Totem Travel Blog

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How cool is this?  Totem Travel’s blog has been named Best Honeymoon Blog.  We were recogized for our destination reviews, pictures, and extensive information and photos of exotic locations.  Read all about it at WeddingBlogAwards.com/TotemTravel

Also let us know if there is a particular destination you’d like is to review.  Our staff has traveled over five continents, visited all the popular honeymoon destinations. and taken a zillion pictures.  It’s just that we earn our living helping our clients travel and that cuts into the time we have for for blogging and Picasa. 

Ah well, the travails of a well traveled travel agent!

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The Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, San Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, where else can you find all of this?  Why of course it’s none other than Paris, France and since I just returned from a study tour where I became a Certified France Agent, I thought I’d tell you a bit about it.
 
Paris has long been known as the city of light, a great place to be in the spring time, a city of fashion, a city of art and a very easy city to sightsee and navigate in.

I love the night life, like Moulin Rouge, or strolling down the Champs Elysees to see the Arc lit up at night.
Daytime brings museums like the Musee de Cluny, the Louvre, the Pompidou Center or Musee Picasso, take your pick as there is a museum for every taste and any kind of art.

Don’t forget the Churches and Cathedrals, there are those mentioned above as well as others such as St. Sulpice made more famous by author Dan Browns ‘Da Vinci Code.’
 
For a break in your day, why not stop at Angelina’s for world famous hot chocolate and a fabulous French pastry, or the stop into the Welcome Café for some Crepes Sucre or Crème Brulée and a Café au lait, both are across from the Tulleries along the Rue De Rivoli.
 
And lastly, don’t forget to stroll along the Left Bank and just enjoy the sights of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

I’ll return to Paris again as there are always new things to see and in the meantime, please call if you need help with your travel plans to France, because you get “Personalized help from a travel expert at no extra cost” when you call Totem Travel.

Jennefer~

I just came back from a trip to the Bahamas, where I stayed at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort. We had a great time and were treated like royalty.

We arrived to beautiful 80 degree weather with blue skies. Once at the resort we were taken to our rooms almost immediately. Our room looked out over the ocean and I could see the cruise ships coming and going from downtown Nassau, and from the right vantage point I could even see Atlantis Paradise Island in the distance.

We checked in, changed in the room and then relaxed by the pool for an hour or so before we grabbed some dinner at the buffet before crashing. As usual, coming form the west coast always does a number on you when you head to east.

We awoke to sun and sand and as per my usual Sandals routine I slipped into my swim suit and flip flops and headed for the pool. We made a quick stop for some breakfast and then spent the day strolling between the pool and our lounge chairs, books in hand. That evening we had dinner at the Crystal Room restaurant, it was wonderful food and I fully recommend it.

After that the days are pretty much the same except that the next day was a beach day with dinner at the Baccarat French restaurant. The next day it rained for most of the day so we read books and watched movies and played games in the Royal Theatre with lots of others escaping the rain and had our dinner at the Italian restaurant, Casanovas.

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful and we had a choice to make…beach or pool or town? We headed into Nassau for some duty free shopping; electronics, jewelry and liquor and to see what we could find at the straw market such as purses, shells, beaded bracelets, t-shirts and more. We finished our day with dinner on the off-shore restaurant called Bombay’s.

I forgot to mention the English Pub with authentic furniture imported from Scotland and England, the wedding gazebo where couple after couple had their free weddings, the off-shore island we’re you can spend the day swimming, lounging in the sun or relaxing in the Zen Garden as well as have dinner at night, hot tubs, fitness room, aqua aerobics classes, snorkel and scuba boats and more.

That’s a Sandals stay, everything’s included, so many activities I couldn’t do them all, I was lucky enough to hit every restaurant and that was the only work I did the whole week!

I have had so many requests for an all-inclusive resort in Hawaii.  Finally, I can say that there is a very nice resort offering a near all-inclusive program. Beverages are not included, but all of your meals are!   About time, don’t you think!

Kona Village is a very unique vacation property.  Barefoot luxury and relaxation is the focus but fun and activities are abundant as well! 

There are no TVs, telephones, or radios in any of the “Hales”.  Hales are private (or semi-private in the case of the duplex hale) bungalows, much like the Bures of Fiji.  Each hale includes bathrobes and slippers, hair dryers, iron and ironing boards, in-room safe, 100% Kona Coffee plus a selection of refrigerated soft drinks, juices and bottle water. Hales are not air-conditioned but cooled by tropical breezes and ceiling fans.

