Dream Vacation Game

Where is the next vacation destination?

2007-08-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-09T23:16:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

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

Florence- Hotel Calzaiuoli

Rome - Hotel Paba

A Week in the Dominican Republic

2007-02-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-19T16:51:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-02-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

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....

TravelZoo Sweepstakes

2007-02-12T17:43:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite travel sites, Travelzoo, has a great sweepstakes going right now. If you sign up for their weekly newsletter, which you should be signed up for already, you can win 250,000 Frequent Flyer Miles. They are redeemable on more than 25 airlines. So go enter!

Sooo Wrong

2007-02-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

I was so unbelieveably wrong about having narrowed down our hotel options in Munich. Now I am even more confused. We pretty much nixed staying in the Altstadt (the old part of town) because you just don't get your money's worth and we like to walk anyways.

Three options within 5-20 minutes walking distance from the Altstadt are:

Hotel Uhland. 15-20 minute walk, picked by Rick Steves and highly rated on Trip Advisor. I don't like that they have two room classes though, so your room will only be normal sized and nice if you pay more. Some pics of Uhland:

Hotel Bristol. 5-10 minute walk, but there's something I just don't love about it. Poorly rated on Trip Advisor, but only 12 people have rated it. This hotel has an "every room looks the same" feel to it, which may or may not be a bad thing. They look like they are going for a fun and whimsical vibe.

Hotel Monaco. 5-10 minute walk and the one that I think might edge out the contenders. It has a B&B feel to it, but it isn't in the best 'hood (same as Hotel Bristol). I like the idea of a cutesy room, but these rooms look REALLY cutesy. Trip Advisor review are pretty average, but there are only 13 reviews.

And just so you know, writing this post didn't help at all. I like the style of Bristol, the neighborhood and homey feeling of Uhland and the uniqueness of Monaco. Sigh.

Munich Hotel Options

2007-02-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking that I have the Munich hotel options narrowed down to this one:

Hotel am Viktualienmarkt. Here's the Trip Advisor review. Good things - right in the the center of the Altstadt (old town), market is right outside the door and Rick Steves recommends it. Bad things - a little more than we want to pay at 85 Euros for two nights and 98 for the other two. But still, not bad.
These pictures are from Trip Advisor:

And, since this is the Dream Vacation Game, if money was no option, I'd stay at the 5-star Koenigshof because it's not a chain and it's freaking gorgeous:

Are We the Only Ones?

2007-02-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

So, why does no one do Germany and Italy in one trip? There are no vacation packages for Germany and Italy together. There are ones for Paris, London and Rome or Munich, Austria and Salzburg, but not a Germany/Italy package to be found. Whatever! It just meant we had to be more creative.

I think this is (a) the longest trip I have ever planned and (b) the shortest amount of time I have ever planned a trip. So, now I can't decide something. Should we wing it for hotels or should we book ahead?

Winging it - gives the vacation kind of a spontaneous feel. Very counter-intuitive for me, since I think I planned my first birthday party. Also could end up with paying way more than we should due to places being booked or changing prices posted on the internet/in my guidebook.

Prebooking - we know that we are getting a good deal. We can rely on the guidebook picks, on Trip Advisor and on random Internet websites like this one to pick the best price for the best quality. Plus, we will know where we are going each night and can spend our time planning excursions instead of figuring out where to sleep. We also have a very regimented schedule in order to see all the cities we want to see, so planning ahead would be easier.

Was that a biased analysis? Can you tell I want to prebook? Am I a loser? Should this be an opportunity to try being more spontaneous? Help me out here!

Here's our currently planned itinerary (all travel by train other than flight to Munich and flight home):

Day 1: Munich (arrive late afternoon via plane)
Day 2: Munich
Day 3: Munich/day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle (pictured above)
Day 4: Munich/day trip to either Salzburg (Austria) or Dachau
Day 5: Verona (yes, that's the Romeo and Juliet Verona)
Day 6: Florence
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: Fly Home!

The reason we picked Verona is basically because it was a good place to break up the 8 hour trip from Munich to Florence and getting to Venice was a major pain in the you know what to get to from Munich. We would just spend waaaay to much time on a train to just see Venice when we are really going to see Rome. And seeing Florence is better than seeing Venice for us (we think).

