Delta to charge for bags at curb
By Steve Huettel, St Petersburg Times Staff Writer
Published Friday, March 28, 2008 10:29 PM
Three more days, and Delta Air Lines customers will start paying for the convenience of curbside check-in service.The airline will charge $3 per bag to check luggage at curbside, Delta said Friday in a story first reported on the St. Petersburg Times' Web site, www.tampabay.com. The fee goes into effect Tuesday at Tampa International and 10 other major airports, then rolls out at 75 more cities nationwide April 15."It's a business decision that reflects today's competitive landscape and cost pressures," said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott. "In many cases, it will make us more competitive."Delta and Continental Airlines are the only major network carriers that don't charge for curbside check-in. Delta's new fee will be $1 per bag higher than those charged by American Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
The fee will be waived for Delta's most prized customers: elite Medallion-level fliers, first-class and business-class travelers. Passengers who check in online also won't be charged.Will the fee drive regular curbside customers to the ticket counter, where checking one standard-size bag is still free?
"With the baby, probably not," said Peggy Braitsch, flying home to Cincinnati from Tampa on Friday with her granddaughter, Mary, 1, in a stroller. "For me (alone)? It probably would have."Record prices for oil and refined jet fuel are forcing airlines to find more ways raise revenue. Fare increases haven't been enough to cover the bills, they say, and don't stick if a competitor refuses to match them. More carriers are turning to higher luggage fees.Northwest said Friday it would start charging customers $25 each way to check a second bag, following the lead of United, US Airways and Delta. The airline also boosted fees from $80 to $100 for three or more checked bags and from $25 to $50 for luggage more than 50 pounds.
One group certainly won't like Delta's new curbside fee: Prospect of Tampa skycaps working for Delta. Like other airlines, Delta will pocket what it's calling an "administration fee'' on signs posted at curbside counters. Signs will note that tips aren't included in the $3 charge.Skycaps, who make most of their money on tips, say the disclaimers don't help. Many travelers still refuse to pay a tip in addition to the fee.
A group of skycaps recently sued American Airlines, seeking restitution for lost tips since the fee began three years ago."We are looking for fairness for the hardworking employees who every day help passengers,'' said Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the skycaps."Some of the guys have worked 20, 30, 40 years as skycaps. This is their profession. These guys' lives have been devastated by this.''
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
The 12th Annual HARBOR HOUSE 400 Ride For New Beginnings
The 12th AnnualHARBOR HOUSE 400 Ride For New Beginnings
July 9~13, 2008
This dynamic bicycle ride takes cyclists and support team members on a scenic journey to raise critical funds for Ocean’s Harbor House. This is the only agency of its kind in Ocean and Monmouth County which helps homeless, abused, and runaway children and youth. This charity ride is the primary fundraiser for Ocean’s Harbor House which assists over 8,000 local youth and families annually. This year promises to be the best ride yet. The ride offers something for riders of all experience levels, from the novice to the seasoned veteran.
For more information on how you can support or participate please call 732-929-9096.
July 9~13, 2008
This dynamic bicycle ride takes cyclists and support team members on a scenic journey to raise critical funds for Ocean’s Harbor House. This is the only agency of its kind in Ocean and Monmouth County which helps homeless, abused, and runaway children and youth. This charity ride is the primary fundraiser for Ocean’s Harbor House which assists over 8,000 local youth and families annually. This year promises to be the best ride yet. The ride offers something for riders of all experience levels, from the novice to the seasoned veteran.
For more information on how you can support or participate please call 732-929-9096.
Monday, February 18, 2008
February 2008 Tips and Trips Newsletter
Cruise News
Royal Caribbean Savings**
Savings valid for Ocean View & above staterooms
Booking through March 31, 2008
Save $50 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Majesty of the Seas- 4-Night Bahamas From Miami - 8/11, 8/18, 8/25/2008
Enchantment of the Seas- 5-Night Western Caribbean From Fort Lauderdale - 8/18, 9/6, 9/15/2008
Save $100 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Adventure of the Seas- 7-Night Southern Caribbean From San Juan - 8/31, 9/14, 10/5/2008
Explorer of the Seas- 9-Night Atlantic Canada & Quebec From Cape Liberty Cruise Port, NJ- 8/28, 10/9/2008
Freedom of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Miami - 9/7, 9/21, 10/5/2008
Liberty of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Miami - 9/13, 9/27/2008
Liberty of the Seas- 7-Night Western Caribbean From Miami - 9/6/08
Mariner of the Seas- 7-Night Western Caribbean From Port Canaveral - 9/21, 10/5/2008
Mariner of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Port Canaveral - 9/28/08
Splendour of the Seas- 7-Night Greek Isles/Dalmatian Coast From Venice - 8/30, 9/27/2008 Splendour of the Seas- 7-Night Greek Isles From Venice - 10/4/2008
Voyager of the Seas- 7-Night Classic Mediterranean From Barcelona - 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 10/4/2008
Save $200 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Brilliance of the Seas- 12-Night Mediterranean Greek Isles From Barcelona - 8/21/2008
Brilliance of the Seas - 12-Night Mediterranean Venice From Barcelona - 10/20/2008 Legend of the Seas- 13-Night Italy & Croatia From Rome - 8/16, 9/10, 10/5/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 12-Night Eastern Mediterranean From Rome - 9/7/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 10-Night Greece & Turkey From Barcelona - 9/19/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 11-Night Eastern Mediterranean From Barcelona - 9/29/2008
** Term and conditions: Valid for OCEAN VIEW or above staterooms booked between through March 31, 2008 on the itineraries mentioned above. Offer is based on when the stateroom is booked, not deposited or date of final payment. This offer is not transferable. Savings are in U.S. dollars and are not redeemable for cash. This offer is valid for NEW individual bookings only. Offer not applicable to Groups. THE OFFER CANNOT BE USED WITH CERTAIN FARES. This offer cannot be combined with any coupon on the same sailing. Offer is not combinable with any other promotion or offer unless expressly stated therein. Not combinable with any other National Account offer. Subject to availability. Offer can be withdrawn at any time. Singles paying 200% are entitled to full face value. Discount applies on a per stateroom basis, double occupancy. Prices vary by ship and sailing date and space is subject to availability at time of booking. Deposits must be made in order for savings to be applied.
Princess Chef's Table
Princess Cruises plans to implement its nascent Chef's Table experience aboard most of its ships by early this year.
Designed for foodies, the Chef's Table offers an evening that begins with a welcoming of hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the ship's galley with the executive chef, followed by a multi-course tasting dinner in the main dining room.
The Chef's Table is currently available on Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and Caribbean Princess. Princess' smaller ships, Tahitian Princess, Pacific Princess and Royal Princess, are not included in the initial rollout, but may be at a later date.
The special dinner can be reserved for up to 10 passengers at a cost of $75 per person. Reservations can be made onboard through the ship's DINE telephone line or in person the first day of the cruise at the dining reservations table.
Smoking Ban Expanded
Crystal Cruises is imposing a stricter smoking policy, banning smoking on all stateroom and suite verandas on its two ships beginning in May.
New Cruise Boarding Rules Start Feb. 18
New cruise boarding rules go into effect on Feb. 18. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) advises that, starting that date, passengers must board at U.S. ports at least one hour prior to the ship's scheduled departure. CLIA also recommends that passengers use any online check-in systems offered by cruise lines to submit their information as soon as possible before arriving at the departure port. Another good idea is arriving into the departure port the night before the sailing date, to avoid any problems with flight delays on the date of departure. If passengers fail to make it to the ship by the hour-before-departure deadline, they may be denied boarding without any refund of their cruise payments.
Note that companies like Royal Caribbean will ask passengers to arrive even earlier for check-ins. For Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara sailings, passengers must complete their online check-ins no later than three days prior to the cruise departure. If they don't, they will be required to complete the process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. If passengers are not checked in and onboard the ship at least 90 minutes prior to that time, they will not be permitted to sail.
Another reminder: Starting Jan. 31, cruise passengers can no longer orally declare their citizenship to customs officials. Instead, they must carry proof of citizenship - such as a passport, a birth certificate, or naturalization papers - and a government-issued ID such as a drivers license. However, I recommend that all those who are traveling out of the country on a cruise have their passports. The passport requirements are constantly being revised and you don't want to be denied boarding.
Hotel and Resort News
Wyndham's "Pure Rooms"
Wyndham hotels have started to make environmentally friendly accommodations for guests who suffer from allergies. Pure Rooms, which use a special process to disinfect rooms, are available at 34 hotels nationwide, with Wyndham Hotels being the biggest chain to use to Pure Rooms. "We received favorable comments when we test-marketed the rooms so we decided to roll it out for all our properties, about 10% of the rooms as well as conference rooms," said Faith Taylor, Wyndham's vice president of product development and innovation. Read the entire article Chicago Tribune
Religious Travel
Religius travel has become increasingly popular. Several travel suppliers have put together packages that will take you to places like Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), Knock (Ireland), Israel, and of course, the many sites of Rome and the surrounding area. Read a recent article in USA Today.
Safety Tips for Parents
When you are on vacation with your children, use your camera in your cell phone to take a picture of each of your children each day. This way if you become separated from your child, you will have an exact description of what he or she is wearing that day. Use your digital camera if you don't have a camera on your phone.
Safety While Traveling Abroad
Travel safety tips for travel safety tips from the U.S. State Department.
Airline News
JetBlue will begin offering passengers free e-mail access on one of its airplanes next week.
A new automated baggage screening system at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport can screen 5,000 checked bags each hour. The system will first operate within Northwest Airlines' baggage system, and eventually all carriers at the airport will use it.
United Airlines announced a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee.
This policy is for travel exclusively within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada and applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Read more...
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The goal of The Travel Bug Vacation Planners is to remove the stress from your vacation planning and allow you to relax, knowing that the details of your trip have been arranged for you.
We also provide concierge service including itinerary planning, show and concert tickets, dinner reservations, sporting events, and private transportation.
Please contact me at 732-747-8187 for your personalized vacation planning.
Happy travels,
Mary McGrath
Your Personal Vacation Planner
The Travel Bug Vacation Planners, LLC
Personal Planning, Lasting Memories
Royal Caribbean Savings**
Savings valid for Ocean View & above staterooms
Booking through March 31, 2008
Save $50 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Majesty of the Seas- 4-Night Bahamas From Miami - 8/11, 8/18, 8/25/2008
Enchantment of the Seas- 5-Night Western Caribbean From Fort Lauderdale - 8/18, 9/6, 9/15/2008
Save $100 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Adventure of the Seas- 7-Night Southern Caribbean From San Juan - 8/31, 9/14, 10/5/2008
Explorer of the Seas- 9-Night Atlantic Canada & Quebec From Cape Liberty Cruise Port, NJ- 8/28, 10/9/2008
Freedom of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Miami - 9/7, 9/21, 10/5/2008
Liberty of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Miami - 9/13, 9/27/2008
Liberty of the Seas- 7-Night Western Caribbean From Miami - 9/6/08
Mariner of the Seas- 7-Night Western Caribbean From Port Canaveral - 9/21, 10/5/2008
Mariner of the Seas- 7-Night Eastern Caribbean From Port Canaveral - 9/28/08
Splendour of the Seas- 7-Night Greek Isles/Dalmatian Coast From Venice - 8/30, 9/27/2008 Splendour of the Seas- 7-Night Greek Isles From Venice - 10/4/2008
Voyager of the Seas- 7-Night Classic Mediterranean From Barcelona - 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 10/4/2008
Save $200 per stateroom on the following ship & sail dates:
Brilliance of the Seas- 12-Night Mediterranean Greek Isles From Barcelona - 8/21/2008
Brilliance of the Seas - 12-Night Mediterranean Venice From Barcelona - 10/20/2008 Legend of the Seas- 13-Night Italy & Croatia From Rome - 8/16, 9/10, 10/5/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 12-Night Eastern Mediterranean From Rome - 9/7/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 10-Night Greece & Turkey From Barcelona - 9/19/2008
Navigator of the Seas - 11-Night Eastern Mediterranean From Barcelona - 9/29/2008
** Term and conditions: Valid for OCEAN VIEW or above staterooms booked between through March 31, 2008 on the itineraries mentioned above. Offer is based on when the stateroom is booked, not deposited or date of final payment. This offer is not transferable. Savings are in U.S. dollars and are not redeemable for cash. This offer is valid for NEW individual bookings only. Offer not applicable to Groups. THE OFFER CANNOT BE USED WITH CERTAIN FARES. This offer cannot be combined with any coupon on the same sailing. Offer is not combinable with any other promotion or offer unless expressly stated therein. Not combinable with any other National Account offer. Subject to availability. Offer can be withdrawn at any time. Singles paying 200% are entitled to full face value. Discount applies on a per stateroom basis, double occupancy. Prices vary by ship and sailing date and space is subject to availability at time of booking. Deposits must be made in order for savings to be applied.
