Picture this: a 10,700-square foot home with breathtaking ocean views, your own private pool, outdoor Jacuzzi for 10, an outdoor living area with a brick pizza oven and gas grill all at your disposal.

Where is this couples’ haven, you ask? Well, it’s in the Mayan Riviera!

Karisma Resorts is the proud owner of the Azul Villa Carola, an intimate beachfront villa that can hold 2 -20 people. It’s a 6-bedroom, 6-bathroom secluded paradise that gives the feel of a vacation home while you still have access to the Gourmet-Inclusive Azul Beach Hotel, the neighboring resort which is part of the Karisma chain. You can either choose to have your personal butler serve you dinner in your own beachfront gazebo, or check out one of the Gourmet restaurants at the Azul Beach Hotel. It’s all there for you to enjoy.

When planning your destination wedding, you will have the assistance of an on-site wedding coordinator to help with your details. Also included is the filing of documents, Justice of the Peace, a wedding photographer, complimentary Bridal registry and website, flowers for both the bride and groom, as well as a private chef for a night. Your master suite will be decorated for the wedding night, with breakfast in bed the following morning.

Couples can also opt for the Gourmet Inclusive Royal package, where you will arrive to your destination in style with roundtrip limo service for 12 people, and also enjoy extra amenities at the villa which include full bar, aromatherapy menu, pillow menu, private beach butler, Bvlgari bathroom amenities, a private chef to prepare 3 meals a day, candlelight lobster dinner for 12 at the Sky Aqua Pier, a party with exclusive DJ and a private yacht trip for 20!

We know what you’re thinking: sure, it’s great to have the gang share our big day with us but what about our privacy? Well, the guests can stay at the Azul Beach Hotel while the couple stays at the Azul Villa Carola. That’s the best part of it! Keep the villa for yourselves, or share the fun with your wedding party.

Take a look at this spectacular villa for yourself at http://www.karismahotels.com/resort/azul-villa-carola-karisma and see why you should consider having your wedding in this luxurious island getaway!

Last week, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced the characters from our favorite Dreamworks movies are going to be sailing with guests onboard the Oasis of the Seas, in addition to their other ship, Allure of the Seas. As the characters will start sailing on the Allure in December, the gang will join the Oasis on a very familiar date. February 26^th, 2011!

Yes, they will join the Oasis on our actual group cruise departure! How cool is that! Now families and any guest that wants to can party with Shrek and his friends, the Madagascar crew, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon! Guests can partake in fun activities onboard , such as meeting the characters and taking a picture, watching an aqua show starring the characters, enjoy character meals, and even watch movies in the 3D theatre, or in the comfort of your stateroom!

I’m already excited for the cruise, but this news made me even more pumped for it! I think this is going to be an awesome addition to the cruising experience, especially for families! Add it on to the tons of fun that will already be on the Oasis of the Seas, of course! If you want to be part of our group cruise and meet the gang, we’re only a phone call or email away.

Okay, okay. I know this is really more geared to children, but seriously! As if there’s another Sesame Street character coming to Beaches Resorts!

Beaches is already home to Elmo, Zoe, Grover, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, the Count (my personal favorite) and Bert & Ernie in case you don’t know. I just found out today that another favorite character is joining the group. It’s none other than Big Bird!

Big Bird will be joining the gang on August 22^nd at Beaches Turks & Caicos, and Beaches Negril in Jamaica. Each Sesame Street character allows the children to take part in special character activities, like Story Time with Elmo, Learning to Dance with Zoe, Exploring with Grover, Making Cookies with Cookie Monster, Making Music with Bert & Ernie, Discovering Magical Treasures with Abby Cadabby. You can also have a character breakfast with them, too! How cute! I wonder what Big Bird’s activity will be?

Beaches is also introducing a new crafts program with Martha Stewart. Kids can participate in 5 new classes where they’ll be able to scrapbook, stencil, paint, and glitter. The Post Card, Punch and Stencil Fashion and Glitter classes are recommended for family members six and up with Scrapbooking and Stencil Fashion classes recommended for ages nine and up. Costs for most classes are $10USD per child.

Lots going on at Beaches resorts, as you can see! They are a great option for family vacations, and to make things even better, they are offering 2 free nights and up to 65% off your stay if you travel in September, October or November. If you’re interested for more information and pricing, don’t hesitate to contact us!

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/17/bc-flightcancelled.html

It’s true: beware of online travel sites that promise amazing cheap prices! You could be paying double in the long run, and deal with so many headaches in the process.

What Should I Look For?

If you do not see the “IATA” symbol on the travel website, stay away! “IATA” is the International Air Transport Authority, and if you’re booking on a website that is not a member of IATA, they can’t ticket your reservation. You don’t want to be caught in a position where a 3^rd party company could be issuing your ticket – or worse off, not even issuing it at all and you dealing with the consequences when you check in for your supposed flight!

