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Agent Photo Albums

Each year our agents travel to many different destinations throughout the world for both leisure and business, bringing back the experience and knowledge -- as well as photos! These photos albums are created by our own agents and are not retouched to make every place look 'picture perfect.' What you will get is real photos from anywhere we've been!

Sandals Royal Bahamian

Maureen and Bob went to the Bahamas and stayed at Sandals Royal Bahamian. Here are our photos of Sandals Royal Bahamian including photos of our room. People often ask about what is in the room. Does it have a safe, does it have a hair dryer, what is in the minibar? etc., etc., etc. We were in the Windsor Building in an oceanview concierge junior suite. We had all those amenties and you can see them here. We also took photos of the many places set up for weddings and candle light dinners for two, as well as photos of the private island, beach and more. Feel free to email or phone and ask questions.

© 2007 Maureen Carreno

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Moon Palace Weddingmoon Group

My clients Liza and Michael were married at the Lovely Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Maya Mexico.

Liza and Michael stayed for a week, some of thier family did as well. Others came for 3, 4 or 5 nights and we coordinated all that for them.

I think you will agree, these are some gorgeous wedding photos!

Thank you Liza and Michael and best wishes always!!

From the Bride in her own words:

"Everything was wonderful!!! I love the Moon Palace! They took care of everything and the whole place was above and beyond what I expected.

Our rooms were great, and everyone was very impressed with the resort. My dad even sent an e-mail to the Moon Palace telling them how great he thought it was. I would recommend it to anyone. I would go back there any time. They took care of every last detail for me. They even searched for a music stand for Kristina to play her flute. They didn't have on one site that belonged to the resort, so they found something. Also, my pictures and video were ready Tuesday after getting married on Saturday (3 days later!)

Tell that bride that she is foolish not to pick the Moon Palace. It really is a palace, and they treat you like kings and queens!"

© 2006 Maureen Carreno

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Riviera Maya Aug 06

This year Bob and I wanted to take my girls away for a nice vacation before school starts up again. We enjoyed our stay in Mexico last year and we left with things to do remaining on our list, so we agreed that we wouldn�t mind going back. Jessica has never been to Mexico and Hollie had never even flown anywhere before. It seemed like Mexico was the place to go. We made arrangements to travel to Mexico on USA3000 and stay at the Copacabana resort for 4 nights. Yes, the song got stuck in my head�and yes, my teenagers are too young to remember the record or even the time when records were hi fi technology at it�s finest. No, I�m not old�I am retro chic. Buying it? Ok, let�s press on.

Bob�s birthday was coming up and I emailed the resort ahead to make arrangements for his birthday. I also contacted the resort about tours and spa treatments so that I could get an idea of the best use of our limited time. The staff told me that all would be taken care of and they emailed me back promptly. I also told them that I would be doing this review for our site and enewsletter. They said to ask for them after I checked in and all would be taken care of.

The flight times on USA3000 and enhanced airport screening made it so that we had to be at the airport at 4am for our flight. USA3000 also does not give seat assignments until airport check in so you have to be early if you want a say in your seat assignment. The seats are more comfortable than your average coach seat on other airlines, the food is a bit worse, the flight attendants were friendly. The outbound movie was what Bob called �the last thing on the shelf at Blockbuster�. It was about wild horses romantic relationships and it starred Russell Crowe, who should be �penalized for making this film by having to give back his Oscar.� We all agreed with Bob�s statements. I think they got stuck with it when Ishtar wasn�t available. The movie on the way home was a cute family movie with Lawrence Fishburn and Angela Basset about a spelling Bee�much more entertaining.

We checked in at the hotel. I asked about the people that I emailed with. They were busy at the moment but would meet with me later. I was tired anyway. Our room was ready right away and our luggage would be delivered to our rooms later. We went to get something to eat at the buffet near the pool and beach. The food was not impressive at all. We later went to meet with our Apple Rep to get our transfer time for our return and hear about the hotel, destination and optional tours. It only takes about 30 minutes and it is good to get the lay of the land when you arrive so you don�t miss out on anything. No matter what vacation company takes you to the resort, they all have meetings and desk hours in the lobby. You can book your tours with any one of them and I advise you to shop around at the different desks for your best value, convenience and service. Most people think they have to stick with who they came with�but really you are a free agent, you paid for your trip and any other arrangements for your time or money are wholly up to you.

I will reinforce this�do not waste your time with time share people. They suck up your valuable vacation time by offering you a free lunch or cruise or something. Nothing is for free in this world. They will use that time to pressure you into buying a time share. In my opinion time shares are a bad investment. They often depreciate by up to 70% in the time it takes for the ink to dry on the contract. (See MSN money article for things you should never buy new.) They aren�t as flexible as they seem when they are wooing you. You will likely spend more in airfare to get to them on your magical week than most people spend for an entire air/land inclusive package. Mexico is full of time share offerings in the airport, walking the streets and even at your hotels. Don�t make eye contact and remember No is No in Spanish too. We couldn�t get 2 feet in Playa Del Carmen without offers for free tours, come look at our property, we will give you lunch�it tainted our stroll there.

On our first day we went to the beach. The Copacabana has a lovely beach, the water is the temperature of a nice bath. They have a hammock garden that we loved. There is something to be said for a nice Mayan hammock under the palm trees with the sound of the waves and the gentle rocking soothing your soul. They do limit the included water sports to an hour and they really don�t spend much time helping you with the equipment. They have volleyball on the beach and that seemed to be a hit with a lot of the children and some adults. The pool area is lovely and they have activities such as contests, water volleyball and more. No swim up bar, for those of you that like to know that. They do have a bar near the pool. They also have a kids pool and playground area. The gym and spa are next to the pool. The spa has a nice variety of treatments available at reasonable rates, unfortunately time did not allow us to sample them. The complimentary gym has state of the art equipment, a view of the pool and they open early and close late. The pool itself and beach close down surprisingly early. We tried to use the pool and Jacuzzi after dinner and was told no. We went down to the beach after dinner and it was pitch dark with a man that patrols it with a flashlight. Not very romantic in our opinion and it put a damper on some things we really enjoy while on a tropical vacation. They have a theatre show in the evening�generally some sort of Broadway show style theme. The theatre is cute and family friendly. They have one nightclub that stays open until 2am.

On our second morning we made arrangements for our dinner reservations. They give you coupons for reservations. All the restaurants but the buffet require advance reservations. They are not all open every night of the week, so your choices are somewhat limited. I wanted to do the Terrace restaurant for Bob�s birthday dinner. This restaurant is not included as part of the all inclusive. You have to order your meal when you make the reservation. It�s odd to order a meal for dinner at 8am when you aren�t even hungry especially not for dinner food. We ordered our meals and I ordered a birthday cake for Bob. We also reserved the following two night�s dinners at the Paradise by the beach and the Mexican restaurant for our last night. We took this time to arrange our tours after the restaurants were arranged. I chose the Copa Tours desk due to the sparkling personality of Sophie Chain versus the antithesis with our Apple Rep, I can�t remember his name so I will just call him Se�or Unibrow del Grumpy. Sophie did not want to step on Apple�s toes since they feed the resort a good bit of American clients, the rest of the clientele were mainly Mexican nationals. I insisted that I would only book with her. I am glad I did as these tours were the saving grace of this vacation. We arranged for a tour of Coba and the Dolphin Discovery tour.

