The mornings start out with the locals preparing for their workday by sweeping the sidewalks around their businesses whether they are storefronts or carts around the beach. You’ll see joggers running on the beach chased by their pet dog as the waves ripple on the shore.

Enjoy these pictures as I start to plan my next vacation to this friendly, safe beautiful colonial city on the beach. Care to join me?

View of Banderas Bay

This is done by collecting the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks or toys and games.  These will be placed on the loved ones’ graves or in a simulated alter in the family’s home.    Many cities will have fireworks each evening.

China celebrates the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, although not on October 31.  The Chinese celebration is more similar to the Mexican event.  There is more a focus on appeasing or communicating with the dead specifically.  In addition to setting out food and praying, they will also burn money, although today it is usually fake money.

In Europe there are a variety of events from celebrations in Ireland and Great Britain similar to the United States to Romania where they have more heavily-themed Dracula events or to Catholic influenced All Saints Day in Greece.

And while you might think there are many similarities between the United States and Australia, the Aussies discourage Halloween celebrations for being too commercial.  No matter where you go, you will probably find some version of our Halloween and exploring how other cultures celebrate can make a great theme for a vacation.

(Information for this blog was based on an article by Jonathan Divine in “travelhoppers”)

First of all the architecture is amazing. Peter the Great built his dream city on a cluster of islands in the marshland of the Gulf of Finland. To make sense of this boggy site, he designed a network of canals and bridges whose grueling construction cost the lives of many of the city’s builders. Fortunately on the first day, we took a canal cruise which gave us a perspective of what we would see in the next few days. Museums, hotels and shopping are conveniently concentrated in and Nevsky and the historical downtown. It was especially convenient that the Azamara Journey was docked right near the center.

Our first day also included a visit with a local resident for tea and snacks. While the apartment was extremely modest by American standards, we were welcomed by a charming woman who we spoke with through our interpreter. She shared with us her view of Russian life today and the struggles families have in staying together and building a better life. Our biggest regret was that we could not communicate one to one so that we could have an even better experience of sharing.
Our second day led us to Pushkin to visit the breathtaking Catherine Palace Museum. Like much of imperial St Petersburg, the estate is built in the Late Baroque style, designed by the Italian Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The star attraction of Tsarskoe Selo is the Catherine Palace with its blue, white and gold exterior. Inside visitors can gaze upon the painstakingly restored panels of the Amber Room, made entirely from the semi-precious stone, and restored in 2003 after it was pillaged by the Nazis. We also made sure we walked part of the beautiful gardens surrounding the Museum.

And finally on the last day, we visited the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg’s most-photographed church. This cathedral is a mountain of blindingly bright, beveled domes topped by glistening gold crosses. Its architects sought to revive medieval Russian architectural styles, but the cathedral’s bold cheeriness lacks the brooding mysticism of similar churches in Moscow, instead reflecting the renewed nationalism and material prosperity of late-19th-century Russia. It was built on the site where Czar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, prompting residents to come up with the Spilled Blood reference. It has over 7500 meters of mosaics.

As our guide took us through The State Hermitage Museum we reveled at all the art. Whether you are interested in Italian, Dutch or Spanish masters, you will be amazed at the art collection. In addition you will find a plethora of Impressionists’ paintings and at least 2-1/2 rooms of works by Picasso. The fact that our guide was so knowledgeable about different artists and periods of art made the visit even more memorable. To make sure you don’t miss specific pieces, you can visit their website to learn more about planning your visit.

All in all, St. Petersburg was what I expected and more. It was well worth three days in this magnificent city.

After spending 10 nights on the fabulous Azamara Journey, I was only reassured that Azamara Club Cruises has really developed a winning product.  If you are eager to cruise with a smaller number of like-minded travelers, ones who are interested in being immersed in the culture of each port, you will love this experience.

