Merry Christmas from Oshawa Travel, Best Wishes!

Oshawa Travel Client Feedback

Thank you for your kind notes Steve and Diana, always wonderful to know that we continue do a GREAT job at Oshawa Travel and provide the best service! 

"Hello John,

Thank you very much for all your help as well, what a great team you have, it must be such a joy to come to work, knowing that you have a great Team.

Thank you for your kindness, not many people would give you a drink water or otherwise, as soon as I came in Melanie and your self made me feel relaxed and confident knowing that I chose the right Travel place.

I must admit that I was scared, and mess everything up hahah!!!
But between your self and Melanie you made it so easy for myself and Diana to to make a dream Vacation come true.

I know that If we go on anymore holidays we will come to you.
Sometimes John, we forget people like yourself and Melanie, who make it such a joy to come to your Dream Holidays Come True
Store. !!!!

Once again John thank you for all that you have done for myself and Diana

Merry Christmas
And myself and Diana
Want to say have a Wonderful
Sensational
New Year

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!

When you have met the person of your dreams who you plan on spending the rest of your life with what is the next step?? MARRAIGE!! Weddings can sometimes be a difficult task especially when you are trying to please and accommodate everyone!

Finding the right venue, photographer, DJ, cake, wedding hall and the list goes on, this sometimes becomes more stressful that fun, not to mention the expense!!!!

Why not eliminate the stress and celebrate your love and devotion with a destination wedding where all your friends and family can take a break from the hustle and bustle of work and enjoy a fun filled week with you and your soon to be husband/wife, on a beach enjoying the sun, surf and sand while having a some great laughs and few rum punches!! Take the stress out of planning the perfect day and let us take care of the worry! With so many beautiful resorts and great destinations there is something special for everyone! The options are endless!! If this sounds better than all the worry than give us a call and let us know how we can help your dream wedding come true!

EXCURSIONS!!!!!

Travel Plans already made? Why not take in all there is offer? Explore your destination and experience it with a day trip or excursion. With many to choose from here is a list of our favorites. To book or for more information Contact Melanie (905)579-0297

Mexico-Cancun- Xel-Ha

Enjoy the magical creation of the Mayan gods: Xel-Ha, a place where the best of the Mexican Caribbean nature comes together. Embark on an aquatic adventure created by the Mayan gods themselves. Enjoy nature through the crystal clear waters of this spectacular natural aquarium. Underground rivers flowing out to the Sea. Explore creeks, lagoons, natural wells and ancient caves. Explore the underwater world by snorkeling and coming face to face with exotic underwater flora and fauna such as curious rays and schools of French Angel fish. Other activities include rope swing diving, rope bridge walking, bicycling, kayaking, and much more!

Jamaica- Ocho Rios

Cruise through the clear waters of the Caribbean aboard a spacious catamaran and discover where Dunn’s River Falls meets the sea. Snorkel over spectacular coral reefs along the way, and sway to the rhythms of Jamaican music while sipping a rum punch on your return to Ocho Rios or Montego Bay. At Dunn’s River Falls, you’ll have ample time to swim in the lagoons and climb the terraced rocks up the stunning cascade, with help from your friendly guide.


Punta Cana- Shark and Ray Experience

Discover the beauty of the underwater world as you snorkel and swim along the biggest coral reefs of Punta Cana, making friends with the giant sting rays and nurse sharks. Then its on to some natural pools where you can enjoy a beautiful cocktail as you relax in the water! With something for everyone, this family friendly excursion is a must do when visiting the Dominican Republic!

St.Maarten

No trip to St. Martin is complete without a day trip to the gorgeous and unspoiled island of sun and sand - Anguilla. You'll cruise to the island by catamaran, go snorkeling off Sandy Island and spend a relaxing afternoon on Anguilla's Road Bay Beach.

Grazie Oshawa Travel From Italy!!!

Thank you, John:

- for steering us through the muddy waters of trip planning,

- for having more patience than could be expected,

- for being there when we needed you enroute,
...
- for suggesting & setting up amazing local tours (Sistine Chapel/Vatican Museum and Cinque Terre),

- for arranging the best transportation(s) ever - all our drivers were over the top (friendly, knowledgeable, VERY accommodating)

- for booking the high speed train - so much fun - THE WAY to travel Naples to Florence (you were right though - we should have travelled light),

- for booking the exact rental vehicle we needed, it was perfect (Ford C-Max),

- for checking & rechecking our accommodation (our anxiety over this was unjustified as we ended up on all occasions being more than satisfied - we were thrilled),

- for calling us after our trip for feedback,

for everything you did to make this the trip of a lifetime for all of us.. from Tania`s 1st overseas trip to the more seasoned veteran(s) among us,

- ...did you say a word to the right person too... the weather was the best and nobody got really sick or very hurt (although we weren't without incident!)

