IRELAND SEPTEMBER 2010

It is hard to believe that it has now been over 3 months since I got back from a fabulous trip to Ireland. I had the great privilege of being one of 12 travel consultants from across Canada to participate in a familiarization trip to Ireland hosted by Tourism Ireland with our Toronto representative Helen Cole and Failte Ireland. After an overnight flight from Toronto we arrived in Dublin on Sunday morning September 12, 2011 and were greeted by Ellen Redmond from Failte Ireland, Will Collins our Tour Director for the week and Steve our bus driver. We boarded our 29 seat bus which with only 15 of us made it very comfortable as everyone could stretch out. After a quick drive through Dublin passing Temple Bar, Guinness Breweries, O’Connell St. we were on the highway going west towards Galway.



Clonmacnoise 6th century



Our first stop that morning was Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge,

Athlone, Co Offaly a 6th century monastic site, with three high

crosses, and the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches and two
round towers. The site was right on the Shannon river and it had

stunning views.



Whispering Arch

 One of the attractions there is the
whispering arch in the cathedral shown in picture on the left. If a person whispered quietly on one side of the arch another person on the other side could hear it clearly. It was tried by some of our group and it actually worked. They say that was how lovers whispered secrets to each other without any one
hearing them.

Paddy Burkes Pub

By lunchtime we had arrived in the village of Clarenbridge just south of Galway where they were celebrating the last day of their annual Oyster Festival. While getting my fill of oysters at Paddy Burkes Pub established in 1850 I had my first of many Guinness on this trip. My body was telling me it is still only 7:00 a.m. and this is breakfast……can’t be an Irish breakfast…..oysters & Guinness. Or can it?

Old Galway

After lunch it was off to Galway to check into our first hotel in Ireland the G Hotel http://www.theghotel.ie/  This is a 5 star luxury hotel with very modern designs with great views out to the Atlantic. And the rooms and hotel were indeed luxurious. While not located in Galway it is within walking distance to the historical center of Galway. Shortly after check in you had just enough time to wash your face and brush your teeth before we embarked on a walking tour of old Galway center. We started at Eyre Square with the flags of the 14 tribes that originally controlled the Galway area. The square is at the edge of the pedestrian old city that is has many shops and pubs and in the early evening was full of shoppers and tourists. The walk took us through the old city past the 14th century St. Nicholas Church where legend has it Christopher Columbus prayed there in 1477 and  viewed the maps drawn by St. Brendan before he embarked on his journey to the New World. We passed by Lynch’s Castle which is now a Bank of Ireland branch, listened to the music coming from the numerous pubs along the way and came to the banks of River Carrib where a plaque had been erected to commemorate Christopher Columbus visit to Galway. It was a nice leisurely walk along the pathways of the river up to the Cathedral and then through the back streets to the main square. What is a visit to the old city if you don’t also enjoy a pint of cold Guinness in a pub by the square where we met some of the colorful locals. We then headed back to the hotel where we enjoyed a wonderful full course supper. After a nightcap of Guinness, it was off to bed as we were getting up early to continue our journey.

Day 2 started with a hearty Irish Breakfast of eggs, toast, white and black blood pudding and bacon with a strong cup of coffee. By 9 a.m. we were on the bus and on our way to Rathbaun Farm, Ardrahan,m Co Galway a picturesque working farm with thatched roof buildings were we were given a demonstration of Irish farming practices with sheep herding and fleecing. We were then treated to a mid morning tea with scones.

Gregans Castle

Back on the bus we were off to do a site inspection of Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare www.gregans.ie/. A luxurious
verdant amid the rugged unspoilt beauty of The Burren.


The Burren

 The Burren. Where there are no trees to hang a man. Where there is not enough water to drown him. And if you finally succeeded in killing him, it's too rocky to bury him. The landscape of the Burren is special. The limestone is split and weathered. Everywhere are traces of Megalithic Tombs, ringforts, souterrains, cairns, holy wells and stonerows. The landscape in some ways reminded me of the areas around Sudbury Ontario.

