Holiday Travel

Happy holidays! I cannot even believe 2007 is almost behind us. I have to admit that this is my favorite time of the year. I wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Before I get started on destinations, I want to tell you that for some reason this year, there is still space available for Christmas and New Years. We don’t have any bargains, since neither the airlines nor the hotels need the help during this time of year, but we do have space at most of our warm destinations.
If you still want to take a trip during this holiday season, give us a call. We will find you something, but be realistic with your budget. If you are looking for a deal, try to travel in January. I travel every holiday season, and every year I wish I could wait until after New Years to go. I hate paying double the money, having to get up at 6am to get a chair at the beach or pool, and don’t like to wait in line to eat. Anyhow, that is just me. It is still nice to be with family and friends during the holidays, so I should not complain.

So, where do you want to go on your next vacation?

How about Jamaica? I love Jamaica. I love the food, the people, and the mountains.
Do I feel safe there? I honestly do. If there is one negative for me it would have to be the haggling with the locals. Staying at an all-inclusive would avoid all of this, but I love to explore and see the sights. It is fun to bargain at the flea markets, but sometimes you have to be stern and say “no” more than once. Other than that, Jamaica is fantastic. It is not as inexpensive as the Dominican Republic or Mexico, but it is worth every penny.

Who should go to Jamaica and where should you stay?

There is a place for everyone. That is part of the beauty of Jamaica. It is a perfect place for a destination wedding and honeymoon, perfect for families with children of all ages, and perfect for “hedonists”.
Jamaica has perfected the all-inclusive concept. They have been doing it the longest, and offer the most inclusions. SuperCLubs, Sandals, and Couples are all fantastic and offer great added values with golf and scuba diving included. You just can’t beat it. Be careful when choosing one of the Super Clubs resorts, because they are all so different and cater to distinct clienteles.
When I first stated selling travel, a nice young man was taking his Grandma on vacation and heard that Hedonism II was the best place to go. What did I know? The price was right and off they went. Wow! These poor people were born-again Christians and I think they are still praying for salvation for all those people. They moved hotels after 24 hours, but I learned a lesson. The next month, a minister and his wife called and asked for a price for Hedonism II, and I told them this story and recommended some other great resorts. Nope. They only wanted Hedonism II- it would be there third trip there and they even asked to be on the nude beach!
Call us and we’ll guide you to the right all-inclusive. Some are better than others, and the prices reflect those that are truly 5 star.
If you don’t want all-inclusive, “no problem”. There are plenty of hotels, from Ritz Carlton to Legends.
So, now we know Jamaica is great for honeymooners, families, and college kids (Montego Bay and Negril in March) but it is also a great destination for golf enthusiasts, and scuba divers. Am I leaving anyone out?

Now that we know Jamaica is great for everyone, you probably want to know which part of Jamaica to go to. Good question. Montego Bay is the closest to the airport, so for 3 or 4 night trips, I highly recommend Montego Bay. There is a “down town”, great golf courses, good beaches, and plenty of resorts to chose from. When choosing a hotel in Montego Bay, ask if the resort is on the beach and if so, is it a private beach.
If you want peace and quiet, do not go there in March or April because it is filled with college kids.
Negril is 1 hour from the airport, and the ride is an adventure in itself. Jamaican’s drive on the other side of the road, but I do not think there is a speed limit, and the roads are sometimes tricky. Negril is most famous for its 7 mile beach and it is spectacular. In addition to great resorts on the beach, there is the West End where you will see the most beautiful sunsets in the world. When booking hotels on the west end, be aware that there is no sand (just cliffs and ocean) and most resorts do not have air conditioning. Negril is also home to the world famous Hedonism II…F.Y.I.
Runaway Bay has a couple of great all-inclusives, is only an hour from the airport, 30 minutes from the world famous Dunns River Falls, and home to great horseback riding and golf courses.
Ocho Rios has everything; beach, golf, shopping, night clubs, a 2 hour bus ride. It is home of Dunn’s River Falls, and many 5 star all-inclusive resorts. The beaches are not as nice as Negril, but there is more “action” if you are looking to leave the resort.

