Fox World Travel Blog

Hi, my name is Ann Jackson. I work on the Corporate Travel team in Fox World Travel’s Oshkosh office. I recently took a trip to Sydney, Australia. Although I am not a travel agent, I received expert advice for planning this trip from our Australia travel agents. I would like to share my unforgettable experience with you!

Our Hotel was the Travelodge Wynyard. It was an average hotel, but the location was perfect.  They had a shower and bathroom in the fitness center, so we were able to shower and freshen up before venturing out to explore.  We found out there was a charge for using the Internet at the hotel, but we discovered that it was free at the McDonalds down the block.

Sydney is one of the cleanest most beautiful cities that I have ever been to.  There are parks everywhere, no wires above ground, and everyone was extremely friendly.

We were close to Circular Quay, so we decided to take a ferry over to Darling Harbor.  An adorable little 9-year-old boy decided to be our tour guide on the ferry ride.  We fell in love with his Aussie accent and wish he could have spent more time with us.

Darling Harbor was a wonderful area.  There were shops, cafes, restaurants, outdoor entertainment, the Sydney Aquarium, and the Maritime Museum.  We took in the atmosphere and then walked about a mile to the Fish Market.  This was an awesome experience.  There were numerous fish markets where you could purchase any type of seafood.  They would cook it for you if you’d like and there was a large “food court” where you could sit and eat your meal.

On our second day we decided to take the “Hop-on, Hop-off Again bus” to become more familiar with the area.  I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed.  Rather than having a Tour Guide narrating, they played a tape which didn’t match up with where we were at.  We were able to jump off at Paddington Market to do a little shopping.  It is said to be the launching pad for many of Australia’s most famous fashion designers and the place to find quality contemporary art, crafts and fashion.  The actual designers and artists are the ones you make your purchases from and talking with them was an awesome experience (and, of course, I could have purchased everything I saw.  (“Only if…….”)

Our next stop was Bondi Beach to watch the surfers.  The beach was beautiful.  They don’t allow food or drink on the beach, so it remains very clean.  We enjoyed watching children practice surfing in their bright colored clothing with endless energy.  It was warm, sunny, and entertaining.

Today we decided to buy a 7 day pass.  For a reasonable fee, the pass covered the train, ferry and bus.  Basically we could get anywhere with our pass.  With our newly acquired pass we jumped on a ferry to Manly.  It was a beautiful ferry ride.  Manly Beach rivals Bondi.  As it got later in the day we walked across the street to an old hotel that now houses a bar/restaurant with live entertainment.  We met some very nice people and enjoyed listening to a great band.

The next day we took a tour up to the Blue Mountains.  Our Tour Guide really did remind me of “Crocodile Dundee”.  Our first stop was a Nature Reserve which was a great experience.  We were able to feed kangaroos, pet Koalas, and took pictures of beautiful birds and bat-foxes.

It also happened to be an extremely foggy day, so we were not able to see the “Three Sisters”, but we were able to walk through the rainforest in the valley.  We also took the gondola over the rainforest.  On the way back to Sydney we stopped in a small village and learned about the Aborigine culture.

The next morning we explored the Opera House and the Botanical Garden.  We also had an exceptional meal at Mr. Wrong’s.  There was a great mall right across the street from our hotel in the lower levels of a business high-rise.  There were all sorts of ethnic foods and everyone congregated here to eat lunch.

The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest suburb and historic heart, was once a slum.  We loved exploring some of the old pubs and listening to the bartenders tell us about the ghosts that haunted their establishments.  From this area we could walk up to the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and walk to the middle of the bridge for a breath-taking view of Sydney.

On our last day, I didn’t think we could top our previous days.  We decided to ferry out to Watson’s Bay to have fish and chips at Doyle’s, one of the oldest establishments in Sydney.  The food was unbelievable.  We spent the rest of the day walking around the Gap, a cliff-top path and outlook.  We also relaxed on a quiet beach.

