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Impressive family resort in FLORIDA! read more

Have you experienced a Karima property? What are you waiting for? Discover what truly makes Karisma Hotels different from the rest. Could it be our Gourmet Inclusive dining and service options? Or is it our Infiniti Pool Suites for a romantic getaway? Family Vacation, could it be the Fisher Price Playhouse that has kids begging to come back year after year? Ask Jen what Karisma is all about. read more

If you like staying in a beautiful resort-hotel, this is for you! read more

One of my favorite South African Lodges, Hannah Game Lodge is known as a "Gift from God" and its easy to see why. read more

Enchantment Resort... AWESOME! read more

Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel, Miami

 

With a history unlike any other resort, the Biltmore Hotel has flourishingly proven that its old grandeur could get back on its feet after 20 years of abandonment.

Aside from the Giralda Tower replica in the form of its 16-story Freedom Tower, Biltmore Hotel also boasts of the biggest hotel pool in the country. If its suites are just too expensive for you (with double rooms starting at $395 during the winter season), then you could still get in by patronizing one of its bars and restos. Know more about the Biltmore Hotel in Miami by checking out this short review excerpt published on travel-oriented site, called Frommer’s:
 

Large Moorish-style rooms are decorated with tasteful decor, European feather beds, Egyptian cotton duvets, writing desks, and some high-tech amenities. The landmark 23,000-square-foot winding pool now has the requisite hipster accessories -- the private cabana, alfresco bar, and restaurant. Always a popular destination for golfers, including former President Clinton (who stays in the Al Capone suite), the Biltmore is situated on a lush, rolling, 18-hole Donald Ross course that is as challenging as it is beautiful. Sunday brunch is an equal feat -- book early.
 

So contact us now to begin your lavish vacation in Miami!

Photo Credit

Central Park Sout, NYC

 

 

Even though a few of the things that you anticipate seeing in New York City are its lofty skyscrapers and never-ending concrete jungle, finding an extravagant hotel that impressively makes you feel close to nature isn’t entirely impossible at all. With the Ritz-Carlton New York at the Sixth Avenue, a comforting closeness to the verdant Central Park makes your stay cozier and a lot homier yet still allows you to enjoy your stay in the most comfortable and unintimidating way as possible.

Know more about the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park below:
 

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park offers all the elegance and charm of a private home in the heart of New York City. This award-winning luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan features 259 lavishly-appointed guestrooms, including 47 suites, and The Ritz-Carlton Club® Lounge experience for guests seeking a heightened level of luxury and privacy. In addition to superlative service and intimate surroundings, The Ritz-Carlton Club® Lounge serves five delectable culinary offerings throughout the day… Unwind with striking views over Central Park, or step out the doors to enjoy all the adventures that New York City has to offer.
 

Get started with your next vacation in NYC today!

I love hearing about new places to visit and stay. We have a pretty big reference list at this point from all our travels but every once in a while I come across some place new I just have to check out. 

I also love dreaming of luxury stays on tropical islands.

That's why I particularly like this article by Adam Nagourney for the New York Times - "Hotel Review: St. Regis Princeville Resort." He stayed at the beautiful, "magical" 252-room hotel and had an incredible experience. 

Here's an excerpt:

"The 252-room St. Regis Princeville lays claim to one of the most stunning locations anywhere: a cliff overlooking Hanalei Bay with views framed by lush tropical hills, cerulean blue skies, puffs of clouds and mist, cinematic sunsets and some of the world’s most devoted surfers. Though it has always been a luxury hotel, St. Regis renovated it in 2009. Gone is what was perhaps the most enrapturing lobby anywhere, open on most sides and seamlessly integrated into its splendid surroundings. In this otherwise admirable upgrade, ceilings have been dropped and a new entryway corridor has cut off the sweeping views through the lobby, which is now sheathed in glass so that the tropical air that once greeted you at check-in has given way to blasts of freezing air-conditioning."

P.S. The hotel served as the backdrop for several scenes filmed for the Golden Globe Winning movie, "The Descendants!"

Let us plan your trip to warmer days, NOW!

Contact us for more information. 

UNIGLOBE recommends Hyatt House (formerly Hyatt Summerfield Suites) located near the airport and pier. Ideal for larger families.

