Month in Review: July Travel Blog

 

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-July

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 Vacations that remain top adult picks for the money.  In July you will find a lot of traveling tips to help your cruising, travel, and shore excursions stay safe and more enjoyable.  

Tropical Vacations

St. Lucia- is primarily comprised of 'All-Inclusive Resorts' catering to your every need.  With St. Lucia's rain forests, botanical gardens, abundance of rare birds, volcanic super heated mud baths, 'All-Inclusive St. Lucia' can be compared with Hawaii.  Think of a Honey Moon in St. Lucia as the perfect romantic getaway for couples and wellness retreat but only thousands of miles closer than Hawaii for east coast residents.  (read full story)

Cruise Lines

MSC Cruises- offers something for everyone aboard it's epic ships from dozens of pools, bars and restaurants to even bowling alleys.  With it's inexpensive pricing and mega-ships,  MSC Seaside and MSC Seashore, this cruise company is trying to steal business from Carnival, Royal Caribbean and even Disney.   But MSC ships are not cheap thrills, these are Engineering Marvels, and MSC is committed to sustainable tourism and protecting our oceans.  (read full story)

Travel Advisory

According to the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, 'FinCen' there is a surge in counterfeit U.S. Passport Cards.  Fraudsters are attempting to produce counterfeit cards as a means to entering the U.S. and much worse! Criminals are inquiring about the victim's financial account details, requesting withdrawals of balances thru cashier's checks and even initiating wires. (read full story)

Cruising Tips

• 3 Cruise Tips Everyone Should Know- 

• There is a lot of walking: reserving cabins near elevators & stairs will save time

• Ships are engineered to reduce rocking:  staying hydrated and using over the counter products like Dramamine can help reduce the effects of sea sickness.  

• Cruises can be loud, with long exciting fun filled days.   If you are not claustrophobic, interior inside cabins offer both complete darkness and reduced hallway foot traffic for great sleep, plus you can save money as these cabins are less popular. (read full story)

• Special Needs- Persons with physical disabilities or even larger bodied persons can request cabins with larger accommodations.  In addition, speak with your travel advisor to become fully aware of shore excursion restrictions, alternatives, available transfer and transportation to fully enjoy. (read full story)

• Shore Excursion- is a short fun way to experience ports of call on your cruise, but planning are like 'mini-vacations.'  Follow these 7 tips to fully enjoy (read full story);  

1. Down load your Cruise Line's App
2. Plan & Reserve as soon as soon as you have booked your cruise 
3. Avoid Duplication, many cruise excursions are the same
4. Avoid the crowds,  know which attractions and when to see them
5. Plan for Special Needs if you have them 
6. Speak with onboard Customer Service Agents  
7. Be very early in queue

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.

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Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month in Review: June Travel Blog

 

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-June

My name is Adriana Da Silva, I am a Travel Advisor in Longwood, Florida.  June is Pride Month and I am proud to be a part of a changing world that embraces everyone. There are now so many LGBTQ friendly Cruise companies and resorts available; such as Celebrity, Virgin, Princess, and Sandals.  It is my honor to help our LGBTQ community with planning the best vacation getaway.  See (IGLTA) emerging destinations program.

• Eco Friendly Skin Protection: (Full Story) Eco-tourism does not have to mean zip lining thru a rain forest.  Tourism is a destructive activity, and if you would like to play a small part in preserving our planet, consider purchasing Reef Safe Sun Block and Eco Friendly Insect Repellent, especially when visiting any tropical destination (even Florida)

• Travel Health Insurance: (Full Story) Increasing extreme weather conditions and global uncertainty is making this insurance more necessary.  You should definitely consider purchasing it when; You do not have health insurance, have pre-existing health conditions, or may be exposing yourself to higher risk activities while on holiday (hiking, climbing, etc.)

• Cruise lines compared: (Full Story)  All Cruise lines are an amazing value, but not all cruise companies are the same.  This simple cruise guide will help you quickly sort out which cruise lines are the best for the type of experience you want

• Traveling Accessories: (Full Story) Most of us enjoy traveling, but not as many enjoy or as experienced in packing our luggage for an exciting holiday.  Always remember to stow away a back up credit card and cash for either emergency, or unexpected purchases

• The Best Time Management Tip to Travel: (Full Story)  Travel hacks as easy as 1-2-3.  Whether you are traveling by Plane, Train or Automobile, figure out how many hours the trip takes in 1 direction, and that is how many days would be suggested to visit.

• How to Save time at the Airport: (Full Story)  Begin by enrolling into the TSA Pre-Check program, and stop parking at the airport in favor of finding a ride!

