We've come to the End of the Road...

Summertime is time to park the Tumi in the closet - for awhile! As we begin the glorious summer season at our Minnesota lake place, it's time to stay off airplanes for a few months. In the past several months, I and my wife have enjoyed some marvelous trips - Panama & Costa Rica, Riviera Maya, New Orleans and South Florida. But, now it's time for summer weekends at our lake place in northern Minnesota and to catch up on the golf game! For those of you fellow Minnesotans (and Wisconsinites), you know that there is no greater place to be during the summer than home!!!

So until our next trip to Europe (a Silversea Cruise through the Adriatic Region from Venice in September) our Tumi luggage resides in deep storage!

Speaking of Cruises in Europe, we are seeing the biggest season ever for selling European Cruises at our travel agency - both Ocean cruises and River Cruises. There are more ships in Europe than ever before - and they are largely sold out already. The cruise lines have already opened booking for 2015 - the earliest that the industry has ever come out with future sailings.

Take a look at my previous post on River Cruising… this is a segment of tourism that is white-hot these days! Of particular interest is sailing the Rhine and Danube during the Holiday Markets season throughout Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

If you are interested in explanations for this phenomenon, go to Cruise News at www.gatewayexpress.com.

Cheers,
Dick

I would love to hear from you! Click the "comments" link below to make your comments then, under “Choose an Identity”, select “Nickname" if you want to leave a name (your name or a ‘blog handle’) or just leave it blank. OR, you can select ‘Anonymous’. 

Europe's Oceans & Waterways

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, my wife and I enjoyed our 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 typically sail during the night.
• River cruise stops are mostly 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 centers, etc.
• Full days in port and glorious days at sea. More like a floating resort.
• Cruise ports are typically at larger 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 "Coastal Europe".
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 now offering a River Cruise product - either their own ships or in a marketing agreement with an existing river 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. (we would love to entice you to contact our travel agency - Acendas Vacations!)

Cheers,

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

River Cruising in Europe - an Awesome Experience!

Cochem, Germany

We're back from our first ever river cruise (as I described in my last post) and it was an awesome trip. As I said earlier, we were unsure as to how it would compare with our many luxury ocean cruises. Reflecting back, I would say that it generally exceeded our expectations. There were some things that clearly did not measure up to those ocean cruises and some things that were better. More on that in my next post.
We boarded our AMA Waterways ship, the Amadagio, in Amsterdam and enjoyed the first night in our floating hotel before sailing the next afternoon. That allowed us to see the city before moving on. Most of our itinerary, after sailing down a canal to the Rhine, was in Germany. We stopped at Cologne, Heidelberg and several small German towns that you have never heard of. After 3 days on the Rhine, we "took a right turn" onto the Mosel River. The scenery on the Rhine was spectacular - and, on the Mosel, it was even better. Absolutely stunning!!!! At a couple stops, we were able to take bikes on long rides to burn off some of the luscious food we were treated to. That helped!
On the seventh day, we ended the cruise in Luxembourg (a very aesthetic city) and took the TGV (bullet train) to Paris for a 3-day stay. In Luxembourg, we visited the American Cemetery and General Patton's grave. In Paris, we just enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere of one of the World's greatest (and most expensive) cities. While there we did make it out to Fountainbleu, the "hunting shack" of many Kings. More on Paris later.
One of the things making this a very easy trip was the joy of having no air connections... non-stop to Amsterdam and non-stop home from Paris.


Cheers,


Dick 

River Cruising in Europe - On the Road Again!

Well, after a nice summer dangling my feet off the end of the dock (when not working of course!) it's time again to break out the Tumi luggage and hit the road!

Those who know me or follow this blog know that we head for Europe this time each year. For 8 or 9 years, we have cruised the Mediterranean, Adriatic & Aegean Seas. This year we are following the hot trend toward river cruising with a 7 day trip on the Rhine and Mosel rivers from Amsterdam to Luxembourg followed by 3 days in Paris.

My travel company, Gateway Express Travel, has seen incredible growth in this type of vacation... and we seem to be the perfect client for river cruises - people who love the ease and pampering of life on a cruise ship - but who have run out of itineraries and need a change of pace. 

We love ocean cruising and are wondering if we'll like the river cruises as much. I'll let you know along the way! 

Cheers,

Dick

Booking Your Vacation On-Line

Here's some free advice for those who enjoy combing the websites for their vacation package...

There are many perils to on-line booking unless you absolutely know the destination and the resort from from personal RECENT experience. So, if you are going to shop for yourself, here are some things be mindful of:

First, do you know WHERE you want to go? We've seen so many instances of people going to an absolutely wrong destination for their personal interests and lifestyle.

Second, (assuming you have chosen the right destination) different resorts (or cruise lines) may "look" similar on the websites but there are distinct differences in their ambiance, their quality and their clientele. These can make or break your vacation experience!

Third, trusting the pictures and information found on web sites can be a fatal mistake. Photoshopped pictures, very old pictures, bogus testimonials on Trip Advisor and other such sites and deceptive pricing are the major areas of concern.

For more detail, here is a paper I wrote on this subject.

Go ahead and have fun searching... but then, why not enlist a travel professional to review your selection before you hit the "Buy" button. 99% of the time, they will be able to book the very same vacation for you at the same price - and no additional charges. Some agencies now provide a "Trip Validation Service". For a nominal Advisory Fee (my agency charges $75), they will "validate" that you have made a correct choice - and that the price shown is valid (no tricks or hidden charges). With a professional opinion supporting your selection, you can go ahead and "Buy" with confidence.

