TRAVEL TALK - - VOLUME 4 - - SPRING/SUMMER 2012

Nonstop flights from
Orlando

It's NO PROBLEM with this summer vacation because we have cheap nonstop flights from Orlando to Montego Bay Jamaica on both JetBlue and Airtran. Just about 2 hours flight time skipping that dreaded stop in Miami. Jamaica's old favorites like Couples, Sandals, Beaches, Sunset Jamaica Grande and Hedonism are still cooking with that all-inclusive style to keep your vacation costs in check. In addition, we have a new crop of the Spanish all-inclusives like Riu, Iberostar and the new American style favorite Secrets Resorts are all available in Jamaica.

Three Resort Destinations
Jamaica's three main resort areas are Montego Bay (the North Coast airport), Ocho Rios and Negril. Montego Bay is great for a short stop as most of the resorts are less than 15 minutes from Sangster International. Some of the little known facts about Montego Bay is that it hosts four World Class golf courses including the White Which that plays plays almost 1000 feet above sea level and is also host to some of the best natural attractions in Jamaica including the Rocklands bird sanctuary, ziplining and also near rafting on the Martha Brae River. Negril is a 7 mile beach town on the western coast that is mostly known for beach activities. Negril also sports about 5 miles of cliffs where funky bars punctuate the cliffs with steps and ladders to enter and exit the water. Ocho Rios is a beautiful area with Dunn's River Falls, Shaw Park Gardens and Fern Gulley. Ochi as the natives call it has the best duty free shopping as it hosts many ships in this famous port of call.

Jamaica is a big and Beautiful Island
Jamaica has more to see if you get off the beaten track. I personally love Runaway Bay which is punctuated by Villas and a Golf Course and is only half an hour from Ocho Rios on the North Coast. I also love Port Antonio which was the original resort destination when Errol Flynn used to bring his wealthy movie actor friends in the Banana Boats from the States. This is Jamaica's tropical rainforest with the Blue Mountains running up to 8000 feet in this area. Speaking of the Blue Mountains there are UNESCO World Heritage sites up there but adventure seekers have to access the Blue Mountains from Kingston. Finally the South Coast of Jamaica near White House is the newest resort area along with Treasure Beach which features black sand beaches and a dry red clay landscape unlike most of Jamaica which is very green.

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We are off the bus and have a six block roll to our hotel with the luggage.  Sidewalks are wide on the Passeig de Gracia.  I must compliment Condes de Barcelona as the staff checked us right in at 10A so we could shower before our first day in Barcelona. Our room at Condes de Barcelona is very clean and the staff is smiling.   I always suggest beating jet lag by staying up until 9P or so local time and using a good night’s sleep to beat the jet lag.  We are lucky as Gina caught a very good deal on our travel agent system Amadeus for the Condes de Barcelona hotel so we are staying in one of the best neighborhoods in town. 

After the shower, we head towards the port/marina area through the Barrio Gotico which has tiny streets with local shops and restaurants.  We hear music in the streets and stop to see a jazz band with a cute old Catalan man shuffling to the music.  The Barrio Gotico is the neighborhood with the Picasso museum and the Cathedral.

The port/marina area is beautiful and a meeting place for the people of Barcelona and tourists.  It is the place where you can catch a boat tour on various sizes and shapes of boats that head out onto the Mediterranean.  The port area has a huge boardwalk which is the site of craft exhibitions on the weekend we were there and an antique flea market across from the Columbus monument.  We have been hearing loud jet noises and realize we are in Barcelona (October 1, 2011) on air show weekend when we see EU fighter jets streak by low across the marina in formation. read more and see slide shows of Barcelona

DEALS & STEALS!

Royal Caribbean 5 nt. Jewel Tampa $399 ea. 1/5/13	Holland America 7 nt. Ryndam Tampa $549 ea. 11/25 or 12/2/12	Carnival Paradise 5 nt. Tampa $279 ea. 9or 10/1/12
Carnival Valor 6 nt. Miami $309 ea. 11/4/12	Royal Caribbean 7 nt. Oasis FLL $799 ea. 10/13/12	Carnival Legend 7 nt. Tampa $434 ea. 12/9/12
Carnival Freedom 8 nt. Miami $479 ea. 12/1 or 12/15/12	Royal Caribbean 7 nt. Freedom PCN $599 ea. 9/9, 9/23 or 10/21/12	Royal Caribbean 4 nt. Monarch PCN $199 ea. 9/17 or 9/24
Carnival Sensation 3 nt. Bahamas $209 ea. Month of September	Holland America Alaska 7 nt. from Seattle $999 balcony. 6/30 or 7/7	Carnival Liberty 7 nt. Miami $409 ea. 11/10/12
Viking River 8 day Paris Normandy $2256 each. 7/25/12	Holland Caribbean 11 nt. from Southern $999 each. 12/10/12	Viking River 8 day Paris Normandy $2256 each. 7/25/12
Crown Princess 12 day Gr. Isles Rome to Venice $899 each. 7/23/12	Sea Princess 27 day SFO to Sydney Hawaii & Tahiti $2199 each. 9/20/12	Diamond Princess 14 day Alaska RT Vancouver $999 each. 8/4/12
Viking River 13 day Russia Includes air $5395 each. 7/30/12	Holland America 10 night Italy/Greece $599 6/27/12	MSC Sinfona 7 day Mediterranean $499 each. 6/30/12
Oceania Nautica 14 day Czar/Viking Includes FREE air $5772 each. 8/5/12	Silversea Lisbon to Southhampton 9 Day Cruise 8/4/12 Business Class air 2 Nights at Four Seasons 2 Bfst/3 course dinner Vista Suite $7999 each. Verandah Suite $8899 each. $1000 Onboard Spending Credit!
Europe - Save $500/Couple with Air or $300/Couple Land Last Minute Specials like Scenic Ireland from $1784 plus air Mention this Newsletter and Receive and Save an extra 10% Off Trafalgar Tours Book by June 30 and Travel anytime in 2012
PEAK SUMMER CRUISE VALUES FROM TAMPA Last Minute is No Problem!
Carnival Paradise 4 nt. Tampa $379 ea. 7/190 or 8/2	Carnival Paradise 5 nt. Tampa $499 ea. 8/6/12	Carnival Legend 7 nt. Tampa $729 ea. 7/29 or 8/5/12
1 WEEK ALL-INCLUSIVE DEALS Last Minute is No Problem! Destination Peak Summer from Fall Travel from Puerto Plata $945 $887 Cancun $995 $875 Punta Cana $1035 $875 Riviera Maya $1140 $895 Freeport Grand Bahama $1150 $1150 La Romana $1200 $947 Costa Rica $1460 $1150 St. Lucia $1687 $1432 Aruba $1600 $1600 Paradise Island $1825 $1500 Sample prices are based on airfare from Tampa, all airfare taxes, airport transfers, hotel accommodations for 7 nights based on double occupancy, all meals, unlimited bar drinks, hotel tax and service charge plus activities. Peak Season based on July 11 to 18, 2012 and fall season is based on September 18-25, 2012. Prices may be different on your dates due to airfare or other differences from these quotes.

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