Not planning to be at the resort for lunch?  No problem, box lunches or a lunch voucher for select island restaurants are included.  Tuesday night, don’t miss the Paniolo night BBQ!  Great grilled steaks, fabulous salads and side dishes, as well as many native Hawaiian dishes….lomi lomi salmon, poi, bread pudding and coconut flan.  On Wednesday and Friday night is the Luau.  On Monday the focus is on Hawaii’s sacred traditions and history.  You will enjoy as the stories are told in movement and drumbeat.  On Wednesday, the story of the time when Polynesians settled in the islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Hawaii.  The highlights of this show are the Samoan fire knife dancers, New Zealand’s Maori songs and the hip-shaking Tahitian dances! 
 Kona Village also has a full service spa offering massages, facials, and other spa services.  Unfortunately, these services are not included in the all-inclusive program.  However there are many activities that are included - tennis, snorkeling, kayaking, boogie board surfing, to name a few.  Arts and crafts are also a big hit at the resor and Kona Village offers a children’s program for kids age 6-12 years old.  It operates daily except for the month of May and September.   They even offer historical, botanical and petroglyph tours for those that want to learn something on their vacation!. 

I hope you’ll contact me to help plan your vacation at Kona Village.  You can reach me at 425-821-4100, 800-321-7907 or sandi@totemtravel.com.  Aloha!

The ball dropped in Time Square so that means the wedding & honeymoon planning season has officially begun!  Totem Travel will be at the Bellevue wedding show Janaury 19 & 20 and the Lynnwood wedding show January 26 & 27.  Please see www.BridesClub.com for details and directions.

Immediately following the shows we begin our 2008 series of honeymoon and vacation planning nights.

Our January 30 event will highlight 17 Sandals & Beaches all inclusive resorts located on 5 beautiful Caribbean islands.  The evening begins at 6p with registration and refreshments followed by a slide show.  We’ll have three Sandals Specialists on hand to answer all your questions and couples wishing to make reservations will receive a $250 resort credit or discount off  qualifying honeymoons in addition to the lowest sale prices available. 

On February 4 we’ll turn our attention to the lovely islands of Tahiti including Bora Bora, Moorea, Tikehau, Manihi, Huahine and more.  And on February 6 our Europe Specialist will cover the most popular countries and itineraries including Italy, France, Spain, England, Scotland and Germany. 

Please RSVP to linda@totemtravel.com or call (425) 821-4100 or (800) 321-7907 for more information.  We hope to meet you at one of our upcoming events, but until then Happy New Year and Happy Travels throughout 2008!

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I made my first trip to the South Pacific many years ago and have returned several times visiting all the most popular islands and resorts.   On a recent trip to Tahiti, I was fortunate to spend a few days on Manihi in the Tuamotu Islands.

Manihi is an atoll, meaning that the highest point of elevation is only a few feet above sea level and the island itself is a coral reef. For an avid scuba diver and snorkeler like myself, atoll is another word for heaven. 

To reach Manihi you must first fly to Papeete, which is approximately 8 1/2 hours non stop from LAX.  If possible,  I recommend an overnight flight for several reasons - sleeping makes the flight seem shorter, you can get to Manihi without an overnight stay in Papeete, and an early arrival means more time on vacation.

The one hour interisland flight is your first opportunity to sightsee, so make sure you take a window seat!  You’ll be flying over dozens of tiny islets and reefs and see every shade of blue imaginable.  When you arrive on Manihi a golf cart will whisk you and your luggage from the airport to the Pearl Resort, the only accommodations on the island.  Hint - after the daily flight the airport is deserted and becomes a bicycle path, so don’t miss your chance to do wheelies on the runway!

Your first view of the resort will probably be the horizon swimming pool which disappears into the turquiose lagoon beyond.  An adjacent open air bar offers refreshments and shade and the peaked roof restaurant  has seating indoors and out.  Manihi accommodations come in 4 flavors - beach & premium beach bungalows, overwater and premium overwater bungalows.  I loved both beach and overwater accomodations for different reasons but would skip the standard beach bungalows which have a limited view. 

