Euro Travel & More

I loved Annapolis Royal and one of the first places I’ve stayed in when I arrived in Canada – was the Queen Ann Inn – it’s a bed and breakfast place but a very grand one – if I may say so.   Located on 494 St. George Street, you won’t miss the inn because if you do – all you need to do is stop and ask someone – the people are extremely friendly in Annapolis Royal.   We’ve decided to stay at the bed and breakfast when we were coming back from Halifax and I was quite pregnant then – and didn’t want to make the entire trip home.  We ended up staying for 2 nights instead of 1 because it was just one of the most amazing place – that brings you back in time.  It was quiet and so serene staying at Queen Anne’s but well located because it’s very near town too.

The rooms were gorgeous and as you can see carefully decorated.

Loved the bed – huge and spacious.

The inn is locally owned and operated – Greg and Julia were very nice and funny but most of all – very thoughtful hosts.

The bathroom was very nice too

They have a dining room where you can have all your meals here. They had cocktail hours too – and the meals were always excellent.  The bed and breakfast itself is full of history here – the building is a historical one.

Lounge area

Back yard and patio area and don’t forget to check out the town – they have so much to offer – it’s so sweet.

I’ve always been biased when it comes  to places for scuba diving but a friend who had just come back from Club Med Dominican Republic told us that we had to book Club Med – so we are trusting his opinion and going to Club Med instead of DisneyLand.  So now we are going to have to hunt down some camera goggles so that we can film our underwater adventures plus we may be visiting some dolphins as well.  My kid is very excited about seeing a pink dolphin – she wants to swim with it.  The camera goggles will work well for us because it will keep our hands free while it films everything we do – from snorkelling to spearfishing.    I think we are going to get 2 of them – and we can get them at our local store in the mall – or wait I think it’s an online only thing – so yes, we can still buy it online.   Club Med should be a fun place for any kids too – and I’m sure we could use some sun right about  now.

So Dealfind had a deal for the Delta Hotel in Fredericton and since it was a Delta Hotel, I figured I would look a little closer into it.  This is for a 2 night stay in New Brunswick for a Premier Room Overlooking the Saint John river for $150.  Not a bad deal at all – since hotel rooms are usually about $100 at least even for Priceline and a 2 night stay with $20 food voucher – now you can’t go wrong with that can you.  But wait a minute – don’t forget to read the fine prints below – there are plenty of restrictions as you can see and after reading some reviews on the hotel – the river view is nothing that special.

Expires on 30-Jun-2012. Buy up to 5 vouchers for yourself and unlimited as gifts. Limit 5 vouchers for personal use. By reservations only, please book online at DeltaFredericton.com, enter your DealFind voucher code under “Promotional Code/IATA#” to redeem. For inquiries, please call 1.888.462.8800. Package includes 2 nights accommodation in a luxury premier room overlooking the St John’s River and a $20 voucher valid towards food, beverage and alcohol. Voucher valid from Thursday to Sunday. Subject to availability. Voucher not valid from, March 20, 2012, April 12-14, 2012, May 3-5,10-11,31, 2012 and June 1-2, 2012.  Not valid for groups. Not valid with other offers. No cash back or credit. Not valid for taxes. Cannot be redeemed before Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

We’ve collected airmiles for years now and have always heard of people cashing in on their airmiles and making use of them to travel for free.  This year we are planning to visit Disneyland with our kid – so we are also cashing in on our airmiles and flying economy to Orlando Florida and we heard that Westjet – the airline we chose to travel in – had very good seats for our trip.   They have skullcandy headphones for kids when they watch their movies on the plane.   My kid had asked me if she can bring home those skullcandy headphones after using it – and truth be told I don’t even know if we can.  I guess if she liked it so much we can buy it from the airlines or search for them for sale online.   I hope we get good seats with our airmiles – even if we don’t get the skull candy headphone for free -  a 4hrs flight and a layover of 3hrs is not exactly fun if the seats on the airplane isn’t good.

Living Social and Beyond Boundaries Travel had a special deal for A 4-Day, 3-Night VIP Trip to Orlando Theme Parks for a Family of 4 – for $875.  This is for the Melia Orlando Suite Hotel at Celebration.  But wait a minute before you book – make sure you read the fine prints.  At first I too thought it was an excellent deal – but luckily I read the fine prints and found out that it was a per person rate and that you have to make good with your book before the end of February 2012.   So when a deal is too good to be true – it is usually not as good.  So make sure you read the fine prints before booking else I would have lost my money for nothing.  When there are so many kind of conditions to the special deal – it’s not such a special deal anymore.

Vouchers cannot be combined to extend stay • Reservations are required; subject to availability and must be made by February 28, 2012 • Not valid on existing reservations • Price is per person; rooms accommodate up to four people • This price is only valid when four people are in the one bedroom suite; voucher can be applied to the trip price for less than four people per suite • Additional fee applies for rooms under 4 people • For 3 people in a room it is an additional $60 per person; paid at booking • For 2 people in a room is is an additional $130 per person; paid at booking • For 1 person in a room is is an additional $350 per person; paid at booking • Taxes and fees are not included and will be collected at redemption • There will be no refunds once booking is made through Beyond Boundaries. Cancellation will result in being charged the full amount • Bookings subject to Beyond Boundaries Terms and Conditions • Airfare not included • All deal components must be redeemed during one stay and by one person • Disclaimer – Beyond Boundaries Travel and Living Social are not affiliated with Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. This event has not been planned, approved, or licensed by Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. Beyond Boundaries Travel do not claim or imply any rights to any Harry Potter intellectual property • HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.(s12) Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2012 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. These themed tours are not official Harry Potter tours and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers and/or J.K.Rowling and her representatives and/or Universal Orlando.Downtown Disney is a trademark of The Walt Disney Company • Other conditions apply• PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON January 28, 2017 • PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON June 4, 2012

My ex-boss being a resident in Madrid, of course brought us to places where the locals go and The Plaza De Santa Ana was recommended by him and it’s a real Spaniard experience here especially in the evenings.  You don’t find a lot of tourist around and drinks and food were a lot cheaper than the places where the tourists are brought to by their tour guides.  There were outdoor cafes and bar everywhere at the Plaza De Santa Ana and folks play guitar there every night with singing and dancing – it was a very lively scene.  There are a few vendors there – who would try and sell you their touristy souvenirs and you can politely refused if you didn’t want any.   We usually stay till late in the evening – as people watching as well as the singing was really good.  If you want to experience a true spanish atmosphere – try this plaza.

The Plaza is always crowded and with lots of people.

When a friend recommended this boutique hotel to us a few years ago, she told me that if you are thinking of partying and drinking – then this is not the place for you.  This place is about relaxation, yoga, healthy eating and lots of sun and the sea.  Children are not encouraged so i’ve heard.   The family cabanas has a kitchenette – so you can cook and bbq if you want, we choose an Ocean view room and it was lovely looking out watching the sun rise and set.  But let me warn you – not to expect too much – there is no cell phone connection nor a phone available for you to call but there is Wi-fi around – but it can get weird and slow at times.  No tv in the Cabanas too – so forget about bringing your xbox 360 with you.

For those looking to revitalize or re-kindle your relationship with your spouse or to find yourself – or direction – this is really a place for you.  The hotel staff leave you alone a lot of time – the maid does clean your rooms but only ever few days but if you needed anything extra – you can always contact the front desk.

Staying at the Azucar is like going back to basics – and if you want to enjoy this dream holiday – make sure you leave your work and home affairs well taken care of – for the duration of your stay there – because you will not be able to enjoy yourself – if you don’t.  This place is powered by Solar energy – pretty neat right? So if sometimes, the power goes off a few times during the day or night – don’t get too upset.  There is no air-con in the room – but there are ceiling fans in your cabanas.

To get to the hotel – it’s about 1.5hrs of driving and I strongly advised you to rent your own car at the airport.   There are  parking space around the hotel grounds – so no worries about that – because the night security will help you park your car if necessary.  there are no restaurants within the hotel – but food is within walking distance – and there are convenient stores nearby too – for you to fill up your fridge and temporary kitchen. Azucar is right in the middle of an Eco village – so like I said – do not expect a lot of high tech gadget – enjoy the sound of the waves – and talking to your partner and fall asleep in each others arms. And yes, there are bugs and mosquitoes – so if they are attracted to you – bring your wipes and repellent.

