TravelStore Vacations

One of the trends our travel agency is seeing is a growing resurgence in vacation packages to India. While some of our customers have done the typical northern India route, some are returning to southern India, to visit the famed tiger reserves, and to explore more of India's treasured sights. While we work with our in-country contacts in setting up customized itineraries for our clients individually, a growing number of pre-arranged itineraries are also available for those that prefer to travel with a group.

For example, for 2012 one of our preferred suppliers has introduced 12 itineraries, comprised of six escorted tours, plus six optional extensions. The escorted tours range from 8- to 14-days, while the shorter optional extensions are from 3 - to 5-days. These extensions include Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indian jungle, Rajasthan and Kerala. In fact, two of my colleagues just returned from India where they visited the tiger reserves.

If India is on your bucket list, you can search our database for selected tour programs to India, or contact one of our travel experts.  If you've visited India, write in and tell us what your favorite experiences in this magical country were.

Travel blogger Pam Mandel writes: "People want to do something that transcends their classic travel experience. We tap into the idea that when you travel it changes you, and you want to make the world a better place.”  Indeed. Many of our clients are vying for vacation packages on which they can enhance their adventures with unique experiences that provide more personal enrichment. Many return from their travels and make commitments to support worthwhile causes.

Passport with Purpose was created by Pam and some fellow travel bloggers, and doing some good things.  It's encouraging to read about so many efforts like theirs that seek to help make the world a better place, one small step at a time.  Certainly culturally enriching travel can also help improve the world.  We know that participating on an African wildlfie safari helps encourage tourism and the protection of wildlife.  And there are other examples.

Travel is a gift we enjoy. The holiday season is a time for gift giving, and there are so many ways we can give and make a positive difference. Do you have stories to share about travelers making a difference? 

Perhaps you'd also care to consider a gift of travel to someone.

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. 

One of my favorite resorts here is the Banyan Tree in the Mayakoba area, where some of the region's most luxurious properties are located.  Banyan Tree, a Thailand-based resort company, built it's first property in North America here.  Mayakoba is about a 25-minute drive from the airport. The all-villa, exclusive resort offers a blended design of Mexican and Thai elements, and a calm serenity permeates the resort.  Cuisine is excellent, and the spa here, staffed by the excellent Thai-trained specialists, is top notch.  Signing privileges are available should you care to dine at the neighboring Mayakoba properties.  Golfers will enjoy the very fine championship course.

The villas at Banyan Tree are quite private, with their own gated entry, personal pool and private patio area.  For those needing a luxury getaway this winter and early spring, you can enjoy an additional free night's lodging by booking a two night's stay. Add another night and we'll include a fabulous 90-minute spa session you won't readily forget.

Seach for additional vacation packages for Mexico vacations.

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.

In search of engaging experiences for you to try, here are seven that catch our fancy:

1. Attend a cooking class at a cooking school, and learn how to prepare some of the best Italian dishes. No doubt a highlight will be dining on your creations.
2. Take an exclusive guided private tour through the Vasari Corridor, connecting the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti.
3. Rent a mountain bike, or better yet, a Vespa, and explore the hillsides around the city.
4. Enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Chianti hills.
5. Certainly when in Florence you've enjoyed the views of the Arno River. if visiting in the summer months, consider a river jaunt in one of the old Renaioli punts, and admire the Ponte Vecchio from a unique angle.
6. Learn the antique technique al fresco painting at the Buonfresco workshop.
7. Enjoy a tour of the city by Segway...

What are your favorite experiences in Florence? There's much to do in Florence, and great hotels to experience and luxuriate in. Our top hotel picks will VIP your stay with daily breakfast and more.

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!

