Yoga, Oz, Kiwi, Cuba, and more

Don't just take a vacation. Change your life.
That's the concept resorts are selling to a growing number of people for whom an exotic getaway just isn't enough. The purveyors of yoga and wellness vacations promise more than mere relaxation; they promise transformation.

Ask why someone would choose a yoga vacation – and the meditation, body contortions and discipline that goes with it – and the answer repeats: People go for life-changing experiences.
From luxury hotel resorts to rustic retreats, yoga offerings and yoga-centric vacations have increasingly become a carrot to lure vacationers that want more than a fabulous place to stay and entertainment. The past five years have seen growth in yoga vacations that is emblematic of a larger trend in the travel industry, says Allen Kay, spokesman for the Travel Industry Association. “Wellness and fitness fits right into that pattern of an ever-broadening array of niches that the travel industry is catering to.” Kay said.

Yoga vacations come in many incarnations. The high end can range from packages at luxury resorts to all-inclusive vacations to India, Chile, Bali or elsewhere. The spectrum of choices includes more austere retreats that offer the bare bones – more meditation than amenities – and cost much less.

The number of retreats being offered is booming, the hard part is figuring out what kind of retreat to choose, said Andrea Ferretti, senior editor of Yoga Journal. Others say it's also important to consider the styles of yoga practiced at the retreat, as well as the level of discipline expected, as yoga retreats vary widely in size, scope and purpose.

First-timers should think about where in the world they'd like to go, then ask your local yoga instructor about the teachers at the retreat destination. We can help you organize and lead your own group trips abroad.

(with contirbutions from an article by Lauren Villagran of the Associated Press)





The Land of Oz
On my first trip to Australia nearly 20 years ago it took me a while to figure out that references to “Ozzies” were comments about local folks. In a place with oddities like the Platypus and Tasmanian Devil I thought I might be hearing about yet another mystic beast. It turns out that the charming accent converts “Aussies” to “Ozzies”. Take it a step further and you see how the affectionate term for Australia is the Land of Oz.

Roughly the size of the United States, there is plenty of Australia to appeal to everyone, if you know what to book.

There is the drama of the remote 'Outback', the colorful spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its coral islands, the excitement of the cosmopolitan cities, the sun and surf at some of the best beaches in the world, and the tropical rainforests of Western Australia. The list is endless in this diverse land of adventure, which boasts 2,000 national parks and 14 World Heritage-listed areas, along with more than 7,000 beaches.

“Everyone goes there to see kangaroos and koalas,” says Goway Travel Product and Marketing Manager Emma Cottis. “But even kangaroos and koalas become ho hum to kids after a few days, so you have to know how to mix it up to keep things interesting. Australia offers so much for families,” she says. “What child wouldn’t love staying in an underground hotel like the Desert Cave Hotel in Coober Pedy? And then there is the Australia Zoo near Brisbane that Steve Irwin built up and now his little daughter Bindi has made famous. There is so much to do in Australia for families that it is eye-opening, educational and just fun.”

Where to Go, What to See - Sydney is big and metropolitan, Melbourne is cultured, quaint and surprisingly European. If you are visiting the warm waters of the east coast you will no doubt want to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Famed Ayres Rock is, literally, in the middle of nowhere. If you like to collect “been-there-done-that’s” it may be worth effort to head to the center of Oz to see the world’s largest monolith, but personally I think travel time is best spent on the East Coast.

Cruises are a terrific way to visit, and travel between, Cairnes, Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart Tasmania. There are plenty of choices with major lines including Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Regent, Crystal Cruises, Oceania, Silversea Cruises, and more. It is really best to get some quality counseling to match the right experience with your personal tastes.

