Nanatravel

On 7/26/2019 at 2:51 PM, robincorn said:

We used italytours.eu and had the best tour guide/driver of our trip.  We saw Aix, Cassis and the church in Marseille.  We would have seen more of Marseille but we had only 8 hours in port total.  Price was 99 per person and we shared the tour with two other couples.  Used italytours for two other tours in Italy and I can definately recommend them.

 

 

Thank you Robin.  This is very helpful.

On 12/11/2018 at 2:26 PM, digit5 said:

Our group of 4 did a tour with a tour company and had a great time with our guide and driver Simon. He is now running his own tour business and I would highly recommend him. He picked us up in Marseille. From there we went to Aix-en-Provence, followed by a fantastic cliff top view of Cassis, then onto Cassis town, and finally back to Marseille cathedral with panoramic view of the city. His calls his business Simon Says Provence Tours; I'm working on trying to get contact information for him.

Do you have his contact information?  Just Simon, I don't think would do it.  

TIA

Cozumel it is Paradise Beach Club for the water, beach, activities and reasonable fees.  Then you can venture downtown, if you like to shop or just shop at the pier.

Grand Cayman, Royal Palms is nice and fairly reasonable.  Just sand and beach.

Wrong forum for that question but in a nutshell:  Celebrity Special Needs department forms are available on-line and should be requested in advance.  If the water and the power cord aren't in your room upon arrival, just ask your cabin steward.  I would also ask your pre-cruise hotel to obtain some Distilled Water for you.  Don't forget you are also going to need a proper UK plug adapter for the hotel.

20 hours ago, DKNE said:

Looking for suggestions for a hotel that is near a mall, in Charleston. Not necessarily near the port (within 1/2 hr).  Last time we stayed, we were at the Springhill Mariott Riverview downtown. Not impressed by that hotel at all. Thanks 🙂

To my knowledge there are no True malls in historic downtown Charleston.  For lots of name brand stores, you would have to rent a car and go over the Ravenel Bridge to Mt. Pleasant.  These stores would be like TJ Maxx, Harris Teeter, Hobby Lobby (not on Sunday).  I'm sure there are Belks' and other Southern stores.  We stayed at the Charleston Place (parking garage is extra).  It is right in the heart of beautiful historic Charleston. The Craft Market, Horse & Buggy carriages are just a block away.  One block back is their main shopping street with lots of boutiques.  We live in SC but 2 hours away, so don't go into the city often.

We just stayed at the Radisson Resort at the Port and had a Park & Stay package.  Our cars were perfectly fine even though the lot is not gated.  Very quick and easy shuttle service took about 5 minutes from final loading to all of us on the same ship disembarking the bus.  Pleasant shuttle drivers.  Porters knew exactly where their bus was parked upon return, not wasting time trying to find the right bus.

Would do this again in a heart beat.

Not sure what the present pricing is for port parking.  We just booked Park n Go, Eller Drive for $7.99 a day.  Their lot is fenced in open to the elements and has fast and courteous drivers & staff.  We have used them many times and highly recommend this lot.

On 4/20/2019 at 5:20 PM, Sun 4-ever said:

Will be in St. Croix next January and want to go to Sandcastlre beach.  Does anyone know do we need to take a taxi and if so how much they are?  

Which ship and cruise date are you sailing on?  I don't see your screen name on our Celebrity Silhouette cruise.  We hope to go to try Sandcastle Beach first week of February.  Leaving FLL on Jan. 31.  You can find me on the Celebrity roll call board.

On 2/16/2019 at 1:23 PM, reedprincess said:

It's sold at every grocery store, duty free shop (not cheaper than the grocery store), rum shack, etc. 

If you want to pick up a bottle easily, just head to the grocery store downstairs the multi-story  parking garage across from the harbor.

 

And yes, It's Marigot Bay Banana Cream. Pick up the Coconut Cream also, very tasty - add a splash of pineapple juice for an easy Pina colada

I thank you too.  Don't usually buy alcohol while cruising any longer, but this does sound very good.  Love the Coconut Cream sound too.  I can just taste a Coconut Bay Breeze. Yum.

The ES in Palm Beach Gardens is beautiful and their reception was very nice with lots of snacks.  Just stayed at ES in Savannah and their snacks although limited were varied including fruit, salsa and cheese.  

On 3/20/2019 at 2:43 PM, js said:

Is this the Miami or FLL Embassy Suites?
We just were at the Embassy Suites in Boca for my ds's college baseball tournaments and thought the hotel was nice enough if I had to do one night pre cruise in FLL or Miami.  When I looked up Miami's Embassy Suites, it doesn't get as good reviews as FLL.

Has anyone on this thread stayed in the one in Miami for one night?

Thank you.

 

The one near MIA has been reported to be one of the least desirable ES on the East coast.  

Probably Cranberry and Vodka.

On 1/7/2019 at 10:21 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

 

Is it this rate?! The cruise/parking rate?

