Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Trips of a Lifetime



With a new year around the corner, naturally it's a time to look back at what you've accomplished, what you would have done differently and of course create a list of new years resolutions. This year lets add 'go on my dream vacation' that list! Not sure what your dream vacation is made of yet? We can help you! Here are some trips of a lifetime that could become your reality come 2014...

http://legacy.virtuoso.com/trips/abu/

Adventure in Abu Dhabi
Watch a camel race, ride the world's fastest roller coaster, barter in a souk, and gaze up at the world's "furthest leaning man-made tower" all in a single day. Those are just a few of the adventures that await visitors to Abu Dhabi.


http://legacy.virtuoso.com/trips/adventure/

Discover the Galapagos
Meet blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas and penguins. Visit the Charles Darwin Research station and the historic barrel, that has served as an archipelago post office for two centuries! 

http://legacy.virtuoso.com/trips/israel/

Uncover History in Israel
Visit Jerusalem, the home to holy sites of the three major monotheistic religions- Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Then trek the new Gospel Trail in Northern Israel and make your way south to float in the Dead Sea. End your trip in Israel's cultural capital, Tel Aviv!


http://legacy.virtuoso.com/trips/kenya/

Explore Kenya
You could spend a year in Kenya and never experience all that there is to see and do. This rich country offers a wealth of exhilarating adventures from big five safaris to insightful encounters with Maasi elders and village craftswomen.


We want to create your trip of a lifetime in 2014! Contact us for more information.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The crazy New Zealander at Estadio Azteca

Where in the world... 
Mexico VS New Zealand
By: Tania Swasbrook
 
When my husband, a New Zealander born and raised, proposed going to Mexico City to see the soccer game between Mexico and New Zealand for a spot in the World Cup 2014, I thought it was a great idea! For a whole minute that is...

Then I thought...Are you NUTS? Do you know what they would do to you if NZ won? In a stadium that fits 104,000 fans, you will be one of at most 10 fans from New Zealand in "Estadio Azteca". 

So of course we went.

Our friends at Las Alcobas, a trendy hotel in Polanco, invited us to stay for the 2 days we would be there and we dragged along another Kiwi friend, my mother and brother for support. It was a sight to be seen!

THE GAME PREVIEW
I always love Mexico City but you need to be careful with the smog, altitude and the fact that it now has 24 million people. This wasn't a site-seeing trip but as a side-note, there is SO much to do in Mexico City. You just need to a) have local contacts and b) have it well planned out in advance.

We got there pretty late...close to midnight...so obviously we went straight for tacos near our hotel.  Midnight is still pretty early in Mexico so we were able to get a seat.

 
TACOS EL PASTOR
Las Alcobas hotel is very quaint. It's perfectly placed in Polanco which is the ritzy area of Mexico City...somewhat mixed with trendy. You have the more upscale hotels and shops and it is a tad more secure. The hotel had great service (well, that's not hard as Mexico has some of the best service in the world) and everything was VERY high-tech. Almost a bit too high-tech to be honest. It took forever just to find how to turn on the light or where the safe was. They did have very cool amenities though which were these cool soup collection bar.





Las Alcobas
Trendy/Boutique luxury
Location: Polanco, near upscale neighborhood/residential zone so quiet
Tech: WiFi included. Room very high tech (almost too much!)
Service: Excellent
Kids: Welcomed but as with any trendy boutique hotel, not that much to do. Although with this type of hotel, you come to visit the city, not stay inside.
Restaurant: Delicious and very "cool"

BEST TEQUILA
WE HAVE THE TICKETS!



The next day was game day. My mother had to meet with some clients before going (they gave us a wonderful gift at breakfast) (and they had some of the most incredible offices I have ever seen). Then we were off.

Traffic was obviously going to be horrible but Mexico City has this very complex highway system. One  you pay and has no traffic, the other you don't and you have traffic. So we paid. We got there on time. As predicted, we were amongst the only New Zealanders there.
     


I won't lie. We started off great but then it started to get a bit scary. Yes, Mexico was up by 4 points but it doesn't matter. We were the enemy (of course I was cheering for Mexico but I at that moment was with the enemy). So we ended up leaving about 20 minutes before the end as it started to get a bit rough and we started to see the riot police coming in. 

RIOT POLICE COMING






We had an extraordinary time and once in a lifetime experience!






My daughter, supporting the best team, asking: "Are you guys nuts"?
#DoYouTravelworld

Friday, November 8, 2013

NBC chosen to televise first flight to space

We just wanted to share this press release with you. Step by step we are getting closer to making history. I am nervous and excited all at once! 

