tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72832508991886205392024-02-02T15:38:46.940-05:00ABSOLUTE DREAM VACATIONSVarious blogs about all things travel relatedAbsolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-46270509015973229312021-11-12T14:17:00.000-05:002021-11-12T14:17:31.826-05:00<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;">GREECE IN THE SUMMERTIME!</span></h2><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;">August 29th - 31st</span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;">We arrived in Athens on August 29, 2021. Took a taxi to our apartment which was in the perfect location. From our balcony we were able to see the Parthenon atop the Acropolis. We arrived at 5:30, unpacked, took showers, and then set about walking the city. We approached a blocked area of the sidewalk and was asked to cross the street due to filming. We obliged and found a restaurant where we decided to sit and have a Greek beer. Our waiter informed us that the filming was the 3rd season of Jack Ryan with John Krasinski. No we didn't get to see him, as it turned out that was the last day of filming and they were done. We spent the evening exploring and found another restaurant to enjoy dolmades and some skewers. Everything is delicious in Greece! We knew the next day was going to be an early and long day so we opted to head back and get some sleep. The next day we walked to the Acropolis and spent most of the day exploring all the ancient sites that came with the package price. This included the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, The Roman Agora, The Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library, and Keramikos. It was a wonderful experience. To think all of these buildings were built without machinery. We stopped and had lunch next to the Parthenon. The next day we were catching the ferry to Santorini so we walked back towards our apartment, shopping along the way and stopping for a quick bite. The ferry ride to Santorini was like a cruise ship. We purchased the business class tickets and was in the lounge in the front of the boat. We had access pretty much to the entire boat except the cabin floors. Yes you can even purchase a cabin for your ride. We arrived in Santorini at 2:30 AM was transferred to our villa and went to bed. Our next day we walked to Santorini Brewing Company for a craft brew, then walked up the street to Canava Rousso's Winery which is the oldest winery on Santorini. We had a wonderful educational experience. Our waitress told us the history, the process, and that Santorini doesn't irrigate the grape vines. They are grown dry. When I saw them, I thought they were all dead because the leaves were all wilted and the vines looked dead. The wine was delicious and I even brought a few bottles home. That evening we took the public bus to Fira. 1.60 in Euro and it will get you anywhere on the island. We enjoyed a sunset and dinner in Fira. Did some souvenir shopping and took the bus back. The next day we rented a car and explored the entire island. We made reservations at this little restaurant to watch the sunset in Oia. Santorini is a magical place, I loved every minute of our Greece trip. Here are a few pictures.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBFgiNBHcFMpSwDr4reXTnbky6rdvMxW1dkjZT2D_T43yopItZWgkLnB6JyK_Rut9tJrQIqy_J8VnpLJqMhPg7arfRKPcImV4N6rKRNNr7D3ACzYWd7f1E0ukQ1H60vsSzbklhpGDQycD/s2048/240921272_10226614362365175_3913860522592072224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBFgiNBHcFMpSwDr4reXTnbky6rdvMxW1dkjZT2D_T43yopItZWgkLnB6JyK_Rut9tJrQIqy_J8VnpLJqMhPg7arfRKPcImV4N6rKRNNr7D3ACzYWd7f1E0ukQ1H60vsSzbklhpGDQycD/s320/240921272_10226614362365175_3913860522592072224_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulphu1ie3R7Jm07Woc0uG0rwGAw3pq0LW2d_MhpaPYpkSpt9XAYZKXh9CJfUhxmSjkTe_C3AUIhjra5pnRWx-RE5cT3ip36ss7-p7AoShQq6PnWOOTDOC3eugTvhDPlNQOCTvKznD0J9X/s2048/240927986_10226621354139965_5465653835694010808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #33abf3; white-space: pre-wrap;">ANOTHER BUCKET LIST ITEM CHECKED!</span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #33abf3; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 4th - 8th 2021</span></span></h1><span data-offset-key="3tnrk-0-0" style="color: #33abf3; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;">I recently returned from a trip that has been on my bucket list since 2003 before I began my travel industry career. This 7 star luxury hotel was featured in a commercial with Tiger Woods hitting a golf ball into the ocean from the top. I fell in love with the United Arab Emirates. The water was beautiful and this hotel was stunning. The hotel was opened in 1999 and is the hotel of choice for the rich and famous. Then the UAE just kept improving on the excitement by creating the Palm Islands in 2001 and indoor skiing and snowboarding resort in 2005. This is a wonderful, clean, and extremely safe country. I would go back in a heartbeat.</span></div></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #33abf3; font-family: Comfortaa;">Our trip started with an early check in and breakfast after arriving at 4:30 AM. We then recupera</span><span style="color: #33abf3; font-family: Comfortaa;">ted</span><span style="color: #33abf3; font-family: Comfortaa;"> from our jet lag by taking a nap in our room until 11:00 AM then napped around the hotel pool until around 1:00 PM. It was hot, very very hot! Each day we were there was above 105. They say the winter is much better. We took an Uber to Top Golf. Had to get our Top Golf in! We played for about an hour and a half then went straight to Dubai Mall which is the largest mall in the world with the amount of stores and activities, however, The Mall of America still holds the largest in the world by land mass. The Sheik doesn't like that so they are building 800 more stores to make sure this mall is the largest in the world store wise and land mass! We only saw a very small portion of this mall. You would need at least 4 days to walk through it and see everything it has to offer. We did manage to see the aquarium that is in it. We then had a nice dinner and watched The Dubai Fountains show. Our tour started at 3:00 on the 5th so we hung out at the pool for a little while again. </span></div><span data-offset-key="5ov9h-0-0"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #33abf3; font-family: Comfortaa;">We met in the hotel lobby for an SUV ride to the desert. We had a stop on the way to ride 4-wheel ATV's first. That was extremely fun, and I would highly recommend it. From there we drove straight into the desert in the driver's vehicle. A Toyota Land Cruiser. We "bashed the dunes" which was like a roller coaster ride in the desert. This was about a 45 minute to an hour ride. We stopped for stunning sunset pictures and then proceeded to the tent city where we would eat dinner, enjoy a show, get a henna tattoo and ride a camel. This was so much fun, and the food was great too. The next day we met in the lobby first thing in the morning for a city tour, with stops at "souks" for shopping, a palace visit, a stop at a museum, and a lunch experience. The souks were wonderful. It is a big flea market where you can bargain your price for wonderful treasures. There is a Gold Souk, a Spice Souk, a Utensil Souk, and more. We had the afternoon off and met in the lobby at 7:00 for a drive to Palm Jumeirah to see the Atlantis, then to Dubai Marina for a traditional cruise on a dhow with dinner. Our last full day was another free day so we made a tee time where they play the Dubai Classic and had a very nice, very hot round of golf. It is a beautiful course right in the middle of the city. After golf we had lunch then went up to the 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa. The tallest building in the world. There are 163 floors but you are not allowed up there. It was so beautiful, unfortunately when it is as hot as it was, the heat makes for a thick haze so we were not able to see the Palm Islands from up there but we did manage to see the top of the Burj Al Arab. These are just some of the pictures I took on this trip. Again, I want to stress that I always felt safe, never in harms way whether with crime, Covid, or anything. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ls_xbkl73P2IDX5c5b2bTcZl2vaBH1JEvg-zs5fMcZ7CMs4uagNz2GKSIuRinPHUaES2EFbuSQda9fXDOtunZwSUaRzwWgAy_zSAdELMaVOsRvOocg_XUyUbKeuvacN0rMjJu3PtoITa/s2048/240932380_10226645788430807_4072800955264698678_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ls_xbkl73P2IDX5c5b2bTcZl2vaBH1JEvg-zs5fMcZ7CMs4uagNz2GKSIuRinPHUaES2EFbuSQda9fXDOtunZwSUaRzwWgAy_zSAdELMaVOsRvOocg_XUyUbKeuvacN0rMjJu3PtoITa/s320/240932380_10226645788430807_4072800955264698678_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzmtUwRlETtceSp3Cacn3oy81gfKO7CbTfqiUFVR-mA_okMtxFIX8_CpbrRR4nRUqK_bxHtqSFR3QmyPN1-PAdb0_tZv88x2KJln806AV0AWETzTOvUv2858zHCR_cUgIf1tf8iBMe8SK/s2048/240961266_10226644543799692_9159093117200785019_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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We landed in Nairobi, was picked up and taken to our hotel for an overnight stay. We had enough time to explore the neighborhood and pick up some souvenirs. We had breakfast the next morning and was taken to Wilson Airport where we boarded a small 12 seater plane and landed at Nanyuki. We checked in to Kicheche Laikipia camp in time for lunch. After lunch we took an afternoon safari. It was the best 8 nights of my life! These are some pictures from this wonderful experience. If you ever dreamed of Africa, do just dream it, GO!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqczeKw5GQVRRvV6cFkgQkegqofj0WYxqSEoJgcJevg_0UVh6SdXverN98nhREMpvOQHsP4qRXCHwLfng3QGvmf3e4t3zfhp6S148p8jXa9YophkGbbHbau_m8xiLSkES1vbICja9N5Rkd/s2048/IMG_2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqczeKw5GQVRRvV6cFkgQkegqofj0WYxqSEoJgcJevg_0UVh6SdXverN98nhREMpvOQHsP4qRXCHwLfng3QGvmf3e4t3zfhp6S148p8jXa9YophkGbbHbau_m8xiLSkES1vbICja9N5Rkd/s320/IMG_2774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPav-8gi2XYfiyHWvuZhwtbkQY1rcLUUoVp7mAMfHQxADGMkqvaSiAi5reFfIyZ4-dZtV93amJy-bJAm1Z1i_bZgdOS6swbR-C6nBiM_IsPkecndxbGRV43Ssro-lA4z_bxnVvR8ertNAc/s640/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><b>Caribbean Travel Restrictions: </b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><b>Jamaica Narrows COVID-19 Travel Test Window</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 1.15em; line-height: 1.85em; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Effective March 4, Jamaica government officials will narrow the window under which travelers must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result to check in for a flight to the country.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 1.15em; line-height: 1.85em; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 1.15em; line-height: 1.85em; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Under the new protocol, all travelers to Jamaica age 12 and over will be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel, according to updated information on the Jamaica Tourist Board website confirmed by JTB officials Monday.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 1.15em; line-height: 1.85em; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JTB has established an online <a href="https://www.visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization/#Calculator" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Test Date Calculator</a> to aid travelers with the timing of pre-departure tests.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 1.15em; line-height: 1.85em; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Prior to March 4, residents of the U.S., Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama age 12 or older have been required to present a test result taken within 10 days of travel to Jamaica. The new policy applies to all travelers, and tests must be performed by a medical laboratory with a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) registration and an ISO 15189 certification.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-43949459386321419652020-04-30T10:49:00.002-04:002020-04-30T10:49:48.315-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYVugD7mrXTjh1wWovjjhTWWjenJ__2VMI3-tqnSeNW0Jgz_tTaUBYSxI2k7QoGyRddiFA3zFc41zliEjct4h130qXdUa-I5kHyTqi5dfRhQ1O6lUdAmIaK4PYKKcJvK_fllqFvAqMXoQ/s1600/F2D8E600-E99E-434E-95AD-9D7903FF84F1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYVugD7mrXTjh1wWovjjhTWWjenJ__2VMI3-tqnSeNW0Jgz_tTaUBYSxI2k7QoGyRddiFA3zFc41zliEjct4h130qXdUa-I5kHyTqi5dfRhQ1O6lUdAmIaK4PYKKcJvK_fllqFvAqMXoQ/s400/F2D8E600-E99E-434E-95AD-9D7903FF84F1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h1 class="page__title title" id="page-title" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; max-width: 860px; padding-top: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">After 67 Years, Like Like Drive Inn to Close Permanently on April 30</span></h1>
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It’s lights out for <a href="https://likelikedriveinn.com/" style="color: #1fa3e0; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Like Like Drive Inn</a>, an iconic Hawaiʻi diner that has been slinging out <em>ʻono </em>(delicious) local comfort foods on the corner of Keʻeamoku and Kanunu streets for the past 67 years. </div>
