Do You Believe in Ghosts?

I've always believed we humans aren't alone on this Earth, even though I've never been lucky enough to see a ghost. My family purposely stayed in what was supposed to be the most haunted hotel in New Orleans, but unfortunately, nothing went bang in the night. No creaking hallways; no bumps in the night and definitely no chairs rocking by themselves. What a let-down.

Maybe we weren't there at the right time. Perhaps we should have timed our visit closer to Halloween. If I'm ever near St. Francisville, Louisiana, I will definitely plan to spend the night at the Myrtles Plantation, circa 1796. It doesn't look too scary in the pictures.

SHORT HISTORY LESSON:

The story most often told centers around a slave named Chloe who became the property master's mistress. After the relationship ended, she began eavesdropping on the family. Well, of course she was caught and one of her ears was cut off as punishment. Soon after she was baking a cake for the family and put a small amount of poison in the cake. Not enough to kill them; just a sufficient amount to make them ill and she'd be needed to nurse them back to health. You can guess where this is going-mom and two children died. The other slaves became frightened that the master would retaliate against all the slaves, so they hung Chloe. The ghosts of Chloe, the mother and two children have supposedly been seen wandering about the property.

Tours and overnight stays are offered at the Myrtle's Plantation. Don't you think this would be an awesome place to stay during the month of October?

Look closely and you can see the image of Chloe next to the porch pillar. I'm ready to go now. How about you?

luvs2travel

www.liberty-travelstore.com

Mexico Needs Our Help Now

Like I said, Mexico needs our help and this is the kind of charity you can really sink your teeth into. Have some fun with it.



What kind of help does Mexico need? They need more folks spending their vacation dollars, or I should say pesos, in their country.



Let's face it, Mexico has had a stinky year. First it was the drug wars that frightened people away. Do you know how huge this country is? And what if I told you that the violence is happening approximately 600 miles away from major tourist attractions? What do you think about that?



Then it was the flu. I went to Mexico this year. I never pass up a chance to donate to a worthwhile charity. Folks were wearing those face masks in the airport in Houston where we spent a delightful three extra hours waiting for our plane to leave for Cancun. When we arrived in Cancun there were a few questions such as, "Have you had a temperature in the last 48 hours?" And then we were off.



See how easy that is? So plan a trip to Mexico. Be good neighbors. You'll feel so much better afterwards.



Until next time,

luvs2travel
www.liberty-travelstore.com

Romeo and Juliet Visit Mexico

This story is about a pair of lovers who pursue their love for each other even though their families have been feuding for decades.

In Filbert, the smallest town in Arkansas, two powerful families had been feuding over a large plot of land on the outskirts of town. You see, about 50 years ago old man Capulet won the land in a card game. What he didn't know was that Abner Montague had been promised the land when said owner passed on.

As the years passed, the feuding grew more intense. Older generations of Capulets and Montagues made sure they passed along their hatred for each other.

In this small town, teenagers would hook up with their friends on Friday and Saturday nights at the local drive-in. It didn't take long before Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love. Knowing the history of their families and the long-standing disagreement, they realized their love was doomed if they remained in Filbert. But what could they do? Then, Juliet got a fantastic idea.

Juliet: Romeo, please, let's run off to Mexico together. I just know we'd be happy there.

Romeo: What's the use. We'll never be able to escape our families. I heard that just last night my uncle got into a fight with your second cousin. Seems one of them flipped the other off and all hell broke loose.


Juliet: Romeo, I really think this could work. Over 22.6 million foreign tourists visited Mexico last year. We'd just blend right in. Our families would never find us there. And language wouldn't be a problem because most Mexicans in the tourist areas speak English.

Romeo: We can't go on much longer like this. My parents are really getting worried about me. Last night they sent my cousin in to talk with me. He guessed I was having girl troubles, but he doesn't know the half of it. If our families knew about us, well, I don't even want to think about it.

Juliet: Romeo, have you even been listening to me? Oh man, my mom was so right about guys and their "selective hearing". One of my friends just returned from a vacation there with her family and she had a blast. There's so much to see there. Not only are there miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, there are also deserts and tropical jungles. Add to that the 6,000 miles of coastlines, calm bays and surrounding islands-doesn't it sound like paradise?


