Las Vegas 5 (Must See shows)

I have seen many shows.. Here are some that I would say are must sees:

All of the Cirque Du Soleil Shows.(Zumanity, O, Mystere, Ka, Love, Viva Elvis, Chris Angel Believe)

Elton John, Cher, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, etc.

Le Reve

Lion King

Voices

Las Vegas Tip 4 (Shopping)

Shopping in Vegas is what I would call "Off D Hook"!! Here are some places I love and recommend. Have fun:

Strip Shopping:
Fashion Show-They actually do have a fashion show not to be missed. 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian-Indoor mall that looks like a venitian village.

Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood

The Shoppes at Palazzo

Forum Shops at Cesars-do you like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Chanel, etc.

Encore Espalante

Wynn Espalante

Via Belagio

Off Strip:

Las Vegas Premium Outlets
875 S. Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, NV

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas
32100 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Primm, NV


In a nutshell Las Vegas Is BIG on Shopping check it out!! If you love shopping there is more than you can imagine.

Las Vegas Tip 3(hotels)

Where do I stay? There are lots of factors. I personally like to stay in the mid area of the strip. MGM, Belagio, Cesars, Mirage. There are lots of great choices. If you are on a budget and want to stay somewhere decent, I would recommend Luxor. Its a nice place, less expensive that comparable hotels. It is on the end of the strip. But it is still only about a 5-10 minute walk from the middle of the strip. If you want really, really, luxury accommodations. I would recommend MGM signature, Belagio, Cesars Palace, Wynn, Encore, Mirage, there are many more.. but this gives you an idea. Also working with a travel agent who knows Vegas can help you get the rigth place and can help you save $$ too.

Las Vegas Tip 2 (shows & Dinning)

I'm back.. Talkin about Vegas again!! I think Vegas is one of my most favorite destinations! There is really something for everyone.. Shows, entertainment of many kinds, gambling, world class shopping and resorts, and pretty much anything you can imaging. My tip here is to make your dinning and show reservations ahead of time. Sam and I usually book tickets for shows at a minimum of 1 month before our trip. We like front row or very close tickets so you got to get that early. For fine dining, we usually make that 2 weeks prior. Just a tip from a Las Vegas expert.

Las Vegas tip 1 (transportation)

I regualarly visit Vegas and am very familiar with it. If you are looking to save on cab fare, consider using the Las Vegas Monorail. Its great!! It runs from MGM Grand to Sahara. Its $5.00 for a single ride, $14.00 for a day pass, or $30.00 for a 3 day pass. When you consider that a cab will cost you about $10-$15 each way to go from MGM to Sahara.. This is a great deal.. I like to walk the strip, but if you don't want to walk or its too hot for you this is a great deal.

Tripin iphone app

Check out the Tripit Iphone app. This app is cool and will arrange all your travel info in one place.. its a free app and really helps to manage all your trip info. Things like confirmation numbers, flight details, etc.

City Center Vegas opens

This is a really cool place to shop, eat, stay, play, live.. So cool.. Check out their site:

http://www.citycenter.com/

Whats the best cabin for me on a cruise

I have been on many cruises.. and have stayed in different parts of the ship.. I like them all. Some have more motion than others. Some are quiter than others.. Check out this great article:

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071001919.html

Confused with all the TSA rules?

Check out their site.. Do you need to take your shoes off? Can you carry your face cream?

Here is their site:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm

Packing Tips/ Help

Don't we all need to learn how to pack better? I know I always over pack. Over the years I have gotten better at it, but wouldn't it be nice to travel with one light weight suit case. Do you really need 5 pairs of shoes for a 7 day trip?? How many outfits to you REALLY Need for a cruise? This lady really gets it. The checklist for packing is free. Some of her products have a cost. But the free ones are really useful. Check out her website, which has helped me big time:

http://www.packitup.com/pilot.asp

Traveling to Mexico

Hello.. If you are are traveling to Mexico in the near future, many travel companies are allowing refunds on packages and trips that aren't usually refundable. Usually they give you a credit to rebook a trip with them later. So if you are feeling uneasy about traveling to Mexico, call your travel agent or company you booked your trip with.. Most likely they will allow you to re book a different trip.

