Month in Review: February Travel Blog

Cruise, Tropics & All-Inclusive Monthly Recap                           

My name is Adriana Da Silva, I am a Travel Advisor in Longwood, Florida.  I write travel reviews to help my clients plan the best vacation getaways.  I focus on Popular Resorts, Cruise Companies and Tropical Places that remain the top adult picks for the money.  Did you miss a post or know a busy person who needs a holiday?  Will you be their hero and forward this post. Don't forget to start booking your own getaway now. 

Cruise Lines:

• Celebrity Cruise Lines- (Full Story) While Celebrity welcomes the entire family it's onboard amenities are highly geared at adults with many singles and LGBTQ mingle events and amazing itineraries with top notch quality.  With it's heavy nod to the classics and overall quality plus pricing being nearly 'entry luxury,' Celebrity is ideal for people who want to affordably test whether or not the next level is for them!  When it comes to seeing Alaska,  I highly recommend a cruise  of it's Northern Passage aboard the Celebrity Millennium. 

 

(above: Onboard Celebrity and their Fleet)

Tropics:

• St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands- (Full Story) St. Thomas is a Beach Lovers Paradise, and a perfect Romantic Getaway, but you can keep the kids entertained with it's multitude of interesting sights like Blackbeard's Castle, and other outdoor explorations including; hiking,  and scuba diving, but for those couples and singles who just want to relax and enjoy a romantic sunset together, boasting more than 11 unbelievable beaches, St. Thomas is where dreams come true.  

(Magnes Bay Beach: One of the Top 10 Beaches in the World)
 

All-Inclusive Resorts:

• Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort, Big Island of Hawaii- (Fully Story) While not officially an 'All-Inclusive-Resort,' because of it's moderate pricing,  private beach, endless amenities including; a Sunset Luau, Fitness Center & Spa, Infiniti Pool, Children's pool, water sports, tours, incredible Dining and an unbelievable location near shopping, and sight seeing access, the Marriott is among the greatest value of resorts on the Big Island and easily appropriate for everyone.

 
(above: The Beautiful Marriott Waikoloa Property)

Travel Tips:

• Due to weather, Alaskan Cruises are limited, you truly must book early.

• Many Cruise itineraries have identical or very similar ports of call, and this creates redundancy in Land Excursions. Many sights are also very walkable right from the ship, so my best recommendation is to either first check with your Travel Advisor or read the descriptions carefully to ensure your truly maximizing your experience.

• While many Cruise Line Speciality Restaurants are included in the pricing, the gratuities may not!  Be sure you understand this while planning your dining experiences.

• Most public spaces aboard Cruise ships are drop dead gorgeous, but the hospitality crew heavily target passengers sitting within these areas to purchase beverages.  Do yourself a favor and determine early how much and what you like to drink.  These beverage packages may sometimes make sense, even for the purposes of just convenience when your personal consumption may breakeven with the cost of the package offered.

Are you interested in my other stories?

 See (Cruise Lines)  (Tropical Places)  (Resorts)  or  (All Three)

Ready to book or have a question ?

Call or Text  (407) 432-0673 

Visit: adasilva.dreamvacations   email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl.

Marriott: Waikoloa Beach Resort

The best place to stay Big Island

Hawaii needs no introduction, and when it comes to photo ops, there is just not enough space to share all of my pictures with you.  Because of it's immense diversification of; beaches, microclimates, mountains, volcanoes, botanical gardens and ease of commuting, if you will visit only one of the Hawaiian Islands, make it the 'Big Island,' and stay at the Marriott Waikoloa.

Is the Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort right for you?

•  'Everyone' will enjoy this magnificent resort.    

• While not officially an 'All-Inclusive-Resort,' because of it's moderate pricing,  private beach, endless amenities including a Sunset Luau, Spa, incredible Dining and an unbelievable location near shopping, and sight seeing access, the Marriott is among the greatest value of resorts on the Big Island.

Marriott: Waikoloa Beach Resort Sunset Luau

  

What should you know about the Big Island of Hawaii?

• The Big Island is roughly 4,700 miles and more than a 9 hour flight from Orlando, making connections involved with reaching this destination a certainty.  Hawaii is of course one of the 50 states, and US Citizens may travel freely with either a State ID, or Drivers License.

