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Janet McLaren
Your Personal Travel Advocates
If you book alone, you're on your own...

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Janet's Top Ten Bucket List Cruises of 2013

Advance planners — this list of beautiful “bucket list” cruises is just for you!  I have selected them for you to consider because of the opportunities they present for life-enriching experiences. They go to places you might not otherwise get to visit, or that would probably be very expensive to travel to as independent destinations. Here they are in chronological order: January 31: Carnival in Rio! aboard the Azamara Quest. The experience of a lifetime! Sail from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro where you’ll spend 2 full days enjoying “la vid...Read More...
Posted on May 03,2012

Top Tips for Maximizing Your Vacation Value

 By “value” I mean getting the most for your money and not paying more than you have to. I never advocate the “cheapest thing,” because that inevitably leads to disappointment. Value is all about what you expect to get out of your vacation. These tips will be good guides no matter what kind of travel you are planning, be it an organized tour, fly-and-stay package, cruise, or road trip: Go as soon as you can after school gets out or as late as you can before school starts again. The weeks in-between are considered “peak season” in the travel indus...Read More...
Posted on April 25,2012

A Milestone Event Calls for a Special Celebration!

So many of us are crossing major milestones this year! Here are my top picks for celebratory travels: 1. 50th/70th birthday: Take the whole family on a Caribbean cruise! Doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just a great way to share memories and appreciation of life together. Everyone can "do their thing" while still being together -- it's perfect! 2. 35th/50th wedding anniversary: The romance of the Mediterranean will make this special get-away seem like a honeymoon all over again! A Mediterranean cruise is perfect because it's so no-hassle and you can spend your...Read More...
Posted on April 07,2012

Top Ten June Family Vacations

 People have been asking me how they can beat thehigh prices of summer travel and the answer is: take your trip as soon as youcan after school lets out. Here are some terrific family vacations for earlyJune: Alaska cruise.  Fares are $200 to $500 per person less thefirst week or two of June. The weather is fine and you’ll still see glaciersand wildlife and have fun in all the ports. Cruise out of Galveston. Texans love to cruise so the ships are always full and command top fares – but you can “beat the system” by going on slightly off-weeks (also by boo...Read More...
Posted on February 25,2012

The Romance of Travel

  I admit it – I’m a travel-romance junkie. When I plan a trip I actually look up things like moon charts to see if there will be a full moon smiling down on my destination and what flowers will be in bloom. Then I check for waterfronts –rivers, lakes, bays, vast expanses of ocean – doesn’t really matter becausethey all present an opportunity for romantic strolling (preferably withafore-mentioned full moon as backdrop). Smart waterfront communities capitalize on their good fortune by creating andencouraging development of paved walkways, charming lamppos...Read More...
Posted on February 01,2012

With a cruise, it's All About Service After the Sale!

If you book alone you're on your own -- internet booking engines just take your money then leave it all up to you. Sure, it looks easy, but there are good reasons to book with someone you can trust to be on your side. Direct bookings aren't much better -- here are some common problems that I see people run into all the time: #1. Even if you are lucky enough to get a real person on the phone, they can only tell you what is beneficial for their company.      * They can only sell you their (inferior) insurance coverage.      * They...Read More...
Posted on January 16,2012

Top Tips for 2012 Travel Planning

This year will present some excellent opportunities for travel bargains and enhanced experiences, but you will have to plan in advance in order to take advantage of them. Here are my top recommendations: #1.  Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, so the cruise lines are sticking totheir regular routes, making pricing and scheduling a lot easier for you. Iespecially like the 5-night Carnival Triumph cruise out of Galveston onDecember 22. Falling neatly on the weekend ahead of the holiday, it’s perfectfor that very special family vacation and surprisingly affordable if you booke...Read More...
Posted on December 23,2011

Why You Should Consider a Holiday Cruise

There is no snow in the Caribbean, and ice is an ingredient, not a weather condition.

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Posted on November 17,2011

How to Plan an Alaska Cruise Vacation

 An Alaska cruise is one of the best vacations you’ll ever have!  It’s not an inexpensive proposition, however, so you’ll want to make the most of the time and the budget that you have forit.  Basically, there are 2 ways to “do”an Alaska cruise: Sail round-trip from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, Canada.  Airfares to/from Seattle are typically cheaper and the flights are easier, so this is what I usually recommend if you can only get away for a weekend-to-weekend 7-night vacation.  You don’t need a passport to take thisoptio...Read More...
Posted on November 02,2011

Bargain Alert!

 With Christmas and New Year's falling on Sundays this year, some of the cruise lines with regular 7-night Sunday-to Sunday cruise routes have changed up their normal itineraries to encompass both holidays.  That means they have to work in a shorter cruise somewhere along the way to get back on the regular rotation. Luckily for you, these altered routes give you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a winter cruise get-away at a bargain fare! For example: a lot of people have been interested in trying out one of Royal Caribbean's new "world's largest cruise ships"...Read More...
Posted on October 04,2011
 
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