Small Ship cruises

Are you looking for more of an up close view of the places you visit? Are you looking for something smaller and don't want to deal with the big dinners, shows, casino, lines, etc. Then a small ship cruise might be right for you. They can get into the smaller ports and places you can't see on the big ships, so that you can get to know the place you are visiting. Small ships are really a more personalized way to cruise. Let me know if you would like to learn more.

My New Business

Hi all,

I have started my own travel related business. Dream Vacations by Jacob Roberts. If you would like help with booking your travel, I would be honored to help you. Travel is my passion!! Just e-mail me if you would like me to assist you.
Best way to reach me is at jjroberts707@comcast.net.

Europe is on sale summer 2009

Thanks to recession-induced price cutting, this is a GREAT time to travel to Europe. Right now airfare, hotel accommodation, etc are really cheap. Book as soon as you can. In the past you could wait for last minute deals. In today's economy airline and hotel "great deal" seats or rooms are booking up quickly. According to travel experts airfare to Europe is currently 50% lower than it was last year. Also the last summer the Dollar sank to a record low against the Euro and pound. I traveled myself during that time and it was really bad. This summer it has improved quite a bit. The dollars value is up 20% vs. the euro and 30% vs. the pound.

Cruises-the new way to travel on a budget

Cruises can be a great way to travel on a budget. Expenses can be very controllable on a cruise. Lets say you do a 7 day Mexican riveria cruise from San Francisco. If you live in the bay area, you can avoid airfare. Once your on the ship, your cruise fare includes your stateroom, your food and beverages (excluding alcohol and soda), entertainment. Whats not included is things like souvenirs, tours at each port, money for casino on ship, & misc. spending cash. So as you can see the things that are not included are very controllable. I usually buy the tours that the ship offers, but you can also have a great time by doing your research on each port ahead of time and doing a self guided tour. A great site for this is cruisecritic.com.

Best way to get a deal on airline tickets

It can be difficult get a great deal on airline tickets. Prices change all the time, things go up and down. In order to get a great deal, you will need to spend time searching the internet. I would start by looking at travel sites like travelocity.. Then you could also search individual airline sites to see what you come up with. If you don't have time for all that, let a professional do it for you. Travel professionals can help you get a good deal, so if you don't have time to do the research yourself call a pro.

Destination--The Philippines

Hello,

This posting is surrounding a destination I recommend. The Philippines. I have visited multiple times and love the place. It's not what you might expect. In my opinion, it is Hawaii at a much lower price. The beaches are beautiful, the cities are great, and the people are very warm and friendly. I have visited Manila (Makati area) and really enjoyed that. The shopping is great and hotels are 5 stars. I have also visited Bohol in the South which has wonderful places to stay and great beaches. And one HUGE plus is your money goes so far there!!!

If you have questions about The Philippines, contact me at jjroberts707@comcast.net

Frequent Stay or Flyer programs

Always sign up for free frequent flyer or stay programs. Many times you get better rooms or better seats if you are part of the program. I know when I stay at hilton hotel, they have a hilton honors floor where the rooms are nicer, in better locations, and have more amenities.

Travel inurance

Hello,

Always consider travel insurance on more costly trips. I always purchase travel insurance on my cruises. You have to remember you are protecting your vacation funds. If something happens to your trip, you can get your money back in many situations. (illness, weather related issues, trip delay, accident coverage, theft, lost baggage, medical evacuation, etc.)Meaning you may be able to use the funds later to take another trip, rather than just being out of luck. My advice is check it out and be aware of your options. Here are some reputable companies that offer this product:

Travel Guard:

http://www.travelguard.com/

Travelex:

https://www.travelex-insurance.com/consumer/welcome.aspx

AIG:

http://www.aigtravel.com/

Best travel magazines

Good morning,

If you are serious about travel magazines, I recomend the following ones to you:

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel:

http://www.budgettravel.com/

This magazine has great articles and is a wonderful way for you to plan your future trips.

Cruise Travel:

http://www.cruisetravelmag.com/

If you are a die hard cruiser like me, you must have this magazine. I am taking a cruise of the Caribbean in Dec, and will start my cruise in San Juan. The magazine told me all about San Juan and what do do, where to stay, etc. Check it out.