• How to Start every Holiday Perfectly: (Full Story)  The secret is You!  Be honest with yourself, know what you want and what you need

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.

Was this story helpful?  Comment below or !

Follow on Instagram @adriana.explores 

Are you interested in my other stories?

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

Visit: adrianaexplores  email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month in Review: May Travel Blog

 

(Sandy Bay, Roatan Honduras)

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-May

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:

• Royal Caribbean International (Full Story) Because of Royal Caribbean's mega-sized ships, , and entry level pricing, the International Brand is a perfect budget friendly groups or cruisers who just want the experience without getting off the ship

• As a getaway for couples, the cabins are sophisticated, contemporary and there is plenty of night life, casinos, live entertainment and bars available to provide you with just the right break you need

 

(Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas)

Tropics:

• Eleuthera, Bahamas-  (Full Story) You probably have never heard of the tiny Bahamian Island of 'Eleuthera,' pronounced: 'uh-loo-thr-uh', but this tiny tropical place is known to celebrities like Lenny Kravitz, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Eddie Murphy, all who claim homes here

• Like Bimini, Bahama, (Full Story) Eleuthera is definitively an ideal getaway for couples to rest, recharge and romance in a posh island paradise

(Glass Window Bridge, Eleuthera Bahamas)

All-Inclusive Resorts:

• Mayan Princess Beach & Dive Resort, West Bay, Roatan Honduras. - (Full Story) You may be surprised to find where the next big Caribbean vacation is located.  Mayan Princess is located in one of the most beautiful but surprising places of the Caribbean, 'Roatan, Honduras.'  You must hurry if you want to see this gorgeous island before major development erases it's current rustic state

• As a getaway for couples, newly wed and newly engaged will especially appreciate starting their lives together by experiencing this emerging new hot spot while it's still over looked and under rated 

(Sandy Bay, Roatan Honduras)

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

Visit: adrianaexplores  email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month in Review: April Travel Blog

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-April

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:

• Princess Cruise Lines- (Full Story) Overall, travelers can expect the consistent quality, service and value from the parent Carnival brand and the 50 year onboard Destination Wedding experience of Princess, making this combination a definitive choice to anyone interested in an affordable, simplified destination wedding.  You will save money, time and stress in making Princess your Destination Wedding. 

 

Tropics:

• Tortola British Virgin Islands-  (Full Story) You may not know about the British Virgin Island of Tortola, but you should!  Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands, yet it is one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean and is one of my personal favorites.  With its absolutely perfect blend of Caribbean Vibes, British Influence, sugar white-sand beaches, Mountain Ranges, National Parks, and accessibility to every creature comfort a person could desire, Tortola has something for everyone.  

 

All-Inclusive Resorts:

• The Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, Ny. - (Full Story) You may be surprised to know the U.S. has a Victorian Castle located in the small town of New Paltz, Ny.  This historic property has been run by 6 generations of the Smiley Family since 1869 and offers everything for every age, but because of it's seclusion, pricing and surreal beauty on it's immense property, the Mohonk is more of an idyllic Adult Retreat or Destination Wedding than a family vacation.

• Because of it's pricing, this exquisite property is most likely an experience for very special occasions and well needed couples retreats.  But do not miss this, you would definitely regret.

 

 

Travel Tips:

• When visiting popular cruise destinations it is important to read and understand the excursions very well, speak with your Travel Advisor especially during peak travel seasons.  Reserve early and then pay very close attention to changes.  You may need to ask customer service for updates as some changes may not be electronically posted.  Finally, be very early at the designated excursion meeting queues  

• There are only a few airlines flying regularly to Tortola and you should anticipate connecting in either Miami or San Juan, Puerto Rico.  This means as with any Island holiday, planning your arrival and departure dates should be considered with flexibility.

• Currently the Mohonk Mountain House requires guests to book directly thru their own guest services.  Regardless of how you arrive into Ny, because of the Mohonk's seclusion, you will need a car, and my best advice is to make a road trip of the entire beautiful Ny, Hudson Valley !  

