Another Happy Client!

Hello Debby,
We had a great time, despite some rain. We took a walk down the beach, in between rain clouds, and found some sea shells to bring back with us :).
We definitely took advantage of all the drinks and food as well as the other amenities the resort offered. The specialty restaurants were very good and book fast.
We went on 3 excursions-2 that you set up and one other. The first being the Arenal Volcano with the hot springs and rain forest; AWESOME!! The second one we did was Coco beach which is where we bought all of gifts J And the last one was the Liberia City tour, this one was nice has it gave us a closer look at a city in Costa Rica and the everyday lives of the locals.
I would have to say “all in all” despite the weather conditions we had a great time. Costa Rica is truly a beautiful country with very nice people.
I highly recommend using CAT tours with all future clients. Our guide was great, Carlos was very educated with the history of his home and passed it onto us :).
Once again, thank you so much for all your help and we look forward to future business with you and definitely will be sending you friends and family.

Thank you,
Shawn & Monika

(They stayed at the Occidental Grande Papagayo)

FYI - a great time to schedule for 2012 Holiday Travel is EARLY in the New Year......

Tour Operators: Dominican Republic, Jamaica Hot for the Holidays

October 20, 2011 By: Joe Pike

---

Travel Agent recently discussed hot holiday destinations with some of the leading Caribbean tour operators and learned that the Dominican Republic is leading the pack, but Jamaica isn't too far behind.
During our recent coverage of the American Express Travel U.S. Representative Network Conference, we interviewed several tour operators and learned that the all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic is the main reason families are booking for the holiday season.
"Punta Cana remains so hot," says Greg Bernd, co-president of Classic Vacations, "because there are just so many excellent all-inclusives there."
Bernd also added that Turks & Caicos has also picked up steam recently, mostly with affluent families.
"There is such an impressive luxury presence in Turks & Caicos," Bern says, "and people are really taking advantage of it. We've been getting a lot of calls for Turks."
Darya Camacci, vice president of sales for Funjet Vacations, however, says Jamaica remains her company's best sell.
"It's really nothing new," she says. "Every year, Jamaica does very well for the holidays and this season seems to be going along the same way."
Meanwhile, MLT Vacations says the Dominican Republic is not only hot for the holidays, but has been hot all year long.
"The Dominican Republic is our hottest Caribbean destination right now," Ken Pomerantz, president and chief marketing officer of MLT Vacations, told us earlier this month. "Everyone wants to go to Punta Cana."
-from travelagentcentral.com

Another Happy Client!

Hi Debby!
           
Isla was amazing, we had a GREAT time!  The Palace was wonderful, absolutely no complaints.  Of the 62 rooms, only 11 were occupied when we checked in so it was almost like we had the resort to ourselves.  Our room was fabulous, great view of both the beach and the pool.  The transfers to and from the hotel went flawlessly. We rented golf carts on the island for a few days which we loved, gave us a chance to explore and really familiarize ourselves with the island.  Would definitely recommend that - they even had parking for them at the hotel!  We also found a great little bar called the Soggy Peso that we loved.  Went there a few times and had a blast.  It's actually owned by a couple from Texas, super low key but lots of fun.

I made DJ promise we would go back there one day
Thanks again for all your help Debby!!!!

re: Isla Mujeres Honeymoon at the Isla Mujeres Palace Resort.

A Trip Review from a client..

Hey Debby!

We had a wonderful time in Jamaica—the time of our lives! Thanks so much for all your help in getting the arrangements made. We didn’t have to worry about a thing, which was perfect.

I  wanted to give a big recommendation for the Couples Sans Souci property—what a place! It really is possibly the most romantic place in the Caribbean. There are so many places to just be alone—lots of hammocks, grottos, pools, and hot tubs. Best of all, it’s quiet. They don’t pump in a bunch of loud music to keep the energy high, they actually let you enjoy the sounds of the ocean and the natural tropical life. The speed of life there just slows to a crawl and you can’t help but get in the “no worries” Jamaican state of mind. I think it was on our first day there that we both agreed we would return to Couples Sans Souci.

