Oceania Marina Debut

The latest buzz in the cruise industry is all about the newest ship in the Oceania cruise fleet, the beautiful Oceania Marina. Several Bee Kalt Travel Advisors were among the first to see and tour this elegant ship.

The 1,250 passenger Marina has luxurious suites and all stateroom categories have spacious marble bathrooms. The ship is dedicated to culinary experiences, having the only cooking school at sea with a demonstration kitchen and hands-on instruction. "The dining options are among the best I've seen on any ship", said Lynn Sands, Cruise Department Manager at Bee Kalt Travel. These options include immersing yourself in Asian cuisine at Red Ginger, or delighting in French bistro fare at Jacques, named for the legendary executive chef, Jacques Pepin.

After you've sampled all of the dining venues, you may want to work off a few calories in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club. This award-winning spa brings their healthy lifestyle and fitness experts to the sea on the entire Oceania fleet.

Sail aboard the Marina on many exciting itineraries in Europe this summer and fall!

Call the Cruise Specialists at Bee Kalt Travel to book your next cruise today!

Bee Kalt Travel phone: 248-288-9600

email: Lynn@beekalt.com

Silversea Sale!

Here's your chance to sail on the World's Best Small Ship cruise line while enjoying generous savings. Book any Silversea sailing for 2011/2012 and automatically receive a $100 per person discount. This is in addition to fare reductions of up to 60%!

And there's more: FREE economy airfare from 22 gateways on most sailings, specially priced business class air from $999 on certain European sailings, complimentary one category upgrades on selected cruises sailing by May 3, 2011, Onboard credits of up to $1000.00 on selected sailings, and complimentary Virtuoso Voyager club membership.

Silversea ships are intimate, holding only 296 to 540 guests in all-suite accommodations. Enjoy complimentary fine wines and spirits, gourmet dining and butler service all included in your cruise fare. Asia, Europe, the Caribbean - fabulous itineraries await!

You must book and deposit by February 20, 2011 to take advantage of the savings! Call us today to confirm your suite. You can't afford not to!

Call the Cruise Specialists at Bee Kalt Travel at 248-288-9600
email: travel@beekalt.com

Shop the World!

Regarding the previous post, all trips to Cairo are on hold until further notice! Things happen which are out of our control. A traveler needs to be flexible and it is important to remember this when traveling. (Reminder: always buy trip insurance!)

Even when not traveling, we find things out of our control...such as a snow day! We get stuck inside for a day or two and have to think of ways to occupy our time. I was thinking that one of the great joys of traveling is shopping for local art, crafts or goods made in the country that you are visiting. These items make wonderful memories which can transport you back to the particular time and place where you bought them. They also make great gifts for family and friends.

I have found a fantastic website where you can go shopping around the world without leaving your home. The creators of The Traveler's Collection support communities around the world by working with local artisans. You can find one of a kind items in apparel, jewelry or beautiful accessories for your home at www.thetravelerscollection.com. Did you ever regret not purchasing that wooden bowl in Thailand or beaded bracelet in East Africa? You may be able to find it here! It's fun to browse, and dream about where your travels will take you to next....

To plan your next adventure, call the travel specialists at Bee Kalt Travel!
Tel: 248-288-9600
www.beekalt.com
email: travel@beekalt.com

Egypt

Cairo
The sights, the sounds, the smells. This city of 1,000 minarets is also known affectionately as the city of "beep beep". I've never visited a city with traffic quite like this. The drivers make their own lanes as they weave in and out, between other cars and pedestrians. If there was a sound to the city, this one would have to be beep beep!

Once you look past the pollution and grit of the city there is much beauty to be found. Sailing on a felucca, a single-masted wooden boat, is a charming way to enjoy an afternoon on the Nile river. When the sun goes down Cairo looks beautiful with the colorful lights of the city reflecting off the water. There is much to see and do in Cairo and the surrounding areas. Of course, a visit to the famous Pyramids of Giza is a must. While there, take a camel ride! About an hour drive from Cairo will take you to the ancient cities of Memphis and Sakkara, where you can view the oldest, step pyramid. It is fascinating to see these structures in person and realize that these huge wonders were all built by hand. Take time to visit the Egyptian museum where the Treasures of King Tut are on display. A new state-of-the art museum is under construction and is slated to open in 2012.

There are so many Temples and Tombs to visit all throughout the country. My trip with my family was arranged with our local partner, Egyptian Express. They helped craft a perfect itinerary, which allowed us to see as much as we could in the time we had. We flew to the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt, our starting point for a cruise on the River Nile. I was surprised to find that this city has a population of close to one million people. We enjoyed the Nubian museum and the shopping in the Spice Market. We also had a chance to fly down to Abu Simbel and visit the great Temple of Ramses II.

