Here's the link to my July Newsletter
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs074/1102056363973/archive/1103484751522.html
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
My Book's New Edition!
The newest edition of "The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World Resort" is in the final stages. The hard work for me was over months ago: research, writing, editing. Getting it off to the publisher is a big push, but then I just sit back and wait for the editing and all the details to be completed. After my final read-through sometime this month it heads out for printing. I can't wait to see the finished product which should be ready sometime in September!
You can pre-order the 3rd edition now from Amazon.
You can pre-order the 3rd edition now from Amazon.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Is Free Dining the Best Disney Deal Around?
Disney offers new and different resort promotions on an almost continual basis throughout the year. One of the most popular is the "Free Dining" offer usually available late summer into early fall. Everyone waits in great anticipation for this package to appear (who can resist free food!) not realizing that it probably saves you the least amount of money of any of Disney's offers.
The "Late Summer Room Offer" available for the same dates of August 15th through October 2nd is a much better deal. For instance, a family of four with two adults and two children on the "Free Dining" offer would pay $3433 for a garden view room at the Grand Floridian with a 5-day park hopping ticket and the free Magic Your Way dining plan. That same family on the "Late Summer Room Offer" in a Grand Floridian garden view room and adding on a 5-day park hopping ticket and the Magic Your Way Dining would only pay $3050 for a $383 savings.
This is why it's an excellent idea to utilize the services of a Disney specialist travel agent like myself (or one of the many other excellent agents out there) to plan your vacation. Besides saving you money, a good Disney specialist will have first-hand knowledge at their fingertips and offer complete itinerary planning, allowing you to sit back and just enjoy.
The "Late Summer Room Offer" available for the same dates of August 15th through October 2nd is a much better deal. For instance, a family of four with two adults and two children on the "Free Dining" offer would pay $3433 for a garden view room at the Grand Floridian with a 5-day park hopping ticket and the free Magic Your Way dining plan. That same family on the "Late Summer Room Offer" in a Grand Floridian garden view room and adding on a 5-day park hopping ticket and the Magic Your Way Dining would only pay $3050 for a $383 savings.
This is why it's an excellent idea to utilize the services of a Disney specialist travel agent like myself (or one of the many other excellent agents out there) to plan your vacation. Besides saving you money, a good Disney specialist will have first-hand knowledge at their fingertips and offer complete itinerary planning, allowing you to sit back and just enjoy.
Friday, May 7, 2010
A Different Kind of Vacation
Just leaving Cozumel after a few days of sun and relaxation. Even though Disney is my specialty, I love traveling the world even somewhere as close as Mexico, only a two-hour flight away from my Texas home. Such friendly people! Here the lifestyle is laid back with all locals wanting to please the tourists. Even the street sellers, who persist in trying to interest you in a cheap trinket or two, turn away with a friendly gracias upon your refusal.
It’s a shame that Mexico has such a bad rap these days what with swine flu and drug cartel problems. They've seen a 15 percent drop in tourism in tourism in 2009 and could certainly use a lift in the ecomony. But Cozumel seems to be surviving because of its popularity with the cruise ships. Four were in port today including the new megaship, Oasis of the Sea.
Come to stay in one of the many resorts and condos and you’ll find the restaurants and streets blissfully empty in the evening hours after the cruise ships have sailed away. Great food abounds with La Choza being my favorite Mexican food spot (the Veracruz pescado is remarkable). If you’re looking for a bit more sophistication you won’t be disappointed in Guidos, a romantic Italian restaurant with a wonderful courtyard ambience and great pasta and pizza. There’s even hip Kinta where gourmet Mexican food is the fare, but it certainly wasn’t tops on my list. I tend to like the small, ethnic places where friendly service and good food is the order of the day like El Moro. If it’s beach restaurants and bars you like then Cozumel is brimming with them. Choose Playa Bonita where a three-piece band plays for tips, the aquamarine ocean just steps away, and fish tacos and ceviche the best things on the menu.