Keep up to date on our space page: www.travelworldspaceagents.com



EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO TELEVISE FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO SPACE  HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO NBC

"TODAY" to Broadcast Virgin Galactic's Historic First Commercial Spaceflight LIVE Featuring Sir Richard Branson and His Children. Coronado Woman is future astronaut. 

NEW YORK, NY - November 8, 2013 - Announced this morning on NBC's TODAY, NBCUniversal inked an exclusive multi-platform partnership with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline, to televise the inaugural commercial space flight of SpaceShipTwo. Next year, Sir Richard and his adult children, Holly and Sam, will be the first private passengers to travel into space on SpaceShipTwo from Virgin Galactic's terminal at Spaceport America in New Mexico.  NBC News' award-winning Peacock Productions will chronicle the journey across a myriad of NBCUniversal brands and platforms including CNBC,MSNBC, NBCNews.com, Syfy, The Weather Channel and more, culminating in a primetime special airing on NBC the night before launch, and a three-hour live event on "TODAY," hosted by Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthr  Final Phase testing ie.

"Without a doubt, Sir Richard and his children taking the first commercial flight into space, will go down in history as one of the most memorable events on television," said Sharon Scott, President and General Manager, Peacock Productions.  "Through NBCUniversal's multiple platforms and overseas network partners, viewers from around the world will get to experience this where were you moment; we're extremely honored to chronicle Sir Richard's journey and live launch into space."

"Virgin Galactic is thrilled that NBCUniversal will join us on our exciting first journey to space," said Sir Richard. "In this first chapter of commercial space travel, we will help make space accessible and inspire countless more people to join us in the pursuit of space exploration and science innovation."

"Every time something like this happens it gives me chills. It means we are getting one step closer to making history!," says Francis Contreras, owner of Travelworld of Coronado and one of the first Accredited Space Agents and future astronaut herself.



Friday, November 1, 2013



From a stylish retreat in Bhutan to a chic city stay Bangkok, we have Travel + Leisure's hit list of the coolest hotels and what pushes them to the top. We'll summarize 2013's most extraordinary hotels for any style of travel!

City 
Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund
Located on the northern part of the iconic Bund waterfront, provides the ultimate escape to this megalopolis of 23 million. From the unobstructed views of the Huangpu River to the both thoughtful and discreet service, everything about this hotel is to die for. Oh and did we forget to mention the three-floor, marble-clad spa, spread over 14,000 square feet, with the most comprehensive treatment menu around. Click here to check out Fabian's travels through China!

Shangri-La, Mumbai
Bringing even more glamour to the Mumbai, the Shangri-La is the perfect escape within the bustling city. Whether it be soaking in a hot-stone massage at the Chi spa, designer shopping at the ground-floor Palladium Mall, or lounging by the breezy outdoor pool, the hotel is almost a city in itself. Upstairs, the spectacular 390 guest rooms offer sweeping views of the city and Arabian Sea beyond. Click here and we will help you make this relaxing dream come true.

Rustic
Capaldi Atlas Mountains, Morocco
A visit to Morocco is now incomplete without a visit to the windswept dunes of the Moroccan desert, just outside of Marrakesh. At night, feast on tender côte de boeuf at the French-inspired restaurant before a swim under the stars in the pool and a midnight movie at the hotel’s private cinema. Click here for more information.

Cicada Lodge, Nitmiluk National Park, Australia
There are 500 remaining Jawoyn Aborigines in the Northern Territory that make up one of the world’s oldest surviving cultures, and now, with the opening of Cicada Lodge they are also Australia's most anticipated hoteliers. This boutique hotel that consists of 18 relaxing rooms aims to put Nitmiluk Gorge on the traveler's map. From high intensity four-wheel-drive touring to swimming under waterfalls, this national park has something for everyone and we can help you plan it.

Beach
Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa
The country’s first five-star hideaway, located on an undeveloped stretch of land on the Pacific coast that now reeks of luxury. From plunge pools, butlers, a spa with themed treatment rooms, and a golf course designed by David McLay Kid, this is the ultimate beach get-away.We love the culture elements incorporated from the mostly local staff to the local grass-fed Nicaraguan beef and Flor de Caña rum. Click here to see how Nicaragua may be the perfect place for your next beach destination.

