Who does not think Paris France or any where is France in not romantic?  My favorite guy Gianni from Central Holidays (don’t you love his accent?)  talks about the areas south of Paris such as the Loire Valley and staying in a converted castle with a candlelight dinner and romantic boudoirs’-what could be more romantic?  www.CentralHolidays.com can arrange any of these trips including time in Paris. Provence the area of wine, flowers, lavender, and vineyards- and don’t’ forget the fields of sun flowers. You can also drive yourself and they will arrange all your stops and places to stay for you or you could have a private driver for your small group that will take you places you may never find on your own.  You can travel year round, with big time savings in winter and early spring. Summer and fall are the most popular and expensive times to go but why not try it in winter. I have seen the sun setting over the sleeping vineyards with a glass of fine French wine in my hand and found it quietly romantic. 

New York is also a romantic spot- with the carriage rides around Central Park, as well as going to the top of the Empire State building (who can forget the movie “Sleepless in Seattle”) a cruise around the harbor with the city as a back drop, the wonderful museums, the food and of course I always felt shopping was a very romantic activity-especially with his credit card. I love musicals and going to Broadway is always a highlight followed by a stroll home back to the hotel or a late coffee or wine in one of the small wine bars that dot the streets. The New Musical “ Adams Family “is coming to Broadway and I find  the Christmas season in New York the most romantic of all as it is so beautiful with all the decorations in the stores and along the city streets, the tree in  Rockefeller Center- as well as the bargains in winter.  You can also get complimentary passes to the Early Morning show and mingle with the broadcasters and also get tours of the Studios. You can also get a list each day of what is being filmed around the city in Manhattan and go watch a new movie being filmed or catch a favorite TV show on the streets. I would have loved to see “Sex in the City” being filmed and catch a glimpse the fashion and Mr. Big! To arrange many of these activities go to www.NYCTRIP.COM.

One final story from travelnewsandviews.com on Travel Guard Insurance.  Last week I had friend call me from Cancun, Mexico and her boyfriend was ill with an ear infection and advised not to fly for 10-12 days. They had to get home. They had purchased their trip with miles but did not buy any travel insurance. I could not help them get home. They wanted to rent a car and drive up through Texas- I did strongly advise against that but they asked about boarding a ship that would be in port in Cancun and going back to Florida. That can not be done so they were stuck. They finally did get home, he suffered with the air pressure but the lesson is learned that even with arranging trips on your own please take the final step and get your travel insurance through TRAVELGUARD.com.

It’s now middle of January, the holidays are over and the weather up to this week has been cold.  Sometimes it’s easy to book ahead but sometimes you were not planning that extra trip but whoa- now you need to really get away.

 Most of us think of somewhere warm, my choice, but there are still those who love the ski vacation- if you need to be cold then you should at least have fun. There are still great land and sea offers out there, and you are almost guaranteed great weather and sun in February in Mexico and any Caribbean island and after March even Florida is great weather. Apple Vacations and GO GO World Wide Vacations have great deals as well as all our cruise \ partners. Chuck Kratz i.e. the Travel Prof and I, his wonderful supportive wife will be traveling March for two weeks on Azamara- the partner of Celebrity Cruise Line. In February, on Celebrity Cruise Line, Chuck, Host of Travelnewsandviews.com, will be escorting Bay View Yacht Club out of San Juan which sounds like a great group of fun people and I am sorry I will be missing it but I am still a working stiff and even I can’t stretch 5 weeks of vacation into eight weeks-so I will not be tolerating any whining about the weather from the Travel Prof. as he is at least three weeks in the sun throughout February and March. I have spent many a winter vacations in Mexico, one that Apple vacations set up for Chuck Kratz, me and our two daughters, who at the time were under-aged but close enough in their minds to  really enjoy all that Cancun had to offer. They had a blast but we spent many a night in the lobby of the hotel making sure they did not get on the Booze Cruise Bus at ages 16 and 17. This is all so a great time of year to experience Playa De Carmen, beautiful white sandy beaches and all–inclusive resorts and don’t forget the west coast of Mexico.  The west coast is beautiful but if you like to swim in the ocean you really need to be in Los Cabo or the Yucatan Peninsula as the Pacific coast is just too rough for us non-surfers, bad undertow up and down the coast. But there are many stunning all-inclusive resorts and I have been at many in Acapulco, Mazaltan, and Puerto Vallarta with great pools and beaches. In Puerto Vallarta we did some Zip Lining through the jungle and in Mazaltan we took out some mud buggies to a water fall and had a blast. I can do both – lay on the beach with a great book or all the activities that are offered such as the above ones plus horseback riding, paragliding, snorkeling, surfing and on and on. So – book now – if you don’t have to be gone during the kids winter or spring breaks there are great deals out there for us empty nesters!!!! So travelnewsandviews radio specials are below!!!!