- We LOVED our Italy experience!

Thanks again
Janice
Sandra
Tania
Barb

Gay and Lesbian Travel

Beyond the bling and bikinis of South Beach, lies a city of excitement, with stylish restaurants, irresistible night life, decadent bars and lounges, Miami is the perfect playground for gays and lesbians. Miami has a wide variety of exceptional and carefully chosen gay and lesbian friendly hotels that will accommodate no matter what your travel budget is, there is something for everyone.

Enjoy the excitement of the city, the many activities and festivals it hosts throughout the year. You can check out all upcoming events on www.gogaymiami.com don’t miss the opportunity to soak up the sand and surf at Miami’s world famous Haulover nude gay beach.

 Customized packages available for more information contact Melanie at Oshawa travel  

(905) 579-0297 or email me at melanie@oshawatravel.ca

FESTIVAL SEASON

PUERTO RICO
Oct 24-28, 2013  Tango Festival: Few dances are as passionate and romantic as the tango, so what better place to host a dance festival than the sizzling city of San Juan. There will be various venues hosting Tango performances while workshops will be available to give beginners an extra hand in learning.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Oct 31^st-Nov 3, 2013: JAZZ FESTIVAL: Jazz musicians from all around the world will gather in the D.R for some world class jams with an unforgettable line up of musicians like Artura Sandoval and Stanly Jordan. This year marks the 17^th anniversary, making it the longest running jazz event in the country. This fun and musical event takes place in the beautiful cities of Cabarete and Sosua.

GRENADA

Nov 22-23, 2013: CARIBBEAN RUM AND BEER FESTIVAL: Rum and Beer is celebrated top notch in Grenada every year during this annual festival. This year will include a CAB taste contest, golf tournament and live culinary displays. Master classes from experts and an epic showdown of skills will pit Grenada’s own mixologists against the Caribbean’s best and brightest. Every night you can enjoy tasty local creole food, local arts, live music and crafts.

CUBA  

Feb 26- Mar 2, 2014: HABANO CIGAR FESTIVAL: There nothing more quintessentially Cuban than a fresh rolled cigar. The Habano Cigar Festival celebrates this iconic accoutrement with tours of the local cigar factories, seminars, cigar tastings. This year a special tribute will be given to Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta, tow of the most prestigious Habanos brands.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

March 3-4, 2014: CARNIVAL: There is no party like a Carnival party and many will argue that Trinidad & Tobago does it the best. Regarded as being on the biggest and best events in the Caribbean and often called the greatest show on earth. Trinidad’s Carnival is unparalleled when it comes to colorful costumes, floats and all night parties.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience one of these amazing festivals. We can customize any type of travel to suit your needs. For pricing and information contact Melanie at Oshawa Travel or email me at melanie@oshawatravel.ca

Society of Cigars

 

Cigar smoking is a popular hobby that is enjoyed by many, regardless of age, gender or social status. Cigars are no longer for the seasoned smoker. Cigars have become the staple in society for veterans and rookies alike, However selecting the right cigar for your taste preference is like choosing a fine wine, where careful consideration along with trial and error go into finding the perfect smoke.

The first thing to consider when looking for a great cigar is the body, whether you’re looking for a mild, medium or full bodied taste the cigar should compliment your palate without over powering it. The next consideration should be the size of the cigar. If you enjoy smoking a cigar while playing a round of golf than you should consider a 7 inch stogie which you can smoke for hours at leisure, if you enjoy a cigar while having a nice scotch or after dinner than a popular choice would be a 5 inch cigar. When considering the size there are two factors to look at the length and the diameter. The final stage in choosing a good cigar is its rating. If the cigar rates 70-79 it’s an average to good cigar, 80-89 is good to excellent, 90-94 is outstanding, 95-100 is a classic.

