Even though the snow is still blowing in the north, the sun beckons us to the south! 

Fortunately we have the most economical vacation available—cruising during times of a scaled back economy!  The cruise lines want our business!  So take advantage!

Remember:  Any time you can cruise less than $100/day/person, you’ve got yourself a GREAT deal! 

Here are my top picks for real deals:  

During March, travel on the brand new Holland America Eurodam, traveling the Eastern Caribbean for seven days starting at $599!  

 In April, cruise on the Crown Princess for seven days for $499!    

You can still catch the $549 for seven days deal in the month of May, traveling the Eastern Caribbean.

Remember, do NOT purchase your cruise with air fare included.  Book your cruise, then book your air travel, giving yourself plenty of time prior to your cruise ship departure.  I suggest going a day or two, even three days prior if you want to tour the area.  The cost savings will more than take care of any expenses. 

In a previous blog, I talked about our planning a cruise to Alaska during the month of May.  We have a trip to travel for our son's college graduation, so we have moved our trip to June.  Peak season for cruising in Alaska-June15 to July 15.  We're sailing on Holland America's Westerdam.  Being the pansy Floridian that I am, I certainly plan on packing winter wear.  I'm  told to pack the insect repellent, as well!   Our land excursions have yet to be determined.  Please contact me with your recent (or not so recent) experiences on land in Alaska--I'd love to hear from you!  

Happy Travels,

Diana 

Happy New Year to all!  I'm back, ready to go again! 

I highly recommend a Florida Vacation—

Florida scored THREE out of the top ten rated beaches in the Country! 

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman*, also affectionately known as Dr. Beach, has issued his annual list of America's Best Beaches. He visits over 100 beaches each year in an official quest for just the right combination of “sand-sational” sand, crystal-blue water and amenities. Here is his 2008 list:

Top 10 Beaches 2008

1.   Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, FL

2.     Hanalei Beach, Hawaii

3.   Siesta Beach, Sarasota, FL

4.     Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.

5.     Coronado Beach, San Diego, CA

6.     Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

7.     Hamoa Beach, Hawaii

8.  Cape Hatteras, N.C. 

9.  Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL

10.Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

The coming months will be a GREAT time of year to visit sunny Florida!  I’m highlighting two out of Dr. Leatherman’s three Florida picks:

Caladesi Island State Park

In the heart of the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast, Caladesi Island is accessed via ferry (departing hourly beginning at 10:00 a.m) from Honeymoon Island (opens at 8:00 a.m.-sundown 365 days/year).  It is located west of the city of Dunedin, just north of Clearwater.  It has something for everyone to enjoy!  It is one of the few completely natural islands along Florida's Gulf Coast.  Caladesi's white sand shores have been rated as the nation's #1 best beach! Sand dunes line the open beach with turtles and shore birds finding it the perfect location for nesting. Beach lovers can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing. Saltwater anglers can fish from their boats or throw a line out into the surf. Nature enthusiasts watch wildlife while hiking the three mile nature trail through the island´s interior or paddling a three mile kayak trail through the mangroves and bay. Picnic tables, bath houses, shelters, and picnic pavilions are available.  The park has a marina with electric and water hookups for boaters (overnight docking permitted), as well as a snack bar and gift shop.

Directions:

Boat:From channel marker #14, just west of the Dunedin Causeway Bridge, take an approximate 212´degree heading on your compass for approximately 1 mile. Follow the channel markers into the Caladesi Island State Park Marina.

Driving:

From Orlando: I-4 west to I-275 south to SR-60 west. Cross Courtney Campbell Causeway, then turn right on US Hwy 19 north. Left on Curlew Rd. (SR-586). Follow SR-586, crossing Dunedin Causeway, to Honeymoon Island State Park for Caladesi ferry.

From north of Tampa: I-75 south to I-275 south to Hillsborough Ave. exit.
West to slight left at Curlew Rd. (SR 586). Pass fork at SR-580. Follow SR-586, crossing Dunedin Causeway, to Honeymoon Island State Park for Caladesi ferry.