Princess Chef's Table
Princess Cruises plans to implement its nascent Chef's Table experience aboard most of its ships by early this year.
Designed for foodies, the Chef's Table offers an evening that begins with a welcoming of hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the ship's galley with the executive chef, followed by a multi-course tasting dinner in the main dining room.
The Chef's Table is currently available on Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and Caribbean Princess. Princess' smaller ships, Tahitian Princess, Pacific Princess and Royal Princess, are not included in the initial rollout, but may be at a later date.
The special dinner can be reserved for up to 10 passengers at a cost of $75 per person. Reservations can be made onboard through the ship's DINE telephone line or in person the first day of the cruise at the dining reservations table.
Smoking Ban Expanded
Crystal Cruises is imposing a stricter smoking policy, banning smoking on all stateroom and suite verandas on its two ships beginning in May.
New Cruise Boarding Rules Start Feb. 18
New cruise boarding rules go into effect on Feb. 18. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) advises that, starting that date, passengers must board at U.S. ports at least one hour prior to the ship's scheduled departure. CLIA also recommends that passengers use any online check-in systems offered by cruise lines to submit their information as soon as possible before arriving at the departure port. Another good idea is arriving into the departure port the night before the sailing date, to avoid any problems with flight delays on the date of departure. If passengers fail to make it to the ship by the hour-before-departure deadline, they may be denied boarding without any refund of their cruise payments.
Note that companies like Royal Caribbean will ask passengers to arrive even earlier for check-ins. For Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara sailings, passengers must complete their online check-ins no later than three days prior to the cruise departure. If they don't, they will be required to complete the process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. If passengers are not checked in and onboard the ship at least 90 minutes prior to that time, they will not be permitted to sail.
Another reminder: Starting Jan. 31, cruise passengers can no longer orally declare their citizenship to customs officials. Instead, they must carry proof of citizenship - such as a passport, a birth certificate, or naturalization papers - and a government-issued ID such as a drivers license. However, I recommend that all those who are traveling out of the country on a cruise have their passports. The passport requirements are constantly being revised and you don't want to be denied boarding.
Hotel and Resort News
Wyndham's "Pure Rooms"
Wyndham hotels have started to make environmentally friendly accommodations for guests who suffer from allergies. Pure Rooms, which use a special process to disinfect rooms, are available at 34 hotels nationwide, with Wyndham Hotels being the biggest chain to use to Pure Rooms. "We received favorable comments when we test-marketed the rooms so we decided to roll it out for all our properties, about 10% of the rooms as well as conference rooms," said Faith Taylor, Wyndham's vice president of product development and innovation. Read the entire article Chicago Tribune
Religious Travel
Religius travel has become increasingly popular. Several travel suppliers have put together packages that will take you to places like Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), Knock (Ireland), Israel, and of course, the many sites of Rome and the surrounding area. Read a recent article in USA Today.
Safety Tips for Parents
When you are on vacation with your children, use your camera in your cell phone to take a picture of each of your children each day. This way if you become separated from your child, you will have an exact description of what he or she is wearing that day. Use your digital camera if you don't have a camera on your phone.
Safety While Traveling Abroad
Travel safety tips for travel safety tips from the U.S. State Department.
Airline News
JetBlue will begin offering passengers free e-mail access on one of its airplanes next week.
A new automated baggage screening system at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport can screen 5,000 checked bags each hour. The system will first operate within Northwest Airlines' baggage system, and eventually all carriers at the airport will use it.
United Airlines announced a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee.
This policy is for travel exclusively within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada and applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Read more...
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The goal of The Travel Bug Vacation Planners is to remove the stress from your vacation planning and allow you to relax, knowing that the details of your trip have been arranged for you.
We also provide concierge service including itinerary planning, show and concert tickets, dinner reservations, sporting events, and private transportation.
Please contact me at 732-747-8187 for your personalized vacation planning.
Happy travels,
Mary McGrath
Your Personal Vacation Planner
The Travel Bug Vacation Planners, LLC
Personal Planning, Lasting Memories
Saratoga Springs Resort at Disney World
Tommy and I spent a long weekend at the new Saratoga Springs Resort at Disney World. Saratoga Springs is the newest of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts, although you don't have to be a vacation club member to stay at any of these resorts.
Since we were only staying from Friday to Monday (2/1 - 2/4) we decided to stay in a studio. The studio is large - it has a queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa, table with two chairs, kitchenette, and a balcony. Our view from the balcony was great. We overlooked the lake which has a geiser in the middle of it. There were swans that stayed in the area during the day. Very peaceful. We were close to the bus stop (we didn't rent a car) and to the check-in area which houses the restaurants and store and the main pool. The only complaint was that the mirror which hung by the table and chairs was so dusty that a prior "tenant" had drawn a heart in the dust. A little bit of dusting on housekeeping's part would help.
Since we arrived in the afternoon so we chose not to go to the parks that day. We had the Disney Dining Plan which we had never tried before. We took a ferry over to Downtown Disney and had dinner at the new Irish pub, Raglan Road Irish Pub. The food was great as was the atmosphere. We had a table pretty much in the middle of the room and the Irish band played. Every once in a while the Irish dancer stepped up on to the platform and danced a jig. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
After dinner we walked around Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney. We went in to the new magic store, Magic Masters, and were quite entertained by the magician. We ended up buying two magic tricks, one for each of us, and when you buy something they bring you into a hidden room to show you how to perform the trick. New career? I think we need a little practice yet!
Saturday we spent in Epcot. We thought we would split the day between parks but we had so much fun there we decided to stay. We had fun at "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" and at "Soarin'". "Maelstrom" is always fun (at the Norway Pavilion) and we also went on the refurbished and renamed ride in Mexico (it used to be El Rio del Tiempo but it is now the Gran Fiesta ride with the Three Caballeros). But the best part of Epcot was our dinner. We went to the Living Seas Pavilion where the Coral Reef restaurant is and put our names on the list for dinner. We didn't have to wait more than a few minutes because we got there when they opened. We had the best food, the best view (the aquarium wall is right there), and the very best service. Blanca was our server and she always had a smile on her face. She was so friendly as was her daughter, Jasmine. Tommy asked for the manager so he could compliment Blanca. There were some diners that were celebrating their anniversary and for a fee, you can request a banner to be held up by the divers. The diver went over to where their table was and held it up for them. We also saw the divers who were guests spending their time in the aquarium. This is one restaurant we had never been to before but we will definitely come back. I'm glad that the Le Cellier restaurant in Canada had no openings for us or we wouldn't have had the chance to eat at the Coral Reef.
We stayed in Epcot to see the fireworks show, Illuminations, then went back to our room. We used the bus system to get around the resorts and parks. Each park has an area for the buses and you just go to the waiting area designated for your particular resort.
On Sunday we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios (name changed from Disney MGM). The first thing we did was go on The Great Movie Ride which is one of the rides we always go on. Then on to the Rock 'n Roller Coaster followed by the Tower of Terror. I went on the Tower twice (by myself - Tommy doesn't like this one) and I have to say the elevator on the right is better than the one on the left. Just my opinion.
After we left this park we went on to the Magic Kingdom. We went on the newly refurbished Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Both were even better than before! Unfortunately Splash Mountain was closed for refurbishing. We ended with the Hall of Presidents then made our long trek back to our room. Long because we had cancelled our dinner reservations (we were going to have dinner back at the resort and watch the Super Bowl there) and decided to eat in the park. No luck. Then we tried the Contemporary restaurants and again, no luck. So we went to wait for the bus, but when the bus came we had to take the Old Key West people because their bus hadn't shown up. Instead of bringing us back first, we had to go all the way through Old Key West to all of its stops first, the go on to Saratoga Springs. We were hungry, missed a lot of the game, and a little annoyed. But we ended up getting food at the take out area of our resort and brought it back to the room to see the rest of the game.
A word of advice: if you purchase the dining plan (which is well worth it and less expensive than buying all the food on your own) make sure you make your reservations prior to arriving at Disney World. Guests can reserve 180 days in advance and the more popular restaurants sell out. If there is a particular restaurant you really want to go to, don't disappoint yourself. Make the reservations. They can always be cancelled or changed (make sure you find out the cancellation policy of each restaurant you reserve). You can also use the dining plan for dinner shows such as the Hoop de Doo and the luau. Two dinner points are used for these specialty restaurants.
Since we were only staying from Friday to Monday (2/1 - 2/4) we decided to stay in a studio. The studio is large - it has a queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa, table with two chairs, kitchenette, and a balcony. Our view from the balcony was great. We overlooked the lake which has a geiser in the middle of it. There were swans that stayed in the area during the day. Very peaceful. We were close to the bus stop (we didn't rent a car) and to the check-in area which houses the restaurants and store and the main pool. The only complaint was that the mirror which hung by the table and chairs was so dusty that a prior "tenant" had drawn a heart in the dust. A little bit of dusting on housekeeping's part would help.
Since we arrived in the afternoon so we chose not to go to the parks that day. We had the Disney Dining Plan which we had never tried before. We took a ferry over to Downtown Disney and had dinner at the new Irish pub, Raglan Road Irish Pub. The food was great as was the atmosphere. We had a table pretty much in the middle of the room and the Irish band played. Every once in a while the Irish dancer stepped up on to the platform and danced a jig. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
After dinner we walked around Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney. We went in to the new magic store, Magic Masters, and were quite entertained by the magician. We ended up buying two magic tricks, one for each of us, and when you buy something they bring you into a hidden room to show you how to perform the trick. New career? I think we need a little practice yet!
Saturday we spent in Epcot. We thought we would split the day between parks but we had so much fun there we decided to stay. We had fun at "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" and at "Soarin'". "Maelstrom" is always fun (at the Norway Pavilion) and we also went on the refurbished and renamed ride in Mexico (it used to be El Rio del Tiempo but it is now the Gran Fiesta ride with the Three Caballeros). But the best part of Epcot was our dinner. We went to the Living Seas Pavilion where the Coral Reef restaurant is and put our names on the list for dinner. We didn't have to wait more than a few minutes because we got there when they opened. We had the best food, the best view (the aquarium wall is right there), and the very best service. Blanca was our server and she always had a smile on her face. She was so friendly as was her daughter, Jasmine. Tommy asked for the manager so he could compliment Blanca. There were some diners that were celebrating their anniversary and for a fee, you can request a banner to be held up by the divers. The diver went over to where their table was and held it up for them. We also saw the divers who were guests spending their time in the aquarium. This is one restaurant we had never been to before but we will definitely come back. I'm glad that the Le Cellier restaurant in Canada had no openings for us or we wouldn't have had the chance to eat at the Coral Reef.
