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New York, New York

So far I haven't traveled much this season, I recently stayed a couple nights at the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village for a few nights (a post will be up soon) but other than that I have mostly been planning trips for next year. Disneyland in February, Seattle in May, and New York for Christmas 2012! I couldn't be more excited for New York. I've already started looking for fun "local" hang outs and of course making a list of all the necessary attractions. I thought I'd fill you in on some of my research...

Here is a quick glance list of my top to do attractions in midtown Manhattan:

• Empire state building : open 8AM - 2AM, $22 per person
• Rockefeller Center for shopping and dining plus the Top of the Rock Observation, $25 per person
• Central Park, there are so many things to do here! I'm most looking forward to a horse & buggy ride and a ride on the Carosuel
• Rockettes @ Radio City Music Hall
• St Patrick’s Cathedral (donations only)
• Times Square
• Museum of Modern Art (FREE on Friday's between 4PM and 8PM)
• American Museum of Natural History
• The Met (Metropaliton Museum of Art) plus a visit to their rooftop cafe

And some of my top attractions in downtown...

• Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (approximately $20 per person for ferry and admission)
• 9/11 Memorial (must make a reservation online, donations only)
• Little Italy and Chinatown
• Greenwich Village self guided walking tour

Other than the above top tourist destinations here are a few others on my list...

Bryant Park - Right by the New York Public Library (another must see) you can ice skate for FREE in Bryant Park and avoid the high cost and crowds of a skating rink at Rockefeller

Grand Central Terminal, often referred to as Grand Central Station (which is incorrect), is a popular attraction, it has an abundance of shopping and dining... but one place inside I will definitely visit is The Campbell Apartment, the original location of John W. Campbell's office in the 1920s, their motto is "Cocktail's from another era."



Another great stop inside Grand Central is the Biltmore Room, also known as the Kissing Room, this "was where the famous 20th Century Limited train arrived. Celebrities, politicians, and soldiers would get off the trains to meet their loved ones and hug and kiss in the middle of the room before going up stairs into the Biltmore Hotel." Click here for Grand Central's walking tour

While in New York another must see is the Brooklyn Bridge. If it was going to be warm enough when I'm visiting I would take a water taxi over to the River Cafe (this would give you some of the best views). Then have a delectable meal at the River Cafe ($$$$) which also has amazing views of the bridge.



I have a love for music (popular or not) of really any kind, so I had to scope out some places to visit where I might be able to see a Jazz band or local rock band. One place I stumbled upon was Cake Shop, a place in downtown on Ludlow Street (popular for nightlife) that has three floors: one has vinyl records for sale, another has a bakery with cupcakes and snacks, and the bottom basement level floor has a full bar and stage for bands in the evening.

Another good spot for dining I've found, that is famous with the locale's is Halal Chicken and Gyro food cart. Don't let the "food cart" scare you, some of the carts have the most delicious food! And the most economical. Halal is on the corner of 6th and 53rd.

Lastly, I'll leave you with a picture of the 9/11 memorial. There is still construction going on but they are letting visitors see the memorial with a reservation. Visit their website here for information.

I hope you'll get a chance to visit New York City soon, if you haven't already! I'm already counting the days... 365 :)

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I am a HUGE fan of Mexico! I've now been to almost every major resort area in the country and I have to say out of all the cities I got a very different (and GOOD) vibe from Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta sits on the Banderas Bay on the Pacific side of the country. Puerto Vallarta has quite a love story actually... It became a known tourist area with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's affair. The couple lived in Casa Kimberly (which is open for tours) for many years after the filming of Burton's "Night of the Iguana." Another great pop culture fact, the famous television series The Love Boat was centered around the Pacific Princess, a cruise ship that sailed between Los Angeles and Puerto Vallarta.

My last trip to Puerto Vallarta was in October of 2009. I stayed at the All Inclusive Golden Crowne Paradise. The hotel was clean, friendly staff, had some good dining options, and ultimately was very cost effective, however, I would not stay here again. There are other properties available that are much nicer for only a little bit more $$.

Golden Crowne Paradise Pool

Sheraton Pool

Westin Lobby Entrance

Velas Vallarta Art

Hotel Cooking Experience

While I was in Puerto Vallarta, I took an excursion to San Sebastian a very, VERY small town up in the hills of the Pacific coast. San Sebastian was a prosperous mining town in the 1700s and little has changed. Although it is no longer a thriving city, their church, cobblestone streets, coffee plantations, and 18th century haciendas remain untouched by time.

Hacienda artifacts

Hacienda Jalisco

Coffee Plantation

San Sebastian Church

Lastly, I'll leave you with some city views...

The Gathering Place

Oahu is the most visited island in Hawaii and home to the famous Waikiki beach. Most tourists tend to visit this island before the other islands of Hawaii, however every island has its own "personality" and I wouldn't count the others out! If you are looking for a fun filled and busy vacation of shopping, dining, site seeing, etc. this is the island to hit. Of course there are also gorgeous beaches and resort pools for lounging but if you want to avoid the crowds, sip Mai Tai's all day, or do something a little more adventurous take a look at the Big Island, Maui, or Kauai.

