Christmas Gifts Don't Always Have To Be Material Things

If you're like myself, all I want to spend my money on is travel. My partner and I recently spent our Christmas gift on each other in Punta Cana at an all-inclusive resort; that was much better than receiving something under the tree from each other for us! 

Today we are a generation where we will spend hundreds of dollars for our spouse or children on material things. I never under appreciated those things that my parents gave me. However now that I am in my twenties, I feel that I don't need physical (material) gifts from anyone. A family gathering, a Christmas dinner, and decorating the tree and maybe some caroling and eggnog is all I need. 

My favorite way of spending Christmas is by rotating each year travelling and spending time with family. This year I will be spending time with family but next year I plan to head to Europe and see all of the beautiful Christmas markets! One of my favorite suppliers for young adults, Contiki Tours offers amazing trips to various destinations in Europe, like Paris & France! Contiki is for the younger crowd (ages 18-35) but not to worry! There are other great travel companies too for all ages. 

I would encourage couples, families, and single travellers to experience travelling during the Christmas season. You'll see so many wonderfully lit places and have more memories than any material item you give or receive. 

2015 Winter & Holiday Newsletter

Spotlight – Blau Natura Park Resort, Punta Cana

The Blau Natura Park & Spa is a great location when travelling to Punta Cana. It was less than 30 minutes from the airport and close to the city centre and local excursions. The beach is right on the resort and the staff are very friendly. It meets your expectations when travelling to Punta Cana for a 3.5 star All-Inclusice. Note to take some bug spray if you go on any excursions in vegetation!

All-inclusive direct from Halifax Airport

Blau Natura Park, Punta Cana Jan/15……………….$1343

Riu Tequila, Riviera Maya Jan/15……………………$1407

Gran Caribe Club Cayo Guillermo Feb/15…………..$1116

Be Live Collection Punta Cana Apr/15………………$1262

*Rates quoted on Dec 2/15. Prices & availability are subject to change at any time and are based PP at double occupancy  

 

Receive $25 when you refer a friend!

Refer a friend and receive a $25 VISA Gift Card! Great vacation ideas are all-inclusives, guided tours, cruises, Europe, Las Vegas, and Disney.

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Centre for Women in Business - Member Spotlight

Centre for Women in Business - Member Spotlight

RIU Tequila, Mayan Riviera, SUNWING Vacations

Recently I had been on an all-inclusive to the RIU Tequila in Playa Del Carmen. Saying that it was a great experience is an understatement. It was an AMAZING experience! Not only did I have a great facilities there, but we also had access to the RIU Yucatan and their facilities!

The location of the resort is very good if you are an explorer like myself. We were within an hour range from a lot of major attractions such as Tulum and Xel Ha. It was a 30 minute walk on the beach to go into the markets of Playa Del Carmen and we took a cab back to the resort instead of walking and it was less than $10 USD.


The RIU Tequila isn't right on the beach but the Yucatan is (it's only a 5 minute walk) and we preferred it that way because our resort was more quiet. SUNWING has this great program here for that you can stay at one but play at both!

There are 3 specialty restaurants and 1 buffet. The specialty restaurants were Mexican, Asian, and a Steakhouse. We made reservations for the Steakhouse twice because it was that good!

The service was very good and the entertainment at night was also great. There were lots of lounges in the shade as I get sunburnt easily and even putting sunscreen on doesn't necessarily keep my pigment white!

On the Yucatan we had access to watersports such as kayaking. It's so beautiful to do it right in Playa Del Carmen and you can see all kinds of different resorts from the water's view. The water is crystal clear and very clean!

G Adventures 2016 New Trips Overview

Foods you MUST try when you visit Spain

After being a tourist in Spain then returning to live there for over a year, I got to know the country quite well with what's great to see and explore but also what is great to eat!

On average when I went out to a restaurant with friends, I would spend between 6 - 12 euros depending on how many Tapas we bought. Tapas are basically a bunch of appetizer plates that you would share during the meal. Sometimes you don't even have a main dish, you just eat lots and lots of Tapas and don't worry you won't go home hungry.

Here is my  list of foods & dishes to try & enjoy in Spain.

Jamon. Spanish Ham is a staple in everyone's household. It's very popular because of they way it is cooked. It is dried out for about a year before even being served.

Tortilla de Patatas. Spanish Omelet. It's simply potatoes, eggs, and salt. You can add other ingredients like I did with my homemade tortilla below. I put some onions and sausage in it! 

Caqui. This is a very popular fruit that is grown in the south of Spain. I had it almost after every lunch. 

Patatas con Lemon y Sal. This is a very traditional way of eating potato chips in the region where I lived in Spain called Murcia. In the South they like to put lots of freshly squeezed lemons and some salt and pepper on their potato chips. I loved having this as a snack with my Spanish roommates.

Croquetas. These can be mixed with almost anything and you can put almost anything in them. I prefer my croquetas with mushroom and spinach! 

Pan con Aceite de Olivas. The Spanish LOVE  to have toasted fresh bread drizzled in olive for their breakfast. I had this almost everyday. I also liked to grate fresh tomato and put that on my bread as well which is also common.

Smooy/llaollao. You can never go wrong after tapas having a tasty frozen yogourt. These two brands were mine and my friends absolute favourite! 

Soup with Albondigas. I like to call this a "Glorified Meatball". It's like a meatball but has lots of flavourful spices compared to the meatballs you just put on your spaghetti.

Cherries. I never experienced picking cherries off a cherrie tree before. My friend in the Valencian province invited me to come to his orchard and pick lots and lots of cherries! 

Paella. This dish is what Spain is mostly known for. My favourite paella is Paella de Valencia. It has a mix of rabbit and chicken with a few vegetables. 

Why Cruising is the Best Way to Travel

Some say that cruising is just too expensive for their travel budget. Trust me when I say it is actually more affordable than a land-based vacation if you are wanting an extended high-quality vacation that goes to various countries and ports around the world!

Here are a few examples of what is included on a cruise:

• Transportation from port to port
• Main dining halls and select restaurants for all 3 meal times
• Select house wines
• Entertainment onboard such as Comedy shows and live theatre

Cruises range from very leisure type to very elegant white glove service. If you are looking for a family vacation or a more leisure/fun cruise then you'll for sure want to head onto one of Carnival's Fun Ships! What is also great about Carnival is that it is the ONLY cruise line that has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. What that means is that if you are not satisfied with your vacation while on the cruise, Carnival will give you 110% back and fly you home for free + a $100 credit to try a different Carnival Cruise. What better value are you going to find than that!?!?!?!

Be sure to check out the Carnival Vista. She is the newest member of the Carnival Cruise Line and is to launch this spring in Europe. This ship is a must experience and let's not forget about Guy's Burger Joint!

If you are looking for a more boutique style cruise, then Azamara Club Cruises are a great choice! You'll even go to ports that larger cruise ships don't have access to. Also you'll be very happy that bottled water is included!