February 7, 2025 • 53 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean and Harry Reif discuss this week's travel news and Hot Deals!
Join us on this episode as we delve deeper into the essence of luxury. After exploring the 5 C's of Luxury in previous episodes, we now focus on the crucial role our partners and vendors play in creating unforgettable experiences. Discover how premium suppliers and top-tier accommodations come together to craft magical memories for our clients. Tune in to learn how these elements seamlessly integrate to define true luxury travel.
Join us on this episode as we delve deeper into the essence of luxury. After exploring the 5 C's of Luxury in previous episodes, we now focus on the crucial role our partners and vendors play in creating unforgettable experiences. Discover how premium suppliers and top-tier accommodations come together to craft magical memories for our clients. Tune in to learn how these elements seamlessly integrate to define true luxury travel.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue in Harsimmerg and online at the wishing
Well dot this. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean. Say hello, how are you Chris.
I'm doing well. Thank you. It's good to see him.
Good to see you. It's a great, big old weekend.
Any particular reason it great big old game. Oh well,
that's right. Tomorrow we probably should start playing our big
game party before we go too far. We got to
(00:43):
say hi to Harry Rife as well from the wishing
Well Well.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Thank you. How do you too, Chris Garry.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
It's always good to see Harry. You have big game
plans tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I have big game plans tomorrow. And there's another weekend
big game of sorts the next weekend, right, not football
it's Valentine's week.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Oh, I was like, where's he going with another? There's
hardly a game that is no game.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
There's a song I used to listen to growing up,
The Game of Love? Who is it saying that song?
You'd know?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Oh jeez, no, I wouldn't remember. I can sing it
to you. Was it?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
No, no, no, no, that's not necessary. It wasn't that. Was
that the Jackson's Did they Jackson five? Did they do? No?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
No, this is way before them.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
M All right, Terry, you talked to us. I'm going
to look up and find out who's sang the Game
of what you get right ahead?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And I want to talk about some of the news
that came across my desk this week, Chris, because it
was a very, very busy week. And as we mentioned
in a few days, the Super Bowl returns to New
Orleans for the first time in more than a decade,
and organizers have spent years planning for a party to
have the world spotlight on the Superdome, a civic treasure
(01:52):
of resilience and sporting history, celebrating actually it's fiftieth anniversary.
I'm sure they're going to be talking a lot about that.
And for those out side of the city and those
in town this week there's also going to be an
unmistakable security presence, not only because of the Super Bowl,
but because of a terra attack that killed fourteen people
(02:12):
on New Year's Day. But make no mistake, this weekend
will be a celebration of football and of New Orleans.
The host committee philade too, yes, of course, but it's
in New Orleans, and the host committee has spent considerable
time and effort planning a Marty Gross style football parade
(02:33):
that's going to go through the French Quarter on tonight
Sunday evening. New Orleans is going to tie Miami as
the city that has hosted the most Super Bowls eleven,
and the Superdome will extend its spot atop the list
of venues that have hosted the most Super Bowls, and
that is eight now. The NFL Chief Security officers said
(02:57):
there's going to be heightened security around the game, and
that that was even before the news that the President
is going to be in town. People there, they say,
recognize that terrorism can happen anywhere. I think we all
would say that, but what we don't want is for
that to change the way that we live and the
way we celebrate, so with respect to the families and
the victims, The NFL security officer said they thought it
(03:19):
was important that the Sugar Bowl was actually played because
it demonstrated that they were not going to let terrorism win,
and the Super Bowl coming on the heels of that
is another opportunity for them to show their determination, the
resiliency of not just the community, but frankly, the American spirit.
The spirit of New Orleans is also Marty Graw, which
(03:41):
is why New Orleans is hosting the Super Bowl this year.
It was actually scheduled to host last year's game, but
when the NFL expanded the regular season by a week,
it pushed the twenty twenty four Super Bowl date into
a conflict with Marti Gras and when the host city
contract was originally signed, and there was a provision that
(04:02):
should such a conflict occur, New Orleans would get the
following year's Super Bowl instead, which is why Las Vegas
hosted last year. Interesting YEP, super Bowl Week tourism will
help set a record for visitation in the state this year,
predicting more than fifty four million people that will come
to Louisiana between the Super Bowl Marti Gras and Moore,
(04:25):
and I should have probably said Louisiana because that's how
they like to say it down there.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
He's going to be quite a day. Do you have
a team for tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
I do? I do?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I do?
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I already know who your team is. I'm not sure
you do. I'm going to say that it's Kansas City.
It absolutely is not. Oh. I was going to say,
because you think you know, how is your looking? Guy?
I'm actually what now? I actually root. That's the most
(04:56):
honest thing I've ever heard you say.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I actually I love the underdogs, and for me, I
think the city of Philadelphia deserves this victory.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Harry Well, I spent time in the city of Philadelphia.
I lived up that way, so I really kind of
have to choose the Eagles. And actually, Terry was talking
about taking staff on trips to New Orleans. This year.
Our staff trip was to Philadelphia, so we like that city.
It's a beautiful city. I've been since last weekend. Actually
(05:32):
that's true.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I'm really torn because I'm a fan of the AFC,
so I feel like I have to root for Kansas City,
but I also don't like Kansas City because they win
so much, but I hate Philadelphia. So I'm going to
watch for the commercials.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Okay, all right, if nothing else, have some great food
and laugh at the commercials. That's to me, that's a
good day, right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
My wife says that their family tradition when the kids
were little was they always would go get fried chicken.
And she's gluten gluten intolerance, so we don't get fried
chicken unless I make gluten free for and I'm like,
are you serious. We're gonna get fried chicken tomorrow, alrighty,
And so for that alone, I'm celebrating and I'm going
(06:17):
to have a bucket of fried chicken on my lap,
and I don't care what I look like. I am
going to enjoy and I'm going to probably be right.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's actually the one game of the year that I
will watch in its entirety. Usually I do watch the
qualify the less qualifying game. So I saw Philadelphia whoop
up on the Commanders.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Sorry, I'm usual for the Commanders. They've had such a drought.
It was like, this is going to be there so close.
It came so close, but you know what, it's going
to still be a fun day. And hoping everybody who's
listening today, I hope your team wins well.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
When you sit around at Super Bowl your as long
as the Philadelphia Yes, with friends and family pretty much anytime.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, good time, It is good now.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
In another other news, sadly, there was an earthquake that
hit the area of Santorini, Greece.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Very sad.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Flights are continuing to go in and out of Santorini
right now as we speak, despite a state of emergency
being declared on the Greek island. Over the past week,
hundreds of tremors have been recorded, culminating in a magnitude
five point two earthquake late on this past Wednesday, now
(07:35):
the strongest since the tremors began actually on January the
thirty first.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
The islands of.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Anaphly iOS and Amorgos are also affected. The Ministry of
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection have asked airlines to lay
on extra flights into the island and especially into Athens,
to allow more people to evac on sad Today, Saturday alone,
(08:03):
at least eight flights carrying over one thousand people are
scheduled to depart. Now, what are the consequences for travelers
who are in the region right now? And those that
might be planning to visit in the future. These are
a couple of key questions and some answers for you,
hopefully that will help you or at least put your
mind at ease.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Number one is the airport open.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Answers Yes, and extra flights have been laid on at
least for the meantime. Now, for those of you who
may have a travel plan booked to Santorini in May,
you're going, Now, I don't want to go. What are
my options? Well, you've got very few actually. Right now,
companies tour operators are going to assume that your trip
(08:48):
is going ahead as normal. But if Heaven forbid, there
is serious damage to properties and your trip cannot proceed
for those reasons. You can choose between a full REA
fund or a different holiday time or departure date or
travel date, whatever you may choose. But the answer to
(09:09):
a lot of the questions that people have looming right now,
and I got to tell you before I came over
to the studio today, Chris I fielded a lot of
calls from folks that we have going to Greece on
either honeymoons, delayed honeymoons, vacations that kind of thing who
are very concerned about this. Greece and Turkey happen to
(09:31):
be kind of in the bullseye of the most popular destinations,
especially when we're talking about travel to the Mediterranean right now.
So for a lot of folks, this is going to
be news that they want to hear. I am sorry,
I don't have anything more definitive at this point, but
we are also awaiting that information from our tour operators
(09:51):
and cruise lines.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And one of the things that we advise as airlines,
tour operators, cruise lines, they're all doing exactly what everybody
else is doing, and they're assessing the situation. They're looking
ahead to the future, and they're trying to map out
what are the options for the future in different case scenarios.
So what will happen is they may issue waivers, they
(10:15):
may issue other kinds of options for travelers. But if
you can, and you're listening today thinking about that, be
patient because if you act before anybody else acts before
a tour operator or an airline axe that's your choice,
and you're going to get the worst kind of penalties
possible because you're basically bailing out on them. If you
(10:38):
let them give you the option. You may have better choices.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Would travel insurance help you in this situation?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It does help, And actually, Chris, that's a great point.
There are some travel insurances that are called SEFA. They
have a SEFA attachment to them. What does that mean, Well,
that means cancel for any reason. So if you are
just antsy or anxious about what's happening right there and
you would rather not go, and you would rather postpone
(11:04):
your trip, if you have a cancel for any reason
type of insurance, this is a precisely when you'd want
to enact that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, it's a more expensive insurance, and if you are
completely risk aversive, it may be a good choice for you.
But if you have the standard insurance, I think it's
important be patient. They are looking at it, they are
assessing it. They're working in coordination with the meteorological authorities
and experts and with their own internal groups to see
(11:34):
what can be done, what can be canceled, what can
be rescheduled, And you'll have some options. It's better to
choose from options than choosing from one option, which is
just saying I'm not going now.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Speaking of travel and some tips that we like to
provide you if you are traveling during spring break, that's
another big travel season that's coming up. I've got three
mistakes that you can avoid that can save you money
if you're booking your spring break travel. From arriving to
the airport too late to forgetting your passport. Everybody out
(12:09):
there has made probably a lot of those kind of mistakes.