 

http://www.hamptoninnmiamibrickell.com/cms/specials/result.php

Hi CJ.  Yes it appears to be the same link.  Looking at the web address from my small android phone, I was not familiar with seeing the landing landing words.  I understand it now is shared on other web based blogs but I for one won't post it on public media.  It is very special to me and a great hotel.  We parked there during Hurricane Irma in 2017, and are car was just fine.

Happy New Year.

On 12/1/2018 at 2:17 PM, 138east said:

When you go into Marriott.com, select Boston, and put in your dates,  the Courtyard on Tremont is one of the offerings starting at $211.  There is a heading at the top which offers 3 choices - Standard Rates, Prepay and Save, and Deals and Packages.  Select Prepay and Save, and then member rate and it should ask you to sign into your account.

Thanks so much for all of your assistance.  I couldn't find the Prepay option but have re-booked directly on their website, got a Sr. discount for $233/$229 per night.  Saved us almost a $100.  I had just read a Horror story about booking.com and decided, I could not take the chance of getting bumped.  So glad for your cruise critic help.  

How are things near Tewsbury?  Figure you must be near due to your screen name.  DH will probably be up in Andover next week or so.  Not looking forward to him traveling up there in this Winter weather.  He doesn't even have snow boots any longer.

Thank you to the OP and all of you for sharing your personal and cruise hotel stay related experience.  Just booked a hotel for a family wedding stay on Booking.com (which I've used with no issues) and I just can't take the risk of a change in accommodations.  I re-booked on the hotel chain web site, got a Senior discount and am saving almost $100 for 2 nights.  I usually use Hilton web sites but this time the bride has chosen a Marriott chain hotel.  So glad to have found this thread and taken care of our reservations.

3 hours ago, SteerageJoe said:

 

The best way out IMO depends on that moment of the day - I look at Google Maps or map on my phone to see where the backups are (red lines) then drive to avoid those even if it means driving north via Downtown.  BTW I find Downtown Miami very easy to navigate (unlike the highway system towards the airport!)

Thank you both for your detailed response.  We will be sure to install WAZE also before we sail.  I've printed out your directions and hope for the best.

42 minutes ago, GTO-Girl said:

 

I can’t help you with directions, but just wanted to say...instead of using our GPS we rely on the free app WAZE.  

 

Much, much better and hasn’t steered us wrong yet.

 

 

I did hear that and recommended it to lots of people during our last hurricane.  Many return evacuation routes were impassable.  It helped our neighbors get home.  I'll be sure to have it added to my husband's iphone.

On 11/24/2018 at 11:34 AM, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

You are welcome!  I live a 1 minute walk to the hotel so can help with any questions.  

Question for a local:  I'v stayed at the Hampton Inn Brickell many times as I love the parking availability and safety.  I get their just fine from I 95.  I have yet to find a direct route to return to I 95 North.  Last time, was just after Hurricane Irma and it took us an hour to "get out of town".  Any help you can give would be appreciated.  GPS was useless.

Love the Hampton Inn & Suites Brickell Avenue.  I just booked for the 4th time for next November.  Schedule is open for booking at least until then.  The rate I have is discounted and a very private rate.  It must be booked through a special link.  If you wish, I will share it, but only in private email; nanatravel at sc coast dot net.

20 hours ago, 138east said:

When you go into Marriott.com, select Boston, and put in your dates,  the Courtyard on Tremont is one of the offerings starting at $211.  There is a heading at the top which offers 3 choices - Standard Rates, Prepay and Save, and Deals and Packages.  Select Prepay and Save, and then member rate and it should ask you to sign into your account.

Thanks I'll give that a try.

On 11/26/2018 at 5:30 PM, 138east said:

Www.Marriott.com - Marriott rewards is a free membership with no strings - don't have to buy stock or get a credit card

Thanks.  I had the membership at my old address in MA/NH.  Got a new # one for this trip.  Didn't have many points to speak of anyway.  I can't find a Pre-pay option.  Does it come up when you go to finish the reservation?

34 minutes ago, 138east said:

Did you check the prepay direct booking rate at the Marriott Tremont?  For Oct 6 I'm seeing a much lower prepay rate for Marriott members. 

 

No I didn't.  I have not used Marriott rewards in years since the Ice Freeze of 2010 or earlier!  Decided to sell after that.

Which web site to I go onto?

2 hours ago, 138east said:

For starters look at the Park Plaza on lastminutetravel.com for $186 plus tax refundable.

Only issue is the wedding is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott on Tremont and I would prefer to stay where our family will be staying.  I love the Park Plaza and know it's not too far away.  I will be wearing a formal outfit and don't want to have to bring a more dressy coat.  What I still have in SC is wool with fur, so much more wintry.  Thanks for the hint though.

Great advice 138east.  We have a wedding to attend in downtown Boston on Oct. 6.  Even the bridal group booking rate is $289 plus about $60+ in taxes.  I booked a cancel able rate, so will watch for rates to drop.  Being from the area, I doubt it will happen with colleges having home coming events and it being peak Foliage season.  The Seaport Hotel is beautiful.  I've held events there before retirement.

5 minutes ago, clochette said:

yes you can get a seabreeze, I also got cosmo, martini, long island iced tea.

Great to know.  Thanks for confirming.