Celebrating Spring Break aboard a Cruise Ship

 

Are you a hardworking college student?  If so, are you looking forward to spring break?  Spring break is an extended break that all college students in the United States are granted.  Unlike holiday breaks, spring break is often a time to vacation, let loose, and have fun with your friends.

Selecting a bring break destination is a fairly easy process. There are a large number of college students who flock to the most popular spring break destinations.  These destinations include Cancun, South Beach, the Bahamas, or Panama City.  Each of these destinations is famous for their sunny weather and amazing nightlife.  Despite their popularity, these beaches often become overcrowded during spring break.  If you are interested in swaying away from the norm, you may want to consider spending your spring break aboard a cruise ship.

When it comes to cruise ships, many individuals mistakenly believe they are only for family vacations or romantic getaways.  The truth is that you can take a cruise at just about any point in your life and go just about anywhere you want. That includes spring break.  If you are interested in spending your break partying and enjoying life, you do not have to worry. There are a number of cruise lines that have cruise ships that are just for you. 

To find a cruise ship that allows adventure, partying, and all-around fun, you will need to do a little bit of research.  This research involves familiarizing yourself with popular cruise lines and the ships they offer.  If you are looking to examine popular cruise lines, you are encouraged to learn more about Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, or Costa Cruises.  In addition to these well-know cruise lines, it is likely that you will come across additional cruise lines offering fun filled cruises, all around the world. 

When you are searching for a cruise ship that offers excitement and adventure, you are encouraged to stay away from ships that target families.  Family cruises are often limited on the amount of gambling or alcohol assumption that goes on.  If gambling and alcohol consumption is allowed, excess amounts are often frowned upon. To avoid confrontation, you are encouraged to stay away from these family cruise lines. That is unless you plan on spending your spring break with your family. 

In addition to family cruises, you may want to avoid cruise ships that target couples.  These romantic cruises are often geared towards couples that are interested in experiencing a romantic and relaxing cruise.  If you are traveling with your partner, a romantic cruise may be acceptable for your needs.  Gambling and alcohol consumption is allowed aboard most romantic cruises, but excessive amounts are also often frowned upon.

To find the perfect cruise ship for your summer vacation, you are encouraged to find a cruise ship that targets those seeking adventures.  In addition to offering exciting onboard activities, you are likely to find that the land adventures are just as fun.  Many party cruises or adventure cruises dock in well-known ports.  These ports may have activities that are just what you are looking for. 

Spending your vacation aboard a cruise ship is the perfect way to enjoy your break.  This unique vacation experience will often eliminate overcrowded beaches and unsafe adventures.  Aboard a cruise ship you can safely enjoy your break, while having fun at the same time.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

 

Conventions and Conferences in Costa Rica

 

Large companies and corporations sponsor destination business meetings and Costa Rica is one of prominent spots to have a conference and conventions. Exotic locations combine business and vacation at the same time and give a fresh look to business. When you want to bring some relaxation to your company and employees having it in an exotic locale like Costa Rica it's offering employees a chance to kick back and relax and take advantage of getting in some quality time to go fishing, swimming, horseback riding, golf, tennis, or taking in getting a body massage and spa treatments.

Some companies host their annual company trips to exotic locations for a chance of scenery and environment and to give people a chance to get in some vacation time without actually taking off and holding business meetings and conventions. Most resorts have special packages for companies to book a specific number of rooms and have arrangements for all budgets and to have someone on hand to help with the arrangements of the convention or conference.

This actually is a great way for employees to get out of the office and yet do something fun and not feel stressed. Most companies who do something to take the employees out of the office tend to have less stressed out workers because a change of scenery is usually good for someone not to feel burned out. Getting in some sun, hiking, horseback riding, diving, fishing, tennis, snorkeling, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and taking in a full body massage and spa treatment is key in lowering someone's stress level because it's a way for someone to relax and cool out.

Some social organizations plan their annual trips to exotic locations as a way to change the scenery too and to give their people a chance to relax and do something fun instead of the same stuff. Flamingo Beach Resort has a staff that handles groups and events and can help plan out the stay exactly specified to your instructions and meeting your budget restrictions.