Today's travelers are looking for unique travel experiences, so we're offering some novel ideas for things you might consider for Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world.  Beyond the Duomo and the fashion district of Via Montenapoleone, here's a few considerations:

1. An entertaining and enriching wine tasting class taught by sommerliers
2. In true Agatha Christie style, consider a murder mystery dinner full of suspense and surprises.
3. If you're a Dan Brown fan, visit the Cenacolo, the capital of the Sforza dukedom, and enjoy da Vinci's "Last Supper" from Robert Langdon's point of view. 
4. Consider getting tickets in advance for a performance at the world renowned La Scala Opera House.
5. Did we mention fashion? For designer clothing, Milan is top drawer...

Do you have some personal favorites?
For your stay in Milan, our preferred hotels will include complimentary daily breakfast during your stay, along with other amenities.

I've just returned from a few days at the award winning all-suite Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort.

Vacation packages to Mexico's Riviera Maya resort area started to develop around 1995, with 14,000 rooms.  Today, the resort area has about 40,000 rooms, with more resorts coming, and the area enjoys over 1.25 million visitors. Grand Velas is one of the newer five-star all-inclusive luxury resorts here.
 
There are three room types in three areas of the property: Zen Grand Suites were built in the coastal jungle, away from the beach, but adjacent to the enormous spa as well as the convention center.  The slightly larger Ambassador Suites are ocean-view and built around the huge and lovely pool area. The Grand Class Suites are ocean-front and offer the largest suites. 

There are several themed restaurants here, including French, eclectic, fine Mexican, Italian and more. (Wine included). While all-inclusive, guests are provided a bill to sign at meal's end, and if you add any (additional) gratuity it will be charged to your room account.  The beach service is great, though the ocean bottom here can be a bit rough (and some may wish to have water shoes). For some the highlight at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the spa, all 89,000 square feet of it, and its numerous water-based treatments.  Treatment prices are no less than one would find in the States at a fine spa.

All-inclusive resorts also make for great family friendly vacations, and there were several extended families with young children staying at Grand Velas and having a great time.

For luxury family vacations or just a couple's getaway, we offer many vacation packages to Riviera Maya's best resorts, including Grand Velas, or read more about Mexico vacations.

Alaska has so much to offer: soaring hawks and eagles, bears looking for food as they wake up from their winter nap, whales doing their water ballet, seals that band together so they can play in the water, the bluest of glaciers, otters floating along on their backs cracking shells, sea stars grasping onto shore rocks, and so much more.

In order to appreciate all of these phenomena of nature, you really need to be on a ship that makes it all possible! I just returned from a cruise aboard the Sea Lion, a Lindblad cruise ship that carries 60+ guests. When we spotted killer whales in their pod, the little ship ground to a halt so the whales came over to play and swim under the ship. The otters clapped on past our zodiac, eyeing us suspiciously....that was how close we were! Barking seals threw water on us in the zodiac. From offshore,we quietly trailed more than one bear as they overturned rocks looking for food. The naturalists and photo expert added their experienced viewing eyes to spot the wildlife that is there for the finding.

Aboard ship we could share pictures taken each day, make friends from among passengers and staff, attend great talks...or even listen to the talks, stretched out in our cabin. We hiked, kayaked, ate, drank and were plenty merry. The Lindblad experience is unique in its view of wilderness Alaska as an observer and participant who stands with mouth open muttering WOW......

You can read more about Lindblad cruises or contact me for more info.

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.

This year's four-day event attracted about 2,000 visitors, quite a crowd for Fiji. Taking place May 10 - 13, 2012, Fiji hopes to ensure this blues and jazz festival is the premier event of the pacific.  Scheduled for next year's bash are Australian guitarist Kevin Borich, acoustic maestro Paul Ubana Jones from the UK, jazz diva Julie Mason, New Zealand blues guitarist Billy TK jnr, as well as local Fijian artists like Dejavu and Tom Mawi.

With so many attending the event, it's best to plan your Fiji vacation package early if you want to be part of this special event.  Our Fiji experts really know the ins and outs of this destination.  Read more about Fiji vacations.

