Peru - My Final Days

Day 6

Today we explored historic Cusco It's a really neat town with a great local market. You could find everything here to include fruits, vegetables, meats and some of my travel companions found local serums for success and love! I am excited to check back with them to see if it worked.

At night we went to the Cusco Planetarium to look at the night sky from a different view. We had a presentation on the southern sky, contemporary astronomy, and the ancient Inca relationship with the cosmos. Afterwards we used there telescopes to admire the stars. We were fortunate enough to see three planets – Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. My favorite was seeing the SouthernCross for the first time which you can only see in the Southern Hemisphere.

Day 7

It's time to wrap up my journey. I flew from Cusco to Lima. Then after heading back into Lima for a final Peruvian dinner back to the airport for an overnight flight to Miami. You have a choice of overnight in Lima and taking a flight the next day or the red eye.

This was amazing adventure and Peru is a truly magical destination.  I traveled with a wonderful company that offers lower cost group trips and can make Peru accessible to all budgets.  I would love to tell you about it! 

Here are my travel tips when traveling to Peru:

-Drink plenty of water! You are at a very high elevation. Dink only bottled water.

-Take it easy... when you first arrive Cusco walk at a slow pace. Allow your body to get acclimated with the altitude.

-In case of altitude sickness, rest well during the first days avoiding physical strain; drink tea with coca leaves or take coca pills.

-Purchase your food at restaurants, avoiding street food.

-Regardless of the season and the area of Peru you are visiting, it is advisable to carry warm clothes, loose pants, cotton tops, hiking footwear, good sunblock and a hat (to protect you from the sun and the cold). Dress in layers.

-Nearly every place accepts either soles or U.S. dollars. So don’t panic if you only have American currency. Your bills must not have any cuts or tears in them – they won't accept it even with this smallest tear.

- You must bring your passport to get in to Machu Picchu. You can also get a novelty passport stamp to remember your amazing experience.

-Of course – contact your travel advisor! I can't wait to tell you about my amazing journey and book you to Peru.

Peru - The Adventure Continues

Day 3

Today I had a full day of touring the amazing Sacred Valley. The three major highlights included the pre-Inca salt pans of LasSalineras, Ollantaytambo and Moray Ruins. In this area there are two fabulous Virtuoso hotels to consider – Sol Y Luna and the Belmond Rio Sagrado.

Day 4

We were up and ready to go very early to the Ollantaytambo station to board the train to Aguas Calientes or “Machu Picchu” town.  This town is the closest access point to the historical site of Machu Picchu.  The only way to get to here is by train. There are a few options including the Peru Express or for a more upscale and interactive experience the Vista Dome and the famous Hiram Bingham. 

The rest of the day we spent wandering the town, took a lovely walk to a butterfly farm and tasted the local cuisine which of course including sipping on Pisco Sours!  Here you have two amazing hotels to consider – the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge  and Inkaterra. Just ask... I will tell you all about them.

Day 5

Today was the day I was waiting for – Machu Picchu. We were ready to go for an early morning start – 6:00AM. Here you get in the que for the 25 minute bus ride to the entrance. Having a guide was well worth learning all about this spectacular destination. I would definitely recommend a hike up to the Moon Temple and Sun Gate.   

I have been very fortunate to travel the globe and this will always stand out as one of the most breathtaking, spiritual and "awe" moments of my travels.  If you considering a trip to this spectacular destination I recommend you start thinking about traveling to Peru sooner than later.  There is talk in the next couple of years that parts of Machu Picchu will be closed and you will not be able to explore it in it's entirety. 

Fun Facts: 

-Machu Picchu is built on 2 fault lines. However, the construction protects it whenever Peru suffers an earthquake. The stones of Machu Picchu are reputed to “dance” or bounce during an earthquake and then fall back into their rightful place.

-Most visitors race to arrive before dawn to be one of the first 400 people eligible to climb the famed Huayna Picchu peak. But lesser known is Machu Picchu Mountain, which lies at the opposite end of the site and is twice as tall at 1,640 feet.