Many people have taken up the hobby of collecting cigars, you can acquire quite a collection of cigars on your travels, From Cuba to Dominican, Honduras and Nicaragua where a large variety and selection can be had. You can travel to the mentioned destinations and tour the Cigar factories, see how they are made and learn a little history. If this is something you would enjoy doing we can customize any trip for you including your tours! All you need to do is contact Melanie at Oshawa travel for pricing and information and leave the rest of the planning to her.  If you’re looking to acquire a collection closer to home visit Durham’s finest cigar lounge Victory Cigars located in Oshawa Ontario. All your collecting needs can be met here, from Cigars, ashtrays, lighters, cigar carriers and much more.  The friendly and knowledgeable staff will make your visit pleasurable and will have you returning time and again.

Delicious Local Dining

So excited to announce that my favorite restaurant has finally opened their Market Café TUTTO located on Simcoe St in Oshawa. This lovely market café has wonderful food you can either dine in or take out. The home made deserts are to die for! Everything from salads, sandwiches, coffee, deserts and my FAVORITE the Antipasto! The owners of this establishment are also the owners of Fazio's Restaurant. If you are looking for great Italian food with a romantic setting and an amazing wine selection than try Fazio's you wont be disappointed. They really make every customer feel like you are a part of their family. Being a food a wine lover I highly recommend giving these two places a try! You wont be disappointed! I definitely give them a 10/10 and this comes with 13 years of dining experience at Fazio's.

Hawaiian Islands- 10 nights-2 Islands

2 Hawaiian Islands – 10 nights

Tranquil waters and breathtaking natural beauty will your soul feeling renewed, there is no place on earth like Hawaii – Travel dates April 24-May 04, 2014.

 

Land & Air package - $2260.00 per person

(Based on double occupancy – 2 sharing a room)

 

Island of Oahu (heart of Hawaii)

Staying at the New Otani Kaimana Beach resort 6 nights

Round trip transfers with Lei greeting to and from hotel

Car rental (optional but recommended)

 

Optional excursions-must see (Prices and info available on request)

Paradise cove Luau

WW II Pearl Harbor Tour

Polynesian Cultural Center

 

Island of maui (magic isle)

Staying at the Aston Papakae Resort 4 nights

Round trip transfers to and from the hotel

Car rental (Optional but recommended)

 

Optional excursions-must see (Prices and info available on request)

Molokini Sail and Snorkel

Maui Sunset Dinner cruise and Luau

Road to Hana (can be done as tour or independent)

Warren and Anabels

Eco-Photography tour Costa Rica

7nts Costa Rica

 

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica!!! You will be greeted by your English speaking Rep, They will assist you with your transfer to the hotel in the Rincon De La Vieja National Park area. Enjoy the first day at leisure. Acc: will be at either Borinquen Mountain Resort/ Hacienda Guachipelin or similar (B)

Day 2: Rincon de la Vieja National Park area: You may choose among one of the following tours!

 Mystery Waterfall Horseback riding Adventure: Enjoy a view of Guanacaste’s pacific coast pass by the hidden falls on your way to the magical Mystery falls. Ecological Hiking Paths: discover howler monkeys, rare species of birds, lizards and butterflies.Canopy Adventure: Soar above the jungle of Guanacaste. (B)

Day 3: Arenal Volcano Area:  Leisure day, transfers to the Volcano area and back to hotel where you can enjoy the facilities at the resort and kick back and relax. Acc:  Magic Mountain Hotel/ Los Lagos Hotel or Similar. (B)

Day 4:  Arenal Volcano Area: Early morning pick up to enjoy the Cano Negro full-day boat tour. Lunch included. Cano Negro Wildlife refuge is one of the most important wetland regions in Central America. You will be visiting the tiny town of Los Chiles, where you will board a boat for a trip down the Rio Frio. (B,L)

Day 5: Monteverde Area: Transfer to hotel via ground and boat. This service, half tour/ half transfer is the fastest most scenic way to travel between La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano area) and the Monteverde Area. Enjoy a day at leisure and hotel facilities. Acc:  El Establo Hotel or similar (B)

Day 6: North Pacific Coast: Morning departure back to North Pacific with stop en route for Corobici River Floating Tour. This tour is a great experience for the entire family.Acc: at Villas Playa Samara/ Barcelo Langosta or Similar in the Guanacaste area. (Breakfast + All inclusive plan at hotel)

Day 7: North Pacific Coast: Day at leisure. Enjoy the hotel facilities, relax on the beach, swim and enjoy the sun!                      

allinclusive Accommodation at hotel on day 6 & 7)

Day 8: After Breakfast depart for the airport for your trip home!

