Fred McBride Dream Vacations

01/18/2023

The 2nd Amendment Solution - Exposed!

Solomon Peña, a defeated candidate for the state legislature, paid people to fire on the houses of four Democratic office-holders, authorities say.

07/31/2022

Bears not sure about Cricket!

09/23/2018

If you have never been on a wine cruise in Europe or if you have ever been on a wine cruise in Europe, this is the one for you!

09/12/2018

SEE EUROPE AND UNPACK ONLY ONCE!

“How,” you ask?
‘On a river cruise,” I reply! You can fly into your embarkation port, be transferred from the airport to the dock, board, go to your stateroom and unpack onetime for a fabulous trip on one of Europe’s many navigable waterways. Prior to the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1992, touring central Europe could be rather tedious, as you either had to fly to your destinations, or go by land transport. With the former you did not get to see the countryside, and with the latter, it meant unpacking and packing many times. Up until the opening of the canal, the rivers were used almost exclusively for commercial traffic, but oh, how things have changed! There is now stiff competition among the companies such as Tauck, Viking, Amawaterways Avalon and Crystal, to name just a few. Not only are they competing for your business with shipboard innovations, such as swimming pools on the recreation deck and modern staterooms, but they are offering thematic cruises, such as wine pairings with an on-board sommelier and noted chef; Christmas voyages to yuletide marketplaces; health and wellness programs; and tours of battlefields, castles and cathedrals. The list is almost endless! Give us a call and we will set you up with an unforgettable trip!

09/05/2018

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS FOR EVERYONE!

Not only do we want to help send you on your way at vacation time, we also want to help you in those very rare instances when something goes wrong so that you do not feel as though you are out there all by yourself.

Several years ago, before I became an agent, I was sailing with some friends in the Caribbean when one became ill. Their agent had provided them with trip insurance, and while the ship’s medical team had done an outstanding job in stabilizing my friend, they were not equipped for hospital level care. The master of the ship called ahead to our next destination, and when we arrived, the port agent had arranged for an ambulance to transfer my friend and his family to a hospital and had also secured lodging for the family. When my friend was finally able to travel, the port agent, working with the insurance company, made arrangements for them to fly home. The cost of the ambulance, the hospital bills, the flight home and transportation to the hospital in his home town were all covered. In addition, they were reimbursed the cost of the unused portion of their trip

With proper insurance, just about any contingency that can impact a trip can be dealt with. So, when you are thinking of taking a vacation, either in the states or abroad, be sure to include trip insurance in your plans, because it’s for everyone!

09/01/2018

GET READY - GET SET - BEFORE YOU GO!

Those of you who have worked with me in the past know I believe that an educated traveler is not only the best client, but is also the happiest (even when things go wrong.) So, with that in mind, I’m suggesting a few simple actions you can take before you start out on your vacation. These basics are so simple to follow, yet so easy to ignore or just to forget:

If you travel with children, remember that they sometimes wander off, so make sure they have identifying information on their person; how you can be contacted; and even where you might be staying.

Make sure you have copies of your travel documents, such as your passport, copies of your medical prescriptions and an extra pair of eyeglasses. I was once on a trip and one of our companions broke his glasses; luckily he had the extra pair else he would have missed out on a lot of what we saw. And, while we are talking about stuff to think of ahead of time, don’t forget chargers for devices and batteries for hearing aids!

Give your family and friends copies of your itinerary. Also, set up a communications plan so you can be contacted should the need arise. If you are traveling with an affinity group, everyone should have everyone else’s mobile number, along with the number of a designated contact person if an emergency arises in your travel area and members of your group can’t communicate with each other.

Remember the Five “Ps:” Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance!

Our thanks to Linda Buckhead and the National Preparedness Community for the above tips!

08/29/2018

YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED NATIONAL RED WINE DAY! TODAY, WE SHOULD MAKE IT INTERNATIONAL RED WINE DAY! What better way than to visit a small vineyard near Chambery, France. Le Cellier du Joudin has been in the family for three generations. A wonderful way to visit the cellars is to take a river cruise on the Rhone, and when the ship ties up at Lyon for two days, rent a car for the hour drive to the foot of the French Alps. When you arrive, tell the proprietors that friends of Pierre and Nadine sent you.

08/25/2018

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT USING A TRAVEL AGENT?

Why would you ever want to use a travel agent, when you can find out all you need to know from the Internet and travel magazines? Chances are that’s correct; but consider that sometimes you just aren’t sure where to go or when’s the best time to go. A few visits to the Internet shows that there are a lot more options to consider than time to do. A travel agent can sift through the “noise” and help you solidify your plans, all while helping you by finding discounts and viable alternatives. And remember, while adding value to your vacation, most travel agents do not charge for their services, and you pay no more to the travel company for using an agent.

08/22/2018

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PLAN YOUR VACATION! Yesterday, I received a phone call from a man who is making plans for his 20th wedding anniversary. He has never been on a cruise before and has never worked with a travel agent before, and was curious about the whole operation. So we took a few minutes and talked about what a travel agent can bring to the process, how important it is to budget properly for the trip and the necessity of travel insurance. While the anniversary trip won't take place for another five years he said he would call me back in four. His name and number are in my cont!act list

08/21/2018

Lunch?

07/08/2017

What happens when I book a group?

There are some cruiselines and destinations that are very popular and sell out a year or more in advance of their journey! As a travel agent, I can reserve a group of rooms on these ships, so that future clients, who might contact me closer to the departure date, can actually get a room on that particular journey. So, when I let folks know I have a ‘group’ of rooms on a ship, it means I’ve reserved them, because I know that destination is popular. It doesn’t mean that everyone who wants to go on that journey has to travel as a ‘group’ – we don’t need to eat together, go on the same tours, or even know each other – it just means I’ve reserved space on the ship. That said, here’s a group I’ve booked for a July 2018 Alaska cruise on the ship shown in the link. This destination sells out very quickly. If you’re interested in this trip, you can secure your place with a deposit of $100 before August 31, 2017. After August 31, the deposit increases to 20% of the total fare. For more details about the trip, give me a call!
http://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ships/co-coral-princess/?cid=bm_paidsearch_BKWS_google_PrincessCoral_coralprincess_Exact_isl&_vsrefdom=mca&mchxkw=c:708533227,k:coral%20princess,m:e,p:1t1,d:c,ai:33823380461,ad:189210777592,s:g&d=c&gclid=CjwKEAjwhYLLBRDIjoCu0te4niASJAC0V4QPUKU2utb2HC7S21UETwLwYpbKGdPPww0zDXHkHvnAqBoC-vLw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Learn about the features and amenities available onboard the Coral Princess, one of only two Princess cruise ships designed to sail through the Panama Canal.

05/16/2017

We'll be talking about this cruise, this Saturday. Come join us! See the invite details on my page.

Avalon Waterways® Suite Ships® offer extraordinary staterooms. Balconies that let the outside in & more space. Explore our river cruise ship video.