Tag Archives: Travel

Reservation time~ Grand Canyon

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Oh boy…It’s time to start booking the trip we all planned over the last couple of months.

My sister and I are going to conference call on Tuesday to get our flights. Last time I checked there was a big difference flying out of Harford instead of Albany. I was surprised by that because there usually isn’t that big a difference.

If we fly out of Hartford we have to deal with 2 cars and a room. If the savings are enough it’s something to consider but the rates were changing hourly. I was checking them on my web page…www.netTrav.com/travelplace and on www.kayak.com  and of course, www.Southwest.com. It will be interesting to see what the fares are on Tuesday.

I want to start lining up the tours we want to do too. Grand Canyon Railroad with the Rim tour and lunch was one and the Bottom of the Grand Canyon was another.

Verde Canyon Railroad followed by the Blazin’ M dinner show is also a definite so we want to lock up those reservations too.

I just know this is going to be a great trip!

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

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I was looking for something new to tell you about and thought of my friend Diane, not Rocky’s 2nd favorite human Diane, but my other friend Diane. Now I know Diane has done quite a bit of traveling both before she got married and then later with her husband Joe so I thought I’d see if she would be willing to offer some travel stories from her trips.

I was so pleased when she said yes that we set up a time to meet right away.

Diane was such a natural that I offered to let her “guest blog” so she could tell her story in her own way. She will think it over but in the meantime she was very generous with her time and gave me a great interview. We decided to talk about her Birthday Trip to Mexico.

DR: Hi Diane. It’s great to see you again. I’m so glad you are going let me talk to you about your trip to Mexico. Now where was it you said you stayed?

Diane: We stayed on an island at the Villa Rolandi which is a boutique hotel off the coast of Cancun. The Island is called Isla Mujeres. It’s off the beaten path, not close to the town. The Island is pretty small. The resort had 35 rooms and the packages can be all inclusive if you want. There’s breakfast and lunch or breakfast and dinner. The restaurant is rated # 1 on the whole Island . Joe and I were spoiled rotten.

DR: How did you hear about it?

Diane: Joe’s boss had been there a couple of years prior to us going. He recommended it. The first time we tried to book it was completely sold out. The next time we tried we lucked out. We went in May, the weather was perfect. We had one rainy morning where we had to leave the beach for about 5 – 10 minutes. It was a totally indulgent week. They made us feel like royalty!

DR: How do you get there? Did you fly in?

Diane: We flew into Cancun. The hotel arranges for a taxi to meet you and they take you to a dock where the hotel’s private yacht picks you up to take you to the island. They call it a yacht but it’s really more of a speed boat. It takes you right to their private dock where the porter greets you with a cool towel and a tropical drink while you wait for them to prepare your room and take your luggage in. There were two other couples that were going at the same time so we all went over together. It’s about a 20 minute boat ride.

DR: What were the accommodations like?

Diane: The rooms are pretty. Each room had a hot tub on the balcony. We were on the 2nd floor. There aren’t any high raises on Isla Mujeres. It’s almost like taking a step back in time… like Mexico probably was years ago. You can’t rent cars on the island but you can rent golf carts. We took taxis mostly.

DR: Did you do much shopping?

Diane: We went into the little town. It was only about 3 blocks of little shops and restaurants. The North beach is the big beautiful beach but the one at the hotel was certainly adequate.

Diane: Back to the golf carts, if you rent a cart it’s $50.00 for 24 hours which is a good way to see the island, go over to the side with the waves and the rocks but we were fine with the taxi which was only about $5.00.

Diane: There’s only 1 bank in the town but most of the little shops take dollars. The dollar is king down there. You don’t have to change them to pesos.

DR: So everything was right there on the Island. Once there you didn’t have to leave?

Diane: There is a ferry that goes back to Cancun but Joe and I were looking for a quiet vacation, a chance to relax on the beach and be catered to. They have a really nice pool and an excellent health spa. Like I said , we went into town a couple of days just to poke around and try a little restaurant. It was just beautiful down there.

DR: You said you went in May?

Diane: Yes we went May 8 -15th. It was my birthday celebration.

DR: Did you use a travel agent or book your trip yourself?

Diane: I used Expedia.

DR: What was it like going through customs? After all Mexico is another country.

Diane: It’s not like going through customs here, It’s kind of antiquated. They randomly select you to go through your luggage. You can be walking along and you come to spots that you can either stop or go. You get a red light and you bring your whole suitcase over and they rummage through it.

Diane: Another thing to keep in mind when you’re going to Mexico is that when you get there they give you a tourist card and you have to keep it on you while you’re there and then return it when you leave. I guess it’s a way for them to keep track of who is in the country. I don’t know how long it’s valid for but I’ve never had a problem. I’ve been to different parts of Mexico probably 15 times in my life.

DR: Really! You’re really well traveled there.

Diane: Pretty much. Both east and west coast.

 

DR: So this vacation was pretty much a beach vacation for you.