We took a cab to Playa Del Carmen for our second day. The cab was reasonable at about $14 from our resort. They dropped us off at 5th Ave and we walked around, went to the ATM for some cash and mostly window shopped. Playa Del Carmen is great if you love to shop and barter. Personally there were way too many time share people and pushy vendors, it felt very tourist trappy to me. The beach is attractive there and they do have the bars and restaurant chains people frequent at other tropical destinations. I went to a restaurant and asked if I could use the bathroom and they told me not unless I bought something. Fair enough, I said I would buy a drink. The girl told me that it had to be a whole meal. I told her I wasn�t hungry but I would buy a drink that would cost enough to cover my bathroom visit. She refused to sell me a drink or let me use the bathroom. I used the bathroom and spent money at McDonalds instead.

That night we went to the Terrace restaurant for Bob�s birthday dinner. We showed up at our appointed time and stood there. Wait staff walked past us several times�it took 15 minutes before anyone even asked us if we had reservations. The Terrace restaurant is behind the buffet restaurant in a charming garden area by the stream. They have it lit with string lights in the trees and soft music. It was a beautiful romantic atmosphere so I can forgive them for not acknowledging us right away. We are seated. I am hopeful that this is a good birthday experience for Bob. For my part of this birthday quest I emailed weeks ahead, I reserved, I reconfirmed, I ordered the meal for an additional $175 above what we paid for an all inclusive resort stay and now we are here. So we are attacked by mosquitoes�ok they were here first and although bug zappers are available nobody had the foresight here to invest in one. Then I notice that a father and kids have just brought their plates from the buffet out to the Terrace. At the next table two parents and their young boys are eating. These children also had buffet food, though the parents ate the upscale menu from the terrace. These kids were not able to sit quietly at an elegant restaurant so the parents gave them a portable DVD player and we had to listen to the Scooby Doo movie. The soft music could no longer be heard. This is offensive because I just paid all this extra money for this and a large part of it was atmosphere. The girls ordered surf and turf, Bob had steak and shrimp and I had steak. They served the meal with one small new potato about the size of a quarter and one small floret of broccoli; it was more of a garnish instead of a vegetable or side dish. The meat/seafood was good but the accompaniment was pitiful. Then they brought out desert�no sign of the birthday cake at this point. When the waiter brought the desert he handed Bob�s to him and said �Se�or Bob? Hehe�. They finished their deserts and then we waited another 15 awkward minutes before the cake came out. I doubted it ever would and almost left before it arrived. By this time no one really had room to eat it after the other desert. No candles, no singing. We offered up the rest of the cake to the other diners, but most of the cake was left behind. The ambiance was destroyed, the birthday celebration was poorly executed and my $175 plus tip was a waste of money. I was very disappointed after the emails, personal face to face request and reservations for this occasion you would have thought they would do better. Obviously they can�t pull it together when they know they are being reviewed and everything has been done in advance. It boggles the mind how poorly this may have gone without all the advance planning. This is poor management of what could be a jewel on this property.

Suggestions for improvement: Invest in a bug zapper. Take the dinner order after people are seated in the restaurant not the morning of the reservation and a few more vegetables wouldn�t be much of a financial burden. Offer a sugar free desert choice or fruit. Make this restaurant age 14 and up, old enough for people to have social skills as well as a palate that is accustomed to the menu and preserve the ambiance. Do not allow people to come sit in this area from the Buffet. Notice people when they come in and take care to help them with celebrations so they recommend and want to return to you.

Every morning the breakfast buffet had the same choices, coffee availability problems and dirty juice glasses and coffee cups. I drink water and I could not find one glass without juice pulp on it after searching 3 racks of glasses. On the last day we had to check out at 5:00 am and the lady at the desk said they would put out continental breakfast and coffee in the lobby. By the time our transfer came 45 minutes later they still had not. The Mexican and Paradise restaurants that were included had better food and ambiance than the Terrace restaurant we paid extra for. The wait staff was better as well.

Bob and I were talking about the resort. Apple Vacations rates it as a 5 out of 6 apples. Secrets resort we reviewed last year was a 6. We wondered if we were being harsh after staying at such a lovely resort last year, did we lose our objectivity? No, we decided that although we have been fortunate to enjoy superior accommodations on many occasions, we have also reviewed B&B�s and tourist class hotels fairly. We found Copacabana to be very frustrating�it has great potential but it fails to live up to it. The Beach and pool are gorgeous, the rooms and balconies are nice, some of the grounds are pretty while other areas had construction debris; the restaurants have some good food and some terrible food, some nice atmosphere and some spoiled atmosphere and some good waiters as well as some that could not be bothered. The problem is inconsistency of quality and service. They need a management overhaul and service oriented staff training. I would say that honestly, this property is a 4 out of 6 with potential, if they work out their problems.

What made this trip special and enjoyable were the day trips to Coba, the Mayan Village and to Puerto Aventuras for the Dolphin Discovery. Coba is a large but less know Mayan ruin site. Most people know of Chichen Itza and some know of Tulum, but Coba is more than worthwhile�it�s amazing! Most of the site isn�t even uncovered, but they still have enough to leave you awestruck. It also has the highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula and the only one you can still climb to the top of. After Coba we went to a roadside open air restaurant. Oddly enough it was one of the best meals we had on our trip, crocodiles across the street, ants on the wall�but superb cuisine and welcoming service. Our tour guide Miriam was probably the best tour guide I ever encountered. She is of Aztec origin from Mexico City and well educated in history and archeology from the University there. She is also very kind and friendly to the people on the tour and the locals. When we traveled to the Mayan Village the kids hugged and welcomed her like family. Next we swam in a Mayan Paradise, the Cenote. We went down into the earth 84 steps to an underground cavern and swam in this refreshing sinkhole while looking at magnificent stalactites. I highly recommend this tour of Coba.

Puerto Aventuras for the Dolphin Discovery the next day was also a once in a lifetime experience. We decided to go for the Royal Swim this allowed us to kiss the dolphins, hold them, pet them, dance with them, hold their fins when they swim with you, water ski on their noses as they push you along the water, sing with them and just be thankful to be alive and to have met these friendly intelligent creatures of the sea. This is an extraordinary experience and while it is a little expensive, they do have different costs and levels of interaction. I would splurge on this�.it is worth every penny.

All in all it was a great trip. I enjoyed my time with Bob and the girls, I loved the sightseeing, swimming and the beach were excellent and we had some shining moments at the resort. Copacabana would have to make some serious changes before I could agree with its rating. I still love the Riviera Maya area and Mexico in general and would encourage this resort area, if not this resort. Without hesitation try the adventures/excursions listed here as well as the Tulum and Horseback riding adventures highlighted in last year�s Riviera Maya review of Secrets Capri.

© 2006 Maureen Carreno

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Driving in Ireland with Maureen

Bob and I had such a good time in Mexico, and in general a good time together, that we decided to go away again. Bob is second generation in America and his family still has relatives in Ireland. (we didn�t get a chance to visit them this time, but we will be back) I don't have a clear pedigree like Bob, but any reason to go to Ireland works for me! Most of my Ireland photo albums are from different tours, escorting groups on motor coaches. One of them we had a car for a day or two at the beginning and then we met up with the tour. Bob prefers a more intimate group, such as a few friends or even just the two of us. After being with groups of 45 or more...I thought it would be a nice change for me too.

Bob didn't care about seeing all things touristy we got together with a map, the tourist board website, a few brochures and we got an outline of our trip together. This probably took an hour. Rule of thumb, if you split Ireland in 4 provinces you can do 2 that touch in a week without stressing yourself. We were going to be gone for 10 days so we could do 3.

