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Showing posts from 2009

Tulum tour

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One of the highlights of my trip to the Mayan Riviera of Mexico was the excursion to the Tulum ruins . We opted for Amstar ’s “Tulum Express” tour, a small-group tour with a maximum of 12 passengers. It cost around $60 per person, which included all transportation and entrance fees. Secrets Silversands is near Puerto Morelos, about 15 minutes drive from the Cancun Airport, so it was about an hour to Tulum (a little more due to construction). The van picked us up at the resort at 8:00 am, and we returned at 1:00 pm. There were only seven of us in the group. The road is very good but not particularly scenic. There is still a lot of development and construction going on in this area. The parking lot is a distance from the ruins, with a mediocre craft market. A trolley takes you to the ruins for a small fee (included in the tour) or you could walk. Tickets are required to enter the ruins, and there is an additional fee for video cameras (digital cameras and cell phones with video capab...

Hola from Mexico!

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Here is the view from our Junior Suite at Secrets Silversands on the Mayan Riviera. This morning we're going to explore the ruins of Tulum. Flights from Ithaca on US Airways went pretty well, and the resort is just 15 minutes from the Cancun Airport. The room is very nice, complete with jacuzzi tub and marble shower. Meals have been good, especially the chicken mole. Gotta make time for the spa. I will report in detail soon!

CityCenter Las Vegas

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The CityCenter development in Las Vegas is HUGE. They say you'll either love it or hate it but I still can't decide. CityCenter is very grey and the contemporary architecture is very different from the rest of the Strip, but it is sexy. The public art like this eraser by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen (I hope) and Henry Moore's 'Mother and Child" are nice additions. Right between Bellagio and Monte Carlo on the Strip, the location is excellent. Hoards were pouring into Crystals , the mega-mall (correction: "Retail & Entertainment District"). The Mandarin Oriental was having a grand opening celebration which prevented me from snooping. Pedestrians are justifiably outraged by the design, which forces them to walk the equivalent of three city blocks (complete with huge flight of stairs) to keep their driveway free of human obstructions. Perhaps when construction is completed, they'll implement a better solution. I admit to loving the mo...

Happy Holidays from Vegas

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They have definitely decked the halls Vegas-style at MGM Grand in Las Vegas! The conference was great, I learned a lot. A highlight was the 'Speed Dating' sessions where I met with over 75 representatives from hotels, cruise lines and tour operators in a single afternoon! It was also nice to meet my new colleagues from FROSCH . With 45 locations in 12 states, this huge company still feels like a family business. After the New Year, we will complete the transition by changing logos and email addresses (I'll keep you posted).

December Update

Tomorrow, I’m heading to Las Vegas for a conference and will be out of the office Thursday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec 4 . I will be checking voicemails and emails periodically, and can book travel, but my response time will be slower than usual. The conference schedule is intense but I do plan to check out the new CityCenter , which opened this week. The following weekend, I am escaping to the Mayan Riviera for some fun and sun. I will be out of the office Monday, Dec. 14, and Tuesday, Dec. 15 . I haven’t been to this region since Hurricane Wilma, and plan to tour the ruins of Tulum this time. For the holidays, the office will be closed Dec. 24–25 and Dec. 31–Jan. 1 . If you have a travel emergency, please call the 24/7 Linden Travel Hotline so one of my colleagues can assist you. The number is at the top of your flight itinerary. There is still holiday space available and great deals for winter travel, although the prices are starting to increase. Please let me know if I can...

Holiday Travel

I was quoted in an article about holiday travel in the Ithaca Journal last week, click here for the story . A similar piece was printed in the Binghamton paper this week. Bottom line is it's not too late to book your holiday travel (even Thanksgiving) but space is getting scarce.