The premium beach bungalows are very spacious and have open bathrooms (the toilet is enclosed), louvered windows to let the tropical breezes blow through, a big porch and beautiful views of the lagoon.  The overwater bungalows are lovely and offer Tahitian t.v. (viewing windows in the floor) and stairs leading from the deck into the water.  Premium overwater bungalows have A/C. 

Snorkel gear is complementary for all as are kayaks, outrigger canoes and mini golf.   The snorkeling and scuba diving is fantastic with water temperatures between 79-84 degrees and schools of barracuda, turtles, deep-water sharks and dolphins year round.  November through April, you can dive with Hammerhead sharks or Eagle Rays and July through October you’ll see Manta Rays and Grey Sharks.

Other popular acitvities include a trip to the Black Pearl Farm, a motu picnic, reading in a hammock or biking about the island.  Manihi is not for those wishing a fast pace.  But for those seeking privacy, beauty and romance, it just might be paradise!

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As an Australia Specialist I’ve had the opportunity to explore many parts of the land Down Under, but with a country the size of the U.S. there is always more to see!
 
My personal travels in Australia have included Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Heron Island, the Whitsundays and of course Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.  In addition to sightseeing “musts” like the Opera House and Bridge I’ve had numerous once in a lifetime experiences such as watching a sea turtle lay her eggs on Christmas Eve (it’s summer in Australia), sleeping next to a full size bright red fire engine in Adelaide, taking a bush walk in unspoiled countryside abounding with kangaroos, wallabies and koalas, scuba diving amongst giant clams and exotic sea creatures and a delightful stay in the Daintree Rain Forest at Silky Oaks.  This country has something for everyone!
 
You can enjoy Australia year round but the “best time” depends on where you go and what you wish to do.  The temperatures are tropical all year near Cairns but our winter (December - February) is the rainy season and brings troublesome jelly fish to the beautiful beaches.  A trip to the Outback, Ayers Rock, Darwin and the Northern Territories is best April - October to avoid scorching temperatures and Tasmania is best October - April to avoid the snow!
 
Depending on your style and budget, you can explore the country independently, schedule a few day tours or join an organized tour group with guide.  Just as in the U.S.A., special events & unique accommodations require reservations and holiday travel should be planned several months in advance.
 
Given the distances involved, most visitors should take advantage of various Aussie passes to hop around by airplane and pretty much anyone will benefit by planning their trip with an Aussie specialist such as myself.  There is simply too much to see and too much to do to see it all on one vacation, even if you have 2-3 months to travel! 

With all the traveling I’ve been privileged to do, Australia and New Zealand are two of my favorite destinations in the world and I hope you’ll visit soon.  Please call when you’re ready to begin planning and until then, G’Day! 

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On my most recent trip to France I visited Villandry Chateau in the Loire Valley. I arrived by bicycle after pedaling 6 miles along the Cher River.

Villandry Chateau is beautiful, built mostly in 1536, they started with the original keep from the 12th century and added on from there. It has changed ownership a few times since and in 1906 was purchased by Dr. Joachim Caravallo whose grandson Henri is still the owner today and I was lucky enough to have him give us a tour of the Chateau.

What impressed me most were the gardens, like the Renaissance architecture of French Castles they combine the Gothic tradition with the Italian gardens using floral, medicinal plants and kitchen gardens and flower beds all planted in squares of geometric patterns of colors like those found in the monasteries and princely estates of that time. They are replanted each season with different plants and always have the special geometric pattern within each square.

Something I never realized before is that the gardens include what they call a kitchen garden, where all the vegetables are grown and even that is planted with seasonal vegetables in beautiful colorful squares. There is also a herb garden and then of course the flower gardens, the ornamental garden and the water garden. All are extensions of the Chateau and used during the summer and warmer months as the places to gather, visit and even take their meals, Henri Caravello described them as the living rooms of the 14th century. Who knew they had such functional gardens back then??

Inside the Chateau you’ll find some of the rooms are set up as they were centuries ago for the  guests viewing, but Villandry still retains a homey feel. The Caravello family has also spent years attaining a beautiful art collection which can be seen in the painting gallery as well as the Oriental Drawing Room which has the most beautiful ceiling made of 3600 separate pieces of wood made in the Mudejar style by Moorish craftsmen for Spanish gentry similar to what you would find in Alhambra Palace in Spain.

