For Travel Arrangements: Reconnect Travel
Cindy Grant, Travel Consultant
Expert Family Travel
972-625-6200
Located in the DFW Metro Area, serving clients from the US and Canada
Welcome to my blog! I am a travel consultant, and specialize in creating the perfect dream vacation for empty nest couples who want a second honeymoon to reconnect with each other.
I offer tailor-made luxury and upscale vacation arrangements to the following destinations:
-Tahiti
-Fiji
-Hawaii
-Caribbean
-Mexico
-Costa Rica
-Bahamas
-Florida
-Western Europe
-Luxury and World Cruises
Contact me at 972-625-6200 or by email at cindy@expertfamilytravel.com for an appointment to create YOUR dream vacation.
Happy travels! ~Cindy Grant, Travel Consultant
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- Are you overdue a vacation where you can replenish your energy and senses?
- Has your focus been on meeting family and career needs for years, and feel you deserve some ME time?
- Does the thought of a pampering, tropical escape get you all smiley and giggly on the inside?
- Are you overwhelmed at the myriad of choices online, so that planning your trip only adds to the stress?
Who We Are
Reconnect Travel works with empty nested professionals who want their stress and worries to fade away without medication, therapy, or divorce attorney. We create unforgettable journeys that are relaxing, romantic, and make you feel young again. What separates Cindy Grant from the other travel consultants is that she has a gift for planning unforgettable trips that ignite the spark and replenish the soul. Now, isn’t that a lot more fun than therapy?
Testimonial
Cindy, thank you so much for making our Tahiti trip perfect. You were right, all the details were taken care of! And I loved the Hilton Bora Bora Nui, it was even better than you described. I can’t wait until our next trip, and I’m definitely sending my friends your way. You are awesome! – B and W Santos, Texas – June 2011
1. NOT ALL RESORTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
Just because a resort offers destination weddings and is all-inclusive does not mean you want to have your destination wedding there. Not all resorts are created equal, and certainly not all of them have acceptable service levels, public space quality, and decent wedding departments. The resorts we use have met our standards. If you book your own destination wedding, you’ll spend hours researching online to compare results, and you’re never quite sure the validity of the material you read online. Is it worth the risk?
2. OUR DESTINATION WEDDING SERVICES ARE FREE, AND WILL SAVE YOU HOURS OF WORK ALONG THE WAY
There’s a deposit to set up your destination wedding, and is applied towards the bride and groom’s initial deposit. There are no additional fees that you will incur by Expert Family Travel for arranging your travel, your guests’ travel, or in setting up your wedding ceremony. Of course, the resort and wedding vendors will charge for their packages and services, as applicable.
3. NO DESTINATION WEDDING IS TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG
We can arrange destination weddings for 2 to 200 (and more).
4. AVOID BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MEETING GUEST QUOTAS
While we can arrange your destination wedding to be a group with minimum head count, it is more likely that multiple individual reservations booked into your wedding portfolio is a better way to go. Your guests are then free to leave from their departure city airport, and there is flexibility in travel dates. The best news is that the guest (and not the bride/groom) is responsible for their travel costs, and you can avoid the financial risk that comes with negotiating guest room space directly with the hotels.
5. HAVING THE GUESTS CONTACT US (YOUR TRAVEL AGENT) FOR THEIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FREES YOU UP
Sure you can coordinate your friends and family’s travel, but why should you? Simply give your guests the contact information for your travel agent, and let them arrange details directly.
6. BRIDE AND GROOM RECEIVE A CREDIT BACK FOR EVERY ROOM BOOKED
In addition to competitively priced rates, the bride and groom can receive $25 per room credit back for all guests who attend the wedding (restricted to certain destinations and resorts).
7. HAVE AN EXPERT ON YOUR SIDE
Working with Expert Family Travel means you have an expert on your side who can advise you on some of the pitfalls of travel, has established working relationships with resorts and wedding coordinators, and can assist you in a crisis.
8. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS ONE SIZE-FITS-ALL
On your own, it’s tough to pick just the right resort. So many factors go into the decision — budget, dates, how many guests, are kids traveling, guests’ budget, wedding ceremony and reception requirements, etc. We are very familiar with the resorts, and will guide you to the right choices to fit your individual needs. Continue reading 8 Reasons to use Expert Family Travel for your destination wedding arrangements
This is deal is too good to pass up! Paul Gauguin is a great way to see multiple islands in Tahiti. I recommend adding one night in Papeete prior to the cruise.
Limited-Time Offer Savings:
• 50% off 2012 and 2013 Paul Gauguin Tahiti Cruises
• FREE airfare from Los Angeles
Oceanview Stateroom
2012 Departures.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FROM $3611
2013 Departures.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FROM $3686
- Spacious, oceanview stateroom accommodations onboard newly renovated vessel
- Private island experience in Taha’a
- Private beach experience in Bora Bora
- All onboard meals
- Complimentary beverages including soft drinks, hot beverages and select wines
- 24-hour room service
- On board watersports marina for complimentary kayaking, windsurfing, and waterskiing
- Onboard entertainment
- All shipboard gratuities
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Just announced last week, Cayman Airways will be offering weekly nonstop service between DFW and Cayman, beginning June 23 and ending Sep 2. Prices begin at $398.05 per person, round-trip — an incredible price!
Flights from DFW to Cayman will operate on Sunday, and Cayman to DFW return flights will operate on Saturday. This offers 6 night stay options for the summer vacation season for North Texas residents.
Grand Cayman is located in the Caribbean and has excellent scuba and snorkeling, gorgeous powder white sand beaches, and an array of accommodations from 2 star moderate to 5 star luxury.
Contact me today to price your summer getaway to Grand Caymans.
~Happy Travels! Cindy Grant, CTA Travel Consultant at Reconnect Travel/Expert Family Travel. 972-625-6200. Located in the Dallas metro area, near Plano, Little Elm, Frisco, Lewisville, Carrollton, Irving, and Fort Worth. Clients located across the US.
The best way to see Costa Rica is with a guided vacation. Choose from the following two guaranteed departures. No minimum number of travelers. Max is 20.
Tour #1: Marvels of Costa Rica (8 nights and 18 meals)
Choice of Superior or Deluxe Hotels. Includes 1 night San Jose, 2 nights Arenal, 2 nights Monteverde, 3 nights Guanacaste with local licensed and certified tour guide and driver throughout. Multiple guided tours included; optional tours and activities are available at additional cost. Departures every other Saturday. Continue reading Costa Rica Guided Vacations
Bucket list (def.) – a popular way to indicate the places to see and things to do before you die.
Some people’s bucket lists are more extensive than others. If your bucket list includes the obscure, out of the way, rarely-visited destination gems, consider adding Tikehau.
Tikehau is a small Tuamotu atoll in French Polynesia, located just west of the much larger atoll Rangiroa. An atoll, by the way, is a ring island where the original volanic peak in the center of the lagoon has been eroded back into the sea. Nothing on the island stands taller than a coconut palm.
Other than obscurity, Tikehau’s appeal is water the clarity of a swimming pool, with an abundance of sea life, sea birds, and starlight evenings. This is a great spot for seasoned travellers who truly want an off the beaten path sort of experience. It’s also excellent for divers and snorkelers.
Tikehau Pearl Resort is THE resort on the island (though there are a couple of modest pension-type accommodations in Tikehau, too). There are four room categories: beach bungalows (with a/c), overwater bungalows (without a/c and direct water access), premium overwater bungalows (without a/c but with direct water access), and suite overwater bungalows (with a/c and direct water access). Continue reading Review: Tikehau Pearl Resort, Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Hi everyone! Well, I just returned home last night from Tahiti, visiting Papeete (Tahiti), Moorea, Bora Bora and Tikehau. And while I’m going to be adding some hotel reviews from my recent trip in the next few days I thought I’d share some of the more “casual and fun” shots first.
Lunch at the Hilton Moorea Resort by chef Eric Scuiller was spectacular:
Even if you’re not staying at the Hilton Moorea, a dinner there is definitely a culinary highlight.