We stayed in Epcot to see the fireworks show, Illuminations, then went back to our room. We used the bus system to get around the resorts and parks. Each park has an area for the buses and you just go to the waiting area designated for your particular resort.
On Sunday we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios (name changed from Disney MGM). The first thing we did was go on The Great Movie Ride which is one of the rides we always go on. Then on to the Rock 'n Roller Coaster followed by the Tower of Terror. I went on the Tower twice (by myself - Tommy doesn't like this one) and I have to say the elevator on the right is better than the one on the left. Just my opinion.
After we left this park we went on to the Magic Kingdom. We went on the newly refurbished Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Both were even better than before! Unfortunately Splash Mountain was closed for refurbishing. We ended with the Hall of Presidents then made our long trek back to our room. Long because we had cancelled our dinner reservations (we were going to have dinner back at the resort and watch the Super Bowl there) and decided to eat in the park. No luck. Then we tried the Contemporary restaurants and again, no luck. So we went to wait for the bus, but when the bus came we had to take the Old Key West people because their bus hadn't shown up. Instead of bringing us back first, we had to go all the way through Old Key West to all of its stops first, the go on to Saratoga Springs. We were hungry, missed a lot of the game, and a little annoyed. But we ended up getting food at the take out area of our resort and brought it back to the room to see the rest of the game.
A word of advice: if you purchase the dining plan (which is well worth it and less expensive than buying all the food on your own) make sure you make your reservations prior to arriving at Disney World. Guests can reserve 180 days in advance and the more popular restaurants sell out. If there is a particular restaurant you really want to go to, don't disappoint yourself. Make the reservations. They can always be cancelled or changed (make sure you find out the cancellation policy of each restaurant you reserve). You can also use the dining plan for dinner shows such as the Hoop de Doo and the luau. Two dinner points are used for these specialty restaurants.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Say Thanks to our Troops
Faolan in her Christmas attire
This time of year is especially hard on those who are in the armed forces and are away from home. Some of them might not get much mail and will be particularly lonely. Why not send them something to cheer them up? Here is a free and easy way to send a thank you to our troops who are serving our country. Click here to access the free site provided by Xerox.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Review of the Disney Magic
Disney Magic Cruise Review September 8 – 15, 2007
Tommy and I went on a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic. This was our third Disney cruise – the second on the Disney Magic. We booked a balcony stateroom (deck 7; cabin 7076, mid-ship, port side).We flew down from Newark to Orlando the evening of September 7th and stayed at the Hyatt Orlando Airport. This is so convenient because the hotel is right within the airport and you come off the plane and go directly to the desk to check-in. The hotel bellhop picks up your luggage for you and delivers it to your room.
We had our dinner at the hotel restaurant and were able to sit in the lounge area while watching the Rutgers/Navy football game on the large screen. Our room was very comfortable and it was nice that we didn’t have to drive anywhere considering the time we arrived in Orlando.The next morning we were picked up by Art’s Shuttle and our own private shuttle to Port Canaveral. The cost is $70 for the shuttle and it can accommodate 4 passengers. The other option is to take Disney’s shuttle, but then we would be on a bus with lots of other people and the cost is about the same.
Check in at the port was very smooth and when you check in you receive a number. They board the ship by group numbers which makes for an easy boarding experience. As soon as we dropped off our carry on luggage we went to see if we could change our dining reservations. We were hoping to get one of the waiters we have had in the past but the dining was full. We also had asked about getting reservations at Palo, the adult only restaurant, for either brunch or afternoon tea. They were all booked but we were high on the wait list. (Later on we decided to change to late dining and were able to do so by going to the restaurant at our designated time and having the head waiter change us to late dining. No problem because late dining still had some openings.)
Next we went to the Vista Spa to make reservations. We purchased a week pass for the Rainforest Room ($75 per person), which is a thermal suite with an Arabian theme. Inside are two steam rooms, one which incorporates aromatherapy; a sauna; tropical rain showers; and the best part of all, heated tile lounge chairs. There is a fountain in the center of the room and spa music plays softly in the background. We spent a lot of time in there! We also scheduled a “couples choice” massage in the Vista Spa Villas for the next day. The Vista Spa Villas are private villas overlooking the open water and they are exclusive to Disney. We first had a foot cleansing followed by 20 minutes in the outdoor Jacuzzi to which a milk bath and other soothing scents were added. Following this we had a 75 minute couple’s hot stone massage. Pure bliss!
Since we are members of the Castaway Club (having sailed Disney in the past) we had lots of goodies in our stateroom. We had a nice tote bag, two Castaway Club cups, two little flags, lanyards to carry our room cards, pins to keep and trade, a travel container of sani-wipes, and bracelets showing we are members. As Disney Vacation Club members we received more lanyards (these were a bit nicer), more pins, and a really nice Captain’s Log scrapbook. We also had a Castaway Club reception as well as a DVC member reception during the week.
Also located at the Vista Spa is the fitness center. The fitness center has been enlarged, but it is still small compared to other cruise lines. The nicest thing about Disney’s fitness center is that there is no charge for the classes. Classes included: yoga, spinning, pilates, yogalates, ab attack, stretch, yoga on the beach, and detox for weight loss as well as seminars on nutrition and skin therapy. The spa personnel were all wonderful, especially Lisa and Jennifer who were our massage therapists.
Dining: There are three early dining times (5:30, 5:45, and 6:00) and three late dining times (8:00, 8:15, and 8:30) and three restaurants through which you rotate during the week. We started at Lumiere’s restaurant which would be considered the fanciest of the three.
On Monday we went on to Animator’s Palate and Tuesday we were at Parrot Cay, my favorite of the three. Animator’s Palate starts out in black and white and by the end of your dining time, the room is in full color. Color is “magically” added to the walls and to the waiter’s vests. There are tv screens on the walls and they first show the old black and white cartoons then the color cartoons.
Parrot Cay has a colorful tropical theme to it. Your wait staff also follows you to the various restaurants throughout your week. The food was very good to excellent, especially when you ordered one of the waiter’s suggestions. There were various themes, such as Pirate’s night and International night. The lobster tail dinner at the Captain’s dinner was great.
We had birthday cake on the last night of the cruise to celebrate my birthday and the birthday of one of our tablemates, Laura, who came from Scotland. Our other tablemates were Laura’s two children, Kirstey and Robert, and Mary, who came from Reno, Nevada. On the two formal nights, Robert wore a kilt from Scotland, along with white vest and tails one night and a vest with a lace up shirt the second formal night.
The Disney Cruise Line has to be the most vigilant about having clean hands and not spreading germs. Every time you enter and exit a dining room you are handed a sani-wipe to clean your hands. Our waiters, Melroy and Brendan, could have been a little more personable. Melroy kept forgetting to bring our drinks, coffee, etc. Brendan was also supposed to let us know about the late night buffet but neglected to do so. We found out when we saw people walking around with their plates. We also found that the restaurants were definitely understaffed. We have never seen a head waiter do so much work on a ship before.
We received a call Wednesday evening to let us know there was a reservation for Brunch at Palo’s the next day. We went to the brunch and had the best waiter, Sasha, from Croatia (fyi- Marco Polo was born and raised in Croatia until the age of 12 and Tessla was also a native of Croatia). The food is to die for and there is such a variety. You pay $10 per person and a glass of champagne or kir royale is included. Our brunch time was 10:30 and we only woke up at 10:05! What a day to sleep in, but we made it there on time.
Entertainment: Disney, as usual, had exceptional stage shows. There were themed Disney shows: The Golden Mickeys, which is a tribute to Disney’s classic movies; Twice Charmed, a twist to the Cinderella story; Disney Dreams (voted the best cruise ship show of all cruise lines by Cruise Critic and the Disney Magic was voted best in overall entertainment by Cruise Critic.), probably the best of the shows; and Remember the Magic, a final farewell. In addition there was Taylor Mason, a hilarious comic/ventriloquist; Randy Cabral, a juggler; and the comedy of Rich Purpura, who we happened to have seen on another cruise line, but still as funny as the first time we saw him. Disney has the day’s activities broken down into groups: family, adult only, and by age group for those under 18 (3-4 years, 5-7, 8-9, 10-12, and teens). They have improved on the activities available for teens.
There were the usual bingo games, music and dancing in Rockin’ Bar D, trivia games, etc. They could find a better place to have some of their trivia games. Some of us get very competitive and when you have trivia questions being asked, it doesn’t help when someone is walking by the lounge on their way back from dinner, and calls out the answers. We definitely did not do well with the tv tune trivia and with the Disney music trivia.
We enjoyed going to Rockin’ Bar D after the show for the evening. One night Tommy was asked to be part of the men vs women competition. He was outfitted in a blonde wig, black leather vest, and drumsticks. He was supposed to be part of Bon Jovi’s band, although I don’t know where they got the blonde hair from. 80’s night was fun also. We won the Pub Challenge trivia contest on Monday in Diversions (bar) which used to be the ESPN Club.There were plenty of Disney characters on hand each evening outside the Lumiere’s.
On Pirate Night there was a Pirates in the Caribbean party by the pool after dinner. One complaint though – we went to watch Pirates…Dead Man’s Chest and the band playing by the next pool was too loud. They played for about a half hour into the movie. Princess Cruise Lines gives you popcorn and blankets to watch the outdoor movies. I wish Disney had done so also. Mickey Mouse came down on a cable from the smoke stack to the party and there were fireworks set off over the ship.Disney has added an outdoor movie screen like Princess has done. Being Disney they are able to show new releases while on the ship. Underdog was the current new movie, and they played lots of classics and the Pirate movies as well.
Our final night onboard we went to Diversions and watched the crew put on some funny farewell skits. Don’t miss this one.
Ports of Call:
In Key West we decided to just go on our own and explore. We walked down by the boardwalk and watched a storm as it was approaching. We ducked into a bar right as the rain came and waited it out at the bar. After the rain let up we found Irish Kevin’s bar and went in to listen to the band. They were having a good old time there. We left and walked around some more, the headed back to the ship. We stopped across the street from Irish Kevin’s to listen to the band some more and they yelled over, “Hey, Kojak, come on in!” So we went in and listened a bit more before returning to the ship.
We took the island tour of Grand Cayman. It was okay – we visited the Turtle Farm, the Tortuga Rum Factory (but we couldn’t buy the alcohol because they won’t deliver it to the Disney ship), and Hell. We asked our driver if we could be dropped off at Seven Mile Beach on the way back. We went to the beach via the Marriott Courtyard. The beach is usually beautiful but this time the water was filled with little bits of floating algae which had been stirred up by Hurricane Dean that had hit the week before we were there. We ate lunch at the Sea Grill at the Marriott which is right on the beach. Lunch was great as was our waitress, Elizabeth. The beach has free access; it is $10 for chair rentals.
When we reached Cozumel we took the Xcaret Archaeological Tour which included lunch (our guide said that Disney is the only cruise line that includes a lunch ticket with the excursion). We went by ferry to the mainland of Mexico then took a short bus ride over to the park. Our driver was Jorge and Juan was our guide. Juan said this was the first time Disney was back to Xcaret since they had been hurricane Ivan. We swam in the underground river which was a lot of fun. If you go, remember to take the right side of the river. This side is the natural river, which has a current. The left side is man-made which means there is no current and the water is a bit stagnant. It took about an hour to get to the end. Then we went to the beach and sort of swam with the dolphins (okay, we were on the other side of the fence, but we had a great view of them).