Germany/Italy or Bust!

2007-01-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

If I can ever get my husband to tell me what dates we are going to Europe, it will be much easier to plan this vacation, but whatever. (I'm trying to publicly shame him into cooperating.)

Here is my first attempt at planning a European vacation. I usually plan trips to Mexico, Hawaii and South America, so there's going to be a steep learning curve here. Let's start simple. The airfare.

I looked at flights leaving Thursday, March 29 and returning Thursday, April 12. The idea is to fly into Munich and out of Rome. We have learned time and time again that flying into Sacramento is worth the extra money, so I'll do the price comparison from there.

Here are my first set of results:

Kayak.com brought this result from United:

That's about 800 bucks a person.

Sidestep sent me over to OneTravel, which offers flights on a White Label carrier for about the same price. When given the option, I'd rather pay a little more to know who I'm flying with, especially for an eighteen hour flight.

My gut tells me that the United flight is as good as it's gonna get, but I have to check the big three online travel agencies just in case:

Expedia: $947
Travelocity: $952
Orbitz: Orbitz has some crazy "ACT FAST, Only 4 tickets left" prices for 775 per person. Still about 1600 total, so no big diff.

Okay, so the official budget price for airfare is going to be set at approximately 1600, rounding up just to be safe.

Photo from US DOT.

Travel Quiz

2006-09-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

I only got 6 out of 10 on this week's travel quiz. Bummer! How did you do?

Sorry for the random picture, I am dreaming about my Mexico trip.

Germany Castle Hotel Vacation

2006-09-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

Now that we got our real life trip to Ixtapa booked, I can go back to the lovely make believe world of the dream vacation game. This month's Budget Travel Online had me drooling over its feature on castle hotels in Germany. Let's pick two weeks in March to get started. Based on the map in Budget Travel, I'm thinking a mini road trip. Fly into Frankfurt, stay and castle hotels, then fly out of Munich.

I am thinking for a two week vacation, we should stay at least 3-4 nights in each place. Let's say we don't start with castles right away. The exception is when we fly into Frankfurt, which is a mainly financial city, but is chepaer to fly into than Munich and is closer to the castle hotels. We fly into Frankfurt and stay there for 1 night at the Bristol Hotel and costs 180 a night.

The first stop would be Burg Hirschhorn, between Wurzburg and Mannheim, Germany. It costs 132 a night. According to Budget Travel: "Most guests spend their time ensconced with a mug of beer or glass of Riesling on the dining terrace, which juts from the main building like the prow of a ship, providing amazing views up the swift river." I'll take two Rieslings, please. And the beer, too. Three nights here!

Next would be Burg Colmberg. This one is a keeper: "The Colmberg ranks as one of the Franconia region's best full-on medieval castle experiences; it sits prominently atop a 1,676-foot peak and has tall, impregnable walls and a courtyard flanked by a round stone tower. Ivy crawls up the faded peach plaster on one of the complex's giant, half-timbered buildings, and here and there the masonry is flecked with wildflowers." Rates start at 95 a night. Three nights there for sure!

Moving on, I would spend four nights in this next one, Schloss Hohenstein. "Past the guard tower lies a courtyard that's a study in different types of German castle architecture: a mélange of half-timbered walls, craggy medieval towers, wrought-iron lamps, flying staircases, gutter spouts sculpted into dragons' heads, and baroque stonework." This guy costs 142 a night and I think it would be worth every penny.

Now, while it might not really be part of a dream vacation, as a history major, I would certainly feel the need to stop at Dachau on the way into Munich. I am sure it would be heart wrenching experience, but something that you just have to do.

Okay, three nights left and I think we would spend them in Munich and do road trips from there. We would also love to explore the city. Soooooo, in Munich, we would stay at the Kings Hotel Center because it's cheap and in the middle of town. We won't be in the room much. 125 a night.

Airfare from Sacramento to Frankfurt, then Munich to Sacramento, leaving Thursday, March 8 until March 22: 575 per person
Frankfurt hotel: 180
Hotels: 330, 396, 285, 426, 375
Car: about 500 bucks for two weeks

Total per person (very approximate): 1700 per person.

