newsletter...October 2008
How To Be Sure In Unsure Times
Craggy North California Coast--Quaint Villages Meet Great Food & Wine
One of the New 7 Wonders of the World
Bratwurst, Gluhwein, and Gingerbread, Oh My!
How To Be Sure In Unsure Times
The state of the economy is on a lot of minds these days, and I know that lots of folks (us included) have taken a look at tightening budgets by trimming costs wherever you can—doing away with fancy branded coffee drinks, or lunch or dinner out, new clothes or jewelry, vacations. But spending quality time with your loved ones isn’t a disposable luxury. It’s nutrition for your relationships.
At home, the quality of your relationships often takes a backseat to the tasks of daily life: going to work or school, chauffeuring the family to after-school events, reminding the kids to do their homework, fixing dinner and washing dishes, taking out the garbage, doing the laundry, banking, grocery shopping, on and on. Conversations consist of, ‘did you do your homework?’, ‘I told you to clean your room’, ‘did you get the mail?’, ‘your turn to take out the garbage’.
Vacationing with your loved ones provides an escape from daily chores that consume most of our waking hours. It provides a focus on the relationships with those you love most. Without the intrusion of daily responsibilities, you get to actually converse—not talk to or at—your family and friends. You share fun activities, quiet moments, remembering all the funny and sweet personality traits that made you love that person in the first place. It’s a chance to reconnect and strengthen your relationships and build memories that money and things cannot buy or replace.
Our slogan, ‘where travel is a celebration of love and love’, is heartfelt. We believe that, and we have the family memories to prove it to ourselves. And our clients come home telling us about the connectedness they feel with their families and friends.
Years ago, when I was struggling to start my business and every penny counted, I still figured out a way to travel with my daughter. She’s grown now, and she doesn’t remember the things we owned, but she can remember every trip where we shared funny moments and exciting adventures, and where we were jointly inspired and awed by the wonders of this earth. Those bonds are unbreakable.
No matter your budget or the length of time you can get away, you owe it to yourself and your relationships to set aside that quality time by vacationing. There are bargains galore in almost every destination—wonderful values even in luxury resorts! Let us help you design an affordable vacation that will give you back that connectedness with your loved ones and recharge your spirit by reminding you of all that is good in this world.
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Craggy North California Coast--Quaint Villages Meet Great Food & Wine
We walk the talk. Gretchen just returned from a getaway to the lovely, wild, evocative Mendocino coast here in California. Crashing surf against rocky shores, sea lions and migrating whales, quaint villages, fine restaurants, and a burgeoning wine destination make this a satisfying destination. Click to read Gretchen's blog.
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One of the New 7 Wonders of the World
We had planned to return to the phenomenal Riviera Maya coastline on the Mexican Caribbean last week, but that unexpectedly was postponed for a few months. We were very disappointed. If you haven’t been to the Riviera Maya (south of Cancun) and the Yucatan Peninsula, you must go. Unbelievable. Before I first visited that area several years ago, I had not realized that the Mayan culture is still alive and thriving. Evidence of that is everywhere, and of course, the Mayan ruins are amazing. You just gape in awe at the advanced architecture and realize what a sophisticated culture it was. The Mayan jungles are breathtaking, and you see geological wonders that you don’t find anywhere else, such as ‘cenotes’, which are underground wet caves, often called ‘sinkholes’, but not like you see sometimes in the newspaper when you read that a sinkhole opened up in some town and swallowed a car or store. The Yucatan is rife with thousands of animal species, the flora is spectacular, and the waters clear and warm. And the resorts are gorgeous, the service is impeccable, and the people are gracious and hospitable. Click for our slideshows. More on the Riviera Maya in another issue.
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Accolades Come Our Way
Next month I am off to Scottsdale, Arizona; I’ll be there as part of Hyatt Resorts’ annual celebration to honor select travel consultants, including yours truly. While I’m there, I’ll explore the area and come back with a report for you. Naturally, we’ll be staying at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa.
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Bratwurst, Gluhwein, and Gingerbread, Oh My!