• Tip:  Direct Non-Stop Flights to the Big Island are limited, you will most likely first connect in Honolulu, O'ahu (be sure to look out and see the Pearl Harbor WWII memorial as you fly over) and then change air carriers.  You will then take a short beautiful flight into the charming little airport of Kailua-Kona. 

• Because everything must be shipped onto the islands from the mainland, you will find food & beverages to be understandably more expensive (say 15-20% more), however most of the major sights are either free, inexpensive or very reasonably priced, making your overall experience balance out very nicely.

• Tip: Look for 'The Green Flash.'  Although rare, a phenomenon known as the 'Green Flash' is famously known to occur in Hawaii just at sunset.  Scientifically, the atmosphere causes the light from the Sun to separate, or 'refract,' into different frequencies, and this will appear as brilliant flash of Green Color in the sky.  That's one more reason to enjoy a romantic sunset with someone.  If you drink alcoholic beverages, have Trader Vic's original Mai Tai while enjoying the sunset!

• Extra Extra Tip:  Although most people will watch for the Green Flash from the beach, it is actually easier to see it occur from elevated locations, so head for the hills !

• When you think of Hawaii, anything but desert like scenery, snow and space observatories may come to your mind, however on the Big Island, that is exactly what you may find (pics below.)

• Tip: Pack some winter clothes; jacket, gloves and hat and drive to the top of Mauna Kea to visit the Space Observatory.  This is a must see, but rent a small SUV for the steep (but safe) inclined drive.

Mauna Kea Space Observatory: Hawaii Big Island

What are the best beaches on Big Island?

The beaches on the Big Island are incredibly diverse, but tend to be rocky (wear water shoes) and because the water of the Pacific Ocean is deep, it also tends to be cooler in temperature. 

• Best Deserted Island Vibe: Manini Beach- Located south of the Marriott near Kona, this is my absolute most favorite beach in the entire world!-although no real sand, you must wear water shoes to enjoy this black and white pebbled beach. This beach is small, but it's seclusion is idyllic for meditation and self reflection. (photo below)

• Best for Socializing: If you're looking for some shopping, and restaurants, then make a day trip and head east to Hilo, and enjoy either of the small beaches of Richardson's or Carlsmith where lifeguards are on duty during weekends and holidays.

• Best Family-Friendly Beach: While the private beach of the Marriott Beach Resort is perfect for families due to it's calmer waters, the most classically perfect beach on the island is Mauna Kea and it offers great snorkeling.   

  

Manini Beach: Kona-Hawaii Big Island

Because the dormant mountain volcano of  'Mauna Kea'  is centered on the Big Island,  microclimates have formed which have an amazing range from the arid almost moonlike west side near Kailua-Kona, to lush Botanical Gardens of the North starting from the Waipi'o Valley and extending to the East Side of the Island near Hilo.  On the south side of the Island you will encounter Green Sand beaches formed by the unique volcanic geology.  The island has a convenient road system both crossing and encircling it, allowing visitors to safely commute it's beautiful but very difficult terrain.

• Tip:  Plan a long day and enjoy a scenic drive around the entire Island !

What are the best things to do on the Big Island?

               (these are only a few of my favorite must see!)

• Waipi'o Valley-go horse back riding ! (parts of the Movie 'Jurassic Park' were filmed here)
• Mauna Kea & Space Observatory
• Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
• Rainbow Falls
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park- snorkeling at the adjacent 'Two-Step' beach is so unbelievable, it is like being inside an aquarium !  There is a small fee to park.
• Puako Petroglyph field 
• St. Peter's Catholic Church -located a very short drive from Manini Beach in Kona and on a hilltop.  The views of the beach below from this quaint little church will leave you speechless.

Currency and payment accepted on the island:

Hawaii is part of the U.S. and so the U.S. dollar and credit cards are accepted, however, because of Hawaiian History there are land leases unique to Native Hawaiians in which you may encounter many small Hawaiian merchants where cash remains king.

Should I rent a car on the Big Island?

• Rental Car- is available just outside the charming little airport of Kona.  While the island is extremely easy to drive (virtually impossible to get lost, and wide paved roads), there are also many steep inclines formed by the mountain system and volcanoes, and so I would recommend renting at least a small to mid-sized SUV to more easily enjoy the scenic drives.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

'Mahalo'- Thank you

Language:

English is the official language of Hawaii, though you can expect to hear the beautiful Hawaiian native language everywhere such as the famed 'Aloha.'