GO GO World Wild Vacations Specials

Fairmont Hotel in Phoenix  is a super special-5 star with great deals.  Las Vegas- great deals with 3 night packages starting …$195pp, Dreams Palms in Dominical Republic with  $200 spa credit starting @ $485 for three night package, Atlantis a 6 star resort in the Bahamas- 30% sale for winter travel. Or try skiing @ Ski-Lake Tahoe- $319 for three nights with three days ski ticket package, $359- three nights out of Vancouver ski packages after the Olympics. Last minute- Occidental resorts 35 % off in Cozumel, Costa Rica, Playa De Carmen and the Caribbean.

SKI.com is a 40 yr old company based in Aspen-not just a dot come and not just USA but world wide. Ski vacations last well into April and many specials in Colorado. Colorado receives most of its snow in March at night with beautiful days for skiing. Specials that have 3^rd night free, 35% at Squall Valley, Winter Park Colorado, $500 pp for 4 nights 5 days, also can tube, skate, lots of family activities.  Montana has big ski runs, Jackson Hole $650pp 4 nights/5 days close to Yellowstone National Park- great summer spot also, Zermatt Switzerland- ski to Italy and then Ski back, great spots.

APPLE VACATIONS:  Last minute specials: All-inclusives: $1149pp/ Iberia Star in Riviera Maya included Air- great place for families.

Puerto Vallarta– 7 nights out of Lansing- $848 for 7 nights with air

Jamaica- $1299-$1699 air included (APPLE uses Chartered Air)

Dominican Republic- charted air to Puerto Plata and Punta Cana- $899 for 7 nights, Iberia Star from $1199 for 7 nights air included.

Cancun bouncing back- Dreams Cancun-Moon Palaces,

CELEBRITY Cruise Lines Solstice and Equinox are Celebrity’s newest ships out of Ft. Lauderdale- two ships specials: Balcony State rooms starting at $899.00pp+ air and Taxes- does Eastern and Western Caribbean.            Best Mega Ship by Conde Naste last October. 

Celebrity Ship Summit leaving out of Puerto Rico-Starting at $689 + tax and Air.

4-5 Nights on the Century western Caribbean up to 14 night on the Constellation

Packing for a trip, any trip, long or short has so many pitfalls. This latest scare has just made it more difficult but I refuse to give in and NOT TRAVEL. Take the case of checked vs. non-checked luggage. I always checked most of my luggage and carried only a large purse on the plain. I hated schlepping all that stuff through airports when I had to stop at baggage for my large piece anyways. I would pack all my make-up and hair products in checked luggage so would just sail through security with a small notebook computer that I carried in my large purse and nothing else to hold me back. But then the checked baggage fees put a crimp in that smooth plan so Chuck and I have learned to take one large carry on if the trip is less than 1week and does include dressy cloths because of the cost of checking baggage. I am much more successful than Chuck thanks to CHICOS clothing brand, but I did have to scale back on my shoe choices and amounts, and any women can agree that is the most difficult decision. I got pretty darn good with the make-up but the hair products did pose a challenge. 

Last September we were lucky enough to actually grab a $9 fare on Spirit Airlines. After taxes and other obscure fess the cost per trip was $20.00 each way. Our checked luggage also traveled for $20.00 each way so it cost our luggage as much as it cost u s to fly to and from Florida. But now it is very important to follow the TSA advice on how to pack carry on liquids. I also read this site completely and found some weird items that are not allowed- A Snow Globe could be a weapon of mass destructions so please read the site if you have any questions. Finally, I think the advice on when you should get to the airport is right on. Chuck would get there 2 hrs plus for domestic travel and I would grumble and whine and finally got him down to I hr pre flight. Now this. The Wayne County Airport Authority says no need to get there 2, 3, 4 hrs earlier. All those people afraid of missing their flights and getting there 6 hrs earlier over the holiday travel were the people who were jamming up the system. So, follow the guideline and you will be fine. I will compromise with my husband, and get there 90 minutes but I will hold the line on the 2 hrs ahead of time. You can go to TSA.GOV for all the restrictions but here are a few from the TSA.GOV web site:

With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.

