WHAT COULD BE MORE ROMANTIC THAN A PRIVATE, ROMANTIC GETAWAY IN A CASTLE HOTEL IN GERMANY?
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel
 
Old castles, super amazing cuisine, medieval history, interesting and unique culture and people are just few of the reasons to honeymoon in Germany! 
 
Just imagine, some of the most exciting cities in Europe are at your easy disposal: Heidelberg, Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, Frankfurt, Fussen, Dusseldorf and so many others - as well as quintessential inviting small towns and sweet, charming, villages offer you a truly unforgettable honeymoon experience like no other.
 
No matter where you are in gorgeous Germany, it seems that a history filled castle or palace; a beautiful serene park or crisp, quiet lake; or an ancient medieval church are never very far away from you.

​Imagine beautiful Berlin, the capital and the country’s largest city, is one of the most exciting destinations in all of Europe. Ninety-five percent of it was destroyed in World War II and has been rebuilt since the wall that divided the city was torn down over 20 years ago. This city never sleeps, if you're looking for amazing night life in a city full of action packed adventure, Berlin is your place.
 
Wherever you travel in Germany, you’ll discover amazing vibrant cities with fascinating histories, charming historical medieval towns and peaceful, serene, scenery. Adventurous (true romantic) travelers might like to drive the “Romantic Road” from  Warzburg to Fussen, 220 miles of breathtaking pastoral scenery dotted with historic villages, churches and castle after castle. Take a stop along one of many little picturesque inns and restaurants overlooking the water. Stop alongside the road for several pictures, and a glass of wine or stein of beer. Or, you can visit the ultra romantic Black Forest (think alpine villages at the foot of the alps), cruise along the winding, divine Danube River, or travel around Lake Constance.
 
It doesn’t take long to discover that Germany is value packed and oh so very romantic. Prices are slightly lower here than in many other major European destinations.  Theatre, ballet and opera tickets are very affordable in Germany as well. Food prices are slightly lower as well, and quality of the cuisine and local wines and local brews are amazing.

​Imagine waking up to the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle right outside your balcony room suite. Or, how about honeymooning in numerous castle hotels, still operating today.

Whatever you choose to do, your honeymoon in Germany will be like a fantastic fairytale that neither one of you will soon forget! 

​Consider contacting one of our Germany Specialists today, in fact Jen Campbell lived in Germany for 6 years and has practical experience with this gorgeous country and is practically fluent in German. She can recommend quaint little towns and amazing inns to stay at while you're honeymooning in this amazing land.

Top 5 Reasons to Book an All-Inclusive Vacation-
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Everyone needs a vacation sometimes, but booking them can be so very stressful. And then so many questions arise: Are there added fees? What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate on our trip? How are you going to get to and from the airport? Do they speak English? Do I need to exchange currency?
All-Inclusive Resorts take away a lot of the stress associated with booking a vacation. It’s all included in one price! You really can’t beat this!!

1. Alcohol & Food is Included-
Most all-inclusive packages include unlimited gourmet food and tasty drinks. You can have all the margaritas, mimosas, beers and little fruity drinks without having to worry about keeping an eye on the tab. Who wants to be surprised at the end of your trip with a HUGE bill? Your mini bar is typically fully stocked with all sorts of mixers, snacks, beer wine, etc. Even if you're not a heavy drinker, it's nice to have access to as much Diet Coke as you require to survive (most all of the cruise lines charge you for soda and alcohol which can very quickly add up). Not so with an All-Inclusive Resort!

2. No Need to Take a Taxi-
Transportation can be one of the most frustrating parts of traveling. Do you speak the language so you can navigate yourself, in a foreign country? Can you trust the cabbie who wants to take you there? What happens if you get lost en route to the lush resort or on your return to the airport? If you stay at an all-inclusive resort, transportation is usually included. In most countries, there will be a shuttle waiting for YOU when you arrive. In Jamaica for example, the airport even has lounges where visitors can grab a drink and snack and recover from their flight(s) before hitting the van to the tropical resort.

3. Safety-
All-Inclusive Resorts usually have high security to enter their complexes. You should feel safe while on their grounds. They don’t let just anyone in. Strangers won’t be roaming the resort or on the beaches peddling you like some of the cruise ports have.
Not to mention, their activities and excursions happen every day, so you don't have to worry about losing your precious deposit with some fly-by-night wave runner or “certified” scuba instructor or strange and perhaps even creepy, boat captain.

4. You Know the Exact Cost of the Vacation-
Vacations can be very tough on the budget. When you're paying for everything separately you can easily miscalculate what you'll need. It all adds up quickly. With all-inclusive packages, you know what you’ll spend even before you get there. You don't have to add that unexpected cab ride or that one night you decided to order a bottle of wine. You don’t have to add on tips and gratuities, they’ve already been included in the one price. Don't let surprises that cause you more worry when you're trying to get a tan on at the beach. Why stress when you’re on vacation! Consider the All-Inclusive Resort route!

