Touring Rome

We really liked the location of our hotel in Rome; it was located close to Termini Rail Station.even though the hotel was very small the staff were knowledgeable and focused upon enhancing our enjoyment of the city. Occasionally demonstrations occur in Rome that can disrupt traffic to parts of the city. The receptionist at our hotel was very good about advising us which areas of the city should be avoided on a specific day. She also recommended that we carry a photocopy of our passports while walking through Rome: it was conceivable that police might ask us for identification and that we could have to prove that we were tourists rather than demonstrators.  

New York Hotel

A client of mine has just returned from New York

Hi John,
     The staff members at our hotel were fantastic. New Yorkers have a stereotype of being impersonal  however I was travelling with my grandson and every day the doorman greeted him by name as did the concierge. The hotel room had limited storage space but there was an interesting partial wall between the two beds which gave each of us some privacy. Eating at the property was expensive but down the street was a well priced restaurant "Cafe Un, Deux, Trios" which is owned by french Canadians.

Positano, Italy

One of my clients just sent me this photo from her patio in Positano.

Melia Cayo Guillermo

I just had clients return from this resort:

"We had a wonderful time and great weather.  The beach was extraordinary with wonderful sand and beautiful turquoise water. This resort is popular with fishermen and the kids loved snorkeling off the pier. We saw needlenose fish, trumpet fish, lion fish, puffer fish, octupus, crabs, barracuda, and many small colourful fish.  The food was great! We all love sea food and there was a great variety.  The resort was smaller than the Ensenachos in Santa Maria but everything was close by and well cared for.   I would recommend this resort to anyone with children for it was very family friendly."

Is Bigger Better?

Last Fall I attended an event presented by Bruce Poon Tip of "G Adventures". One of his themes was "Is Bigger Better?" and examples he cited were mega resorts and mega cruise ships that seek to capture a larger proportion of the travel market. Often these projects result in excess capacity and reduced profits for the company. He countered this pursuit by inferring that many people travel to pursue new experiences and relationships that fall outside of mass market programs.

As an agent I recently have tended to establish working relationships with smaller companies that offer me services that match my needs. Like Norm in Cheers we like to be recognized by the people we do business with. Many of the suppliers that I now prefer are smaller companies that specialize in a destination staffed by representatives who handle a specific client's file exclusively. Their “ownership” of the project has led to suggestions which enhance the passenger’s travel experience.

Hotel Search Engines

I previously wrote about search engines and advised that it was necessary to consider the source of the information provided. While researching a destination prior to arrival helps to build your anticipation. The amount of information available on different websites is extensive and can be over whelming. Simple hotel inquiries often generate pages of results. The nature of the internet means that it might not be edited for accuracy and a passengers expectation my not match the service purchased. Filtering out unnecessary information aids in travel planning and dealing with trusted suppliers reduces the risk of unmet expectations.

The reservation systems I subscribe to allow me to filter the results by location, price or property type. One booking engine allows me to look for hotels based on a location's postal code, price or distance from an attraction. From there I can browse sites that map out the hotel locations or link into traveller reviews. 

River Cruises

River cruises are becoming very popular and are available in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. There are several companies which supply these travel experiences and each line has its own character and pricing point. Part of the appeal of these vacations is that passengers do not experience the motion that is normal on a larger body of water. Many tourist attractions are located on major rivers because traditionally goods and people were transported by water.

Similarly to Ocean Cruises, River Cruise Lines offer port tours but passengers have the opportunity to step off their ship and be within walking distance of historic attractions. When not in port you get to witness transitioning landscapes from wilderness to metropolis.