All in all this was one of the best trips in my life.  The people were fantastic, the city was beautiful, modern and very clean, there was a great deal to see and the views were spectacular. I would highly recommend one of our Australia travel agents to assist you with your vacation planning. They were truly a great help!

Spend less time getting there and more time immersed in the experience! River cruising is becoming more popular every year. Our travel agents specializing in river cruises will help you get to the heart of a region where you’ll discover its history, culture, and sights by river cruise. Board your intimate ship and settle in for a gentle sail down one of the world’s popular waterways throughout Europe, Asia, Egypt or South America.

New river cruise ships are being built and launched at a record pace. While this is great news for prospective river cruise passengers, it can make the planning a bit overwhelming. Let the experienced travel agents at Fox World Travel guide you through the process of selecting the perfect river, cruise line, ship and itinerary. Their knowledge regarding ship design, destinations, inclusions and shore excursions will ensure that the river cruise you choose will give you stories to share for a lifetime.

River Cruise Tips and Advice from Our Specialists

Attend all of the informational sessions/lectures offered onboard. They are extremely interesting and give you valuable information on the areas you are visiting. There is no additional cost for these and you don’t have to spend the time reading a book to gain this knowledge!
-Alana Magestro, Travel Specialist

On Spring and Fall cruises, pack a couple of scarves (men & women). They add a little extra warmth if needed and are very fashionable in Europe.
-Colleen Alsberg, Tour Manager

Read about and research every port of call on your river cruise itinerary, it will help you make the best of your free time. I also recommend trying the local specialties along the way I will never forget the beer or sausage in Austria.
-Sue Mischler, Travel Specialist.

The check-in procedure is so easy compared to big ship check-in. You can arrive at 11:00 am, and get right on and check-in. I highly recommend river cruising as a new experience for those who enjoy big ship cruising!
-Kathi Madison, Travel Specialist

If possible, leave a day or two early so you are acclimated to the time zone and not tired when you start your cruise.
-Sue Mischler, Travel Specialist

2014 Group River Cruises

Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong River Hosted by Rose Gray – March 1-17, 2014 Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City 7 Day Tour & 7 Day River Cruise Uniworld’s River Orchid

Tulips and Windmills Through Netherlands and Belgium April 9-19, 2014 Amsterdam to Antwerp Uniworld’s River Duchess

Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches September 8-16, 2014 Avalon’s Creativity Paris to Paris

Amsterdam and Castles Along the Rhine River Hosted by Rose Gray October 16-26, 2014 Uniworld’s S.S. Antoinette Amsterdam to Basel

River Cruise Companies

Our travel agents work with a number of river cruise lines and recommend cruise lines based on the travel preferences and lifestyles of our clients.  Our most popular river cruise lines are Avalon Waterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Viking River Cruises.  No two cruise lines are alike and we want to be sure you cruise with the company that is going to fit your travel style!

THE DANUBE

Spanning across all of Central and Eastern Europe, the Danube passes through 10 countries and 4 capital cities. Just imagine the unique experience of sampling the wonderful diversity of food, architecture, history and traditions that you’ll discover along the way. A Danube cruise brings you an East-meets-West experience unlike any other river can.

THE MAIN

Quaint. Quiet. Quintessential Germany. That’s what a Main cruise delivers. The river takes its time winding leisurely through some of Germany’s most visually stunning regions. And along the way, it passes by everything that embodies Europe’s charm – medieval villages, fabled forests, and hilltop castles and churches.

THE RHINE

Winding through some of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe – the Rhine is known as the romantic river. Think hillsides dotted with castles and fortresses, cobblestoned medieval villages, cuckoo clocks, and the legendary Black Forrest – the setting of the fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm.

THE MOSELLE

As your cruise enters the Moselle, the Rhine’s peaceful little sister, you’ll be met with a picturesque setting that’s one of the best-kept secrets in Europe. The river is also an absolute must for anyone with an appreciation of wine. Lush vineyards line the hillside banks, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample the local vintages.

