Ladera Resort Video
/So enjoyed my time at this boutique hotel in the southern area of St Lucia. Wonderful service, food and the views! Enjoy my photo video!
Family Travel and New Year
/When the holidays are over and you have begun to miss your family & friends do you think about next year? Perhaps a family reunion in 2016 where you can spend a week and not just a few hours with love ones. Something to think about? Marisa of Sensational Travel can help! All inclusive resorts offer a stress-free experience for families of all ages where your meals, snacks, drinks, entertainment and activities are all prepaid. They are located everywhere in the Caribbean and Mexico. Just unpack once and start the fun to build memories.
Perhaps you want to plan a family reunion for grandparents, children and grandchildren who are spread across the United States. How wonderful to explore a new culture, volunteer in a country and still enjoy some pool or ocean time while on vacation.
Resorts offer special savings and amenities for groups starting at 6 rooms depending on the time of year you travel.
Sensational Travel handles all the reservations, payments, questions and we provide a dedicated web page for family & friends. We have emergency service for you prior or during your trip. Offer trip insurance for those unforeseen events that may prevent you from traveling. And we have been assisting families for over 30 years.
Contact Marisa@sensationaltravel.com to begin to research the best group travel for 2016
Alaska Adventure Sept 2013
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Day 4
Unfortunately the last day at DenaliNational Park was the day it rain, shall I say poured all day. The sled dog tour to see puppies was canceled and I spent the morning working from our cozy log cabin with time to purchase a lunch for our motorcoach ride back to Anchorage. Early evening check into the Sheraton Anchorage with modern rooms and convent location. Also good locations are the Westmark, Hilton, and Captain Cook Hotels. Tonight a short walk to Humpys’, very popular place with the locals, where the burgers are big and the place serves over 49 different types of beer. My selection was a raspberry/hard apple beer, very tasty.
Alaska Sept 2013
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Day 3
Quick coffee and off to a 13hr full day journey with Alaska Travel and Tours “Backcountry” motorcoach tour. Here we boarded a clean “bus” not motorcoach and was advised it would be a bumpy ride since a portion of the highway into Denali was gravel not a paved road. Upon hearing this I decided to sit closer to the front and found the ride comfortable. During the journey stops were made for bathroom breaks and most importantly for taking photos of the wildlife. Goal was to see the “Big Five” in Denali National Park. Luckily the passengers today saw all accept the wolves. The ride went past WonderLake and arrived at the Backcountry Lodge owned by Alaska Travel and Tours. We had a wonderful lunch and had the option of gold panning or taking a botany walk. I selected the walk and found my favorite fruit; blueberries.
Alaska Adventure Sept 2013
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Day 2
It is an early morning as we depart with Alaska Travel n Tours for the 5 hr trip to Denali.
Luckily the motorcoach departs from the AlaskaConvention Center and across the street is a charming coffee shop, Bean Roost, that offers various coffees and delicious caramels to ease the long road trip to Denali. Alaska Travel n Tours operates nice clean motorcoachs, provides bottle water and snacks for the drive. Since it continues to rain the early morning scenery is limited but we are awarded with moments of sunshine as we head out of the city into the mountains.
We arrive to Denali Cabins and settle into our cabin #34 to find comfortable two beds, heat and bathroom in a rustic cabin setting. A good value and accommodations just 15 minutes away fro the DenaliVisitorCenter with free shuttle service. Leaving our luggage and heading our immediately time was spent at the VisitorCenter viewing a 20 minutes movie on the national park and then off for a short hike in the mountains.
Still plenty of daylight left time to visit Denali Grand Hotel and meet with the new sales manager, Dee Dee, to learn what is new at this popular resort on Sugarloaf Mountain. Beautiful rooms with planned upgrades for 2014, maybe mini-frigs in each room? Staff was very friendly and the views from this hotel were amazing! To top of the day, dinner was planned at the Denali Grand Hotel and was the one of the best meals in Alaska at Alpenglow. Seafood bisque and fresh halibut over steamed vegetables topped with a mango chutney. Chef Jacob continues to serve amazing entrees however skip the desserts and enjoy a wonderful cocktail with a sunset view from this hotel.
