Travel Blogs - Fox World Travel

Where to get the best deal on a Funjet Vacation

2011-08-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Fox World Travel is among only a few select travel companies that offer the ability to book Funjet Vacations flight + hotel packages directly on their web site, allowing consumers who still want to book a vacation on their own online, the opportunity to still have the back-end support of a full-service travel agency with over 50 years experience in the industry.

GoFox.com's most prominent feature is their "hot deals" search tool, that allows you to see the latest weekly deals available from Funjet Vacations. Dates, destinations, resorts and added values are all laid out in front of you for easy access to online booking or simply research before calling your travel agent.

Check out this week's "hot deals" from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel

Looking for group vacation discounts? Contact our group travel agents and learn how group leaders can earn free flights, hotel stays, upgrades and more! It's easier than you may think!

To ultimately save time and plan a stress-free vacation from start to finish, contact a travel agent by phone at 888-369-8785, inquire online or find a travel agent by destination specialties!

Search Travel Agents by Destination

2011-05-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

Fox World Travel recently updated our web site to include a new destination travel specialist search tool and all new "travel agent" profiles, highlighting the experience and expertise of our team of travel agents who average 11 years with our company and over 19 years industry experience!

Find travel agents by destination expertise, office location and more!

Fox World Travel Locations

Looking for a destination travel specialist? Here's a small glimpse of what Fox World Travel agents specialize in when it comes to planning your vacations!

Fox World Travel has been a full-service travel company for over 50 years and is a top 19 travel agency in the U.S.

Best Kept Travel Secrets

2011-04-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

Tripadvisor.com recently came out with a list of their top "Best Kept Travel Secrets" and we thought we'd share them with you!

1. Boston, MA
Clarendon Square Inn
Neptune Oyster

2. Las Vegas, NV
The Neon Museum
Hotel32 at Monte Carlo

3. Sanibel and Captiva, FL
North Captiva Island Club Resort
Sunshine Island Inn

4. Dallas, TX
Hotel Lumen - a Kimpton Hotel
Jimmy's Food Store

5. Pigeon Forge, TN
Parrot Mountain & Gardens
Carver's Applehouse

6. Bahamas
Emerald Palms by the Sea
Arawak Cay

7. Maui, HI
The Inn at Mama's Fish House
Cafe Romantica

8. Orlando, FL
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
The sound booths at Disney's Hollywood Studios

9. San Francisco, CA
Musee Mecanique
Albona Ristorante Istriano

10. New York City, NY
High Line Park
Eataly

What are you waiting for? Consult with one of our travel agents and they'll help you discover these unique destinations and other hidden travel gems!

2011-03-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL ANNOUNCES 2010 REPRESENTATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS - FOX WORLD TRAVEL AMONG THE WINNERS

U.S. Representative Agency Winners Honored for Superior Sales and Year-Over-Year Growth

American Express Travel recently announced that 25 agency members of its U.S. Representative Travel Network have earned the prestigious Representative Excellence Award for 2010, including Fox World Travel! Fox World Travel has been in business for 51 years and is a full-service travel agency, providing business travel, vacation travel and meetings and incentives services.

The Representative Excellence Award honors the achievements of the Representative Travel Network member agencies that have reached superior sales results driving cruise and tour supplier goals or have secured the highest year-over-year sales growth. The 2010 winners will receive a seven-day voyage aboard the Silvesea Silver Spirit from Southampton, UK to Barcelona, Spain.

"We are excited to recognize these dedicated travel agent partners for their outstanding contribution to our customers in addition to their dedication and hard work,” said Ellen Bettridge, vice president, U.S. Retail Travel Network, American Express Travel. "The 25 agencies selected have represented the American Express brand in an exemplary fashion and delivered extraordinary results in 2010, contributing to an exceptional year for American Express Travel and the industry overall.”

This year's Representative Excellence Award winners are:

Adventure Travel – Pompano Beach, FL
Aladdin Travel Services– Alpharetta, GA
All Seasons Travel – Birmingham, AL
ALTOUR – New York City, NY
Americas Vacation Center - Miami, FL
Avenue Travel – West Orange, NJ
Azumano Travel – Portland, OR
Bursch Travel – Alexandria, MN
Carrousel Travel – Minneapolis, MN
CI Travel – Norfolk, VA
Cruise Planners – Coral Springs, FL
Fox World Travel – Oshkosh, WI
Main Street Travel – Lakewood Ranch, FL
Mann Travels – Charlotte, NC
Menno Travel – Goshen, IN
Milne Travel – Barre, VT
Passageways Travel- Traverse City, MI
Pennsylvania Travel Inc. – Paoli, PA
Prestige Travel & Cruises – Las Vegas, NV
Springdale Travel – Mobile, AL
Summit Travel Group – San Mateo, CA
Suzi Davis Travel – Bloomington, IL
The Travel Authority – Jeffersonville, IN
Town Place Travel & Cruises – Marlton, NJ
Travelink, Incorporated – Nashville, TN

About American Express Travel:

American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915, and today operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks in more than 140 countries worldwide.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

WAVE SEASON - TOP TIPS FOR NEW CRUISERS

2011-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

1. We recommend completing the required cruise pre-registration information early so that you are not delayed when you get to the port. Plan to get to the port a minimum of 90 minutes before the scheduled departure time; the ship will then send a complete passenger manifest to Homeland Security 60 minutes before departure.

2. Have a passport or the documents required to cruise including your original or certified copy of your birth certificates with a raised seal and a photo ID.

3. Make sure that you have all of the cash you want to take (typically about $300 for a 7 day cruise) You will not need an local currency anywhere in the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico.

4. Plan your arrival day carefully and make sure you know all important times, including when your flight arrives, hotel check-ins, time of cruise departure, return times, flight departure times, shuttle schedules, etc. We recommend you plan to travel there a day early, especially in winter months.

5. Pack for the various activities of the cruise, including exercise wear, swim wear, formal wear, casual clothes for the daytime and sports/resort casual clothes. Consider shoes for all occasions, including exotic excursions you might enjoy.

6. Make sure that you have any prescription medicines for the entire trip plus a week.

7. Prepare a carry-on bag and keep it organized for ease of transfer through security, etc. : MP3 player and its charger and headphones, camera and its charger or extra batteries, a couple books to read; refillable plastic bottle.

8. Plan carefully what you want to wear when you board the ship because the ship's photographer will take a boarding photo which you may want to purchase and you will be in those clothes all day and evening. Your luggage may not get to your cabin until about 5-6:00 PM

9. Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about midnight to 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

10. If you have many electronics we recommend bringing an extension chord for in your stateroom.

11. If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship, bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.

12. Cruise lines will take lots of photos of you boarding the ship, getting off in ports, at dinner, on formal nights, around the ship and these are expensive. So take your camera with you all the time and ask others to take photos of you.

Your gratuities will be $11.50 per day per person in your cabin and you can pay that in cash or charge it to your on board charge account that will be set up when you first board the ship. The gratuities cover your cabin steward (who will clean your cabin twice a day every day), your waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter. You don't have to plan to tip anyone else; but each drink order will have a 15% gratuity added to the check. Remember the service workers on ships get the vast majority of their income from tips, so please don't try to short them, unless the service is really bad.

Wisconsin Badgers - Travel Deals to the Rose Bowl

2010-11-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

Wisconsin Badgers are now bowl eligible! Bowl bids are still pending, but regardless of the destination, the travel agents at Fox World Travel and Funjet Vacations will get you to the big post-season game.

Wisconsin Badgers Bowl Vacations include: Round trip flights, hotel accomodations, transfers, bowl game ticket, Badger Blast(sm)/Huddle and more! Details will be posted on the upcoming bowl vacations as they become available. Sign up to receive more information by email on travel deals to the Rose Bowl. Click here.

Cruise Essentials

2010-10-13T07:23:00.001-07:00

Below are things to keep in mind. We recommend remembering the following items when preparing for and leaving on a cruise. Cruise preparation is key!

Travel Documents, Wallet Items, and Paperwork

Airline tickets or e-ticket confirmation
Cruise documents issued by your travel agent or cruise line
Passports and visas (if necessary) or proof of citizenship (check with your cruise line for requirements)
Vaccination certificate (if required)
Driver's license and auto insurance card - in case you decide to rent a car when ashore
Medical insurance cards and medical history (especially if traveling alone)
Copy of prescriptions and list of all medicines you are taking
Another picture ID - if you don't take driver's license
Credit cards - be sure to call credit card companies before traveling to alert them you are traveling outside your normal area
ATM card
Pre-paid phone card
Cash or traveler's checks (be sure to keep traveler's checks receipt in separate location)
3 copies of airline tickets, cruise tickets, passports/visas, itinerary - pack 1 copy in carry on, 1 copy in checked luggage, and leave one copy with someone at home. TIP: You can also scan the documents and email an electronic copy to yourself so that you can access them from any computer terminal.
Contact numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards or traveler's checks
Emergency numbers at home
Currency conversion chart
Wallet, purse or fanny pack
Watch
Reading Materials, including eye glasses and sun glasses

If you have any questions when booking a cruise, please don't hesitate to talk with your travel agent. 98% of our travel agents have experienced cruising first hand and can also offer you additional insider tips and secrets to make the most out of your cruise vacation!

Things to do Before You Travel

2010-10-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

1. Contact Your House Sitter and/or Kennel before you make your final reservations to ensure they are available on the dates you're requesting.

2. Make sure you take care of stop orders or advance payments prior.

3. Manager your cash flow before you leave. Stock up on plenty of cash so you are not stuck with ATM fees, etc.

4. Call your bank and let them know you will be traveling. Most banks and credit card companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as credit card fraud. Your bank or credit card company could lock your account if you use your card in another country without notifying them.

5. Plan Your First Day. It's going to be made up of a lot of traveling and getting from point A to B. Ensure that wants you get to your destination you're not wasting precious vacation time planning what to do next.

6. Do a web search of hobbies and activities in the destination before you leave. Then you'll have an idea of what you'd like to accomplish and are not spending vacation time "planning".

7. Check out local entertainment listings for things to do.

8. Check the weather.

9. Program the number of your travel agent, airline and the hotel in your cell phone prior to travel, just in case!

FOX WORLD TRAVEL TO HOST VIRTUAL EVENT DURING NATIONWIDE “WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE NIGHT” PROMOTION

2010-10-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

For the month of October 2010 Fox World Travel will join thousands of cruise-selling travel agents in World’s Largest Cruise Night, an exciting event designed to showcase the incredible choice, diversity and value of cruise vacations. Travel agencies across North America will team up with 25 member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to provide consumers with information on cruise vacations and exceptional offers.

If they choose, area residents can find out all they need to know about cruising and even take advantage of outstanding vacation offers without leaving the comfort of home because Fox World Travel is hosting a “Virtual” World’s Largest Cruise Night. By simply visiting the special agency Web page, consumers can explore the incredible world of cruising and plan a cruise! Fox World Travel has chosen several short videos showcasing the exciting offerings and destinations from participating CLIA member lines. For extra convenience, the Web page will be live until the end of the October.

In 2009, more than 4,000 travel agencies participated in WLCN, helping to generate up to 44,000 cruise bookings during the booking period.

World’s Largest Cruise Night (WLCN) is the highlight of October’s National Cruise Vacation Month, the once-a-year period during which travel agencies across North America sponsor exciting events and promotions all focused on cruising – the most enjoyable, satisfying and value-oriented vacation option available in today’s marketplace.

Fox World Travel is one of 16,000 North American travel agency and agent members of CLIA, Whose 25 member lines represent over 97% of the cruise berths marketed in North America. According to CLIA statistics, the wide majority of travelers - about 90% - book cruises through travel agencies, and for good reason: agents excel at finding the perfect cruise to match their clients’ vacation needs, lifestyle and budget. CLIA’s certified cruise counselors are the cruise industry’s premiere professionals, providing the best service and value for your vacation dollar.

For more information or to book your cruise vacation, contact one of the travel agents at Fox World Travel at 888-369-8785 or visit GoFox.com.

Dream Destination Wedding Beach Options

2010-09-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Destination Weddings at El Dorado Resorts and Azul Resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico

Not only is Fox World Travel offering free suite upgrades, free beachfront candlelight dinners and free massage credits to consumers looking to stay at El Dorado Resorts (adults-only) or Azul Hotels (family-friendly) in Riviera Maya, Mexico, but we're also offering amazing vow renewal and destination wedding packages too! Our destination wedding coordinator is amazing and can walk you through the whole exciting process of planning a wedding.

Below are just some of the options at El Dorado and Azul Hotels:

New vow renewal and wedding packages, as well as augmented packages, at El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels are designed to provide brides-to-be an enchanting, customized destination wedding during which they receive personal attention and are able to tailor their celebrations with special touches that exceed even their wildest dreams. The Free Morning Wedding Package is ideal for couples that desire a morning ceremony when the weather is warm and the sun begins to glisten on the water. Couples can relax on the white powder sand before their big day or take a few days after the wedding to honeymoon in paradise. Regardless, the Free Morning Wedding Package is available complimentary with a seven-night visit
and includes all services and amenities.

Available for only $295 or complimentary with a five-night qualifying stay, the Vow Renewal Celebration Package invites husbands and wives to honor their love with a spiritual sand ceremony on the beach, beachfront dinner for two, sunrise breakfast basket, keepsake photo of their renewal, and romantically decorated suite. This newly unveiled package provides couples the opportunity to celebrate their love with a touching and unforgettable ceremony that is sure to create priceless memories at a minimal cost.

In addition to the personal bridal attendant, guest concierge and groom's room, all wedding packages include an on-site wedding coordinator, online bridal registry and wedding website, Justice of the Peace or non-denominational minister, translation of ceremony, filing of all documents, Mexican or symbolic wedding certificate, beachfront ceremony location; an aisle runner, table with white linen and ceremony chairs; and romantically decorated suite on the wedding night with rose petals, aromatherapy and candles. Dream destination wedding packages available at El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels include:

* Free Morning Wedding Package - available complimentary Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. with a seven-night stay for bride and groom, and includes brunch reservations with personalized menu cards for the group. Valid at El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Maroma, which offer seaside wedding chapels; El Dorado Seaside Suites; and Azul Sensatori Hotel, home of the
exclusive Sky Wedding location.

* Free Sweet Wedding Package - available complimentary with a seven-night stay for bride and groom plus 15 additional room nights, and includes dinner reservations with personalized menu cards for the group. Valid at El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Maroma, which offer seaside wedding chapels; El Dorado Seaside Suites; and Azul Sensatori Hotel, home of the exclusive Sky Wedding location.

* Pearl Wedding Package - available for $950 and includes dinner reservations with personalized menu cards for the group, bride's fresh floral bouquet, groom's matching boutonniere, and framed 5x7" picture of wedding couple. Valid at all El Dorado and Azul properties including El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Maroma, which offer seaside wedding chapels; El Dorado Seaside Suites; Azul Beach Hotel; and Azul Sensatori Hotel, home of the exclusive Sky Wedding location.

* Silver Wedding Package - available for $2,500 and includes Pearl Wedding Package elements plus in-room mannequin with cover to display wedding dress for three days prior to the wedding, bride's spa manicure and special spa gift, spiritual sand ceremony with keepsake souvenir, heart-shaped petite wedding cake for two, post wedding day brunch reservations for group, and late check-out for the bride and groom. Valid at all El Dorado and Azul properties including El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Maroma, which offer seaside wedding chapels; El Dorado Seaside Suites; Azul Beach Hotel; and Azul Sensatori Hotel, home of the exclusive Sky Wedding location.

* Gold Wedding Package - available for $3,500 and includes Silver Wedding Package elements plus blood test, Mexican wedding certificate translated to English and delivered after ceremony via Fed Ex, spa hairstyle for bride and haircut for groom, spa gift, logo beach bag, romantic sunset dinner cruise for bride and groom including transfers at Maroma Beach, and professional wedding photographer, 36 color picture package plus negatives and handmade wedding album - wedding photography typically costs thousands of dollars separately, making the Gold Wedding Package a truly unbelievable deal. Valid at all El Dorado and Azul properties including El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale and El Dorado Maroma, which offer seaside wedding chapels; El Dorado Seaside Suites; Azul Beach Hotel; and Azul Sensatori Hotel, home of the exclusive Sky Wedding location.

Call a Fox World Travel travel agent today at 888-369-8785.

New Mexican Law on Accepting U.S. Dollars

2010-09-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Source: Funjet Vacations

The Mexican Government passed a new law which goes into effect in Mexico beginning September 14, 2010. With this new law, the use of American Dollars (CASH) to make purchases in Mexico will not be as free as it has been in the past.

Other payment methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks, Mexican pesos and non-American foreign currencies (such as Euros or Canadian Dollars) are not affected in any way by this new law.