With Halloween behind us, the holiday season is upon us! So where is TravelStore's staff celebrating the holidays? We're going back to the Terranea Resort. Built on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, Terranea is a beautiful retreat offering a variety of guest rooms and residential-style accommodations, multiple dining options, pools, golf nearby and a large spa. While not far from the hubbub of the city, Terranea's location and views truly make one feel like one's "away" from it all. 

If you've not been, fall is a lovely time to visit, whether you're passing thru LAX for a night or two enroute elsewhere, or are a local resident looking for a quick getaway that will relax and invigorate. The TravelStore team will gather here in December for our own bit of invigorationm, and we're looking forward to returning here.

Many of our customers also enjoy short weekend getaways during the year, and often we can enhance their jaunts at select resorts. At Terranea, for example, our "fall deal"includes a discount off the rate, a $50 resort credit, daily breakfast for two, complimentary resort fee (usually $25), an upgrade based on availability, and more.

We hope your holidays include an out-of-town escape, too. Your TravelStore agent can assist with more details, and ensure you feel like a VIP. Read more about our best resorts program.

We know some of our customers look to get away for the holidays, or find new ways to celebrate them. How about celebrating with Native Americans as our forefathers did? The Hyatt Regency Tamayo is offering a unique and cultural Pueblo-style experience.  You can bake bread with a member of the Pueblo in a traditional Huruna oven. There will be Native American dance and music performances in traditional regalia. There's hot apple cider and pumpkin spice cookies. Yumm. 

Some of our agents visited the resort just about a month ago. The resort is located on the Pueblo of Santa Ana, between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The Cultural Learning Center offers hands-on activities for guests that include pottery making, archery, bead making and more. Sounds inviting? Give us a ring.

Thanks to Hilton, our train trip between Amsterdam and Paris was a great adventure. We didn't realize, at first, that we'd be dining on our train trip. However, we 'got with the program' in no time at all! Our room in Paris was small, but efficient; it had all the amenities we required. The bathroom was up to date with a modern spacious stall shower. Wireless access was free and worked. The room sported a mini bar and a safe, so we were pleased. (Hotel Bourgogne et Montana). Leslie and I also enjoyed the hotel breakfast for a few days of our stay. A highlight of our stay was our visit to the Gran Palais which housed a spectacular exhibit: The Steins Collection of Picasso, Mattise...we spent almost four hours viewing that remarkable collection. Paris resulted in Leslie's shoes needing to be repaired by a shoemaker when we returned to Amsterdam. That was telling evidence of how much walking we did while in Paris! Thanks for your help with our trip.

Leslie and Judith W.

Name: Judith & Leslie W.
Los Angeles, CA
Agent: Hilton Smith

I contacted Kyra to assist me in planning a trip to Europe for me and my husband from California, a daughter from New Jersey, a son-in-law from Iraq, and a daughter from Texas. We planned the trip to London, Paris and Nice with two tours in each place for a total of sixteen days. Kyra assisted me in every step of the way and I could not have done it without her. We had a great time and have many beautiful memories.

Hermona T.
Stockton, CA
Agent: Kyra Heede

I would like to thank TravelStore and Alannah and Gloriane for helping with the trip arrangements. This was a business trip to a conference in Basel. I took my youngest son as he had never been to Europe. He had a great time, excluding the conference, and got to see things and do things different from his normal experience. I thank you for your help.

Mark Victor
October, 2011
Agent: Gloriane Letterman
Who: Family with Young Children

We traveled to Napa by car, stopping in Pleasanton to spend the night. Continued on the next morning - not too very far to drive. Darling Eva had booked us into the Westin Verasa Hotel. It looks like a craftsman-style home on the outside and is a truly charming hotel. We had a lovely 2-bedroom suite with a balcony overlooking the Napa River. Guess what? We were right across the street from the Napa Valley Wine Train so we could walk to our destination. We arrived earlier than the other couple, so we went to some lovely wineries and just checked out the tow. Go to the visitors center in Riverwalk. It has a lot of literature and lovely docents to give you information. We did find out some of the wineries need 3-4 weeks advance notice for booking in the Fall. Napa has lovely restaurants. (Go to Cole's Chop House-- it's got to be one of the best steak houses in California if not the western U.S.) DO NOT EAT at La Toque in the Westin Verasa -- extremely over rated.

Do go to Castello de Amorosa in St. Helena -- just up the road from Napa. It is a functioning winery located within a 121,000sq ft. replica of a Tuscan castle. It has 5 levels, 2 above ground 3 below. With everything from a torture chamber with real antique torture instruments to a dungeon! It was the best tour -- wines are made in the Italian style -- very good cabs, merlots, etc. Tickets for the guided castle tour were about $32.00 for adults. Do take the Napa Valley Wine Train -- we were in the glassed-in dome car (so you can see the vistas) -- but since it was Fall it gets dark early. I think I would do that in September next time. The train doesn't stop at any of the wineries -- and dinner is served sort of like meals on wheels, lol. We bought lots of very good wines. Went to Tyler Florence's shop in Riverwalk and bought smoked olive oil, yummy. Also please make a stop at Annettes Chocolates in Napa. They are wonderful. (I bought the Chile-lime tequila tortilla chip brittle.) It's amazing! So enjoy Napa I'd go back in an instant.

Antoinette C. Murphy
Brea, Calif.
Oct 12th-16, 2011
Agent: Eva Bailon

Are you a train buff? Read more about rail vacations around the world, or USA travel.

If you've been to New Orleans, and even if you haven't, you've probably heard about, if not had, a po'boy sandwich. Since 1929, this French bread sandwich has been associated with dining in The Big Easy.

On my recent visit earlier this month, I had a kal bi-ribs po'boy (okay, probably not very authentic) and a fried oysters po'boy (more the real thing).

But who knew New Orleans hosted an annual po-boy festival.  Started in 2007 as the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival, the event attracts tens of thousands.  This year's event takes place November 20th, with about 45 po'boy purveyors participating, along with live music and more. 

Where else can you get a fired lobster po'boy sandwich?

I recently had the privilege of attending the Orient Express advisory board meeting in Taormina, Sicily. When it comes to touring Europe, Sicily was a new destination for me, other than a half-day visit to Messina some years ago on a Sunday afternoon when the town was closed and I couldn't even find a gelato.

Flying into Catania is quite impressive this time of year. You see the crystal blue coastline as well as the snow capped Mount Aetna -- quite a site to prepare you for the rest. As Sicily is not known for world class hotels, I was really curious to see and experience the two new additions to the Orient Express Italy collection, which is generally highly regarded for all its iconic deluxe properties.

To get the full experience, we stayed the first two nights at the Villa Saint'Andrea, where we were absolutely delighted. Set on its own exclusive beach, this hotel was built in 1830 by an aristocratic family as a private residence. The setting is in lush, subtropical gardens that climb up the hillside from the sea, which all the rooms face. Some of the 26 rooms and 24 suites have balconies or terraces. Villa Saint'Andrea was the perfect place to rest and catch up after the long flights from home, and we enjoyed the seaside restaurant and piano bar until well after sunset.

It's less than a one minute walk to the cable car that transports you to the center of Taormina in less than three minutes. Set high in the rocky hills in the center of Taormina, the Grand Hotel Timeo, one of Italy's most glamorous retreats, was our next stop. There is also frequent shuttle service between the two hotels. The Grand Hotel Timeo sits in the most perfect location, directly in front of the Greek Theater, offering sweeping views of the coastline and Mount Aetna from its rooms and suites, terraces, and practically everywhere. This is a place where you can let Sicily come to you as you admire its gardens, savor the sensational local cuisine and wines, sit out on the Literary Terrace where generations of guests have gathered in the sun.