Are you interested in my other stories?

 See (Cruise Lines)  (Tropical Places)  (Resorts)  or  (All Three)

Ready to book or have a question ?

Call or Text  (407) 432-0673 

Visit: adasilva.dreamvacations   email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl.

St. Thomas: Relax, Rum & Romance

St. Thomas is a Beach Lover's Paradise

St. Thomas: Magnes Bay

Is the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas right for you?

• In two words, 'Beach Lovers.'  Ask a Floridian where do they want to go, and St. Thomas, of the U.S. Virgin Islands will be on their list.   

• St. Thomas is Family Friendly with enough things to explore like Blackbeard's Castle, a watch tower built in the late 1600's to keep young kids's dreaming about  'Pirates of the Caribbean.'

• St. Thomas offers a multitude of outdoor explorations, including, hiking,  and scuba diving, but for those couples and singles who just want to relax and enjoy a romantic sunset together, boasting more than 11 unbelievable beaches, St. Thomas is where dreams come true.   

  

What should you know about the Island of St. Thomas?

• St. Thomas is a little more than 1200 miles and a 3 hour flight from Orlando.  Because it is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Citizens departing directly from the U.S. will not need a passport to visit, making this Caribbean vacation very accessible for the family and a perfect romantic getaway for couples

• Tip:  Direct Non-Stop Flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands are limited to only a few airports and airlines, so be sure to plan ahead.

• When you think of the Caribbean, colorful birds, and fish may come to mind, however Lizards and Mongoose may not.  St. Thomas is populated with many Iguanna and seeing them in public spaces is very common.  If you are adventurous and enjoy any of the more than 20miles of hiking trails you may even encounter a mongoose.

What are the best beaches on St. Thomas? 

 The beaches of St. Thomas are what dreams and movies are made of. 

• Best Deserted Island Vibe: Dorothea and Hull Bay Beaches located on the North side of the island are local favorites, however with their rocky lined bottoms, water shoes are the best way to enjoy these beaches.  My personal favorite is 'Dorothea'.

• Best for Socializing: If you're looking for more music and energy, Vessup Bay Beach located on the East Side is a weekend gathering place with Barbeque, Restaurants, Bars and shopping.

• Best for Water Sports:  Jet Ski enthusiasts should head over to Lindberg Bay Beach located west of the capitol city Charlotte Amalie, visitors will find sports equipment for rent of all kinds.

• Best Family-Friendly Beach: Magnes Bay Beach is one of the most family-friendly beaches and offers many facilities including restrooms, showers, rentals, food and beverages available for purchase. Soft sand and crystal-clear shallow water make this beach on the northern coast of St. Thomas one of the most idyllic beaches of the entire Caribbean. 

What are the best things to do in St. Thomas?

• Magnes Bay Beach (photo featured at top)
• Phantasea Tropical Botanical Gardens
• Mountain Top (A souvenir store with unbelievable photo ops and rum tasting!)
• Fort Christian (second oldest synagogue built in 1680)
• Blackbeard's Castle
• Shopping-many Jewelry, Rum, and Duty Free shops !

St Thomas: Mountain Top

Currency and payment accepted on the island:

St.Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands and so the U.S. dollar and credit cards are accepted, however it is advisable to carry some cash as you encounter a few merchants and restaurants who do not accept credit cards.

Should I rent a car on St. Thomas?

• 'Safari Taxi' is best, you can catch one, or coordinate with your hotel.
• 'Safari Bus' is best for island tours, check with your hotel for scheduling.
• Vitran Bus- is island public transportation and best for getting around those days you plan to shop.
• Rental Car- while available, you may find the small, winding mountain roads and switch backs unnerving.  Leave the driving to the locals !

Language:

English is the official language of St. Thomas, though you can expect a local dialect.

Are you interested in my other stories?

 See (Cruise Lines)  (Tropical Places)  (Resorts)  or  (All Three)

Ready to book or have a question ?

Call or Text  (407) 432-0673 

Visit: adasilva.dreamvacations   email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl.

