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Welcome to Journeys - The Balthasar Travel Blog! Get travel tips and insight from Balthasar Travel owner and Certified Travel Consultant Karen DeQuasie including her travel experiences and information about hot travel deals.

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Riga, Latvia: The Perfect Break!

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:42:00 +0000

WHY GO?

Music has always been a key aspect of Latvian culture, and that's most evident during Riga's summer festival season. July, for instance, offers a whole month of organ music, while August brings ballet and opera (August 4 to 15) and sacred music (August 20 to September 5), with a few regular concerts and mini-festivals thrown in, including Summertime (August 14 to 18) in nearby Jurmala.

Even without the music, though, Riga in the warmer months has a celebratory feel. Every bar, restaurant and café seems to sprout a summer terrace where people linger late into the long evenings in the airy streets. There are boats on the river and canal, and you sense ? accurately ? that the seaside isn't far away.

This year, Riga is better value than it has been for several years. Thanks to the recession, prices in restaurants and bars have returned to more realistic levels, and even the hotels are cheaper due to a cut in their VAT from 21 per cent to 10 per cent.

SPEND THE MORNING?

Wandering the Old Town's cobbled streets. Every era in the city's 800-year history has left its architectural mark: fragments of sturdy medieval defences, red-brick Gothic churches, Baroque townhouses and even stolid Soviet museum buildings. Aim to reach the airy Dome Cathedral in time for the noon organ recitals (www.doms.lv), held daily except Sunday in summer. You might want to buy your ticket in advance to avoid the hefty last-minute queues.

HAVE LUNCH?

On an Old Town roof terrace. The top-floor restaurant at Hotel Gutenbergs(www.gutenbergs.eu), just off the cathedral square, has an outdoor grill for suitably summery dishes and the views are sensational; expect to pay around £10 for a main course. The street-level restaurant at Hotel Neiburgs (see above) lacks vistas, but the prices are low, with main courses such as oven-baked seabass with warm beetroot salad and caraway sauce for around £7.

SPEND THE AFTERNOON?

On the water. From Bastejkalns, or Bastion Park, you can jump on the restored vintage launch, The Darling, or one of its newer sisters (www.kmk.lv) for a gentle cruise along the canal and river that encircle the Old Town. There are several stops along the route, including rustic Kipsala, an island off the west bank of the Daugava where you can get off to explore streets of faded wooden houses. Linger in Bastion Park on your return; there are pagodas and swan houses and lots of shady benches to sit on and watch the world go by.

DINE OUT AT?

Vincents (www.restorans.lv), where head chef Martins Ritins's passion for local, seasonal ingredients cooked to the highest standards has attracted international bigwigs, stars and the merely well-heeled for more than a decade. Considering the quality, prices are reasonable, with mains, such as grilled fillet of Baltic sea turbot with almond citrus sauce, starting at around £18.

If you can't get a table there, other stylish New Town options include the restaurant in the tucked-away Theatre Bar (www.teatrabars.lv), an arty hangout with a popular courtyard terrace, and the equally well-located Bergs Restaurant(www.hotelbergs.lv) at the heart of the chic Bergs Bazaar area.

STAY UP LATE AT?

A relaxed wine bar. KID (www.winebar-shop.lv) is a far cry from the beerier delights of most Old Town bars, with sleek red-and-black décor, live piano music most evenings and a clientele of hip Rigans. If you've come from the jewel box of an Opera House or one of the many other concert venues, its imaginative bar snacks round off the day perfectly.

SPEND THE NEXT MORNING?

Seeing another side of the city. Across the park to the north of the Old Town lies the so-called Art Nouveau district, where you'll find a cluster of some of Riga's best examples of this style. Alberta St is the focus, with some spectacular ? florid, even ? decorations.

It's also home to the fascinating Art Nouveau Museum(www.jugendstils.riga.lv), based in the 1903-built home of a prominent local architect. South-east of the Old Town, Maskavas district is grittier. Start at the vast and bustling Central Market, take the lift to the 17th-floor viewing platform of the Soviet-era Academy of Sciences ? aka "Stalin's wedding cake" ? and finish with lunch (all main courses, £6), or just a drink, at the arty Meta-Kafe(www.metakafe.lv) in the Spikeri Quarter's restored brick warehouses.

AND AFTERNOON?