-In 1911, Hiram Bingham was a history professor intent on finding the last place where the Incas of Vilcabamba were. Guided by a young boy from Mandorpampa, Bingham arrived at the ruins and thought this is the place where the Incas were established after losing their territory. It wasn’t until after his death in the 1950s that the real Vilcabamba was discovered further west of Machu Picchu citadel.

Peru

Day 1

Off to Peru I go... how to get there? I took the overnight flight (2:00AM) from Miami to Lima arriving at approximately 6:40AM. I spent my morning at the Belmond Miraflores Park which is an outstanding hotel. Taking my own advice I arranged a spa appointment to relax and get over jet lag. After a wonderful lunch I had a private tour of Lima to learn as much about the city as I could in such a short amount of time. Money and time well spent. 

Day 2

After an early (and short)  flight from Lima we arrived Cusco. This is where the adventure begins. I have the pleasure to be traveling with our Virtuoso partners G Adventures and learn about their Planeterra initiative. This is a global movement to make tourism sustainable, to minimize impacts on the environment, local people and cultures and offer economic benefits to local businesses and communities. Click here to learn about this amazing project.

The second stop was for lunch at Parwa which is another Planaterra project. This is a community run restaurant to provide access to the tourism market for the first time to a small village. Lear more  here . Our farm to table lunch was delicious. Fun fact - did you know there are 3500 varieties of potatoes in Peru?

Our day ended with our first glimpse of the Sacred Valley – all I can say is WOW! Stay tuned for more of my adventure. 

A Sweet Getaway

As a Travel Advisor we really want to assist our clients with all of their travel plans, even the weekend getaways. I believe the Weekend Getaway is equally as important as the “big trip.” It's about taking time away from the daily grind, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying a change of scenery.

Joey's First Big Roller Coaster 

Rides for all ages 

Recently I met my sister from Boston in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey is a fabulous getaway for a one or two night stay from numerous points along the East Coast. To stay busy you have Hershey Park, Hershey Museum, Gardens, Zoo America and Chocolate World. The Hotel Hersey is my favorite option in town. This grand hotel has both an indoor and outdoor pool, award winning spa (chocolate massage anyone?), live entertainment on Saturdays and excellent dining. After

Which one do you choose?

a busy day exploring this chocolate-lover’s paradise, I recommend unwinding with one of Hotel Hershey’s decadent martinis. My favorite is the Chocolate Martini, a sweet ending to a perfect stay! 

While I had been to Hershey many times before, this time I experienced the Historic Trolley Tour.  I learned about the history of Milton Hershey and have a huge admiration for this inventive man.  I encourage you to read more about the Hershey Story.  

As a guest of McCabe World Travel, a proud member of Virtuoso you will also receive the following amenities at the Hotel Hershey:

-Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

-Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guest

-$100 USD Equivalent Resort or Hotel credit, (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full,not applicable towards past stays. groups or conventions)

Let me help you plan your next Sweet Getaway. 
Jessica@mccabeworld.com
703-762-5056

Holiday Travel - Go Early!

Now that that the holidays are long past, I have been reflecting on my travel over the past few months. As a Travel Advisor, we always have a push for last minute holiday bookings. You would be surprised to know the amount of people who want to travel either over Christmas (more popular the day after) through New Years. It is a time when many businesses are slow and children have their winter breaks. It's wonderful to get away with your family this time of year; however, rates are at a huge premium and availability becomes limited very quickly. My suggest for you is to either book now, or consider traveling in early December.

Early December is a wonderful time to travel. It's before the holiday rush, outside of hurricane season in the Caribbean, and you often get great value. Also, many destinations are decorated for the holidays. This past year, I had two opportunities to travel that certainly got me into the holiday spirit.