Celebrity Millennium: Alaskan Inside Passage

Celebrity: Is a singles friendly Cruise Line

                           

When it comes to an Alaska Cruise,  an Inside Passage Cruise from Vancouver is the perfect way to take in Alaska's beauty. Celebrity Cruise Lines offers amazing itineraries with top notch quality.  Continue reading this Celebrity Cruises Review to see if they are right for  you.

Is Celebrity Cruise Lines right for you?

• With it's heavy nod to the classics and overall quality plus pricing being nearly 'entry luxury,' Celebrity is absolutely ideal for those people who want to affordably test whether or not the next level is for them!  Additionally, while Celebrity welcomes the entire family it heavily markets toward a younger crowd.  

• Celebrity's onboard amenities are highly geared at adults with many singles and LGBTQ cruises mingle events and very few kiddie pool slides available.  For those few kids who may be aboard, Celebrity offers an amazing Kids Camp at Sea and keeps them quietly tucked away with fun activities like onboard scavenger hunts, but you will find the actual average age of passengers to range between 47 & 65 years old.

Is Celebrity Cruise Line's Service good?

• This is where Celebrity earns their right to tout such a name, especially when it comes to communication.  Celebrity is great at keeping it's passengers fully informed in knowing exactly what to expect in every experience, beginning right at the port city with rounding up it's passengers like little ducklings and ensuring everyone is swiftly organized, and accounted for before boarding.  The high quality service continues straight thru into the Dining, Cabin and Guest Services.

Is Celebrity Cruise Line's Entertainment & Dining good?

• The cruise industry is renowned for it's entertainment, however I must admit the entertainment aboard Celebrity is superb and the best in both variety and quality from any cruise I have experienced.  Onboard entertainment ranges from Comedians, Music, Sing A longs and variety shows, to sexy adult themed dancing with acrobats.  

Celebrity Cruise Line Entertainment: Performer Ryan Story

• Dining is top notch, and varies from a plentiful buffet to a multitude of high caliber speciality restaurants ranging from Mediterranean and Italian to classic Steak.  

• Tip: While the Speciality Restaurants are included in the Celebrity pricing, the gratuities are not!  You will incur a surcharge around $18-$20 per person per meal.  

Are the Celebrity Cruise Ships nice?

• This is undoubtedly where Celebrity's name must originate.  The Grand Atriums of the Celebrity fleet are a throwback to the Hollywood Glam of the roaring 20's with all of the glitz that one can imagine.  The Atriums stand multi-decks high, and are the focal point to extraordinary bars, and live entertainment including the bar tenders themselves will showcase their skills with tricks and juggling of glasses.  

• The amazing decor continues throughout these ships, intertwining nods of Mid-Century Modern to almost surreal Fantasy rooms like the Eden Room located at the stern of the APEX.  The EDEN Room is designed to resemble a lush Jungle, with vines, bamboo, and greenery everywhere.  This is one of my most favorite public Cruise Spaces, and where I spent hours reading, sipping a beverage or watching the amazing live entertainment.

Celebrity Cruise Line APEX:  Eden Room Entrance Way

• Tip: While the public spaces aboard Celebrity Cruise ships are enchanting, the hospitality crew heavily target passengers sitting within these fantasy domains to purchase beverages.  Do yourself a favor and purchase the beverage package early!

Celebrity Cruise Line APEX:  Ariel View of Eden Room

Do people like Celebrity's Excursions?

• All of the Celebrity excursions are truthfully described and are operated by reliable and professional third party vendors of high quality.  This means that should you choose to book an excursion directly thru Celebrity you can trust it has been vetted and is worth the expense, however not all excursions may be right for you or necessary and this is where knowing and being honest with yourself pays!

• Tip: Many itineraries have identical or very similar ports of call, and this creates redundancy. Many sights are also very walkable right from the ship, so my best recommendation is to either first check with your Travel Advisor or read the descriptions carefully to ensure your truly maximizing your experience.

Important !!! Due to weather, Alaskan Cruises are limited, you truly must book early

Are you interested in my other stories?

 See (Cruise Lines)  (Tropical Places)  (Resorts)  or  (All Three)

Ready to book or have a question ?

Call or Text  (407) 432-0673 

Visit: adasilva.dreamvacations   email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl.