Where is the next vacation destination?

You know, I'm never happy going back someplace I've been before (unless it's the Mayan Riviera), so I'm facing a challenge when planning my next tropical vacation.

Should we go back to Ixtapa, which we loved (and which is pictured)? The Mayan Riviera is just too expensive during Thanksgiving Week. Maybe Cancun? Or how about Puerto Vallarta? The undiscovered Huatulco?

Or, there's always a cruise to Hawaii or Mexico. Sigh. What to do, what to do? I guess I will have to start pricing vacays and see where I can get the most from my money!

New Seven Wonders Nominees

The Washington Post has a kick ass photo slide show of the nominees for the New Seven Wonders of the World. Since the list hasn't been updated since the Ancient Greeks created it (it's good to know that the love of lists is an ancient thing), it's probably about time. The seven winners will be announced on July 7, 2007 (7/7/07, get it?).

Here's one bit of interesting trivia: "The 4,500-year-old Giza Pyramids in Cairo is the only one of the original seven ancient wonders that still exists. The new campaign has generated controversy in Egypt, where Culture Minister Farouk Hosni called it 'absurd.'"

I'm also proud to say that I will be visiting one of the nominees: Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, in Bavaria, Germany.



Here's what the Post says about the castle: "The 'fairy tale' castle Neuschwanstein in Schwangau, in Bavaria, Germany, appears through the early morning fog. The white castle built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland."

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Ten Reasons Rick Steves is my Travel Guru

1. Rick Steves is a man on a mission. Read the Back Door philosophy in any of his books to see what I mean. He argues that the more money you spend, the larger wall that you build between yourself and the locals and, therefore the culture. So when you see those fancy bellman smiling at their guests, just remember that said guest basically bought the smile.

2. Rick Steves is not anonymous. Do you know who wrote the Frommer's Guide for Italy? Yeah, me neither. Do you know who wrote the Rick Steves Guide to Italy? Yup, me too.

3. Rick Steves doesn't speak Italian. And if he doesn't speak Italian and he does well enough to write a travel guide, then I can do it too.

4. Travelers are devoted to Rick Steves. He inspires confidence - the feeling that I can do it. I can make it through Europe, learn about the culture ,and not spend a gazillion dollars to do it.

5. Rick Steves wants to help. Either he's a really good writer or he really does want to help. He includes the kind of information that is useful, not the kind that just makes him sound like he knows it all.

6. Rick Steves is honest (I think). From reading the feedback on his website and on Trip Advisor, his picks really do work out. There's a hiccup every now and them, but for the most part, his advice is trustworthy according to those that have used it.

7. Rick Steves is one of us. He writes his travel books so that you and I can travel, not so that some rich guy that we don't know can travel.

8. Rick Steves wears a backpack. I watched the making of his travel series and they travel light. Really light. And he uses the backpack that he sells on his website. That's devotion, people.

9. Rick Steves sells Eurrail passes. But before he sells them to you, he helps you figure out if you even need one or if buying individual tickets when you get there would be cheaper. Then, he shows you how to use the darn thing.

10. Rick Steves gets us discounts. And I love discounts. Most of the hotels he recommends can't be found on major internet booking sites or in any other guidebook. Rick has worked out deals with them, so that if you bring his book or mention his name, you can get a discount on the room rate.

Anyone have anything to add?

[Photo from www.ricksteves.com]

Hotel Picks for Europe 2007

Well, we finally got our acts together and booked all the hotels for our trip to Germany and Italy. We thought about winging it, but with only 11 days there, we didn't want to spend time looking for a hotel when we could spend it out and about discovering things. So, here's our hotel list for your perusal. If you find anything bad about them, please don't tell me.

All of the hotels, except for Florence, were recommended by Rick Steves in his Germany and Austria 2007 and Italy 2007 guidebooks. We booked Florence using my credit card points and, not surprisingly, Rick's picks were not on Expedia (which is the site my credit card uses for booking stuff).

Enjoy! I'll review them all when I get back!

Munich - Hotel am Viktualienmarkt

• Official Site
• Photos
• Trip Advisor Reviews - they aren't that good, but there are only seven of them.

