PUERTO VALLARTA in review
Agent Cher Stirton has been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the last few years, and having visited the RIU resorts in Flamingos area, Cher can give you up to date information on their 3 properties near each other, plus the surrounding area as well on accommodations in the downtown area and places south of town. Whether you prefer an all inclusive resort or to stay in a condo or non inclusive resort and savour the sights and tastes of the city as she did, Puerto Vallarta has much to offer for everyone.
AGENTS IN CANCUN
2 agents in our office have visited Cancun and the Mayan Riviera during October.
Susan Swindells stayed at the Iberostar Paraisio Beach Resort in the Mayan Riviera.
She also took some excursions to experience the optional tours offered from her area, such as
snorkeling with turtles, Cenote and Xcaret.
Partial view of the pool area at Iberostar Paraisio Beach Resort - picture yourself here
Cher Stirton stayed at Villa Del Palmar in the Punta Sam area of Cancun.
She also took in some excursions such as the ferry trip over to Isla Mujeres and a visit to downtown Cancun and walks about the hotel district.
For any information regarding these destinations, please contact our agents
for personal insight regarding their experiences and resort impressions.
2 agents in our office have visited Cancun and the Mayan Riviera during October.
Susan Swindells stayed at the Iberostar Paraisio Beach Resort in the Mayan Riviera.
She also took some excursions to experience the optional tours offered from her area, such as
snorkeling with turtles, Cenote and Xcaret.
Partial view of the pool area at Iberostar Paraisio Beach Resort - picture yourself here
Cher Stirton stayed at Villa Del Palmar in the Punta Sam area of Cancun.
She also took in some excursions such as the ferry trip over to Isla Mujeres and a visit to downtown Cancun and walks about the hotel district.
For any information regarding these destinations, please contact our agents
for personal insight regarding their experiences and resort impressions.
Cadboro Village Days 2012
Thank you to everyone who came out to visit us during the First Annual Cadboro Village Days!
Gordon and Janine
Susan
We believe that it was a huge success, and are looking forward to next year! Please feel free to come by our office anytime, we are happy to assist you with all of your travel plans.
Don't forget!
TOP 10 REASONS TO PURCHASE TRAVEL
INSURANCE
1. You have to cancel your trip due to unexpected illness or injury to you or a family member... Transat Travel Insurance will reimburse the pre-paid non-refundable insured amount.
2. You get sick or have an accident while travelling. Even minor stomach problems and unexpected falls can add up ... our Emergency Medical Coverage covers you for up to $10,000,000, offers 24/7 assistance and provides up-front payments in the case of medical emergencies whenever possible.
3. You need to return home early when a family member at home is injured or unexpectedly becomes ill. Unfortunately it happens ... and may cost $2,000 - $3,000 per person.
4. You missed your flight or connection due to bad weather, mechanical failure or a schedule change ... we'll catch you up and reimburse the costs.
5. Your baggage is lost... it's always a possibility. You will be reimbursed for up to $1,500.
6. It's not an emergency, but you want some travel tips, restaurant recommendations or business services ... our Concierge Club Plan and help you out.
7. Insurance and deductibles for rental car damage can prove to be very expensive ... our Rental Car Physical Damage Plan is very affordable, covers you for up to $50,000 and has no deductible.
8. The Canadian government issues a new warning not to travel to your destination ... you'll be reimbursed.
9. Your tour or cruise company declares bankruptcy or ceases operations... you can be protected.
10. You can relax and enjoy your trip... without worry.
Need more convincing?
How much did it cost?
Here are some recent claims examples:
Emergency appendectomy: $16,000
Wouldn't you rather have: A 2012 Toyota Yaris $15,605
Broken foot in motorcycle accident: $7,900
Wouldn't you rather have: A Pioneer 60" Widescreen Plasma HDTV $6,999
Treatment for a brain aneurysm: $298,000
Wouldn't you rather have: A waterfront condo $298,900
Las Vegas to Victoria air ambulance: $22,400
Wouldn't you rather have: A Cunard World Cruise for 106 nights $21,590
Protect yourself and your family, come in to purchase you travel insurance through us today
Gordon's Trip to Korea
Gordon Davies experienced a fantastic trip to Korea this year. His comments and reflections are worth reading about.