I highly recommend the Jeep Safari Tour of Moorea, it’s the easiest way to see the island. This is me from one of the spectacular views overlooking Moorea’s lagoon.
Continue reading Just back from Tahiti
The Barcelo Maya Palace Resort is the top dog among the Barcelo Maya complex of five resorts situated on an amazing stretch of beach, south of Playa del Carmen.
This property is especially good for upscale families wanting a worry-free beach vacation. There is a children’s waterpark and kid’s club for ages to 4 to 12. It is also a good choice for multiple families traveling together, since there’s so much to do (and eat) onsite. Continue reading Barcelo Maya Palace Resort, Rivera Maya Mexico
My 12 year old daughter and I are headed to Japan this summer. While we are there, we’ll be visiting my 20 year old daughter who is studying in Kyoto for a year. This is, by the way, my older daughter’s fourth trip to Japan.
Yesterday, the little one announces “this will be my first trip to Japan!” Not my only trip, or my only chance…but first trip.
I was reminded of a client recently who said, “this trip to Tahiti we’ll focus on Bora Bora. Next time we want to visit Taha’a and Moorea.”
And herein lies the difference between my clients who manage to travel and see the world and my potential clients who shop from time to time and yet never manage to take a trip. It’s all a matter of mindset! In order to travel, you need to make it a priority. Otherwise, a jet plane will not whisk you away as you feign protest. It’s all up to YOU to make the decision that you want to see the world, to relax on a beach (instead of the living room couch), to cross things off your bucket list.
So, where’s your next vacation taking you?
Happy Travels ~Cindy Grant, Travel Consultant, Reconnect Travel/Expert Family Travel, DFW metro area 972-625-6200.
Two hot resorts have hit the scene in Puerto Vallarta — Now Amber Puerto Vallarta (for all ages) and Secrets Vallarta Bay (for adults only).
Opening April 1, these two brand new AM Resorts are located on Banderas Bay, close to downtown Puerto Vallarta and only 15 minutes from the airport.
Now Amber is an upscale resort perfect for families, singles, and couples.
Secrets Vallarta Bay is an upscale-luxury all-suites resort for adults only. Both resorts offer reservation-free dining, exceptional service, and beautiful rooms.
I am especially excited to see a new adults only all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, since the options up to this point have been limited.
I will update the blog with a review at some point when I’ve been able to personally inspect these resorts. But for now, consider both resorts for your next beach vacation!
Now Amber Vallarta Bay Resort: 327 oceanfront suites – three pools – four a la carte restaurants, one buffet and one cafe – 24 hour room service – kids club – pool and beach wait service – Spa by Pevonia – golf range – fitness center – land and water activities – preferred club available.
Secrets Vallarta Bay: 271 oceanfront suites – three pools – four a la carte restaurants, one buffet and one cafe – 24 hour room service – pool and beach wait service – Secrets Spa by Pevonia – fitness center – pool and beach wait service – preferred club available.
Happy travels ~ Cindy Grant, Travel Consultant. Reconnect Travel/Expert Family Travel. Dallas-Fort Worth metro area (serving clients nationwide). 972-625-6200.
Here’s a delightful recipe from the folks at Tahiti Tourisme – baked papaya…
Ingredients:
3 Papayas
3 Vanilla Beans
6 Tablespoons sugar
6 Tablespoons Rum
1 Grated Coconut
Butter
Cut the papayas in half and remove the seeds
Place them in an ovenproof dish.
In each papaya, pour:
1 pat butter
1/2 Vanilla Bean
1 Tblespoon sugar
1 Tblespoon Rum
Cook in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 350°F. In the meantime, squeeze milk from the grated coconut through a clean cloth. Before serving, add the coconut milk in each papaya.
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Want more? Plan your trip to Tahiti and enjoy fine Polynesian cuisine at the islands’ top resorts.
Happy travels ~ Cindy Grant, Travel Consultant. Reconnect Travel/Expert Family Travel. Dallas metro area, serving clients nationwide. 972-625-6200.
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