10 most secluded beaches

1. Whitehaven Beach Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia WOW! This beach is incredible. Pure white squeaky sand, crystal clear water... Photo by Kassi10

2. Agonda Beach Goa, India Beautiful beach! Very quiet - it's like a secret... Took a boat at sunrise to see dolphins. Photo by genlovestotravel

Join me on our tour of Italy in May 2013 - time is running out

11 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

1. Knowledge & Expertise. Researching travel deals, vacation tips, hotels, resorts, prices, reviews, etc. can be really time consuming for the average traveler. The beauty of working with a travel agent is that you’ll be able to tap into their existing knowledge and expertise on all of these subjects. Travel professionals have first hand knowledge on dozens of destinations, and often take special trips to learn about new offerings, properties, and amenities to offer you the best advice possible. A travel agent working closely with their preferred tour operator has access to a multitude of resources to ensure the best vacation experience possible.


2. The Human Touch. Agents will ensure you will have an amazing experience on your trip. Agents are excited and will show their enthusiasm in helping you, their clients, have the best vacation possible. Travel professionals are personally invested in seeing your trip become a success. This personal interaction with real, live agents trumps the often lackluster experience of doing it yourself online.


3. Personalization. Due to “The Human Touch” you receive with a live person helping you, travel agents are able to personalize your trip for your needs. Understanding your needs and wants, agents can make recommendations on vacations for families, adventure seekers, nightlife-lovers, honeymooners, foodies, sun bathers, and more. Knowing the differences and nuances of both the destinations and the wants and needs of their clients make their service invaluable.These days it’s all about ‘unique’ experiences – travel agents have access to their preferred tour operators portfolio of products, whether it be a villa, an all-inclusive hotel in the Caribbean, or a beginners guide to the great cities of Europe. Using a travel agent means there is no ‘one size fits all’.


4. Getting Resolutions. Unfortunately, as we all know, travel can either be a breeze or it can be a pain, and it’s often not in the travelers hands to change the situation. Travel agents to the rescue. Mix-up at the airport? Lost luggage? Making sure you arrive on-time, hassle-free, despite the flight cancellation? If a problem arises at the destination your travel agency will have the support of their preferred tour operator and the strength of their hotel relationships to make sure the issue is more than adequately remedied. These are all situations where your travel agent can help resolve the situation on your behalf. They are your advocate, and they have your back.


5. Planning Around Unforeseen Circumstances. Natural disasters, terrorism, and inclement weather are all facts of the world today, but that shouldn’t prevent you from planning an amazing trip! These are all issues that can disrupt your vacation and travel experience, and knowing that travel agents have the ability, and the right relationships, to work with your airline or resort and fight to get you credits for a future trip, will


6. Trust. Building that personal relationship gives you the confidence that you can trust your agent’s expertise, and that no matter the situation, they will be there to help you find a resolution.


7. Due Diligence. Agents make sure you have your preassigned seats (your usual aisle seat), your requested special meal, booking ahead of time your spa time, tee times at the resort’s best golf course, and other experiences. Why do it yourself when the travel agents do this for you happily?


8. Prepping You For Travel. Often, these multi-talented agents are able to help you in dealing with some of the “requirements” of travel including securing visas, rushing you passports, and other government related documentation domestic or foreign. Travel agents make it their business to know the various government rules and regulations for the places you want to visit most.


9. Saves You Time. Think about all the time you’ll be saving yourself: no need to scour the web for the best resorts, prices, packages, experiences, events, dealing with travel complications, and securing visas when your travel agent can do this all for you? If time = money, your travel agent just made you rich.


10. Great Pricing Options. Travel agents have access to the same rates you can find yourself on the web, but can often find sales and promotions only available to agents, not available to consumers online. Even more important, a travel agent, rather than just focusing on the lowest price, will be able to find the best value for YOUR particular needs and travel preferences.


11. Relationships –> Exclusives. Due to their relationships with the resorts, large travel companies, networks, and travel consortia, travel professionals are able to request exclusives for you, their clients. These exclusives can include: price reductions, seat or resort upgrades, early/late checkout times, and other value-added amenities. A travel agent working with a strong tour operator partner cannot be beaten when it comes to providing the best value vacation.

Come and experience Aruba and their fine Caribbean Cuisine

 

 

Aruba is ideally situated in the heart of the Southern Caribbean, below the hurricane belt and boasts year-round perfect weather. The island is saturated with fine dining outlets and cultural diversity that would please even the most discerning traveler.