But as many start to plan their spring break warm
weather getaways, experts say some mistakes could cost you more
than others. It's advised to book international trips at least
ten to eight weeks before departure, while it's typically three
to six weeks for domestic flights. Now the most popular
(12:31):
destinations this year have included Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, Cancun,
San Juan, and Puntakana. One of the mistakes that you
can avoid by being just a little bit travel savvy
is to be flexible. Generally, flexibility chris can go a
long way when you're planning a trip. Can also lead
(12:53):
to some significant savings for you, and if you're traveling
on a Tuesday or Wednesday, prices generally going to be cheaper.
That's kind of been a rule of thumb for a
good long time. Sometimes I see that happen consistently, and
sometimes it's hit or miss. But don't forget to look
at Tuesday Wednesday travel just in case that's going to
(13:15):
bring some savings to your bank. Also, not checking your passport,
that's a big mistake that people make. That mistake could
actually ruin your vacation. Don't assume you're in the clear
just because your passport isn't expired. This is one that
people miss a lot. A traveler went viral as a
matter of fact, on TikTok when they were turned away
(13:35):
at the airport because their passport was due to expire
in five months.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Okay, why is that important in six months? What you
have to have exactly?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Many countries require your passport be valid for at least
six months beyond the dates of your trip, and that's
according to the US Department of State. The next thing
is forgetting your rights to a refund. Passengers who opt
not to rebook if your flight is canceled or delayed
are now entitled to an automatic refund if your flight
(14:07):
is significantly delayed or canceled, and I think that window
is about three hours. The Department of Transportation rule requiring
airlines to issue refunds not vouchers. Went into effect way
back in October, so that rule is on the table.
That can be very helpful. The new rule mandates airlines
issue refunds without passengers needing to ask. Refunds have to
(14:31):
be issued within seven business days if the passenger paid
by credit card, and within twenty calendar days for all
other forms of payment. So those are a couple of tips.
If you are traveling over spring break and you know
you hadn't thought about those things, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Why on the passport can't they put like two dates,
say not valid after this date, but expires on this date,
so that people wouldn't make that mistake? Great question.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I holdly four dates on your passport, because you got
your birthday, you got your issue date, you got your
expiration date. The more dates you put on, I think
the more confusing it gets.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'll accept that answering question.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Though.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Last news item Chris, that came across my desk. I
like this one because this one's good news in every way.
This country was just named the safest place to travel
in twenty twenty five, and if you're new to traveling internationally,
the unknowns as we all know, can often make it
(15:34):
a very scary proposition, and feeling safe in a critical
piece of the travel experience. But if you're ready to
get out there and start confidently collecting passport stamps. This
report actually came to me by way of Berkshire Hathaway
Travel Protection. They've got a new study out and in
October the company released its annual report Showing and Showing,
(15:58):
sorry showcasing Earth's Safest Countries. As for which nation came
in at number one as the safest place to travel
in twenty twenty five, well, that honor went to Iceland.
It asked travelers where they traveled in the last five years,
and they asked them to rate their travel experience perceived
(16:21):
on safety issues, and according to the report, Iceland moved
up from the number non spot in twenty twenty four
as it only had one major road and is never crowded,
and it noted logic dictates that it's hard to have traffic.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Accidents if you don't have traffic.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It did, however, add one caveat that you need to
look out for on a vacation to Iceland, and that
is volcanoes. Iceland is a volcanic island and volcanic islands sometimes,
as we've seen just recently in the past, have volcanic eruptions. Now,
the other nations that joined Iceland at the top of
that list include Australia at number two, followed by Canada.
(17:04):
I think that was one of your al's guesses when
we were all fair Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, Norway,
Japan and Denmark all rounding out the top ten, with
Iceland right at the top.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I actually was going to guess Norway. That would have
been my first guest.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah, well it's on the list, so you made it
to the top ten at the top. We do have
some sales that actually coincide very nicely with international travel today,
and Harry, I believe that you have those in your
list of Baga tricks over there, so.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I sure do. I have a couple things I want
to share with folks this morning, and the first one
is one of my favorite places someplace I want to
go in a place that you just mentioned. You just
mentioned Australia, right, I did. So. There's a tremendous deal
that I found. It was a two week cruise I
found goes to Fiji, and Australia on one of our
(17:59):
favorite's Norwegian cruise lines. And what's great about those places
is that there's just so much to do. You can snorkele,
you see a lot of marine life, you see kayaking.
These are just fantastic things. Takes a little while to
get there, but these cruises are starting at seven hundred
and ninety nine dollars a person. That you can't beat that.
(18:22):
You have to add airfare to that, but there's a
lot of things included. These are fourteen night cruises for
that price. You got your WiFi, and of course some
of these cruises have the virtual also credits to terran
I always talk about and we'll help you search those
out and get the best deals, the best room. But
when you're starting at seven ninety nine, Chris, how much
(18:44):
better can it get?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Doesn't sound like much better? No, I think that's pretty
to go.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's like, how much will you pay me
to sit and go to this cruise if you're not
willing to travel that far. I started looking ahead because
even though it's pretty miserable outside right now, some days
it's sixty degrees, some mornings it's thirty degrees.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Here, we are under a winter weather advisory today.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Yeah, so we don't know what to expect. But come March.
Always in Washington, d C. It's a big time of year,
right Yeah, Yeah, We've got the Cherry Blossom Festival, and
this year's festival is scheduled at the end of March
beginning of April right now. The dates that I saw
last from March twentieth through April thirteenth, So I took
a look at what we can do up there. There's
(19:27):
some tremendous bargains if you get them while they last.
You can stay at the Hilton Hotel up in Washington
starting at less than one hundred and fifty dollars a night,
which is tremendous for a Washington hotel any time of year.
But if you've never been up for the Cherry Blossom
Festival and you have the opportunity to do that, it
is fantastic. Terry and I went several years ago. We
(19:50):
went up there.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Remember, we took our entire office staff and we had
a tremendous time. It was absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Do you need tickets to like walk the title?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Just some things, you know, if there are special events
and that kind of thing. That are coinciding with the
dates that you're there. You may need tickets to some
of the things, but otherwise, Washington DC downtown streets are
wide open, and a lot of those happen on the
closed streets, so it's close to traffic, but you just
can walk literally for miles and see all kinds of
(20:21):
vendors and all kinds of activities that take place, and
shows and dances, and it's really wonderful. It's a very
cultural event.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
They have stages set up down there with free entertainment,
and you have vendors, so you're not going to go hungry.
You're not going to go thirsty, and it's a very
very family friendly kind of atmosphere. And the neat thing
about these rates that I'm talking about. At the very
beginning we talked about, you know, not the football game,
but next weekend coming up is Valentine's Day. These rates
(20:53):
stretch through Valentine's Day for some of these rates too. Again,
we have to look and pick and choose. But if
you want to do something, springtime is a great time
in Washington, DC. Is you know, a beautiful place as
the weather starts to change. So that's my second one.
A third one is my friends at Regent. They are
(21:14):
kicking the doors open again and they have a deal
that goes through the end of February. They get you
a two category suite upgrade, the deposits are reduced, they
have savings on.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Many of the voyages.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Regent is one of our favorite cruise lines because of
the high level of service, because the fact that they
include everything on their cruises, and because the service is
so personalized that people will know your name by the
second day, and the cruises are just, you know, I think,
very fantastic. They go all around the world, even Alaska,
(21:52):
if that's still on your list, Chris.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
It is all right, Honestly, anywhere outside the United States
right now is on my list. I feel like I've
been in the last couple of weeks. But I know
it'll get better, all right. So if you want to
take advantage of any of the deals that you've heard
here in our Hot Deal segment, you need to call
the wishing Well and their phone numbers five four, o
nine eight, twenty three thirty three. Of course, tons of
(22:14):
information for you on their website at the wishing Well
dot biz, or stop by their location on f Avenue
in Harrisonburg. They'd love to see it. Terry, what are
your business hours? What days are you open?
Speaker 3 (22:24):
We are open Mondays through Friday from nine until four
and on Saturdays from nine until one.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Perfect. All right. Our show today is entitled Partners and Luxury.
We've been spending the past few weeks talking about luxuries.
We had the five c's of Luxury, and then we
got down into the details of luxury last week, and
now this week we're going to talk about our partners
in Luxury. We are.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
I was so proud of myself because I thought, you know,
I've hit a very timely topic and nobody else is
doing this right now. Well, lo and behold, every piece
of news that I get on my desk is about
some news story about luxury and that this is taking
the travel industry by storm.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Well, then you're an influencer. Well, all right, we'll take
into partners in Luxury next. Here on a life Less Ordinary.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Protect your vacation investment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing Well knows travel and help you avoid pitfalls
that can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your
trip and have your back as you travel. All of
this without support or so called convenience fees. We're on
the web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
(23:35):
That's five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come true and.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Welcome back to a life less ordinary the travel Showing
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. You can
find them on that f avenue in Harrisonburg, online at
the wishing Well dot biz or give them a call
at five four oh nine eight twenty three thirty three.
Our show today is entitled Partners and Luxury. I do
before we get into the endo this conversation. Terry Harry
(24:04):
mentioned at the beginning show the song what was the song?
The Game of Love?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Game of Love? Right? So I had a long time
to say what we were talking about.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
So you to answer your question. It was the mind
Benders who did it in nineteen sixty five.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And you know how many people have listened since the
beginning of the show. Just get that piece of information, Chris.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
You know Santana remade the song in two thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Uh huh, I did not. I didn't think about that.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
So now we move on to partners lot interesting stuff.
Terry get us into our conversation conversation today.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Gladly I would, and actually I want to say thanks
to the folks who listen to us week after week,
because we've had a really good series of luxury definitions
going on here on a Lifeless Ordinary.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
For the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
We have talked about the five c's of luxury, and
last week we took that part and we looked at
those different elements and what it all looks like when
it comes together. And we know, because we have satisfied
clients to verify this, that when it all comes together,
it's really something pretty magical and memorable for people. That's
(25:15):
what travel is all about. That's what those experiences are
that we want them to have. And it takes a
perfectly cogged wheel to turn everything just perfectly. And believe
me when I tell you, we would be nothing at
the Wishing Well without our great partners and vendors that
really help us to orchestrate those magical memories for the
(25:36):
clients that we serve. So on today a Lifeless Ordinary,
we're going to continue our autopsy of some of the
elements that we need as you travel and as we
as travel advisors, need to make all those pieces come together.