The most noticeable differences to Fox World Travel and Funjet Vacations' customers will be:

Hotels and Exchange Booths, and Local Banks will only be able to change a maximum of $1,500 USD CASH per person per month into Mexican Pesos. Previously there was no limit.
Businesses (including restaurants, shops, and Destination Management Companys) will only be able to accept a maximum of $100 USD CASH per transaction - but the number of transactions per customer is not restricted. Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept American Dollars for any purchase at all (this may include shops, etc), however still accepting Mexican Pesos.

If a customer wants to purchase an excursion (for example) that costs $150 US dollars per person, customers will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD CASH and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit card, Mexican pesos, etc).

Airlines are advising they will only accept Mexican Pesos and credit cards for any fees (including baggage fees).

Vacationers should never carry large amounts of American dollars with them to Mexico, but instead they should consider either using a Credit Card, taking or locally withdrawing Mexican Pesos, or use Travelers Check's (of any currency).

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your travel agent at Fox World Travel.

Article on Mexico by Linda Ellerbee

2010-09-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Linda Ellerbee (born August 15, 1944) is an American journalist who is most known for several jobs at NBC News, including Washington (DC) correspondent, host of the Nickelodeon network's Nick News, and reporter and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight, which was recognized by the jurors of the duPont Columbia Awards as "possibly the best written and most intelligent news program ever."[1]

One Journalist's View
By Linda Ellerbee

Sometimes I've been called a maverick because I don't always agree with my colleagues, but then, only dead fish swim with the stream all the time. The stream here is Mexico.

You would have to be living on another planet to avoid hearing how dangerous Mexico has become, and, yes, it's true drug wars have escalated violence in Mexico, causing collateral damage, a phrase I hate. Collateral damage is a cheap way of saying that innocent people, some of them tourists, have been robbed, hurt or killed.

But that's not the whole story. Neither is this. This is my story.

I'm a journalist who lives in New York City, but has spent considerable time in Mexico , specifically Puerto Vallarta , for the last four years. I'm in Vallarta now. And despite what I'm getting from the U.S. media, the 24-hour news networks in particular, I feel as safe here as I do at home in New York, possibly safer. I walk the streets of my Vallarta neighborhood alone day or night. And I don't live in a gated community, or any other All-Gringo neighborhood. I live in Mexico.. Among Mexicans. I go where I want (which does not happen to include bars where prostitution and drugs are the basic products), and take no more precautions than I would at home in New York; which is to say I don't wave money around, I don't act the Ugly American, I do keep my eyes open, I'm aware of my surroundings, and I try not to behave like a fool.

I've not always been successful at that last one. One evening a friend left the house I was renting in Vallarta at that time, and, unbeknownst to me, did not slam the automatically-locking door on her way out. Sure enough, less than an hour later a stranger did come into my house. A burglar? Robber? Kidnapper? Killer? Drug lord?

No, it was a local police officer, the "beat cop" for our neighborhood, who, on seeing my unlatched door, entered to make sure everything (including me) was okay. He insisted on walking with me around the house, opening closets, looking behind doors and, yes, even under beds, to be certain no one else had wandered in, and that nothing was missing. He was polite, smart and kind, but before he left, he lectured me on having not checked to see that my friend had locked the door behind her. In other words, he told me to use my common sense.

Do bad things happen here? Of course they do. Bad things happen everywhere, but the murder rate here is much lower than, say, New Orleans , and if there are bars on many of the ground floor windows of houses here, well, the same is true where I live, in Greenwich Village, which is considered a swell neighborhood - house prices start at about $4 million (including the bars on the ground floor windows).

There are good reasons thousands of people from the United States are moving to Mexico every month, and it's not just the lower cost of living, a hefty tax break and less snow to shovel.. Mexico is a beautiful country, a special place. The climate varies, but is plentifully mild, the culture is ancient and revered, the young are loved unconditionally, the old are respected, and I have yet to hear anyone mention Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, or Madonna's attempt to adopt a second African child, even though, with such a late start, she cannot possibly begin to keep up with Angelina Jolie. And then there are the people. Generalization is risky, but- in general - Mexicans are warm, friendly, generous and welcoming. If you smile at them, they smile back. If you greet a passing stranger on the street, they greet you back. If you try to speak even a little Spanish, they tend to treat you as though you were fluent. Or at least not an idiot. I have had taxi drivers track me down after leaving my wallet or cell phone in their cab. I have had someone run out of a store to catch me because I have overpaid by twenty cents. I have been introduced to and come to love a people who celebrate a day dedicated to the dead as a recognition of the cycles of birth and death and birth - and the 15th birthday of a girl, an important rite in becoming a woman - with the same joy.Too much of the noise you're hearing about how dangerous it is to come to Mexico is just that - noise. But the media love noise, and too many journalists currently making it don't live here. Some have never even been here. They just like to be photographed at night, standing near a spotlighted border crossing, pointing across the line to some imaginary country from hell. It looks good on TV.

Another thing. The U.S. media tend to lump all of Mexico into one big bad bowl. Talking about drug violence in Mexico without naming a state or city where this is taking place is rather like looking at the horror of Katrina and saying, "Damn. Did you know the U.S. is under water?" or reporting on the shootings at Columbine or the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City by saying that kids all over the U.S. are shooting their classmates and all the grownups are blowing up buildings. The recent rise in violence in Mexico has mostly occurred in a few states, and especially along the border. It is real, but it does not describe an entire country.
It would be nice if we could put what's going on in Mexico in perspective, geographically and emotionally. It would be nice if we could remember that, as has been noted more than once, these drug wars wouldn't be going on if people in the United States didn't want the drugs, or if other people in the United States weren't selling Mexican drug lords the guns. Most of all, it would be nice if more people in the United States actually came to this part of America ( Mexico is also America , you will recall) to see for themselves what a fine place Mexico really is, and how good a vacation (or a life) here can be.

So come on down and get to know your southern neighbors. I think you'll like it here. Especially the people!

This article was highly recommended by one our travel agents in Oshkosh who wanted to share it with all of you!

Behind the Scenes of Airfare Pricing

2010-08-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been searching for airfare, found a great rate, and then went to purchase your ticket only to find out that the price has changed, or worse yet that it's no longer available? It's happened to all of us and it can be infuriating. In fact, I've read some very colorful correspondence from our travelers who have been disappointed with that outcome. I'll do my best to lift the curtain on some of the airline secrets and give you a closer look at just what goes into the price that you're paying.

When I started in the travel industry 10 years ago, I assumed that airfare would be the easiest and most straight-forward of the travel products that our travel agency sells. I was wrong. What you see as a seat on an airplane is actually the end result of a dynamic, convoluted process that has grown more complex over the years.

So let's start with the basics. Let's say that we're a family of four flying from Milwaukee, WI to Orlando, FL. What does it actually cost to fly that plane? Every airline knows what their break-even cost is on that flight and they generally refer to it in terms of cost per available seat mile. In our example, let's say that it costs 13 cents per available seat mile. $0.13 x 188 seats on the plane x 1,064 miles = $26,000. The airline needs to make $26,000 on this flight to cover their costs, or $138 per seat. Much of that cost is for items that the airline has to pay regardless of whether or not they fly a single flight. Things like the salaries of their employees, maintenance costs, rent/lease costs, and airport fees make up much of these fixed costs. Now that the flight has been scheduled and tickets are available for purchase, the airline is on the hook to cover the operating costs including fuel and landing fees which are fees that the airports charge to the airlines.

Assuming that the price of fuel is stable, anything that the airline can charge above that $138 would be profit. Here's where things get complex. The airlines have devised extraordinarily complex yield management systems (now called revenue management systems) that try to determine the highest price that they could collect for each ticket issued. What you and I might see as a simple, cramped seat, these systems see as multiple products called "fare classes". Yes, that's right. The seat that the guy sitting next to you is in looks just like yours, but he may have paid more or less than you and the airline's system sees it as a different product.

It's not just the difference between First Class, Business Class, and Economy. That would be too straight-forward. The goal here is to maximize the amount of money that they can get for any seat. For example, some passengers (particularly business travelers) don't always have the luxury of planning ahead for their trip and can afford to pay more to get on that last minute flight. An airline may also impose restrictions, charge more, and issue penalties on passengers by applying rules on things like reservation changes, advance purchase, one-way combinations, minimum stays, and travel during peak travel times (think Christmas or Thanksgiving). Charging for carry-on luggage is the latest multi-million dollar attempt at increasing revenue. I'm simplifying the process here for sake of keeping it brief, but there are literally dozens and dozens of additional factors that the airline uses to determine your final price.

Supply and demand is at the heart of everything though. The "supply" is a perishable product - meaning that if a person isn't sitting in that seat, that particular seat on that flight can never be sold again. "Demand" deals with the number of people who need to go where the flight is going and are willing to pay the price of the ticket. If the price is too high, travelers may look at another airline or simply not fly on that date. Whenever a seat is sold on a flight, the airline's revenue management system recalculates the price for all the other seats because the "supply" side of the equation has changed.

So what do you think would happen on our Milwaukee-Orlando flight if a low-cost airline like AirTran or Southwest were to price their seats at $99? The airline would most likely drop their price to $99 under the theory that to get $99 (even though it's less than our $138 break-even cost) is better than not getting anything. That's one of the advantages to using a travel agency like Fox World Travel. We can monitor those price changes and can often re-issue a ticket if the price has lowered enough providing the difference back to our travelers in the form of a voucher to be used on their next flight.

Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic, once quoted that to become a millionaire, you simply needed to start with a billion dollars and then start an airline. I hope the last example highlights the difficulties that the legacy carriers have had with profitability and the reason why those revenue management systems have been credited with saving the airline industry.

All of this brings us back to your airfare search where the price has changed or is no longer available. This may surprise you, but when you conduct a search on GoFox.com, Expedia, or Orbitz, you are generally not searching real-time availability and pricing. You are searching cached data initially. What you and I might see as a simple flight from Milwaukee to Orlando, complex faring systems don't see as point A to point B. Most websites use a service like ITA Software (recently acquired by Google) which tries to programmatically determine the best combination of fares. There are literally millions of potential flight options for us to get to Orlando. We can look at nonstop options from the carriers who fly that route, but what if we were to stop in Chicago first? What would the price be then? Now imagine that question multiplied by all the two and three stop options for every carrier and interline agreement. Want flexible dates? Multiple those options by an extra day before or after and the possibilities are dizzying. Here's a secret that nobody will openly tell you: Nobody ever has the lowest fare all the time. GoFox.com beats Expedia and Travelocity every day and they beat us right back. I just did a search online where GoFox.com was $40.00 lower than Orbitz and $25.00 lower than Expedia, but Travelocity beat us by $5.00.

The initial search results you see on virtually all travel websites isn't live inventory. It's made up of recently cached data along with the optimal pairings that should result in the lowest available fare. Because it's not live inventory, the flight options you see from any of these sites may not actually be available. Once you've chosen your flights, that's when we check to see if that flight is actually available and what the current price is. When we first started using cached data and optimal shopping a few years back, the results were mixed with a high rate of unavailable fares. The process has improved over time, and even though we still see fares become unavailable, it happens far less than in the beginning.

Sometimes airlines will intentionally discount their fares in order to win market share. A few years ago, I recall United Airlines choosing to drop fares on their Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Cancun, MX (CUN) route. We ran into this because a large percentage of our outbound leisure travelers were flying charter out of Chicago and United had undercut the pricing. These weren't profitable flights for United. It wasn't their intention to make money in the short term, but rather to squeeze market share on that route in an effort to "own" that route and be able to charge higher rates in the future. It is my opinion that this has been the philosophy of the legacy carriers for years. Market share over profitability. I'm sure it has worked in many markets for them.

Here's a quick word about marketing. Several years ago at a travel industry conference, I had lunch with the Senior Vice President - Marketing for Travelocity. It was a nice discussion and it was interesting to learn that Travelocity had a marketing budget of $100 million. In those days, the marketing messages were all about having the lowest price. Cheap flights. Cheap hotels. Best Price Guarantee. Even though companies like Travelocity have learned that you can't compete on price alone (it's really nice to be able to talk to someone knowledgeable), the perception still lingers in the public's mind that the best prices can only be obtained online. Not true. A recent Topaz audit confirmed otherwise. It doesn't matter if it's Travelocity, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, or AirTran - they all have very large marketing budgets and that money has to come from somewhere. Who do you think pays for all of those Southwest commercials during the NFL season? You and I helped pay for that ad.

Finally, the next time you board an aircraft, give a nod and say "thank you" to the folks in first class. They pay the highest fares which allows the airline to oftentimes sell a percentage of their economy seats under cost.

Don't forget to buckle up and have a safe flight to Orlando.

------------------------

Jeremy Dyken is the E-Business Manager for Fox World Travel.

Top Roller Coasters for the Thrill

2010-07-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Bizarro, Six Flags New England
Agawam, Mass.

Millennium Force, Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio

Thunderbolt, Kennywood
West Mifflin, Penn.

X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, Calif.

The Beast, Kings Island
Mason, Ohio

Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer Park
Erie, Pa.

Viper, Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Ill.

Intimidator, Carowinds
Charlotte

Intimidator 305, Kings Dominion
Doswell, Va.

Hades, Mt. Olympus
Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

State of travel agents: endangered species?

2010-07-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

From Travelmole- 06.04.2010

Not so long ago, prognosticators were cheerfully predicting the extinction of the live travel agent. He or she would be replaced by robots. Has it happened yet?

“Well, much like the vaunted Paperless Office and futuristic Hoverboard, this life-enriching, job-threatening technology still hasn't — and may never— happen,” reports blogger Michael Valkevich in FastCompany.Com.

He said seven or so years ago, experts were predicting travel agents would be replaced by something called the Information Superhighway.

“Live travel agents deliver service that online travel agents have never been able to replicate much less replace, despite endless claims to the contrary,” he writes.

According to Fast Company, OTAs don't deliver on the most basic expectation of a travel buyer: offering the best options based on price, schedule, and preferred vendor.

And one reason for that was evident during the volcanic ash crisis.

He writes:

“This is where the rubber meets the road, literally - when the next volcano explodes and your shoes stay glued to the ground, stuck in whatever far-flung limbo you happen to be, no computer is going to proactively re-book you or find you a hotel so you can avoid curling up indefinitely on the terminal carpet hoping to find a way to get home,” he says.

The author acknowledges that simple domestic roundtrip and a couple of hotel nights are how you might leverage solid online travel tools, for either business or personal travel. But where you cross the line is as you get into complex international or multi-destination trips, he says.

They often require multiple layers of vendor-biasing, tax and currency adjustment, services fees and many more complications.

As travel technology leaders have observed, when it comes to disappointing travelers, software is rarely the limiting factor. The technology powering OTAs is advanced e-commerce material.

“However, what’s driving them is a strategy that invests in sophisticated margin logic and multi-level algorithms to get you to see, click, and buy what they want you to,” he writes.

That’s where travel agents come in.

“You can stop sweating. Heck, here are people - live bodies! - who can actually find on their map the particular hole where you are marooned, which cancelled flight was yours, and what are your best hotel and trip options now,” he says.

The author acknowledges that most of his trips were bought online until a few years ago when someone recommended a travel agent. He has since gone back to agents to handle his multi-thousand-dollar travels just as he hires specialists to do his taxes.

“Frankly, I couldn't be happier — I mean, about the live travel agent part. I'm clearly and justifiably bummed that Mattel never came through with the Hoverboard, though. (Isn't everyone?)” writes Valkevich.

By David Wilkening

Win a Free Vacation to Cancun

2010-06-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

To celebrate 50 years as a full-service travel agency, Fox World Travel is giving away a free 4-night All-Inclusive Funjet Vacations package for two to the RIU Cancun in Cancun, Mexico.

Enter by July 7, 2010 for your chance to win. Package includes roundtrip airfare, 4-night hotel accommodations, transfers, meals, drinks and non-motorized sports. Fox World Travel is also giving away five $200 vacation certificates as part of their contest.

Visit GoFox.com here to register or contact a travel agent for complete details.

Enjoying Phoenix, Arizona

2010-05-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

One of our travel agents recently returned from her first trip to Arizona and Scottsdale, and had this to share:

I stayed at both The Hilton Tapatio and The Phoenician. All in all these were both great hotels, but very different. The Hilton, located in Glendale, just north of Phoenix was very quiet for this time of year. Other than a marketing conference there wasn't too much going on. The buildings had a scattering of small pools and the large pool in "The Falls" was very nice. The service was very good all around and it was just a nice quiet atmosphere. The views of the mountains were awesome and I recommend taking a hike on the 37 or 100 trails right behind the resort. Definitely worth the additional views of Glendale.

The Phoenician was a great AAA Diamond resort. A little fancy for me, but I like to be able to get my own ice from the machines and I'm pretty independent. For those looking to get pampered, this is a great option. Service was phenomenal. We never had an empty pitcher of water next to us as we laid by the pools and food was very good. Both food and drinks are a little pricier, but that's too be expected with this type of resort.

My favorite part of the trip was getting up early in the morning and walking to and then climbing up Camelback Mountain. Camelback Mountain is right behind the Phoenician and you'll get great birds eye views of the hotel. It was a revitalizing experience.

