Cruise Resort & World Travel, Inc

I don’t know why this island gets such a bad rap. The people are the most hospitable and kind (maybe that’s because tourism is their lively hood?) There are a lot of activities, but just the resorts with golf, tennis, water sports and the weather would be enough to lure me hear annually. So what if once in a while someone with dreadlocks approaches you on the beach and asks if you want to buy some weed. Just say no thanks and they say OK, no problem mon. People always beg in the cities of the states and ask for money, food, etc. they ask 4 times and nobody is offended. The food is great, water safe to drink and it is a quick nonstop flight from many major airports. Very doable for a 4 day escape.

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I don’t think so. The tourist areas are busy, booming and safe. Beaches are great, service is amazing and the weather is wonderful. No need to worry about the drub cartels. They aren’t looking for tourists on the beach… they are busy in small towns near the border towns. Many people went for spring break with no incident. Are you afraid to travel to NY because of 9 1 1? Travel is a privilege and if fear guides your life, then you won’t experience the wonders of travel.

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Nothing parallels travel memories. We can lose money in the stock market, but nobody can take away our experiences, memories or education. Travel is the most fun facet of education I can think of. Here is a recent account from one of my clients who just returned from Iceland on a trip I prepared.

Here I am, last morning in Iceland. I am writing this partly for your enjoyment, but mostly for me to remember this trip and what I have learned. I was reminded of the the importance of travel - how enriching travel and new experiences truly are; opening one up to a wealth of new experience and culture. As I recount the past week, I have met more new people that I have a chance of staying in touch with than I have in the past 6 months in New York City.

I have very much enjoyed traveling around this starkly beautiful and odd landscape. Volcanic fields, flat mountains, bubbling hot springs, enormous melting glaciers, black sand and rock beaches with seabirds and horses, and even a 6 month old whale carcass.

Icelanders are a very intriguing breed. They are cutting edge, trendy, and funky, while reserved, traditional, and quaint. They are shy until you break the shell, after which you might hear their family history going back to the Viking Sagas. They are also proud of their small nation, their history, their culture and their landscape. They keep close to one another, yet they are interested in meeting new people from all over the world.

The past few days we have been in a remote hut in the wilderness in the middle of winter. We stayed next to a volcano, cooked our own fresh lamb dinner, and sat in the amazing hot spring enjoying the brisk air, northern lights, and recounting the trip and other great experiences with our “silent assassin” guide Anton. This was after a day touring the south coast, where all of the farms maintain the exact same names and locations they did the time of the Vikings.

Last night was again in Reykjavik. Met up with a couple guys from the first night… talked about life, enjoyed some laughs, had some beers, talked to some ladies, and then went at 3:30 am to take pictures on a frozen lake in the moonlight just outside of the city. After this trip I feel alive, energized, and feel that I have taken a step back - out of the world of routines and cubicles, and into a parallel world of bliss and rejuvenation. You only live once, so make sure you are really doing everything you want to. You never know when a terrorist attack, financial crisis, or giant meteor will send the world back to the stone age.
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I just returned from seeing the treasures of Jerash and Petra in Jordan and the pyramids and Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. I cruised down the Suez canal and the Red Sea from Athens to Dubai.Two weeks of amazing ports of call. The differences between Cairo and Dubai were astonishing. While Cairo and Jordan hold some of the world’s greatest treasures, Dubai is a newly built up country rich in oil with no poverty. Lunch at the Burj al Arab hotel, famous for it’s look like a sail (it actually is a ship on its side coming from the ground) offered the best views of the city and of the new “world creation” where they have made land formations of the globe out at sea. They have a mall with all the name brand high end stores and a giant ski slope inside, including ski lifts and a sledding run for kids. Surreal!

They are also building Dubailand which will be miles of theme parks from all over the world and will employ and house 2.5 million people. It is like a fairy tale land. We took a safari in the desert with a 4×4 and had dinner under the stars with the sand as our scenery. Quite cool, but the ride up and down the dunes did me in! Too fast and too much motion for me to enjoy dinner.

Most things are about 30% more expensive than in the US, except gold which is a bargain. They have a gold market that is a shopper’s paradise! A trip to this part of the world is an amazing experience.
Nancy Yale, Cruise Resort & World Travel 203 254-3339 www.bookavacation.com

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We took a Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany. What a wonderful way to see Europe. With only 140 guests on the river boat, we stopped at small towns in Austria and Germany along the way. Every port began with an informative walking tour including a major historical sight for a few hours. We were then given free time to walk around the town and explore on our own. It was a great way to enjoy small alleys and beautifully preserved medieval cities. One of the most interesting parts of this cruise was going through the many
locks (over 15) on the Danube.

