Click for Slideshow of the Garza Blanca Preserve

I recently had the pleasure of tour the Garza Blanca Preserve on the south shore of Banderas Bay, outside Puerto Vallarta.  This resort is absolutely beautiful, brand new, and in a fantastic tropical jungle setting, on a private beach.

Garza Blanca Preserve is a contemporary hotel set amid the lush hills and mountains of a nature preserve.  Walking paths lead guests to the private, secluded beach below.  Garza Blanca Preserve is designed to complement its surroundings, with a relaxed atmosphere for families and couples seeking that stress-free Puerto Vallarta vacation.

With only 82 guestrooms and suites, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort is not a mega resort, but more quiet and intimate.  Guestrooms feature furnished balconies, marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers, plush bathrobes.  Suites, 1 to 3 bedrooms, have full kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, and laundry facilities.  The suite terraces are huge, with a wet bar, and are the perfect setting for family get-togethers, even a small wedding reception!

Within the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort are 2 swimming pools, one just for kids, a poolside bar, with snacks and beverages, as well as the gourmet restaurant Blanca Blue.  Baby sitting service is also available, so mom and dad can have that romantic private candlelit dinner on the beach!

If luxurious, beachfront, accommodations, in a peaceful setting, are on your wish-list, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort, in Puerto Vallarta is the place for you.  Whether for a family vacation, a wedding, honeymoon, or a couples retreat, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort offers something for everyone!

Please give me a call, Sandi, 425-821-4100, or send me an email to start the ball rolling on your luxury vacation!

At Totem Travel you will get personalized help from a travel expert, at no extra cost!

Click for Slideshow of Hamanasi Resort

If you are asking yourself where would be the perfect location to honeymoon or vacation in the winter months of December, January and February, take a look at Belize in Central America.  In our coldest winter months, Belize offers warm sunny weather, white sand beaches, romantic accommodations and interesting cultural activities.  So if you’re wanting to escape the winter weather and enjoy a romantic tropical honeymoon or active eco vacation, Belize has it all!

Belize’s climate is perfect in January and February with highs in the 80’s, loads of sunshine and minimal rainfall.  You’ll find luxurious beachfront resorts ideal for a romantic couple, exotic jungle lodges and a huge variety of fun land and water activities.  You can explore ancient archaeological sites of Mayan temples, the second largest barrier reef in the world, living coral gardens, tropical rain-forests alive with hundreds of species of birds, plants and animals, as well as beautiful sun-drenched beaches.

From the island of Ambergris Caye to the coastline in Southern Belize, there are many great resort choices for a December, January or February honeymoon.  One of our favorite resorts in Belize is Hamanasi Resort where you have access to water activities like snorkeling, diving and river rafting as well as land activities such as caving, hiking in the rainforest or a visit to Mayan ruins.

Another fabulous resort for a tropical vacation or honeymoon would be Ramon’s Village on Ambergris Caye. This island is only 25 miles long and is home to the charming town of San Pedro.  This is the destination for you if you want to be on the beach and want to spend your days snorkeling and diving.

If you are planning on honeymooning in December, January or February and would like tropical warm weather, white sand beaches and adventurous activities, Belize has got it all!  Send us an email or give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 to help plan your Belize honeymoon this coming winter.

Click for Slideshow of Norwegian Cruise’s “Pride of America”

One of the best, and most comprehensive ways to visit all of the Islands of Hawaii in just 7 days, is to cruise!   Norwegian Cruise Line offers a cruise from Honolulu to 3 outer islands: Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii.  Stops in Kauai and Maui include an overnight stay.  So no rushing!  Imagine visiting 4 islands, and only packing and un-packing once!

Saving money is on everyone’s mind these days.  A great way to save some money on vacation is by saving the expense of passports for the whole family, at about $100 + per person.  Since you are not leaving the USA, a passport is not required.  Another plus is eliminating additional hotel nights.  If you are flying from the West Coast, you can fly from your home city on the morning of the sail date, arriving in Honolulu with lots of time to spare prior to embarkation.  On the return, you will have plenty of time after disembarkation to get to the airport and fly home!

