MSC Cruises

I’ve decided that I like doing two things at once. Sure, writing about what I am learning about in this travel agent school seems to take me a little longer. But we are supposed to get the word out about the things we’re learning, and writing about the things I am learning does help. And since this school has many different courses, I should keep quite busy for a while.

Today we are going to look at the MSC Cruiseline. MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company. MSC  strives for excellence in everything that they do, and has won a lot of awards for what they do.

• Where do these cruises go? Basically anywhere you would be interested in traveling to. They do Mexico and the Caribbean, they also do Europe and Asia. They also do an excellent South American cruise.
• Let’s take a closer look at some of what they have to offer. When it comes to food, their specialty is Italian. They have a lot of great pasta dishes. You will be able to get a great pizza any time that you’d like. But Italian isn’t the only cuisine that they have. They have a famous Asian chef that is over their Asian restaurants. And of course, they have a pas chef to make sure your sweet tooth is satisfied.
• MSC has partnered with LEGO to bring children and their families experiences they will never forget. They will have all the supplies that you will need for your baby and toddler that you will need.
• MSC also understands your need to keep up with your fitness program while on board. They will help you create the right exercise program while you are on board. They will also help you come up with healthy menus.

I would love to know your thoughts on any of this..

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Okay, I know there are ways to book trips on the internet. So why would you need a travel agent? Let’s look at some times you might want to use a travel agent.

 

• Travel agents are great when you and your extended family are going on a trip together. You have a lot of people, some people may have special needs to figure out..People may need to come and go on different days. There are just a lot of details to figure out.
• You might want to book through a travel agent if you are going to a place you’ve never been. You may have a lot of time to do the necessary research. A travel agent can help you to set everything up. We can figure out your complete itinerary.
• And when you’re planning your honeymoon, you probably want to go through a travel agent. You have a thousand other things you need to plan. And this is a special trip you is really do not to mess up. Let a travel agent handle all the details .

Movie places

I am going to try to do this, and hopefully I’ll do a better job than I did yesterday.. I’m still doing a lot of experimenting and figuring things out as I go along… x

I think a lot of us like to watch movies when we want to relax. But have you ever wanted to go to the places where specific movies were made? Let’s look at a couple of these today.

• Do you have any Indiana Jones fans in your did you family? You might want to visit Petra, Jordan where these films were made. This has become a popular destination since the films were made.
• Slovenia might be small, but it is where Narnia was made. If I am remembering right, the place has some absolutely gorgeous spots.

Planning the perfect girls’ trip #2

Let’s get back to discussing how to plan a great girls’ trip. I have several things I’d like to look into more today, but feel like I need to do the normal things first and just see how the rest of the day goes. Let’s pick up where we left off.

• Some friends don’t need much except to have a place to gather and some nice food to enjoy themselves. Other groups will want to go to some of the more exotic locations. If your group is trying to start their annual trips together, it might be wise to have a gathering and discuss what everyone is thinking as far as overall budget. Is it going to be easier to gather in each other homes, or do people want to mark places off of their bucket lists? One of you might want  to play hostess more often than the others to cut down on her costs. You can find solutions that work best for your group.
• If one person is planning the whole thing, this lady will want to give some clues. You might want to get creative with the e-mails you send your group. Some people will go a step farther and send cute little packages to give hints. Groups who are going go somewhere exotic will usually meet at one member’s house, and then they do the reveal at the airport.
• This is a girls’ trip, so you are going want to have comfortable places where ere you can sit and gab. You might want to have one more than one place like this in case your group wants to split up for whatever reason.
• But as much as girls like to just sit and talk, you will want to have a few activities planned. Especially if you are going somewhere you’ve never been, you’ll want to get out and enjoy some of the sights. The planner should have a pretty good idea of the things your group likes to do.

Have you done anything like this? I would love to hear about it.

Go play in your favorite video game

[Disclaimer : I have never been into video games. I have never enjoyed playing those type games. I hardly know anything about any of those games. I’m just going to tell you what this article says.]

I may not know much about these games, but I know they are pretty popular. I know some children, and adults, absolutely love these games. If they aren’t playing them, they’re thinking about playing these things. So let’s look at some places you can play these games in RL [for those that don’t know, RL is real life].

• The first one is, of course, Mario Brothers. I do remember sitting and watching people playing these games. Who doesn’t dream of getting into these games? The closest thing you can get to this is in Tokyo.
• There is always Pokemon Go. And I know that you can play that anywhere. The cool thing about this game is that you have to play it outside.
• In l Las Vegas you can play Any Resident Evil. There you can play zombies to your heart’s content
• .And now I have good news and bad news good news is that  Nintendo is building its own amusement park. The bad news is that it will not be ready until 2020.