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Owner Julie Tateyama, who inherited the business from her grandparents James and Alice Nako, said that after closing its dining room in mid-March due to COVID-19, the financial strain has become too much for them to reopen. </div>
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“We were hoping to reopen later but with the extension of the closing of dining rooms and because we’re not a takeout order restaurant, it was rough and we had decided that we’re going to officially close on April 30,” says Tateyama in an April 1 announcement, which added the restaurant would discontinue doing takeout in “consideration to the health and safety of our friends, family and staff.</div>
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Known for its late-night hours and Hawaiʻi-style diner food options, like loco moco, wonton min and fried rice, Like Like Drive Inn has found its way into the hearts and stomachs of countless locals, some of which have grown up eating at the historic eatery. Started as an actual drive-in by James and Alice Nako in 1953, Like Like Drive Inn, which predates Ala Moana Center, was converted into an actual restaurant in the '60s before remodeling again in 1994. And many of its employees have stayed with the establishment for decades, adding to the diners already familial vibe.</div>
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“It’s still hard because they’ve been working for us for so long,” Tateyama says after telling her 50 employees about the plans for closure. “A lot of them have been here for 40 some years or close to 50 years.”</div>
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Through it all, what never changed at Like Like Drive Inn was the quality of the food, its friendly staff and the restaurant's iconic neon sign. Until now. <em>A hui hou</em> Like Like Drive Inn, you will be missed</div>
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<i>Article from Hawaii Magazine</i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-65567164000680622032018-09-24T11:15:00.003-04:002018-09-24T11:15:41.882-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img height="200" src="https://afar-production.imgix.net/uploads/daily_wander_newsletter/featured_items/images/NgyDWo1C86/original_open-uri20180920-22673-1mybxqk?1537447724?ixlib=rails-0.3.0&w=350&h=350&crop=top&fit=crop&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=80" width="200" /> <img alt="An example of what the kegs will look like on board" height="212" src="https://afar-production.imgix.net/uploads/images/afar_posts/images/9QqtXcS1oq/original_open-uri20180919-26111-giub3?1537390993?ixlib=rails-0.3.0&w=688.328&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=80" style="font-size: 17px;" width="320" /></h2>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">C</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">elebrate the annual beer festival at 30,000 feet th</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;">i</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">s year.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="initial-letter letter-F" style="box-sizing: border-box;">F</span>or the first time in 50 years, Lufthansa is serving draft beer from kegs on board certain flights to celebrate Oktoberfest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Back in the 1960s, passengers on “Lufthansa Senator Service” flights were treated to draft beer, as seen in the picture above. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Limited to just three flights during Oktoberfest this year, the special beer service returns September 19 on the Munich to Newark route and continues September 25 on the Munich to Singapore flight. Just before the annual festival ends, anyone flying the Munich to Shanghai route on October 6 will enjoy the last in-flight keg of the year on Lufthansa.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To serve the beer at 32,808 feet, Lufthansa selected a special keg designed with a valve to regulate the carbon dioxide pressure so it doesn’t explode.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><img alt="Munichâs traditional clothing specialist, Angermaier, designed the custom dirndls and lederhosen for the flight attendants." height="213" src="https://afar-production.imgix.net/uploads/images/afar_posts/images/uvPoVEaiyK/original_open-uri20180919-26111-idjysc?1537390993?ixlib=rails-0.3.0&w=688.328&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=80" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But that’s not all. To get everyone in a celebratory mood, the cabin crew on these flights will swap out their regular navy and yellow uniforms for traditional Bavarian outfits in dark blue and silver gray. Lufthansa tapped Munich-based clothing specialist, Angermaier, to design the custom dirndls for the women and lederhosen for the men.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px;">If you don’t happen to be flying on one of these three flights, you can still celebrate Oktoberfest on Lufthansa flights over the next few weeks. Business-class passengers on intercontinental flights in September and October will be treated to an Oktoberfest menu including ox tartare with truffle and char with riesling sauce, while anyone passing through a Lufthansa Lounge at Munich’s airport can enjoy pretzels, white sausage, and </span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Leberkäse</span></em><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px;">, a type of German meatloaf during the annual festival.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you’re heading to Munich for the first weekend of Oktoberfest, any passenger who lands at Terminal 2 in Munich between September 22 and 23 will receive a free box of goodies, including beer-mug-shaped gummies, pretzels, a vitamin drink (to fight off the hangover), and a special ribbon to decorate your beer mug. Prost!</span></span></span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-23801201846717902682018-07-13T08:13:00.002-04:002018-07-13T08:15:19.616-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>HOW TO PACK A CARRY-ON LIKE A PRO</b></div>
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<img alt="Tips to remember when packing a carry-on bag." height="300" src="https://media.farandwide.com/4e/24/4e2427f1f428475d9f333b38aa95d69f.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you ever struggled to manage multiple suitcases while enviously eyeing a traveler with one simple carry-on zip past you toward security? If you answered yes, you might be a chronic over packer. And though over packing isn’t a crime, it definitely has its consequences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Extra baggage costs differ per airline, but most charge $50+ a pop. Not only will you add unnecessary costs to your travel expenses, you’ll have to bring all of that luggage with you throughout your trip, schlepping it from train station to taxi to hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Other reasons you might want to avoid over packing? In European countries, cars are smaller, so if you plan on renting a car, all those bags might not fit in the trunk. In places like France or Italy, many boutique hotels and older apartment buildings don’t have elevators. And who wants to carry several suitcases up five flights of stairs to get to the Airbnb?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When it comes to easy and enjoyable traveling, less is more. Here’s how to save space when packing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Invest in a New Carry-On</span></h2>
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Suitcase technology has come a long way, with more manufacturers using lightweight fabrics and incorporating high-tech details, so if you can’t remember the last time you bought luggage, why not find a new perfect piece? Gliding wheels that can move in any direction, USB chargers, digital scales and location-tracking are a few must-have amenities for the modern-day suitcase.</div>
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Although luggage is not cheap, brands like <a href="https://www.awaytravel.com/">Away</a> are using top-notch materials to make thoughtful travel bags that won’t break the bank. Outlet stores like Off Saks Fifth Avenue and TJ Maxx are other great places to shop for affordable suitcases.</div>
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Bring along a tape measure when shopping to ensure that the carry-on is compact enough. There isn’t a universal size standard for carry-ons, but many domestic airlines (like American and Delta) allow bags that are no bigger than 22 inches tall, 14 inches wide and 9 inches deep.</div>
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<b>Make Time to Pack</b></div>
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Don’t wait until it’s almost time to leave for the airport to pack your bag; set aside an ample amount of time, about an hour, to get it right. This way you can be mindful of your clothing decisions and fold items precisely. (More advice on this later.)</div>
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After placing the open carry-on flat on the floor, check the pockets and discard any remnants or receipts from previous trips, so there’s nothing in the way of fitting everything in. You'll want to lay the carry-on flat, so that you can easily organize your items inside and fill every inch of the space.</div>
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<b>Select Items that Spark Joy</b></div>
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Marie Kondo, the organization guru and best-selling author of “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” believes that you should surround yourself with items that spark joy. Apply this thought process to packing, too. Choose clothing that you love and will want to wear. Arrange everything on a flat open surface, like your bed, by category, placing all the pants in one pile, all the shirts in another, and so on and so forth. Streamline your wardrobe and pick items that are mix and matchable.</div>
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If you’re going on a five day trip, follow the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” rule and pack five pairs of underwear and socks, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one purse. Kondo recommends never packing more than a week’s worth of clothes, no matter how long your trip. If you’re staying for more than a week, she suggests making time to do laundry. Throw in a versatile dress and jacket and you should have plenty of clothing. If you love a piece, but it’s valuable and you would be upset if it got lost, leave it at home.</div>
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<b>Consider Clothing Materials</b></div>
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Every fabric is different. Bulky sweaters, full skirts and maxi dresses can quickly fill up a carry-on. Denim is a heavier material than cotton, so consider its weight when deciding how many pairs of jeans to bring. Thigh-high boots will take up more room than booties, and pumps require more space than flats. </div>
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If the cozy sweater and boots spark joy, incorporate them into your plane outfit. Select your outfit before you pack and wear the heavy items—such as jewelry—on the flight. It’s a good idea to carry expensive jewelry with you in your purse rather than carry-on. When you arrive at your destination, store it in the hotel safe.</div>
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<b>Fold Clothing Carefully</b></div>
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Follow <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpc5_1896ro">Marie Kondo’s folding technique</a> and meticulously fold all of the clothes you plan to bring. Lay each piece on a flat surface like a kitchen table or large dresser. Run your hands over the fabric, like an iron, ensuring that there are no bubbles or creases. Fold into tight rectangles and stack or place side by side until you’re ready to fill the suitcase.</div>
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It’s beneficial to have everything neatly folded before placing clothing inside the suitcase. This allows the packer to arrange items like a Tetris game, ensures that you start organized, and makes unpacking a cinch.</div>
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Rolling is another method of packing many items of clothing into a carry-on. An example to follow is John Holloway <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDn9l20NlWw">Pack for Weeks in a Carry-on</a></div>
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<b>Fill Every Inch of Space</b></div>
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It’s essential to fill every nook and cranny of the suitcase. Pack footwear like you would find it in a shoebox, heal to toe. Stuff the soles with socks or a dirty laundry bag. Place heavy items like shoes and hair tools at the bottom of the suitcase. Drape clothing around these items.</div>