On Castaway Cay we rented floats and took them to the adult only beach. We had taken a spin class that morning so we didn’t come off the ship until about 11:30. We had to walk quite a long way to get to the chairs, but we did move closer when people left after lunch. Disney provides a nice lunch at the beach – both at the adult and family beaches. We were the last ones to leave the island and get back on the ship.One thing I noticed is that they take far fewer pictures at the tables than they used to. We didn’t want to wait on line to get pictures taken pre or post dinner. We thought we would have plenty of pictures to choose from when they took them at the table. Same goes for coming off the ship. In the past they were there to take your picture but not this time. We did get a picture taken with the captain, but we didn’t like how it turned out.
We had a nice time on the ship. The stateroom was very comfortable and our steward, Linden, was very helpful. There are not a lot of late night things to do even though the one bar stays open late. It seems that most people leave around midnight. The staff does a good job of getting people involved and dancing and just having a good time. One thing I miss is the casino. Disney does not have one onboard, even though they do have bingo. Who knows, maybe they will add them to their new ships they are going to build. It would also be nice to have some things like miniature golf onboard as well.
Overall, the Disney Magic is a great ship and I would recommend it to any age group.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The Travel Bug Tips and Trips for August
Resort News
SuperClubs' offers 'Passport Included' promotion through October
SuperClubs extended its Passport Included promotion for Caribbean bookings made and paid through Oct. 31 for travel through December.
Under this program, SuperClubs will pay the passport fees (up to $97 per person) for any four-night or longer booking at one of its nine properties in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Curacao or the Dominican Republic.
The total costs of new and renewed passports will be credited towards the all-inclusive vacation package.
Proof that new passports have been applied for or renewed is required.
Passport Readiness
Are you getting ready for a trip abroad? Is your passport about to expire within the next six months or less? In order to receive a visa or enter some countries, your passport must not be expiring in six months or less. If in doubt, check with the embassies of the countries you are about to visit. Remember processing time for USA passports is currently at about a two to four month delay.
Baggage Overweight?
Are you tired of paying overweight fines, because your luggage is overweight? Most airlines have started enforcing weight restrictions on luggage. The overweight fee is generally $25-$50 per piece of luggage, although fees could be as high as $350 for international travel. It may be time for you to purchase a Balanzza, the first digital scale for travelers.
The easy to use Balanzza weighs only 3/4 of a lb., is easy to use, easily fits in your suit case, and can read up to 100 lbs. / 44 Kg. No more overweight fines. Best of all, it only costs $24.95. If interested, contact me for purchase information.
Hurricane Season
Many hotels and tour operators are offering trip cancellation policies during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November. Some are listed below:
· The One&Only Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, is offering a Travel Protection Plan, which provides trip cancellation protection at no additional cost, on bookings made by Aug. 31 for travel between Sept. 2 through Oct. 31, traditionally the peak season for hurricane activity in the Atlantic region.
· The Ritz-Carlton Caribbean properties in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas and San Juan offer a new hurricane contingency arrangement for groups holding bookings through Oct. 30.
· The Westin & Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya will waive all cancellation or no-show fees if Grand Bahama Island is under a hurricane warning and/or watch.
If guests are unable to travel due to closure of the resort or the Grand Bahama International Airport, they will receive a full refund or a one-room category upgrade on a next visit within one calendar year.
And don't forget the benefit of trip insurance. This is invaluable when it comes to having to cancel your trip due to natural disaster.
Stay Connected while Traveling Keep in touch with your famliy and friends with phone calling cards. You have a choice of cards and, in most cases, the per minute charge is less than what you would pay using a long distance operator or a cell phone. By the way,most cell phones don't work while overseas unless they are equipped with a GSM card. Always check with your cell phone carrier before you travel.
Riddle of the Month
I am Brittle
No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?
e-mail the answer to Mary@thetravelbugonline.com . I will let you know if you are correct.
The answer to last month's riddle: The bus driver was walking
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The goal of The Travel Bug Vacation Planners is to remove the stress from your vacation planning and allow you to relax, knowing that the details of your trip have been arranged for you.
We also provide concierge service including itinerary planning, show and concert tickets, dinner reservations, sporting events, and private transportation.
SuperClubs' offers 'Passport Included' promotion through October
SuperClubs extended its Passport Included promotion for Caribbean bookings made and paid through Oct. 31 for travel through December.
Under this program, SuperClubs will pay the passport fees (up to $97 per person) for any four-night or longer booking at one of its nine properties in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Curacao or the Dominican Republic.
The total costs of new and renewed passports will be credited towards the all-inclusive vacation package.
Proof that new passports have been applied for or renewed is required.
Passport Readiness
Are you getting ready for a trip abroad? Is your passport about to expire within the next six months or less? In order to receive a visa or enter some countries, your passport must not be expiring in six months or less. If in doubt, check with the embassies of the countries you are about to visit. Remember processing time for USA passports is currently at about a two to four month delay.
Baggage Overweight?
Are you tired of paying overweight fines, because your luggage is overweight? Most airlines have started enforcing weight restrictions on luggage. The overweight fee is generally $25-$50 per piece of luggage, although fees could be as high as $350 for international travel. It may be time for you to purchase a Balanzza, the first digital scale for travelers.
The easy to use Balanzza weighs only 3/4 of a lb., is easy to use, easily fits in your suit case, and can read up to 100 lbs. / 44 Kg. No more overweight fines. Best of all, it only costs $24.95. If interested, contact me for purchase information.
Hurricane Season
Many hotels and tour operators are offering trip cancellation policies during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November. Some are listed below:
· The One&Only Ocean Club resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, is offering a Travel Protection Plan, which provides trip cancellation protection at no additional cost, on bookings made by Aug. 31 for travel between Sept. 2 through Oct. 31, traditionally the peak season for hurricane activity in the Atlantic region.
· The Ritz-Carlton Caribbean properties in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas and San Juan offer a new hurricane contingency arrangement for groups holding bookings through Oct. 30.
· The Westin & Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya will waive all cancellation or no-show fees if Grand Bahama Island is under a hurricane warning and/or watch.
If guests are unable to travel due to closure of the resort or the Grand Bahama International Airport, they will receive a full refund or a one-room category upgrade on a next visit within one calendar year.
And don't forget the benefit of trip insurance. This is invaluable when it comes to having to cancel your trip due to natural disaster.
Stay Connected while Traveling Keep in touch with your famliy and friends with phone calling cards. You have a choice of cards and, in most cases, the per minute charge is less than what you would pay using a long distance operator or a cell phone. By the way,most cell phones don't work while overseas unless they are equipped with a GSM card. Always check with your cell phone carrier before you travel.
Riddle of the Month
I am Brittle
No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?
e-mail the answer to Mary@thetravelbugonline.com . I will let you know if you are correct.
The answer to last month's riddle: The bus driver was walking
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. The goal of The Travel Bug Vacation Planners is to remove the stress from your vacation planning and allow you to relax, knowing that the details of your trip have been arranged for you.
We also provide concierge service including itinerary planning, show and concert tickets, dinner reservations, sporting events, and private transportation.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
July 2007 The Travel Bug's Tips and Trips
The Travel Bug Vacation Planners Tips and Trips for July!
Recent News
Air Travelers Face More Delays
Security measures put in place following terrorist incidents in the U.K. will likely cause further delays for some U.S. passengers. American airports are at an "orange" threat level, with travelers advised to carry on with plans while remaining vigilant.
Fall Caribbean Upgrades for Couples
Elite Island Resorts is giving couples a free upgrade to its all-inclusive plan at two exclusive four-star Caribbean resorts for vacations September 1-October 31 with its new K.I.S.S. Upgrade (Keep It Simple and Save) offer.
The Hawaii Superferry vessel "Alakai" (which means "ocean path" in Hawaiian) sailed into Honolulu's harbor Saturday. The ship will be homeported in Honolulu for Sunday-through-Friday service connecting Oahu and Kauai and daily trips between Oahu and Maui. A second ferry will debut in 2009 for Oahu-Big Island routes. You can book ferry transfers now from Sept. 5 through Jan. 15, 2008, though the service may be bumped up to August.
Northwest Airlines plans to reduce its capacity in August by about 3 percent, in an attempt to avoid any more end-of-the-month flight problems like the recent 12 percent cancellation rates last week. The carrier will also revise its policies for scheduling pilots' trips to help them avoid bumping into federal regulations limiting the number of hours they can fly each month, and it will cancel extra flights on its Detroit-Frankfurt route starting July 18 to free up pilots for other routes. And, it continues to try to recall every recently furloughed pilot to beef up its rosters.
Delta Air Lines will launch with twice-a-week nonstops between New York/Kennedy and Trinidad starting Dec. 20.
Universal announced its plans for the popular "Halloween Horror Nights" at its parks in Hollywood and Orlando. The month-long promotion will focus this year on characters from the hit horror film series "Friday the 13th," "Nightmare on Elm Street," and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The events will run at the Hollywood park on Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-28, and 31; meanwhile, the Orlando parks will scare guests silly on Sept. 28 and 29, Oct. 4-7, Oct. 11-14, Oct. 18-21, Oct. 24-28, and Oct. 31-Nov. 3.
Stop Drink-Related Illness
When traveling abroad, most of us remember to take precautions with what we eat, but how many of us remember to do the same with what we drink? Drink related illnesses can be as bad as those contracted from food, and can sneak up on you at the most inopportune times.
Recent News
Air Travelers Face More Delays
Security measures put in place following terrorist incidents in the U.K. will likely cause further delays for some U.S. passengers. American airports are at an "orange" threat level, with travelers advised to carry on with plans while remaining vigilant.
Fall Caribbean Upgrades for Couples
Elite Island Resorts is giving couples a free upgrade to its all-inclusive plan at two exclusive four-star Caribbean resorts for vacations September 1-October 31 with its new K.I.S.S. Upgrade (Keep It Simple and Save) offer.
The Hawaii Superferry vessel "Alakai" (which means "ocean path" in Hawaiian) sailed into Honolulu's harbor Saturday. The ship will be homeported in Honolulu for Sunday-through-Friday service connecting Oahu and Kauai and daily trips between Oahu and Maui. A second ferry will debut in 2009 for Oahu-Big Island routes. You can book ferry transfers now from Sept. 5 through Jan. 15, 2008, though the service may be bumped up to August.
Northwest Airlines plans to reduce its capacity in August by about 3 percent, in an attempt to avoid any more end-of-the-month flight problems like the recent 12 percent cancellation rates last week. The carrier will also revise its policies for scheduling pilots' trips to help them avoid bumping into federal regulations limiting the number of hours they can fly each month, and it will cancel extra flights on its Detroit-Frankfurt route starting July 18 to free up pilots for other routes. And, it continues to try to recall every recently furloughed pilot to beef up its rosters.
Delta Air Lines will launch with twice-a-week nonstops between New York/Kennedy and Trinidad starting Dec. 20.
Universal announced its plans for the popular "Halloween Horror Nights" at its parks in Hollywood and Orlando. The month-long promotion will focus this year on characters from the hit horror film series "Friday the 13th," "Nightmare on Elm Street," and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The events will run at the Hollywood park on Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-28, and 31; meanwhile, the Orlando parks will scare guests silly on Sept. 28 and 29, Oct. 4-7, Oct. 11-14, Oct. 18-21, Oct. 24-28, and Oct. 31-Nov. 3.
Stop Drink-Related Illness
When traveling abroad, most of us remember to take precautions with what we eat, but how many of us remember to do the same with what we drink? Drink related illnesses can be as bad as those contracted from food, and can sneak up on you at the most inopportune times.