Oyster Inn, Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Just 35 minutes from Auckland by ferry, Kiwis have known about it forever, but the world is just catching on to Waiheke Island, thanks to the Oyster Inn. Waking up in the small but sweet all whitewashed guestrooms with  exposed rafters and colorful kilims and walking over to the patio café overlooking Oneroa Bay, ordering platters of bivalves plucked straight from the sea, could not make for a better beach getaway. Click here to talk to us about planning your island vacation.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fabian & Francis cruising the Black Sea

Where in the world... 
Our trip to the Black Sea
Oceania Cruises: Riviera


The brand new Riviera, which debuted in May 2012, is stunning. Designer touches are everywhere, from the magnificent Lalique Grand Staircase and stunning Owner's Suites furnished in Ralph Lauren Home.


Comfortably mid-sized, with a country club casual ambiance and level of personalized service, combined with new amenities, made it an incredible experience…one which were not expecting. As the first ship designed for lovers of fine dining and travel experiences, the 1250 passenger Riviera offers guests multiple dining venues, of which six are open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surcharge.

Accommodations in every category are incredibly spacious, especially with regard to the lavish bathrooms.



 Our 13 day Itinerary
Day
Date
Location
1
Thu, 25 Jul
Istanbul, Turkey
2
Fri, 26 Jul
Nessebar, Bulgaria
3
Sat, 27 Jul
Constanta, Romania
4
Sun, 28 Jul
Odessa, Ukraine
5
Mon, 29 Jul
Sevastopol, Ukraine
6
Tue, 30 Jul
Yalta, Ukraine
7
Wed, 31 Jul
Sochi, Russia
8
Thu, 01 Aug
Trabzon, Turkey
9
Fri, 02 Aug
Sinop, Turkey
10
Sat, 03 Aug
Çengelköy, Turkey
11
Sun, 04 Aug
Kusadasi, Turkey
12
Mon, 05 Aug
Mykonos, Greece
13
Tue, 06 Aug
Piraeus, Greece



Arrival into Istambul, Turkey:

Turkish Airlines

Excellent Business Class as well as Comfort Class (Premium Economy).



With the most amazing tour operator in the world, Nurdan from Nurdan's United Travel Services, Turkey.



Istanbul, Turkey
MUST SEE:

Dolmabache Palacio
Mezquita azul
Iglesia Sofia
Grand Bazaar

MUST EAT & DRINK
Sur Balak (5mins from Four Season)
Kebabs’  
Doner Kebaps (like Mexican Tacos)
Black tea and Apple tea

Turkish Coffee


Nessebar, Bulgaria
Nessebar, Bulgaria...an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast!

MUST EAT AND DRINK: 
Pork (not a lot of options)
Local Wines



Constanta, Romania

Constanta - the oldest extant city in Romania. It was founded around 600 BC 

MUST EAT AND DRINK:
Local Wines
** 1 dollar = 3.3 Lei





Odessa, Ucrania 

The port of Odessa, where they arrived, is one of the most important seaports in Ukraine which is located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea.
MUST SEE:
        Potemkin Steps y Odessa City Hall 
       Opera House
       Fine Arts Museum 
       Primoski Boulevard

MUST EAT & DRINK :
Pork and vegetable dumplings 
Pork   Borsch (onion and egg soup)
Vodka : Horilka 
Cold fruit tea
 

Sevastopol, Ukraine
Sevastopol is one of two cities with special status in Ukraine (the other being the capital, Kiev). A strategically important naval point, it is also a popular seaside resort and tourist destination.
MUST SEE:

Khan Palace in Bakhchisaray (1hra del puerto)




Yalta, Ukraine

YALTA, a resort city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea. The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land.

MUST SEE:
Museum: Chekhov
Alexander Nevsky Cathedra;


MUST EAT AND DRINK:
Beer: Lvivske
BBQ Pork





Sochi, Russia

Situated on the Black Sea coast near the border of Georgia, Sochi is one of Russia's largest resort cities. A lot is going on here in the next few years. Sochi will host the XXII Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games next year as well as the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix. It is also one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Basic info:
* "Spasibo" = Thank you
* 1 Dolar = 30 Rubles



Trabzon, Turkey

Trabzon played a key role in both the Silk Road and the Ottoman period because of the importance of its port.

MUST SEE:
Monasterio Sumela (1 hr from port)  CANT MISS

MUST EAT AND DRINK:
Kebabs




Kusadasi, Turkey
A resort town on Turkey's Aegean, its primary industry is tourism given it is so close to Ephesus.

MUST SEE:
Ephesus: Old Roman Town-  CANT MISS



MUST EAT AND DRINK:
Kebabs


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Travelworld at Virtuoso Week 2013, Las Vegas


WOW! The Travelworld team was just in Las Vegas for Virtuoso's annual conference and there is no way to describe it. Over 4200 participants from nearly every corner of the globe. Our friend and editor of TravelPlus.com, James Shillinglaw, describes it best:

Travelworld  at Virtuoso Week 2013

 Virtuoso: The Week That Was!

