Viator

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

TripAdvisor's Top 10 U.S. water parks

TripAdvisor's list of its Top 10 U.S. water parks reminds us that the genre has definitely evolved from the days of a few slides, a lazy river and (maybe) a wave pool.

Regardless, we’ll cut the nostalgia and get right to the chase, as summer is past its halfway point and a solid splashdown couldn’t come soon enough.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari topped the list (which TripAdvisor said was "the top ten water parks in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor travelers"). Its featured attractions include the Wildebeest, which at a third of a mile long is the world’s longest water coaster. And ZOOMbabwe, at almost 900 feet long, is the world’s biggest enclosed waterslide. The park’s in Santa Claus, Ind., which is about 75 miles west of Louisville, Ky.

Orlando’s Typhoon Lagoon came in at No. 2 for its surf lessons; the 2,000-foot-long Castaway Creek, which allows visitors to literally float around the park; and massive “Shark Reef," complete with tropical fish and -- gulp -- sharks.

Wisconsin’s Noah’s Ark Water Park, which at 49 rides and multiple wave pools and rivers is the largest in the U.S., was the third most-popular waterpark, especially for those willing to brave the park’s near-looping waterslide.

Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, N.J., combines two water parks with a beachfront location, while Kahuna Laguna, nestled in the mountains of North Conway, N.H., is an all indoor-attraction, giving visitors an 82-degree environment regardless of whether it’s 100 degrees or minus 10 outside.

Rounding out TripAdvisor’s top 10 was Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Va.; NRH20 Waterpark in North Richland Hills, Texas; Adventureland in Des Moines, Iowa; Orlando’s Aquatica; and Wild Water & Wheels in Surfside, S.C. -- By Danny King

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

National Geographic launching Cuba Tours in November

National Geographic Expeditions will launch its people-to-people tours in Cuba in November.

National Geographic received its Cuba travel license from the U.S. Treasury Department on Aug. 23. Operators must run educational tours in which participants interact with locals.

“Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture” is a 10-day tour departing Miami on Nov. 26; Dec. 10, 24; Jan. 7, 21; Feb. 4, 18; March 10, 24; April 7, 21; and May 12.

Lynn Cutter, National Geographic’s senior vice president of travel and business development, said, “We’ve tapped into National Geographic’s network of experts and resources in Cuba to craft an exciting, immersive program that provides a true insider’s perspective and an interactive dialogue through encounters with local Cubans.”

Each departure will be led by a National Geographic expert who will serve as an ambassador between the travelers and the Cubans.

Author and travel photographer Christopher Baker will lead the first tour and several other departures. Author Tom Miller and Elizabeth Newhouse (former National Geographic editor and consultant with the Center for International Policy’s Cuba Project in Washington) also will head up departures.

The tour is $4,995 per person, double (add $560 for single travelers). Air to Miami and charter air to Havana are extra.

The itinerary includes Unesco World Heritage sites of Old Havana and Trinidad; a trip to the Bay of Pigs with Cuban veterans from the 1961 invasion; attendance at music and dance performances; and visits to local farms, parks, fishing villages, homes, schools, street parties, cathedrals, art studios and Hemingway’s rural home Finca Vigia.

Abercrombie & Kent on Monday said it was canceling its new Cuba program after reviewing a clarification on new Cuba travel regulations issued by the Treasury Department.

Expedition Details

Thanks to a special license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, National Geographic invites you to participate in an extraordinary immersive program to discover Cuba’s fascinating people and culture. Learn firsthand from Cuban locals and experts about their splendid colonial cities, vibrant music and art scene and lush rural landscapes, and experience the timeless beauty and fascinating culture of this enigmatic island nation. Learn about the restoration of Old Havana from local preservationists; visit the Bay of Pigs with Cuban veterans; share readings from Hemingway’s work at his rural home, Finca Vigía. Throughout your journey, exchange ideas and experiences relating to art, education, religion, history, and conservation with Cuban artists, teachers, Santería priests, park rangers, and more.

Trip Highlights

  • In the company of Cuban preservationists explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Old Havana and Trinidad.
  • Visit the Bay of Pigs with Cuban veterans who will share their memories of the 1961 invasion.
  • Witness Cuba’s revitalization at music and dance performances and on visits to local farms, homes, schools, and art studios.
  • Meet photographer Julio Muñoz, whose family appeared in a 1999 National Geographic article, and learn about his innovative project in promoting equine care.

