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Panama Canal Cruise from Seattle

By Sandi | Published March 30, 2012 | Posted in Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is offering a 17 day Panama Canal cruise departing from Seattle! At the end of the Alaska cruising season, all of the ships transition to their homeport, or add an exotic cruise to the mix. Celebrity has chosen to offer a Panama Canal cruise from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale. Since this is a repositioning cruise, there is only one cruise date, September 21st -October 8th. Ports of call include a day in San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta. There are also ports of call in Costa Rica and Cartegena, Columbia.

Celebrity Cruises are known for their beautiful accommodations and great food. Accommodations range from inside cabins, to elegant Royal Suites and Penthouse Suites (with a grand piano!). Presently most cabin categories are available but once word gets out about this great itinerary, I expect availability to diminish quickly! Prices range from $1750 per person (based on double occupancy) for an inside cabin, to $2850 per person (double occupancy) for a cabin with a balcony.

Concierge Class Staterooms are available for those who wish to be pampered but would rather not go all the way with a suite. The Concierge Class staterooms offer early embarkation and debarkation, welcome Champagne, a pillow menu, 100% Egyptian cotton oversized bath towels, plush bathrobes and a veranda with lounge seating, and many other amenities. The Concierge Class Staterooms do run a bit more than the standard balcony stateroom, but you’re worth it! The cost is approximately $3025 per person (double occupancy).

Hurry to get in on this great opportunity! Please email sandi@totemtravel.com, or give me a call: 425-821-4100, or 1-800-321-7907 to book your Panama Canal cruise!

If you have been thinking of a Panama Canal cruise, this just might be the right choice for you. But if the dates are not quite right, there are many other cruises which traverse the Canal, either departing from California, ending in Florida, or just the opposite.

Get personalized help from a travel expert at no extra cost!

Honua Kai Resort and Spa, Maui’s new luxury condo property

By Sandi | Published March 16, 2012 | Posted in Hawaii


Click here for a slideshow of Honua Kai Resort & Spa

Honua Kai Resort & Spa is just a short drive from the Whaling Village of Lahaina and a little north of Black Rock which is a favorite snorkeling beach on the Island of Maui.

Accommodations at Honua Kai range from a 500 square foot Studio unit to an impressive 2600 square foot, 3 bedroom apartment! (3 bedroom units are extremely difficult to find!!) When I visited this property, the first words that came to mind were: luxurious and deluxe! Each unit is very well-appointed with natural teak and travertine, as well as a flat screen TV, fine linens and Aveda bath products. The kitchens will make any “foodie” smile! Gourmet is the only way to describe the high-end Bosch appliances and granite counter tops. These condo suites definitely have the luxury of Maui vacation homes, and all the amenities of a full service, up-scale resort!

Currently, Honua Kai Resort & Spa has 2 dining choices, Dukes’ Beach House or the Aina Gourmet Market. Plans are in the works for more restaurant options. There are also many BBQ areas throughout the property for preparing your own fresh Mahi Mahi or grilled hamburgers & hot dogs!

An aquatic playground with pools, hot tubs, a water slide, waterfalls and fountains, will create many hours of fun for the kids. Or, just for the adults, visit the Konea or formal pool to relax, swim laps, and just chill!

A kid’s club, a fitness center and water sports (through the beach activities desk) rounds out this picture-perfect new beachfront resort.

Honua Kai will soon be a favorite of families of all ages. The resort grounds & accommodations are perfect for family reunions, destination wedding guests, honeymoons,
50th Anniversary celebrations, and BFF gatherings!

Please email sandi@totemtravel.com, call @ 425-821-4100 for more information, or book on line!

Get personalized help from a travel expert at no extra cost!

Adventure and Relaxation abound at Hotel Wailea: An all-suite boutique resort, overlooking Maui’s Wailea Beach

By Sandi | Published February 17, 2012 | Posted in Hawaii


Click here for a slideshow of Hotel Wailea

Last summer while I was scouting great wedding venues in Wailea, Maui, I was introduced to the Hotel Wailea.  Hotel Wailea is a beautiful small, only 72, 1 bedroom suites, hotel, which has beautifully landscaped gardens with a waterfall, and koi pond. A lovely gazebo is the perfect venue for a small wedding!
Perched 300 feet above the seal, Hotel Wailea offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Maui’s alluring white beaches and the West Maui Mountains.

Although, Hotel Wailea does not have full kitchens, it does offer a mini-fridge and micro-waves to allow you to serve up breakfast or snacks! The best thing about the suites, however, is that they offer spectacular, panoramic ocean views.

Maui was recently ranked #4 Best Adventure Vacation by US News and World Report. Anyone who has visited Maui lately has been impressed by the number of water sports available. At Hotel Wailea, packages are offered to learn Kite boarding, and Paddle boarding. Kite boarding lessons are private and all necessary gear is included. Maui’s premier kite beach, Kanaha Beach Park, will be your lesson venue. Paddle boarding is the newest craze which combines stand-up surfing and paddling. Hotel Wailea offers a package to include the whole family. Even though it is the newest craze in Maui, the activity can actually be traced back to the early days of Polynesia.