I recommend both resorts for your next trip to Phoenix or Scottsdale. I also recommend the Salt River Tubing for $15 a person in Mesa. You can tube down the river for anywhere from 2-4 hours.

Tips for Toiletries when Traveling

2010-04-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Have the 3-1-1 rules caused you a headache with carry-on bags at airport security? Well we can tell you've we've seen it in the airports and it's more important than ever to streamline your vacation toiletries. If you want to avoid hassles, try the following tips:

1. Consider an all-in-one product, like soaps that can be used as body wash, shampoo, and even laundry detergent. Bethesda Sunscreen Soap features a cleanser and sunscreen product in one. Burt's Bees All-in-One Wash functions as shampoo, body wash, and soap. Check your favorite cosmetics/skin care provider to see if they offer similar products.

2.Take only non-liquid toiletries, such as shampoo bars, to avoid spills (in checked bags) or confiscation by security (for carry-on bags). These affordable alternatives are versatile and durable.

3. Travel empty-handed and use only the basic toiletries provided by your hotel. Many hotel brands now offer upscale toiletries. If you find your hotel room offerings aren't quite enough, many hotels stock extra products for free, such as shaving cream, toothpaste, etc.

4. Talk to your travel agent, he or she may have even more tips and tricks for traveling stress-free with toiletries.

What travel toiletries are your must-haves, and how do you travel with them?

How to Take Advantage of Your Frequent Flier Miles

2010-03-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

Do you have trouble cashing in your frequent-flier miles, just at the time when you come up with the perfect dream getaway or need take off at the last-minute? We’ve all been there! Programs have definitely been changing. Between airlines joining new alliances and rewards programs, to airlines letting you upgrade with points, the times have changed.

We love these Insider tips that Conde Nast Traveler published in their April 2010 Magazine:

Choose a mileage program that meets the expectations of your award goals.
If your home airport is a carrier’s hub, don’t assume that your main program has to be that airline’s.
Take a look at available credit cards out there and consider using one that allows you to earn miles that can be redeemed across alliances.
Start looking for award seats at least six months before your trip.
Look for award seats on code-share partner.
If possible, fly into one airport and back from another for one-way rewards. This is especially helpful if there is more than one airport in your region.
Look midweek, preferably Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Call the airline just after midnight on a weekend. Carriers change their award inventory on Friday afternoons and sometimes Saturdays.
For domestic seats, look at connecting in an airport that not a hub for the airline you’re redeeming miles on.
For international seats, start with the routes connecting the hubs in your carrier’s alliance.

When in doubt, call your travel agents at Fox World Travel and they can help find you the best value. Many times award points can be used in conjunction with vacation packages and are great for flying to cruise ports.

Travel Preferences Are Diverse

2010-02-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

As you consider what your next vacation adventure will be, do you find yourself leaning towards the same destinations and same cruise lines you’ve experienced in the past, or are you always looking for a new adventure? As a travel agency, we work with a diverse mix of clients and work to truly understand their travel preferences. A few examples of our travelers include:

All-Inclusive vacation die-hards. We work with many couples and families who through-and-through love the all-inclusive experience. They enjoy the fact that everything is paid for when they get to the resort. Within this mix we have travelers who stay at a new resort and/or destination each year and many others who fall in love with a resort and keep going back year after year!

Cruise lovers. It’s a pretty even split between our cruisers who are loyal to one cruise line and those upgrade and change it up and are always looking for the new best thing. These travelers tend to really enjoy diversity and visiting the many destinations they get to experience on a cruise vacation. Some book cruises online, but due to the complexity of cruises, most find it easiest to work with a travel agent directly.

Families: Many of the families we work with take a good mix of vacations, including road trips, Disney packages, All-inclusive vacations and cruises. Deal Seekers: Some of our travelers take 3-4 short trips a year based on any last-minute deals we can come up with. They take a mix of cruises and beach getaways.

Adventure Travelers: Our adventure travelers tend to sway more towards Hawaii vacations, exotic cruises, independent international tours and other endless possibilities. This group knows what they want and we customize it for them! Excursions are often a must!

Experienced travelers: Our experienced travelers have taken many trips throughout their lifetime and are also looking for one more “once in a lifetime” experience. We make that happen.

The diversity of travelers we work with is truly endless and very unique. No matter what your preferences, our travel agents will work with you to determine your interests, past travel experience and expectations to customize a great vacation for you.

European River Cruising – Is It Right For You?

2010-01-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

If your dream is to see Europe in style and comfort, the answer could be yes. If the prospect of an easy-to-budget-for European holiday is appealing, river cruising may be the ticket. If hassle-free travel is something that you long for but don’t often get, then yes IS the answer to the question: is European River Cruising right for you?

River Cruising may be the best way to travel to many of Europe’s most captivating places. Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest, Paris…there is a long list of cities and towns that developed along rivers in Europe and are therefore accessible to the flat-bottomed river cruise ships that navigate its rivers and waterways; places which are not accessible to large ocean liners or can only be reached by traveling miles on the highways.

Once aboard a river cruise ship, you can relax in the comfort of your stateroom which becomes your “floating hotel room”. You’ll unpack only once giving you more time to enjoy the spectacular scenery, panoramic views, sun decks, lounges, bars and amenities of the ship. Most river cruising ships are designed to accommodate 150 to 300 passengers, so it is a very intimate atmosphere where it’s easy to meet people and make new friends. And when these ships arrive at their destinations, less than 300 people are “absorbed” into the city compared to the 3000 plus passengers who “invade” a port on a large ship itinerary.

European river cruising can be a great value. Since meals are included, there is no reason to worry about unexpected dining expenses. The cuisine is always fantastic and often incorporates local flavors and ingredients. But unlike the large ocean-going cruise ships, shore excursions and beer, wine or soft drinks with dinner are often included in the price of the cruise.

Say YES to European river cruising and experience the charming squares, magnificent cathedrals and busy marketplaces of Europe in an intimate and inspiring way. Travel agents who have experienced river cruises first hand are available to help plan your first or next river cruise.

Why to have a Honeymoon

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

A honeymoon is one of those extra special events in your life that many newlyweds consider passing up. After all, a honeymoon may be too expensive for a new couple, it takes you away from your "real" life, and it involves planning — when you may already feel overwhelmed by wedding details.

We highly encourage engaged couples to take serious thought into taking a honeymoon and too look at the big picture. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to cherish each other outside of your every day lives.

There are valid and compelling reasons to organize a honeymoon and schedule it as close to your wedding as possible. These are some of my favorite reasons to have a honeymoon:

To Relax: Even the simplest weddings are stressful and tiring. And if you're like most couples, you'll spend more time with your guests than your new spouse at your wedding. A honeymoon is your opportunity to relax alone together.

To Celebrate: You're married! Allow yourselves some time to kick back and celebrate your new status as an official couple.

To Offer Undivided Attention: You may not need to travel to a new location to do this, but on a honeymoon you can enjoy each others company for hours without anyone disturbing you. Doing so in a beautiful setting away from home fosters intimacy, a cornerstone of a strong marriage.

To Explore: A honeymoon sends a couple out into the world together, and it's one of life's joys to experience new places, foods and opportunities together.

To Plan for the Future: A honeymoon gives a couple quiet time to imagine a new future together. What type of family do you picture together? Where do you want to be in five years? How about in ten or twenty?

If you’re at all concerned about the price of a honeymoon, a great option we offer our honeymooners is a honeymoon registry. You can encourage your bridal shower and wedding guests to contribute to your honeymoon fund through your travel agent to reduce your out of pocket costs as a couple. Speaking of travel agent, even if you’re stressed with the planning of a wedding, your travel agent can take care of the research, details and planning for you. Finally, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break from your “real life” to enjoy the newlywed stage and de-stress. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of days ahead of you to tackle “real life.”

If you’re ready to start planning your honeymoon, I encourage you to visit our honeymoon travel web page. You can submit a request form for more information, or call one of our many honeymoon travel specialists at 888-369-8785.

One of the most popular options many honeymooners lean towards is an All-Inclusive with either Funjet Vacations or Apple Vacations.

New Disney ship “Dream” to Feature Water Coaster

2009-10-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

Our travel specialists are very excited when it comes to the onboard plans of Disney’s Cruise Lines’ newest and third ship, The Disney Dream, set to debut in early 2011.

This new 4,000-passenger ship will feature the first-ever shipboard water coaster that is four decks high. Riders seated on inflatable rafts will zip through a 765-foot-long tube (that’s more than two football fields) from the ship’s highest point, through a funnel and a tube 13 feet off the ship’s side. Get a sneak peak at the water coaster here!

Other new features of the Disney Dream are animation-driven, such as "enchanted art" placed throughout the ship that will animate when passengers approach it and will change depending on who is looking.

One of the most unique new amenities we’ve seen includes unique upgrades to typically windowless inside staterooms. Now, they will actually feature "virtual portholes" offering live video feeds via cameras outside the ship, corresponding to the cabin’s place onboard, and you’ll also see animated starfish and pirate ships through the new portholes.

In the children’s area, the Dream will have an animated turtle that engages kids in conversation about ocean life. The turtle will "remember" the children's names.

Purpose-built for families, Disney’s ships have always been focused on creating separate spaces for children in different age groups, and also for adults. The ship will be almost 50% larger than the current Disney ships.

The Dream will have Disney’s first tween area, called “Edge” rounding out youth programming that has always had specific areas for babies, children and teenagers. On the Dream, it will add a space just for children ages 11 to 13, who don’t quite identify with high schoolers but are too old to for the elementary school kids.

A 9,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor space will give teenagers a private deck area on the ship’s bow with wading pools and fountains for cooling off, and deck games such as ping-pong and foosball.

They also get a dance floor where they can get in the DJ booth and try their hand at spinning tracks.

The younger Dream passengers will have playrooms themed around Disney movies, such as a Toy Story room, a Monsters Inc. area and a Finding Nemo space.

For adults, an area on the ship called the “District” will encompass five nighttime entertainment areas. The District will have a dance club, sports bar, champagne room and lounge where virtual cityscapes change daily.

The cruise travel agents at Fox World Travel can’t wait to share more of the unique amenities with current and future clients, especially families. If you’d like more information on when you can reserve your staterooms on the new Disney Dream, please call 888-369-8785 to speak with a travel agent today!

Go For a Personalized Cruise Experience

2009-10-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

With the help of our travelers and expertise of our travel specialists, we have compiled a list of cruising tips and have segmented our most popular cruise lines, helping you start on the right track to a personalized vacation experience with Fox World Travel.

Tips from some of our Facebook Fans:

Spend the extra money on a balcony, and take advantage of the great shore excursions!!!

Take advantage of the refillable soda cup deals when you get on board. They save you quite a bit of money over the course of your cruise and you may as well start using them right away.

Go on some of the more unique shore excursions. The memories will be worth the initial cost.

Take advantage of the laundry service they offer. Then you don't have to pack so much. I think the cruises we were on offered $10 for a laundry bag twice during the week. I packed it full rolled everything in to tight rolls! and then I had less wash when I got back. Definitely worth it.

The new trend in cruising is being able to eat whenever you want. If you are planning on this type of dining plan, keep in mind that you may end up waiting for long periods of time before being seated and served like at a very busy restaurant. To avoid the crowds, go to the dining room a bit earlier or later than normal dinner hours. Or skip it all together and go to the buffet!

Make sure to take advantage of the themed menu nights when the dining room will serve meals from the region you are sailing through at that time.

There are many cruise lines that are popular, but how choosing the right cruise line, destination, cabins and excursions is extremely important to ensure you receive the most personalized cruising vacation experience. We can give you a few quick insights into the travelers each cruise line caters too, but our travel agents are the true experts in customizing your cruise experience.

The following cruise lines are more “contemporary”:

Carnival Cruise Lines

Fun, casual, value oriented cruise line appealing to the young at heart of all ages.

Disney Cruises

Legendary attention to detail, amazing adventures for all ages and Disney-style entertainment, a Disney cruise vacation brings magic into your life.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Intimate modern ships offering many activities, but in an intimate environment focused on Freestyle Cruising.

Royal Caribbean

Well run, activity filled, value oriented cruise line with a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere.

These cruise lines are one step up and could be classified as “premium”:

Celebrity Cruises

Premium, semi-formal, value line with excellent food, service, and attention to detail.

Holland America

Premium, elegant, classic cruise line with a semi-formal and yet relaxed atmosphere.

MSC Cruise Lines

From the world-famous authentic Italian cuisine to the personal attention and friendliness of an Italian crew, guests are treated to the finest Italian hospitality.

Oceania Cruises

Offers highly personalized service, pampering, catering, and incomparable luxury, including cuisine that is simply the finest at sea.

Princess Cruises

Premium cruise line focusing on passenger choice in dining, entertainment, activities, and accommodations.

Windstar Cruises

Created in the mid-1980's with the vision to offer an alternative to the typical cruise or resort vacation.

Finally, at the very high end you will discover “luxury” cruise lines:

Crystal Cruises

Luxury line with six-star quality service, yet with all the amenities and choice of modern cruise ships.

Cunard Cruises

Traditional luxury line that began in 1840; its flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2, is the world’s most famous ship.

Regent Cruises

Offer voyages of exploration and discovery to over 300 ports on six continents, including Antarctica.

Seabourn Cruise Line

Luxury line with six-star quality service, yet with all the amenities and choice of modern cruise ships.

Silversea Cruises

Award-winning six-star luxury cruise line with unmatched, all-inclusive value; voted "Best of the Best Cruise Line" by the Robb Report in 1999.

Choosing of these cruise lines is just the initial choice you need to make. Next comes your preferred departure port, preferred port destinations, number of nights, what type of balcony or cabin you would prefer, what excursions will most interest you, and the list goes on. As an award-winning full-service travel agency with increased buying power, our travel specialists can help you with all of these unique aspects of your cruise experience to ensure you have a memorable, personalized vacation.

Great Escape 2010 - Join Eric Church & Love and Theft in Puerto Vallarta

2009-10-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Each year Fox World Travel, a full-service premier travel agency teams up with numerous country music radio stations throughout the nation to organize popular "media trips." These are unique vacations with popular country music recording artists joining each year. Past artists include Sugarland, Chuck Wicks, Julianne Hough, Holly Williams, Danielle Peck, Jimmy Wayne and many more!

This year Fox World Travel has just announced it will team up with Y100 out of Green Bay, FM106.1 out of Milwaukee and The New Star Country 96.3 out of Madison for GREAT ESCAPE 2010. This year's trip featured recording artist Eric Church, along with the the hot new group Love and Theft.

Join them at the Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! It’s your choice…travel January 29th – February 5th departing from Chicago or Milwaukee or January 30th – February 6th and depart from Chicago or Milwaukee.

The radio stations broadcast live throughout the vacation and participants have special exclusive events and autograph sessions with the stars! Package prices start at just $1499.99 plus taxes & fees. It's a great price for peak season travel.

To book this trip or learn more call 866-GO-FOX-GO or click here for details.

Fox World Travel's Online Travel School

2009-09-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Growth within the travel industry, during the technology age, has increased substantially. Therefore, it’s a natural fit for education to reach beyond the traditional brick and mortar setting. Fox World Travel, the 19th largest travel company in the US, has successfully taken its travel school of 27 years into that new world online.

Travel & Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. As the industry evolves, so has our organization's commitment to providing comprehensive programming for those interested in pursuing a career in the travel industry.

“With the benefit of enrolling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this newly evolved Travel and Tourism program is based on the same successful components used in our land-based curriculum. Opening the online program affords individuals throughout the country the opportunity to learn and work in the travel industry,” according to Kathy Vorpahl, Admissions Administrator and Student Facilitator.

Through Fox World Travel School Online, students enroll, have access to class materials, take exams, check grades, and communicate with instructors all from the comfort of their home. Students are given a target completion date of six months with extensions as needed.

Fox World Travel School is committed to promoting professionalism within the travel industry by providing a thorough, well-planned education. This is accomplished by:

•Teaching the students the skills necessary to be successful in the travel industry; salesmanship; and reservations system operations;

•Providing the students the basic knowledge in destination geography, booking & ticketing, travel products, sales & service, and industry standard procedures;

•Assisting the students in successfully mastering the materials.

Established in 1981, Fox World Travel School is approved by the State of Wisconsin Educational Approval Board, whose primary function is to insure consumers privately operated schools are well run, educationally sound, and financially stable. Many travel agents, flight attendants, marketing individuals and others in the industry have successfully completed the land-based and/or online travel program

For additional information please visit www.foxworldtravelschool.com or contact our Admissions Administrator, Kathy Vorpahl at (920)236-8022 Ext 1153 (kvorpahl@gofox.com).

Cruising Hawaii

2009-09-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hawaii is an amazing vacation destination with lush tropical rain forests, magnificent volcanoes, and beautiful waterfalls. There is so much to see and do in the 50th state that the planning may become overwhelming. Which islands should we visit? How much time should we spend on the islands that we select? Which side of the Big Island should we stay on? One way to eliminate that uncertainty is to cruise the Hawaiian Islands. This is especially true for those who have not yet experienced the islands.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers a seven-day Hawaii inter-island cruise on the Pride of America. This ship was built in 2005 and offers nine restaurants, nine bars and lounges, two swimming pools and a golf pro shop. NCL features Freestyle Cruising which means that you can eat where, when and with whom you want. You can also dress the way you want and at the end of your cruise, get off the ship on the schedule that works best for you.