And we're going to do this in two parts. We're
going to first talk about our premium suppliers, or at
(25:58):
least a handful of those, and then I'm going to
turn it over to Harry at the end toward the
end of our show today, and he's going to talk
to you about one of actually my favorite subjects when
we talk about luxury travel, and that are our accommodation.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Where to rest your head exactly.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
So I want to kick this off with some of
our premium suppliers that I want to talk about and
really some key reasons I think this is important. The
key reasons why premium suppliers are important to travel advisors.
I mean, it does no good to talk about them
and tell you who they are. Those are just names,
but it really helps, I think, to understand what they
bring to the table. And one of the things that
(26:36):
we know that our premium suppliers bring to the table
is a truly elevated client experience. These are often the
suppliers who bring the superior amenities. They bring some personalized
attention and curated experiences that really can significantly enhance your
vacation experience, exceed your expectations, and do what I said,
(26:59):
and that is create a memorable trip. That's what it's
all about. But that's not the only thing. They are
also reputation builders, and when we partner with a reputable
premium supplier, we can build trust with our clients by
consistently delivering high quality service and experience, and that's going
(27:20):
to lead hopefully, our goal is to have your repeat business.
That's the highest compliment I've always said our clients can
pay us is to come back and say, do it again, Tory,
do it again. And then they also give us access
to some exclusive perks that often provides us with benefits
like room upgrades, early check in, special dining options, and
(27:43):
private tours that might not be available to individuals who
travelers who book on their own. And I'll give you
an example of that. So for folks who go to Rome,
many often times they want to go to the Vatican
and they go, well, I can either do this tour terry,
which is, you know, a tour of the Vatican and
(28:04):
the Sistine Chapel.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
What else you got?
Speaker 3 (28:07):
And for a lot of people who ask that question,
they want to go on a private tour of the
Vatican when it's closed to everybody else. They want to
go in there by themselves, with just a small handful
group of people, and for them, access to that particular
tour might not be available. But I can tell you
right now to the wishing well that exists, we know
(28:30):
exactly who to call and exactly how to orchestrate getting
you into such an experience. It can make the difference
between a good experience, a good trip to Italy, a
good trip to the Vatican, and one that's extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And what's special about a lot of the things you're
talking about, not every one of the things you're talking about, Terry,
is these vendors that partner with us. We're so fortunate
to have them because not only do they provide these
excellent perks, but in many cases these are provided as
part of the basic package when we book our guests
(29:08):
through those vendors. So those aren't ad ins, those are
things that are already in there for our guests, for
our virtual SO guests, and for some of the places
where we have special relationships with above and beyond virtual SO,
places like where you know the head concierge you can
call them up on the phone and they have whatever
you need waiting for that person, maybe cigars, maybe a ride,
(29:32):
you know, whatever it is that's necessary. These folks are
ready to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
You're right here.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
And another thing that our premium suppliers bring to the
table is their specialized expertise. They have specific niches, some
of them in luxury travel, like adventure tourism or cultural immersion,
something that we talked about that's one of the five
c's if you remember that cultural immersion. Also allowing us
(29:59):
as travel advisors to cater to our clients with some
unique interests and when we need to be more effective
with a particular experience. We also have with our premium
suppliers the ability to have some great problems solving capabilities,
because when issues arise during a trip, these suppliers may
(30:21):
have dedicated customer service teams with boots on the ground
where our travelers are actually going that can quickly address
those concerns and provide solutions, which is going to make
a smoother experience for the client. We talked about in
our news today, what's happening over in Greece right now?
Don't you think I didn't give a call to some
(30:41):
of my premium suppliers and say, I need you to
tell me what you're hearing from the locals there that
you have on staff. Those are some of the greatest
advantages that our premium suppliers carry, not to mention a
competitive advantage. That's one of the things that really benefits
the wishing well. Then it sets us apart from our
(31:02):
competitives by allowing us to offer our clients a more
refined and exclusive travel experience. And I won't lie. I'm
very competitive. I mean I'm competitive in just about everything,
and I want to be the best when it comes
to traveling what we offer to our clients, I want
to be the best. So being able to partner with
(31:23):
some of these premium suppliers and bring that experience to
our customers, that's a win for me. It's a win
for our clients too, but it's definitely a win for me,
and I like it.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I like that. Now.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
There are three key suppliers that are on my list
today that I wanted to highlight, ones that we've.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Worked with before. Some you may have heard of, some
you may not.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
But I think you'll learn a little something from the
three of these, these aren't the only ones we work with,
but I chose to highlight them today because they go
above and beyond, always have, always will. I know that,
and one of them is Seaborn. They have a fleet
of intimate, all sweet ships with a yacht like atmosphere,
and this is just one of the reasons I chose
(32:05):
to highlight them as one of our premium suppliers today.
They are also known as leaders of refined luxury. They
blend elegance and adventure with that personalized service that everybody
wants and really meticulously curated itineraries for a lot of
our travelers who want that extraordinary experience. Seaborn is a
(32:28):
host really to explore the world in unmatched style and comfort.
And let me tell you a little more about them.
Each Seaborn ship features, as I said, all ocean front suites.
There's no interior rooms on these, they're all ocean front.
They're all suites, they're all balcony, most with private verandas now,
(32:50):
I've said before how the highest touch customer service is
also a part of luxury. We've talked about that. The
onboard team here anticipates every need, whether it's a guest's
favorite drink, or crafting a custom shore excursion tailored to
your interest. And it's so interesting. When we were off air,
I know you said something about your experience previously as
(33:14):
a waiter.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Yeah, back when I was in college.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Yeah, and you knew how to curate, if you will,
an experience for folks who dined with you. You looked
at who they were, age category meant something, You looked
at what their needs might be, and you decided as
a good waiter, knowing that your gratuity was dependent upon that,
(33:38):
you curated that experience for them, didn't you whether it
was something you know they liked, if they said we
like pepsi, you waited until their glass was almost empty
and you refilled it.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Absolutely, That's what we talk about when we talk about
a luxurious experience. And these servers on board, the crew
on board Seaborn, they take genuine pride and add that
extra touch, transforming just a simple act into a personal gift.
They actually have a name for it. They call it
(34:09):
the Seaborn moment, and they say, when you're on board
a Seaborn yacht experience or a small vessel experience, you
know when you've had that special moment with somebody on board,
because it's magical. Other challenges with some cruise lines are
the way they charge extra for a lot of the
(34:31):
items that we've grown accustomed to being included at all
inclusive resorts. And you probably know what I mean if
you've never been on a cruise before and you're listening
to me today, let me tell you there are some
cruise lines, especially our mega cruise lines, they have a
way and it's their job. Their job is to make
you spend more, and they equate that to having a
(34:52):
great experience. If you're spending more, you're experiencing more.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Every time I've gone on a cruise, I've dreamt of
coming home with six or seven pieces of artwork. Not
okay yet they think that's part of upgrading my experience.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Well, in seaborne, you're not going to have that, Harry,
because their goal is to include everything from complementary premium spirits,
fine wines and caviare to add to the indulgence and
always included with tipping neither required nor expected.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I love it when there's not somebody with a keyboard
in front of you or a iPad that says how
much more do you want to tip me today? Fifteen
twenty twenty five percent or name your own sky's the limit? Well, Seaborne,
You're not going to get that. They're also known for
their culinary dining experience. All dining venues are complementary, allowing
(35:51):
guests to dine when, where, and with whom they wish.
They have welcoming champagne and complementary in room bar stocked
with your preferences that they believe kind of elevate that
personalized experience. I would have to agree with them. Now,
Seaborn ships are smaller. Remember I said yacht like, so
(36:12):
they carry no more than two hundred and fifty up
to six hundred guests maximum.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
They only have six ships in their ultra luxury ship collection.
But Seaborn's new purpose built expedition ships, which are called
the Venture and the Pursuit, they are offering opportunities to
explore the world's most remote and pristine destinations, including Antarctica,
Harry your favorite, the Arctic, South Pacific, and the Kimberly
(36:43):
in northwestern Australia, and a lot more. They really have
kind of blown the doors off of the world. They
want to explore. They're led by twenty three person expedition
teams of expert guides and naturalists who provide those ind as,
knowledge and insight experiences to some of the very unique
(37:04):
ecosystems and cultures of the world. Guests can actually embark
on what they call their Zodiac excursions. That's a trademarked kayak.
You can take that through some of the waters. You
can snorkel through those beautiful coral reefs and explore some
spectacular underwater environments as well. In these custom built which
(37:27):
I've seen actually six person submarines. They will actually take
you under the water in some of these smaller expedition
areas like Antarctica and the Arctic on board these six
person submersible submarines, which is unbelievable experience.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
So I think.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Seaborn really for all of those reasons, and I think
you can see why I pointed to them as a
premier supplier. They have mastered customer service and exactly what
our clients are looking for.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
It's like when you go into any facility, whether it's
a department store or restaurant, a hotel, there are people
who you'll see our employees and there are people that
you'll see there that have been there for twenty years,
thirty years, forty years, who are just absolutely passionate. That's
the kind of experience I think you're trying to convey, Terry.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
So our show today is Partners and Luxury here on
a Life Less Ordinary. We're going to take a quick
break and then we're back to continue this conversation here
with the wishing Well.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Who would think of driving off to a new destination
without guidance from Google or Syria. Let the wishing Weld
guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as you
enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer at
the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your vacation
on track and keeps you connected with our team of
experts for help. If you need it, call us at
five four zero nine zero eight two three three three stop,
(38:51):
buy two forty three ap Avenue or visit us at
the wishing Well dot biz.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary, your travel show
and podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. Our
show today Partners and Luxury. If you hear anything on
the show today, and I know you probably already have
that you want more information about maybe you want to
book the trip. I encourage you to reach out to
the wishing Well either online at the wishing Well dot biz,
you can stop by their physical location which is on
(39:18):
f Avenue and Harrisonburg, or just get more information call them.