Want to travel with your BFFs and enjoy everything Maui has to offer? Packages which include kite boarding, paddle boarding and Yoga are offered by Hotel Wailea. The Yoga instructors are long-time Maui residents with many years of experience. A facial and pedicure complete this “Maui Ocean Divas” package.

As you can see, Hotel Wailea is not just a wedding venue, although it is perfect for weddings and honeymoons,
It is also great for a family vacation or a best friends get-a-way.

I would love to help you plan your Maui escape, so please give me a call, 425-821-4100, or send an email: sandi@totemtravel.com. You can even book on line here.

Planning a 12/12/12 Sandals Wedding??

By Sandi | Published November 11, 2011 | Posted in Sandals Resorts

Since 2001, couples have enjoyed the opportunity to have an easy wedding anniversary date to remember with dates like 01/01/01, 02/02/02 and 03/03/03 and destination wedding venues for those special dates have sold out 6-9 months ahead. In 2012 we have one last opportunity and it’s a great time of year for a tropical beach wedding in the Caribbean.  So if you’re thinking about 12/12/12 we are advising couples to plan ahead! Way ahead! In fact, now is good!

At each of the 13 Sandals Resorts the Beautiful Beginnings Weddings, by Martha Stewart  are free for guests staying at least 6 nights, in a qualifying room category. This wedding package includes the wedding license, flowers for the bride and groom, a wedding cake, music, and a special dinner the evening of your wedding. Of course, a licensed officiant is included too and there are special extras for wedding groups starting with as a few as 5 rooms !!

If you prefer something a bit more lavish, many different Martha Stewart wedding themes are available: the Flutter of Romance, which is charming and sweet; or the Chic and Natural theme with clean lines and organic elements that set a modern, romantic tone. When in the Caribbean…….perhaps a sun, sand, and sea theme is more to your taste. The Seaside Serenade theme with vows being exchanged under a bamboo arch and the bride’s bouquet embellished with seashells, really bring the feel islands to your wedding.

Any of the wedding themes can be personalized by adding your own music, or inter changing portions of the wedding themes.

With 2012 fast approaching, confirming your 12/12/12 wedding date early is imperative. Sandals policy allows for price adjustments should the room category reserved becomes less expensive after deposit has been applied. So you have nothing to lose by booking early, and everything to gain! Totem Travel is a Preferred Sandals and Beaches Agency and we have visited all 13 of the resorts many times.  You can contact one of our three Sandals Specialists by phone or email with any questions or you can book on line.  There is no extra charge for our expert services so the price will be exactly the same either way!

Aston Maui Hill, family sized condos in Kihei, Maui

By Sandi | Published November 4, 2011 | Posted in Hawaii


Click here for a slideshow of Aston Maui Hill

Maui Hill is a beautiful property in the Kihei area of Maui. As you can derive from the name, it sits on a hill overlooking the ocean. While it is not on the beach, it is just a short walk to Kamaole Beach.

Quote from a recent honeymoon couple:

Aston Maui Hill was perfect! We really enjoyed staying in Kihei also! We had a wonderful time in Maui. We can’t wait to go back! Thanks again for all your help!
-Sara and Patrick

Most units give you a view of the ocean, some more than others. The gardens are beautiful, so whether you book an ocean view or garden view room, your lanai will afford you a lovely view. We thoroughly enjoyed this feature for our breakfast! Fresh pineapple and papaya, with Kona Coffee on the lanai in Maui, what could be better!

Maui Hill has 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. It is one of the few properties on Maui that do have 3 bedrooms, and allow 8 people in a unit. Each of the units is privately owned so actual furnishings vary from room to room. All units have 2 bathrooms (except the 3 bedroom which has 3 bathrooms), 2 televisions, private lanais, kitchens, AND a washer and dryer (a big plus with children!!). They also have free high speed internet access, if you need to keep in touch.

Because Aston Maui Hill has multi-bedroom units at an affordable price it is the perfect family reunion venue, or accommodations for a bridal party.

Kitchens are fully equipped with a refrigerator, range, micro-wave, and dishwasher. Small appliances such as toasters, coffee makers and blenders are also included. All kitchens are fully stocked with pots and pans, dishes and flatware, coffee mugs and drinking glasses. You just supply the food!!

Each bedroom is furnished with a queen bed, and the living room has a sleeper sofa. The 3rd bedroom in the 3 bedroom unit is a loft with an attached bath.

The property itself, offers a swimming pool, jet spa, a putting green, shuffleboard, tennis court, barbecue area and an internet workstation in the lobby. And the property is entirely smoke-free with smoking allowed in designated areas only.

While, Maui Hill does not have a restaurant, there are many within a short drive, as well as several grocery stores.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at ResortQuest Maui Hill, and I know that you will too! If it’s time to book your Maui vacation please call, email or book online and Get Personalized help from a travel expert at no extra cost!

sandi@totemtravel.com
425 821-4100

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