Showing posts with label Weddings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weddings. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Atlanta, Weddings, Cruises and more!

Weekend in Atlanta

I just returned from another training seminar with Dani Johnson in Atlanta and we had a blast! While in Atlanta we stayed at the Red Roof Inn, located only 20 minutes from the airport and in the heart of downtown Atlanta. We were only a few blocks away from the actual seminar location, which was at the Sheraton Atlanta. We visited the Mall at Peachtree Center several times for lunch. We also visited the 24-hour Metro Cafe' Diner which invites it’s customers in with fun music, a bar and karaoke. On our last night we ordered food from Pittypat’s Porch, a place filled with Southern comfort, from the décor to the menu and place settings, to the hearty meals they serve. The walls are full of American antiques while the tables are adorned with heavy pewter serviceware. The menus are printed on fans, a staple of the south. And I have to tell you, the crispy fried chicken served with homemade garlic mashed potatoes and gravy just filled me up with delight!

Although our stay was short, everything we needed to sightsee was close by. The Atlanta Civic Center, which is currently running the King Tut Exhibit through May 2009, and Georgia Aquarium are both less than a mile away. The World of Coca-Cola Museum, only a mile away, offers guests the world’s largest collection of Coke memorabilia, tasting experience of over 60 different products, a 4-D Theater (3D movie with moving seats), as well as the world-famous Coca-Cola® Polar Bear and much more.

For more information visit the official Atlanta destination portal at http://www.atlanta.net/.

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Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

I was finally able to listen to the training seminar on Ask Me... About Destination Weddings. They work with travel professionals such as myself or directly with the bride & groom to handle every detail of the wedding arrangements, from deciding on the destination, the hotel and the amenities to be included. Destinations include the Bahamas, Mexico, Costa Rica, and a multitude of islands in the Caribbean, as well as a handful of private island collections for the ultimate in privacy and comfort. Every destination wedding they plan is customized to the needs and wants of the bride & groom – ensuring every couple receives the individual attention they truly deserve. So stay tuned on more information about this company...

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Save Money on Airfare: Cruise from New York!

No need to fly, just cruise! 8-day cruises from New York onboard the Carnival Miracle offer two exciting options for 2009: visit San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk or Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Interior rooms start at $689, balcony rooms from $1009. Contact me for sailing dates. Group rates available.

Speaking of Carnival… Have you visited www.vastvoyages.com lately? Carnival Cruises is offering spectacular deals on gift certificates through the end of the year. Certificates start at $418 for two guests on 3 and 4 day cruises. Most include all government taxes, fees and gratuities and all are upgradeable. Sale ends December 31, 2008 so check it out now.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Pesky Technical Difficulties; Cool NYC

Ok, so unfortunately I was unable to "attend" the online seminar for Ask Me About Destination Wedding last Friday. My computer at work (my day job) is not up-to-date so I couldn't log in. However, I will try later tonight when I get home and hopefully I will have better luck.

Cool NYC
Even though I'm originally from New York and I work here, I'm usually not out-and-about in the city. A friend told me about the new TKTS Discount Booth
in Times Square and I drove past it last night on my way to Penn Station. What an incredible new upgrade! The line to buy theater tickets wrapped around the booth and the red steps are picture perfect for tourist and residents alike. Check out their article on the grand opening festivities which took place on October 16, 2008. Hmmm... I wonder if they'll allow small weddings to take place here?

Monday, October 13, 2008

New Site Enhancements

The folks at YTB just keep it coming! New vendors have been added to VastVoyages.com to make your travel experience more enjoyable. Of course the lasting favorites are still there like YTB Flowers and the Honeymoon Registry. But check out the Branson, Missouri link on our homepage, which takes you to their official vacation guide. Road Trip? YES! Even with the high gas prices, it’s still cheaper than flying. Check out the Road Trip box under the “Cars” tab. Click on the “Extras” tab and find a link to Your Travel Wear, a great site for travel clothing and gear as well as gift ideas and wedding wear.

Speaking of weddings, this Friday I will be joining an online training seminar with the people from Ask Me About Destination Weddings. I’m hoping to establish myself as a honeymoon/destination wedding consultant so I’ll keep you posted on that.

Also, I finally uploaded our Myrtle Beach pictures so check out the slideshow!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Last Days of Summer: A Weekend in Myrtle Beach

It’s the end of summer and my husband and I wanted to at least head to a beach to soak in the last days of “fun in the sun.” So to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary, we headed for a four-day weekend to Myrtle Beach. We were lucky enough to have a relative with a vacation/retirement home out there and it was in the perfect location: nearly 10-15 minutes from everything—airport, amusement parks, area beaches, shopping and dining.

An early afternoon flight landed us at Myrtle Bach International Airport at about 12:30. We headed to the Hertz counter for our rental and were surprised by a free upgrade since all the compact cars were taken. I had done my research earlier in the week to see what we could do out there. Ready for lunch, we drove to Broadway at the Beach, a 350 acre entertainment complex which features theaters, 20 restaurants, over 100 specialty shops, 15 attractions, 11 nightclubs, and 3 hotels, all surrounding a 23-acre lake. To say the least, this site was breathtaking! We ate at Joe’s Crab Shack on an outdoor deck facing the man-made lake. Then we made our way around the entire complex, stopping at a fudge shop to sample a few of their 30+ flavors, and various stores to peruse their products. With something to do for every family member, it’s a good bet to stop here if you’re in town.