You can go on their website and request information for catering and planning your group event to Costa Rica and the resort can hold meeting space for up to 190 people which is ideal for people planning moderate sized events. The catering menu can serve everything from elegant to international cuisine and casual poolside.

This is what you call an awesome business meeting you get to spend it in a foreign country and getting in your vacation without exactly taking off since you're actually working at the same time. You can even have the planning staff plan mixers, welcome receptions, and themed ice breakers to get employees to interact with each other if some of them work in different departments and aren't around others from the same office. Group discounts are given if 10 or more rooms are booked. An event like this will make one feel rejuvenated and refreshed after a week in a luxury hotel and being in a peaceful environment.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

California surfing - where are the best places to catch wave?

 

The Beach Boys made California synonymous with surfing on the world stage but it with the ocean and beautiful shores; it was already “the” place to surf!   If you feel like some fun hitting the waves, you'll want to head to one of the following beaches in California; with the good weather and great waves, they're some of the most popular surfing areas in the world!

Huntington Beach: Home to the Huntington Beach Surf Series, many pro surfers call this their home.  Located in Orange County (the real OC!) this is probably one of the most popular places to surf in the world.  They even have a church in the area just for surfers.  Now that’s bringing spiritual to the people!

San Diego: Warm weather and great waves is what you'll find at San Diego.  A large surfing community has sprung up in the San Diego area, and you'll find many locals are hitting the waves along with the tourists!

Santa Cruz: You'll have nothing but fun at the beaches of Santa Cruz!  For an avid surfer, Santa Cruz is a favorite area to find the best waves.

A lot of surfers, especially those who are more experienced, have preferred conditions in which to surf and so a lot of the more popular beaches have webcams (surf cams) set up facing the waves so that a surfer can go to a website and check out the conditions before they head to the beach.  There are also dedicated phone numbers you can call to find out the weather conditions, if you prefer to get your information that way. 

If you're looking to learn how to surf but don't know where to start, you'll find that there are many surfing schools all along the beaches of California.  The varied selection makes it easy to find one that fits your level of experience and learning style, and your pocketbook.  Alternatively you could always just head for the beach and hang out with the surfers to pick up tips!

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

Are Travel Agents Obsolete?

It seems you cannot watch television for more than an hour without seeing an advertisement with William Shatner talking about Travelocity or that silly gnome talking about Orbitz.  These travel web sites have been very successful at facilitating travelers to book their own airline and hotel reservations online.  So with this huge push from the internet to take over the travel industry, one has to ask, “Are travel agents obsolete?”

If you have browsed some of these travel sites, you have observed that they are amazing in the diversity of travel options that they make available.  And it is impossible to deny that many thousands of people have taken advantage of these services.  As a business traveler, however, your needs are somewhat different than the typical airline passenger.

There are some very specific services that a living and breathing travel agent can provide that simply cannot be replicated by an automated web site like Travelocity or Orbitz.   Some of those services that a seasoned business traveler would be hard pressed to live without include…

§     Focus.  You as a business traveler are not arranging this trip for entertainment.  You have specific business objectives in mind.  So if you must take time away from preparation for  your business task to worry about travel itineraries, hotel and rental car reservations and the like, that is time that you are not being productive for your business.  If you can call a talented travel agent who knows your travel profile well and delegate those arrangements to that agent, they do their job in finding just the right accommodations for you and you are freed to do what you do best, focus on your business and the upcoming business trip.

§     Economy.  It is difficult to find that balance between finding the accommodations that fit the demanding schedule of a businessperson on the road and is respectful of the companies travel budget as well.   If you use an automated online travel service, you may have to sacrifice convenience, schedule or location for economy.  A good travel agent will work hard to get you the right itinerary while getting as close the corporate travel cost restrictions as possible.  And they will do it without taking up a lot of your time.

§     Back up.  You don’t need help if your trip goes completely as planned.  But if you encounter problems on the road, you can find yourself in need or rescheduling flights and finding new accommodations to work around canceled flights, weather issues or other unexpected interruptions to your plans.  These travel disasters are not mindful of your tight deadlines to meet your business goals.  But if you have a travel agent who is dedicated to providing you service, he or she can find those alternative routes and resources to do all they can to get you to your destination so you can conduct your business on time.