Please check out this amazing special tour available to KOREA and THAILAND for travel up till March 15, 2013. 13 days, 10 nights including airfares from Vancouver - $2699.00.
Includes -
airfare from Vancouver
2 nights Bangkok
1 night Uthani Thani
1 night Kukhothal
1 night Chiang Rai
2 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Seoul
16 meals
sightseeing tours
airport transfers
Call me for the full tour details, and check out my personal comments below.
We flew from Vancouver to Seoul with Korea Air. The flight time was approximately 11 hours and 15 minutes! I was lucky enough to be traveling business class which made the 11 hour flight much more comfortable.
Seoul is a very modern city with a good and expanding infrastructure. One thing that I did notice was that there appears to be little to no single family homes or historic buildings, but there are many clusters of high-rise apartment buildings.
A city tour gave me a great overview of the city. We also took a day tour to the DMZ (Demilitarized Military Zone), the Dora observatory, Dora Station, and the 3rd infiltration tunnel. The DMZ is the most heavily armed border in the world, but these days it is a safe destination that is recommended to all travelers. From the Dora observatory I was able to use one of the coin operated binoculars provided to look into North Korea.
We also ate at some local restaurants and did some shopping in the Dongdaemun night market.
After we checked out of our hotel in Seoul, we started a 4 hour bus tour to Gyeongju. The area driven through was what I would describe as a "continuous industrial park". Very densely populated with all flat ground having been cultivated. I did notice some older Korean architecture and individual homes in this area.
In the Gyeongju area we visited Cheomseongdae Observatory, which is the oldest in Asia, the Daereungwan Royal Tombs, Bulguksa Temple and Seokgulam Grotto.
We spent that night at the Commodore Hotel in Bomun Tourist Resort, which is an area that contains midway type rides, quad rentals, and hot air balloon rides all surrounding a small lake. The next morning we departed for Busan.
Busan is the largest port city in Korea. We toured the area around the APEC house and then had lunch at the world’s largest department store, Shinsegae. Then to Gimhae airport to catch our flight to the volcanic island of Jeju.
Jeju Island was one of the highlights of Korea for me. We visited the Seweongson Tuff Cone, Manjonggul lava tube, and a tea farm. It is very popular as a honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds. The island itself and the lava tubes are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
We took a bus tour to Mt. Hallason Natural Reserve, which is a very popular destination for hiking. We also made a quick stop at the "mystery road", an optical illusion which appears to be sloping upwards but is actually a sloping downwards.
After that, we went to Incheon airport for our departure back to Vancouver. Incheon Airport is very large and clean. There are 2 hotels at the airport and offers a lot of shopping. Korean Air has a lounge area for all passengers that include a free shower with towel.
I found that all of the domestic airports in Korea are clean and easy to navigate. Korea has been putting a focus on tourism; they have a 24 hour tourism hotline as well as a library and other helpful things for tourists. We were also introduced to medical tourism, which appears to be an up and coming sector for Korean tourism.
Also, when visiting a private home in Korea, you must remove your shoes, but make sure that you are wearing socks because bare feet are considered impolite!
We ate at mostly local restaurants so the experience was very authentic. Most meals consist of white rice and a burner on the table to cook different types of meat. A box of utensils (generally metal chopsticks and spoons) is provided. Breakfasts at our hotels were all American style buffets with Korean food as an option.
If anyone has any questions about Korea, please don't hesitate to contact me here at Marlin Travel Cadboro Bay
250-595-1181
Please check out this amazing special tour available to KOREA and THAILAND for travel up till March 15, 2013. 13 days, 10 nights including airfares from Vancouver - $2699.00.