Decision Made!!

2006-08-31T13:46:00.000-07:00

So we finally decided on the all-inclusive Barcelo Ixtapa Beach. Luckily Hurricane John was headed north of Ixtapa and didn't harm any of the resorts there. Keep your fingers crossed for no more hurricanes.

I am feeling a little nervous about Ixtapa and our hotel because if my friends hate it, it will be all my fault. We somehow ended up getting on flights so that we will meet up in Denver for the flight to Ixtapa. So, we will be able to share a cab and check in together, which will be cool. I am so excited about the opportunity to get away for a little bit and drink some cocktails on a beach.

My only regret - they discontinued poolside drink service. I guess it will be a good thing - I will burn calories by getting up to order drinks.

Now, back to our regularly schedule dream vacation (instead of real vacation) planning.

Barcelo Ixtapa Beach

2006-08-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands. Here are a whole bunch of pictures of the resort in no particular order.

Hotel pool and the Pacific Ocean.

Hotel pool with ocean in background.

Restaurant by Beach/Pool

Hotel Grounds

Pool with hotel to the left. Pool bar straight ahead. Ocean is on the right (but you can't see it!).

View up beach from Hotel.

View of Pacific from Hotel.

Pool with ocean in background and pool bar on left.

Shaded area at pool.

View of Pacific from Hotel.

Pool bar. Man, I just love pool bar.

Sunset from hotel

Restaurant

Barcelo palapas and loungers, looking up at hotel from the beach.

View from hotel looking South.

View from hotel looking North.

Services Included in the "Barceló All Inclusive Program":
Welcome drink
Breakfast at "Veranda" buffet restaurant
Snacks (pizzas, hamburgers, hot dogs) at "El Caracol" poolside restaurant
Lunch Buffet at "La Palapa" poolside restaurant
Theme dinner every evening
A la carte dinner at "Don Quijote" Spanish restaurant, with prior reservation (available once for 3 day stays and twice for 1 week stays). Children over 7. Formal Dress requiered
Spectacular Shows: Mexican Fiesta, Hollywood, Caribe Tropical, International, Play back and Paris/Las Vegas
Local beverages in all bars and restaurants
Servibar: natural water, soft drinks and beer
Mini club with activities for children from 5-12 years
3 tennis courts and gym (reservation required in advance)
Leisure activities: beach and pool volleyball, water polo, aqua aerobics, table tennis, bingo, and table football
Beach and pool towels, sun umbrellas and lounge chairs
Special discounts on golf, fishing, tours and car rental
10% discount on diving shop
Safety deposit box in hotel rooms
Taxes and tips

Excluded services:
Telephone, fax and the Internet
Laundry
Medical Service, Beauty care and massage service
Arts and Crafts
Food and drink to take away
Tobacco Shop
Mini Club caps and T-shirts
"Cascada" bar

The Roller Coaster of Travel Planning

2006-08-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

I got a bit frustrated last night because of the dearth of deals for the week of Thanksgiving. I think I should just go back to planning dream vacations! Kidding. I think Husband and I don't want to go back to the Mayan Riviera a third time, but we might want to go closer to Cancun if the price was right.

I am still interested in Ixtapa and Panama. I have been trolling the net looking for message board discussions on Ixtapa and have found nothing but rave reviews. Here are some samples:

