Informed Traveller Updates– November 23, 2011

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As this is our last newsletter of 2011, we want to wish everyone Seasons Greetings and a very Happy New Year! Thanks to all our loyal clients who have made this an exceptional year of travel. AND don’t hesitate to contact us with travel plans for 2012.

Travel Tips & Trends

Cuba continues to open up -  The Cuban government is allowing farmers to sell their products directly to tourist hotels & restaurants, eliminating the need to go though a government redistributors.  Travel from the U.S. will also continue to develop, which means now is the best time to see the authentic Cuba.  

 

* Travel Tip – Carry your out of country medical and travel insurance company, emergency phone number and policy number with you at all times.  Make sure your travel companions also know where you have this information.

 

* Travel Talk – Only 2 spots left. If you’re a solo traveller, or know of one, please come join us for our last Travel Talk meeting of the year. At the Scala Lounge (Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby), 10 am, Sunday, Dec 4. For $11.50 you get a fabulous buffet brunch and hear about some neat upcoming trips including a Turkey trip, Alaska cruise, Britain & Ireland tour, Baltic cruise, Panama Canal repositioning cruise and more. Call Susan at 604 438 1104 or email us to register.

 

* Could this be a new trend? – According to the Sydney Morning Herald, liquid, aerosol and gel restrictions for hand luggage of overseas travellers will be lifted from all Australian airports in 2013. Love to hear stories like this and maybe it will catch on. Anything to make our air travel experience more bearable.

 

* What are “Travel Warnings”? Travel Warnings appear in country travel reports issued by the Canadian government where the security of Canadians may be compromised. They provide the Government of Canada’s official advice regarding travel to a country or specific region(s) of a country. A Travel Warning may recommend that Canadians avoid “all travel” or “non-essential travel” to a country or region and, in some cases, that they leave that country or region.  The website for your reference is www.voyage.gc.ca.

 


15 Day Cuban Adventure - 7 Night Escorted Coach Tour & 7 Night All-Inclusive Package


February 4, 2012 Departure

 

$2,195CAD/person – includes all taxes- Single Supp –  $300

PRICE INCLUDES: Round trip & NON STOP air from Vancouver, all accommodations, all meals, tours, all transfers and ALL TAXES!

Highlights of this trip include: Sightseeing tours of Old Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad. PLUS one week on the spectacular Varadero Beach at a 4 Star All-Inclusive within walking distance of the town of Varadero!

 

This will be your best opportunity to see the real Cuba and enjoy all this island has to offer.

 


Say Aloha to Hawaii


 

7 Night Package to Maui Ka-anapali Beach Hotel - $1,139CAD + $110 taxes

Departs Jan 10 and 12

 

Package includes return air from Vancouver, 7 nights at 4 star accommodations, free daily Hawaiian activities, free evening entertainment in the Courtyard, free Kukui nut lei ceremony. Based on double occupancy.

 


Viva Las Vegas Packages – December


 

We have lots of air/hotel packages to this fun city, especially good pricing before Christmas. Here’s one example at a 4+ star property.

 

MGM Grand - $289 + 123 taxes/person for roundtrip air, transfers and hotel accommodations

Departs Dec 6, 13


Last Minute Sun & Sand(als) Sale


 

These are incredible prices for late November/early December if you just want to get away for a last minute getaway to the south. All packages include return air from Vancouver, transfers and

all-inclusive accommodations. Based on double occupancy. Here are just a few.

 

ManzanilloTesoro Manzanillo - $349CAD + $332 taxes/person

Departs Dec 6

 

Los CabosHola Grand Faro Luxury (4 ½ stars) $579CAD + $332 taxes/person

Departs Dec 12

 

Riviera Maya – Ocean Breeze - $849CAD + $332 taxes/person

Departs Dec 4

 

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Occidental Grand Punta Cana - $499CAD + $376 taxes/person

Departs Nov 28

 

We also have Varadero, Puerto Vallarta and more….


Panama Canal Repositioning Cruise – Holland America Westerdam


         April 25 to May 11, 2011Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver

 

There is a very small booking window for this cruise, so if interested, call ASAP. This is a great value and the prices include all taxes + port charges. Just add appx $400CAD for air to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Inside Cabin - $1,820USD (Single supp add $850)

 

Oceanview Cabin – from $2,170USD (Single supp add $1,049)

 

ITINERARY

DAY

DATE

PORT

ARRIVE

  DEPART

Wed

Apr

25

Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

5:00pm

Thu

Apr

26

At Sea

 

 

Fri

Apr

27

At Sea

 

 

Sat

Apr

28

Cartagena, Colombia

7:00am

2:00pm

Sun

Apr

29

Panama Canal (Full Transit) (Cruising)

 

 

Mon

Apr

30

Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica (Cruising)

 

 

Tue

May

1

Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

7:00am

5:00pm

Wed

May

2

Corinto, Nicaragua

9:00am

5:00pm

Thu

May

3

At Sea

 

 

Fri

May

4

At Sea

 

 

Sat

May

5

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

8:00am

5:00pm

Sun

May

6

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

8:00am

4:00pm

Mon

May

7

At Sea

 

 

Tue

May

8

San Diego, CA

7:00am

4:00pm

Wed

May

9

At Sea

 

 

Thu

May

10

At Sea

 

 

Fri

May

11

Vancouver, BC, Canada

10:00am

 


10 Night Disney Cruise ‘N Stay - $989CAD + $350 taxes


May 11 to 21, 2012

This is a tremendous offer that includes air to Los Angeles, 3 nights in an Anaheim hotel near Disneyland, and  a 7 night cruise on the Disney Wonder from L.A. back to Vancouver.

3rd & 4th child rates $669CAD

 


Just a few travel suggestions. Don’t hesitate to call us for great quotes on where you want to go – from Australia to Zambia – we have the perfect trip for you.

 


Something to Make you Smile and Ponder


We’ve decided that we’re going to stop procrastinating – tomorrow.

 

Doctors’ advice?

 

Did you hear about the man who shows up for his doctor’s appointment with a piece of celery in each ear, and a carrot in each of his nostrils?

He says to the doctor, “Doc, I’m not feeling well.”

The doctor then replies, “Perhaps you’re not eating right.”

 

 

Or there was this man who walked into the psychiatrist’s office with a zucchini up his nose, a cucumber in his left ear, and a breadstick in his right ear. He said, “What is wrong with me?
The psychiatrist replied, “You are not eating properly.”

 

 

Less? From Air New Zealand

 

The airline who brought you the naked truth about pre-flight safety instructions branches out in a commercial giving details to its "Nothing to Hide" pricing policies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=elD38pJX7iE

 

Kobe Rides with Turkish Airlines – (since he’s not playing basketball this season)

 

Kobe Bryant and a hapless airline steward trade places in this spot for Turkish Airlines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DlwJFNFbAUc

 


Feedback Corner

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Charlie & Susan Pitchford
TPI Travel, BC CPA Reg#48780
Specializing in cruises & escorted land packages

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