Includes -
airfare from Vancouver
2 nights Bangkok
1 night Uthani Thani
1 night Kukhothal
1 night Chiang Rai
2 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Seoul
16 meals
sightseeing tours
airport transfers
Call me for the full tour details, and check out my personal comments below.
Travel Consultant and Korea travel expert Gordon Davies
Seoul is a very modern city with a good and expanding infrastructure. One thing that I did notice was that there appears to be little to no single family homes or historic buildings, but there are many clusters of high-rise apartment buildings.
A city tour gave me a great overview of the city. We also took a day tour to the DMZ (Demilitarized Military Zone), the Dora observatory, Dora Station, and the 3rd infiltration tunnel. The DMZ is the most heavily armed border in the world, but these days it is a safe destination that is recommended to all travelers. From the Dora observatory I was able to use one of the coin operated binoculars provided to look into North Korea.
We also ate at some local restaurants and did some shopping in the Dongdaemun night market.
Dongdaemun night market
After we checked out of our hotel in Seoul, we started a 4 hour bus tour to Gyeongju. The area driven through was what I would describe as a "continuous industrial park". Very densely populated with all flat ground having been cultivated. I did notice some older Korean architecture and individual homes in this area.
In the Gyeongju area we visited Cheomseongdae Observatory, which is the oldest in Asia, the Daereungwan Royal Tombs, Bulguksa Temple and Seokgulam Grotto.
We spent that night at the Commodore Hotel in Bomun Tourist Resort, which is an area that contains midway type rides, quad rentals, and hot air balloon rides all surrounding a small lake. The next morning we departed for Busan.
Busan is the largest port city in Korea. We toured the area around the APEC house and then had lunch at the world’s largest department store, Shinsegae. Then to Gimhae airport to catch our flight to the volcanic island of Jeju.
Jeju Island was one of the highlights of Korea for me. We visited the Seweongson Tuff Cone, Manjonggul lava tube, and a tea farm. It is very popular as a honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds. The island itself and the lava tubes are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
We took a bus tour to Mt. Hallason Natural Reserve, which is a very popular destination for hiking. We also made a quick stop at the "mystery road", an optical illusion which appears to be sloping upwards but is actually a sloping downwards.
JeJu Island
After that, we went to Incheon airport for our departure back to Vancouver. Incheon Airport is very large and clean. There are 2 hotels at the airport and offers a lot of shopping. Korean Air has a lounge area for all passengers that include a free shower with towel.
I found that all of the domestic airports in Korea are clean and easy to navigate. Korea has been putting a focus on tourism; they have a 24 hour tourism hotline as well as a library and other helpful things for tourists. We were also introduced to medical tourism, which appears to be an up and coming sector for Korean tourism.
Also, when visiting a private home in Korea, you must remove your shoes, but make sure that you are wearing socks because bare feet are considered impolite!
We ate at mostly local restaurants so the experience was very authentic. Most meals consist of white rice and a burner on the table to cook different types of meat. A box of utensils (generally metal chopsticks and spoons) is provided. Breakfasts at our hotels were all American style buffets with Korean food as an option.
If anyone has any questions about Korea, please don't hesitate to contact me here at Marlin Travel Cadboro Bay
250-595-1181
Our Recent Adventures!
An agent in our office has just returned from a wonderful Viking River Cruise in Europe.
The food, ports and staff were all excellent and highly recommended.
There are special rates on many of the Viking cruises so call us to find the cruise of your
dreams.
Here are some additional experiences to be shared during travels in 2012.
Our travel agents have been to all corners of the world! We are confident that the best way to stay up to date on travel destinations is to experience them for ourselves! Our clients have the benefit of our first-hand knowledge and insider tips.
This is what we’ve been
up to:
Janine experienced a trip down under.
Traveling through Australia, her most memorable places include; Kangaroo Island for its natural beauty and indiginous animals, Hunter Valley for its outstanding wineries, gardens and golf courses, and Port Stevens for excellent sand duning and swimming with the dolphins. 
