Destination Spotlight: Aruba

I'm really excited about spotlighting one of my favorite Caribbean islands, Aruba.  Aruba is near & dear to my heart because that is where my husband & I went for our honeymoon.  This Dutch Caribbean island is a perfect spot for many types of vacations.  Whether it's for a honeymoon, wedding, family vacation, couples getaway or a group of friends, this island has so many things that appeal to all types of travelers.  

Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean, just 9 miles north of Venezuela.  It's a small island at just 19 miles long and 6 miles across, making it so easy to navigate around and see the whole island while you're there.  Aruba is very safe and has the highest return visitor rate in the Caribbean.  The residents there mostly speak English, Dutch & Spanish.  There are plenty of various types of accommodations in Aruba, from all-inclusive resorts and high-rise hotels to private bungalows.  There is even a resort where guests have access to a private island that is home to a flamboyance of flamingos.

Their tagline is "One Happy Island", which could be because Aruba has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. It's located just outside of the fringes of the hurricane belt, which means it sees very little rainfall.  On average, it receives only 16" of rain per year with the greatest likelihood of rain in October and November.  The average temperature year round is in the low 80's, with cooling trade winds which keep you comfortable all day long.  Aruba has the most beautiful white sand beaches made from crushed coral, so the sand never feels hot on your feet.  

If you're looking to do something other than relaxing on the beach, there are so many options on the island of Aruba.  It is known as the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean, with sunken ships from two WWII shipwrecks as well as sunken airplanes, all easily accessible for scuba divers.  The largest national park in the Caribbean, Arikok National Park, covers around 20% of the island.  There are plenty of opportunities for activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, windsurfing & ATV riding all around the island.  I highly recommend renting a jeep for a day and exploring or going on a glass-bottom boat tour.

If this sounds like where you would like to plan your next vacation to, contact me and we'll get started planning your trip to paradise.  I'm confident that you will love it there just as much as I did.

A few grainy images from our honeymoon in Aruba...

Questions Answered: How much do you charge?

One of the most commonly asked questions that I get when I tell someone that I'm a travel agent or begin working with a client is "How much do you charge for your services?"  

It almost sounds too good to be true when I respond that I don't charge ANYTHING.  However, that is the case... I really don't charge anything.  Not all travel agents offer their services for free, but for now, this is something that I have chosen to do.  

So how do I make money doing this? When you book a trip with me, those hotels, resorts or cruise lines pay me a commission for booking with them.  I don't raise your price in order to cover my commission, you pay the same price (often even less!) when you book a trip with me versus booking on your own.  I understand that everyone wants to get the best deal & the most for their money so I search many different suppliers, dates & hotels/resorts to get the best deals available.  I have access to lots of "agent only" discounts that I love passing on to my clients.  If you happen to find a better deal than I can get you, I work hard to meet or beat that price for you.  

I also would never try to persuade you to book at a certain place just because they pay a higher commission.  To be honest, most places pay pretty equal when it comes to commission.  What is more important to me is that we plan a vacation that you are going to love.  My hope is that you find that planning vacations is so much easier when working with me, that you'll continue letting me help you in the future and even spread the word to your friends and family.

There really is nothing to lose (and a lot to gain!) by booking your vacations with me.  If you've never worked with a travel agent before because you thought it would cost you more, I would love to show you just how priceless (& FREE) my help can be.  Contact me to get started on planning your next adventure!

Destination Spotlight: Los Cabos

Los Cabos is another great destination in Mexico.  Located on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is comprised mainly of two towns, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.  This area is famous for their spectacular scenery and amazing weather.  The Sea of Cortez is located on one shore and the Pacific Ocean is on the other.  

Cabo San Lucas has quickly become a hot spot for people looking for everything from relaxing at the beach to enjoying the nightlife.  Fishing, golfing, surfing, snorkeling, horseback riding and even ATV riding are just a few of the many activities available to do if you choose.  A trip to Cabo isn't complete unless you visit the infamous El Arco at Land's End, a natural archway in the seacliffs near Lover's Beach.