What’s this about Price Changes?

Another thing that could happen is, you want to book a flight, and you go through the whole booking process. You get to the final page, and now you get a message saying your price has changed! Why does this happen? Prices are never guaranteed until your ticket is actually issued. Meaning, the price can change at the very last minute. The online travel sites lure you in with the lower prices, but the clincher is, that price likely is not available!

How Can I Avoid This From Happening?

Simple. If you book online, make sure the company you’re booking through is a member of IATA. Also, ensure that you will be on top of your reservation from beginning to end, and that also means reconfirming your flights 72 hours prior to your departure. Or, better yet, you can always book through a travel agent. Our job is to be here for you and take care of your trip from start to finish, and you don’t have to worry about any hassles at all.

I’m not trying to use this as a plug to use a travel agent, but more as an awareness to just be careful when you think you’re getting an amazing deal online. Use your gut instincts: if you think a price is too good to be true, it probably is.

What Exactly Are Green Hotels?

Green hotels are properties that are following environmentally friendly procedures to help save water, energy and to reduce waste. This is why you’ll see the signs in your hotel room to hang your towels once you’ve used them, to show that you’ll use them again, and also why there’s the water saving shower head in the bathtub, to name a few ideas. When looking for green hotels, they will prominently display their green status in their property description. For example, the Wyndham hotels have a separate website for their green intentions, at www.wyndhamgreen.com.

What Does It Mean To Offset Carbon Emissions?

When we take a flight, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and this contributes to climate change. Airlines such as Air Canada have a note as you’re booking a flight stating that you can offset your carbon emissions. Basically, one can calculate the cost of their share of the emissions created by their flight and purchase corresponding offsets. For example, a round-trip flight from Vancouver to Toronto will equal 0.7 total emissions (tonnes of CO2 per flight), resulting in an offset cost of $11.20CAD. It’s really not a lot once you look at it that way!

Traveling green is as easy as taking the above steps, and also being considerate to the earth while on vacation, such as taking public transportation, trying to take as direct a flight as possible, eating organic foods while dining out, using reusable water bottles, and of course, keeping our Earth beautiful by not littering!

What are your thoughts on traveling green? Is it something that you try to do, or is it a concern to you? We’d love to hear your comments and thoughts. Leave a message here, or visit our fan page on Facebook under Bill & Maria’s – The Traveling Agent.

Not Just Any Insurance Will Do

It’s best to ensure that you have your insurance purchased already, before travelling to Cuba. Why’s that? The insurance you would purchase in Cuba will not have the same benefits that you would get when purchasing a Canadian insurance policy. For example, the benefits provided by Cuban companies are much lower than those provided here in Canada, and do not include essentials like repatriation to a hospital back in one’s home country, or even having a family member travel to the patient’s hospital bedside.

Will Any Insurance Work?

There is a specific list of insurers that are recognized by the Cuban government. It is not an extensive list, however the company we use for travel insurance, RBC Insurance, is one that is recognized. If you have any questions on the different companies that are included, don’t hesitate to contact us to inquire.

What are your thoughts on this new requirement? We’d love to hear about it, leave us a comment to discuss!

The question is, are discount airlines really offering good deals, or is it all a joke? Once you add on all these fees, are you better off than if you were to book with a regular airline? I know we’ve got it good in Canada with Westjet and Air Canada (no charges for luggage for travel within Canada yet, thank you!), but let’s do a comparison here.

Are “No Frills” Airlines the way to go?

I’ll start with Allegiant Air. I recently looked at rates for a family of 4 travelling from Bellingham, Washington to Palm Springs. The base price started at $854.04US, but after you added on the taxes and fees, the charges really added up. There was an extra $372.56 in taxes and fees after all was said and done. Regular taxes of course, and then the seat fee, convenience fee, and baggage fee. Plus, keep in mind that some airlines make you pre-pay your luggage that you’re taking with you, so you get a "discount" from what you’d have to pay at the counter. Yes, you will need to guess how many suitcases you’ll be bringing, even if you’re booking a couple of months ahead.

Another airline, Southwest Airlines, tells you right off the bat that you will save at least $120 with them, just because of the fact that they don’t charge for baggage fees. These are the kinds of tidbits to look for. Some airlines will charge you $25 for your first bag, and $35 if you have a second one. Don’t forget, that’s per direction, so you’re doubling that.

All in all, it’s extremely important for travellers to look at the big picture and think, if I book with these "no frills" airlines, I’m paying for everything else…seats, bags, etc. Make sure you do your research, and compare between airlines. Some like to make the initial price look really cheap, so you think you are getting a great deal. However, after all these hidden fees are added on, it’s not so much of a deal in the end. Need help figuring out what to do? That’s the reason why dealing with a travel agent is beneficial. We’ll take care of everything for you so you’re not left wondering if you got the best deal you could get.

