I was at a Relay for Life Fund Raiser at Malby’s restaurant in Los Altos with several members of our staff, and it was fun to see Julie Rose of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce act as bartender.
Several friends from Rotary and Chamber asked me where my travels are going to take me next and I thought perhaps it would be interesting for my readers to learn about these trips so they know what articles to expect in Patch upon my return. These are all places I have been to many times, and will be doing articles on honeymoon destinations, and family travel for the several magazines I write for.
September, Southern California, La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad
Attending the annual conference for the Signature Travel Network, where we will learn about the trends in travel, hot destinations, and what great deals the consortium has been able to negotiate around the world so we can pass them on to our clients. We get amentities like free meals, free spa treatment, free upgrades, free airport transfers, and prepaid gratuities on certain cruises, and what will be going for half price, free airfare, and amazing offers. With seven billion in sales world wide, they have got power in the industry.
October, Fiji, Captain Cook Cruises
Cruising in the South Yasawa Island chain, playing golf at the International Golf Resort, Nadi, visiting the island resorts of Namale, and Likuliku.
November, Australia,
Sydney, and the Queensland islands of Hamilton and Hayman.
December, England. London. Doing hotel inspections on behalf of the Signature Travel Network. To be in the hotel directory for the consortium, a hotel must give our clients a room upgrade, free breakfast – which can be worth 50 pounds a person in London, so if a couple is staying for 3 nights, it is a savings of as much as 600 dollars. Not all hotels are accepted into our program.
No matter where I go in the world, I do a report to the Consortium on my visit so they have a regular update. After 150 visits to London, I am considered a hotel expert with regard to location, amenities and price.
My sister, a retired Cambridge University professor, loves inspecting hotel suites with me on every visit and she gets taken to the theatre every night as a thank-you for tripping around with me. A very important assignment in London is to buy shoes. I bought 7 pairs in May when I was home. They have smashing sales of size 4. We always go to the Queens Gallery on Buckingham Palace Road to inspect the current exhibit of the Queen’s jewels and china.
Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.
