In May of this year, Travel Consultant Christine Hakenjos sailed to Alaska on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of The Seas. She, along with her fiancé and 14 of his family members, departed out of Seattle for an Alaskan Cruise they would never forget! Keep reading for her experiences in Alaska and her thoughts on the ship itself. 
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​We boarded the ship on Friday, May 24th after spending the evening prior in Seattle. We arrived at the Cruise Terminal and boarded Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The check in at the terminal was a breeze! We had completed our check in process before we even arrived in Seattle. I highly recommend doing this!
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​Our itinerary was absolutely wonderful! Although I will say, after this cruise I DEFINITELY want to see more of Alaska! This 7-night cruise featured stops to Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia. We also had two days out at sea and one day cruising through Alaska’s Inside Passage as well as one day cruising through Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. 

​I will be honest, I was a bit bummed at first that we were only going to have 3 days in port, but after experiencing the views from our balcony stateroom during our days cruising, I totally changed my mind! I swear we could have sat out on that balcony for HOURS.
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​With a group of 16, it was hard for us all to decide on the same shore excursions so some of us did different things while in port. All our excursions & tours were booked through a company called Shore Trips because we were wanting smaller group excursions. Everyone LOVED their shore excursions! We all thought our tour guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining. The tours were very well done and worth every penny!
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​On our 4th day of the cruise, we arrived in the small town of Juneau, Alaska. The town was absolutely adorable and has a lot to see and do just within walking distance of the pier. 
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The tour that 8 other members of our group and I went on was the “Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Combo Tour.” ​First, we were taken to Mendenhall Glacier where we were given an hour and half to do what we wanted. We decided to take the mile hike to the foot of Nugget Falls. The views from this point were just stunning! I have never seen a waterfall that big before. The waters of Mendenhall Lake were a mixture of blues and from where we were standing, we could actually see where the fresh water from the lake met the glacier’s run-off. This change in colors was beautiful to see! The glacier itself was unbelievable. I had seen many photos of it from all the research I had been doing prior to the trip but seeing it in person was a whole new perspective. 
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After our visit to Mendenhall Glacier, we were driven to Auke Bay where we boarded our boat and met our very knowledgeable captain and marine biologist tour guides. They were both very insightful and entertaining. They lead us directly to whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and other wildlife while teaching us all about life in Alaska and the habits and lives of these beautiful mammals. 
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Even though we had chances to see whales and dolphins from our ship, seeing them up close and personal like this was a whole other experience! We were all SO glad we took part in this tour!
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​​Two members of our group did the “Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure.” They paddled their way across beautiful Mendenhall Lake leading them to the face of the living Mendenhall Glacier.  

Three other members of our group decided on the “Helicopter and Dog Sled Tour” in Juneau. Their tour began with a 20-minute helicopter ride through glacier-carved mountains to the top of Herbert Glacier where they found about 80 huskies waiting to greet them. The mushers (tour guides/dog sled leaders) then took them on a 2-mile look through the mountains, even letting them drive the sleds!
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​We arrived in Skagway, Alaska, on our 5th day. This was the port that I had been most excited about. There is so much history in this small town! Skagway is best known for the Gold Rush and is still home to gold-rush-era buildings that are now preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. ​Walking the town of Skagway is an experience within itself. While it is a very small town, there is so much to see and do!