At the beach. Jurmala (which means "seaside" in Latvian) is a collection of settlements along a 33km sweep of golden sand just a short train ride from the city. Majori is the most resort-like, with several excellent spas such as that at Baltic Beach Hotel. For quiet coast-and-woodland walks, head for Lielupe.

AT ALL COSTS AVOID?

Most of the Old Town's pubs: they're magnets for stag parties.

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Airlines Nickel & Dime Us to Death!

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Hidden fees charged by airlines on popular routes can increase the base cost of an airline ticket by an average of 54 percent for a typical traveler with two checked bags and extra legroom, or by an average of 26 percent for a comparable one-bag traveler, the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTC) reports in a new analysis. The CTA wants Congressional and Department of Transportation (DOT) action to ensure travelers have transparency and choice.

?Our analysis showed that the hidden fees charged by airlines now rival the cost of the tickets themselves, often without any disclosure to the consumer at the time of purchase,? said Charles Leocha, director of the CTA. ?For a family traveling in these tight fiscal times, those fees can be an unexpected shock totaling hundreds of dollars in unanticipated expenses. If airlines want to charge additional fees for their services, they should be required to disclose all of those fees through every ticketing channel, so consumers can compare complete travel costs.?

The analysis was conducted by examining the base fares and extra charges for nine major airlines for a typical October flight itinerary on four popular routes: New York?Los Angeles, Boston?Washington, Chicago?Miami, and Washington?Orlando. The analysis included just two of the many common fees now charged by the airlines: checked baggage and extra legroom.

The CTA analysis showed:

* A typical traveler requesting extra legroom and checking two bags would have to pay an average of 54 percent more than the base price of the ticket shown on a popular online travel site at time of purchase.
* A traveler checking two bags would have to pay more than one-quarter (26 percent) of the price of the ticket in fees that were hidden at the time of the transaction.
* The amount of hidden fees charged to a typical traveler with a single bag ranged from 10 percent to 82 percent of the price of the base fare on flights examined in the analysis.
* The amount of hidden fees charged to a typical traveler with two bags ranged from 21 percent to 153 percent of the price of the base fare on flights in the analysis.

Route-Specific Findings

New York ? Los Angeles

* A traveler requesting extra legroom and checking a single bag would have to pay an average of 18 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.
* The same traveler checking two bags would have to pay an average of 36 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.

Boston ? Washington

* A traveler requesting extra legroom and checking a single bag would have to pay an average of 42 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.
* The same traveler checking two bags would have to pay an average of 101 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.

Chicago ? Miami

* A traveler requesting extra legroom and checking a single bag would have to pay an average of 26 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.
* The same traveler checking two bags would have to pay an average of 48 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.

Washington ? Orlando

* A traveler requesting extra legroom and checking a single bag would have to pay an average of 32 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.
* The same traveler checking two bags would have to pay an average of 66 percent in hidden fees over the base price of the ticket.

Citing the results of the study, the CTA called on Congress and theDOT to take swift action to ensure that all ancillary airline fees are fully disclosed to travelers through every distribution channel, so the total cost of air travel can be compared between carriers.

?Booking air travel today can be like shopping with a blindfold on,? said Leocha. ?Without price transparency, air travelers have no way to find or compare the real and final cost of their tickets. Airlines stripping out those fees for baggage, extra legroom, and other options are deceiving and confusing passengers about the true cost of air travel. It is imperative that Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation take action to ensure that travelers have access to the complete information they need to make informed decisions about these important travel expenses.?

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In The News Today

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:45:00 +0000

British Airways' cabin crew plans to start striking Tuesday and the airline is aiming to operate about half of its short-haul flights and more than 60% of its long-haul service from London during the walkout.

We are traveling again. Following the threat of major recession and travel cutbacks, ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) reports international air sales by travel agents jumped more than 31%, while domestic sales were up 21%. Total transactions hit almost 13.4 million an 8.3% increase. For the year to date, total sales are up more than 20%, to $27 billion. And Amadeus, a multi-line cruise booking engine for travel agents, reports 10^ increase in travel agency cruise bookings.

Airlines seek to block hike in airport fees Arline industry is pressing Congress to drop a provision in the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill that would allow airports to increase Passenger Facility Charges by as much as $2.50 per customer. Airlines said the measure is "harmful and "unnecessary" and could increase travel taxes by up to $112 for a family of four.