Romeo: OK, I have a few questions. How will we get there? And where will we stay once we're there?


Juliet: I've got this all planned. We'll catch a plane and fly into Cancun which is located in the Yucatan. Then we can rent a car and either stay there or drive about one hour south to Playa del Carmen. It's the cutest little town. We can stay in a big resort or maybe a smaller one right on the beach. Here, look at this map.

Romeo: You know Juliet, this might work. I'm so glad that I thought of it.

Juliet was right, Mexico is a great place to visit at any time of the year. If you've been thinking about a Mexico vacation, contact me. I'd love to help you find your own paradise.

Until next time,

luvs2travel

http://www.liberty-travelstore.com/

Mexico is my Niche

MEXICO!
OK, quick now, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? Could it be-

• drug problems
• Can't drink the water-how will I ever brush my teeth?
• Food is too spicy!
• Check out some common myths about Mexico.

Instead, I want you to think about this-

• Friendly, helpful people
• More UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the Americas.
• The 4th most diverse nation on Earth with over 30,000 plant species.
• 6,000 miles of coastline and four oceans.

I have been diligently working to become certified in all things Mexico. If Mexico is on your travel wishlist, your first call or email should be to me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

luvs2travel

www.liberty-travelstore.com

Will There Be Sand at my Cancun Resort?

"I'm thinking of booking my family at one of those all-inclusive resorts in Cancun. Somewhere right on the beach. Can you help us?"

Well, that might be a problem right now. It seems that sand has been disappearing from Cancun beaches in the dead of night. Let me check a few places and I'll get back to you later.

"Hello, yes I'm a travel agent with a client interested in staying in Cancun, right on the beach. Can you give me a list of hotels who have not been the target of the sand banditos please?"

You may laugh but the police in Cancun are very serious about this.

In 2005 Hurricane Wilma ripped through the area causing considerable damage. Mexico spent $19 million to replace the beaches washed away, but it seems that most of the replacement sand didn't stick around. In the hopes of keeping the sand that remained, many resorts place sandbags at the ocean's edge such as the Gran Porto Real in Playa del Carmen.

It seems that one resort, if the reports are to be believed, has taken to stealing sand from their neighbors in the dead of night. Environmental enforcement officers swooped in on the offenders and closed off hundreds of feet of coastline. Apparently, this particular resort was telling tourists, "Come here, I have sand...the other hotels don't because I have stole it."

My advice to anyone thinking of taking a vacation anywhere, not just Cancun, is to call your travel professional. While we may not have been able to predict an incident such as this occurring, there are so many other potholes on the travel road that we can steer you away from.

Until next time,

luvs2travel

www.liberty-travelstore.com

Holiday Travel-Already?

Have you made a list? You know, the list of everyone you must buy gifts for even though you don't want to but they always give you one so you have to reciprocate. I hope nobody on my list is reading this.

I'm more of a wait-till-the-last-minute kind of shopper. Last year the tree didn't make it out of the basement until the day BEFORE Christmas. Should be easier this year since we put it away with all lights and decorations intact. Do you suppose there's a support group for folks like me?

I spied the first holiday advertisement of the year just today. "Celebrate 2009 Holiday in Antigua". If I book right now I can save 40%. Choose from the finest All-Inclusive award-winning resorts in the Caribbean. Starting from as low as $189 per person, per night. Sounds like a deal to me.

Knowing that the holidays are probably the most expensive time to travel, I did some research. Stay at Beaches in Turks and Caicos from 12/26/09 for five nights in a cheapy room and you'll pay about $4,000 per person. That same room for five nights beginning on September 26 and the price goes down by half.

Here's another example: Stay at The Royal in Playa del Carmen; same five nights beginning on September 26th. You'll pay about $1,170 per person. Wait until December 26th and you'll pay-oh wait a minute. You can't go to the Royal then because it's SOLD OUT, every room category. But if you'd gotten there sooner, you would have paid around $2,100 per person and that included a savings of 25%.

I can see the writing on the wall. Folks like me, I believe we're called procrastinators, are out of luck. My family will be spending the holidays at home like we always do. But please don't call me for a lengthy chat because I'll be scurrying around purchasing those last-minute gifts and of course, the tree has to make an appearance sometime.