​Our group was split into 3 on this day also. Five members of our group went on the “Mt. Riley Nature Hike with Catamaran Cruise” taking them on a scenic boat ride and then to the trail for a hike to the summit of Mt. Riley at a height of 1,760 ft. The trail took them through the temperate rain forest in their almost 5 hours long round trip. From the top, they experienced panoramic views that include the snow-capped Chillkat Mountains. They LOVED their experience on this excursion! 
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Another group of 4 joined the “Yukon Suspension Bridge and White Pass Trail by Jeep” tour for an adventurous trip through the mountains. Each group of 2 was given a 4-door Jeep Wrangler to drive caravan style for the day. Their driving path paralleled that of the narrow-gauge railroad, the White Pass Railway and featured stops to experience many different beautiful mountain views. They also walked the 200 ft long Yukon Suspension Bridge, a pedestrian cable bridge hanging 65 ft above raging rapids of the Tutshi River Canyon. 
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I, along with 4 others, decided to take part in 2 excursions while in Skagway. One in the morning and the other later in the afternoon. We began our day boarding the Scenic Railway of the World on the “White Pass Train and Drive” tour, which took us on a 28-mile journey between Skagway, Alaska and Fraser, British Columbia. The historic train ride took us through breathtaking panoramas of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls and tunnels while we listened to our guides narration of the history of this route. The views from this train were unreal! There were many points in which I looked off the back of the train car and felt as if we were just going to fall right off the side of the mountain. The scenery changed drastically as we rode from Alaska into Canada. 
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Once we reached Fraser, a tour vehicle picked us up and transferred us back to Skagway with stops to Pitchfork Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the infamous Alaska Sign along the way! This tour and our guides were simply amazing! I would recommend this tour to ANYONE visiting Skagway.
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In between excursions, we walked the town of Skagway and grabbed lunch. Afterwards, 6 of us joined the “Speed Boat Fjord Discovery” tour for some thrills on the water! We met our captain and our tour guide and got into our “exposure suits” to protect us from the wind. Our boat was the same type of boat used by the U.S. Navy Seals and Coast Guard and was VERY fast! The tour took us through the Lynn Canal which is North America’s longest and deepest fjord! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and got us up close and personal with many hidden coves, massive waterfalls and a lot of wildlife. We got to see harbor seals and a whole lot of bald eagles and their nests! This was yet another tour that I would recommend to anyone visiting Skagway. It was not only informative but very thrilling all at the same time. 
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​On our last and final day on our cruise we stopped at British Columbia’s capital – Victoria. None of us had booked an excursion for this day because we wanted to explore this city for ourselves. Some visited the infamous Butchart Gardens while the rest of us walked the city and the surrounding parklands. It was such a beautiful day! We walked around and did a bit of shopping since we had the Canadian dollar on our side 😉 I missed out on the visit to Butchart Gardens and after seeing the photos from the other members in our group, I definitely regretted not going! This will be on my list of “must-dos” when I get a chance to go back!
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The food on board our ship was always so delicious, and the service was always amazing. We had a group dinner one evening at the specialty dining restaurant Chopps Grille that I think made everyone’s trip. Our waiter turned the dinner into a full-on dining experience with magic tricks involving the whole group. The goat cheese salad was so good, and I’ve had a craving for it every day since! For dessert, our waiter drew a picture of Joe’s grandmother with chocolate as an early birthday celebration for her. It was a great evening! 
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​Our balcony stateroom really did make our vacation! Waking up and enjoying room service on our balcony as we sailed past glaciers felt like living in a dream. 

Like I said before, this cruise was so amazing and it left my Fiancé and I wanting much more of Alaska! I have never traveled to a destination that immediately had me wanting more, but after the pure beauty we witnessed we are wanting to go back ASAP!

​I am still in complete AWE of what we experienced during our trip and I still find it hard to believe that all these views are right in our backyard! If Alaska is not on your travel bucket list, it should be!!

Nothing is more classic than an annual family vacation to Florida, at least that's what Marketing Associate Brenna Shea thinks. Her family has traveled to Fort Myers, Florida, almost every year since she was little and they have found some of the best spots around. Aside from the relaxing beaches, Fort Myers is full of great restaurants, beautiful nature, and fun activities for all ages. Here are Brenna's Top 5 places to visit in Fort Myers, FL!

If you want an up-close tour of Florida's natural life, an airboat tour of the Everglades is a must! Expect to see alligators and native birds in their natural habitat. It is such a cool experience for any age. You should definitely plan on taking a day tour during your stay in Fort Myers!

The perfect beach vacation should always include fresh seafood with an ocean view. There is a lot of great seafood in Fort Myers, but I think Sunset Beach Tropical Grill is one of the best spots in town! With the beach being a couple steps away, it can't get much more perfect than that!

Live music, food trucks, and craft beer, SAY NO MORE! Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery in Fort Myers and has been around since 2011. They have over 20 beers on tap, as well as brewery tours and events every night of the week! They recently announced their plans to expand to a 40,000 square-foot facility with a tasting hall, event space, an outdoor beer garden and more. I can't wait to see the renovations next time I am there.

Heavenly Biscuits is a local breakfast gem. We discovered this little restaurant on our most recent trip to Fort Myers, and we wish we discovered it sooner! Their claim to fame is their heavenly over-sized cinnamon rolls and biscuit sandwiches. It is the perfect way to start your vacation mornings. If you are searching for the best breakfast in Fort Myers, look no further!

Looking for the most picturesque way to spend your evening in Fort Myers? Take a Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Good Time Charters. Relax and soak in the beautiful Floridian wildlife as you cruise around the Gulf of Mexico. Even not being the biggest fan of boats, this is still one of my favorite things to do in Fort Myers. Have your camera ready when you spot the dolphins and bird rookeries as you watch the sun set!

Call Brentwood Travel at (314) 439-5700 or email us to start planning your next vacation!

Senior Travel Consultant Ashley Curry recently had clients return from a trip to Italy. They were excited to experience the beauty of Italy with their granddaughter, as the trip was to celebrate her recent graduation.
​Read their rave review below!

​Contact Ashley Curry at 314-439-5700 ext. 127 or email her to begin planning your trip to Italy!

wan·der·lust (/ˈwändərˌləst/) noun
A strong desire to travel.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? From beautiful islands to rolling green hills, we want to see it all! We asked our staff and these are Brentwood Travel's current top destinations giving us wanderlust.
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What destinations are giving you wanderlust?
Give us a call at (314) 439-5700 or email us to make your dream getaway come to life

Recently Corporate Travel Consultant Christy Sorth returned home from her birthday trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico, with one of her good friends. They stayed at the all-inclusive Ocean Coral and Turquesa Resort. Christy came back with a great tan and even better stories to share. 

