All-inclusive resort deals from Chicago

Leave the crazy weather behind and head to Mexico! I just spent a week there last month and loved the warm weather, friendly people and great beaches. Check out these great all-inclusive rates including round trip airfare from Chicago O'Hare 

3 nights at Mystery 5 star Hotel in Puerto Vallarta including round trip airfare 

 March 9th thru 12th : $649.39 per person 

3 nights in Riu Jalisco in Puerto Vallarta for two including round trip airfare 

March 9th – thru 12th: $669.39 per person 

RIU Jalisco 

Cruise Deals 1.30.13

Check out this week's cruise deals. I think the best promotion is the Celebrity 123GO. 

You can receive FREE alcohol beverage package, a $200 on board credit and/or 

free gratuities. 

I personally have booked a cruise for next Spring.  Because the deposit is refundable,  it gives me the chance to take advantage of this great promotion and the flexibility to cancel early next year if the dates don't work. 

Celebrity

Leaving Miami on my most recent Celebrity Cruise 

Book by February 18^th and you can receive FREE alcohol beverage package, a $200 on board credit and/or free gratuities.

7 Night Caribbean cruise from San Juan in April

Starting at $549 per person for an interior cabin or $1,149 per person for a balcony cabin

7 Night Alaskan cruise from Vancouver in May

Starting at $599 per person for an interior cabin or $1,499 per person for a balcony cabin

13 Night Transatlantic Cruise in April

Starting at $699 per person for an interior cabin or $1,349 per person for a  balcony cabin

Royal Caribbean

International Tour Specials Thru 2.4.13

Valid Through February 04, 2013

Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey 

$3499* Small Group Tours: 15 Day Tour of Turkey Including Air

No more than 18 travelers, unique accommodations, in depth cultural exploration

$1399* 10 Day Greek Islander Hopper Including Athens & Air

3 nights each in Mykonos & Santorini plus 2 nights in ancient Athens

$1199* 8 Day Southern Spain Fly & Drive Vacation

Includes air, 6 nights hotel, 7 day car rental & breakfast daily

$1599* 7 Day Escorted Tour of Dubai & Abu Dhabi w/ Air

Discover the gem of the Arabian Peninsula

$2299* 13 Day Lake Como & Parma w/ 7 Day Eastern Med & Adriatic Cruise w/ Air

Lake Como & Parma plus stops in Dubrovnik (Croatia), Athens, Izmir (Turkey) & Split

$4799* 15 Day Tour of Kenya & Tanzania w/ Safari Game Drives & Air

Explore the wildlife in Samburu, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & more

$2999* 9 Day Tokyo & Kyoto Vacation Including Flights

Visit the historical, cultural and enchanting country of Japan

$1649* 9 Day Tour of India Including Airfare

Visit Delhi, Agra's Taj Mahal, the Pink City of Jaipur & more

$3199* 13 Day Tour of Brazil, Argentina & Chile Including Flights

Explore South America's most compelling cities: Rio, Iguazu, Buenos Aires & Santiago

To get more information or to book any of these great adventures, please email me at tripswithangie@gmail.com

Released January 28, 2013 -- © Gate1Travel

* Prices include airfare, fuel surcharges, airport taxes and fees. Airfares fluctuate regularly; actual price will be determined based on fares and availability at the time of booking. Prices apply from the gateway airport or city specified in the Package Highlights and will vary from alternative gateway airports or cities and may be higher. The total price will be clearly displayed prior to any deposit being required. Additional baggage charges may apply.

European Travel with Kids

I solicited suggestions for a blog topics via my Facebook page. One topic recommendation was European travel with young kids. Instilling a sense of adventure and curiosity is a great gift you can give to your children. Visiting historic sites brings to life those facts and figures from history books. Here's some options to consider as you plan your family's European adventure. 