In total we drove nearly 900 kilometers. We picked up our Dan Dooley rental car upon arrival at Shannon airport in the Southwest of Ireland. We dropped it off at Dublin airport two days prior to coming home. Dublin is a great walking city, so we didn�t need the car there. Our rental was a Ford Focus, 4 doors, gentle ride, corners like it�s on rails, plenty of trunk space for luggage, automatic transmission and very comfortable. Picking up the car was no hassle and the Dooley people even give you a complimentary newspaper and map. I noticed on my rental contract that it said to return empty. Normally the rental companies suggest you return full, so this was different.

If you are planning on driving in Ireland I would make a few suggestions. First pick up in Shannon and drop off in Dublin, Shannon is a much easier place to ease into driving on the left hand side of the road while sitting on the right hand side of the car. Shannon side has less traffic, a simpler route out of the airport and plenty of lodging nearby because the first day you may be very tired for this driving lesson. Second, get an automatic. Even if you drive standard at home, you don�t do it from the other side of the car, on the other side of the road, with the other hand while in unfamiliar territory. Next, get the collision damage waiver�chances are you wont need it�unless you don�t have it�Murphy�s Law applies to insurance. Third, don�t panic, relax and enjoy the ride, it really is part of the fun once you get the hang of it. Fourth, chose the right size car for your length of trip, number of passengers, luggage and comfort. Don�t bother to drive in Dublin, if you can help it when we returned the car, Dooley called a taxi and he took us right in to town. Finally, book your car with Dan Dooley�yes, the other brands are there too, but Dooley is the hometown boy, they ARE Ireland, they are professional and friendly with great cars (even American models like our Ford) and bottom line is�there is a Mr. Dooley�when was the last time you saw Mr. Enterprise??

In all the times I have been to Ireland, I have stayed at fine hotels, standard hotels, and even castles. Until this trip, I never stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. Sure, I booked them, I had knowledge of them, I had seen them, but I never experienced them before. There are over 4000 Bed and Breakfasts in Ireland. The accommodations vary from place to place just as the houses in your neighborhood would vary if you walked in all the doors. On this trip we stayed in both Irish Farmhouse B&B�s and Town and County B&B�s. We used vouchers to pay for our stay. We pre arranged our B&B for the first night and in West Port. The others were found on the way or arranged and recommended by other B&B owners.

In Ennis we stayed at Elmdale House the Proprietress Anne O�Halloran bakes her own home made bread and welcomes you to walk the grounds of her farm. She is an excellent conversationalist and loves to discuss American news. http://www.elmdalehouse.com Here you are close to the Cliffs of Mohr, The Burren and the town of Ennis.

In Salt Hill, Galway we stayed at Ard Mhuire Bed and Breakfast www.ardmhuire.com which is a very large town and country B&B within walking distance to the beach, casino and a short ride to Galway City. The McDonagh�s are a very sweet older couple who are selling this property and retiring in a year. If you can get in before that, do try, they are lovely people. It was also a good location for us to travel to the Aran Islands. We stayed at this B&B for two nights and waited for the weather to clear so the Islands would be more enjoyable. (Note: leave some flexibility in your plan for the things that are important)

In Westport we stayed at Betra House http://www.bertrahse.com which is also a farmhouse B&B �I would say like Elmdale House but they are nothing alike. That�s part of the B&B experience. Different types of accommodations, locations, host families all add to this unique experience. Betra House had a magnificent view out to the mountains in county Mayo. This would be a good location to visit Westport, known for its fine cuisine, Connemara region and Quiet Man locations as well as Croagh Patrick�s Holy Mountain. There is a place called The Tavern down the road near a famine memorial that has terrific food!

In Donegal we stayed at Heeny�s Lodge B&B www.heeneyslodge.com run by Breda Cannon. This B&B would be ideal for families or people that need triple occupancy. The rooms are really gorgeous, as is the rest of the house. Each room is themed with colors and perfectly decorated. Breda has several children that add to the feeling of staying with family. We stepped away from Traditional Irish Breakfast when Breeda graciously offered us French Toast!

In NewGrange we stayed at Roughgrange Farm B&B (041-98-23147 phone in Ireland) which is also a farmhouse B&B. We came upon this B&B after a long day of driving and then visiting NewGrange. They were kind enough to take us when we showed up unreserved on their doorstep. This is close to NewGrange and other megalithic sites in Co. Meath as well as the Boyne Valley and Hill of Tara. Irene McDonnell is a very nice woman and will tell you what sights are worth seeing in her neck of the woods. She pleased Bob with Green Tea in the morning. From Roughgrange it is an easy drive into Dublin airport in the morning, which is what we did.

Hotel accommodations on this trip were new for me as well. I met some gentlemen at a tradeshow that did a presentation on their family owned hotel in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal. The hotel is called The Sandhouse http://www.sandhouse-hotel.ie . They invited us to come and see it and it looked very nice, so we took them up on the offer. WOW! The hotel sits huge and majestic overlooking the beach. You have to look at the photos and still, it won�t do this place justice. Impeccably decorated, no detail left out when considering amenities (fantastic water pressure in the shower, which has become very important to us when sampling accommodations). I have to note, that we love towel warmers! Our view was of the ocean and if you looked down you saw a very pretty patio where we took some photos and if you looked to the right you saw a Helicopter pad. Mostly I looked at the sea and counted myself very lucky to be there. I would highly recommend this resort to anyone who appreciates fine gourmet cuisine, an excellent wine selection, spa facilities, golf and beautiful accommodations. They have plenty of meeting space for your event and golf nearby. This would make a wonderful corporate retreat or incentive. Bob and I both agreed that we would love to come back and spend more time there. I see countless hotels in my journeys and the Sandhouse stands out and impresses with ease.

In Dublin we stayed at Temple Bar Hotel http://www.templebarhotel.com . This hotel is best identified with its location. You are right in the heart of famous Temple Bar. The action, excitement and nightlife are literally on your doorstep. Yes, they have meeting rooms and the amenities you would want in the city stay hotel, but it is really all about being in the heart of it. You walk down the street and you are in Temple Bar, a few blocks and you are on Grafton Street for shopping until you drop in Dublin. You can also walk to St. Stephen�s Green and Trinity College for the Book of Kells. Yes, Bob and I did all of that. We also walked all over Dublin, had a picnic in the park, checked out the fine Georgian architecture. We had fine dinners at Fitzer�s in Temple Bar and Verona a few blocks away from the tourist area, while our buddies were slamming down the Guinness and Cider at the Aulde Dubliner.

What happened in between places????????????????? The photos will tell some of the tale, Bob and I will tell some of the tale and some of it has no words fit to describe it. Observations along the way: The Cliffs of Mohr is opening a new visitor�s center, beware of the bull. Discovering that driving on the left isn�t so bad is a great feeling. Getting lost in the Burren leads you to teahouses with the best looking cows in Ireland and cuddling goats. You can pass that car and the road is big enough for both of you if you really believe it (or shut your eyes). Ireland has mountains, hills, valleys and the weather can change in the blink of a camera shutter. Rainbows are real and part of daily life. Irish food can be exciting, honest. If you mix in with German tourists you can pretend you are part of a group and use the bathroom at a hiking guide�s home, just don�t speak unless you have Meryl Streep�s gift for accents. If you are traveling with friends it�s great to meet at certain spots along the way and then you can meet and talk about your personal journey�s to get there. Some accommodations need to learn that water savers just make you take longer showers, use just as much water and lead your guests to jokingly rate you with cactus symbols. Fat Frogs are drinks enjoyed by young college girls and Chris�s Bob (the other Bob in the pictures). Chris�s Bob doesn�t mind this fact. In Ireland you can grow flowers anywhere even in stone (at home I kill them in a flower pot). If you drive around you can find great photo spots nobody seems to know about. If you walk confidently in Dublin, foreigners will ask you for directions and offer you gifts such as chop sticks. Only 800 people live on the Aran Islands and I am jealous of each and every one of them. I may be afraid of heights but when motivated by a nice hand to hold I can do anything�such as climb the highest sea cliffs in Europe and enjoy every moment of it.