Aruba Tourism Authority in conjunction with the Aruba Gastronomic Association, are providing guests who book an air-inclusive vacation with participating hotels during specified travel dates with two $50 Dine on Aruba Gift Certificates per room upon check-in. These two $50 gift certificates can be redeemed at over 20 participating restaurants across the island. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience some of the finest dining that the Caribbean has to offer.

Dine on Aruba promotion is valid for bookings made by 10/31/12 and traveled 9/1/12 to 11/30/12.

Palace Resorts has so much to offer clients

 

Palace Resorts offer signature amenities and unparalleled service that will leave you in awe of the exceptional all-inclusive vacation experience provided. The oceanfront accommodations feature spacious family rooms and suites with double Jacuzzis®, luxurious amenities including 24-hour room service, championship golf courses, world-class spas and fine dining.

The new Awe-inclusive concept enhances Palace’s already superb amenities with features such as premium spirits, Celebrity entertainment, and the Family Connections program, which includes guaranteed connecting suites and Nanny service. Don’t forget the all new, exclusive surf stimulator, Flow Rider, only at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort

Saint Lucia - the perfect destination

Saint Lucia is the perfect destination, whether you're after romance, rejuvenation or adventure. A genuine, natural landscape of gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, miles of unspoiled rainforest and the majestic Piton Mountains, are sure to indulge every taste. Natural waterfalls, breath-taking views, friendly locals and authentic culture impress the most travelled individuals for a holiday with lasting memories.

The perfection of this escape should be shared. Tropical weather, welcoming accommodations, and unexpected adventures await all who travel to this paradise island. Romance can be found at upmarket resorts and intimate inns. Bask together under the Caribbean sun, sail into a champagne sunset, and cuddle beneath the vast starry sky. Discover new romance and re-spark old love over a candlelight dinner on a secluded beach.

For those planning a family getaway, you too can visit Saint Lucia. Enjoy on-site water parks, kids' menus and evening entertainment for everyone. Adventure seekers can surf and sail in the pristine waters. ATV adventures and rainforest zip-lining are family favourites. Relaxation isn't far off either with many resorts offering kids' activities so parents can enjoy a cocktail, a quiet hour together, or a couple's massage. Grab the kids, your partner and your sunscreen; this is a family holiday that everyone will enjoy.

Have you ever thought about going to Costa Rica

Watch this vide on Costa Rica and then call us today to book your trip at (603)228-1625!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lhxqjBpT9u0

Portland, Oregon Attractions - Portland, Oregon Travel Guide | IndependentTraveler.com

Get an insider's view of the city with Portland Walking Tours. The company offers several leisurely and informative walking tours each day, including "Best of Portland," the foodie-friendly "Epicurean Excursion" and "Underground Portland" (which covers Portland's seamier, spicier side). We also like the "Beyond Bizarre" tour, dedicated to ghost stories and supernatural sightings.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is the heart of Portland's downtown area, often called the city's "living room." Attractions here include the city's tourist information center, a weather machine (which plays a fanfare each day at noon to announce the day's weather forecast) and various works of public art, including several large chess boards where locals often sit and face off. More than 300 concerts, festivals and other events are held on the square each year.

The Portland Art Museum -- the oldest art museum on the West Coast -- has a wide-ranging collection with special emphasis on Native American art, English silver and works by Northwestern artists. The museum also regularly hosts visiting exhibitions. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on select weeknights.


The exquisite Portland Japanese Garden is worth a visit any time of year, but it's particularly stunning in the spring, when azaleas, magnolias, dogwoods and rhododendrons burst into bloom, and in the fall, when Japanese maples blaze with fiery color. Highlights of the garden, considered to be the most authentic example of Japanese gardening techniques outside of Japan, include a traditional teahouse, a Moon Bridge over a serene pond, and the aptly named "Heavenly Falls." On clear days there's also a striking view of Mount Hood to the east.

The landmark Portland Building, located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue, is one of the world's first postmodern buildings. Designed by Michael Graves, it represents a break from modernist schools of architecture with its small windows, multi-colored facade and decorative concrete ribbons on one side. (Architecturally significant it may be, but we'll let you decide how attractive it is.) Looming over the main entrance is Portlandia, a hammered-copper statue of a woman -- the second-largest of its kind in the United States, behind only the Statue of Liberty.

