Grandeur Holidays: Fairytales Do Come True!
Chateau Du Guerinet
Experience the grandeur of living in a luxury French castle in the spectacular Loire Valley for your fairytale castle wedding or for a fantastic castle holiday with your friends and family. Many Chateau are situated in the center of several acres of forest with breath-taking views.
French castles were constructed for the purpose of holding uber parties and for entertaining the wealthy and elite of France and Europe. All of the must see historic Chateaux are within 15 – 40 minutes drive in the Loire Valley area.
The castles are filled with spectacular French architectural details. The grand reception rooms have five meter high ceilings and double vistas. The sunlight pours into these luxury castles through pairs of floor to ceiling windows front and back.
The Chateau Du Guerinet is furnished with antiques and modern conveniences, a large HD television in the TV salon with SKY cable service, flat screen televisions with DVD players in every suite, a 300 piece DVD collection, a three-quarter size vintage billiard table, free Wi-Fi access from all rooms, table tennis, trampoline and more! This private castle makes for a spectacular venue for weddings, birthdays, renewal of wows, family reunions and holidays. This fairytale vacation is much more affordable than you would think. Call me today for more details!
For your next Grandeur Holiday contact:
Erika Gal, Manager, Maritime Travel Burlington
Email: egal@maritimetravel.ca
Phone: (905) 639 4575
Universal Truth
If you’re vacationing in Florida, there is one theme park you don’t want to miss
Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida
“There will be payback for this,” I mutter, my innards trembling as the serpentine line inches ever closer to the launching dock of the Incredible Hulk roller coaster. “I think it’s time your father stepped up to the plate and risked something scarier than the Dr. Seuss carousel.”
Yep, good thing I have an ironclad constitution, I tell my teenage daughter sarcastically, as I prepare to hurtle, mute with terror, from zero to sixty in two seconds flat on what the brochure promises to be “a high-speed roller coaster rampage.”
We’re on our annual visit to Universal Studios in Florida and as usual, it is I, the unsung hero of unselfish motherhood, who gets to go on all the scariest rides with her thrill-seeking teen while dear old Dad attends the gentle “awesome animals” stunt show with our much-more-sensible 11-year-old.
“But I don’t want to go upside down,” he says when I gently suggest (“please, for the love of God!”) that he at least attempt the Dueling Dragons coaster in my stead. I’m at the point where I’ve been tossed around so much I’m stumbling around unsteadily like the town drunk. And I haven’t even had a drink yet.
It’s the same scene that plays out every year when we make the pilgrimage to Universal Studios in Orlando. But despite the quibbling that goes on, we all agree that Universal is our favorite Florida destination bar none.
When you get right down to it, most families choose between a Disney vacation (i.e. the Disney experience 24/7 for the entirety of the trip) or a Florida vacation with theme parks thrown into the mix. Universal Studios falls into the latter category, which works great for my family, as we like to have time to explore the other attractions of the Sunshine State (the beaches being top of the list).
Comprised of two theme parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios), plus a 30-acre entertainment complex called CityWalk, Universal offers a compact yet diverse offering of thrills and spills that appeal to all ages. There are movie sets dating back to the classics (think Lucille Ball et al), as well as family friendly rides featuring loveable (albeit crass) characters like Shrek and the Simpsons, not to mention Jaws. Throw in a bunch of flume rides, kid-friendly stunt shows, and the margaritas at Jimmy Buffet’s in CityWalk and everyone wins.
Oh, and next year? The new Harry Potter attraction opens and guess who’ll be first in line for that stomach-twisting experience.
Contact your Maritime Travel Counsellor today to book your Florida holiday!
Check out the cool theme parks before you go! www.universalorlando.com
Unlocking the secrets of a Panama Canal Transit Cruise
Pat Matheson, Maritime Travel Counsellor
Jump aboard with me as we set sail for 14 wonderful days cruising along the Pacific Coast, stopping at wonderful ports to the canal transit and on to the Caribbean Sea.
On September 25th we sailed from Los Angeles aboard the Norwegian Pearl, a beautiful ship with all the amenities one could ask for. The Pearl has a great casual atmosphere with excellent entertainment, great food and freestyle dining. No need for stuffy suits or designer dresses which leaves plenty of room in your luggage for all of the treasures you’ll find while shopping along the ports of call.
