travelwriter

The new U.S. border rules of the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) take effect on Monday, June 1, 2009, in accordance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

The new rule requires all U.S. citizens entering the United States, returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, to have documents that comply with the WHTI.  These documents would most commonly be a U.S. Passport, a U.S. Passport Card, or a Trusted Traveler Card (TTC) such as NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, or an enhanced Driver’s License.

Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. by land or sea will be required to present one of the following: a Canadian Passport, a TTC such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI, or an Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Identification Card.  Similar WHTI rules have been in effect since 2007 for air travel.  For more information, visit the USDHS .

Through Sept. 4, 2009, Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, NM, offers a golf package that includes overnight deluxe accommodations for two, breakfast at Las Fuentes Restaurant, and a round of golf with a golf cart at Black Mesa Golf Club — ranked as the finest course in the state by Golf Digest.

Golf package rates start at $250 per night with a 2-night minimum, based on double occupancy. Rate does not include resort fee and taxes.

Designed by Baxter Spann, Black Mesa Golf Course plays through dramatic sandstone ridges, distinctive bunkering, native arroyos, and the green contours of natural landforms.

On-site resort activities also include horseback riding, tennis, swimming in an outdoor heated pool, hiking or biking on miles of trails, and relaxing at the spa.

The ShaNah Spa and Wellness Center offers 27 different spa treatments on the spa menu and a hot tub and watsu therapy pool in the spa garden. Treatments include massage, facials, body wraps and scrubs. The ShaNah Spa has been recognized with the Conde Nast Johanssen as one of the best spas in North American and the Caribbean.

Ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of America’s premier retreats, the Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa offers resort-style family vacations, weddings, and conference facilities. The Resort is managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts. To make a reservation call 800-419-0492. For information about the resort, please visit www.bishopslodge.com .

In this planned lakeside cottage community near Oroville, WA, it’s easy to imagine summer in the 1960’s: popsicles, sprinklers, s’mores around the campfire, and the slam of porch door as you leave once again.

The two, three, and four bedroom cottages of Veranda Beach are nothing less than gorgeous providing all of the comforts of home including complete furnishings, bedding, linens, dishes, cookware, right down the milkshake machine in the kitchen.

Each cottage offers amazing views of the lake or the planned vineyard from the huge veranda/porch area averaging 500 square feet in size.  A weekly schedule of activities is delivered to each cottage where children and adults can enjoy fun in the summer sun.  Here’s your chance to try water skiing, wake boarding, paddleboats, beach volleyball, outdoor movies, go swimming, play bingo, attend the welcome reception, enjoy a themed dinner night and so much more!

The Veranda Beach Village Center is now open providing guests with even more opportunities to make family memories.  Here you can enjoy use of the heated pool or hot tub, shop at the Tuck Shop or grab a bite to eat at the 50’s style diner.

Lakeside cottages are available staring at only $179USD per night.  For more information, contact Veranda Beach.

Princess Cruises is offering an amazing 107-day world cruise that will take you to the north, south, east, and west with the experience and knowledge that only Princess can offer with over 40 years of sailing the ocean blue.

Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to Rome, this 107-day luxurious cruise will stop at an amazing 40 ports including overnight stays in Sydney, Australia, and Xingang, China. 

If you don’t want to wait until 2010 for this cruise, a 104-day cruise is still available on the Dawn Princess sailing roundtrip from Sydney on July 5, 2009.  Ports include Cork, Ireland; Paris, France; Goa, India, plus an overnight stay in Bermuda.

Remember, cruising is the best vacation value for your money.  For more information, visit: Princess Cruises

Just in time for the summer travel season. Amtrak has lowered fares on the Northeast Regional. You can save up to 25% off lowest available fares when you book 14 days in advance.

Bypass congested highways and crowded airports and relax on the way to your destination. Once you arrive, take advantage of all summer has to offer. Take in 4th of July fireworks in Boston, see the Manhattan skyline in New York, visit one of the Smithsonian museums in Washington or plan a day at the theme park in Williamsburg.

Sample fares to/from New York:

Philadelphia, PA $34 Washington, DC $49 Boston, MA $49 Baltimore, MD $48 Wilmington, DE $39 Trenton, NJ $27 Providence, RI $41

The rules:

• Valid on Northeast Regional service only
• Discounted one-way Coach fares only
• Valid for travel through September 3, 2009
• 14-day advance purchase required
  

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Annually since 1991, Dr. Stephen Leatherman of the Florida International University has selected the Top 10 Beaches in the United States by using a list of 50 criteria that includes water, sand, safety and facilities.

The Top 10 Best Beaches for 2009 are:

1. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
4. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
5. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
7. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, North Carolina
8. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
9. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

How many of these gorgeous beaches have you had the privilege to visit?  I’d love to hear from you!

Summer is finally here and so is the blessed barbecue season.  As recommended by Amy Mills, co-author of Peace, Love, and Barbecue, here are her picks for 5 great barbecue joints in the US.

Cozy Corner , Memphis, TN

Kreuz Market , Lockhart, TX

Checkered Pig , Martinsville, VI

Whole Hog Cafe , Little Rock, AK

The Pit , Raleigh, NC

If you’ve still got a hankering for bbq, mark your calendars and head on over to the American Royal Barbecue Contest , hailed as ‘the World Series of Barbecue,’ this October in Kansas City, MI.

Earlier this week Continental Airlines announced it will launch two new routes to Brazil starting later this summer.

A daily nonstop flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from Houston plus a through flight from New Orleans will begin service on August 1, 2009.  Continental will be flying Boeing 767-200 aircraft that accommodate 174 passengers onboard.

 “This new flight links important energy centers with convenient nonstop service,” said John Slater, Continental staff vice president for Latin America and Caribbean. “It also provides the most direct routing from numerous western points being that it is the only nonstop flight between Houston and Rio west of the Mississippi.”

Princess Cruises, offering “voyages as memorable as the places they visit,” is pleased to announce their 2010 & 2011 Exotic cruise line up visiting Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti & the South Pacific, and South America.

New ports of call include Toulon, France; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Manila, Philippines; Xiamen, China and Maputo, Mozambique.

Join Princess on an Exotic cruise with vacations ranging from 2-day experience to a 23-day West Africa, India, & Southeast Asia Grand Adventure voyage.  Among the Princess ships sailing to exotic destinations in 2010 and 2011 are all three of their small ships – the Ocean Princess, Pacific Princess and the Royal Princess .

Among the new itineraries is an amazing 107-day world cruise – see Part Two, May 23.

The Paris Greeter program is run by volunteers who cordially offer free scheduled tours of Paris to visitors from all over the world. 

The volunteers are looking to give visitors a little taste of Parisian life during their 2 to 3 hour tour that takes a maximum of 6 people.  The volunteers are forbidden to take tips from tour goers but any transportation expenses during the tour are expected to be paid on behalf of the volunteer by the tourists themselves.

The Paris Greeter program was developed in the summer of 2007 with the approval of the Parisian government and in order to help dispel the myth of visitors encountering rude Parisians during their trip.

In order to take advantage of a Paris Greeter tour, a request must be submitted at least 1 to 2 weeks prior to your Paris trip.  Paris Greeter tours are available in nine other languages besides English.