which do you recommend the most?

 

Ourisman Travel had this exchange with a traveler named Dustin. Angela, a valued member of Team Ourisman, had posted photos on Instagram during her recent trip to St. Barths. Dustin had come across her gorgeous pictures of Cheval Blanc, Eden Roc, and other resorts on this very five star island, and that inspired him to ask a question: "Of all the St. Barths hotels you visited, which do you recommend most?"

Instagram does not provide the best medium in which to work our magic as Travel Advisors. Before we can recommend a resort, we need to know more about you. Tell us about the vacation you enjoyed most: Where did you stay? Why did you love that resort? Tell us about your aesthetic tastes: Do you enjoy contemporary interiors or do you prefer traditional Caribbean settings? Do you want to be right on the beach? Is a resort pool a must? Some guests want resorts where the pool water is heated, so is that a factor? Are you traveling with kids? Would a kids program that gives you free time while your children are off making friends be a plus? And last, but perhaps the first question to ask: what is your budget?

There's a great vacation for every traveler. Our job is to ask about your preferences and learn your budget. Armed with that information, we can make the best recommendation for you. If, as Dustin wrote, "the rates were absurd" in Anguilla and St. Barths, we are able recommend a better island for you! For the 750€ per night Dustin was spending at Villa Marie, there are likely some much more compelling values right on the beach ... and not a 10 minute drive away which I'm sure he must have grown to resent.

But Instagram is not a place where we can consult with you about your travel plans. Reach out to us at Team@OurismanTravel.com to plan a vacation at the beach or in the mountains.

copyright (c) 2021 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

clients choice awards — top five

Hualalai beach tree at sunset (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Travel magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure post annual Readers Choice rankings of the best hotels in the world. I don't know the magazines' methodology, but their results are sometimes laughable ... such as the time a "nice enough" luxury hotel just off Times Square won the designation of Best Hotel in the World.

I'll be totally transparent about my methodology. Though I'm semi-retired, I do continue to work with a select group of Ourisman Travel clients. These are their top five choices ranked in order of the volume of sales to these hotels and resorts.

#1 — Four Seasons Hualalai. My personal favorite resort in Hawaii, Hualalai is the top resort in the world of all Ourisman Travel clients. Hualalai is the antithesis of the "big concrete box by the beach" that so many beach resorts tend to be. Luxurious and newly renovated guest rooms are located in detached two-story buildings arrayed along four beachfront crescents and around the green of the 18th hole of the golf course. I love Hualalai for its casual luxury. Guests enjoy great food while dining right by the beach where flip-flops are perfectly fine for that "sand between your toes" experience even at dinner. Click here for my slide show explaining the crescents of Hualalai.

#2 — Dorado Beach, Ritz-Carlton Reserve. My personal favorite resort in the Caribbean, I actually vacationed here as a teenager back in the 1960's when Dorado Beach was a part of Rockresorts. Like Hualalai, Dorado Beach is not a "big concrete box by the beach." Guest rooms are found in detached two story buildings, each with a direct ocean view and some with private plunge pools. West Beach rooms step out right onto the beach while East Beach rooms feature the sound of the waves crashing up against the beach rocks... what a restful sound when going to sleep. The beach is great ... soft, white sand and swimmable ocean water.

#3 — Four Seasons Maui. If you catch the trend, beach resorts are tops on our list ... and Hawaii is our clients' favorite destination. Maui was Four Seasons' first resort — set on a wide, sandy, swimmable beach with snorkeling — and it continues to be a popular draw attracting a trendy, cosmopolitan set of guests. High end shopping is available nearby at The Shops at Wailea. The biggest difference: while guests dine by the beach at Hualalai wearing flip-flops, many guests at Maui arrive for dinner with the ladies fashionably dressed and sporting high heels.

#4 — Le Meurice, Paris. The trend continues — I sell what I love — and Le Meurice is my favorite hotel in my favorite city in world. Paris has the world's greatest collection of "over-the-top" luxury hotels, but Le Meurice is not about being "over the top." The smallest palace hotel in Paris, Le Meurice exudes a warm, personable, and comfortable luxury while offering the best possible location in Paris, especially for first-time visitors. Step out the front door, cross rue de Rivoli, and you're in the Jardin des Tuilleries, the beautiful formal gardens in the very heart of Paris. Walk across the gardens, and you'll be at the Musée d'Orsay in 10 minutes. Or turn to the left, and you're just 10 minutes from the Louvre. Le Meurice, ideal for first-time visitors, its guests keep coming back, y compris moi.

#5 — Peninsula Tokyo. Japan has become the hot travel destination for 2019 and 2020. The 2020 Olympic Games have shined the world's focus on Japan, and I recommend booking a customized land tour or a cruise that circumnavigates this island nation. You'll want to begin or end your trip in Tokyo, and of all the great luxury hotels in Tokyo, my clients have most often booked The Peninsula. Why? Perhaps it's due to the hotel's location next to the Imperial Gardens, or because of its thoughtfully designed guest rooms (with such features as nail polish dryers in the bathroom), or even because my PEN Club clients benefit from totally flexible check-in and check-out times.

I can offer the following amenities at all of the above hotels through Virtuoso, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, STARS, Diamond Club, and PEN Club. While the details differ slightly by property, you'll receive at least the following at each of these top five hotels:

• daily breakfast for two
• $100 hotel credit towards incidental expenses
• room upgrade if available
• early check-in and late check-out if available
• complimentary internet

In some cases, the credit is more, the room upgrade is confirmed at booking, and the early check-in is guaranteed. Get in touch for the full details!

My next column will take a look at #6-#10 on my list.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

dreaming of warm, sunny weather?

sunbathing on Mallorca (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

It's that time of the year again. Days are growing shorter. The sun is low in the sky. And it's COLD, currently 35º in New York, 29º in Chicago, and 26º in Minneapolis. I'm very much looking forward to my trip next week to Fort Lauderdale, Florida — where it's 81º right now — to visit my sister over Christmas!

If you're anything like me, COLD weather makes you long for warm, sunny places like Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. While it's late in the game to make plans for the week between Christmas and New Years ... limited space is available. Contact Team@OurismanTravel.com, and we'll work with our tropical specialists to find someplace warm and wonderful for you and your loved ones.

the pool at FS Punta Mita (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Let's start thinking about January, February, and March! The best time to make those plans is now. You'll have the best selection of rooms, suites, and villas at the best luxury resorts ... and prices will only go up from here as rooms sell out. Pro tip: book through a Virtuoso travel advisor. Sure, you can find availability on the internet, but for the same price, your Virtuoso travel advisor can get you complimentary daily breakfasts for two, a $100 resort credit, and hopefully an upgrade to a room with an even better view of the ocean.

Or try out the Virtuoso booking tool for beach vacation with exclusive amenities in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay | 30% off

This bedroom, part of a 2BR Suite at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, looks so incredibly inviting. Little Dix Bay is completing the final touches on its total multi-million renovation. A boutique Caribbean resort with just 80 cottages, suites, and villas — most are nestled along a half-mile crescent beach. The 4BR Hillside Villa features commanding ocean views. First opened in 1964 as an eco-resort by Laurance Rockefeller (Dorado Beach being another former Rockresort in the Caribbean), you'll enjoy space and relaxation during your vacation on Virgin Gorda.

And this exclusive Rosewood Elite offer that can save you 30% off the otherwise Best Available Rate. The rules are simple:

1. Make your booking by the end of 2019.
2. Stays must be completed from December 11th, 2019 to October 31, 2020.
3. That's it ... only two rules!

There is availability for Christmas to New Years, and the 30% Elite Exclusive Opening Offer even applies to Festive Season bookings. Rosewood Elite amenities are included...

