Guided tours

Everyone has different ideas when it comes to travel and what the perfect vacation looks like. Some people just want to go to a beach and relax with a good book and maybe some good friends. Then there are those who want to have all these adventures on their vacation. They want to go scuba diving and rock climbing and things like that. And still others go places to learn things. They may be interested in art, or maybe history is their things. It’s this last group that I am going to be specifically talking to today.

I know that some people do not want to have any kind of set schedule. They want to explore when they want where they want. But other people enjoy learning from other people.

A lot of guided tours are going to have some structured time where the whole group is together seeing all the sights. And that is one advantage of going on a guided tour. You will be seeing all of the major sites in the area that you are visiting. you will also have pretty much everything arranged for you.

But that does not mean that your entire vacation is going to be this rigid structured thing. You are going to get some downtime where you can go back to places you want more time in. Or you can also go to a cafe and enjoy some good food and maybe spend more time with the locals.

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

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What’s trending on cruises

In this day and age of social media, everyone wants to know what everyone else is thinking about and feeling. So today let’s take a look at some things that are trending in the cruise world.

• Most of the cruise lines that are pretty established are concentrating on refurbishing their older ships as opposed to replacing them em with brand new ships. This is cost effective and will hopefully trickle down to savings for you the consumers.
• Theme cruises are getting more and more popular. I know Disney does Star Wars cruises. There have been cruises centered around some very popular television shows. The interesting thing is that people seem to like them even more than the cruise line originally thought, so they expanding this idea
• The less expensive cruises are learning from the luxury lines, and are putting together more inclusive packages together. People seem to really like paying one price up front and then not having to worry about money the rest of the trip. Some lines are even including things like pre and post cruise packages.
• River cruises are expanding their activities. It used to be that these cruises mostly did walking tours. But as their business grows and more active travelers join these cruises, the lines are adding more adventures to their itineraries.

I would love to know your thoughts about any of this. I would also love to help you book a cruise if you’re interested. Please let me know.

Ways to save on a Mediterranean cruise

A cruise is a great way to explore a destination for the first time. There are several reasons for this. The first is that you will have your lodging covered wherever you go. The cruise staff is going to take care of all the logistics for you. Most of your food and beverages should be covered on a cruise, so that is something you will not have to worry about as well.. Okay, these are some advantages to cruising new places. The Mediterranean is a popular place to cruise because there is so much to see in this region. So today let’s look at some ways you can save on your next Mediterranean cruise.

• First, remember that all cruiselines are not created equal. There are some very inexpensive cruises to be had out there as well as some that are not so inexpensive. But I should point out that the less expensive cruises are going to be much more likely to charge you for all the little things. The higher end cruises are going to give you more for your money in most cases.
• How flexible are you when it comes to taking your cruise? You are going to get much better rates when you go in the off season. Going between October and May, with the possible exception of the holiday season, is going to save you a lot of money on your trip.
• Getting the nicer, bigger cabins will also cost you more. And how much time do you think you’ll be in your room anyway? Most of the time, you’ll be in your room to sleep and dress and that’s pretty much it.
• There are always deals you can get on cruises. Take your time. Do your research. Better yet, let me help you do your research.

I would love to help you book a cruise. Please let me know if you are interested.

Luxury cruiselines

Whenwe talk about luxury when comes to cruises, we’re talking about some of the most all inclusive vacations on the market. Today let’s look at some of the luxury lines that are out there and what they offer.

• We are going to look at Crystal Cruises first. not One thing I noticed right away is that they do have a children’s program. A lot of luxury cruises actually discourage children coming aboard their ships. Another thing you will find about luxury cruises is that their ships are much smaller than other ships. And one good thing about these smaller ships is that you are going to get a lot more personal service. And even though Crystal has some of the larger ships in the higher end cruise industry, they still offer high personal service.
• And then there is Regent Seven Seas. They are known for having one of the most all inclusive programs out there. I’ve never heard of this, but they even include pre and post cruise packages. They are also going to have specialty restaurants for your enjoyment. A lot of these ships are going to have a country club feel to them. Most of these ships are going to take less than a thousand guests.
• Seaborne has some of the newest ships among the luxury cruise lines. This article I’m reading says that they are “relatively all inclusive”, I’m not 100% sure what that means. But they do have exquisite dining and excellent service. If you want to experience life with the people the places you are going to visit, this is the cruise line you’ll want to use. You’re also going to find some great pools and spas on these ships.
• And lastly we are going to look at SilverSea. This is the line you want to book with if your ultimate goal is to relax. They do not have any kind of children’s program. They offer few onboard activities. However, you will have butler service in any suite you book.

I would love to know any questions you might have about any of this.

About river cruises

We’ve been talking about church talking a lot about cruises lately. Today let’s talk some about river cruises and some of the advantages.

• First, river cruises are usually on much smaller ships. And that means you are going to enjoy a much quieter, more intimate experience. The crew will have more time to see to your every need.
• The smaller ships are also going to get you you into much smaller ports. You will be getting to see a lot of places the larger ships could never take you. Like most cruises, and a lot of other tour companies, develop relationships with different shops, restaurants, markets, and all kinds of places that will give you the inside look at how these places.
• Most of these cruises are going to be pretty inclusive. You are going to get all your meals, all your drinks for your initial cost. Some are going to give you a free shore excursion. Some will give you a free excursion each day.
• The entertainment on a lot of ships is going to be entertainment pretty raunchy at times. River cruises are not going to have anything like that. The entertainment is going to be more classical. You are going to have many more opportunities to get to know your fellow passengers.