Henri Caravallo says he often takes groups thru his Chateau himself, so you may be lucky enough to have a guided tour with him as well. Don’t forget to look at the gardens from the upper floors of the Chateau as they are magnificent!  Jennefer - Totem Travel France Specialist
 

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While attending Sandals Star Awards this fall I had the opportunity to visit the gorgeous new Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and all I can say is wow! 

When I visited Sandals Antigua two years ago, I fell in love with the long stretch of powdery white sand and the Rondovals (individual round, bungalow style accommodations) have been popular with honeymooners for years. 

That said, the original section of the resort, now called the Caribbean Grove, had a somewhat unexciting pool and very few guest rooms had an ocean view.  Another concern was the almost total lack of shade for those with lily white Seattle winter skin… 

That has all changed with the opening of Sandals Grande Antigua Mediterranean Village.  Everything about the new section is designed to impress.  The huge new oceanfront pool is stunning with a center waterfall feature and there are lots of tented cabanas with comfy lounge chairs scattered about. 

Every room in the Mediterannean Village has a patio or balcony and most have a 180 degree view of the clear turquoise ocean beyond the pool.  Suites are luxuriously furnished with 4 poster king beds, plasma tv’s, whirlpool tubs, private pools and more.

There are now 9 restaurants to choose from and 8 bars including Sandals’ signature swim up pool bar.  You’ll find a lovely spa, beautifully manicured grounds and lots of space to enjoy a relaxed and luxurious honeymoon or vacation for two.  And if you decide to go, don’t forget to arrange some special extras like a private dinner on the beach or a bubble bath strewn with rose petals and bedroom lit by candles.

Sandals is for couples only and it’s impossible to miss the romance. I’ve been to all 17 Sandals & Beaches Resorts so call or visit my Sandals site when you are ready to go!  You’ll find resort and room descriptions, sample menus, spa services, tours, activities and more.  Plus you’re guaranteed the lowest price available whether you book online or through one of Totem Travel’s three Sandals Specialists. 

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My son and I just returned from a pre Christmas week in Mexico where we stayed at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya Resort. The Maya is one of 4 all inclusive Iberostar resorts that share a lovely long stretch of beach about ½ hour south of the Cancun airport and ½ hour north of Playa del Carmen.

Having stayed at Iberostar Tucan on a previous vacation, we expected nice accommodations, good food, friendly service, big pools and a wide variety of activities and entertainment. We were not disappointed!

During our stay we dined at 6 different themed restaurants (all good), sampled a variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, took a hobbie cat out for a sail, did one scuba dive on the reef and two in a cenote (an awesome experience but physically demanding), floated the very-lazy-lazy river, jumped waves in the wave pool and ocean, walked the beach, played pingpong, took in a show and read some great books under the shade of a palapa.

All rooms at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya are junior suites with one king bed or two doubles, a furnished balcony/patio with hammock chair, generously sized bathroom with jetted soaking tub and separate walk in shower, plus a step down living room with couch, table and writing desk. Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Paraiso del Mar and Paraiso Beach have standard rooms with a small sitting area and combination tub/shower.

Guests at the Maya and Lindo have full use of the pools, restaurants and bars at all four hotels. Reservations may be made in advance for unlimited dining at nine specialty restaurants including French, Italian, seafood, Japanese, Mexican, Cajun, gourmet, steakhouse and Chinese in addition to an extravagant main buffet, poolside café, beach bar and grill, and 24 hour room service. An upgraded liquor selection is offered in the Maya bars.

Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Paraiso Beach have fewer specialty restaurants and are guaranteed 3 reservations during a one week stay. The lazy river and wave pool are reserved for Maya and Lindo guests and only Maya guests have complimentary use of the beautiful and spacious spa facility with sauna, steam, heated lounge chairs, heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Other guests may pay $35 per person per day to use the spa facilities and spa treatments (wraps, massages, pedicures, facials, etc.) are available to all at extra cost.

There is a teen club and an adult only nightclub open until the wee hours and I was told that the golf course was well maintained and challenging. There is even a shopping center on property with complimentary food and beverage service!

Overall the 4 Iberostar Paraiso hotels make an outstanding resort complex for active families and fun loving adults and the new Iberostar Paraiso Grand offers an even more upscale option for honeymoon couples and discerning adults. More on the adults only Grand later!

Call or email for help planning your family vacation.  Our slogan is “Get personalized help from a travel expert at no extra cost!  Totem Travel“.