Cruise Aboard The Restored Luxury Yacht, Grace

Just the word “Grace” conjures elegance, distinction and beauty as exemplified by Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. Today you can relive some of the royal majesty of those by-gone days aboard the newly restored 145-foot motor yacht Grace.   Originally gifted to Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly as a wedding gift by billionaire Aristotle Onassis, the storied vessel hosted the Prince and Princess on their extended honeymoon journey in 1956, and later served as a hospital ship in World War II.  Although the vessel has had many owners and names, it has never looked more regal and sleek as it does today. Read more

Giant Hotel Sale – 5 Star Resorts for $1 Dollar A Night!

If you like to solve mysteries, you’re going to love the promotional sale at LastMinuteTravel.com.  Beginning on January 26th, and continuing for two weeks, the site will put all hotels on sale for just $1 a night for a 15 minute window each day.  If you can guess the correct time to visit the LastMinuteTravel.com website, you can secure up to 7 hotel nights for one dollar each night (provided that you complete your reservation within the 15 minute window).  Here comes the mystery part – the website will play a video which contains clues about the exact time the sale window will open.  Participants must sign up in advance by logging onto LastMinuteTravel.com/WorldForADollar.  Better yet, you can submit your email address and receive hints right in your mailbox.  So check out all the fine print and get your family members together to solve the puzzle and you’ll be off on vacation for the cost of Margarita!

World’s Best Chocolate Vacations!

For everyone who loves chocolate as much as I do, it’s time to plan a vacation swirling with chocolate tours and adventures.  Nothing matches the euphoric lift after  munching on a creamy chocolate delight.  Here are eight destinations for immersing yourself in chocolate ecstasy on your next vacation.

Belgium reigns supreme as masters of the cocoa bean.  Since the days of colonization in The Belgian Congo in the late 1800′s, cocoa has been shipped to Belgium to be crafted into dark creamy delights.  Today Belgium has over a dozen major chocolate factories producing  172,000 TONS of chocolate per year.  You’ll find chocolate shops to tempt you around most every corner, as the country now sports over 2,000 confectionery shops!  Visit the Musee due Cocao et du Chocolate in Brussels or The Chocolate Story in Bruges.  And for a full chocolate immersion, don’t miss the Chocolate Festival that takes place each year in early May in Bruges. Read more

Tour The City By Public Transportation

Here’s a wonderful site for finding your way around major US cities (New York, Boston, Chicago, SFO, DC (and others) by public transportation whether its by bus, subway, taxi or even on foot.  HopStop.com is an easy to use resource for finding the best route within these cities.  Just enter your origin and destination and your prefered means of travel and you’ll receive a routing complete with estimated travel time, amount of walking required and detailed maps.  This is a great site for those who like to strike out on their own.

EuroStar Rail Passes Reduced Just in Time for Summer Travel

In the past few years high speed rail routes have blossomed throughout Europe making travel between major cities both fast, convenient and comfortable, but not necessarily inexpensive.  Famous Eurostar trains zip travelers between London, Paris and Brussels with ease, and thanks to Rail Europe’s recently announced Eurostar High Speed Savings Plan, this summer’s travel will be more affordable.  Price reduced tickets can be purchased from  January 11 – March 11, 2009, with passes valid for travel from January through August, 2009.  Leisure Select class tickets start at just $155 and Standard class begin at $81.  Conditions apply, so check out all the details on the Rail Europe site.

Safety Card for Travelers to Costa Rica

If you’ll be vacationing in Costa Rica soon, look for a Costa Rica Safety Card distributed at  Juan Santamaria (San Jose) International Airport.  The card, produced by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, lists a 24 hour hotline to report problems and receive travel tips.  There’s a phone number answered in English and another in Spanish.  Personal assistance is available 7:00am to 7:00pm, Monday to Friday; 10:00am to 4:00pm Saturdays; and 8:00am to 8:00pm on Sundays.  On the back of the card you’ll find emergency phone numbers and contact numbers for foreign embassies.  A card well worth having on hand for safe travels.

Honeymoon Help Just For Guys

All across the world left hands are sparkling with new diamond engagement rings presented to loved ones during the holidays.  Future brides will gleefully dive into books, magazines and wedding expos to guide them on their way, but who will help the grooms plan a perfect honeymoon??  The pressure is on guys! But fear not – Blissport.com comes to the rescue.  Consider this website to be your personal honeymoon concierge (designed especially for guys), to take all the stress out of planning the perfect honeymoon. Read more

How To Save Big In the Big Apple

Thanks go to Rita (a WGTT tipster) for passing along this wonderful post about how to save money on your next visit to New York City.  Rita knows her stuff – enjoy her report!

“I had always heard how expensive New York City can be, but my friend and I found
ways to have a great time without spending every nickel in our pockets. One of
the best accommodation bargains in the city is the International Hostel located
at 103rd and Amsterdam, two blocks from the subway. We booked a four bed dorm
room. The room was basic, but clean and we shared a bathroom on the hall. One
aspect of the hostel that we especially enjoyed was the opportunity to meet
travelers of all ages from all over the world. A large, well-lit, newly
renovated and well stocked kitchen was fantastic for helping us save money on
some meals by preparing our own. Wireless connection is available in the
computer area. A game room and TV lounge provide nice places to relax after a
day of sight-seeing. Our beds in our room cost each of us $37. An excellent
video on the hostel website gives a tour of the premises.
http://www.hinewyork.org/ Read more

Tour Italy Like A Rich Movie Star

Can’t you just hear the deep purrrring roar of your vintage italian sports car as you burst into a medieval hillside hamlet, sun glasses on, hair blowing in the breeze, and don’t forget the long flowing silk scarf!  This vision of sophisticated abandon can be yours when you travel with the Italy By Vintage Car tour company.  This luxe tour operator specializes in planning flexible driving itineraries through Italy’s most spectacular scenery by wonderful vintage automobiles.

Each carefully planned “Grand Tour” itinerary includes suggested daily touring with stops at extraordinary places including wineries, markets and historical sites.  Tour participants (no more than eight) can choose to “follow the leader” or strike out on their own.  A worry free vacation is assured as each tour group is accompanied by a “valet-mechanic” who checks the tires, tunes the engines, pumps the gas, and keeps everyone rolling merrily along, and everyone stays in contact by cell phone.  You don’t even need to bother loading your luggage in the boot – just leave your packed bags in your room, and they will magically appear at your next evening’s destination.   This company promises travel with style, comfort and service to surpass expectations.  Read up on all the touring details at their website VintageCarTour.com

Good News For ’09 – Vacation Prices Are Going DOWN!

Happy New Year everyone!! I’m delighted to be starting the new year off with some good news for a change.  Because we’ve all been spending carefully and holding on to our dollars, travel suppliers are getting frantic about the ’09 winter vacation season, so they’re reducing their prices and piling on the extra goodies.  Here’s a sampling of some great offers and recommendations of sites to visit to find more!

Caribbean favorite for romance, Sandals is offering hot deals with savings of 45, 50, 55 and 60% off selected resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas.  Visit their Hot Sale page for all the details.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which include Westin, Sheraton, Meridien, St. Regis, and W (to name a few) is cutting the cost of your second night in half.  For every night you stay, the next night is 50% off through September 30, 2009!  Resorts and hotels include locations across the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. See all the details on their Better Tomorrows page. Read more