Take these simple precautions and save yourself much discomfort and lost travel time:
Always avoid ice cubes. Normally ice is made from unsafe tap water, and freezing water tends to preserve microorganisms, which are released into your drink as the ice melts.
Avoid using unsafe drinking water for hygienic purposes such as brushing your teeth, rinsing your dentures, washing near your mouth, washing your hands before eating, or cleaning your contact lenses. You can use bottled water for all these purposes.
Drink bottled water from clearly sealed containers. Bottled water should be carbonated to ensure that the bottle was not simply filled with tap water and resold.
Try to drink from disposable glasses or straight from the beverage container or bottle instead of using unclean glasses.
Avoid drinking directly from the mouth of the bottle by using a straw.
Travel Tip - from Peter Greenberg
Easy Ways to Keep Track of Things
Here are some simple ways for you to keep track of your belongings, including the kids, when traveling. When traveling with the kids, whether to another country or to an amusement park, have your children wear rubber wristbands with your contact information written on it. They are a simple yet resourceful way to make sure that your children always have pertinent info with them to show to a helpful adult, just in case.
Before leaving for vacation, make sure that the first picture on your digital camera is of a piece of paper with your cell phone number written on it. Should your camera, or even memory card, get lost, if someone turns your camera on, he'll know who to call to return it. Email yourself your vacation itinerary, any important contacts, and a fraud hotline number. This way, all the information you need for your vacation is accessible practically anywhere in the world.
Your Health Coverage
Check your insurance coverage before you leave the country. Most insurance policies do not cover medical expenses incurred abroad, and medical expenses may be prohibitively high for travelers without insurance. Confirm your coverage and/or get extra insurance to cover you during your trip.
More on Passports
Here's another wrinkle in the ongoing saga with the major delays in U.S. passport processing!
The U.S. State Department issued new temporary rules allowing Americans who're still waiting for their new or renewed passports to fly to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico with simply a government-issued photo ID (e.g., a driver's license) and an official receipt for their passport application.
However, the travelers must still meet the longstanding entry requirements enforced by these countries for U.S. visitors (e.g., an official copy of a birth certificate, in the case of Mexico)!
The Los Angeles Times reports that passengers have begun showing up at the airport there for flights to these destinations with just a driver's license in hand. Not surprisingly, Mexicana and other carriers have been forced to turn these passengers away because they do not have the necessary documents to enter Mexico.
Making matters worse, some of the travelers submitted the only official copy of their birth certificates with their passport applications, which are now stuck somewhere in limbo.)
Remember, even if the United States has waived the rules for Americans traveling abroad, they must still satisfy the entry requirements of the countries they will be visiting.
In related passport news, the U.S. State Department confirmed yesterday that it will refund the $60 expedited processing fees paid by many applicants whose passports did not arrive early as promised.
For more details, visit http://travel.state.gov/.
Cruise News
Norwegian Cruise Line -- will offer the popular off-Broadway hit show "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding" aboard its three ships in Hawaii (the "Price of Aloha", the "Pride of America," and the "Pride of Hawaii"). The show allows passengers to interact with cast members during a traditional Italian wedding. Passengers can purchase show tickets as a shore excursion, since the show will run only on evenings when the ships are docked in Maui ($24.95 per person). Tickets for each production will be limited to 250-350 guests (depending on the ship), since the show will take place in an onboard lounge.
Cunard Line has scheduled a series of "Farewell Voyages" for its ship "Queen Elizabeth 2" before it retires in November 2008 to become a floating luxury hotel in Dubai. Among these new sailings (replacing two longer cruises that had been planned earlier) will be two trans-Atlantic crossings, a British Isles cruise, and a final sailing to Dubai.
Rental Cars
Hertz announced that it will add 1,000 Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid cars at 50 different airport locations in the U.S.A. (plus its downtown Manhattan locations).
Avis also plans to add 1,000 Prius hybrids by the end of June, mostly in California.
Enterprise is also adding flex fuel cars.
Resorts
Starwood Hotels-- officially opened the new 694-room Sheraton Cable Beach Resort in Nassau (the Bahamas) this week. The seven-acre resort features three freshwater pools with waterfalls, a swim-up bar, and oversized Jacuzzis, along with six restaurants and lounges.
Riddle of the Month
Bus Driver
A bus driver was heading down a street in Colorado. He went right past a stop sign without stopping, he turned left where there was a "no left turn" sign, and he went the wrong way on a one-way street. Then he went on the left side of the road past a cop car. Still - he didn't break any traffic laws. Why not?
send your answers to Mary@TheTravelBugOnline.com
I will let you know if you are correct.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Why Use a Travel Agent
A recent issue of Smart Money magazine (June '07, Travel Agents are Staging a Comeback) details why a consumer should use a travel agent. Here is an excerpt from the article:
WHEN SHE WAS PLANNING her birthday trip to New York City, Caroline Koons Forrest started where most of us do: online. She checked everything from Hotels.com to the Four Seasons' site. No luck. Everything was booked solid, outrageously priced or completely unfamiliar to her (the Days Hotel, anyone?). So the West Palm Beach architectural designer did something she hadn't done in ages: switched off her computer and called a local travel agent. Minutes later Stacy Small of Elite Travel International phoned back with a room at her first-choice hotel, the Four Seasons, at half the $1,600 price tag for a suite Forrest had spotted on the web. The icing on the cake? An actual birthday cake, which awaited Forrest and her husband when they entered their room.
After more than a decade of decline, the humble travel agent is staging a comeback. Frustrated with the recent rash of sold-out hotels and airline seats, travelers are discovering that for all the hype, web sites like Hotels.com, Orbitz and Travelocity are losing some of their edge, especially when it comes to high-end locations. And customer displeasure is starting to show; growth in the once red-hot online travel business is cooling, up 20% last year after a 28% increase in 2004. Enter the travel agent, the most savvy of whom can use longtime connections to secure that "sold out" room or coveted aisle seat. Written off as dinosaurs not so long ago, agents are seeing a welcome bump in business, with the 2006 average weekly sales per agent location up 15% over the year before. High-end travel is turning up as well, with members of Virtuoso, a consortium of more than 300 luxury agencies, racking up $4.2 billion in sales last year, an 11% jump over 2005.
Read more...
The article goes on to compare several agencies and the author also refers to "fees" some agents charge, mainly for booking airline tickets. Agents earn their money by receiving commissions from the travel suppliers. However, airlines no longer pay commission. So charging a $10 or $15 fee per ticket isn't unreasonable. For the most part, I only book airline only reservations for my current clients. And most times I don't charge a fee, unless the reservation is a time-consuming one that is complicated. I don't charge a consulting fee for vacation planning. I only ask that if you do ask for information involving research on my part, that you also book the travel through me as well.
Some people will say, "why bother with a travel agent when I can book my vacation on my own?" Well, for one, read the above article in its completion. I have a list of reasons why you should book with a travel agent:
Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent – March 5, 2007
1.You’ve Googled “Mexican Vacation” and came up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?
2. Remember when you used that obscure web site to book your hotel, and when you got there, you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?
3. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with screaming kids?
4. Who knew that when you booked that “villa” in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.
5. No one explained to you that in July, it’s winter in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but Hawaiian shirts and swimsuits.
6. How about the time you needed a restful vacation and ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?
7. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on the web site.
8. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that the Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.
9. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3am when your plane finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you booked your airline ticket and hotel on line.
10. Oh, no one told you that the flight had a 12 hour layover- and it was going to be overnight? Oh, they didn’t tell you that the connecting flight was in a different airport, either?
In summary, it pays to use a travel agent.
In planning your vacation, I will:
WHEN SHE WAS PLANNING her birthday trip to New York City, Caroline Koons Forrest started where most of us do: online. She checked everything from Hotels.com to the Four Seasons' site. No luck. Everything was booked solid, outrageously priced or completely unfamiliar to her (the Days Hotel, anyone?). So the West Palm Beach architectural designer did something she hadn't done in ages: switched off her computer and called a local travel agent. Minutes later Stacy Small of Elite Travel International phoned back with a room at her first-choice hotel, the Four Seasons, at half the $1,600 price tag for a suite Forrest had spotted on the web. The icing on the cake? An actual birthday cake, which awaited Forrest and her husband when they entered their room.
After more than a decade of decline, the humble travel agent is staging a comeback. Frustrated with the recent rash of sold-out hotels and airline seats, travelers are discovering that for all the hype, web sites like Hotels.com, Orbitz and Travelocity are losing some of their edge, especially when it comes to high-end locations. And customer displeasure is starting to show; growth in the once red-hot online travel business is cooling, up 20% last year after a 28% increase in 2004. Enter the travel agent, the most savvy of whom can use longtime connections to secure that "sold out" room or coveted aisle seat. Written off as dinosaurs not so long ago, agents are seeing a welcome bump in business, with the 2006 average weekly sales per agent location up 15% over the year before. High-end travel is turning up as well, with members of Virtuoso, a consortium of more than 300 luxury agencies, racking up $4.2 billion in sales last year, an 11% jump over 2005.
Read more...
The article goes on to compare several agencies and the author also refers to "fees" some agents charge, mainly for booking airline tickets. Agents earn their money by receiving commissions from the travel suppliers. However, airlines no longer pay commission. So charging a $10 or $15 fee per ticket isn't unreasonable. For the most part, I only book airline only reservations for my current clients. And most times I don't charge a fee, unless the reservation is a time-consuming one that is complicated. I don't charge a consulting fee for vacation planning. I only ask that if you do ask for information involving research on my part, that you also book the travel through me as well.
Some people will say, "why bother with a travel agent when I can book my vacation on my own?" Well, for one, read the above article in its completion. I have a list of reasons why you should book with a travel agent:
- We arrange it all ~ We arrange air and land transportation, cruises, accommodations, tours, land packages, insurance, excursions and can provide tickets to events and tourist attractions.
- Your time is valuable ~ We have the resources to research and sort through various travel options, allowing you the freedom to pack and go!
- Personal relationship ~ We make your vacation special by getting to know you and your preferences.
- Current industry knowledge ~ We have access to current industry promotions and specials.
- Memories ~ We will help make your vacation become not just a trip, but an everlasting memory!
Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent – March 5, 2007
1.You’ve Googled “Mexican Vacation” and came up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?
2. Remember when you used that obscure web site to book your hotel, and when you got there, you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?
3. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with screaming kids?
4. Who knew that when you booked that “villa” in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.
5. No one explained to you that in July, it’s winter in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but Hawaiian shirts and swimsuits.
6. How about the time you needed a restful vacation and ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?
7. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on the web site.
8. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that the Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.
9. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3am when your plane finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you booked your airline ticket and hotel on line.
10. Oh, no one told you that the flight had a 12 hour layover- and it was going to be overnight? Oh, they didn’t tell you that the connecting flight was in a different airport, either?
In summary, it pays to use a travel agent.
In planning your vacation, I will:
- save you a tremendous amount of research time
- get the best vacation for your money
- provide you with information on the area you will be visiting
- give you travel and packing trips
- contact the resort prior to your arrival to request any upgrades or special amenities available
- follow-up after you return
- and I don't add a consulting fee
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
June 2007 The Travel Bug's Tips and Trips
Welcome to summer! If you haven't made your summer vacation plans yet, there is still a little time left. And for those of you who are planning to take a vacation during Teacher's Convention Week in November, it is time to start planning!
Happy reading,
Mary
Cruise for Free!
Cruise free with friends and family. Typically on a 7 night cruise, if you travel with 8 other couples, you will cruise for free. If you add 8 more couples, your traveling companion will also cruise for free - you pay only port charges and government taxes as well as optional insurance. Interested? You just gather a group of friends who need a vacation and are looking for a great value...a cruise vacation. Get them to join you on your selected ship and sailing date. We'll do all the rest - from flyers to invoicing. This is also a great way to get together for a family reunion.
