Travel Junction Inc.

Canyon Country trip

2010-07-20T15:47:00.003-04:00

From Alice, Owner of Travel Junction

I recently went to Phoenix and then on to the Grand Canyon. What a wonderful experience! We stopped in Sedona and had a pink jeep Tour adventure. The tour was off road adventure. The jeep will take you over the rocks of the canyon lands and you will see many rock formations. What a wonderful place to get married. There are 2 trolly tours that take you around the area to see the sites.

We took the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim and spent the night at Maswik Lodge. The property is rustic but the accommodations were like staying at a Holiday Inn. The food was good. There is probably about 5 hotels located at the southern rim. The sunset and sunrises were gorgeous. There was several restaurants where you could eat.

The Grand Canyon had many marked trails to hike and you could even hike to the Phantom Ranch but it would take about 3 hours hard hiking. You can do a mule ride to the Phantom Ranch and spend the night but you have to book about 18 months in advance. The mules are stubborn and like to look over the canyon. I think you need to be young at heart to experience the mule ride.

Before going to the Grand Canyon, we stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for a night. Nice hotel and an indoor pool. The food was adequate and I was told there are several B&B in Williams. There is shopping to be done but the best part is a local diner with wonderful pies. A must to do. Also route 66 goes through Williams. On the train I would reccommend First class seating. Comfortable seats and refreshments.

When you get to the south Rim in the Grand Canyon, there is a motorcoach Rim Tour for 30.00. Do not take it. You can take the free bus and they make the same stops. Only do the rim tour if you are going back to Williams the same day. I suggest staying one or two nights at the south rim if you want to enjoy the Grand Canyon. To see the north rim you must drive about 3 hours and limited lodging available.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Arizona!

Disney Free Dining Extension!

2010-07-20T15:46:00.001-04:00

Good news from Disney! They have extended the free dining to the following dates. Free dining offer now includes August 15-October 7, October 22-28, November 12 to 18, November 27 to December 2 and December 10-21. Free dining is the program where you get one sit down meal, one counter like McDonalds meal and one snack per night stay. Good value for your vacation.

Important Passport Information

2010-07-20T15:44:00.000-04:00

Please pass the word. Passports will go up to 135.00 per adult over 16 years of age on July 13,2010. Passport for children under 16 years of age will go up to 105.00 per child.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip!

2010-07-06T15:22:00.002-04:00

I just got back from Orlando where it is 100 degree and very humid. I went to see Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure. The line was only 30 minutes since I arrived at 6:00pm and many people were leaving. I did Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It was very cool. I did not ride the Flight of the Hippogriff or Dragon Challenge.

People who rode the Dragon Challenge and the Flight of the Hippogriff really liked the rides. Harry Potter fans are in their glory. Do allow time to attend Citywalk in the evening. This is the happening place with restaurants and and live activities on Citywalk. Many of the shows in Universal Studios have changed. ... A few are Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Shrek4-d which was very good and Jimmy Neuron's Nicktoon Blast.

Holland America: Veedam Cruise | Part 4

2010-06-15T16:28:00.000-04:00

I spent a night in New York before boarding the ship for Bermuda. I saw Mary Poppins and really enjoyed the show. Mamma Mia and Billy Elliott were at the ticketthon for half price. The food is always excellent as usual. We stayed at the Edison hotel and had dinner and Breakfast at the hotel. The prices for food were very reasonable but you need reservations for dinner. New York is packed every weekend.

Holland America: Veedam Cruise | Part 3

2010-06-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Holland America is the only cruise ship that docks in Hamilton. All other cruises dock at the dock yards and must ferry or take the buses to Hamilton. It is good value to get day passes for traveling through Bermuda. Bermuda has great golf courses and good golfing but very pricy.

Holland America: Veedam Cruise | Part 2

2010-06-15T16:26:00.003-04:00

The beaches are small and you must take public transportation to get to the beaches. The stores on Front Street are not good shopping. On Wednesday night there was a street fair from 6-10pm with local music. That was interesting. The best beach was at the dock yards but now it is only a snorkeling place. Not real good for swimming and getting a tan. I you dock in Hamilton take the ferry to the dock yards.