Alaska Adventure Sept 2013
/Day 1
I start my journey from Boston to Alaska with connection service via Dallas. I begin to wonder if others feel it is worth the long distance to travel to this state, our 49th state of the U.S Upon arrival it is rainy in Anchorage and so it begins “travelers must be prepared for rain with layer clothing and cool temperatures in the 50’s”. First night layover is at the Historical Anchorage Hotel, a charming hotel near the train and close to shops. Large rooms, a bit old, however friendly staff and an amazing free breakfast make this a good value. Time to get some sleep before heading out tomorrow to Denali National Park.
Windstar Cruises Fall Sale
/Imagine sailing from Spain to Portugal for a 8 day voyage with Windstar Cruises.
Imagine that you can do this for as little as $1549.00 per person with Windstar Crusies “flash” sale ending on 9/1/12. Contact Sensational Travel for details at Marisa@sensationaltravel.com
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Zumba Cruise 2013
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ncl dawn ship photo
Do you love to Zumba? Want to experience a cruise from Boston to Bermuda. Join a group of Zumba fans for free classes on the NCL Dawn on May 31, 2013 for one week of fun. View Sensational Travel Website for details. www.sensationaltravel.com
Over-Water Bungalows
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Featuring just 6 overwater bungalows plus two restaurants and a spa, the Coral Lodge is a boutique resort in a secluded part of the San Blas Islands in Panama. The bare-bones and eco-friendly approach means there is no TVs or internet here, so a distraction-free vacation is nearly guaranteed.
The resort also offers “romance packages” and several other extras, so this is still quite luxurious. The Coral Lodge also is great value, with perhaps the cheapest overwater bungalows in the world. There’s great diving and snorkeling, as well as horseback riding nearby, so this could be a perfect choice for the right people.
Caribbean overwater bungalow resorts that aren’t open
Sandals Grande St. Lucia – This famous all-inclusive resort is building 26 overwater bungalows around its private island just off St. Lucia, scheduled to break ground in August 2012 and open in February 2013. Curiously, they are billing them as “the Caribbean’s first overwater bungalows,” so perhaps their definition of ‘Caribbean’ is more limited than ours or the general public’s. Sandals is also reportedly planning on opening overwater bungalows at its Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica resort as well, though information on those is limited as construction permits have yet to be granted as of February, 2012.
Couples Resorts in Jamaica
/What a complimentary wedding? Chose Couples Resorts in Jamaica!
are an adults only all-inclusive collection of 4 hotels in Jamaica. Two are located in Negril and two are located in Ocho Rios.
are a great choice for a laid back, island chic
. Some of the wedding planners have been with these resorts for over ten years and assure you professional & caring service to plan a dreamy destination wedding or a wonderful honeymoon experience.
Couples Resorts Complimentary Wedding Package
It's all included* - an intimate wedding ceremony, gourmet dining and a relaxing His / Hers massage.
Personal service of a minister
Personal service of a Wedding Coordinator
Bridal bouquet
Boutonniere for the groom
Sparking wine
Two-tier cake
His and hers half-hour massages
Contact Sensational Travel to learn more about these resorts and personal experience at Couples Resorts.
978-745-2575 or
Jamaica 2012 with Sandals Resorts
/JAMAICA 2012 with SANDALS RESORTS
Sandals and Beaches Resorts offers weddings and vow renewals your way, your style, your Sandals with many choices. Check out Sandals new wedding designer tool on their website to see how easy and affordable it is to plan a wedding ceremony and optional reception in the Caribbean. Contact Sensational Travel at 978-745-2575 for specials and pricing. View photos on Sensational Travel Facebook Page
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Alaska August 12, 2011
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Another beautiful sunny day in Seward, Alaska and we begin by exploring the Seward Sea Life Center, Alaska’s only public aquarium. It’s a fascinating place with great live exhibits and an amazing group of puffins, including a few “educational puffins”. These puffins are not afraid of visitors and allow the handlers to hold them while educating visitors about their habitats, breeding, food supply, and predators.