By James Shillinglaw
August 19, 2013

Those outside the travel industry who think travel agents are "dead" in a world that is supposedly dominated by online travel companies should spend a Thursday night in August at The Bank at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

During Virtuoso Travel Week, the annual meeting of the Virtuoso luxury travel network, which just celebrated its 25th year, it’s become a tradition after a week of heavy meetings and appointments for Virtuoso travel advisors and suppliers to gather on Thursday after the closing gala dinner at The Bank nightclub to blow off a little steam. And do they ever blow off steam!

The Bank is transformed into "Club V” (Club Virtuoso) with literally a thousand or more people packed onto the dance floor. And many of them are surprisingly young given the usual demographic at many travel agent events. One of the highlights of the evening, however, is when Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch gets up on a raised platform to dance with Valerie Wilson, a veteran Virtuoso member and owner of Valerie Wilson Travel in New York. Upchurch himself then leads the festivities into the wee hours of the night.

This year's Virtuoso Travel Week attracted more than 4,200 participants, including travel advisors, suppliers, media and other guests (compared to roughly 3,800 last year). What's more important is that 2,000 travel advisors attended, more than the number of suppliers registered.

Last year Virtuoso changed the branding of its annual domestic conference from Virtuoso Travel Mart as it tried to put more of a consumer face on its activities in Vegas every August. The idea was to create a "happening" like Fashion Week that will eventually be recognized by consumer media and the outside world.

Last year I wrote that Virtuoso Travel Week was still a "work in progress," which perhaps wasn't surprising given that it was the first year with the new name and focus. This year roughly 15 consumer media attended the event, so Virtuoso is continuing to build up its consumer face. I'm just waiting for the day when the Bellagio fountain is lined with TV cameras and crews eagerly awaiting news of the latest and most innovative luxury travel products.
Fabian Lebrija at Virtuoso Week opening Session 2013

Nevertheless, Virtuoso's giant event this year truly emerged as a real phenomenon, largely because it just keeps growing and getting busier year over year. Virtuoso Travel Week is now the largest convention hosted by Bellagio and the property makes a special effort to ensure that its entire staff is on duty and ready to serve its Virtuoso guests. Indeed, Virtuoso even released a video made by Bellagio showing just how much preparation the resort puts into the event.

Last week Virtuoso Travel Week had not one but three keynote speakers at its opening general session. In addition to Upchurch, the session featured Simon Sinek, author of “Start with Why,” who first spoke to Virtuoso in 2010; Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D, Age Wave president and CEO, who spoke in 2006; and Lee Brower of Empowered Wealth, LLC, who for more than 12 years has also served as an entrepreneurial coach for Strategic Coach Inc.

Last year Virtuoso hosted its first celebrity guest, Francis Ford Coppola, who regaled Virtuoso attendees with stories of his Godfather movies, but also happened to be a preferred supplier who owns luxury resorts in Belize. This year Virtuoso featured magician David Copperfield, who is also effectively a Virtuoso preferred supplier as well as owner of Musha Cay, the exclusive island resort in the Bahamas. Not to disappoint the crowd, Copperfield also performed one of his signature illusions on stage.

But the real heart of Virtuoso Travel Week remains its famed (some say infamous) four-minute meetings, where every Virtuoso travel advisor can meet virtually every Virtuoso preferred suppliers. Each travel advisor and preferred supplier is scheduled for roughly 98 meetings per day for four days. This "speed dating" has been a major part of Virtuoso Travel Week since its inception, but now it has spilled over to encompass every ballroom in the Bellagio and many of the hallways in the convention center.

Row upon row of tables and chairs line every room and time clock countdowns on the individual meetings are projected on giant screens on the walls, as sharp tones indicate when meetings are about to come to an end. It certainly is speed dating, though it often reminded me of a giant bingo game, where the prize is matching a travel product to the right customer through a Virtuoso travel advisor.
I sat in on an hour's worth of meetings, as I have in the past, and I continue to be amazed about the process. The goal, however, is to build relationships, however brief, which can result in connections over time, so Virtuoso travel advisors can work more intimately with resorts, destination companies, tour operators, cruise lines and other top suppliers.

At just a little under 4,000 rooms and suites, the Bellagio can no longer hold every Virtuoso attendee, so the conference has now spilled over to the adjacent Vdara and Aria. Indeed, Upchurch told me he believes at some point Virtuoso Travel Week will take up a good part of the "campus" that links the Bellagio and City Center resorts.