This is the best way you can have a personal
conversation about your interest with many of the fine folks
who are there just ready to help. Their phone number
five four nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. The
show partners in Luxury. We have been talking about luxury.
We just talked about a wonderful yacht like cruise optiones
(39:41):
and that's just one way that you can experience luxury.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Yeah, and you know, Chris, I never really thought, in
the number of years that I've been in the travel
industry that I would ever live to see the day
where luxury travel was so talked about, so sought after
by of our clients. That was for everybody else, you know,
that was for the most affluent people, that was for
(40:06):
the celebrities. That's what luxury travel was for. But now
what I love about what's come to our industry, an
industry that I can sell, that I can touch, I
can be a part of, it is that luxury travel
now is for everybody it can be. For example, who
says all inclusive can't be luxurious, because when we used
(40:32):
to think about that, when we used to talk about
all inclusive type travel experiences, they were sort of the,
if I may say, the lesser than types of properties
that offered that they were in the Caribbean. They were,
you know, not very high end and you could eat
as much as you want, but the food was abysmal
(40:53):
at best. There was just a lot of it, you know,
and then you had drinks and okay, but those were
daly watered down. I mean, Harry can attest to that.
He knows what I'm talking about, right.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Yeah, there's a difference between having a suite where the
butler has contacted you in advance and said, what is
it that you'd like to have in your mini bar,
versus walking into your mini bar and seeing a brand
of something in there that you've never ever seen in
your life and you wonder if it's safe to consume.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Yeah, and it might surprise you today for me to
mention the next premium supplier that I want to bring
to the table today, because never thought i'd see this
from this particular company, and this is Hyatt's inclusive collection
that now is called Luxurious, and they are connected actually
(41:47):
to the Dreams and Secrets collection that we've come to
know of in the Caribbean before. But let me just
say Hide is not just the name of another hotel
chain any life Longer. As a matter of fact, the
New Inclusive Collection, they're striving to create an experience that
actually exceeds all expectations by their guests. There's a brand
(42:12):
and a resort for every moment, and a team of
passionate people within Hyatt dedicated to making every one of
those memories special. And I know that because I've tested
that product with my own clients, and I can tell
you they get high marks. Discover the luxury amenities that
are included within beautiful destinations throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central
(42:35):
America and Europe. All of these now are becoming the
all inclusive properties. I'm seeing even some of these properties
sitting on the Coasta del Soul of Spain. I mean,
who ever thought that would happen? But it's amazing, It's amazing.
And what makes the New Inclusive Collection so special? Will
(42:56):
these exceptional accommodations offer a world where resort life sort
of blends seamlessly with the intimacy of a private retreat.
Whether you want to soak in a private tub with
the ocean as a backdrop, or you want to bond
over family dinner in personal dining spaces. Relish that freedom
to do it as you wish, when you wish. From
(43:19):
oversized romantic suites along the coastal cliffs of modern luxury
villas with sweeping ocean views. These are the exclusive accommodations
that they are using. They being high to introduce you
and help you discover a whole new level of indulgence.
These all inclusive packages at the Inclusive Collection go beyond
(43:42):
a typical offering. This is a care free experience where
you don't have to have wristbands. Now, when I say that,
a lot of people who are listening to me, who
have ever been to an all inclusive resort, they know
exactly what I mean. You have to have either a
purple one or a green one or an arrange winter whatever.
It tells whatever level of inclusivity you have at that resort,
(44:05):
and it sort of it marks you. If you don't
have the good one, you know, you kind of feel
like I said before lesser than at this resort, you.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Must be the.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
Exactly and Hiatt stripped all that away and they go
everybody's equal here, and I love that. I love where
you have the ability to just be yourself, no wristbands,
no reservations and limitations existing there. You can actually indulge
during your stay and celebrate every minute at one of
(44:40):
these inclusive collections and explore a curated selection of luxurious
suites and villas. Now that's important that they have villas,
because we're talking today about an era in travel where
multi generational travel is so vilely important. So you've got
this Hiatt curated collection now where they're even offering villas
(45:03):
for families. That's huge and that's important. And those exist
Beachfront at Casa Zamnia in Tuloom, Mexico with the Secrets
to Loom Resort and Beach Club. So that's in Mexico,
which is in the Rivere Maya just so you know,
and Tuloom sets as an offshoot of that. This is
(45:26):
one of the resorts brand new adults only beachfront club.
It offers twenty one stunning accommodations, a tiered infinity pool,
exclusive restaurants serving exquisite seaside cuisine. And then there's a
brand new adults only mayor selection of the Dreams property
in Curusol that's actually exclusive for the preferred club guests
(45:51):
and perfect for beach lovers. These are private, freestanding suites.
They offer just a haven of luxury away from the ocean,
and dream Sapphire Resort and Spa has the perfect accommodations
also including the new preferred Club Indigo that features seventy suites,
(46:12):
ten villas and a rooftop with outstanding views. Now, when
you elevate that experience with something that they call their
ultimate luxury experience, you've got it all. You've got it all,
and especially when some of these are adults only, if
you are with a group of friends and couples that
(46:33):
maybe want to get away with from that, maybe you
are school teachers or something and you're over it. You know,
you want to just be with adults or a radio
announcer or a radio announcer. You just want to be
with adults and people who are like minded. You want
to have a good time. Hyatt is the one that
I selected as the brand to highlight a premium supplier.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
What I think is just absolutely unique about what Hyat's
done from a marketing strategy, Terry. When you go into
one of these new Hyatt Special properties, you feel like
you belong there.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
It's like being in your own home. It's like I
have a place.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
In the Caribbean and I've just been flown out there,
dropped in, and I've invited my friends. It's so private,
it's so personal, it's so perfect that you are. You
just feel like you belong there and you don't want
to leave, which is of course, but it's just that
that feeling that's different than checking into a traditional hotel,
(47:38):
which is also great. Yeah, this is a different kind
of experience. And as somebody you know, with kids and
grandkids bringing the clan to something like this, you are
talking about, you know, multi generation. This is the perfect
kind of place for family.
Speaker 3 (47:54):
You know, I have to share a personal experience here
because you know, I grew up small town girl. I
actually grew up lived my life from the time I
was small in Elkton, Virginia. That's where I grew up.
My family still there had no plans to really leave
this area. My family's all here, but I didn't. I
didn't live the good life. You know, we weren't poor,
(48:17):
but we weren't wealthy people at all. I remember the
very first time, Chris, that I went to an all
inclusive resort, and I walked into the resort and they
handed me a glass of champagne and a cool towel.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It's
that kind of special introduction and invitation to come into
(48:40):
a world less ordinary that I love to talk about.
The next thing that I want to do is talk
about our accommodations. I'm going to hand it over to Harry.
There's another several premium suppliers that we could talk about,
could include those all day long. I really do want
(49:00):
to get to, as I said, my favorite part, which
are the accommodations. So here, if you take us into
literally through the doors of some of these properties, I'd
be grateful.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
I'd be glad to do that. And one of the
things that permeates through all three of the places that
I'd like to talk about in the time that we
have left is every one of them. I could make
a couple statements. They're committed to excellence, They're committed to
creating those kinds of memories that embody this luxury travel.
So let me start down that journey, and I'm going
to talk first about Sandals. Sandals been around since nineteen
(49:34):
eighty one, which isn't a long time, but they've made
their mark by creating ultimate all inclusive Caribbean vacations. You
see their ads. They've successfully done that. Everything you do
on a Sandals resort is just a multitude of experiences
that are unique. Starting if you want to learn scuba diving,
(49:56):
you've got scuba diving there. You can learn it from
Patty's certified divers. You can spend your time in the
relaxing spa. Wherever you walk around that resort, everything is included,
as Terry's talking about, no extra fees, no extra costs,
and there's so many places where you can just find
a little hide away. There's a hammock that you might
(50:17):
find that you really like. You might get a pool
that you like and find a way to just float
around in a pool, or make it down to the
sunset and check that out. So Sandal's Emerald Bay, Great
a Zoom Bahama's one example of that. Lots of great opportunities.
Let me switch to another one. I want to talk
about Hawaii. If you talk about luxury, you got to
(50:40):
have Hawaii on the list. The Outriggor Kona Resort and
Spa another great place. They are committed in big time.
They just finished a sixty million dollar reservation or renovation
transforming this property. And they're right on the cliffs of
the Kiou I think I'm spelling of pronouncing that right bay.
(51:02):
Just a fantastic resort and they've paid homage to the
local culture, so you feel like you belong in Hawaii
when you're on this resort. Everything they do is trying
to immerse you in that local culture. Just a fantastic
opportunity to like fabulous louel on site to one of
the best, one of the best, and that's on the
(51:24):
island of Kona.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
What's our next one? The next one?
Speaker 2 (51:27):
Last one I have on my list of special special
places are the Majestic Mirage and Punta Kana not too
far away. This is an all Sweet Chris all club resort.
And you want personalized amenities, how about personalized butler service.
Contact your buttler butler through the phone. Twenty four by
seven room service, vip lounges, exclusive swimming pools for the guests,
(51:51):
you know, different adults only, kids area, beach areas. They
got these bali beds down there. It's incredibly comfortable, a
dedicated personalized check in area for our luxury clients. You
want to hang out late and check out late because
that's when your flight is good.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
Job.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
You get almost like a free extra day there. The
inroom bar services, bottle of sparkling wine when you show up,
everything you can imagine.
Speaker 1 (52:17):
And if you have a family, they've got kids things there.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
Or if you want adults only in this same resort,
you can go, you know, to whatever your needs are.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
That's luxury people that cater to your.
Speaker 2 (52:30):
Every single need. So any of these luxury providers we're
talking about, they aren't just household names. A lot of
them aren't household names. That's important for listeners to know too.
These are places that don't want to cater to the
whole world. They don't want to have their name on
every TV set or every radio broadcast, every publication. But
(52:51):
they are the ones that are curated. There are names
that you see when you come into places like the
luxury travel agents, and we'll talk to you about them.
They don't just offer standard experiences Everything they do is
personalized just for you.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
Terry. How do we get in touch with the wishing Well.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
We are easy to find, Chris. We are located at
two forty three NEF Avenue in the Valley Center in Heresonburg, Virginia.