Flying standby

There is so much to learn and figure out when you are in the travel business. One person can not learn everything.. Today let’s look into what what it means to fly standby.

Flying standby is a good way to fly if you don’t especially care when you leave or come back. It’s usually the least expensive way to fly, you’ll usually pay around twenty-five dollars, but you are not guaranteed a seat. So if you think that flying standby would be a good fit for you, here’s what you should do.

• Firs, you will want to see which airlines have this option available . You will want to read up your chosen airline’s policies to make sure that you, and they, play by the rules.
• A lot of times they’ll want you to purchase a normal ticket. Sometimes you can get away with a friend flying. Again, you will want to know the specific policies.
• Another thing that would be good to remember is that you do not want to have checked luggage. They’ll more likely to take you if you don’t. You’re allowed one carry on and purse in most situations. The day before or the flight, you will want to look at the airline’s website to get the latest info on the flight. You will not want to check Expedia or Priceline, they are not going to have the latest information.
• You are going to want to get there at least two hours in advance. You will want to go to the ticketing agent, and let them know that you’re interested in flying standby.
• Next you will want to proceed through security and all that. Be sure to let the people at the gate know that you want to fly standby.
• At the time of the flight, the gate people will be able to let you know whether you’ve made it on.

I would love to know your thoughts  about any of this.

St. Kitts #3

First, I want to say again that I do not know how much I am going to be online over the next couple week starting on Monday. I am just going to have to play everything by ear and see how it goes. Now let’s get back to discussing some reasons why you might want to visit St. Kitts.

Do you just love carnivals? Maybe you even like to try carnivals in other places? St. Kitts has a carnival that runs from from mid November to the end of December. There is also a music festival the last weekend of June.

So as you can see, this place has a lot to offer families, especially those with older children. There are some great beaches for families with younger children. And for golfers, St. Kitts has one of the most challenging courses around. This feature makes the island nice not only for families, but also for business conferences where you are doing a combination of work and play.

On Monday, we said that there are all kinds of accommodations you can choose from on the island. Today let’s get a little more specific. For those that truly want to vacation in the lap of luxury, there are villas. These are places with the utmost in comfort and privacy. You will also have access to some of the most gorgeous views. There are usually up to four bedrooms in a villa..

You will have all kinds of choices when it comes to hotels and/or resorts. Choose what is most important to you. Do you want a more formal restaurant? Is it important to you to have many choices when it comes to restaurants? Do you want pools that have a swim up bar? Some of these resorts are going to have cottages, which will also ensure privacy.

There are also some nice bed and breakfasts on the island. My guess is that these are probably your least expensive option.

I would love to know your thoughts about any of this.

St. Kitts #2

Yesterday we ended by giving some reasons people in general might want to go to St. Kitts. Today let’s look at some occasions you might want to visit this beautiful.

This is a great place to have a destination wedding. It is easy to get married here, because they have very few regulations. You will not have to be to on the island for any length of t before you married. You will need two photo i.d.s, and proof that you are both single. And you are only going to have to pay about seventy five dollars for a marriage license. There are churches of most any denomination on this island. There are beautiful spots at a lot of the hotels or resorts. Or maybe you’re more interested in a traditional honeymoon. This island is a great place for that as well.

Are you someone that wants to try all kinds of water sports in all kinds of different places. They have water skiing, surfing, diving, and kayaking just to name a few. If your objective is to try as many sports as you can in one place, this is a place that you will want to try.

A lot of cruise ships make on stops on St. Kitts. Maybe you were on one of those places and fell in with the place. You might now want to go and spend your whole vacation there..

Today has been kind of crazy with everything except work, so I am going to stop here and get back to this tomorrow. I would love to know your thoughts.

St Kitts

Today has been a Monday, not necessarily in a bad way. I just have several things I want to get done today. So today let’s look at St Kitts. This is an island that is part of the Caribbean. This island’s temperature stays around 80 degrees fahrenheit most the year. They do not get a lot of rain, and when it does, it’s a shower that is over quickly, and the sun comes out again. This island has mountains, and obviously it has beaches as well. So what are some reasons you might want to visit St. Kitts? Read on to find out.

