Our First Stop in my Mediterranean Passage Cruise: Madeira

Madeira, Funchal

Madeira and its little companion island, Porto Santo, were mentioned by the Roman author Plini. He knew about the Fortunate Isles, which are what the Romans called the Canaries and the described, his mysterious “Purple Islands” as being about the right position for Madeira.

Because of the great profusion of trees, the name Madeira (meaning wooded) seemed appropriate. Madeira’s volcanic origins gave it not only great fertility, but also dramatic escarpments and rocky outcroppings. But the density of the forests was seen as an obstacle to farming and settlement, so early colonists began burning clearings along the shoreline. Madeira grew into a semi-tropical paradise known as the “floating garden”.

The early colonists developed a complex irrigation system of water channels called “levadas”, which are still in use. The island’s vintners produce four types of wine, all prized for their age-worthiness and complexity.

Cabo Girao – The world’s second-highest sea cliff plunges over 1500 feet from the top to the waves below.

Funchal is noted for its superb hand-embroidery and wicker ware, both Madeira specialties. The island, of course, is also noted for its superb wines, they are perhaps the world’s most complex and long lasting wines. 

You can visit Funchal by land trip or by cruise. Either way you'll enjoy their cuisine, their culture, their weather, their wines and so much more.

For more information about how to customize your next vacation, ideas or bookings please contact me. I'm here to help you.

Leila Reyes

Family Travel Specialist

lrtravel@live.com

817-554-3346

4 Tips to Avoid Being “Surprised” with your Phone Bill



International travel can be for most of us a dream come true, but what a nightmare at the time our phone bill arrives. There are many international plan options, but personally I consider staying away of “data usage” will help you ease with the cost. In case you can’t separate leisure and work, the following tips will be handy at the time to make a decision:

1.  Call your phone carrier before you travel – All major carriers offer international plan, make sure you understand completely the cost to call back to U.S. while you’re overseas. The difference, if any, between the costs of calling another mobile phone versus calling a landline. The fees for sending and receiving text messages, including media and video messages, the fees for data access. Make sure they explain you in detail especially if you know the places you’re visiting. Depending of the country will be the charge. If you’re going to be on a Cruise Ship, they will charge you a different amount while on land than while on sea.

2.  Use Wi-Fi for calling, messaging, conferencing and accessing the Web – You must turn Off international roaming; and turn On your Wi-Fi connection (check your phone manual for a step by step, sometimes are different screens that need to be selected before finding this application.

3.  In case you’re a business person Take Calls Only from Clients – this is one Rule of Thumbs Up. I know your immediate family will understand if you contact them through emails or Skype. But your clients won’t understand this, I can assure you this is a rule I follow. On my last cruise, my Princess Commodore Cruise, I spent 16 days away from my children, but at the same time I was working with 2 Group Cruises. Selecting wisely which calls I had to answer, my phone usage turned into profits instead of loses.

4.  Consider using smartphone calling apps – This can be a saving since it uses low-cost Wi-Fi connections, Skype mobile for example charges an average of $.30 per minute for a call in Italy; a difference from Att rate which was $.99 per minute.

Master this steps and you may stand a good chance of coming back from your overseas trip with some new business and without a whopping cellphone bill. I hope this tips help you spend your money wisely. If you are planning to travel overseas or locally, please let me help you customize your next trip.

Leila Reyes

Family Travel Specialist

lrtravel@live.com          

817-554-3346

What I consider FUN?

When someone talked about Fun, What makes you smile? Fun for me is having a blast in my Family Vacation. If you are planning to go on a Cruise Family Vacation, I strongly recommend you to reserve a Shore Excursion, not only as Travel Professional, but as mother. This is a must do in our Family Vacation Plan and FUN for every family member.

A great family option that throws in some “fun education” and adventure for adults and kids alike, is a Kayak Excursion. If you ever visit St. Thomas, I encourage you to take the St. Thomas Eco Tour. Here you'll have the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Island, learn about the mangroves, wildlife and the marine environment while paddling effortlessly on your Kayak in this calm protected lagoon of Cas Cay. Even if you are an inexperienced "Kayak-er", definitively this adventure is for you. This was my first experience kayaking and I manage to complete the tour totally satisfied and sure I'll do it again.

Another enjoyable activity your Family can have is a Sightseeing Tour, this are also educational and varied, with well experienced Tour Guides and specially on Cruise Trips where you have the opportunity to visit several countries. For example,  in Curacao a very famous tour is The Blue Curacao and Seaquarium Adventure, here the Tour begins at Liqueur Factory and ends at the Curacao Aquarium. Besides these popular attractions, this tour will also give you an overall impression of the Willemstad City Area, cruising through residential areas and enjoying a magnificent harbor view while driving over the highest bridge in the Caribbean, The Queen Juliana Bridge. You'll be delighted from beginning to end.

One of the first recommendations I give to my clients is to pre-reserve their Shore Excursions. It would be sad to find out there's no available space due to  are fully booked at the time of their trip. I learned the lesson the hard way on my first Cruise Family Vacation.

Leila Reyes

Family Vacation Specialist

lrtravel@live.com