​Christy used Amstar, a transfer service, to get from the airport to the resort. The drive was about twenty to thirty minutes and she enjoyed the ride over. Everything went smoothly, no complaints.

They arrived at the resort around 1 P.M. They found out their room was not going to be available until 3 P.M., but the staff was accommodating. They held their luggage and suggested grabbing lunch and going to the poll while their room was being prepared. Christy suggests packing a change of clothes and a swimsuit in your carry-on bag so you can easily grab those items during your wait.
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There were twelve dining options on the resort, that were all phenomenal. Christy’s favorite restaurant was Le Petite Creperie, that served crepes, salad and pizza.

The resort offered kayaks and two-seater catamarans to their guests daily. They also hosted daily morning bike rides to a local shopping center about a 30-minute ride from the resort, which was right up avid bike rider Christy’s alley. Christy also tried the water aerobics class at the resort.

Besides the activities available on the resort, there were other options for a change of scenery. Christy went on a one-day catamaran ride with about 30 other guests to Isla Mujeres. She spent the day relaxing and snorkeling and felt it was worth the additional cost.

​Every night around 9:30 P.M. there was entertainment for the guests. Christy enjoyed watching the different themed dance performances each night. Their themed shows included Grease, the Lion King, and Dancing with the Stars.
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Christy had an incredible time in Riviera Maya! The room, staff and amenities at the resort all exceeded her expectations. She would recommend the Ocean Coral and Turquesa Resort for families, younger couples or anyone wanting an all-inclusive experience in Mexico on a budget.
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Travel Consultants Maggie Groene & Rachel Madigan recently returned from sailing Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Vista. The two enjoyed their time aboard and in Costa Maya and Cozumel. They enjoyed the delicious food, friendly staff and beautiful views. Keep reading for a recap of their trip and their tips for first-time cruisers.

Every part of the check-in process went smoothly. They did not have any issues and were quickly checked in and on the ship. Maggie and Rachel spent the day exploring Galveston, Texas, before boarding the ship.​ This trip was Rachel’s first time cruising. Her first impression of ​Carnival Vista was that the ship was very large, but upon boarding, she did not feel overwhelmed by the size. One of the first things they saw upon boarding was the atrium, which featured a Dreamscape funnel with various images projected onto it throughout the entire trip.

​There was never a moment where entertainment was not at their fingertips, day or night. On the ship there were pools, a water park, IMAX theatre, spas, performances and much more. They loved going to comedy shows at night and taking a trip to the spa during the day. 

There were over 30 different dining options on the ship. Maggie and Rachel dined mostly in the main dining area. The menus in the main dining areas changed daily, so they were able to try a variety of meals throughout the trip and never get bored of the food on board. Their favorite restaurant was Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. Some of their favorite foods on the ship were the chocolate lava cake and 24/7 pizza. 

Carnival Vista offered several bars on board for their 21+ guests. One of Maggie and Rachel's favorites was RedFrog Pub & Brewery, the ship's on board brewery. At RedFrog they tried the craft brews that were made right on the ship and enjoyed the live music and pub games. Alchemy Bar was another favorite spot of theirs for drinks.  They made specialty cocktails that were as delicious as they were beautiful.

The amazing Carnival Vista staff stood out to Maggie and Rachel. They made them feel comfortable as soon as they stepped on the ship and felt taken care of every minute of their trip. Their room steward, the main dining staff, and the entertainment staff were very friendly and provided personable service to every guest. They loved getting a different towel animal in their room every day and collected them throughout their trip. Rachel even brought one back home with her!

When they weren't enjoying themselves on the ship, they spent time on beautiful beaches. They spent a day snorkeling in Costa Maya, and saw sea turtles! They also purchased day passes to Secrets Aura Cozumel to enjoy the many pools and beautiful views at the resort.

1. Purchase a drink package
Opting for a drink package versus paying for drinks individually will save you money in the long run for your trip. These packages give you the option for unlimited soda, beer, wine, spirits, and more depending on the package you decide to purchase.

2. Book a balcony room
Balcony rooms give you the option to get fresh air and enjoy a view of the water without having to leave your room. Rachel felt that for her first time cruising, the balcony room was a great option that make her feel the most comfortable.

3. Download the Carnival Hub app
This was a game changer for Maggie and Rachel’s trip. If you plan on sailing with Carnival, make sure to download this app! They were able to view their daily itineraries, menus, entertainment and even get pizza delivered to them anywhere on the ship all from their phones! You can also use the app before your cruise to book shore excursions, schedule dining reservations and schedule spa treatments.

4. Pack for formal/themed nights
Make sure to check your itinerary while packing to make sure you bring the proper attire for any themed or formal nights. 

​5. Bring certain items to avoid heavy on-board costs
Be sure to pack items such as sunscreen, seasickness remedies (bands, pills, or patches), and the allotted number of approved beverages to keep in your room. These items can have high prices on board, so you can save money by picking up and packing these items before your trip.