Signing In for a Happy New Year & other reasons

I'm signing in to wish you Happy New Year. Ron & I send you best wishes for a happy, healthy & exciting 2009. For the next few weeks, the TPI - Janus Travel blog will be published intermittently for a variety of reasons including:

• I'll be away in Mexico gathering more bloggable stories, photos & other travel tidbits
• I don't travel with a computer (yet?)
• Our website server is undergoing maintenance in early January
• I suspect internet access will be in short supply in Batopilas (the remote part of the Copper Canyon)
• We have someone to take care of cat-sitting, mail, snow shovelling, house plants & last but not least - you, our travel clients - but blogging is a non-transferable task
• Stay tuned because I hope to make some posts from Mexico. Then, before you know it, we'll be back & the TPI - Janus Travel blog's regular schedule will resume.

Before I "sign off" for that trip, there's just one more thing... Have a great New Year's Eve.

Well... it''s almost 2009 & I'm excited

Well it's almost 2009. How was your year? Ours was great. We are definitely growing. I believe 2009 will be even better & busier for us.

I'm excited too. We have 2 trips planned this year. The first will begin soon. We're returning to Mexico. Our first stop is Puerto Vallarta, then we're in Mazatlan for a few days before our journey into the Copper Canyon. Afterwards we return to Mazatlan. The Copper Canyon was on our list of destinations to visit for quite a while. I'm excited because we'll be there in a few weeks. It's larger than the Grand Canyon & from what I seen & read, it's gorgeous.

For a preview of our Copper Canyon experience, have a look at Steve Bradshaw's photos. They're in the Photo Gallery in the Mexico album under the sub-album called "Chihuahua - Take the Chepe Train to the Copper Canyon". Steve travelled there in January 2008.

We are Your Puerto Vallarta Pro Specialists

Here at TPI - Janus Travel we have a commitment to continuing education & professionalism. I'm pleased to report that Ron & I both completed the third of three required courses for the Puerto Vallarta Pro Specialist certification. The Puerto Vallarta Convention & Visitors Bureau awards this designation & it is recognized through the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC). We are officially your Puerto Vallarta specialists!

TPI - Janus Travel

Puerto Vallarta Pro Specialists

We'll Take You There

Another year is almost done

OK. The turkey is now leftovers. Christmas is over. It's astonishing. Where did 2008 go?

How was your vacation this year? Did you put your travel dreams on hold for another year?

This year we helped quite a few people take their first international trip. They always come back thrilled with their decision to travel. The next thing they say is "We're going to do it again" or "We would have done it earlier if ... " Everyone has travel dreams. Make 2009 a year of experiences. Whether it's a fishing trip in Canada or an international adventure, TPI - Janus Travel will help you plan & make that travel dream come true. We'll take you there.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

Please don't bring me any stuff this year. Save it for someone else who needs it more. I have plenty. My only wish is for some extra pictures from our clients to post in our TPI - Janus Travel Photo Gallery. I love it when they send pictures of their trips & people to put in our Happy Travellers album. When you visit our clients tonight, maybe can you leave them a note for me? Thanks Santa,

Love
Cindy

P.S. I don't think I ever wrote a letter to you before. Do you have an email address?

Peace Good Health & Happiness to You & Yours! Merry Christmas from TPI - Janus Travel.

We're seeing lots of lights on the streets. Ron's booking trips to go under trees. It's almost Christmas. Whatever your plans.... Merry Christmas to you & yours from TPI - Janus Travel.

May you & your enjoy peace, good health & happiness throughout the festive season & the New Year. Enjoy your time with family & friends. Happy days! Peace on earth. Goodwill to all.

Happy Chanukah!

Last night was the first night of Chanukah. The menorah in the photo here has all 8 candles lit for the 8th & final night in a previous year. Chanukah is "the festival of lights".

Happy Chanukah!

Holidays Around the World

Did you know that Americans on average take 13 vacation days per year? According to the World Tourism Association, hat's the least of any country. Japanese & Koreans take 25 vacation days per year. Canadians tack one more day on with 26. Italians take the longest holidays on average with 42 days of R & R per year.

More Growth

We're still growing. I'm pleased to report the TPI - Janus Travel website is reaching many of our clients & some new folks. We're hearing more from you & we certainly seem to be booking lots of travel during the past 2 months. Some of your trips to Las Palmas Resort by the Sea in Puerto Vallarta will overlap & you'll meet each other there!

Plus our photo gallery now has more than 900 images.

So... keep in touch. And enjoy the website. It's for you!

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #1 to #10

1. You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?

2. Remember when you used that obscure web site to book your hotel, and when you arrived you found the room you booked didn't have the ocean view you wanted? You had a great view of the parking lot for 7 days.

3. I suppose contacting your lawyer is the only option after the Internet travel site billed your credit card three times instead of once. Will it work? How much will it cost?

4. How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was cancelled because of a snowstorm?

5. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?

6. How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?

7. Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked so much better on your computer screen.

8. No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.

9.

• New bathing suit $90.00
• Beach towels $20.00
• Sunglasses $50.00
• Two week Hawaii honeymoon $5000.00
• The call from TPI - Janus Travel letting you know that your flight is departing 5 hours earlier than scheduled – Priceless

10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica. Booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your travel on-line.