In December, we’re off to one of our favorite places to celebrate the Christmas Advent season by going back—way back—to traditions that are hundreds of years old. We’ll be sailing with Uniworld river cruises on the River Queen visiting in style the ancient Christmas Markets of Germany along the Rhine River from Cologne to Basel. I’ve sailed with Uniworld before, and they’re awesome (sister company to world-famous Trafalgar), but I haven’t been on the River Queen before, so I’ll be taking lots of pictures and reporting back to you.
Have you ever sailed on a river cruise in Europe? A river cruise, not an ocean cruise. Two completely different animals that serve different needs. Probably most of you are familiar with the joys of ocean cruising, but might be new to the concept of river cruising.
The river cruises ships are much smaller, usually holding a maximum of only 120 passengers or so, compared to thousands on the mega-liners. They’re more intimate, more informal, more relaxed. Because of the small size, you build a camaraderie with your fellow shipmates—it really does feel like an extended family by the time your river cruise has ended. The ships are small because they have to fit the rivers and the ancient bridges they glide under. The waterways of Europe were historically the mode for commerce, bringing supplies from one village to another. Villages sprouted up next to the rivers. So, one of the first things you realize on a river cruise, is that when your ship docks right on the river bank (no huge ship terminal needed), you’re literally steps away from the village! No wasted time in ferrying to the city. You’re right there in the heart of the village. Daily sightseeing is included at no extra cost at every village you visit (compared to paying extra for shore excursions on regular ocean cruises). It’s an unbeatable value.
True, you won’t find the glitz, the nonstop party atmosphere, a dizzying array of simultaneous activities to choose from, or a multitude of restaurants. There is no casino onboard a river cruise, no Las Vegas-style entertainment, no wet T-shirt games or Honeymooner games.
But river cruising does appeal to a certain mindset. River cruising is relaxing and leisurely and in-depth, not go-go-go and skimming the surface. It’s for people who want to be immersed in the culture and local life and really experience the destination on a local level, not as part of an invading group of 2,000 people. There’s a tremendous experiential difference in exploring a village if you’re two of 75 visitors compared to visiting a town as two of 2,000 visitors (when that might result in visitors outnumbering locals!). There is local entertainment (brought on board at that particular town), fascinating lectures on history and culture and crafts, artisans demonstrations, unique experiences like shopping in local markets with your ship chef or participating in cooking classes, a sun deck where you can enjoy a glass of wine as you float pass locals on their bicycles or mothers pushing their baby carriages. So, you can see that a river cruise appeals to a discerning traveler.
And the Christmas Markets of Germany? Oh boy, hundreds of years old where local artisans gather to sell their handmade crafts and foods. Imagine brightly decorated stalls brimming with hand-carved German smoker dolls, Christmas pyramids, and arches, alternating with stalls of savory bratwurst, pretzels, Wienacht beer and traditional gluhwein. And did I mention gingerbread? Gingerbread in every shape and form! Most of our American Christmas traditions can be traced to Germany, and in Germany, you truly experience them with a new appreciation and freshness. The smells, sounds, and colors of the Christmas Markets really imprint on your soul. You can view a video of the Christmas Markets and read about a special group Christmas Markets river cruise we’ve planned for December ’09. You get an extra discount--above the specially negotiated group rates--if you deposit before the end of this month. And since the river cruise is more than a year away, it gives you plenty of time to save. It’s an outstanding value and an out-of-the-ordinary Christmas celebration (you will be home, though, before Christmas Day, so you can still maintain your own Christmas traditions!). You’ll never look at Christmas decorations in the same way after you’ve experienced a Christmas Markets river cruise. Trust me on that one.
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Your Feedback Appreciated
I welcome your feedback, so email me at editor@celebrate-travel.com and tell me your thoughts.
We really do believe in visiting all the destinations we serve so that we have true expertise when you come to us for help. That’s our commitment to you. Don’t trust a travel consultant who doesn’t travel herself! Till next time, remember to plan some quality time with your loved ones, even if it’s a mini-getaway. Let us help.
We’re a phone call or email away!
Happy travels, Anne Rose, Celebrate-Travel, Inc.