THE SEINE

A journey down the Seine features two of the primary reasons visitors are drawn to France – art and history. Historians will take a trip back in time as they sail, enjoying glimpses far back into antiquity, the Middle Ages, and even the most critical moments of World War II. Art lovers will be equally thrilled, seeing firsthand both the works and the inspiration of France’s most celebrated artists.

THE RHÔNE AND SAÔNE

Famous wines, rich cuisine and breathtaking beauty. A cruise from Burgundy to Provence along the Rhône and Saône Rivers combines them all – creating the perfect indulgence for all your senses. This is perhaps the most famous wine-making region in the world, home to Chardonnay and Beaujolais wines.

THE YANGTZE

Travel to China, and you feel like you’re stealing a glimpse of another world. The country’s diverse landscapes and ancient traditions are nothing short of mystical. Take in Beijing’s Forbidden City, the mammoth Great Wall or the mesmerizing Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an. Or see spectacular Shanghai, Tibet and Hong Kong.

THE NILE

A journey along the Nile river takes you back to the beginnings of civilization itself, flowing past 5,000 years of history, along the fertile soil that birthed the Pharaohs and allowed one of the world’s greatest cultures to thrive.

THE GALÁPAGOS

For nature lovers, a visit to the extraordinary Galápagos Islands is an absolute must. The remarkable flora and fauna waiting to be discovered are some of the most pristine and unaffected on Earth. Made famous as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, the 13 volcanic-rock islands offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity for travelers.

THE AMAZON

Embark on a journey to one of the world’s vastly unexplored regions, the mighty Amazon. Experience the Amazon wilderness where it originates in Peru. The Amazon Basin covers an area larger than Western Europe, but it’s in Peru’s Amazon where biodiversity is at its greatest and the rainforest is untamed.

THE MEKONG

Making its way from the mountain plateaus of Tibet to the South China Sea, the Mekong river is the common thread that connects Southeast Asia’s tapestry of colorful cultures. Explorers will delight in the mix of languages, lifestyles and traditions.

River Cruise Specials

Visit this page for the most up-to-date special offers for river cruises.

PART 2 – Continued from Alana Magestro‘s Trip to China – Part #1 Blog Post

Alana continues on her journey exploring China… After breakfast we left to visit the Temple of Heaven.  Built between 1420 and 1606, this complex of buildings covers 273 hectares, representing the pinnacle of Ming and Qing architecture.  It is three times the size of the Forbidden City. It is a place where the emperors of these dynasties went to worship heaven and pray for good weather and abundant harvests.  There is a Palace of Abstinence where the emperor would go to fast prior to the Heaven Worship Ceremony.  In 1988 the Temple of Heaven was opened to the public as a park.  This is a place where you can see the local Chinese residents practicing multiple forms of exercise, martial arts, singing, dancing, playing cards, or dominoes and making crafts.

We drove past the famous “Birds Nest” where most of the track and field events took place during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  It is right by the Crown Plaza Beijing hotel.  The meaning behind the design was “cradle of the future”.

Next we visited the Arts & Craft Group Pearl Trading Co. They showed us a live oyster, cracked it open and released the treasure within.  Do you know how many pearls are in an oyster?  I had heard as was the belief of many in my group that it was only one.  The oyster they opened for us had 22!  It varies from oyster to oyster.  The Chinese freshwater pearl has become almost as popular as the Japanese Akoya pearl.  Pink and purple/grey pearls are unique to China.  This particular store that Brendan visits authenticates all of their pearls so you don’t need to worry about a fake.  The true test is if you rub the pearl against your tooth it will be gritty.  This is another unique outing of the Brendan Boutique Journey’s.