Venture out of San Miguel for sweeping ocean views on the east side of the island, but here currents are strong and not as safe for swimming. At Punta Sur, an ecological park, you'll find lagoons filled with crocodiles, an interesting lighthous, and a lovely white sand beach. Of course, the diving is some of the best in the world.
Any favorite places in Cozumel you want to share?
It’s a shame that Mexico has such a bad rap these days what with swine flu and drug cartel problems. They've seen a 15 percent drop in tourism in tourism in 2009 and could certainly use a lift in the ecomony. But Cozumel seems to be surviving because of its popularity with the cruise ships. Four were in port today including the new megaship, Oasis of the Sea.
Come to stay in one of the many resorts and condos and you’ll find the restaurants and streets blissfully empty in the evening hours after the cruise ships have sailed away. Great food abounds with La Choza being my favorite Mexican food spot (the Veracruz pescado is remarkable). If you’re looking for a bit more sophistication you won’t be disappointed in Guidos, a romantic Italian restaurant with a wonderful courtyard ambience and great pasta and pizza. There’s even hip Kinta where gourmet Mexican food is the fare, but it certainly wasn’t tops on my list. I tend to like the small, ethnic places where friendly service and good food is the order of the day like El Moro. If it’s beach restaurants and bars you like then Cozumel is brimming with them. Choose Playa Bonita where a three-piece band plays for tips, the aquamarine ocean just steps away, and fish tacos and ceviche the best things on the menu.
Venture out of San Miguel for sweeping ocean views on the east side of the island, but here currents are strong and not as safe for swimming. At Punta Sur, an ecological park, you'll find lagoons filled with crocodiles, an interesting lighthous, and a lovely white sand beach. Of course, the diving is some of the best in the world.
Any favorite places in Cozumel you want to share?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Resort Dilemma
As a travel agent that specializes in luxury Walt Disney World vacations, I try my best to narrow down the myriad of choices available to clients. But it can still be a difficult choice making the decision of which resort is best suited.
I'm working with a UK client right now who stayed at the Grand Floridian years back but still can't decide which resort would be best for their 8-year-old. For some reason they, along with a lot of other people, have the idea that the Grand Floridian isn't a place for children. Not true. The Grand might very well be one of Disney's better choices since they offer more children's activities than any other resort. There's the Pirate Adventure, the My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party, even a Wonderland Tea Party. And with the Magic Kingdom only one stop away on the monorail what could be more child-friendly?
They're considering Disney's Contemporary Resort as an alternative . It's true that there's Chef Mickey's, and an updated pool with a new fun kid’s splash zone as well as new fountain jets. And nothing beats the view of the Magic Kingdom from the Tower Theme Park View rooms, perfect for watching the Wishes fireworks from your balcony.
Since they'll be at Disney for seven nights I suggested they split the difference staying four nights at one property and three at the other. It's so simple transferring to another Disney resort. Just hand off your luggage with the bellman before leaving for the parks in the morning and take the bus or monorail back to your new resort in the afternoon or evening. Your luggage will be waiting for you anytime after 3PM.
Any thoughts on the best Disney resort for children?
I'm working with a UK client right now who stayed at the Grand Floridian years back but still can't decide which resort would be best for their 8-year-old. For some reason they, along with a lot of other people, have the idea that the Grand Floridian isn't a place for children. Not true. The Grand might very well be one of Disney's better choices since they offer more children's activities than any other resort. There's the Pirate Adventure, the My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party, even a Wonderland Tea Party. And with the Magic Kingdom only one stop away on the monorail what could be more child-friendly?
They're considering Disney's Contemporary Resort as an alternative . It's true that there's Chef Mickey's, and an updated pool with a new fun kid’s splash zone as well as new fountain jets. And nothing beats the view of the Magic Kingdom from the Tower Theme Park View rooms, perfect for watching the Wishes fireworks from your balcony.
Since they'll be at Disney for seven nights I suggested they split the difference staying four nights at one property and three at the other. It's so simple transferring to another Disney resort. Just hand off your luggage with the bellman before leaving for the parks in the morning and take the bus or monorail back to your new resort in the afternoon or evening. Your luggage will be waiting for you anytime after 3PM.
Any thoughts on the best Disney resort for children?
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