The room was great—E block (Oceanview suites) had a little bit of noise in the evening due to its close proximity to the main bar where they brought in nightly entertainment, but it started at 9:30 and was usually over by 11pm. Also, the rooms could use some updating, but that’s really a small concern, once you sink into the “no problem” state of mind, you hardly care about the small stuff. The staff was very helpful, friendly, and attentive, and best of all they made us feel like we owned the place. We actually only left the property once for a brief excursion, but the property is so big and beautiful we never really felt the need to leave.

Again, I would highly recommend Couples Sans Souci to any of your clients looking for the perfect romantic Caribbean getaway.

Enjoy the pics and thanks again for all your help—we will definitely use 3D Cruise and Travel for our future vacationing.

Sincerely,
Logan Gratehouse

CLIA’s World’s Largest Cruise Sale Set for Oct. 17 to 23

By Theresa Norton Masek
October 10, 2011 2:19 PM

The Cruise Lines International Association’s World’s Largest Cruise Sale is ready to launch, Oct. 17 to 23. The 25 cruise line members of CLIA and more than 5,000 travel agencies will team up for National Cruise Vacation Week, offering potential savings of $100 to $5,000 or more in some cases, shipboard credits of $50 to over $300, upgrades to suites, and other incentives such as complimentary shore excursions, deposit waivers and more.
Among the offers are three- to five-day Caribbean cruises starting at $249, six- to eight-day sailings starting at $429, $2,000 savings per couple on a river cruise through Burgundy and Provence, and two-for-one fares with free airfare plus up to $5,000 in bonus savings on sailings in Europe or the Pacific.
The special offers will be available at events hosted by CLIA-member travel agencies in partnership with cruise lines and, in some cases, other local business partners. Participating CLIA-member cruise lines include AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Louis Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Windstar Cruises.
In addition, thousands of agents will participate with online NCVW events. Consumers can visit the agents’ customized microsites, watch cruise line videos, collect information about special values and book their cruises. The virtual NCVW events will run throughout October.

If you have been thinking about cruising, now is the time to contact us for amazing deals!

Choosing the Perfect African Safari

The words "African safari" conjure up different images in people's minds. Some imagine slicing through the jungle with machetes in search of big game, while others envision tranquil drives in air–conditioned 4x4s. Safaris do, in fact, come in all shapes and sizes. Here is a rundown so that you–with the assistance of your safari–savvy travel agent–can find the perfect fit.

Luxury Lodge Safari – Safaris that combine the best qualities of a 5-star hotel with a relaxing drive into the wilderness to capture wild animals with your telephoto lens.

Bush Camp Safari – Similar to luxury lodges except your hotel is a semi-permanent tent set up in nature for a more up-close and personal experience, creating some unique and unforgettable moments, such as an elephant roar waking you up.

Walking Safari – While following a trained guide, you hike through the countryside where the 4x4s can't go, tracking the animals you want to find while avoiding the ones that want to find you.

Self-Drive Safari – A few places in Africa, namely Namibia and South Africa, have areas set up for you to drive and explore without a guide, trusting your instincts to find wild game.

Specific Game Viewing – Some outfits feature safaris designed to find specific animals, such as gorillas, elephants or even exotic birds.

Elephant Back Safaris – Elephants provide both a unique and protected way to traverse the wilds.

By Air – You can either fly to a remote area to increase your chances of spotting the best beasts, or you can take a hot air balloon ride over the savannah to increase your chances of getting vertigo.

Whichever you choose, choose to consult your travel agent first. Agents like us know which countries are the safest to travel in, which guides have the best reputation, and which end of a warthog is best to photograph (they're better looking from the backside).

Tips for Traveling Abroad

For detailed information about steps you can take to ensure a safe trip, see How to Have a Safe Trip. Meanwhile, here are some quick tips to make your travel easier and safer:

• Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Let us know your travel plans through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
  
• Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
  
• Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
  
• Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.
  
• Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
  
• Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
  
• Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.