I would advise clients to try to be a little flexible in their planning a trip. Sometimes by simply shifting a departure date we can find special promotions that offer additional benefits. We can also look at comparable suppliers for a similar itinerary to see if there is additional value added.
Be Flexible – it will save you money!
Posted by AtlasSue on January 12, 2009
Posted in Travel Advice | Tagged: Travel Advice, travel blog | Edit | No Comments »
South America Travel Visa
Posted by AtlasSue on January 11, 2009
A valid passport is required for all international travelers. Please check your passport’s expiration date well in advance of your travel plans as many foreign governments require that your passport be valid for six (6) months after the completion of your travel.
Many tourist visas and/or entry fees for U.S. citizens are valid for MORE than just one trip. For example, if you obtained a tourist visa for a prior trip to Brazil, and you go to Brazil again within 5 years your original visa is still good – you don’t have to buy another for $130. Another example: The $130 tourist entry fee to Chile is good for the life of your passport. So – be sure to check this out with your Atlas Travel specialist before applying (and paying for) new visas. Rules change frequently, so be sure to check when you are planning your trip.
Conributed By Lois Graf – Traveled to Brazil & Chile Sept 25th-Oct 3rd
Posted in Destination Travel, South America, Travel Advice | Tagged: passport, south america tour, south america travel, south america travel blog, south america vacation, travel visa, visa, visa advice | Edit | No Comments »
St. Maarten Port Information
Posted by AtlasSue on January 10, 2009
St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be divided between two sovereign powers. The current boundary is a result of numerous wars between great European powers in the 17th century. According to legend, Columbus discovered the island in 1493. During the 140 years that followed, the Spanish, French & Dutch disputed possession. On March 23, 1648, a treaty was signed that gave the Dutch 16 square miles and the French 21 square miles. Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St. Maarten; Marigot is the capital of French St. Martin. No formal boundary exists between the Dutch and French sides of the island, a simple welcome sign tells you when you cross from one country to the other. The difference are as noticeable as the spelling of the island’s names, and it’s this split personality that lends so much to the island’s charm, including an international reputation for the finest cuisine in the Caribbean.
Pier:
Most ship dock at the A.C. Wathey pier. Taxis are at the Cyrus Wathey Square and from the government dispatchers. The tourist Bureau is located here.
Transportation:
Water taxis are also available from the cruise ship pier into town. The cost of the taxi was $4 per person, each way. The taxi did continue for those wanting to go to the beach, for $10 per person, each way.
Shopping:
Most stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Great Bay Beach is conveniently located along the waterfront in Philipsburg. You can find great buys on Front Street. There is no local sales tax. Prices on liqueurs, imported linen, perfumes and European chocolates can be as much as 50% less than those found in the U.S. Local spices as well as jellies made from the locally grown guava berries are also a good buy.
Excursions:
Popular excursions were the Best of St. Maarten Island & Beach tour which was 4 hours for $39; Marigot Shopping Express 4 hours for $29 pp; Phillipsburg at Leisure Beach & Shopping all day shuttle $39 pp and the Catamaran Snorkel, Beach & Shopping with lunch which was 6 hours for $94. For those of you that do not want to take an excursion, just take the $4 cab ride and enjoy shopping on Front Street or the various shops available right at the cruise pier.
Posted in Caribbean, Travel Advice | Tagged: cruise st. maarten, st. maarten activities, st. maarten port information, st. maarten travel, st. maarten vacations | Edit | No Comments »
Grand Turk Port Information
Posted by AtlasSue on January 4, 2009
Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands. A small island bursting with turn of the century Caribbean charm. The island was founded by Bermudian salk rakers some 3 centuries ago & Turks & Caicos is a seperate Crown Colony of Great Britain. it’s Bermudian-British-Colonial architecture surrounded by the colorful local dwellings and crystal blue waters, make Grand Turk a beautiful place to visit.
Pier:
Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. A very short walk gets you right to the beach and shopping area.
Transportation:
You can rent a car, jeep or bike to explore the island of Grand Turk which is 11 kilometres long and two kilometres wide. In addition to magnificent beaches, it is world renowned for diving, snorkelling, fishing and other water sports. The reef wall 400 yards off shore in Pillory beach is the most popular spot for divers.
Shopping:
Grand Turk boasts many fine shops selling everything from local souvenirs to an excellent selection of duty free items. The most visited area in the port is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Bar & Restaurant. Smaller arts & crafts can be found throughout the island. Innovative work can be found by local artist who use the natural environment, such as shells, to create designer mirrors, lamps and other household decor. If you collect stamps, a visit to the Philatelic Bureau in Grand Turk is a must; the brightly colored stamps are highly valued around the world.
Beaches:
There is a beautiful beach located within the cruise center. Beach chairs are complimentary and clam shell umbrellas and floats are available for rent.
The Island was hit by hurricane Ike earlier this year, and there was cosiderable damage around the island, but you would not known it by visiting the cruise center, as everything has been repaired. Several shore excursions are currently unavailable, however you can still take the popular Horseback riding, Dune buggy and 4WD Safari tours of the island, as well as snorkeling and fishing adventures. Most passengers on our cruise seemed to just enjoy the beach and shopping right in the pier area, or spending time around the pool and ”Wastin’ away in Margaritaville.”