Source: Open Jaw, July 8 2008

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #2

Remember when you used that obscure web site to book your hotel, and when you arrived you found the room you booked didn't have the ocean view you wanted? You had a great view of the parking lot for 7 days.

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #3

I suppose contacting your lawyer is the only option after the Internet travel site billed your credit card three times instead of once. Will it work? How much will it cost?

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #4

How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was cancelled because of a snowstorm?

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #5

Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #6

How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?

We Are Your Certified Sandals Specialists

Earlier this week Ron & I completed the training session for our recertification as Certified Sandals Specialists. Talk about great images... I might have to put some of them of this website. In the meantime, contact us for all your Sandals, Beaches, Royal Plantation & Grand Pineapple travel.

TPI - Janus Travel

Certified Sandals Specialist

We'll take you there!

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #7

Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked so much better on your computer screen.

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #8

No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #9

• New bathing suit $90.00
• Beach towels $20.00
• Sunglasses $50.00
• Two week Hawaii honeymoon $5000.00
• The call from your travel agent letting you know that your flight is departing 5 hours earlier than scheduled – Priceless

Top 10 reasons to use a travel agent #10

10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica. Booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your travel on-line.

It's another small world story. Norberto is found. Se encuentra Norberto.

On November 20, 2008 the TPI - Janus Travel Announcement page & this page had entries about the great $55 per person per night sale at Las Palmas by the Sea Resort in Puerto Vallarta (See the Announcement page or my post on November 20th for more information.) A few days later, on November 23rd, my post asked: "¿Dónde estás Norberto? Where are you Norberto?" Ron & I needed help. We hadn't heard from our friend Norberto in Puerto Vallarta for a while. Little did I know that this website was going to help us find Norberto. It's another small world story!

Norma is the person who emailed us the information on the sale at Las Palmas by the Sea Resort. She also helps me with phone calls when I need help with my Spanish or translation. Earlier in 2008, one of Norma's calls helped us help Norberto. Last week we talked to Norma about our travel bookings at Las Palmas.

Much to my surprise, it turned out that Norma has Norberto's cell phone number. As a bonus, she was kind enough to offer to make another call on our behalf. This weekend Norberto sent an email. We're working on translating it. For now, it makes another great "small world story" just to know we'll see him again in January.

Thank you Alex

Alex Dunae selected, captioned & sent all the new Oak Bay Marine Group images. Alex is the Marketing Manager with the Oak Bay Marine Group. Thanks Alex... I hope we meet some day! Let me know the next time you're planning to be in Edmonton.

The photos are here! - Don't miss the Oak Bay Marine Group images.

The photos are here! There are only 2 albums in the Photo Gallery labelled "Don't miss this one!" The newest "Don't Miss" album is in the Canada section. It really is spectacular. It's the sub-album titled: B.C. - Oak Bay Marine Group. - Don't miss this one! I've blogged about the Oak Bay Marine Group in British Columbia before. For links & more information, see these earlier posts to my TPI - Janus Travel blog:

• November 29, 2008 - Oak Bay Marine Group - Much more than a fishing trip!
• November 28, 2008 - Oak Bay Marine Group - Gone Fishing.

Now that I've shovelled

Now that I've shovelled some snow, it's officially winter here in Edmonton. Now that it's winter, it's time to think travel. Whether you're looking for a special skiing holiday or a winter getaway to a sunny destination, TPI - Janus Travel is here to help. Our motto is "We'll take you there." We are your Mexico & Canada specialists! I'm thinking my Mexico trip is looking better all the time...

Stay tuned for a new Canada sub-album

Here's a sample of some great new photos from the Oak Bay Marine Group. Due to technical difficulties, I haven't uploaded the new sub-album... yet! It will be in the Canada section of the Photo Gallery.

Tour d'Afrique - Making a Difference with Travel

The Tour d'Afrique Foundation & the affiliated Tour d'Afrique Bicycle Race & Expedition company are based in Toronto. Our friends Judy & Andrew are getting ready to go on the Tour d'Afrique with a group of about 30 other people. In mid December Judy & Andrew will depart for a 5 month trip. Starting in January they will go on the Tour d'Afrique bicycle expedition. The ride is 11,800 km long (7,375 miles). Their journey will take them from Cairo to Capetown. Last month we contributed to their Silent Auction & Fundraiser. Now they are very close to their goal of raising $8000 to buy bicycles for health care workers in Africa. Without bicycles there is no access to health care in African villages because bicycles are the most reliable transportation for doctors, nurses & other professionals. Judy & Andrew are definitely making a difference. Their adventure involves travel, transportation needs, and a great cause. If you want to contribute, please contact me.

Travel that makes a difference

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in another country? Lately it's more common for people to combine travel with providing much needed assistance somewhere in the world. There are lots of names for it: volunteer travel, sustainable travel projects, & others. Typically these packages combine travel to distant places with volunteer work that will have a significant positive impact in the world. As the festive season begins, think globally and act locally or world-wide! This is a gift that truly keeps on giving.

The 400

"The 400" refers to the TPI - Janus Travel 2009 calendars. Today is the first date on the 2009 version. Happy December everyone! Our calendar order goes in during April and they arrive in the fall. In November we typically mail & hand deliver the first 100 or more. Yesterday we prepared the rest. (Yes, it's a huge job.) Normally we have some left. Not this year... yesterday we rounded up every calendar around. This morning the much-anticipated calendars are on their way!