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#Aruba has a 50% Visitor Return Rate

8/19/2017

The island has the highest visitor repeat rate, 50%, in the Caribbean. 34% of visitors have been to the island six times or more.

There are so many things that draw people to Aruba. It is is located 15 miles north of Venezuela in the warm waters of the southern Caribbean, Aruba is home to beautiful white-sand beaches, 82-degree days, and some of the warmest people in the world. The island is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, with a total area of 70 square miles. It's located just below the hurricane belt, and unlike many islands in the Caribbean, our climate is dry, so we rarely have a rainy day. On the south and west coasts of Aruba, you’ll find Oranjestad, our capital city, and miles of beaches that have been named some of the best in the world. Here, you’ll find most of the hotels and all-inclusive resorts in Aruba, and Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

In the interior of the island, you’ll find Arikok National Park, a desert like preserve with a variety of wildlife, cacti and dramatic rock formations. You’ll also find some of Aruba’s most striking views, as the ocean crashes against the rugged shoreline below.

Beaches
Aruba’s pristine, white-sand beaches and calm turquoise waters are unlike any others. TripAdvisor.com recently named Eagle Beach one of the top ten beaches in the world. Palm Beach is a little North of Eagle Beach and also very nice. Palm Beach is well populated with hotels. It is very active with 105 restaurants. 9 casinos will keep you busy day night. Besides that Aruba has WIFI hot spots all over the island. Common areas include Baby Beach, Eagle Beach, Casibari Rock Formation, Arikok National Park, Plaza on Linear Park . If you like to post on Instagram, shoot those pictures and post on the spot.

Sports
Beach tennis is a favorite among locals, but Aruba is also known for its windsurfing and kite surfing, thanks to the constant trade winds.

It also is great for snorkeling and scuba diving. It has 9 wrecks you can explore. It is fun to go off property because the beaches have windsurfing, site surfing, paddle boarding, deep sea fishing, kayak tours, and the Atlantis Submarine. You can even catch Mahi Mahi from shore.

Islands
If you want to go off the island, try De Palm Island. De Palm Island is a small island off of the western coast of Aruba. In addition to hosting an array of outdoor activities including swimming, scuba diving, snuba, power snorkeling, sea trekking with a helmet, and beach volleyball, De Palm Island also offers several options for those seeking rest and relaxation.

Renaissance Island. Scheduled ferries transport their guests from the Renaissance hotel properties directly to a small, secluded island that features a restaurant, spa, water sports, volleyball, hammocks and every other amenity that a sun worshiper will need to spend an afternoon in paradise.

Activities
Aruba has many land activities including off-roading, horseback riding, hiking, biking, viewing rock formations and historical sites, and golfing. There are rock formations, caves, trails labeled red, blue, and black. Don't forget the donkey sanctuary, ostrich and butterfly farms. The Dunes of Boca Prince are beautiful white sand.

Island tours are done on bus, 4-wheel, or horse.

Driving
Aruba drives on the right-hand side of the road, as in North America. The roads are well-paved and marked with signs in English.

The airport is very modern. It has advanced technology with facial recognition. US Customs has pre-clearance. There are no long lines, but instead they have passport kiosks and accept Global Entry.

Most people speak four languages including English, Spanish and Portuguese and are very welcoming.

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Don't Miss the #SolarEclipse on Monday

8/19/2017

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Monday is a significant day for a lot of people as they flock to the best locations in the US to see the eclipse.

Plan ahead as hotels have been booked for months. Also have a pair of special glasses to view it. I've read articles about people losing their eyesight because they haven't used them. Even if you share the goggles between a few of you, you will be glad you got a pair.Best Buy, Kroger, Walmart and Lowes are selling the special glasses.

How can I see the eclipse if I don't have eclipse glasses?