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Don’t let a single inch of space go unused; maximizing what you have available is key.</div>
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Figure Out Your Preferred Packing Method</div>
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Packing and organization experts recommend different methods as the best way to pack. Experiment with their suggestions to figure out which works best for you. For example, Kondo prefers to fold clothing, while some swear by rolling clothing into tight cylinders. Others recommend investing in compression bags and vacuum sealing clothing into compressed packets.</div>
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The bundling technique involves lying all your clothes flat, with parts hanging out of the suitcase, like the bottom half of a pair of pants, then folding each item on top of the other. The most wrinkle-prone item should be on the outside of the bundle so it’s not folded, but simply draped over the other clothing.</div>
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<b>Coordinate with Travel Companions</b></div>
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If you’re traveling with family or friends for a special occasion like a wedding, coordinate your packing with them. For example, if you’re bringing shampoo and conditioner, have your sister pack face wash and body lotion. Only one curling iron, outlet converter and sunscreen needs to be packed.</div>
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If you’re staying in a hotel, it should have basic toiletries and a blow dryer, so take that into consideration as well.</div>
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<b>Shop the Toiletry Travel Aisle</b></div>
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Never travel with full-sized toiletries. Not only will they be confiscated from your carry-on, but they simply take up too much space. Head to the travel aisle at Target and purchase smaller sizes of your favorite deodorant, mouthwash and body wash.</div>
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All liquids carried on to a flight must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or smaller. Any items over 3.4 ounces will be discarded by security.</div>
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<b>Keep Liquids on Top</b></div>
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Pack the aforementioned liquid toiletries in a clear Ziploc baggie and place it on top of your suitcase. If you have to open the suitcase to get through security, you’ll be able to easily access the toiletries.</div>
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I just traveled to the U.K., where makeup items such as lip gloss and mascara are considered liquid, so depending on where you’re traveling, you might want to keep makeup in an easily accessible side pocket.</div>
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<b>Leave Behind Unnecessary Gear</b></div>
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From car seats to cribs, traveling with children requires a lot of stuff. Call your hotel or check with your host to see if they have baby gear for rent; it’s often cheaper to rent than it is to travel with it.</div>
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Technology can also be heavy and bulky; do you really need your laptop, iPad and Kindle? If you’re going on a vacation, leave the laptop at home, so you won’t be tempted to work. And keep kids entertained on flights with an iPod stocked with movies and games.</div>
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<b>Keep Necessities Packed</b></div>
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If you travel frequently, always keep a toiletry bag packed and ready to go. Stock it with any and all essentials, like (travel-size) toothpaste and a toothbrush, contact solution and a small container of sunscreen.</div>
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When it comes time to pack, you simply have to grab the pouch and place it on top of your suitcase.</div>
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<b>Make a To-Pack List</b></div>
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If you procrastinate on packing and always end up forgetting something, sit down, weeks before your trip, and quickly type up a packing list. Note everything from workout leggings to iPhone chargers.</div>
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When it comes time to pack for your next trip, print the list and refer to it to ensure you don’t forget anything.</div>
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<b>Master an Outfit Plan</b></div>
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Assess all the events and activities on your travel itinerary, and pre-plan the exact outfit for each — clothes, shoes, accessories, everything. (Though it's best to choose versatile accessories that will go with a bunch of looks.) This is especially important if you’re going on a trip for a special celebration, be it a birthday or wedding.</div>
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And don't forget to choose items that you are excited to wear — then all you have to do is throw them on and you’re ready to enjoy the destination. No stress, no hassle, no problem.</div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-87534819415125393612018-05-18T15:10:00.001-04:002018-05-18T15:10:28.833-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: white;">What's Trending in Destination Weddings</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">A destination wedding used to be a couple’s easy out. Rather than undergoing an expensive affair with aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, centerpieces and a DJ (band? DJ? band?), the pair could choose to hop on a plane and make all the stress fade away. Destination weddings were smaller, more intimate and, more importantly, far, far away, which whittled the guest list down to those who were able, and truly determined, to go — and typically cut the bill in half.</span></span></div>
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The No. 1 trend that experts are seeing in this market is that these events have blossomed into an experience for everyone involved. Sure, the couple has their special day, but for the rest of the guest list, a destination wedding has become more of an opportunity for a personal vacation — one that becomes the couple's responsibility to help plan.</div>
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Because travel has become so accessible and important to a wider number of Americans in the last few years, people are more likely to jump at the chance to attend a destination wedding. In the past, destination weddings were ideal for paring down the guest list, losing attendees due to cost, lack of vacation time or general discomfort with travel. But in today’s world, companies are offering more time off, and the general willingness to travel has grown, so guest lists can often be as long as they would be at a traditional wedding.</div>
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Host destinations are getting bolder, as well. While traditional locales such as the Caribbean and Mexico will never go out of style, couples are also turning to more exotic spots. And even within typical wedding locations, twosomes are branching out to see how they can raise the bar.</div>
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Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation for both the couple and their guests, the bride and groom are willing to spend more for one-of-a-kind luxury touches.</div>
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The modern travel mindset is highly driven by social media, and this is no different when it comes to destination weddings. Couples want their weddings to be buzzworthy, beautifully photographed or — the highest level of brag-ability — to go viral. Facebook and Instagram feeds are loaded with images of picture-perfect weddings in exotic locales, showing that the destination weddings market is increasingly using social media to help fuel the desire for this kind of nuptial.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Those days are now a distant memory. Today, we live in the age of access. Travel has become an inalienable right, and while that’s certainly a good thing in terms of connecting with foreign cultures and trying new experiences, it has changed the way we travel — and the way we plan destination weddings.</span></div>
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From curated one-of-a-kind moments to personalized itineraries for the entire guest list to essentially a mega-vacation for more than just the bride and groom, here are some of the top trends in the way couples plan and execute destination weddings.</div>
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<b>One Big Vacation for All</b></div>
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“Gone are the days of just providing food, flowers and music,” said Jove Meyer, owner and creative director of New York-based Jove Meyer Events. “Now, we create experiential moments and memories in beautiful places.”</div>
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There are twosomes who go so far as to create build-up to the wedding experience, acting almost like travel agents themselves to help sell the trip as a fun vacation for all.</div>
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“Some couples are even surprising their guests by using save the dates that simply say things like ‘Get yourself to London on X date and we will take care of the rest,’” said Ceci Johnson, founder and creative director of custom invitation designer Ceci New York.</div>
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“Another trend has been to send a save the date without a destination, and those who respond ‘yes’ get a second mailing with the details of the event along with ‘get excited’ favors, such as custom passport cases and luggage tags. Many guests have been mixing in fun save the date packages that include presents like tequila bottles with custom-designed labels, if the wedding is in Mexico, for example.”</div>
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<b>Strength in Numbers</b></div>
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“Couples are increasingly surprised at how many people are going to their destination weddings,” said Tami Santini, owner of Paradise Getaways in Michigan. “The bride and groom aren’t seeing as much resistance, complaints or concerns when it comes to these weddings. Group sizes are larger, and couples are not looking at this type of ceremony as a way to save money. They just want to do it and are willing to spend $30,000 to have it happen. It’s common to see 100 people at a destination wedding.</div>
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The modern consumer is not so put off by travel. Thanks to social media, the world has become a much smaller place, and travelers today realize that time is fleeting and they need to seize potential experiences when they can.</div>
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“We’re seeing a different mindset about how people view the destination wedding,” Santini said. “They are willing to invest because they see the value that they are getting themselves. We are catering to millennials, for the most part, and they have no hesitation. Getting out and seeing the world is just normal for them.”</div>
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<b>Go Big or Go Home</b></div>
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“Couples are not afraid of long layovers or longer flights, especially if it means they can have an exclusive property or location for their wedding weekend,” said Meyer of Jove Meyer Events.</div>
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“Everyone has done the Caribbean and Mexico so many times,” said Sonal Shah, senior event consultant for New York-based Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants. “Now, Europe is where couples look for their weddings. Think Switzerland, Paris and Greece. Marrakech, Morocco, is another destination on the rise.”</div>
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Johnson of Ceci New York adds that Ireland has become another popular place for Europe-bound Americans planning destination weddings.</div>
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“Far from the issues that some major European cities have had regarding safety, Ireland is filled with epic scenery and unique venues like castles,” she said.</div>
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Once travelers reach their destination, the wedding experience becomes about incorporating the local flavor into the overall vibe. Destination weddings are first and foremost about the celebrated couple, but they also give guests an opportunity to say they have seen and done something new. Authenticity and experiences are the currency of good travel these days, and that is true of destination weddings, as well.</div>