Late November I traveled to Disneyland in California. The parks were beautifully decorated complete with trees, holiday music and “Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink.” Many attractions are upgraded with a holiday theme. For example The Haunted Mansion is transformed with inspiration from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and “It's a Small World” becomes a spectacular attraction with international holiday traditions.

Consider Disneyland for a first time Disney experience. Everything is walkable, no need for transportation, and with just two parks across from each other it can be a much more manageable experience for the first Disney experience. For those who have been to Disney World it's wonderful to experience Walt's original dream and how it transformed.

I also traveled to the Four Seasons Jackson Hole in early December. The resort was warm, cozy, and full of Christmas spirit. There are so many activities to choose from - snowmobiling, dog sledding, animal safari and skiing.

I consider myself an average skier and felt completely comfortable on the mountain. Jackson does not have a big local drive market like Vail, which makes the mountain much more manageable. Before the holiday rush you will experience a winter wonderland! 

Lights, Camera Hollywood!

I will have to admit Los Angeles has never been one of my top choices for a long weekend getaway or even a family vacation. Just spending one night in LA I realized I needed at least three more days.  There is just so much to see and do and really something for everybody. 

You can go west to the beaches, north to the Hollywood Walk of Fame or south to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits on Museum Row. Feeling active? Travel east to Runyon Canyon, nestled into the famous Hollywood Hills for some hiking. You can even horseback ride to see the famous Hollywood sign. And don't forget the magic of TV & Movies with a trip to one of the major studios like Universal and Warner Brothers.

Remember these stairs?

With such a short amount of time I called on one of our fabulous Virtuoso partners Tour Du Jour.  Like most of our partners they are private and personalized.  They offer the ultimate experience to discover the true essence of this world class city. 

 
Where to stay?  We have so many fabulous partners with amazing hotels in the different neighborhoods of Los Angeles.  I stayed at the famous Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel.  This quintessential Beverly Hills getaway is just steps from the renowned boutiques of Rodeo Drive.  And when you book through McCabe World Travel you will have no problem using your $100.00 credit. I would suggest the famous Wolfgang Puck's restaurant Cut.  You never know who might be sitting next to you.

Finally... make your way to Disney Land!  But more on that later....

Recognize this church? Not only was this in Sister Act but this is where the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance took place. Name that movie!

Calling All Ladies

Don’t you miss those days of girl sleepovers and staying up all night gossiping about your crush?  I learned this month: it doesn’t have to be over.  But now it can be more grown-up… complete with champagne and a nice hotel bed to myself!

It takes a little more planning now, gathering five professional women with children, husbands, businesses, etc.  Once we picked a date and cleared our calendars, we had months to plan and engage in something that was just for ourselves.

Coming from Boston and DC,  we picked New York City as the perfect meeting ground.   The fun began the moment we boarded the train.  It was amazing to talk to my best friends for four hours without any interruptions or smart phones. When was the last time that happened?

The New York weekend included loads of great food & wine, an afternoon on Broadway to see Wicked (and go back stage!), and of course more food & wine. 

We choose the Plaza for an iconic hotel in a fabulous location.  The  Todd English Food Hall and The Plaza Food Hall are not to be missed.  

Fun fact - Eloise is a series of children's books written in the 1950s by Kay Thompson. Eloise is a girl who lives in the "room on the tippy-top floor" of the Plaza Hotel with her Nanny, her pug dog Weenie, and her turtle Skipperdee. For a special treat don't miss the Eloise Suite designed by Betsey Johnson that provides young children and their families with an unforgettable Eloise experience.

In addition to the Plaza, we spent a morning at The Lowell for a delicious brunch, feeling right at home in this boutique hotel.  Of course we couldn’t leave NYC without having a famous Bloody Mary at the St. Regis!  These are just 3 of the many Virtuoso hotels in New York City where our partnership adds great value.

I love my job and working with families, couples and honeymooners… but don’t forget these very important girl (and guy) getaways.  We all deserve some time off! 

Jessica@mccabeworld.com

703-762-5056