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Gifts ideas for travelers from Discover Card……..

Published December 15, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

If you have travelers on your Christmas list, here are a few ideas from  the people at Discover Card.

Lingo Voyager 12-Language Talking Translator, $199.95

This portable, pocket-size talking interpreter translates, displays and correctly pronounces over 240,000 words and 27,000 phrases in 12 languages. It translates English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. The travel companion also features an English dictionary, phone book, calculator, calendar, currency converter and a 200-city world time clock with an alarm. Available at The Sharper Image® and other travel stores.

Traveler’s Noise-Cancellation Headphones, Starting at $69.95

When selecting a gift for a traveler, look for items that are practical and will make the traveler's life on the road easier.When you’re on an airplane, it can be a great comfort to shut out distracting noises and cancel out disturbing ambient sounds. Advance “quiet place” technology is great when listening to CDs and MP3s and watching DVDs. An airplane jack adapter is included. Available at The Sharper Image and other travel stores.

Travelon® Wheeled Carry-on, $99

Since all your belongings can be seen through the View-Thru™ window, this 14-inch wheeled tote bag makes it easy to find what you’re looking for—without having to dig. The roomy main compartment is large enough for a change of clothes and full-size toiletries. The bag has 15 pockets, including compartments for a water bottle, books and other essentials, a padded cooler pocket and a removable cosmetic organizer. Available at Magellan’s Travel Supplies.

Personalized World Map, $99.95 to 169.95

Allow wanderers to record their travels—past, planned and hoped for—on this large color map, that can be personalized with up to 50 characters (including spaces) of your choosing. Available at SkyMall.com.

Digital Photo Wallet, $59

Forget paper photos that wrinkle easily. Instead, try this leather wallet featuring a removable digital photo viewer. The rechargeable viewer stores 55 color images that can be easily transferred through the USB port. Available at Brookstone.com.

SeeID DeepPocket Safety Wallet, $24.95

This slim leather pocket wallet is the safest way to travel with cash and cards. The “no-lift” money clip holds up to 20 bills. The clear-view window allows you to quickly flash your photo ID as you navigate through airport security. A Velcro strap secures money and cards. Available at The Sharper Image.

Resources

Try these Web sites and retail stores for other great gifts for travelers:

Tumi (tumi.com)
Brookstone® (brookstone.com)
The Sharper Image (sharperimage.com)
SkyMall® (skymall.com)
Magellan’s® Travel Supplies (magellans.com)
Rand McNally(randmcnally.com)
L. L. Bean (llbean.com)
And for your favorite globe-trotter who happens to travel with his or her pets, check out the items at the Pet Travel Store (pettravelstore.com).

Happy Holidays…and Happy and Safe Traveling!!!

Here are your where-to-go lists for 2008…. By Smarter Travel

Published December 13, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

December is inspiring a number of up-and-coming destinations lists.

CheapTickets.com’s Value Travel Cheapometer focuses on budget-friendly destinations for 2008. Destinations are grouped by the month when you’ll see the most affordable rates. For instance, Paris and Athens will offer the best value in January, while Venice will be affordable in March. Las Vegas in June is on the list, as is Aruba in November.

The New York Times’ 53 Places to Go in 2008 lists cities and countries all over the world. Destinations range from mainstream (South Beach, Miami) to very off-the-beaten-path (Iran).

ResponsibleTravel.com predicts that Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia will become more popular in the New Year. The list is based on reader interest on the ResponsibleTravel.com website, and in cases such as Colombia, features places that are increasingly accessible as more tour operators begin to offer trips there.

Happy Holidays and Happy Traveling!!!!!!!!!

Get packing help online…..Provided by Smarter Travel

Published December 13, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

Packing need not induce panic. If you plan a careful list in advance and review it as you’re as loading up your bags, you can avoid distress at home and disaster on the road. The Web makes it easy, as you can find all kinds of packing lists online, and even tools that can tailor a list specifically for your trip.