It doesn't have to be this way for your family. There's help for procrastinators. Make that phone call, join that group. You needn't suffer alone. And then, when you're finally ready to book your holiday travel, contact me. But don't wait too long. With prices as low as $189 per person, per night, per room, they can't last long.

All prices used MCI as a starting point.

Until next time,

Luvs2travel

www.liberty-travelstore.com

Even David Letterman Knows You Need a Travel Agent

Marcia has been kind of frustrated lately. You know how I know? When she's particularly agitated about something, she starts cleaning. Yesterday it was two closets and then a vicious attack on several week's worth of dust. This morning I heard her mumbling something about the family room and let me tell you, it was not pleasant. You're probably wondering what could make a sort-of sane woman abandon her computer and pick up a sponge. Here it is in a nutshell.

The Problem

What makes normally nice, intelligent people contact her, or any other travel agent, searching for travel advice and then after sucking every last bit of information they can possibly get, go book travel on their own? I've watched her working. She'll spend hours, if you don't count the time spent playing games but don't tell her I said that. Like I said, hours researching the perfect resort or cruise only to have some schmuck (sorry, have to tell it like it is) say he/she booked it on their own but thank you very much. Are people really that insensitive or maybe they don't understand how the game is played.

GAME RULES:
1) Would-be traveler thinks to himself, "I'd really like to go to some pleasant island somewhere in the Caribbean where I can sit all day in the sand drinking strong margaritas while the kids amuse themselves elsewhere".

2) Would-be traveler, still thinking to himself says, "Too bad I don't know where to go or how much it's going to cost or if we need those passport thingys I hear everyone talking about. Maybe I better call someone."

3) Would-be traveler calls a travel agent with his long wish list and believe me, those things can get pretty detailed.

4) Travel agent calls back a few days later with choices and prices.

5) Would-be traveler then chooses or asks questions or whatever but eventually a choice is made.

6) Then here is the crucial step that many just don't seem to get. You let the travel agent make the reservation for you and said travel agent will eventually get paid for the many hours of work already devoted to this trip of yours.

You see folks, that's how it's done. You let the travel agent do her job, which incidentally doesn't end there. Let's say you get to your hotel and for some gosh darn reason, they've lost your reservation. Oh man, they think they've got you now, but little do they know you have a secret weapon and that's your travel agent. Call her up, get her on the phone, let her talk some sense into that hotel manager. This is just one example of why it's a good thing to have a travel agent up your sleeve.

I did mention something about David Letterman earlier. David Letterman's #1 reason for using a travel agent, and this is good. "I have people to book travel for me. Having people is good! Besides, there are many other things I want to do!" So you see folks, having a travel agent is smart. Let her do what she does best and you go off and do whatever the heck it is that you do. And that is how the game is played.

Until next time,
luvs2travel

www.liberty-travelstore.com

Travel Deals, Vacations, Cruises, More...

Summer days are quickly flying by and it won't be long before we'll all be carving pumpkins. If you don't believe me, step inside any craft store. You can definitely tell a change is coming. But don't worry if you didn't get a chance to travel this summer because there are still some great vacation deals to be had. What's on sale you ask? How about, what isn't on sale?

Las Vegas-

• Book a package with Southwest Vacations and every second person flies free.If you stay at MGM Mirage properties they'll even throw in round trip airport transportation.
• You have to book by 6:00 pm CST on July 30th for travel 8/17/09-1/7/10

Walt Disney World-

• Purchase a Southwest package that includes flight and accommodations at a Disney resort hotel and Magic Your Way theme park tickets.
• Every second person flies and plays for free.
• Must book by 6:00 pm CST on August 6th for travel 7/15/09-12/15/09.

Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos

Save up to 60% and get up to 2 nights free at an all-inclusive resort that caters to kids.

• Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street
• Certified nanies and a nursery
• Book by 8/27/09 for travel now through 12/17/10.

This is just a tiny tip of an iceberg of savings available right now to you. Mexico represents an incredible value for your vacation dollars with specials such as:

• Save more than $1,200 on packages to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.
• Free scuba diving.
• Fly free with air credit specials.

If just looking at all the specials available overwhelms you, contact a travel consultant (could be me) and we can look at all the options and choose the best one for you or your family. Great vacations don't just happen ya know.