The cruise begins in Honolulu and visits the ports of Kahului, Maui, Hilo and Kona, Hawaii, and Nawiliwili, Kaui. Passengers will have time to explore all of these ports as NCL has scheduled over 100 hours of port time. Excursions can be booked in advance and include adventures like jungle kayaking, a Haleakala Crater visit, glass-bottom boat rides, or a visit to Volcanoes National Park just to name a few.

Many passengers fly into Honolulu a few days prior to their sailing to acclimate themselves to the time difference and so that they can visit Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the beaches of Waikiki.

Cruising the Hawaiian Islands is not only time-efficient but also cost-effective. The ship becomes your floating resort so you save valuable beach time as well as the airfare that you would spend to fly between the islands. The tedious packing/unpacking cycle that comes with visiting two or more of the islands is eliminated. And of course, all of your meals are included in the price of the cruise.

Throughout Hawaii there is present an unseen force that is felt by those who visit; it’s called the Spirit of Aloha. Aloha is a Hawaiian word commonly heard as a greeting but it also means love, kindness and compassion – feelings that surround you the moment you step foot on one of the Hawaiian Islands. Why not experience the Spirit of Aloha with an NCL Hawaiian Cruise? The Hawaiian Islands are waiting to say “e komo mai”. Welcome!

Popular Cruise Line Owned Island Ports

2009-09-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

As our travel agents consult with our travelers who are considering a cruise, they have discovered that many clients are unaware that most popular cruise lines actually own their own private islands in the Bahamas and use these as exclusive popular ports of call.

Many cruise lines have invested their resources into buying and upcoming small islands. These islands have become popular ports with cruisers in the Bahamas for multiple reasons:

•Beautifully maintained and clean beaches
•The same valuable customer service as you would receive on the ship
•Chairs, hammocks and activities are all set on the beach for guests on the ship
•Lunch is FREE and included as part of your cruise!
•Often times you can use your room key to make purchases on the island (based on specific cruise line)
•It’s a private island paradise with little development and developed areas are owned by the cruise line.

Popular Private Island Ports of Call Include:

•Coco Cay – Owned by Royal Caribbean International
•Castaway Cay – Owned by Disney Cruise Line
•Great Stirrup Cay – Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line
•Princess Cays – Owned by Princess Cruises
•Half Moon Cay – Owned by Holland America Line

So, the next time you’re working with a travel agent or booking a cruise online, take a look at the ports of call on cruise itineraries in the Bahamas and you’re sure to see these islands as a port. You won’t be disappointed!

Alaska Continued

2009-08-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we disembarked the wonderful MS Statendam. Although our group was sad to leave the comfort, amenities, wonderful service and outstanding cuisine of the ship, we were excited about the second half of our Alaskan Adventure.

The land portion of our trip began with the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour; a boat trip which departed from the Seward's Small Boar Harbor. It was rainy and bit a chilly, but our enthusiam was not dampened as the trip promised to be an in-depth experience showcasing the Kenai Fjords National Park's abundant wildlife and alpine and tidewater glaciers. It was a promise that was kept!

Our group had the good fortune to be assigned to the newest vessel to join the fleet, the m/v Orca Voyager. She was commissioned into service in October of 2008 and provided excellent views from every angle (inside and out). Kenai Fjords Tours has combined the expertise of their captains—certified through the National Association of Interpretation—with the National Park Service to bring a multi-dimensional experience to their National Park Tour.

We cruised from Resurrection Bay and then through Harding Gateway and headed toward Aialik Glacier. Here I was thrilled to hear and see the loudest and most spetacular calving I had yet to experience. On our way we saw cormorants, horned and tufted puffins, bald eagles and common murres as well as sea lions, sea otters, and habor seals. We continued on past Holgate Head, Harbor Island, and Chisell Islands, with more wonderful wildlife viewing but as the six hour trip seemed to be coming to an end, we were all rather sad that we had not seen the "big one". But then with about an hour left of our journey, the captain reported that another ship had seen some whales, so we changed course slightly in quest of orcas.

As I stood on deck I heard from inside a shout of "port side - ten o'clock". My hands shook with excitement as I grabbed my camera and binoculars simultaneously. Off in the distance I saw the "blow". The captain announced that we were in the midst of a pod of orca whales and that it was possibly a "super pod" which is a combining of several pods; and that is exactly what it turned out to be. We then spent twenty minutes in what could be called "orca heaven". We experienced blows (the exhaling and replenishing of oxygen through the blowhole which produces a spray that can be seen up to a mile away) and flukes (the lifting of the tail as the whale begins its dive). And then I saw one of the most amazing things I've seen in my life - a complete breach of an adult whale. During a breach, a whale thrusts at least 75% of its body out of the water but this whale must have been an over-achiever because his entire massive body was completely out of the water. What a thrill!

If your travels ever find you in Seward, Alaska, this tour is not to be missed. And who knows; maybe you'll have the same luck that I did and experience the grand champion "breacher".

North To Alaska

2009-08-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

I’m five days into my fourteen-day Alaskan Adventure and each day’s scenery, ports of call, and shipboard experiences have exceeded all of my expectations. I am traveling with the WTMJ Listeners Group and many friendships have already been formed.

I had breakfast today with Colleen, the tour manager from Fox Select Vacations, the group travel division of Fox World Travel. She developed and customized this itinerary which starts with a seven day inside passage cruise on Holland America’s MS Statendam and continues with a seven day interior Alaska land tour. Our conversation turned to the best way to do a land/cruise Alaska journey; cruise northbound first and then experience the land versus doing it in the reverse order. There are arguments for both.

One theory is that if you begin in the inside passage on a cruise ship you are “building” to the climax of “the Great One”, Mount McKinley. It truly does give one the sense of going “North, to Alaska”.

Then there is the equally compelling argument that you should begin your trip on land as that tends to be the more active part of the trip. The cruise is then considered to be a relaxing way to finish your Alaskan vacation.

Since I’m traveling north, I am going to make a bold statement and say that this is the best way to do it (until my next Alaskan Adventure when I may change the order and thus change my mind. It is after all, a woman’s prerogative).

So far we’ve seen Ketchikan and Juneau; both were great and the weather cooperated. We have two days at sea coming up which will give me the opportunity to fill you in on more of the details, but right I’m off to explore Skagway.

Booking Travel Online - Is The Thrill Gone?

2009-08-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Making your travel arrangements online was all the rage just a few short years ago. Discussions about travel became contests to determine who had "outsmarted" the system and found the cheapest cruise, all-inclusive Caribbean resort, or airfare online. But the thrill that many do-it-yourselfers had experienced when making travel arrangements online has turned into frustration as many of the web sites used to book travel online have become less user-friendly and more complex.

Last year the e-travel business grew by eight percent according to PhoCusWright Research. But we are seeing a bizarre development; while more people are making their travel arrangements online, they are less satisfied when they do.

Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester Reach travel analyst said, "What we've seen is growing frustration." He explains that "travel companies expect the consumer to behave like a travel agent. The question I always ask these guys is 'Could your mother-in-law use your web site without havng to call you for help?' The answer is always no." (See the entire article in the New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/04frustrate.html?_r=2&ref=global).

So if you are one of those online travel bookers for whom the "thrill is gone", remember that a full service travel agency like Fox World Travel is a phone call away. For those who still enjoy researching online and comparing prices side-by-side in front of you, but would still like reassurance from a travel agent, Fox World Travel does offer the ability to book travel online, but you can chat live with a travel agent or call while doing it for added support and reassurance.

Flights for Furry Friends

2009-07-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

It seems that travel is becoming more and more pet-friendly. You no longer have to leave Fido the dog and Felix the cat at home when you travel.

But be prepared to pay a hefty price to do so.

Airlines have been raising their fees for flying with pets. Owners with small pets (like a cat or small dog) can expect to pay about $70 to $125 each way. Flying with your large pet can cost upwards of $500 round-trip. And those are just domestic flights. Expect to pay much more for international flights.

Be sure to check each airline's policy on pets. Some airlines do not allow snub-nosed pets like pugs in cargo because they are sensitive to heat. And depending on the ground temperature where you're flying (over 85 degrees or under 20 degrees), your pet may not be eligible for cargo regardless of breed or nose type.

Don't be mistaken, many airlines are taking steps to become more pet-friendly. JetBlue created a frequent flier program for the 80,000 or so pets a year that travel with them. Delta, Southwest and Air Canada have lowered their fees for flying with pets on board.

Here are several tips to keep in mind when traveling with your pet:

Only a select number of pets are allowed on each flight, book early to ensure a "seat" for Rover.
Opt for non-stop flights if possible. This decreased the stress on both you, and your pets and lessens the possibility of your pet becoming "lost luggage".
Avoid travel during periods of extreme temperatures. If you must travel in the summer, try to do so early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler.
To avoid "accidents" feed your pet about four hours prior to flight time. Allow your pet water right up until flight time, but make sure you give your pet a chance to go to the bathroom before boarding.
Make sure your pet's carrier is clearly marked. Write your pets name, your name, phone number, address, email address, destination, and destination contact information on the pets carrier. Attach a luggage tag containing this same information if you'd like. Also make sure your pet is wearing identification should something happen to your pet carrier. In case of any mishaps, you want the airline to be able to contact you as efficiently as possible.

Finally, keep in mind that if your pet gets nervous travelling by car, he or she will certainly be nervous about an airplane. If you question at all whether or not your pet will be able to handle the stress of flying, leave them at home, with a sitter, or at a kennel.

Making the Most Out of Your Honeymoon Decisions

2009-07-29T08:09:00.001-07:00

Anyone who has gotten married surely knows that the honeymoon is one of the most important and romantic parts of the entire experience. As a couple, it’s important to choose a honeymoon that is going to fit both of your preferences and styles. This can be challenging at times, which makes it even more important to seek the help of a professional honeymoon specialist. You can spend hours upon hours first researching destinations, then researching hotels and whether or not it has the atmosphere, style and/or perks that are right for you. Then there are the differences in similar-looking resorts, cruises and brands to consider. Next you need to decide when and where to fly/drive from. Then what excursions or added tours you would like to go on …… The list just goes on. On top of all of this there is the actual wedding to plan for.

The best scenario is to describe all of the things you are looking to get out of a dream vacation and just hand that over to a professional travel planner who can then give you options tailored to your expectations. You might consider:

• Modern or tropical
• All-Inclusive or Ala Carte
• Cruise, Package or Tour
• Mountains, Beach or History
• Night-life or serene
• Daring or laid-back
• The list again goes on!

Do you feel overwhelmed yet? Many of the couples our honeymoon travel specialists talk with feel just that. They want to make sure they are not only getting the best value for their money, but are also going to enjoy a vacation that will live up to their expectations for a dream honeymoon. If you like planning your own vacation, great! It can be very exciting, but don’t forget, a travel specialist is always available to help reaffirm your decisions, look into any questions you may have and can often get you added honeymoon inclusions you otherwise might not have found.

Non-stop charter Air

2009-07-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

As we look to wrap up our annual Apple Vacations Early Booking Sale (on July 21, 2009), it's becoming more evident that non-stop charter flights are going to be harder to get last-minute as seats drastically reduce. We have already filled whole planes from General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee on popular dates in January, and as our customers are realizing, booking early has never been so important as it is this year. One of the benefits of booking early is the fact that many of our travel partners are offering different levels of travel insurance, some of which include price protection in case the price drops on your specific package before traveling.

The last-minute deals we have seen this Summer could be a thing of the past as airlines and vacation companies cut back inventory. Don't get caught comparing the prices of Summer and Winter, because you could find yourself spending even more in the end.

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

2009-06-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this with you. Travel Agent Central author Ruthanne Terrero recently posted this list of reasons to use a travel agent.

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?
Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?
How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?
Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?
Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.
No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.
How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?
Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.
I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.
It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.

Travel Scams Target Seniors

2009-06-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

“Congratulations! You’ve been selected to win a week-long vacation to the beautiful, sunny beaches of the Bahamas”. But before you give up your credit card number, beware! You may be the target of a travel scam. Mature adults ages 50 to 70 are frequent targets since they have more disposable income and often travel more than those in other age groups.

If you’ve received a “too-good-to be true” travel offer, keep these things in mind:

Be suspicious of companies that require you to wait at least 60 days before you take the trip that they are offering. Most credit card companies will only allow you to dispute charges 60 days from the date of the charge. If you file a claim after that, you may not be able to contest the charge if the vacation doesn’t turn out to be all that you were promised.

Don’t do business with a company that insists on using a courier service. Travel scam artists know that by using the U.S. mail, they could be charged and prosecuted for mail fraud.

You are entitled to a written contract including the total cost of the vacation and the cancellation/refund policy. Insist on one before giving out your credit card. Reputable travel companies will provide you with all of the trip details prior to requesting payment.

Beware of “vacation certificates”. There are many variations on this scam, but the worst one is the scenario where the scammer collects a processing fee but then is unable to confirm your requested destination and dates. Then one day, after many frustrating phone calls with no reservations confirmed, you call the “vacation company” and discover that the phones have been disconnected and all evidence that this travel company ever existed has vanished into thin air. Your vacation certificate isn’t worth the paper that it’s printed on, you are out the processing fee, and are not going on a vacation.

“You must act now”. “Limited time offer”. “This will be your only opportunity to take advantage of this amazing offer”. If the salesperson is using high-pressured tactics and demanding your credit card immediately, you are probably being swindled.

How can you avoid becoming a travel scam victim? Use a reputable travel company who can give you advice about how to save money without getting ripped off. Always purchase travel with a credit card. Federal law requires credit card companies to remove a charge from your credit card if the supplier fails to deliver the product or service that you purchase.

As cliché as the old saying may be: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.

Cruise Update: Royal Caribbean

2009-06-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean has rolled out their “My Time Dining” option to all Royal Caribbean Cruise ships! If you’re a cruiser who likes the flexibility to dine when you cruise then this is a great added bonus! You have anytime between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to dine. Traditional dining options are also still available, making a Royal Caribbean Cruise more appealing to everyone.

We are also excited that Royal Caribbean has simplified their debarkation system, making for a much smoother and relaxing process.

Suites are also very popular right now, especially with the added values and new amenities being added for guests. Things like priority check-in, free luggage valet service, reserved seating in theaters, complimentary Concierge Club services, in-room dining, VIP pool deck seating on select ships and priority departures are just a few of the added perks you’ll receive when you stay in a Suite on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Travel agents can provide you with all the details you’ll need to know to ensure you get the best cruising experience. Cruising can be complicated, but also extremely enjoyable and relaxing. By letting specialized cruise travel agents help plan your trip you save up more energy to enjoy every unique aspect of cruising.

Also, don’t forget about Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas setting sail in November 2009! It’s the world’s largest cruise ship!

Travel Agents Help with "When to Book?" Questions

2009-05-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

With the fluctuation of travel package and cruise prices and the availability of early-booking deals, last-minute deals, seasonal deals, individual resorts deals, and who knows what other deals... the answer travelers are truly searching for is “when should I buy?” With years of experience, travel agents are the best equipped to help customers make decisions. Travel agencies also have access to negotiated group space, negotiated hotel rooms and the best insurance available that allows for refunds on price reductions for select vacations.

Even when you independently search for vacation deals on-line, it’s important to book through web sites and companies that have experienced travel specialists backing them to answer any questions, reaffirm decisions or offer personal travel advice. GoFox.com is one such site. Backed by the travel specialists of Fox World Travel, a Full-Service Travel Agency, GoFox.com gives customers who prefer to search for their own cruises and vacations that opportunity, while also offering the support of travel specialists that average over 10 years experience. Travelers can find a vacation on the web site and have the option to book directly online or simply call a travel specialist, just to ensure all of the details are in line. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

London vs. New York Theatre

2009-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

London Theatre or New York Theatre….that may be the question: Whether ‘tis more economical, authentic, stimulating, or glamorous to choose one experience over the other may be a decision which requires advice from your well-traveled friends, theatre critics and certainly your travel agent.

Fox World Travel can assist you with the travel information necessary to make an educated decision and help you with your “theatre break” as they say in Europe.

Things to consider –

1 – U.S. Citizens are required to have a passport to travel to London. If you don’t have one, you should get one. After all, when your friends invite you to join them on their London Theatre “last minute special” you don’t want to turn them down because you don’t have proper documentation.

2 – Flying time from O’Hare to London is eight hours, from LA it's about ten hours and from New York, about seven hours. But, interestingly enough, airfare is not always logically based on the flying times. Airfare to London during what is commonly called low season (November to March) and shoulder season (April, May, and October) is often deeply discounted and could conceivably be less than your New York airfare.