• For starters, St. Kitts has a sister island called Nevis. There is only two miles between the two sisters. And there are several ways you can easily cross that distance.
• Getting to and around St. Kitts is easy. You will find all kinds of flights between the States and this beautiful island. And once you are there, this place is easy to navigate by rented car or taxi.
• These are happy, welcoming people. They welcome the opportunity to share their culture with others. Here you will hear all about their traditions.
• You will have all kinds of accommodations to choose from. There are bed and breakfasts, villas, as well as some luxury resorts.
• You will also have a wide variety when it comes to what you can eat. You can choose from authentic cuisine or international fare. Do you want upscale dining, or would you rather eat casually?
• You can indulge in shopping excursions, whether you are interested in handmade crafts or duty free shopping. And of course, there are some incredible beaches, ranging from extremely active to secluded.

I would love to know your thoughts on any of this.

Switzerland

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I have to confess that I was pretty distracted yesterday, and was just trying to get something up on this blog. I wasn’t thinking about the fact that we had recently looked at river cruising because we were looking at silverseas. So today I think we are going to start taking a look at Europe, and more specifically, Switzerland. When you ask many Americans what their dream trip might be, many will say somewhere in Europe. Today let’s look at some reasons you might want to look at Switzerland when you are considering your next vacation.

First, this is an absolutely beautiful country. Have you ever heard of the Alps? Switzerland is home to part of this mountain range.

Switzerland is also fairly easy to get around in. They have a great transportation system. And from what I hear, all the transportation systems in Europe run pretty much on time.

• It also will not hurt American tourists that pretty much everyone here speaks English. You should not have to worry about language barriers here.

This is a small country, but there are three distinct cultures here that you can explore. And who might be interested in visiting Switzerland?

• Nature lovers might enjoy going. There are many great places to hike and explore.
• Are you into snow skiing, camping fishing. This beautiful country is a place you might really enjoy as well.
• And interestingly enough, the third group that might enjoy this country is luxury travelers. Enjoy fine food and wine at top resorts. Indulge in shopping excursions and spa treatments.

I would love to know your thoughts on any of this

River cruising

River cruising is becoming more and more popular. Once, this segment was mostly for older people, most were retired, They were sophisticated people, who enjoyed educational experience while indulging in some very nice food and drinks. These people usually prefer classical or jazz concerts instead of wild nightlife..

However, river cruising is starting to catch on with millennials. They too like the finers rxthings in life, especially when it comes to food and drink. They are also big into educational opportunities.

River cruise companies are listening to what their client are saying. For instance, people are interested in more wine cruises, and several of the companies have added more wine cruises. Guests can also get travel insurance specifically for river cruises.

We are going to get back to this tomorrow. I would love to know your thoughts.

Wyndham #2

 

Today we are going to start by taking a closer look at some of Wyndham’s specific hotel brands and what they have to offer.

• Let’s start with what they call their hotels for business travelers. Wyndham wants to feel like their hotels are your home away from home. They are, of course, going to provide you with great internet at these hotels. They also provide great comfort. Wyndham has done its research, and they’ve found that you’d like the ability to extend your stay, even on business trips. They know you want free breakfasts, fitness centers at these hotels. These are hotels like TRYP by Wyndham, Wyndham Hotels and resorts, and Dolce Hotels and Resorts.
• Next we are going to look at Family Travelers. Family travel is only growing in popularity. Parents want to give their children new opportunities. And we all know how popular multi generational travel is becoming. The hotels in these brands are going to feature free wifi and free breakfast. And where are these hotels? Practically anywhere that you might like to go. These are hotels like the Wyndham Grand, Dazzler Hotels, and Esplendor Hotels.
• Wyndham is also reaching out to Millennials. They know that to Millennials it is important to stay connected to the world, it is important to have great food choices, and it is also important to experience the local culture. And so Wyndham tries to deliver all three with these properties. With Wyndham, some of the properties fall into more than one category. TRYP by Wynham falls under the Millennial group too. And you will also have Wingate by Wyndham, and Wyndham Garden.
• And finally, there is Romance Travel. Couples are finding more excuses to travel together, and Wyndham wants couples to stay with them as well. This type of hotel offers excellent spas and some fantastic cuisine. Brands in this group are Wyndham Grand and Dolce Hotels and Resorts.

Wyndham

There is a lot I’m trying to figure out, both with work stuff and personally. So I’m glad to be able to write this blog as I’m going through these travel agent courses. I feel like I am accomplishing more, and the bonus is that I’m working through, and passing, a lot of these courses. It’s definitely a win/win in my book.

Today we are going to take a look at Wyndham, which is one of the fastest growing hotel chains in the world. There is an average of two Wyndham properties opening each day. And before you stop reading because you think of Wyndham as a luxury brand and you tend to stay in less expensive hotels, this company has over twenty different brands. Among these are hotels like Ramada, Travelodge, and Days Inn to name a few.

