THE MAGIC RETURNS…DIAGON ALLEY IS NOW OPEN!!

Diagon Alley is now open at UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORTS in Florida

Do you have Harry Potter fans in your family?  If so, a visit to Universal Orlando Resorts in Florida is a must-see!

Following the mammoth success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, Universal Orlando Resorts opened their new attraction “Diagon Alley” on July 8th, 2014.

Those who have read the first of J.K. Rowling’s saga “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” may remember that Diagon Alley is really Harry’s first step into the magical world.  Universal’s brilliant design team have done an incredible job of re-creating what J.K. Rowling describes in her popular novel - a sensory overload of the bizarre, the quirky, and the whimsical.

Fans of the films will love the detailed, incredible recreation of Diagon Alley and revel in the experience of being part of it as the details spring at you from all sides.

The centerpiece of Diagon Alley is the thrill ride “Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts” which takes riders on twists and turns through the bank’s vaults surrounded by Hollywood-quality footage that was shot just for the ride. It has been called “a wonder of technological achievement”.

Kids will adore an innovative piece of interactive technology that Universal has introduced, whereby guests can purchase interactive wands. With a flick of their wrist they will soon discover that magic happens that brings the Wizarding World to life!

Universal has brilliantly linked the two Harry Potter attractions at its two parks with the Hogwarts Express – a new ride that runs between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, thrilling passengers with a video ride through the English countryside past scenes and characters that Harry Potter fans will recognize instantly!

Contact Us if you would like to know more about the magical world of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resorts.

Kia Ora....some things you might not know about New Zealand

Kia ora is a Māori language greeting which has entered New Zealand English. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi". The two main languages spoken in New Zealand are English and Maori.

My husband was "born & raised" in New Zealand - and I was fortunate to have lived there for 11 years myself. If you are curious about this beautiful country and considering it for your own bucket list, here are some things you might like to know about....


New Zealand has become more and more popular as a travel destination...especially after so many people became aware of the stunning scenery after seeing the well know  "Lord of the Rings" movie series. Did you know that the first man to climb Mt Everest (Sir Edmund Hilary) was a Kiwi?



New Zealand is comprised of two major islands (the North and the South Island) and a number of smaller islands. It is similar in size to Great Britain or Japan - but wonderfully uncrowded, with a population of just 4 million people.....in fact they say they have more sheep than people in this small country!  No part of the country is more than 79 miles from the sea.

They have four distinct seasons - but their seasons are reversed from what we have here in the Northern Hemisphere...so Spring is September-November, Summer is December-February, Autumn is March-May, and Winter is June-August. In New Zealand the temperatures are mild year round with little variance...so anytime is a good time to travel "downunder".

New Zealanders are adventurous - and there are lots of outdoor activities available for tourists, including golf, cycling, walking & hiking. Did you know that organized commercial bungee jumping first began in New Zealand? The Jet Boat was originally designed by New Zealander Bill Hamilton in 1953, and has developed into a Kiwi icon - and a must do activity on your New Zealand vacation. Sailing, surfing, diving, fishing - Kiwis love the water, and there are so many choices when it comes to water activities.

There are regular flights to New Zealand from the west coast - and the flight time from Los Angeles to Auckland for example is 12 hours - and the best part is that you fly out in the evening, so by the time you have had a meal, a glass of wine, watched a movie, and had a sleep - it's almost time to land and the flight attendants are waking you up with breakfast! 

If you have the travel time to do so - you can also combine a trip to New Zealand with time in Australia too - it is just 3 hours from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand.

There are lots of choices as to how you see this amazing country - for example there are several cruise options with 9 main cruise ports in New Zealand. There are numerous tour opportunities for both escorted and fully-independent tours - including self-drive tours. Do keep in mind though that in New Zealand they drive on the left-side of the road as they do in Great Britain. There is a wide range of different types of accommodation to choose from.


So....would you like to know more? If you have questions about New Zealand, CONTACT US for more information.

This is a trip of a lifetime....NOW is the time to plan your vacation "downunder", so don't delay!

Have you heard about the Barbados difference?