Janine and her traveling companions on Bondi Beach. Can you spot Janine?!
Niagara Falls
Susan (our Adventure Travel Specialist) returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip trekking to Base Camp at Mt. Everest! She trekked through breathtaking scenery, Sherpa villages, ancient Buddist monasteries, glaciers and dramatic cliffs and valleys. Check out Susan's blog for more information on this unforgettable trip! http://susansaddictedtotravel.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/everest-basecamp-trek-slideshow/
Susan treking towards Mt. Everest base camp
Gordon – spent a week in South Korea. The highlights of his trip was spending time in Busan, which is the second largest metropolis in South Korea after Seoul, and visiting the volcanic island of Jeju (which as also recently been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its volcanos and lava tubes).
The Amazing JeJu Island
Also see additonal posts in our blogsite for recent trips made to Mexico.
Come visit us in sunny Cadboro Bay Village to discuss your dream vacation! We have the knowledge and expertise to help you plan an unforgettable trip!
Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who attended our grand open house in 2012.
Doors opened at 3pm and we had a packed house all afternoon with a steady supply of coffee, tea and snacks being served.
It was great meeting many of our neighbours, and we look forward to seeing all of you in the near future. Below you'll find a few pictures of the get together.
Doors opened at 3pm and we had a packed house all afternoon with a steady supply of coffee, tea and snacks being served.
It was great meeting many of our neighbours, and we look forward to seeing all of you in the near future. Below you'll find a few pictures of the get together.
Congratulations to our Grand Prize winner Penny Hooker!
Penny wins a trip for 2 on the Clipper
Above: Some of our fantastic door prizes!
Thanks again to everyone who made our open house a success!
Europe season is upon us, so don't hesitate to talk to us about booking your summer vacation. Remember to book early to ensure the best fares and options!
Azamara and Royal Caribbean Event
Our exclusive Marlin Travel consumer event featuring Azamara Club and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines took place earlier this year
It was a great success! We had a large turnout and everyone had an interesting and informative evening.
RCCL/Azamara’s representative, Chad Kowalenko, did an excellent job hosting the presentation and kept the audience captivated throughout the entire evening. Chad presented both cruise lines and cited the benefits that each had to offer.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Chad discussed and showed videos of the impressive, newly built ships the Oasis of the Seas, and her sister ship the Allure. The Allure is the largest cruise ship in the world - it surpasses the Oasis of the Seas by a mere 2 inches!
The cruise line has also upgraded their older ships, bringing the entire fleet up to Royal Caribbean’s’ high standards.
Aside from offering kid's programs and a nursery program (for 6 months and up), the cruise line also offers Broadway style entertainment, specialty dining, the DreamWorks Experience, and much, much more!
Azamara Club Cruises
The cruise line has some unique cruising itineraries owing to the fact that their two smaller boutique style cruise ships have access to areas unreachable by larger vessels.
The cruise line offers more overnight stays at a variety of ports so cruising passengers can have more time enjoying the destination at hand.
Azamara also offers free wine with lunch and dinner. Water, sodas and specialty coffees, including a self-serve laundry are also provided at no extra charge.Traveling by cruise ship is a great way to see the world. You unpack once, yet visit many ports in the process.
The evening came to a close with a grand prize draw. Congratulations to the winner of a free Azamara Club Cruise for two!!
Contact us today for more information. Any one of our experienced Travel Consultants will be happy to help you plan your dream cruise!
We're Here!
In February 2013 we moved from Hillside Mall to beautiful Cadboro Bay Village. After being located in the mall for many years, we are all enjoying the sunlight through our windows and the fresh air. We also love the fantastic neighbourhood feel. There is a genuine sense of community here, and we are very happy to be a part of it. Both neighbours and fellow merchants have made us feel very welcome here.
Our phone number remains the same (250-595-1181), as well as our email addresses. Please feel free to pop by and say hello! We are more than happy to assist you with any of your travel plans, so please don’t hesitate if you have any questions for us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)