Which Luau?

Going to Hawaii would not be complete without taking in a luau and it's not about the food so much as the experience.

I have read lots and lots of reviews and it came down to a choice of either Old Lahaina Luau on Maui or Chiefs Luau on Oahu. They both have great reviews and I know we would not be disappointed with either one.

Because we probably won't rent a car I had to take into consideration the transportation to get to and from the luau. (Yes, the ship offers one as a shore excursion in Maui but it is not one of the better ones in my opinion.)

For that reason I decided to go with Chief's Luau on Oahu because they offer bus pickup and drop off at Wakiki Beach where we will be staying. It also happens to be a bit less expensive at $80 (or $93.75 with the bus) vs. $109 for Old Lahaina Luau.

Because we will get to Oahu on Tues. evening I reserved our luau for the next evening and that will be a great way to start our vacation.

I am really looking forward to this!

Planning a Trip to Hawaii

  

Follow along as I plan a great vacation to Hawaii for May 2014.

This trip is for 6 ladies all in their 60's although you can get a lot of ideas for your vacation whether you are a couple or a larger group.

None of us have been to Hawaii before so we are going fly to Honolulu on Waikiki Beach for 4 nights and then take the NCL cruise for 7 nights from Honolulu to the various islands in order to get an overview of each of the islands.

First of all I booked the cruise and the flights 6 months ahead to get the best prices. 

After looking at the many options for hotels and condos I decided on Outrigger Reef on the Beach. We opted to get "cheaper" rooms rather than oceanfront to save a little but we do have the convenience of being on the beach and in a good location.

Next I will look at the various activities for the 3 days on Oahu.

Contact me at 336-922-1837 to start planning your trip to Hawaii today!

Want a Warm Winter Escape?

Now is the time to go somewhere warm and there are plenty of good deals on cruises.

How about relaxing on a warm Caribbean beach?

Would you like to shop in St. Thomas?

Maybe snorkel or scuba dive in Belize?

See the Mayan ruins in Tulum?

Give me a call and I will find the perfect cruise for you and at the lowest price.

While you sit back and relax I will take care of the details for you.

Just call me at 336-922-1837.

Special Prices on Med Sailings

Take your whole family on a Med cruise! Check out these prices on Royal Caribbean.
On Navigator of the Seas for 7 nights departing from Rome with ports of call in Greece and Turkey prices start at $569pp for adults and kids in the same room are only $199 pp.
Or for the Western Med go on Liberty of the Seas for 7 nights departing from Barcelona with ports of call in France and Italy. Prices start at $799pp for adults and $199pp for kids in the same room.
Give me a call soon for more information - 336-922-1837.

Enjoying the surfrider on Liberty of the Seas.

5 Mistakes People Make on Their Disney World Trip

1. Not getting to the parks early enough. Go early in the day and beat the heat, the crowds and the lines.

 

 

2. Underestimating the size of the park. It is 47 sq. miles and it takes time to travel between the resorts and parks and sometimes you have to use more than one mode of transportation. If you have a reservation to dine allow an hour to get there if it is in another park.

3. Not doing some pre-planning and not having a map. Have some sort of a plan or you will be spending your time roving around aimlessly. Get a map and schedule for the day as soon as you get to a park. Then look at it to see what parades, shows,  etc. you don't want to miss. Time can get away easily when you are having fun and before you know it you missed something you really wanted to see.

4. Not taking a midday break. Give the kids a chance for a nap or you will pay dearly later. Some time at your resort enjoying the pool will give everyone a chance to cool off and you will be ready to stay up for the fireworks later.

 

5. Not bringing water, snacks and sunblock. Snacks and water are expensive in Disney World so save yourself some time and money by bringing your own. The sunblock is self explanatory. Vacation is not fun if you get a sunburn.

 

Add your own ideas to this list. I know there are many more mistakes either you have made or seen others make. Share with us!

Brrr! Time to go to the warm Caribbean!

Yes it's that time of year  to get out of the cold and visit a Caribbean island (or more). If you are going on a cruise you will need to know which of the three types of Caribbean cruises you want. The Western Caribbean consists of Cozumel, Grand Cayman and perhaps Jamaica or Belize.
The Eastern Caribbean consists of St, Thomas and St. Martin or St. Maarten (one side of the island is French and the other side is Dutch).
The Southern Caribbean has several islands including St. Thomas, St. Martin, Barbados, Antigua, St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba. The 7 day cruises depart from San Juan, P.R. but there are some 10 day cruises departing from Florida.
Last winter I took a short 5 day cruise on Royal Caribbean's ship, Liberty of the Seas with 11 other people. We left from Ft. Lauderdale and spent a day in Belize and a day in Cozumel.

Looking down the promenade on our ship is like being on a street. There are shops and even some parades on the street. Some of the rooms overlook this street.

We took a tour of the city.

Went to the Mayan ruins.

How to Obtain a Passport

First of all apply early as it will take up to six weeks to get it. Even if you are traveling somewhere that doesn't require a passport (such as in the U.S.) having one for identification can make check-ins at airports faster.

Step 1

Download, print and complete Department of State form DS-11, "Application for a U.S. Passport." Provide your name, address and other personal details, as well as your parents' names and birthplaces. Sign and date your application.

Step 2

Have two passport-size photos taken at a local photo studio, pharmacy or a store such as Wal-Mart or Target. Avoid wearing glasses or styling your hair in extreme ways to ensure foreign border officials can always recognize you based on your usual appearance. Affix the photos to your passport application using a paper clip.

Step 3

Obtain copies of your Social Security card and birth certificate if you lack them. Visit one of several Social Security administrations in and around Winston-Salem -- locations exist in Greensboro and Asheboro, for example -- to apply for a copy of your Social Security card. Order a certified copy of your birth certificate from the county in which you were born -- Forsyth County if you were born in Winston-Salem. These documents establish your identity and citizenship, both of which you must verify before being granted a U.S. passport.

Step 4

Deliver your documents to a local branch of the U.S. post office that processes applications, of which there are seven locations within 20 miles of Winston-Salem's city center. In Winston Salem there are 3 locations - Hanes Mall post office, Northpoint post office and on the campus of Winston State University. Allow between four to six weeks for delivery of your U.S. passport, keeping in mind that you have the ability to track your application on the State Department's website.

Happy Traveling!