I have not had the opportunity to visit Barbados as yet...but it is definitely on my bucket list - and even more so now that I know that Sandals will re-open in Barbados very soon!  More on that further down here - but first, I wanted to tell you that I recently attended a fascinating webinar from Barbados Tourism, and now I am more interested than ever in visiting this fabulous Caribbean paradise....

 So what is the Barbados difference? Well for one thing it is east of the other Caribbean islands, and has "the best of both worlds" in that it has beaches on both the Atlantic ocean and the Caribbean sea, and so much natural beauty with rolling hillsides and lush gardens. Barbados was originally a British colony, so English is widely spoken, and it is a fusion of African and British influences with a high standard of living and highly educated and friendly people. Who wouldn't want to visit when they boast an average year round temperature of 82 degrees? How about swimming with the turtles?

Barbados is a becoming a very popular cruise destination - and will be even more so in the future, as we learned that Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines are one of the companies investing in a new cruise port coming soon that will be called "Sugar Point", with planned shops & restaurants that will keep to the authentic local style of architecture.

Prefer to fly?  No problem - there are flights to Barbados from a number of gateway cities, including 2 daily flights from Miami, as well as a daily Jet Blue flight from New York, and to those of us living here in the Triad - US Air flies there from Charlotte, NC. There is lots of accommodation available - from budget to luxury hotels.

As mentioned earlier, it has been announced that after a brief closure to undertake a wide-ranging enhancement program, a new Sandal's all-inclusive resort is planed to be open by early 2015! Sandals Barbados will offer 280 luxury accommodations that range from opulent beachfront butler suites to new swim-up river suites situated in the resort's tropical gardens.

So what's is there to do in Barbados?  There are LOTS of sporting activities..did you know that Barbados is the golf capital of the Caribbean?

There are lots of water activities of course including fabulous diving, surfing, and windsurfing...in fact Barbados is the home of international surfing events. Interesting too...with the British influence, Barbados is well known for English sports such as horse-racing, rugby, cricket & polo!

There are wonderful festivals held in Barbados - such as the famous "Crop Over" festival, with local artists, themed events, great music, and a parade...and this year they will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. Check it out at barbadoscropoverfestival  There are lots of other colorful festivals throughout the year - such as the well known "Food, Wine, & Rum" festival. Did you know that Barbados is the "birthplace of rum"?

Lots of history and heritage in Barbados too - for example it is home to one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in the Western Hemisphere. A visit to historic Bridgetown is a must see for gorgeous 18th century architecture.

If Barbados is on your bucket list too, please check out the tourism website visitbarbados.org  - and if you would like more information, contact us today...we would love to help you plan your dream vacation to beautiful Barbados!

Vacation Dilemma....take a tour, or just wing it yourself?

You want to explore the world...but should you take a tour, or just wing it yourself? You may want to think twice about it....

These days with help from the internet, many travelers make the decision to strike out by themselves and just "fly by the seat of their pants"....but fully independent travel is not always the best experience, and you need to think twice. Here are some points you may like to consider:

How are you going to get around?

You can rent a car - but keep in mind that when you are traveling to a foreign country it is not as easy as you might think. Do you really want to deal with heavy traffic and narrow streets? Parking is often a nightmare!

There are great train systems available - but often it is very confusing if you don't have someone there to help you.

Are you comfortable with language barriers?  

Clients tell us that they have found when they tried to figure it out for themselves they ended up wasting precious time - and time is not something you want to waste on a vacation! 

Should you plan ahead?

Do you really want to wait in long lineups - or would you prefer knowing that you can get in to see an attraction front of the line?

Travelers have found that when they researched it themselves their internet search was not always accurate for important information such as hours of operation, etc.

What if you come across an unknown situation?

Why go through all the stress? Wouldn't you rather have someone to assist you with insider experience so you can relax and maximize your vacation time?

So what are the alternatives??

There are lots of different types of tours to consider - from guided tours to independent tour packages for all ages and interests.

Advantages of Guided Travel?

Guided tours are not what you may think they are - these days they offer luxury modern coach travel (complete with Wi-Fi), and keep in mind that the coaches are just a means to get from "a to b", and you are able to maximize your time to see all the highlights. You can sit back and relax - enjoy the view from a higher vehicle - and take advantage of a vacation that is hassle free....and have the advantage of a knowledgeable travel director!  Plus you don't have to worry about handling your luggage - it is all taken care of for you.