Itinerary - 10 Days

Day 1 — U.S./Havana, Cuba

Upon arrival in Havana, transfer to our hotel. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel or Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal, depending on the departure date
(D)

Day 2 — Havana

Explore Old Havana and discover its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture. Learn about the challenges facing Havana as it struggles to preserve its architectural and cultural heritage in a period of great economic change. On the main commercial street, meet some of Cuba’s cuentapropistas (self-employed), who are part of an expanding private sector. After lunch, enjoy a talk with experts from the Old Havana restoration project. Later, following a presentation on the role of tobacco in Cuban history, watch the intricate work of torcedores, or cigar rollers, at the famous Partagás cigar factory, followed by a discussion with a few of the rollers about their work. Soak up the atmosphere in Parque Central, where baseball fans engage in debates while domino players duel beneath palm trees. Attend a talk on Cuban religion in its many forms—from Catholicism to Judaism to Santería—and then visit the cathedral of San Cristóbal with a remarkable baroque facade that Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier described as “music turned to stone.”
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel or Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 3 — Havana/Cojímar

Begin the day with a presentation on Cuba’s current political and economic landscape. Afterward, set out for Ernest Hemingway’s hilltop home, Finca Vigía, now a museum. Meet with a curator to discuss the author’s enduring legacy in Cuba, followed by a reading of some of his iconic works. Then travel to the seaside village of Cojímar, the setting for the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Old Man and the Sea. Here, meet local fishermen and environmentalists who will discuss conservation measures to protect Cuba’s marine wildlife, including sea turtles. Have lunch overlooking the harbor where Hemingway’s fishing boat was moored. Later, enjoy a talk on Hemingway’s reaction to the 1959 Cuban Revolution and his final departure from Cuba and subsequent death in 1961. Then visit Hotel Ambos Mundos in Old Havana where the author’s room is maintained as a museum. Finish off the day at El Floridita, another Hemingway haunt that provides a unique window into his life in Cuba.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Santa Isabel or Hotel San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal, depending on the departure date
(B,L)

Day 4 — Pinar del Río/Viñales

Travel into the Pinar del Río Province and Viñales valley, known for its emerald tobacco fields. Visit the legendary tobacco farm of the Robaina family and witness firsthand the cultivation of Cuba’s legendary crop. Meet and talk with those who work the farm and learn about Cuba’s rural culture and economy. Later, explore Viñales National Park with rangers and naturalists who will discuss conservation in this forested region. Meet with rural farmers who still use oxen to till their fields. Continue to the lovely town of Viñales, surrounded by striking limestone hills, or mogotes. This evening, attend a talk by our expert on the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Hotel Los Jazmines or Hotel La Ermita, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Bay of Pigs/Cienfuegos

Set out for the historic Bay of Pigs. On our way, visit the cave where Ernesto “Che” Guevara was headquartered during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Explore Playa Girón, the landing site for the 1961 U.S.-backed invasion, and the Playa Giron museum with Cuban veterans, who will share their memories. Engage them directly on the legacy of the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. Continue to Cienfuegos, a port city with architecture that reflects its French colonial roots. This evening, discover the history and Parisian-style boulevards of Cuba’s “pearl of the South.” Meet local residents in Parque Martí and see the statue commemorating José Martí, a renowned author and a leader in Cuba’s quest for independence from Spain.
Hotel Jagua (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Cienfuegos

Visit the country’s largest botanical garden with a member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, who will talk about Cuba’s efforts to maintain the rich biodiversity of its extraordinary plant life. Then travel into the mountains of the Sierra del Escambray and enjoy lunch at a restored sugar hacienda. Afterward, board a 1906 Baldwin steam train once used to transport sugar cane and journey into the lush Valley of the Sugar Mills, where we’ll learn about the historic yet diminished importance of Cuba’s sugar industry. Meet former sugar workers who have shifted to new agricultural employment in an uncertain economic period, as Cuba attempts to become self-sustaining in food production. Return to Cienfuegos this evening and join in a neighborhood street party where you will have an opportunity to meet Cubans in an informal setting.
Hotel Jagua (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Trinidad