"We have also been to Ixtapa many times and love it. The sand is like talcum powder and the water is warm and gentle. If you like the beach, go to the Krystal Hotel and walk out on the beach and stay for a while. It's lovely." (Frommer's Mexico Board)
"The area, with a backdrop of the Sierra Madre and a foreground of Pacific Ocean waters, provides a full range of activities and diversions. Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, bay cruises to remote beaches, and golf are among the favorites. Nightlife in both towns borders on subdued; Ixtapa is the livelier.
This dual destination is the choice for the traveler looking for a little of everything, from resort-style indulgence to unpretentious simplicity. These two resorts are more welcoming to couples and adults than families, with a number of places that are off-limits to children under 16 -- something of a rarity in Mexico." (Frommer's Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Guide)
The Barcelo is "very highly recommended by Frommer's. (Frommer's Guide)
"The superb Playa del Palmar by Ixtapa's hotels has surf, but no undertow. The area is renowned for deep-sea fishing, including marlin, yellowknife tuna and sailfish.
Shopping. The area has lots of hammocks, pottery and silver for sale in the many markets and shopping plazas. In nearby Zihuatanejo ("place of women"), some of Mexico's top pottery is found at Ceramicas Tonala. As in virtually all the resorts, there's a Senor Frogs and a Carlos & Charlie's. Equally well-known are the more extravagant discos, Christine and Millennium." (AAA)
"If you are looking for a nice AI in Ixtapa and would like a nice walk able beach I would select the Barceló. My wife and I have stayed there 3 times in the past five years and it is a very nice resort and the location is perfect." (Random message board)
"The Barcelo is right in Ixtapa with a beautiful long stretch of beach to walk. Walking distance to shops, restaurants, etc. The food is good. They have recently added a new restaurant outside so they have several to choose from. " (Same random message board - and don't think I didn't notice the person is named Maddy)
The average high in November is 89 and the average low is 73.
The average water temperature in winter is 77 as a high and 70 as a low.

The prices are going up for Ixtapa hotels, so if we want to go, we should probably jump on it.

As for Panama, I spent some time talking to the partner at my firm about it and he couldn't have been more excited about it. He sent me a whole bunch of links for activities and restaurants in the area - he just loves it there. He said there are direct flights from Houston to Panama City. I will do some investigating if you guys are still interested.

But, Mexico would certainly be less travel time. Whaddya think?

Thinking Outside the Box

2006-08-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

So I was not real excited about any of yesterday's options. The price difference between the week of Thanksgiving and the week after is huge for all the locations. So, because I would rather spend something like 1200-1300 per person rather than 1400-1600, I am going to attempt to think outside the box a little bit. Here we go. All of these are all-inclusive. Panama was recommended by one of the partners at my firm. His daughter lives and got married there at one of the all-inclusives (I will find out which one!). All of them are for the week of Thanksgiving.

Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

Barcelo Ixtapa Beach Resort All Inclusive (Tripadvisor reviews)

On Expedia (meaning I didn't really try to find the best deal yet), the price from Sacramento for 11/18 to 11/25 is $1,359 per person. From San Diego it was $1,128 per person. The place isn't super fancy, but gets pretty good reviews and they say the drinks are strong!

If you are wondering where Ixtapa is, check out the link my husband left in the comments and you can see 360 views of the area.

Panama

Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa (5 stars) (Trip Advisor)

Without looking very hard, I found this hotel with airfare from LAX for $1,350 per person.

Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Golf & Casino, it gets really good reviews on Tripadvisor.
On Expedia, 11/18-11/25, from LAX, it is 1,100 per person.

Options, Options, Options

2006-08-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

So, we basically have two categories here: (1) Hawaii and (2) Mexico. Within each category, there are several options based upon either availabilty of dates and/or different locations. For me the big internal debate is whether to choose a condo/three star hotel in Hawaii (where I have never been before) or a 5 star all-inclusive in Mexico for less money (but I have been there before). The prices are still only estimates because you can't really know for sure how much it will be until you book. But the prices listed were the best I could find using my obsessive compulsive research skills. We may also save some money by traveling Sunday to Sunday or Friday to Friday. Once we narrow it down, I can try those little changes.

The best Hawaii prices were at www.hawaii.com and the best Mexico prices were at www.goawaytravel.com.

Your turn to help:

Hawaii

Option 1: Kauai - Kuhio Shores Condos, units 407, 210, 414, 118 are available (See Tripadvisor reviews and candid traveler photos)

Travel Dates: 11/18 to 11/25 (only three days off work)
Price from Sacramento: Flights alone were 1000 per person. Add in hotel and it is about 1450 per person. Plus rental car, so approximately 1100 per person, excluding food and drink.

Option 2: Kauai - Poipu Shores Unit 103A
(See Tripadvisor for reviews and candid traveler photos)

Travel Dates: 11/19-11/26
Price from Sacramento: Same as Kuhio shores, about 1100 per person.