With stops in Cabos San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Guatemala and Costa Rica there were countless options for city tours, nature tours and cliff diving. My favorite ports were Guatemala and Costa Rica because of their natural beauty. And the handcraft market in Guatemala was to die for! Our final stop was in Cartagena, Colombia where we toured the town’s beautiful architecture and history.
Panama Canal
Transiting the canal, everyone was up bright and early as we prepared to start our passage into this incredible 51-mile waterway. Comprised of a complex system of locks that lift ships 85-ft. through the isthmus the Panama Canal is among the greatest endeavors of mankind. The construction of the Canal stands as an awe-inspiring achievement. Built over 10 years it had to overcome monumental engineering problems such as digging through the Continental Divide, constructing the largest earth dam ever built up, designing and building the most massive canal locks and constructing the largest gates ever swung in addition to solving environmental problems of enormous proportions.
As we begin our voyage a small row boat slides up to the bow and guide lines are secured to the ship and the trains that guide you through the locks one on each side. Then the ship is gently pulled and locked into position and the huge gates are closed. Water rushes in to fill the lock and raise the ship. As I look down I see the ship fits snuggly into the lock and there is no room to spare. Once the lock fills and the ship is raised the gates at the other end open and you are guided to the next lock. As the ship goes through the series of locks, the first set raises the ship up to man made Gatun Lake and then the ship is lowered by the second set of locks to reach the Caribbean Sea. As you pass through you can see ships in front, beside and behind you and you can watch as each passes through the series of stages along the Canal.
The scenery through the canal is very beautiful, green and lush with the rainforest all around you. I wasn’t expecting to be so mesmerized by the beauty of this incredible land. The Panama Canal Transit Cruise is a “must do” voyage at least once in your lifetime.
Interested in booking a Panama Canal Transit Cruise or another dream holiday? Call me today!
Pat Matheson
Maritime Travel Counsellor
Highland Square Mall
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Phone: (902) 752-2073
E-Mail: pmatheson@maritimetravel.ca
Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong River
In 2000, UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay as the World Heritage Site for its geological and geomorphological values. Situated in the North East of Vietnam as a part of the Tonkin Gulf, Ha Long Bay covers a total area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands of various sizes tectonically aged 250 to 280 million years. The site is strewn with stone islands and famous grottoes. Ha Long Bay looks like a huge vivid painting that embraces stone islands and breath-taking caves. It boasts such typical eco-systems as mangroves, corals, lagoons and tropical forests, and thousands of various animals and plants, including species that are unique to Ha Long Bay.
Where the Old and New World Collide
Hanoi is the social, cultural, and economic center of Vietnam. The city of Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1042), the Temple of Literature (built in 1070) and over 600 pagodas.
Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon ) is the commercial and economic center of Vietnam. Stately pagodas stand beside gleaming skyscrapers, trendy sidewalk cafes and centuries-old traditional market stalls. Once known as the “ Paris of the East’
If Cambodia is a treasure trove, its jewel box is Angkor. UNESCO has designated a particularly rich concentration of temples near the city Siem Reap as the Angkor Archaeological Park. This World Heritage Site is known for its spectacular temple remnants and rebuilt structures. The most legendary is Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.
Often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. Cruising along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors.
Our cruise ship is the brand-new 92 passenger MS La Marguerite. It was specifically built to provide the most luxurious and immersive experience on South East Asia’s legendary Mekong River. With a design that combines colonial elegance with local artifacts and regional Mekong touches , MS La Marguerite is the perfect setting for an unforgettable river odyssey.
Join us on this incredible holiday. Contact Erika Gal, Branch Manager, at egal@maritimetravel.ca .
A Florida Home is where the Holiday is
Throw in some cheap vino and you’re good to go
“Just $6.49!” my husband bellowed, brandishing a bottle of Yellowtail Shiraz. “That’s less than half what we pay at home, so I got four of them!”
“That’s why I love coming here every year,” I responded, loading the spoils into the back of our massive, gleaming-white SUV rental. “It’s all about the bargain booze.”
We were on Day Two, of our fifth-annual family vacation in Orlando, Florida; our third in a holiday home community. And the most surprising thing of all? We were all getting along.
Yes, Florida holiday home vacations are designed for cynics like myself who believe that “family vacation” is an oxymoron. I mean, my fondest family vacation memories are of the five of us lovingly crammed together in a single hotel room. Not!