Cliffs of Moher

Our next stop was at the Aillwee Caves and Cheese maker and Falconry in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare - Ireland's premier show cave.  The cave has more that 3500 fee of passages.  After lunch we visited the Cheese factory and Falconry exhibition.  Back on the bus it was off to visit the Cliffs of Moher.  The cliffs are 214 metres high at their highest point.  When we arrived at the Cliffs the wind had picked up dramatically and it was raining however that did not dampen our spirits and off we went climbing to the edge of the cliffs.  We then checked into our hotel Vaughans Lodge, Lahinch Co Clare http://www.vaughanlodge.ie/ .  We had just enough time to drop our luggage in our rooms and it was off to Cullinans Restaurant & Guesthouse, Doolin, Co. Clare for supper.  After a great supper we walked over to Gus O'Connors Pub http://www.gusoconnorsdoolin.com/ for a few pints of Guiness and listen to the local entertainers singing and playing traditional Irish music. 



Doonbeg Golf Club

 Day 3 again started with a Traditional Irish Breakfast and we were off to a site inspection at Doonbeg Golf Club, Doonbeg, Co. Clare http://www.doonbeggolfclub.com/ one of the best golf courses in Ireland.  Although new it still had the buildings had the old manor feel to them.  The course was designed by Greg Norman and a wing of 1 and 2 bedroom suites is named after him.  For the serious golfer this is a must stop. 




King Johns Castle

 
 

Bunratty Castle

Back on the bus we were off to the City of Limerick to visit King Johns Castle situated in the heart of Medieval Limerick on the River Shannon.  After experiencing eight hundred years of history in Limerick City we departed  for Bunratty to have lunch at Durty Nelly's Pub located right next to the 15th century Bunratty Castle.  After lunch we visited the Bunratty Fok Park which is a recreated village with school, thatched roof houses and shops. 



Our next stop was the Burren Perfumery where the plants from the Burren are use to produce a high quality range of natural aromatherpay products and fragrances.  The flower & herb gardens were wonderful to walk through.   It was back to our hotel for supper a few pints of Guiness in the hotel pub and overnight stay.

Dromoland Castle

Day 4 again you guessed.....started with a hearty Irish Breakfast.  It was off to Dromoland Castle http://www.dromoland.ie/ Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare.  The entire day was spent meeting with Irish trade suppliers in a setup I would liken to speed dating.  There were 70 travel agents from the U.S. and Canada at the travel expo, with each one of us having our own small table.  Each supplier had 5 minutes to pitch their product to us and then had to move on to the next travel agent.  I met with 65 suppliers during the course of the day with only a short lunch break.  That evening there was a gala supper in the main banquet hall and great Irish entertainment and of course the customary pints of Guiness.  Overnight at the Dromoland castle in a luxury suite that not only had huge beds but also a living area with full couch and chairs. 

Kenmare

Golf foursome

Day 4.......you know the routine.......Irish Breakfast and we were off to a site visit of the 5 star luxurious Europe Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry www.theeurope.com/ .  This is one of the largest spa hotels in Ireland.  The hotel is located right on the water and we had lunch there in the dining room enjoying the stunning views.  After lunch we were off to do some afternoon activities...... Some chose to shop in Kenmare while others went horseback riding or ATV riding through the countryside.  I chose to try my hand at golfing and it was off to the Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club, Templenoe, Killarney www.ringofkerrygolf.com/ .  It had been over 20 years since I last golfed but I am proud to say I only lost 2 balls.  The vistas on the golf course were just outstanding overlooking the water. 