Why Danes are Great Studies have shown that Danes are among the happiest people on Earth, with their government-funded health care, dedication to fitness and general positive attitude. This all means Copenhagen offers visitors plenty of reasons to smile! The city features plenty of amenities to put a smile on the face of even the most reluctant traveler. The people are warm and helpful, great public transportation along with sights, sounds and charm unique to this special place. Consider Denmark for your next adventure.

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Busy day for the travel indsutry!

Fri, 07 May 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Jim Oberstar, wants the Justice Department to block the planned merger of Continental and United. He said the merger will move the country toward having an airline system dominated by three mega-carriers and United would become the world's largest airline. Two years ago Oberstar opposed the purchase of Northwest Airlines by Delta but Antitrust regulators approved it.

Want to 'fly' through airports? Registered Traveler Program Is back - Clear was one of the leaders in the RT program but shut down two years ago, followed by Vigilant Solutions, for lack of money. The assets of Clear were recently bought by AlClear LLC, which has announced plans to bring back the program. 1Queue will start pre-enrollment for travelers today www.flyiqueue.com. An actual start date will be announced soon. Annual memberships will be $149, with discounts for families, multiple-year memberships and negotiated volume corporate purchases. iQueue will offer a special introductory annual membership rate of $99 during the first 90 days of lane operations in Indianapolis. And the prgram will offer former Clear and Preferred Traveler members six months of free membership as credit for the time remaining on their previous memberships. Indianapolis International Airport has become the first to sign up for the relaunched registered traveler program.

Updated Travel Warning For Mexico - Department of State issued the following updated Travel Warning for Mexico on 6 May 2010: "The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico about the security situation in Mexico, and to advise that the authorized departure of family members of U.S. government personnel from U.S. Consulates in the northern Mexico border cities if Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros has been extended." For the complete statement, go to www.state.gov

Ash Cloud Update - An ash cloud caused by the eruption of an Icelandic volcano prompted the closure of six airports in western Ireland, including Shannon, for several hours earlier today. The airports have since been reopened, and air space over Ireland is open and operating without restrictions. There is a potential for additional disruptions to flights in the coming days, though the situation remains somewhat unpredictable and will be dependent on wind patterns and the strength of the volcano's eruptions.

Crew member on RCCL Explorer of the Seas Goes Overboard - The incident will delay the ship's arrival at Cape Liberty tomorrow by several hours. The crew member was reported missing at 8:40p.m. on May 5. Closed-circuit camera footage showed the employee on Deck 5, and 'climbed over the railing and lowered himself over the side of the ship." The captain returned the ship to that position and was met by the Coast Guard to begin searching for the missing crew member. The Coast Guard assumed control of the search this morning and the ship resumed its course.

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On-line Travel, Is It On It's Way Out?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:35:00 +0000

The New York Times has a great article on the frustrations of using online travel agencies. A new report, to be released Tuesday by Forrester Research found that far from embracing the do-it-yourself era, many consumers were fed up with the complicated process of planning and booking travel. "What we've seen is growing frustration," said Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester travel analyst. "Consumers see other Web sites becoming easier to use retail Web sites, banking Web sites, media Web sites. But travel is treading water as a category. There are very few travel companies that are really looking to improve the planning and booking process." Read the story at http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/04frustrate.html?scp=2&sq=airlines&st=nyt

I'm still mistified that some folks want to book their own travel. It's time consuming and as research shows, can be very frustrating. Possibly they think they are saving money?? Chances are they are spending MORE then they would have, if they'd just called a travel professional. We have access to more low pricing, more special offers and more destination information, and can compare options from hundreds of hotel properties, resorts, airfares, etc. all in a matter of minutes.

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Martinique

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:58:00 +0000

I've fallen in love with the Caribbean - again! After so many dissapointments with many of the islands (great beaches and nice resorts - but you can't leave the resort!) I found Martinique to be clean, prosperous and ready for tourism. We were there a few weeks ago, and I cannot wait to go back. If you want more on Martinique, let me know!

