The Rock Restaurant
This restaurant came across my radar a while ago and I had to share it with you. The Rock Restaurant is a little restaurant (only 14 tables) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. I find it so amazing because they built this restaurant up on the rock (as you can see in the picture). At different times of day you can walk, swim or boat over to the restaurant dependant on the tide. They are famous for how fresh the seafood is!
Hi everyone!!! It’s official. I understand why people need a year to plan their wedding! This weekend is our engagement party and let me just tell you. I’m not even planning it and I am completely consumed by it. Every spare minute this week is spent prepping, shopping, dress hunting, shoe hunting and all around just thinking about this weekend. I know a lot of my friends and family may not be able to make it to the actual wedding, so this weekend is our time to celebrate my upcoming nuptials with everyone I love!
Every day I see pictures of hotels and ships. Today when I saw this slide show, I started to drool! I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
What is the most beautiful hotel that you have ever stayed in?
Last week I was lucky enough to have a meeting with a great woman who represents unique properties all over the world. The one that stuck out to me the most was Rock Creek Cattle Company. This is a fully working, private ranch that has just opened its doors to the public. The only way to secure space at this ranch is through an elite group of travel agents (yup… yours truly is one of them!) and their connections. Once I saw this presentation I knew I had to share it with you!
Rock Creek Cattle Company rests on 30,000 acres of diverse and gorgeous countryside including Rock Creek, an alpine lake, lush forests, rolling hills, an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Doak and 18 miles of rivers and streams.
Ideally situated in a serene setting, Rock Creek Cattle Company features 31 luxurious accommodations from twelve one-bedroom cottages, nine two-bedroom cabins, five three-bedroom cabins, four four-bedroom cabins and one five-bedroom home. In addition, Rock Creek Cattle Company offers its members and guests state-of-the-art facilities including a restaurant with an outdoor terrace on the banks of Rock Creek, a private dining room, two bars, a library, an outdoor pool complex, hot tub, kids pool, fire pit and game barn, luxurious locker rooms, fitness center and massage rooms.
Rock Creek Cattle Company provides members and guests an array of exciting activities including:
• Golf
• Fly-Fishing
• Sporting Clays
• ATV Excursions
• Horseback Riding
• Kayaking
• Hiking
• White Water Rafting
• Mountain Biking
• Tennis
• Archery
• Hunting
• Spa Treatments
• Children Activities in the Game Barn
• Sculpting Classes
Rock Creek Cattle Company’s assets establish the private club to be one of the best. Its member only exclusivity, which is now opening to select VIPS, promotes exclusive use of the grounds and facilities. Rock Creek Cattle Company’s golf course was ranked the #1 US Residential Golf Course in 2012 by Golfweek. Its main lodge is directly located along Rock Creek, and all cottages face Rock Creek with stunning views.
Rock Creek Cattle Company’s fabulous food, wine, accommodations, facilities, activities and service makes the private club the perfect destination for family vacations, weekend getaways and more. To learn more about Rock Creek Cattle Company, please call us at 561-451-4511.
YEEEHAWWWW!
I was just looking back through my old blogs and came across this oldie but goodie! I wrote this back when I first started blogging (before I met most of you!) Sometimes I think it’s necessary to recycle information that is important for people!
Have you ever been looking up a hotel on the internet, reviewed it on trip advisor, and then arrived only to have it be nothing like what you expected? Have you ever booked a hotel only for them to tell you that you don’t have a room when you get there, despite your printed out confirmation? Have you ever booked a flight that had a layover, had the airline make a schedule change, and ended up missing your second flight because there wasn’t enough time to make your connection?
Often when people find out that I am a travel agent I get a range of responses from “there are still travel agents?” to “with the internet your business must be really slow” to “I do all of my reservations online.” At first I’ll admit I was a little offended. Of course there are still travel agents! And then I realized that it wasn’t something to get upset over.
A lot of business models have changed since the global internet takeover. But I will be the first to tell you that I don’t think travel agents will ever really be unnecessary. And luckily, because I started this nifty blog I get to tell you why!
We make the travel experience FUN!