My love affair with Ireland goes on. Please don�t hesitate to ask me anything�but make sure you have time to talk. Or email me�.. maureencarreno@flamingo-travel.com

Special thanks to Celtic Tours, Dan Dooley Rental Cars, The Sandhouse Hotel, Irish Farmhouse B&B's for their hospitality and assistance, All the various B&B's we stayed at and their wonderfully warm families. (Many of which did not know what I was up to when I was reviewing them.)
Thank all of you for one of my best trips ever!

We can make all these arrangements for you, the B&B�s on the voucher system like we just used the airfare, hotel and car arrangements too. We will put it in one simple package for you.
If you want to scope out B&B�s that take your vouchers you can go to:
Farmhouse B&B's http://www.irishfarmholidays.com
Town and Country B&B's http://www.townandcountry.ie/

© 2006 Maureen Carreno

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Viva Italia by Trafalgar

If you are in the 21-38 age range and interested in touring Italy, look no further. I (Travel Agent Heather) just returned from my Viva Italia tour of Italy by Trafalgar. This tour type is one of Trafalgar's Breakaway Tours for the 21-38 yr old age bracket. And let me tell you that this tour did not disappoint!!

This type of tour takes out the hassle of trying to see all of Italy on your own at an extremely reasonable price. Trafalgar has been doing this for MANY years so they really have it down to a science. From the included transfers to and from the airport, to hotel locations, included dinners and transportation to each beautiful city, to the optional excursions, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the scenery. And what scenery it is!!

Our tour began in Rome, Italy. We stayed for two nights in Rome near the Vatican City. The beauty of a structured tour is that you can do as much or as little as you want. But Trafalgar makes certain that you have the opportunity to see all the top sites of each beautiful city. If you choose not to take an optional excursion that's your option! There are no crack of dawn starts in the morning which is great after a full day of sightseeing.

From Rome, we headed to Sorrento for two nights stay with a day trip into Pompeii (which is not to be missed) and a day trip to Capri (truly the highlight of my trip). There were optional excursions to tour both Pompeii and Capri with a local guide (which was well worth it especially in Pompeii). We also visited the town of Positano (from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun). It is a quaint town built into the cliff side. This optional excursion was a must see!

From Sorrento we headed back up north to incredible Florence and the Tuscan Hills (this was another two night stay). We had an opportunity to sample local Tuscan cuisine at an incredible Tuscan Restaurant in the beautiful Tuscan Hills. It was an incredible experience. We even had the opportunity to party with the locals at a Florence Nightclub!

Next was Milan for a quick over night stay. We shopped in all the Designer shops (ok-we window shopped)!

On the way to Venice, we had stops in Pisa (to view the famous Leaning Tower) and Verona (to check out Juliette's balcony form Romeo and Juliette). Now--how would you ever get to see all these places on your own?). Did I also mention that we stopped in Portofino in the Italian Riviera?

Venice was truly magical. We had the opportunity to have dinner at a restaurant on the Grand Canal, followed by a serenade Gondola Ride. By far, my favorite experience of this trip was an after dinner drink in St Mark's Square at a cafe listening to an orchestra! St Marks Square is magical at night and a completely different experience than during the day! We spent the entire next day at our leisure exploring the island of Venice wandering the streets (and getting lost too--but that's part of the fun)!

It was so hard to say good bye to Venice as we headed back to Rome for our farewell dinner. It was time to say good bye to all our new friends and our incredible tour director, Tony Cacace.

If you have been afraid or leery to try a structured tour--fret no more! Its is an incredible way to tour an incredible country, sample local cuisine and make new and lasting friendships!

Feel free to email with any questions or check out Trafalgar's website (www.traflagar.com) for all their tours. You won't be disappointed! I know I wasn't! I can't wait to book my next Trafalgar tour.

Ciao!

Heather Raum

© 2006 Heather Raum

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Walt and Jan in Panama

Some of my favorite clients Walt and Jan, went to Panama and have agreed to share some photos with us. They said they had a wonderful time going to this resort off the beaten path and that they would go back. They stayed two weeks at the Royal Decameron Resort in Panama which is an all inclusive resort (rare in this destination) and they got a great deal (if I do say so myself).

© 2006 Maureen Carreno

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Disney

Travel Agent Heather Raum and her friend Judy just returned from Disney's Very Merry Christmas Celebration. It really is a very special time of year to visit Walt Disney World.

From Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom to MGM's Osborne's Family Spectacle of Lights, there is something for everyone. I hightly recommend visiting at this time of year (although it was a bit crowded).

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a separate admission ticket on select nights in Nov through early January 2006 from 7pm to midnight. There are several great shows including "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Celebrate the Season". There is also an all-new fireworks spectacular "Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season". You can also enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies throughout the park and special event merchandise that is only sold during the Christmas Party. And what Disney Christmas party would be complete without Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade! And who knows, you may even see a little snow on Main Street.

Jump on over to MGM for the Osborne's Family Spectacle of Light. See millions of blinking, twinkling lights all over the streets of America on MGM's backlot.

You can also visit Epcot for their Holidays Around the World Celebration. Discover Christmas traditions all over the world and stay for the Candlelight Processional.

We also happened to be there during the filming of the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade at the Magic Kingdom. We were able to be in the audience for a holiday song sung by Wayne Brady and American Idol's Kimberly Locke! We also saw Lone Star perform in the town square!

It truly is a special time of year to visit Walt Disney World. Feel free to call me with any questions!

© 2005 Heather Raum

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Dee & Rodney

Congratulations to Deidre and Rodney Hill, married on Nov 12, 2005 at Summertime Villa in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The celebration which was held at the Villa was attended by about 25 of the bride and groom's family and friends. Several friends and family members stayed at Sunset Beach Resort and Wyndham Rose Hall in Montego Bay.

The garden ceremony was followed by a beautiful poolside reception. Agent Heather Raum and Flamingo Travel were thrilled to help Dee and Rodney plan their special day and Dee and Rodney were kind enough to share their wedding photos with us.

© 2005 Heather Raum

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Travel with your Agent Ireland 2005

Oct 13th-20th Maureen and Chris took a group of clients on an escorted tour of Ireland. We did a bit of a road less traveled type of tour in Connemara and County Cavan as well as stoping in Killarney and visting Dublin. Some of the places I have been before, but new to me was gorgeous Kylemoore Abby.
I was finally able to bring my daughter to Ireland, something I have been wanting to do for a long time. She can't wait for her return trip and got very emotional when we had to leave. I was also fortunate to get to know some of my regular clients better by traveling with them. I treasure this opportunity to know them as not just clients, but as people and now friends.

© 2005 Maureen Carreno

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Disney

Agents Heather Raum & Becket Jadush along with our friend Judy just returned from Walt Disney World�s Happiest Celebration on Earth. Being a life-time fan of Disney, I had high expectations for this trip and Disney did not disappoint! From the Magical Express, to the new attractions, to the Disney Dining Plan, it far exceeded our hopes.

