Travel Tip St Martin St Maarten Island Caribbean

Here's a great travel tip to tuck away for your next cruise to St Martin Island in the Caribbean. If you are looking for free WiFi go the Greenhouse restaurant on the Dutch side of the island or St Maarten. 

Have a couple of cold Carib beers while you are there!

Celebrity Millinium - Great Cruise to Cozumel and Isla Roatan

We just returned from a great cruise aboard the Celebrity Millennium.  Our ports of call were Isla Roatan and Cozumel.

Millennium next to the huge Oasis

The Celebrity Millennium will be undergoing an upgrade shortly  It is currently a millennium class ship. There are for ships in this class. 

Celebrity Cruise Line says; These four award-winning ships are visually stunning and superbly designed. Marvel at the expansive atrium that spans 11 decks. Soak in the sophisticated ambiance resplendent with teak and glass accents. Ride the glass elevator along the outside of the ship. Take in endless ocean views. Retreat to one of the most luxurious spa facilities at sea. Every detail is designed to capture the romantic exhilaration of travel.

It will be upgraded to a Solstice class. Celebrity describes this class as; The most stylish ships at sea. Each, a destination unto itself, offers more unique experiences, more restaurants, and an entirely new approach to stateroom design. Currently, there are three in this class, with our newest poised to premiere in 2012.

Having been to Isla Roatan before we wanted to delve into the countryside and island life more this time around.  My wife, Sally, discovered a private tour company called Christopher Tours. Our one-on-one guide Charley met us just outside the gates at the cruise dock.  He was great! We told him what we wanted to experience and he custom designed our day for us.  We learned a lot about the political structure and history of Roatan as well as family life.

 Beautiful panoramic mountaintop views Roatan

We had asked Charley to take us to his favorite lunch spot before the tour was over.  We ended up at a great little restaurant.  His cousin was the chef.  We ate our huge bowls of excellent fish chowder right on the water.  Our waiter gave us even more insight into the political structure of the two governors of the island.  Great day, excellent company.

We do love Cozumel.  After the hurricane hit a few years ago they have really recovered.  It is really turning into a great cruise destination.  The diving and snorkeling are exceptional.  We always, always go to our dear friend Veronica's Cozumel Spa for the best massage treatments in the Caribbean.

 Our dear friend Veronica at Cozumel Spa

Veronica was kind enough to take us to the beach for the day.  Sally gave her daughter Dany a swimming lesson while they snorkeled looking for "big fish".  It was a wonderful day.  We can't wait to go back to this beautiful island and it's warm people. 

Dany and Sally looking for "Big Fish"

Punta Cana

Well I finally made it to the Dominican Republic. Our stay was in Punta Cana at the beautiful Gran Bahia Principe Esmeralda.

Apple Vacations sponsored our trip. We were joined by 110 of our fellow travel agents.  This is a great all-inclusive resort with nice beaches. I especially enjoyed all of the mature palm groves on the beaches.

One of our agents had suggested a company that supported a local grade school. She contacted them and arranged for each agent to bring a book bag with school supplies

 Later on Sally and I along with two other of our agents booked an excursion through this company, Jungle Outback Safari, to see more of the island. Part of the excursion was to stop in for a visit to the school they support.

We were allowed to donate more school supplies or candy but never money. They do not want to teach the children to beg. They told us many of these children walk five days a week 2-4 miles up rough country roads to get to school. There are two sessions per day. It's not unusual for the first group of kids to have siblings that attend the second session. They may even share uniforms.

If the parents are unemployed the children can not get a free education. There's a high unemployment rate here. Groups like Outback Safari step in to sponsor schools so these children can go to school. They also sponsor a clinic/hospital so that people in this area can have medical care.

This excursion was one of the most rewarding parts of our trip.

Loved this B&B and already planning return stay!

Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast in Amish Country

Our review from Trip Advisor

Reviewed August 14, 2011

 

This beautiful bed & breakfast in the heart of Ohio's Amish country is a must stay! Off the beaten path, yet close to shopping and many wonderful Amish style restaurants.

Each room has it's own theme.

You will really enjoy the evening social hour around the traditional nightly "campfire". It was great fun to get to know guests from other parts of the country. Inn Keepers Herb & Carol kept the conversation lively. They know every road and buggy trail there is in Millersburg and surrounding area. They really are experts on the area and local culture.

You will love this place!

Room Tip: Google Garden Gate Get Away Millersburg Ohio to learn about the different room themes.

Top Ten Summer Beaches

With summer in full swing take a look at the viewers choices for the top 10 beaches for the summer!

• Lanikai Beach - Kailua, Oahu
• Horseshoe Bay Beach - Southampton, Bermuda (if you've never seen pink sand this is a must!)
• Rosemary Beach - Panama City Beach, FL
• Rialto Beach - Olympic National Park, WA
• Crane Beach - Ispwich, MA
• Orient Beach - St Maarten/St Martin
• Gold Rock Beach - Grand Bahama Island
• Smuggler's Cove - Tortola, British Virgin Island
• Paradise Beach - Cozumel, Mexico 
• Hapuna Beach - Kamuela, Hawaii

Summer is the time for beaches and many of these beaches are perfect even in "not so summer months"!

Trip Advisor Post on Cedar Brook in Seattle

Cedarbrook Lodge

 

“While in Seattle area a must experience, we will be back!”

Reviewed July 28, 2011 

 

1 person found this review helpful

 

Fantastic property with top notch staff. All about service and will NOT accept tips! Full service FREE breakfast with wait staff and omelet chef. Superb rooms with common areas in each themed building. They stock the common area kitchens with fresh sandwiches, bagels, fruit, soft drinks, juices, bottled water, coffee and yogurts so that you can "raid the refrigerator" after hours if you like. How fun is that?

There is a great little bar with a billiard table, reading area, social area in front of a floor to ceiling fireplace. If you need a business retreat this place is it.... over the top conference facilities.
You want to stay here. Watch hotels.com for good rates ;-) 

http://www.cedarbrooklodge.com/

Punta Cana on the Horizon

Duty calls! Sally and I have been informed we will be going to Punta Cana for 7 days in October 2011.

Very exciting times! More details to follow!