• Daily Breakfast for 2 (per bedroom)
• $125 USD Food & Beverage Credit once during the stay
• Upgrade subject to availability on arrival.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

beach or mountain this winter?

one of the pools at Four Seasons Nevis

The winter months are upon us in the northern hemisphere, although temperatures aren't what we've come to expect. I spent three days this week in Palm Beach, Florida where I thoroughly enjoyed warm, sunny days with highs in the 80's (quite a bit higher than normal). Now I'm back in Berkeley, California where I woke up to temperatures in the low 30's (quite a bit lower than normal).

Where is your next vacation taking you?

Snowbirds will travel to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. Here are our five most popular winter ski destinations:

   Lake Tahoe, California
   Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado
   Deer Valley, Utah
   Jackson Hole, Wyoming
   Whistler, British Colombia

Sun worshippers will travel to a warm beach destination to swim, play tennis or golf, or just relax on the beach. Our four most popular winter beach destinations are:

   Hawaii
   Mexico
   The Caribbean
   Bora Bora
   Thailand

Whether you want snow or a warm beach, we can recommend dozens of luxury resorts where you will stay in comfort, enjoy great food, and warm hospitality ... with value added amenities that provide you with free breakfast for two, room upgrades, and other amenities that are unique to each hotel. We can save you literally hundreds of dollars for your winter vacation.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Amanera | coming to the Dominican Republic

Taking reservations beginning January 11, 2016, the newest Amanresort has been announced. Amanera will be the second Caribbean resort operated by Aman (the first being Amanyara on Turks & Caicos).

Amanera means peaceful water and draws its name from the Taíno word for water. With an almost unimaginable amount of space, the resort is set on 2,000 acres of virtually untouched land and stretches across nearly seven miles of seacoast. A short flight from the U.S., Amanera is your opportunity to get away from the crowds and bustle of everyday life and simply relax.

Each of the twenty-five 1BR casitas will offer unobstructed ocean vistas and its own private garden. Half of the casitas will feature a private 10-meter swimming pool. Golfers will enjoy playing the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf course, Playa Grande, that is integrated into the resort.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

it's starting to get cold | winter vacation plans

sunset at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

It's starting to get cold, with colder than usual temperatures cropping up across the country. Where will your winter vacation plans take you?

The tropics offer a respite from the cold of winter. Imagine walking the beach, riding the waves, relaxing with a good book on a new iPad Mini with retina screen (I'm hoping to grab one on Black Friday), or just sitting by the pool. Depending on where you live, you might choose Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, or the Caribbean as your vacation destination.

The mountains take advantage of the cold, offering days filled with downhill skiing, followed by a treatments in the spa, and apres ski socializing. Some of North America's best ski destinations are Whistler, Vail, Jackson Hole, and Lake Tahoe.

You'll find luxury resorts both at the beach ... and on the slopes. Email your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for ideas, recommendations, and advice, not to mention the added value of free daily breakfasts, room upgrades when available, and even food or spa credits (extra amenities are different at each resort).

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

book Virtuoso resort packages online *

Classic Vacations is an excellent Virtuoso tour company that specializes in luxury vacations, and most* (but not all) Classic Vacations packages include Virtuoso amenities . But there's a rather significant requirement: your booking must be made through a Virtuoso travel consultant.

But you can make the booking yourself. Classic Vacations has provided me with a personalized website through which my clients can price out and book vacations. These can be resort-only, or you can add flights or a rental car to the package. Any vacation package booked through this link will be identified as coming from Ourisman Travel, and you will be eligible to receive Virtuoso, Ritz-Carlton STARS, or Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities when applicable.