More than anything, what these holiday homes offer is space and privacy. Most of these beautifully appointed homes have at least three (and sometimes as many as seven) graciously spaced bedrooms, meaning your self-absorbed, moody teenager is barely within shouting distance of her sister and the grandparents are happily ensconced in their own private wing (where they can’t count the glasses of Yellowtail being imbibed). Throw in a private pool, an en suite in every bedroom, some well-priced libations and a husband who likes to cook, and there’s no way you can’t enjoy yourself.
For some of us, holiday homes also offer a chance to live high on the hog for a week or more. My kids have no trouble adapting to the lifestyle of the rich and famous, sipping iced lemonade aboard their floaties and channel-surfing on one of the six (I counted) TVs sprinkled through the house. They actually don’t have a TV in their bedroom at home (we’re too mean for that), so believe it or not, it’s a real treat for them.
At the heart of the holiday home is our favorite gathering place – the kitchen. Fully equipped with all the bells and whistles (notably a garborator, which someone inevitably puts out of commission within the first 24 hours), the kitchen is where we pay lip service to the Canada Food Guide. And hey, it sure beats getting your three squares at TGI Friday’s or another Florida health food chain.
Not to mention the money you’ll have left over for the wine sale at the local Publix. Yellowtail, anyone?
Ask your Maritime Travel Counsellor about Maritime Travel’s own Florida Holiday Home program with Holiday Escapes. Hurry! Maritime Travel’s Holiday Home sale ends Oct. 31, 2009.
Remarkable Journeys: River Cruising with AMA Waterways
Exclusive “Trip of a Lifetime”
Erika Gal, Branch Manager
River cruising is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. It is the most convenient way to travel through several countries and rivers of Europe. Join us for an exciting and unique cruise tour in Jun 2010 sailing historical Europe and the legendary Danube on the luxurious AMA Waterways MS Amacello.
Unpack once then enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Europe from your deluxe stateroom with a French balcony. The all inclusive feature of our river cruise makes it the most popular and economical way to see several countries.
Some of the perks of AMA Waterways MS Amacello include:
- Shore excursions
- Gourmet dining with free-flowing wine, beer, soda, bottled water, espresso and cappuccino
- Complimentary bathrobes and slippers
- White-on-white plush bedding
- An infotainment system including a flat screen TV and Internet access in each stateroom
- Nightly on-board entertainment
- Complimentary bicycles to explore the sights on your own
- On-board crew fluent in the English language
- A local professional cruise director cruise to accompany the cruise
Our group will board in Nuremberg Germany and stop to explore the following ports:
- Regensburg, Germany
- Passau, Germany
- Salzburg, Austria
- Linz, Austria
- Melk, Austria
- Vienna, Austria
- Budapest, Hungary
Extend your cruise with our two night pre-cruise stay in Prague, Czech Republic and/or our seven night optional Aqua Revitalize Spa package at the very famous Hotel Margitsziget Spa in Budapest, Hungary. The spa package includes five treatments, seven night superior accommodations, buffet breakfast and dinner daily and two full day and half day tours of Budapest and vicinity and all local transfers.
For more information on this holiday please contact our escort Erika Gal, Maritime Travel Branch Manager, at egal@maritimetravel.ca
Reserve Your Place in the Sun
Take advantage of the Early Booking Bonus – Now On!
Picture it…Halifax, Nova Scotia , March 2010…you are finishing up the second round of shoveling from the previous nights record snowfall. As you make your way back to your home, you suddenly slip on a patch of ice on the front steps. Finally, you make it inside and turn on the television to hear the weatherman report the temperature has dropped to minus 20. Your frigid body agrees. This is winter in Canada.
Wouldn’t you rather picture this…Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March 2010…you roll out of your king size bed and make your way to the large picture window to draw the curtains and welcome the glorious sight of the Caribbean sun. You step out onto your oceanfront patio to smell the warm, crisp ocean air. You pause for a moment to relish this incredible feeling of bliss. Immediately you think to yourself “Breakfast.” The hot new swimsuit and cover up you purchased special for this trip is an easy clothing choice. As you dress you begin to plan your day. First, enjoy the all you can eat buffet breakfast. Then read and lounge on the white sandy beach. Next, take a dip in the serene, turquoise waters of the Dominican. And perhaps share a special cocktail with a special someone. Wow this is going to be a difficult day.