Okay, so who is Wyndham exactly? First, they like to keep things simple. They try to provide you with all the comforts you want in the places you want to be. And they hope to make you comfortable in any of their hotels, no matter what you paid. They strive to give you a great memory of your hotel experience with them. They’re generous. Most of their properties have free wifi and free breakfast. They also have a very generous rewards program. And finally, they know that Americans are finding more reasons to travel, from your once in a lifetime honeymoon, to family gatherings and girlfriend getaways. And this hotel group wants to be part of all those experiences.

Let’s look a little more at their rewards program. Like I said earlier, this is one of the most simple programs out there. For 15,000 points, you can stay free at any of their participating properties. For every qualified stay, you earn ten points for every dollar spent. You can also earn points by using a Wyndham Rewards Visa Card, or by renting a car through Budget or Axis.

I think I am going to stop here for now, and get back to this tomorrow. As usual, I would love to know your thoughts on any of this.

Los Cabos

Today we are going to take a look at Los Cabos and some of what they have to offer. I know that there was a major storm there last September, but the good news is that they are rebuilding. New hotels are going up. And they are making it pretty easy for American to come visit their beautiful place by adding more flights, and this is something they’re continuing to work on as time goes by.

As with a lot of popular destinations, Cabos has many different resorts you can choose from. Through in the particular course I am going through, they seem to focus on “adults only” resort. Maybe I just haven’t gotten to the family friendly resorts yet?

If you are looking to do something a little different, you might want to consider a place called Acre, where you will actually be staying in one of their treehouses. They have a restaurant, a bar, and a pool. They do not say much about the treehouses themselves, but they do recommend no more than a three night stay. Dreaming of a longer vacation in Cabos? Plan your stay at Acre before or after enjoying a resort.

Now let’s look at some of the attractions of Los Cabos.

• Animal lovers will enjoy watching whales or looking for dolphins. This is also a place where sea turtles lay their eggs.
• This is also a great place for those who love art. There are museums and galleries, and there is at least one huge art festival..
• Those who have a keen interest in wine may also want to visit Cabos. There are vineyards to explore and wineries where you can sample different wines.

I would love to know your thoughts on any of this.

Silverseas #2

I think I should go on and let you know that I’m not sure how much internet access I am going to have for the last week of April and the first week of May. I’m going to play by ear how much I’ll work during that time.

Anyway, let’s get back to our discussion on Silverseas. First let’s get back to discussing some of the Silverseas advantages.

• With the smaller ships and many fewer guests on board, you are going to have a higher crew to guest ratio. And that means that the crew is going to be able to offer you a much higher level of service. All guests will have access to a butler.
• Are you wondering what you might eat on one of these cruises. You will be able to choose from one of several restaurants on each ship. They will offer you a wide variety of cuisine. And you will be able to enjoy the outdoors while you eat any time you please.
• Some cruises say they’re all inclusive, and then they’ll charge you every time you turn around. Silverseas does not do this. All your food and drinks are included, even if you want wine or beer. They don’t charge you when you order room service, and you don’t need to worry about grabbing a snack or drink from the fridge in your suite.
• Everyone is going one hour of free wifi each day. If you feel sure you are going to want more than one hour on the internet each day, you might want to consider getting a higher level suite.
• And with Silverseas, you will get the biggest rooms in whichever suite class you choose.. I am going to stop here for now.

I would love to know your thoughts, or any questions you might have.

Nassau for families

We are going to get back to our discussion on Silverseas Monday. Today I just want to get things finished. So let’s take a look into some reasons why Nassau makes an excellent destination for for families. Because this is a pretty popular destination, you are going to find plenty of resorts. And among those resorts, you are going to find some fantastic kids’ programs. Your kids will love are these programs and be perfectly safe in these programs. But please don’t let that stop you from spending time together as a family. Let me give you some examples of some thing your family can do in Nassau.

• First of all, there is the beach. Take time to build an elaborate sand castle. Have are races in and out of the water. Lie on the beach and tell each other stories. And don’t forget to bring a huge picnic. Everyone is bound to get hungry being outside and near water.
• Families will also want to explore the city of Nassau itself. For one thing, the city has a nice pirates museum which has its own pirates’ ship that you will want to be sure to check out. There is also a chocolate shop where everyone is encouraged to make their own treats.
• Does someone in your family love animals? They have a great zoo. And you are going to also be able to ride horses along the beach. The whole family might also enjoy an excursion to see the swimming pigs.

I would love to know your thoughts on any of this, or any questions you might have.