Greetings Savvy Travelers!
The official start of summer is almost here and I am sure your calendar is filling up with outings, picnics and even family reunions. Did you know destination family reunions are becoming increasingly popular? Imagine vacationing on a pristine Caribbean beach with your whole family... maybe with an ice cold cocktail in your hands. Sounds dreamy!
"I want to personally thank you for your all of your help in putting together our vacation to the Bahamas and our stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian. We had a wonderful time and got a chance to really relax. We enjoyed Sandals so much that we are already thinking of checking out Jamaica within the next year. I'll give you a call when the time comes." - R.M.
GOOD TRAVEL CENT$ FOR SAVVY TRAVELERS
Save money on vacation by reducing your foreign currency exchange fees. Withdrawing money abroad can be costly due to extra fees and transaction charges. Although using a debit card can be cheaper than a credit card, be aware that most banks will charge for each cash withdrawal plus a commission fee. Ideally you should take out larger sums of money, so you're charged these fees less frequently. Be careful with this extra money and don't keep all your cash in the same place. Also, it is a good idea to watch for
Travelex's Happy Hours. Occasionally Travelex has special promotions offering discounted rates when your order money online. This tends to be cheaper than waiting until you get to the airport or buying currency locally. Getting your currency before you arrive at the airport is also a way of securing the best rate and typically works out a lot cheaper.
"Our trip to Italy to Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast was phenomenal and you did an amazing job!" - D.N.
THIS MONTH’S TRAVEL TIP
European cities are wonderful for walking! Don’t forget to pack a really good pair of walking shoes that provide both comfort and arch support. It is NOT a good idea to bring brand new shoes unless you have had a chance to break them in prior to your trip. It also doesn’t hurt to pack some insoles and moleskin, just in case your feet start hurting! If you are travelling to a hot and humid climate, you will want to take flip-flops or sandals that provide good arch support and fit well. Sloppy fitting shoes with no arch support are going to slow you down and you will want to be comfortable to explore as much as possible!
"Our honeymoon to Tahiti was AMAZING! The St. Regis was top notch and we have already decided we are gonna come back every 10 years for our big anniversaries. I could not have asked for a better honeymoon and we thank you so much for all of your help!" – M.E.
ON LOCATION IN ST. MARTIN
As I teased last month, I just returned from the stunning Belmond La Samanna Resort in St. Martin. This beautiful and relaxing resort on the French side of the island is the epitome of luxury. I enjoyed walking and splashing in the one-mile long, gorgeous, white sand beach and I felt so relaxed during the whole vacation.
The resort features the famous “La Cave” restaurant located in their wine cellar, luxury 3 and 4 bedroom villas with private infinity pools and personal maid and concierge services. The very friendly and warm staff at the resort treated me like a princess during my stay.
I love the dual nature of the island of St. Martin. The French side of the island is quiet and relaxing and features over 600 delicious French restaurants. The Dutch side has fabulous night life with lively entertainment and casinos. You can obtain the best of both worlds when you stay at La Samanna Resort. The resort is located on the French side of the island but is a mere 10 minutes from the excitement and entertainment of the Dutch side.
BORA BORA ADVENTURES
"We had the most amazing time in Bora Bora and I wanted to thank you for all of your help. I have been to 73 countries (granted it was for work) and I have never seen anything as stunning and serene as the St. Regis Bora Bora. We did the shark and Ray lagoon tour, which you MUST recommend to anyone going. We did it our first full day and it was by far the best thing we did. We also did an ATV tour of the main island which contained tons of history, we went kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and pearl diving! The last night we were there we did a private sunset cruise with a lobster and champagne dinner for two on a private island... needless to say it was by far the most romantic thing I have ever done.
Everything was considered and taken care of and thanks to you, we moved seamlessly from plane to plane and boat to the hotel. Once we got there all we had to worry about was what "type" of fun we wanted to have! Thanks again, I will be sure to refer you to any friends traveling in the future." - J.J.
MESSAGE FROM MARGI
I am thrilled that this month Creative Travel Adventures is celebrating 17 years in business. Can you believe it? Where does the time go? Thank you so much to all my clients, friends and family that have supported me over the years. Without your support I wouldn’t be doing what I love most. Cheers!
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
Happy Travels!
Margi Arnold, CTC, Luxury Travel Advisor, President