1. Cruises - The European cruise market is becoming busier and busier every summer. A cruise offers a lot of options for parents with young kids. Your family gets the chance to visit a number of European cities while sleeping in the same environment every night.  You can choose to return to the ship for a dinner of foods your children recognize. The cruise ships also have children's programs included in the fare that create the opportunity for you to get some alone time with your significant other. 

2. Escorted Tours - Adventures by Disney offers specially crafted itineraries and activities for families with children.  One benefit of an escorted tour is you are sure to see the highlights of key areas with the benefit of a tour guide.  When searching for an escorted tour for your family, it's important to pay attention to how long you'll be in transit each day and making sure you have some free time in each city to explore at your own pace. Many tour use bus tours to explore cities and the countryside, this could be challenging depending on your children's ages. 

3. On your own - Crafting a unique agenda for your family may be the best way to explore a European county. You could choose to rent an apartment walking distance from some of the neighborhoods you want to explore. This provides a homey environment as home base. You could choose a US branded hotel that looks and feels a bit more like the USA. You could choose a local inn, castle, or bed and breakfast that offers an immersion experience. 

Travel agents provide a great benefit in helping you sort though all these options and finding the best fit for your family. 

All-inclusive Resort Specials

Save up to 55% at RIU Hotels & Resorts!

Riu Palace Peninsula

(5 star) 3 nights from $508

Book Now & Save up to 55%!

Includes up to a $35 Spa Credit

Travel 5/1 - 6/20/13

International Tours

Valid Through January 28, 2013

10 Day Escorted Tour of China Including Flights $1549*

Beijing, Xian & Shanghai. Featuring the Great Wall & Terracotta Army

(I have done this tour and loved it. It is an incredible adventure and China is an amazing country.) 

9 Day Tour of Italy Including Airfare $2199*

First Class accommodations in Venice, Florence & Rome

Cruise Deals 1.22.13

Carnival

3 or 4  Night cruise from Miami in March from $279 per person for an interior cabin

8 Night cruise from Miami in April from $749 per person for an interior cabin

7 night Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral in November starting at $569 per person for an interior cabin

Norwegian Cruise Lines

7 night Canada/New England cruise departing in September starting at $399 per person for an interior cabin

Cruise Promotions

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Freestyle Dash Sale: 1/21-1/25

Book  a Norwegian cruise with Trips with Angie  from January 21-25 and you'll get up to $250 to spend on board, along with free balcony upgrades and more! See the world The Norwegian Way™ . Take surfing lessons on Waikiki Beach, sailing Hawaii on Pride of America. Exploring the ancient ruins on the island of Delos near Mykonos, sailing the Mediterranean on Norwegian Jade. Or searching deep into Denali for bear, moose and caribou sailing Alaska on Norwegian Sun. Take advantage of this promotion and receive: 

International Tours

International Tours

Valid Through January 21, 2013

$999* 8 Day Tour of Ecuador & Amazon Adventure with Air

Quito city tour, Rainforest & Middle of the World excursions and more

Cruise Deals: Disney and Holland America

Disney Cruise Line® has added new sail dates to its Miami Kids Sail Free Offer. You  can choose from 4-night Bahamian cruises or 5-night Western Caribbean cruises with most itineraries including a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

1.7.13 Last Minute and Spring Cruise Deals

Last Minute and Spring Cruise Deals of the Week 

Many of the cruise lines will start running promotions to secure bookings for the rest of the year. Now is a great time to make a deposit and secure your post on an upcoming cruise. 