Since it's not safe to look at the eclipse without protecting your eyes, the AAS has also provided alternative ways to view the eclipse.
Fienberg notes that finding a tree with sunlight shining through the leaves will project an image of the sun, and the eclipse, on the ground. Looking at the ground while holding up a colander can have the same effect.
Another option is to catch one of the many live streams of the eclipse. This can be particularly useful for anyone who isn't in the path of totality.
Stay safe and enjoy this special event.

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A Short Visit to #NewOrleans

8/15/2017

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I just got back from a three day trip to New Orleans. It was a great get away. Here are some of the highlights.

We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel. This is a great location as it is just outside the French Quarter off Canal Street, near the museum district, and not far from Harrah's Casino..

Suggestions of where to go:
The WWII Museum is the best I've seen. It is new and the technology is great. It has a lot of planes on display. The movies that go with the history of the war are very good. I really liked the stories that the people told about being in the war.

Longue Vue House and Garden:
The former owner and resident of the house was the founder of Sears. The wife lived in the house about 30 years. They had 32 servants, 16 inside and 16 outside for the gardens. They also had two chauffeurs. They lived a life of luxury, playing tennis, gardening, and holding parties. Their house is full of very advanced technology including an elevator, a master set of light switches, closet lights that went on when you opened the closet door and a master switch for all the clocks in the house and central air.
The wall murals were imported from Europe and depicted European scenes. One of the rooms is full of contemporary art. She had an original Kandinsky that she donated to an art museum. The lamp shades were all handmade. She had cigarettes on the table. The dining room windows were on a switch that made them drop into the lower level of the house so that she could have tea on the patio outside. The bathroom scale was built into the floor and the dials were on the wall showing your weight.

The gardens were also lovely. She had a garden room for transplanting flowers and making flower arrangements.
The garden with fountains is very large.
The stone patterns in the walk around the garden is very unique.

They had several famous people stay with them including Eleanor Roosevelt and John Kennedy.
One bedroom was for their grandchildren and included three murphey beds.
After she moved out of the house, she donated it to the city of New Orleans.

Garden District:

There are lots of large mansions.
On Magazine street, there are many shops. Antique shops are prominent.
The St. Charles Trolley takes you to Washington Street where you get off and walk a few blocks to Magazine St. Along the way was a cemetery.

Hotels:
The large chain hotels are around the perimeter of The French Quarter..

Mardi Gras World is a must to see if you like art.
You not only get to see a lot of the floats, but hear the history of Mardi Gras as well as see how they are made. You get to try on costumes and take photos and sample King's Cake. This is a traditional cake that is served during Mardi Gras. If you find the baby hidden inside, you must bring the cake the next year and you will have good luck. The cake is made of cinnamon bread and is covered in frosting. It is like a cinnamon roll.

Entertainment:
Jazz Brunch at The Little Gem. The food was awesome and the band matched.
Antoines is a five star restaurant with ambiance to match. Ask your waiter for a tour of it's famous rooms: Mystery, Dungeon, Rex, Twelve Night, Japanese, and Capital to name a few. Each has its own story. All US presidents since Taft have eaten there. The food is great. It has the second largest wine cellar in the US. It is well worth the trip.

Jazz bands by the truckload are available on Frenchman St. We walked a few blocks and went into about 5 establishments that had bands playing. They were top notch. Don't forget Bourbon Street as well. There is a new restaurant called BB King Blues Club on the edge of the French Quarter.. BB King's band played a few weeks ago.

Harrah's Casino was close to our hotel. I don't think the odds are very good.
No trip to New Orleans is complete without a Ghost Walk. You learn so much about the history of the city.
Shopping is available in many places. It was so much fun walking the French Quarter and window shopping in all the vintage stores. If you like more more upscale shopping, try the Outlet Mall near the casino. If you like street shopping try the market near Cafe Dumond. You can find the best souvenirs there.

The city is well restored after the aftermath of Katrina. The people were very friendly and there is a plethora of transportation from taxis, Uber, Hop On and Hop Off Bus, and Trolley. There are several plantations to visit and swamp tours. The zoo would also be a great place to visit if you have more time. If you love jazz and Cajun food, New Orleans is the place to visit.