Option 3: Kauai - ResortQuest Islander on the Beach (3 stars, just remodeled, see Tripadvisor reviews and candid traveler photos.)

Travel Dates:11/18 to 11/25
Price from Sacramento: $1,635.63 per person including airfare, hotel, car and parking, excluding food and drink.

Option 4: Maui - ResortQuest Kaanapali Shores(4 stars, see Tripadvisor reviews and candid visitor photos)

Travel Dates: 11/18-11/25
Price from Sacramento: $1,697 per person, including airfare, hotel and rental car, excluding food and drink.

Option 5: 7 night Hawaiian Cruise on Pride of Aloha (Ports of Call: Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai (2 days); Hilo, Big Island; Cruise Kilauea Volcano; Kailua-Kona, Big Island; Kahului, Maui; (2 days); Honolulu, Oahu.)

Travel Dates: 11/26-12/3 (5 days off work)
Price from Sacramento and San Diego: Approximately $1129 (ocean view room, includes roundtrip airfare). Price does not include excursions or drinks.

Mexico - These are all-inclusive rates that include all food and drink, non motorized water sports, in room mini bar and other stuff, depending on the resort. These hotels are also part of huge complexes of 3-4 hotels and you can use the facilities and restaurants of all the hotels in the complex.

Option 1: Iberostar Paraiso Lindo (See Tripadvisor reviews and candid photos from travelers)

Travel Dates: 11/25 to 12/2 OR 11/15 to 11/22 (departing 11/25 means only 5 days off work, departing 11/15 means six).
Price from Sacramento: $1490 per person
Price from San Diego: $1474 per person (red eye on the 24th).
My thoughts: The Iberostar is definitely my favorite hotel option. The location is nearish to Cancun, where I have never been. They have a lazy river, poolside cocktail service, 7 restaurants, a spa, a nightclub, a wave pool, pool bars (plural), beach bar, and 24 hour room service. But, I am not sure about the travel dates. They are booked for three of the days of Thanksgiving week. This would mean taking 5 days off work, which I was hoping to avoid.

Option 2: Grand Palladium Resort (Colonial/Kantena) (See Tripadvisor for reviews and candid traveler photos)

Travel Dates: 11/18-11/25
Price from Sacramento: $1,632 per person

Option 3:Gran Bahia Principe Tulum (See Tripadvisor for reviews and candid traveler photos)

Travel Dates: 11/18-11/25
Price from Sacramento: $1,607 per person

Drat!

2006-08-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Now I just had a whole new group of options open up for the Hawaii vacay I just started planning. My best friend and her hubby want to go on a vacay too! Now we are thinking maybe Mexico is a better option. We have always wanted to go with friends and are hesitant to pass up the opportunity!

I have already been to the Aventura Spa Palace (pictured, that's my favorite pool bar) and the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort. Now I am thinking of the Moon Palace or the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo. Hmmmmm....I guess I could have worse problems.

If you ever want to stay at a Palace Resort, book with Tina at Cancun Vacations at Palace Resorts. She is amazing and you can't find a better deal (she isn't even paying me to say that!).

Planning a Real Trip: Hawaii

2006-08-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

So lately we have been working on planning a real dream vacation to Hawaii, where I have never been despite living on the West Coast my entire life. So the first place I decided to investigate is Kauai. I found a hotel there that looks pretty cool and a good nexus between location, luxury and value. We plan on being out and about a lot, so the hotel doesn't matter quite as much.

The place I am most excited about is the ResortQuest Islander On The Beach (3.5 stars), located in the middle of the main road on the island (okay, it is not in the middle of the road, but you know what I mean). It is halfway to Princeville and halfway to Poipu. Good location too because it is next to a shopping center, which means maybe not spending an arm and a leg every night of our trip. And it is number 4 on Tripadvisor for hotels in Kapaa and gets 4 out of 5 for its rating. That is pretty good on Tripadvisor.

I did a quick search on Hawaiian airlines for package deals and found 5 nights at ResortQuest Islander On The Beach in a garden view room (would be 23 bucks more a night for a partial ocean view), rental car with free upgrade, and airfare (with one connection in Honolulu) for $3,094.89 ($1,547.44/person).