3 – Both destinations offer discounted theatre tickets at kiosks throughout the theatre districts. This is an excellent way to find discounted tickets with savings of up to 50 per cent (usually available on the day of the show). Of course, if there is a “must-see” show on your wish list, you should consider buying those in advance. Many tour operators will include show tickets of your choice as an optional component in their packages.

4 – Where to stay? New York accommodations in the Broadway Theatre District can range from modest to magnificent depending on location and amenities. When looking for accommodations in London select hotels in the Leicester Square or Piccadilly area to be close to West End Theatre.

Whether you choose New York or London, the experts at Fox World Travel can help you develop the theatre package that’s right for you.

"The Best Job in the World"

2009-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Island Caretaker Great Barrier Reef: that is the prize "job" that 34 year old British citizen, Ben Southall won. The contest, which was part of a marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland, awarded the winner the role of Island Caretaker for six months on luxurious Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a live-in position with flexible working hours where the main responsibilities would include exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef to discover what the area has to offer and then report the findings via weekly blogs, photo diary, video updates and ongoing media interviews.

Mr. Southhall will be paid a salary of AUD $150,00.00 (approximately $111,000.00 USD) for a six-month contract. He will receive roundtrip airfare from his home country (England), accommodation in a three-bedroom villa on Hamilton Island (which he plans on sharing with his Canadian girlfriend) complete with plunge pool, endless ocean views, and a golf cart, a computer with internet access, digital video and still camera access, plus travel to a number of the other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Stretching for 2,600 kilometres, and composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia is the world's largest coral reef system. The World Heritage-listed area supports a diversity of wildlife including whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and more than 1,500 species of fish. The reef is an extremely popular destination for tourists, sustainably managing approximately 2 million visitors each year.

According to the contest description the successful applicant should posses:

- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Good written and verbal English skills
- An adventurous attitude
- Willingness to try new things
- A passion for the outdoors
- Good swimming skills and enthusiasm for snorkeling and/or diving
- Ability to engage with others
- At least one year's relevant experience

Apparently 34,0000 individuals thought that they possessed these qualities as that is the number of applications received by Tourism Queensland. The group was narrowed down to 16 finalists who came from 15 different countries. They were flown to Hamilton Island for a final series of tests, including demonstrating their swimming abilities, snorkeling and being pampered at a luxurious island resort.

Ben's 60-second application video showed him riding an ostrich and being kissed by a leopard (in Africa where he is a charity fundraiser), before driving off into the sunset yelling: "If it's the best job in the world then I'm off to the best place in the world". Throughout the selection process, the candidates were expected to demonstrate a "passion" for the job and come up with ideas on how best to promote the Great Barrier Reef and other Queensland attractions.

The job starts on July 1. We'll keep an eye out for Ben's Blog and find out if he truly does believe it is "The Best Job in the World".

Where Would You Be Without Your Travel Agent?

2009-04-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

If you made your Mexico travel plans on your own, you are probably on the phone and have been for hours, trying to get through to your airline, tour operator, cruise line, or hotel. If your upcoming Mexico travel was purchased through a travel agent, it's likely that you've been contacted (or will be soon) by your travel professional with your options. Fox World Travel has and will continue to monitor the influenza outbreak, the advisories by the CDC, and the alerts that we are receiving from our travel industry partners so that we can provide our customers the most up-to-date and accurate information.

The swine flu outbreak has forced many travelers with Mexico itineraries to make a difficult decision: should I cancel my travel completely, should I change my dates and/or destination, or should I proceed as planned? These decisions are certainly personal and can be difficult but armed with the facts, they can at least be informed.

Many airlines and tour operators are waiving the change or cancel fees for travel to Mexico (there are some restrictions based on dates of travel). If you still want to travel but would like to avoid Mexico, consider the Dominican Republic, Jamaica or perhaps a cruise (which doesn't visit a Mexican port). Some tour operators are offering discounts for rebooking at select hotels. Your travel agent can help you find alternate arrangements which are right for you.

If you do decide to travel to an area where swine flu has been reported, WebMD has these recommendations:

1. Check updates from the CDC, WHO and local health authorities, and follow their guidelines.

2. Check on health care resources in the area you'll be visiting before you depart.

3. Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel.

4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

5. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

6. Seek medical care if you are ill with a fever and other symptoms of the flu.

And if you didn't heed the advice of your travel professional regarding the importance of purchasing travel insurance for your current trip, this should be a lesson learned. "All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes" Winston Churchill

Senior Travel Tips

2009-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

On April 21, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Retired Men's Club of Wauwatosa. The topic was "Senior Travel Tips" and I thought that some of the key points from that presentation may be of interest.

1. Research and plan - take the time to investigate your destination including culture, climate, and language. Use the internet, guidebooks, and your travel agent to determine if your prospective vacation destination is right for you. If you travel with a wheelchair, scooter, or guide dog, make sure to verify that all aspects of your trip including airline, hotels, and excursions will be able to accommodate these.

2. Packing - wheeled luggage is a must. If you are still traveling with bags from the early 1970's (wheeled luggage was made available to the traveling public in 1974), it's time to dispose of these obsolete antiques and purchase some new bags. Virtually all luggage, from a duffel to the largest suitcase, is now available with wheels. When you are purchasing luggage, remember to consider size and weight. Most major airlines have weight restrictions on checked bags and charge for bags that are too heavy or large. Also, keep in mind that you are probably going to have to schlep your bags during some portion of your trip, so keeping bags light is in everybody's best interest.

Each airline has its own rules regarding carry-on baggage but in general it must be of a size and shape to allow for storage in overhead compartments or underneath the seat. Remember to carry everything you will need with you on the flight; medication, eyeglasses, cell phone, sunglasses, bottled water, reading material, and most importantly your travel documentation (government issued photo i.d. for domestic flights, passport for international flights as well as boarding passes).

3. Traveling with medication - Keep all medication in the original, labeled container. Ask your physician for a list of your prescriptions. Make sure to get the non-generic name of the medication, especially if you are traveling abroad (the generic version of your prescription may not be available outside the U.S.) and find out if your medications are legal in the countries that you are visiting.

4. Pre-trip medical check-up - Consultant your physician prior to your trip, especially if you have had recent surgery or been treated for a medical condition. Share your itinerary with your doctor so that he/she can advise you regarding required or recommended vaccinations as well as counsel you about dietary concerns, time zone differences, and other factors which may impact your health while traveling.

5. Travel Insurance (don't leave home without it) - It is important to protect yourself as well as your trip investment which is why you'll want to consider a policy which protects you if you must cancel or interrupt your trip. Other benefits to consider when selecting a travel insurance policy are trip delay, emergency medical evacuation, and baggage delay, to name a few. Your travel agent can help you find the right coverage for you.

6. Information To Carry With You -
a. Your physician's phone number
b. Your travel agent's contact information; phone, fax and/or email
c. Contact information for airline
d. Phone number for US Embassy
e. Photo copy of the front page of your passport (keep separate from other travel documents)

NH Riviera Cancun Luxury Resort

2009-04-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

I recently traveled to the Riviera Maya in Mexico and wanted to share the details of my vacation.

Resort
I stayed at the new NH Riviera Cancun Luxury Resort, which opened in late fall of 2008. This resort was originally to be named the EdenH Riviera Cancun, but never operated under that name (the only evidence of this is the towels which say “EdenH”).

The NH Riviera Cancun is located only 12 miles from the airport, 20 miles from Cancun, and 20 miles from Playa del Carmen in the town of Puerto Morelos. The NH is bordered by protected wetlands on 3 sides, and sits on ½ mile of beach. To the north, the resort is directly bordered by the marina belonging to the Marina El Cid Resort. You can see the El Cid from the NH, but to the south there are no other visible resorts, just a few abandoned, hurricane-damaged houses which are great for exploring.

This is an all-suites resort, featuring 550 suites split between two categories: Junior Suites and the upgraded Paradise Club. There are nine buildings total, none with more than 4 floors and elevators. The resort has a modern, clean aesthetic and features tons of marble.

The Paradise Club is an adults-only area with an exclusive ambiance and VIP zones including its own adults-only pool, pool bar, beach chairs, restaurant, lounge/business center (with complimentary internet), and lobby. Snacks and hors d’oeuvres were offered throughout the day in the lounge, which also had an area where you could make your own drinks and an espresso machine.

The Paradise Club pool was very quiet compared to the main pool, and the staff did a good job of keeping it adults-only. It featured sun beds in the water and an infinity edge. Chairs were available at any time of the day, whereas at the main pool guests had reserved all of the chairs by 7am. There were plenty of pool chairs, umbrellas, beach cabanas, pool beds, and even hammocks that hung over the pool in a shaded area. There was never a wait at the Paradise Club pool bar and a waitress was available to take orders from the pool or beach. The Paradise Club had unlimited pool towels.

The Main Pool was much busier (and larger) than the Paradise Club pool. It had a sports area, swim up bar, kid’s pool (very shallow and warm), infinity edge, and sun beds in the water. The pool bar was always busy on land, but rarely busy in the pool. There was a waitress in this area serving drinks. Guests staying in the Standard Suites area did have towel cards.

A nice feature of both pools was that in many areas near the edge of the pool, there was a ledge in the water about 1.5 feet deep that you could sit on. It was a great place to cool off. At lunchtime, both pools had an area where one of the chefs grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Guests could help themselves and did not have to leave the pool deck area for lunch. I did not try any of this food, but heard that it was wonderful.

The beach was beautiful (especially at low tide). There were some rocks both on the beach and in the water, but it was easy to find a rock-free place to swim. The water was crystal-clear and very warm. The north side of the beach ended at the rock barrier of the El Cid’s marina, but to the south there was nothing but beach and some abandoned houses. The abandon houses were severely damaged in the hurricane and really illustrated the impact the hurricane had on the area. The southern stretch of beach was rock-free in the water and very quiet. There were some areas where rocks had washed ashore, but they were away from the water’s edge.

NH’s water sports hut was located right on the beach and offered sailing, kayaks, volley balls and nets, soccer balls, bocce ball, boogie boards, and more. Unfortunately, it was very windy while we were there so guests were rarely allowed to use some of this equipment. I only saw the kayaks and sailboat in use the first day we were there.

The sports hut also offers a snorkeling trip in Puerto Morelos. The cost is $2 and you must sign up at 8:30am the day before you want to go. Only 30 people per day are allowed to sign up (10 people per trip on 3 trips leaving at various times), so they recommend being in line by 8:00am. Each person in line may sign up a maximum of 2 people for the trip, meaning a family of 4 must have at least 2 members in line. You must find your own transportation to Puerto Morelos.

I took this trip and it was fantastic! The reef is only about a 5 minute boat ride from the dock, and we were in the water for about 30 to 45 minutes. I went on the 2:30pm trip, so the water was crystal-clear. Apparently it’s much darker and harder to see on the early morning trips. I saw tons of brightly colored fish, a sea turtle, a huge stingray, and a yellow sting ray. The guide got in the water with us and everyone swam as a group. The guide pointed out different things to us, like the turtle, which we never would have seen on our own.

The pool and beach also has a very enthusiastic activity staff that gets guests involved in activities like volleyball, bocce ball, water volleyball, water aerobics, yoga, and more. These people always seemed like they were in a great mood.

On the roof, there was a sports deck consisting of 6 sport courts for tennis, basketball, and other racquet sports. The activities desk in the lobby had racquets and balls available. The resort also had a full gym with brand new equipment including weights and cardiovascular machines.

At night, the resort had a different show every night in the theater. The shows started at 9:30 and last anywhere from ½ hour to an hour and include things like a Circ de Soleil style circus show, a Mayan Culture Show, and musicians. I went to the Fire & Drum Show where fire dancers performed to a live drum line. It exceeded my expectations and was really cool.

The Kids Club is separated into two categories, ages 4-7 and ages 8-13, and offers arts and crafts, a mini disco, theater, videogames, and other fun activities. The Teen Club is for kids 14 to 17 and takes place in the Sports Bar where there are pool tables, foosball, TVs, and more. While we were there, the Teen Club was not staffed and the bar in the Sports Bar was fully stocked and unattended… Parents may want to be aware of this, as it would be very easy for kids to get a hold of alcohol. The Kids Club is staffed (and I assume alcohol free).

I did not visit Spa RENOVA, but judging by the menu in our room binder, they offer a wide variety of services and a full service beauty parlor. The prices seemed reasonable. Inside the spa are Jacuzzi tubs and a Sauna open to all guests for free. The spa is located on the 2nd floor of the main building next to the sports bar. It has no real view of anything, however they did offer couples massages at the beach.

The NH has three gift shops: a swim shop, souvenir/general store, and jewelry shop. All shops accepted pesos and American dollars. The stores were all very nice and accepted both dollars and pesos. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights vendors come in and set up in the shopping area square or by the main pool. They sell everything you could get in a souvenir shop in town, but for a higher price. These vendors did not seem inclined to bargain.

In the main building, there was a place to book excursions and buy pictures that photographers took of guests, an ATM, and a business center. The business center had 4 or 5 computers with internet access that you had to pay for. I believe the rates were something like $10 for 15 minutes, $17 for a day, and $77 for a week.

The resort has a Hospitality Room (basically a very large bathroom with several showers) with separate male and female facilities and a seating area for guests who arrive early or depart late.

Rooms

As I mentioned, the resort splits their suites into two categories: Junior Suites and Paradise Club. All suites in the hotel have at least one balcony; however some have better views than others. About 70% of the rooms have an ocean view or a partial ocean view. However, the 30% with a “garden view” have a view of the wetlands area which is filled with gray, leafless mangroves.

We were upgraded to a Paradise Club suite with a partial ocean view and Paradise Club pool view. We were on the first floor with easy pool and beach access. The only drawback to this room was that we had to listen to the incessant “easy listening” music coming from the pool speakers. In the room, there was a binder that explained every feature of the resort in detail, and contained the spa and room service menus. It was very helpful.

The room was gorgeous and had marble floors, dark stained wood, modern-Mexican décor, and air conditioning (that we couldn’t figure out how to use until the last day). We had a separate living/dining area with pocket doors that closed off the bedroom. The living area had a pull-out couch; coffee table; ottoman; large flat-screen TV; room service table and chairs with coffee pot; mini fridge stocked with water, beer, and Pepsi products; ceiling fan; and sliding glass doors out onto the balcony. The balcony had two chairs and a table. We also had a Jacuzzi tub (with a showerhead) on our balcony. The balcony rail was made with glass, so there was not much privacy (wear a swimming suit!).

The bedroom had a very comfortable king sized bed (2 doubles were available), flat screen TV, 2 bedside tables and lamps, ceiling fan, full length mirror, 2 closets, safe, iron and ironing board, robes, and slippers. One side of the bedroom had a large window which slid open into the Jacuzzi tub and the opposite side opened up to the shower/vanity area where there was a large marble shower with a rain shower head and drying line for wet clothes, double vanity with nice toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, lotion, bath salt, a sewing kit, and bug spray (which we never needed). Apparently the standard rooms do not have these amenities and only get shampoo, soap, and shower gel. The room also had a separate toilet area that opened up to the bathroom and the living area and had its own sink and bidet.
On the day they arrive, all Paradise Club guests are given a complimentary fruit plate and bottle of tequila. The room was wonderful and very comfortable. The only real negatives were that we did not have an alarm clock like we were supposed to and the light switches and air conditioning were confusing. It was hard to know what controlled what.

The major difference between Paradise Club suites and Standard suites is that the Standard suites have no Jacuzzi tub on their balcony. Instead, the tub is in their bathroom and has a window open to the balcony. The bathroom runs parallel to the bedrooms with a separate toilet area. The bedroom and seating area are in the same room, with the seating area closest to the balcony, and the bed behind it. Unlike the Paradise Club, there is a step down into the seating area. Standard suites come with 1 king bed or 2 double beds and also have a pull-out couch.

In my opinion, the standard rooms are just as nice as the Paradise Club; however the views might not be as nice, and while we were there, this section was very noisy.

Restaurants & Bars – room service

The NH Riviera Cancun has 5 bars: the lobby bar, Paradise Club pool bar, main pool bar, beach bar, and sports club bar. They serve top shelf liquor and a variety of beer. The pool bars both have a swim up feature. The lobby bar was both casual and upscale and had a fantastic view of the oceanfront courtyard. There was ample seating in the lobby, which was a popular hangout at night. The beach bar was very fun and upbeat with live bands playing on a few nights. The sports bar was indoors and looked like a typical bar with pool tables and a dance floor.

The resort has 7 restaurants:
Festival Buffet – Main buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Olas – Snack bar located near the main pool, open 11am to late afternoon.
Senses – Gourmet À la carte, adults only
Cinque Terre – Italian À la carte
Asian - À la carte
El Mortero - Mexican À la carte
Pure – Gourmet À la carte for Paradise Club members ($30 for everyone else)

The reservation system in the resort was the biggest disappointment. Guests are allowed to make dinner reservations for the entire week (Sunday through Saturday) from 8am to 1pm in the theater lobby. This means that if you arrive on Saturday the 1st, you can make reservations for that night, but would have to return the next morning to make reservations for the rest of your stay, at which time you could reserve for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc. Guests who arrive later than 1pm may not make reservations until the following day. The line for making reservations was always long, and it was a very slow process.