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Get the Best #VacationDeals At the Last Minute

8/6/2017

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Cruises
If the destination is less important than the experience, head to the Caribbean, which accounts for more than one third of all cruise-ship travel from the U.S. A recent Norwegian Cruise Line’s four-night Bahamas trip, available 10 days before departure on Last Minute Travel.com, went for $348 a person (a 27% savings).
If you’re looking for a luxury cruise, call the expertsCruise-savvy agents can also negotiateextras such as prepaid gratuities, Internet, and shipboard credits.
Booking sweet spot: 2-4 weeks

Lastminutetravel.com
Last Minute Travel specializes in discounts on flights, cars, hotels, cruises, etc. And if you're unsure of where you want to go, and just know you want to get the heck out of dodge, they have a "deals" tab that highlights super cheap last minute trips. For travel next weekend, we saw a four-star hotel in the Central Park area of New York City from just $164 per night with taxes. (Tack on an “Everything Chocolate” tour for $49 per person.) Less luxurious hotels are offered from $72 per night with taxes.
A couple of caveats: In several searches, the actual price (particularly for hotels) was higher than the initial advertised offer — it all depends on your travel dates. Also, a la Priceline, the site doesn’t reveal the name of your hotel until after you book. You will be shown its neighborhood, star rating and amenities. However, there is a tab to see the name of the hotel on Last Minute, but the prices are just a little higher than the mystery hotels.

Priceline.com
Priceline has a "Great Last Minute Deals" section that features, well, great last minute deals. At the time of typing this, there's a flight from Baltimore, Maryland to Los Angeles, California for $150! That's crazy!

Living Social Escapes
Living Social falls into the "flash site" category (as does Groupon). Find random, last minute (really good) deals on places you might not have thought about going to.

Jetsetter
Another flash site except this one specializes in travel. You need to sign up for Jetsetter (it takes 2 seconds), but there are truly awesome deals for places both in your area and beyond.

Orbitz
Another big travel website that has a "Deals" tab. Actually, right now, they're having a "winter hotel sale" that offers deep discounts on warm weather destinations. Fifty-five percent off on hotels in the Caribbean? Yes, please.

American Airlines
Every week, American Airlines offers a variety of Net SAAver Weekend Getaway fares, including domestic fares for both this weekend and the next, and international fares for the next weekend. (From the airline’s Web site, click on Travel Deals and then Sale Fares.) These deals are a good bet for travelers who simply want a last-minute airfare rather than a full-out package (perhaps you don’t need to book lodging because you’re staying with a friend, or you’d rather rent an apartment than stay in a hotel).
American isn’t the only airline peddling last-minute fares; check your favorite carrier’s Web site to see what’s available.

CheapCaribbean.com
If you have a specific destination in mind, your best bet is often to focus on a Web site that deals with one region specifically. CheapCaribbean.com has a last minute area on its Web site that offers low-cost packages set to expire quickly. However, though you can’t hem and haw about whether or not to go, you will often have plenty of time to plan — some packages can be booked for travel several months out.

Use apps to your advantage. It's never been easier to score a room at short notice—and at a bargain.

It can be hard to deduce which days offer up the best airfare deals, which is where Hopper comes in. The data-analyzing app will alert you when fares for your desired route have hit their predicted low point. Hopper lays out all of the prices in an easy-to-follow, color-coded calendar. If you want a cheaper itinerary and have a flexible schedule, check out the calendar boxes shaded green. If you're booking a domestic trip, shifting your travel dates from red (the most expensive) to green can save you an average of 16%.

Pioneering app HotelTonight helps out truly last-minute guests by offering heavily discounted rates on properties until as late as 2 A.M. on check-in day.

Roomer fills another market need by selling off the prepaid reservations of travelers who had to cancel and want to recoup some of their losses.