It can happen. You can have a luxurious 7 or even 14 day holiday in the sunny Caribbean. Winter getaways are the best way to escape and beat the winter blues.
Just think of it as an affordable alternative to therapy.
At Maritime Travel we’re here to give you your much deserved sun time. Book now and take advantage of Maritime Travel’s Early Booking Bonus. With our Best Price, Better Service policy your Maritime Travel Counsellor will help you find your place in the sun at the best possible price.
Plus you’ll receive $100 off per couple,
two free drawstring knapsacks and a free matching beach towel.
Call your Maritime Travel Counsellor today to book your winter getaway and ask about our early booking bonus!
Take a Holiday of a Lifetime – Visit the Galapagos Islands
By: Erika Gal, Branch Manager, Maritime Travel, Hamilton, Ontario
Erika Gal
The saying, The world is a book and if you do not travel you have read only one page is true. I have worked in travel for over 25 years. Throughout that time I have traveled to all continents and sailed with over 50 cruises. I love travelling and exploring new countries and culture. Sometimes I go back to the same destination twice to appreciate it even more.
Now as a travel counselor with Maritime Travel in Hamilton, Ontario I am researching and designing travel packages to exotic destinations. I plan dream holidays or what I like to call “Holidays of a Lifetime”. The holidays include 4-5 star hotels, historical and adventure tours and the opportunity to explore the local culture. Almost all tours and meals are pre-planned to compliment the itinerary so we can enjoy every minute of our stay.
My next “Holiday of a Lifetime” will be in March 2010 and will take us to Machu Picchu, Peru, Lake Titicaca and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. This holiday is designed for a small group of 20 passengers. Trip highlights include a fabulous train ride and overnight stay in “The Lost City of the Incas” or Machu Picchu, Peru.
Machu Picchu
Discovered in 1911, the stone city of Machu Picchu is an incredible structure even by modern standards. Each stone fits together impressively to create an exquisite structure that is unsurpassed. From here we will enjoy the Orient Express train ride to Puno at Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake on earth. Lake Titicaca, once a holy water, today forms the natural border between Bolivia and Peru. Here we will take a half day boat tour to the floating islands of Uros. The Uros are one of the most primitive pre-Inca people of Peru. They lived exclusively on artificial islands that they knitted on the shallow waters of the lake. Today they continue many of their ancestral customs.
Next, expert naturalist guides will offer an environmentally friendly and educational cruise focused on the natural history of the Galapagos Islands. As we cruise through the waters of the Galapagos we will see dolphins, whales and if we’re lucky a hammerhead shark! Isla Salvador is a great place to see colonies of marine iguanas and we’ll also learn about the Galapagos penguins and sea lions. Bird watching is one of the most amazing experiences on the islands. As most birds here are exclusive to the Galapagos. This truly is a land like no other and will provide many very unique photo opportunities!
You’ll pinch yourself just to see if you’re dreaming when you join on this magical journey!
For more information on this program and to join the group please e-mail the group escort Erika Gal at egal@maritimetravel.ca
Thinking Outside the Seven-day Vacation Box
When we told our friends that we were stealing away to Jamaica for a romantic rendezvous they congratulated us. When we said it was for three nights, they said we were crazy.
Turns out, that little jaunt was of the most enjoyable trips we had ever taken together. In a short space of time we managed to enjoy the anticipation and excitement of hopping on a plane to the sunny south. We also got to swan around a five-star resort and sail on a royal yacht. In short, all the benefits of longer, more expensive holidays.
Like many of our friends, who are all hysterically juggling the demands of busy jobs, regimented children and needy pets (like our black lab, Chomper ), we have often found salvation in the weekend getaway.
These are trips or mini-vacations that can pack a punch as pleasurable as a traditional one-week holiday – and make you a better person in the process.
In my experience, the less you think you have time for this kind of luxury, the more you really need it. This is the argument I use to justify our bi-annual getaways. “Just think,” I plead to my skeptical husband. “We can have actual conversations, rather than our daily information exchanges. We might even discover that we enjoy each other’s company.” The fact that we’re still married is testament enough.