Of course no cruise is complete without a few excursions to see the sights at each port.  Since you will have an overnight stay in both Maui and Kauai, many folks prefer to rent a car and explore on their own.  Even though Hawaii is very exotic and you feel as though you are in a foreign land, you are still in the USA; we drive on the right side of the road, and all of the street signs are in English.  Albeit, Hawaiian names are a bit difficult to grasp at first!   Both Kauai and Maui have handy self guided island tours.  Just stop at the first ABC Store (they are everywhere) and invest in the CD version, about $15, and pop it into the car CD player and enjoy your tour!  And the fact that you are saving a lot of money!

On board the Pride of America, it’s business as usual, even while in port.  That means your meals are still being prepared 3 times a day, snacks are always available, and the bartenders are still on duty!  So if you prefer to return to the ship for your meals, that’s not a problem at all.  Otherwise, having breakfast and dinner on board, and your lunch ashore is still a good way to save some money.  Norwegian Cruise Line was one of the first cruise lines to offer dining called Free Style.  This means no assigned dining time, table or dinner companions.  This gives you even more freedom while in port.

Your stop in Hilo allows plenty of time to visit the Volcanoes National Park, or the Planetarium for some star gazing.  Do you enjoy the chocolate covered Macadamia Nuts…..go right to the source, at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory!  Your friends and family will appreciate your thoughtfulness when you bring home boxes of these tasty bites of Hawaii.

After leaving Hilo you will cruise to the other side of the island, past Mount Kilauea, you will hopefully be able to catch a few pictures the flowing lava in the darkness.  Of course, that’s something dependent upon Mother Nature!

Kona, Hawaii is a great place to explore.  There are so many shops, restaurants (if you choose), and activities, you won’t know which to do first!  A favorite is the Kailua Glass-bottom boat.  You will be able to experience the underwater paradise of colorful reefs full of fish and other aquatic wildlife!

Once back in Honolulu, if you have a late flight, be sure to visit Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, and of course, Waikiki Beach!

If Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America sounds like the way you would like to see Hawaii, please give me a call or send an email.  I am happy to help you realize the fun of touring 4 islands in 7 days!

sandi@totemtravel.com
425 821-4100 or 1 800-321-7907

If the adults in the family have been dreaming of a cruise to Alaska but thought the kids might not be as excited as they would be for a trip to Disneyland, your day has arrived!

Disney Cruise Line has heard the cries from the West Coast asking for a Disney Cruise Ship.  In 2011 Disney will add a 7 day family friendly cruise to Alaska, cruising roundtrip from Vancouver BC, on the Disney Wonder.  The Disney Wonder is hugely popular on its Caribbean itinerary and it offers so many activities for children and adults that you may never want to leave the ship!

• A Disney cruise is the perfect family vacation! Disney Wonder has several youth clubs which offer all children, regardless of age, a place meet other kids, play some new games, watch a few movies, play video games, and just plain have fun! And we all know that when the kids are happy, everyone is happy!!

• Aloft is a 24 hour club for your teens age 13-17 to participate, with their peers, in dance parties, board games, video games, as well as watch movies and listen to music at various music listening stations!

• The little guys, age 3 months to 3 years, also have their own private club, called Flounder’s Reef Nursery! Activities at Flounder’s Reef Nursery are unscheduled, and based on the mood of your child. However, with movie time, storey time, and nap time, your little ones will be very happy.

• For children ages 3 to 12, Oceaneer’s Club offers many, age appropriate activities. A computer lab with child-friendly computers, a crow’s nest slide and rope bridge for exploring, a dance floor, and a small stage for games, are but a few of the fun options available!!

We did say this was the perfect family vacation, didn’t we?  Studio at Sea offers lots of family entertainment with games, live entertainment, games shows, line dancing and movies!  Live musicals, Broadway style live shows, first run movies, including 3-D shows, and Character greetings, all offer the kind of first class entertainment we expect from Disney.