Royal Caribbean

Last Minute 3 -4 night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral 

starting at $129 per person

5 Night Caribbean Cruise  from Fort Lauderdale in February 

starting at $279 per person

10 Night Transatlantic Cruise from San Juan in April 

starting at $319 per person

12 Night Transatlantic Cruise from Fort Lauderdale in April 

starting at $419 per person

Celebrity

Last minute 4 – 5 Night  Caribbean Cruise from Miami

 starting at $249 per person

Last minute 7 Night Caribbean Cruises from Miami

 starting at $549 per person

7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruises from San Juan in March 

starting at $549 per person

7 Night Alaska Cruise in late May 

starting at $649 per person

Princess

7 Day Western Caribbean Cruises from Galveston in February or March 

starting at $379 per person

7 Day Southern Caribbean Cruises from Fort Lauderdale in February or March 

starting at $499 per person

14 Day Hawaiian Cruise from Los Angeles in February or March 

starting at $899 per person

16 or 17 Day Cruise from Santiago to Los Angeles in March

starting at $1,499 per person

NCL

Last minute 4 Night Bahamas Cruise from Miami 

starting at $159 per person

11 Night Holy Land and Mediterranean Cruise in February 

starting at $469 per person

12 Night Repositioning Cruise from Boston to Tampa in April

starting at $549 per person

Carnival

Big Sale Tuesday January 8^th – Thursday January 10^th on Sailings between March 2013 and May 2103. 

Great rates. Reduced Deposits and Upgrades

All prices are based on double occupancy, do not include taxes or fees and 

are subject to change. 

Please email me at tripswithangie@gmail.com to book your next favorite vacation. 

Guest Review: Western Caribbean Cruise Ports of Call

One of my clients recently returned from a 7 night Western Caribbean Cruise and offered these great reviews of the ports of call:

Great Stirrup Cay:  No excursion, just hanging out. I expected more to do on the island, I guess. This was just a beach day for us. We had fun, did a little shopping in the market and played in the water. They appear to be constructing buildings further back on the island. You may want to let people know that there aren't many places to shop (and not a lot of variety for what is there, compared to say Grand Caymen or Cozumel) and that if they don't sign up for excursions they will simply be  hanging out on a beach all day.

 
Jamaica:  One big excursion - River tubing, zip lining, Dunn's River Falls. 

Dunn River Falls | Courtesy of wikimedia

This was a full day of physical activity. I don't recommend all three for anyone who is vastly overweight or has walking problems. The falls were the most fun for me, I think my wife liked the zip lining the best. The river tubing was okay and would have been better with a larger group of friends. The zip lining only consisted of three lines. So, anyone who wants to do more than three should check out one of the other excursions. Our guides told us there was a location that offered eight lines. All of our Chukka (company name) guides were nice, clean, and helpful. The tour bus guide even warned everyone what "free" meant in Jamaica. I wouldn't recommend shopping in the area around the Ocho Rios port, unless travelling in a larger group, comfortable with criminal elements, or with a guide of some sort.

Grand Cayman:  No excursions, only shopping. The on-board shopping guide (Jennifer) told us this was the best place to shop while on the trip. You can cover the entire shopping district in under an half-day. So, unless she knows of places that we should have gone, but didn't tell us when we asked, I would say she's wrong. Grand Cayman was nice and clean. There is a lack of restaurants along the shopping district if you want local food. We saw a few chain restaurants and then opted for a local restaurant. The water didn't look safe to eat and the prices were in local dollars. This led to a much larger than expected bill, but whatever. I was expecting it, my wife was shocked. Still, we had a fun time shopping here. We felt safe, there was a good variety of shops for souvenirs, but not jewelry (all top of the line, not many mid-priced places, ship prices were cheaper than many of the shops we went into).

 
Cozumel:  We did the Tulum excursion. It was nice, safe, clean. Our guide was nice and pretty knowledgeable. The view of the ocean from the top of the hill was beautiful. I was hoping to be able to climb the various buildings on site (I did that in Belize), but you cannot do that here. There was a variety of shops onsite and we found okay prices. They could use more restaurants on site. We did not get into Cozumel due to the length of the excursion. If anyone wants to visit Tulum via excursion, I highly recommend booking via the cruise line. Due to choppy seas, it took over an hour to cross the gulf from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen both directions. We were late getting back to the ship and caused it to leave 30 minutes late. Also, anyone who gets sea sickness, motion sickness, or has trouble walking should not do this excursion.