Located just 20 minutes northeast is a bit of a quieter vacation spot, San Jose del Cabo.  This area is known for it's Spanish colonial architecture, as well as some amazing art galleries.  This is a great spot for a more laid-back vacation than it's counterpart, Cabo San Lucas.

Los Cabos has an arid climate with over 300 days of sunshine.  The average year round temperature is 78 degrees.  The months of December thru April are often the busiest and most expensive months to visit, but the best times for some spectacular whale watching.  May and June are typically the least busy, with lower prices and fantastic weather.  It is rainiest in August thru October, but the late fall is the best time for some amazing fishing.

Direct flights to the Los Cabos area are available from many US cities, including St. Louis, allowing you to travel there in 3-4 hours.  If you would like to book a trip to Los Cabos or want more information, send me a message and I would be happy to get you on your way to paradise.

Park, Sleep and Fly

Did you know that near most major airports, several chain hotels have what they call a "park, sleep & fly" program?  What this means is that you can park your car in their parking lot for up to two weeks for free as long as you stay at their hotel for at least one night.  Most of these hotels have a free airport shuttle (and even breakfast) as well.

So, say you live an hour or so away from the airport and you have an early morning flight... you can stay the night at the hotel the night before your flight, park your car in the hotel parking lot and take the free shuttle to the airport in the morning.  Then when you return from your trip you take the shuttle back to the hotel and pick up your car (or you can stay another night at the hotel) and head back home.  You're able to get a good night sleep before your flight and not have to deal with any traffic issues that might occur that morning on your way to the airport.  Want to stay at the hotel at the end of your trip only?  No problem, that's ok too.  They only require a one night stay, either at the beginning or end of your trip.  This is also great for business travelers or cruise travelers who drive to their cruise port as well.

Participating hotels only offer a certain amount of rooms for the "park, sleep & fly" program, so it's important to book early.  The length of time that they offer free parking varies from hotel to hotel as well, with most offering up to 7-14 days.  

If this is something that you might be interested in, contact me and I can help you get it set up.  Then you can rest easy with a good night's sleep and know that your car is in a secure lot while you're away.

Destination Spotlight: Cancun, Mexico

One of the most common questions I get from clients looking to book a vacation is "Where should we go?".  I thought it might be helpful to periodically spotlight different locations to help narrow down some options for your next vacation.  My hope is that you can learn more about these destinations and see if it is somewhere that might interest you... making planning your vacation a little easier.  With that said, the first destination that I thought I would highlight is one of the most popular vacation spots for my clients... Cancun, Mexico.

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Cancun is located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.  Nestled on the Caribbean Sea, Cancun is composed of 14 miles of pristine white beaches (shaped like the number "7") and sees more than 240 days of sunshine.  This popular tourist destination has the most all-inclusive resort options, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of food, drinks & non-motorized water activities without worrying about a thing.  Whatever your needs are, there are plenty of resorts to choose from for families, couples or friends. 

Cancun is warm year-round, with an average temperature of 80 degrees.  It is typically hottest from May to September, with peak precipitation in October.  The sea temperatures are warm year round.  Peak season is December thru April and you will see slightly higher prices (airfare & hotel) during that time.

There is something for everyone in Cancun.  You can visit several archaeological sites, go on Jeep adventures or do a wide range of water activities like scuba diving or swimming with sea turtles or even sharks!  

Eight miles north of Cancun is the area of Isla Mujeres, a quaint fishing village.  Riviera Maya is at the southern end of Cancun and includes Playa del Carmen (don't miss shopping on 5th Avenue!), Puerto Aventuras & Akumal.  The island of Cozumel, home of one of the largest barrier reefs, is just a short boat ride away.  

Cancun also has an international airport, with flights from most major airlines.  Non-stop flights are available from more than 20 U.S. cities, including St. Louis, allowing you to fly to Cancun in just around 3 hours!

If you book your trip with me, I can arrange your hotel, airport transportation, transportation to & from your hotel and any excursions that you might be interested in... all at no additional charge to you.  Contact me for more information.