Tag: Vacation

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All Inclusive Vacation





Why would you want to consider an all-inclusive resort for your vacation? At all-inclusive resorts, you can enjoy everything they have to offer at no additional cost. You know what your vacation will cost and there are no surprises when checking out, as you might have on a cruise. All meals, even speciality restaurants, water activities, shows, entertainment, drinks and pools are included in the price. The only exception is spa treatments and some motorized water sports. Pick your all-inclusive based on what you want to do for a fabulous vacation!

Each all-inclusive brand offers different amenities. Some have swim-up rooms where you can swim from your room terrace to the main pool. Some have butler service or concierge service. Most have 24 hour room service. Some have in-suite plunge pools, Jacuzzi, and in-suite rain showers or outdoor private showers. You can have a destination wedding of your dreams or a fantastic honeymoon.  You can go snorkeling, windsurfing, surfing, diving, fishing, play basketball, beach volleyball, or bocce ball, take language lessons, cooking classes have a cookout on the beach, go whale watching, watch turtles hatch and go into the ocean, participate in special parties like dance parties, watch a movie under the stars on the beach, go to eco-parks, have a private dinner on the beach, etc.

 If it isn’t an all adult resort, there are family rooms and clubs for children which offer many activities and family time. There are activities just for children from camping on the beach, video games, and sports to learning a new language or learning to cook.

It can be confusing to compare all the different all inclusive brands and all inclusive individual hotels. The choice is enormous and each island, city, or country usually only have a few of the brands. You can do the research yourselves, or call your travel advisor for help. If you find the right all-inclusive you can  have a vacation with a lifetime of wonderful memories! 

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Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disney World’s new land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened August 29, 2019. This land is a highly themed area that allows you to live your own Star Wars adventures as you explore the remote planet of Batuu.

You arrive at Batuu, an outpost along the galaxy’s Outer Rim on the frontier of Wild Space when you enter the land. The planet is home to Black Spire Outpost, an infamous port for smugglers, traders and adventurers wishing to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the First Order. When you arrive at Black Spire Outpost, you encounter aliens, droids and other inhabitants of this planet. Along the way, you may encounter some familiar faces, such as Rey, Chewbacca, or even Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and his Stormtroopers. Soon after you arrive to the planet Batuu, you’ll be able to transform the Play Disney Parks app into your Star Wars: Datapad—designed to guide you deeper and deeper into an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an interactive ride experience. You climb into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and take the controls of the ship as a pilot, an engineer or a gunner. The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats when you jump into hyperspace towards adventure. Along the way you’ll face danger at every turn. The ride experience responds in real time to the actions the crew take.

A second attraction, opening Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The Resistance is gathering recruits for a secret mission. Along the way, Star Wars characters—including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron and BB-8 may join you to fight the First Order. Your journey takes you aboard a full-size transport shuttle which is captured by a First Order Star Destroyer, with Kylo Ren on board. Fortunately, a covert team of Resistance fighters is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape—and a chance for the Resistance to rise.

A multi-purpose transport shuttle docked on top of a large hangar beckons guests into Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo restaurant, a designated location for traveling food shuttles. You can sit inside the spacious hanger, or grab a table in the rustic outdoor seating area surrounded by the crumbling walls of the old marketplace.

The Droid Depot invites you to construct your own droid. You pick pieces off a conveyor belt stocked with parts, chips, manuals and other tech items  to build one of two core models (R-series or BB-series). You can customize your droid with various parts and colors. These droids interact with elements throughout the land, enhancing your adventures. 

At Savi’s Workshop, you can build and customize your very own lightsaber and bring it to life through the power of kyber crystals. You’ll choose one of 4 available hilt themes – Peace and Justice, Power and Control, Elemental Nature, or Protection and Defense. Reservations highly suggested!

In Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, shop for mysterious and unique galactic artifacts. You will find a selection of rare and mysterious items for sale, representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy, including holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts, lightsabers and more.

Resistance Supply is a “makeshift” location at the Resistance’s hidden command post, selling Resistance pins, badges, hats and other accessories to help you feel like part of the cause. 

First Order Cargo, meanwhile, is a temporary First Order storage dock easily identified by a never-before-seen First Order TIE echelon ship. The cargo location offers you a chance to pledge your loyalty by purchasing pins, caps, gear, model ships and more (you will be actively recruited by members of the Resistance while there).

You become part of the story as you try galactic food, beverages (Blue Milk, Green Milk, a variety of exotic drinks like the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset), shop for items, and help control the Millennium Falcon in the Smugglers Run ride. You can interact with different areas in the park with your Play Disney Parks mobile app. With the app you can aid a smuggler, pledge loyalty to the First Order, or join the resistance.

Call today and let us help you arrange your Disney trip!

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Planning your Land Vacation

Are you planning to travel and see the sights? Is it overwhelming to plan the trip? There are options. You can do a guided tour, an escorted tour, or you can use a packaged plan or do it on your own. It depends on your travel preference and the amount of time you can spend planning.

Escorted Tours are the easiest. You pick out a tour from one of the many vendors and everything else is taken care of. They are typically conducted by an expert travel director who takes care of every detail for you, from beginning to end. They normally include flights, hotels, any transportation needs, most meals and sightseeing. Most are done mostly using a bus. However, some have bicycling, boats, etc., depending on where you are going. Most have at least one incredible experience that you never thought of doing and all have amazing itineraries.