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“Embracing the local flare is a big trend,” Meyer said. “More couples are working with local talent to bring authenticity to their destination wedding — be it through decor, favors, entertainment or attire. We are all familiar with a classic wedding, but now, guests and couples are having so much fun incorporating local touches to make it more unique and creative.”</div>
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<b>Luxury Rising</b></div>
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“Sometimes we'll see intimate weekend-long gatherings with a couple’s closest loved ones, where they treat every guest to a deeply personal and luxurious experience,” said Lisa Vorce, celebrity wedding planner and owner and creative director of Lisa Vorce Co. in Santa Ana, Calif. “This allows us to customize every detail with thoughtful attention to the couple’s tastes."</div>
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According to consultant Shah, couples are comfortable going above and beyond to truly customize their wedding experience. She has seen brides and grooms splurge on everything from private island buyouts and complete venue buyouts to chartered jets, a night on a yacht and flying in a celebrity guest.</div>
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Karisma Hotels & Resorts, for example, has catered to this growing trend with its Private Enclave Wedding Experience, which takes place at El Dorado Casitas Royale in Mexico's Riviera Maya. This package guarantees the wedding group a private casita enclave when they book a minimum of 17 casitas. Guests enjoy a private swimming pool with a swim-up bar, as well as private butler service. The package also includes a decorated Memorable Moments ceremony and a four-course private dinner reception with a private wine and cheese event, a bridal spa suite on the wedding day and a private poolside Mexican beach fiesta. The wedding couple is also upgraded to one of the Palafito Overwater Bungalows at El Dorado Maroma for the last two nights of their stay.</div>
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All for the 'Gram'</div>
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“Social media plays a big role in destination weddings,” said Scott Wiseman, president of Travel Impressions. “Many agents get their leads from referrals and testimonials from other brides. Social media also helps direct brides to the new hot spots.” Wiseman says that word-of-mouth has become an even stronger power with the influence of social media.</div>
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Celebrity wedding planner Vorce agrees.</div>
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“With the prevalence of social media, travelers are also planning their trips according to the guidance of leading travel bloggers, including couples who may be planning a destination celebration,” she said. “We use Instagram for digital reconnaissance, often finding unique artisans and creative services in the most exotic places around the world."</div>
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While the bar for destination weddings constantly moves higher, the good news for agents is that, for modern couples, great travel experiences seem to be the perfect add-on to their big day.</div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-73535681482904070502018-05-08T12:44:00.001-04:002018-05-08T12:44:31.320-04:00Cruise Maryland - Gateway to Your Getaway!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o1DI5p0Js3Y" width="480"></iframe>Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-77962074825760321452018-03-16T10:17:00.001-04:002018-03-16T10:17:13.467-04:00Travel Agent Appreciation<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pRtR6-A9Rs" width="480"></iframe>Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-76244917873672292942017-09-01T08:27:00.000-04:002017-09-01T08:29:02.038-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As more Americans choose closer-to-home vacations, Alaska was this summer's hottest cruise destination: Almost 3/4 of the 700 travel agents polled by Cruise Lines International Association reported an uptick in Alaska summer bookings. Lines say the 49th state satisfies current cravings for an adventurous, scenic, family-friendly, and safe destination.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By ship, you can
glide through the Inside Passage and watch humpback whales breach and glaciers
calve in spectacular settings like Glacier Bay National Park. Strike out on
adventures like heli-hiking and dogsled mushing in port, or catch your own
salmon in a mountain stream. Many lines offer add-on land tours that take
travelers deep into Denali National Park or through Yukon gold-rush country in
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 110%;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here are six new ways to experience the Great Land by cruise in 2016: </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">1. Cook your catch.</strong> If you land a salmon or halibut during certain Princess Cruises shore excursions, the ship’s chefs will prepare it to your specifications to enjoy onboard. The new “Cook My Catch” offering is available during calls at Juneau and Ketchikan. As passengers return from their tour, they select their preferred fish preparation and accompaniments, and then the culinary team takes it from there. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And if the fish aren’t biting? You can still dine on fresh Alaskan king crab, king salmon, and halibut in Princess ships’ main dining rooms. Plus, this summer their deck grills feature specialties from popular shore-side eateries, including crab cakes from Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau, fish tacos from Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan, and halibut burgers from Skagway Fish Company.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. More to do at Denali. </strong><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Travelers on Holland America Line’s Land+Sea Journeys can experience more culture and scenery at the company’s gateway to</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span class="js-lightweight_place-inline-save-wrapper" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; position: relative;">Denali National Park. I</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">n the 60-acre McKinley Chalet Resort, the newly inaugurated Denali Square serves as a gathering area to relax, dine, hear music, and delve into Alaskan culture. An amphitheater provides a covered performance stage for local shows, ranger talks, and demonstrations. The Gold Nugget Saloon is a choice spot for live music, and a new restaurant offers mountain views from an outdoor deck. You can gather ’round fire pits on cool evenings and toast marshmallows for s’mores, visit an artist-in-residence cabin where Alaskan native and local artists display and discuss their works, and hike paths through mountainous landscapes and along the Nenana River.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">3. Explore more at Icy Strait Point</span><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">,</strong> Alaska’s native-owned and operated cruise port. A new floating dock means ships no longer have to anchor. This gives passengers more time to explore Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Tlingit town, with its restored 1912 salmon cannery and museum, nature trails, and 100 percent Alaskan-owned shops. Passengers step ashore at a new Adventure Center, where they can join many different tours, from exploring Glacier Bay to searching for humpbacks at Point Adolphus, one of Alaska’s richest whale grounds. Those who stick around Hoonah can see bald eagles wheel overhead, sip a local beer at the Duck Point Smokehouse, or fly down North America’s longest and highest zip line.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Princess Cruises allows its passengers to cuddle with sled dog puppies</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: start;">4. Meet puppies (really!).</strong><span style="text-align: start;"> Princess Cruises is bringing aboard some of Skagway’s newest sled dogs for a visit in the ship’s piazza (central atrium). You can snap a picture with the cuddly puppies and talk with the handlers who’ll be training them for a life of mushing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">5. Get active in the wilderness.</strong> Small-ship specialist Un-Cruise Adventures has two new routes: “Exploring Muir’s Wilderness” and “Yachters’ Alaskan Frontier,” both featuring hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff excursions, and whale watching in remote wilderness. With few or no port calls and flexible itineraries, the week-long programs, round-trip from Juneau, focus on exploration and wildlife. The best part? Each trip is different.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">6. Trek the Northwest Passage</strong>, linking the Pacific and Atlantic via the Arctic Ocean. In August the luxurious, 1,070-passenger <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Crystal Serenity</em> will become the largest cruise ship to navigate the route, maneuvering through 900 miles of waterways lined with glaciers, fjords, and vast, unspoiled landscapes north of mainland Canada. The expedition begins in Seward, Alaska, and ends 32 days later in New York City. On board, speakers will address climate change and how the retreat of polar ice has enabled Crystal Cruises and others to undertake this expedition. The cruise currently has a waiting list; however, Crystal plans a second voyage in August 2017. And next year, fellow luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises will be transiting the Northwest Passage, too.</span></div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-14748827886549009622017-08-24T15:21:00.002-04:002017-09-01T07:47:03.673-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">When people find out what I do for a living, weird things often happen...</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some will tilt their heads to one side and ask “Do Travel Agents still exist?” as if they were magically staring into the eyes of a unicorn. Others will immediately start over-sharing every travel nightmare they, and everyone on the internet have ever experienced. Finally there are the folks that hit you up with a rapid fire, laundry list of questions like a hypochondriac during a doctor’s visit. The other ever popular response is “Wow, so you must get to like travel all over the world for free-right?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Truth be told, I have the best, most misunderstood job in the world. It’s true, most people have no idea how travel agents work and how they can help. Hopefully, I can help clear up some of this confusion by explaining things about what we do....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Most desperate vacation-seekers, take the knee jerk reaction of heading online to make their reservations. The lure of internet convenience and control quickly turns into confusion, indecisiveness and anxiety not to mention a huge time suck. How do I know?...because not a day goes by that I don’t receive emails pleading for help from these exact problems from would-be vacationers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Think of a travel agent as your tour guide that will lead you to the perfect vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you’ve ever wondered what a day in the life of a travel agent is like, here’s a bit more about what we’re all about and how we help our clients....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents are “All Inclusive” </strong>- Hotels, vacation package companies and cruise lines all include travel agent commissions in their published prices. If you do all the work yourself online, they “pocket” the difference. Using the services of a travel agent means you get the customer service you deserve. You won’t be spending hours on the internet, hanging on phone hold for eternity or wasting any precious time wondering and worrying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agent Do Not Cost More</strong> - Travel agents basically earn their living by the commissions we earn from our sales of hotel stays, cruises, sightseeing and rental cars. The airlines haven’t paid commissions to travel agents since the mid 1990’s. This is why when my travel agency recommends infants should have their own airlines seats instead of flying free as a lapchild, we’re not trying to part you from your money, we’re trying to make sure your baby stays safe. If you want to use mileage points too book your own flights, no problem. Online Travel companies do charge service fees. They build them into the cost that you pay. There are some travel agents that do charge a minimal service fee for their time which is usually offset by their time and money savings. Make sure you do ask in your initial consultation. Others may ask for an upfront deposit, especially in situations dealing with very complex itineraries or group events.