Rate is approx 153.00 plus tax and includes buffet breakfast, social hour on weekdays, airport shuttle and various suite options…some with kitchens.  Does not include shuttle to the pier but great for larger families or families with small children needing more privacy.

Contact us to reserve 1-800-361-1334 or 519-660-6966

Europe may be experienced a number of ways, during any season. This past fall I was fortunate to have enjoyed a Mediterranean Cruise onboard the Sovereign. The 7-night all inclusive cruise was an ideal way to discover this historical and picturesque region of the world that highlighted Barcelona, the French Riviera, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Tunisia.

From Villefranche, we re-traced the steps of the rich and famous in the French Riviera home to Monte Carlo, Cannes and Nice. The remarkable port of Villefranche offers sunny beaches, sophisticated resort cities and spectacular views. The drive along the highway is spectacular. At times it seemed the bus was barely hanging on to the edge of the road as we looked down the cliff side to the town below. The twisting highway arrives into Monaco, once the home to Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier. The small principality of Monaco is still celebrating the recent marriage of Prince Albert and his beautiful wife, Charlene Wittstock, this past summer. Here one can observe the lovely church and former residence of the Grimaldi family who conquered the area to claim it from France.

Not far down the road is Monte Carlo where you may pass the time people watching, gambling, or race along the Formula 1 Grand Prix route to reach the Casino Square. You can relax by having a glass of local wine and enjoy the scenic view of the gardens.

Our first Italian stop was the bustling commercial port of Naples. From here we enjoyed a quick panoramic tour of Naples taking in the Castle Dell’Ovo, one of five castles in Naples, and visiting the Franciscan Monastery at the hilltop before heading to Pompeii.

The countryside is dotted with vineyards, apricot orchards and farmland.  All the time Mount Vesuvius beckons on the horizon.  We entered the city of Pompeii on foot.  This city was buried under volcanic ash spewed from Mount Vesuvius in 79 B.C.  Wandering through the city ruins, it is hard to believe that 60,000 people once inhabited this place, 40 percent of which were slaves. If planning on being in this part of Italy, it is definitely worth the visit.

From the Port of Civitavecchia we reached Rome, the highlight of our trip. The scenery along the highway is beautiful, with rolling hills, green vegetation, and farmland. In Rome we wandered along the outside of the Coliseum and moved towards the Forum.  Here are the  buildings of the Roman Empire, Renaissance, and 20th century.  We travelled along the avenue to the Trevi Fountain. Not forgetting to throw in our coins, using the right and over the left shoulder to ensure our return to Rome.

We enjoyed a lunch break at one of the many cafes with a slice of pizza and a Cappuccino before heading to Vatican City where you can tour the biggest cathedral in the world, St. Peter’s Cathedral,  Make sure to include a visit to the Sistine Chapel to see the great works of Michelangelo.

Arriving at the port of Livornia, the gateway to Florence, the coach swiftly carried us through the Tuscan countryside, with rolling fields covered with grapevines and poplar trees. The grapes from this region are used to produce Chianti wine.

You pass the walls which once served to protect the city of Florence from its enemies.  Walking through the square towards the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiora we were struck by its beauty. Whether sunny or cloudy, the craftsmanship of the cathedral leaves you in awe. Florence has been renowned for the great minds of the centuries such as Michael Angelo, and Galileo.  Examples of their works and contributions are shown in the National Museum.  It is quite relaxing to take a moment and taste the local wine at one of the street cafes.

Afterward we traveled to the local “straw” market for some souvenirs. Departing Florence, we crossed the “old” bridge dating back to the 1300’s and returned to modern times passing by wind turbines and solar panels lining the fields. Florence is a fabulous city requiring more than a one day visit.
As our Mediterranean cruise ended, we came away truly pleased with our experience. Our delightful journey blended delectable rustic dishes with no shortage of olive oil, pasta and wine complimented by historic cities, country roads and idyllic villages. The perfect holiday!

For more information contact me at 519-660-6966  Ext 248 or email at kmcphail@uniglobeinstant.com

No visit to the Republic of Ireland would be complete without a visit to the Ring of Kerry…and no visit to the Ring of Kerry would be complete without a stay in the beautiful city of Killarney.  I recently travelled to this scenic area and found the residents as welcoming as the city.   Killarney is the perfect base to plan daily adventures or enjoy the sights of this beautiful city.