Home to more than 10,000 rose plants in several hundred varieties, the International Rose Test Garden turns into a riot of color during the summer months (usually from late May through September). The garden serves as a testing ground for new varieties of roses. Be sure to stop by the Shakespeare Garden, which includes roses named after characters in the Bard's plays. The International Rose Test Garden is free and open to the public all year round.

Learn about Portland's past at the Oregon Historical Society, located just a few blocks from the Portland Art Museum. Exhibits, which change regularly, focus on various aspects of Oregon's history and culture. Be sure to check out the eight-story murals on the exterior of the building, which capture scenes from Oregon's pioneering history.

Enjoy a shady stroll along some 21 miles of trails at the Hoyt Arboretum, another free, year-round attraction. More than 1,000 species of trees and plants are represented here. In the summer, wildflowers bloom in the meadows, and even in the winter there are plants to see -- check out the Winter Garden at the north end of the Magnolia Trail. Maps of the arboretum are available at the visitor center.

Kids (and parents!) will love their visit to the Oregon Zoo, where they can meet Tusko, Rose-Tu and other members of the zoo's popular Asian elephant program. More pachyderm info is on display at the Lilah Callen Holden Elephant Museum, where you can check out a mastodon skeleton and learn about the role elephants have played in religion, warfare, circuses and more. Beyond elephants, don't miss the Africa exhibit, home to lions and cheetahs, or the creepy-crawly Insect Zoo.

Enjoy Portland's lively arts scene at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA), which hosts a wide range of performances from symphony concerts to author readings in a historic downtown building (you can't miss its huge "Portland" sign out front). Or check out the work of Portland Center Stage, a theater company that performs at the Gerding Theater at the Armory. This historic building's extensive recent renovations made it one of the few buildings in the United States to be certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Program a robot, walk through a giant ear, hold an insect in your hand and learn why human beings age at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). This hands-on museum offers a wealth of intriguing exhibits for kids and adults, as well as a planetarium, U.S. Navy submarine and IMAX theater (separate tickets required).

Join the locals for a stroll, jog or bike ride along the Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. (You can rent a bike at Waterfront Bicycles, located at the corner of Naito Parkway and Ash Street.) The tree-lined path offers memorable views of Portland's skyline on one side and its many bridges on the other.

The 8 Best U.S. Road Trips

The elegant Lan Su Chinese Garden offers visitors a glimpse of what a traditional scholar's garden might have looked like back in the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Visitors can walk through buildings such as the Hall of Brocade Clouds, where a Chinese scholar would have received and entertained guests, and the Celestial House of Permeating Fragrance, where the scholar would have retreated for quiet study and contemplation. The buildings surround a central lake fringed with hundreds of native Chinese plants. Be sure to stop for a cup of tea -- poured and served in accordance with traditional Chinese rituals -- in the Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

At the Portland Children's Museum, kids can "drive" a TriMet bus in the Vroom Room, go shopping at the Grasshopper Grocery or create a lasting masterpiece in the Clay Studio. The museum is designed for children ages 10 and younger.

The opulent Pittock Mansion, richly decorated and brimming with antiques, was built in 1914 at the behest of Henry Pittock, founder of the Oregonian newspaper. The mansion is located in the hills overlooking the city and offers jaw-dropping views of the Portland skyline and the Cascade Mountains beyond.

Southwest of Portland is the Willamette Valley, home to more than 200 wineries. (Visit WillametteWines.com for a map of the wineries and a guide to which ones offer tastings and tours.) The region also offers a number of wooden covered bridges, farmers' markets, waterfalls and hiking trails, making it a great place for a day or weekend excursion from Portland.

For true outdoor adventure, head out of town to Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. The region offers attractions all year round, from winter skiing on Mount Hood (Oregon's highest peak) to camping, hiking, mountain biking and white water rafting in the warmer months. Multnomah Falls -- the second largest in the U.S. -- is one highlight of the region, as is a winding scenic drive along the Columbia River Gorge, which stretches for 70 miles.

The Best Way to Carry Money Overseas | IndependentTraveler.com

Before you leave for your next trip abroad, take a moment to think dollars and cents -- or should we say pounds and pesos? Get the most for your money when traveling internationally by doing a little homework first.

The most important step is to know your options. In days of yore, traveler's checks were the most popular way to carry money overseas -- but today's travelers are much more likely to rely on credit cards and ATM withdrawals, which usually offer better exchange rates and lower fees.