  • I like the lists provided by Traveller’s Tale, Rick Steves, and Travelite. You can find plenty more lists that are specific to certain types of travel (e.g. Search for “infant packing list” or “Inca Trail packing list”).
  • Packinglistonline.com allows you to create a personalized list based on criteria including trip length, destination, gender, age, activities, accommodations and transportation types, destination temperature range, and travel with kids. I created several and found the lists quite helpful, particularly for thinking of specific items needed for activities like camping in a tropical climate or city sightseeing in the cold.
  • Packlistonline.com allows you to create and email yourself a personalized list. Simply browse the site’s list of 500 items, check the ones you want, and hit “show the packlist.” You’ll then be emailed your specific list. It can take a while to get through and many items are labeled with British terms (”trousers” instead of “pants”), but the list is so extensive that it’s unlikely you’ll forget anything important.

More passport changes coming in January

Published December 13, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

Next year, adults re-entering the U.S. by land, ferry, or small boat will be required to present either a passport or a government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship (e.g., a birth or nationalization certificate). Proof of citizenship alone is required for children 18 and younger. The rules are slated to take effect on January 31, reports USAToday.com. For now, cruise passengers are exempt from the passport requirement, but cruise ships do require both photo ID and proof of citizenship.

Air travelers have been required to have passports since January 23 of this year, though those requirements were relaxed over the summer due to massive passport processing delays.

Top ten different hotels….

Published December 6, 2007 in Travel Information. 1 Comment

Our Top Ten “Different” Hotels from Side Step Travel
Coming up with this list was hard. While there are many very unique hotels out there like a giant Beagle, this tinylake-top barge, and even these sewage pipes, not everyone will find these to be desirable living spaces. So, below you’ll find a list of my “Top Ten “Different” Hotels ” broken down by price-range.
   
   
Mid-Range - Under $150/Night: These hotels are priced in the same range as standard hotels in most decent-sized US cities. Yes, very ambiguous I know.
Elkep Evi Cappadocia, TurkeyThis hotel is carved into an ancient cave system. Rather than simply erect false walls inside, the cave walls were sculpted and shaped to form the walls and even the artwork in each room. Astonishingly low rates start at just $70 a night.
Ashford Castle Cong, County Mayo, IrelandThis castle began life as a home for royalty, now it’s an authentic, and surprisingly affordable Bed and Breakfast. Rates begin at a modest $122 a night.
Propeller Island City Hotel Berlin, GermanyThat’s not a mistake, room 23 is actually upside-down. It’s your basic hotel at $103/Nt with some very non-basic rooms. Each room is designed by a different artist, with all sorts of materials from stained glass to elastic floors.

Runner up:

 Woodlyn Park Inn Otorohanga, New ZealandStay in your choice of a Hobbit-style den or a converted airplane, among others. Seeing is believing. Although uniquely styled on the exterior, this one loses points for a high price, $170/Nt, yet lackluster interior.
 
Deluxe - $150 - $450/Night: Hotels in this range are priced similarly to upscale hotels like Hilton, W, and Four Seasons, in most major US cities like New York or San Francisco.
Le Prince Noir Les Baux-de-Provence, FranceThis hotel sits amid the ruins of a 12th Century citadel in the Alpilles Mountains. The surrounding town is also built out of the ruins. This $166/Nt, 4-room B&B is absolutely stunning.

Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaThis one comes personally recommended, not only for having more than 100 uniquely themed rooms, but also for the atmosphere. Starting in the upper $100’s, this is a well-known spot up and down the entire West Coast.
Green Magic Treehouses Kerala, IndiaAside from the secluded, eco-conscious treehouses 90 feet up in the forest canopy, daily elephant rides and traditional local meals top off any stay. Priced at a reasonable $240/Nt.
Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi, SwedenMade entirely of Ice, this hotel offers all the amenities you’d expect from an upscale hotel, minus the pool. You have your choice of a cold, sleeping-bag room, or a heated room. Cold rooms start at $340 a night.

Runner up:

 Jules’ Undersea Lodge Key Largo, FloridaBring your bathing-suit. This hotel has one room, a 3-Pod underwater station accessible only by SCUBA. Lessons provided on-site. It’s a runner up because, for what you get, it’s pricey at $475/Nt.
 