You can call us at five four h nine oh
eight two three three three, or look us up on
the web. We're at the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a life Less Ordinary, the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three NEP Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the wishing Well top biz or five
four oh nine eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see again
next Saturday morning at ten for a life less Ordinary
(53:47):
from the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue in Harsimmerg and online at the wishing
Well dot this. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean. Say hello, how are you Chris.
I'm doing well. Thank you. It's good to see him.
Good to see you. It's a great, big old weekend.
Any particular reason it great big old game. Oh well,
that's right. Tomorrow we probably should start playing our big
game party before we go too far. We got to
(00:43):
say hi to Harry Rife as well from the wishing
Well Well.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Thank you. How do you too, Chris Garry.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
It's always good to see Harry. You have big game
plans tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I have big game plans tomorrow. And there's another weekend
big game of sorts the next weekend, right, not football
it's Valentine's week.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Oh, I was like, where's he going with another? There's
hardly a game that is no game.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
There's a song I used to listen to growing up,
The Game of Love? Who is it saying that song?
You'd know?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Oh jeez, no, I wouldn't remember. I can sing it
to you. Was it?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
No, no, no, no, that's not necessary. It wasn't that. Was
that the Jackson's Did they Jackson five? Did they do? No?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
No, this is way before them.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
M All right, Terry, you talked to us. I'm going
to look up and find out who's sang the Game
of what you get right ahead?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And I want to talk about some of the news
that came across my desk this week, Chris, because it
was a very, very busy week. And as we mentioned
in a few days, the Super Bowl returns to New
Orleans for the first time in more than a decade,
and organizers have spent years planning for a party to
have the world spotlight on the Superdome, a civic treasure
(01:52):
of resilience and sporting history, celebrating actually it's fiftieth anniversary.
I'm sure they're going to be talking a lot about that.
And for those out side of the city and those
in town this week there's also going to be an
unmistakable security presence, not only because of the Super Bowl,
but because of a terra attack that killed fourteen people
(02:12):
on New Year's Day. But make no mistake, this weekend
will be a celebration of football and of New Orleans.
The host committee philade too, yes, of course, but it's
in New Orleans, and the host committee has spent considerable
time and effort planning a Marty Gross style football parade
(02:33):
that's going to go through the French Quarter on tonight
Sunday evening. New Orleans is going to tie Miami as
the city that has hosted the most Super Bowls eleven,
and the Superdome will extend its spot atop the list
of venues that have hosted the most Super Bowls, and
that is eight now. The NFL Chief Security officers said
(02:57):
there's going to be heightened security around the game, and
that that was even before the news that the President
is going to be in town. People there, they say,
recognize that terrorism can happen anywhere. I think we all
would say that, but what we don't want is for
that to change the way that we live and the
way we celebrate, so with respect to the families and
the victims, The NFL security officer said they thought it
(03:19):
was important that the Sugar Bowl was actually played because
it demonstrated that they were not going to let terrorism win,
and the Super Bowl coming on the heels of that
is another opportunity for them to show their determination, the
resiliency of not just the community, but frankly, the American spirit.
The spirit of New Orleans is also Marty Graw, which
(03:41):
is why New Orleans is hosting the Super Bowl this year.
It was actually scheduled to host last year's game, but
when the NFL expanded the regular season by a week,
it pushed the twenty twenty four Super Bowl date into
a conflict with Marti Gras and when the host city
contract was originally signed, and there was a provision that
(04:02):
should such a conflict occur, New Orleans would get the
following year's Super Bowl instead, which is why Las Vegas
hosted last year. Interesting YEP, super Bowl Week tourism will
help set a record for visitation in the state this year,
predicting more than fifty four million people that will come
to Louisiana between the Super Bowl Marti Gras and Moore,
(04:25):
and I should have probably said Louisiana because that's how
they like to say it down there.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
He's going to be quite a day. Do you have
a team for tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
I do? I do?
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I do?
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I already know who your team is. I'm not sure
you do. I'm going to say that it's Kansas City.
It absolutely is not. Oh. I was going to say,
because you think you know, how is your looking? Guy?
I'm actually what now? I actually root. That's the most
(04:56):
honest thing I've ever heard you say.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I actually I love the underdogs, and for me, I
think the city of Philadelphia deserves this victory.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Harry Well, I spent time in the city of Philadelphia.
I lived up that way, so I really kind of
have to choose the Eagles. And actually, Terry was talking
about taking staff on trips to New Orleans. This year.
Our staff trip was to Philadelphia, so we like that city.
It's a beautiful city. I've been since last weekend. Actually
(05:32):
that's true.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I'm really torn because I'm a fan of the AFC,
so I feel like I have to root for Kansas City,
but I also don't like Kansas City because they win
so much, but I hate Philadelphia. So I'm going to
watch for the commercials.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Okay, all right, if nothing else, have some great food
and laugh at the commercials. That's to me, that's a
good day, right.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
My wife says that their family tradition when the kids
were little was they always would go get fried chicken.
And she's gluten gluten intolerance, so we don't get fried
chicken unless I make gluten free for and I'm like,
are you serious. We're gonna get fried chicken tomorrow, alrighty,
And so for that alone, I'm celebrating and I'm going
(06:17):
to have a bucket of fried chicken on my lap,
and I don't care what I look like. I am
going to enjoy and I'm going to probably be right.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's actually the one game of the year that I
will watch in its entirety. Usually I do watch the
qualify the less qualifying game. So I saw Philadelphia whoop
up on the Commanders.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Sorry, I'm usual for the Commanders. They've had such a drought.
It was like, this is going to be there so close.
It came so close, but you know what, it's going
to still be a fun day. And hoping everybody who's
listening today, I hope your team wins well.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
When you sit around at Super Bowl your as long
as the Philadelphia Yes, with friends and family pretty much anytime.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, good time, It is good now.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
In another other news, sadly, there was an earthquake that
hit the area of Santorini, Greece.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Very sad.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Flights are continuing to go in and out of Santorini
right now as we speak, despite a state of emergency
being declared on the Greek island. Over the past week,
hundreds of tremors have been recorded, culminating in a magnitude
five point two earthquake late on this past Wednesday, now
(07:35):
the strongest since the tremors began actually on January the
thirty first.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
The islands of.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Anaphly iOS and Amorgos are also affected. The Ministry of
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection have asked airlines to lay
on extra flights into the island and especially into Athens,
to allow more people to evac on sad Today, Saturday alone,
(08:03):
at least eight flights carrying over one thousand people are
scheduled to depart. Now, what are the consequences for travelers
who are in the region right now? And those that
might be planning to visit in the future. These are
a couple of key questions and some answers for you,
hopefully that will help you or at least put your
mind at ease.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Number one is the airport open.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Answers Yes, and extra flights have been laid on at
least for the meantime. Now, for those of you who
may have a travel plan booked to Santorini in May,
you're going, Now, I don't want to go. What are
my options? Well, you've got very few actually. Right now,
companies tour operators are going to assume that your trip
(08:48):
is going ahead as normal. But if Heaven forbid, there
is serious damage to properties and your trip cannot proceed
for those reasons. You can choose between a full REA
fund or a different holiday time or departure date or
travel date, whatever you may choose. But the answer to
(09:09):
a lot of the questions that people have looming right now,
and I got to tell you before I came over
to the studio today, Chris I fielded a lot of
calls from folks that we have going to Greece on
either honeymoons, delayed honeymoons, vacations that kind of thing who
are very concerned about this. Greece and Turkey happen to
(09:31):
be kind of in the bullseye of the most popular destinations,
especially when we're talking about travel to the Mediterranean right now.
So for a lot of folks, this is going to
be news that they want to hear. I am sorry,
I don't have anything more definitive at this point, but
we are also awaiting that information from our tour operators
(09:51):
and cruise lines.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And one of the things that we advise as airlines,
tour operators, cruise lines, they're all doing exactly what everybody
else is doing, and they're assessing the situation. They're looking
ahead to the future, and they're trying to map out
what are the options for the future in different case scenarios.
So what will happen is they may issue waivers, they
(10:15):
may issue other kinds of options for travelers. But if
you can, and you're listening today thinking about that, be
patient because if you act before anybody else acts before
a tour operator or an airline axe that's your choice,
and you're going to get the worst kind of penalties
possible because you're basically bailing out on them. If you
(10:38):
let them give you the option. You may have better choices.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Would travel insurance help you in this situation?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It does help, And actually, Chris, that's a great point.
There are some travel insurances that are called SEFA. They
have a SEFA attachment to them. What does that mean, Well,
that means cancel for any reason. So if you are
just antsy or anxious about what's happening right there and
you would rather not go, and you would rather postpone
(11:04):
your trip, if you have a cancel for any reason
type of insurance, this is a precisely when you'd want
to enact that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, it's a more expensive insurance, and if you are
completely risk aversive, it may be a good choice for you.
But if you have the standard insurance, I think it's
important be patient. They are looking at it, they are
assessing it. They're working in coordination with the meteorological authorities
and experts and with their own internal groups to see
(11:34):
what can be done, what can be canceled, what can
be rescheduled, And you'll have some options. It's better to
choose from options than choosing from one option, which is
just saying I'm not going now.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Speaking of travel and some tips that we like to
provide you if you are traveling during spring break, that's
another big travel season that's coming up. I've got three
mistakes that you can avoid that can save you money
if you're booking your spring break travel. From arriving to
the airport too late to forgetting your passport. Everybody out
(12:09):
there has made probably a lot of those kind of mistakes.
But as many start to plan their spring break warm
weather getaways, experts say some mistakes could cost you more
than others. It's advised to book international trips at least
ten to eight weeks before departure, while it's typically three
to six weeks for domestic flights. Now the most popular
(12:31):
destinations this year have included Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, Cancun,
San Juan, and Puntakana. One of the mistakes that you
can avoid by being just a little bit travel savvy
is to be flexible. Generally, flexibility chris can go a
long way when you're planning a trip. Can also lead
(12:53):
to some significant savings for you, and if you're traveling
on a Tuesday or Wednesday, prices generally going to be cheaper.
