Magical Vacations Travel by Renee

03/12/2024

12/11/2024

Looking to gift an experience this holiday season? It’s not too late to get a great deal on a Disney vacation! Let me know how I can help you surprise your family with an unforgettable Disney holiday experience!

2024 has been a whirlwind, but there’s still time to get your Walt Disney World holiday vacation on the books AND save on your stay!

Save up to 30% on your Disney Resort Hotel stay most nights from November 24-December 25.

PLUS, get Park Hopper perks when you upgrade to a room-and-ticket package for 4+ days!

Reach out to your agent, or request your free WDW quote to see which resorts are still available for the most magical time of the year, at the most magical place on earth!

07/11/2024

Magical Vacations Travel is going places in November!✈️🚢⛱🏰

🤓Which place do YOU want to hear about when we return?

28/10/2024

Let’s talk about the holidays in Walt Disney World! It’s definitely my most favorite time to visit! Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit like Disney!
🎅🏻🎄❄️
My all-time favorite holiday tradition is the Candlelight Processional in Epcot. This is an annual live Christmas event held in the American Pavilion in Epcot and includes a 50-piece orchestra, a massed choir, and a celebrity narrator who reads the Nativity story directly from the Bible. It is such a moving experience and even though I’ve been multiple times, it still brings me to tears.
Some of the most famous narrators include Dick Van D**e, Rock Hudson, Phylicia Rashad, Neil Patrick Harris, and more! I’ve been lucky enough to see Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia, Jodi Benson ( the voice of the Little Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️), and Marlee Matlin.
There are dining packages available to ensure you get a guaranteed seat.

Some of my other favorite holiday traditions across Walt Disney World include:

🎄Christmas tree resort hopping- each resort has a different themed tree and they are spectacular!

🎠The Gingerbread displays at the Grand Floridian, Yacht & Beach Club, and other resorts!

🍪 The Cookie Stroll in Epcot! A culinary quest for guests who love to sample all sorts of different cookies! If you want to participate, just pick up a Festival of the Holidays Passport- they are free and available all around the park and at both park entrances. Get all your passport stamps and return to the deignated booth to receive your prize.

There are so many holiday traditions waiting for you in Walt Disney World!
What are some of YOUR favorites?

23/10/2024

Several of our agents are eagerly counting down to their own holiday vacation at Walt Disney World!

It’s no wonder why—the most magical place on Earth makes for the most magical holidays.

From seasonal events and performances, to decor, treats and merch, no place can put you in the holiday spirit quite like Disney properties 🎄🎁🎅🏻

21/10/2024

Having travel protection is a MUST. Even during times of the year when it isn’t hurricane season! Here’s an example:

✈️ On our recent trip to Alaska we encountered a flight delay which in turn had us miss our connecting flight. We, of course, had travel protection on the trip so we were able to file claims for trip delay and more! I had a copy of our policy on-hand, which I also provide to all of my clients who book with me, and all of the information was right there for me to begin the process.
Booking your travel through me provides you with an added layer of assistance. I not only filed with the insurance company, I also used the appropriate language with the airline to secure flight vouchers for additional travel ($300 each!) as well as reimbursement for hotel expenses, meals, and additional travel expenses incurred do to the disruption and delay. The value included in the travel protection was well worth the cost!
I recently helped another sweet couple who were traveling during the most recent hurricane who experienced a flight cancellation and was able to guide them and assist them in getting the maximum reimbursement and compensation!



# Magical Vacations Travel by Renee

✨NEW to the MVT Blog!✨

If the storms of the past few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that often, events with the greatest impact are out of our control.

Protect what you can, when you can with basics of how, when and why you should add travel protections to your next vacation package ✈️

🔗 Link below!

https://magicalvacationstravel.com/mvt/do-i-really-need-travel-insurance/

26/09/2024

It’s a new week with new specials from Sandals and Beaches! Check out these 7-7-7 deals and a last-minute travel deal!
Reach out to me with your dates!