 

Islands Of Oahu and Maui

Fresh floral air, warm tranquil waters and breath taking natural beauty is all you need to renew your soul. The amazing diversity of these islands make Hawaii a number one choice for any type of vacation. Whether your a honeymooner looking for romance, an adventure seeker looking to try something new or a family looking for fun or lazy relaxation, Hawaii offers something for everyone.

On Oahu-Hawaii's timeless beauty blends with modern luxury. So many things to do on this Island. Rent a car and watch the surfers on the legendary North Shore, grab a surf board and try it yourself on the world famous Waikiki beach, visit the museum at Pearl Harbor or spend the day snorkeling and laying on the beach of Hanuama Bay the wonderful part of Oahu is you never have to see the same beach twice, rent a car and visit a different location every day. Keep your snorkeling gear handy because you can stop anywhere along the way and just jump in the ocean and enjoy. In the evening there many activities around the city from the Society Of Seven who pay tribute to the many famous musicians around the world or catch the Magic of Polynesia show or perhaps participate in a luau the fun never ends.

Maui- If you looking for something a little more relaxed Maui is a must see. Experience its natural wonders and heavenly beaches, Spend time strolling through the seaside streets of Lahaina. Experience the Arts and Culture, championship golf courses, World famous Kaanapali Beach and you cannot miss the chance to take a scenic drive to Hana, where you can stop and take a dip in Maui's numerous breathtaking waterfalls and lagoons.

Eat your way throught the Caribbean!

Every Island in the Caribbean has its share of great food. If your traveling to the Caribbean solely for a culinary experience you want a high concentration of restaurants in a short radius. Here are a few spots that are considered "foodie" destinations!

Port of Spain, Trinidad:  Food probably isn't the first thing you think of, but in one word the food here is exceptional. If your looking for the Caribbean's best street food and haute cuisine from around the world, Trinidad will be the culinary experience you never expected.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: With innovative chefs and OLD school eateries, Old San Juan produces some top notch restaurants. you cant go wrong eating your way through Puerto Rico no matter where you end up.

Kingston Jamaica: Most people travel to Jamaica to hang out at a resort in Montego Bay, but for those who are more adventurous check out a new generation of chefs in Kingston forging a new culinary identity for Jamaican cuisine. These up and coming chefs are taking traditional Jamaican cuisine into the 21st century with a new flare for some of your favorite Jamaican dishes.

Fort De France, Martinique: Authentic French cuisine infused with creole flavor gives this destination a culinary experience you wont find anywhere else not to forget mouth watering bakeries!

Willemstad, Curacao: With the walkability of this Island and its delicious cocktail of European and Caribbean cuisine this spot is perfect for walkable culinary exploration throughout the city.

Todays Travel News

Every week when I go to work I start my day off with catching up on the travel news around the world. The travel lists of top vacation destinations, best Restaurants in the world, weirdest festivals around the world and the strangest delicacies. This weeks list was The worlds top 10 most unfriendly cities, 13 Places to visit in 2013 and The worlds most Popular Cities. Lets see who made the lists!

Top 10 most Unfriendly Cities:
#10 Morocco,  #9 Atlantic City New Jersey, #8 Detroit Michigan, #7 New Haven Connecticut,
#6 Lome Togo, #5 Kuwait City, #4 Luanda Angola, #3 Oakland California, #2 Islamabad Pakistan and  #1- Newark New Jersey.

13 Places to visit in 2013
13: London England, #12 Antarctica, #11 Brooklyn NY, #10 Nashville Tennessee, #9 Philadelphia, #8 Mexico City, #7 Cartagena Columbia, #6 Marseille France, #4 Istanbul Turkey, #3 Qutar, #2 Seoul South Korea, #1 Shanghai China.

Worlds most popular Cities.
#10 Barcelona, #9 Hong Kong, #8 Kuala Lumpur, #7 Dubai, #6 Istanbul, #5 New York,
 #4 Singapore, #3 Paris, #2 London, #1 Bangkok

Riu Montego Bay is the place to be!

What a fabulous spot to visit! My vacation began the moment I went to the front desk to check in. The staff are very fun, friendly and helpful, they greet you with a Rum Punch where you add your own rum! Needless to say I started the day with a triple courtesy of my sister! Our room was ready immediately no waiting so we took our stuff to our home for the next week dropped it off and hit the beach!