Choose from a large variety of hotels, B and B’s, and self-catering accommodations in Killarney.  We chose to rent a 4-bedroom home, which allowed us the flexibility to plan our days at our leisure. I would recommend booking early to reserve this popular option.  

During your stay in Killarney, plan an excursion to Ross Castle.  This fully restored 14^th century heritage site is situated on the beautiful sapphire blue Lough Leane in Killarney National Park.  This is an easy walk from the city.  We spent the day on self-guided trails admiring the serene beauty of the flora and fauna.

An absolute must see in Killarney is Muckross House, Abbey and Gardens.  Located just a few short minutes from the city, please plan to allow yourself a full day to enjoy this beautiful property.  Come prepared to walk or why not rent a bike?  We opted for the local form of transportation known as a “jaunting car.” This is a horse and buggy ride with a local guide who is more than willing to share the local history.

While at Muckross, a short walk leads you to the tumbling cascade of Torc Waterfalls.  This is one of the most photographed sites in Ireland, and should not be missed.

You will need a full day to travel the Ring of Kerry to take in the sights of this 179 KM circular tourist route. Plan to stop enroute in the picturesque villages, such as Caherdaniel, and Cahersiveen.  And, for a little Irish culture, why not enjoy a pub lunch? 

Imagine if the stone walls of Ballycarbery Castle and the Cahergal Stone Fort could talk!  These are just two historical sites worth exploring while enroute.

From Killarney, we were also able to travel easily by car to Cork  - home of the Blarney Castle, and infamous Blarney Stone.   Another day found us in the city of Midleton, home of the famous Jamieson Distillery.  Another adventure was to the seaside town of Cobh formerly known as Queenston, and the last port of the Titanic.   A full day’s excursion to the beautiful Dingle Peninsula was a highlight of our trip, where the coastal scenery took our breath away.

One visit is truly not enough to experience this beautiful region of the Republic of Ireland.

 

 “An rud a lionas an tsuil lionann se an croi”

(What fills the eye fills the heart.)

Africa has the ability to renew the spirit and excite the soul.  I visited South Africa and Botswana in August and with many great experiences, those moments up close and personal with the animals remain the most memorable.  My first encounter was in Botswana, on a sundowner cruise in Chobe National Park. The boat approached an island, idling along the edge. Thirty feet in the distance, the largest Elephant I’ve ever seen feeds on overgrown grass. I stood up inside the boat, leaning on a post, aiming the camera lense at this majestic elephant.  The motion caught the Elephant’s eye and he started to walk directly towards the boat.  The ranger told me to sit down slowly and reminded me to be still.  As the elephant got closer my anxiety grew.  Its eyes were directly on me and under my breath I tell the ranger to back up the boat, anytime, please.  That magnificent elephant came within three feet changed its direction and walked past the boat but its eye never left mine.  There are rules while on safari in Africa and in fact young children are not permitted as the danger is real and rules must be obeyed. The animals grow up with the jeeps and boats so they are quite accustomed to them. They view the vehicle as one unit and the humans within are part of that unit.  It’s ok to talk and take pictures, but you cannot stand up, or put your arms outside of the vehicle, otherwise you breach that unit and the animal may feel threatened. It is the wild, after all.

Young animals bring perhaps some of the most exciting moments on an African Safari.

I’ll never forget my first jeep safari at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve.  We left the lodge at 6am before sunrise, heading out deep in the western part of the reserve.  Our ranger took the main dirt roads for some time, and then much to our delight, took off through the bush, sometimes driving over small trees, yelling “duck” as we had to clear some larger branches.  I had no idea what was in store, but as the jeep reached an embankment it began to descend vertically. All I could think of as we disappeared over the edge was that there was no way in or out of here!  Barely enough room to fit the jeep and a sheer drop off the edge, my heart was pounding! Suddenly I saw them in the ravine.  Lion Cubs! Lots of them! In fact I counted 11 little cubs, some older than others playing rough and tough with each other.  Their mothers, three in total were all sleeping soundly only a few feet away. You may wonder how we were able to get out of that embankment. I was sure we would need to be rescued, but after three attempts the jeep’s tires held firm.