5. It’s a Pre-Planned Vacation-
Have you ever been on a vacation where you're trying to figure out what to do and by the time you decide, you've practically wasted half the day doing so? At the cruise ports, you roam from vendor to vendor trying to negotiate pricing with people who speak in broken English. And then you feel like their price wasn’t quite the “best deal” you could have gotten. Well, I have many times. Trust me, it’s quite frustrating and a tad bit exhausting. An All-inclusive Resort lets you plan your activities before you arrive….so there’s no stressing! Everything can be scheduled before you even arrive or right when you get there. This way you don't waste precious time planning and you’ll get to fully experience ALL of your dream vacation.
 

 7 Reasons Why You Need a Travel Agent-
By Jen Campbell- Owner of Escape Destinations Travel

​Who doesn't love to travel?  If you're like me, you set a goal to travel at least one new place a year! So why get a travel agent (we preferred to be called travel consultants), since you think you may be able to do it all?

​Well once you find a good one, you enjoy better trips, and many times cheaper vacations, than you ever have before.  A good, reliable and experienced one is the way to go.

​1- They know more than you do! Wait...What? They have connections, great access to benefits you can't get, and many times can beat any published price.

​2- They provide you a safety net. They're available before, during and after your travel. You simply won't get this by booking yourself, or even by purchasing insurance. Do you want to call an 800 number when you're having problems, or would you rather just pick up the phone and talk to someone immediately and quickly who can get your concerns resolved?

​3- Their perks beat yours! They can give you instant VIP access, FREE room upgrades, Credits on Board your Ship, hard to get restaurant reservations, cutting the lines for you, private guides, and cheaper airfare (especially if booked within a packaged deal).

​4- No Extra Cost. Most top travel consultants charge a fee for their services, WE don't charge a fee. Travel consultants save you money, lots of money, and even if you were charged a fee, they more than pay for themselves.

​5- Top agents aren't spending their time advertising their business 24/7.  The best consultants are busy servicing their existing clientele. Their advice, expertise and connections are the value that sets them apart from those offering deals in the Sunday papers.  Many are specialized, and for special travel you may want to seek out this niche type travel consultant.  They have colleagues they trust and can get you the connections you need! Trying to visit a coveted destination at a peak time- they can get you there! Most of us need a generalized travel consultant who will get to know you, discover your likes and dislikes, and make appropriate suggestions. Once you've found an excellent consultant, keep them. Just like a trusty family Dr. you keep returning to time and time again.

​6- Time Saver.  Once they get to know you, they have built your trust, and will save you time! Who wants to spend hours and hours researching for the best "deals" when a simple phone call will do the trick for you? If you choose right, you will have that expertise in your back pocket.

​7- Tons of Perks!  They offer other perks you didn't know even existed. They know the GM's at the resort or cruise line. They can get you everyday room upgrades, have the manager at the resort greet you personally, have bottle of champagne available in your room, special amenities.  All these come at NO EXTRA COST to you, their clout comes from volume and expertise. They call and email those top people, to secure the best room, or location on the ship for you!

​You can spend hours and hours on the internet searching and searching for the "best deal" out there, or you can pick up the phone and call a professional travel consultant, one who's been in the business for years and knows their stuff. It's your call!

 
We LOVE to make your travel dreams comes true!

​Why am I smiling? Because cruising is TONS of FUN, it's a super FUN business and we're selling FUN!


​Feel fee to click on one of the many cruise topics we have on our website to  learn more about cruising! We're here to help you all along the way, whether you're a first time virgin cruiser or a seasoned cruiser who knows all the ropes!


​And should you decide to book your next cruise with us, know that we  always stand behind every booking. Our name, reputation and values are at the foundation of your confidence in us. You have someone taking care of every last detail for YOU! Rest easy knowing we've got ALL the details covered for your next dream vacation!

So, Why Would you Choose to Cruise in January?

We're cruising towards a new year rapidly! Consider kicking off the New Year with a Big Bang, by booking a January sailing right now. So, then you might be asking why cruise in January of all months? We have 5 super reasons for you to check out:
 
1. Cheaper Rates-
Around mid-January, the prices on cruises tend to drop & great bargains can be found!

2. Fewer Kids-
Most schools take off in between Thanksgiving and January, this means fewer parents are willing to yank their kids out of school two weeks into the new year. So, this also means the ships are quieter, and prices accentuate this fact.

3. Gift Card Season-
By booking now for early January, you have a few months to make sure everyone knows you’d love a gift card as a holiday gift! A cruise gift card will help pay for a special dinner or maybe cocktails or an excursion!

4. The Timing’s Perfect-
Avoid Old Man Winter. If you live in a place that’s cold right now or a place buried under a couple inches or feet of snow during the winter months (Yikes), that’s an even better reason to head for someplace warm!