Our first day there we got crazy rain  but it didn't stop the fun from rolling at the swim up bar where the whole hotel seemed to have gathered for drinks while listening to Bob Marley of course!...

The following day and everyday after that the sun was shining. The clouds would moved in later in the day around 5pm which was a nice break because that Jamaican sun is a hot one! You need at least a 60 SPF to keep from frying! Everything at the hotel was very central the pool was in the center and right at the beach! It was a short walk to anywhere you wanted to go at the resort. They had daily activities as well as nightly entertainment! They had a live tribute band to Bob Marley as well as a Michael Jackson tribute, there are many restaurant's and bars on the resort as well as a disco!

The food was fantastic, breakfast, lunch and dinner were perfect the buffet food was great! In your room you had a full stocked bar with Rum, Vodka, Gin and whiskey for those early drinkers because the bars didn't open till 10am..all the staff were fun, happy friendly people and  the resort targets all travellers, from couples to singles to families with small children.

The beach was nice the sand was soft and the ocean was warm! Lots of tours and excursions to do. I highly recommend the booze  and cruise to Dunn's River  Falls with the snorkelling ! There is also a shuttle you can take into town to the Blue Diamond Shopping center for all your gift's I highly recommend this hotel we had such an amazing time that I returned 4 days later for another fun filled week!! They were so happy to see that I returned so quickly that I was given an upgraded ocean front room with a huge verandah and Jacuzzi. The nice thing about Jamaica is you leave all your worries behind because in Jamaica Everything will be Irie!

Cruise Cuba & Jamaica 12 nights

Love to dance? Why not dance to Salsa and Reggae aboard the Cuba Cruise! Round Trip airfare from Toronto To Havana, 1 pre night cruise accommodation at the Occidental Miramar, then cruise to Santiago De Cuba, Montego Bay, Cienfuegos/Trinidad and Punta Frances-Isle of youth then back to Havana for 4 nights post cruise and relaxation at the Occidental Miramar or take an opportunity to explore Havana a city trapped in time. For pricing and information call Melanie.

Halloween in New Orleans

Looking for a ghoulishly good time this Halloween? There is no place better for frightening festivities than the lively city of New Orleans. Put on your costume and head to one of many Halloween parties around the City or get into the spirit by checking out one of the many haunted tours that are offered.  Enjoy a Sunday gospel brunch at the House of Blues or take in an evening of dinner and dancing at one of the many jazz and blues bar around the French quarter. It will be a Halloween to remember. For information and pricing give Melanie a call.

Singles vacation

Take advantage of a singles week in the Dominican Republic exclusive to singles. Spend a whole week at the Be Live Punta Cana and enjoy a nice relaxing week by yourself or grab a couple friends and head out to the beautiful white sand beaches of Bavaro. This all inclusive package is available from Sept 13- 20th ..If interested give Melanie a call.

Need a Summer Escape? Try Something New!!

Everyone loves the All-Inclusive beach holiday where you can just escape, relax lay on the beach and enjoy a Rum punch or two, but why not try something different? Add some fun and adventure to your holidays. You can even do a weekend getaway, or a long weekend retreat! Many options out there! If you like excitement and lots of Activity why not try something Like Atlantic City? its like a mini Vegas, with boardwalks, casinos, Nightclubs, restaurants and right on the Ocean. Lots of great shows to see and great festivals, definitely a trip out of the ordinary! Enjoy delicious meals and cold drinks on a patio, even take in a pool party or two that are offered at some of the hotels, or try your luck at the casino, think of the great shopping you can do with your winnings!! If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing give Melanie a call at Oshawa Travel 905-579-0297.

Cruise Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas: 
Sept. 20-27, 2014

Oshawa Travel launches a series of European 2014 group departures, sailing out Venice, Italy. This 7 day itinerary visits the following Greek Islands & port of calls.

- Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos and Argostoli

- Flight departures available from all Canadian gateways
- Pre and post cruise extensions available and can be customized as desired
- Inside, ocean view and balcony staterooms offered

More details & information contact Melanie at Oshawa Travel 

A GREAT HAPPY DAY for all Travel Agents Today, we are a unique brand of Trained Professionals who have the Travel know how that cannot be duplicated! Happy Travel Agent Day!