20/09/2024

We got off the ship and headed out to Fisherman’s Wharf- a quick 10 minute walk. We got into a water taxi and took it to the Chinatown area. There’s lots of little shops and things to see there, including the smallest alley! From there we continued walking through town popping in and out of small shops and made our way to the Fairmount Empress Hotel. What a stunning property with beautiful gardens, a waterfall and a gorgeous lobby! We saw the honeybee garden where they collect over 3,000 pounds of honey used in the hotel, which is famous for its high tea service.
We decided to sit at the bar where Joe enjoyed an Empress Gin flight and I sipped a lavender haze made with Empress 1908, Empress honey syrup, lemon, soda, & lavender.
After chatting with the bartender, we made our plan for the afternoon- we walked along the harbor watching seaplanes as we began another brewery tour for Joe! Even though I don’t drink beer I wanted him to experience different local craft beers at each stop and incorporated them into all of our sightseeing. It worked out beautifully! We finished up back at Fisherman’s Wharf with some fresh oysters and they were sooo delicious!
We had an amazing day in Victoria, BC. The weather was spectacular and we walked all over and saw so many beautiful areas. I can’t wait to return!

19/09/2024

We had our last sea day yesterday. I had training in the morning which concluded with lunch in Jamie’s Italian. This specialty restaurant is a true reflection of Chef Jamie Oliver’s love of Italian cooking. Featuring a selection of Jamie’s famous antipasti planks and plates, as well as an award-winning kids’ menu and fresh pastas made on-site every day. We both enjoyed our meals and it was time for a little bingo! We didn’t win big, but we had nice, comfy seats overlooking the floor to ceiling windows in the back of the ship during our games. It was another gorgeous day!
We walked around the ship, stopped for an ice cream 🍦 and headed back to our stateroom to relax a bit before dinner.
We had reservations in Chops Grille, a specialty steakhouse on board. Tender, dry-aged beef is the focus of the menu, but in addition to select cuts like filet mignon and bone-in ribeye, you can choose from fresh game, seafood, and poultry, all expertly prepared to your liking. We ordered a bottle of wine that we enjoyed during our chef’s tasting the night before. It was a perfect choice for our meal.
After dinner, we went to the Royal Theater for the 9:30 show of Live. Love. Legs. This Burlesque-style show was entertaining and we loved it. The entertainment is always included on Royal Caribbean cruises and the shows vary depending on the ship.
Tomorrow we arrive in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada and the weather is looking great! We’ll be headed to Fishermans Wharf so stay tuned!

19/09/2024

Our anniversary in Sitka!

19/09/2024

Today was our day in Sitka! We didn’t book any excursions because we wanted to visit a brewery a little out of town and we weren’t docked the entire day. We made our way off the ship after breakfast and hopped on the shuttle to the downtown area for a little souvenir shopping! Of course I wanted to visit the Pure Salt store in town I had read about for some specialty salts to add to my kitchen collection. I always love to pick up locally made items to bring home when I’m traveling and not just a t-shirt. We also picked up some buttery caramels made by a local and I can’t wait to share them with everyone back home! While walking through town we stopped for a snack at this little alley that had a food setup- of course I had to try the King Crab snack- a little 3oz. cup of freshly steamed king crab legs and we got the king crab bisque as well. It was yummy and hit the spot.
We hopped in a taxi and headed for the brewery. Joe enjoyed his beer there!
We headed back to town and stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall place called Sitka’s Burger & Crab Shack where I enjoyed some locally caught king crab- yummy!
We went back to the ship and decided to visit the Thermal Suite at the spa- our pass is good all week from open to close and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the heated loungers and read or take a nap.
We booked the 6-course chef tasting for dinner to celebrate our anniversary and we really enjoyed it! Each course had a wine pairing and they were some really good wines!
Tomorrow is our last at-sea day and my last classroom training. It’s been very informative and I’ve learned some new tips to help my clients make the most of their next Royal Caribbean cruise!