NB: I need to emphasize that not all Virtuoso hotels provide the amenities when booked through a wholesaler such as Classic, Pleasant, Island Destinations, etc. In particular, please be aware that the Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii need to be made via direct booking; Preferred Partner amenities are not extended through wholesaler bookings at Maui, Hualalai, Manele Bay, the Lodge at Koele ... or Punta Mita in Mexico. To get the FSPP amenities at these resorts, you'll need to book directly through a FS Preferred Partner travel consultant.

Want to be in charge of your own booking? Try it out! Research a vacation, price out the different options, create a courtesy hold — and then contact me. I'll help you sort out the insurance options and look into "bulk" airfares that can often be a better value. Sometimes just a few dollars more than the lowest published fare, bulk fares are flexible, refundable airfares that don't have to be paid for until 45 days before departure. I'll also want to double-check with the resort that what you want to book is eligible for Virtuoso amenities which include:

• a room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
• complimentary breakfast for two daily
• an additional amenity (such as a $100 F&B credit or Spa credit)

So where do you want to go next? Hawaii, Bora Bora, the Caribbean, Europe? Check out my personalized mini-site on Classic vacation...

Virtuoso travel consultant (search here on Google)

* Important: Most (but not all) Virtuoso member resorts will honor the Virtuoso amenities when booked through Classic Vacations. It's essential that you verify with your Virtuoso travel consultant before finalizing your reservation.

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

tropical winter escape | Hawaii, anyone?

a cold, damp winter's day in the upper midwest

When we flew from San Francisco to Bloomington, IL yesterday, we were spared the disruptions so many endured on Thursday. The winter storms had moved east by Friday morning, and both of our flights left on time and landed early. But the winter weather that greeted us? Not so welcoming! Temperatures were in the 20's — with 40 mph gale force winds — not quite what this northern California resident is accustomed to!

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, you'll get your wish this year ... but after New Years, take the chance to escape the dreary cold and damp of winter for a week in the tropics: white sand beaches, blue skies, bright sunshine, dressed in shorts and t-shirts.

So where do you want to travel this winter? Hawaii is convenient to west coast residents. Florida and the Caribbean are convenient if you live in the midwest or on the east coast. Mexico is an affordable destination easily reached from all over the country. Call your travel consultant to put together a complete vacation package for your tropical winter escape!

travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

congratulations, Jessica!

Jessica Ourisman, travel consultant, on a hiking trip in Wales

Congratulations to Jessica Ourisman who has been named to Travel Agent magazine's list of "Top 30 Under 30" travel consultants for 2012. She's pictured above while on a hiking trip in Wales. Here's what the article says about her:

Jessica Ourisman is the co-owner of Ourisman Travel along with her father-in-law, David Ourisman, and both are independent associates of Brownell Travel, a Virtuoso agency. “I manage my own client list and specialize in trips to Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America,” she says of her job. 

But, she adds, she has only been an agent for one year, even though she helped develop Ourisman Travel. The agency started just as social media began to take off, and she leveraged the nascent technology to its full advantage.  

“Today, we are one of the top sellers of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and I think that is a great testament to the way we chose to direct and focus our marketing message,” she says. “I was more than eager to get involved on a new level, to take real ownership in the business, and to start thinking about the next growth stage for us.” 

Troy Haas, CEO of Brownell Travel, has high praise for her. “Jessica has masterminded one of the most successful ‘new models’ of travel we have seen in our long history at Brownell. Even before she entered the travel business she advised her father-in-law, David Ourisman, on use of social media for leveraging his deep passion and knowledge of hotels. Today David is our top seller of luxury hotels as a result, and Jessica has joined his practice to help develop that amazing success she helped create.”

travel consultants (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

left coast | right coast

Over the weekend, I announced a new addition to my luxury travel business. My daughter-in-law Jessica Ourisman has just started to work with me as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Ritz-Carlton STARS, and Virtuoso travel consultant. In addition to providing help in responding promptly to requests from clients, Jessica also brings geographical diversity to our agency, along with her eclectic tastes in food, wine, and culture.