This 10-night journey brought our ship to the best docks in each port….Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallin, Estonia; Warnemunde and Travelmunde (Lubeck), Germany.  Our great docking location was so evident when we sailed out of St. Petersburg and saw all the mega-ships docked about one-hour away from the city.  From the Azamara Journey you could have walked to The Hermitage as long as you had a personal visa to depart the ship.

In addition to the great ports, spending time on the ship to relax was so enjoyable.  The staff truly understands providing excellent service and with a personal touch.  Not only was I amazed at our cocktail waiter remembering our drink order after the 1st night but later in the cruise, the bartender who prepared our drinks also remembered our drink order when we arrived one evening and our regular waiter had stepped away for a few minutes.

And, then there are all the inclusions.  In a time when you can feel nickeled and dimed when you travel, Azamara includes wine with lunch and dinner, prepaid gratuities for the cabin stewards, the waiters and the cocktail servers.  Add this to complimentary speciality coffees, teas, and snacks in the Mosaic Cafe throughout the day and you will feel relaxed and comfortable in your home away from home.

The ports visited are incredible with shore excursions that are interesting and with various activity levels.  Follow this up with complimentary transportation to the city center in some of the ports and lectures onboard to help passengers have a better understanding of the places they visit.  One night we enjoyed entertainers from St. Petersburg doing folk songs and dances.

This was a great trip and I can hardly wait for my next Azamazing experience.  (Be sure to check out some of the pictures from the trip.

Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation, an exciting adventure filled trip, or something in between, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes.

Few destinations can offer so much for a honeymoon location, and the satisfaction ratings for Hawaii are among the highest in the entire travel industry. Hawaii is about romance and the island caters in a very special way to destination weddings and honeymooners.

Hawaii’s climate is world class and year-round. The scenery cannot be matched by any other tropical destination. The mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rainforests and rugged coastlines are
unforgettable. And the Aloha Spirit – the attitude of friendly acceptance and the way of life that makes the Hawaiian Islands famous is the perfect ambiance in which to begin your life as a couple.

Hawaii is so familiar and yet so exotic -yet Hawaii is United States soil. That means US currency and no travel documents. The food, culture and language are all familiar and relaxing. But around every turn is some element of the unfamiliar, from the Aloha culture to the strong influence of Asian cultures and heritage. Sold? Here are a few tips that will
assist you in better planning your Hawaiian honeymoon.

Planning a honeymoon in Hawaii can be an exciting, but overwhelming experience. Most couples will wait until after all the wedding plans are handled to start thinking about their honeymoon. However, to ensure that you get the best pricing and availability, we recommend that you start the planning process nine to twelve months before your departure
date.

Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime
honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway.

Firstly, decide on a budget. It has been said that honeymooners typically spend nearly four times what an average vacationer spends, and for good reason. For a honeymoon, you want to have the best possible experience that you can comfortably afford. Considering the
importance of the memories you will be building, this is not the time to make unwise cuts in your buy. This is the one occasion among all others when you want to be certain that you will enjoy as much quality as you can afford.

Hawaii is for any budget – from first class luxury accommodations to budget condominiums. Your travel consultant can assist you with planning a vacation to provide the best possible
value. This is one of the other reasons that Hawaii is such a popular choice. With several islands to choose from, Hawaii offers some of the best beaches, resorts, and culture with a wide range of hotels and properties. Right now, Hawaii is a real bargain, with travel there currently less than the same trip would have cost in 2007. No other destination offers you as great a return on the money you will spend on your honeymoon than the Islands of Aloha!

Couples who try to plan their honeymoon on their own online, wind up feeling frustrated and are likely to miss opportunities that a travel agent will know. A travel agent who
specializes in honeymoons can help the two of you sort out which destinations would be right for the two of you, based on your likes and dislikes, and your priorities as a couple. Even if as a couple you have very different ideas of where and how you would like to spend your honeymoon, a honeymoon expert should be able to find a location that is perfect for both of you, and ensure that your flights, transfers, hotel and insurance are all packaged appropriately.