 My last visit to Oahu was in the first week of May. It had to have been the best month to visit, kids are still in school, no holidays near.. it definitely wasn't as crowded as it could have been. I laid out on the beach, visited Hanauma Bay to snorkel, hiked Diamond Head, saw a luau, and roamed the shops.

What is great about staying in Waikiki is that there is no need to rent a car. You can take a shuttle from and to the airport and your hotel (which is very reasonable) and walk to almost everything else! I stayed at the 3 star Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, located right in the center of everything and across the street from the beach (and still one of the most cost effective, value properties on the island). I visited the International Market Place on my first day there, where they sell jewelery, leis, shot glasses, magnets.. anything that a tourist might collect. Hint: once you've visited one booth or shop in this market place, you've seen them all. Another great note: the people that run the booths will negotiate with you on pricing.


One must see is the common snorkeling tour of Hanauma Bay. Your hotel can arrange pick up and the drive is maybe twenty minutes. Once you arrive you'll watch a short video on snorkeling safety and environment protection (don't step on the coral!). Then take a short walk down to the water and hop in! There are different zones for level of difficulty which are easy to navigate and plenty of life guards on site. You can also bring your own snacks or purchase food there. There is really no limit to how long you can hang out, your shuttle driver will give you a couple of options when they will be back for pick up.

Diamond Head is the dormant volcano on Oahu. There is a man made trail to hike up where you'll twist, turn, climb, and crawl (although it's not as hard as it sounds, you should still be in pretty good shape). The average hiker can probably make it up and down in about an hour and a half.

While your in Hawaii you must see a luau! A traditional Hawaiian meal and show, dancing, Mai Tai's, fire throwers, pork, rice, coconut and plenty of other tourists to mingle with from around the world. I recommend Jermaine's Luau. You'll be picked up by a large shuttle bus near your hotel, you'll have a "tour guide" along the bus ride telling jokes, singing songs, and giving you history of their luau. Once you arrive, you'll be greeted by a shell lei and they take your picture. Then see two men take a pig out of the underground oven, grab a cocktail with your drink coupons, chow down on the all-you-can-eat buffet, and watch the performers. It is a truly memberable night.

 Other great dining options: Duke's - one of the most famous Waikiki restaurants and right on the sand at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Hotel. LuLu's - overlooking the ocean and the strip, they have the best spam and eggs and macadamia nut pancakes! Live music too on most evenings.

Quick Getaway - Santa Barbara

I visited Santa Barbara for the first time this April with my sister and friends. And although it's only 4 hour hours away from my home in the Bay Area, it definitely felt like we were in another world... Known as the Mediterranean of the Pacific, Santa Barbara has gorgeous beaches, wineries, shopping, hiking trails, history, and night life. It is truly a place where anyone could find something they enjoy!

Our first day in Santa Barbara we checked into the Fess Parker's Doubletree Hotel. The hotel itself was gorgeous, very large and right across the street from the beach. They had bike rentals (which my sister and I took advantage of) along with other activities and rentals available on site. They had a nice pool and pool grill, although the bar and grill were closed due to lack of heat which we weren't too happy about, although it wasn't very warm, the sun was shining and a drink out by the pool would have been nice. Back to checking in... the man at the front desk was a little snotty instead of helpful and got us two rooms close together, in the very back of the hotel, facing the parking lot, and the construction. I tend to be a very easy going traveler but I was not happy. I had to call back to the front desk to be moved to a better location, my thinking is, why weren't we put in these rooms in the first place? Now with all of that said, I would go back to the Doubletree in Santa Barbara. A few loops are always bound to happen when you travel and for the most part we did have a good experience here. The rooms were large, suite style, clean and it was in walking distance to everything!

One promising thing about this hotel, the photos on the hotel website are really what you are going to arrive to!

Okay, now on to the many activities... One of the first things we did was hit the "Urban Wine Trail." What's great about this wine trail is, it is right in downtown and you can walk the whole thing! Although I always enjoy the scenery of the grape vines and large tasting rooms, this was still an amazing tasting experience and a way to get to know the locals. Two particular wineries that I remember are Kalyra and Municipal Winemakers. Kalyra's tasting room is a blend of an islander feel and the Australian Outback, definitely a unique experience! And Municipal Winemakers had an open beam ceiling, Christmas lights hanging throughout, and pourers in their causal tee shirts. We definitely felt like locals there.

Santa Barbara also boasts one of the most famous California Missions, the Old Mission Santa Barbara. You can visit this Mission and many other historic spots in Santa Barbara by following their Red Tile Walking Tour. You'll visit the Spanish style Public Library, the Museum of Art, the Plaza De la Guerra where first city council met in 1850 and many more sites. You can easily find a map of the wine or walking tour just by "googling" it.