We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, so we could not make reservations until the next morning. The next morning we got in line at about 9am, and there were 10 people in front of us. The line took about 45 minutes. We watched several people get very upset with the reservation staff over things like meal times and menu selections. There were menus available to look at once you got to the reservation desk and guests would spend a long time looking at each one. I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to leave these out in the waiting area so that people would know where they wanted to eat when they got to the reservation desk.

When we finally got to the des, we were told there were no spots open in any restaurant for that night. I’m love Mexican food, and Saturday night (our last night) was Mexican night in the buffet, so we already knew we did not want a reservation for Saturday night. Therefore, we wanted one reservation (Friday night), for any of the restaurants. The woman at the reservation counter informed us that the only thing they had open Friday night was the Mexican restaurant, which was fine with me, but they could not get us in until 10:30pm. We made a reservation, but I highly doubted we would keep it since it was so late.

The resort was at capacity, so I just kind of accepted the fact that all the restaurants were full and forgot about it…until that night. That night, and every night after, we never saw the restaurants more than half full. Clearly they were not completely reserved.

With that said, we ate at the buffet for every meal, and it was wonderful! The food was delicious and there was a huge selection. We at breakfast on the patio every morning and watched the cruise ships sail by. Dinners tended to be the busiest time, but the staff was happy to find you a seat or clear a table. Unfortunately, the buffet tended to be very understaffed. After a few meals without getting drinks, we learned to stop by the bar or bring our own from the mini-fridge in our room. When we did get service, it was outstanding. Patience and kindness went very far.

The food was always fresh, usually hot, and constantly being refilled. At breakfast, you could get everything imaginable: tons of fresh fruit, made to order eggs and omelets, breakfast meats, breads, cereal, and 6 varieties or fresh juices. Lunch was the least extravagant meal, but there was still a great selection of sandwich fixings, desserts, fruits, salads, hamburgers, hot entrees, and breads. For dinner, there was a different theme to every night, but there were also staples like fruits, salads, breads, and fancy desserts. While we were there the themes were Asian, Caribbean, Grill, and Mexican. Much to my disappointment, Mexican night turned into Seafood night at the last moment. Other nights include International, and Mediterranean.

The resort also offers room service 24 hours. There are separate breakfast and lunch/dinner menus, but both have a lot of selections. We did try to order a couple of things off the dinner menu, and they did not have any of them. In fact, they didn’t seem to have much of what was on the menu. From 10 pm to 5am they offer only club sandwiches and a fruit plate.

Meeting Rooms

The resort had five meeting rooms, with the capacity to hold 1200 people theater style or 850 banquet style. The meeting rooms had their own separate main entrance, but were connected to the lobby and main building. The facilities looked nice and were brightly colored.

Weddings

The resort does have wedding facilities and packages starting from $600. During our stay, there was a wedding held in the main courtyard. The ceremony was set up beautifully with an arch and fresh flowers. The staff seemed very attentive to the wedding set up. The resort also offers weddings on the beach.

Puerto Morelos

The NH Riviera Cancun is located just south of the town of Puerto Morelos. Puerto Morelos is a very small town of about 2,000 people. Main attractions include shops and restaurants around the town square, the waterfront, and the Crococan Crocodile Zoo. The shops and restaurants are all very small and there isn’t much variety, but there are no annoying salespeople trying to force you to make purchases and buy timeshares. It was a very laidback area. The beach in town is beautiful, with calm, clear water, and perfect white sand.

The easiest way to get to Puerto Morelos from the NH Riviera Cancun was to take the public bus. The bus picked up right in front of the hotel, just passed the guard station every 5 to 10 minutes and dropped off right at the town square. It picked up again on the opposite side of the street and dropped off at the hotel. The bus was very clean, safe, and only costs $1 round-trip, per person. Without the bus, Puerto Morelos is certainly within a 30 minute walk by road or beach. From Puerto Morelos, there is a bus that runs to and from Playa del Carmen every 20 minutes or so.

Other Points

The NH Riviera Cancun is very committed to conservation and “Going Green”. Upon arrival at the resort, we were encouraged to save water. There was a note by the bed explaining that sheets are changed every three days (and for new guests), but if you wanted your sheets cleaned before then, you could leave the note on the bed and the maid would refresh your sheets. Some of the lights in the suites work on a sensor, so if you are not in your room for a set period of time, they will turn off, then turn on upon your arrival.

I think that this resort is perfect for a 3 to 5 night vacation for customers who just want to relax on a nice, quiet beach. There isn’t a lot of activity at the resort, and it is kind of far away from Cancun and Playa, which may be a plus or a minus depending on the person. We stayed 4 nights, and by the last night I was ready to come home, but not yet sick of the place. I might return to this resort if the price was right, but there are many other places I would like to see!

Exploring Tulum and Cobá in Mexico

2009-03-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

Visitors to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico have the chance to reach into history at a variety of Mayan sites. The ruins at Chichen Itza are the most visited by tourists, but with a three hour drive each way from either Cancun or Playa del Carmen, you may want to consider a visit to one of the other ancient cities that dot the coast.

Dramatically perched on the cliffs towering over the Caribbean Sea, the ruins at Tulum are the second most visited in the Yucatan. Their location, only 90 minutes from Cancun and 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen, makes them an easy drive from your resort or a feasible shore excursion with your cruise ship. Tulum, meaning fence or wall in the Mayan language, was built to defend against invasion and also served as an important place for trade and worship during the Postclassical period from approximately 1200 to 1450 AD. The site is relatively compact compared with other Mayan cities, but it is also one of the best preserved.

Today the buses roll into Tulum on a regular basis. Near the entrance, a complex of shops, restaurants and performers reflects a theme park vibe for this ancient spectacle. Once inside the crumbling walls, you’ll hear a variety of languages as vacationers in beachwear dart about snapping photos of temples. Flip-flops are not a problem on the manicured trails that weave throughout the site. Signs in Spanish and English stand in front of important locations, making a self-tour both easy and informative. Once you’ve had your fill of the ruins, descend the staircase to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Those that came prepared with swimsuits can dive into the aqua waves and gaze up at the picturesque cliffs and temples.

For a very different Mayan experience, head to the ruins at Cobá. Only 90 minutes from both Cancun and Playa del Carmen, this too is a perfect daytrip for resort guests and cruise ship passengers. The majority of buildings here were constructed during the mid to late Classic period, 600 to 900 AD, making the site much older than Tulum. Occupying a space of over four square miles, Cobá is estimated to have had 50,000-60,000 inhabitants and was the largest of all the Mayan cities. As many as 50 ancient roads lead into this city, indicating its importance at the center of Mayan culture.

Cobá is buried deep in the Mexican jungle so come equipped with good walking shoes and insect repellent. Contrasting the hustle and bustle of Tulum, Cobá is relatively quiet and peaceful as you explore the expansive grounds still being excavated. You can rent a bicycle near the entrance to cover more of the site and explore a variety of structures including two well-preserved ball courts. The most popular feature is Nohoc Mul, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan and the only pyramid in the Yucatan tourists are still allowed to climb. The view of miles of jungle and temples peeking above the trees is worth every effort put into the steep ascent to the top.

The next time you book your Riviera Maya or Cancun vacation with a Fox World Travel specialist or online at GoFox.com, don't forget to purchase an excursion and embark on an adventure like one of these!

2009 Alaska Cruises Still Available

2009-03-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

We have good news for all of you who wait until the last minute to book your vacations: there are still 2009 Alaska cruises and cruisetours available!

To celebrate Alaska's 50th year of statehood, Princess Cruises is offering for a limited time the Alaska Wilderness Sale, featuring their newest cruisetour roundtrip from Seattle.

The convenient new roundtrip Seattle cruisetours include airfare between Seattle and Anchorage or Seattle and Fairbanks, a 7-Day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and a land tour with stays at two of Princess's Denali-area wilderness lodges. Plus you'll see Alaska's two most popular attractions - Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. The airfare inclusions save you big - all you have to do is book a roundtrip flight from Seattle. With AirTrans' Seattle service that I told you about in an earlier post, Alaska is more affordable than ever!

And what about all of those cruise-only deals you've been reading so much about? We have those too! Select 7-Day Alaska cruises start at just $449! The bad news: no airfare included. The good news: $449!!!

We still have many Alaska group departures and a land-only option available. Celebrate Alaska's 50th Birthday with us!

Disney's American Idol Experience

2009-03-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

American Idol has come to the Walt Disney World Resort as a new attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios!

The American Idol Experience* has all of the energy and excitement of the TV show. Guests can even audition to take the spotlight onstage, while fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favorite singer with instant results.

The newly opened attraction was developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in conjunction with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and 19 TV Ltd. It is based on the hit television show “American Idol” – produced by 19 TV Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) – and is designed to immerse park Guests into the authentic feel of a live television production.

Each show takes place in a 1,000 seat, indoor theater, featuring the neon signs and a multi-layered backdrop inspired by the actual “American Idol” set in California. Known for their attention to detail, the Walt Disney Imagineering team worked with the Hollywood set designer who designed the actual TV show set for “American Idol.” The newly designed venue is the most technologically advanced theater found at Walt Disney World Resort.

The American Idol Experience includes an audition process open to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Guests 14 and older (audition slots are limited and interested guests are encouraged to arrive early). These guests perform live in front of a Disney’s Hollywood Studios casting director for the opportunity to be cast in one of the preliminary Theme Park shows that same day.

If a guest shows that special “star quality” during the multi-step audition process, they move on to performance training with a vocal coach, hair, and make-up. Then, it’s showtime for the singers in front of an audience comprised of Theme Park guests, plus a panel of three expert judges.

Performers with the highest votes during the preliminary shows will return for a high-energy, grand finale show that same evening. After their encore performances, the big moment arrives. It’s a super-charged, eye-popping scene as the audience votes are tallied, the other performers drop off, music builds and the spotlight shines down, amid a blizzard of confetti, on the day’s top singer.

In addition to their new-found Theme Park fame, the top vote-getter will receive The American Idol Experience Dream Ticket, which allows an eligible holder to schedule a front-of-the-line audition to a future regional audition for the “American Idol” television show.

The American Idol Experience is the newest attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The showbiz-inspired Theme Park immerses guests in the glamour of show business with thrilling attractions, Broadway-style shows, world-class atmosphere entertainment and interactive film, music, television and radio production facilities.

* AMERICAN IDOL® is a registered trademark of 19 TV Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America, Inc

Cruise Around Australia - Literally!

2009-03-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Holland America Announces Plans to Circumnavigate Australia

Holland America Line has announced that they will cruise around the country of Australia in 2010. They will offer 3, 14-Day cruises on the Volendam that explore Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

The circumnavigation of Australia cruise is 34 days aboard the Volendam. These cruises will all leave from Sydney. The 34-day cruise visits the Great Barrier Reef twice and covers 18 ports!

Celebrity dropped is Australia/New Zealand cruises for 2009/2010, making Holland the only premium North American brand in the region.

AirTran Increases Service to Milwaukee

2009-03-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

AirTrain, a low-fare airline, will increase its service to Milwaukee by 40% this spring and summer. That brings AirTran's daily flights from Milwaukee from 21 to 30, offering 18 different destinations.

In May, AirTran will begin year-round daily flights between Milwaukee and St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Branson, MO. They will offer seasonal flights from Milwaukee to Denver from May to September.

Also in May, AirTran will resume flights from Milwaukee to Los Angeles and Boston. Seasonal service to Tampa will become year-round, and seasonal service to San Francisco and Seattle will run until October 30th (nearly two months longer than last year). AirTran is considering making those two routes year-round.

So if you're planning your summer vacation now, you may want to consider an affordable AirTran flight out of Milwaukee.

Cruising to Continue in Alaska's Glacier Bay

2009-03-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Alaska's Glacier Bay Awards Cruise Lines 10-Year Deal

I'm sure by now that cruise prices to Alaska are lower than ever. Just this week I saw 7-day Alaska cruises starting at just $399!!!

So with this good news for travelers, comes some good news for the cruise lines. Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park has awarded Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cruise West, and Norwegian Cruise Line each a 10-year contract to operate in the park.

As Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Glacier Bay National Park; protects a unique ecosystem of plants and animals living in concert with an ever-changing glacial landscape. How does it feel when a monumental chunk of ice splits off a glacier and crashes into the sea? The sound is like thunder. The impact shoots water hundreds of feet into the air. You hold your breath as you catch the moment on film. Then you wait for it all to happen again. And it does. Glacier Bay has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anyplace else in the world.

The park will limit the number of cruise ships entering Glacier Bay during the peak season (June - August) at 153, with no more than 2 ships entering per day. In 2008, 225 ships carrying 416,703 passengers entered Glacier Bay.
S
o what does this mean for you as a traveler? Book early to ensure your cruise will go to Glacier Bay and don't miss out on the fantastic savings available on Alaskan journeys.

Disney Shanghai

2009-03-25T12:16:00.001-07:00

According to a Walt Disney Company press release, Disney is submitting plans to build a theme park in Shanghai, China. This will be Disney's second park in China; they already have one in Hong Kong. Disney has stressed that no deal has been made yet, and that they were still in the process of submitting their plans to Chinese government officials.

The plan is to build a large theme park and hotel complex in the southern suburbs of Shanghai, expected to cost $3.59 billion and would occupy about 371 acres. This would be a larger park than the one in Hong Kong. Disney would own 43% of the park, with the other 57% belonging to the government of Shanghai.

Disney plans to release more information when plans are finalized. Despite the tough economy, Disney is planning on moving forward with this new complex and the new resort in Hawaii that I mentioned in a previous post.

Internet in the Air

2009-03-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

In-Flight Internet Now Available on Delta!

Today, Delta will introduce Internet service on six of it's planes that fly routes between Boston, New York LaGuardia, and Washington Reagan National.

Delta hopes to expand the service to 10 aircraft by the end of this year. In 2009, Delta will add Internet service across its fleet. Delta plans to add Internet service to some of Northwest's domestic fleet beginning in late 2009.

The service is free for the remainder of the year. In 2009 it will be available for $9.95 on flights less than three hours and $12.95 on longer flights.

Disney Heads to Hawaii

2009-03-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts broke ground for its first resort in Hawaii. The yet-to-be-named resort is located in O’ahu at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development and is scheduled to be opened in 2011.

This family-friendly resort will offer 350 hotel rooms, 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare properties, expansive pools, a spa, a place for weddings, a convention center, children’s club, and restaurants. The new resort aims to offer something for the whole family from a child-friendly wading pool to a saltwater snorkel lagoon and slides through volcanic formations. The resort will be designed to reflect Hawaiian culture and architecture with materials that reflect the local terrain. To further incorporate Hawaiian culture, the resort will offer education on Hawaiian traditions and customs, as well as programs such as dance, music, and arts and crafts.

According to Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parts & Resorts, “This Disney destination resort will provide a unique way for families to experience Hawaii. By blending Disney’s high standard of guest services and creative storytelling, we’ll create a place where all family members can discover the wonder of these special islands.”

Mayor Mufi Hannemann says, “Disney leaders have met with Hawaiian cultural experts to gain an understanding and appreciation of our host culture. The end result will be a resort that local residents will be proud to have on our island, and it will be a family attraction that our residents and visitors will find enjoyable and meaningful.”

Amazing Australia

2009-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Judy, one of our Vacation Specialists, took a trip to Australia last spring, and I thought I’d share her trip with you:

Judy flew Northwest from Appleton to Los Angeles then from Los Angeles to Brisbane she flew Quantas. The flight was comfortable and offered several meal services and many entertainment options to make the long flight fly by.

After the long flight, travelers could refresh in a changing area located in the airport! This washroom area could be used for travelers arriving in the morning after a long flight, so that they can clean up and change clothes to start their first day touring and adjust to the time change. The showers had disposable towels.

Upon arriving in Brisbane, Judy transferred by motor coach to the Brisbane River for a leisurely cruise which gave her a unique view of the city. She disembarked at the South Bank Parkland which is located in the heart of the city. South Bank is the entertainment hub of Brisbane with more than thirty restaurants, cafes and bars.

The next day, Judy traveled by Quanta’s from Brisbane to Sydney. Upon arrival she transferred by HOTELBUS to her first big Australian adventure - the Bridge Climb (www.bridgeclimbe.com). On this tour you climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge while learning the inside workings of the bridge and taking in breathtaking views. The climb takes about 3 ½ hours and is not for the faint at heart, but Judy says it is totally worth it – an AMAZING and a totally rewarding experience!

In Sydney, Judy stayed at the BLUE Sydney; A Taj Hotel www.tajhotels.com. This boutique hotel is located at the Wharf in Woolloomooloo (say that ten times fast!), in the heart of a luxury marina area with great restaurants. The hotel’s 100 guest rooms all are unique and no two rooms are the same. Each is decorated with very modern décor and have great water views. The building is World Heritage listed and in the bar area you can see that the building has been left in its original form.