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Samana, Dominican Republic

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:17:00 +0000

On December 9, 2007 our NCL cruise ship Jewel dropped anchor in Samana and tendered passengers into the port. For you non-cruisers, 'tendered' means we anchored outside of the port and small boats ferried people to and from the dock

Samana is a destination for nature lovers and adventurers. You'll find green mountains, long beaches, solitude, turquoise waters and lively little towns in between. Samana is also a romantic destination and several of its small hotels are perfect for honeymooners.

It is possible to spend your days vegging out at the beach in front of the hotel, but Samana is truly for explorers. Samana has distinct European flavor - the French were first, but now many Italians and Spaniards have opened up businesses to cater to tourist in the area.

Beaches on the north side of the peninsula include Playa Bonita (fun waves), Cozon (fun waves but can be rough), Las Terrenas, El Portillo and Playa Popy (always tranquil waters). Playa Incon is on the north side, but needs to be reached via the Samana road or by boat. Once you are in Las Galeras, there are daily small boat ferries to Playa Rincon beach, a spectaular 2 km. bay.

One important note - Samana is one tourist area in the DR where credit cards are not as readily accepted. It is best to bring cash, travel checks or use your ATM card at one of the banks in town.

We did a site inspection at Viva Wyndham. It is located in Las Terrenas on the Northeast coast, 3 1/2 hours away from Puerto Plata International Airport and about 2 1/2 hours from "El Catey" Samana International airport. We took the road across the mountains, approximately 50 min

utes from the port.

The resort is all-inclusive and looks great for families. The bungalow-type rooms are simple but clean. It does boast a beautiful beach!

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Norwegian Jewel

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Along with my daughter, I boarded the Norwegian Jewel on December 7 for a nine-day cruise in the Caribbean. Ports of call included Samana, Dominican Republic; Tortola; Antigua; Barbados and St. Lucia. Following the mandatory Coast Guard Emergency Boat Drill, we sailed out Friday evening with everyone gathered on deck to toast the beautiful evening. Although there was a pool-side BBQ for the sail-away party, we chose Chin-Chin Asian Restaurant for dinner (from the ships' impressive list of 10 restaurants). The food was fabulous and we sampled a few of the Sakis from the impressive list. Following dinner, we found seats in the Stardust Theater to meet our cruise director, followed by a hilarious action comedy show by 'Edge.'

Next morning my daughter hit the fitness center while I attended a "Seminar at Sea" designed to introduce travel agents to Norwegian Cruise Lines and update us on NCL's offerings for 2008 and beyond. I joined her pool-side for the afternoon where we were entertained by the live music of Caribbean Wave. Before dinner, we visited the Bora Bora Spa for a dip in the whirlpool, time in the steam room and unwinding on the heated stone lounges in the Relaxation Room. Dinner this evening was a private affair for the travel agents attending the Seminar, in the Tsar's Main Restaurant. I wasn't impressed with the food at Tsar's but they do have a fantastic wine list! Entertainment this evening in the Stardust Theater was "Band on the Run," a tribute and flashback to the music and dance of the 70's by the super-talented Jean Ann Ryan Company and live music by the Norwegian Jewel Show Band.

More about NCL-established in 1966, it was one of the first 'vacation cruise' companies. Today they operate eight ships sailing to more than 160 ports. NCL was the first to introduce "Free-style Cruising." For anyone familiar with traditional cruise lines, dinner is usually scheduled for an early or late seating with a table assignment. With Free-style Cruising, you can eat at a different restaurant every night, with who you want, at the time you choose. There is also a wider range of entertainment options, not just the main theater. And the activities schedule is lighter, more diverse then you find on many other cruises.

Tomorrow we arrive in Samana, Dominican Republic at 10:00a.m. I'll tell you more about Samana in another post!
Good travels,
kd

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Happy New Year!

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Good morning and welcome back to "Journeys." So many things to share with you from the past month! A nine-day cruise to some interesting destinations, a 16-day trip to France - just to name a few! I'm going to break them down into individual posts, so you can take a quick look at what's happening and choose the ones you're most interested in.
I also have a number of trips planned for clients over the next few months, and I want to share those details with you as well. It should be a busy 2008!
Good travels,
kd

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Un Petit Paradis

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:53:00 +0000

I've just returned from what has become an annual trek to Guadeloupe, in the French West Indies. It is a beautiful little island ? two islands, actually ? Grand Terre which is flat and green and has wonderful white sand beaches and Basse Terre where you find mountain rain forests, volcanoes and black sand beaches. It is sometimes called the butterfly island ? for obvious reasons!