That's kind of been a rule of thumb for a
good long time. Sometimes I see that happen consistently, and
sometimes it's hit or miss. But don't forget to look
at Tuesday Wednesday travel just in case that's going to
(13:15):
bring some savings to your bank. Also, not checking your passport,
that's a big mistake that people make. That mistake could
actually ruin your vacation. Don't assume you're in the clear
just because your passport isn't expired. This is one that
people miss a lot. A traveler went viral as a
matter of fact, on TikTok when they were turned away
(13:35):
at the airport because their passport was due to expire
in five months.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Okay, why is that important in six months? What you
have to have exactly?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Many countries require your passport be valid for at least
six months beyond the dates of your trip, and that's
according to the US Department of State. The next thing
is forgetting your rights to a refund. Passengers who opt
not to rebook if your flight is canceled or delayed
are now entitled to an automatic refund if your flight
(14:07):
is significantly delayed or canceled, and I think that window
is about three hours. The Department of Transportation rule requiring
airlines to issue refunds not vouchers. Went into effect way
back in October, so that rule is on the table.
That can be very helpful. The new rule mandates airlines
issue refunds without passengers needing to ask. Refunds have to
(14:31):
be issued within seven business days if the passenger paid
by credit card, and within twenty calendar days for all
other forms of payment. So those are a couple of tips.
If you are traveling over spring break and you know
you hadn't thought about those things, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Why on the passport can't they put like two dates,
say not valid after this date, but expires on this date,
so that people wouldn't make that mistake? Great question.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I holdly four dates on your passport, because you got
your birthday, you got your issue date, you got your
expiration date. The more dates you put on, I think
the more confusing it gets.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I'll accept that answering question.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Though.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Last news item Chris, that came across my desk. I
like this one because this one's good news in every way.
This country was just named the safest place to travel
in twenty twenty five, and if you're new to traveling internationally,
the unknowns as we all know, can often make it
(15:34):
a very scary proposition, and feeling safe in a critical
piece of the travel experience. But if you're ready to
get out there and start confidently collecting passport stamps. This
report actually came to me by way of Berkshire Hathaway
Travel Protection. They've got a new study out and in
October the company released its annual report Showing and Showing,
(15:58):
sorry showcasing Earth's Safest Countries. As for which nation came
in at number one as the safest place to travel
in twenty twenty five, well, that honor went to Iceland.
It asked travelers where they traveled in the last five years,
and they asked them to rate their travel experience perceived
(16:21):
on safety issues, and according to the report, Iceland moved
up from the number non spot in twenty twenty four
as it only had one major road and is never crowded,
and it noted logic dictates that it's hard to have traffic.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Accidents if you don't have traffic.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It did, however, add one caveat that you need to
look out for on a vacation to Iceland, and that
is volcanoes. Iceland is a volcanic island and volcanic islands sometimes,
as we've seen just recently in the past, have volcanic eruptions. Now,
the other nations that joined Iceland at the top of
that list include Australia at number two, followed by Canada.
(17:04):
I think that was one of your al's guesses when
we were all fair Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, Norway,
Japan and Denmark all rounding out the top ten, with
Iceland right at the top.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I actually was going to guess Norway. That would have
been my first guest.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah, well it's on the list, so you made it
to the top ten at the top. We do have
some sales that actually coincide very nicely with international travel today,
and Harry, I believe that you have those in your
list of Baga tricks over there, so.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I sure do. I have a couple things I want
to share with folks this morning, and the first one
is one of my favorite places someplace I want to
go in a place that you just mentioned. You just
mentioned Australia, right, I did. So. There's a tremendous deal
that I found. It was a two week cruise I
found goes to Fiji, and Australia on one of our
(17:59):
favorite's Norwegian cruise lines. And what's great about those places
is that there's just so much to do. You can snorkele,
you see a lot of marine life, you see kayaking.
These are just fantastic things. Takes a little while to
get there, but these cruises are starting at seven hundred
and ninety nine dollars a person. That you can't beat that.
(18:22):
You have to add airfare to that, but there's a
lot of things included. These are fourteen night cruises for
that price. You got your WiFi, and of course some
of these cruises have the virtual also credits to terran
I always talk about and we'll help you search those
out and get the best deals, the best room. But
when you're starting at seven ninety nine, Chris, how much
(18:44):
better can it get?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Doesn't sound like much better? No, I think that's pretty
to go.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's like, how much will you pay me
to sit and go to this cruise if you're not
willing to travel that far. I started looking ahead because
even though it's pretty miserable outside right now, some days
it's sixty degrees, some mornings it's thirty degrees.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Here, we are under a winter weather advisory today.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Yeah, so we don't know what to expect. But come March.
Always in Washington, d C. It's a big time of year,
right Yeah, Yeah, We've got the Cherry Blossom Festival, and
this year's festival is scheduled at the end of March
beginning of April right now. The dates that I saw
last from March twentieth through April thirteenth, So I took
a look at what we can do up there. There's
(19:27):
some tremendous bargains if you get them while they last.
You can stay at the Hilton Hotel up in Washington
starting at less than one hundred and fifty dollars a night,
which is tremendous for a Washington hotel any time of year.
But if you've never been up for the Cherry Blossom
Festival and you have the opportunity to do that, it
is fantastic. Terry and I went several years ago. We
(19:50):
went up there.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Remember, we took our entire office staff and we had
a tremendous time. It was absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Do you need tickets to like walk the title?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Just some things, you know, if there are special events
and that kind of thing. That are coinciding with the
dates that you're there. You may need tickets to some
of the things, but otherwise, Washington DC downtown streets are
wide open, and a lot of those happen on the
closed streets, so it's close to traffic, but you just
can walk literally for miles and see all kinds of
(20:21):
vendors and all kinds of activities that take place, and
shows and dances, and it's really wonderful. It's a very
cultural event.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
They have stages set up down there with free entertainment,
and you have vendors, so you're not going to go hungry.
You're not going to go thirsty, and it's a very
very family friendly kind of atmosphere. And the neat thing
about these rates that I'm talking about. At the very
beginning we talked about, you know, not the football game,
but next weekend coming up is Valentine's Day. These rates
(20:53):
stretch through Valentine's Day for some of these rates too. Again,
we have to look and pick and choose. But if
you want to do something, springtime is a great time
in Washington, DC. Is you know, a beautiful place as
the weather starts to change. So that's my second one.
A third one is my friends at Regent. They are
(21:14):
kicking the doors open again and they have a deal
that goes through the end of February. They get you
a two category suite upgrade, the deposits are reduced, they
have savings on.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Many of the voyages.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Regent is one of our favorite cruise lines because of
the high level of service, because the fact that they
include everything on their cruises, and because the service is
so personalized that people will know your name by the
second day, and the cruises are just, you know, I think,
very fantastic. They go all around the world, even Alaska,
(21:52):
if that's still on your list, Chris.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
It is all right, Honestly, anywhere outside the United States
right now is on my list. I feel like I've
been in the last couple of weeks. But I know
it'll get better, all right. So if you want to
take advantage of any of the deals that you've heard
here in our Hot Deal segment, you need to call
the wishing Well and their phone numbers five four, o
nine eight, twenty three thirty three. Of course, tons of
(22:14):
information for you on their website at the wishing Well
dot biz, or stop by their location on f Avenue
in Harrisonburg. They'd love to see it. Terry, what are
your business hours? What days are you open?
Speaker 3 (22:24):
We are open Mondays through Friday from nine until four
and on Saturdays from nine until one.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Perfect. All right. Our show today is entitled Partners and Luxury.
We've been spending the past few weeks talking about luxuries.
We had the five c's of Luxury, and then we
got down into the details of luxury last week, and
now this week we're going to talk about our partners
in Luxury. We are.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
I was so proud of myself because I thought, you know,
I've hit a very timely topic and nobody else is
doing this right now. Well, lo and behold, every piece
of news that I get on my desk is about
some news story about luxury and that this is taking
the travel industry by storm.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Well, then you're an influencer. Well, all right, we'll take
into partners in Luxury next. Here on a life Less Ordinary.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Protect your vacation investment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing Well knows travel and help you avoid pitfalls
that can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your
trip and have your back as you travel. All of
this without support or so called convenience fees. We're on
the web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
(23:35):
That's five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come true and.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Welcome back to a life less ordinary the travel Showing
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. You can
find them on that f avenue in Harrisonburg, online at
the wishing Well dot biz or give them a call
at five four oh nine eight twenty three thirty three.
Our show today is entitled Partners and Luxury. I do
before we get into the endo this conversation. Terry Harry
(24:04):
mentioned at the beginning show the song what was the song?
The Game of Love?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Game of Love? Right? So I had a long time
to say what we were talking about.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
So you to answer your question. It was the mind
Benders who did it in nineteen sixty five.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And you know how many people have listened since the
beginning of the show. Just get that piece of information, Chris.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
You know Santana remade the song in two thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Uh huh, I did not. I didn't think about that.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
So now we move on to partners lot interesting stuff.
Terry get us into our conversation conversation today.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Gladly I would, and actually I want to say thanks
to the folks who listen to us week after week,
because we've had a really good series of luxury definitions
going on here on a Lifeless Ordinary.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
For the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
We have talked about the five c's of luxury, and
last week we took that part and we looked at
those different elements and what it all looks like when
it comes together. And we know, because we have satisfied
clients to verify this, that when it all comes together,
it's really something pretty magical and memorable for people. That's
(25:15):
what travel is all about. That's what those experiences are
that we want them to have. And it takes a
perfectly cogged wheel to turn everything just perfectly. And believe
me when I tell you, we would be nothing at
the Wishing Well without our great partners and vendors that
really help us to orchestrate those magical memories for the
(25:36):
clients that we serve. So on today a Lifeless Ordinary,
we're going to continue our autopsy of some of the
elements that we need as you travel and as we
as travel advisors, need to make all those pieces come together.