§     That personal touch.  You may have travel preferences that you want to achieve with each trip you take.   A travel agent has your profile and your travel history so they can do what they can to accommodate your preferences.  But moreover, if you have specific special needs such as a diet limitation or a need for accommodation due to a disability, it will be a travel agent that sees to it that your needs are provided for and you are well taken care of on the road.

§     Complications.  If your travel itinerary involves making connections with other business partners who are traveling from diverse offices, complex travel schedules and itinerary challenges that just cannot be described to the generic screens of an online travel service, you can explain these complications to your travel agent and they can work with other travel agents working to organize the meeting and see to it that your itinerary meets your requirements.

While the online travel services do provide a valuable and affordable alternative to the general traveling public, it is easy to notice their limitations if you are trying to book a trip that is tricky or if you have specific needs that the screens do not anticipate.  That is why working with a human travel agent guarantees that this travel professional will dedicate themselves to the task of making sure your trip works to your specifications and that you get to your destination ready to conduct business and be successful in you achieving your goals.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

Beach Vacations For Winter

 

During the winter months, finding a beach vacation

spot can be a little difficult.  It doesn't have

to be, which is where this article will really come

in handy.  Below, you'll find some resorts that

offer a unique twist to your winter beach vacation.

 

1.  Molokai Ranch and Lodge

On a white sand shore on the tiny Hawaiian island of

Molokai, guests will stay in comfortable yet unique

tents.  Each double unit canvas bungalow sits on

wooden platforms, offers queen size beds in one

unit, twin beds in the other, solar powered lights,

and a private bathroom with hot water showers.

 

The Molokai Ranch and Lodge offers over 54,000

acres, including seaside cliffs with very lush

valleys.  The outdoor activities here include sea

kayaking, cultural hikes, mountain biking, and

horseback rides.  For the kids, the lodge offers

nature walks, horse stables, tidal pools and

Hawaiian arts and crafts.

 

2.  Grand Wailea Resort and Spa of Hawaii

Long ago, a big swimming pool was enough to make

guests happy.  Now days, resorts compete in water

activities such as lagoons, waterfalls, water

slides, and even lazy rivers.

 

The Grand Wailea Resort offers several attractions,

such as the 4,580 square foot Hibiscus pool,

and the 25,700 square foot Canyon Activity pool

which is great for families. 

 

3.  Atlantis Resort of the Bahamas

In the amazing water fun department is the unique

Atlantis Resort and Spa on Paradise Island in

the Bahamas.  Along with the beach, the Atlantis

has eleven swimming pools, Mayan Temple water

slides, and lazy river rides.  The Atlantis

also boasts an amazing marine habitat, with

exhibit lagoons that house more than 50,000

sea animals.

 

4.  Club Med Punta Cana

Over the last several years, the Dominion

Republic has been working very hard to establish

itself as a destination for families, with many

all inclusives being built.  This location has

all the perks of a tropical resort plus stand

out features that include kids programs, and

other attractions that make Club Med Punta Cana

one of the most unique beach vacation spots in

the entire world.

 

5.  Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands National Park is a very

unique vacation spot with white sandy beaches, and

lodging in comfortable tent cottages.

 

As with the Molokai Ranch, guest cottages are built

on platforms and designed to be both attractive

and comfortable.  Each one has a sleeping area,

bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, stove, ice

cooler, and even a private deck.

 

Water sports for the area include kayaking, wind

surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.  There is

also an outdoor restaurant and a food store for

those who want to cook from the privacy of their

own room.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

Air Travel: Is It Right for You?

 

Are you interested in taking a vacation?  If you are, you may be required to fly.  There are many popular vacation destinations, such as Hawaii, Europe, and the Caribbean, that cannot be reached any other way.  With that in mind, if you are looking to vacation within in the United States you may have more options.  For that reason, you may want to first decide if traveling by airplane is really right for you.