What else do you want to know? The weather is warm year round, the people are friendly (sometimes too friendly), the food is outstanding, and the rum is from Jamaica so it is cheap and plentiful. It is not the least expensive Island, but it is worth the price. The most common misconception that people have is that it is dangerous and that drugs are legal. Drugs are not legal, and you do have to use good sense when leaving the resorts, but tourism is the number 1 source of income and they try extremely hard to keep us safe and happy.
Go with confidence and be safe and happy during this holiday season and always.
Beth

Message from the President

Thank you for visiting Vacation Travel Mart's blog.

I started this company about 18 years ago with one goal in mind : to offer vacationers the Absolute Lowest Prices and the Highest level of customer service. We have succeeded... The repeat business represents close to 50% of our total business, we get new clients every day and our existing clients recommend their friends and family. We serve over 25000 happy clients every year and the number is growing.

I invite you to read our testimonial section, we get complimentary feedback every week and we are proud to post them on our web site.

We are a proud American Airlines preferred partner ( a few dozens in the entire US )which means that we get preferred airfares to the Caribbean. We pass along these exceptional savings to you , along with well negotiated hotel deals from our preferred hotel partners. We even have a person in our office whose soly job is to make sure that our prices are the Absolute best. We also have special airfare with Delta, Us Airways as well as with Spirit.

We are proud to announce that we just launched our new "On Line Booking Web site". You have the choice to book and pay Online or you can put your reservation onhold for 24 hours, so you have a chance to discuss your travel plans with your family and friends before confirming. Just remember that airfares are final once payment is made . We dont lose sight that you are spending hard earned money on your vacation and you want the Absolute best at the Absolute lowest prices and you want to talk to an experience agent for advice, we are here to help.

So the next time you need to travel to the Caribbean or Mexico please make sure that you check with us at www.vacmart.com before you buy anywhere. You will thrilled with both the savings and with our service. Look at our web site often as we update specials every day.

Thank you .


Jacques Abitan
President

Tips from Beth

Let me introduce our team,

Beth is what I would call a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the Caribbean and Mexico. She knows every destination, every hotel ( or most) , she even remembers the color of the carpet in some hotels. Beth will help you find the right hotel, for the right occasion and at the price you can afford or the price you want to pay. Visit her blog often and read her Caribbean tips. You'll love it.

Maritza middle name should be " sweet and patience". You have a group, you getting married and need someone to help you set up your honeymoon talk to Maritza, she will guide you , help you and your friends ( even the difficult ones !!!) prepare a memorable trip.

Clara is from the Dominican Republic and knows her country from an insider's perspective in addition of course to all of other Caribbean and Mexican vacation Spots.

Ana , Francine and the rest of our well experience team are here to make your vacation and your experience with our company a memorable one.

Jacques

Which destination is best for us (and our budget)?

I have been working in this industry for 18 years. I could write an entire book on the funny things people say and do. I’ll share just a couple of my favorites.

I was booking a vacation for a young couple for their honeymoon. They were just starting out and had a very small budget $500 per person including air out of the South. The air portion was $350 and the trip was for 7 nights to Cancun. You can do the math and recognize that they did not book the Ritz Carlton. The bride called the day before they left and asked hopefully, “was there a Jacuzzi in their room?”. I answered honestly that there was no Jacuzzi in their $40 a night room and that they would be lucky if their toilet flushed!

Another couple booked a gorgeous 5 star resort in Punta Cana (one that I highly recommended). I received a collect call from them from the resort asking to be moved immediately because “the housekeeper has no idea what I am talking about, and barely anyone around here speaks English”. I tried to comfort them with the fact that I live in Miami and my housekeeper doesn’t speak English. He did not care, and he insisted on leaving his honeymoon early.

What’s the point?

The point is: choose a destination that is right for you. We’ll be happy to help you, but you have to be clear in what you want and don’t want. A very nice woman asked me where she could go for 7 nights during the Christmas holiday for under $700 (all-inclusive as a single), and I told her camping. I’ll give you better advise:

Who should go to the Dominican Republic? If so, which part?