 

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

More reasons to cruise

I am going to try to get this done, so I can just relax later on. Let’s get back to the discussion about reason you might want to cruise.

• If you’ve been reading this blog long, you probably know that there are a lot of different kinds of cruises. There are cruises that mostly appeal to families who want a fun in the sun vacation. Other cruises are perfect for those who love history. There are cruises or those who want to explore art or cooking..
• Cruises are great places to meet people. It is pretty common for you to be seated with a pretty large group at dinner, so you’ll be getting to know that group pretty well. Looking to meet people in other countries? Cruises are great for that. Looking for a life partner? Cruises can make that happen as well.
• Cruises are great ways to explore countries you might not want to visit on your own. The cruise companies are going to plan all the details. You’ll be in large groups. And if there is going to be real trouble somewhere, you are going to change directions and go somewhere else..

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

Where to go to see the fall leaves

Most of my growing up years were spent in North Carolina and Tennessee. And we had my grandparents as well as some other family in Virginia. When I think of fall leaves, I think of those places. We do some fall colors here in Georgia, but to me it isn’t as lovely. Today we are going to take a look at some places you might want to go to enjoy the loveliness of fall. And to be clear, the best time to see leaves is the middle to end of October, but it’s never too late to start planning.

• The best place to see fall leaves in the United States is anything anywhere in New England. Vermont is a great place, because you are going to also be to try their famous maple syrup.
• You are going to be able to find some great hotel deals in St. Louis. You are going to be able to find deals on hotels for around eighties a night.
• If you want to do a somewhat longer trip, consider going to Montreal. Canada has some excellent fall foilage. They will also have some great pumpkin and apple farms for you to enjoy.

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

Choosing your cruise #2

I have some personal things going on this week, which is kind of making work time shorter than normal.. I was kind of worried that what I wrote yesterday may have just been too basic, but people have liked yesterday’s post, and I’m not sure what else to write. So let’s get back to this. Today we are going to look at some of the more popular places to cruise.

• Alaska is one of the harder places to get to in the United States. If you drive, you are going to have a pretty substantial drive, at least several days of pretty much doing nothing except driving. Or if you fly you’ll have to catch several different planes, which can get tricky as well. But cruising you’ll be on a nice ship for your traveling. You’ll also have a nice place to stay if you cruise. People love seeing the scenery and wildlife of Alaska.
• Hawaii is another very popular place to cruise. And something I’ve learned from Norwegian Cruise Lines is that they’re the only cruise that allows you to see several of the ,main islands in just a week’s time. Hawaii is especially popular with people who are on their honeymoon. This is a beautiful place to just enjoy one another in the beaches.
• Cruises usually combine Canada and New England. Someone I know went on one this past summer, and I know one of the things she saw was Prince Edward Island. And for those that do not know, that is the setting for Anne of Green Gables.

I would love to help you plan a cruise to any of these destinations. Please let me know if you are interested.

Some cities your family might want to try

Figuring out what I need to do each day, and in which order, is a challenge. I’m trying to write more articles that will be paid for. I’m also looking for other ways to make money and save money on the business. With doing a little more at church these days, it’s been kind of crazy.

Cities make great places to take a family trip. Cities  are going to have a lot for families to do together. And you’ve likely to find inexpensive food and lodging. Let’s look at some specific cities you might want to try.

• Washington D.C. is rated number one for families. You will find a lot of museums there, because the Smithsonian complex is there. Not only do they have museums, they also have a fantastic zoo. And then you’ll also find a lot of the nanational national monuments and the Capitol buildings and all of that.
• Or if your children are studying the Revolution, you might want to go to Boston where so many of the main events took place. Again, you will find several nice museums toexplore. They’ll also have some nice restaurants and shopping centers in this city.
• If your family is looking to simply have some fun, Vegas might be a great destination. There is a lot to do besides gambling. You’ll find many tourist attractions, including many rides, on The Strip. You are also going to see a lot of interesting people there. A lot of what goes on in this city is funded by the gambling industry, so things like food and lodging are going to be particularly inexpensive here.

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

More discussion of cruiselines

Okay,Saturday we started discussing cruiselines, and things you might ant to know about each. On Saturday I gave you descriptions of the three biggest family cruiselines, where you can get cruise pretty inexpensively. But what if you’re looking for some more a little nicer, a little more all inclusive. Below may be some options for you.

• Luxury cruises are going to be more inclusive anyway, that is just the way things work in the cruise industry. Regent Seven Sea is one of the most inclusive that you are going to find. There want will be no extra charge when you go to their specialty restaurants. All your drinks will be free of charge, whether you’re at the restaurants, in your rooms or elsewhere on the ship. Regent’s ships are big enough to offer a nice variety of restaurants and entertainment, but small enough that you aren’t completely lost on board.
• Silverseas would make an awesome romantic cruise, or an occasion to get several couples of good friends together. It is rare to see a child on board one of these ships. And again, you are going to find that there are not many hidden charges on board. Their smaller ships make it easier to connect with your fellow guest, and you’ll also be able to visit smaller ports.
• Holland America offers a lot to the single cruiser. They will have their own parties and gatherings. The ships have a lot of rooms for singles as well. They also have a program that will pair you up with a roommate if you would like. Want to be part of a group that meets up for dinner each evening? They can do that as well.