This was our first time using Disney�s Magical Express transportation from the airport. This complimentary service for Disney resort guests allow you to bypass baggage claim altogether and head right to the Magical Express buses. Disney representatives are placed throughout the airport to direct guests to the bus pick up. We waited only about 10 minutes for the bus to fill up before we headed off to Disney�s Pop Century Resort. Our bags were waiting for us in our room when we returned from the park several hours later.

We also added the Disney Dining Option to our trip and it was well worth it. We used it for everything from Character dining to Downtown Disney�s Wolfgang Puck�s restaurant. It was convenient, fast and very fulfilling. Guests on the Dining plan receive 1 table service meal, 1 counter service meal and one snack for every night of your stay. We didn�t even use all our snacks! I would highly recommend this plan to future Disney travelers.

In celebration of Disneyland�s 50th anniversary, Disney World had several new attractions in each of the parks. Be sure not to miss Soarin and Mission Space in Epcot, Philharmagic in the Magic Kingdom, and the stunt spectacular at MGM. But my personal favorite show was the new Cinderellabration and you don�t have to be a kid to enjoy it. In this show, we get to watch Cinderella�s Coronation as a princess along with her fellow princesses including Jasmine, Snow White, Belle and Sleeping Beauty! It was well worth waiting in the blazing September sun!

Make sure you don�t miss the nighttime Spectromagic parade and the new Wishes fireworks afterwards! Check the calendar online at www.waltdisneyworld.com since the Spectromagic parade is only on certain nights.

Also new is Disney�s photo pass. You receive a card when you get your pictures taken by a Disney photographer inside any of the parks. You can use this card everytime you have pictures taken in the parks (photos taken on the park rides are not included). Later, you can view and order your pictures online up to 30 days after your trip. It was a great perk!

We also did the Hoop De Du Review at the Fort Wilderness Lodge for the first time. We had a blast. The food and show is a must see!! Hint: You can use your dining plan (it counts as 2 table service meals) for the Hoop de du Review.

Feel free to email me with any questions on your Disney trip.

© 2005 Heather Raum

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Riviera Maya with Maureen

My friend Bob and I went to Riviera Maya for a nice relaxing long weekend. Bob was nice enough to play photographer for me on this trip. We stayed at Secrets Capri Riviera Maya and we both agree that this is a fantastic place. We would highly recommend it for Honeymooners, romantic couples of all ages, people that enjoy fine food, people that want to decompress, spa people and wedding groups. From seated, champagne and moist towel check in to our hassle free check out, we enjoyed our stay.

The beach is well kept and well located with beachside waiter service included. We especially enjoyed watching the moonlit waters at night. The water is crystal clear and while we were there it was the temperature of a nice bath. The pool is gently heated and the outdoor jacuzzi has a champagne bucket ready for you. The pool is complete with floats, tanning areas, plenty of chairs and palapas.

Special Howard Hughsian Note: I have seen many resorts and I have to tell you, this resort is strikingly clean especially noted was the pool bar. I have seen many nasty looking pool bars in my time...this was the cleanest outdoor food service area of any of the Mexico and Caribbean resorts I have reviewed. The outdoor buffet for the Fiesta and the poolside restaurant were also very well maintained above all other resorts I have reviewed.
The restaurants were fantastic we ate at the seaside restaurant for lunches and were very pleased especially with the guacamole. We had dinner at Oceana on the second floor of the grill the 1st night and were fortunate enough to have a table on a 2 person balcony. The second night it was Himatsu that features Tapanyaki, Chinese, Thai and Japanese and we were impressed. Our last night we dined at Capri, thier Italian restaurant. Go look at the photo of the cake they did for Bob's birthday. The food was excellent and the waitstaff sings a nifty Happy Birthday Se�or Bob! The breakfast Buffet was not our favorite, but we were so busy we only did that once. For snackers they have cookies, tea sandwiches and fruit in the lobby in the afternoons and coffee service in the morning. Room service 24 hours a day INCLUDED! That's a great bonus and the included room mini bar is stocked daily as well.
The staff is very friendly and helpful with a concierge on every floor. They are also very into special occassions. You can walk down the hallway and see doors marked for Honeymooners all over the place. For Bob's birthday the housekeeping staff decorated our room while we were out having his birthday dinner. It was great!! Although tips are included you will feel inclined to tip these people here and there for going out of thier way for you as they inevitably will.
Excursions! We went to Tulum and saw the Mayan Ruins and the people we refer to as the flying Walendas. The played music got on a perch and jumped for some sort of air aerobics with mucho head rush potential. You have to check out those photos. The ruins were very interesting and the cliffs were stunning to look over. Mind the Iguanas...they are everywhere as you can see.
Horseback riding the next day. It was an adventure riding through the jungle to the beach and then riding the horses into the sea. They have horses for beginers to expert and great cowboys to help you out along the way.
The trip was very enjoyable for both of us. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email me.
maureencarreno@flamingo-travel.com

© 2005 Maureen Carreno

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Las Vegas and Helicopter Tour

Agent Maureen and her daughter traveled to Fabulous Las Vegas. It was part business and part pleasure. We went to attend a friend's wedding and to go take photos and check everything out for You! If you are going for action and fun Las Vegas is the place for you...obviously. What I would like to highlight and I think the photos tell the tale...Las Vegas is more than just casinos. It is also a great place for weddings...think E for Elegant and not Elvis when I tell you this. (although you can get Elvis if that suits your fancy) They have wonderful spas with all the amenities....go get a couples massage for ultimate pampering and romance. Natural attractions are nearby play golf, go the the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon...see red rocks, go fishing, boating, horse back riding...even scuba.

Take a flight on Maverick Helicopters for the ultimate overview of the beauty in this region. I highly recommend it. You will get a birds eye view that is just stunning! Your Flamingo agent can book this experience for you. The Helicopter holds 6 passengers and a pilot. The pilot was fantastic...he was a very informative guide. He told us stories of the old west, the struggles to build the Hoover Dam, where Celine Dion lives, where Thelma and Louise's T-bird went over the cliff, why the plants are spread out, why the rocks are the colors they are, where the wild horses congregate, what animals live in the desert and how they survive...all this while competantly flying us around in the sky. I have flown in a helicopter before...(see Hawaii photo album) and I have to say that this flight was much smoother and very informative. It was the highlight of our sightseeing by far. Everyone should take a Maverick Helicopter flight at least once in thier lives. I would love to go again. They also do flights out to get married in the Grand Canyon, night flights over the strip and more. Let us arrange this life enriching experience for you!

Speaking of weddings I have to tell you that the Bellagio did a fantastic job on my friend's wedding. Father David St. John, a catholic priest officiated. He is wonderful! Then later we went up to the Penthouse and the Bellagio had catering brought in with prime rib, scallops and a really interesting wedding carrot cake with full coffee and tea service. It was a very intimate reception for around a dozen people. It was very nice and stress free on the bride and groom.

I toured Aladdin's spa. I am going to bring you more information on this later in depth. I do have to say it was a very welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. The treatment rooms were so serene! The gym facilities were state of the art. It is about $25 a day to use the gym.

The Luxor is an excellent value on the strip. The restaurants and things to do there were more affordable than at other resorts and just as nice. We did the virtual reality rides there and my daughter gave them a thumbs up.

The Monorail. This is fairly new. It is inexpensive and easy to figure out. I think they need a few more stops. If you are not at a casino that is a stop on the Monorail it may be a good hike to get to the monorail. It wasn't very practical with an elderly lady traveling with us. It was better for her to take a cab. For people who enjoy a walk...it's neat.