Cruises on Sale

October is National Cruise Month and this week is the "World's Largest Cruise Night" (I'm not making this up).  The cruise lines have offered even more reasons to book your next cruise now.  Here is a summary of my favorite cruise lines promotions (most are valid for new bookings made between October 14 - 16). These offers do combine with all current specials. Azamara : $300-$500 onboard credit for 2010 Europe sailings Celebrity : $50-$200 per stateroom on 3-9 day sailings Crystal : $100 per person discount on most 2009-2010 departures Cunard : Client receive $50-$300 onboard credit per stateroom Disney : $50 onboard credit for cruises 6 nights or less. $100 onboard credit for cruises 7 nights or longer Holland America : 3-day Sale with special fares for a variety of destinations Oct 14-16 Princess : Onboard value booklet (worth up to $320) and a reduced $100 per person deposit Regent : $100 per person on-board credit (book Oct 1 – Nov 14) SeaDream :...

New Ithaca-DC service!

US Airways has just announced that it will be adding non-stop flights from Ithaca to Washington DC's Reagan National Airport. This is part of larger deal with Delta where they have swapped  slots: Delta will expand at LaGuardia while US Airways expands in DC. Here's the Press Release .  These changes are subject to government approval, and there's no information about when the service will commence, when the flight times will be or how much the fares will be yet. I will keep you posted as more information becomes available. This is great news for Ithaca,  especially now that winter cruises are sailing from Baltimore. 

Linden Travel merges with Frosch Travel

I am pleased to announce the merger of Linden Travel with Frosch Travel. The transition will be seamless as my focus has always been to provide greater service and it won't effect clients' new or existing bookings. I can assure you that my commitment will continue to remain the same, with added strength. This merger creates a stronger travel enterprise with greater scale, innovation and customer service. The catalyst of this merger was to be able to deliver greater buying power and in turn give our customers added value.   The cruise program is especially exciting, with more special group rates and amenities offered on more sailings.  I value our relationship and trust that we at Linden FROSCH will continue to earn your business. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Here's the Press Release: Houston-based Frosch Travel (“FROSCH”) announced that it has completed a merger with New York-based Linden Travel. The merger creates a full...

Enriching Journeys

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Enjoy the latest issue of Virtuoso Insights .  Whether you're looking to turn your vacations into opportunities to learn new skills or for your chance to save the world, the "Enriching Journeys" issue of Virtuoso Insights offers great ideas for travel that are sure to inspire you.  Call me for more information:  607-279-1734.

Family Fun

Memorial Day kicks off the Summer season, and if you haven't made your family vacation plans yet, it is NOT too late. There are fantastic deals out there for beach getaways, Alaska and Mediterranean cruises, and close-to-home quick escapes. Here is a Insider's Guide to Family Fun with exclusive Virtuoso offers. Here you'll find hotels and resorts around the globe that cater to kids with special amenities and acclaimed children's programs. Considering a cruise? That's a great way to stretch your vacation dollars, and I can recommend cruise lines that are especially family-friendly. Click here to see all offers . Enjoy the long weekend!

Virtuoso Quick Escapes

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Enjoy the latest Virtuoso® Travel Catalog -  QUICK ESCAPES .  You don't need to take a long trip to create memories. From quick getaways that include a quaint beach town along the Pacific, an architectural tour of Toronto, living museums of the Mediterranean and more, this catalog is filled with great ideas for mini-vacations that can maximize your Return on Life™.

Four Seasons Resort Exuma Closing

The Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma is closing in two weeks, effective May 26. The Development company that owns the resort has been in receivership and a new owner could not be found.   There are many lessons to be learned here about traveling in a weak economy: 1. Use a travel agent, preferably one who has a preferred relationship with the hotel company. 2. Don't assume that the hotel brand actually owns the property. Licensing agreements are the norm in the travel industry. 3. Buy travel insurance with financial default coverage (and check the list of suppliers included) 4. Use your credit card for all travel purchases (most cards offer some additional protection for travel purchases but check with your bank for details)   Here's an excerpt from the Press Release: " PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the receiver, has worked diligently to identify a new owner for the development, which includes the Hotel. PWC announced some important developments today regarding the status o...