To experience Sydney by water, Judy boarded the MV Sydney, a Captain Cook dinner cruise, departing from Circular Quay area www.captaincook.com.au. This was the ultimate dining experience with white glove service and fine food; this cruise would be a great way for you to end your trip or to celebrate a special occasion. Captain Cooks offers an array of tours. Judy took a “hop on and off” tour which takes you to seven famous harbor attractions. Stops include Darling Harbor-Pier 26, Circular Quay, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo, Shark Island, Watsons Bay and Luna Park.

Judy made a stop at Costello’s Opal Center www.opaldiscovery.com. Costello’s is a specialist retailer of Australians precious gemstones such as Black, White Opals, and Sea Pearls etc.

The next tour was of the Sydney Opera House www.sydneyoperahouse.com. Judy took a newly offered tour called the Opera House Essentials Tour, which gave the entire history of the Opera House -from conception to current renovations. An interesting fact – the Opera House was projected to be completed in 3 years and it actually took 16 years to complete and was funded by lottery. Amazing!

Judy recommends stopping by the Waterfront Restaurant www.restrocks.com. It’s located at Campbell’s Cove in the historic Rocks area and specialized in the finest and freshest seafood. The building was built in 1788 and is World Heritage listed. While she was there, Judy dined outside on the terrace and enjoyed amazing views of the harbor and the Opera House. She says the food was OUTSTANDING.

To explore Sydney by land, Judy took a half day city tour with APT www.aptouring.com.au, which was packed full of information about the city. Stops included:

Darling Harbor - a horseshoe shaped bay on the west side of the city, offering attractions including Sydney’s Aquarium, Star City Casino, Chinese Gardens, National Maritime Museum, wildlife world and many waterside restaurants.
Bondi Beach - Australia’s most celebrated beach – where people watching is as much fun as surfing and sunbathing. Its located six miles from the city and offers a promenade popular for jogging, rollerblading, and water sports.
Paddington - Oxford and High Streets are home to the fashion district. This area features boutiques, cafes, and shops surrounded by Victorian terrace homes.
Sydney Olympic Park - built to host the 2000 Olympic Games, it’s now used as waterfront urban parkland and hosts festivals and concerts.

To maximize your Sydney experience, you can purchase a See Sydney and Beyond Card (www.seesydneycard.com) which gives admission to 40 of Sydney’s most popular attractions. The card can be purchase with or without the transportation. Available in 1, 2, 3 or 7 day options with costs ranging from $75.00 to $300 depending on the length and transportation. Children’s rates are also available. This is a great value to families and anyone wanting to make the most of their Sydney experience.

Judy also took a full day tour called the Blue Mountain Deluxe Tour, with a company called Eco Adventures Tour (www.ozeco.com.au). Stops included:

Featherdale Wildlife Park - where visitors can enjoy breakfast and have some private time with a koala bear! Visitors can take a self guided tour of the wildlife park which includes kangaroos, emus, wombats, dingoes, and many types of birds.
Blue Mountain Canyons - featuring beautiful views of Govett’s Leap and scenic Cliff Drive.
Jamison Valley - a rainforest, where visitors can travel on the world’s steepest rail, ride a huge gondola, and wander through the rainforest on some of the many walkways built within.
Euroka Valley – visitors can witnessed wild kangaroos grazing or partake in bird watching.

After all that excitement, Judy journeyed back to Brisbane and visited the rainforest covered mountains of the Lamington National Park and spent the night at the O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (www.oreillys.com.au). Lamington National Park is World Heritage listed and is the largest sub-tropical rainforest in Australia. The O’Reilly family has been welcoming guest since 1926 and offers a range of guest rooms to cater to all tastes including their most recently opened two bedroom two bath villas with a fully equipped kitchen, living room with fireplace, large deck with private spa and magnificent views of the rainforest. She went on two different hikes that the O’Reilly’s offered - The Tree-Top Walk offered a close up view of the rainforest canopy and its wildlife. On the Guided Night Walk, hikers could view the nocturnal animals and their famous glow-works.

Australia is an amazing country and offers something for everyone!

Oasis of the Seas

2009-03-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

The future of cruising is arriving soon, and it is Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Oasis of the Seas. Oasis of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s biggest, best ship yet – it’s an idea so grand they call it “a collection of amazing experiences that challenge all limitations.”

So that sounds nice, but what make it so great? Oasis of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s first ship to introduce a "neighborhood" concept onboard. What does that mean? It means that guests will have the opportunity to do the things they want to do on the ship in the places they want to do it. The seven neighborhoods include:

Boardwalk – featuring the AquaTheater outdoor amphitheater, a carousel, the first ever Zip Line at sea, two rock-climbing walls, a Psychic and Tattoo parlor, kids and teen shopping, and great restaurants including Seafood Shack, Johnny Rockets and The Donut Shop
Central Park - Open to the sky, with winding paths of quiet reading corners and other hidden surprises featuring Trellis Bar, Parkside Gallery & Picture This photo studio, Park Café & Vintages, 150 Central Park - upscale dining, Antonio's Table, and Chops Grille
Royal Promenade - 3-level escalating, Rising Tide Bar, Sorrento's Pizzeria, Mondo Café, Café Promenade, Boleros Latin Lounge, Schooner Bar & Champagne Bar, and On-Air Club
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness – a fully functional spa and fitness center with a wide variety of spa services, a beauty parlor, and a state-of-the-art fitness center
Pool and Sports Zone – a fun filled zone for all ages featuring multiple pools, rock-climbing walls, miniature golf, ping pong, two FlowRiders® surf simulators, a basketball court, a variety of bars, and the adults-only Solarium
Entertainment Place – the central plaza of entertainment featuring a casino, comedy club, theater, nightclub, jazz club, and ice show.
Youth Zone - home to Royal Caribbean's award-winning Adventure Ocean youth program. A place where kids can be kids and parents can be worry-free! The Youth Zone has fun, age-appropriate activities for kids 6 months to 17 years.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? There’s still more…loft-style staterooms, balcony cabins over looking Central Park… 2,700 staterooms in total! The Oasis of the Seas will set sail in December of 2009 for 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruises making stops in: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas In May of 2010, the Oasis of the seas will begin an itinerary of 7-Night Western Caribbean cruises with ports including: Labadee®, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Relief for Chicago?

2009-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever been stranded in O’Hare Airport in Chicago because of delays, you will agree with the latest news from the FAA.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Robert Sturgell, says Chicago needs to make airport adjustments or additions to keep up with current air travel demand. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is currently the world’s second busiest airport, and is undergoing a $15 billion expansion. In his plan, Sturgell outlined two options in addition to O’Hare’s expansion: build a new airport or expand an existing small airport.

The FAA anticipates that airport traffic in major hubs, like Chicago, will increase with the implementation of NextGen, a satellite-guided air traffic system set to replace the current, radar-based system used since the 1950s.

While this is good news for those of us who have ever experienced 8 hour delays in O’Hare, the FAA warns that airport additions will be met with opposition from political and environmental groups.

China

2009-03-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

If you’ve turned on the TV at all last summer, no doubt you’ve caught a glimpse of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. And, if you’ve watched for more than a few hours, you had a chance to see how beautiful China is. Maybe by now you’re even thinking that you’d like to visit China.

But how do you get there? You may want to take a guided tour such as those offered by Brendan Vacations. Spend up to 10 days touring China with knowledgeable guides. Transportation, hotel stays, and some meals are often included. Check with your travel agent for more information on guided tours.

If you decide against a guided tour, you may want to hire a private tour guide and driver. Guides are available for reasonable fees, for varying lengths of time and outings. Most privately guided tours are completely customizable.
Places to go and things to see in China:

Beijing

Tiananmen Square – Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square, lies in central Beijing and was the sight of many key events in Chinese history. Today, it is famous for its monuments and museums. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a holiday, you will see the whole square covered in fresh flowers.
the Forbidden City – Serving as the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City was once the political center of the Chinese Government. Today, the Forbidden City houses the Palace Museum, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With nearly a thousand buildings on the grounds, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore this historic wonder.
the Summer Palace – The Chinese name for the Summer Palace literally means “Gardens of Nurtured Harmony”. Built in 1750, this beautiful palace on the shore of Kunming Lake is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that should not be missed. The Summer Palace has been called a “masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design”.
the Great Wall of China – This Chinese icon, built in the 6th Century BC to keep out invaders, spans nearly 4,000 miles. Part of the wall is open to visitors in Beijing. For a truly memorable experience, take some time to walk along the Great Wall.
Hutong (old town) area – Beijing’s hutongs are historic neighborhoods with residences separated by alleys and courtyards. Take a rickshaw tour of this area and visit a kindergarten, local home, and local shops for a true cultural experience.

Shanghai

Shanghai – This is China’s largest city. A modern metropolis, home to branches of 300 of the world’s 500 largest enterprises; Shanghai is truly the epitome of east-meets-west culture. From modern skyscrapers to ancient history museums, Shanghai has something for everyone.
Tiger Hill – While in Shanghai, do not miss the Tiger Hill gardens. This spectacular grounds feature lush foliage and traditional Chinese architecture. Make sure to bring your camera!
Tailors – Shanghai is a shopper’s paradise. If you are a fan of fine fabrics like silk and cashmere, visit one of Shanghai’s fabric and tailor markets. Get custom clothing at unbelievable prices. One of our Fox World Travel agents got 2 cashmere blazers custom made for $62 USD!
Pearl Markets – Stop by Shanghai’s famous pearl markets for a great deal on pearls and semi-precious stones. Pick the grade, color, and strand length, and watch your jewelry be made while you wait.
Zhuijiajiao - Jiangnan Ancient Town – This town, known as Shanghai’s Venice, is famous for its bridge with five openings. Purchase a goldfish and throw it over the Fangsheng (setting-fish-free) Bridge for good luck. Visit the old post office, monastery, silk museum, pharmacy, and gardens.

Of course these are only the sights in China’s biggest cities; there are so many more than those listed here. If you are interested in learning more about China, contact the travel experts at Fox World Travel.

Follow These Tips When Planning to Travel Without Kids

2009-03-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Rose Gray, Manager of Business Development - Vacation Sales Fox World Travel

Whether you are a recent empty nester, a 60’s + couple looking to celebrate a special anniversary, or a grandparent who helps out with your grandchildren’s childcare, you may be considering a child-free vacation. Sometimes, however, that is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you’re traveling during summer or holiday time when kids are out of school.

But with a little advance planning this may not be as difficult as one might think.

Try to avoid traveling during school holidays like Christmas and Easter. September is often an ideal time to travel since the kids have just returned back to school and much of the U.S. is still experiencing good weather. You may want to travel during the week rather than on weekends; you’ll avoid both kids and their working parents.

If your getaway involves a major city, plan your trip during the destination’s off-season if possible. Arrange excursions that are adult-friendly like pub tours, art galleries, botanical gardens and museums or monuments (call ahead to make sure that there is not a school group scheduled the day you plan to visit). Choose restaurants which are a bit more upscale rather than the casual chain restaurants. Or opt for an ethnic restaurant; children are notoriously picky eaters and parents avoid those restaurants at all costs. Also try eating later in the evening if you are hoping for that quiet, uninterrupted dining experience.

Cruising has become an increasingly family-friendly vacation option but there are plenty of ships where you won’t have to worry about being splashed every time you walk out on the pool deck. Try an upscale luxury line such as the Yachts of Seabourn, Silverseas Cruises, or Crystal Cruises which tend to draw a more mature crowd. You’ll also see fewer children if you book a longer cruise (more than seven nights) or try a more exotic cruise itinerary such as Tahiti or South America. And you’ll have fewer children in the dining rooms if you choose the late seating for dinner.

The best way to assure yourself a kids-free vacation is to book your stay at an adults-only resort. Popular all-inclusive, adults-only resorts include the Sandals chain which offers resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas, the El Dorado properties by Karisma Resorts in Mexico. Or select AM Resorts “Secrets” throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. A travel agent can help you sort through the options and choose the destination and adults-only property that’s right for you.

When planning a vacation to a destination which doesn’t offer adults-only hotels, investigate your options before choosing your accommodations. Avoid the popular budget chains and instead opt for intimate bed and breakfasts, historic inns or upscale hotels. Check out the properties’ website or give them a call to find out about their children’s policies. If they offer children’s programs or family packages, you might want to continue your hotel search.

If you are limited on time or working within a budget, you might want to consider other adult-friendly vacation options such as spa vacations or a casino trip to Reno, Atlantic City and yes, even Las Vegas. It wasn't long ago that Las Vegas was threatening to go family-friendly and shake off its decades-old reputation as “sin-city”. In recent years we have seen the pendulum swing back in the direction of good old-fashioned adult-focused entertainment.

As you plan your child-free vacation, it’s important to remain guilt-free. Remember that vacations are an important part of life. The freedom that retirement offers provides an excellent time to see our country and the world and doing so in a “kid-free” manner is nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve worked hard to get to the point in your life where you can choose your travel experiences. What’s holding you back? The options for a child-free vacation are endless and experienced travel consultants can help you make those vacation dreams become realities. Visit GoFox.com or call 866-GO-FOX-GO.

Enjoy Popular Attractions on the Eastcoast of Mexico

2009-02-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

It’s amazing how much there is to see and do on and near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, yet there are many who prefer to get all they can out of their All-Inclusive resort enjoying unlimited drinks, food, and beaches. The time for relaxation is definitely worth the trip, and there is no doubt you should get all you can for what you paid for the All-Inclusive perks. But when you consider the memories you look to make on a vacation, the ones that will likely stick out are those like the time you zip-lined through the forest at Xcaret Eco Theme Park in Tulum or went on a snorkeling adventure overlooking coral reefs that are more diverse than you could imagine.

We encourage everyone to find a balance between enjoying your All-Inclusive resort and splurging on adventures that will make memories to last a lifetime.

Here is a list of the top attractions vacationers find themselves talking about years down the road:

Cancun

Joe’s Jeep Adventure, La Isla Mall
Nautilus Diving and Training Center, Hotel Zone
La Isla Shopping Mall
Selvatica Canopy Expedition and Adventure Tour
Carlos’n Charlie’s
Coco Bondo
Senor Frog’s Hotel Zone
El Rey Ruins
Rancho Loma Bonita
Snorkeling Adventures
Aquaworld

Playa Del Carmen

Mexico Blue Dream
Xel-Ha natural Park
Maya ruins of Tulum
Diversity Diving
Reef Quest Divers
Geofish Dive
El Alux
Rio Secreto
Discovery Jungle Park
Xcaret Eco Theme Park
Alltournative Off Track Adventures
Dressel Divers at Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar

Cozumel

Parque Chankanaab
Isla de Pasion, Abrigo Bay
Carlos'n Charlie's
Palancar Reef
Punta Sur Ecolgoical Park
Paradise Beach
San Gervasio Ruins
Rancho Buenavista
Chankanaab Reef
Playa Corona

Choosing Between Cancun and Riviera Maya Resorts

2009-01-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

If you have your heart set on taking a Caribbean vacation, consider Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The fine, white sand beaches and bright turquoise waters are a sight to be seen, and the resorts offer variety unlike any other destination. Spend your days lying on the beach, participating in an abundance of water sports, taking in Mayan history at one of the many archeological sites, or snorkeling and scuba diving in one of the world’s largest living reefs.

Over 150 unique resorts line the Caribbean coastline and provide the opportunity to enjoy a great vacation at a great value. It can be overwhelming to make a resort selection whether it’s your first visit to the Yucatan or you’ve been there many times before. Our goal is to identify your interests and match you to the resort that is perfect for you.

One factor for selecting a resort is based on the type of vacation you will be taking. For example, a couple on their honeymoon may opt for an “adults-only” resort, while a family with young children would most likely want a resort geared towards families. Other resort categories include spa and luxury. Each type of resort is set up to create an atmosphere and cater amenities for that certain type of vacation.

Many resorts in the Mexican Caribbean are All-Inclusive, meaning the cost of your stay at the resort generally includes all meals, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), tips and non-motorized sports. Not all resorts offer these packages, and amenities offered with an All-Inclusive can vary by resort. Many are rated on a 1-5 scale, differentiating in service, food quality and number of activities offered. Our specialists have stayed at a wide variety of these resorts and can help you determine which resort can best fit your needs. To ensure that you won’t be disappointed with your vacation experience, we highly recommend staying at a resort that has a rating of 3.5 or higher.

Resorts on the Yucatan’s Caribbean coast are largely divided between two areas: Cancun and Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen. Each offers high quality resorts, but with vastly different surroundings. Below is an overview of each area to determine which is best suited for you.

Cancun

Cancun is a bustling, modern city. High-rise hotels stand side-by-side along the beaches, and jet skis buzz across the sparkling aqua water. Staying at resorts directly in Cancun (or along the “7”, Cancun’s hotel district) is great for vacationers who want to explore outside of the resort, try different restaurants, walk to shops and experience the vibrant nightlife at nearby clubs. There are countless activities to try both day and night, and it’s impossible not to pick up on the air of excitement.

Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen

Just south of Cancun is the beautiful Riviera Maya and the town of Playa del Carmen. This area is a remote oasis away from the active city. Rising no more than three stories high, most resorts along the lush Riviera Maya are All-Inclusive with a wider variety of restaurants and bars than their Cancun counterparts. This area is better for travelers who prefer to stay right at the resort for dining and nightlife during the majority of their stay, yet most resorts in Riviera Maya are only a short distance from Playa Del Carmen, a quaint, yet modern city with excellent shopping and restaurants. The pristine beaches offer opportunities for relaxing or trying various water sports. You will also find more historical parks and ancient ruins in the Riviera Maya.

Below is a list of our travel specialists’ favorite resorts in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region:

Family Resorts

Grand Palladium Resorts (Riviera Maya)
Barcelo Maya (Riviera Maya)
Iberostar Resorts (Riviera Maya)
Sandos Playacar (Riviera Maya)
Gran Bahia Principe (Riviera Maya)
Great Parnassus (Cancun)

Adults-Only Resorts

El Dorado Royale (Riviera Maya)
El Dorado Maroma (Riviera Maya)
Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun (Playa Del Carmen)
Secrets Maroma Beach (Playa Del Carmen)
Excellence Playa Mujeres (Isla Mujeres)
Le Blanc Spa Resort (Cancun)

Spa Resorts

El Dorado Royal (Riviera Maya)
Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun (Playa Del Carmen)
Secrets Maroma (Playa Del Carmen)
Paraiso de la Bonita (Riviera Maya)
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort (Riviera Maya)
Le Blanc Spa Resort (Cancun)
Royal Hideaway (Playa Del Carmen)

Explore a list of over 150 resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya. Offers and values are abundant in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. One great tool we have brings back the hottest Funjet Vacation Packages, INCLUDING SPECIFIC TRAVEL DATES, which is extremely helpful if you have flexible travel dates! Many of these deals are last-minute or simply deeply discounted. We encourage you to check out the great values you can get on a vacation package to the Cancun or Riviera Maya.

Top Ten Favorite Things to Do Near Oahu, Hawaii

2008-12-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

From the perspective of a Fox World Travel Specialist:

While many people think of Oahu as a stepping-stone to the other islands, I feel there is a multitude of things to see and do to make Oahu a destination in itself. I’d like to highlight some of my favorite things to see/do on Oahu.

Here, then, is my list of top ten things to take in on Oahu, listed in no particular order.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve - One of my favorite places to visit is Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. It is a must for snorkeling or scuba enthusiasts, as well as those who just want to enjoy the natural beauty of Hawaii. Its popularity almost led to its downfall. The enormous number of visitors resulted in neglect and overuse. In 1990 the city of Honolulu worked to restore it to its original pristine state by reducing the number of annual visitors. It is now closed every Tuesday. The hours vary depending on the season. The fee is $5.00 per person. The fee does not apply for children under 13 or residents of Hawaii.

Diamond Head Hike – This is something I do almost every time I go to Hawaii. The hike is less than a mile (.8 mile) one way from the floor of the crater to the summit. The US Army Coastal Artillery originally built the trail in 1908 as a defense system. The hike is composed of a dirt trail and two series of cement steps. One stairway has 74 steps followed by a dark tunnel 225 feet long. After that comes the second stairway comprised of 99 concrete steps. Most people are gasping for air by this point. There are several lookouts along the way, but the big payoff is the beautiful 360-degree view of Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Koko Head and Koko Crater from the top. You can actually see some of the other islands of Hawaii from the top of Diamond Head. The name Diamond Head comes from explorers in the 1700’s. They mistook the glistening calcite crystals in the rocks for diamonds, and so it was thus named. The Hawaiian name is Mount Leahi. If you walk in, the fee is $1.00 per person. It is $5.00 per car load if you drive in.

Waikiki – For me, I enjoy just walking through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue more than spending time on the beach. This is Hawaii’s version of the Miracle Mile. The city of Honolulu spent considerable time and money on major renovations to the area in the past 5 years. There are a wide variety of shops and restaurants to appeal to any traveler, from the high end stores to ABC stores on almost every corner. On weekends you can enjoy “Sunset on the Beach.” Movies are shown on a 30-foot screen on the beach across from the Honolulu Zoo. There is often musical entertainment prior to the start of the movie. This is all free. You can bring your beach chairs, blankets or beach towels and enjoy an outdoor movie. Whatever your pleasure, Waikiki is the place to satisfy your desires.

Mt. Tantalus/Round Top Drive – I make sure I do this drive every trip. It is a winding drive into the hills of the Koolau Mountain range. A canopy of trees lines the road in spots. The drive takes you to a 2000 foot high ridge lookout – Pu’u Ualakaa, which offers a breath-taking view of Diamond Head, Waikiki, downtown Honolulu and Punchbowl Cemetery. This is a peaceful drive that provides exquisite scenery.

Punchbowl Cemetery – This should be visited the same day as Tantalus as it is in the same area. This is known as the Arlington of the Pacific. The Memorial was built in 1964 to honor those who lost their lives in the Pacific during World War II. It is educational and very sobering to read about the sacrifices made by those who fought to defend our country. 776 casualties from the attack on Pearl Harbor were among the first to be buried at Punchbowl. It is now filled to capacity with over 33,000 gravesites.

Pearl Harbor – This is a must. I don’t visit this every time, but have been to Pearl Harbor a number of times over the years. Much like Punchbowl, visiting Pearl Harbor provides a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by those who came before us. Admission to the memorial is free, but you must watch a 23-minute video about the attack on Pearl Harbor before taking the boat to the Arizona Memorial. The tickets are issued on a first come, first serve basis. It is best to get there earlier in the day. The last program is at 3:00pm daily. A great website for information on Pearl Harbor and visiting the Arizona Memorial is http://www.nps.gov/usar/. You want to get your tour tickets at Pearl Harbor from the National Park Service to actually get on the Memorial - none of the commercial tours are allowed to access the memorial itself.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail – This is another hike that I take on almost every trip. It is a 2-mile hike on a paved path that offers gorgeous views of the windward side of Oahu. This isn’t a difficult hike, but it is uphill. You can take a more difficult hike to the top on the exterior of the hillside. I always opt for the interior paved path. Again, the prize is at the top - the outstanding view of the lighthouse and the coastline. During the winter months (Nov.-Apr.) you may see Humpback whales along the coast. Humpbacks migrate from Alaska to Hawaii during the winter months and I have seen them on several occasions, including a mother and her calf swimming along the coast on hike back down. It was amazing! Make sure to bring the camera as well as binoculars along for this one.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout – This is another spot I visit just about every trip. This is the site where King Kamehameha and his warriors defeated the Oahu armies in 1795 and forced them over the cliffs. This defeat resulted in the unifying of the Hawaiian Islands under one ruler. The view of the Windward Side from the lookout is spectacular.

North Shore - Take a drive around the island, making sure to stop at the North Shore. Whether you are a surfing enthusiast or not, taking in the North Shore allows you to see many small towns along the way, and some big surf if the waves are up. We had two very rainy days, which resulted in some very high storm surf. It’s fun to watch surfers maneuver the high waves. Along the drive, make sure to stop at Matsumoto’s Shave Ice. On a hot day there is nothing more refreshing than a shave ice. Matsumoto’s offers it over ice cream and/or azuki beans on the very bottom. Azuki beans are dark red beans boiled in sugar water, giving them a sweet taste – outstanding! You can also have a fresh shrimp/prawns lunch from shrimp wagons along the drive.

Local Flavors – One of the best things about Hawaii is the diversity of food choices. You can find any kind of Asian cuisine imaginable. One of my favorite restaurants is Mekong II, a Thai restaurant. It’s small and inexpensive, but has great food. For authentic Hawaiian food, try Ono Hawaiian. Again, it’s a little hole in wall place, but is an authentic taste of Hawaii. Visit Chinatown for Dim Sum. You can either go to various take out places, or take in a restaurant where the waitresses come by with carts featuring freshly made dim sum. Then walk through Chinatown through the markets where you can buy fresh fish or produce. There are so many different places to eat in Waikiki, but one of my favorites is Duke’s. It is named after the Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Hawaiian surfer. It is located on the sands of Waikiki Beach in the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. There is something on the menu sure to please everyone, from huli huli chicken to a wide assortment of fresh fish to teriyaki. And you can’t miss the hula pie. One piece of this ice cream pie is large enough for four people. Another local favorite I enjoy at least once (usually more often than that) on each trip is malasadas. These are delicious yeast doughnuts with Portuguese origins. They are deep fried and then rolled in sugar or cinnamon/sugar mixture. They are golden on the outside, but soft and moist on the inside. It’s best to eat them while they are still warm. The best place for maladadas is Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue. They have been in business since 1952 and never disappoint.

There are so many more things to see and do while in Hawaii. The cost of living is definitely high, but you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a great time. Most of my favorite things don’t cost very much, but allow me to enjoy all of the beauty that is Hawaii. Vacation packages to Hawaii are very reasonable right now, and when you combine low-cost island adventures, a vacation to Hawaii really can be the adventure of a lifetime. It's hard to image your could discover so much for little!

Disney Heads to Hawaii

2008-12-01T13:34:00.001-08:00

This family-friendly resort will offer 350 hotel rooms, 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare properties, expansive pools, a spa, a place for weddings, a convention center, children’s club, and restaurants. The new resort aims to offer something for the whole family from a child-friendly wading pool to a saltwater snorkel lagoon and slides through volcanic formations. The resort will be designed to reflect Hawaiian culture and architecture with materials that reflect the local terrain. To further incorporate Hawaiian culture, the resort will offer education on Hawaiian traditions and customs, as well as programs such as dance, music, and arts and crafts.

According to Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parts & Resorts, “This Disney destination resort will provide a unique way for families to experience Hawaii. By blending Disney’s high standard of guest services and creative storytelling, we’ll create a place where all family members can discover the wonder of these special islands.”

Mayor Mufi Hannemann says, “Disney leaders have met with Hawaiian cultural experts to gain an understanding and appreciation of our host culture. The end result will be a resort that local residents will be proud to have on our island, and it will be a family attraction that our residents and visitors will find enjoyable and meaningful.”

Fox World Travel will most definitly bring you great savings when this resort opens, but for now, we have other great options, including exceptional deals at Disney. Currently we are promoting our Buy 4 Nights Get 3 Free at select Disney Resorts. If you are interested in All-Inclusive vacation packages, check our the many deals we have from Funjet Vacations, Travel Impressions and Apple Vacations.

10 Ways to Make Flying Less Painful

2008-11-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

There’s no doubt – flying can be a nightmare. Long delays, the baby crying behind you, the man snoring in the seat next to you who claimed the armrest before you did. So, with the holiday’s fast approaching, USA Today has provided a list of 10 way to make your next flight more comfortable.

Snag a good seat

If you're taller than 5'9", you know that whatever the airlines may claim, those seats were not built for you. If you're tall and even a little bit claustrophobic, sitting in an airline seat for any length of time can feel like a punishment. This is why it's not a bad idea to strive (and maybe even pay a bit extra for) a seat with more legroom. In coach, that means seeking out the exit row or bulkhead seats. You'll get more legroom and a little breathing space as well, which can make all the difference in a space as cramped as an airplane cabin. Before you book your seat, check out our seat maps on GoFox.com.

Wear noise-canceling headphones

The overpowering drone of airplane engines can interfere with sleep and make for a more stressful flight. Noise-canceling headphones replace the cabin and engine sounds with white noise or music. You can also plug them into seat jacks and make in-flight movie or television watching more pleasant. On the downside, they're pricier than most headphones ($100 and up), but they last for years and are a great way to drown out sounds—babies crying or people having loud political arguments, for example—in other situations as well.

Carry a water bottle

Don't want to be at the mercy of flight attendants who you suspect don't really care if you're thirsty? Can’t fathom spending $9 on a bottle of water in the airport? Achieve hydration independence: Bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up on the other side. If space is at a premium, look into water bottles that can be collapsed when not in use. If you're concerned about plastic, there are options such as Klean Kanteen steel or Sigg aluminum bottles.

Fight dehydration

Dehydration is a real issue in the air: It can increase the effects of jetlag upon arrival or just leave you feeling icky. The first rule of hydration is, of course, to drink enough water, which you can do whenever you want if you bring your own water bottle. But you can fend off stinging, dry eyes by also packing some moisturizing eye drops, and keep your skin supple with a little bottle of lotion. Both are allowed though security as long as the containers aren't larger than three ounces and are contained in a 1-quart sized zip-top plastic bag.

Pack your own food

Which would you rather eat: a soggy, $10 day-old turkey sandwich or a $5 packet of broken crackers? Trick question! Plan ahead and you won't have to settle for either. Pack your own lunch (just beware the TSA restrictions and leave the soup at home) or pick up something in the terminal before you board. If it's a long flight, also pack low-salt snacks such as fruit or granola bars, so that when boredom and hunger set in, you'll be prepared.

Bring warm things

More airlines are charging for blankets and pillows these days, and even when they don't, it's never totally clear how often those things get washed. And if you've ever seen a seatmate sound asleep and drooling ever-so-slightly onto that airplane pillow, you quickly recognize the downside of shared pillows. Bring your own without sacrificing too much space by packing a large scarf, pashmina, wrap, or sweatshirt. That way, you can use your source of in-flight warmth as an accessory once you land.

Don't forget about entertainment

Let's face it: Unless you're really good at sleeping on airplanes, boredom is likely to be a recurring problem on long flights. Nothing makes three hours feel like six more than staring at the seat in front of you while shifting uncomfortably and checking your watch every 15 minutes. Stave off boredom and turn flights into leisure time with books, magazines, or Sudoku. Bring a portable DVD player or laptop and watch movies. Or load up your mp3 player with podcasts or videocasts of your favorite radio and TV shows.

Exercise

Uncomfortable seats feel even worse when you sit still in them for hours on end. Give your muscles a break every hour or so with some basic stretches. Moving around also helps some people stay more relaxed on flights.

Stay organized

Does this sound familiar? You settle in, grab a book and some gum from your bag and stow it under the seat. Twenty minutes later you think of something else you want (your mp3 player or some tissue), but now the seat in front of you is reclined. A back-of-seat organizer, such as the Seat Pak from Flight 001, hangs from your tray table latch and keeps items you might want in flight within arms' reach.

Be prepared for a layover

Plan for any layovers by researching the airport ahead of time. Most U.S. airports have websites where you can find information about restaurants, lounges, and extra amenities such as showers, nail salons, or Wi-Fi hotspots. There are also airport maps available on GoFox.com. Check for airport delays on GoFox.com ahead of time. If there's a chance that bad weather may delay your connection, write down the phone numbers of airport hotels when you're researching–they could save you from sleeping on the airport floor.

Book air flights on GoFox.com and be rest-assured you will receive the lowest rates with FareGuard Protection

Did I miss something? Tell me, what is your best tip for comfortable flying?

You Deserve to Travel!

2008-11-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

As winter approaches, many travelers who would typically be planning their winter getaways are sitting back and agonizing over the thought of taking a vacation in these hard economic times. Travel companies, resorts, cruise lines and the airlines are well aware of this, and as an incentive to travel are offering some of the best vacation deals we have seen in the last few years.

Yes, these are harder than usual economic times, but travelers and families must also remember the value of travel and memories that are made. A vacation or quick getaway may be the easiest cost to eliminate in the short-term, but at what long-term cost? Are your children at the age where they are going to have activities nearly every night at school? Are you going to be starting a new job with little time off? Are you contemplating a honeymoon and concerned f you don’t take it now you never will? Worried about taking those few extra days off of work? It’s a known fact that many American workers do not use all of their paid time off in a year. Is this you? What is keeping you from enjoying this time you earned?

These are all questions and concerns facing American families. Consider your options and remember that there is no time like the present to take a vacation, because you can never get the time you lost back. Memories really do last a lifetime and can only be made if you choose to make them.

If you are in fact considering a vacation or cruise, there are a ton of affordable options out there! The working class can actually take time out of their schedules and enjoy the luxuries of an affordable vacation or cruise. Last-minute vacation packages to Mexico and the Caribbean can run from $399.99 for 3 Day All-Inclusives. 3 and 4 day Caribbean cruises can be found for only $99. Holiday airfares have dropped drastically. Hotel chains are offering more incentives than ever. The entire travel industry is looking for ways to increase their business and cater to the needs of travelers and it’s time to take advantage of all of these offers out there!

Some of the best deals can be found through small online travel agencies and niche sites that offer customer service from experienced, professional travel specialists offline too. Often travel specialists can provide you with the insights or travel dates you may have overlooked. Yes, large comparison sites are convenient, but when investing in a vacation you want to rest assure that someone is going to be there for you after the sale or in the event that your travel plans need rearranging. This is where online travel agencies with a true offline experience come in handy.

It doesn’t matter what your preference in a vacation is, just remember to make the memories wherever you choose to go!