Extravagant - $450 and up: Hotels in this price-range usually offer unparalleled luxury. I had a hard time deciding on solid winners here, so this is more of a 3-Way tie.
Hotel Puerto America Madrid, SpainThis is another designer hotel. From the modern to abstract, white to black, each floor features the unique styling of a different artist. The Eighth floor is one of my favorites. Prices aren’t even published.
Huvafen Fushi North Malé Atoll, Maldives If luxury grew up, this is what it would be. There are no “rooms” at this hotel, just private bungalows, the smallest of which is a whopping 1,350 sq. ft. Each has a private pool. Did I mention the spa is underwater?
Winvian Morris, ConnecticutYour $1,450/Night will net you included Vespa Scooters and meals, activities like horseback riding, and one of 15 themed cottages including a converted Coast Guard Rescue Chopper studio, a 2-Story treehouse, and a Secret Society Hide-out.
Honorable Mentions:

Poseidon Undersea Resort Nadi, FijiThis hotel will be the world’s first seafloor resort. Week-long stays will consist of 2 full days underwater. Coming in 2009. Quinta Real Zacatecas Zacatecas, MexicoBuilt in the ruins of an old bullring, Quinta Zacatecas is steeped in history, luxury, and elegance. Capsule Inn Akibara, Tokyo, JapanThis interesting hotel has visitors sleeping in individual capsules. Although it is about half the price of regular lodging in Tokyo, it also about one-fourth the space.

 

It would be fun to visit these hotels, enjoy!!!

 

Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Published December 4, 2007 in Travel Club Information. 0 Comments

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family

This year has been a great year for traveling and it’s been a year of firsts for me as far as travel planning goes. This year brought me the honor of booking my first “Baby Moon” for a great couple. They’re having their first baby (a boy) so they took the opportunity to spend some romantic time together on a cruise to the Bahamas.
I also planned several honeymoon trips this year, the first was for a couple from Chicago who dreamed of having a romantic Italian honeymoon. Before their seven day Royal Caribbean cruise, they got to spend time in Siena, Como and Venice before they embarked from Venice to visit different ports in Italy and Croatia.
Another couple, also wanted to go to Italy for their honeymoon, they decided to stay two days in Genoa before they cruised on Costa Magica. They even received a complementary additional night stay in Genoa! What a wonderful beginning to their new life. A Colombian couple, visiting the US for the first time also decided to sail for their honeymoon and will be sailing on The Sovereign of the Seas this December for a romantic getaway. I must say it was a very romantic year, and I’m very honored to have had a part in making all of their dreams come true.
It was also a year of exciting trips to Italy by my faithful group of traveling ladies (their prior trips have taken them to Alaska, the Caribbean and to the Mediterranean). This trip they visited Italy, Greece and Turkey and I was told they had a great time, so much so, that they are already booked on another Mediterranean cruise in April 2008, so they can visit the ports they have not seen as yet, such as Venice, Pisa, Croatia etc. These ladies make me proud, one of them is my mother, they have the will, they are all seniors with a mission, “Make life fun, travel all the time as long as you can” good for them, I salute them.
Some of my clients/friends also enjoyed going to Las Vegas, I had several groups celebrating birthdays and just celebrating going to Las Vegas and making the slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” their war cry. I was told they had a great time.
Another young couple, after having a set of twin boys, wanted a nice get away so they could enjoy themselves and get some rest, so they went to Aruba and were able to relax and enjoy themselves and had some time for romance before going back to their life back in New Jersey with their beautiful daughter and the boys, the best of luck to them and their little family.
This year I also meet a very nice lady, who gave me the opportunity to plan a cruise to the Bahamas for her and her friends to celebrate her birthday. I thank her for the honor and the opportunity in making her birthday celebration much more enjoyable.
My clients have enjoyed trips to Hutchinson Island, Marco Island and Disney World as well as Chicago, the Caribbean and many other points, this year. I have the chance to visit Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Samana, Panama and many other places in my quest to find the best and most beautiful spots to recommend to my clients. I have been on family trips with Carnival Cruise Line, become a “Secret agent” for Royal Caribbean and joined Cruise line International (CLIA) so I can provide the best information to all of my clients.
To close the year, I have a family sailing on the MSC Lirica from Fort Lauderdale to enjoy the end of the year and the beginning of a great new year on the high seas. Let’s make the next year a year of adventures, near and far, let’s discover this great country of ours, and go to far away places. Let me be your source of information and inspiration. It will be my honor to be of service and to provide the best service in the industry. Excellent is not created, excellent should be a given.

Wishing you and your family the best in the New Year. Health, happiness and good fortune now and for all the years to come.