17/09/2024

Our third night sleeping with our balcony door open! It’s chilly but I love it!!
We arrived in Skagway at 7am. Joe and I got up early and went up to the Windjammer for breakfast and specialty coffees- they are included in the beverage package we bought. We decided not to get the drink package because for me, after doing the math, I didn’t think it was worth it. I didn’t want to be chasing that value all the time. It’s definitely a personal preference and for us it depends on the type of cruise we are on. My sea days include some classroom time with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line so the beverage package that included specialty coffees (Starbucks) were a better fit.
We were supposed to take a tour today that included the Yukon Border and suspension bridge. We realized it was going to take up most of our day in Skagway and we decided to cancel it and check out the town instead. I’m glad I did because I love to be able to offer suggestions of things to see,do, and eat/drink locally and today I found some goodies!
Skagway was a surprise for me- it was beautiful! The mountain ranges are stunning and since with sun was out, the beauty was visible from every direction.
We walked around the town and found our first brewery, Skagway Brewing Company 🍻. Joe said it was by far his favorite flight! Their signature beer is the Spruce Tip Ale. The sweet citrus flavor and smooth finish are created using hydroelectric power to combine the flavors of Skagway’s crystal-clear untreated water with hand-picked locally sourced spruce tips. No two brews taste alike! You can enjoy the Spruce Tip Blonde Ale throughout the year because they vacuum-seal and flash-freeze a large batch of springtime spruce tips. I enjoyed a mug of their locally made rootbeer, served in frosted mug that created an icy cap on top- it was delicious!!
We continued through town taking in the sights and specialties this region of Alaska has to offer. We stopped for some Alaskan fry bread and it’s definitely something you want to try when visiting- it’s sprinkled with cinnamon/sugar and absolutely yummy!
We made our way to the Skagway Distillery to sample some cocktails made with their gin and vodka. It’s a little off the beaten path, but well worth the detour. Their signature gin, Bone Dry Gin, is named for the Bone Dry Act of 1917. Their subtlety sweet vodka is distilled using glacial waters from the Juneau Ice Fields, the waters that feed the longest fjord in North America. We both enjoyed our cocktails and were ready to head back to the ship for the Eagles game!
We enjoyed our meal and company in the main dining room. We are sitting with other travel planners also participating in the Seminar at Sea and have enjoyed getting to know them.
Tomorrow is our 30th wedding anniversary and our day in Sitka! I have designed an itinerary for this stop and am looking forward to being able to provide you with any must-dos for you to check out on your Alaskan cruise!

16/09/2024

We woke to smooth sailing as we entered International waters- what a difference from the Pacific Ocean!
We quickly got dressed and headed up on deck to catch some whales welcoming us on our way to Juneau 🐳
I had some additional classroom training this morning before we docked in Juneau so Joe stayed back and backed our day bag while I was in training. As soon as I finished, we headed off the ship to explore a little of Juneau before our tour at 2:30pm. This was the port I was looking forward to the most! I have been following Tracy’s King Crab Shack on instagram for some time now and I couldn’t wait to try them! Our whale watching tour that I booked included the combo meal there so it was a no-brainer.
We visited Alaskan Brewery so Joe could try their Amber Ale 🍻. It’s his favorite so far. We stopped into the Red Dog Saloon to check it out and it was a cool place! It was rainy and windy our entire day but we were determined not to let it bother us. We walked in and out of the shops, tasted Alaskan fudge, drank ice cave blue tea, and bought a few things to take home.
We met our tour operator at the designated spot and headed to the marina to start the whale watch. The seas were a little rough but our Captain Ben and two deckhands, Zoey & Carrie were fantastic! They shared their knowledge of the humpback whales in the area, their names, and some history about them! Although we had to hold on due to the rough seas, rain, & wind, we got some great tail videos and pictures!
After our tour we went straight to Tracy’s King Crab Shack🦀- this is what I had been waiting for! King crab legs is my favorite food and this was the BEST I’ve ever had!! If you are visiting Juneau, Alaska do NOT miss this spot!!
Tomorrow is our day in Skagway! Stay tuned!