Sit down with your agent and discuss your idea of the perfect honeymoon. What do you like to do as individuals and what as a couple? Hawaii affords many different opportunities for activities and leisure time. You can Kayak, explore rainforests, or sit on the beach.

Schedule in more free time than you might think you want. Remember, this is a honeymoon, not a vacation, and that really is a distinction that means something! Make a list of the things that mean the most to you, get in some practice making decisions as a couple. The more clearly you can communicate your ideal honeymoon to your agent, the better the overall planning process will be.

Be diligent about keeping copies of all correspondence, confirmation numbers, and invoices given to you by your travel consultant. Double- and triple-check all the plans to be sure that your departure and return dates are correct. Inform everyone along the way that you’re traveling on your honeymoon, so you don’t miss out on complimentary perks. Stay organized by creating a folder or notebook where you can keep all this information.

One last bit of advice: Have realistic expectations throughout the course of planning and taking your honeymoon trip. While it’s only natural for you to want your honeymoon to be
perfect, bear in mind that travel is inherently an adventure. Approach your honeymoon with an open mind, and prepare to have plenty of laughs along the way.

There really are endless possibilities in Hawaii for honeymooners. Your travel agent can provide you with all the information you need to decide which island (or islands!) and what
hotel properties are right for you. Start planning early to make sure you’re right where you want to be… and then Bon Voyage!

In Puerta Vallarta, it’s warm throughout the entire year, with tropical temperatures moderated by the Pacific. Evenings and early mornings in the winter may be a bit cool, but
pleasant. Summers see an increase in relative humidity during the mid-year rainy season, between early May and early October. Rains come almost every afternoon in June and July, and are usually brief, cooling the air for evening activities. Puerto Vallarta and the newer Rivera Nayarit to its north comprise a lush, tropical resort area, known as the Pacific Rivera. Tourism is a natural fit for this region, which successfully balances luxury and eco-friendly
lodging and provides ample opportunities to explore the jungle mountains and beautiful beaches that surround. Historic architecture is marked by terra cotta-tiled rooftops, lush landscaping, and quaint cafes and shopping districts. The cobblestone town was once a quiet getaway for Hollywood stars.

In the 1960′s John Huston filmed Night of the Iguana here. Written by Tennessee
Williams and starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, the film even today draws fans to the resort and to the former residences of the actors. A walk through El Centro (the Town Center) reveals many architectural remnants of the old city. La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe’s marvelous interior and staircases provide excellent vistas of the city and the bay. Towns in the Pacific Riviera are easy to explore – several shopping districts offer
intimate, eclectic cafes and markets for wandering tourists in search of authentic crafts, clothing, and jewelry.

This glamorous, tropical getaway has endless adventure opportunities for all ages, from horseback riding, waterfall tours, scuba diving and surfing to shopping for handcrafted and high-end jewelry to dancing at one of many nightclubs. Championship golf courses,
mountain biking, and jeep tours provide endless options for travelers. Banderas Bay provides a perfect setting for the area’s sophisticated hotels, situated on a beautiful stretch of sandy beaches and clear blue waters – perfect for swimming and water sports. Day trips are plentiful and well worth the effort.

Mismaloya or Yelapa provide some of the best beaches in the area. Visitors interested in ecotourism can hire tour companies to visit the nearby rainforests, where ATV, horseback or walking trips are available.

Among other nightlife hotspots, The Malecon is a boulevard along the beach, just in front of all the bars, clubs, restaurants and wonderful art galleries. Tourists can dance the night away or sit on one of the benches to watch the sunset and passersby. There are many opportunities to shop in unique stores selling silver jewelry, beachwear, pottery, and many local arts and crafts. A walk along the Rio Cuale is also a good pastime, with its shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and lush greenery.

Time in Puerta Vallarta is time well spent. Be sure to venture out and experience the town and the surrounding countryside – and the culture, food and music. If you are like most visitors, you will be back again.

Your answer might have been: “No, our credit card insurance will cover us.” Or your partner may have answered, “Well we have Medicare insurance, don’t we?” or “We can get a plan directly from the travel supplier, can’t we?”

