Vacations – Necessity or Luxury?

I believe I am correct on this topic.

Vacations are a NECESSITY.

With the pace and stress in our society today, they are a necessity.  I understand the cost may have become a luxury in your budget, but nonetheless, you need a vacation. You need time “off” to unplug.  Yes, I said it “unplug” for a while. Stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy your family, friends, meet new people, read a book, take photos of nature,  maybe even have a meaningful conversation – without a phone beeping or buzzing! Almost all business coaches, speakers, personal developement specialists conclude that taking time off actually is needed for increased performance.

Many reports indicate that is is actually healthy. What is wrong with “disconnecting” from your routine to have fun? Don’t feel guilty, you deserve it. It is not just part of life, a good resting vacation should become a focal point in your life. It’s not a bad goal to have in 2010.

As you start inserting dates in your new 2010 calender, be bold, take the time to block the time out – now.  Then take the time with your loved one or traveling companion and figure out where you are going to go and what you may wan to do or see. It doesn’t matter if it is an upstate getaway to a friends cabin, exploring Europe or Alaska on a cruise, a beach chair on an island, having someone serving you poolside (nice), walking a beach at sunset.  Just start visualizing yourself somewhere, give yourself a goal, and do what you need to do so you can look back at the end of 2010 with vivid memories and the feeling that ” I am glad I did it!”

We are fortunate to interact with people taking great vacations. I hear many of them say…”We were looking at our pictures from our last trip, and decided it has been too long. We need to go again.” Are you ready to getaway?”

I wish you the best vacation ever this coming year.

Sincerely, Matt Cervone

Chief Escape Officer

Just Cruises & Vacations

P.S. Of course, our Escape Artists can help make the planning process fun and affordable. Just click the Get To Know Us Tab on top

From Thrilling to Chilling

Earlier this year our friends visited Quebec City.  When in Quebec they had visited a hotel that was made entirely out of ice called the Hotel de Glace.  They described the experience as fascinating.

In addition to this Quebec attraction, there are a handful of similar attractions throughout the world.  They include the Ice Hotel in Sweden , Balea Lake Ice Hotel in Romania, Kemi Snow Castle & Lainio Snow Village in Finland, Kirkenus Snow Hotel, Ice Lodge & Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Norway.  It really is fascinating how they construct these wonders.  All of the ice hotels are reconstructed every year and depend on the sub freezing temperatures both during construction and during operation.  Everything from the walls, fixtures, and fitting are made entirely out of ice.  Even the beds are made of ice. Talk about a chilling experience!

Sometimes associated with the ice hotel is an ice bar or nightclub constructed primarily out of ice.  As a result,  several ice bars  have become a tourist hot-spot in cities like Miami, Orlando & LasVegas.   Everything, from the glasses, bar stools and bar are all made out of ice, in addition to the sculptures.

And now, beginning July 2010, the very first Ice Bar at sea will be featured on the all-new NCL Epic. Set at a temperature of under 17 degrees F, it is sure to take the term “on the rocks” to a new level. Wow, an actual “ice bar’ at sea.  I predict that it will be a great place to visit  after a hot day at the pool.

Artist rendering of the Ice Bar on the NCL Epic.

Take some time to take a look.

Better yet, consider an escape of your own. You may surprised at how affordable it is.

Our Escape Artists claim that the rates and availablility are better than expected.

We can’t think of a cooler way to beat the heat while sailing the Caribbean.

Sincerely,

Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations

Travel for FREE?

Whaaaa? Travel for FREE?

Yes, it can be done. It takes a little bit of effort, but here’s how you do it:

1. Find a bunch of friends who, like you, want to get away. A cruise is the best way to do this. You pretty much become a “Julie The Cruise Director,” but it is well worth it. Rally up 15-20 of your friends and say, “let’s GO!”
2. Plan an itinerary with an experiences travel pro (we know a few). Pick a date, type of cabins, get the pricing and amenities list from the cruise line and voila, you’re on your way to a group cruise. Typically, you’ll earn 1 free passenger (that would be you) per 15 full-paying passengers, based on 2 per cabin. So it takes 8 cabins to earn your freebie. However, there are some promotions out there where you can get 1 free per 5 cabins booked. Make sure you work this out with your travel pro. They’ll work with you to get the best deal with the cruise line.
3. Now the FUN begins! It’s time to promote your trip. Most of the major cruise lines have software that will create a flyer or custom brochure for your group. Again, your travel pro can help out here. Whether it’s online or on paper, it’s all about promoting you and your group. You might start with a handful of people in your group, but you may double or triple your groups size (and freebie opportunity) if you get out there and hustle with promotion. “Launch Parties” are a great way to show people what fun they can have on the trip.

When all is said and done, a little effort on your part, with the help of a real travel pro, can help you create a dream vacation — for just about nothing out of your pocket.

Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Artist
Just Cruises