Like migrating Canadian geese, we always go to San François on the southeast tip of Grand Terre. There are a number of reasons for the choice: the only golf course on the island; some of the prettiest beaches; a lovely little hotel called La Cocoterie (The Coconut); but mostly?for the food! Imagine, you?re a classically-trained French chef who prefers sunshine and beaches to France in the winter. You move to Guadeloupe (which is something akin to moving from New York to Florida) and open a charming little restaurant right on the water. You have fresh seafood delivered every morning and all of the island?s natural produce to work with...what more could a chef want?
On this particular trip, we sat on the beach at La Cocoterie and watched while a typical island fishing boat with ?Justin and Company? emblazoned on the side, tied-off at the hotel?s dock and a young man I can only assume was Justin, hauled buckets of fresh lobsters and sea bass into the hotel kitchen. One morning he had a shark!
We made a point of visiting our favorite restaurants in the area with mixed emotion. A longtime favorite, Zagaya, was a disappointment. It appears the woman who has run the kitchen for years has left and it is evident in everything from the service to the lack of creativity on the menu. What a shame. But lunch at the Golf Club for its famous Couscous did not disappoint! Nor did dinner at Le Vieux Port, a fixture of the waterfront restaurants since 1980. Odile, the chef, and her business partner Bernard have created a wonderful little spot decorated with oddities from India, silk scarves for table covers and bougainvillea everywhere! Odile uses all the local products in creative dishes with an Indian flair.
Beyond the usual activities (laying on the beach, water sports, golf or exploring the rain forest) I recommend spending one day on the Paradox, a catamaran trip to Petite Terre, where the crew fixes lunch on the beach!
I am sorry to report that La Cocoterie is looking a little tattered around the edges. The reception and pool are still wonderful, but the guest rooms are in desperate need of renovation. We were told that new owners are undertaking a major facelift over the next year, so let?s hope that?s true!
Guadeloupe is not a destination for those seeking the ultimate in luxury and pampering. I?d recommend St. Bart or St. Kitts for the luxury hounds. What Guadeloupe does offer is a true island experience, complete with laid-back service and cows along the road. Visitors do enjoy the reliable infrastructure of a department of France including good roads, dependable telephone and electric service, and very little poverty. Rental cars are easy to secure from the US, and driving around the island is quite easy. Travelers from the US connect in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to reach the capitol city of Pointe Pitre, although there are direct flights from Paris. (hey, there?s an idea?spend a week in Paris, then fly to Guadeloupe for some R&R)! Language can be a bit of a problem, as French is the official language and English isn?t widely spoken other than in hotels and some restaurants.
If you?ve ever visited Guadeloupe, share your experiences! There is always something to learn?
Good travels,
kd

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Welcome to Journeys!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Hi! My name is Karen DeQuasie, and I'd like to welcome you to Journeys, the new travel blog from Balthasar Travel, Inc.
Whether you are an avid traveler with a dog-earred passport, or someone who enjoys discovering the world from an armchair, I hope you'll enjoy my new blog.
I have so many things I want to share with you! First, I'll be writing about my recent trip to Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, a "petit paradis" where I've traveled annually for the past 14 years. Then, I'll bring you my thoughts on my 9-day Caribbean cruise that I leave for on Friday. NCL's Norwegian Jewel will cruise to Samana, Dominican Republic, then on to Tortola, Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia. Finally, I'll be reporting on my two-week trip to France and the Loire Valley over the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.
But this blog isn't just about what I'm doing - it's about what I'm planning for clients. As I do my research, I'll keep you posted on what's in the works and it will include a family adventure trip to Brazil, a honeymoon in Hawaii, a luxury trip to Athens and the Greek Isles, just to name a few.
I hope you'll jump in and tell us about your travel experiences as well.
Another feature of the blog will be travel tips, latest travel and tourism news (and gossip!) and a special section for travel offers and deals that come across my desk almost daily.
I think this will be fun, and I hope you do to. I look forward to hearing from everyone!
Good travels,
kd

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Welcome to The Balthasar Travel Blog!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:44:00 +0000

Here you will find insight, advice, and personal experiences from Balthasar owner Karen DeQuasie, as well as news and information about the hottest travel deals. Stay tuned for more from Karen.

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