I was only in Dallas once with my ex-boss who was looking for Tubing Bender for a project we were on way back in 2008, since I was in Canada – it would be easier to bring me a long than his engineer in Singapore.   We stayed that The Joule in Dallas on Main Street  – I think I liked the location best – and because it right where the central area was – it was definitely convenient for us to go about our business and to receive business associate in the hotel or a nearby cafe.   I don’t remember them having a business center but they did have some PC  – and internet connection that you can hook your laptop to at the lobby.  The staff were extremely friendly and they did have a restaurant inhouse – Charlie something  – I can’t remember the name.

The rooms were very nice – and modern – I liked the colors immediately – it didn’t feel like I was sleeping in a hotel – it was like an apartment.

Like I said – everything was pretty modern – right up to the bathroom experience.

Loved the outdoor pool – for in Canada – most hotels has indoor ones.  I really wouldn’t say that it’s a boutique hotel – because they had a lot of rooms – the concierge was pretty helpful if I remember correctly.   Anyhow, we found our tubing bender in Dallas and return home after a 3 days stay.  So if you are in Dallas looking for tubing bending – stay at the Joule, Dallas.

Like most people here in Canada – we all rushed out to the south for the warmth and better weather – and you can’t really blame us when it is freezing cold here.   Last year, we had decided that we wanted to head to Jamaica and we wanted an all inclusive resort – so when the cousin reported that the Grand Palladium was darn good – we had to check it out.

The Grand Palladium has a grand lobby and you would love the resort as it is huge – so be prepared for some good walking exercises while you are there.  The location is also not bad – but you do have to travel quite a bit to other places depending on its traffic that day.

The grounds are immaculately kept and the staff are pretty awesome – they made our stay a very enjoyable one.  And what I loved about the resort most is that we weren’t hustled at all – like most all inclusive resort in Cuba or Mexico whereby they tell you all their sad stories and sometimes curse you for not buying their wares.

The beaches are wonderful – the little huts are great for children who don’t want to be in the sun for too long – we like the sunset cove beach very much.  I could lived like this forever – hahah!

The pool was huge and the pool bar was just right there – very convenient for those who loved their drinks when they are swimming – as for us – we only had the punch and water for the spouse as we both don’t drink – the house wine was ok – but I prefer ice wine which they didn’t have.

Our suite room was huge and so were the friends who came with us – love the bathroom shower and the tub as well.

This is the sunset cove.

An awesome looking sunset that makes you think of all the wonderful things in life.  The Grand Palladium also has a kid’s cove for the kids and many entertainment in the evening – definitely a great place to relax and recharge.  Lots of restaurants to choose from Mexican and the international buffet – plus American food.

While many feel that the hotel’s lobby and restaurants are important when you pick a hotel – it’s the room and the recreation areas that are most important to me.  When I get into the room and see such a big bed  – I’m usually impressed already – I love a king size bed room – even if I was traveling alone.  I don’t know why but I don’t like sleeping in small beds.

The Marriot hotels rarely disappoints – so I wasn’t too surprised that I liked the room and the inn as soon as I checked in.    The price was right since I was traveling with kids – it was good to have a small kitchenette for us to do our little microwaving for milk and other snacks for the kid.

There was a little dining area – for us to eat in if we wanted to or put another laptop to work on.   The Marriot Residence is near the entertainment center  – and there are plenty of restaurants nearby.    Every room I was told had wifi – and they are free and the TV are those flat screen ones.  Overall, we find that the hotel is nice and new – the front desk staff were pleasant – but unlike the Hyatt of course, where they try very hard to please you and make everything as best as possible.  But of course, you will see the price difference you pay at the Hyatt as compared to the Marriot Residence Inn – so I rate the hotel pretty good for the price I had paid for my business trip.

The outside of the Marriot Residence In.

The fitness center.

The stadium near the hotel.