With the golf  completed we checked in to the 5 star Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare Co Kerry.  This hotel is on 300 acres of magical woodlands and cascading waterfalls on the edge of Kenmare Bay.  http://www.sheenfallslodge.ie/



Sheen Falls view from room



Packies Restaurant

After our check in the hotel hosted pre drinks and canapes for our group and we were off to Packies Restaurant in downtonwn Kenmare for dinner .  This is a nice family run little restaurant that is a favourite for returning visitors.  The food was excellent.  After dinner we crossed the road to the Atlantic Bar for some pints of Guiness and listened to Irish music performed by local entertainers. 

Italian Garden







Bantry House



Day 5 checked out of the Sheen Falls Lodge and headed for Glengariff Pier, Co Cork for Garnish Island.  We boarded a small boat and on the crossing to Garnish Island viewed the numerous seals on the rocks.  The entire island is a collection of plants gathered from around the world and set in beautiful gardens the most renowed on being the Italian garden.  It is an easy and very enjoyable walk through all the different gardens on the island.  It was now time to go to our next stop Bantry House, Bantry, Co Cork.  This is a stately home owned and still lived in by Egerton Shelswell-White and their family, 9th generation descendants of the Earls of Bantry.  The House and the gardens  are breathtaking. It was interesting that after the descendant of the Earl gave us a brief history of the house he jumped on a riding lawnmower and started cutting the lawns surrounding the estate.  The estate now also has bed and breakfast rooms for rent in part of the house.  After lunch at the Bantry House we drove to the City of Cork and checked into the Maryborough Hotel and Spa http://www.maryborough.com/ .  That evening the hotel hosted a Murder Mystery dinner for our group which was just hilarious.  

Blarney Castle

Day 6 - after breakfast (Irish?)...... we headed to Blarney Castle.  There is far more to this site than just the Castle as it has it's own little village, the Blarney Mills, hotel and shopping concourse, beautiful gardens with displays from ancient times like Witches stone, staircase & kitchen,  Dolmen megalithic tombs and Druid stones.  Of course the Castle is the main draw where many visitors kiss the Blarney Stone. I opted to pass on this tradition as I was not about to lay on my back and arch backwards holding metal bars and look down from the top of the Castle walls down to the ground while an Irishman held me by the hips so that I don't crash to the ground.  Some in our group did kiss the Blarney Stone.  I did do some shopping at the Blarney Woollens and purchased some excellent Irish Wool sweaters for the grandchildren and a woollen shawl for my wife.  

Lunch at English Market Cork

It was back to the City of Cork were we did a brief bus tour of the City and had lunch at the Farmgate English Market in the centre of the city.  We had some free time to walk around old section of Cork and it was off to our last stop in Ireland the town of Cashel.    



Cashel Palace Hotel








Cecked into the Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Co Tipperary.  http://www.cashel-palace.ie/  This is an exquisite Queen Anne style house, built in 1730.  It was also once the home of the Guiness family and it is said that the hops used in the brew of Guiness were actually originally grown in the gardens at the back of the property.  Just behind the hotel is the Rock of Cashel a spectacular group of medieval buildings set on a outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century cast and the restored Hall of the Vicars.  After we had settled in at the hotel we took a leisurely walk through the gardens in the back of the hotel up the the Rock of Cashel.  The historical site is amazing.  After touring the site we walked back down into the town of Cashel and visited an old Pub for some much needed Guiness.  We had dinner that night in town and walked back to the hotel where we again stopped in at the hotel Pub for some Guiness.  The bartender had been at this hote for 40 years and had a story to tell about the famous people that have stayed there. On the wall in the Pub was a sign with the names of all the famous people that have stayed at the hotel such as President Ford, Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy, Omar Sharif along with many famous actors and actresses, bishops and Presidents. Overnight at the Cashel Palace in my room with a beautiful fireplace and the windows facing the Rock of Cashel.

Day 7 - Yes you guessed it a hearty traditional Irish Breakfast.  It was off to the airport in Dublin to board our flights back to Canada.  Of course we had our group picture take at the Cashel Palace Hotel as we were ready to board our bus. The week went by very quickly and we certainly experienced a lot.  Ireland is a great destination that I certainly will go back to.  One of the things I did learn is that the incidence of celiac disease is high in Ireland and the majority of restaurants are set up to deal with gluten free meals. The trip back to Canada was good other than the multitude of security checks we had to go through at Heathrow.

