Chilean Wine Travel

So much wine and so little time. Wine and travel go together like yin and yang, Rocky and Bullwinkle, or peanut butter and jelly. Part of the adventure of travel is learning and trying local cuisine. And shouldn’t that experimentation include enjoying the local wines? I love wine tasting. It’s not just trying new wines, but visiting wineries and meeting with winemakers’ is a wonderful way to learn more about the local people, history and culture. One of my favorite wine tasting destinations is Chile.

Chile is one of the top wine producing countries in the world. The hot summers and cool ocean breezes make it an ideal grape growing region. And like California, France, Australia and other wine producers, there are numerous wine regions and micro-climates that influence the type of wine produced.

That unique viticulture combined with it's incredible sites and activities and Chile is a perfect destination for wine lovers.

Would your wine group like to do some in-depth wine exploration? Just like the San Francisco Bay Area, Santiago is close to numerous regions and wineries. The Maipo Valley, Aconcagua Valley, Casablanca Wine Region, Colchagua Valley to name a few are all within easy driving distance of the Chilean capital. Whether you want to stay in Santiago and day-trip it to various wine districts, or spend a few days in each region on an in-depth tour, your wine group will find lots to love and sip!

Have more adventure on your mind or want to experience more of this diverse country? Chile has something for everyone.

Are you a ski group? Top rated ski resorts in the Andes will keep you busy during the day and your group can enjoy Chilean wines après ski.  Where else can you ski on active volcanos? And bonus - you can ski year-round, since Chile’s winter is our summer!

Do the wilds of Patagonia appeal to you? Whether it’s jaw-dropping beauty or an adventurous spirit, the icy glaciers plunging into emerald lakes and the Andes' dramatic peaks ascending into swirling clouds and mist will attract Spend a day getting acquainted with the quirky Magellanic penguins congregating on Isla Magdalena, hike or bike the forests of Tierra del Fuego or kayak through the Lake District. And a lakeview balcony is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a busy day.

Is your group interested in history and culture? Chile’s cultural scene is as diverse as it’s landscape. Check out the bohemian lifestyle of Valparaiso, explore the museums and galleries of old Santiago, learn about Chile’s state-sponsored German immigration in the Puerto Montt region. And, enjoy the region’s wine (or German beer!).

Whatever your passion, you’ll find so much to experience. And you can pair your adventure with scrumptious wine.

What part of Chile would your group like to explore?

Call 888-429-1929 or email travel@sevenwondersgrouptravel.com today to get started. Remember, we manage the details – you experience the details!

Your Dream Vacation for Free!

Would you like to experience your dream vacation for free?

A wine cruise through France? Experiencing the Australian Outback? A luxury cruise on the Mediterranean? Exploring the Great Wall?

Whatever your dream vacation is, you can travel for free… just pull a group together!

Cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators offer complimentary travel and/or credits when there is a group (the minimum varies depending on the trip, but usually 10 - 15). An expert, group travel planner can help you maximize these incentives to result in free travel.

Here are some ideas to get a group together for your dream destination:

• Plan a vacation with friends (just for fun!)
• Suggest a trip with your clubs or places you frequent (golf, book or wine club, yoga studio, cooking school, theatre, etc.)
• How about a class reunion or alumni gathering at a destination other than the old campus?
• Propose a family reunion (your family members will love you for it)

People with similar interests love to spend time together and what better way to bond than during an unforgettable vacation. Your group can share experiences wherever you want to go in the world and enjoy the activities you like to do – cooking, wine, adventure, art, sports, relaxation.

Amenities and free travel for you, the trip of a lifetime for you and your group.

Where do you want to go for your free dream vacation?

Call 888-429-1929 or email travel@sevenwondersgrouptravel.com today to get started. Remember, we manage the details – you experience the details!

Do Travel Professionals Travel for Free?

I get asked, or it is even assumed that travel consultants travel for free. I only wish. Way back when, travel agents did receive free travel perks but those have gone the way of dial phones and VW buses.

However, we are frequently offered discounts, some of which are pretty darn good – especially if we’re educating ourselves

Probably the most misunderstood discount, is the familiarization trip or “Fam”. These are tours or hotel stays that are offered to educate us about regions, properties, tours, etc. frequently offered by tourist bureaus such as the Hawaii Visitors Bureau or India’s Travel Ministry. These involve staying at one or more properties and touring or experiencing different activities that a variety of suppliers present.

These are not vacations. They are extremely structured and usually very, very busy (exhausting). Offered once or twice/year during off season, there isn’t much downtime - even meals are scheduled to maximize exposure to as many different providers as possible. But, they are very educational and helpful and usually well worth the time and effort. Besides, even if it is work, it is still travel! Agents are usually asked to share accommodations and the cost to us is usually low or subsidized. Airfare and travel costs are at the agent’s expense. I try to attend one/year, but since I have to work around the timing of the Fam sometimes schedules collide.

Another type of discount offered to travel professionals is when a ship or property offers to host a meeting or convention. Depending on the organization, they will offer discounted or sometimes comped rooms to the organization. This is what Club Med did for the mastermind retreat I attended last week. Our rooms were very deeply discounted (we did have to share) and they didn’t charge for the meeting rooms. Because this is an all-inclusive property the only additional cost to our members was our airfare. In turn, we spent a half-day learning about Club Med and touring the property. Again, even when I’m working, I get to travel and experience something new.