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Visit: adrianaexplores  email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month in Review: March Travel Blog

(Sandals Ochi, Ocho Rios Jamaica)

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-March

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:

• Holland America Lines- (Full Story) Because of Holland America's value, premier quality, and overall European presence, this cruise line is perfect for budget sensitive people to attain what may be their once in a lifetime opportunity of experiencing Europe and the Mediterranean regions of the world.  And with ports of call like Venice, Italy, this is an easy choice for couples to Romantically celebrate their most important Anniversaries together

(the perfect Mediterranean Cruise with Holland America)

Tropics:

• San Juan, Puerto Rico- (Full Story) San Juan offers over 500 years of rich history, beautiful architecture, art and great food.  With incredible beaches, rainforests, ecotours and even an energetic night life of Night Clubs and Casino's in the new parts of San Juan, San Juan offers everything couples & singles may want in a Caribbean Getaway

 

(above: Old San Juan and Beaches)

All-Inclusive Resorts:

• Sandals Resorts- Ocho Rios, Jamaica- (Full Story) Sandals has spent the past 43 years acquiring the most idyllic locations throughout the Caribbean including one of it's newest 'Dunn's River,' located nearby one of the most iconic rivers and waterfalls to newlyweds throughout the world, making Sandals truly a premium experience with value pricing as compared with the rest of it's peers within this niche. 

• Sandals is ideally attractive to couples that may be luxury seeking, but price sensitive such as; newly weds, or celebrating a big anniversary or other important milestones where heavy additional expenses may be part of their total planning process.

(Room at Sandals Ochi)

Travel Tips:

• Europe continues to be heavily over touristed, and many of it's walk ways and streets are very steep and/or uneven.  This means if you either have special needs, walking difficulty or even a fear of heights, some sights throughout Europe and the Mediterranean may not be appropriate for you, and you should first book early and speak with your travel advisor or carefully read the description before purchasing an excursion.  

• While everything within the Historic area of San Juan is close to one another, the area sits on a steep hill.  In addition, the capitol building of San Juan is also inside the historic district. This means roads are sometimes closed to permit political motorcades thru.  Being historic, some streets are still cobbled and very narrow.  All of this means that driving, parking, and walking could be challenging, especially to those with special needs.  Consider taking a shuttle or taxi for the day in Old San Juan.

• For those considering climbing Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, this is a guided tour, but it is a fairly strenuous climb.  You must form a human chain -holding on to both the persons in front and behind you.  The path is narrow at times, the rocks are very slippery, (water shoes with great grip are highly recommended), and some portions can be quite high where a fall could lead to serious injury.  This would not be appropriate for persons with a fear of heights, or serious conditions.

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Visit: adrianaexplores  email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month in Review: February Travel Blog

                           

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-February

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.

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Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '

Month In Review: January Travel Blog

                         

(Bimini Beach Bahamas)

Travel Stories: Monthly Recap-January

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:

• Virgin Voyages- (Full Story) 100% worth it, Adults Only, one of a kind experience within the Luxury Class, average age of passenger is 35-47, and is generally experienced with cruising, tends to be comfortable with tech

 

(Rock Star Beach Party with Virgin Voyages)

Tropics:

• Bimini, Bahama- (Full Story) Although family friendly, with few activities available for the younger ages, children may grow restless.  Posh little Bimini is ideal for that long weekend getaway.  Melt your stress away with a great summer book in one hand and your favorite frozen adult beverage in the other.  You need this !

 

(Left: the mysterious Bimini Road, Right: Resorts World)

All-Inclusive Resorts:

• Live Aqua Beach Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic- (Full Story) 100% YES!  Prior to the Ukrainian war, the Dominican Republic was a Hot Bed to Russian vacationers.  Couples and Singles will find the unbelievable destinations of the Live Aqua Beach Club Resorts located throughout the Caribbean the perfect place to turbo charge their romantic lives.

 
(Live Aqua Beach Club, Punta Cana Dominican Republic)

Travel Tips:

• Know yourself & Where you are going-  The best holiday's begin with proper expectations.

• Using a Travel Agent-   The initial costs of going thru your agent for the first time maybe the same or lower as booking yourself, so why not start aggregating all of those client loyalty perks thru one agent,  as well as immediately start saving yourself some substantial time and stress

• Trip Insurance- The more uncertainty, the more complexity, the more distant in the future your trip will be the more this inexpensive insurance makes sense.  If you are connecting thru any one of the 30 most stressed airports (see Travel Tip#3), then Luggage Insurance is almost a necessity

Travel Products:

• AirTags- The number one fear of travel is losing one's Luggage.  These nifty devices track your luggage by connecting with your smart phone

• Water Proof Phone Cases with Lanyards- These water proof cases worn around your neck, takes the worry away from what to do with your phone, ID, and credit cards while on excursions or enjoying a day at the beach or pool

• Water Shoes- Inexpensive, and nearly disposable, these are the perfect solution to wearing around the slippery decks of cruise ships, and those beautiful beaches lined with sharp little shells, coral and rock

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Are you interested in my other stories?

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

Visit: adrianaexplores  email: adasilva@dreamvacations.com

Full Service | Travel Agent  | Longwood, Fl

 

 'Sustainable Tourism is Everyone's Responsibility '