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Are not pushy</strong> - Any good travel agent knows it’s not about making the sale, it’s about creating happy clients. Happy clients become fans of your company, come back to you every year and recommend your company to others. Most travel agents rejoice when we can save our clients money with a great deal. We make our recommendations based on the specific needs and requests of our clients. We don’t base our recommendations on industry sales incentives or bonus gifts. If we know of a better room or experience that will enhance our client’s family vacation, we’ll suggest. We just want our clients to make the best informed decisions to get the most value for their vacation dollars.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Match Online Prices</strong> - Some people just enjoy planning their own vacations. These are probably the same folks who like putting together IKEA furniture. No matter, make yourself happy find your best price and email us all the details. Your travel agent will either be able to match it or tell you why you’re setting yourself up for a scam. I even had clients who will make their own reservations directly with a cruise line or tour company then call and transfer their booking to our agency. It’s a win-win. They get and do exactly what they want while having us do all the follow up, follow thru while making suggestions to enhance their enjoyment. .</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Have Rates That You Don’t </strong>- Travel agents are privy to special flight prices, special hotel and cruise cabin rates that consumers will never find online themselves. This feature alone will save you money. Beyond pricing, good travel agents have the buying power to get extra amenities like ship board credits or insider tours that can also enhance your family’s vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Save You Time</strong> - Time in our most precious commodity and yet so many people are willing to waste it. HOURS can be spent properly researching a vacation. With the amount of conflicting information available online, it’s easy to quickly get overwhelmed and confused. Many times, the questions perplexing travelers are one that agents can answer right off the top of our heads thanks to our years of experience. If you have detailed questions or need to plan a complicated itinerary, we do all the work for you. We can make the international phone calls to get your questions answered. We know who and how to reach out to in order to get the job done, saving you hours of frustration.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Understand The Fine Print</strong>- Most people don’t bother reading any of the fine print terms and conditions of their travel documents until it’s too late. This is what “trips” them up (pun intended) and costs them big bucks in the long term. Even if folks do stop to read it, they fully understand all the implications. Travel Agents are well versed in these rules, terms and conditions. We can help navigate and protect your family and investment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Protect You</strong> - Most DIY vacation planners don’t realize that medical insurance usually does not cover your family while on vacation out of area or especially overseas. Many foreign countries will take your passport if you are admitted to a hospital and will expect payment in full for any treatment or surgery prior to discharge. A good travel agent will make sure you have the proper peace of mind with the right travel insurance to keep your family safe and protected.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Have Contacts</strong> - Travel agents do not get “free” trips. We invest our own money and especially our time to travel and visit the destinations we recommend. Sure we experience new travel options and learn about destinations. The most important reason why we make this professional investment is for the opportunity to meet face to face with the right important industry contacts. These important connections truly benefits the vacation experience our clients ultimately enjoy. We know exactly who to speak to in order to make special requests for our clients. This could mean things like connecting rooms, welcome gifts or advanced restaurant reservations. These relationships have proved priceless in emergency situations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Have Specialized Expertise</strong> - At our agency, we specialize in Family and multi generational vacations. In a former lifetime, I was a pediatric nurse so I often use those skills to help my clients. I will often share and collaborate with other travel industry professionals to help clients enjoy vacations that exceed their expectations. Even within our agency, we have agents who are Disney experts while others have experience creating customized tours in Europe, Africa and Asia. If we don’t have an in house person who can best serve our clients, we collaborate with other professionals who can.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Have Priceless Advice</strong> - First hand experience and knowledge are what will change a typical vacation into a real memorable experience. Even though good travel agents professionally invest in their own travel to gain this experience, not every Travel Agent can humanly know every destination in the world. That said, good travel agents have a “golden network” and know exactly who to call to get the answers their clients need.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Prevent Hassles</strong> - Most DIY travel people don’t realize if there is a HUGE difference between great value and the cheapest price. For example, you may pay a really low price for your family’s flight but that doesn’t mean you’ll make your connecting flight. This could result in an unexpected camp out at the airport terminal and the out of pocket loss for the vacation days you’re missing. A good travel agent know certain airport require longer connection times than others to prevent problems. This is just one of many examples that “trips” up online travel shoppers and may explain so many of the unnecessary rants on travel review websites.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Babysit Your Reservations</strong> - Many folks have commitment issues when it comes to pulling the trigger and confirming their reservations. They always think they will get a cheaper last minute rate. Often they wait too long, forfeit availability and end up paying much more for their vacation. Most people don’t realize that if their trip goes on sale, they can get a lower rate. A good travel agent will babysit your reservation and have any lower prices or sales applied to your reservation, even after you’ve made your initial deposit has been made. This is true for many cruises or Disney vacations. For Caribbean or Mexico resort vacations, our agents can direct you to price guarantee coverage that offers you the same option.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Offer Affordable Payment Plans </strong>- Online booking require payment in full at the time you confirm your reservations. This means you could be paying huge credit card interest fees that will add to the total cost of your vacation in the long run. If you plan ahead and use a travel agent, you will only be required to pay a small deposit to confirm your family’s vacation reservations. Final payment for your trip will usually be required 45 to 60 days prior to your departure. This means your travel agent can set up a monthly vacation layaway program that could save you hundreds on credit card interest.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Travel Agents Work As Your Troubleshooter</strong> - No matter how much you prepare, sometimes unexpected “stuff” happens while your on vacation. When you book with a travel agent, they are with you every step of the way. We are your personal advocate. If you run into any issues, your travel agent can make calls and usually fix the situation so you don’t have to waste valuable vacation time problem solving. We usually know who to call and how to ask for the right solutions many times exceeding your expectations. In the rare instance that you need to make a travel insurance claim or need to follow up on a complaint after you return home, your travel agent advocate continues to work on behalf on your family. We make sure any problems are solved to your satisfaction.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I don’t think my job is weird at all...honestly, I think I’m one of the lucky ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am one of those rare individuals who looks forward to getting up, pouring a cup of coffee and going to work every the morning. I commute to my office where I connect every day with friends and great people all over the globe. Our staff works virtually and they are happy and get to be at home surrounded by the people they love every day. We get to help our clients explore the world, check items off their bucket lists, share life changing memories with their loved ones and come home with suitcases full of amazing experiences. I am fortunate now to be doing this long enough that the kids I once sent off on vacations with their parents are now calling me up to help plan their destination weddings or to take their own kids on vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tell me, does this all sound like a bad day at the office to you?</span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-29260848642560012022017-06-21T11:48:00.007-04:002017-06-21T11:48:58.227-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 21px;"><b>Oberammergau Passion Play</b></i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Friedman_3-0" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"></sup></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">In 1633, the residents of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany, vowed that if God spared them from the bubonic plague ravaging the region, they would produce a play thereafter for all time depicting the life and death of Jesus. The death rate among adults rose from one person per 1000 per year in October 1632 to twenty in the month of March 1633. The adult death rate slowly subsided to one in the month of July 1633. The villagers believed they had been spared and they kept their part of the vow when the play was first performed in 1634.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">The play is now performed repeatedly over the course of five months during every year ending in zero. 102 performances took place from 15 May until 3 October 2010 and is next scheduled for 2020.</span><span style="font-size: 16.8px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21px;"> The production involves over 2,000 performers, musicians and stage technicians, all residents of the village.</span><span style="font-size: 16.8px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21px;"> The play comprises spoken dramatic text, musical and choral accompaniment and </span><i style="font-size: 21px;">tableaux vivants</i><span style="font-size: 21px;">, which are scenes from the Old Testament depicted for the audience by motionless actors accompanied by verbal description. These scenes are the basis for the typology, the interrelationship between the Old and New Testaments, of the play. They include a scene of King Ahasuerus rejecting Vashti in favor of Esther, the brothers selling Joseph into slavery in Egypt, and Moses raising up the nehushtan (</span><span style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">bronze</span></span><span style="font-size: 21px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">serpent</span></span><span style="font-size: 21px;">) in the wilderness. Each scene precedes that section of the play that is considered to be prefigured by the scene. The three </span><i style="font-size: 21px;">tableaux</i><span style="font-size: 21px;"> mentioned are presented to the audience as prefiguring Christianity superseding Judaism, Judas selling information on the location of Jesus, and the crucifixion of Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 16.8px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The evolution of the Passion Play was about the same as that of the Easter Play, originating in the ritual of the Latin Church, which prescribes, among other things, that the Gospel on Good Friday should be sung in parts divided among various persons.</span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-12580564732177792152017-06-02T11:58:00.001-04:002017-06-02T11:58:35.311-04:00Absolute Dream Vacations Bmore Lifestyle<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgtNpUzsf5Q" width="480"></iframe>Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-55817347320846315992017-05-17T13:16:00.002-04:002017-05-17T13:25:31.802-04:002017 5 Hot Travel Destinations<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7283250899188620539" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2017 5 Hot Travel Destinations</span><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a
travel agent I get asked what is the newest or hottest destination right now.