Having lived on the left coast since 1992, I am very much attuned to travel in places like Hawaii, California, British Columbia, and Asia. I've visited Hawaii many times and stayed on every one of the major islands, some on multiple occasions. First-hand experience is invaluable when clients call with questions about vacations in Hawaii, Bali, New Zealand, or Thailand.

Jessica brings a right coast perspective to our business. Living in Washington, DC, she will be able to offer the same expertise on Caribbean vacations and east coast resorts. There are more than three dozen Virtuoso resorts in the Caribbean, and these will be her primary area of specialization. Click here to contact Jessica by email.

Whether you're traveling to the east or to the west, we've got you covered!


Virtuoso travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Four Seasons Nevis | fabulous sunsets and more

There's a silver lining inside every rain cloud. When the skies cleared after a day of rain showers at Four Seasons Nevis, guests at the resort were treated to this stunning sunset in shades of blue, pink, and purple. My associate Sarah just returned from a site inspection trip and was truly impressed with the property.

The resort is set on Pinney's Beach on the western, leeward shore of Nevis. The Caribbean waters are warm and very swimmable, and the resort offers countless other recreational activities from golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and Scuba ... or just stroll along the beach into historic Charlestown, the capital city of Nevis and the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton. As with every Four Seasons resort, the Kids for All Seasons program is complimentary for children between 3 and 9 years old. The eight hour supervised children's program gives parents an opportunity to play or explore on their own.

Summer values abound! Mountainside rooms start at just $345 with third night free and include your exclusive Preferred Partner amenities (free breakfast for two daily, upgrade if available, and a $100 Spa or Golf credit), so consider FS Nevis for your last-minute summer vacation getaway. Check the NOAA website or StormCarib to make sure the weather is clear ... and book your flights. Nonstop flights to St. Kitts (SKB) are available from Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York, and London on selected days.


Four Seasons Nevis (search here on Google)

copyright  (c)  2011 by David Ourisman LLC.  All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

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Jumby Bay all-inclusive summer promotion

Here's an exclusive summer promotion at Rosewood's private island resort in Antigua - Jumby Bay - and it's available ONLY to Rosewood Elite Agencies such as Brownell.

Guaranteed upgrades! Book a Courtyard Suite ($1150 per night) with a guaranteed upgrade to a Pool Suite (normally $1525 per night).

All-inclusive! Jumby Bay is an all-inclusive luxury Caribbean resort:

• breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
  
• Beverages, cocktails, and house wines by the glass
  
• Afternoon tea daily
  
• Watersports, tennis, and other recreational facilities
  
• Children's program
  
• Friday evening Sunset Cocktail Cruise

When? May 20-August 31 and October 8-31, 2011. Discounted rates are also available for two, three, and four bedroom villas with private pool.

Interested in a Caribbean holiday? Drop me an email for more details.


Jumby Bay (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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weather map got you down?

Winter has started early in North America and Europe, with blizzards and very chilly weather. Flights have been disrupted, and even people traveling by car have been stranded. The San Francisco Bay Area (where I live) has been stuck in a cool, damp, overcast weather pattern. But the most striking weather news of the week was the sight of snow pouring through the teflon roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis; the Vikings game with the NY Giants was moved to Detroit as a consequence.



My mind travels to the tropics when the harsh winter storms begin. Where to go for a tropical holiday? There are many choices...

Hawaii is my perpetual favorite, really convenient to travelers from the West Coast. Email me for ideas on where to stay. I've visited the major islands and seen all the best luxury resorts. My favorites? Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island, Four Seasons Maui, The Kahala Resort near Hobolulu, the St. Regis Princeville Resort on Kauai, and Four Seasons Manele Bay on Lanai.

For a shorter flight from the east coast, consider the Turks & Caicos, 1,300 miles [almost] due south from New York. Featuring 200 miles of white sand beaches bordering turquoise seas, Turks & Caicos is a convenient getaway for warm, sunny weather and great snorkeling. For a real treat, consider Amanyara (pictured here) - or ask about other luxury resorts for that mid-winter getaway.

tropical holiday (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Christmas vacation | don't wait!