What's the best option for you? And how can you avoid those pesky currency conversion fees when making purchases abroad? Read on for answers to these questions and a comprehensive roundup of all your currency conversion options when you're traveling overseas.

  Credit Cards
Best for: Large purchases such as airline tickets, hotel bills, car rentals and restaurant meals.

Pros: The biggest advantage to using credit cards while traveling overseas is that credit card purchases are exchanged at the interbank exchange rate, usually the best rate you can get for currency exchange. While most credit card issuers charge currency conversion fees each time you make a purchase in a foreign currency (generally 1 percent from Visa or MasterCard plus an additional 1 - 2 percent for themselves), these fees are typically lower than those you'd pay to cash traveler's checks or convert your own currency at a change bureau. And there are a few cards out there (many from Capital One) that do not charge any foreign transaction fees at all, not even the ones from Visa or MasterCard. Check out CardHub.com for a list.

Cons: Some restaurants, stores and even hotels won't take credit cards, so you'll need to have cash on hand at all times. While you can use credit cards to get cash advances at ATM's, bear in mind that they'll be subject to any finance charges your credit card company imposes -- which can add up very quickly. Plus, if you're not home by the time the bills come in and you haven't made arrangements to pay them, you'll be hit with hefty finance charges on these advances.

One problem for U.S. travelers is the growing prevalence of "chip-and-PIN" credit cards in Europe, Asia and South America. Designed to reduce fraud, these cards rely on an embedded chip that transmits information to a merchant, which the consumer then verifies by entering a PIN. While U.S. cards with magnetic stripes will still work as long as there's someone to swipe them, many travelers report problems using their cards in ticket vending kiosks, at gas stations or in other places featuring automated payment machines. If you find yourself in this dilemma, your only alternatives are to find an attendant to scan your card or to use cash instead.

These cards are not yet widely available in the U.S. However, a few banks, including Citibank and Chase, have begun issuing dual credit cards that use both the magnetic stripe and the embedded chip, and Travelex has introduced a prepaid chip-and-PIN MasterCard that works like a hybrid between a credit card and a traveler's check. See the Traveler's Checks and Check Cards section of this story to learn more.

What You Need to Know: The first thing you should do if you are traveling abroad with a credit card, even if you only plan to use it in case of an emergency, is to call the issuer and ask which fees will apply to your purchases, both in local currency and in dollars. We recommend calling before each trip, as these policies may change without notice.

While you're on the phone, you'll also want to let your credit card issuer know when and where you will be traveling -- that way the sudden international activity on your account won't trigger your issuer's fraud alert system. As a precaution, we recommend bringing two credit cards on your trip in case one stops working. Finally, get a phone number that you can use to call the company from overseas if your card is lost or stolen. (The 800 number on the back of your card typically will only work in the U.S. or Canada.)

Some merchants (particularly in Europe) offer what's known as dynamic currency conversion, which means that they'll charge you in dollars rather than the local currency. Because some card issuers will waive the currency conversion fee if your overseas purchase is made in dollars, dynamic currency conversion could help you save a few coins. However, keep in mind you'll almost always get hit by a conversion fee from the merchant instead -- sometimes up to 5 percent -- so you may end up losing out on the deal. Be sure you know which fees apply to either option before deciding which currency to use.

A few other caveats to bear in mind: Some hotels and car rental companies may put holds on your credit card for the amount of your total expected bill. This can use up your credit line before you've actually incurred and paid for the charges. All merchants are supposed to inform you if they do put a hold or "deposit" on your card. If they do, make sure you clarify that the hold has been removed when you've paid your bill in full.

Keep in mind that you may not have as much protection overseas as you do at home when problems arise over inaccurate charges. Incidents are always being reported of travelers being charged twice for the same item or for items they never purchased, and credit card companies have been unwilling or unable to intercede on their behalf. Always watch merchants imprinting your card and keep your receipts. After you get home, check your credit card statement. If you see charges you didn't make, call your creditor and ask them to dispute the charges.

Debit and ATM Cards
Best for: Getting cash in local currency.

Pros: You'll get the same great interbank exchange rate when you make cash withdrawals with your debit or ATM card as you do when you make a credit card purchase. With ATM's available in major cities and airports all over the world, this is generally the cheapest and most convenient way to get cash in the local currency.