The South Australia Tourism Commission offers some pretty good ideas for how families can have the time of their lives in the land of OZ: Kangaroo Island, located just off the coast of South Australia, combines 19 national and conservation parks, breathtaking scenery, beaches, water activities, and most of all an abundance of wildlife, unmatched anywhere else in the country. Kids can feed pelicans at Kingscote Wharf, and come face-to-face with giant cuttlefish, seahorses, fairy penguins, and more at the KI Marine Center. Older kids can try sand-boarding down the razorback dunes at Little Sahara, or hop aboard the Island Explorer—a rigid inflatable boat normally used by the police and military—and zip along the coast for a stunning view of the island. Grownups can also explore the island’s wineries and everyone is sure to love a visit to the Eucalyptus Distillery, as well as tasting cheese and ice cream at Island Pure Sheep Dairy, and honey from Clifford’s Honey Farm.

Because Australia has so much to offer and so many things that different members of the family might want to do, Arnelle Kendall, a spokesperson for Trafalgar Tours, notes that Trafalgar’s FREE and EASY programs might be of interest. These tours have been designed as family vacations to Australia and offer key Australia sightseeing adventures along with a balance of free time so everyone in the family gets an opportunity to do the things that are important to them.

“Trafalgar includes those ‘must see & do’ activities like visiting an Australian wildlife park or cruising the Great Barrier Reef, but they factor in a lot of free time to keep the balance and allow for choice in alternative activities,” points out Kendall.

So depending on what parts of Australia the family would like to see, from the rugged Outback to the glorious Great Barrier Reef, from the wilds of Tasmania to the wildlife of Kangaroo Island, a good agent can make the right matches for you.

(with contirbutions from an article by Lark Ellen Gould in ModernAgent Magazine)



Kiwi means two great islands in one country.
More curious than “Oz” is the New Zealander choice of moniker – Kiwi. Yeah, I know, Kiwi is a silly little flightless bird, but with a billion sheep in the country one might expect a woollier name. Whatever the name it is one of the most fanciful places on earth.

This is a place of sublime natural beauty, populated nearly exclusively by sheep and hobbits. That reference comes from great exposure this double island nation received from the recent “Lord of the Rings” series filmed in large part among the breathtaking scenery.

New Zealand is the new Eden, with a clean and green image. The two islands have surprisingly different characters. The North Island has dramatic volcanic landscapes and highly active thermal areas, long stretches of beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient indigenous forests and a strong Maori cultural influence. The South Island has a slower pace of life dominated by a magnificent spine of mountains, the snow-covered Southern Alps, and the spectacular scenery of the southern waterways of the fjordlands, with glaciers, deep lakes and verdant forests.

When it comes to lodging there's too much choice. Everyone in New Zealand is a hotelier, or so it can sometimes seem. All you need is a moderately big house in a pretty location (not difficult in this country) with an orange juicer, a couple of en suites, and some misplaced confidence that you know something about travelers' needs and expectations, and you're in business. "These days it just seems everybody's like, 'Hey, I'm going to open a lodge!'" a young Queenstown tourism official declared.

The New Zealand hospitality industry is not celebrated for its culture of professionalism. According to Hugh Stewart of Travel & Leisure Magazine hotel owners make claims about how cozy and informal and familial their establishments are, but it's all really just a cover-up for the fact that they're amateurs and unable to produce a true, complete hotel experience. They run their properties on a lazy B&B model, except that instead of $150 a night, they charge $1,000.
Whether you want to experience Bay of Island, Christchurch, or Queenstown, it pays to do your homework if you are going to travel independently. It can be done, but you might want to consider the advantages of recommended tour operators.

If you are looking for a Kiwi highlights sample it is most easily visited on a cruise with an itinerary that includes both New Zealand and Australia. That’s the right choice for some folks, including my very own parents who will make the trek this February to enjoy the “summer down under”.

(with contirbutions from an article by Hugh Stewart Travel & Leisure Magazine)



Cuba - Today or Tomorrow?
We frequently hear comments from clients like; “I’d like to visit Cuba – When it opens up.” It usually comes as a surprise to find that it is not illegal for Americans to visit Cuba today. That is with two caveats: You cannot fly directly from the U.S., and it is illegal to spend your money there. It’s that funny little clause in the “Trading With The Enemy Act” that makes it tricky to set your sites on a visit to our neighbor to the south.