It happens every year. Every December I get calls from families wanting to plan their Christmas vacation. There are four consequences when waiting until the very last minute to make your reservations:

1. Space is very hard to get. You may have to settle for a less desirable resort.
   
2. Room options are quite limited.
   
3. Flights are more expensive, as you'll be paying full fare.
   
4. There's a lot of stress doing everything in a rush.

Even now, it's is pretty late if you want to go to the very best resorts over Christmas. The Four Seasons resorts on the Big Island and on Maui are fully booked — both have waiting lists — but good options do exist in tropical destinations (Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico) and ski resorts. Please be aware that minimum stay requirements often apply during Festive Season.

So now's the time to plan your Christmas vacation. Don't wait!


Christmas vacation (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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best airfares to Hawaii or the Caribbean?

Common wisdom is changing about how to book air. It used to be that the best way to get the lowest fare on the scheduled flight of your choice was to book on the airline's own website. With a quick search, you would see at a glance the lowest discounted fares on the available flights, and you'd buy your ticket with a click of the button with no booking fee. Often, this is still the best way.

But times have changed. Most airlines are running at a loss, due to higher fuel charges and — as my friend Joe Brancatelli would insist — managerial incompetence. Flights are being cut. With less seats to any given destination, the old law of supply and demand does its thing, resulting in higher prices. Last spring's $400 round-trip to Hawaii is today's $700 round-trip to Hawaii.

Here's a way (sometimes) to get a better deal to Hawaii and the Caribbean—and I stress sometimes. As a travel consultant, I work with wholesalers who put together packages to resorts in tropical destinations (and even to Europe and Asia). Wholesalers have contracted rates with airlines flying to their destinations. While it used to be that discounted published air was less expensive, I am now finding that my wholesaler's contracted rate is often the lowest fare.

And there are other advantages to booking these fares. They are cancelable and changeable. They do not have to be paid for until the final payment on your vacation package. With one recent booking, the only seats available at the bulk rate happened to be in the First Class cabin -- and my clients enjoyed flying up front all the way from Puerto Rico to San Francisco (at a negotiated coach price). Passengers can even obtain negotiated bulk fares in Business and First Class.

If this were not enough, my wholesaler can often provide a $200 credit toward a weekly car rental. They are on top of all the incentives offered by resorts (such free nights with a stay of a certain length). And, not least of all, with stiff cancelation charges especially during the Festive Season, you can purchase a very reasonably priced trip insurance package that allows cancelations for any reason.

Consider working with a leisure travel consultant for your next vacation. A good travel consultant will help you plan the optimal vacation, ensure that you receive the best value for your money, and take care of all the hassles of booking your trip.

Hawaii and the Caribbean (search here on Google)



copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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last minute Christmas vacation travel

So, you've procrastinated! The cold, wet, nasty winter weather is starting to spread across the country, and you'd like to go away to some warm, sunny beach in the Caribbean for the holidays.

It's the worst time of the year to plan last minute Christmas vacation travel, but it's not impossible (and it won't come cheap). Good travel consultants work through distributors who handle the Caribbean and other warm destinations, and if there's space to be found, their contacts are the ones who can find your mid-winter vacation getaway spot. It's time-consuming work, and your travel consultant will likely charge you a fee for her or his time, but this is the answer to your last-minute Christmas vacation.

So if the thought of a white Christmas isn't what's thrilling you as you deal with the cold, wet, wintry December weather, start dreaming of a white sand beach, balmy breezes, rum drinks with little umbrellas, and a carefree week in the tropics.

last minute Christmas vacation travel (search here on Google)



copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Tryall Club | caribbean vacation villas

Imagine a Caribbean vacation in your own villa overlooking the sea. I recently stayed at "Little Hill," a five bedroom home on the grounds of the Tryall Club near Montego Bay, Jamaica. A great place for fun and relaxation, Tryall provides a spectacular setting. There's nothing quite like sitting on your own porch reading a book and enjoying one of the most beautiful views in the world (pictured).