Holland America: Veedam Cruise | Part 1

2010-06-15T16:24:00.001-04:00

I just got back from a cruise to Bermuda. I took the Veedam from New York for a week and we were unable to dock at St George's since they added rooms to the Veedam and had to tender in on a ferry. It took one hour each way. We docked in Hamilton for 3 days and felt like real Bermudians. Bermuda is becoming a banking enterprise instead of a tourist area.

Travel Specials for June 2010

2010-06-08T16:41:00.005-04:00

Here are a list of travel specials from Travel Junction. View our email announcements below:

Universal Orlando Resort specials with Harry Potter

Special last-minute deal to Riviera Maya

Travel Junction "Postcards" newsletter for March 2010

To book your vacation, or for more information,
please call us at (800) 366-5715 or (724) 266-5715.

Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Emerald Princess

2010-02-28T16:58:00.001-05:00

I just home from a 7 nights cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Emerald Princess. The weather was wonderful... 80 degrees all week and sun shine. My flight from Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale was cancelled and I ended up flying to Jacksonville and driving to Fort Lauderdale. The ship held about 3000 persons and it was full.

While on the Emerald Princess we visited ST Thomas where I spent the day at Megans Bay getting a sun tan. The water was very calm and wonderful for snorkeling. Princess now docks at the Crown yards in St Thomas. It takes less time to get into downtown . There are many shops so you don't have to go to town to shop.

Splendors of the Nile: My Trip to Egypt | Part 4

2010-02-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

After a 4 night cruise on the Nile river we arrived in Aswan where the pictures reflect our 45 minute ride on a Camel on the Sierra Desert. What an experience! My camel thought he was in charge and lead the pack. You stop the camel just like a horse. It was so much fun I am returning to Egypt next March 1,2011. Why don't you join me?

Splendors of the Nile: My Trip to Egypt | Part 3

2010-02-09T16:55:00.001-05:00

We flew from Cairo to Luxor. In Luxor I took a hot air ballon ride at 6:00AM over the Nile river to see a beatiful sunrise. It was awesome. Another thing on my bucket list to do was accomplished. In Luxor we went to visit the Valley of the Kings and and queens and we also spent several hours visiting the Temple of Karnak. In Egypt you must be able to walk on uneven payment to see all the sights.

Splendors of the Nile: My Trip to Egypt | Part 2

2010-02-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

In Cairo we visitied the Pyramids of Giza, one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world. The vendors tried to get you on a camel to take yur picture and then want 10.00 to 30.00 for the service. It is amazing that they could build such a structure in ancient time. We also went to Memphis to see the 40-foot statue of Ramses II. Cairo also has a sound and light show of the pyramids.

Splendors of the Nile: My Trip to Egypt | Part 1

2010-02-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a ten night trip to Egypt. It was awesome! The weather was in the 70's and I removed two things from my bucket list. I rode a camel for 45 minutes on the Sierra desert and I rode a hot air balloon. The next several days I will tell you more details about my trip. It went so well that I am holding 16 spaces for the same trip for March 2011.

Come join me and enjoy the thrills of Egypt!

Sandal's Grand Pineapple Resorts

2009-11-09T17:04:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the Grand Pineapple resorts in the Sandals family? Grand Pineapple is for families on a budget. They have three restaurants and only non-motorized sports. They do offer snorkeling, kayaking and Hobie Cat sailing. The Grand Pineapple resorts can be found in Antigua and Jamaica.

Vacation at Turks and Caicos

2009-11-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

What a fantastic 3 day vacation I had in the Turk and Caicos at Beaches. The temperature was 82 degrees with a soft wind flow. Beaches at Turks and Caicos has done an large expansion by adding an Itilian village with 1 to 2 bedroom villas for families with butler service. They have a mega water park . Beaches now has... 16 restaurants so you will have many choices for dining.