Posted in Caribbean, Destination Travel, Travel Advice | Tagged: grand turk port overview, grand turk, turks and caicos islands, grand turk cruise, grand turk vacations, grand turk shore excursion, cruise blog, grand turk blog | Edit | No Comments »
Barbados Port Overview
Posted by AtlasSue on December 30, 2008
Barbados is one of the best developed, most popular tourist destinations of the southern Caribbean. Often called the “Little England” of the Caribbean, blends the finer elements of British tradition with warm island hospitality. Barbados is one of the first democracies in the New World and a regional leader in education and commerce. Explore the many beaches, rolling countryside, charming villages, old sugar mills and plantations that represent the colonial past of the island. Tour the East Coast where the Atlantic Ocean’s waves are a surfer’s paradise. Shop in the capital city or stay out late to party in the nightlife. The average annual temperature ranges from 70°F–87°F.
Ships dock at the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal, about a mile west of downtown Bridgetown. You can shop for crafts and souvenirs in the terminal area. Barbados offers plenty of duty free shopping for jewelry, perfumes, liquor, pottery & cigars. Not interested in shopping, enjoy Barbados’ endless beaches, natural beauty, attractions and fine dining. You can tour Barbados via car, 4 x 4, bus, catamaran or helicopter. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular shore excursions as well.
Rather than use the cruise line’s shore excursions, we wanted to book a private tour to create our own itinerary. We booked through Glory tours. Confirming everything via email was easy. Please note that the tour operators cannot come all the way to the ship, so there is about a 1/4 mile walk to where you meet up with the tour guides. Our interests were the Mt. Gay Rum Factory, the Barbados Wildlife reserve, Harrison’s Cave, St. John’s Church & Bathsheba.
The day did not go exactly as planned. There had been a small earthquake the day before and it was rumored that there may be an aftershock. So we opted for a 1/2 day tour rather than a full day. We got great pictures of area beaches and made it to the Wildlife Reserve. If I had it to do again, I would have skipped the reserve. Although it was interesting, it took up too much time and I did not get to see a Green monkey which was the main reasons I wanted to go and see them in their habitat. Apparently the monkeys normally come out around feeding time which is 3 p.m. In my opinion, there are many other “must-sees” that you should spend your day in port enjoying:
Harrison’s Cave: Travel through the winding tunnels in specially designed trams and make your way into the specially lighted caverns, view the majestic stalactites and stalagmites which have been growing from the floors and ceilings for many centuries. Cascading through the caves, the crystal blue waters form magnificent pools and waterfalls.
Get their early to avoid the lines.
Bathsheba: It is said that Bathsheba, wife of King David, bathed in milk to keep her skin beautiful and soft. The surf covered white waters of Bathsheba are said to resemble Bathsheba’s bath in both appearance and health giving value. It is breathtakingly beautiful dramatic coastline of striking rock formations against which the Atlantic rollers break in cascades of foam.
Mt. Gay Rum Factory: Discover the colorful history of Mount Gay Rum Learn how the world’s finest rum is made and then taste it. Enjoy Bajan cuisine in the verandah restaurant overlooking the sea. Then take home a taste of the Good Times from their store.
We are looking forward to going back to see these island highlights.
Posted in Caribbean, Travel Advice, Travel Reviews | Tagged: barbados cruise, barbados port overview, barbados shore excursions, barbados tours, barbados travel, barbados vacation packages, caribbean travel | Edit | 1 Comment »
Don’t Overspend on a Cruise
Posted by AtlasSue on December 28, 2008
Cruises are an excellent value. Food, entertainment and many onboard activities are included in the price of the trip. Still, it is easy to overspend if you’re not careful.
Where can the spending add up? Watch the beverages, shore excursions, spa treatments and items ship sell onboard. Many are over priced.
Talk to your travel agent about the port you are visiting and read online blogs. In many islands you can just walk off the ship for shopping and beaches, where on others you will want to buy an excursion or take a cab.
Want a relaxing massage or facial? Regular prices are about 20 to 30% higher than you would pay at a local spa. The best time for a Spa treatment is the days you are in port, where they will run $20 to $60 off per treatment. Keep in mind even if you have an excursion planned for the day, the spa is open until 10 p.m. Try to avoid getting your hair & nails done onboard. They are expensive and usually do not offer any specials on these services. Also, they will try to sell you products at the end of your treatment. Ask questions and write the name of the items down but purchase it when you get home. You can usually find cheaper price on the Internet. Elemis for example often offers 10% off on online purchases.