From Bradenton and South: I-75 north to I-275 north to Roosevelt Ave. exit (Follow signs for St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, last exit before the Howard Franklin Bridge). Stay right on SR-686 west when SR-688 forks to left. Right (north) on McMullen Booth Rd. (CR-611) to cross over the Bayside Bridge. Left on Curlew Rd. (SR 586). Follow SR-586, crossing Dunedin Causeway, to Honeymoon Island State Park for Caladesi ferry. 

Siesta Beach

I know that you will enjoy your Florida vacation, wherever you choose, but I’m personally recommending these two nature areas for you to kick back and see some real Florida beauty!  Caladesi is more “natural”, and Siesta Beach is more populated, yet gorgeous!  

I wish you safe & happy travels,

Diana

*Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman is a coastal scientist with thirty years of international experience studying storm impacts, erosion, and ways to improve beach health. He is Florida International University's director of the International Hurricane Research Center and the Laboratory for Coastal Research. The Center is also home to the National Healthy Beaches Campaign founded by Leatherman.  

We hear on the news that there will be fewer trips “home” for Americans celebrating Thanksgiving this year.  That certainly is understandable, given our current economic downturn.  For those among us who are unable to celebrate Thanksgiving with our biological family, take heart.  Get outside of yourself and either adopt one person, several, or a family or two and share the holiday with them.  Remember your elderly acquaintances.  The multi-generational mix is wonderful for young and old, alike.  We all need each other!  Make it special.  Call your loved ones for the holiday and send your love, then get back to creating something special at your house!  It doesn’t have to cost that much.  Have everyone bring their own special dish!  Many wonderful relationships can be started or renewed in this wonderful way!

I remember back in 1985, when our family moved from Michigan to Florida and we had no family here at all, and hardly knew anyone.  We had some dear old family friends that invited us into their family gathering for a holiday.  I will never forget that!  It made a huge difference for us that season!  We all need to try to remember to extend a hand.  It will make everyone feel great!  

If you ARE flying during the Thanksgiving holiday, remember to arrive at the airport TWO HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME on peak flying days:  November 26 & 30, and December 1. 

Going “Home” for the winter holidays? 

Yesterday, President Bush announced that he is opening airspace for the holidays that is typically dedicated to the military, to commercial airliners.  This will mean that the big, busy airports will be able to expand the number of runways to relieve congestion.  This will make flying, overall, go faster and smoother. 

Looking ahead to the winter holidays, there are still many economical flights available.  Please take a look and book right away to reserve at the best prices.  Remember, www.shipsandtripsonline.com shops the entire market in seconds, to get you the best possible price, saving you time and money.  

If you can be flexible with your travel times and dates, you can get an even better deal!  If you have someone who is unable to afford to visit you for the holidays, consider purchasing them a ticket as your holiday gift to them.  It will be much-appreciated, and you will undoubtedly enjoy their holiday visit! 

Good News:

Next fall, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) expects to let travelers take as much shampoo, makeup, and other liquids as they want on planes starting when more advanced x-ray machines arrive in U.S. airports.  Until then, REMEMBER, you are still limited to carrying on only as many 3.4 ounce bottles of liquids as you can fit into a quart-size plastic bag.  Here is the link for the TSA’s rules for general flying/carry-ons:  http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/311_intl_acceptance.shtm. 

           Please note that the airlines are getting fussier about their carry-on policies.  Be sure that you meet the guidelines to save yourself a headache.  The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 LINEAR inches.  That’s the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag.  Anything any larger must be checked. 

Other security tidbits:

o   Avoid triggering metal detectors by avoiding wearing/carrying metal:  heavy belt buckles, oversized earrings, loose change, heavy chain necklaces/belts, spare keys, underwire bras.

o   Wear slip on shoes—the come off easily during the security check—taking and/or wearing socks for a longer flight is a good idea—they feel great while you snooze).

o   Electronic items such as digital camera, PDA’s, laptops, cell phones, etc., that  are too delicate & valuable to pack and need to go through security—keep them handy as you will likely be instructed to put them in a bin on the security conveyor belt to go through the scanner alone.

o   Be sure that when you place your items on the belt to be scanned, that you watch ALL of your items go into the closed area before you step through the metal detector.  Someone else could make off with your goods. 