1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.
2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
3. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items. 

Airport Status and Delay Information

       Check Airport Status and Delays

       From your cell phone or PDA, go to www.faa.gov/wireless/

       Sign up for email updates to your wireless device, pager, phone, PDA or e-mail address.

Preparing to Fly

      Air Travel Tips & Information

• Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices
• Baggage Size Requirements
• What can you bring on board?
• Passport Requirements
• Security Checkpoint Wait Times

        Passenger – Frequently Asked Questions

       Passengers with Disabilities

        Weather

Flying Safe

         Safety Record of Airlines/Aircraft

         Turbulence: Staying Safe

         Passenger Health and Safety

         Permitted/Prohibited Items (What you can or can’t take on board)

         More » Flying Safe Information

Flying with Children

         Child Restraint Systems

         Child Safety Brochure (PDF)

         More » Flying with Children Information

Flying with Pets

         Pets in the Passenger Cabin

         More » Flying with Pets Information

Also see: 

www.tsa.gov/

www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/index.jsp

[podcast]

As I discussed when I was on the show, cruising along the MED allows you to experience many unique countries in Europe in one trip. My last tow trios were on OCEANIA ships and my next trip along the MED will be on the new OCEANIA MARIENA which launches late this year.  My two favorite of all my favorites spots along the MED is Monaco and then the Italian Coast around Amalfi, Sorrento, Naples and the Island of Capri. When you arrive by ship the scenery in both spots is layered on cliffs with colorful homes, villas, restaurants, winding roads and mountains/hills in the background along with other types of boats and ships, both large and small. I have also traveled along these winding roads and have been both terrified as well as thrilled as we slowly wind or way up hills overlooking the MED  with very little margin between the small bus and the cliff.  One “tourist” place I escorted our group to was the Village of Pompeii. I try to avoid many of these types of sites finding them cheesy, crowded, and boring but I was very wrong on Pompeii and so happy I stumbled upon it despite myself.  Italy has done a fantastic job or keeping it as it was after the Volcano destroyed it and continues to unearth homes and tools, sites of worship in this historical site along with other reminders of every day life so long ago. You had to be careful where you stepped as it was very much on cobblestone, but it was large enough that you never felt like you were being herded along with all the other tourists through this site. Being a history buff I will definitely go back again. We had a tour guide, which I strongly recommend for the first time but with a good tour book you could do it on your own. I could also spend a good week or two on land in the area exploring all the little coastal towns, sitting outside the cafes enjoying my Chianti or Sangiovese wine, shopping in Capri, or just laying on a beach and people watching. I would also like to spend a week on the island of Sicily. We had a great day at the vineyard up in the mountains but missed many of the historical sites and other small villages on the island. I could go on and on about the MED but will just share a few of my favorite pictures.

you’ll find plenty to see and do: fine Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches, ancient imperial cities, Islamic landmarks, wild Joujoukan trance music, Roman antiquities, mountain villages, the spice market, mint tea, the Kasbah. Casablanca is very French- left over from Pre- WWII,  Ribald is the Capital and has many ancient and beautiful Islamic Palaces, Fes ( where the Fes Hats come from( is the most ancient city in the country and close by are lakes, forests, mountains and the desert. Who can not want to visit Marrakech, where I understand without a guide you may never be able to navigate in and better out of the market  a labyrinth of streets and souks with quarters of dyers, carpenters, jewelers, and many others. Don’t quit before the end so you don’t miss  D’Jemaa Lfna square, a big popular fairground; unfolding day after day with its story tellers, fire eaters, acrobats, snake charmers, fortune tellers, water sellers, etc. And Bargain, Bargain, and Bargain- something I can’t do but the TRAVEL PROF is great at. Heidie bought these great leather flat shoes with exotic designs etched all over them. This country is definitely on my to- do list.