Cheers,

Dick

Istanbul to Athens with Silversea Cruises

Well, another wonderful Silversea Cruise is in the books... our 6th with Silversea. And what a journey it was! We repeated an Istanbul to Athens itinerary that we did with Seabourn Cruise Line in 2001... just 7 weeks after 9/11. Not knowing if our travel agency would survive the aftermath of 9/11, (Our 4th quarter sales that year was a 'negative'... we sold little and refunded much of what had been sold that summer.) this journey was not exactly comfortable for us... most of it became a blur very quickly. (To put our nervousness on that first trip in perspective, the bombing in Afghanistan began as we sat in the World Club lounge waiting to depart for Istanbul!)

So this "do-over" was almost like a first time! Actually, this itinerary included two very interesting new port stops for us... Haifa, Israel and Alexandria, Egypt.

Adding to the intrigue, we sailed to Haifa from Limosol, Cypress - the very route taken by that ship that the Israeli Security Force intercepted last summer... the supposed "relief supply" ship that turned out to be terrorists smuggling arms to Gaza!

Arriving Haifa, we experienced Israeli security measures as officials came aboard to interview every single passenger - even those who would not be disembarking - before allowing anyone off. Our day trip to Jerusalem was one of the most meaningful days we've ever spent. More on that next time.

Our next stop would be in Egypt and we learned that if one has an Israeli stamp in their Passport they will not be allowed into Egypt - ever, not just on that trip. As result, Israel stamps a separate, unattached page.

Sometimes, your travels are intriguing in that you learn how awful certain places in the world can be. Enter Egypt! I've been in some pretty scurvy places in my 40 years of traveling, but Alexandria, Egypt is the dirtiest city (3 million people crowded into a shoe box!) we've ever seen. Garbage lined the streets everywhere. Filth reined supreme!

Our long day trip through Cairo (not as disgusting as Alexandria, but close) to the Pyramids and The Sphinx was less than comfortable - but seeing those sites is a must... truly awesome! Each tour bus had an armed security guard on board. And the buses stayed together in caravan mode. We were on the bus for 4 hours without a rest stop because they don't dare stop and let tourists roam. The bus had a "restroom" but you wouldn't want to go in it until it would become an "emergency"!

After seeing the sights and riding camels, we stopped at a shop in Cairo. During the stop, the armed guards stood outside the bus with rifle in breach position... so comforting!!!

Our cruise ended in Athens which has, on previous visits, not been among our favorite cities. This time, after a day in Egypt, Athens seemed like a garden spot. We enjoyed Athens much more than ever before.

Despite these comments, I would heartily recommend this experience to anyone!

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

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

Silversea Cruises, Here We Come Again!

Those of you who regularly follow my blog know that I'll do anything to stay off the road during the summer. That summer 2009 has been less than stellar, weather wise, I may not have resisted a chance to break out the Tumi as hard as I normally would!

But our annual Autumn sojourn to southern Europe is just 5 weeks away. Again, we'll be starting in Rome which gives us yet another chance to enjoy Fortunata del Pantheon - our favorite seafood restaurant ANYWHERE!

This time we will be visiting more places in the South of France and Monaco. Can't wait!!!

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

Cheers,

Dick

Luxury Cruises at Unbelievable Prices!

If you have followed my rants on this blog over the last couple years you know how I sing the praises of the 3 luxury cruise lines. 

Well, if you have EVER "thought about it", now is the time to jump! The luxury lines, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas are offering unbelievable incentives to book now for all of 2009 and through most of 2010! There are numerous examples of buying a $5,000 cruise for $2,100 to $2,300! When you consider that everything is included - gourmet dining (for which there is a surcharge on other lines), all cocktails, fine wines  all gratuities and even some complimentary Shore Excursions - experiencing the best is really not all that much more expensive than a "premium class" cruise. 

In an era of family travel, these three lines are truly adult-oriented experiences. On our first Seabourn cruise in 2000, we were in the 'taking a break from kids' mode... but now we are confirmed "Empty Nesters" and especially enjoy being in a refined, adult atmosphere. We recently enjoyed our 7th European sailing - 3 with Silversea, 3 with Seabourn and our most recent was with Regent Seven Seas.

Take a look at a comparative profile of these lines along with some current examples of the incentives at my agency, Gateway Express Travel. 

Cheers,

Dick

 

You NEED a Travel Professional - part 2

If you flash back to my post of September 5, you'll see how easy it is to make a bad choice even in Paradise. We hear horror stories at our travel agency nearly every day. Here's the latest...

A young woman returned from her honeymoon in Naples, Italy in tears... booked a hotel on the internet and it was a dirty pit. We hear this again & again: "It looked really cute and the price was really good." (Ever hear of PhotoShop?) Not only would a GOOD travel counselor never put a client in such a hotel; they would have warned clients not to go to Naples which is one of the dirtiest cities in all of Europe. Amazingly, one of the most beautiful places in Europe is Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast - just 30 miles south of Naples!

Honestly, kids... I'm not shilling for my travel agency - in fact, I won't even reference my company here! My point is that you need a good agency. If you don't have one, check with the American Association of Travel Agents . There is no guarantee that every ASTA member agency is excellent but your odds are extremely good.

Cheers,

Dick

P.S. - If there ever was a time to travel now is it! The incentives being offered by resorts, cruise lines and vacation packagers are phenomenal. We just booked a client on a luxury European cruise in June for $2,798 per person. The same itinerary in 2008 - even with discounts at that time was $4,119. Brochure price is $4,876. 

A brand new 5-Star all-inclusive resort at Puerto Vallarta is now $1,279 including airfare, ground transportation, taxes, fees, etc! last year we were selling identical "sister properties" in Los Cabos and Playa del Carmen for around $1,600.