I wish you safe and happy travels, 

Diana 

Many first time cruisers choose to travel on the Caribbean.  That’s a GREAT choice!  The question is always, “which is better, the Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean?”  Either one!  They both have sunshine, blue skies, and heaven-sent beaches! 

The one thing that may influence your choice of Eastern versus a Western Caribbean cruise is the port of departure.  If you can find one closer to your home, perhaps you can save on air fare, in order to decrease your expenditures for the trip. If you need to fly, try out a couple of air fare searches.  This will give you an idea of the air fare prices which may guide you to your port of departure. 

Other than looking for ports that you want to explore for shopping and/or activities (shore excursions), consider the fact that the Western trip tend to give you more days at sea rather than ports because the ports are farther apart.  There are actually cruisers who never get off the ship at the ports of call!  There is plenty to do on board, and it is extremely relaxing! 

If none of these choices are important to you, see if one is cheaper than the other.  Try either one this year, and I guarantee you’ll want to schedule the other next year if you can!  

I recommend a seven day cruise if you can swing it.  It’s long enough to get on the ship and TOTALLY relax.  Anything less is still nice, but seven days onboard a ship is awesome –well worth the extra you’ll spend.  Once you experience a cruise, you’ll definitely understand why I recommend it!  You will KNOW you’ve been on vacation! 

Please let me know your thoughts before and/or after your cruise, and of course, if I can help in any way!  

Please book your cruise trip here with us!

I wish you happy travels,

Diana

Of the areas that we traveled on this trip, our favorite was the Cinque Terre—five picturesque villages on the French Riviera in the Liguria region of Italy. The area has small inlets that are “carved” out, leaving dry walls erupting from the Mediterranean Sea, topped with gorgeous vineyards, the product of which is said to be, “fit for kings”.  The hillsides are peppered with wonderful multi-colored houses, painted in pastels.  Laundry hangs from the windows like colorful banners waving in the wind. Little shops and restaurants dot the lower hills, the owner always nearby, at work.  The village cats and dogs run around, at will, all seemingly oblivious to the tourists.

The five villages are:  Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, & Riomaggiore.  This is not to be missed by the romantics among us!  The beauty is indescribable, the view—absolutely breathtaking!  There is an area called, “Lover’s Lane” (Via dell’Amore) which is two roads that tie Riomaggiore and Manarola together.  Historically that was not always the case…the road had to be constructed by the local railroad, so that the villages were not hours apart, which made the lovers happy.  The “Lane” has graffiti (lovingly done) with a nice added touch—sealed locks from lovers, left behind, to represent their “forever love”.  It’s something very special to see, and very romantic! 

While in the Cinque Terre, we experienced some truly wonderful food.  We dined in a local family owned restaurant and enjoyed their pasta with pesto and ravioli.  Both dishes had wonderful flavors and it was a treat to sit in the local community to experience their culture as well as their food and fine wine.  They are hard-working, happy people who love to share the fruits of their labor with us! 

On our way out of Vernazza, we stopped and by the local geleteria (Italy’s version of America’s ice cream parlor).  We picked up a chocolate gelato—to die for!  This stuff is much better than the old “custard” we used to be able to find in America! 

Overall, I would put this area at the very top of the “must see” vacation list in Italy. A cruise is a wonderful way of seeing Europe with great ease.  If there is a particular area that you would like to stay, you can also go to my website and click on “Worldwide Vacation Rentals” for great deals on renting villas, apartments, etc., anywhere, to accommodate two to twenty or more people!  This is great for family reunions, weddings, etc.

Please visit my website at:  http://www.shipsandtripsonline.com  for all of your travel needs.

 I wish you happy travels,

Diana