There are a lot of different opinions, but here is a list of destinations
that popping up for us.</span><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reykjavik, Iceland</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Travel
between June and August tends to be the most popular with visitors. June offers
24 hours of Arctic daylight, while July and August are the warmest months,
offering the best chances for good weather. Travel between mid-September and
mid-October is perhaps the most ideal, as you’ll miss the swell of high-season
tourist traffic, sneak in before snowfall blankets the trails, and have a solid
chance of seeing the northern lights. Although winter weather can be an
impediment, and the narrow window of daylight can shorten your sightseeing,
excellent deals can be scored during the off-season.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Turin,
Italy <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best known for its historic cafes and
the Shroud of Turin, the city is also a vibrant contemporary art destination.
Last year, superstar curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev was named director of
two major institutions, Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna, Italy's first
modern art museum, and Castello di Rivoli, its first contemporary art
museum, featuring works from powerhouses like Michelangelo Pistoletto and Paul
McCarthy. Earlier eras can be explored at two other newly overhauled museums:
the Galleria Sabauda, where visitors can see more than 500 works once
owned by the royal Savoy family, and the Egyptian Museum, which houses one
of the most extensive Egyptian-artifact collections in the world. Early in
2017, Turin's medieval roots will be revealed at Lavazza coffee's new
headquarters in the Aurora neighborhood, when the company unveils a
fourth-century basilica discovered during construction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mayanmar<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thankfully,
the pace of change is not overwhelming, leaving the simple pleasures of travel
in Myanmar intact. Drift down the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in an old river
steamer or luxury cruiser. Stake out a slice of beach on the blissful Bay of
Bengal. Trek through pine forests to minority villages scattered across the
Shan Hills without jostling with scores of fellow travellers. Best of all,
you'll encounter locals who are gentle, humorous, engaging, considerate,
inquisitive and passionate – they want to play a part in the world, and to know
what you make of their world. Now is the time to make that connection.In 2015,
Myanmar voted in its first democratically elected government in more than half
a century. Sanctions have been dropped and the world is rushing to do business
here. Relaxing of censorship has led to an explosion of new media and an
astonishing openness in public discussions of once-taboo topics. Swathes of the
county, off-limits for years, can now be freely visited. Modern travel
conveniences, such as mobile phone coverage and internet access, are now
common, but largely confined to the big cities and towns, where the recent
economic and social improvements are most obvious.</span><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paros Greece</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kitesurfers
have long made a playground of the </span><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">breezy
beaches<span style="background: white;"> of Paros, and no wonder: this
sunshiny isle is a Cycladic triumvirate of sandy shoreline, history, and
culture. Last summer the island debuted a new airport, opening it to larger
aircraft and more vacationers. And the fishing village of Naousa, with its boxy
white architecture and seaside tavernas, is increasingly sophisticated—check in
to the modern, adults-only apartments of</span> Porto Naousa<span style="background: white;"> or the elegant </span>Seven Santa Maria<span style="background: white;">, where six airy, all-white suites (and a separate
villa) come with a private boat and skipper for exploring the island’s secret
coves. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Malaga, Spain<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Málaga,
in Spain’s Andalusia region, is now a veritable </span><span style="font-family: Bellota; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">museum-goer’s paradise<span style="background: white;">. The first wave included a </span>Picasso museum<span style="background: white;"> (the artist was born here) and the sprawling
8,000-square-foot </span>CAC (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo)<span style="background: white;">, which has hosted exhibits by Ai Weiwei and Marcel
Dzama. Since then, the </span>Carmen Thyssen<span style="background: white;">,
an outpost of Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum that houses the famous
baroness’s extensive private collection, has opened; so has a five-year pop-up
of Paris’s Centre Pompidou displaying works by Magritte, Chagall, and Kahlo.
The Pompidou’s location along Málaga’s renovated waterfront is marked by a hypermodern,
rainbow-hued glass cube. And in the industrial space of a former tobacco
factory is a sister site of the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. Archaeology
buffs can comb the extensive collection at the Aduana Palace (it houses both a
fine arts and archaeological museum) or head to the Antequera Dolmens (a
prehistoric burial site that earned its UNESCO World Heritage nod in 2016).
Unwind afterward at the lavishly appointed </span>Gran Hotel Miramar<span style="background: white;">; it opened at the end of 2016 in a historic 1926 Art
Nouveau building across from Málaga’s most timeless attraction: Malagueta
Beach.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-50499437198912484382017-04-21T08:59:00.001-04:002017-04-21T08:59:14.142-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1hezNLlSO9dc_LPo6X8xNqYHNbWWGkuxFU3gjPARGV_5YELWhnCtLotjwSJvQEPb8bqhg5Qk2dTbSARuUp-hZRScnROv3Goc3vDE7AWnjcScoxJFhAP781IywUyZHJt1To7m2M_W63D7/s1600/blogs-the-wanderlust-guide-to-the-best-of-mexico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1hezNLlSO9dc_LPo6X8xNqYHNbWWGkuxFU3gjPARGV_5YELWhnCtLotjwSJvQEPb8bqhg5Qk2dTbSARuUp-hZRScnROv3Goc3vDE7AWnjcScoxJFhAP781IywUyZHJt1To7m2M_W63D7/s320/blogs-the-wanderlust-guide-to-the-best-of-mexico.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;">THE BEST OF MEXICO</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">From the vivid wall paintings at Bonampak to the mighty temples of Chichén Itzá, the sheer variety of archaeological sites in Mexico is astounding. Add to this the brilliance of the Caribbean Sea, huge canyons and dense jungles and you have an invigorating cocktail of culture and landscapes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Congested, polluted and gloriously manic, Mexico City was originally founded by the Aztecs. Beyond the capital, the pace slows. Colonial cities, founded on the wealth of silver mines, rest assuredly on their architectural laurels. Within easy striking distance of Mexico City, the mountains and desert plains of Querétaro are another world: people quietly go about their business as they always have, farming and producing crafts for sale at the local markets.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The city of Oaxaca is the jewel in Mexico's gastronomic crown, home to colorful markets and a wide array of restaurants and street stalls serving regional specialties such as <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mole amarillo</em> and <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">empanadas </em>stuffed with courgette flowers and molten <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">quesillo</em> (a mozzarella-like cheese). Sign up for one of the cookery courses and market tours offered by many restaurants around town.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Adventurers flock to Mexico to climb the volcanic peaks, to descend into the deepest cenotes or to spill down the white waters of the Antigua and Pescado rivers. The Caribbean offers superb diving off the Quintana Roo coastline, while on the west coast surfers ride the giant rollers beside the beautiful beaches of the wild Pacific and Baja California. In the far north-west, the Sea of Cortéz is one of the planet’s richest marine feeding grounds – where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot hammerhead sharks, dolphins and California grey whales.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: blue;">From the scorched northern deserts to the humidity of the southern rainforests, Mexico is an invigorating blend of influences as diverse as its landscape. Which begs the question – which is the Mexico for you? </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: blue;">he Copper Canyon Railway is rightly regarded as one of the world’s great train journeys. But what do you do when the ride is over?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="text-align: start;">Have you heard of </span><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Mexico’s Island of the Dolls</span><span style="text-align: start;">? It’s just outside Mexico City and is covered in the weathered remains of plastic dolls. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Mexico’s remote Chiapas region,</span><span style="text-align: start;"> once the home to bandits and revolutionaries, it is now opening up to travelers, offering an insight into the life and traditions in the south. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Mexicans will hold a fiesta at the drop of a very wide-brimmed hat. No matter what day it is, it will be some saint’s birthday somewhere and the fireworks and colourful costumes will be dutifully brought out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The biggest festival, held at the start of November each year, is <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Día de los Muertos</em> – the Day of the Dead. Locals head to the nearest cemetery to commune and party with long-deceased relatives.</span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-17567082758374947672017-04-05T09:00:00.004-04:002017-04-05T09:01:04.733-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="212" src="https://weddingsbyfunjet.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Highlights-0847.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">THE BEST DESTINATION WEDDING WEBSITES</span></h1>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Here you are, blushing bride to be! You’ve narrowed down your wedding date and time, picked your dream wedding venue, and raved all about the hotel you’ve chosen for your destination wedding to friends and family. What’s next? As a bride in today’s digital age, there are endless options in sharing the deets with your guests. In hopes to make this process a bit easier for you (to ensure you stay on track with your bridal beauty sleep), we’ve narrowed down the best wedding websites our couples have used in the past, and compiled a list of things to know about each website provider so you have all of the information you need to select a wedding website that has all the features you’re looking for, and more!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>APPY COUPLE</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>Uncomplicated pricing with no monthly fees, there’s a one time fee of $39 for the Boutique Collection or $89 for the Luxury Collection. The only difference between collections are the website and app styles you get to choose from!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>One of the biggest stressors for couples is getting the word out to their guests about additional activities and dinners planned in destination in the days leading up to the big day. Appy coupleprovides unique sharing features through a personalized website and app, like coordinating email templates, printable mini cards (in your chosen theme) to print and place on tables on the day of the wedding or to include with your invitations, and instant messaging directly from the app or your wedding website to stay in touch with selected guests, your wedding planner (that’s us!), or anyone you choose.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> The trailblazer of online and mobile planning, Appy Couple features 500+ stylish website designs, free concise wedding planning tools from a wedding budget manager to event decor style guides, wedding registry advice, and (most importantly) flexible RSVPs with on-app management. Harmony Walton, founder of The Bridal Bar, with an impressive celebrity client list including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley, and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, provides expert insight on planning process tips and tricks of the trade along with Appy brides (and grooms) all the up to the wedding day.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">JOY</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>Free.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>Word on the street is that your wedding day will go by like a blink of an eye, if you haven’t already heard. This is the most common statement you will hear from newlyweds, and results in so much gratitude for making <a href="http://weddingsbyfunjet.com/2016/01/07/expert-insight-destination-wedding-photography/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">photography</a> and videography a top priority early on. <a href="https://withjoy.com/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Joy</a> helps your guests capture and preserve the moments you may miss by sharing photos on your private timeline, and a LiveShow mode lets you display your timeline during the wedding so everybody can watch it unfold as it’s happening!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> As wedding planners that rely heavily on in-destination vendors to execute our couples’ wedding visions the way we have directed and coordinated, we love the feature of showcasing who made the cake, bouquet, and decor. Guests always want to know who the vendors are, and now they have a way!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>BLISS & BONE</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>7 Day Free Trial, $12 / month (cancel anytime)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>An artsy, cultured, and fierce creative agency, Bliss and Bone is a destination for couples that don’t want their website (or wedding stationary) to look like anything or anyone else. Customize everything from mix and matched fonts, colors with your own hex code, specialty Monograms for your own personal touch, and any domain name you wish. Create a unique wedding flow with the expertise of clean, modern design, and generate a hopelessly romantic version of your love story.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> Made for the design-savvy, creative bride, in addition to customizing your wedding website, Bliss and Boone gives you the ability to design your dream invitations, save-the-dates, envelopes, and reply cards, and nit-picks every little detail until it’s absolutely perfect.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">THE KNOT</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>Free.<strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>Sign up for The Knot, and you’ll get connected to a complete wedding planner that acts as a personal planning expert sending you updates and checklists throughout planning that’s personalized to your specific timeline and wedding location. Did we mention a personalized wedding spend plan based on your <a href="https://www.theknot.com/wedding-budget/start?member_exists=false" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">budget</a>is included….for free?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> Aside from being rated the no. 1 wedding website tool, we are huge fans of anything that helps couples stay within budget and stretch that dollar. We love the All-In-One registry feature that allows you to pick a charity and The Knot will donate with each registry gift purchase.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">MYWEDDING</span></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>Free.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>Choose from 600+ website designs and match your invitations to your website with designs from top stationary providers, like minted and wedding paper divas. In comparing other free wedding website builders, there is an intuitive editing feature that’s extremely user-friendly for the less than tech-savvy couples. Everything is hosted on one page, making it easy for you to set the options the way you’d like.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> This is your one-stop shop for wedding planning and the ultimate guide to additional events for your guests, style and decor inspiration, etiquette and advice, DIY for days, registry essentials, and even honeymoon adventures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>RILEY & GREY</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Price: </strong>$35 / month or $240 / year</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creative features: </strong>We like to consider Riley & Grey the Belle of the Ball for couples looking for an upscale, seamless wedding website with guaranteed one-of-a-kind website themes and an RSVP system you can count on. Customize the retrieval of guest details like reception song requests, meal orders, travel dates, and more with mad-libs, spicing up the otherwise tedious task. Better yet, guests will only see the events they’re invited to and those plus one permissions will be crystal clear.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why we love it:</strong> In the words of Riley & Grey, “theme-y cheesiness be gone.” Inspired by the best of design and decor, it’s understood that not every bride wants flowers, hearts, and unicorns bursting from the computer screen. Traditional wedding or not, they do a great job in helping couples reflect their true style, while focusing on eliminating headaches and making the process as simplified as possible. As <a href="http://weddingsbyfunjet.com/contact/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">international wedding planners</a>, we appreciate the respect to traditions across the globe, and the ability to change the site to a different language to help add the many travel details guests from afar need to book their travel. That’s what we call first class work, Riley & Grey!</span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-6260152584027996322017-04-04T07:46:00.001-04:002017-04-04T07:46:41.317-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF34rQvGGyF-O7cGBaXiJ86zI9_E5Wm2qcC75qifsJ_FMq3t1ctts0Eb1epNeZuk9XCT7TfVCgIZ5XfmAyJOumRmvzOkYnXjnu49K5nXiytmveyE-E1gUa70vp0wuF4A7utq4Binfe1cB0/s1600/5b2f2004a9b34b5514ac8b3a63ed17ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF34rQvGGyF-O7cGBaXiJ86zI9_E5Wm2qcC75qifsJ_FMq3t1ctts0Eb1epNeZuk9XCT7TfVCgIZ5XfmAyJOumRmvzOkYnXjnu49K5nXiytmveyE-E1gUa70vp0wuF4A7utq4Binfe1cB0/s320/5b2f2004a9b34b5514ac8b3a63ed17ea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Five Great Places To Stop In The Florida Keys</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Tell someone you’re going to the Keys and odds are they’ll ask
about Key West. But with more than 113 miles of coral and limestone islands at
your disposal, there’s more to the Florida Keys than six-toed cats and conch
fritters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Start your journey by getting in an <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration-line: none;">Enterprise
Rent-A-Car</span> – and wouldn’t this be the time to rent something
exotic? – and begin in Miami and head south on U.S. Highway 1, which links Key
West, the southernmost Key, to the U.S. mainland. </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">You could drive it in an afternoon; after all, it’s just about a
three-and-a-half hour drive from Miami to the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">But that would mean missing out by stopping at some hidden – and
not-so-hidden – gems along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">First Stop - Key Largo:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Lauren Bacall and
Humphrey Bogart have long since left but the allure lives on, especially for
divers, as the surrounding sea offers up historic shipwrecks and a few man-made
coral reefs. Just 18 miles south of Miami, it’s an easy day trip to the John Pennekamp
Coral Reef State Park. Divers will want to have their picture snapped by the
underwater statue of Christ of the Abyss (the original is located in the
Mediterranean Sea) by the Key Largo Dry Rocks reef.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">Second Stop – Islamorada:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Drive 30 minutes south
from Key Largo and you will arrive on Islamorada, a 20-mile long chain of
islands known as the “sport fishing capital of the world.” The Gulf Stream
brims with schools of tuna, sailfish and kingfish. Those who love fish, but not
fishing, can buy a bucket of bait to feed the tarpon who swim close to the
docks in search of a snack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">Third Stop – Marathon:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Marathon, as the story
goes, was named by workers who came to build Henry Flagler’s railroad through
the Keys. The work was so back-breaking that workers called it a real marathon
and the name stuck. Today, Marathon is a destination known for being family
(and sea life) friendly. Visitors should stop by The Turtle Hospital, a
veterinary hospital for sea turtles, where they can go behind the scenes and
feed the residents, and the Dolphin Research Center, where visitors can swim
with and learn more about these friendly ocean mammals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">Fourth Stop - Bahia Honda Key:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> This quiet Key was
once home to railroad workers. Today, it’s home to the Bahia Honda State Park
and offers up a fairly untouched beach, thanks to being a bit off the beaten
path. The park offers the chance to engage in a host of watersports, including
snorkeling and kayaking, and has a campground for those looking for an outdoor
adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;">Fifth Stop - Key West:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;"> Key West is everything
you want in a tropical destination and more. With quaint historic homes, a
great restaurant scene, beaches galore and some pretty hot nightlife, what’s
not to love? History buffs will want to check out the Little White House,
President Truman’s winter home away from home, while anyone who’s ever read
“The Old Man and The Sea” needs to swing by Hemingway’s former home to see how
Papa once lived.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-8513263303582236312017-03-29T09:00:00.000-04:002017-03-29T09:00:08.214-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NsYgu-D91SwVTU8IBZlsK4viVV-QPygjRw9e4StYS3_zpXbiMPNSJlzT-ROMvjMGWGoe8S8pRrDl0pXA7EjbCccFBb4cfGget5CFOfkL6ZB_weHkkrgtLOIASqkVRfkZEPZxgsPa41mO/s1600/Yq6ObbTP.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NsYgu-D91SwVTU8IBZlsK4viVV-QPygjRw9e4StYS3_zpXbiMPNSJlzT-ROMvjMGWGoe8S8pRrDl0pXA7EjbCccFBb4cfGget5CFOfkL6ZB_weHkkrgtLOIASqkVRfkZEPZxgsPa41mO/s320/Yq6ObbTP.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h1 class="magazine-title" data-reactid="72" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Calibre, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">7 Secret Passenger Rights</span></h1>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibre, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: start;">We already feel like airlines are screwing us enough. Add long delays, overbooked flights, lost bags, and it turns into hell on runway. But there's a silver lining, if you know what to ask for. Here are seven ways to get even. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;">Get refunded for bumping</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;">It’s hard not to freak out when you’re bumped off an oversold flight. But remember this: you can get paid back. According to the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><a class="external-link" href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Department of Transportation</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;">, if you get to your destination between one and two hours of your original arrival time on a domestic flight, or between one and four hours on an international trip, the airline owes you 200 percent of the one-way fare (up to $675). If you arrive more than four hours later than planned, you'll pocket 400 percent of the ticket (up to $1,350). Still can't believe it? An</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><a class="external-link" href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">AirHelp</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px;">study found that the average payout is $643.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 19.88px; margin-bottom: 30px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ask for cash not flight vouchers</span> Don't let an airline ever give you a voucher for a bumped flight, or any other inconvenience. Vouchers are like Monopoly money. They look good on paper, but they're not as useful in reality. Your best bet? Ask for cash or a check because credits almost always come with strings attached (i.e. blackout dates). So before you pass go, collect your $200 — in cash.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Opt out of a tarmac delay</span> So you're stuck on the runway, forced to watch <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Taken</em> for the fifth time as the hours tick by. (No offense, Liam.) Lucky for you, you can't be held on a <a class="external-link" href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">delayed plane</a> for more than three hours on domestic flights or four hours on international routes (if you don't want to be at least). Airlines are also obligated to update passengers every 30 minutes, and serve food and water after a two-hour wait. Pass the pretzels. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 19.88px;">Cancel tickets for free</span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;">Got a bad case of buyer's remorse? Don't worry, most airlines allow you to cancel or change your ticket within 24 hours for a full refund. In fact, on some carriers (like</span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;"> </span>Southwest<span style="font-size: 19.88px;">) you can even change plans until right before boarding at no charge. But there are some exceptions. Take</span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;"> </span>American Airlines<span style="font-size: 19.88px;">: You can hold a ticket up to 24 hours, but once you book, you're locked in. Also, keep in mind that third-party sites like Kayak and Expedia have their own set of rules, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pay back for itinerary changes</span> When flights are delayed, rescheduled or canceled, many passengers are forced to rearrange transportation. In situations like these, the airline must either cover all the expenses and fees to reroute you or give you a full refund — even if you bought a non-refundable ticket or were rebooked on a different carrier. So, if the only seat left on the next flight out is first-class, it's yours without costing a cent. More champagne, please. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 19.88px;">Snag a hotel voucher</span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19.88px;">This will be the last time you'll ever have to sleep at the gate, or worse, on the terminal floor. Airlines are required to offer free accommodations if you're stuck overnight involuntarily. Just don't expect the Ritz. These hotel vouchers can be claimed at any time, meaning if you decide to stay with friends instead of a Holiday Inn, you are still entitled to the coupon. It's also worth asking if they'll cover meals as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cash in for lost luggage</span> If your checked bag is lost, delayed or damaged, don't settle for the small $50 sum you're usually offered. Depending on how much your items were worth and how long your bags are MIA, you could be repaid up to $3,500 per passenger in <a class="external-link" href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights" rel="noopener nofollow noindex" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">liability</a> for a domestic U.S. trip, and up to $1,675 on international flights. Hello, shopping spree.</span></div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-33583928988733749882017-03-10T05:50:00.001-05:002017-03-10T05:50:00.207-05:00http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/10-Reasons-Travelers-Still-Need-a-Travel-Agent?utm_content=21565196<a href="http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/10-Reasons-Travelers-Still-Need-a-Travel-Agent?utm_content=21565196">http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/10-Reasons-Travelers-Still-Need-a-Travel-Agent?utm_content=21565196</a>Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-41115380745235476672017-03-08T08:10:00.001-05:002017-03-08T08:10:10.431-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Tips for Taking a Great Family Vacation with Teens</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let's face it, teens aren't the easiest people to please. They want to be treated like adults and do their own thing, especially on vacation, but they aren't quite adults yet. Oh, and they also get bored easily too! When you travel as a family, you are exposing them to educational experiences. Shaping a teen's mind by exposure to other cultures is one of the best things you can do for them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">However, planning a vacation with teens comes with its own unique set of challenges, so how do you make your trip a good one for them?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">GO ALL INCLUSIVE</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Stay at an all inclusive resort with a great teen club and activities. Teens love food, games, and a place to hang out without adults. Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean is a great example of a true family vacation with a Scratch DJ Academy, where your teen can learn to be a DJ and compete in a DJ FaceOff, or even perform at a party while they are there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">INVOLVE THEM</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Involve them in the decision making process. Ask them what they would like to do. Let them have a separate space or their own room. Sometimes, it is best to have a condo style or villa property. Let them have a say in the destination choice and what their interests are in that destination and make them feel their desires are important. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">SET EXPECTATIONS BEFORE THE TRIP</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">If there is free Wi-Fi at the resort, set boundaries before you arrive. How many hours per day are they allowed on a device? Set a time frame to put devices in the safe so you are spending quality time together doing activities. On the other hand make sure they do stay connected to their friends by having Wi-Fi readily available for those set times each day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Though family vacations, especially with teens, can be stressful, the benefits of spending that time together away from outside distractions, will promote family bonding and your children will have lifetime memories that they will forever be grateful.</span></span></div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-10011247686856758802017-02-28T11:27:00.002-05:002017-02-28T11:27:39.406-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Romance Get Away Webinar!</b></div>
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Register for a Sandals/Beaches webinar with Absolute Dream Vacations LLC</div>
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2 Dates available</div>
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<b>February 28th @ 7:00 PM</b></div>
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http://sandals.enterthemeeting.com/m/MCT27AB3</div>
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<b>March 14th @ 7:00 PM</b></div>
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http://sandals.enterthemeeting.com/m/DGGY7BDE</div>
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At the above times and dates copy and paste the link into your browser and sign up! That's all there is to it!!</div>
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If you should choose to book with Absolute Dream Vacations within 10 days, you will receive up to a $250 Red Lane Spa credit to use on your romantic get away. If you book Sandals Negril, Sandals LaSource, Sandals South Coast, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, or Beaches Ocho Rios you'll also receive a romantic candle light dinner!</div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-24451231188836243252017-02-16T09:46:00.005-05:002017-02-16T09:46:58.984-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;">Sandals' New Overwater Bungalows</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sandals is expanding its already-popular overwater bungalows in the Caribbean.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The company, which debuted its first <a href="http://www.caribjournal.com/2016/11/21/sandals-overwater-bungalows/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">overwater villas in Montego Bay</a>, Jamaica earlier this year, as announced nine new “over the water honeymoon butler bungalows” set to open at its Sandals Grande St Lucian property in St. Lucia.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The nine new units are now available for bookings for travel beginning in May, the company said in a statement.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new bungalows have glass-floor panels, a private outdoor tranquility soaking tub for two, a king-sized bed and overwater hammocks.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bungalows’ bathrooms have his and hers sinks, a large backlit mirror with mosaic tile and a walk-in rain shower.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each bungalow also has a private patio with a sun deck, outdoor shower, sun loungers and a bistro set.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sandals’ “Butler Elite” service and 24-hour room service are included with each room.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See more on the company’s overwater bungalows from Caribbean Journal’s video above.</span></div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-83787266962994284752017-01-31T17:58:00.002-05:002017-01-31T17:58:41.726-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #121111; font-family: Lato, "Source Sans Pro", Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Norwegian Cruise Line will kick off the new year with a cruise industry first: an upgrade program that allows passengers who have paid for a cruise to bid for an upgrade to a higher-category stateroom. </span><br />
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The Norwegian Upgrade Advantage program has the blessing of a group of top travel agents after a 60-day beta test in advance of its February 8 launch. Their feedback was all positive, including the fact that the entire system is automated and requires no travel agent intervention, keeps them in the communication loop at all times, and pays commissions on the enhanced fare, Norwegian’s senior sales VP Camille Olivere told <em style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px;">TMR</em>. So what’s not to like?</div>
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“This truly is brand new, and our beta test was super-successful,” Olivere said. “After final payment guests can bid on an upgrade and there’s a little dial that will show them in red, yellow or green the likelihood their bid is going to be accepted. When we offer the upgrade to the guest we email the travel agency of record, so they see the guest has been offered the ability to upgrade, and if the bid is accepted we notify the agency. The agency has to do absolutely nothing.”</div>
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Once guests’ bids are accepted, they are assigned to an available cabin at a higher level—“inside to outside, outside to balcony, balcony to a suite or The Haven,” Olivere said—but cannot choose the exact stateroom to which they are assigned. </div>
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The idea is not completely new in the travel industry, of course; companies from Priceline to airlines to hotels offer upgrade bidding programs. But it is a first for a major cruise line. And while Olivere—who returned to Norwegian in November after two years at Club Med and World Travel Holdings—takes no credit for dreaming it up, she is excited to be on board as it rolls out. </div>
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“It’s truly awesome,” she said. “It offers the ability for guests to pay a reasonable price, and also gives the agent more commission on the additional revenue. It’s all done online and the agent automatically gets the additional commission.”</div>
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Olivere noted that travel professionals were always top of mind as the program was put together, and their feedback was solicited and incorporated in the final product. “We wanted to make sure we had all the commission together and that it worked, that it would benefit the guest and the agent in every way.”</div>
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While of course Norwegian is “encouraging everyone to participate,” any agency that does not want to offer it to customers can simply opt out. </div>
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“It’s an idea born really out of trying to solve the question of how do we let our guests take advantage of the best part of our ships in a way that is easy. And of course it was launched in a spirit of Partners First. We always take a view through the lens of our travel partners before we launch something to make sure it is beneficial for our travel partners as well as their guests.”</div>
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Upgrade Advantage will launch on the large ships (Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic) and Pride of America on February 8, followed by the remainder of the fleet by the end of the second quarter. </div>
Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283250899188620539.post-26113157131142287802017-01-25T10:56:00.000-05:002017-01-25T10:56:00.247-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Don't have a passport? Just want to explore this great country? We have packages all over the US!</div>
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Heart of Yellowstone National Park Getaway</div>
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You will take in the immense beauty of Yellowstone on a fully-guided tour that will bring you to Old Faithful, the beautiful Paint Pot Nature Trail, and many opportunities for wildlife viewing.</div>
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Trip Highlights:</div>
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5-day intermediate car rental<br />2 nights' accommodations in Salt Lake City<br />2 nights' accommodations in Yellowstone National Park<br />Sightseeing tour of Yellowstone National Park</div>
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Absolute Dream Vacations LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987931911503524543noreply@blogger.com0