TRAVEL SPECIALISTS

COSTA RICA and NICARAGUA: Flay traveled to these extraordinary Central American countries by Windstar cruise, where she enjoyed the beautiful flora and fauna, took a canopy zip line tour, went on an ATV Rainforest Adventure, and hiked and snorkeled on the Osa Peninsula.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: In March of 2006, Flay voyaged to Botswana, where she went on a game-viewing safari and Victoria Falls, the breathtaking waterfall situated on the Zambezi River, which forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

FRANCE: Traveling around the South of France, Flay visited Monaco, Nice and Cannes. The highlights of her trip included the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, passing the gorgeous French countryside and enjoying the food that makes France famous across the world.

EASTERN EUROPE: While visiting Prague and Budapest, Flay enjoyed the architecture and culture of these stunning cities.

A fourth generation Atlantan, Viki first became interested in travel when she visited the tiny fishing village of Arbroath, Scotland to attend her brother’s wedding. Enthralled and intrigued by Scotland and its culture, she realized there was much more located outside of Georgia’s borders to see and learn. 

Even though Scotland has her heart, Viki’s years of travel consulting have taken her to a multitude of destinations including breathtaking Hawaii, scenic Nova Scotia, laid-back Mexico, and a plethora of locales throughout Europe and the Caribbean. Her abundance of experience in coordinating cruise groups, honeymoons, and destination weddings make Viki a talented asset in the travel industry. 

viki@explorationsltd.com

The CARIBBEAN: On St. Martin, strolling through the open markets, frequenting the bistro cafes that line the streets, and enjoying the French feel of the island provides inordinate pleasure. Viki loved the shopping – especially the textiles and clothes – and relaxed on Orient Beach, her favorite place to unwind while upon the island. In addition, St. Lucia, a rather distinctive Caribbean island because of its mountainous and lusciously green scenery, is gem where there are to be found a number of new and noteworthy properties in particular.

SPAIN—Phyliss has been continually surprised by all that Spaniards embody. She has found herself particularly enraptured by Spanish food and drink. While certainly no one can pass up Italy’s chiantis or France’s crème brulées, Spain’s tapas, hams, and wines (particularly from the Rioja region) more than hold their own in Europe’s epicurean scene.

ANTIGUA—An ideal destination for honeymooners and families alike, Antigua’s stunning beaches cannot be resisted for long. A perfect place to lounge or try out a new water sport, the island seaside also prides itself on resorts complete with tasty cooking classes and chic spas. One can easily sense the English feel of the island, and the balance of classy formality with Caribbean casualness makes a trip to Antigua a well-rounded experience.

ENGLAND and WALES—From bustling London with its spectacular theatres to idyllic countryside houses in its rural parts, Great Britain is replete with history and natural beauty. The gardens to be admired throughout the country are more spectacular than Lewis Carroll’s playing cards could dream of creating by “painting the roses red.” And one mustn’t pass up the classic entertainment that England still boasts—horse races and polo remain some of the nation’s remarkable attractions.

PUERTO RICO:  An island of well-kept secrets, one can stumble upon just about everything tropical here. From surfing waves in the town of Ricon to night kayaking through well-preserved bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico holds a wide variety of leisure activities for just about any traveler. Vieques, a small island that’s just a seven-minute flight via puddle-jumper from the main island, houses the area’s most pristine and secluded beaches. Vieques is also a perfect location for a destination wedding. Melanie’s favorite off-the-beaten path experience in Puerto Rico?  A Caribbean version of a bed and breakfast, the back rooms of a surfer’s shack manifested themselves as distinctive accommodations.  The surfer-host himself was top-notch, bringing his guests fresh fruit each morning and allowing them the privilege of picking avocados from their windows.

JAMAICA: While not-so-recent, this trip is a favorite of Melanie’s.  Far more than the hub of Bob Marley and all things reggae, the famous tropical island became an object of Melanie’s affection when she herself honeymooned there in 2007.  While she spent much time at a luscious all-inclusive resort, her trip also took her many feet above sea level via the island’s zip line over lush vegetation.  Jamaican sunsets have certainly earned their reputation as some of the best in the world—the best are to be seen from an early evening cruise and from the patio of the famed Rick’s Café. Beware though, if you blink at the wrong millisecond, you might just miss the talked-about green light that flashes just as the sunset expires.  Melanie found many Jamaicans to be exceedingly gracious—her cab driver gave her the locals’ experience.  He procured jerk chicken for her himself (telling her that it wouldn’t be the same if she asked for it from the chef) and exposed her to the island’s gorgeously famous waterfalls. 

