Danube River Cruise

Jo Ann from the Oshawa office recently travelled to Europe, here's what she had to say:

What did I do on my summer vacation?

An Avalon Waterways Danube River Cruise

Our trip started out in Budapest as we explored the cobblestone streets of Castle Hill and enjoyed
the Pest's Danube promenade. Our two night stay was too short to experience all that Budapest
has to offer but we eagerly awaited the day that the Avalon Tapestry took us up the Danube
to Austria and Germany. Donna, from the Bowmanville Travel office, and our spouses were lucky
enough to enjoy this Globus Holidays/Avalon Waterways European experience together.

We boarded the Tapestry on August 2nd for our 7 night Danube cruise. Our cabin was
spacious and the views from our french balcony wonderful although we didn't spend much
time in the cabin as the top deck was sunny and the company of our travelling companions
inviting. We were 87 strong: from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US. It was an
intimate atmosphere that allowed us to come to know our fellow passengers well. The meals
compared to any large ship dining experience but with the addition of local specialities
and complimentary regional wines and beers. The atmosphere was casual and because the
group was so small it gave us a chance to get together to share our experiences of the day.

Each stop included a complimentary city tour with the option of additional, more specialized
day trips like a concert in Vienna, an Austrian alp tour, or Nuremberg trials tour. Our cruise
director Barbara was informative and entertaining and gave us insight to life in Hungary and
Eastern Europe in communist and recent times. Our stops included major cities and
smaller, more historical or scenic towns. They were all wonderful and in most cases because
the ports were in the city or town centre you could wander on and off the ship for as little
or as long as you liked. On the Tapestry you unpacked for the week but travelled to many
sights along the Danube so were able to enjoy your surroundings in a relaxed and
unhurried way. The scenery along the river was peaceful and beautiful so whether
you were on or off the ship it was always a great experience and almost everything
was included so the value was exceptional. Great views, great meals, great ports, great
holiday. Can't wait for my next river cruise, hopefully China's Yangtze River!

We said goodbye to the Tapestry; it's wonderful staff, magnificent meals and breathtaking views
and took the motorcoach for our 3 nights stay in Prague. Budapest and Prague; both great cities
to start and end our tour in Europe. You can't visit Prague without trying some of the local and
tasty beers. It is a wonderful walking city and very easy to get around. We mastered the
streetcar and subway system when our feet couldn't take anymore walking although the city
offers many sites around each corner when you walk the cobblestone streets. Old Town
Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the mighty Vitava River are part of the wonders of Prague.
We ventured out of Prague for a few days to explore the countryside and enjoyed the scenery
and hospitality of the people of Czech Republic. Our one week stay in the Czech Republic
was one of the highlights of this glorious European Holiday.

What did I do on my summer vacation? I had the European vacation of a lifetime!
Email me at joann.wrobel@kemptravel.ca to book your European River Cruise!

Around the World in 1 Day

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Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria

Client Comments on the new Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria:

The Resort:

As it is still new, there are a lot of growing pains still and of course this was to be expected. The hotel itself is quite beautiful, and the rooms are quite spacious and don't have that musty room smell like you find on most island vacation get always. We did not get a king bed as requested, but we just ended up putting out beds together and it worked out fine. As I read prior to our trip in the reviews, they do have some serious problems with the showers...there is plenty of hot water and the pressure it quite nice, however the design of the tub is just bizarre and as soon as you turn on the tap, it leaks all around the sides and pours all over the floor and often went out into the hallway and into our closets! You could see in our bathroom where the tub above us must have had the same problem as the walls were all patched and looked pretty rough. Other then that, the room was pretty nice. The one thing that we found a bit difficult is that there was not a whole lot of direction upon arriving, and there are not a lot of signs indicating various restaurants and the entrance to the beach. It was quite confusing and wasn't until the fourth day that we finally figured out how to get to and from our room to the buffet without getting lost. I'm sure that more signs will be put over time, and so that did not affect our feelings on the hotel itself. It was a great place and will be BEAUTIFUL and HUGE when it has all been completed.

The Pool:

The pool looked beautiful, and was always very clean. They were out everymorning cleaning the pool, and there was not any garbage or anything around the pool area. The one thing that could be improved on is that there are no spots with shade to recover from the sun, therefore we did not spend much time at all at the pool for this reason...where as at the beach there were tons of the cabana umbrella's for you to sit and relax out of the sun. The pool could use a few of those, as there was about 5 chairs in the shade and they were always taken. The good thing was that you never had to fight for a chair as there were always more then enough to go around. I think most people spent their time at the beach, and why not with a beach that beautiful!

The Beach:

Stunning! It was really beautiful. Due to the location, it can be quite windy on days, and during those times it makes it difficult to enjoy, but for the most part, the breeze was always welcomed and we would have probably melted without it. The water was crystal clear and always beautiful for as far out as you could see. We didn't see any sea creatures until after one of the really windy days and a whole bunch of jellyfish washed up on shore...other then that, we didn't see too much. The one complaint I would have about the beach is that there is really only one main entrance to the beach from the hotel and if you didn't wake up at the crack of dawn to put a towel on a chair, you would end up sitting 15 - 20 minute walk down the beach. This made it difficult for several reasons: getting a drink or water, bathroom, and eating. We would end up spending all day everyday at the beach because it would take us so long to get all the way down there that we didn't want to do the walk all over again.