Until next time,
luvs2travel

http://www.liberty-travelstore.com/

Wave Season Cruise Deals-in July?

Wave Season is the businest cruise-booking time of the year. Most people know that if you want to cruise cheap, then the month of March is the time to book. But if you've been paying attention to travel ads, you might have noticed more than the usual number of cruise deals just waiting for some lucky person to come along and snap one up. Could be you!

• Extra savings with FREE AIR!
• Up to $240 cash back
• FREE balcony upgrade

Do you think these savings are for real? Well, as a matter of fact they are.

Carnival-You have until July 31st to take advantage of their "Cash Back" offer. When booking a 3-4 day cruise, up to $50 will be added onto your Sail & Sign card. 5 day cruisers could find an extra $75 on their cards and up to $120 per guest on cruises that last from 6-8 days. The extra cash can be used anywhere onboard and if somehow you manage to NOT spend it all, Carnival will give it to you. This is not a "use it or lose it" deal. Carnival has added a new ship to their family. Take a virtual tour.

Disney-Book select 3-7 night sailings through September 2009 and children 12 and younger sail for half price. This offer is only valid on new bookings.

Norwegian Cruise Line-Enjoy a six category upgrade when you book any 2010 or 2011 sailing. AND, the third and fourth guests sharing a stateroom pay only $99 each. You only have until August 2, 2009 to snag this bargain.

Royal Caribbean-Not only can you sail for as little as $80 per day on one of their eleven ships, you can also receive between $35 and $100 onboard credit per person.

So what do you think? Do these sound too good to be true or are they just what you've been waiting for? I wouldn't wait too long to snap up one of these great cruise deals for yourself.

Until next time,
Luvs2travel

http://www.liberty-travelstore.com/

All-Inclusive "Real Resorts" in Mexico

The Real Resort family has much to offer for those looking for an all-inclusive resort. With two Real resorts in Cancun and three in Playa del Carmen, you have several vacation options. Whether you're searching for a family getaway or an experience geared for adults only, the Real Resorts are prepared to deliver.

The Royal in Cancun is the latest addition to its "Royal" brand of luxury resort hotels. It's adults only, all-suite, all-inclusive, combining outstanding facilities with exceptional amenities. You'll be able to see the ocean in all 285 suites, but that's not all. At the Royal you can take advantage of Cancun's only Beachfront Swim-up Master Suites, the perfect choice for a honeymoon.

If it's time to take the family on a vacation, then the Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa in Cancun is a great choice. This popular beachfront resort has a variety of accommodations including junior suites, family junior suites and presidential suites with private terraces. This beautiful resort stretches along a quarter mile of white sandy beach.

Travel just a bit south of Cancun to Playa del Carmen. The Royal in Playa delivers adults only luxury and casual elegance just steps away from Playa del Carmen's famed Fifth Avenue. The extra spacious suites, many of which are ocean view or ocean front, should satisfy anyone.

Discover why the Gran Porto Real has become one of Mexico's favorite and most popular choices for value-packed, fun-filled and exceptional vacation experiences. The all-inclusive Gran Porto offers a wide array of activities for guests of all ages, including a supervised children's program. If you're a family of 5, stay in one of their family junior suites with bunk and trundle beds-maximum occupancy up to 5 people.

Tucked away right in the heart of Playa is the Real Playa del Carmen Hotel & Beach Club, located within a tropical village-style resort. Here you can enjoy a variety of accommodations including a standard room; one bedroom master suite; upgraded one bedroom master suite.

Regardless of which "Real" you choose to stay, you're sure to enjoy a relaxing, all-inclusive, beachfront vacation. All Real resorts have access to online check-in within 48 hours of arrival. This technology allows guests to preview suites before your arrival. If you've been thinking of a destination wedding, you can't go wrong at any one of the Real resorts. Whether a formal, grand event or barefoot on the beach, you're promised a worry-free experience.

I have to confess that my family recently returned from the Gran Porto Real in Playa del Carmen and we had an awesome vacation. Everyone, from the folks at the front desk to the maid who cleaned our room, was friendly and eager to please. We enjoyed the pool, the beach, the food, the drinks, but especially the chance to hang out together as a family and just enjoy each other's company. We can't wait to go back!

Until next time,

Luvs2travel