Consider purchasing packages, such as the soda, wine, beer, coffee or ice cream programs. I was recently on a 7 day cruise where it cost $29 per person. When you consider that each soda costs $3, and my husband usually drinks a minimum of 5 per day, he easily would have spent $80 or $90 on soda versus the $29. Tea, coffee, milk & juice is free onboard, but name brand coffee such as Seattle Best or specialty coffee drinks, there is an additional charge. Ice cream can be ordered each night in the dining room with your choice of topping and whip cream, so perhaps pass on the $3.50 ice cream sundae and wait for dessert. You can always order 2 desserts if something else on the menu interest you. Chocolate cake with a side of vanilla ice cream perhaps? Don’t forget about Internet packages. If you know you want to check emails, buy minutes ahead of time in blocks of 15 minutes or longer. It takes a little longer to log in at sea anyway, so you need to have a little extra time set aside. If you don’t purchase a package, they charge as much as .70 to .80 cents per minute, where packages bring down the cost to .30 to .50 cents per minute depending on the amount of time you purchase and the cruise line.
Specialty dining: In recent years ships have now offer restaurants that have a cover charge. The food & service in these venues are usually top notch, but if you are on a budget, you can skip it without being cheated. It’s not that $20 or $25 is not worth it for Brazilian Lobster or Kobe beef, but depending on the ship you are on, there is usually a great selection in the regular dining room without paying additional. The menu’s are posted early each day outside of the dining room, so take a look and see what interests you. If you don’t feel like dressing up, then the buffet usually has the same items being offered in the formal dining room.
Gratuities: Your bar bill include 15% tip each time you order. There is no need to tip additional money, unless you feel the service is “above and beyond.”
Watch the casino! Cruise lines are making it easier for you to spend your money. On many ships, In the slot machines, you just insert your room key and you can deduct the amount you’d like right from your account. It is harder to keep track of how much you are spending versus using cash, since no receipt prints out. Best bet is to have a budget in mind for each night, take cash and walk out when it’s gone.
Last but not least shopping. Although items onboard are duty free, chances are you can purchase the items cheaper in port. You can “negotiate” with local vendors most of the time to get the price down, where on the ship it is a fixed price. Also be aware of the shopping allowance per person. When visiting the Caribbean, you are eligible for a $800 pp exemption. You may also bring back 1 liter of alcohol, up to 200 cigarettes and up to 100 non-Cuban cigars. You will be asked to complete a form prior to disembarking the ship that explains all of these exemptions. Keep all of your receipts handy just in case you are questioned by customs.
If you are on a budget, you can spend an entire cruise vacation reading, watching movies, swimming, enjoying shows and eating at at no cost to you. Children can spend hours in the kids club, so you do not have to have a lot of out of pocket expenses unless you want to.
We’d love to hear any other money savings ideas from past cruisers.
Posted in Budget Vacations, Cruise Lines, Speciality Travel, Travel Advice | Tagged: cruise advice, cruise blog, cruise tips, first time cruise tips | Edit | No Comments »
Oberammergau Passion Play
Posted by AtlasSue on December 25, 2008
Witness this once in a lifetime event.
Ok so the single biggest question we are getting is WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO BOOK? That’s a good question. You can book now, but the rates for airfare are not included at this time, just the land only. We have a dedicated website for all the tours available for the Oberammergau Passion Play including packages as short as 4 days, to multi-country tours and river cruises that include the performance.
Posted in Passion Play, Speciality Travel, Travel Advice | Tagged: Germany passion play, Oberammergau Germany, Oberammergau Passion Play, passion play advice, passion play blog, Religious Travel, the passion play | Edit | No Comments »
Why Use A Travel Agent?
Posted by AtlasSue on December 23, 2008
I love my job! Everyday I strive to search for real deals, the hidden gems, the perfect vacations, tour or cruises, while still offering excellent value & service. We are your travel experts. We believe that travel should be a journey, not just a destination!
In order to be a good travel agent, you need education so that you can pass the information on to your clients. The Travel Institute has certifications that take about 6 years to complete, as you are not eligible to participate unless you have been in the business for a certain amount of time. Cruise Lines International has a 3 step certification process up to a ECC (Elite Cruise Counselor) You have to be in the business a minimum of 10 years to participate in the program as well as conducting various ship inspections. There are also various destination & product specialists programs, seminars, conventions & trade shows throughout the year. Our office has speakers from various preferred partners come in at least twice a month, to ensure we are up to date with new products or changes.
So the next time you book your vacation, keep in mind that travel agents are trained professionals with your best interest in mind, and there is no additional cost to you to book through an agent. In fact, agents will always save you time (& time is money!) and also in many cases, get you a better price or added amenities.
CNN wrote a great article on ways you can identify if you are dealing with a “bad travel agent.”
Posted in Travel Advice | Tagged: travel agency, travel agent, Travel Advice, certified travel agent, find a travel agent, travel blogs | Edit | No Comments »
Rental Cars – Don’t Be Surprised
Posted by AtlasSue on December 23, 2008
As if gas prices did not put enough of a strain on us during this past summer, rental car customers who decided not to prepay for fuel & don’t return their vehicles with a full tank, paid almost double the current cost of gas. A USA Today survey found that major rental car companies at 10 airports across the country charged gas at prices ranging from $6 to over $8 per gallon to refuel. At $8 per gallon, having the car rental company fill up a midsize car can add more than $145 to your final bill.
Many car rental companies do give an option to pre-pay gas when you pick up your vehicle which will save you money, but the most affordable solution is to fill up before returning the car.
