Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

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!

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™.

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

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 .  

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).

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.