Why Buy Travel Insurance?
It is true that some credit cards and homeowner's policies might provide coverage for lost or stolen baggage, but what the media reports fail to mention, and the reason most people buy insurance, is that U.S. health policies rarely extend coverage overseas. It means Americans must normally pick up their own medical tabs once outside the country. Here are some other key points to keep in mind:
Trip Cancellation/Interruption - Credit cards and homeowners policies will not reimburse you for your pre paid, NON-REFUNDABLE trip cost. Hurricane Season 2007 is officially here and travel insurance is the only way to protect against the unforeseen hassles caused by these storms.
Travel Delay - Will your credit card or homeowners policy reimburse you for an unexpected hotel stay because your flight home from your vacation was cancelled? The answer is no, but a travel insurance policy allows you the possibility of collecting on that hotel bill.
Pre-existing Conditions - Many people traveling today have a pre-existing medical condition that could limit the amount of coverage, if any, they have through other channels. When you purchase a third party insurance product at the time of deposit you guarantee that you have the most coverage available.
Lost Baggage - Consumer Reports fails to mention that any coverage provided by a credit card for lost or stolen baggage is secondary coverage and subject to the airlines definition of "lost" luggage. By buying a primary insurance plan, offered only by third party travel insurance companies, you will have a better chance of receiving compensation for lost articles.
Car Rental Tips
Renting a car while on vacation is often a necessity, but at other times it is easier to use public transportation or taxis . If you do rent a car, make sure to examine the car before taking it off the lot. It is a good idea to photograph any damage the car may have, using a digital camera which records the date and time of each picture. This will help when there may be a debate over who is responsible for the damage. Many rental companies do not cover you while driving on dirt roads, so be sure to check your rental agreement before driving "off road".
Some car rental companies will not rent a car to you without a credit card. Also be aware that the rental company may place a "hold" on your card for anticipated charges, which means you'll have less credit available for other purchases.
Adventures by Disney
Discover the magic of an Adventures by Disney vacation
In 2007, there are twelve unforgettable journeys with destinations Disney has never taken guests before. Guests travel in small groups limited to 40 guests, and are led by two Disney trained Adventure Guides with the gift for family fun.
Each adventure is filled with immersive, interactive experiences. Like zip-lining through a Costa Rican jungle, or pasta making in Tuscany. Traveling with Adventures by Disney, you can expect impeccable service as well as a few surprises along the way. Vacationing is almost effortless. Travel, activities and scheduled meals during the adventure are planned. Luggage is handled for each Guest and hotel check-ins are pre-arranged. An Adventures by Disney vacation allows you to truly enjoy the magic of the destination, while creating memories that will last forever.
Hassle-free vacation planning and travel
Inclusive itineraries that provide interactive experiences for each member of the family
Small group sizes of no more than 40 guests led by two Disney trained Adventure Guides
Personal attention and service
Local experts provide authenticity and character by sharing knowledge and stories
Travel, activities and scheduled meals are planned. Luggage is handled and hotel check-ins are pre-arranged
Opportunities for making new friends with fellow Adventurers
Junior Adventurer exclusive activities
Note: Adventures by Disney welcomes children ages 4 and up to discover the stories of the world with Adventures by Disney. However, on some trips, children 6+ benefit most from the exciting activities that Adventures by Disney has planned. Because each child is different, call your Adventures by Disney Concierge Agent to discuss which trips will be most fun for your little ones. Please be aware that your younger Junior Adventurers - typically under age 6 - may not be able to participate in some scheduled activities due to height, weight, and other requirements.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Irish Spirit Tour of Southern Ireland
Sunday, June 17, 2007
CIE Irish Spirit Tour of Southern Ireland
Irish Spirit Tour of Ireland with CIEMay 31 – June 8, 2007
Note: we had a wonderful tour of Southern Ireland, booked through CIE Tours. We added an extra day in Dublin, prior to the start of our tour. I would recommend this trip to anyone, especially those who are visiting Ireland for the first time. I think the youngest age that would appreciate this tour is around 12 years (and up). Young children would not find it fun to ride the coach and might be disruptive to the rest of the passengers. The youngest one on our tour was 18, a recent high school graduate.
The hotels we stayed in were the Mespil in Dublin, the Killarney Towers Hotel in Killarney, and the Marriott Courtyard in Galway.
The Mespil was nice, clean, and had very good food. They provided free internet usage for their guests staying there.
The Killarney Towers was my least favorite of the three. The rooms were clean, but the maid did not come in to make up the room. We were there two nights and when we returned the first day from our tour, they were only starting to make up the rooms. The food was just okay; the plates way too hot to handle on the buffet line; and the dining room was way too crowded with tables for anyone to sit comfortably. The hotel was also uncomfortably warm. They did have an exercise room and pool/hot tub/steam room available for guests.
The Marriott Courtyard was our favorite. The rooms were clean, the staff very friendly, and the food was very good. It was just a short walk to the center of town from the hotel. They also had a spa on property but we did not have time to take advantage of it. There was internet available for a nominal fee.
Below is my write up of our trip. There are links to some of the sites mentioned.
May 31, 2007
Tommy, Kevin, and I left home for Newark airport at 6:30 pm, for a 10:05 pm overnight flight to Dublin. When we arrived, the plane was scheduled to be “on-time”. So we checked our luggage and went to the “diner” at the airport and had our dinner. When we went to the gate our plane was not there yet. The departure was changed from 10:05 to 10:30, then to 11:30. We finally boarded the plane and once onboard were given the bad news from the captain: there was an airport delay, and although the earlier flight delays were 4 hours, we only had a 2 hour delay (that was the good news?!). So we sat on the plane and the flight attendants brought us water, pretzels, peanuts, the usual. We finally took off at 2 am, saw the movie (The Pursuit of Happyness – it was very good) and had our in flight dinner, followed by breakfast.
They cut off ½ hour of flying time, and we arrived in Dublin at 1 pm.
June 1, 2007
We landed at Dublin airport and found our driver, Sean (we had a private transfer arranged). Sean gave us a narrative, all the while cracking a few jokes, as he drove us through the city of Dublin to our hotel. We checked in to the Mespil Hotel. There was a double bed plus a twin in
each room. Then we left to walk in to the city center. We ate lunch at Foley’s Bar on Merrion Row and had our first taste of Irish food and a pint of Guinness. We had coffee afterward – we were asked if we wanted it black or white – with white meaning “with cream”, sort of a cappuccino style. Foley’s dates back to the late 1700’s and was originally 
the site of a Gallows, situated close to the Huguenot Cemetery.While in the city we window shopped, crossed the bridge over the canal to see the Tall Ships docked there. We went to Archbishop Ryan Park in Merrion Square and saw Oscar Wilde’s statue with a nearby inscription: “I can resist anything except temptation”.
We finally walked back to our hotel and our feet were dragging! After arriving back at our hotel, Tommy and Kevin fell asleep, Kevin for the night. Tommy woke up around 9:00 and we went downstairs to have dinner in the hotel.
June 2, 2007 (start of the tour)
This morning, we once again walked in to the city before our tour was to start. We went to the National Museum of Archeology. The exhibition galleries included artifacts dating from 7000 B.C., tracing the development of Irish civilization from the arrival of the first people in the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age to late Medieval Ireland. One of the exhibits was “bog bodies”.
About Bog Bodies: (excerpted from http://www.mummytombs.com/) Bog bodies or mummies are accidental mummies, made only by nature. Bogs provide an interesting burial environment. At first glance, a bog may look like solid ground, but it isn't; it's quite spongy and may feel as if it's going to give way. That's because, under the surface, a bog is made up of about 90 percent water. The water is filled with peat (decaying plant matter).Although the bog mummies were buried below the surface, immersed in the bog water, their remains did not decay. Why? First, the bog-watery environment does not permit the growth of bacteria that will help decay flesh. Second, the bog water contains certain acids that act to tan the skin (much the same way as cowhide is tanned to produce leather). If the natural bacteria action is prevented and the skin is tanned, the conditions are right for producing a mummy.
However, much may also depend on the water table of the bog. Over thousands of years, it will raise and lower; the longer a bog mummy is above of the water table, the less well-preserved it may become over time. Many other factors may be involved, and scientists are still trying to understand the complete preservation process in a bog.
One final note: even a bog skeleton is considered a bog mummy by scientists studying these mummies. A bog skeleton is often produced in a fen, while a non-decayed bog mummy will only come from a bog.
Bog mummies are often quite well preserved, arguably even better preserved than almost all Egyptian mummies. But the issue that seems to attract most attention to these mummies is the nature of their death and burial: were they human sacrifices or are there other explanations to account for their deaths.
Afternoon, the start of our Irish Spirit Tour:· We met with our tour group and our tour leader/driver, Patrick Cooney at 3 pm. Our first stop was the Guinness Storehouse.
Storehouse means where the fermentation process occurs in which the yeast is added to the beer. We learned how they brew the beer, tasted their current promotion, the Northstar (third in a series of four brews), and had a pint of Guinness on the 7th floor, in the Gravity Bar, which has a panoramic view of Dublin.· After a short hotel break, we were on our way to the Jameson’s Distillery, which was founded in 1780. We were greeted with a drink of the famous whiskey, had a great tour of the distillery, learned why Irish whiskey is better than all others!, and then had dinner and were entertained by Irish singers and dancers, where we finished off with an Irish coffee.
June 3, 2007
This was the only day it rained. Our other days were sunny and between 68 and 72 degrees. This morning we had a tour of Dublin City with a local tour guide, Kay.
Some highlights:
·
The “Doors of Dublin” ~ all the doors are painted with bright colors. It is said that this is a result of a revolt against the British. The Irish had been told to paint their doors black because of national mourning over the queen’s death. Rather than obey these orders, the Dubliners painted them in the brightest colors possible. Another story goes that the wives wanted the doors painted different colors so their husbands would recognize their own home after a night on the town.
· Molly Malone statue ~ Molly was a fishmonger who died of a fever and is known as the tart with the cart, the trollop with the scallop, the dish with the fish.
· St Patrick’s Cathedral ~ once a Catholic cathedral but it was changed to the Anglican Church of England. Jonathan Swift (“Treasure Island” author) is buried in the cathedral next to his first love, Stella. He was dean of the Church for many years. There are many worn Union Jack flags hanging in the Church.
· Trinity College and the Book of Kells ~ the Book of Kells was written by Irish monks in the 9th century. It is a Latin translation of the four Gospels and is beautifully illustrated.
· Lunch at O’Neills ~ I had the Irish Beef Stew with Guinness. They gave me enough to feed all of us.
· National Gallery of Ireland ~ houses the national collection of Irish art and European master paintings.· Did you know? The Vikings made gold coins but had no pockets and nowhere to put their money. So they melted beeswax and put it in their armpit hair, then attached the coins to the wax. I think pockets would have been easier!
June 4, 2007
We left Dublin after an early breakfast and had a beautiful day to go to Killarney. We drove through the Irish countryside past many farms.Highlights:
· Rock of Cashel ~ a church ruins composed of limestone. Cork City was having its 1st marathon in 21 years, so we were a little stuck in traffic, but nothing like we have here in the U.S.
· Blarney Castle ~ The castle is just outside of Cork. We climbed up the steps and explored the castle before kissing the Blarney Stone (Kevin would not kiss it – too many rumors about it). The Blarney House is also on the property. It was built in 1874 by the then current owners of the Castle. They found the Castle too uncomfortable to live in, so the built the mansion instead. It is still owned by descendents of that family and they still live there. They allow private tours of the home.