We continued on to the Brickyard Eco Retreat, where Brendan Vacations guests will stay one night before visiting the Great Wall.  We didn’t have the liberty to stay here, but we did an inspection of this very unique eco-friendly resort and also had lunch at one of their restaurants a short walk from the property.  This is a 25 room award-winning sustainable tourism luxury lodge and retreat.  All rooms have a view of the Great Wall, complimentary wireless internet access, rainforest showers, hair dryers, iPod docking station and alarm clocks.  There is a spa, outdoor Jacuzzi, small fitness center, meeting rooms and activities offered.

After an awesome lunch at their Xiaolumian noodles restaurant, we headed to the highlight of Beijing, the Great Wall.  Construction of the wall started in 221 BC and wasn’t completed until 1644.  It was built mainly during the three dynasties – Qin Dynasty (221 B.C to 206 B.C), Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D) and Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D - 1644 A.D). It was built bit by bit throughout these dynasties and eventually joined together.  It is the only man-made object visible from the moon. The wall is over 13,000 miles long stretching from the Gobi Desert in the west to Shanhaiguan near the China Sea in the east.  The purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls, allowing the imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation or encouragement of trade and the control of immigration and emigration. Also, the defensive characteristics of the wall were enhanced by the construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities, through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor.  The Badaling section is the most popular and the most crowded.  We visited the Mutianyu section which has fewer tourists, spectacular views and is made with some of the oldest exposed rock on Earth’s surface.  After an uphill trek to the launch of the cable cars, we continued up to the top on the cable car.  This would be an impossible task for those that are not in good health or have trouble walking.  It was without a doubt the highlight of my trip.

Due to extreme traffic, we arrived at the Marriott Hotel City Wall late and had a rushed inspection and dinner before leaving to make our reservations for a Kung Fu show.  The Marriott is about “5 miles” from the Fairmont, a couple blocks walk to the nearest subway and a great choice for those that that want a central location.  This is a smoke free hotel.  Rooms have wireless internet access, tub and shower, flat-panel TV, DVD player, laptop-sized safe and iPod docking stations.  It has five restaurants, a fitness center, spa, and a ½ Olympic sized pool.  They do charge for breakfast.

The Kung Fu show was not what I thought it was going to be.  It was actually more like a play that incorporated Kung Fu and Tai Chi.  The Shaolin monks performed the show at the Beijing Red Theater.  It was quite enjoyable and an impressive production.

See Part #3 Later this Week for Alana‘s Final Leg of Her Journey Through China!

Hi, my name is Alana Magestro. I have been at Fox World Travel’s Brookfield office in

Alana in China

Milwaukee for the past 26 years. My personal travels have taken me all around the world to destinations such as the Mexico, Costa Rica, various countries in Europe, along with my most recent trip to China! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway or an action packed adventure, I am ready to make your vacation one you’ll forever cherish!

Part 1

Fairmont Beijing-

I stayed at the Fairmont Beijing, a 5 star luxury hotel in the heart of the capital business center of Beijing. There are two restaurants, three bars, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and spa. All rooms have broadband and wireless high speed internet options, Bose wave radio music systems, Nespresso coffee machines, 42-inch flat screen plasma televisions with wireless keyboards, safety deposit boxes, and refrigerator with mini-bar.  The highlight was the spa-inspired bathroom with heated floors, over sized bathtub, rain shower and heated toilet seats with built in bidet and dryer.  The bathrooms had a glass wall separating it from the main area of the room, but there were blinds that you could close for privacy.

The Fairmont is a short walk from the famous Silk Market which we visited that evening.  This is a great place to do your bargain shopping.  The vendors expect you to haggle; nothing has a price tag on it.  I feel this is part of their daily entertainment. You could find great deals on knockoffs of top brand named merchandise from purses to watches and luggage.  There was plenty of variety from souvenirs to custom made clothing.  USD was accepted here for those that didn’t have Chinese Yuan.  You could exchange currency at the airport or the hotels, and time machines were readily available as well.