Las Vegas is perfect for groups, individuals, weddings, bachelor and bachelorette vacations, romantic getaways, conventions, trade shows, spa vacations, golf vacations, corporate incentives, natural discovery and just fun!

See all the layers of this destination...not just the surface. Feel free to email me or talk to any of the agents to find out more.

**The last 14 photos are out of order they were taken with a disposable camera and added after posting of this photo album. I like them so I added them. ***

NOTE: My Maverick flight video is now online under the Vegas Feature section of the site. It was cut down to a short clip a few minutes of teaser for you from hours of footage.

ANOTHER NOTE: You can enlarge photos by clicking on them.

© 2005 Maureen Carreno

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Surprise Anniversary!

Stephanie surprised Roosevelt with an Anniversary Trip to Jamaica, a 4 night stay at the Wyndham Rose Hall. She even set up for the Renewal of Vows Ceremony. He found out the night before leaving - when she surprised him with the families help by playing a game of Hangman.......the answer was Montego Bay!

Very very creative, and apparently, they each do these surprise trips.....he's done it with a limo pulling up and wisking the two away to Atlantic City!

I am happy I was able to assist them on this trip. Here are some pointers:

1. She made sure all his citizenship documentation was ready.

2. She fibbed and told him he needed the outfit in these pictures for a local party, lol.

3. She did her homework and knew what they would do on vacation. This client requested "EP" which means no meals....most clients enjoy All Inclusive in Jamaica, however they both enjoying going out while away. Therefore, an all inclusive package wouldn't have been worth it for them..........While in Jamaica, they ventured to a dinner show one evening in Montego Bay as well as taking a Raft Tour another day! They hope to return to this fun Island as well.

Congratulations to you both, it was truly a pleasure assisting with this trip :-)

And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY From all of us at Flamingo Travel Group

© 2005 Barbara Kilmartin

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Please protect the children

April 21, 2004 Flamingo Travel Group was at the United Nations in New York, UNICEF meeting on the implementation of the ECPAT worldwide code of conduct. Flamingo Travel is a Charter Signatory for the ECPAT Code of Conduct, one of 3 tourism companies in North America to adopt the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The Code was developed by ECPAT Sweden in coordination with Scandinavian tour operators and the World Tourism Organization (WTO). According to ECPAT, the Code has been formally adopted by only 49 companies worldwide, three of which are in the United States and proudly, Flamingo is one of the three.

Over 2 million children are enslaved in the child sex trade worldwide.

It is estimated that 25% of the child sex tourist around the world come from the United States.

This needs to stop! Even one child being victimized is one child too many. Flamingo is committed to doing everything we can to end this atrocity.

We will not book your travel, if you are traveling to victimize children. We urge you to get help for your sickness.

Child sex tourism is the act of traveling abroad to have sex with a minor child (under age 18).

We will provide information in our ticket jackets and on our website on the new laws in place against child sex tourism. You could get up to 30 years in prison.

We will account for all we do to end this to ECPAT and UNICEF on an annual basis.

We will provide training to all of our agents on the subject of child sex tourism and how to report it.

Some people think that by paying a child to have sex they are helping them because the money will help the child. The truth is most of the children NEVER see the money because it goes to pimps or brothel owners.

Many people believe that children are less likely to be HIV positive which makes them think that sex with a child is safer. The truth is children are more susceptible to HIV and other STD's because they are involved in the prostituion business. If someone sells children for sexual purposes to make thier income, can you really believe thier integrity when they say the child is a virgin or disease free?

If you suspect abuse please contact U.S Customs Service: 703-293-8005, The National Center for Missing and exploited Childrren 1-800-843-5678 or the Homeland Security division to end sex tourism 1-866-347-2423.

"What is done to children, children will do to the world." This was a quote that stuck with me in New York yesterday. Let's save these children and perhaps they will heal/save the world.

© 2004 Maureen Carreno

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Ireland 2004

Here we are again in Ireland. Ireland is my favorite place in the world (so far). There is very little of the island I have not seen and of course, I plan to get there as well. It's lovely, as you can plainly see in this and the photo albums that came before. I hope that you give yourself the chance to see this wondrous place, sit and talk to the people and let yourself experience all that is Ireland! You owe it to yourself and we can arrange your dream come true easily. Check out the photos....be jealous....and then be NEXT!

© 2004 Maureen Carreno

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Kevin and Maria

Kevin and Maria are sharing some of thier honeymoon photos with you, so you can see how lovely the Moon Palace is. Here is what they had to say.

"Me and Kevin got back from Cancun on Monday. You wouldn't believe how beautiful it is at Moon Palace in Cancun! It's a 6-star resort. It's supposed to be the best of all the Palace Resorts in Cancun. We were there for 4 nights. Originally, we were going to Punta Cana for 8 nights, but that got cancelled because of the hurricane. We actually got a better deal, even though the time was cut in half. The Moon Palace was absolutely amazing.

There's a jacuzzi in every all-inclusive suite, and a balcony. We got 2 bottles of champagne and 2 dishes of fruit delivered to our room, among other great freebies because we were Honeymooners.

1. Someone parasailing - Look at that sky and ocean!!!
2. Breakfast Serenade - With 3 guitars and 3-part hamony
3. Our Balcony with hammock and palm trees - view of ocean on the right side
4. Our room with king-size bed and jacuzzi. There was also a marble shower. Everything was marble!
5. Kevin standing in the main lobby of Moon Palace Resort.
6. Kevin on the beach in Cancun.
7. One view of the beautiful grounds at Moon Palace."

© 2004 Maureen Carreno

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Chas and Heather�s Honeymoon

Secrets Excellence � Punta Cana

We went to Secrets for our Honeymoon. We had a great time. This resort is all-inclusive and you did not have to worry about a thing. The main swimming pool is beautiful and very relaxing. There is also a smaller pool for people who want privacy. All the restaurants serve great food and the people are extremely courteous and helpful. The rooms are very nice, although our first night we had a little visitor. See the picture of the little lizard. Extra excursions are available at reasonable prices. We decided to take a catamaran trip to Saona Island. This is an all day trip and well worth it. Although, we have to warn you the bus trip to the Caribbean side of the Dominican Republic is just a bit bumpy. On the way back from the island, the group stops at a natural pool in the Caribbean. There you spend about 30 minutes and if you look in the right spots one can find actual starfish. It was a great day! On our last day we decided to get up at 5:30am to see the sunrise. BEAUTIFUL!!!!! All in all we had a great time and enjoyed ourselves immensely. It was a very relaxing time.

