22 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 9, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Islands Escapes Introduces Fiji Cruise Special Goway's IslandsEscapes is offering a six-night Blue Lagoon Cruise for the price of three during February and March. Travellers are invited to cruise to unspoiled Fiji islands from the most northerly part of the Mamanuca group to the most northerly island in the Yasawas - all while visiting remote villages, swimming or snorkelling in some of the most beautiful waters in the world, or enjoying a variety of activities with onboard water toys, volleyball, bushwalks, fish feeding, snorkelling or simply relaxing under a palm tree ashore. IslandsEscapes' 10-night escape starts from $2,619 and includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles; a day room at First Landing Beach Resort & Villas; six nights Gold Club Cruise, including onboard accommodation on the saloon deck with private facilities, all meals (beverages not included), cruise activities including special theme nights, traditional Fijian entertainment, coral viewing and beach party; three nights Sonaisali Island Resort (beachfront hotel room); airport welcome; transfers; and access to the airport VIP lounge on departure. Start planning for Europe W e were in a travel agency yesterday, and my pal, who has just discovered Mexico and loves it, was a bit put out that he couldn't find any brochures on Mexico. "The racks are full of Europe trips," he ranted. Well, yes indeed they are, for those of you thinking about a European holiday this year, it is time to pick up the brochures and start planning. Transat Holidays has launched their Europe season, with four new destinations. You can now fly to Malaga, Spain, Basel/Mulhouse, on the Swiss/French border, Nice in the South of France and Brussels, Belgium. Of course they're still doing their traditional destinations: France, Britain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy. Back, re-named and better than ever are the City Package which used to be called Package Plus, the two-City duo, the Three-City Package Trio, and the Go As You Please Package. The two city packages are just great. They started a few years ago with the London/ Paris package, and last year I went over and tested it. I've stayed in some of their extensive a-la-carte properties, and never had one I didn't like. Even better you can't beat the prices. We spent three nights in London and four in Paris, and it was perfect. It was the first time I'd taken the Eurostar from downtown London to downtown Paris in two hours and 15 minutes. What a treat. And yes it is included in the package. Our hotel was right across the street from Kensington Palace, where we could visit Diana Princess of Wale's memorial fountain, walk through the gardens, visit the Palace, and walk to Harrods's. Great location and a very nice hotel. There are lots of hotels and New Princess Disembarkation Process The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new streamlined farewell process for passengers. Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag colour to be called, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking. The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be personally escorted to the gangway. The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com To travel is to learn. As the old Chinese saying goes "It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books." I am sure you all agree. Here is a special trip to some unique places, somewhere with a rich history and beautiful scenery: "DISCOVER CROATIA" with Collette Vacations Gina Cheng Below are the highlights of the tour: Dates: June 16 - 27, 2008 Hotel Stay at a Glance: June 16, 17 The Westin Zagreb 2 nights June 18, 19 Golf Hotel, Bled 2 nights June 20, 21 Hotel Milenij, Opatija 2 nights June 22 Hotel Jezero, Plitvice Lakes 1 night June 23 Le Meridien Lav, Split 1 night June 24, 25, 26 Hotel Libertas, Dubrovnik Tour at a Glace: Visit 3 of the area's most beautiful countries: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Relax for two nights seaside in Opatija, Croatia's "Riviera". Discover the magnificence of the ancient Roman Palace of Diocletian. Walk in the footsteps of Marco Polo as you explore the medieval city of Korcula. Experience the wonder of 16 cascading lakes at Croatia's Plitvice National Park. Spend three nights in Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic" Price per person = US $2350.00 based on 2 shared Airfare extra For complete details for this unique tour call us today 905-849-0333 Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Ont Reg No 2766538 apartment hotels to choose from. We did touristy things, many that I'd not done before, such as the British Airways London Eye, and I'd pass the next time, but I'd take the Tower of London and Thames River Cruise, any and every time I'm back. It was just great. Transat Holidays buys in bulk so it is better to buy your excursions from them before you go to save lots of money, and that includes unlimited use of London's Bus and Subways. We discovered a restaurant called "roast" that should be a must on your itinerary. It is in the Borough Market on Stoney Street in London. Have lunch there, the price is considerably cheaper, I'd lay odds that we were the only tourists there, and watching the other patrons was as interesting as the food was good. The market is interesting too. In Paris, we stayed at the Novotel Tour Eiffel, overlooking the Seine, and just as in London, we walked and savoured Paris. How many times is too many to walk past the Eiffel tower? Don't know, I walked by it twice a day for days and could have done so many times more. Eating is a big deal in Paris, so is a glass of wine or three in an outdoor bistro. One lunch that was fabulous was at Vagenende 142 Boulevard Satin-Germain. It dates back to the early 1900s and is one of the last independent "brasseries" in Paris. I budget for deserts in France; in fact I'm addicted to their lemon tarts. The patisserie Gerard Mulot Gerardmulot.com would be number one on my list. Yes, of course we went shopping at the Galeries Lafayette. I have fond memories of some French women helping me choose just the right long linen shirt, on sale of course. They took it upon themselves to decide the best size, and that I should buy the cream shade. The five of them still provide fond memories every time I wear the shirt. One day we set off to see Disneyland Paris. This was great fun especially comparing the guests to the ones in Disneyworld. Better dressed and slimmer we decided. It was fun eating at the familiar Blue Lagoon Restaurant right in the heart of the Pirates of the Caribbean. I've eaten in the Blue Lagoon Restaurant in Disneyworld Florida. This year I'm hoping to do another City Package and excursions. I go to bed dreaming of the new ones; Treasures of Belgium and Amsterdam, Munich and Bavarian Gems or maybe Nice and the French Riviera. I'd better hurry up and make up my mind I save up to $150 per person (except Italy) if I book before March 3. But then again, Transat is offering Seaside Packages and they've added Florio Park Hotel in Cinisi, Terrasini Sicily. Sicily is one of my favourite places on earth, and the idea of an all-inclusive resort on the beach close to the Roman ruins of Agrigento is really appealing. Book by March 3 and save $100. The price is $1,979 per person including air, three meals and a quarter litre of house wine per person per meal. Ahh, so many choices, so little time. Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Ont Reg No 2766538