5. Hurricane season's Over-
In January, your odds of having a tropical storm rise up to ruin your plans are far slimmer. Of course, it could still happen… but even if it does, heck, you’ll be on a ship and the captain will steer clear of it. But, the way  we see it, everything is better – even storms – when we’re at sea!


So, we're curious, have you ever cruised in January? We'd love to hear from you. Please COMMENT below.

 What Happens at the Cruise Port?

So...you've finally made it to the day you set sail! Woo-Hoo! But, now what?

My goal is to share a little bit of insight into what to expect once you arrive at your cruise port:

CRUISE TIP #1: Don't forget your passport/drivers license/birth certificate, etc. If you forget these, they won't let you board the ship!

CRUISE TIP #2: Make sure you arrive when your "appointment" time to board is. Cruise lines are beginning to become more serious about these "appointment" times, and you don't want to be stuck outside the terminal (in perhaps poor weather conditions) before it's time for you to prepare for boarding!

You park your car (get dropped off, if you're lucky) or take the shuttle to the port.  There are many porters here who will take your "checked baggage" for you, for a small tip (generally I tip $1 per bag), and they will put it on the luggage cart to go directly onto the ship, so you don't have to lug it indoors through security. I always prefer to have them take my bags (yes...I tend to over-pack and don't want to lug it around).

Once inside, you will enter through port security (do put your camera/phone away and don't take pictures).  The cruise port security is similar to an airport security checkpoint. All your bags and person will be scanned. So be sure to have ALL your documents ready (to include your identification and boarding passes). If you're allowed alcoholic beverages or drinks on the ship, you'll want to ensure these are in your carry-on and not in your checked bag.

Once you've made it through the security checkpoint, you'll get in cue (think lines like at the bank) to speak with the cruise representative who will confirm your reservation, look at your boarding passes, have you fill out luggage tags (if you've not yet done so), make sure your credit card is entered into their system (if you did not do this prior to arriving on the cruise lines website), get your photo taken for your sea-pass card, give you your sea-pass card and then you finally begin your entrance to your glorious ship! Don't worry....everyone has to go through this process, and you'll be on the ship soon enough, taking in all the sights and sounds (and awesome food and drinks)!

CRUISE TIP #3: This is a great time to ask the cruise reservation agent about any last minute upgrades on staterooms!  Many times there are FREE Upgrades or ones available at minimal cost that you can get for a "steal". Hey...it never hurts to ask!

You'll enter the cruise port embarkation area, progressing towards your ship!  You can NOW start your vacation!

BON VOYAGE, have a fabulous time!!!

My Worst Failure- Too Stressed to Vaca!

By Jen Campbell- Travel Consultant for Escape Destinations Travel

Are you feeling the stress and pressure from everyday work and life in general? If you’re at all like me, your schedule is over-packed and your time to relax and get away is far out of reach, or at least it seems.

Traveling is good for you! I find just simply planning an exciting vacation keeps my mind off things that stress me out. The anticipation of the vacation is a great mood stimulator, for me personally. Dreaming about the location and plans made (booking that trip even) can take your mind off pressing issues that cause sleeplessness, high blood pressure, and extra tension.

Why Traveling Releases Stress

For many people, vacations or simple weekend getaways are part of their plans each year. Vacations are a great way to get families and couples to spend time together, away from the everyday pressures of life. It’s also a great idea for people who enjoy traveling solo.

3 Ways That Travel Helps with Stress:

1. Fresh air, sunshine and good feelings (most times associated with taking a nice vacation) is good for our health. It can help decrease depression.

2. Playing and relaxing is a great way to release pent up tension and frustrations.

3. It offers a feeling of freedom. When you're on vacation, throw any schedules away. Sleep in, stay up late, do things when you want to. The whole point of a vacation is to get away from a daily schedule. Put those cell phones and lap tops away (and heaven forbid get off of Face Book and LinkedIn) if you want to experience total freedom from your everyday hectic life.

​The Health Benefits of Traveling:

Europeans take approximated 20+ more vacation days per year! WOW! I’m sad to report that US employees only receive approximately 14 days of vacation, on average.

Vacation time has been proven to do wonders for productivity and improve health for employees. Studies have shown that vacation is very important for the following reasons:

• Improved performance at work. If you are super tired it's hard to keep your motivation levels high.
• Improved heart health. Men and women who took less vacations showed more signs of heart attacks!
• Improved sleep. With less on your mind, and relaxation on your body, you sleep better.
  
  

If you haven't already made your vacation requests for the year at your job, do it NOW. Studies prove traveling is a good method to release stress, and can improve your overall health. In addition, it can improve productivity. Plus it's so much fun, and that's a little enjoyment that everyone needs, to reduce their stress. So go for it, reduce that stress (like I need to do) and enjoy that vaca time with family or friends…or even hit the road solo! It’s really good for you!!
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​What trip have you planned for the near future? Share with us in the comments below!