Diane. Pretty much. We ate more than we normally do because the food was so good. Every night there was a special. I love fish so I had a lot of seafood. The waiters were very , very nice. In fact one of our waiters, Jesus, offered to take Joe and me to the turtle sanctuary on his day off. He came down and met us and took us to the sanctuary and gave us some education about it.. That was really above and beyond.

DR: Were you concerned about the unrest we hear about?

Diane: I know you hear about the crime and the drugs but I can’t say enough about this little hotel and the staff. Joe and I always felt safe. I think the problems we hear about are confined more to the border states and maybe some of the cities. I think Cancun may have some slight problems. On the island the only crimes we heard about was petty theft and maybe some pick pockets.

DR: Is there anything else you want to tell us?

Diane: I think you should go. The peso is so weak your money goes a long way. You really get a good bang for your buck.

DR: Well thank you Diane. That’s a great recommendation. It sounds like a wonderful place and that you guys had a great vacation. I’ll be looking forward to talking with you more about the other places you’ve been including other trips to Mexico.

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For more information, check out the links below!

　

　

　

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150810-d154002-r64311446-Hotel_Villa_Rolandi-Isla_Mujeres_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#REVIEWS#CHECK_RATES_CONT

　

 
 

 

http://www.isla-mujeres.net/

Scouts Tips~Luggage, To Tag or not to tag, That is the question.

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Scout

Hi Everyone,

Scout here with another Travel Tip. Last time we talked about shipping luggage, the pros and the cons, so if you decided that shipping wasn’t for you then you will need to get your luggage to your destination some other way. In  other words, either by checking it or carrying it on board with you.

Whether you are traveling light enough to get away with just carry-on or you need to check a bag you will need to identify your luggage. I think we all know that when we check our bags the attendant makes sure there is a tag but for carry-on we are on our own.

 Why do we need to tag our carry-on you ask? After all, we’re carrying it , right? Isn’t that what carry-on is?

Well yes and no. First of all most luggage looks alike and unless you plan to be handcuffed to the bag like National Security, you will be separated from your carry-on at various times in your travel. Right off the bat you will need to negotiate security check points and possibly customs. Now if you and your bag get right through security screening together all is good. But what if you get stuck behind someone who is setting off the alarms while your bag sails through the X-ray machine only to sit at the end of the conveyor belt while other bags pile up next to it? Even worse, what if you are selected for closer inspection by the TSA. You will be taken off to one side, maybe even to a separate room while your carry-on languishes at the x-ray machine. Lots of room for a mixup there.

So now you are ready to board. You put your nondescript carry-on in the overhead and settle in. You seat mates comes along and adds their equally nondescript carry-on to the bin right next to yours. Now in the confusion of deplaning you or your seatmate grabs the wrong bag and off you go.

Now lets say you are about to change planes. You get to the next plane and it’s a little”puddle-jumper” .  You are met at the bottom of the stairs (yup no jet way for this little plane)  by an attenadant who tells you that your little carry-on must take the next leg of your trip in the belly of the beast. The bins in the cabin are too small. He attaches an  orange tag but it’s just like the orange tags on all of the other confiscated carry-ons. At your next stop all of these un-tagged bags will be piled near the plane door for retrieval. Now there’s a place for a mix up for sure.

 Is that all or are there other places a carry-on can go astray?  What about transfers? You know, from your plane to your destination be it a hotel or a cruise ship or even on the shuttle just getting to your car. Maybe you’re riding in a bus or mini-van to get from here to there. At this point your bag probably won’t get “lost”  but it could get temporarily mixed up with someone else’s similar looking bag.

So what’s a traveler to do?  At the very least  you can tag your bags with the little paper  tags available at the airline counters but you would be well served to get some of your own. Make them colorful and distinctive, add a ribbon. Some folks put a picture of their favorite  pet on a tag on their bag. Keeps them from getting lonely and makes the bag really identifiable at a glance. (Note to Rocky, I said a picture)

Rocky

It’s also a good idea to put contact information  inside the bag just in case the bag goes in one direction and the tag in another. A few years ago Dusty  got some bright yellow tags that had a cruise ship on one side. I think she only has one left.  Some just disappeared and last year one of the remaining ones was broken right in half when she retrieved her bag.

Security experts say that you should not put your address on the tags because then everyone will know you’re away. They suggest using a business address and that’s ok but if you want to be reunited with your luggage the best bet is a phone # and/or address or even your itinerary where you can be reached.

Well, that about wraps it up for today’s tip. Here’s hoping you and your luggage, be it carry-on or checked, enjoy a safe and uneventful trip and arrive…together…at your intended destination. You don’t want to be like that TV commercials where the guy says “My me time is when my luggage went to the Bahamas (pause) and I didn’t.”

 Oh and one last note on identifying marks. Last I heard, pet hair is not considered a legal description.

 Until next time, this is Scout wishing you safe travels.

Roaming Around Marshfield

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Leaving the Sanctuary, I hopped back on RT 139 and headed toward the coast. One of my friends had suggested I check out the Marshfield coast and beach area for photo opportunities.

It was getting late so I stopped for lunch at Gerard’s Turkey farm. Just a quick Turkey sandwich and back on the road. When I pulled up along the sea wall it was apparent that I wasn’t the only person who was enjoying a lunch or snack in their car while watching the surf.