One of our last trips in Santa Barbara was to the Cold Springs Trail. After a beautiful drive through the hills and mansions of Santa Barbara, you will have to hunt down this spot. There is really no obvious sign. Once you are on the trail, you'll also need a map to make sure your turning on the right forks. It is all worth it though, the trail winds up and down through trees, creeks, rivers, waterfalls, and other scenery. You can find more information and trails at http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/.

  

Just a few more shots for you...



In downtown...



Restaurant on the pier "Longboard's Grill"...delicious food, good drinks, and gorgeous views!

Western Mediterranean Cruise with Royal Caribbean

Here is a special note from a client of mine, Christina and her family. I just love getting back emails about experiences my customers have! As a travel agent, although many people think we've been everywhere, we just can't see it all! This is definitely on my bucket list though. Christina took a cruise on the Royal Caribbean ship, "Liberty of the Seas." It was a 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise sailing round trip from Barcelona, Spain. She visited amazing ports of call with her two young sons: Provence, France; Monte Carlo, France; Florence, Italy; Rome, Italy and Naples, Italy. Here is a brief description of her experience and some great advice for those who may be thinking of a cruise to Europe. And Christina was nice enough to provide us with a few great pictures as well!

Hi Ashleigh,

Well...we made it!  What a great trip!  First off, let me tell you that Hotel America was great!  Very clean, modern (wooden floors, white linen, nice bathroom with a bidet!) and the staff couldn't have been friendlier.  A few of the reviews I read about them on Trip Advisor mentioned that people were rude, but that wasn't the case at all for us.  As far as location goes, it was in the Eixample neighborhood which is upscale.  Probably quite a hike to get down to Las Ramblas (we never walked completely there from the hotel) but only 3 blocks from Gaudi's La Pedrera house which is also where we took the Tourist Hop-on-hop-off bus which was great (got a 2 day pass to do that).  The breakfast buffet which we added on at the hotel was good too.  I'd definitely recommend it again...unless someone wants to be right in the heart of the Ramblas area or Gothic quarter. 

The cruise was great too.  My boys and I were very happy with the Dreamworks and Royal Caribbean partnership. We had characters on the boat with us all week:  Shrek, Fiona, Puss in Boots, Po (Kung Fu Panda), Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo and King Julien from Madagascar.  They did photo opps throughout the week and a character breakfast and costume parade the last day.  My boys were in seventh heaven!  (Definitely the highlight of the trip for them!)  I've only taken one other cruise, and that was about 18 years ago on Carnival, but Royal Caribbean kicked their butt.  The decor, the service, everything.  I loved having the balcony room.  Slept a few nights with the door open (something we never could do in the Bay Area) to hear the waves.  Plus, while we were in port, I had a great place to hang laundry that would dry in one day (brought travel hangers, clothespins and a travel clothesline).  We didn't take advantage of the Kids Club on board because I'd scheduled pretty much every day for us.  But there was another family at our dining table with younger kids that pretty much had them in the kids camp the whole time and their kids loved it.  I kept asking my boys if they wanted to do it, maybe in the evenings, but they didn't.  I think we were just so wiped out from playing tourists all day.  The excursions were good...some more than others.  Definitely not conducive to shopping if people are looking to do that.  They tried to schedule in "free time" on the tours, but sometimes that consisted of about 20 minutes...certainly not the kind of shopping time I like.  I was talking to a crew member about it and she said that pretty much the only way to do shopping is to either go into town on your own, or sign up for a "On Your Own" excursion which basically provides you a bus ride into town and back to the ship. But seeing the sites was the most important thing and that's what we did.  I'm really glad we took the extra night back in Barcelona on Saturday.  Going back to the same hotel was comforting and we also got to squeeze in a little more sightseeing that we hadn't been able to do before.  Barcelona's a beautiful city and would've loved to spend more time there.  Could pretty much say that about all the places I visited...but then again, this kind of trip just gives you a taste...and makes you want to go back for more. 

On the way there we took Air Canada and that was fine.  Way home we took SpanAir from Barcelona to Munich which was OK...just 2 hours.  From Munich to SFO, we took Lufthansa and much to our surprise and delight, as we were boarding, they handed us new seats...in Business Class!  Talk about a treat!  What a world of difference between the service, the food and being able to stretch out was heaven.  I can never really sleep when I travel, but I loved being able to recline and just watch movies or "rest my eyes".  Guess my fairy godmother was looking out for me! 

One thing I did spend a small fortune on (by choice)...using the Internet on board.  It's about .65/minute or you can buy packages for an hour or more at a time.  But with my wanting to check in with emails and Facebook status updates, I spent a bundle. 

Thanks again for all you did for my children and me.  It really was a wonderful trip.  If you have any questions or want more info about our experience, please don't hesitate to ask.

Take care,

Christina

Christina up in the towers of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Inside the Roman Colosseum

Ruins at Pompeii

Formal Night with her sons