The proverbial “Travel Agent Rate” is the free travel or deep discount that everyone thinks we get all the time, but it isn’t exactly what they think it is. Many cruise lines, resorts, hotels will offer discounts to travel professionals during off-season or when sales are slow. Sometimes they are offered last minute – to try and fill space. Others are offered seasonally. If your schedule works with the dates, these are discounts that can be used for personal travel. The suppliers, frequently, will extend the discount to a travel companion. The caveat to this is that often times a sale price, being offered to the public, might be better than the agent discount. I’ve never used one, because they’ve not been available when I want to use them, but a nice perk when the timing is right.

Some suppliers will offer deep discounts to travel professionals for completing certain educational requirements for their product. I took advantage of this a few years ago when Princess offered a free cruise after completing a pretty rigorous training program. I was fortunate to score a South American cruise – pretty awesome! It was my first trip to South America and I was so impressed, I have returned several times both by land and sea. I had to pay my own travel expenses but what an awesome trip. Not only did I get to enjoy the cruise, I was introduced to a part of the world I had not previously experienced.

So, there you have a brief round-up of the discounted benefits that travel professionals receive. While they tend to be tied to an educational requirement, what other profession lets you earn your CEUs all over the world? Did I mention, I love my job?!

Where would you choose to go for your travel education?

Toucan in the Yucatan?

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of my favorite destinations. Warm sea breezes, friendly Mexican people, delicious food and drink, spectacular diving, and the ancient Mayan culture. Whether you are a foodie, a culture aficionado or active adventurer, the Yucatan has it all. Oh, and as a side note it has beaches. Lots and lots of beaches.

Cozumel, an island just off the tip of the Yucatan is part of the second largest reef system in the world and one of the greatest snorkeling and diving sites to be found anywhere. The famed Palancar Reef is a magnet to divers, but there are plenty of snorkeling opportunities if you aren’t a certified diver. Chankanaab Beach, located inside the national marine park is the perfect place to spend a day snorkeling, kayaking and enjoying the sun and sand.

If culture and history is your thing, this region was a central part of the Mayan Civilization and there are many ruins and archaeological finds throughout the region. Merida, considered the cultural capital of the world is beautiful city and the best place to learn more about the architecture and culture of the Mayans. Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World is near Tulum and an easy daytrip from Cancun or via the ferry from Cozumel.

Forests and jungle are prominent inland for the wildlife lovers and yes, there are toucans!

Want to soak up some sun and be pampered all day? The Riviera Maya, the coastal corridor stretching from Cancun to Tulum, comprises several resort towns including Playa del Carmen, Xcarret, and Puerto Morelos. Resorts abound and cater to distinct and diverse clientele from clothing optional all-adult to family friendly inclusive of child-care to destination wedding resorts with on-site wedding planners.

The Yucatan Peninsula is also an excellent option for groups. It can meet the needs of all sizes from a small tequila tasting club to a corporate incentive group. The resorts that specialize in meetings can provide team building activities as well as meeting space. Many resorts are romance specific – great for destination weddings, and multi-generational families can enjoy family resorts with childcare and clubs for the younger set.

Would your group like to go to the Yucatan?

Traveling Unchecked

Full disclosure, I hate to check bags. I’m one of those people always on the look-out for packing ideas and reading articles such as “Around the World With One Suitcase” or “Cruise 90 Days With Only A Carry-On”. OK – I made those up.

I will check a bag when I need many different types of clothing in one trip, such as a cruise with formal nights, or a trip with multiple climate changes. However, if I can get by with one carry-on piece, I’m a much happier traveler. It’s liberating and more convenient. There isn’t always a porter around, the airlines lose or delay bags too often (in another article I’ll tell you about the time my checked bag caught up with my eight day cruise on day six!), and if you want to stand-by or change to a different flight, it is much easier without checked luggage.

Here are some of my suggestions for traveling “unchecked”.

1. Wear or carry your jacket instead of packing it.
2. Use a backpack or roomy purse as your “personal” item. This is the item that is stowed under the seat in front of you. You can pack your toiletries, jewelry, and electronics in your personal bag and have more room in the larger bag for clothes and shoes.
3. Pick your shoes first and then your clothes, rather than matching shoes with outfits. Select a shoe color that coordinates with a lot of pieces. Neutral shoes such as black or tan are more versatile. It may be boring, but almost everything will go with black. I change things up with bright scarves, pashminas and tops to go with black pants or skirts. Gentlemen can flex with shirts and ties.
4. Select items that can be worn more than once. Pants that will work for daytime with a tee and then dressed up with a smart top or nice tie for evenings, for example. And plan to wear items more than once. Don’t try to have a different ensemble for every day.
5. One pair of shoes in the bag. Wear “walking” shoes during travel and have a pair of sandals or dressier shoes for occasional wear. This is the hardest part for me to do! But, shoes take up a lot of space.
6. Packing cubes. These are great, not only for saving space but for corralling some of the smaller items in your wardrobe such as undergarments and socks.
7. Roll instead of fold. Clothes will take up less space. And, bonus, the wrinkles are fewer and shake out easier.
8. Toiletries. Take only the minimum you can get by with. Personally, I don’t take hair products, body lotion, etc. I’m not picky, I’ll use whatever the hotel or ship provides. I do take my own face lotion, but I “make do” with one instead of my usual two. Everyone has a different tolerance level for this, so peer into your toiletry bag and see if you can’t manage a few days with a substitute here and there. When possible, buy items such as sunscreen and bug spray at your destination, instead of packing them.

Hope some of these ideas help you out on your next trip. And enjoy traveling “unchecked”!