Prefer the idea of an Independent Tour?

If you think that you would prefer an independent tour - you may like to consider a package where you are on your one, BUT have a choice of centrally located hotels, plus a local host on the scene at your destination who is there to advise you and provide you with valuable information...and you have the option to pre-book trains, and excursions, etc.

Contact Us for more information...we work with many preferred suppliers who can make your trip both memorable, and stress free!

Belize it or not...

Our trip to Belize

We had a very interesting trip recently to Belize.....and found it to be an extremely relaxed and comfortable place to visit, where the people were very friendly and welcoming, and the food was superb!

Belize has world class scuba diving with the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere - as well as sailing, fishing, hiking, and over 1,000 Mayan ruins scattered throughout to explore. There are also jungles, wildlife reserves, and the largest cave system in Central America. We took a small plane ride to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, where we stayed for a week at the beautiful "Victoria House" resort.

For those who have never been there...Belize is located in Central America - it is bordered to the North by Mexico, to the South & West by Guatemala, and the East by the Caribbean Sea. It is always warm, yet comfortable with trade winds blowing that keep you feeling cool. 

Formerly know as "British Honduras", Belize gained their full independence in 1981. Belize is diverse with various cultures & languages. English is the official language, but most of the native people are fully bilingual in both English and Spanish, and many people speak Creole as well. There are lots of expatriates living there from Canada, United States, and Europe.

Belize is easy to visit as nearly every place accepts USD currency as well as Belize dollars ($2 Belize is worth $1 USD). The main mode of transportation in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is golf carts and bicycles!

If you are interesting in taking a vacation to Belize yourself contact us for more information.

Alaska is NOT just for retirees!

One of our most memorable vacations was a multi-generational cruise that we did with our sons, my parents, and my brother and sister-in-law. When my parents suggested Alaska as a destination I must admit I was skeptical...after all, wasn't Alaska just for retired people? 

Well it turns out I was very WRONG! We all ended up having a blast - and there was certainly something to do for every age group. One of the things that worked so well with a cruise was that we could all "do our own thing", and then meet up for dinner each night to discuss all that we had seen and done that day.

There are of course plenty of cruise options, but on our particular cruise we departed from beautiful Vancouver, Canada....and cruised the inland passage for 7 nights. We visited Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and the spectacular Hubbard Glacier.

The scenery was spectacular, and there were plenty of opportunities to view wildlife, explore the historic towns, and take part in a variety of excursions. My brother and sister-in-law had an amazing time kayaking, and our eldest son decided that he would take a helicopter ride where he got to not only view incredible scenery, but he actually got to walk out on the glacier!

 
My parents enjoyed time on board the ship just relaxing and taking part in many of the activities that were available. 
Of course we all enjoyed the food - who wouldn't?

So would we go again? ABSOLUTELY - and next time I would like to do a cruise AND land tour as there is so much to see & do in beautiful Alaska. If you would like to know more about this amazing place, please CONTACT US for more information.

Jazz, Blues, and Rock 'N Roll - train travel comeback!

Not everyone is into flying...especially these days with flight delays & increased security...and a relaxing alternative is to travel by rail. Travelers like the comfortable seating with plenty of leg room - and the ability to move around the train - while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We work with Amtrak Vacations who offer a bucket list experience with over 300 itineraries and 40 destinations throughout the US and Canada - which include city to city services and National Park tours (with a train you can travel right into the National Parks!). Their number one tour is Glacier National Park which is a seasonal destination that is perfect for families of all ages.Another popular family experience is the Grand Canyon.

There are of course independent rail journeys, as well as escorted rail journeys, and rail getaways. They have even partnered with cruise lines such as Celebrity and Norwegian for pre and post cruise packages called "Rail and Sail"!

City getaways are very popular and can be customized to combine a package inclusive of hotels, sightseeing, and entertainment.

There are city getaways to major cities such as NYC, Washington, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, & New Orleans.  



If you would like to learn more about Amtrak Vacations, please contact us