The next day we visited the famous Tiananmen Square.  It covers 44 hectares (about 26 soccer fields), reputed as the largest square in the world, and can hold 500,000 people.  This is where Chairman Mao held the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, proclaiming the birth of New China.  It was later well known as the site of the massacre that took place in June of 1989.  Military troops inflicted thousands of casualties on unarmed student-led protesters trying to block the military’s advance on Tiananmen Square, which the demonstrators had occupied for seven weeks.  The Chinese government refused to admit student killings took place in the square itself and even prohibited all forms of discussion or remembrance of the events within China.  To this day if you Google Tiananmen Square while in China, there is no mention of this historic occurrence.  Our tour guide “Ken” said he purchased a book about it while in the USA so he could learn more about it as the visiting tourist to China frequently asked questions about it.  When he flew back home, it was confiscated when he went through customs.

We continued on to The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace.  This is a maze of palaces built between 1407 and 1420 as the residence of the emperor. It was used from the Ming Dynasty all the way to the end of the Qing Dynasty (almost 500 years).  In total 24 emperors lived in the Imperial Palace.  It ceased being the political center of China in 1912 with the abdication of Puyi, the last emperor of China.  There are over 9,000 halls and rooms.  It is the largest palace in the world and considered one of mankind’s major cultural legacies.  It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 and listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

After lunch at the Wu Yu Tai restaurant that specializes in cooking with Chinese tea, we took a rickshaw tour of a typical Beijing Hutong.  The word ” hutong” means of narrow lanes and was formed during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century when the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, occupied Beijing; then the capital of the Jin Dynasty. During the takeover by the Mongols, the old city had been largely demolished, and so he decided to rebuild the city. When the new city was finished, there were clear definitions of streets, lanes and hutongs. A 36 meter wide road was called a “big street”. An 18 meter wide one a “small street” and a 9 meter wide lane was called a “hutong”. Most of the residents in the hutongs surrounding the Imperial Palace were imperial kinsmen and aristocrats.  Hutongs far to the north and south of the Imperial Palace were for merchants and other ordinary people.  The hutongs of today house typical Beijing people who enjoy a mix of the old and new Beijing lifestyles.  We were in the Drum area of Beijing, where the best preserved Hutongs are located.

As part of Brendan’s Boutique Journey a visit to a local families’ hutong was included.  We met several of the family members and learned about their family life.  They also taught us Chinese calligraphy.  We tried our hand at it and had the opportunity to purchase hand painted wall hangings made by the family.

We had a dinner hosted by the Fairmont that evening.  Typical Chinese meals at a restaurant are served on round tables (as a symbol of unity) and many of them have “lazy Susan’s” built into the table; for ease of serving, you just turn the table to move on to the next dish.  This is also due to a typical meal serving many people at one time.  Peking duck is the Beijing specialty and it was served several times during our three day stay.  Those that like duck raved about it.  Similar to Europe, most Chinese hotels include breakfast, but this can vary by city.  At breakfast they did cater to a “Western” clientele in the chain hotels and had a mix of Chinese staples (dim sum, fish etc…) as well as eggs, fruit and Danish.  There were some very interesting things served throughout our stay (jellyfish, quail eggs, “bean curd with collagen things”, and numerous things that I had never heard of before), but there was always something that the less adventurous eaters could satisfy themselves with as well.  Brendan does a really good job in picking restaurants that cater to both the “Western” and “Eastern” clientele.  There were always chopsticks, but if you wanted a fork and knife all you had to do was ask and they didn’t make you feel like an outcast if you did!

Hi there, my name is Marsha Mulqueen. I have a passion for travel and have been in this industry for the past 15 years in Fox World Travel’s Greenfield office. My specialty is Hawaii having visited 8 hotels recently, but I have toured more than 20 resorts throughout Mexico. I also have traveled abroad to destinations such as Spain, Portugal and France. I truly enjoy finding the right vacation fit for each person!

