Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, was almost bulldozed 40 years ago to make room for development. Thankfully, smart minds prevailed and the land now occupied by the park was left intact. Because Manuel Antonio is easily accessible (only 2.5 hours from San Jose by car on the new highway, or 25 minutes by air from San Jose), it is one of Costa Rica's most heavily visited parks. Manuel Antonio is unusual beacause it is set on the Pacific and has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica within the park itself. Manuel Antonio is famous for its troops of monkeys and birds. To avoid the crunch of visitors and have a better chance of seeing wildlife, get up early and visit the park at 7am when it opens (daily except Monday). Once inside the park, paths are clearly marked. Do not miss the hike to Cerro Catedral, a forested peninsula with amazing views of the coastline behind you. Tip - the park has a rest stop with bathrooms and showers. Bring a towel and a picnic, and enjoy a swim in the park's beautiful beaches.
Outside the park are a series of public beaches you can enjoy at your leisure. There are a number of stands offering beach chairs, drinks, and umbrellas. We recommend Mary's, about halfway down the main beach.
Where to stay? One of the top choices in this area is the Gaia resort, on a hill, overlooking the forest and the Pacific. This small hotel offers 20 rooms in various configurations, and opened 6 years ago. You arrive at a parking area off the main road, and are whisked up a steep hill to the hotel on a golf cart by one of the hotel's staff members. Once you are at the main reception area, you either go up the stairs to the main restaurant/bar, or down to your room in one of three wings. La Luna restaurant has breathtaking views of the forest and the ocean, and this is where sophisticated travelers and locals in the know come to see the sunset and enjoy a leisurely meal. The hotel has pools cascading on 3 different levels, with a small bar where you can enjoy a drink or light fare. The smallest room starts at 350sq ft, and is decorated simply with white linens, wood floors, and wicker furniture. Bathrooms are comfortable and well laid out, many with jacuzzis and windows with views of the forest. Our favorite rooms are the larger suites and deluxe suites facing the Pacific, a number of which have a private roofdeck above the room. The largest accommodation is the villa, with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, on 3 levels, with a big sun terrace on the top floor. Gaia is all about privacy, modern design, intimacy, unique architecture, and a welcoming staff that will greet you by name within an hour of your arrival, no matter where you are. The hotel also has a terrific spa, offering a wide range of treatments.
Gaia is primarily an adults-only resort. Children 14 or older are welcome. The hotel has an excellent concierge/front desk that can organize just about any activity you request in the area.They operate a courtesy shuttle to the beach, Manuel Antonio park, or area restaurants. The rainiest period is typically September and October, although afternoon showers are frequent starting in May through November. As Gaia is part of our Signature hotels and Resorts program, we offer our clients complimentary breakfast, a $100 spa credit, and a $50 resort credit.
There's something magical about a rail journey. There's the sense of comfort of sitting back and enjoying the world go by, as you are moving to...somewhere. It's not like taking a flight or driving somewhere. There's a different sense of the journey, and of the arrival.
A solar eclipse is one of nature's magnificent events, and something well worth planning a trip around. So we wanted to get the word out about the Solar Eclipse Down Under. (No, it's not the latest wrestler coming into the ring, it's Mother Nature at her most splendid.) Imagine being in Australia's Daintree Rainforest, with front row seats to see a solar eclipse. Cruise the Daintree River to its mouth, for uninterrupted viewing. Then enjoy champagne breakfast and a wildlife tour.
As the new year begins, we take stock of where our travel experts have visited within the past year on their vacation packages and site inspection trips. It's fun to look back on all the places we've been! After all, our firsthand expertise is what provides so much of the value in working with clients at our travel agency. So here's a partial list of the highlights from our travels over the past year:
As the year comes to a close, many of us slow down a bit to enjoy the holidays, take stock of the year that's passed and what's ahead, and hopefully consider what vacation packages to plan. There are so many wonderful places to visit, and our bucket lists aren't getting any shorter. As we tick a destination off, there's usually a new one to add.
If you were lucky enough to visit Europe on a Contiki tour when in college, you probably recall how much fun it was traveling with like-minded people, making new friends, sharing free wheeling travel experiences, and perhaps forming long-term new friendships. 
Travel blogger 
Mexico's Riviera Maya, the coastal region south of Cancun, continues to grow with new five-star resorts. Unlike Cancun, however, where hotels crowd each other for a bit of beachfront space, the resorts along the Rivera Maya are comfortably spaced out, providing much more privacy and a more luxurious ambience. Riviera Maya is also closer to some of the Mayan ruins worth seeing further south, and cenotes worth exploring. 
A recent post on vacation packages in Italy spotlighted choice adventures in Milan. Now on to Florence. While small, Florence is grand, and a showpiece for the Italian Renaissance. I love it because it's easy getting around by foot, and there's something new to see and admire at nearly every corner. It's certainly a highly desirable destination to include on Italy vacation packages. 
Italy is the perennial go-to destination for our travel agency. We probably have more clients booking vacation packages to Italy than just about any other single country. Hey, what's not to like? From wine to olive oil, pasta to seafood, style and fashion to joie de vivre, Italy rocks! 
I've just returned from a few days at the award winning all-suite Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort. 
Italy is always one of our most sought after vacation destinations. Travelers never tire of Italy, and there's always new resorts and activities to explore. So what about a luxury vacation package exploring Italy's vacation isles? 
Our travel agency loves to read stories on how companies in the travel and tourism business find new ways to recycle, or better yet, do good deeds that benefit mankind or the planet. Within our own travel agency business, and as an ASTA Green Member, we continue to recycle, reduce use of paper and plastic. 
Travel vacation packages to Fiji make for wonderful luxury family vacations or romantic getaways or dive vacations. We love sending customers to Fiji. Now for music fans, there's a special reason to plan a trip to Fiji: the 2nd Fiji International Jazz and Blues Festival.
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