3 final pictures to finish my blog............our bus, pub in cashel and the last one is self evident.........

If you want to learn more about Ireland or need assistance in putting an itinerary together for you give me a call or email me. 

    



















Cruise Line Travel Insurance Can Leave You Stranded. Buy The Right Thing

By Milan Korcok, Editor TravelinsuranceFile

Planning a cruise out of Florida, Texas or California this coming winter? Sounds good. But before you sign on, make sure you have appropriate travel insurance in place, and don’t count on the insurance sold by cruise lines to give you the coverage you need. It’s not good enough. Read on.

Unlike the multi-million dollar single-trip or annual multi-trip coverage sold to most Canadian snowbirds, the travel insurance policies sold by cruise lines are paltry, full of exclusions and might just leave you stranded on some small Caribbean island to find you own way home—at your own expense, if you have a sudden medical emergency. Read them carefully before you even consider them.

Many policies sold by the major lines like Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, and a dozen others, will limit coverage for medical emergencies to $25,000 or less (not nearly enough), will only cover you until they can drop you at the nearest available port hospital—wherever that may be, will not pay for air repatriation to your home, and will not pay hospitals or doctors in these ports of call directly. By contrast, the standard out-of-country travel insurance policies available to Canadians will provide the same coverage to cruisers as they do to landside travellers– between $1 and $5 million for medical emergencies, air repatriation to a hospital at home, direct payments to hospitals and doctors, and day-by-day or hour-by-hour case management of your medical emergency. Also, your benefits will be directly integrated with your government health insurance plan—something foreign insurers are not set up to do.

Cruise lines are in the business of creating “dream vacations” at the lowest possible cost. It’s a highly competitive business and cruise companies will shave off any dollar they can to make their package price look better than their competitor’s. Selling you good travel insurance that only increases your out- of-pocket cost doesn’t fit that profile. Some cruise lines or agents will offer travel insurance products independently of their cruise package and this provides better coverage. But Canadians need to have travel insurance that is coordinated with their provincial health plans, and plans offered by U.S. companies working with American travel agents, or by cruise lines selling in-house products, won’t do that.

I know of several cases where cruise passengers with medical emergencies were offloaded at ports in the Caribbean and were then left to deal with local hospitals demanding payment, and with arranging either commercial flights or air ambulances to get to home after their emergencies were treated—all at their own expense and with precious little help from the cruise line. This is no job for amateurs.

Fortunately, if you’re already in the U.S. on your winter vacation, and considering a cruise-break, the snowbird insurance you already have, will do the job for you, at no additional cost.

Reprinted with the permission of
Milan Korcok

Editor & Publisher
http://www.travelinsurancefile.com/

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADIAN PASSPORTS COMING

Passport Canada is implementing changes to its birth certificate requirements for general passport applications. As of Feb. 1, 2011 for Canadians born in Canada, Passport Canada will only accept birth certificates issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency to support a general or a child’s passport application, entitled “Birth certificate,” “Certificate of birth” or “Certificat de naissance” or a “Certificate of citizenship” issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Some exceptions apply for certain provinces and territories.

More information is available online at:

http://www.passportcanada.gc.ca/

Tips for staying healthy on your next flight!

I just recently returned from a phenomenal trip to Ireland. The 3 flights back and travel time amounted to over 20 hours. It was a tiring experience and it reminded me of this article which I hope you will find useful. I am in the process of putting together for my blog on my trip to Ireland. Watch for it.

Tips for staying healthy on your next flight!