Our Nile cruise ship was the Amarco II, one of the most luxurious ships on the river. The rooms and baths are very spacious, and free internet was a plus. This is a relaxing and interesting way to explore the area. You can visit a few sights each day while the ship moves slowly northward to Luxor. Once at Luxor, we visited the famous Temples of Karnak. This is the best preserved complex in all of Egypt. We also visited the Valley of the Kings, and actually went down into the tomb of King Tut where all of his treasures were discovered. His mummy lies on display there. During the trip, we were escorted by our Egyptologist guide, Ossama. He took care of every travel detail in addition to sharing as much information and history we could handle. This was a wonderful way to explore Egypt!



Tip: Entry requirements for U.S. citizens are a valid passport and a visa. The visa is easily purchased upon arrival at the Cairo airport for $15.00.
Best time weather-wise to travel is September - April, when it isn't unbearably hot. Do bring a sun hat whenever you go, because there is not much shade when visiting the monuments.

Thinking about traveling to Egypt? Give us a call to plan your next travel adventure!
Bee Kalt Travel 248-288-9600
email: travel@beekalt.com

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a fabulous city that some people compare to San Francisco. It has an exciting waterfront, temperate climate and the imposing backdrop of Table Mountain. There is so much to see and do, you could easily spend a week or more here. We recommend at least three or four nights in order to get the most out of your visit. A visit to Cape Town can be easily combined with a safari, either before or after your city stay. Where to stay? There are several luxurious hotels we recommend.

The Mount Nelson hotel is the grande dame of the city. She has been host to the likes of Winston Churchill and Leonardo DiCaprio since her opening in 1899. The pool and gardens are a lovely place to enjoy on a sunny day.

The Cape Grace hotel is located at the V and A Waterfront. This is a spectacular location if you like to be close to the hustle and bustle of the harbour and shopping area. It's soothing lobby is a welcome oasis after a day of touring or shopping.

If you like the idea of a resort hotel in the middle of the city, then the One and Only Cape Town is the one for you. Palm trees and a lagoon surround the tranquil pool area. The rooms are the largest in Cape Town, starting at 678 square feet, all appointed with the latest in high tech gadgetry.

Book any of these hotels with us and receive exclusive amenities such as complimentary breakfast daily, upgrade upon arrival and more!

Call the travel specialists at Bee Kalt Travel to book your next Africa vacation!
tel: 248-288-9600 or email: travel@beekalt.com

Londolozi, South Africa

My journey continued with a charter flight out to "the bush", where it is not advisable to reach out and pet the kitties. Federal Air provides flights from its own private terminal at the Johannesburg airport. It's a pleasure to check in with their friendly staff, and wait in the comfortable lounge or the outdoor garden patio before flight time. They have a nice selection of complimentary snacks and a lovely gift shop to help pass the time.

I landed at the Londolozi airstrip in less than an hour, where I was met by my Ranger and taken on a short drive to my home for the next two nights. Londolozi is a private game lodge situated in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. Londolozi welcomes couples and families and is run efficiently and enthusiastically by the Varty family, who have owned the property since 1926.
There are five different camps to choose from, each with varying degrees of luxury and intimacy, depending on the individual needs and desires of the guest.

I stayed in Varty camp where my suite had an elegant, rustic feel to it. I loved the dark wood wrap-around deck with private plunge pool. I also liked how the entire length of the suite was fitted with glass or door walls. Even the huge indoor shower had a wall of glass, looking out onto the wilderness. It brings the outdoors indoors - but you are cautioned to keep your doors latched or a curious baboon might find his way in!

Johannesburg, South Africa

I traveled to South Africa recently with the deluxe tour company, Swain Tours. They planned a seamless trip, with timely meet and greet services upon arrival and pleasant, knowledgeable guides throughout. My itinerary included Johannesburg, a safari and Cape Town. I stayed at my favorite hotel in Jo'burg, The Westcliff. Beautiful accommodations, excellent service and delicious food are hallmarks of this resort-like hotel in the city.

I enjoyed a new tour offered called "Walking with the Lions". I must admit to being skeptical when first hearing of the tour. I do not support activities that exploit animals, or animal interactions that exist solely for the purpose of entertaining tourists. This was not the case at Cullinan. The farm we visited, run by Colin McCrae and his family, is working toward the conservation and re-population of the African lion. I was surprised to hear of the dramatic decline in numbers of lions, from a quarter million to only 20,000 left in the wild. Through his program, visitors are allowed unprecedented access to these beautiful creatures. The goal of his breeding program is to have a genetically diverse group of cats, and to create conditions where the lions' instincts will take over so they will be able to be released into the wild. You are only allowed to walk with lions under one year of age. I felt very safe, with many handlers accompanying us on the walk. My favorite part of the day was when we were able to hold and feed 3 week old baby lions! They were so cuddly and cute - it was an amazing experience!