A favorite moment included an encounter with a group of hippos floating buoyantly in the river.  A turtle suns itself on the back of a sleepy hippo and suddenly the hippo’s powerful jaws open bearing its two large teeth. A great photo op!  And then the Hyena; vicious scavengers and one of the ugliest creatures on earth! Our vehicle approached a mother and 4 cubs that were using a hollow area under the road as their den. Curious and playful, the cubs in their youth are so darn cute.  A herd of Giraffe, gentle and graceful, invokes a sense of delight.  The leopard, silent as it stalks its prey. The mother rhino, so proud as she nuzzles her baby.  Exceptionally beautiful were the antelope; particularly the Oryx, Sable and the Kudu. Some animals will haunt you forever, but all are truly unforgettable. 

 

Buying Travel On The Internet - Think Before You Click

Despite media hype pitting travel agents against the Internet, travel agents continue to embrace the Web as a valuable source of travel information and encourage their clients to take advantage of it. However, you should always exercise caution before buying travel products online. Buying travel on the Internet is not for everyone. You have to know what to ask and when to ask it or you could end up wasting hundreds of dollars and countless hours on a trip that fails to meet your expectations. As part of our continuing mission to provide useful travel information for our clients, we want to address many of the common concerns and questions you may face when considering buying travel   Should you use the Internet to plan a trip? Absolutely! But the key word here is "plan". The Internet is a great source of information about destinations, hotels, attractions, local transportation and weather and more. However, the Internet often doesn't provide the detail and depth travelers need to prepare a complete itinerary. Travellers should always consult a professional travel agency before making any travel purchase. Do consumers get the lowest airfare from a travel website? Not always. Most "bargains" sold on the Internet are usually for limited times and are highly restricted, forcing some travellers to change their itineraries to include a "red-eye" flight or layovers. Some sites that allow consumers to perform a search for the lowest price don't include discounted consolidator air tickets. While other Internet sites do offer these tickets, traditional travel agencies offer the same discounts, in addition to valuable customer service and expertise. Are tour prices cheaper online? Usually, no. Although many wholesale tour operators maintain Web sites, they don't offer discounts there. Your UNIGLOBE Travel Consultant can help you choose the tour that's right for you and in most cases save you money. Is the Internet a good source for hotel discounts? Although several hotel chains offer discounts on their websites, duplicate promotions are usually available offline. Hotel discounters have sites as well, but the best deals usually come from chain-sponsored promotions and parallel deals offered through your local travel agent. Your experienced UNIGLOBE travel agent can also help clients find hotels at locations most convenient for you. *  *  *  *  * Other common consumer concerns about buying travel online include issues of security, cancellations and customer service. It is particularly important for those planning trips involving groups, young children and the disabled to seek the help of a travel agent. In addition, today's consumers are increasingly seeking unique, customized trips that often require the assistance of a skilled travel professional. The bottom line is that smart travelers know their time, money and travel dreams are too important to be left floating in cyber-space. And the customer satisfaction that comes with a travel agent's hard work, expertise and quality service will never go out of style.

 

Yes, you’ve heard it a countless times. If you’re traveling and have to spend the day outside, leave your valuables back at the hotel room. And the most obvious place to hide them is inside the safe box. But you might want to think again. With a week of its posting, Syrangerpro’s video has become viral online, gaining over a million views (and counting!) on Youtube. The presenter demonstrates how a typical hotel room safe works, exposing a glitch in the security. He enters his own unique password, hits the lock button and the safe locks. Then he enters the exact same password and the safe opens as it should. However the presenter continues to narrate an alarming incident on his recent trip. Forgetting his password, he asked for assistance from the hotel staff only to find out that there was actually a default password set up. Remember that old story? Just say “Open Sesame” and the cave of treasures opens. With the hotel room safe, punch in all zeroes, and your safe will open. Distressing thought: The same trick could possibly unlock virtually any standard hotel room safe boxes. So before you decide to leave your cash, credit cards and other important documents in there, check and double-check the safe’s security. And find an alternative place to stash your belongings.