Top 10 ways to throw away your vacation money

Here is a great article that can help you to not waste your vacation money. In this day and age, we all have to make our money go further! CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE!

Contact me today to plan your next getaway -- email me at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call me at 330-329-9178.

What's the best way to communicate from a cruise ship?

As a travel agent, I am often asked by my clients about communicating with family and friends from a cruise ship. This article from USAToday - CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE - offers some great tips and pricing information to find your best option.

I am a cruise specialist, so please keep me in mind to help you find the best itinerary, ship and price for you. I also can help with groups.

Contact me today at lisa@traveldivalisa.com or call me at 330.329.9178. Thank you!!

An Announcement!!

A little over a year and a half ago I announced the ending of my association with Unlimited Vacations & Cruises on my Facebook page. I am happy to announce that I have recommitted to my career in travel after spending most of the time taking care of my parents (and still do). My own home-based travel agency is called TravelDivaLisa.com (named after my blog at that web address).

My full service travel agency has a focus on customer service while providing travel planning at its most personal and professional. I will work as your concierge to find the best honeymoon or vacation for you and yours. I am excited about TravelDivaLisa.com and am ready and waiting to take care of all of your travel planning needs.

What makes my agency different from the others?

· I am available! You can call; send me emails or text message if you need me, especially if you have any concerns or problems while traveling.

· I can meet with my clients anywhere! I can come to your home for a consultation, meet you at Starbucks or you can come and meet with me at my home.

· I am focused on my clients and their satisfaction! At my previous agencies, I handled my clients in addition to the agencies’ clients. With my own business, I won’t be distracted away from my clients and can provide better customer service.

Contact me today for all of your travel planning needs by:

Phone: (330) 329-9178 (text messages also)

Email: lisa@traveldivalisa.com

Blog/website: www.TravelDivaLisa.com

I want to thank all of my loyal clients who have encouraged me and stood by me during this transition in my life. You mean a lot to me and I appreciate it! I love you guys!!!!!

Walt Disney World Plans New Art of Animation Resort

New DISNEY NEWS from Travel Pulse, published on 5/13/10.....

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts unveiled plans for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, one of the largest new hospitality projects in Florida creating hundreds of construction jobs in the state. The new resort, set to open by the end of 2012, will feature quality family suites designed around four unique themes: The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Cars and The Little Mermaid.

“We are always looking for opportunities to expand and enhance our Walt Disney World offerings, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a great example of those efforts. This new resort will feature some of our most beloved characters and stories in a unique and special way that we think our guests will really enjoy,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This project also underscores our optimism about the future, as we continue to invest in new experiences for our guests around the globe.”

Located adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the new resort will include 1,120 family suites in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings, and 864 themed rooms in The Little Mermaid wings -- for a total of almost 2,000 new units. Suites will feature both a living room and a bedroom, offering added space for families.

“These themes have both compelling storylines and vivid visuals which will come together to create a truly memorable, immersive resort experience,” said Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering. “With more multi-generational families vacationing together, guests are looking for places where they can play together and stay together. This resort was designed with the needs of families in mind, as we continue the Disney tradition of providing a great guest experience for every taste and budget.”

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, the 26th resort at Walt Disney World, will be one-of-a-kind, with themed building exteriors and room interiors, and larger-than-life icons from the animated films in the courtyard areas. Walt Disney World Resort currently features 25 uniquely themed, Disney owned-and-operated resort hotels with more than 26,000 guest rooms. The new resort is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs, beginning immediately. All of the themed suites and rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are expected to open by the end of 2012.

Ireland Vacation, Anyone?

It seems that everyone wants to go on an Ireland vacation! The warm days of summer show off the reason why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle. However, fall, winter, and spring offer their own special charms, as well as being amazingly affordable times to travel.

Most destinations have a prime season for travel that coincides with excellent weather. Throughout this "peak season", the crowds tend to be heavy and the prices high. Ireland's peak travel season is the summer months: mid-June through mid-September. When the weather is typically less than balmy, destinations experience a "shoulder season" and a "low season". Shoulder season for an Ireland vacation is April, May, early June and early October. Shoulder season has the distinct advantage of retaining many summer travel perks: longer days, good weather and extended shopping hours. Low season is November through March - the winter-weather months in Ireland.

Rates and crowds lessen proportionally as you travel farther from the warmer months. Airfares are often hundreds of dollars below peak season rates, and hotels offer bargain discounts. But for many, one of the best advantages of traveling in the so-called "off season" for your Ireland vacation is that it's much easier to enjoy and absorb Ireland's renowned culture and avoid getting lost in crowds of tourists. Off-season visitors often find that their hosts, hoteliers and shop keepers engage easily in conversation and provide individual attention, increasing the odds for a fascinating and flawless Ireland vacation.

Off-peak Ireland is one of the best travel bargains worldwide... short daylight hours and cool weather provide a new, moody perspective on the country. Celtic architecture and cool seascapes fill mornings of exploration, and crisp afternoons call for cozy Irish sweaters and refuge in a warm pub, where visitors mix with the locals.

One of the great attractions of Ireland is that many of its amazing sites are in the wide-open: the cliffs and shores, castles, cathedrals and great stone circles are accessible throughout the year. The countryside, too, holds its famous green, even in the winter when visitors can trace the landscape of long stone walls against a leafless sky and emerald-colored hillsides.

To ensure your comfort while you wander through Ireland, bring heavy sweaters and outdoor clothing and hats. Warm, comfortable (and preferably waterproof) shoes are a must, and pack turtlenecks and windbreakers for good measure. The good news is that because Ireland is situated on the eastern Atlantic side of the Gulf Stream, temperatures are typically more moderate than in continental Europe. Ireland's average winter temperature is a relatively mild 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your best resource for planning your off-season itinerary is a good travel agent (me!) to ensure that you experience the best aspects of traveling during this time. Travel agents can connect you to highly regarded tour operators who are financially sound and have a reliable history of taking care of the agent's clients; Ireland can be equally enjoyed through a fully escorted or independent tour, and often at additional savings over already low rates. In addition, an agent is an invaluable source of insider tips and research materials that take the worry and hassle out of planning an enjoyable, quiet, and affordable trip to Ireland.

I can offer packages for travelers with a variety of travel options to suit your needs. Choose from independent vacations, escorted tours, golf vacations, city breaks, B&B’s, hotels, castles and more. I can custom design vacations for travelers giving them the capability to create their very own personal Ireland vacation.

So pack a sweater and have the Emerald Isle to yourself! Contact me with questions on your Ireland vacation at divalisatravel@gmail.com!