Hotel WiFi Report

Here it is: the 2009 HotelChatter.com WiFi Report on hotels internet-access charges and service. Guests rate internet-access as the single most important room amenity, above the signature bedding and decent lighting; but hotels are still slow to accommodate our tech needs. Luxury hotels almost all charge for in-room service while budget hotels often offer it for free. This year's report details The Best (including my fave hotels: Fairmont and Kimpton), The Worst , and a handy chart .  

NYC Theater Weekend

My husband surprised me with an amazing trip to New York last weekend. He got tickets to "God of Carnage" and "Waiting for Godot" to create an unforgettable Existential Birthday getaway! Both plays have just been nominated for Tony awards , and we highly recommend them. " God of Carnage " features James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden. The acting was terrific, it was an intense domestic drama. All four actors have been nominated for best actor/actress in a play. " Waiting for Godot " stars Bill Irwin, Nathan Lane, John Goodman and John Glover. It was excellent! The comic timing was superb. We stayed at AKA Times Square which I'll review soon (loved it).

Special Travel Offers from Virtuoso

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Now, more than ever, the time you spend with family, friends and even yourself is your most valuable investment. To ensure you're spending it wisely, take advantage of our personal knowledge, expertise, and connections around the globe to design your custom travel experiences. There's never been a better time to invest in your life. Click here for Special Offers  to help you reconnect through unique and wonderful experiences and realize your greatest return on life.

Virtuoso Life Hotel Issue

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"Using your Virtuoso travel advisor to plan even a close-to-home hotel stay is a smart move: Your advisor can secure a great rate, along with fun extras such as daily breakfast, complimentary upgrades, late check-outs, even spa treatments, resort credits, bottles of wines and spirits, and the like.... There are more than 800 Virtuoso hotels and resorts and this, our annual Hotel Issue, showcases more than 100 of them. Each one offers something amazing."  Editor Elaine Srnka. Click here to enjoy this issue of Virtuoso Life .

Mexico Travel Information (Swine Flu)

An hour after Carnival's press release, the other cruise lines have followed suit (big surprise). Here is a link to to an article  describing all revised itinerary details. As of April 29 at 10a, the US State Department has NOT restricted US travel to Mexico. The CDC has suggested that Americans avoid non-essential travel to Mexico. The WHO has not advised that any borders be closed or any travel to be restricted. That said, I am advising my clients to cancel their upcoming trips to Mexico.  Most airlines have relaxed their change penalties for tickets to Mexico for travel within the next couple weeks. Here's a link to a summary of airline policies . Many resorts and vacation wholesalers have also relaxed their cancellation penalties and will allow trips to be re-scheduled without penalties. Contact your travel agent for more information. 

Cruise Line cancels Mexico stops

Carnival Cruise Lines seems to be the first company to cancel all stops in Mexico for the upcoming week due to the Swine flu epidemic. I received this notification at 8pm.  I predict that Royal Caribbean will follow suit shortly to avoid massive cancellations. Most other lines have their fleet based in Europe and Alaska this summer, which are unaffected areas.   Here's the email: April 28, 2009 Dear Travel Partner, Carnival Cruise Lines has decided to cancel all calls at Mexican ports for all current sailings and all voyages departing on Thursday, April 30th through Monday, May 4th.  In many cases, we will be able to substitute the cancelled call with an alternative port.  Additionally, we are working on alternatives for those itineraries impacted by this decision. Full details will be available by 5pm Wednesday, April 29th. Once final details are confirmed for these itinerary changes, we will send you an automated message listing your impacted bookings for each affected voyage. In...

Adventures at Sea

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Cruise deals abound for the rest of 2009 and now cruise sales have been extended through all of 2010, so booking early this year is a great value.  Luxury cruise lines are offering unprecedented discounts, on-board credit offers and booking incentives.  Please enjoy the latest Virtuoso Travel catalog - ADVENTURES AT SEA, which highlights a variety of special offers. To access the digital edition, simply click here .

