Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas

If you haven’t heard about the Oasis of the Seas, you’re not alone.  In the cruising industry though, Royal Caribbean’s latest effort is the largest news in years.

Or more specifically — the largest ship.

The Oasis of the Seas is more of a floating city than it is an actual cruise ship.  Once the ship building process is completed, Oasis will feature:

• shopping mall
• numerous bars and restaurants
• outdoor amphitheatre (see photo, below)
• rock-climbing walls

…of course, Royal Caribbean knows how to pull these and so many other amenities off with style, class and luxury.

Photo of Outdoor Amphitheatre, Artist Rendition

We’ll know more as thew ship’s build continues.  For now though we do know that the ship will be based out of Florida and will set sail with it’s first load of passengers in late 2009.

Stay tuned, and if you’re interested in being onboard this historical sailing – call us immediately so that we can try to reserve your space.

Agents Help You When Travel Budgets Shrink

Earlier this morning there was a news item that caught our attention.  Business Travel Budgets Tighten is an article published by Planadviser authors Ellie Behling and Fred Schneyer.

The article discusses a recent survey conducted by Orbitz for Business and Business Traveler Magazine — but more specifically, the results of that survey.

Here are some referenced quotes from the article worth repeating:

• Some 79% of those surveyed said they are under pressure to trim travel costs so they have started opting for less expensive hotels.
• 41% of those polled are tightening their travel policies and implementing more restrictions on travelers for hotels and dining.
• Thirty-three percent of those surveyed said their companies are currently doing less international travel as a way to save and the money on the transportation by reading at the most expensive cites for taxi drivers to calculate the insurance and rates.
• Of those who do travel internationally, 56% say they are allowed to fly business class for long-haul flights. Of the 44% who are not, 10% said their company policy has changed in the past year.

All of these signs point to the increased neccessity for a travel agency partner.  Travel agents can offer a number of money saving alternatives to business clientele.

Before you book your next trip on Orbitz or Expedia – be sure to give us a call to see what types of services we can assist you with.  Depending upon the size of your group, duration of your trip or final destination — any number of plans may be available.

An Introduction to Beaches Resorts for Families

Beaches Resorts are a division of the Sandals Resorts organization.  The only exception is that with Beaches, we’re talking about All-Inclusive Resorts built for family vacations.

Beaches all-inclusive resorts includes all the fun, adventure, and luxury that families want most, elevating the family vacation to world-class standards on the Caribbean’s best beaches. Absolutely everything is included in one up-front price, so you and yours are free to create memories that are truly priceless.

Best of all, you can trust ABC Travel to book your Beaches Resort vacation, since  we are certified Beaches specialists!

When staying at a Beaches Resort, all guests will enjoy the following free features:

• All Meals
• Anytime Snacks
• Brand Drinks
• Airport Transfers
• Tips & Gratuities
• Watersports
• Scuba Diving
• Golf (in Jamaica)
• Pools, Whirlpools
• Fitness Center
• Accommodations
• Spa Facilities
• Video Games
• Ultra Nannies
• Child Care

If you or someone you know may be interested in Beaches Resorts — be sure to contact ABC Travel today!

39 Airline Travel Tips for Families

Earlier this week MSNBC had a feature called The air necessities: 39 tips that included advice for travelling the skies with kids.  The tips, 39 in all, were compiled by the readers at WeJustGotBack.com.  The entire list is a great resource for any families traveling this summer and certainly struck us as something we should share with you.

Some of our favorites from the list include:

Check in early to gets the best seats. If I think that my baby will sleep for most of the flight, I ask for bulkhead seats and reserve a portable bassinet. Bulkhead rows have extra legroom, but there are two big drawbacks. First, you have to store your diaper bag overhead. Second, since the tray pops out of the armrest, it’s hard to use it with a baby on your lap.

Have your child chew, drink, or suck something prior to and during take-offs and landings so pressure changes won’t hurt her ears. For older babies (12 months and up), child-size EarPlanes can work wonders.

My son just loves doing word search puzzles. Before we go on a family vacation, I make up customized word search puzzles for him to do in the car or on the plane, using words about our trip and destination. DiscoverySchool.com’s Puzzlemaker makes this simple and fast.

Be sure to read all 39 tips over on MSNBC‘s web site if you’re interested!

Aruba Certified Experts for Aruba Vacations

ABC Travel employs an ACE agent, or “Aruba Certified Expert.”  Aruba is the most popular island in the Caribbean and frequently visited by ABC Travel’s clients. It offers a dry, warm climate year round, and being outside the hurricane belt – it is also a terrific choice for even late summer or early fall travel.

Aside from its beautiful beaches, Aruba offers some of the best nightlife, gambling, shopping and very fine dining there is in an island getaway. There are also many choices for hotel lodging, making any budget one that can be worked with.

ABC Travel employs an ACE agent, or “Aruba Certified Expert.”  Aruba is the most popular island in the Caribbean and frequently visited by ABC Travel’s clients. It offers a dry, warm climate year round, and being outside the hurricane belt – it is also a terrific choice for even late summer or early fall travel.
Aside from its beautiful beaches, Aruba offers some of the best nightlife, gambling, shopping and very fine dining there is in an island getaway. There are also many choices for hotel lodging, making any budget one that can be worked with.
One of our agents has just returned from Aruba and can offer some suggestions for the resorts that will be best suited for you at a price in your budget. Remember to book early, and call or email for ACE advice any time!

New Web Site Design

Just a quick note to let our valued customers know that we’ve invested a lot of time and effort into launching our new web site here on ABCTravelAgents.com.  Please be sure to contact us and let us know if you have any problems or questions about using the new site.