Later that evening we dined at Latitude 22. Located at Surfside Beach, south of Myrtle Beach, this trendy restaurant/bar offers a Caribbean-fare menu with the likes of conch fritters, Calypso crab cakes, and “Shrimp Rasta Pasta.” It was a Thursday night and although there were people walking the pier, not much was happening as far as nightlife goes.

Friday, we headed to Myrtle Beach’s newest attraction Hard Rock Park. Opened on June 2, 2008, this 55-acre theme park boasts more than 50 attractions, including live shows and entertainment, roller-coasters, children’s play areas, restaurants and retail stores. The park is divided into six areas: All Access Entry Plaza, Rock & Roll Heaven, British Invasion, Lost in the 70's, Born in the USA, and Cool Country. I’m not one for roller-coasters but Hard Rock’s signature ride, Led Zeppelin, the Ride sends you 15 stories high, at 65 mph and loops six times, all set to Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Now that will get your heart racing! My favorite attraction was the Garage Jam, which had hundreds of foam balls and all kinds of tools to play with them. It’s great for children but even better for adults to let out some steam as my husband and I had fun shooting at each other. Unfortunately, due to scaled back travel plans and theme park attendance flat or down this year, the park is now closed for the season “to allow management to focus on restructuring efforts” and intends to re-open in the spring of 2009. Just outside of the park is Medieval Times for dinner and a fun show for the whole family.

Saturday turned out to be a bit cloudy and not so warm, so our plans for the beach had to be modified. We walked Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach’s main strip with plenty of places to eat, shop and play. Here’ you’ll find Family Kingdom, the only seaside amusement park and water park. Although it’s closed for the season, there’s never an admission charge so you can pay by the ride or you can buy an all-day wristband.

Also on Ocean Boulevard are several Ripley's attractions: Ripley's Haunted Adventure®, Ripley's Believe It or Not!®, The Ripley's® Moving Theater™, and Ripley’s® Super Fun Zone®, a hi-tech arcade. (Ripley's® Aquarium is located at Broadway at the Beach.)

The Myrtle Beach area, called the "seaside golf capital of the world" features over 100 golf courses. It also claims to be the "miniature golf capital of the world," owing to its 50 miniature golf courses. And we saw a bunch of them driving down Kings Highway. Choose from a host of themes, from man-eating dinosaurs and lava-spewing volcanoes to high seas adventures aboard pirate ships.

Barefoot Landing, located along the Intracoastal Waterway, is another entertainment complex but with the feel of a quaint village. The mood is more relaxed here. We dined at the Crab House where the prices were reasonable and the food was plenty. Barefoot plays host to a few entertainment venues such as the Alabama Theatre and House of Blues. You can also find big name stores or small boutiques to shop to your hearts content!

We had a pleasant and relaxing time and most importantly we had time to re-connect, which is key to keeping a marriage together, in my opinion. Check out the slide show in a few days for pictures of our trip.

For more information on the Myrtle Beach area and attractions visit the official site of the Myrtle Beach, SC CVB or the Myrtle Beach general info site.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Stretching Your Dollar; Plus a Princess' Romance

In my May 27th blog, “More “Bang” for Your Buck,” I posted a link on where to find information about traveling to inexpensive destinations. Well, Money magazines’ May issue also lists seven destinations around the world where the American dollar is really worth the trip. From Buenos Aires to Vietnam, visit The Best Places to Vacation.

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Cruise Spotlight: Princess Cruise Lines

Remember “The Love Boat?” The show, set aboard the Pacific Princess (formerly a Princess ship) featured passengers and crew having romantic and funny adventures every week. Suffice it to say, Princess is known as a leader in all things related to love. So Princess has added another notch by creating an online home for its Department of Romance. Here, relationship experts, such as Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Lisa Light - founder of DestinationBride.com, and even Gavin “Captain Stubing” MacLeod offer advice, trends and tips on how to add a little spark to your relationship. One of my favorite tips, provided by Trish McDermott, romance and dating expert for engage.com and formerly of match.com, is tip number 4: Flirt with each other at a party just as if you were single. It shows your partner you’re still attracted to them as you did when you first met. So check out Princess’ Department of Romance to help plan your wedding, a special getaway at sea or just an intimate evening at home.

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Here are some specials only available at VastVoyages.com:

El Dorado Seaside Suites, Cancun, Mexico - 4 Diamonds Promotion
Free guaranteed upgrade; $50 Chichen Itza Tour Credit; $50 Spa Credit; $50 Romance Credit towards beachfront gourmet dinner; bottle of champagne on arrival; minimum 4-nt. stay required
Book by July 9, 2008
Travel by Aug. 31, 2008

Comfort Suites, Turks & Caicos - Summer Sale
Rates start at $45.00 pp/nt; Children 16 & under stay Free; Also 7th Night Free + more!
Book by July 15, 2008
Travel by Sept. 30, 2008

Sunshine Suites Resort, Cayman Islands - Summer Package Special
Rates start at $84.38 pp/nt; Children 17 & under stay Free
Book by July 28, 2008
Travel by July 31, 2008

Visit
VastVoyages.com to book these and other fabulous getaways! Also don’t forget to sign up on our homepage to receive our Travel Deals and Steals sent to your inbox every week.

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