You may also have seen a Consumer Reports article earlier this year, which recommended against travel insurance and said that travelers ought to “save their money for souvenirs.” Less than a month later the respected former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Newsletter Ed Perkins wrote for SmarterTravel.com about travel insurance, and said he thought the Consumer Reports “authors listened to some bad advice.”

We agree with Perkins, who wrote: “Far more trips are canceled because of accident or illness, and you don’t get any refunds for those. Any time you face a penalty or loss that’s more than you can comfortably afford, consider Trip Cancellation insurance.”

What about that credit card insurance? Most people, just as with rental car agreements,
rarely if ever look at the fine print of their credit card insurance plan. Many cards’ plans are limited to accident insurance on a common carrier and baggage loss coverage. No trip cancellation, medical protection or emergency evacuation coverage is normally included.

In addition to the credit card being required to purchase the trip being insured, the card
insurance terms are normally limited by an “excess coverage provision.” It means coverage only applies “when all other valid collectible insurance benefits are exhausted.”

A comprehensive insurance plan is primary insurance that pays you first! The plan covers you for documented Trip Cancellation, the most important feature cited by Ed Perkins above. The Trip Cancellation reimburses you up to the full prepaid trip cost.

There is also Trip Interruption, in case you have to cut the trip short for a covered reason, reimbursing up to 150% of the prepaid trip cost and should include emergency medical protection and evacuation, missed connection, trip delay coverage, baggage loss and baggage delay. There is protection available for a Pre-Existing Medical Condition of the traveler, his or her travel companion and their covered family members.

As for Medicare and many other U.S. health care policies? They often do not provide coverage for you in a foreign destination, where hospitals and doctors often require payment in advance for treatment! A solid travel insurance program will guarantee that you will be admitted to a hospital or appropriate health care facility.

If you decide you can get the cheapest insurance directly from your travel supplier, check the small print again. Many suppliers’ policies, especially those that offer “cancel for any reason,” only offer you a credit to rebook a trip with the same company. You do not usually get a cash refund.

Additionally, most suppliers’ policies only credit up to 75% of the original trip cost, and
the credit for rebooking is only valid for up to one year from the originally scheduled trip that you cancelled!

By contrast, when a Worldwide Trip Protector covered claim reimburses you, it is a cash refund. It’s your money, use it again however you choose.

When you get to your vacation spot, your one wish is that your bags arrive with you.
Unfortunately, the airlines don’t always make your wish come true. A Worldwide Trip Protector policy can reimburse you for up to $1,000 for lost baggage or personal effects, and up to $200 for delayed baggage. The latter will, at the least, get each insured into clean clothes and personal necessities until your bag, hopefully, reaches your accommodation.

Finally, if an emergency illness or accident happens far from home, nothing will be more
welcome than a helpful voice on the phone working to get you assistance on the spot. Make sure your policy has a global emergency travel assistance service, which goes with you 24/7 with every insurance plan. You will be able to contact the service toll-free from wherever you travel, even when your family or loved ones are not immediately in reach.

You can also say that having comprehensive travel policy is much like having a knowledgeable, professional travel agent to arrange your trip. You will most appreciate both when they come to your assistance in a travel emergency. That’s when you’ll know you made the right choice to plan ahead.

“St. Lucia remains relatively unspoiled, a checkerboard of green-mantled mountains, valleys, wild orchids, and fishing villages. The island has a mixed French and British heritage, but there’s a hint of the South Pacific about it as well. Music reverberates throughout St. Lucia, and the savory smells of a rich cuisine waft through  Marigot Bay and Soufriere. A favorite stop-off for island-hoppers, yachties and jet-setters, St. Lucia offers volcanic rock beaches, lush fruity landscapes, and a lively nightlife of limbo, jazz and rum punch.