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Six #Airline Fees You Can Avoid

8/6/2017

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Don't rush into booking reservations without looking at the fine print. You can be charged extra fees for bags, award tickets, reserving seats on the phone, checking your pet, waiting too long to purchase a VISA, and renting a car for a one way trip. Many times these fees can either be minimized or avoided. See some of the solutions below.

Basic Economy Fees
American Airlines, United and Delta rolled out “basic economy” fares in the first half of 2017, which many travelers assumed were meant to compete with low-cost carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. But basic economy fares might not be less expensive than what the regular economy fares were before the new fares were implemented, NPR reported. And on many of these tickets, basic amenities — such as the use of overhead bins — trigger a fee or just aren't available. In other words, your cheap flight won't be so cheap.
For example, American and United allow one small bag that fits under the seats in basic economy. If a traveler with a basic economy ticket tries to bring a larger bag onboard a United flight, they will be charged a $25 service fee per bag, on top of the standard fee for checked baggage. Some carriers, such as United, will allow their elite frequent fliers and cardholders to ditch the fees. So if you expect to fly basic economy regularly, it might be worth applying for a credit card that will save you from racking up fees.

Visa Fees
Americans enjoy the privilege of traveling to many countries around the world without a visa. But you'll need to buy a tourist visa when visiting some countries. And these visas can be expensive. A visa to visit Russia, for example, can cost between $90 and $540, depending on how many entries you will make into the country and how quickly you need to receive it.
There is no way to avoid paying for visas to some countries. But booking well in advance can keep you from having to pay for an expedited visa, which can add a significant cost to your bill — $85 for travel to Nigeria, for example.

Non-Internet Airline Booking Fees
You might wonder what difference it makes to an airline how you book your ticket. Whether online, in person or over the phone, it’s all revenue in the airline’s pocket, right? Well, if you’d like to talk your flight options through with a customer service rep, either on the phone or in person, that’s going to cost you.
United charges $25 to book tickets on the phone and $50 to book at the airport. American Airlines' fee to book through its reservations center is $25 for domestic travel and $35 for international travel. Even booking a premium cabin doesn’t circumvent these fees.
So if you’re looking to book for free, either stick with online, or consider flying another airline. Delta, for example, eliminated the fee for all tickets except those issued in select European countries. It also waives the charge for all Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members.

Airline Pet Boarding Fees
If you want to bring your beloved cat or dog onboard the airplane, it’ll cost you. The fees vary among airlines. Southwest charges $95, American charges $125 and Delta charges $75 to $200. But no airline is going to let you get away with toting your toy poodle in your handbag as a piece of gratis carry-on luggage. However, if your animal is a documented emotional support animal or service animal, most airlines will not charge a fee.

One-Way Fees for Car Rentals
In some cases while traveling, the journey is as much the point as the destination.
But if you’re renting a car to make the trip, prepare to pay extra for dropping the car off at a different location from where you picked it up. This fee can be surprisingly easy to circumvent — just use “one way” as a search term, and you might find coupons that waive the fee. Hertz now offers one-way car rental packages with no separate drop-off fees.

Award Ticket Fees
It can come as an unpleasant surprise when booking a ticket using the miles or points you've accumulated and you have to pay a fee to have an award ticket issued. And should you need to cancel your ticket, there will be another fee to have the miles re-deposited into your account — for example, Delta charges $150.
Sometimes there is a rush booking fee to use miles for tickets for flights less than 21 days before departure, as well. United charges $75 for award tickets booked within three weeks of the departure date. Use your miles for trips you are able to plan out well in advance to avoid being charged. And if you do need to book or cancel reservations at the last minute, it helps to have status with an airline that sometimes will waive fees for high-status members.

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#Aruba has a 50% Visitor Return Rate

Don't Miss the #SolarEclipse on Monday

A Short Visit to #NewOrleans

Get the Best #VacationDeals At the Last Minute

Six #Airline Fees You Can Avoid

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