Once I finished my lunch I hopped out and took the stairs down to the water. Sea gulls soared over head and waves crested and crashed . The colors were amazing. Another gentleman called down to me about how pretty it was today! He had a point and shoot and was trying to capture the view as well. My guess is that his pictures will be just as good as mine. Point and Shoots do a great job for this type of photography as I learned when I took one to Hawaii.

Here on the water the breeze was brisk and had a cold edge to it. I climbed back up and decided to drive around a little bit to see what else might be in the area. I found the Green Harbor Marina and a quaint little stone church.

I headed back to the sea wall as it was approaching sunset and I thought I might get a good picture. Unfortunately the sea wall itself blocked the rays from the setting sun putting the water in shadow. Seeing that I sat for awhile just listening to the waves crashing and watching people feed the gulls.

I finally roused myself to head home. It’s times like this that remind me why I love living close to the ocean. I couldn’t have been more relaxed if I’d just come from a $100 spa treatment. It’s the whole experience, the sun, the sounds, the smells. Here in Marshfield the sea smell was crisp and salty. I’ve been some places where rotting sea weed makes the shore stink at low tide but there was none of that here today.

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As I headed into the west I watched the sunset spread soft , muted pastels today…no fiery red sky. A fitting end to a wonderful day.

Back to the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary

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Finally a day off when it isn’t snowing or raining. That’s not to say it’s beach weather but it’s a lot nicer than it’s been. The sun is out and although there is a stiff breeze it isn’t that cold, cutting wind. I have to drive to Plymouth so I think I’ll swing up to Marshfield and see how the sanctuary survived the winter. I intended to get there during the winter but it seemed like there was a winter storm every time I got a day off. So here it is …almost spring…and I’m just getting back here now.

As I pulled in to park I saw that the little garden and bird feeders were still there next to the entrance. I scared a flock of blackbirds but then I think I saw a flash of red. I think they may be red wing blackbirds.

My goal today is to make it to the end of the main trail. A friend of mine asked me if I’d been there yet. He said there are often deer and that you can almost always see a red-tailed hawk or two. I knew it was the wrong time of day for deer to be out in the open but I mainly wanted to see the area.

I started down the path and right off the bat met up with another couple who were really walking fast. I stopped and let them pass ahead of me. I wasn’t looking to run a race. I think I have seen this couple here before, He, like me, takes pictures and she seems to be along for the walk.

I took the right path down by the pond. There were ducks and swans and the ever-present Canadian geese. I passed the otter slide on the left but it didn’t look like it had been used in a long while. I entered the woods and here the path was still covered with snow and ice so I had to step carefully. I took the “Secret” Trail along the boardwalk that led to the meadow where I saw the deer last year. All was quiet, the leafless trees making for a surreal landscape.

Back in the woods I followed the boardwalk until the trail split. I went right this time and took the loop trail which is just what it says…a loop. Back on the boardwalk again I hooked up with the main trail and followed it up to a wooden platform. This must be the Fox hill Observation platform and the end of the trail. I sat there listening and looking out over the varied terrain thinking about what it would look like in a month or two when spring has really “sprung”. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a movement. A large bird was flying low over the landscape. It was too far away for a picture so I just sat and watched. It landed on a fence post and I used my telephoto to get a little better look. I think it was a hawk but I couldn’t tell what kind. Maybe the red-tail I’d been told about?

It didn’t stay there very long before it took off circling higher and higher. It was soon joined by 2 others, the three of them dipping and gliding in a kind of ballet in the sky. I’m not sure how long I watched but eventually I figured I should head back. Other than the 2 people I had met when I started out, I hadn’t seen another soul.

Leaving Fox hill I took the right trail again. This one was marked River Walk. I had started it last visit but had turned around. This time I was determined to walk the whole thing and I’m glad I did.

The Green River was slow and meandering here, it’s smooth surface acting as a mirror for the trees along it’s banks. Not too far in the river made an oxbow and led me around to a pretty wooden bridge. This too was reflected in the calm river waters.

Crossing the bridge led to a board walk over a swampy area and on to another bridge. Once I crossed that bridge I recognized the other end of the River Walk. I was back on the main trail. A bit farther on is a little trail to the right that I remembered from last year. It’s where I got the picture of the buttercups and sunshine. Today it was just dead grass but it still held a surprise. As I headed out of the last bend a hawk took off from the tree right in front of me. I got a good glimpse and then he was behind the tree line.

I moved up to the end of the trees only to see him winging upward to do the same soaring dance I’d seen the other 3 hawks do earlier.

I continued along the main path until I reached the duck blind. I let myself in and probably spent a good 30-45 minutes there watching the geese play on the pond. They were splashing and bobbing like so many little kids playing. They all seemed to be in pairs too.

By now it was definitely time to move on. I still wanted to find the Marshfield beach .

I was impressed by the condition of the trails and the blinds. Everything is groomed and some of the fence posts looked new. If they are, then the Audubon folks have been busy indeed as winter hasn’t even come to an end yet.

　

　

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