But thousands of U.S. tourists already travel to Cuba behind Washington's back, and many say being sneaky is part of the fun. Some are scrambling to get to the island while Fidel Castro is still alive, fearing the U.S. government could scrap the travel ban once he's gone and bring profound change to Cuba.



Some Americans sail to Cuba, but most fly through Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas or Jamaica. Cuban tourist cards can be purchased at third-country airports and customs officials usually stamp only these loose-leaf visas, not the permanent pages of U.S. passports. Separately, Cuba said 20,100 Americans visited the country through June of this year, almost all presumably without U.S. permission.

"The fact that you're not supposed to be there, that was the top for me," said Amit, 29, a New York City native who visited Cuba in September 2006, shortly after the 81-year-old Castro fell ill and ceded power to his younger brother. "I was like, 'It's time to go,"' said Amit, who asked that his full name not be published to avoid U.S. fines. "You just don't know what Cuba will be like after Castro's gone."

The American Society of Travel Agents recently estimated that nearly 1.8 million Americans would visit in the first three years following an end to the travel ban.

"We wanted to get here before all the other Americans come and ruin it all," said Bridget, a 20-year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who wandered Old Havana's colonial streets with her friend Erik in August. "It's forbidden treasure," said Erik, also from the Twin Cities. "It will be so Americanized in a few years. Just like Cancun," where U.S. franchises from Hard Rock Cafe to Hooters tend to drown out Mexican culture.

If caught, unauthorized U.S. tourists can face civil fines of up to $55,000, though many settle for smaller amounts. Since January 2006, 19 Americans have paid fines for sneaking to Cuba, including four people involved in making Oliver Stone's documentary about Castro, "Comandante." Fellow filmmaker Michael Moore is now being investigated for filming "Sicko" without permission in Cuba.

Our recent surveys on our website show “Adventure” to be the number one Special Interest Travel. I suppose sneaking into Cuba under the threat of a large fine could be considered adventure. Then again, this is coming from a guy who went to college in Bogota, Colombia before the drug lords switched from blowing each other up to managing their cartels. That was adventure. And I also went to college in Poland in the summer of 1980 and helped germinate the Solidarity movement that eventually brought down the Soviet Union. That was adventure. So, maybe you might not share my sense of adventure.

Anybody have a spare $55,000 they could lend me to risk on a fine?

(with contirbutions from an article by Associated Press)

Tip of the Week - How to fully enjoy your last day on your cruise ... By Susan Russo
We all hate to see the last day of our cruise arrive, and the thought of "having" to have bags packed and set outside our stateroom door by a certain time can be nerve wracking. How can you enjoy your evening if you spend it packing?

Easy!! On the last day of your cruise, after your morning workout and breakfast, go back to your cabin and pack everything that you "shouldn't" need for the remainder of your cruise. This is time that usually has very little shipboard activity, so you won’t miss out on anything. Make sure you leave out clothes for dinner and to get off the ship in the morning, along with your Passports, medications, and personal care items for the morning. By taking care of your packing early, you will be able to enjoy your day, dinner, shows and any other evening activities without having the packing weighing on your mind all day and night.

So, pack early, stay out late and enjoy your cruise.

Boomers prefer vacation recommendations from non-professionals.
Baby boomers planning vacation travel rely heavily on word of mouth and show little brand loyalty, according to a new study from Focalyst, a joint venture of AARP Service and the Kantar Group research firm.

The survey of 30,000 consumers aged 42 and older found that among baby boomers (ages 42-60), recommendations from friends and family were cited 96% of the time as the most-used source of travel information. Among “matures” (age 60 and up), that figure was 88%.

Fifty-seven percent of boomers and 44% of matures also cited those familiar sources as the ones they most valued for travel recommendations. Consumers with household incomes of $75,000 or more exert particular influence in affecting others’ vacation plans.

Now I find that interesting, purely from a social aspect. We send thousands of people on vacation each year, and we pay very close attention to their input about their experiences. We are a treasure vault of independent impressions about limitless destinations and travel products. It is all free for the taking, just ask. Yet this research says that a vacationer would rather trust their neighbor’s opinion.

