blog

New Zealand: modern city combines with the raw power of nature

We just returned from New Zealand, and I will tell you what words I would use to describe it:

• Sunshine,
• Nature,
• Warm, friendly people,
• Cosmopolitan cities,
• and Scenic Beauty!

A Little Goes A Long Way

A friend or family member can set up a gift travel account to have individuals give monetary gifts towards a trip.  It’s really is a cool idea.

Every Vacation Experience is Different (or should be!)

By asking the correct questions, Chris and I, at Korte Travel, are able to drill down to the essence of what clients really want to do during that precious vacation time.  We create an entire experience around those details and expectations.

Shopping & Networking: My Two Favorite Things

Chris & I had a terrific experience working with a dynamic group of women who together produced the “What Women Want Holiday” show at the Melville Marriot.  We called ourselves the “8 Diamonds”.  The show was an intimate boutique experience for attendees who were both shopping and networking.

Travel Talk on Facebook

This article really made me think. I usually try to post info about a trip live while it's happening, but I don't think that's such a good idea. I probably won't be doing that anymore.

Chris's Travel Ramblings

April 12, 2011  
 
      As part of our continuing education as travel agents, Sheila and I had the opportunity over the past two weekends, to tour two different cruise ships in the NY and NJ harbor. Touring the ships is a very convenient way to get to know the products that we sell, accommodations that are offered and gain knowledge on how each ship might best work for which clients. The first ship we toured was the newly launched Oceania Marina (it launched this past February. Sheila, myself and over 500 other travel agents were treated to an onboard reception followed by a self-guided tour of the ship, staterooms and topped off with a sumptuous five-course luncheon complete with wine and caviar.
    The Marina is in the luxury class with 625 spacious staterooms (1250 passengers) and a crew of 800. This new ship has all the amenities you would expect aboard a modern cruise ship with a much higher level of presentation. There is a Canyon Ranch Spa, Monte Carlo style casino, English-style library, nine different types of bars and lounges. There are also six separate and distinctive specialty dining venues to choose from besides the beautiful main dining room. Nightly entertainment cabaret-style shows and musical reviews are performed in the cozy theatre. The appointments throughout the ship were spectacular starting with the Lalique crystal sculptures in the Grand Foyer and the main dining room to the suede walls and plush fabrics located throughout the ship.
    One of the most impressive sights on this upscale vessel was the Owners Suite. This luxury suite, of over 2000 sq. feet,  was designed by Ralph Lauren. It spans the entire 105-foot beam in the aft of the ship and a Grand piano sits in the entry foyer. The suite has a living room, private dining area, master bedroom with Jacuzzi, exercise room with cardio equipment, second Bathroom for guests, and a veranda that wraps around the entire suite (approx. 120 ft.) with lounge chairs, an outdoor Jacuzzi and TV. English Butler service is included with this luxurious suite.
    Marina departed NYC on April 3rd enroute on its repositioning cruise to Barcelona via Bermuda. This gleaming new vessel will spend the summer visiting ports in the Mediterranean and Northern and Western Europe before repositioning this fall to visit destinations in the South Pacific including Australia and New Zealand. We spent a wonderful few hours aboard this luxury vessel and became well acquainted with all it had to offer. If you want to experience unique itineries, lavish and comfortable ship decor and impeccable service,  I would highly recommend sailing aboard the Oceania Marina. All of this and there are no formal nights. The dress code onboard is country club casual. Contact us to make your travel plans. To take a virtual tour of the Marina, click the link below. Let us know your thoughts after you take the tour.

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2011/02/oceania-cruises-marina-cruise-ship-photo-tour-inaugural/142018/1

Chris
KorteTravel.com  
www.tinyurl.com/kortetravel
www.twitter.com/kortetravel

Chris's Travel Ramblings

March 21, 2011

     Good morning fellow travelers: 

The past week has been for me an immersion into the world of Social Media.  I have learned that the abilities of Face Book “friends” and twitter “tweets” combined with email and how the mighty worldwide web can very quickly introduce you and your business to the awesome sometimes, daunting universe of the connected world. I have rediscovered friends and acquaintances I haven’t connected with since high school and for me that was forty years ago. 

     Finding myself a little timid about the whole exposure process, I have not as yet shared much of myself on my profile page. I even learned from a friend that I was giving the wrong information about how to find my blog. So I’m a work in progress as far as social media goes.

 My wife Sheila, on the other hand took to this new form of communication like a “duck to water”. She understands it and is comfortable with all of the new etiquette and protocol as well as the lingo. You are looking at a guy who still addresses his text messages and signs them “dad” at the end. I can see my daughter and son giving me an eye-roll right now.

     I do understand the obvious benefits. That by staying in touch with those close to you, your Friends & Fans, you can increase your circle of acquaintances and in the case of a business hopefully gain potential clients. This can lead to more knowledge, shared ideas and one could only hope, a peaceful and more connected world. 

     As we all welcome the arrival of Spring this week, we will find many more reasons to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. Of course warm weather is always the beginning, for me, of the yearly battle with my lawn and yard. I won’t find any social media application to make my lawn greener or weeds disappear. Only hard work and elbow grease combined with a few chemicals can produce maximum results. I have found after years of being bored or despising the monotonous tedium of working the yard that wearing an iPod can provide hours of relief. Moving a radio around never worked well for me, as I could never seem to hear it no matter how long the cord was. Now I just plug in my earphones tune out the world and surround myself with music. And since my iPod is also my iPhone, I’m still connected to all my friends, fans, email, texts, tweets and phone calls. Don’t be annoyed if I don’t answer. How many ways are you connected?

To connect and exchange ideas & info with Sheila and I, please follow these links.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KorteTravel  - Drop us a tweet & please follow us.

Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/KorteTravel -  When you get there please like our page.

Thanks in advance to all for doing that. 

Stay in touch and thanks for stopping by, 

Chris

Chris's Travel Ramblings

Hi, everyone! Happy St. Patty's Day and welcome to my first blog. You have all most likely heard the saying “To love what you do you have to do what you love.” Well I have had the privilege for almost forty years to work at two jobs that I love. First as an Air traffic Controller in the US Army, the same exciting job at JFK airport, and for the last almost thirty years as a Treasury Broker at a worldwide bank brokerage firm. Whether directing pilots to a safe course of flight or connecting bank buyers and sellers of cash at the best available rates, I have spent 90% of my working career in one form of “customer service” or another. The benefits have been many especially in the number of people I have had the privilege to work with both colleagues and clients (friends) during that long span of time.