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Listeners can post questions, comments, feedback regarding the “Travel with Stephanie Abrams” radio show in the Traveler411 Forums. Stephanie also recommends visiting the Member Photos section of the site to see pictures posted by various travel suppliers and destinations. You can also post up to 5,000 of your own travel photos with a free account.
For more information visit http://www.travelers411.com
Hurricane season is from June until November each year. Currently Hurricane Grace is at large in the Gulf Coast and there are also several typhoons and tsunamis in the South Pacific. The time to think about travel insurance is before you travel to your destination. InsureMyTrip.com offers several packages that cover catastrophic events.
There are four types of policies that cover hurricanes and each one is slightly different. There is coverage in the event of a hurricane decimating the destination you are traveling to or if your airline won’t fly to the destination because of an impending hurricane. There is coverage if your home should become uninhabitable because of a hurricane and you have to cancel your trip. There is also the “cancel for any reason” policy which covers this type of event in its worst extremity. Jim Grace, President and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com, states that travel insurance is a necessity when there is the threat of natural disasters.
There are certain parts of the related policies that would provide you with immediate departure from your destination if there was knowledge of an impending hurricane. There is also trip interruption service which allows travelers to interrupt their trip if they need to return home because of an emergency situation. Some provisions are also included under the “destination made uninhabitable” policy. The Cayman Islands had a major hurricane a few years ago and this kind of insurance was an asset.
In the event of a medical concern likes SARS or Swine Flu there is a policy in the event that you are quarantined and experience travel delays. Different companies have different regulations. In some countries children with elevated temperature will go into a separate holding cell from their parents until authorities are sure their illness is not Swine Flu or something that will affect a widespread population. Most policies will cover you for lost vacation-time or if you contract a virus or a sickness over seas. Jim Grace stresses that you need to take precautions traveling domestically and when going overseas.
There are different policies each with different wording. Jim Grace says that it is best to ask InsureMyTrip.com representatives about the coverage. Both medical coverage and trip interruption are available but you should know what the various policies are, know where you’re going and what kind of protection is available to you.
Stephanie remarks that travel insurance should be not be purchased for only far away and exotic destinations. The Fresh Meadow district of Queens, NY had the largest population of people inflicted with Swine Flu in the US.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=761
For more information visit http://www.insuremytrip.com or call 800.487.4722.
Stephanie gives advice to those nervous about traveling around in a foreign city. A listener recently voiced a concern about being unsafe when seeking transport in the city. Stephanie says to not get into a gypsy cab anywhere in the world. If you’re uncertain about the destination you are in you should arrange to have a car pickup. The standard Sedan most companies offer will give you good, clean, comfortable and safe transport. Many will take a credit card when purchased in advance. To find more about these kinds of services Stephanie says to always utilize the service of the concierge at your hotel.
For more information visit http://www.sabrams.com/traveltips/index.php
Guests Include:
Jim Grace, CEO, InsureMyTrip.com.
www.insuremytrip.com
Topics Include:
In October “Travel with Stephanie Abrams!” will be broadcasting live from Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. She learned about the region at the 2009 Tianguis, Mexico’s premier travel expo. Anyone involved in Mexican tourism is at Tianguis and in 2009 the buzz was about the new brand, Riviera Nayarit. The newly emerging tourist destination is on the Pacific west coast of Mexico just north of Puerto Vallarta.
Riviera Nayarit is extremely accessible. Guests can fly into Puerto Vallarta Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport. It is only a five hour flight from the east coast of the US and from the airport it is only a five minute drive to the southern area of the region. Some of the destinations in the region are already recognized by tourists worldwide, namely Punta de Mita and Nuevo Vallarta.
Richard Zarkin, Public Relations Manager for the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau, says once you arrive you will find three hundred and seven miles of coast line, “most of it pristine with careful planned development”. The Punta Mita area includes 3 and 5 Diamond resorts and a host of activities to enjoy. There is a lot of focus on eco-tourism. Nayairt is a small state which, along with the state of Jalisco, has the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. During the winter, guests can see Humpback whales off the coast or go bird watching. There is also a large turtle population in the fall and an infinite amount of diversity in flora and fauna throughout the year. The region’s close proximity to Puerto Vallarta has made it a very attractive tourist destination in past years.
Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico is a modern luxury area with large golf courses mangrove canals. Mangroves are a type of tree/shrub that typically grows along the shores of tropical saltwater ocean and riverways. An area further up the coast is La Cruz de Huanacaxtle which had a new 400-slip marina open during its first phase in 2008. If you continue north you will fund Punta Mita a very exclusive area famous for the Four Seasons Punta Mita. The town also has the first St. Regis Hotel in all of Latin America and two Jack Nicklaus golf courses.
Even further north is Sayulita, what Richard Zarkin refers to as “an eclectic location”. He states “many people fall in love with it”. It is home to surfing, galleries, Mexican crafts, and many celebrities. Rincon de Guayabitos is another popular destination. It has a beautiful lake and bay and is a mountainous area. Zarkin comments that many Mexicans go there on vacation. It is also a residential area with beautiful bed and breakfasts. San Blas is the most northerly part of the region. It is where Spanish priest Junipero Serra left to found the California Missions and is an area surrounded by mangroves. Eighteen percent of mangroves of Mexico are in Nayarit, the highest concentration of any region. San Blas is a very popular bird watching spot in the winter. The San Blas International Festival of Migratory Birds is held the third week of January each year.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
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For more information visit http://www.rivieranayarit.com
The Villa Group is a collection of resorts founded in 1984. It is one of the leading privately owned resort companies in Mexico and offers beach front resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Cabo San Lucas. The company also offers real estate developments and has a total of six hotels; three in Cabo, two in the Riviera Nayarit and one in Puerto Vallarta. The company will have two new properties open in 2010, one in Loreto, Baja, Mexico and the other in Cancun. Stephanie comments that Loreto is similar to Riviera Nayarit in that it emerged as a beautiful but unknown destination that lent itself to touristic development in a sustainable way.
The Villa Group’s Nayarit properties are a center of natural adventure, culture, dining, nightlife, golfing, spas and world-class quality facilities. The Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau Hotel & Motel Association offers luxury hotels, many international brands and also small bungalows and boutique hotels on the beach.
The Villa Del Palmar Flamingos and Villa La Estancia Beach Resort and Spa are the Villa Groups two properties in Nayarit. The resorts are adjacent to one another in the area of Nuevo Vallarta. The La Estancia has lush, landscaped grounds, free form swimming pools, and whirlpool spas. There are 245 suites at the property each one containing two or three bedroom units with marble floors and granite counter tops. It has an excellent restaurant, La Casona, which is the only restaurant in the region to feature certified Kobe beef. There is also great seafood available in all of the surrounding restaurants.
The property’s Tatewari Spa is comprised of is 17,000 square feet of spa space and uses a unique approach to healing “mind, body and spirit”. Treatments include the “Tatewari” water ritual which consists of a water therapy experience using a warm Jacuzzi, cold spring water soaking pool, steam room, sauna room and a waterfall rinse. Guests can also choose to have a massage, facial, body scrub and wrap. There is a special area next to the beach with 18 cabanas used for massage. Treatment practitioners and massage therapists are certified specialists from around the world.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=763
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For more information visit http://www.villagroupresorts.com
Fun Facts:
Tatewari, in Huichol (an indigenous ethic group of western central Mexico) folklore, is the god of fire.
In April 2012 the Balmoral cruise ship will follow the route taken by the Titanic one hundred years ago. The memorial sailing will include a moment of silence at the location off the coast of Newfoundland where the ship sank.
Guests Include:
Richard Zarkin, Public Relations Manager, Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau.
www.rivieranayarit.com
Armando Garcia Jimenez, Director of Operations, Villa Group Resorts.
www.villagroupresorts.com
Topics Include:
The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort Jamaica is in the Rose Hill section of the island situated on a private beach with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. It is located ten minutes away from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport which, along with the surrounding roads, has been recently renovated. The Ritz-Carlton has a lounge at the airport and staff there so that guests can check in immediately after disembarking. Guests are then provided with high-class minibus transport to the hotel. Resort representatives will also prearrange for a private town car to pick guests up if they prefer.
The property has 427 guestrooms and suites, each with a private balcony or terrace. Guests can enjoy the beach, pool, tennis center and the resort’s beautiful spa. The property also has the renowned White Witch Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course that has 15 holes with direct oceans views. Bernd Kuhlen, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort says it is an unbelievable links course. Two packages have been created at the hotel just for golfers.