I suppose the logic runs something like this: “Jane is my friend, and we like similar things. Jane liked this cruise, so I will like it too”.

Does anybody else see the flaw in this?

Travel Tid Bits

Bits and Pieces - Today’s blog is a medley of travel tidbits. No overriding theme, no groundbreaking story, it is a compilation of a few travel topics I thought you might find useful.


THE PANAMA CANAL is one week into its $5 billion expansion. Ground was broken Sept. 3 on the massive project, which is expected to double the waterway's capacity by 2014. This is the first expansion of the almost 100-year-old, 51-mile canal: The planned work would build one new lane of traffic across the canal by constructing a new set of locks, which would enable longer and wider ships to pass through.

CRUISE LINES TIGHTEN SMOKING RULES. "The non-smokers are thrilled, (but) the smokers are very unhappy," says Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which is planning to tighten its on board smoking rules in December. Regent is just one of several lines changing the smoking rules in the next few months — and facing the wrath of both smokers and non-smokers (some of whom say the lines aren't going far enough). Just weeks after Regent's announcement, Royal Caribbean said it would snuff out smoking in cabins (though not on balconies) and all but one lounge on each ship by January.

"We are looking at further restrictions," says Shawn Magnuson of Crystal Cruises, which already prohibits smoking in dining rooms and show lounges. "But they probably won't be implemented until 2008."

The flurry of rules comes less than a year after British investigators concluded that a smoldering cigarette was the likely cause of a ship fire last year on the 2,600-passenger Star Princess that killed one passenger and destroyed 79 cabins. Even before the report, several lines had made changes. On the day of the fire, Oceania Cruises, the only major line with a smoking ban in cabins at the time, announced it was adding a zero-tolerance policy. (Passengers caught smoking in cabins are now kicked off.) And two months after the fire, Disney banned smoking in cabins.
"Improperly disposed-of cigarettes are a fire hazard," Conroy says. But that's not the only reason for the changes, he says. Like smoke-free hotels and restaurants, cruise lines also are responding to customers.


U.S. State Dept. Returns to Standard Passport Processing - The U.S. State Department said on Friday that it has restored passport service to the standard six to eight week processing time for routine passport applications, and no more than three weeks for expedited service. To date, the department said it has issued over 16 million passports in fiscal year 2007, which ends on Sept. 30, compared to 12.1 million issued in fiscal year 2006. Throughout the summer, it said its Washington staff and 18 passport agencies have worked "tirelessly" to eliminate the delays in processing that had developed earlier in the year. The department said it plans to expand passport facilities and continue to hire more passport specialists in order to increase production capacity and meet rising passport demand expected in coming years, as passport requirements are extended to land and sea borders. By January 2008, it expects to have hired hundreds of new employees, and production capacity at the National Passport Center in New Hampshire. Longer-term expansion plans include new passport facilities strategically located to enhance customer service around the country. For more information, visit http://www.travel.state.gov/.

Celebrity Cruises is revamping its shipboard dining and will have the new menus and cuisine in place fleetwide by the end of January. Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity's vice president of onboard revenue and entertainment, said the new menus will be more contemporary and will have new presentations "to be more in line with what fine restaurants on land are doing." Overseeing the menu redesign is the Celebrity's new vice president of food and beverage, Jacques Van Staden, who joined the line after working with Blau & Associates, a top restaurant consultant in Las Vegas. Blau is also consulting with Celebrity on the new menus. "We want to take our cuisine further to define Celebrity in a new way," Lutoff-Perlo said. The cuisine will be revamped in all restaurants on all seven ships except for the specialty restaurants, she said.

Looking further down the horizon, Celebrity's second ship in its Solstice class, the Celebrity Equinox, entered life last week in a German shipyard. Royal Caribbean Cruises CEO Richard Fain started the plasma torch that launched the production of the ship's first steel plate at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The 122,000-ton vessel is slated to enter service in 2009. Meyer Werft will build four Solstice-class vessels in all; the first ship in the series, the Celebrity Solstice, is under construction and scheduled for delivery in fall 2008.