Ever get off a flight and start to feel ill almost immediately?
Many fliers compain of headache, fatigue, fever or breathing problems. Some of these symptoms may be due to the low barometric pressure, oxygen content and humidity in the air cabin. When combined with jet lag, sleep deprivation, travel stress, (security concerns, long lines, missed flights, delayed and cancelled flights), as well as cramped seating, motion sickness and discomfort from vibration and engine noise, we have ample reason to feel “ill.” And let’s not forget that engine fumes can, on occasion, seep into the cabin.

Of course there’s also the germs… in all their filthy, immune system-attacking microbial nastiness. I may not be able to see them, but they exist alright – in all those hands touching the tray tables, grabbing my seat as they go past, spewing from mouths and nostrils in uncovered coughs and sneezes.

Ready to give up flying? Here’s why you don’t need to:
You certainly can get sick on a plane, but you’ll probably never know whether you caught that cold or flu at 35,000 feet, in the airport before you took off, or somewhere else on your travels. There are, however, some easy things you can do to make sure you stay healthy on your next flight.

Wash Your Hands Frequently: With soap and hot water, just like Mom told you. Waterless hand sanitizer is another effective option.

Stay Active: Stand up, walk the aisles, do some stretches. It is especially important to move around a bit on really long flights as you can develop leg clots (deep vein thrombosis).

Blow The Germs Away: Some experts believe the air vents above your head can blow germs away from you. Others don’t. Your choice.

Get Some Rest: Keeping your immune system strong through rest could be your greatest defense. I have a friend who travels frequently and complains he always gets sick on the plane ride home. I point out that he was likely dancing on the lobby piano at 3 am before a 6 am flight. He still thinks it’s the plane.

Wipe Up Your Worries: Alcohol-based sanitary wipes can be used to clean armrests and tray tables. If nothing else, you’ll feel better.

Ne Touche Pas: Keep your fingers away from your face, unless you’ve just washed your hands. That means mouth, nose and eyes – common places where infections can enter your body.

Stay Hydrated: Dry mucous membranes can raise the risk of infection, and dehydration can also bring on a host of other maladies, not to mention accentuating the effects jet lag. Drink lots of water and avoid too much caffeine or alcohol, which can further dehydrate your body.

AMALFI COAST ITALY IN 7 DAYS.....................

For years as a travel consultant I have been advising clients that if they want to go to Europe, because of the long flight there and back, they should look at a minimum of 2 weeks. Well in June of last year my perception of that was thrown completely out the window. I had an opportunity to fly to Rome from Toronto but the return flight was in 7 days, which only allowed for only 6 nights in Italy. The price on the air was so great I thought to myself I just can’t pass this up. Just then my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday, which was just coming up, and I said, “let’s fly to Rome and go to the Amalfi coast”. Her first question was for how long and I said “6 nights”………her reaction was predictable “your nuts”. She then reminded me that with her Celiac Disease that requires a very strict Gluten free diet this could be a problem. After a quick Internet search we were able to find a number of restaurants in Sorrento area that had gluten free menus including pizza. That clinched it, so in very short order I put together an itinerary that included a car rental with 1 night stay in Rome and 5 nights in Sorrento.

Ten days later, on my birthday June 7th, we were at the Toronto Airport waiting to board our overnight flight with Air Transat to Rome.

We arrived at Rome Fiumicino airport at 2:30 p.m. on June 8th and picked up our Lancia air-conditioned automatic car at the airport. Getting out of the airport was very easy. As the drive to Sorrento could take up to 4 hours my wife suggested that we would spend the 1st night in Rome. Having driven in Italy before I knew that I did not want to stay in the city center and besides a visit to Rome would be for another time. So, I located a hotel very close to the Ring road – the Cristoforo Colombo Hotel and nice 4 star hotel that also included breakfast. Even though the hotel was just off the Ring road it was not easy to find and I had my first experience at driving in crazy Rome traffic….. but we survived and eventually found the hotel. It was a very nice with a swimming pool and next to a very large shopping mall that we ended up walking to. The restaurant at the hotel indicated that they could provide my wife with a gluten free meal so we stayed there rather than trying to find another restaurant in the city. The ones we found on the internet were quite a distance from our hotel and after our driving experience on arrival common sense dictated we stay at the hotel and not attempt driving the Rome streets at night. The hotel restaurant did their best and my wife’s meal although gluten free was not the best tasting…….. but again, we survived.

Next morning at breakfast my wife had her own gluten free cereal that she always brings with her and with the fruit etc. everything worked out great. After breakfast we checked out and headed on the Ring road, which would take us to the A1 Autostrada to Naples. Although it was only the beginning of June the weather was fantastic with temperatures up to 29 degrees Celsius and sunny. The A1 to Naples is a toll highway with the cost from Rome to Naples being around 12 euros one-way. The Autostrada is a joy to drive on. The scenery along the highway is stunning and the service centers are huge and conveniently located every 50 kilometers. As was my luck I missed the cut off for Sorrento, however we were able to turn around at the next exit and get back on track. From the Autostrada the highway becomes 2 lanes that almost immediately takes you through a 2 km tunnel through the mountain but once you were out on the other side …….wow what a view. There was the Bay of Naples with the city Naples to the right and to the left the highway hugging the cliffs and winding down the coast towards Sorrento. Coming from the darkened tunnel, which we had been driving through what seemed like 15 minutes and then having this vista open up before you was just breathtaking. The drive down the coast was also amazing with every bend in the road opening up to another gorgeous sight with hotels seemingly built into the cliffs and the beaches way down below. It was a little tough driving to Sorrento not because of the traffic, which was fairly heavy, but that you didn’t want to miss anything. Also, one of the main modes of transportation in this area are motorcycles and scooters who you would think have a death wish the way they weaved in an out of traffic and passed even on a blind curve. So you always had to watch out for them. As we approached Sorrento high in the cliffs and the last bend you could see the town way below and as there was an area you could pull off we did and got some beautiful pictures of course not realizing at that time that our hotel was actually right below us.

We were staying at the Hotel Alimuri in an area called Meta Sorrento just before Sorrento. View of Hotel from cliffs at left.  I found that my Map quest printout of the area was of little help so we stopped at a Tourist information stand to ask directions. Turns out we were right at the corner of the road that takes you into the hotel. We started driving into Meta Sorrento going down small narrow streets following the signs that are almost at every corner indicating where the hotels are when we pass the Pharmacy that we had searched out on the internet that sells Schar gluten free products. Talk about luck, it was on the way to the hotel. The streets in this town are so narrow in places that there is stoplights that allow traffic to alternate down that section. Although cars obeyed the traffic lights that cannot be said about the motorcycles and scooter drivers that seemed to just go in and out wherever they pleased. As we finally went through a tunnel we spotted the hotel on the left side of the road facing the Bay of Naples. As the entrance to the hotel is right on the road at first glance both my wife and I thought, OK what are we getting into….. We were pleasantly surprised as the hotel was beautiful with most of the rooms facing out on the Bay with a small private beach just below and a pool. For more info you can check out their website www.alimuri.com .

After checking in, our next task was finding a restaurant that would provide gluten free menu. As it turns out we were very close to the Ristorante Tico Tico. When we arrived at the restaurant we were taken to the 2nd floor and were seated at a table by an open window overlooking the Bay of Naples……..talk about romantic… When my wife provided her information about Celiac…..the answer was no problem…..you can have any pizza gluten free and there were other items on the menu that were also gluten free. The pizzas arrived and they were huge and very reasonably priced …they were 5 euros each about $ 8 Cdn. They were also delicious. My wife’s first gluten free dining experience in Sorrento was a success with beautiful location and very good food. The other restaurant we found was actually in the center of Sorrento located at the Hotel Eden – Ristorante Pizzeria Villa Rubinacci. The same thing happened there when my wife provided her celiac information. The response again “No Problem”…….and it wasn’t. This restaurant was by far the best when it came to gluten free meals…..the pizza was excellent and again very reasonably priced. My wife was in heaven…..as she had not had a true taste of pizza for a long time. As you can see from the picture the location was beautiful in a garden like setting outside covered in bugonvillias.  Because of this we went to Sorrento every night for supper.