When it comes to determining if air travel is really right for you, for your next trip, you will first want to look at your destination.  Just because you do not have any oceans to cross, it does not mean that you don’t need to fly.  For example, if you are looking to travel from New York to California, it may be within your best interest to fly.  This is particularly true if you are limited on the amount of vacation time that you have available from your work. 

Your budget is another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when trying to determine if air travel is right for you.  For example, there are many other cheaper alternatives for those who must travel a short to medium distance.  For example, if you will be traveling from Texas to Nevada, you may be able to buy tickets for a bus or train.  There are many different options when you look for them.  For many individuals, riding a bus or a train is a much more affordable option.  Perhaps, the only downside to this approach is the time that you will spend on the road.  For many, it would just be convenient to drive their own car.

Speaking of driving your own car, if you are looking to avoid flying, you will want to examine your alternative option of driving yourself.  As previously stated, keep your location and distance in mind.  Also, it is important to take the cost of your trip into consideration.  Many of us automatically think of gasoline and the cost of it, but it is also important to take the cost of vehicle wear and tear into consideration.  For that reason, many end up renting a car for their trip.  However, it is important to return back to traveling by air.  For long distance trips, the cost of renting a car can be the same, if not more than hopping on a flight that only lasts a few hours

What does all of this mean for you?  It does mean that you will likely be better off traveling by airplane if you are looking to travel in the United States.  With that said, there are some exceptions to this rule.  For example, you should never fly if you can drive to your destination in an hour or two, as doing so can be considered a waste of money.  Also, if you are a motor home owner or if you can find an affordable rental nearby, you may want to drive to your destination instead, as doing so can sometimes be better than flying.

For the most part, the only individuals who should have trouble flying are those who suffer from claustrophobia or a fear of flying, even flying is safe.  Individuals with other disabilities, including the need of an oxygen tank or those who are wheel chair bound, can still fly to their destination, as many airlines will go out of their way to provide needed accommodations and services.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

Adventure Sailing Vacation Has No Limits

 

Adventure sailing vacation has no limits when even the physically disabled are able to achieve such a feat. This is as long as there are charities and clubs around that allow people with mixed abilities to work side by side with an able crew on equal terms.

Currently, such groups can be booked for a sailing vacation that will last from 4 days or 4 weeks. Ships can be charted to go from one point in the US to another. Charters those across the Atlantic might sail south or the west to enjoy the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Tour groups that provide these cruises are suitable for beginners and veterans alike. First timers get learn the basics and at the end of the course get a certificate. To get more experience, they will have to head out to see regularly. Those who don’t have the time can take an online course because although it is not a substitute for certification, it is a good tool in preparation for your continuing sailing education.

But if you are just doing this for fun to spend time with friends, you don’t have to work. Given that charters already assign a trained crew, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean voyage.

Along the way, the ship will dock in different ports. This allows people to go inland and spend some time ashore. They can sleep there as well or go back to the ship to watch the harbor and the stars at night before it is time to set sail to their next destination.

At sea, the crew might encounter dolphins, seals and whales swimming alongside the ship. As they get closer to land, they will most likely encounter cormorants, guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins, shags, skuas and razorbills among other creatures.

Part of the package includes good quality fresh food so you don’t have to bring anything when you come aboard. Crews will do the cooking but you can assist if you want to get into the action. 

To make such tours accessible to those who are and are not physically challenged, companies make it a point that the meeting points are easily accessible by plane and at cheap rates. Booking can be made through your travel agent or you can make the reservation online. You can look at their itinerary for the year so you know where the ship is going on a certain date.

There are also sailing clubs for the disabled. Some will require you to pay a membership fee while others hand this out for free.

Perhaps the biggest achievement for those who are disabled is to compete against others that have similar disabilities. Established in 1998, the US Disabling Team competes in various races annually and the biggest one this year happens to be the 2008 Paralympic Games which will be held in Qingdao, China about 430 miles east of the Capital.

So whether it is just for fun or to race for the grand prize, adventure sailing vacation has no limits even to those with physical disabilities. This is because they can be trained to run the ship just as well as an able bodied person so they are able to set out to sea and return back to port.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations