Why visiting Paris this Winter is still a Good Idea!
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel
 
In light of the unbelievable terror attacks last year, many travelers are determining whether Paris and France in general, would be a safe place to vacation this year, and have some hesitations. 

Some may choose to postpone or cancel their trip to the City of Lights, now may be the perfect time to visit. Paris in the winter time is so much quieter, and just as beautiful as visiting in the summertime. It’s a wonderful winter wonderland.  They are so beautifully decked out for the glorious holidays!

Magnificent Christmas Illuminations-
The street decorations (and lights) are in their full majesty! The magical colors and street decorations are a sight to see!  You can even take a Paris motor coach tour (think warm heated seats) that will showcase the city’s illuminated monuments at night fall. How romantic!

The Coolest Christmas Markets-
Their Christmas markets are glorious!  You can find a Christmas Market at the Champs Elysee that would rival even the best markets in Germany! Wow!  The atmosphere is all Christmas, with wooden ornaments, yummy treats, regional produce, baked goods, and uniquely Parisian crafts.

Traditional Nativity Scenes and Christmas Masses-
Nativity scenes and Christmas masses are abundant. Some of the nativity scenes are even animates (with live animals) and Christmas masses are held all over the city for those traveling and residing in Paris over the holidays.

Fabulous Family Fun-
There’s so much to do with the family in Paris. Twenty Parisian neighborhoods offer free merry-go-round rides for the children. Don’t forget the theme parks such as Disneyland Paris, and Playmobil FunPark. Their decorations will have the children dancing gleefully.

Exploring the Great Indoors-
If the weather is cold, stop into a nice café for a latte and croissant. Or, spend a few hours in one of the numerous museums. There are even special tours that will whisk you through the crowds, so you can hit the museums and galleries ahead of all the rest. Let us not forget a winter visit to Versailles and the Musee d’Orsay.
 
For more detailed information on a marvelous trip to Paris, call us!

Swimming with the Pigs- By Guest Blogger, Danny Perez of Sandals & Beaches Resorts

For this week’s experience I am going to talk to you about my favorite Island Routes excursion the Exuma Cays Ocean Safari, most commonly known as “swimming with the pigs”.

My first and only opportunity with this excursion so far came this past August when I was down at Sandals Emerald Bay. Going into this excursion, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I knew I was in for a truly unique experience. I knew I was excited to finally see what all the fuss was about with these pigs and I may have hyped it up too much in my head. Possibly set myself up to be disappointed but let me tell you, it did not in any way, shape or form.

Once we arrived at the dock, the group piled on to a custom designed PowerCat that had 007 decaled on the side. Of course me being a huge fan, I started thinking that was going to rid of the world of some evil genius and save the day but that’s beside the point. The boat was loaded with plenty of beverages, both adult and non-adult and with hot dogs to feed the pigs. No worries, they were veggie dogs J. So once everyone was on we cast off and made our way to the piggies. Once we arrived at the Cay, there wasn’t a pig in sight but you could see where they took shelter and tubs were food was provided. The boat captain started to whistle and call out to them and within seconds there came the herd crashing into the water to go for a swim. Babies had just recently been born so there was pigs of all sizes to enjoy. We fed them, played with them, held them and yes of course swam with them. They were so friendly, it was truly a great experience! One that I will never forget!

Once we got on the boat, I honestly though the excursion was over but I saw that there was loads of grapes on board the boat. I didn’t ask questions because I wanted to be surprised and see what else was in store. We hopped over to another Cay and on this Cay lived the Bahamian Rock Iguana… HOLY MOLY I have never seen that many lizards at one time. But, I did get off of the boat and walked onto that beach and started to feed them grapes. I wasn’t scared and never felt threatened by the Iguanas. One of the cool things, I thought was the sound of the snap of their mouths grabbing the grapes. You could tell that whatever they grab is not being let go easily.

The final two cays on this excursion offered stunning views both on land and under the sea. The excursion gives you a chance to hike up one of the cays, not a bad hike at all, to a point where you have a beautiful view of the Atlantic. Great spot for pictures and just bask in the Caribbean atmosphere. Once the land views were had it was time go beneath the ocean surface. Snorkeling was provided as we were taken a reef that showcase different sea life and beautiful colors all the way around.

I highly recommend this excursion to any and all looking for a truly magical experience!

Thanks,

Danny Perez
Business Development Manager for Sandals & Beaches Resorts

6 Small Items Not to Miss while Packing for your Next Cruise-
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel
 
Here are some items you’ll not want to forget on your next cruise vacation and will be glad you decided to bring them along (plus they take up minimal room in your suitcase):

1. A Highlighter- Hey, you’ll need to highlight the activities you wish to participate in while on the ship, so you don't miss a thing! Also, each family member can have their own color... how fun!  That way each person has their own list of must see activities.
   
   
   
2. Febreeze Spray- Walked through the casino or played a few games of Texas Hold-em Poker? Well, spray some febreeze on your clothes and hang them in your closet. Problem solved!
   
   
   
3. Large Clips- You’ll need these clips to keep your towel on your chair by the pool! Also, don’t let that huge gust of wind blow your little bikini off your balcony and out to sea. A new bathing suit from the gift shop will cost a pretty penny!
   
   
   
4. Magnets- If you know anything about the ships walls, you’ll remember that they are made of steel, and so you can attach notes, the day’s activities and whatever you like on the wall. Let the kids know you’ve gone out dancing and will return late! If you choose Post-It Notes, they may not stay attached….then the kids will send the staff out to find you 2 crazy kids who'd hoped to spend the night one-on-one...instead the staff is hunting you down!!
   
   
   
5. Airborne- Yes you will come into contact with germs on the ship, so take this as a precautionary measure so you can enjoy your vacation and not be in your cabin with a nasty cold.
   
   
   
6. A Good Book- Nothing beats a wonderful, old fashioned paperback when it comes to reading at the pool or on the beach. What happens if you drop it in the sand or in the water….no biggie, which you can’t say for your expensive tablet.
   
   And while you’re at it, consider taking half your clothes you set out to pack, and twice the amount of money!!
   

Are formal nights one of your favorite nights of a cruise? It is for me, I so enjoy dressing up, as I rarely do so outside of vacationing. How about you?

Celebrity Cruises will be replacing formal nights with a more relaxed “evening chic” nights beginning December of 2015. Passengers sailing on Celebrity Cruises on or after December 4, 2015 will have two evening chic nights (replacing formal nights) on all cruises seven nights and longer (with an exception for Celebrity Xpedition) . This change comes as cruisers slowly move to a more casual cruise experience.

Wow, I can't believe they're doing away with with, as I personally love formal nights and LOVE the pictures we take as a family.
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How about you? Do you LOVE Cruise Formal Nights? Comment below.