Over the 5 days we drove through the Amalfi area stopping in beautiful little towns such as Positano. The experience of driving along the roads that hug the cliffs is hard to put into words. As you come out of every curve in the road you come on a beautiful vista better than the last one. The nice thing is that all along the road you can pull off in areas where you can stop, get out and take your pictures. One day we drove to Pompeii, which was only 26 km away to visit this archeological wonder. Again a bit of a challenge to find but with the help of locals we found it. We always timed out excursions leaving right after breakfast at the hotel, included in our stay, so that we were back in the early afternoon and out on the beach. The hotel had a private area of the public beach with parasols, lounge chairs and provided towels. We also had lots of time for shopping.

Again, driving in Sorrento initially seems like a challenge but after a day or so you get used to the driving aggressively like the Italians and watching out for all the scooters and motorcycles weaving through the traffic. Parking on the streets is not free so you have to make sure you find a pay machine, which could be a half block away and place the ticket on your car dashboard.

Our last day in Sorrento was a sad one as we had such a wonderful experience here. On the drive back up the coast to the Autostrada we had an opportunity to again enjoy the beautiful view of Naples and the coastline. Getting back to the airport was relatively easy other than the slight delay we had because of a traffic jam on the Ring Road. We dropped the car off at the airport and headed to the departure lounge. Our flight was on time and it was back to Toronto.

What can I say about Sorrento and Amalfi coast but “Magnifico”. Can it be done in 7 days? The answer is evident, not only can it be done but the experience is one that you will never forget. I would be more than happy to arrange a trip for you similar to the one I did. Just email me.

Travel to Cuba becoming more complicated...... again........

For years Cuba has been a popular and low priced destination for Canadians.  Now things are changing........besides the departure tax of approximately $ 25 U.S. imposed now,  as of May 1, 2010 you will be required to purchase travel health insurance from the Cuban government on entry to Cuba or show proof of insurance from an insurance company recognized by the Cuban government.........The price for this insurance is still not know........see article below

Cuba Imposes Insurance for Visitors


www.havanatimes.org

March 7, 2010


By Circles Robinson

Cuba received over 2.4 million visitors in 2009.

HAVANA TIMES, March 7 — Without saying what it costs nor what it covers, the Cuban government announced it would obligate tourists to buy health insurance in order to visit the island.

The same measure applies for Cubans living abroad and returning home for visits and for foreigners living in the country.

The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 16 and published ten days later in the Official Gazette.

According to the measure that takes effect on May 1, 2010, the government says medical insurance policies purchased abroad must be from insurance companies recognized in Cuba.

It also states that sales points will be established at points of entrance to the country for purchase from Cuban companies.

Diplomatic personnel and representatives of foreign organizations are exempt from mandatory insurance.

The Ministry of Finance and Prices is the entity empowered by the Council of Ministers to set the price of the insurance polices to be sold by Cuban companies.

Below is a Havana Times translation of the above mentioned measure:

ISSN 1682-7511

FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Information in this extraordinary

Official Gazette issue (No. 011 of February 26, 2010)

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Agreement

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

______

The Secretary of the Council of Ministers

CERTIFIES

Whereas the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, making use of the powers granted it by Article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic, adopted on February 16, 2010, the following:

AGREEMENT

FIRST: For entry into the country, all travelers, foreigners and Cuban overseas residents are required to possess a travel insurance policy, covering medical expenses, issued by an insurance entity recognized in Cuba.

At points of entry into the country, the sale of these policies will be ensured by Cuban insurance entities.