After a little walk around the piers in Seward we were off to our inside passage cruise with Silverseas on the all-inclusive “Silver Shadow”. We were delighted with our spacious stateroom, plush robes and a “pillow menu” from which we could choose from nine different types of pillows: goose down, feather, memory foam, buckwheat… whatever kind of pillows you want, you got ‘em! Our butler, Gideon, asked what he could stock the bar with, and that evening we had large bottles of Amaretto and Bailey’s magically appear! Following a wonderful dinner we spent the next 8 or 9 hours testing our pillow choices. Blissful!
Alaska Day 1
/Left Boston on 8/9/11 at 82 degrees, pass thru Denver at 96 degrees and arrived into Anchorage, Alaska where it is only 56 degrees. I saw my first Bear! Ok, it was stuffed in a display case at the Anchorage airport. Tomorrow we board the Alaska "Coastal Classic South" rail from Anchorage to Seward and will experience their GoldStar Service.
National Hurricane Center Predicts Above Average 2011 Season
/Atlantic hurricane season begins Wednesday June 1st and the National Hurricane Center predicts that it will be an above average summer with 12 to 18 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes, which are Category 3 and above. It is wise for any American traveler going to the Caribbean or Mexico this summer until November 2011 to purchase travel insurance that allows you to cancel or change for any reason and especially for hurricane storms.
Contact Sensational Travel for more information on how to protect your vacation dollars during this hurricane season at 978-745-2575.
Internet vs Travel Agent
/A recent article in The Washington Post was talking about how the travelers are turning back to their Travel Agents to handle their needs. "Travelers are on information overload" when it comes to planning their vacations. Interesting? I thought so too and you can read more
U.S. Passports?
/Driving to Canada? Not sure of your next vacation? Just going to the Caribbean next year by cruise ship?
The US Govt issues a US Passport Card, which looks like a driver’s license. Ideal for people who travel between the US and Canada, Mexico,Caribbean and Bermuda via ground or via a vessel. Hence, cruise passengers may find this beneficial. It cannot be used if one is flying to/from an International Airport.
The cost is $55, and it lasts 10 years, too. The processing time is similar to a regular passport.
More innformation may be obtained at:
hhtp://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html
Travel wish list
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Some top destinations for travel wish lists before they disappear...
BelizeBarrier Reef –
Summer Travel 2011 for Americans
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ASTA, American Society of Travel Agents were polled as to where Americans were going this summer 2011. The results were the top destinations are: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul and Sydney. Closer to home were Punta Cana, Monetgo Bay and the Mayan Rivieria of Mexico
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Egypt and Tour Companies
/Why is it so important to book your travel with a reputable tour company? As easy as it may be to “click & book” a vacation on the internet, you should be sure to deal with a reputable tour company. This becomes especially important when disruptions occur due to events such as political unrest or natural disasters. Just look at recent events in Egypt; reputable companies such as Isram World, Abercrombie & Kent, Big Five Tours, Trafalgar Tours and Brendan Vacations quickly contacted their traveling clients to assist with securing safe passage back to the United States.
An experienced and knowledgeable travel consultant can assist you in selecting a reputable tour company to fit your budget and needs. With 30 years of experience in leisure travel, Marisa L. Cole, owner of Sensational Travel, has the expertise to make sure you get the best service and the best value when you book your vacation. Be sure to contact Marisa when planning your next travel adventure!
Norwegian “Epic”
/Exciting newest & biggest ship, Norwegian Epic, will be sailing out of Miami to the Caribbean starting in July 2010. Just imagine witnessing "BlueMan Group" at sea, or wrapped in a faux fur coat sipping vodka in the Ice Bar or sliding down a water tube slide into a pool at sea. Contact Sensational Travel for the latest cruise fares at 978-745-2575.