Things to Do

Roll out your towel on the beige sand of popular Reduit Beach or the seclusion of Marigot Bay, ringed by emerald hills. Try to spot whales off Vigie Cove, or dive below the surface at Anse Chastanet. The Atlantic trade winds make for challenging windsurfing in Anse de Sables Bay, while beginners can try Cas en Bas beach at Gros Islet . Away from the beach, take a therapeutic mud bath at the sulfur springs of Soufriere, discover St. Lucia’s agricultural past at La Sikwe Historical Sugar Mill and Plantation or watch butterflies flit about at the Maria Islands Nature Reserve.

Shopping

In the capital city, Castries, you can stock up on hot sauce, spices, and luscious fruits and vegetables at the bustling public market or bring back pottery, wood carvings and silk-screened textiles from the shops along William Peter Boulevard and Bridge Street. Head to Rodney Bay for original artworks and antique prints, and Soufriere for batik
clothing.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Hotels and resorts provide the mainstay of local nightlife, with DJs spinning everything from calypso, soca and reggae to hip-hop, Latin, and rock at clubs and discos. Drink with the yachting crowd and expats in Marigot Bay or dance the night away with the jet-setters at clubs in Castries. Friday-night jump-ups are weekly street parties, where rum, reggae, and grilled fish flow. Gatherings in Gros Islet and Anse la Raye keep it hopping until the wee hours.

Restaurants and Dining

Creole flavors inspire much of the local cuisine. Taste traditional dishes such as green figs, salt fish and callaloo soup along with curries and pepperpot stews. Fresh foods abound, from fruits like mangoes, papayas and coconuts, and fish, including lobster
and marlin. Dine on haute cuisine at the higher-end resorts and restaurants in Castries, or join the locals in Dennery for their Saturday night fish fiesta.”

Sounds great, don’t you think.

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Third-party travel insurance plans, such as those offered by Travel Guard, provide you with insurance coverage for your travel investment if unforeseen weather conditions cause a delay or cancellation of your trip. If the weather forces you to cancel your trip for a covered reason, Travel Guard will reimburse your nonrefundable expenses, up to the amount of coverage you purchase. If bad weather delays your trip for a covered reason, Travel Guard will reimburse you for reasonable, additional accommodations and traveling expenses until travel is possible.

Here are some answers to questions that you may have relative to Hurricanes and
Travel Insurance:

Q. How can travel insurance cover my vacation investment in the event of a hurricane or other unforeseen severe weather?
A. In the event of a covered hurricane or other unforeseen severe weather, travel insurance provides coverage under the Trip Cancellation and Interruption benefit. If your trip is cancelled for a covered reason, Travel Guard will refund the pre-paid, forfeited, non-refundable trip costs trip up to the limit of coverage.

Q. If a hurricane watch or warning is issued that may impact my travel plans, up to what point can I still purchase travel insurance?
A. Insurance must be purchased 24 hours prior to when the hurricane has been named. Once the hurricane has been named, Trip Cancellation and Interruption losses resulting from the hurricane are excluded from the coverage of the policy.

Q. If the resort that I will be staying at next week is damaged in a storm before my scheduled departure, can I cancel my trip and be reimbursed
for my non-refundable costs?
A. If the resort is damaged and cannot accommodate you (or provide comparable accommodations), your nonrefundable costs will be reimbursed.

Q. I’m worried that a predicted storm’s path will be too near to the location of my upcoming insured vacation; can I cancel for a refund?
A. If the storm directly affects your travel arrangements or accommodations, you are entitled to Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption benefits. For example: an airport is closed due to the high winds; you are forced to evacuate your hotel/resort; the road you are traveling is impassable due to high water. On the other hand, if you choose to cancel a trip based on what you think might happen — and not because the inclement weather has directly affected your travel arrangements — that would be considered a matter of choice — not a direct loss to your arrangements.

Q. If my airport is closed due to a hurricane or other weather event, and my vacation is delayed, will I be reimbursed?
A. Yes, travel insurance will cover the expenses incurred if your trip is delayed and will cover reasonable, additional accommodations and travel expenses until travel becomes possible.