© 2004 Maureen Carreno

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Voyager of the Seas

Agent Maureen sailed for 2 nights to nowhere to give you a view of Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.
I took an easy 2 hour drive from Philadelphia to Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne New Jersey. The port itself is not gorgeous yet...but they have plans to build a hotel for pre and post cruises, shops an oberservation deck and more. It was easy to find, plenty of inexpensive on site parking and a magnificent view of New York city including the Statue of Liberty across the water.
The photos are taken with a disposable camera and as you can see I have no photographic training of ability to alter these images. If it is a lovely picture...it is 100 x 's more lovely in person and if it is a not so good picture you can blame me. The ship is gorgeous, glamorous, stylish and full of things to do and see!
This ship has something for everyone:
Sporty types will enjoy golf, rock climbing wall and a great gym and dive center for shore excursions.
Kids will enjoy the food, the kid pool, ping pong, mini golf, the huge game room, ice skating shows and activities.
Adults and Singles ...they have alot of nightlife on board and all types of music. I took a walk about and heard Country style music, and walked down a little further and met friends that came from dancing salsa. You have a techno modern club and karaoke for the daring. Try your luck at the Casino we had a guy that won $8000 a few feet away from me!
Shoppers will enjoy the fantastic shops aboard ship (not bad pricing and a nice selection of sizes for clothing) as well as magnificent art auctions in addition to what you can purchase in port.
People that like to eat will enjoy many choices of cuisine from fine dining at Portofino or Carmen's to Johnny Rockets burgers and shakes and a Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlor. Yet, I managed to stick to my diet with the healthy choice guides on the menus and I did not feel deprived at all. It was downright sinful feeling, yet I didn't gain an ounce.
The Comedy show and broadway show were excellent and high quality. The ice show...wow! I can't believe someone can ice skate on a moving ship, let alone jump through hoops and more.
If you are worried that you wont have enough to keep you busy on a cruise in between stopping at ports of call...don't. This ship has enough to keep you occupied without every leaving.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed walk around the decks in the middle of the night and just listening to the water slap against the ship under a moonlight sky. That was just the serenity I craved.
There is something for everyone and the rates are good for a home port sailing.
They also have a chapel....any takers on a wedding at sea?

© 2004 Maureen Carreno

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Breezes Punta Cana Weddingmoon!

Congratulations to Cathy and Dennis, married on October 13, 2003!!!!

They decided on the Superclubs Weddingmoon and had a wonderful time. Best wishes to them and much happiness.

The Superclubs properties (Grand Lidos, Hedonism and Breezes) all offer Free Wedding Packages. Here is what they provide and a few pictures of Kathy and Dennis on there special day at the Breezes Resort and Spa in Punta Cana.

Free Weddings Include:

Minister
Wedding Cake and bottle of champagne at the ceremony

Live music by a Dominican duo or trio during the ceremony

One bouquet, two boutonnieres and one corsage.

Decoration of the site that you choose on the property

Guaranteed reservation for the hotels specialty resaurant of choice on the night of your ceremony.

50% discount on your return to the resort on the month of your first anniversary.

They also provide witnesses and translator if required. Upgrade to an oceanview room (if available) with a fruit basket upon arrival and on the wedding day in the room!

The coordinator will take you on a tour of the property so you can select the perfect spot.

© 2004 Barbara Kilmartin

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Bahamas

Colleen and Gary went to the Bahamas and share their photos with you. They stayed at Breezes Nassau. The next time they go to the Bahamas they would love to stay at the Radisson Cable Beach, the Marriott or the Atlantis Resort.
I hope you enjoy their undersea adventure. Remember to pick up your underwater camera before you go snorkeling in the islands. No experience neccessary.

© 2003 Maureen Carreno

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Secrets Excellence Resort

Michael and Wendy's trip to Secrets Excellence resort in Punta Cana.

© 2003 Michael Fagan

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Cruise from New York

Agents Donna and Maureen went to New York to check out the ships sailing from there. Good news for people in the Northeast, you do not have to fly to cruise. Norwegian, Celebrity and soon Royal Caribbean will have ships in a home port in New York. Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey you are just a short bus ride from your dream cruise vacation. Itineraries include Bermuda and longer Caribbean cruises such as 9 day and more itineraries.
Some cruises are available from Philadelphia as well!
Here is a small sampling. I love the view of the Empire State building from the ships!

© 2003 Maureen Carreno

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Client Roger

One of our favorite clients was kind enough to share his photos and review with us. Enjoy!

"My family and myself had a great time during the last five days and I can't see where anyone could write a bad review about the place. The food,rooms and especially the FunPals , Nicholas,Robert,Kiefer, and Junior the Trainer. Great job beaches and great job Beaches Boscobel. We will be back..Thanks also to Jorge the Hotel Manager.

Roger 4/12--4/17th"

© 2003 Maureen Carreno

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The Netherlands

Agents Maureen and Deb traveled to Amsterdam for Valentine's Day. Okay, so we were actually in the air on Valentine's Day and we aren't a couple or anything....but we still left on Valentine's Day. We toured Amsterdam and Rotterdam, focusing mainly on Amsterdam. We flew into the only airport in the world under sea level and began our adventure. The Archetecture and even more so, the engineering involved in creating this city from sea level...fascinating! Everything was built on wooden piles! The central train station used to be a major seaport and now it is this awe inspiring structure.
Yes, we wouldn't be doing our duty if we didn't check out the Infamous Red Light district. Unfortunatly for our hot blooded viewers...this is a family site. But ask us and we would be glad to tell you all you want to know. Or at least as much as we know.
History! World War II buffs, family of holocaust survivors, Jewish people, students and anyone who is interested in history should go to Amsterdam at some point. The Anne Frank Museum Alone was worth the trip for me. I found sadness and also hope in the little girl's words. Anne's diary is on display, as well as the letters of her father while trying to find her. You can walk in her footsteps without enduring her hardships. You can also go to the addition built by Steven Speilburg to study all relevant human rights issues that face the world today. It's a learning experience....one that would be good to share with your children.
Rotterdam is a very Modern city (thanks fo bombing during WW II), we saw some sights of this metropolis of hard working people. Rotterdam is for people who live to work, Amsterdam is for people who live to live and the rest of the Netherlands is trying to decide where they stand.
Talk to Deb or Maureen about visting The Netherlands today.

© 2003 Maureen Carreno

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Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica

Agents, Maureen and Debbie are at it again! This time they took Deb's neice Kristen and Maureen's daughter, Jessica to Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica! !

We traveled mid December and as you can see, Jack Frost was very far away! What an excellent family vacation. Everything is included, all your meals, drinks, plentiful snacks, lots of entertainment, wonderful watersports and the game center where you don't need a quarter...ever. It's such a nice break to be in such a fantastic setting and not have to worry about carrying money. If your drink melts in the sun, you get another one. If the kids are hungry they can go make an ice cream cone or a fruit smoothie or even grab some fresh popped popcorn. If you want something to do, there is always something going on. If you want to relax, no one will be pushy about you joining in. You never feel that you really should be tipping....they mean it when they say all they want is a warm smile and a friendly thank you. The staff is warm and friendly without ever seeming insincere. The nightly shows and dancing under the stars are for the whole family, we had grandparents dancing to reggae with toddlers..it was great! Snorkeling, Banana Boats, Water trampoline, windsurfing, kayaking, Barbie Bikes, hobbie cats...so much to do and I recommend them all.

Yes, they also have romantic settings and babysitting. The staff is so good with the kids they may prefer to spend a little time with them over their boring parents for a change of pace.

Price it out, but when you do remember all that is included. I think it's worth it!

© 2003 Maureen Carreno

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Ireland Pub Tour - November 2001

Maureen's hosted trip

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Thanksgiving 2002: Prague & Budapest

Our annual Thanksgiving trip took us back to Prague but also added a new country -- Hungary, spending 3 nights exploring all that Budapest has to offer.

This trip was perfect, despite some initial transportation delays to JFK Airport, but the newest members of our trip were wonderful to travel with, including one who had never been to Europe!

Prague is still my favorite, offering a smaller, more intimate and romantic city while Budapest was a bit larger and offered people quite a different landscape, with Pest being flatter and Buda looming on the other side of the river.

The U.S. dollar, while still lagging, offers great bargains in both countries and they're both extremely safe for tourists. Keep in mind we have another group trip in the higher season (May) for Prague and Vienna and can always arrange private trips to any of these three wonderful Eastern Europe cities!