SECOND: During their stay in the country, foreigners with temporary residence in Cuba are required to have a medical insurance policy issued by a Cuban or foreign insurance entity recognized in Cuba.

THIRD: Diplomatic personnel and representatives of international organizations accredited in Cuba shall be excluded from application of the previous regulation.

FOURTH: The Minister of Finances and Prices shall be made responsible for approving the forms of charging for medical services and evaluating insurance policies contracted through Cuban insurance entities, applicable to foreign as well as Cuban overseas residents and temporary foreign residents.

FIFTH: The ministers of Public Health and Tourism are authorized, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, to dictate the norms relative to the reorganization of medical care for travelers and foreigners, as well as for Cuban overseas residents and temporary foreign residents.

SIXTH: The present Agreement shall go into effect on May 1, 2010.

In order to provide copies of this agreement to the members of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers and to all others for which it is pertinent, the present certification is being dispatched from the Palace of the Revolution on February 16, 2010.

10 Travel Tips for March Break

March Break is just around the corner and many families will be heading for a well-deserved break down south. And if you’re one of them, here are a few tips.


1) If you’ll be the only parent traveling with your kids, depending on your destination, you may need a notarized consent form from your spouse. This is the case for the US, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic: for other countries ask your travel consultant who booked your trip.

2) Important items for your hand luggage: everyone’s I.D., prescription drugs, immunization records, and valuables including jewelry. If your child is prone to colds or allergies, bring some of your preferred medicine as you’ll be familiar with the brand and more comfortable giving it to your child.

3) If you’ll be getting to your hotel/resort before 3:00 pm, which is typical check-in time, take a change of clothes and perhaps a bathing suit in your carry on luggage so you can instantly start your holiday!

4) Airport food can be expensive and selection can be poor, so pack some snacks from home. Remember that airlines have stopped serving peanuts in flight and are doing their best to make their aircraft “peanut-free”, so please don’t bring any as snacks.

5) Leave extra time at the airport. Parking lots, check-in services and even the coffee shops will be operating at maximum capacity.

6) How to avoid in-flight boredom? Be prepared with “are we there yet” type activity books. Dollar stores are an excellent place to pack a bag full of activities and the children can have this bag as their own carry on.

7) Before leaving home, consider buying “one use” cameras for your kids. Be sure to look for the ones with a built in flash. Virtually indestructible, they give even little kids the chance to record their own impressions of the holiday. You may be surprised at the quality of the results!

8) When traveling, always have a recent photo of your kids in your wallet, just in case someone strays. In big resorts, it’s easy to get separated, so take a minute and have a family discussion as to where to go if that happens. Stay put, go to the lobby, go to the room, etc. Make it simple to remember but keep reminding everyone. If the kids have their own room at the resort, come up with a password you’ll use when knocking on their door so they don’t open it to strangers.

9) Why not give each child a day or a half-day to call the shots and decide what the whole family will do. Everyone gets treated fairly, it prevents arguments, and the “I'm bored!” syndrome is not so likely to set in.

10) Encourage each child to make a trip diary to include not only impressions but also autographs of memorable people (a tour guide, your waiter), coins, drawings and so on. In a country where English is not the main language, try to learn a new word every day and add it to the diary.

Enjoy your vacation………..you all deserve it!

Passport requirements for Mexico

For those that thought that they could delay getting a passport as they were still able to travel to Mexico with only government issued ID..........think again.

Valid Passport Required for Entry into Mexico.

The Mexican government has announced that American and Canadian passengers flying into Mexico will be required to show a valid passport as of March 1, 2010.  This measure harmonizes Mexican border control policy with that of Canada and the US under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

For travel outside of Canada a valid passport is now required everywhere including the United States.  Canadians can access more information and application forms online at Foreign Affairs - Govenment of Canada website  http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/passport_passeport-eng.asp .  or contact your travel consultant.   This website also provides excellent information on up to date travel advisories and travel information throughout the world.