Surrounded by a challenging 18 hole championship golf course that has hosted professional events, each villa at Tryall has its own individual swimming pool, and all guests have exclusive access to Tryall's private beach. Villas are even equipped with golf carts to get around the extensive property. Tryall offers two restaurants (one right by the beach), a kids program, tennis courts, shopping, free wireless internet in the Great House, even a large pool with swim-up bar. It's a great place to visit, whether for a family vacation, honeymoon, or destination wedding.

Villas offer the ultimate in luxury and privacy. Your staff will cook for you, do your laundry, even provide babysitting if you want to go out in the evening. The Tryall Club is part of the Virtuoso network of hotels and resorts. Book through your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant and receive a choice of complimentary amenities (choices include round-trip airport transfers, lunch for 4, or golf).

Tryall Club (Search here on Google).



copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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free passport offer (up to $250 per couple)

All-inclusive beach resorts have become a very popular way of enjoying a Caribbean vacation. Sandals, "the resort created for two people in love," has locations in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. Beaches, an all-inclusive resort for families, offers three locations in Jamaica and one in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

And if you don't have a U.S. Passport, now is the perfect time to book the Passport to Paradise promotion offered by Sandals and Beaches. Passport fees will be credited for new bookings and new passport applications made after June 1, 2007 until further notice. With a minimum 5-night stay required, receive two resort credit rebates per booking, up to $125 per guest, maximum $250.

Download the rebate form at this link.


All-inclusive beach resorts (Search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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how to plan a romantic honeymoon

So you're engaged, and now you're planning a romantic honeymoon to begin your married life together. You may find that planning this trip is very stressful because there are too many choices! Do you want to take a cruise or spend a romantic honeymoon at a beach resort in a tropical paradise?

Where do you want to go? The world offers so many honeymoon destinations: Hawaii. Capri. Costa Rica. Tahiti and Bora Bora. Fiji. The Maldives. Mexico. Jamaica or the Caribbean. Do you want an all inclusive vacation? Do you want a totally flexible package?

This is perhaps the one time in your life when all these choices are not welcome. You're in the midst of countless decisions about your wedding, and you're getting frustrated by them. You are discovering that the two of you may have different decision-making styles, different priorities, even different expectations. You've had to deal with disagreements and conflict around your wedding ... and now you have the trip of a lifetime to plan. Both of you want it to be the most wonderful, romantic honeymoon ever, but you can't agree on anything. What's a happily engaged couple to do?

Here are some tips on how to plan a romantic honeymoon and keep your love intact!

1. Keep it simple. You'll want to avoid frequent packing and unpacking. Who wants the hassles of traveling to a dozen destinations on your honeymoon? This is a time for you to be together and enjoy each other. Talk about this question: What do we like doing for fun? Brainstorm destinations that would be fun to visit. Come up with separate lists, then compare and see what you have in common.

2. Set a budget. If your vacation costs more than you can afford, the expenses will add to your stress, both during the trip and afterwards (when the credit card bills come in). You can have a romantic honeymoon that stays within your budget and enjoy your memories forever (and avoid the debt).

3. Ask for help. Planning any kind of travel can be complex; if it were simple, you wouldn't be reading this blog! A good travel consultant will listen to the dreams you have for your honeymoon, respect your budget, do all the research, and offer you a few choices that you can talk over together. Whatever you may pay as a consulting fee, you will reap many times that investment in mistakes avoided, real value found, and a bottom line that you can afford. And, most of all, you will have a romantic honeymoon that's been planned by an expert so that all you have to do ... is enjoy it!


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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