Due to our meeting schedule we had little time for excursions, other than a 1/2 day trip to the villages where The Godfather was filmed 40 years ago, if you can believe it. But Sicily has long been a crossroads of all the Mediterranean cultures. The island today is a fascinating blend in which Greek temples, Norman churches and Baroque palazzos emerge from its rich fabric. Sicily also has natural wonders aplenty, from the smoking craters of Mount Aetna to countless mountaintop castles and villages, as well as an extensive coastline and undiscovered beaches to explore.

More about Italy vacation packages.

I'm certainly no expert on Cajun or Creole cuisine. But like art, you know what you like. And having a few days in New Orleans to reacquaint myself with some fine New Orleans cooking was something to look forward to. In fact, dining alone is sufficient reason to book vacation packages to The Big Easy (not that there aren't plenty of other reasons to do so).

My immersion was to start at the top, with dinner at Arnaud's. Arnaud's was opened in 1918 by a French wine salesman, Arnaud Dazenave. Around 1988 the restaurant was sold, and the Casbarian family restored the restaurant. Arnaud's takes up an entire side of a block. Truth be told, we dined here as part of a large group, in the Creole Cottage room next door to the main restaurant. As it turned out, this was the most disappointing meal during our stay, sad to say. I'm sure dining at Arnaud's on own would have offered a different experience than the catered group experience. But I checked, and the dishes we had were all on the main menu. The crab and shrimp appetizer was unremarkable, the gumbo was thickened too much and salty, and the trout almondine and beef filet were tasty enough, though I could do without the thick bernaise.  The presentation was lackluster. Service was uneven and  noisy, and our waiter wasn't well schooled in service etiquette. The china was the same I used to eat on daily in my college cafeteria decades ago. Somewhat of a letdown as we were expecting fine service and fine dining.

Next up was lunch as Commander's Palace. Again, we dined as part of a group, but service was top notch and attentive, and the food was a step up and creatively prepared and presented. Gumbo was far superior to Arnaud's, and the hickory-smoked Gulf fish nicely prepared and served on a salad with pineapple, which provided a perfect accent. The coup de grace was the exceptional creme brulee, complete with a powdered sugar fleur de lys. Commander's Palace, located in the chic Garden District (Sandra Bullock's house is a block away), offers indoor or outdoor dining. (While here, it's worth wandering the neighborhood and gawk at some of the splendid homes. You might also check out the fine art gallery on the corner across the street, or meander through the cemetary across the way.)

I couldn't miss jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters, in the heart of the French Quarter. There are numerous choices available here, and the food was good, but not exceptional.  It is, after all, a buffet. But the variety was huge, and a chance for some ceviche, jambalaya, duck, andouille sausage, seafood omelettes, corn bread, sweet potato salads and bread pudding.

There are many fine restaurants in town, both old and new, but it seemed a visit to New Orleans required our dining at one of Emiril's three notable restaurants. We selected Delmonico's, which seemed to be favored by locals. The location was a former two-story home, and so it's comprised of smaller dining spaces on the first and second floors. Here one can enjoy charcuterie made on premises, as well as dry-aged steak. For starters we shared the moist and mouth-melting crab cake, the perfectly prepared gumbo and lamb meatballs served on a delicious caponata relish. Our entrees were a wonderful shrimp in creole sauce and excellent moroccan-spiced lamb, with butternut squash.  Ok, we shared the pumpkin breadpudding, which was the perfect sweet to cap off a delightful evening. And if you like gin, be sure to try some of the exquisite Death's Door gin available at the bar.

We went to Stanley's, right on Jackson Square, for lunch and some po'boy's.  The kalbi beef was overpriced but tasty, and the cornbread fried oyster poor boy was tasty and fit the bill.  The sweet potato fries were the best I've had. Service here was attentive and on the mark, surprising as the place was packed and popular on a Sunday morning. During this visit we avoided the touristy and crowded Cafe du Monde, and instead had wonderful beignets on the patio at Cafe Beignet accompanied by a fine jazz crooner.  

What are your favorite New Orleans dining spots? 

If you're interested in travel vacation packages here, give us a shout.