General Manager of the property, Bernd Kuhlen, says that the hotel is particularly focused on providing value. People are currently concerned not just with how much they are spending but with what they are getting for their money. The Ritz-Carlton Jamaica is the only Ritz- Carlton to offer an all-inclusive package. The package is referred to as the “escape to luxury” and includes all meals and drinks with no hidden fees, taxes or gratuities. Children under 12 receive complimentary stays and meals. The hotel is also currently offering a special promotion where the first night in the inclusive package is free. Bernd Kuhlen says that “even with the all-inclusive package you still receive Ritz-Carlton quality”. Kuhlen quotes a past president of the company: “service without warmth is arrogance”. Kuhlen says that if you “Combine this attitude with certification, motivation and training and you are off to a good start”.
The Ritz-Carlton Jamaica has a world class spa with 11 treatment rooms in addition to a sauna, steam room and relaxation center. The spa has very little turnover in its staff and most therapists have been with the resort since it opened in 2000. They are highly trained and receive many repeat visitors because of the quality of their services. Brend Kuhlen states that “people come to the spa not just for the facilities but for the staff”. The spa is connected to the fitness center and much of it has views of a lush garden. The hotel is currently offering fifty percent off spa treatments at the Ritz-Carlton and other participating spas in Jamaica.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread
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For more information visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com and http://www.whitewitchgolf.com
The‘d’ hotel, the sister property of the ‘g’ hotel in Galway, is located on the east coast of Ireland just north of Dublin. It is a great location for those looking to tour significant areas in eastern Ireland. The hotel is approximately 25 minutes from Dublin Airport and is located on the banks of the River Boyne in the historic town of Drogheda. The hotel was designed by Douglas Wallace who was also the architect for the Morrison Hotel in Dublin.
Stephanie recommends that visitors driving north from Dublin first stop at Malahide Castle, an estate set on 250 acres of park land in the seaside town of Malahide. She recommends next stopping at Newgrange. Newgrange is a passage tomb that is one of the largest and most stunning prehistoric megalithic sites in the world. Stephanie says it is phenomenal and a great way to picture life 5,000 years ago.
The ‘d’ is a contemporary hotel. It uses a lot of limestone and walnut in its design and has a lounge, bar and restaurant that all open out onto to River Boyne side terraces. Upstairs there is a small function room called the Gallery. Drogheda was an old industrial town and the hotel is built around an area of historic factories. The Gallery has high beams and is a fantastic setting for weddings.
The hotel has 104 guest rooms as well as two penthouse suites, the light room and the dark room respectively. Both penthouses have rooftop terraces that look out over the town. Guests can see eight church steeples and several bridges from the rooftop view. The remaining guest rooms are well-suited to families, each with a double and a single bed. There are sixteen balcony views available.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
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For more information visit http://www.thedhotel.com
Lord Alexander Burton Conyngham, the Earl of Mount Charles in County Meath, Ireland, joins the “Travelers411” radio show to discuss his family estate and several ongoing projects on the castle’s grounds. The Conynghams, a noble Scottish family that settled in Ireland in 1611, have occupied Slane Castle since 1701. The building as it stands today was constructed in 1785. Lord Henry, Alex’s father, began using the property as a concert venue in the early 1980’s. He subsequently earned the name “the rock and roll aristocrat”.
Today Alex also helps with the concerts run at the property on a regular basis. There is seating capacity for up to 100,000 people. Slane Castle hosts many overseas visitors for both weddings and concert events. Past performances include musical acts such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
The castle contains the renowned “Gothic Ballroom”, one the finest neo-Gothic designed rooms in all of north Western Europe. Alex states that “it has amazing light and great acoustics”. It was designed in the 18th century by English architect Thomas Hopper. The room was featured in the U2 video “Pride” (informally known as “In the Name of Love).
The Conyngham family’s latest venture is the production of Slane Castle Irish Whiskey. The project started two years ago with Alex, his father and his grandfather who sadly passed away this past year. The whiskey launched in June 2009 in Ireland and is now available in Massachusetts, Florida and a few other states in the US. Alex remarks that “Irish whiskey is a source of Irish pride” and Slane Irish Whiskey “reflects the quality and heritage associated with the (Slane) property”.
The Slane distillery is open for tours. On occasion, the castle has been rented out for weeklong visitors who have been willing to pay a considerable cost for the rental. It is ideally located between Dublin and Belfast and is a stunning estate. Overnight visits are granted upon special request.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=588
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For more information visit http://www.slanecastle.ie
Guests Include:
Bernd Kuhlen, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Jamaica.
www.ritzcarlton.com
Rory Scott, General Manager, the ‘d’ hotel, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland.
www.thedhotel.com
Alexander Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles, Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland.
www.slanecastle.ie
