Air Jamaica Cuts Service to Atlanta

Air Jamaica announced they are discontinuing service to Atlanta, Miami and other cities next month. My first thought when I heard about this was, that's why you should always buy 3rd party insurance! Sometimes companies aren't so nice and do not give warning when they cease operations and the traveler is left high and dry. If, for example you use the cruise line's protection package you could be left scrambling for your vacation and insurance claim if the company bails. In today's economy it is a very real possibility. Just food for thought...

Next Procrastinator's Special V-Day!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and there is of course an exciting special at Sandals. (If you can't tell already I just love them. They are one of few that could break my cruise addiction and turn around my opinion of Jamaica.)

If you book before January 31 and stay 3 nights or more from February 1 - March 15 2009 you will receive a "Sandals with a Kiss" Package to celebrate Valentine's Day. It includes a bottle of sparkling wine,chocolate covered tropical fruits, special turn down service and keepsake photo of the two of you. (Remember Sandals is 'for couples in love', but I've heard some interesting stories of love rekindled here for couples that didn't arrive even in 'like'. =)

For the first two couples booking in a concierge category and above for 6 nights or longer you will receive an extra special bonus. Contact me at info@greatscottgetaways.com for details. The specials are valid for any resort in Antigua, Jamaica, Bahamas or St. Lucia. Sandals is not your typical cookie cutter hotel chain where each property or room is exactly the same. Let me help you find the best fit for you.

African Travel, Inc.

As things slowed down a bit I took the time to get some training on destinations I am not very familiar with. I received the most inviting brochure from African Travel Inc. about their 2009 itineraries throughout Africa. Since this tour company specializes only in African destinations they offer the most complete and customizable itineraries I have seen. They are a small business with people that really have a passion for what they do. Their tours offer everything from South Africa to Egypt, Botswana and Kenya of course. They even have extensions available in Dubai, which seems to be the new hotspot. The tours are more affordable than you would think. Currently a 12 day Kenya Classic Safari starts at $1695 per person for the land package for departures in April and May. For nature and wildlife lovers this sounds like a dream. I am not one of those, but my husband really wants to go. He thinks I can handle starting out in a city in South Africa, but who wants to fly all that way and not see animals and natural wonders? When it's time I want to see as much as possible.
During their training last year the speaker was nostalgically recounting waking up to see a cheetah just outside of their lodge. I held my breath for a second, but other people oohed and ahhed. Ok, so it's not my cup of tea, but one day I promise I'll work up the courage. I am afraid of large domesticated dogs, so I have a long way to go there! My little one on the other hand is thrilled by all the beautiful pictures in their brochure and has taken to roaring like a lion at people. Maybe I should just send the two of them and let my dh know what it feels like to fly alone with a small child. He's wilder than the animals.

Do you know your travel style?

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

I try not to solicit friends and family, so sometimes they forget that I am a travel agent until they see my office. Since we really tried to focus on spending time with those dear to us this year instead of in the mall looking for things to buy them I got into lots of conversations about travel expectations and disappointments when people flipped through brochures or looked at pictures. The common thread?...lack of information and unmanaged expectations . I thought this would make a great blog topic to start off 2009.

One of the first considerations besides budget when making travel plans should be an honest assessment of your expectations and travel style. Even within the same budget there is a range of accommodations. There is no perfect fit for everyone. What is an ultimate relaxing retreat for one will be a snooze fest for the next person. Many people think if you 'only' have XYZ to spend there are few choices. There is always the 'so-and-so said that ship is full of old people (or partyers), type of person who refuses to try anything other than one certain cruise line. People also tend to think luxury means stuffy, or spending a certain amount ensures a certain standard. Trust me, luxury is very subjective term. What fits you for one vacation may change on the next one.
Of course working with a travel agent will help find the right fit for you and hopefully avoid that let down. When deciding what is important to you ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want to do while on vacation? (nothing, golf, spa, beach, shop, sight see, tours, hike, etc.)
• What is a must have in my room? (will you go crazy if you're stuck in a room with no balcony? room service, robes, air conditioning in some areas)
• Do I want an Americanized experience at a large resort or prefer to experience local culture in a small boutique hotel?
• Do I like to dress up on vacation, stay casual or want the choice of both?
• Do we need child care options ? for what ages?