© 2002 Christopher Woolson

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Hawaii 2002

Agent Debbie and I traveled to Hawaii. First we visited Maui, staying at the most beautiful resort I have ever been to, the Grand Wailea Resort. We played at the most amazing waterpark on the resort property, we had a great time at the beach and we made new friends. We took the short drive to Lahaina to see the sunset and eat at renowned Kimos. We flew in a helicopter for the best view of Maui!
Next we traveled to the Island of Oahu and stayed in Waikiki. We experienced the city and the beach here. We also visited many many many hotels in Waikiki so we can tell you all about it. We even went to the other side of Oahu, where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park and visited the Hilton Turtle Beach Resort....gorgeous!! They threw a Luau that was out of this world with incredible entertainment from the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Please see our virtual vacation or ask us about this trip. We would love to tell you all about it or even book it for you.

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Disney and Universal Studios

Jessica and I visited Disney World and Universal. I had never been there before. I was transformed into a kid, instantly! The first few nights we stayed at the Luxurious Portofino Bay in Universal Studios and the last few nights we stayed at the Holiday Inn Universal. The Holiday Inn was a more budget family property, but it had all we needed, and even kids eat free coupons for TGI Fridays next door. I drove and got lost, we had a great time in our rental car, tunes playing on palm tree lined highway.
Univeral and Islands of Adventure...what a great time!! Men in Black Alien Attack, Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw falls and Spiderman were my favorites with an honorable mention for poseidon's fury. Jessica would vote for Men and Black, Jurassic Park and most definatly Popeye's River barge...very wet!!
At Disney we only really had time for Magic Kingdom ( you will have to look to the next visit for more). We both loved the haunted mansion, the new tiki room and Buzz Lightyear! Of course breakfast with the Pooh characters was a complete delight! I Love Eeeyore!!

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Punta Cana 2001

My daughter Jessica and I traveled to the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana for a 4 night stay. We stayed at the Cattolnia Bavaro Resort. Jessica fell in love with Punta Cana right away. Every day we were there she had a fresh flower in her hair. We went on an exciting day trip to sugar and cocoa plantations, a small town for shopping and then horseback riding in the mountains! We had a great time!
Some days we just played in the pool or kayaked in the calm waters behind our resort. In the evening Jess and I would have dinner and then scope out front room seats at the open air theatre for the evening show or fun and games. I highly recommend Punta Cana for it's lovely beaches and exceptional All Inclusive Value!!!!

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Jamaica 2001

I traveled to Jamaica 2 weeks after 911 and the people welcomed me with open arms...some even hugged me. Alot of People have only been to Jamaica on a cruise ship. You aren't seeing it right. You really need to stay awhile to appreciate Jamaica. Big misconception about Jamaica is that you can't leave the resort. I left the resort, I walked about town, I went shopping at the grocery store and more. You use your common sense when traveling anywhere. If you were in your states major city you know not to walk down a dark alley wearing the crown jewels and a sign on your back that says sucker...right? Well you do't do that anywhere else either.
Jamaica is full of secluded beaches, friendly people, and it has alot more to do than many other Caribbean islands. You can go rafting on the river, horseback riding, climb waterfalls, go cliff diving, fishing, jazz festivals, cooking contests, get married (sometimes this is FREE). They have villas, large hotels, small hotels. You can stay at all inclusives or you can cook or you can eat out. So many choices in Jamaica. You can even chose to stay in a place that is adults only, a great family spot or go single and get crazy! Call or email Maureen or any agent here and we can tell you where to find what your heart desires in Jamaica.

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Paris 1999

Paris w/Chris in February.
Paris, how romantic!
Okay, so we were both with the wrong people for romance. We did have fun! Paris is a city where people watching is an art form. Sit at a cafe with an espresso or hot chocolate and watch the interesting faces go by. You can make up stories in your mind as to where they are going, why they are carrying that and where they came from.
You can enjoy history and amazing structures such as Notre Dame, the Eiffle Tower, Sacre Couer, The Pantheon. Have your soul stirred by the amazing art at the Louvre, or the new art on a street corner and feed the starving artist. You can enjoy first class cuisine in a world renowned restaurant, or a simple corner vendor crepe. How about purchasing french fashions at the Laffayette Galleries? A moonlit cruise on the river Seine...watch the passionate lovers....how very romantic!!!!

You can't get lost as long as you can see the river Seine. Public transportation is foolproof ! You can easily combine Paris with another city in Europe for a short stay or an extended stay....perhaps the chunnel train from London?

What are you waiting for?

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Ireland 2000

My second trip to Ireland and not my last!!! Infact, I will never be willing to call a trip to Ireland a last trip to Ireland. I love it so much!!
Yes, it is off season again, but it's green and pretty and I saw new places for you to look at. This time we went to Bunratty, Dingle, Connemara and the wrong Knock! We were looking for the shrine of Knock and we went to the town of Knock, accidentally...but we met the best people in the cemetery there. (yes, they were alive) Part of the time we were on an escorted tour and part of the time we drove ourseleves. I have to say their are bonuses to both modes of transportation. On a self drive you get to do your own thing at your own pace. On an escorted tour you get the knowledge of the driver and you don't get lost. Downside on a self drive is your own driving skill verses the wrong side of the road and the occassional sheep. Downside of the escorted tour is you can't alter your itinerary much and you may not like everyone on the motorcoach. But who cares about downsides when you can be in Ireland!! That in and of itself makes the downside just a future story you get to retell until your friends eyes roll to the back of thier heads.
Highlights of this trip Bunratty Castle banquet and folk park, Dingle and the colors of Connemara. You have to go!!!! Call or email me and we can plan it all out.

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Ireland

My First trip to Ireland and from day 1 I knew it would not be my last. I visited North and South and found all of the Emerald Isle's people delightful and welcoming.
The Giant's Causeway in the North. It is said to have been created by the Giant Finn McCool and that at one time, it strected across the sea to Scotland. On the Scotland side there was a another Giant who heard the Finn's creation of the Causeway. The Scottish Giant was coming to pick a fight with teh Giant McCool. When word got back to McCool that the most feared Giant in Scotland was coming to fight with him, he naturally turned to his wife for ideas. Giant McCool's bride dressed him in baby clothes and placed him in a Pram. When the Scottish Giant arrived, Mrs. McCool shushed him and told him that their baby was sleeping. The Scottish Giant took a look at "Baby" McCool and said that if this was the baby he has no need to meet the father. He tore apart the Causeway on his sprint back to Scotland. There are remnants of it in Scotland.
Ireland is a place of folklore, myths and fairytales. You can believe in them here and be considered normal or even wise.
Come enjoy the history of her people. I did and it was like coming home, though I had never been there before.

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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Puerto Rico 2002

I traveled to Puerto Rico October 24- 29 2002. Here is a glimpse of what I saw there.
Puerto Rico is more than a pre or post cruise stop. Puerto Rico is a more than worthy destination with much more to offer and to discover than you may guess. Nightlife, casinos, eco adventures, surfing, culture, history, rainforest, fine beaches, shopping, fine cuisine, golf, weddings, corporate meetings, luxury and so much more. It's the US...you understand the money, they understand your language...all the comforts of home (yes, even Wal-Mart and MCDonalds), yet you will enjoy the getaway!
I have never heard anything like the sound of night time in Puerto Rico, the sound of the waves, the breeze in the palm trees and the magical lullaby of the tiny coqui's love song.
Check out this photo album, feel free to phone or email me with your questions. I would be happy to help you plan your perfect Puerto Rico escape today!
Rainforest photos and journal are coming soon.....

© 2002 Maureen Carreno

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