Virtuoso Insights

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Please enjoy the latest issue of VIRTUOSO INSIGHTS. To access this digital edition, simply click here to download the issue. As you read through this Family Issue of VIRTUOSO INSIGHTS, you'll find great ideas for relaxing and reconnecting with those you love while creating travel memories you'll treasure forever. Now is a great time for finding exceptional value on extraordinary travel. As your Virtuoso travel advisor, I'm here to guide you through the terrific options available.

Win a trip from Linden Travel

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In celebration of Linden Travel's 40th anniversary, we are offering three great travel prizes in the Linden Travel 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Enter every drawing period to increase your chances of winning.  Click here to enter drawing and view official rules. 

Linden Travel celebrates 40 years!

Linden Travel is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week, which we commemorate by launching a new website . The designers have done a fantastic job and the travel photos from my colleagues make it sensational. Here's the press release in the Wall Street Journal .

You're Invited!

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Join my husband Michael and me on a Windstar Cruises sailing from Turkey through the Greek Islands to Athens. Come aboard our ‘private yacht’ and enjoy the treasures of the Aegean Sea! We chose the perfect ship to explore these fascinating destinations. The Wind Star departs Istanbul on June 13, 2009, for a 7-night cruise to Athens (arriving June 20, 2009). Ports of call include Kusadasi (tour the ruins of Ephesus), the Aegean beach resort of Bodrum in Turkey, and the Greek Islands Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos. Our tall-masted sailing ship accommodates a maximum of 148 guests, while the crew of 94 will pamper us onboard. She offers luxurious stateroom amenities (including iPod Nanos and Bose SoundDocks), and a Water Sports Platform with complimentary equipment. We’ll enjoy excellent cuisine with open seating and no dress codes. Of course the ship also has a pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, casino and wireless internet access (so I can stay in touch with those of you not able to come al...

Celebrity Cruises

I inspected the Celebrity Constellation in October 2008 and am finally posting the review (click here for slideshow ). The truth is that I liked this ship but didn’t love her. The staterooms were attractive with decent design, the public areas were very nice and the space was well utilized. So why am I lukewarm? It looks like a lot of other cruise ships, and there were no distinctive elements to impress me. In fairness, Celebrity is one my favorite Premium Cruise lines and I loved sailing on the Celebrity Century (before the big stretch and refurbishment in 2006). That ship had a very boutique hotel design with delicious color, space-age furniture, great tile work (especially in the spa) and fabulous carpets. Aesthetically she had a very distinctive personality, which I loved. The Celebrity Constellation was the last of the four “Millennium Class” sisters (Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Infinity); she began cruising in 2002. Nine hundred and seventy five staterooms ...

Coolest travel gadget ever!

My dream has come true! They have finally invented an audio phrasebook that can download to your iPod (or iPhone). No need to struggle when asking for the time, just click and the properly pronounced phrases are whispered in your ear to repeat at will. Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek and German are currently available. And they’re only the cost of one song: 99 cents! Lonely Planet offers audio phrasebooks too, including Cantonese, Czech, Japanese, Mandarin, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese. They’re $9.99 each.

2009 Service Fees

Happy New Year! After careful consideration, I have decided NOT to increase service fees, at least for the first half of the year. Here is a summary of the current service fees: TICKET PROCESSING • Advise best price, times, routing, connections, and seat options. • Inform you of airline fees (baggage, etc) and security procedures. • Arrange car rental, hotel reservations, and travel insurance with no extra service fees. • Monitor schedule changes until departure • Negotiate with airlines on your behalf if schedule changes are unacceptable, and re-accommodate you, including re-issuing tickets. • Provide assistance during travel if flights are delayed or cancelled (24 hour hotline available for clients). $25.00 Domestic Ticket Processing Fee (capped at $75 for family traveling together on the same itinerary) $50.00 International Ticket Processing Fee (capped at $150 for family traveling together on the same itinerary) $15.00 Hotel and Car-only Reservation Fee VACATION PLANNING I don’t be...