These questions are a good starting point to help us start to determine what destination is best for you.

Procrasinators, Give the Gift of Travel!

Are you still looking for an unbeatable holiday gift idea for your tired, stressed out and oh so deserving wife or mom? (Yes I did say procrastinators in the title, so that's why I'm talking directly to the guys...but ladies of course you can treat yourself). Send her to Jamaica for the Beaches BFF Weekend January 22-26, 2009.

In addition to the usual all-inclusive Beaches experience, she will receive a $200 spa gift certificate, a sunset sail away catamaran cruise and other goodies designed to make the most of that special bonding time with the girls. For $1,149 per person it is a great deal. That includes just about everything but airfare...and with those prices hovering at the lowest I've seen this year she can be off on this getaway for less than $1,500 pp.
http://www.travimp.com/promo/si8112_pls_btc.html

What better way to show how much you appreciate her hard work this season and all year, than by giving her 4 days in island paradise, with her best girlfriends. Yes this is supposed to be an ultimate fun relaxing getaway, so it's girls only. Wow, no kids, computers, stoves, schedules, I wanna go too!
I visited this property pretty recently and loved it. There are wheelchair accessible rooms and spa treatments. The two-story spa is so tranquil with treatment rooms surrounding a glass courtyard and a wonderful selection of unique island inspired treatments like ortanique body scrubs. If you would like a few of my candid pictures shoot me an e-mail and I'll be glad to send them to you. (I always wonder too if resorts are really going to look like the pictures) In fact the little thumbnail to the right here is a pic I took looking toward the ocean from the lobby of this resort.

Do you really need another reason to take a vacation?

Although this article is a few months old, I thought I'd share it to remind us how important it is to take a vacation and unplug from the daily grind.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/yourmoney/07shortcuts.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Goodbye Fuel Surcharges!

		The following article from cruisecritic.com sums up the state of fuel surcharges after Carnival's announcement Thursday. If you have questions regarding your specific booking, please call or e-mail me. December 5, 2008
		Update: 10 Cruise Lines to Suspend Fuel Supplement
		Despisers of fuel surcharges, this is your moment. As the price of a barrel of oil continues to fall, Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. have all announced plans to eliminate fuel surcharges. Carnival Corp. was the first to announce that it will suspend fuel surcharges for cruises on six of its lines departing on or after December 17, 2008. Carnival Corp.'s lines include Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (consisting of Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) have followed suit, both suspending fuel supplements for all voyages departing on or after January 1, 2009. Surcharges were first established in fall 2007, then increased, then increased again as the price of oil skyrocketed. But the barrel fell significantly during summer 2008, prompting lines to announce the demise of surcharges, with most targeting 2010 as the year when surcharge-free cruises would begin again. Most lines also enacted byzantine protocol for refunding fuel surcharges (in the form of onboard credit) if the price per barrel reached a certain value and stayed there for a certain amount of time. For Carnival at least, no one will have to ponder the convoluted refund system anymore. Plain and simple, if you're cruising prior to December 17, you won't be eligible for any fuel surcharge refunds. Cruising after that date? You'll get a refund. Likewise for NCL and RCCL, but the dates are slightly different. If you're cruising before January 1, 2009, you're ineligible for potential surcharge refunds. Cruise any time in 2009, and you'll get a refund. More specifically: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Effective December 8, if you are paid in full on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, your fuel supplement will be refunded to you in the form of onboard credit. If you have an existing booking for a cruise departing on or after January 1, but have not paid in full, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due. All new bookings made on or after December 8, 2008, for cruises departing on January 1, 2009, or beyond will not be assessed a fuel surcharge. For Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $10 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin. For Azamara cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $15 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin. Norwegian Cruise Line If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. In other words, if you're paid in full, you'll get shipboard credit in the amount of the fuel surcharge. If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after January 1, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due. For NCL cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $7 and $11 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for third and fourth passengers in a cabin. Carnival Corp. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance. If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due. For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin. Seabourn's surcharge is between $5 and $15 per person, per day. Want to see what other lines are doing? Check out our At Your Service: Fuel Surcharges. --by Dan Askin, Assistant Editor