United States Posts

Traveling Kings are globetrotting again!

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Travel to Abu Dhabi, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Bhutan, India and the Maldives, made up our 5 week odyssey last year. When we returned, Michael and I decided we’d travel less in 2013. Like other resolutions made around the beginning of a new year, this one seems to have fallen by the wayside. We’ve already taken several trips within the US – Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Hawaii – and Michael returned a couple of days ago from 12 days in France. I travel on Friday to San Diego for an intensive workshop with Mari Smith, queen of social media, and a Social Media conference, Social Media Marketing World.  On April 19 I leave for Buenos Aires for Virtuoso International Symposium 2013 followed by 4 nights in Patagonia, Chile returning home on May 1.

A week at home follows my South American journey— long enough to do some laundry — and we travel for 3 weeks in South Africa and Namibia. We’re attending Indaba, a trade show in Durban, South Africa and then we will head to Namibia for 2 weeks of site inspections and game viewing.

Sprinkle in a few domestic trips and Michael will soon be back in Africa, hosting a group of our travel clients on a safari in Tanzania and gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Today I considered joining the Tanzania safari, but sanity returned for the moment, so I think I’ll stay home.

Be on the alert for blog posts from the Traveling Kings as we venture forth once again. What are your travel plans for 2013? We wish you a world of memorable vacations!

Vacation photos are so worth it!

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Vacation photos really crystallize those wonderful memories. A few days ago while doing some Great GetawayS graphic design, I searched for a vacation photo to go with the text I had written. I wanted to add a vacation photo from one of our journeys, an image that conveyed both darkness and light. What a wonderful experience I had!

I began with the most recent vacation we had taken and worked my way back through the years. I’d find a photo – a sunset while have cocktails in the bush in Kenya, an early morning shot from the balcony of Esprit St. Germain in Paris, a group of people praying in Lhasa, a mountain gorilla feeding her baby in Rwanda-and think, “That’s the perfect photo!” Then I’d keep searching, just to be sure I had the very best choice. Finally, I picked a photo taken by Michael on a trip to New Zealand (the photo below).

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This art project became so much more—-I enjoyed a pleasant few minutes of time travel, of recalling those experiences I keep wrapped as memories in my heart, of enjoying each journey again and again. The moral of this story: Take lots of photos of your travels and of you enjoying your vacation. It is so worth it! Even when you want to scream, “I don’t want another photo of me”, put a smile on your face and say, “Cheese!” You will be so glad you did!

What is your Travel Dream?


Contact me to fulfill your travel dreams!
Barbara S. King
Great Getaways
913-338-2244 800-546-TRIP (8747)
Barbara@greatgetaways.travel
www.greatgetaways.travel

 

Travel Dreams Survey


The Virtuoso Life
® Travel Dreams Survey guides you through a short journey of self-discovery, explores your travel dreams based on your unique personality, and ends with a summary of your travel wish list, the perfect place to start with your Virtuoso® travel advisor. When you complete the brief survey, you’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win a dreamy Crystal cruise for two or $1,000 cash.

Deadline to enter is March 31, 2013. Take the survey now >>

Travel Dreams Survey Watch the video

 


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Only one entry per person. Sweepstakes offered only in the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia), and is open only to natural persons who, at the time of entry: (i) are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, (ii) have pre-existing internet access, and (iii) are 21 years of age or older. The winners will be selected by random drawing on or about April 21, 2013. Employees and agents of Virtuoso, Ltd., Crystal Cruises, Inc., any other prize provider designated by Virtuoso, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies, distributors, wholesalers and retailers (collectively referred to as “Associated Persons”), members of such Associated Persons’ immediate families, and individuals living in the same household with such Associated Persons are not eligible to win. Entries must be received between 9:00 a.m. Central Time (“CT”) on February 1, 2013, and 11:59 p.m. CT on March 31, 2013. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. The prizes are as follows: One (1) Grand Prize of one (1) Crystal Cruises ten (10) day all-inclusive cruise for two (2) in a stateroom verandah category A cabin (double occupancy) aboard Crystal Serenity sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark to Stockholm, Sweden on July 30, 2013, which has an approximate retail value (“ARV”) of $12,240.00, and five (5) cash First Prizes of $1,000 each. The prizes have a total combined ARV of $17,240.00. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited or restricted. Entrants release Virtuoso, Ltd. and all applicable parties identified in the Sweepstakes Official Rules from any and all claims, liabilities, damages or losses arising from participation in the Sweepstakes or the acceptance or use of any prize. Prize terms, conditions, and exclusions may apply. For entry information and complete Sweepstakes Official Rules by which all entrants are bound, go to www.virtuoso.com. Sponsored by Virtuoso, Ltd. © 2013 Virtuoso, Ltd. The trademarks VIRTUOSO, VIRTUOSO LIFE, the Globe Swirl Logo and SPECIALISTS IN THE ART OF TRAVEL are registered trademarks of Virtuoso, Ltd. Virtuoso, Ltd. has a U.S. copyright registration for the Globe Swirl Logo, © 2000. All rights reserved. Fares, schedules, Virtuoso exclusives, events and amenities are subject to availability and blackout dates and may change without notice. Unless otherwise stated, prices are in U.S. dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. Restrictions may apply. See your Virtuoso travel advisor for more details and applicable restrictions. Virtuoso is not responsible for any errors in pricing. The trademarks VIRTUOSO, the Globe Swirl Logo, SPECIALISTS IN THE ART OF TRAVEL and ORCHESTRATE DREAMS are registered trademarks of Virtuoso, Ltd. Virtuoso, Ltd. has a U.S. copyright registration for the Globe Swirl Logo, ©2000. All rights reserved. Virtuoso California CST# 2069091; TA# 808 – Registered Iowa Travel Agency; Washington UBI # 601 554 183. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. 363073 US 02/13

 

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We love our World!

Our Valentine for you:

Romantic Destinations to say “I do!”

Destination weddings are always in season. He proposed and you accepted. Now what? Where to get married? Where to  honeymoon? Consider combining the two events and plan a destination wedding.

The world is, as they say, your oyster and your options are almost limitless. How do you choose? First, establish a budget. Next, decide how many people you want to join you. This is the point you ask yourself, “If I want friends and family to participate in my destination wedding, what destination is easily accessible?

One wedding destination we adore is the island of Kauai. Rarely can you find a place with so many options for a dramatic backdrop to your wedding vows – the moody lush North Shore, the sunny, swaying palms of the South part of the island, the mountains, even outside the bar made famous in “The Descendents”.

Speaking of destination weddings, read Michael King’s planning tips on page 16 of the February/March issue of Virtuoso Traveler (see below). I love it when we’re featured in a magazine!

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