Anyone who is looking for a lot of destination for a little price should consider the Domincan Republic. It is a poor country, so the prices are low. The local people speak Spanish. The guests are divided between Europeans, South Americans and North Americans almost evenly, so there is always a diverse crowd. There are some topless sunbathers, but overall great for families. In the Summer time it is very hot and humid and the restaurants are mostly open-air. If you do not like the heat, ask which hotels offer indoor dining before you reserve. You do have to be careful what you eat and drink, but that is true almost everywhere. I think people get sick more for the quantity than the quality of the food and drinks. If you have a sensitive stomach, ask your doctor or take some preventive medicine just in case. You do not need shots, just good common sense. If something looks or smells “iffy” please avoid it. Eating outside the confines of the resorts can also be risky. If you are looking for premium liquor or gourmet food, you have to stay at one of the top hotels
The beaches are fantastic, especially on the Caribbean side (La Romana and Punta Cana). If you are looking for shopping and lots of culture, this is not the destination for you. If you want gorgeous blue water, white sand, great prices, and fun- go with confidence. There is also golf, casinos, scuba diving, and great spas available (for a price). Puerto Plata is the Atlantic ocean, so the beaches are not as wide or white, but it is an excellent destination if you like to explore and not be stuck at your hotel. You get more of the feel of the Dominican in Puerto Plata. Puerto Plata does not have the best beaches in the Caribbean, but they are good enough. The water is blue and calm (except in Sosua) and the sand is still soft and smooth. Puerto Plata offers a true Island experience. There are places to visit, discos, shopping areas, and lots of history. There is also a great park, Ocean World, where you can swim with the Dolphins. We send many young single people to this side of the D.R., because it is not just “families and honeymooners”.


To me, the Dominican Republic is for everyone and anyone who wants a great vacation at an affordable price.

Next week I’ll fill you in on Jamaica and Mexico…..stay tuned

Price of Oil and how it affect prices of vacation packages

I know my next entry was supposed to be about other destinations, but I had to push that one back to write about the rising costs of fuel and whether or not that will affect the cost of your vacation. In a word, YES.I think that with fuel costs skyrocketing, airlines are going to be forced to increase their rates. I don’t know for sure, but if the past is any indicator, I would say rates are not going down.When people call me a year in advance for their vacation, I often tell them to wait until a sale happens to save them money (I’m sure my boss would hate to hear that). I want the business, but I also want happy clients. Happy clients are easier to work with, tell their friends about us, and book again. I am proud to call so many of my clients “friends”, After 8 years of working together, I have developed some great relationships, and I feel honored to know so many of you.Now, it is back to business. If you haven’t used all your vacation money to fill your gas tanks or heat your houses, now is the time to reserve. We have a Winter Sale going on now through November 17th, and these prices are really good. The prices are not as low as they were during rainy season, but they are lower than you’ll find anywhere else.Don’t have the money? Do what I do and charge it! I know a vacation is considered a “luxury” item for many of us, but if you are like me and work really hard, you deserve a break. What you don’t deserve is to overpay. Check out our rates on our website, but also feel free to call any one of us and ask for our help. Give us your budget and your travel dates and we will find you the best rates we can. If you are not traveling until next Summer, and are flexible with your dates and your destination, it is ok to wait until January, but if you are traveling before May 1, reserve now. Pay for your flights and a deposit on your hotel if you cannot pay for your entire trip. For me, a vacation is not a ”bonus”, it is what keeps me sane. I work really hard. I need to vacation. I love the Caribbean, and Mexico, but I also like a “deal”. I normally go to all-inclusive resorts even though I don’t like the feeling of being “stuck” somewhere. I don’t even drink alcohol, but it still saves me money.Some other quick tips:If you are looking for bargains, avoid school holidays. Teachers are smart enough to book their vacations way in advance and they take all the cheap seats.Fly during the week instead of weekends.Ask us about our charters with FunJet and Apple Vacations- we include complimentary insurance in all of their packages so we save you BIG BUCKS.Prices you see on our website are exclusive of departure taxes (about $150 per person) so figure that when making your budget.Let us know if you find something cheaper somewhere else, so we can match or beat the price.Most important is to have a great trip. For me, I know that I cannot sweat the small stuff. As much of a snob as I can be I know that if I am staying at a moderate hotel, the thread count of the sheets is going to be low and I’ll be lucky to have a wash cloth. Don’t lower your expectations, just widen your tolerance level. Call us. We are here for you.I promise more destinations next week……….your friend, Beth

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