Guided Tours are similar but are less regimented. They are usually lead by a local expert who will only escort you on some of the activities. Some meals, accommodations and sightseeing are usually included. There will be someone available to answer any questions, but they will not lead all the excursions. This is great for people who want some freedom during their tour but still want the services of a guide.

An Independent Travel Package is just what it says, independent. The trip is planned for you with lots of free time to explore on your own but you are not set into doing specific things. There is usually a local person available to answer questions and suggest sightseeing, restaurants and activities – much like a concierge at a hotel. This is ideal for  you if you like to set your own pace. The research and planning is done by the Tour Company who can make reservations, obtain sightseeing tickets, etc. and be available for questions, but you can do the sightseeing at your own pace.

Or you can plan your one trip from start to finish. So, decide which is more your travel style and go explore!

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Wellness and Fitness





Wellness and fitness are becoming more and more of a focus on ships. From activities to food, many lines are offering more healthy choices for vacationers interested in continuing their fitness regime on vacation.

Fitness, on a ship – you are kidding?!? You might be surprised at the fitness centers on almost all cruise ships and even river cruise lines. Don’t want to miss your yoga, Pilates, Zumba or other fitness class? Most have group classes on the ship.

And if the ellipticals, stationary bikes, punching bags, treadmills and other equipment aren’t what you are looking for but you still want to have some exercise on board, how about a ropes course or rock climbing? Basketball courts, jogging tracks, volleyball, dance classes, and surfing are available on some ships. Several of the smaller ships with sports platforms offer paddle-boarding, kayaking, and skiing.

River ships usually carry bikes for use on land. They also have fitness centers but not as extensive on an ocean ship. Some even have cruises focused on wellness and wellness. 

Many excursions are more focused on wellness activities including hiking and biking. There is a wellness focused excursion on most ports of call.

So, don’t stop your fitness regime on board  ship – pick the cruise ship that most closely fits your current activities and have a great vacation! You might just find that working out at sea is even more fun than working out at home.

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Eating on Cruise Ships

Eating on Cruise Ships

Gone are the days of huge piles of food at the buffet line and the midnight buffet. But that doesn’t mean you will go hungry on a cruise ship! There are lots of choices and you can get as much as you want most of the time. For example, in the main dining rooms, you can order whatever you would like. You can order two appetizers, two main entrees, and three desserts if you want – you aren’t limited to one. And there are venues open except for the wee hours of the morning. It may be pizza or a grill, but you can eat almost anytime.

Most lines still offer free room service. Some have a service charge for the service. Check your daily newsletter or in room menu for pricing and/or service charge. Having breakfast in your room sitting on your balcony is a nice way to start the day!

Speaking of breakfast, you can get lots of choices on the buffet, but all the cruise lines also have at least one restaurant open for breakfast for a nice sit down meal. Some of them have two or three other venues open for breakfast. That is also in your daily newsletter

Specialty dining is a good option for the first night on the cruise. It is easier to get the time you want and some cruise lines give discounts or wine for the first night diners. 

Do you like ice cream? Most cruise lines have soft serve ice cream on the Lido Deck or the buffet lines. Speciality ice cream often comes with a charge, but soft serve is free. Check each area that serves soft serve, there are often different flavors at different locations.

A sit down restaurant is a good alternative the day of embarkation. Instead of braving the mob, ask a crew member or check the daily newsletter to find out which restaurants are open. Then sit and enjoy having someone bring you your choices.

The main dining room menus are planned out for a week and you can look at them in advance. Visit the front desk and ask to see the menus. You can pick which meals you want to eat in the main dining room and which meals you want to go to an alternate dining venue.

Alert: gaining weight on a seven day cruise is normal. Don’t be surprised if you do!

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Glamping

Glamping is described as glamorous camping with amenities, and in some cases, resort style services not usually associated with traditional camping. It’s like roughing it with a private bath with hot and cold running water, air conditioning, heater, kitchen, luxury linens, beds, etc. This kind of camping can be tents, villas, cabins, lodges, teepees,  airstreams or treehouses; the variety is part of what makes it fun. Glamping available in many places in SC.

 

Sleeping under the stars on a comfortable mattress instead of a hard surface, intense communing with nature and the freedom of a camping holiday with the comfort of a 5 star hotel are what glamping is all about. These accommodations are nestled in nature in forests, lakes, mountains and beach. Glamping is available all over the world.

 

Yurts, round structures with solid framings covered by canvas, are becoming popular because of their comfort, energy efficiency and are easily customized. Teepees and treehouses are also popular. But by far, small cabins and tents on platforms are the most common glamping accommodations.

 

Some sites even have a concierge and/or chef prepared meals available. Many have bikes, hammocks, fire pits, planned activities, jacuzzi, swimming pools and continental breakfast. Most are out in nature so you can relax and enjoy the quiet but still have the comforts of home. 

 

It’s a known fact that the South has lots of unspoiled, natural beauty. From the mountains to rivers and ocean, there are many wonderful places to have outdoor experiences year round. Glamping provides the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature while still enjoying the comforts of  home.

 


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Christmas Markets River Cruise

European Christmas Markets are amazing!! The decorations, ornaments, presents, food, gluhwein, and more are in almost every town in Europe! What an awesome way to get in the Christmas spirit. This is one of our many pictures. Call us to book your fabulous Christmas Market Cruise today!