Princess Cruises is removing one of my favorite ships. The 1,590 passenger capacity Regal Princess is to enter Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard this October for a near month-long refit which will see the vessel transformed into Pacific Dawn for operation by P&O Cruises (Australia) Ltd. When she re-emerges from the Singapore yard at the end of October this year Pacific Dawn will be the Australia's first 'Super Liner' and the most modern cruise ship ever based year-round in the country. I fondly remember inaugurating this ship when I was gleefully employed as their West Florida District Sales Manager. Time slips by quickly - I wonder if they could rename me and send me off to Australia?

If you have topics and concerns you would like to hear about, please let me know.

Travel Trends - Is this You?

In travel, just when one trend seems hot, another one takes over. In a vast industry that’s constantly changing, it’s not always easy to find upcoming trends, but industry experts have helped us select a few frontrunners.

Case in point: Five years ago, affluent travelers, tired of staying in luxury hotels for their holidays, starting booking grand villas in the Tuscan countryside, on the beaches of Mexico and in the South of France. Now, hotels around the world are building villas, and vacationers are migrating back.

Another example: It wasn’t too long ago that renting a yacht loaded with amenities was considered a vacation only for the mega-wealthy. Today, however, with prices falling, renting a luxury yacht has become a hot summer vacation for legions of travelers. We recommend The Moorings – just email me for details andy.schramek@cwcruises.com

Today's biggest travel trend is eco-awareness. Travelers today are much more concerned about the environment than they have ever been. A couple of years ago, you didn’t hear about this as much, but now upscale travelers want to do whatever they can to be eco-conscious.
According to research from the Green Hotel Association, a trade organization in Texas that promotes ecological consciousness in the hospitality industry, 43 million U.S. travelers say they are concerned about the environment. And thanks to the widespread effort the travel industry is making to promote green initiatives, it’s not difficult for consumers to be more eco-friendly.

Experts say another trend in upscale travel is private jet charters. Aram Gesar, editor of AirGuide magazine and AirGuideonline.com, says that there are around 500 private jet operators worldwide, up from around 100 just five years ago. Prices to charter your own plane have declined to as little as $2,200 an hour for three to five people, down from $3,800 five years ago. We offer these – just email me andy.schramek@cwcruises.com

One unexpected development in the travel world: Despite the boom of Internet travel sites such as Expedia and Travelocity, consumers are returning to the old-fashioned way of planning trips. "The Internet is obviously a major tool that travelers are using to book their vacations, but surprisingly, affluent travelers want human interaction and are returning to using travel agents," says Bjorn Hanson, a principal in the Hospitality and Leisure Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "As a result, the growth of booking travel on the Internet is slowing."

Hold on to your hat for this one - Upscale travelers often rely on luxury travel consultants who charge fees to plan every aspect of a trip, from securing hotel rooms to scoring concert tickets and dinner reservations. The agents at Altour International charge anywhere between $250 to $1,000 to plan a vacation. Fisher Travel, a members-only travel concierge based in New York City, costs $250,000 just to join, and another $10,000 a year in fees. But you’re out of luck if you’re ready to shell out the dough; there’s a waiting list to join.

Now – doesn’t Clearwater Cruises sound like a bargain?

Another unanticipated trend is the growth in adults-only trips. According to the 2007 National Leisure Travel Monitor from travel marketing firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, six out of 10 vacationers recently took a trip with a spouse or other adult, without children. That's twice the number of adults who took a trip with kids. As a result, hotels are increasingly segregating childless adults from families. "With the increase in the number of adults who don’t have children, this is a growing market," says Peter Yesawich, chief executive of YPB&R. And check out Carnival Cruise Lines new “Serenity Adults Only Retreat”. We have all the best – just email me andy.schramek@cwcruises.com

I’d love to hear what you think are upcoming trends.

Content in this article is from an article by Shivani Vora at Forbes.com