Verona - Hotel Torcolo

• Official Site
• Photos
• Trip Advisor Reviews

Florence- Hotel Calzaiuoli

• Official Site
• Photos
• Trip Advisor Reviews

Rome - Hotel Paba

• Official Site
• Photos
• Trip Advisor Reviews

A Week in the Dominican Republic

On my list of places to go that where there is a beach and cocktails are included: Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I pick Punta Cana over Puerto Plata mostly because it is further from Haiti than Puerto Plata and Haiti violates my 10 year rule (no visiting places that have had a military coup or revolution in the last 10 years). Yes, this is how my twisted mind works.

So, where in Punta Cana? Well, number one on Trip Advisor is the Iberostar Punta Cana and I have always been an Iberostar fan (mostly because I have never been to one). You can get a really nice all-inclusive beachfront hotel for a week from Sacramento, all-inclusive, for about 1100 bucks. But, really nice isn't good enough for the Dream Vacation Game. Oh no. I have to go to the Iberostar. It's about 1,500 per person on www.beachdestinations.com (which I used to book my Ixtapa trip).

The place just kicks ass. It's part of a big resort complex with the Iberostar Dominicana and the Iberostar Punta Cana. If you stay at one, you can use the stuff at all of them. The buffet restaurant has an open kitchen, there's 24-hour bar service, a nightclub and casino (and drinks are included at the casino, too). And my favorite part. In addition to the buffet, there are 4 a la carte restaurants: Steakhouse, International, Japanese and Mediterranean and six bars including a beach bar and a swim up bar.



So what has kept me from going if it's not that expensive? Here's what:



It takes freaking forever to get there! Just completely out of control. I guess we could stay a day before and after in Florida or something, but that seems a little silly when Mexico is a few hours away. Sigh.

I will make it there someday.

Eurrail Passes Decoded

Rick Steves is my new best friend. Seriously. His website has an amazing five-part process to walk all of us through how to select and purchase a Eurrail pass. The tutorial begins with How Eurrail Passes Work, then describes how to Plan Your Rail Trip using Rick's favorite itineraries and checking rail routes and schedules.

The third step is to Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs. This step allows you to determine whether buying a pass or buying individual tickets in Europe is the most cost-effective way to travel. It's a little labor intensive, since you have to plan where you will go and figure out how much it will cost using Rick's handy dandy worksheet and route/price map.

Fourth, you Choose & Order Your Rail Pass. If you purchase through Rick's website, you also get a discount at his travel store. Now, Rick doesn't just abandon you there. Oh no. He also teaches you how about Using Your Rail Pass.

After mapping it all out and comparing costs, I think we are going to get the 5-day, three country Selectpass Saver pass. This is for people visiting 2-3 countries and traveling with at least two people. You get five days of travel in a 2 month period. The price for individual tickets is about 15 dollars less per person, which is definitely not worth standing in line for.

Now I have to buy the darn things and start reading Step 5.

[Photo from Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door]

What's Next?

I know I haven't even gone to Europe yet, but I am already thinking about what my next vacation will be. It's an illness and the Dream Vacation Game is my free therapy.

So, I'm thinking I'd really like to do a cruise. Then it will be a year of firsts for me. First trip to Europe, first cruise. And, we could make it a double whammy by doing my first cruise for my first trip to Hawaii. Have you seen the deals they have on cruises to Hawaii? It's freaking insane.

For example, 7 night cruises in Hawaii in October 2007 (just in time to celebrate our three-year wedding anniversary), with an oceanview cabin, are running about 1099 on Norwegian. Now, the closer you get to the cruise, the better the rates get. I have seen these cruises with free airfare from San Francisco to Honolulu, where they depart from. The ships are pretty cool too, check out a virtual tour here.

Another example is for the Eastern Caribbean (where I have also never been). This one would sorta be a pain because we have to fly all the way across the freaking country to get there. But you can get an oceanview room on a Holland America cruise for only about 700 bucks!

The main problem for me with cruises is that the alcohol isn't included. Plus, you have all the excursions to pay for, which can really add up quickly. Still mulling this one over....