The good news for all you harried individuals is that the travel industry has really hopped on board the mini-getaway bandwagon and is thinking outside the seven-day-vacation box. Looking to mark a special anniversary? How about a weekend in Paris or Venice to keep the bloom on the romance. A few steamy days in New York or Toronto can equally do wonders for a jaded relationship. Whether you want to actually run a marathon (there’s one in practically every major city in the world) or just enjoy a weekend marathon of retail therapy, there’s a customizable package just for you. Just ask your travel agent.
Best of all, weekend getaways allow you to travel on a budget without missing any important tasks like (God forbid) the kids’ activities. Bon voyage!
Call your Maritime Travel agent today and visit www.maritimetravel.ca for the latest in weekend getaways!
Exploring Southern Tuscany
Sommelier and Taste of Tuscany Host, Mark DeWolf
After almost ten tours to Italy, I’ve come to have a sense of the real Tuscany. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Florence, Siena and Pisa the small towns and rolling countryside of Southern Tuscany offers a taste of what I think is the true Tuscany. Life moves at a different pace here amongst the chamomile, vine and poppy decorated hills south of Siena. In the villages of Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza there is a sense, despite their fame, that little has changed. Elderly couples walk the same cobbled streets they have for decades while shop owners sell the same wares they have been for generations. Here are some quick tips for visiting Southern Tuscany’s famous little towns.
Montalcino – Tuscany’s most famous wine town is surprisingly sleepy given its illustrious name in the wine world. This is thanks in part to Banfi; a winery some twenty minutes outside the town towards the coast that sucks in North American tourists in search of the comfort of an Americanized wine experience. For those willing to travel the road less travelled take a drive towards Sant’Antimo. On this winding road you’ll find Biondi Santi; the first winery to produce Brunello di Montalcino. Don’t expect to just drop in, as Italian wineries unlike those in North America are rarely open to the public. Biondi Santi conducts tours by reservation. On our tour we were greeted by Franco Biondi Santi himself, who at the youthful age of 87 continues in his role as chief winemaker at the property – connections has its privileges. On the same road, is Frattoria Barbi which is more easily accessible than Biondi Santi and shares almost as long a history. A tour through its cellars is well worth taking. In the town itself, head to the fortress at the top of the hill. Here you can sample on a wide range of Brunello and few euro extra you can climb to the top of the fortress for some spectacular views of the Tuscan countryside far below. Montalcino has a number of dining options but the best is Boccon Divino where the view, wine list and cuisine are nothing less than spectacular. Be sure to ask host Marianna to recommend one of her husband Roberto’s wines. Roberto Cipresso is one of Montalcino’s most sought after winemakers.
Chianti Vineyard
Montepulciano
– This quintessential hilltop town is well worth a couple hour stroll but be sure to bring your good walking shoes as it is impossible to avoid steep climbs here. Wine shops abound in this town famous for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; the more approachable and fragrant cousin of Brunello. While wine abounds here, the greatest treasure doesn’t come in liquid form. Bottega del Rame on Via dell’Opio nel Corso is home to Tuscany’s best kitchen wares. Cesare Mazzetti, the 72 year old owner of the shop uses 150 year old tools to craft one of a kind copper pots and other kitchen ware that Saveur magazine described as “As good as gold”. When in Tuscany, I don’t save room in my luggage for wine. I save it for Mr. Mazzetti’s copper pots – as a sommelier, that is a strong statement. If you have a car and are inclined to travel, head outside of town to Avignonesi winery on the outskirts of the Montepulciano appellation. Here within the vine covered walls is one of the regions oldest and most respected wineries. Be sure to arrange a tour of their Vin Santo cellar and if your pocket book allows, buy one for a celebratory meal as Avignonesi’s dessert wines are world renowned.
Pienza – take one whiff of Pienza and there is no question that this is Tuscany’s cheese capital. From fresh to aged, peppered and walnut and chestnut leaf wrapped versions, it is impossible to get away from cheese in this town. When it tastes as good as it does, why would you want to? Don’t plan on a long visit to Pienza as there is essentially a single street with all the shops and many of the restaurants. I recommend using Pienza as convenient mid-point of the day. Plan on arriving around 12:00, touring the town for an hour and then heading for a lunch at one of the many trattoria. Most shops in Southern Tuscany close between 1:00 and 3:00 so visiting the town and then having lunch at 1:00 will allow you to ensure you arrive at the next town when the shops have reopened. Be sure to head behind the church on the main street for some wonderful pictures of the Italian countryside.
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