Wednesday, December 23, 2009

San Antonio Texas





This past weekend I visited a friend in San Antonio and spent one evening at the River Walk (also called ‘Paseo del Rio’). This network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River is located in the city center and is lined by bars, shops and restaurants. Due to the Holiday Season, it was nicely decked with seasonal decoration and many lights, which gave it a very festive flair. Some people walked around with presents or Santa hats, many boats on the river hosted Christmas party dinners, and some boats carried carol singers/choirs along the river.

This area might be full of tourists but it is worth a visit. Walking is probably the best way to get around, a nice alternative is one of the boat rides, or a boat taxi. More information on this can easily be looked up at www.riosanantonio.com. And if you want accommodation by the river, try the Westin Riverwalk. Booked through Nonstop Travel you will get complimentary breakfast and an upgrade (if available).

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Join us on Facebook!

Are you on Facebook? Join us!


Nonstop Travel has created a special Facebook Fan page, and we would love for all of our clients to join in and ‘become a fan’.


See you there!


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

"Best of Australia" Road Show

A couple of weeks ago Honey, Christiane and me went to the “Best of Australia”-Road show.

http://www.signaturetravelnetwork.com/signature-destinations/index.cfm?destinationID=336&utp=consumer&type=consumer&agency_id=89


We talked to the representatives of Australia Tourism, Tourism Sunshine Coast, Sydney Tourism, Queensland Tourism, Hunter Resorts, Cruise Whitsundays, Let’s go Surfing in Bondi Beach and many many more.

Most impressed we were by DayDream Island Resort and Spa and once again by V Australia.



V Australia - flying nonstop into Sydney, Brisbane and now Melbourne

V Australia is Australia’s newest premium international airline with nonstop routes between Los Angeles and Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne!
The three class boutique style airline offers 33 Business Class lie-flat beds, 40 Premium Economy club seats and 288 economy seats. The suite of in-flight products includes two in-flight bars, a "ladies only" toilet complete with piped music and Australian icons featured on subtle wallpaper murals.
All seats on the brand new 777-300ER aircraft offer personal state-of-the-art seat back entertainment with user friendly touch screen options and seat to seat 'chat' or competition connectivity.


DayDream Island Resort and Spa – located in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands and just a short ferry ride from Great Barrier Reef airport on Hamilton island to Daydream Island, or just minutes away by boat on Airlie beach away from the mainland.
Daydream Island is the Mecca for sailing enthusiasts. Also it is a great place to snorkel. You could also do a bunch of other activities like sail-boarding, jet-skiing, parasailing, coral viewing, scuba diving, volleyball, tennis, and badminton.

Please call us for your vacation now!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Iberostar Tucan Riviera Maya/Cancun

I just got back from a 5 days stay at the Iberostar Tucan in the Riviera Maya.



We flew with Mexicana on the outbound. The seats were comfortable and they still served food on the flight at no extra charge. Once we arrived in Cancun airport we were stormed by people trying to sell us a transfer or time share. We knew from previous experience that a cab ride should not be more than 60 USD to Playa del Carmen and therefore stayed persistent when it came to the taxi ride price. We opted not to pre book transfers since we were traveling with our 18 months old son and had to attend a rehearsal dinner right away upon arrival. The cab ride was about 40 mins and pleasant.

We have stayed at the Iberostar before and really enjoyed this property It was a beautiful adventure with my family while being there for one of my best friend’s wedding. The reason I use the word adventure partly can be attributed to the pathways located on the walkways towards the pools and beaches that encompass a jungle / rainforest feel. Along the walkway daily we would encounter monkeys traveling in packs swinging from tree to tree in addition to the Peacocks, Roosters, Turtles and various birds with captivating beauty!

The lobby is very nice, with small shops, parrots at the entrance and a nice bar with nightly live music. The resort is all inclusive and also features 4 specialty restaurants.

We tried to upgrade to a Junior suite upon arrival, since they are located closer to the ocean with ocean views. Unfortunately they were all sold out. But I highly recommend booking a Junior suite or even Presidential suite when traveling with children before arrival.

The Presidential suite is huge, with 2 bedrooms, a small kitchen, 3 bedrooms, a Jacuzzi on the balcony and amazing ocean views.

The standard rooms are clean and decorated in yellow and blue colors. The TV offered not only Mexican and English channels, but also a German TV channel.

Basic room service was included and the mini bar was refilled each day with soft drinks.
We were surprised by the variety of foods that the buffet offered every day. The breakfasts included a wide variety to choose from in addition to the omelet station which provided us with a made to order freshness. We tried out two of the specialty restaurants and also went to the buffet for dinner to see what they offered. All inclusive vacations are especially great when traveling with children. Our son is a very picky eater, and we had many options at the resort for him to choose from.


They even had a play ground and a big enough kids pool for all of us to enjoy our time.
The kids club entertains 4 year olds and up.
The resort was almost sold out at the time of our stay but we never had problems finding chairs at the beach or at the pool to relax on.


The hotel is also just a quick cab ride from the ferry stop to Cozumel. One evening we decided to leave the resort to check out Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue which is only 5 mins by taxi. There is a lot of shopping available to you and it’s a nice change from the resort. However I believe if you have seen it once and have done all your souvenir shopping, there is no need to see it twice.

We attended a wedding at the Tucan, which was beautifully done. So if you are intending on having a destination wedding, I can assist you in every step of the way.

We flew back on Alaska Airlines and unfortunately they do charge for any suitcase you check in. The seats felt a little bit tighter than on Mexicana Airlines, but still not bad. Food was only available against a charge and not for free.

We had a great stay at the Iberostar Tucan and if you are looking for a great hotel for anyone, this is definitely a place I can highly recommend.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have regarding your next vacation.