The Food:

A lot to be desired! I'm not really a meat eater, and tend to be on the picky side, so I found it extremely difficult for the whole week. I feel as though I hardly ate the whole time. Typically I'm a huge fruiter eater, however they didn't have any fruit that was ripe and most of their food was tasteless and cold. I went to Cuba expecting this however, so it didn't put me off too much to be honest.

The Entertainment:

The Entertainment staff was absolutely amazing! The dances and shows at night were incredible! They always put on some sort of crazy show and it was always very interesting to see. They also had some things going on during the day by the pool side, but that part was lacking a bit. Otherwise, the entertainment staff was fantastic!!!

The Servers/Maids:

The Maids were great...we didn't have any complaints at all there. Most of the wait staff were quite friendly as well....they were always on top of things and always serving...of course you can come across the more lazy one's, who will completely ignore you if you don't tip enough to their liking...but that is to be expected and you can find that pretty much anywhere. The one thing I would say is to bring tons of tip money because that is all that you do day and night!!!

All in all we had an amazing trip and we both really needed the rest and relaxation. I'm happy that we went and it was a great time.

JoAnn from our office recently visited South Africa with her husband John, she has outlined her wonderful experiences below.

South Africa The Rainbow Nation

In October I was able to experience a holiday of a life time; a small group tour of South Africa
with Goway Holidays. Goway organized a trip that allowed my husband and I a relaxed and
informative trip full of memories that we will cherish forever.
Where in the world can so much variety be experienced? South Africa offers magnificent
natural beauty; from the mountains, to the breathtaking shorelines and the valleys abundant with the grapes that produce world class wines. South Africa is home to the 'Big Five'
and a variety of wildlife that will keep you in wonder of what specie will be around the next bend
in the road. South Africa is a cultural gem with its mixture of many peoples and their
rich history.
Our journey began in Cape Town, the mother city of Africa along the beautiful Western Cape.
Cape Town is home to the Victoria and Alfred waterfront development with its many shops and
restaurants. We took a trip up to Table Mountain on the cable car and witnessed below us the
bustling city of Cape Town, Lions Mountain, the rugged coastline as well as the beautiful beaches of the area. Robben Island, the former prison home of Nelson Mandela is an optional tour
from Cape Town. We took the Winelands Tour and visited prize winning estates for wine tasting
while enjoying the beauty of the hillside vineyards. Another day trip from Cape Town took
us along one of South Africa's most scenic routes to the Cape of Good Hope where the Indian
and Atlantic Oceans meet. We also took the boat trip to Seal Island; an island full of the
playful and amusing seals. Boulders Beach gave us the opportunity to be steps away from
the many Jackass penguins that waddled on the shoreline before us. We were able to spot
a few whales before their migration from the area. Cape Town - so much to see, so much to enjoy!

From Cape Town, we went to Oudtshoorn, the 'Feather Capital of the World' where I had the
opportunity to ride an ostrich, to the amusement of my fellow travellers. Continuing on the Garden Route we visited the Cango Caves, seaside resorts and a nature reserve for a hike with spectular ocean views. Travelling north we visited a vibrant Zulu cultural village with Zulu dancers performing to the beat of drums, showing off their beadwork and sharing their history with their guests. We visited one of South Africa's World Heritage Sites; a cruise down on Lake St Lucia where the highlight was the enormous hippos in the water.

We spent a night in Swaziland before heading off to Kruger National Park where
our search for the 'Big Five' began. We did view the famous five; lion, elephant, buffalo
rhino and leopard, and all manner of wondrous wildlife, birds and plants from our open
safari vehicle. Our rondeval in the Kruger rest camp was unique and allowed us
a great view of the monkeys, impalas and guinea fowl found steps away from our
patio. Wow, you don't see that everyday!!

On the Panaramic Route we witnessed some of the most spectacular scenery. Gods Window,
the Three Rondevals and the Potholes were stunning to see. Pretoria's flowers were in full bloom and the striking mauve blossoms of the jacaranda trees rival the beauty of an Ontario
autumn. Even if you aren't a flower lover you couldn't help but be awestruck at the beauty.
The food was fantastic. Don't forget to try the ostrich or warthog. South Africa
grows everything you can imagine so if you are vegetarian you will be amazed at the fresh
fruits, vegetables and nuts that grow so abundantly. If you are a seafood lover you will be in heaven.
The quality and price of the meals is great and the service is outstanding. Don't forget that
fabulous South African wine to round off your dining experience.
South Africa has become one of the world's most sought after vacation destinations and it's no
wonder. Often described as a "World in One Country" South Africa is blessed with a diversity
of climate, geography, wildlife and cultural heritage not found anywhere else.
South Africa has something for honeymooners, adventure enthusiasts, culture vultures,
nature lovers and lovers of good food and wine. South Africa won't disappoint the first
time traveller or the most experienced of travellers.
South Africa is a vacation destination that I will never forget!