Explore Cuba’s best-preserved colonial city with restoration experts. Meander along cobblestone streets past pastel-colored homes and serene plazas. Meet with students at a local art institute, housed in what was once the dragoons’ barracks and discover what fresh contributions young artists are making to Cuba’s shifting cultural landscape. After lunch, meet Julio Muñoz, a local photographer and “horse whisperer” whose wife and niece were featured in an October 1999 National Geographic article. Visit Julio’s colonial-era house and stables, the base for his project in promoting equine care in Cuba. Then join him in visiting a babalawo, a high priest of the Afro-Caribbean religion, Santería.
Hotel Jagua (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Havana/Jaimanitas

Return to Havana, stopping for lunch along the way. Attend a musical performance at a local music and dance school and meet the students. Then head to the charming fishing village of Jaimanitas to visit the workshop and home of ceramic artist José Fuster, called the “Picasso of Cuba.” Talk with residents involved in revitalizing the neighborhood with colorful mosaics.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Santa Isabel or Hotel Parque Central, depending on the departure date
(B,L)

Day 9 — Havana

Take a morning walk through the Vedado neighborhood. Then visit La Plaza de la Revolución and Colon (Columbus) Cemetery, known for its elaborate mausoleums, chapels, and tombstones. Meet pilgrims from across the country at the grave of La Milagrosa (The Miraculous One), a woman who died in childbirth in 1901 and who many Cubans believe has the power to grant good luck. Later, meet local artists at “Salvador’s Alley,” an outdoor multimedia space with vibrant murals, Santería shrines, and rumba performances. Learn how these artists refract the realities of contemporary Cuban life through a variety of media. Toast our new Cuban friends at a farewell dinner tonight.
Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Santa Isabel or Hotel Parque Central, depending on the departure date
(B,L,D)

Day 10 — Havana/U.S.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

September Sizzles: Vegas, New Orleans & Atlantic City Hosts LGBT Events

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - While Las Vegas has been ranked as one of the top vacation spots for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) travelers, Caesars Entertainment is uniquely positioned to provide fun and exciting experiences at its resorts across the country.

During September, Caesars has created an inclusive three-city event tour that will kick-off in New Orleans, continue to Las Vegas and wrap in Atlantic City. The gaming and entertainment company will roll out the rainbow carpets and demonstrate pride from coast to coast, inviting everyone to Come Out with Caesars Entertainment this September.

Harrah’s New Orleans will kick-off the celebration this Labor Day weekend with the largest gay event in New Orleans, Southern Decadence, by hosting the Grand Marshall’s dinner and official kick-off extravaganza block party on September 1. Voted as Out Magazine’s Hottest DJ in 2007, Hit sensation DJ Hector Fonseca will bring his world-renowned dance beats for a guaranteed good time.

In addition, Harrah’s New Orleans is the leading sponsor of Envy, a VIP experience in the heart of the action, and will march through the famed French Quarter in the Decadence parade located in the "Gay Capital of the South." For more information on Harrah’s Southern Decadence festivities, visit www.gayharrahsnola.com.

In Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment resorts are participating in the annual Las Vegas PRIDE festivities beginning September 16. The 2011 PRIDE Night Parade will make its way through Las Vegas on Friday, September 16, with floats ready to impress with their over-the-top decor.

Harrah’s New Orleans is the leading sponsor of Envy, a VIP experience in the heart of the action, and will march through the famed French Quarter in the Decadence parade located in the "Gay Capital of the South."

Caesars Entertainment will participate with a float decked out with a cast of characters from the company’s Las Vegas-based production shows including Frank Marino’s Divas, Donn Arden’s Jubilee! and The Chippendales. Caesars will also have a presence at the PRIDE festival with the iconic Jubilee! showgirls.

To cap the weekend, a special cocktail reception will be held at Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace on Sunday, September 18 at 8:30 p.m. followed by a special performance of Frank Marino’s Divas at the Imperial Palace at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.gayparislasvegas.com.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City will continue the LGBT festivities by hosting its annual OUT in AC weekend from September 23-25. This event will be nothing less than fabulous with Frank Marino, female impersonator and Las Vegas Diva, as this year’s host. The full weekend of LGBT-themed activities includes concerts, body-painting exhibitions, a bull riding competition and much more. For more information, visit www.harrahs.com/getoutinac.

Caesars Entertainment is the only company in the casino entertainment industry to receive a perfect score four consecutive times on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index.

