travel Tips

I read one of the many "Travel Tips" articles that pop up on a daily basis - just to get a few laughs. Here's one I ran accross this morning...

"The days when travelers would call a travel agent, book a trip, hang up the phone and be done with it are long gone. Now, the Internet is a hodgepodge of hundreds of competing travel provider sites, all of whom are touting the "best deals" and "lowest prices". No single travel site will assure you the lowest rates, but a thorough search of all the major airlines and at least 10 travel provider sites will usually yield the best rates." 

Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

Happy Hunting - or, call a Travel Professional.... contrary to popular beliefs, they will save you money!

Cheers,

Dick

Cabo San Lucas, here we come!

It's time once again to "break out the Tumi" as we head for this very unique sun destination. Even though the 2012 version of Minnesota Winters has been a cake walk, it will be good to get to some REAL warm sunshine...  Basking by the Pool, Dining on a Veranda at sunset, Whale Watching and World Class Golf have me giddy!
If you want to come along, let me know!


Cheers,
Dick

Hawaii: No Ka Oi

No Ka Oi means "Is the Best". And it remains so. In my 35 years in travel, I've constantly seen the trending go from one pace to another. But, in the long view, all roads lead back to the "Islands of Aloha". The reasons are many...

1. First and foremost, it's the people! No people on Earth are as friendly and accommodating as the Hawaiian people.  But, it goes beyond "friendly"... the Hawaiian people (including those "mainlanders" who now make their homes in the Islands) are impeccably trained in hospitality. They know what you expect in terms of service efficiency - and they deliver!
2. Then, it's the climate!  Unlike most other tropical sun destinations where summer weather is unbearable, Hawaii enjoys temperatures in the 80's with Trade Winds year-around.
3. Hawaii smells great!  When you get off the plane, the aroma of Orchids and other flora treat your senses like few other places in the world. You know you have arrived in paradise!
4. The poverty and squalor found in most sun destinations is totally absent in Hawaii. you won't see junked out cars along the side of the road (the same burned out car you saw there on your last visit 3 years prior).
5. You won't get hustled by time-share sellers at the airport or by beach vendors. You don't need to haggle in the shops.
6. No passports, no currency exchange, no language barriers and no concerns over where it's safe to eat or what to drink.
7. Hawaii is a Golf Mecca. A round of golf on a world-class course is half the price of other sunbelt destinations. I can give you some specifics if you contact me.

As you can see, I'm passionate about Hawaii. At my travel agency, we are constantly sending clients off to Hawaii - while I get to sit here in snowy Minnesota. I am tormented!!!!

Aloha!

Dick

Happy (Travel) New Year!

Happy New Year, all!
Just thought I would rattle off a few odd notes as we (hopefully) have spring in our distant sights...

Following up on the last post, River Cruise Vacation bookings are taking off at my travel agency, Gateway Express... it is clearly the "in thing" for 2012.

To all you morons in Minnesota who were willing to play golf on Christmas Day just to be able to tell your great grandkids 20 years from now that you did it: Get a life... and get on a plane for some real winter golf. You know, green turf, warm sunshine, one layer of outer wear, and cold beer on an outdoor patio after your round! Here are some ideas for you.

Speaking of winter golf, we leave in a few weeks for Cabo San Lucas with a corporate meeting group. As it is one of the world's remarkable golf destinations, I'm hoping to "sneak away" for  couple afternoons. Golf aside, Cabo is my agency's #1 sun destination this year - replacing Riviera Maya for that distinction. It is a great spot for guaranteed hot sun and scenery... Mountain and Ocean panoramas all in one view.

The current "non-winter" here in Minnesota has impacted our winter vacation bookings - but not as much as I would have expected. The first Arctic Blast is predicted later this week... we know our phones will ring off the hook and our in-boxes will be very active. (Trying to understand why people don't know it's coming!!!!!)

Anyway, Happy New Year! I hope it's a helluva lot better than last year for you!

Cheers,

Dick