Vermont Tour Group

I recently returned home from escourting a group of 24 to Vermont. It was a successful trip and I feel that everyone had a great time and is looking forward to the next trip. We flew into NYC and then to Burlington, VT. Our bus picked us up at the airport and we were off to a new adventure. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for the 4 nights that we were in Vermont. Great service, nice breakfast, enclosed spa and swimming pool.

Each day was a new adventure for us. The first day was a CiderMill, Stowe,Vermont, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream(if you go make sure that your visit the grave yard where all the discountued flavors are resting). We had a buffet dinner at a country club. The next day was the Vermont Teddy Bear factory, Shelbourne Museum (outdoor museum with a lighthouse, covered bridge, train, ship, circus experience, tiffany glass, quilts, etc.), Christmas Loft, and a dinner cruise.
Thursday we visited a granite quarry, the state capitol and a maple farm. Dinner was a buffet with the rest of the Diamond Tour groups in the area.

If you are in Vermont, make sure that you stop at these sites for a real picture of how Vermonters live.


Chris

Last year my family decided to hang up the pot holders and go away for Thanksgiving. We went to Monterey and it was one of the best Holiday's we have ever had. No cooking or cleaning, just all day and night to visit, relax and site-see. My Brother is incredibly cheap and picked a substandard hotel a few miles from the Wharf. It was clean, but had nothing exciting about it (I can't even remember the name). We still spent about $129 a night as it was a Holiday.

This year I decided to call our rep, Cara Berends, from the Larkspur Hotels and see if I can arrange a stay at the Casa Munras with a site tour on Friday. Of course they were happy to accommodate me with a great TA rate of $99 a night. When I called to see about 2 more rooms for my family, they extended the same rate - what a deal.

So while the rest of you are exhausted from cooking (or picking up) dinner, I will be at a ocean front restaraunt eating lobster with my family....

(I will write up a full hotel report after Thanskgiving)

2009 Garden Tour of New Zealand

You can follow our progress (and learn a lot about New Zealand) at

www.rhododendrongardentours.com

Diane

H/A Pacific Northwest & Coast Fam Cruise

Sixty nine Travel Agents from all over U.S.A. was invited to sail on the m.s Veendam from Vancouver,B.C. to Victoria, and Astoria.Disembark in San Diego.This was the best Cruise Fam offered by any cruise line,really reasonable priced which included two top notch Hotels overnight stay in Seattle and Vancouver,B.C. Amtrak Cascade Train from Seattle to Vancouver and five night cruise on the ship.Sept.25-Oct.02,2009

It was first hand learning experience on board with two days of Seminars: Mr. Dave Fields,Coordinator and Mr. Rene H, Spatz,Sales Developement Manager was the principal representatives of Holland America. Invited travel partners: Tourism British Columbia,Anchortage & seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau.Amtrak and CLIA.

I flew up to Seattle on Friday morning with a one night stay at the Renaisance Seattle Hotel- a nice downtown location with a pool on the top floor overlooking the City. Hosted a fantastic dinner Buffet:Rack of Lamb,Cooked in front of you Crab Cakes Cakes.Fresh Salmon,etc. Next morning a beautiful scenic Coastal train ride on Amktrak Cascade-4 hours to Vancouver. Box breakfast was served. Narrow gauge train that was build in Spain,comfortable beige leather and very clean bathroom facilities.Also Business class csection is available at the back end of the Bistro car.

We stay overnight at the Pan Pacific Hotel,home of Canada Place-lower floor-Cruise Terminal. The new Fairmont waterfront is right across the street. A surprise dinner location was hosted by Tourism Vancouver inside the Vancouver Aquarium catered dinner with unlimited cocktails and wines with fishs swimming around you.. Another truly undersea experience was watching the 3D10 special effects and then was treated to a private night show by their residence Dolphins.

After Breakfast(Canadian bacon and eggs) at the Hotel,we boarded ms. Veendam for a tour of the ship and the Travel Agents Sailaway Cocktail Party-I think we had one too many including yours truly-thanks to couple young ladies!

Next morning-we were in Victoria-capitol of British of Columbia .Visited the Royal B.C. Museum and the world famous Butchard Gardens(we had the most wonderful Afternoon Tea better than Sheraton Palace Hotel or the Peninsula Hotel of Hong Kong.

The highlights of the Fam trip for me was meeting and listening to all our Hosts and presenters first handed about new destinations/point of interests and having the knowledge to promote Holland America Line from being on site.

Holland America Line is best suited for anyone who likes refine taste and not overly stuffy. Excellent values for the bucks and always ecellent service from its staff.

I am greatly appreciative to Holland America's Mr.Dave Fields,Mr.ReneSpatz,Mr. Jordan Marona and Ms. Velma Chen for this educational fam trip.

Raddison San Francisco

I recently stayed at the Raddison San Francisco (While touring the Norwegian Sun ). They were pretty booked, but still gave me a discounted rate of $129 a night (online was $179). It was an average room, nothing much to write about. I had read that they had a major renovation, but it was not evident at all. The bathroom vent did not work and there was rust and mold in the tiles behind the bath. I toured their conference center and the smell of must or mildew was so strong, I had to walk out.

One great thing was the outdoor fire pit. Several guests sat around, smoked, drank and chatted about where they were from and where they were traveling to. Several families picniced around the fire pit and played games as well.

A few days later, I received a survey in my email and I was dreadfully honest about my stay. It was average. A few hours later I received an email from Ronald Diaz, the Front Office Manager as follows:

Dear Ms. Gries,

We appreciate you taking the time to complete a survey regarding your recent stay with us.

On behalf of our entire staff here at the Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf we apologize for the concerns you have about your experience at this hotel. We appreciate the feedback and, as a good will gesture, wish to extend a partial refund in the amount of $100.00 for your stay.

Please accept our apology and we hope to see you again when your travels bring you back to San Francisco. If you would like to discuss your experience further with me, please don't hesitate to call me at the phone number listed below.

They actually credited my card $180...I appreciate the gesture, but I could not recommend this location for a client.