And food!  Disney Wonder has 9 very different dining options.  Among those is the Animator’s Palate, which celebrates the magic of Disney Animation and includes an innovative dinner show.  If you’re looking for a quick bite, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, right next to Pluto’s Pool, serves pizza all day long!  For the adults that would like a quiet evening while the kids are occupied at Oceaneer’s Club, Palo offers Northern Italian Cuisine, in an adult’s only atmosphere!

Since this IS an Alaska cruise, Disney Wonder will be making port calls at Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.  Mendenhall Glacier and panning for gold are top excursions in Juneau.  Ketchikan is a quaint little town with a revitalized shopping area!  The Saxman Native Village, just outside Ketchikan, is a great way to watch Totem Poles being carved and to see some very unusual ones, as well. I saw one with Abe Lincoln on top!!   Skagway and the White Pass/Yukon train are nearly synonymous.  Everyone who visits Skagway wants to ride the White Pass/Yukon train.  The train was established in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush and has been operating since then with a brief shut-down in the late 1980’s.  In the early days of the White Pass Train it served as transportation for people and equipment, but now is primarily a tourist attraction.

Don’t forget the wildlife of Alaska!  During the cruise you will be treated to whale sightings, eagles soaring over the bay, (if you’re lucky you will catch one diving into the water, catching a salmon, and flying off again), and bears, hopefully not up too close!

Hopefully, with Disney Cruise Line sailing to Alaska, this will be your chance to take in a cruise to the Last Frontier, and keep the kids happy and entertained, too!

Sailings are available for booking now, and I would be very happy to help you choose the best sailing for your family.  Please send me an email, sandi@totemtravel.com, or give me a call at 425 821 4100.

A lot of attention has been drawn to the resorts and islands of Tahiti with the filming of the Bachelorette, but not every couple has the budget to honeymoon in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora.  So here are some of the best values, resort specials and honeymoon packages for the South Pacific -

The  Bora Bora Pearl Resort offers one free night and breakfast daily with every 4 night stay.  This is one of my all time favorite resorts and every room category has something extra special.  The garden bungalows have a private plunge pool.  The beach bungalows have a private courtyard with Jacuzzi and outdoor shower.  And the fabulous overwater bungalows offer stairs from the deck into the clear, warm, shimmering lagoon filled with brightly colored tropical fish and turquoise water.

The Hilton Moorea and Bora Bora Nui  have some great deals going and I recently combined the two islands for an 8 night package including air and an overwater bungalow for under $7K total for two.  The final episode of the Bachelorette was filmed almost exclusively at the Bora Bora Nui so the location obviously has the romantic ambiance and beautiful settings for a very special honeymoon.

The Sofitel Resorts offer free breakfast and dinner with a 4 night stay on Moorea or Bora Bora and if you stay 8 nights in any combination of Softel Resorts you’ll get a bonus night on Tahiti.  The Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora  is widely considered the best resort on Moorea and is located on a gorgeous beach with beautifully remodeled garden, beach and overwater bungalows.  My personal favorite is the beach bungalow with more space, more privacy and great views.

Besides catching a great resort special another way to stretch your Bora Bora vacation budget is to dine at a local restaurant.   A couple of favorites include Matira Beach, about a 15 minute walk from the Sofitel, where a popular lunch of kabobs, beer and fries runs about $20.  Or try Le Bounty for a dinner of pizza, pasta or fondue for around $25.

And remember, most non motorized watersports in Tahiti are free.  So you can enjoy snorkeling, sailing, canoeing and kayaks to your heart’s content.  Speaking of hearts…. the secluded white sand beaches and romantic sunsets are free too!  

Please call or email linda@totemtravel.com if you need help planning your South Pacific vacation. I am a Tahiti, Fiji and South Pacific island specialist and would love to help you find the perfect spot for your romantic getaway!