Cons: Each cash withdrawal you make will usually be subject to currency conversion fees, foreign ATM fees or other charges from your bank. For more information, see ATM's Abroad. Debit cards work pretty much the same as a regular credit card for purchases, but if your card is lost or stolen you may not have the same protection. By U.S. law, as long as you report your card missing within two business days, your maximum liability for use of that card will be $50 -- the same as for a credit card. However, if you wait any longer, you could be responsible for up to $500 of unauthorized charges.

What You Need to Know: If the ATM card from your home bank isn't connected to the worldwide Cirrus or PLUS networks, you may want to look into getting a MasterCard or Visa debit card. While they look and can be used like regular charge cards, they actually debit your checking account the same way your ATM card does.

If you are renting a car, you should be aware that while you can use a debit card to pay for the rental charges, you might not be able to reserve the car with this type of card.

Finally, don't forget to call your bank and make them aware of your travel plans; as with credit cards, sudden international activity using your debit card could cause your account to be frozen.

Tips for Tipping Abroad

Cash
Best for: The first 24 hours of your trip -- to tide you over until you can find the nearest ATM.

Pros: It's often a good idea to get some foreign currency before you leave home so that you have cash on hand to handle your immediate expenses -- like buying a meal in the airport or taking a cab to your hotel. This way you're not stranded without cash if the airport ATM isn't working or you arrive after the local exchange bureau has closed.

Cons: You typically won't get a great conversion rate from your home bank, and you may also have to pay fees or commissions. If you're traveling to a major international airport in a large city, which will likely have multiple ATM's and change counters, getting currency beforehand probably isn't necessary.

What You Need to Know: You can get foreign currency from your local bank or at the airport. Try your local bank first, as they may waive fees for certain accountholders. We recommend bringing $100 - $150 worth of foreign currency.

Traveler's Checks and Check Cards
Best for: Emergency backup if you can't find a functioning ATM (checks) or a secure alternative to cash (checks and check cards).

Pros: Traveler's checks and check cards provide more security than cash because they can be replaced (usually within 24 hours) if lost or stolen. While traditional traveler's checks have largely gone the way of the dinosaur, Visa and Travelex offer travel cards that are prepaid like traveler's checks but work like credit cards for purchases and ATM withdrawals. To avoid the aforementioned problems that U.S. travelers have at overseas chip-and-PIN machines, Travelex even offers a chip-and-PIN card (available in euros or British pounds). Traditional checks are still sometimes useful as currency if you can't find a functioning ATM.

Cons: The exchange rate for traveler's checks is not as favorable as the interbank rate you'll get when using a credit or debit card, and very few merchants accept the checks for purchases these days. You'll also have to pay commissions, shipping charges and/or conversion fees to purchase and cash the checks (some fees may be waived -- see below). The travel check cards give you better exchange rates, but there are plenty of fees here too -- look out for activation fees, charges for reloading the card, ATM charges or inactivity fees. In most cases, you're probably better off using your own debit card.

What You Need to Know: You can avoid some of those pesky fees by cashing your traveler's checks at the bank that issued them -- for example, you can cash your American Express checks for free at many AmEx offices overseas.

How to Keep Your Money Safe While Traveling

Sending Money Abroad
Best for: Emergencies when you need money sent overseas in a hurry.

Pros: If you find yourself stranded overseas without cash, someone at home can wire money to you and you'll have it within a day -- or even a few minutes.

Cons: Fees for sending money abroad can run anywhere from 1 to 10 percent or more; the faster you need the money, the more expensive it will be.

What You Need to Know: The best-known companies for sending money are Western Union and MoneyGram. Both charge variable fees depending on how much money you're sending and where you're sending it. The slower the service you choose, the more economical the price.

Other choices for sending money abroad include bank wire transfers or international postal money orders from the post office. While less expensive, these methods may take more time.

Airlines will start penalizing fliers who book from booking sites

Did you know that some airlines are now penalizing frequent fliers and regular customers who book their flights through Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz.

 

Here are some of things that they are not allowing: choosing your airline seat instead your seat will be assigned when you check-in, not giving you as many frequent flier miles as you should receive when booking with a travel agent or their website.  Some are having higher change fees for itinerary changes, unaccompanied minors and pets in the cabin. 

 

You may find the same fare on the booking sites such as Expedia but you will not be able to choose your own seat or get a full credit for miles if you don't book directly with the airline or a travel agent.