WHY WE TRAVEL

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/03/03/travel/20110303-WHYWETRAVEL.html

Reason to travel

Image and quote from Travelhoppers

Oasis of the Seas

Dan and I had the incredible opportunity to spend a week on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. This ship and its sister ship Allure of the Seas are the two largest cruise ships in the world, and the two most fantastic ships!

Let me tell you--this is one huge ship!!  Seventeen decks high, we were on deck 9. Our cabin was relatively large for an inside room, with a pull-out sofa for a potential 3rd cruiser.

The ship has "neighborhoods"--here is a bird's eye view of Central Park. A nice stroll with restaurants and pleasant seating areas. Along the side you see the balconies of interior rooms--a great innovation of Royal Caribbean's. 

Flying birds mobile in the elevator well.

 Bird's eye view of Central Park. There are interior balcony rooms along the side.

This ship has TWO Flowriders--another Royal Caribbean innovation.

A large children's pool playground.

Miniature golf course.



Floor to ceiling artwork at the entrance to the casino.

Yes, there is a carousel on the ship!



Here it is behind buildings in Jamaica

Overlooking part of the adult area "Solarium" -- here is the adult-only pool. Just about enywhere you turn on deck 15 is another pool or hot tub!

Great Entertainment!

Why would I want to use a travel agent?

With so many ways to purchase travel on the internet, why might it pay to use a travel agent?

Well, for one reason, the fact that there simply are so many travel-selling sites. Some, like Expedia or Hotels.com are well known and have good reputations. In fact, they are travel agencies, and if you are doing a simple air flight this may be the way to go.

But what about those sites that pop up when you are researching your travel destination? Before the days of the internet there were travel scams, and the prevalence of the internet in our daily lives has only made it easier to find the less-than-reliable travel suppliers out there.

So, why would you want to use a flesh-and-blood travel agent?

- You can talk to a real person without wading through the airlines’ or travel company’s ‘phone trees.’ In fact, your phone is usually answered in 3 or fewer rings.
-Two words: Personalized Service. An experienced travel counselor can sort through all the available offerings and show you those most appropriate to your individual circumstances. S/he can tell you the difference between the resort that costs $70 per night per person and the one that costs $150. S/he can choose the available cabin on the cruise ship that is best for you.

- As your travel counselor becomes familiar with you s/he can alert you to travel sales or deals that might interest you.

- A travel agent will keep your basic information on hand, such as frequent flyer numbers or hotel frequent guest numbers, and will automatically enter these into your reservation.

These are just a few of the reasons you may want to consider talking to a travel agent before planning your next vacation.

Coronado, CA

My husband and I recently visited our son in Coronado, CA, just over the bridge from San Diego. We stayed at the new Marriott Coronado Island Resort over Mothers' Day weekend. It is a beautiful resort with a great location. The service was very good, with cheerful greetings and eager assistance. Great view of the bridge from our balcony, and walking distance to 2 grocery stores and restaurants. We could see the Red Bull air races from our balcony, but a very short walk gave us a direct view (right across from the official viewing area). The grounds are spread out, and I recommend walking around as there are many discreet features you may miss otherwise. In our courtyard was a large fountain/pond with seating areas. In another was a large aviary. There is a flamingo pond. Outside the restaurant area is an attractive small herb garden. Along the waterfront are several seating areas with Adirondak-style chairs. The pool area is beautiful, the water is pleasantly warm, and you can order drinks and snacks from the pool bar. Our room was spacious, with a flat-screen TV, nice balcony, and comfortable king-sized bed. The bathroom had a separate shower and large soaking tub. There is also a coffee-maker. If you want a refrigerator you must request one--which I would recommend if you are staying more than a day or two. It was not expensive, compared to other Marriott resorts or other branded full-service hotels. The weekend we were there they had a special of $185/night, and often offer AAA or AARP discounts. If you are visiting the San Diego area and are interested in this resort please email me: cruisekati@aol.com .