· Blarney Woollen Mills ~ Lots of sweaters, capes, caps, and other souvenirs. We had lunch there as well.· Dinner that evening was at our hotel, the Killarney Towers, then we went next door to O’Donoghue’s Pub for Irish entertainment. We left O’Donoghue’s after a while to find more entertainment, but it turned out our hotel had the best. Some of the other pubs had bands playing Johnny Cash (a favorite of the Irish) and the Doors (House of the Rising Sun).We stayed at the Killarney Towers Hotel. The rooms were fine, but this hotel was very warm – a/c did not work very well. The restaurant was crowded with tables too close together, and the room was also very warm. The food was okay.June 5, 2007Theme of the day: “You only need an inch; any more and it’s a waste”
· The drive around the Ring of Kerry ~ was beautiful, but the roads were extremely narrow and bumpy. We had to back up to let a farm tractor through, and our driver said “You only need an inch; any more and it’s a waste”.
The mountains and farms were beautiful and there were sheep everywhere. Some sheep were being herded past us on the street by a dog.
· We went to the Skellig Experience (Valentia Island, Co Kerry, Ireland)· Moll’s Gap - the rocks at Moll's Gap have been rounded as the glacier from Kenmare moved over them giving a dramatic form. We also saw Killarney’s three lakes. We were back by 5:30 and had dinner at the hotel, followed by another evening at O’Donoghue’s.
June 6, 2007
· We left Killarney and drove to take the ferry across the River Shannon. The ride is about 20 minutes. You might see dolphins while on the ferry (unfortunately, we didn’t).
· We then went to the Cliffs of Moher ~ When we arrived there was a dense fog but we checked out the visitor center first, and when we came out the fog had lifted. You can see the Aran Islands from here, a group of 3 islands where they speak only Gaelic. We ate lun
ch there, then continued on to see the Burren, a limestone terraced land that was once an ancient seabed. We saw houses with thatched roofs (becoming more popular). The people were very friendly.
· After dinner at our hotel in Galway, the Marriott Courtyard, which was the nicest and newest of the three, a few of us went out to the Quay, a pub on Quay Street. They had excellent Irish music there, and the band has come over and played in Morristown, NJ, and in Boston. It was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel to the center of Galway.
June 7, 2007
· We took a 1 ½ hour ride on a catamaran Killary Harbour Cruise along Ireland’s only fjord, the Killary Fjord. This is where the movie Tristan & Isolde was filmed in 2003. We saw salmon fisheries while on the cruise.
· Then we went on to Connemara and saw how they cut marble (http://www.connemaramarble.com/ ). The marble was various shades of green, some rose, and a few black. The black marble is very rare and has shells within it.· Next we went to Connemara Celtic Crystal and saw a demonstration on how the masters cut crystal. This family run business has, for over a quarter of a century, been pioneering the incorporation of Celtic designs and Gaelic motifs into its ornate Irish Crystal. It is proud to claim clear leadership in this field.
The ride along this part of Ireland is bumpy, and some of the roads are dirt ones. Rhododendrons grow wild along the sides of the roads. Galway Bay was filled with beautiful swans.· Back in Galway we visited Galway Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral which is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city. Built between 1958 and 1965, it stands on the site of the old city jail. The architecture of the Cathedral draws on many influences. The dome and pillars reflect a Renaissance style. Other features, including the rose windows and mosaics, echo the broad tradition of Christian art. The Cathedral dome, at a height of 145 ft, is a prominent landmark on the city skyline.· After dinner at our hotel we once again walked in to the city, this time with even more people from our tour group.
We went to Kings Head Pub which dates its roots back 800 years.June 8, 2007This morning we had an early breakfast, followed by our transfer to Shannon Airport. We checked our luggage and waited with some of those we met on the tour. Our flight home was uneventful, thankfully!
We met a lot of nice people on our tour, and we were especially entertained by our tour guide, Pat, with his narratives, jokes, stories, and singing.
Arthur Guinness and the founding of the Brewery (excerpted from the Guinness website ( http://www.guinnessstorehouse.com/whats_inside.htm )
Arthur Guinness was born in 1725 near Dublin in the town of Celbridge, county Kildare where his father, Richard Guinness, was a Land Steward. Part of Richard's duties were to supervise the brewing of beer for the workers on the estate and it is probable that young Arthur first learnt the art of brewing from his father. The brewing industry in Dublin at that date was suffering because English beer was taxed less severely than the home-produced product. Arthur was not, however, deterred. He decided to acquire what was then a small, disused and ill-equipped brewery at St James's Gate. The lease, signed on 31 December 1759, was for 9000 years at an annual rent of £45.
To start with, Arthur brewed ale, but by the 1770s a new drink, a strong black beer called porter, was being exported from London. Arthur decided to brew this new beer himself. He proved extremely successful and right into his seventies Arthur continued to be active in supervising his business at the Brewery, now assisted by three of his sons. Arthur had married an heiress, Olivia Whitmore, and had 21 children, 10 of whom survived into adulthood.
When he died in 1803, he left a considerable personal fortune of about £23,000 and an extremely flourishing business which later generations of his family were to develop, following the example of initiative and enterprise set by its founder.
Brief history of Ireland and Dublin:
The first settlement of Ireland took place around 6000 B.C by hunters and fishermen along the east coast. There is a pre-Christian burial site dating back 4000 years ago. The Gaels came around 600 – 150 B.C. and subdued the previous inhabitants.Dublin was called Eblana in the 2nd century. The Vikings (who were traders) regularly raided Ireland and did much to develop Dublin, Cork, and Waterford. They settled in Dublin in 841 A.D. It was named Dubh Linn which means black pool. The dark appearance of the River Poddle which is now a subterranean river under Dublin Castle gave rise to the name.
Dublin’s Irish name is Baile ´ Atha Cliath meaning town of the hurdle ford. This refers to hurdles used to cross the River Liffey. Brian Boru, Ireland’s High King, defeated the Vikings and their influence faded.In the 12th century Normans arrived and controlled large parts of Ireland which then came under the King of England’s political authority. This was followed by hundreds of years worth of revolt, culminating in the 1916 Easter Rising where a republic was declared in Dublin and an armed insurrection took place. In 1918 the General Election swept aside the Irish Parliamentary Party causing a war of national independence. By the time the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded in 1921, six counties in Ulster had been given their own Northern pre-parliament, with the remaining 26 counties forming the Irish Free State. Since then Ireland struggled until the end of the 20th century when Ireland’s economy turned for the better and Celtic pride has since flourished.Gaelic is the native Irish language. It evolved from Celtic settlers (600 B.C.) and survived the Norse and Viking invasions, but was almost wiped out by English rule. It is now becoming more widely spoken and all the street signs have both English and Gaelic on them.
Some famous Dubliners:
Samuel Beckett, Nobel Prizewinning playwright and poet (Waiting for Godot)
Maeve Binchy, author (well known for Circle of Friends)
Christy Brown, subject of the movie “My Left Foot”; he wrote and painted with his left foot because he had cerebral palsy
Seamus Heaney, poet and Nobel Prize winner
Marian Keyes, novelist
James Joyce, novelist and well known for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (his autobiography) and Ulysses
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula
Jonathan Swift, author and dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral
Oscar Wilde, well known for his The Importance of Being Earnest
William Butler Yeats, 20th century poet
Miscellaneous, but nonetheless interesting:
Things we did not visit, but must visit on our next trip:
Dublin Jail (Kilmainham Gaol) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gaol
Bram Stoker Experience http://www.thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com/
Mary McGrath
Mary@thetravelbugonline.com
CIE Irish Spirit Tour of Southern Ireland
Irish Spirit Tour of Ireland with CIEMay 31 – June 8, 2007
Note: we had a wonderful tour of Southern Ireland, booked through CIE Tours. We added an extra day in Dublin, prior to the start of our tour. I would recommend this trip to anyone, especially those who are visiting Ireland for the first time. I think the youngest age that would appreciate this tour is around 12 years (and up). Young children would not find it fun to ride the coach and might be disruptive to the rest of the passengers. The youngest one on our tour was 18, a recent high school graduate.
The hotels we stayed in were the Mespil in Dublin, the Killarney Towers Hotel in Killarney, and the Marriott Courtyard in Galway.
The Mespil was nice, clean, and had very good food. They provided free internet usage for their guests staying there.
The Killarney Towers was my least favorite of the three. The rooms were clean, but the maid did not come in to make up the room. We were there two nights and when we returned the first day from our tour, they were only starting to make up the rooms. The food was just okay; the plates way too hot to handle on the buffet line; and the dining room was way too crowded with tables for anyone to sit comfortably. The hotel was also uncomfortably warm. They did have an exercise room and pool/hot tub/steam room available for guests.
The Marriott Courtyard was our favorite. The rooms were clean, the staff very friendly, and the food was very good. It was just a short walk to the center of town from the hotel. They also had a spa on property but we did not have time to take advantage of it. There was internet available for a nominal fee.
Below is my write up of our trip. There are links to some of the sites mentioned.
May 31, 2007
Tommy, Kevin, and I left home for Newark airport at 6:30 pm, for a 10:05 pm overnight flight to Dublin. When we arrived, the plane was scheduled to be “on-time”. So we checked our luggage and went to the “diner” at the airport and had our dinner. When we went to the gate our plane was not there yet. The departure was changed from 10:05 to 10:30, then to 11:30. We finally boarded the plane and once onboard were given the bad news from the captain: there was an airport delay, and although the earlier flight delays were 4 hours, we only had a 2 hour delay (that was the good news?!). So we sat on the plane and the flight attendants brought us water, pretzels, peanuts, the usual. We finally took off at 2 am, saw the movie (The Pursuit of Happyness – it was very good) and had our in flight dinner, followed by breakfast.
They cut off ½ hour of flying time, and we arrived in Dublin at 1 pm.
June 1, 2007
We landed at Dublin airport and found our driver, Sean (we had a private transfer arranged). Sean gave us a narrative, all the while cracking a few jokes, as he drove us through the city of Dublin to our hotel. We checked in to the Mespil Hotel. There was a double bed plus a twin in
each room. Then we left to walk in to the city center. We ate lunch at Foley’s Bar on Merrion Row and had our first taste of Irish food and a pint of Guinness. We had coffee afterward – we were asked if we wanted it black or white – with white meaning “with cream”, sort of a cappuccino style. Foley’s dates back to the late 1700’s and was originally 
the site of a Gallows, situated close to the Huguenot Cemetery.While in the city we window shopped, crossed the bridge over the canal to see the Tall Ships docked there. We went to Archbishop Ryan Park in Merrion Square and saw Oscar Wilde’s statue with a nearby inscription: “I can resist anything except temptation”.We finally walked back to our hotel and our feet were dragging! After arriving back at our hotel, Tommy and Kevin fell asleep, Kevin for the night. Tommy woke up around 9:00 and we went downstairs to have dinner in the hotel.
June 2, 2007 (start of the tour)
This morning, we once again walked in to the city before our tour was to start. We went to the National Museum of Archeology. The exhibition galleries included artifacts dating from 7000 B.C., tracing the development of Irish civilization from the arrival of the first people in the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age to late Medieval Ireland. One of the exhibits was “bog bodies”.
About Bog Bodies: (excerpted from http://www.mummytombs.com/) Bog bodies or mummies are accidental mummies, made only by nature. Bogs provide an interesting burial environment. At first glance, a bog may look like solid ground, but it isn't; it's quite spongy and may feel as if it's going to give way. That's because, under the surface, a bog is made up of about 90 percent water. The water is filled with peat (decaying plant matter).Although the bog mummies were buried below the surface, immersed in the bog water, their remains did not decay. Why? First, the bog-watery environment does not permit the growth of bacteria that will help decay flesh. Second, the bog water contains certain acids that act to tan the skin (much the same way as cowhide is tanned to produce leather). If the natural bacteria action is prevented and the skin is tanned, the conditions are right for producing a mummy.