In November of 2012, I traveled to Punta Cana for 7 nights. We stayed at The Riu Palace Macao, which is now an adults only property.  The Macao is located in the middle of the Riu complex with the Riu Palace Bavaro on one side and the Riu Bambu on the other side.  The Riu Palace Punta Cana is next to the Bambu with the Riu Naiboa behind the Riu Palace Bavaro.   The Riu Naiboa is not located on the beach.  There will be a 10-15 minute walk to the beach depending where on the resort your room is located.  This is a popular resort complex that our Dominican Republic travel specialists mention is a nice option for the traveler looking for a value-property.

The Macao has recently been redone.  The new look is sleek and modern with a lot of white and black.  The rooms were newly painted with bright colored accessories.  It was very nice.  Unlike the other Riu Palace Resorts, all of the rooms at the Macao are not Jr. Suites.  Our room was a standard Riu room with a huge shower and double sinks in the bathroom with the liquor dispensers and a coffee pot and coffee in the room.   Our view was a garden view which I liked since our balcony was private.  The resort rooms are in a horseshoe shape so that the pool and ocean view rooms face the resort. If you are in one of these rooms the balconies are not completely private.   In addition to the standard rooms, there are Superior rooms that are the standard Jr. Suite and there are Jacuzzi Suites, which have the Jacuzzi on the balcony.   The resort is small and easy to navigate.  There are also elevators and ramps for your convenience.

Restaurants:  There are four a la carte restaurants, Krystal (fusion gourmet), Kabuki (Japanese), Pancho (Grill Steakhouse) and Volare (Italian).  Reservations can be made every morning between 7 am and 10 am.  You can make reservations for two days at a time.  The Krystal was our favorite.    There is a main buffet called El Patio which normally serves breakfast, lunch and dinner but during our stay did not serve lunch.  The buffet next to the main pool serves a continental breakfast and lunch every day.   The buffet near the pool housed the Pancho and Volare in the evening.   There is also a small restaurant and bar on the beach that serves hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and desserts from 12Noon until 6pm.  We didn’t mind eating dinner at the main buffet.  The food was very good with lots of choices.     There is also a coffee shop called Capuchino that serves coffee drinks and pastries from 10am until 11pm with self-service of nachos and sandwiches. Other snacks are available 24 hours from a self-serve refrigerator with a microwave.

There were no sports bar at this resort but you can use those facilities at either the Riu Bambu or Riu Naiboa which are nearby.

Bars and Lounges:  There is a lobby bar, Cubano, with live music every evening.  Just off of the lobby bar is what they call the lounge bar– La Boheme that also has evening shows and entertainment.  There is a casino on the property.   There is a huge verandah with cocktail tables, chairs and couches that has wait service during the evening that is very nice.

There is a pool/swim up bar with a small lounge area with tables and chairs.  The swim up bar is in a pool of its own.  There is a main pool also.  There are pool beds around both pools with very comfortable lounge chairs with ample shade.  The beach is beautiful.  There is a stone walk-way from the pool area to the beach and all along the beach going through the Riu properties.    There is an outdoor entertainment complex located half-way between the pool area and the beach.  The resort does not serve premium alcohol but the drinks were good.

The Riu Macao guests can use the facilities at the Bambu and the Naiboa only.  The Macao is exclusive to its guests only.  The other Palace resorts cannot use the Macao facilities.  The Macao guests can use the Spa at the Riu Palace Bavaro as well as the gym.

There is a Caribbean Street next to the Macao which is really very nice.   There is a disco located on the Caribbean Street for all of the Riu resorts to use.  One of the nights during our stay, they had a Caribbean night on the Caribbean Street with bands and entertainment.

I liked the resort and the idea that the Riu Macao is a budget-friendly adults only resort.  There did seem to be many older couples (45+) at this resort.  There were also several groups of singles that did seem to be having a good time.    The resort was very clean and the grounds were very well-kept and the food and service were both very good.  My husband and I have stayed at many Riu resorts along with the Riu Palace Pacifico and we felt that it was the nicest Riu we have been to.