While onboard, the cabins were comfortable and the staff pleasant and always able to assist with maps and directions in every city. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were included on the ship, but many times it was great sampling the local cuisine for lunch.

I am going to try other itineraries on this line such as the Russian River cruise on the Volga. That would be amazing as well. Experiencing the small towns on a river boat really gives you a flavor of the country you are visiting without the crowds of a large ship.

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A short 15 minute flight from St. Maarten lies the French Island of St. Bart’s.
It has the best restaurants and standard of living of most of the islands in the Caribbean.
The hotels are small, charming,and elegant. Many of them on the beach; some perched on a cliff overlooking the sea with walking paths to a beach.I stayed at the Hotel St. Barth Isle de France and Hotel Le Toiny. I visited Manapany (a series of cottages on the beach), Hotel Guanahani (which is great for families) and the Eden Rock hotel. Any of these wonderful properties would complete a superb Caribbean holiday. Lodging rates vary depending on how luxurious the hotel.
The euro is the currenc of the island, so be prepared to spend some serious money on restaurants.The French eateries are similiar to a fine French restaurant in the states.
Renting a car is easy and is advisable. The shopping is great and the views are unmatched. There are also many villas to rent on the island from 5 bedrooms for a group of friends or family to a honeymoon hideaway for a couple. Most are hidden on a hillside with the best views in the Caribbean.

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Maui’s scenery and landscapes are superb. The island’s sunny western coast is lined with gorgeous white-sand beaches, and in winter one can see many humpback whales. You can explore jungles and waterfalls, windsurf with the pros or enjoy a drink at Lahaina’s historic taverns. Maui is known as the “Valley Island” because of its two large extinct volcanoes divided by a tropical central valley. It’s the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the most developed of the Neighbor Islands. Its windsurfing and surf spots are some of the best in the world. Near the coast, daily temperatures average a high of about 83F and a low of around 68F. Winter is between December and March, when abut twice as much rain falls as in summer. A great way to see the majority of this island in one day would be to start at the top of Haleakala, the volcanic peak that gave rise to Maui. Watching dawn paint the sky in fiery hues as the world’s largest dormant volcano emerges into view is an awesome experience. For more survivable thrills, rent yourself a board and head to Kanaha Beach Park where steadfast winds whip windsurfers and kite boarders across the bay. Then mellow out with a stroll along Wailea Beach Walk, a jagged coastal path that’s one of the best places in Hawaii for spotting humpback whales. Top off the day with a sunset dinner at one of Lahaina’s famed waterfront restaurants – seared ahi (tuna), anyone? And if you’re up for a little club crawling, Lahaina offers a sizzling night scene.

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I just returned from a trip to Milan and the Italian Lakes. Upon my arrival I was fortunate enough to stay at the Grand Hotel Villa D’Este on Lake Como. A boat ride around Lake Como revealed homes owned by George Clooney and Versace’s estate. We had lunch at a small island in the middle of Lake Como, that is only reachable by boat. We travelled by water taxi to the town of Como and the following day, travelled to the Swiss Lake side town of Lugano. We then went on to Milan, the fashion capital of Europe, where we visited the La Scala Opera House as well as the Last Supper. After this, we went on to Bergin, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, where we stayed at the Villa Aminta on Lake Magiore.

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What better time to visit Israel than to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the creation of this tiny state which has a rich history that can appeal to everyone. All we think about is what we hear on the news or read in the papers. Israel is a vibrant country where the people are happy and productive and very proud of their country. Tourism is booming and the sites and biblical history are well worth the long flight there.

My son is spending a semester of college abroad at the University in Jerusalem so I went for a week to visit him. We rented a car and traveled from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and to the north. We stayed in wonderful hotels on the beach in Tel Aviv, visited Moshavs growing oranges and avocados and stayed in wonderful bed and breakfasts in those moshavs called “zimmers” from the German name for rooms. Most people speak English and we always felt safe. The young people all spend 2 years in the army after high school and before college and learn a lot about life and war before they are even 21. Their pride in their country is wonderful.

From Israel, visiting Turkey, Jordan and Egypt are easy add ons. Don’t forget this wonderful little country and all its jewels.

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