Cruising is for Everyone!

So who exactly are cruises fun for? Well, in a nutshell, everybody! Cruise lines have special clubs for children, and they can range from ages 3-17. Some cruise lines will even give parents extra time for themselves and come pick up the children after dinner time to go play, allowing their parents time to relax and finish up their coffee and dessert together.

Cruises cater to adults too, of course! With more onboard shops and restaurants, the focus is for you to enjoy yourself while at sea, and to feel the cruise is more of a vacation to you, not a feeling that you are stuck on a ship. Cruise lines are also creating "adults only" areas, so you can have that peace and quiet you are looking for on vacation. Singles have a lot to look forward to on cruises as well, with singles nights and a variety of bars/nightclubs onboard to dance the night away!

Don’t forget about activities. Nowadays, you’ll likely find rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, mini golf, basketball courts, tennis courts, and even "Flowriders" (surfing simulations) onboard! Cruise lines are also stepping up on the entertainment as well. You will now find Broadway type musicals onboard (ie. Hairspray, on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas), and even the Blue Man Group (Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Epic).

Two Vacations in One

The best part about a cruise is that you pick the pace you want. Do you like to visit lots of ports, or do you prefer just a few stops along the way? That’s the beauty in cruises, you can choose an itinerary that is tailored exactly the way you want it! Whether it is 3 days, or even 21 days, there are numerous possibilities you can choose from, anywhere in the world. The ports of call are the number one vacation draw, however the cruise ship itself is becoming more of a draw in itself. For example, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas is so large that it holds 5600 passengers! The new ship has so much to offer in terms of activities onboard, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, that we have decided to host our first ever group cruise onboard this ship! We’d love for you to join us, especially those who have not yet cruised before! This will be an amazing experience for those new to cruising. Contact us to find out the scoop in terms of dates, ports of call, and rates. Hurry though, space is going fast!

Times have changed since then, but the one thing that remains the same is that there is no shortage of mouthwatering culinary delights onboard the Oasis of the Seas. Nowadays, you can still choose to have your dining time set for the same time, same place. Or, there’s a new option where you can dine anytime you please, which is called “My Time Dining”. You choose which time is good for you, and enjoy!

What’s better, is that the Oasis of the Seas is like no other ship. Sure, they offer the regular dining options, but would you believe there are a whopping 24 other restaurants available?

Take a look at the video to get a taste of what’s waiting for you onboard…

You will find a wide variety of tantalizing choices in select neighborhoods on the Oasis, whether it’s a full meal you’re looking for, or a quick bite to eat for breakfast, with a cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee to boot. For you coffee lovers out there (like me), Oasis is proud to brew Seattle’s Best, as well as Starbucks onboard! I know that made my day when I heard that!

Back to the food…specialty restaurants onboard range from a cupcake store, candy store, pizzeria, Italian trattoria, steakhouse, and also a top of the line restaurant at the heart of the Central Park neighborhood.

Many of the restaurants are complimentary on the cruise, and some have a cover charge where you pay a flat rate, and enjoy the delicious specialty dining options that they have to offer.

This is the first time you can experience such a variety of choice for dining onboard a cruise ship, and you’ll have so many choices which will surpass the week you’ll be on the ship. No getting bored of the same things like an all inclusive buffet at a resort.

Our Oasis of the Seas group cruise is setting sail on February 26th, 2011! We hope to see you onboard. Contact us by phone or email if you’d like to register, or visit our pre-registration page at http://www.the-traveling-agent.ca/groupcruise/cruise-registration.html

Here are a few videos to check out so you can get an idea of the activities and entertainment on this mega ship! 

Not only can you do every activity under the sun, but there is also top of the line entertainment on the Oasis of the Seas. The first ever “Aqua Theater” is located at the back of the ship, where you can swim there by day, and take in amazing shows at night, such as the “Oasis of Dreams”.

For those who love to dance, there is a dedicated lounge where you’ll be able to dance the night away! Dazzles Lounge has a live jazz band where you can perfect your ballroom dancing. And that’s not all! You’ll find out in this video below that a famous Broadway play also takes place onboard the ship:

Yes, the full production of Hairspray is available for you to enjoy in the Opal Theater!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has definitely kept everyone in mind on vacation, covering all bases in terms of entertainment onboard. Whether you just want to relax in the sun, play some mini golf, climb the rock-climbing wall, or maybe test your surfing skills on one of the two Flowriders, it’s all ready for you to enjoy and take it all in.

With that being said, I’ll leave you with one more video to check out. No matter what you end up doing onboard, we know you will have an absolutely amazing time on this ship!