And we're going to do this in two parts. We're
going to first talk about our premium suppliers, or at
(25:58):
least a handful of those, and then I'm going to
turn it over to Harry at the end toward the
end of our show today, and he's going to talk
to you about one of actually my favorite subjects when
we talk about luxury travel, and that are our accommodation.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Where to rest your head exactly.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
So I want to kick this off with some of
our premium suppliers that I want to talk about and
really some key reasons I think this is important. The
key reasons why premium suppliers are important to travel advisors.
I mean, it does no good to talk about them
and tell you who they are. Those are just names,
but it really helps, I think, to understand what they
bring to the table. And one of the things that
(26:36):
we know that our premium suppliers bring to the table
is a truly elevated client experience. These are often the
suppliers who bring the superior amenities. They bring some personalized
attention and curated experiences that really can significantly enhance your
vacation experience, exceed your expectations, and do what I said,
(26:59):
and that is create a memorable trip. That's what it's
all about. But that's not the only thing. They are
also reputation builders, and when we partner with a reputable
premium supplier, we can build trust with our clients by
consistently delivering high quality service and experience, and that's going
(27:20):
to lead hopefully, our goal is to have your repeat business.
That's the highest compliment I've always said our clients can
pay us is to come back and say, do it again, Tory,
do it again. And then they also give us access
to some exclusive perks that often provides us with benefits
like room upgrades, early check in, special dining options, and
(27:43):
private tours that might not be available to individuals who
travelers who book on their own. And I'll give you
an example of that. So for folks who go to Rome,
many often times they want to go to the Vatican
and they go, well, I can either do this tour terry,
which is, you know, a tour of the Vatican and
(28:04):
the Sistine Chapel.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
What else you got?
Speaker 3 (28:07):
And for a lot of people who ask that question,
they want to go on a private tour of the
Vatican when it's closed to everybody else. They want to
go in there by themselves, with just a small handful
group of people, and for them, access to that particular
tour might not be available. But I can tell you
right now to the wishing well that exists, we know
(28:30):
exactly who to call and exactly how to orchestrate getting
you into such an experience. It can make the difference
between a good experience, a good trip to Italy, a
good trip to the Vatican, and one that's extraordinary.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And what's special about a lot of the things you're
talking about, not every one of the things you're talking about, Terry,
is these vendors that partner with us. We're so fortunate
to have them because not only do they provide these
excellent perks, but in many cases these are provided as
part of the basic package when we book our guests
(29:08):
through those vendors. So those aren't ad ins, those are
things that are already in there for our guests, for
our virtual SO guests, and for some of the places
where we have special relationships with above and beyond virtual SO,
places like where you know the head concierge you can
call them up on the phone and they have whatever
you need waiting for that person, maybe cigars, maybe a ride,
(29:32):
you know, whatever it is that's necessary. These folks are
ready to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
You're right here.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
And another thing that our premium suppliers bring to the
table is their specialized expertise. They have specific niches, some
of them in luxury travel, like adventure tourism or cultural immersion,
something that we talked about that's one of the five
c's if you remember that cultural immersion. Also allowing us
(29:59):
as travel advisors to cater to our clients with some
unique interests and when we need to be more effective
with a particular experience. We also have with our premium
suppliers the ability to have some great problems solving capabilities,
because when issues arise during a trip, these suppliers may
(30:21):
have dedicated customer service teams with boots on the ground
where our travelers are actually going that can quickly address
those concerns and provide solutions, which is going to make
a smoother experience for the client. We talked about in
our news today, what's happening over in Greece right now?
Don't you think I didn't give a call to some
(30:41):
of my premium suppliers and say, I need you to
tell me what you're hearing from the locals there that
you have on staff. Those are some of the greatest
advantages that our premium suppliers carry, not to mention a
competitive advantage. That's one of the things that really benefits
the wishing well. Then it sets us apart from our
(31:02):
competitives by allowing us to offer our clients a more
refined and exclusive travel experience. And I won't lie. I'm
very competitive. I mean I'm competitive in just about everything,
and I want to be the best when it comes
to traveling what we offer to our clients, I want
to be the best. So being able to partner with
(31:23):
some of these premium suppliers and bring that experience to
our customers, that's a win for me. It's a win
for our clients too, but it's definitely a win for me,
and I like it.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I like that. Now.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
There are three key suppliers that are on my list
today that I wanted to highlight, ones that we've.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Worked with before. Some you may have heard of, some
you may not.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
But I think you'll learn a little something from the
three of these, these aren't the only ones we work with,
but I chose to highlight them today because they go
above and beyond, always have, always will. I know that,
and one of them is Seaborn. They have a fleet
of intimate, all sweet ships with a yacht like atmosphere,
and this is just one of the reasons I chose
(32:05):
to highlight them as one of our premium suppliers today.
They are also known as leaders of refined luxury. They
blend elegance and adventure with that personalized service that everybody
wants and really meticulously curated itineraries for a lot of
our travelers who want that extraordinary experience. Seaborn is a
(32:28):
host really to explore the world in unmatched style and comfort.
And let me tell you a little more about them.
Each Seaborn ship features, as I said, all ocean front suites.
There's no interior rooms on these, they're all ocean front.
They're all suites, they're all balcony, most with private verandas now,
(32:50):
I've said before how the highest touch customer service is
also a part of luxury. We've talked about that. The
onboard team here anticipates every need, whether it's a guest's
favorite drink, or crafting a custom shore excursion tailored to
your interest. And it's so interesting. When we were off air,
I know you said something about your experience previously as
(33:14):
a waiter.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Yeah, back when I was in college.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Yeah, and you knew how to curate, if you will,
an experience for folks who dined with you. You looked
at who they were, age category meant something, You looked
at what their needs might be, and you decided as
a good waiter, knowing that your gratuity was dependent upon that,
(33:38):
you curated that experience for them, didn't you whether it
was something you know they liked, if they said we
like pepsi, you waited until their glass was almost empty
and you refilled it.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Absolutely, That's what we talk about when we talk about
a luxurious experience. And these servers on board, the crew
on board Seaborn, they take genuine pride and add that
extra touch, transforming just a simple act into a personal gift.
They actually have a name for it. They call it
(34:09):
the Seaborn moment, and they say, when you're on board
a Seaborn yacht experience or a small vessel experience, you
know when you've had that special moment with somebody on board,
because it's magical. Other challenges with some cruise lines are
the way they charge extra for a lot of the
(34:31):
items that we've grown accustomed to being included at all
inclusive resorts. And you probably know what I mean if
you've never been on a cruise before and you're listening
to me today, let me tell you there are some
cruise lines, especially our mega cruise lines, they have a
way and it's their job. Their job is to make
you spend more, and they equate that to having a
(34:52):
great experience. If you're spending more, you're experiencing more.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Every time I've gone on a cruise, I've dreamt of
coming home with six or seven pieces of artwork. Not
okay yet they think that's part of upgrading my experience.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Well, in seaborne, you're not going to have that, Harry,
because their goal is to include everything from complementary premium spirits,
fine wines and caviare to add to the indulgence and
always included with tipping neither required nor expected.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
I love it when there's not somebody with a keyboard
in front of you or a iPad that says how
much more do you want to tip me today? Fifteen
twenty twenty five percent or name your own sky's the limit? Well, Seaborne,
You're not going to get that. They're also known for
their culinary dining experience. All dining venues are complementary, allowing
(35:51):
guests to dine when, where, and with whom they wish.
They have welcoming champagne and complementary in room bar stocked
with your preferences that they believe kind of elevate that
personalized experience. I would have to agree with them. Now,
Seaborn ships are smaller. Remember I said yacht like, so
(36:12):
they carry no more than two hundred and fifty up
to six hundred guests maximum.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
They only have six ships in their ultra luxury ship collection.
But Seaborn's new purpose built expedition ships, which are called
the Venture and the Pursuit, they are offering opportunities to
explore the world's most remote and pristine destinations, including Antarctica,
Harry your favorite, the Arctic, South Pacific, and the Kimberly
(36:43):
in northwestern Australia, and a lot more. They really have
kind of blown the doors off of the world. They
want to explore. They're led by twenty three person expedition
teams of expert guides and naturalists who provide those ind as,
knowledge and insight experiences to some of the very unique
(37:04):
ecosystems and cultures of the world. Guests can actually embark
on what they call their Zodiac excursions. That's a trademarked kayak.
You can take that through some of the waters. You
can snorkel through those beautiful coral reefs and explore some
spectacular underwater environments as well. In these custom built which
(37:27):
I've seen actually six person submarines. They will actually take
you under the water in some of these smaller expedition
areas like Antarctica and the Arctic on board these six
person submersible submarines, which is unbelievable experience.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
So I think.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Seaborn really for all of those reasons, and I think
you can see why I pointed to them as a
premier supplier. They have mastered customer service and exactly what
our clients are looking for.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
It's like when you go into any facility, whether it's
a department store or restaurant, a hotel, there are people
who you'll see our employees and there are people that
you'll see there that have been there for twenty years,
thirty years, forty years, who are just absolutely passionate. That's
the kind of experience I think you're trying to convey, Terry.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
So our show today is Partners and Luxury here on
a Life Less Ordinary. We're going to take a quick
break and then we're back to continue this conversation here
with the wishing Well.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Who would think of driving off to a new destination
without guidance from Google or Syria. Let the wishing Weld
guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as you
enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer at
the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your vacation
on track and keeps you connected with our team of
experts for help. If you need it, call us at
five four zero nine zero eight two three three three stop,
(38:51):
buy two forty three ap Avenue or visit us at
the wishing Well dot biz.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary, your travel show
and podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. Our
show today Partners and Luxury. If you hear anything on
the show today, and I know you probably already have
that you want more information about maybe you want to
book the trip. I encourage you to reach out to
the wishing Well either online at the wishing Well dot biz,
you can stop by their physical location which is on
(39:18):
f Avenue and Harrisonburg, or just get more information call them.
This is the best way you can have a personal
conversation about your interest with many of the fine folks
who are there just ready to help. Their phone number
five four nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. The
show partners in Luxury. We have been talking about luxury.