As a travel agent, most of the companies that I use don’t sell to consumers directly. They are wholesale companies who only sell to travel agents. The benefit of this is that in order to carry a specific hotel, they work up a contract and terms with that hotel. My favorite is a “no walk” policy. This means that if I sell you a hotel room in the Danieli in Venice, you have a room. If they don’t have a room in your category, they upgrade you. They don’t put you in a “comparable hotel” or in a room less than the value for which you paid. These companies also have concierges that I can use to help you with restaurant reservations, show tickets, spa appointments, tours, and other random things that you might want on your vacation. I have utilized them for simple reservations to helping me plan a man’s proposal to his future bride. No detail is too big or too small.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of working with a travel agent such as myself is that between me and the other 41 agents that I work with in my office, we have been to and seen most places on the planet. We have insights that are only possible from someone who has been to Skagway, Alaska, or Lichtenstein or Visby. Having those extra 41 bits of insight allows each of our agents to ensure your trip is the best it can be.
Will you find your trip a little less expensive on the internet? Maybe. Will it be worth the couple of dollars to align yourself with my agency and let us do your planning for you? Definitely! Let me do the worrying so that all you have to do is enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.
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Click this picture for some wonderful Valentine's Day Vacations
Today I’m going to talk to you about something that I have just experienced for the first time. Don’t tell my co-workers ok? This is something that, as a travel agent, really doesn’t do anything to grow my business or expand my bottom line. But, OH MY GOSH, it was wonderful!
Last week I had hit my limit. Between work, our social lives, and planning our wedding, I couldn’t remember the last time I had been able to roll over in the morning, see Danny’s face and then go back to sleep and know I’d still see him again when I woke up. My stress level was through the roof.
Danny and I came up with the thing I will now look forward to always, Jammie Day. This is a day where we tell everyone not to call us. If they did it wouldn’t have mattered because our phones were on silent upstairs and we were downstairs. We left the computer charging in the office. We were totally out of reach.
We had everything planned. I knew what I was making for breakfast (waffles with berries, maple syrup and eggs), he knew what he was making for dinner (steak and veggies), and we had movies chosen and ready to go. There was nothing that we needed to go out for. When we realized we forgot baked potatoes to go with the steak, we improvised with something in the house. I literally never got out of my pajamas!
We watched movies and TV all day. We talked. We fell asleep a few times on the couch together. And for a small amount of time while he was cooking, I worked on our wedding. It was the most relaxing thing I’ve done in a long long time.
In the past, if I was in the city (you’ll notice how often we tried to be in Disney or Universal Studios) we would be running around and doing things, busy with friends, working or something else that would be great, but not alone or together.
Jammie Day is something I recommend for anyone and everyone. There is not a person alive who does not work too hard or do too much anymore and sometimes it’s necessary just to unwind and disconnect for a short time. If you are someone who can’t unwind or disconnect at home for any reason, this is where I come in. There are hotels around you that offer deals and specials constantly for locals who need a last minute getaway.
If you can unwind at home, pull out your “jammies”, turn off your phone (warn people first so they don’t think you are hurt in your house and run to your rescue), and curl up with the one you love (human or pet or even just yourself), and just enjoy a day to BE.
If I have talked about safety while traveling… it hasn’t been in a while. It’s a topic I’m sure I’ll write about over and over during our journey together, because I feel so strongly about it. In fact, most of my co-workers feel just as strongly as I do about it. For example, this weekend I was speaking with a woman about going to Europe. Traveling in Europe is just like traveling in the US. Easy to get around, fun, and for the most part… safe. But there are always things to be aware of. You wouldn’t go to downtown to Miami or to Detroit without being a little extra vigilant… Right? Neither should you travel abroad without the same level of vigilance!
Your best friend and strongest ally when traveling is actually the State Department. The place to locate all information related to the State Department is www.state.gov/travel. If there is trouble in a country, they are going to warn you before you even go. If there is a State Department warning… don’t go. Their goal with these warnings is to keep you safe.
Also important for keeping you save while you are on the move: the State Department has the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
| Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) |
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The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist you in an emergency.STEP also allows Americans residing abroad to get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
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Feel a bit like “big brother is watching”? Well, he is. But in this case he is watching out for your safety. This way if there is trouble where you are staying, there is someone who knows where you are and can reach you with emergency safety procedures.
If you are in need of reaching help, call the Overseas Citizens Services
CONTACT OVERSEAS CITIZENS SERVICES:
From within the U.S. 1-888-407-4747
From outside the U.S. 1-202-501-4444
Life is about experiences, good and bad. Do what you can to keep your experiences good.