And what of the annual tradition at The Bank? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if next year Upchurch and Wilson will have to repeat their dance performance at Hyde, Bellagio's other big nightclub, as well as The Bank. In the end, the message is this: Travel agents are vibrant, alive and dancing the night away at Bellagio!

James Shillinglaw is editor in chief and editorial director of travAlliancemedia, which publishes TravelPulse.com, Agent@Home magazine and Vacation Agent magazine. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Francis' Central American Adventure

Where in the world...  
By: Francis Contreras
Costa Rica to Nicaragua!


A trip through Costa Rica and Nicaragua was the perfect summer kick-off. Costa Rica... endless outdoor activities, rain forest, volcanoes, and of course tropical beaches all around. While, the beautiful beachfront villas of Mukul Resort in Nicaragua serve as the perfect home base with their private pools, incredible golf course and luxury spa.


Costa Rica, here I come...
 
The flight from San Diego is quite tiring due to the connections to Liberia but I chose to do it this way as it is not recommended to arrive at San Juan, given that it´s a four hour drive to Liberia. Flying into Liberia cuts down your drive to the hotels to only 45 minutes.

The most luxurious part of Costa Rica is the region of Papagayo. I recommend staying at the Four Seasons Papagayo, which has three types of rooms to choose from:
  • Homes, which are beautiful, updated 3-room houses that serve as a wonderful home base- I highly suggest going this route
  • Villas, which were nice but could use a bit of a facelift 
  • Normal rooms, which are nice but could also use a bit of remodeling

The Four Seasons Papagayo boasts an incredible golf course with access to the Beach Club, along with clay and grass tennis courts with professional instruction if you want to polish up your swing. Di Mare restaurant and adjoining Tico Bar are great ways to end your beach days with a full belly and the pools and activities offered make the hotel perfect for a family getaway.


Another option for luxury accommodations is Villa Manzu (website still under construction). The 8-room villa, in terms of luxury, is the best I have seen. The rate per night includes all meals and drinks. There is a chef and a daily cleaning service. The chef prepares the most extraordinary dishes and they include superb wines. Villa Manzu is about a 10 minute drive from the Four Seasons and the guests are granted access to the Four Seasons amenities. There is access to a beautiful Spa located within the house. The whole house must be rented; they do not rent by room. 

Costa Rica as a whole is the perfect vacation with it's endless outdoor activities, rain forest, volcanoes, and of course tropical beaches all around. 

Now off to Nicaragua....

To get from Papagayo to Nicaraguan border only takes approximately 1.5 hours by car. The road is not bad and the drive is pretty but when you get to the border it´s a different story. Though the country is beautiful and the resorts are spectacular, there are some things to be aware of in terms of actually getting there, as the Nicaraguan infrastructure is still developing. The process of getting into the country takes quite a bit of time, as one must go through a Costa Rican office where passports are stamped then onto the offices of the country of Nicaragua, which is considered third world. The weekend we passed through, the offices were packed with people so the process took us about 4 hours. It is very tiring and there is a lot of corruption; we constantly had to pay bribes to pass through the lines which were enormous.


The road from the boarder to Mukul Resort is not in the best condition; therefore the drive takes about another 1.5 hours.  Shortly, this drive will be cut down significantly as the owner of Mukul Resort is arranging with the migration offices to make this easier by giving a free pass to guests in order to avoid lines. If you prefer not to deal with the roads at all, there is always the option of getting there by helicopter but the cost is extremely high at about $4,000 USD.
The resort itself is a whole experience though it is a bit difficult to get there.  Located 2.5 hours from the airport of Managua by car, the trip can be made by helicopter and the negotiated price is $1500 per helicopter. The cost is cheap as 4 to 5 people can fit in each helicopter. On the way there, there is a visit to the colonial city of Granada, although there is not much to see there. 

Mukul Resort is the first luxury hotel Spa in Nicaragua- it opened its doors on February, 2013. The 12 beautiful beachfront villas, known as 'Bohios', consist of 23 constructions among the trees with an ocean view and a private pool in each one. The property boasts 6 separate SPA buildings, each one offering a different Spa experience. This was truly incredible, the perfect amenity for a luxury getaway.
The golf course, Guacalito de la Isla, designed by David McLay Kidd, is considered one of the best- it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

All in all, Nicaragua's new luxury resorts and beautiful beaches while still being a bit rough around the edges serves as a great adventure to an up and coming tourist destination.