We just talked about a wonderful yacht like cruise optiones
(39:41):
and that's just one way that you can experience luxury.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Yeah, and you know, Chris, I never really thought, in
the number of years that I've been in the travel
industry that I would ever live to see the day
where luxury travel was so talked about, so sought after
by of our clients. That was for everybody else, you know,
that was for the most affluent people, that was for
(40:06):
the celebrities. That's what luxury travel was for. But now
what I love about what's come to our industry, an
industry that I can sell, that I can touch, I
can be a part of, it is that luxury travel
now is for everybody it can be. For example, who
says all inclusive can't be luxurious, because when we used
(40:32):
to think about that, when we used to talk about
all inclusive type travel experiences, they were sort of the,
if I may say, the lesser than types of properties
that offered that they were in the Caribbean. They were,
you know, not very high end and you could eat
as much as you want, but the food was abysmal
(40:53):
at best. There was just a lot of it, you know,
and then you had drinks and okay, but those were
daly watered down. I mean, Harry can attest to that.
He knows what I'm talking about, right.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Yeah, there's a difference between having a suite where the
butler has contacted you in advance and said, what is
it that you'd like to have in your mini bar,
versus walking into your mini bar and seeing a brand
of something in there that you've never ever seen in
your life and you wonder if it's safe to consume.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Yeah, and it might surprise you today for me to
mention the next premium supplier that I want to bring
to the table today, because never thought i'd see this
from this particular company, and this is Hyatt's inclusive collection
that now is called Luxurious, and they are connected actually
(41:47):
to the Dreams and Secrets collection that we've come to
know of in the Caribbean before. But let me just
say Hide is not just the name of another hotel
chain any life Longer. As a matter of fact, the
New Inclusive Collection, they're striving to create an experience that
actually exceeds all expectations by their guests. There's a brand
(42:12):
and a resort for every moment, and a team of
passionate people within Hyatt dedicated to making every one of
those memories special. And I know that because I've tested
that product with my own clients, and I can tell
you they get high marks. Discover the luxury amenities that
are included within beautiful destinations throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central
(42:35):
America and Europe. All of these now are becoming the
all inclusive properties. I'm seeing even some of these properties
sitting on the Coasta del Soul of Spain. I mean,
who ever thought that would happen? But it's amazing, It's amazing.
And what makes the New Inclusive Collection so special? Will
(42:56):
these exceptional accommodations offer a world where resort life sort
of blends seamlessly with the intimacy of a private retreat.
Whether you want to soak in a private tub with
the ocean as a backdrop, or you want to bond
over family dinner in personal dining spaces. Relish that freedom
to do it as you wish, when you wish. From
(43:19):
oversized romantic suites along the coastal cliffs of modern luxury
villas with sweeping ocean views. These are the exclusive accommodations
that they are using. They being high to introduce you
and help you discover a whole new level of indulgence.
These all inclusive packages at the Inclusive Collection go beyond
(43:42):
a typical offering. This is a care free experience where
you don't have to have wristbands. Now, when I say that,
a lot of people who are listening to me, who
have ever been to an all inclusive resort, they know
exactly what I mean. You have to have either a
purple one or a green one or an arrange winter whatever.
It tells whatever level of inclusivity you have at that resort,
(44:05):
and it sort of it marks you. If you don't
have the good one, you know, you kind of feel
like I said before lesser than at this resort, you.
Speaker 1 (44:17):
Must be the.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
Exactly and Hiatt stripped all that away and they go
everybody's equal here, and I love that. I love where
you have the ability to just be yourself, no wristbands,
no reservations and limitations existing there. You can actually indulge
during your stay and celebrate every minute at one of
(44:40):
these inclusive collections and explore a curated selection of luxurious
suites and villas. Now that's important that they have villas,
because we're talking today about an era in travel where
multi generational travel is so vilely important. So you've got
this Hiatt curated collection now where they're even offering villas
(45:03):
for families. That's huge and that's important. And those exist
Beachfront at Casa Zamnia in Tuloom, Mexico with the Secrets
to Loom Resort and Beach Club. So that's in Mexico,
which is in the Rivere Maya just so you know,
and Tuloom sets as an offshoot of that. This is
(45:26):
one of the resorts brand new adults only beachfront club.
It offers twenty one stunning accommodations, a tiered infinity pool,
exclusive restaurants serving exquisite seaside cuisine. And then there's a
brand new adults only mayor selection of the Dreams property
in Curusol that's actually exclusive for the preferred club guests
(45:51):
and perfect for beach lovers. These are private, freestanding suites.
They offer just a haven of luxury away from the ocean,
and dream Sapphire Resort and Spa has the perfect accommodations
also including the new preferred Club Indigo that features seventy suites,
(46:12):
ten villas and a rooftop with outstanding views. Now, when
you elevate that experience with something that they call their
ultimate luxury experience, you've got it all. You've got it all,
and especially when some of these are adults only, if
you are with a group of friends and couples that
(46:33):
maybe want to get away with from that, maybe you
are school teachers or something and you're over it. You know,
you want to just be with adults or a radio
announcer or a radio announcer. You just want to be
with adults and people who are like minded. You want
to have a good time. Hyatt is the one that
I selected as the brand to highlight a premium supplier.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
What I think is just absolutely unique about what Hyat's
done from a marketing strategy, Terry. When you go into
one of these new Hyatt Special properties, you feel like
you belong there.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
It's like being in your own home. It's like I
have a place.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
In the Caribbean and I've just been flown out there,
dropped in, and I've invited my friends. It's so private,
it's so personal, it's so perfect that you are. You
just feel like you belong there and you don't want
to leave, which is of course, but it's just that
that feeling that's different than checking into a traditional hotel,
(47:38):
which is also great. Yeah, this is a different kind
of experience. And as somebody you know, with kids and
grandkids bringing the clan to something like this, you are
talking about, you know, multi generation. This is the perfect
kind of place for family.
Speaker 3 (47:54):
You know, I have to share a personal experience here
because you know, I grew up small town girl. I
actually grew up lived my life from the time I
was small in Elkton, Virginia. That's where I grew up.
My family still there had no plans to really leave
this area. My family's all here, but I didn't. I
didn't live the good life. You know, we weren't poor,
(48:17):
but we weren't wealthy people at all. I remember the
very first time, Chris, that I went to an all
inclusive resort, and I walked into the resort and they
handed me a glass of champagne and a cool towel.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It's
that kind of special introduction and invitation to come into
(48:40):
a world less ordinary that I love to talk about.
The next thing that I want to do is talk
about our accommodations. I'm going to hand it over to Harry.
There's another several premium suppliers that we could talk about,
could include those all day long. I really do want
(49:00):
to get to, as I said, my favorite part, which
are the accommodations. So here, if you take us into
literally through the doors of some of these properties, I'd
be grateful.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
I'd be glad to do that. And one of the
things that permeates through all three of the places that
I'd like to talk about in the time that we
have left is every one of them. I could make
a couple statements. They're committed to excellence, They're committed to
creating those kinds of memories that embody this luxury travel.
So let me start down that journey, and I'm going
to talk first about Sandals. Sandals been around since nineteen
(49:34):
eighty one, which isn't a long time, but they've made
their mark by creating ultimate all inclusive Caribbean vacations. You
see their ads. They've successfully done that. Everything you do
on a Sandals resort is just a multitude of experiences
that are unique. Starting if you want to learn scuba diving,
(49:56):
you've got scuba diving there. You can learn it from
Patty's certified divers. You can spend your time in the
relaxing spa. Wherever you walk around that resort, everything is included,
as Terry's talking about, no extra fees, no extra costs,
and there's so many places where you can just find
a little hide away. There's a hammock that you might
(50:17):
find that you really like. You might get a pool
that you like and find a way to just float
around in a pool, or make it down to the
sunset and check that out. So Sandal's Emerald Bay, Great
a Zoom Bahama's one example of that. Lots of great opportunities.
Let me switch to another one. I want to talk
about Hawaii. If you talk about luxury, you got to
(50:40):
have Hawaii on the list. The Outriggor Kona Resort and
Spa another great place. They are committed in big time.
They just finished a sixty million dollar reservation or renovation
transforming this property. And they're right on the cliffs of
the Kiou I think I'm spelling of pronouncing that right bay.
(51:02):
Just a fantastic resort and they've paid homage to the
local culture, so you feel like you belong in Hawaii
when you're on this resort. Everything they do is trying
to immerse you in that local culture. Just a fantastic
opportunity to like fabulous louel on site to one of
the best, one of the best, and that's on the
(51:24):
island of Kona.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
What's our next one? The next one?
Speaker 2 (51:27):
Last one I have on my list of special special
places are the Majestic Mirage and Punta Kana not too
far away. This is an all Sweet Chris all club resort.
And you want personalized amenities, how about personalized butler service.
Contact your buttler butler through the phone. Twenty four by
seven room service, vip lounges, exclusive swimming pools for the guests,
(51:51):
you know, different adults only, kids area, beach areas. They
got these bali beds down there. It's incredibly comfortable, a
dedicated personalized check in area for our luxury clients. You
want to hang out late and check out late because
that's when your flight is good.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
Job.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
You get almost like a free extra day there. The
inroom bar services, bottle of sparkling wine when you show up,
everything you can imagine.
Speaker 1 (52:17):
And if you have a family, they've got kids things there.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
Or if you want adults only in this same resort,
you can go, you know, to whatever your needs are.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
That's luxury people that cater to your.
Speaker 2 (52:30):
Every single need. So any of these luxury providers we're
talking about, they aren't just household names. A lot of
them aren't household names. That's important for listeners to know too.
These are places that don't want to cater to the
whole world. They don't want to have their name on
every TV set or every radio broadcast, every publication. But
(52:51):
they are the ones that are curated. There are names
that you see when you come into places like the
luxury travel agents, and we'll talk to you about them.
They don't just offer standard experiences Everything they do is
personalized just for you.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
Terry. How do we get in touch with the wishing Well.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
We are easy to find, Chris. We are located at
two forty three NEF Avenue in the Valley Center in Heresonburg, Virginia.
You can call us at five four h nine oh
eight two three three three, or look us up on
the web. We're at the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a life Less Ordinary, the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three NEP Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the wishing Well top biz or five
four oh nine eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see again
next Saturday morning at ten for a life less Ordinary
(53:47):
from the wishing Well
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