Your friend and Travel Agent,
Maritza Kirsten K&E Travel
(407) 913-8345
mkirsten@mktravelclub.com
Helping Travelers to Dream…..Travel……and Share!!!
Keep Safe…..Happy Traveling!!!

“Happy Holidays”

Published November 20, 2007 in Travel Club Information. 0 Comments

I want to wish all of you, my family and friends a very, very “Happy Thanksgiving” and a joyous, healthy and prosperous “Holiday Season”. May all your dreams come true, may your life be full of  Joy, Love and Family togetherness. Wishing  you and yours, the best *Holidays Season* ever.                                                                                                               Maritza Kirsten    MK TRAVEL CLUB 

  

Putting up the Ritz-Calton******

Published November 8, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

Select from 5 World Class Resorts
starting at $439 for 3 nights*
The Ritz-Carlton, Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall Jamaica*
Sequester yourself on a private beach with pristine sand, shimmering waters and lush, green mountains rising in the background.
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
Immerse yourself in the exotic Mexican Caribbean while staying at an exclusive resort considered one of the most luxurious in the world
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
An exclusive oceanfront resort catering to those who seek a grander level of relaxation and luxury, located on the Caribbean wonderland that is Seven Mile Beach.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
Amble leisurely along miles of picturesque shoreline, as crystal-white sand intersect seamlessly with the sparkling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino
Enjoy a leisurely stroll down the Avenida, Isla Verde, as your senses delight in crashing ocean waves, gentle sea breezes and the welcoming sights, sounds and sensations of tropical, coastal paradise.
ALL PACKAGE PRICES ARE PER PERSON AND INCLUDE:
• Roundtrip airport/Hotel transfers • Hotel accommodations • Hotel tax and service
ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGES ALSO INCLUDE:
• All meals, drinks and snacks • Non-motorized watersports • Daily activities • Nightly entertainment • Much more!
Tours operated by Travel Impressions. *Rate is land only, per person, based on double occupancy in lowest available room category at Ritz Carlton, Golf & Spa Resort, Rosehall Jamaica and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations and hotel tax and is valid for travel through 12/19/07. Rate varies by hotel and departure date. Blackout, weekend, holiday peak season surcharges apply. Rates and promotions are accurate at time of publication and are subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. All advertised savings are reflected in price. Rates subject to change based on currency fluctuations. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the publication of this ad. Additional higher priced packages available. Valid for new bookings only.
For information and reservations, contact your travel agent at: mkirsten@mktravelclub.com

Happy Traveling!!!!!

A real fun family vacation in Jamaica…and a Nanny 2!!!

Published November 8, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

FAMILY FLY FREE ON AIR JAMAICA
to FDR Resorts from select gateways*
Franklyn D. Resort
There’s never been a better time to take a family vacation in the Caribbean like this one! FDR together with Air Jamaica have perfected the true meaning of an “all inclusive family vacation.” All packages at FDR Resorts in Jamaica include your family’s own Vacation Nannies, meals, drinks, accommodation and watersports, including scuba diving. When you want to spend time as a family, your Vacation Nanny will care for your suite - making it clean and tidy - and will stock your refrigerator. Unlike other resorts, this nanny is exclusively yours as part of your all-inclusive package - our staff-guest ratio is 1:1. By the end of your holidays, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that your Vacation Nanny feels like part of your family.

FDR Pebbles: 8 days/7 nights $2,119**
Oceanview Junior Suite
FAMILY FLY FREE PROMOTION:
2 adults and 2 children wil receive an air credit for stays of 7 nights or more.
PARENTS FLY FREE PROMOTION:
Up to 2 adults will receive an air credit for stay of 5-6 nights.
VALID DEPARTURE GATEWAYS:
JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, ORD & ATL
TRAVEL WINDOW: 8/31/07 thru 11/15/07

For reservations information and reservations, please e-mail: mkirsten@mktravelclub.com

Keep Safe…Happy Traveling!!!

A timely reminder!!!

Published November 8, 2007 in Travel Information. 0 Comments

Remember your passport

Add another item to your checklist when traveling by car or boat. Starting January 31, 2008 U.S. land and sea passengers will be required to carry a valid passport or two forms of government-issued IDs* when traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda.

So fill out your passport application now if you haven’t already.

You never know when you’ll have the opportunity to jet off to the Caribbean!

*Please contact your local passport officials for details.

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