* Melanie is traveling to Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii in November—check back soon for updates.

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS—One of the world’s most unusual and intriguing places, the Galapagos Islands, located 950 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are composed of 19 volcanic islands that surround the equator. Well-protected from an overload of visitors in order to preserve their natural environment, the animals (and the proximity to which travelers can get to them) are the island’s most thrilling adventure. During a hike, one must step over sea lions, make one’s way around nesting birds, and take care not to trip over iguanas. Maryanne thoroughly enjoyed mating season of the Blue-Footed Booby and the Frigate birds, which both have very elaborate mating rituals composed of dancing, whistling, and even honking. To be there in person is nothing compared to turning on the Discovery Channel!  While only the most ambitious travelers might attempt to read Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle, any visitor is amazed to find that the observations he made are still to be witnessed by people today.

IRELAND—While not a particularly recent trip, Ireland certainly remains on Maryanne’s list of favorites.  Known fondly as the Emerald Isle and home to literary greats James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and Oscar Wilde, Ireland of course is also unforgettably renowned for its pubs. (For a more sophisticated form of libations, don’t leave the country without also acknowledging Ireland as the birthplace of Waterford crystal). Ireland additionally holds the opportunity to brush up on your language skills—contrary to popular misconception, the Irish language is not simply a dialect of English, but a language unto its own. Along with its grassy hillsides, many ancient castles are to be discovered here, a destination sure to lure you in with its physical beauty and fascinating history.

KENYA: Michelle traveled to Kenya in May, where she went on safari and saw the big five African game animals- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos. While in Kenya, Michelle stayed in three camps, including the luxurious, exotic and beautiful Olonana and Shompole camps.

ANTIGUA: Michelle recently ventured to the Caribbean, where she stayed in style on the beautiful island of Antigua in the 5-star Curtain Bluff Resort.

ACALPUCO: Michelle took her family to Acapulco, the beautiful sea port on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico. The family enjoyed relaxing and taking in the exquisite scenery.

THAILAND: People all over the world have recognized Rozelle’s extraordinary spirit. While adventuring with a group through Thailand, a jade carver presented her with a small Buddha, a chip from a larger jade Buddha being carved in a temple to honor the King’s reign. On a subsequent trip to Thailand, a monk blessed the Buddha in a temple in Chiang Mai. She has it with her at all times.

Rozelle has been on countless adventures, too many to name. Through out her life she has had spiritual and physical adventures, all a result of her “hunger for faraway places.” Living in the Namib Desert she looked out of her kitchen window at the worlds largest shifting sand dunes. She climbed through the Sumatran rainforest to see the Orangutans, went elephant trekking in Northern Thailand, swam with the Jackass penguins off the shore of Cape Town, spent the night in a Bedouin tent in Morocco, visited the dragons on Komodo Island, went hot air ballooning over the Serengeti, conducted the Hanover Symphony orchestra and soared over Mount Everest in a small aircraft. The list just goes on and on.

RWANDA: Suzanne traveled to Rwanda twice to go trekking for gorillas where she traversed first by car, then through farm fields, then through dense forest to see one of the 7 different groups of gorillas, who were as close as 10 feet away.

KENYA: While in eastern Africa, Suzanne traveled to Masai Mara, where she stayed at the tented Little Governor’s Camp and observed African animals on safari.

SOUTH AFRICA: Suzanne surveyed the big five majestic African animals-- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos—while on Safari in a game preserve adjacent to Kruger National Park.

TURKS & CAICOS—Faced with the beauty of beaches here, there’s nothing to do but rave about them.  Gorgeously clear blue waters make Turks and Caicos a pristine destination.  Lisa enjoyed the many amenities and easy advantages of an all-inclusive resort here. With a plethora of activity choices, from diving to golfing, along with the option to soak up the sun with a daiquiri in hand, the resort lifestyle  is superb.

MAYAN RIVIERA—Known for being the most tropical area of Mexico, the options for highly desirable accommodations are innumerable.  Lisa’s stay at Secrets was particularly enhanced by the luxurious days spent beside the remarkable poolside.  Playa del Carmen’s notable party-like atmosphere and wide array of places to shop alongside the option of tropical relaxation allows this region to be appealing to just about any sort of traveler. 

BELIZE—Well, not Belize, exactly…  While on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Lisa and her husband were privileged to spend a day on a private island off the coast of Belize.  The exact opposite of overdeveloped, the only man-made facility on the premises seemed to be a remote hut. The secluded, unspoiled feel of the island was a simple and stunningly beautiful pleasure. Couldn’t everyone use an undisturbed day of lying on glittering sand with only the gentle sound of the ocean waves in the background?