However, much may also depend on the water table of the bog. Over thousands of years, it will raise and lower; the longer a bog mummy is above of the water table, the less well-preserved it may become over time. Many other factors may be involved, and scientists are still trying to understand the complete preservation process in a bog.
One final note: even a bog skeleton is considered a bog mummy by scientists studying these mummies. A bog skeleton is often produced in a fen, while a non-decayed bog mummy will only come from a bog.
Bog mummies are often quite well preserved, arguably even better preserved than almost all Egyptian mummies. But the issue that seems to attract most attention to these mummies is the nature of their death and burial: were they human sacrifices or are there other explanations to account for their deaths.
Afternoon, the start of our Irish Spirit Tour:· We met with our tour group and our tour leader/driver, Patrick Cooney at 3 pm. Our first stop was the Guinness Storehouse.
Storehouse means where the fermentation process occurs in which the yeast is added to the beer. We learned how they brew the beer, tasted their current promotion, the Northstar (third in a series of four brews), and had a pint of Guinness on the 7th floor, in the Gravity Bar, which has a panoramic view of Dublin.· After a short hotel break, we were on our way to the Jameson’s Distillery, which was founded in 1780. We were greeted with a drink of the famous whiskey, had a great tour of the distillery, learned why Irish whiskey is better than all others!, and then had dinner and were entertained by Irish singers and dancers, where we finished off with an Irish coffee.June 3, 2007
This was the only day it rained. Our other days were sunny and between 68 and 72 degrees. This morning we had a tour of Dublin City with a local tour guide, Kay.
Some highlights:
·
The “Doors of Dublin” ~ all the doors are painted with bright colors. It is said that this is a result of a revolt against the British. The Irish had been told to paint their doors black because of national mourning over the queen’s death. Rather than obey these orders, the Dubliners painted them in the brightest colors possible. Another story goes that the wives wanted the doors painted different colors so their husbands would recognize their own home after a night on the town.· Molly Malone statue ~ Molly was a fishmonger who died of a fever and is known as the tart with the cart, the trollop with the scallop, the dish with the fish.
· St Patrick’s Cathedral ~ once a Catholic cathedral but it was changed to the Anglican Church of England. Jonathan Swift (“Treasure Island” author) is buried in the cathedral next to his first love, Stella. He was dean of the Church for many years. There are many worn Union Jack flags hanging in the Church.
· Trinity College and the Book of Kells ~ the Book of Kells was written by Irish monks in the 9th century. It is a Latin translation of the four Gospels and is beautifully illustrated.
· Lunch at O’Neills ~ I had the Irish Beef Stew with Guinness. They gave me enough to feed all of us.
· National Gallery of Ireland ~ houses the national collection of Irish art and European master paintings.· Did you know? The Vikings made gold coins but had no pockets and nowhere to put their money. So they melted beeswax and put it in their armpit hair, then attached the coins to the wax. I think pockets would have been easier!
June 4, 2007
We left Dublin after an early breakfast and had a beautiful day to go to Killarney. We drove through the Irish countryside past many farms.Highlights:
· Rock of Cashel ~ a church ruins composed of limestone. Cork City was having its 1st marathon in 21 years, so we were a little stuck in traffic, but nothing like we have here in the U.S.
· Blarney Castle ~ The castle is just outside of Cork. We climbed up the steps and explored the castle before kissing the Blarney Stone (Kevin would not kiss it – too many rumors about it). The Blarney House is also on the property. It was built in 1874 by the then current owners of the Castle. They found the Castle too uncomfortable to live in, so the built the mansion instead. It is still owned by descendents of that family and they still live there. They allow private tours of the home.
· Blarney Woollen Mills ~ Lots of sweaters, capes, caps, and other souvenirs. We had lunch there as well.· Dinner that evening was at our hotel, the Killarney Towers, then we went next door to O’Donoghue’s Pub for Irish entertainment. We left O’Donoghue’s after a while to find more entertainment, but it turned out our hotel had the best. Some of the other pubs had bands playing Johnny Cash (a favorite of the Irish) and the Doors (House of the Rising Sun).We stayed at the Killarney Towers Hotel. The rooms were fine, but this hotel was very warm – a/c did not work very well. The restaurant was crowded with tables too close together, and the room was also very warm. The food was okay.June 5, 2007Theme of the day: “You only need an inch; any more and it’s a waste”
· The drive around the Ring of Kerry ~ was beautiful, but the roads were extremely narrow and bumpy. We had to back up to let a farm tractor through, and our driver said “You only need an inch; any more and it’s a waste”.
The mountains and farms were beautiful and there were sheep everywhere. Some sheep were being herded past us on the street by a dog.
· We went to the Skellig Experience (Valentia Island, Co Kerry, Ireland)· Moll’s Gap - the rocks at Moll's Gap have been rounded as the glacier from Kenmare moved over them giving a dramatic form. We also saw Killarney’s three lakes. We were back by 5:30 and had dinner at the hotel, followed by another evening at O’Donoghue’s.
June 6, 2007
· We left Killarney and drove to take the ferry across the River Shannon. The ride is about 20 minutes. You might see dolphins while on the ferry (unfortunately, we didn’t).
· We then went to the Cliffs of Moher ~ When we arrived there was a dense fog but we checked out the visitor center first, and when we came out the fog had lifted. You can see the Aran Islands from here, a group of 3 islands where they speak only Gaelic. We ate lun
ch there, then continued on to see the Burren, a limestone terraced land that was once an ancient seabed. We saw houses with thatched roofs (becoming more popular). The people were very friendly.· After dinner at our hotel in Galway, the Marriott Courtyard, which was the nicest and newest of the three, a few of us went out to the Quay, a pub on Quay Street. They had excellent Irish music there, and the band has come over and played in Morristown, NJ, and in Boston. It was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel to the center of Galway.
June 7, 2007
· We took a 1 ½ hour ride on a catamaran Killary Harbour Cruise along Ireland’s only fjord, the Killary Fjord. This is where the movie Tristan & Isolde was filmed in 2003. We saw salmon fisheries while on the cruise.
· Then we went on to Connemara and saw how they cut marble (http://www.connemaramarble.com/ ). The marble was various shades of green, some rose, and a few black. The black marble is very rare and has shells within it.· Next we went to Connemara Celtic Crystal and saw a demonstration on how the masters cut crystal. This family run business has, for over a quarter of a century, been pioneering the incorporation of Celtic designs and Gaelic motifs into its ornate Irish Crystal. It is proud to claim clear leadership in this field.
The ride along this part of Ireland is bumpy, and some of the roads are dirt ones. Rhododendrons grow wild along the sides of the roads. Galway Bay was filled with beautiful swans.· Back in Galway we visited Galway Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral which is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city. Built between 1958 and 1965, it stands on the site of the old city jail. The architecture of the Cathedral draws on many influences. The dome and pillars reflect a Renaissance style. Other features, including the rose windows and mosaics, echo the broad tradition of Christian art. The Cathedral dome, at a height of 145 ft, is a prominent landmark on the city skyline.· After dinner at our hotel we once again walked in to the city, this time with even more people from our tour group.
We went to Kings Head Pub which dates its roots back 800 years.June 8, 2007This morning we had an early breakfast, followed by our transfer to Shannon Airport. We checked our luggage and waited with some of those we met on the tour. Our flight home was uneventful, thankfully!
We met a lot of nice people on our tour, and we were especially entertained by our tour guide, Pat, with his narratives, jokes, stories, and singing.
Arthur Guinness and the founding of the Brewery (excerpted from the Guinness website ( http://www.guinnessstorehouse.com/whats_inside.htm )
Arthur Guinness was born in 1725 near Dublin in the town of Celbridge, county Kildare where his father, Richard Guinness, was a Land Steward. Part of Richard's duties were to supervise the brewing of beer for the workers on the estate and it is probable that young Arthur first learnt the art of brewing from his father. The brewing industry in Dublin at that date was suffering because English beer was taxed less severely than the home-produced product. Arthur was not, however, deterred. He decided to acquire what was then a small, disused and ill-equipped brewery at St James's Gate. The lease, signed on 31 December 1759, was for 9000 years at an annual rent of £45.
To start with, Arthur brewed ale, but by the 1770s a new drink, a strong black beer called porter, was being exported from London. Arthur decided to brew this new beer himself. He proved extremely successful and right into his seventies Arthur continued to be active in supervising his business at the Brewery, now assisted by three of his sons. Arthur had married an heiress, Olivia Whitmore, and had 21 children, 10 of whom survived into adulthood.
When he died in 1803, he left a considerable personal fortune of about £23,000 and an extremely flourishing business which later generations of his family were to develop, following the example of initiative and enterprise set by its founder.
Brief history of Ireland and Dublin:
The first settlement of Ireland took place around 6000 B.C by hunters and fishermen along the east coast. There is a pre-Christian burial site dating back 4000 years ago. The Gaels came around 600 – 150 B.C. and subdued the previous inhabitants.Dublin was called Eblana in the 2nd century. The Vikings (who were traders) regularly raided Ireland and did much to develop Dublin, Cork, and Waterford. They settled in Dublin in 841 A.D. It was named Dubh Linn which means black pool. The dark appearance of the River Poddle which is now a subterranean river under Dublin Castle gave rise to the name.
Dublin’s Irish name is Baile ´ Atha Cliath meaning town of the hurdle ford. This refers to hurdles used to cross the River Liffey. Brian Boru, Ireland’s High King, defeated the Vikings and their influence faded.In the 12th century Normans arrived and controlled large parts of Ireland which then came under the King of England’s political authority. This was followed by hundreds of years worth of revolt, culminating in the 1916 Easter Rising where a republic was declared in Dublin and an armed insurrection took place. In 1918 the General Election swept aside the Irish Parliamentary Party causing a war of national independence. By the time the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded in 1921, six counties in Ulster had been given their own Northern pre-parliament, with the remaining 26 counties forming the Irish Free State. Since then Ireland struggled until the end of the 20th century when Ireland’s economy turned for the better and Celtic pride has since flourished.Gaelic is the native Irish language. It evolved from Celtic settlers (600 B.C.) and survived the Norse and Viking invasions, but was almost wiped out by English rule. It is now becoming more widely spoken and all the street signs have both English and Gaelic on them.
Some famous Dubliners:
Samuel Beckett, Nobel Prizewinning playwright and poet (Waiting for Godot)
Maeve Binchy, author (well known for Circle of Friends)
Christy Brown, subject of the movie “My Left Foot”; he wrote and painted with his left foot because he had cerebral palsy
Seamus Heaney, poet and Nobel Prize winner
Marian Keyes, novelist
James Joyce, novelist and well known for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (his autobiography) and Ulysses
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula
Jonathan Swift, author and dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral
Oscar Wilde, well known for his The Importance of Being Earnest
William Butler Yeats, 20th century poet
Miscellaneous, but nonetheless interesting:
The Irish claim that America was first discovered by an Irishman, St Brendan, the Navigator, in the 6th century. http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/58/04712670/0471267058.pdf
Palm trees grow year round in Ireland. Apparently due to the mild climate, there is rarely any snow and the ground doesn’t freeze, so palm trees thrive.
Things we did not visit, but must visit on our next trip:
Dublin Jail (Kilmainham Gaol) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gaol
Bram Stoker Experience http://www.thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com/
Mary McGrath
Mary@thetravelbugonline.com
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