15/09/2024

We slept all night with our balcony door open and it was glorious! Listening to the waves, the sea birds, and even some porpoises🐬. The cool crisp air was so refreshing!
I headed to class after we had breakfast in the Windjammer- they had lots to choose from and even designated gluten free options!
Joe had a blast in the sushi making class and now wants to start making at home 😋🍣
We finished our morning training early and I had plenty of time to join Joe in the spa at the Thermal Suite for some relaxation. We enjoyed lunch together and some fresh air on our balcony before parting ways again- he went to the gym and I went back to training. We had guest speakers from NextCruise and the Adventure Ocean program (kids club).
We wrapped up early and I had time for a power nap before heading back to the spa for our 4:30 massages. I’m a spa girl- It’s always one of my favorite things to do on vacation- especially a cruise or all inclusive resort. Pro-tip: the spa usually offers special discounts on port days since most guests leave the ship for excursions. Typically it’s 20% - which I love to take advantage of!
Tonight was formal night. Not everyone dresses up so you don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s totally up to you! We stopped by the Bionic Bar to watch them mix up a few drinks on our way to the theater for tonight’s production.
A solid Day #2! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s adventures in Juneau, Alaska! 🐋🐳🍻

14/09/2024

We had breakfast this morning at the Bacco café right outside of our hotel- it was a great start to our day!
We then strolled the neighborhood surrounding the hotel and took another walk through the Market since it was not crowded. It gave us a chance to figure out the yummies we’ll be shipping home when we return from our cruise! The vendors work together to pack all of your purchases and ship it overnight to you all together. The nectarines and peaches we had this morning were sooo yummy 🍑.
We also got to see them throw the fish when someone was buying salmon!
We decided to head to the port a little early and had no problem boarding ahead of schedule. We sailed right through security (pun intended 😂) and were completing our required muster station in no time!
We then headed up to the spa to take a tour of the Thermal Suite and see what kind of specials they were running. The Thermal Suite is a haven for relaxation inspired by traditional Turkish Baths. Aromatic steam and sauna grottos, heated chaise lounges, and shower features anchor a journey to relaxation and renewal. You purchase a pass that is good for the entire cruise and you are welcome to go in/out as much you’d like- no reservation required! We each got a pass and plan on visiting the Thermal Suite daily to experience all it has to offer.
After that we decided to grab some lunch. Our room was ready by 1pm and we met our stateroom attendant, unpacked a bit and relaxed on our balcony.
It’s been a great first day! We’ve had smooth seas and it doesn’t even feel like we are moving.
Tomorrow is a sea day as we make our way to Juneau for our first port day on Sunday.
I’ll be in some training during the day and Joe is going to a sushi-making class!

13/09/2024

We flew into Seattle a day before our cruise leaves-I always recommend that because you never want to run the risk of not arriving to the port on time. A new airport is always intimidating-especially one under construction.
After retrieving our luggage, we hopped in an Uber and headed to our hotel, Inn at the Market. We were fortunate enough to be upgraded to a Waterview room and it is beautiful!
This hotel consist of 79 well appointed rooms and they have a rooftop patio where they invite you to bring a cocktail up and enjoy the views of the Olympic mountain range and the glittering waters of Elliott Bay.
What an amazing location! Walking distance to everything and especially the Pike Place market I loved it there! Halfway through and I was already wishing we had arrived an extra day earlier.
It’s dahlia season on the west coast and they are on full display at the market. I can’t wait to go back after our cruise to get some bouquets to take home! We stopped at Old Stove brewery so Joe could try some local beer and we enjoyed some of the freshest oysters I’ve ever had! We met a nice couple at the bar and it turns out they will be on our cruise also!
The front desk receptionist recommended Cutters for dinner. It was delicious! Pro tip- if you are a Costco member by the Landry’s gift card ($79.99 for a $100 value)- you can use it at Cutters as it’s part of the brand. It’s always nice to save a few bucks where you can. Joe had the fish and chips and I splurged on my first Alaskan King crab legs of the trip .
We decided to take a Mariners game since we were in town. Adding a new MLB stadium to our list was a must-do! And bonus, it was bark-at-the-park night, so there were lots of cute doggies in attendance 🐶