There are also a variety of other amazing resorts in Punta Cana and myself, and any one of our Punta Cana Travel Experts would be happy to help customize your vacation and choose a Punta Cana resort that is right for you! I’d love to help you plan your vacation to Punta Cana.  You can contact me here.

Barb in Monte Carlo on Windstar Cruise

Barb Dahl just returned from sailing in the Mediterranean with Windstar Cruises on the luxurious Wind Surf.    It was awesome!  Barcelona, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Portofino and more!! For those that enjoy river cruising, she believes this is the way to see the Mediterranean or the Caribbean!!

Windstar Cruises are small luxurious sailing yachts with a very casual atmosphere.    Outstanding dining.    Only 300 passengers.     You NEVER wait in line for ANYTHING!

Windstar can take you to places the large ships can’t and Barb is confident that many of her clients will be thrilled with the service and experience they receive on a Windstar Cruise.

Windstar will also be sailing to Tahiti in 2014!  Beginning May 2, 2014, Wind Spirit will sail seven-day voyages from Papeete, Tahiti. Wind Spirit will sail a total of 28 voyages in Tahiti, with the last voyage on November 7, 2014, before returning to Panama and Costa Rica for the winter season.

This will be the first time Windstar has returned to the French Polynesia Islands since 2005!

Barb Dahl Sailing on the Wind Surf

Barb is one of Fox World Travel’s Europe Specialists and Luxury Travel Experts.  She’d be happy to share her experience sailing on the Wind Surf and also any of her many experiences traveling throughout Europe!

Hi there, my name is Tammy Uecker. I have been at Fox World Travel’s Fond du Lac office for 15 years now. My specialty is in all-inclusive vacations to both Mexico and the Caribbean having traveled there several times. I enjoy using my own personal travel experiences to help customize your dream vacation!       

When we arrived at the Riu Palace Aruba and checked in (which went quickly), we received an ocean view junior suite room with a full size balcony. Our room was very clean, and we had a wonderful view overlooking the ocean and pools of the resort.

The Riu Palace Aruba has 4 specialty restaurants which we did take advantage of and ate at all four.  The Krystal was the French Restaurant, Sayuri was the Japanese, Milano was the Italian Restaurant, and there was a Grill and Steakhouse. The food and service were excellent and with several good choices on their menus. I was impressed with how good it was because I’m a very picky eater.  My favorite was the Japanese Restaurant. They offered two dining times daily one at 6:30pm or 9:00pm. We opted to do the 9:00pm daily, which had more availability and openings.  In the evening of one of the nights we saw a show at the Riu.  It was okay but I think they could work on this and be more creative. The Sports Bar was a great place to hang out, especially in the evenings. If you’re looking to listen to music or play some pool or foosball this was the place to be. The people are so friendly and very helpful!

The Riu Palace has such a great location, and the beach is gorgeous and the ocean has amazing turquoise water. I really like that you can either take a stroll on the long beach or you can walk the boardwalk all the way down and  check out all the shops and see different resorts or hotels along the way.  For anyone who needs to buy extra items such as sun block, aspirin, energy drinks or any other last minute items needed, I would recommend walking next door to the Westin. They have more selections and they’re half of the cost.

During our stay we booked two excursions through DePalm Tours Aruba. They are very easy to work with and had more tour options than others. On our second last day, we did the Jeep Safari off Road Adventure Tour.  This was by far my favorite.  On our third day, we did a sailing and snorkeling tour on a catamaran for 4 hours.  It was lots of fun and the snorkeling was fantastic—I saw many tropical fish, and the island view was breathtaking. What a great adventure to see the entire island of Aruba and learn the history and cultures as well. We got to see Aruba’s most intriguing sites such as Natural Pools, Aruba National park, churches and the lighthouse.  Moreover, our driver Rock (Yorge) was wonderful. He made the tour—he was so much fun and full of energy.  I would highly recommend this tour to everyone!

Overall, this resort was wonderful, had beautiful grounds, and was well-kept.  I would highly recommend this resort in Aruba to people of all ages!