The Nevada Minority Business Council inducted Caesars Entertainment into its hall of fame as "Corporation of the Decade," for the company’s 15-year dedication to diversity and inclusion. Most recently, Profiles in Diversity Journal conferred its top honor, the "2010 Diversity Leader Award," to Caesars Entertainment for its outstanding diversity communications practices.

Caesars Entertainment has a longstanding history of community engagement and social responsibility and was named Business Week’s "Most Generous Company in America." Caesar’s is committed to creating a dynamic and innovative culture where individual growth is not only encouraged, but also rewarded, recognized and celebrated.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

Travel Agencies vs. Online Bookings

Politicians, searching for everyday examples, often fall victim to the trap in the old adage, "It ain't what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that ain't right." A prominent politico (no name, I'm not into partisan politics, and it happens in both parties) did just that when he tried to illustrate dynamic change by asking, "When was the last time somebody went to a bank teller instead of using an ATM or used a travel agent instead of going online?" As I'm sure lots of folks responded, the answer to both questions is, "I'm doing it as you speak." Bank tellers and travel agents are still around and still providing important services. Although I don't have any great insights about retail banking, I know with some accuracy that travel agency business is doing OK these days.

Probably the first point is that "travel agency instead of online" is what my old debate coach used to call a "false dichotomy:" setting up a situation as "either-or" when the reality is "both." Some of the biggest online travel sellers—Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and such, are, in fact, travel agencies themselves, as are the many more specialized online travel sellers. The industry's standard term for them is "online travel agencies," or OTAs. And many travel agencies with local "bricks and mortar" retail offices operate their own websites.

But let's assume that the politician really meant personal visits or calls to an in-person "retail" agent. Even this more limited reference doesn't square with the facts. Lots of you prefer dealing personally with an agent to going online yourself, for several reasons:

  • Agents can save you time. There's a good chance that you'll be reading this column online, and that you regularly make your travel arrangements online. You've found, then, that ferreting out your best deals often requires a lot of time—maybe many hours—for even a simple trip. That's why some of you prefer one call to a travel agent who can do the ferreting out for you. This service is especially relevant if you're extremely busy or place a very high value on your time.
  • Agents provide skills you might not find online. Here, I'm not talking so much about personal airline and destination recommendations—you can get more of that online than you can possibly assimilate—but in such specialized areas as assembling custom tours or using airline ticketing tricks for multi-stop international trips that the OTA systems can't incorporate.
  • Agents can help solve problems. If your flight is canceled or you face some other problem, an agent can probably find a better solution, more quickly, than you could on your own.
  • Agents provide special services to business travelers. Many businesses find the best way to manage their travel activities and budgets do that is to use a travel agency. Small businesses and individual professionals, especially, find business-oriented agencies to be helpful.

This is not to say that you should all shut down your computers and head for a travel agency. Online is still the best bet for many of you:

  • Retail travel agent services are no longer "free." Fees range from around $30 for a simple air booking to much more than that for a complicated itinerary.
  • For a relatively simple itinerary, you can probably find on your own any good deal you could get through a retail agency.
  • Retail agents often can't or won't use some of your best sources of big discounts, such as Hotwire, Priceline, by-owner vacation rental sites, and flash sale sites. One local agent I know won't book flights on Allegiant because of difficulties when that line cancels a flight.

All in all, if you're skilled, use good information sources, and have the time, you can probably pay less for any given trip than you'd pay through a retail agent. But if you'd rather let someone else go through the hassles—and help you fight a problem—a retail travel agent is nearby and glad to help.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel

Free Dining Packages at World Disney World Resort w/ Supreme Clientele Travel!

Hungry for a great deal? Now through Oct. 29, 2011, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Value Resorts and get a FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan. Or, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and get a FREE Disney Dining Plan.

Booking Window:
Aug. 3 - Oct. 29, 2011

Travel Window:
Valid for arrivals most nights:

  • Oct. 1-6, 2011
  • Oct. 22 - Nov. 3, 2011
  • Nov. 12-17, 2011
  • Nov. 26 - Dec. 1, 2011
  • Dec. 10-15, 2011
  • Jan. 8-12, 2012
  • Jan. 21- Feb. 2, 2012
  • Feb. 11-16, 2012
  • March 3-8, 2012
  • March 24-29, 2012

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