So now I do obsessive compulsive searches to see if I can find it for less anywhere. The odd thing is that on Expedia, you can go for 6 nights for the same price as 5. Maybe it's the air fare? It's only about 1250 per person on Expedia, but without the car rental upgrade, which I don't care about anyways.

On the big island, I found the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, with breakfast, airfare and car for 1530 per person. This deal was on the Aloha Airlines site. Same thing applied here - it was basically the same price for 5 nights as 6. Doesn't have great reviews on Tripadvisor, which is usually a red flag for me.

Okay, enough searching for today. I will pick it up again tomorrow!

Take a Travel Quiz

2006-08-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

How much do you know about travel destinations around the world? Test your knowledge in this MSNBC quiz.

I got 70 percent right. Beat that!!!

Turtle Island, Fiji

2006-08-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Turtle Island, an ultra-all inclusive resort in Fiji, is the location that started the Dream Vacation Game. And it is a doozy. This is where Spederline honeymooned (that's Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, in case you live under a rock). Now, that really pissed me off because it seems a little tainted after their visit, especially since I found it way back in 2002, before they ever went there, but whatever. This place is designed to be eco-friendly and self sustaining while still providing the ultimate luxury vacay.

So the place is just freaking amazing. If you have ever seen either version of the movie The Blue Lagoon, then you have seen Turtle Island. It only accommodates 14 couples (that's 28 people, for you math challenged like me), but has a staff of 150. They can schedule a picnic for you on a beach in a secluded portion of the island. They drop you and the food off and pick you up whenever you want. Perfect seclusion. Check out all these activities.

Plus, the all-inclusive is soooo all inclusive:

Private 2-room beachfront cottage located on the shores of the famous Blue Lagoon and built in traditional Fijian style. Grand Bures include wood floors, four-poster king-size bed, large indoor jetted spa, verandah with queen-size day bed, walk-in double shower, double vanity, handcrafted hardwood furniture, wet bar including ice maker and Bose CD player.
All meals including a la carte breakfasts, sumptuous buffet lunches or private champagne & lobster picnics on a private beach, afternoon snacks, pre-dinner savouries and gourmet dinners.
All beverages including fine wines, spirits, and champagnes.
All activities including deep sea fishing, scuba diving, excursions to a Fijian village on a neighboring island, horseback riding on the beach, mountain biking, sunset cruise, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, and use of all sporting equipment.
Laundry service.

I don't really give a care about the laundry service, but the rest of it sounds right up my alley. Especially the drinks part.

Cost:

A quick search for airfare revealed that from Sacramento, California, leaving September 23 for one week, it would be 1100 bucks a person on a flight that arrives the next day. And for the island itself, it ain't cheap folks (hence the name, Dream Vacation Game):

June 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007

Cost Per Couple Per Night

Bure Type Per Night
Deluxe Bure US $1,632
Grand Bure US $1,975
Vonu Point US $2,390

Minimum 6 night stays
Seaplane fare is additional US $790 round trip per couple

So, assuming the Deluxe Bure wouldn't be good enough and would have to get the Grand Bure, the cost for husband and I would be about 17,000. And it would take an entire day of travel each way to get there. I dunno, but I think it would be worth it.

Welcome to the Dream Vacation Game!

2006-08-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

What? You don't know about the Dream Vacation Game? Well, then you either really love your job or you don't have enough free time on your hands. The Dream Vacation Game was created by me when I worked in a stifling, oppressive, facist work environment. I have left that horrible place, but the Dream Vacation Game remains. At least I got one good thing out of that job....

But here's how it works. You are bored. Or you just feel the need to get away but don't have the time or money to do so. Or you just wonder, how much would it cost to go on a safari? Or a food tour of China? Or how about an ultra-all-inclusive resort in Fiji? If you have ever run a few internet searches to answer this burning question, then you have played the Dream Vacation Game.

Since I try to be a "glass half full" kinda gal, I decided to start this blog to track all those wonderful vacation ideas that I run across. That way, when I decide to go on a Dream Vacation, I will be ready (keeping fingers crossed). So, I hope you enjoy reading about my dream vacations, because I certainly enjoy dreaming about them.