Ultimate Vacations News, Reviews and Photos

Great Things on the Horizon for a Leading River Cruise Line New Itineraries for 2018 AmaWaterways will offer over 30 itineraries in 2018, ranging from eight to 21 days in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. Eight of these itineraries will be completely new. AmaLea will become the newest AmaWaterways ship to launch. We love the innovation expected from AmaLea - featuring connecting staterooms and triple accommodations, both much needed in the river cruise arena. AmaLea will carry on with signature twin-balcony staterooms, multiple dining venues, a sun deck pool with swim-up bar and a lot more. AmaLea coming online in 2018 While complimentary beer and wine have long been included with lunch and dinner on AmaWaterways , the line will introduce a complimentary daily "Sip & Sail" cocktail hour before dinner.  Combining the above two topics of itineraries and drinking, AmaWaterways will host 50 wine-themed cruises. Destinations have been designated t

MAJOR HOLIDAY EVENTS AT DISNEY WORLD'S FOUR PARKS It's not too lat to plan a Disney World Vacation around the multitude of celebrations the folks at Walt Disney World in Orlando have planned. Pretty exciting stuff. Here's a quick glance. Disney's Hollywood Studios: A new Sunset Seasons Greetings features projections of Mickey, Minnie and more Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories as a snowy Sunset Boulevard twinkles with holiday decorations. At night, the Hollywood Tower Hotel becomes a giant pile of Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house and a frozen winter-land. "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" is a nighttime fireworks show featuring state-of-the-art projections, special effects and Christmas music, topped off by a message directly from Santa. Contact us to book your "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" Dessert Party (Nov 9 - Dec 30) that features a visit from a Disney character. Epcot: The Epcot International Festival of Holida

Southwest Airlines Despises Bag Fees As Southwest Airlines grows its map to include the Caribbean and Mexico ... and soon Hawaii, it is important to remember the value of not having to pay for checked bags as you travel for a vacation experience.  At ULTIMATE VACATIONS we often recommend Southwest flights as part of Funjet Vacations and Southwest Vacations vacation packages. For a traveling couple, or especially for a family, the value of free checked bags can be very advantageous. Most carriers charge $25 per checked bag, per direction. So-called "low cost" carriers charge much more than that, and often restrict or charge fees for carry-on bags. We know. We just flew on Frontier last week to Cancun.  We recently read a quote from Southwest chief revenue officer, Andrew Watterson that seemed on point. And made us laugh a little bit as well. Way to go Southwest. "It is terribly inhospitable to charge bag fees," Watterson said recently. "It d

Universal Orlando Celebrates the Holiday Season Beginning November 28 and running until January 6 Universal Orlando Resort will deliver more holiday-themed experiences than ever. It all starts with a Harry Potter Christmas.  This is the first year Christmas and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter team up. This year both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley will feature Christmas-themed decorations, holiday-themed food and performances. Be sure to catch the evening festivities when state-of-the-art projection mapping and lighting wrap Hogwarts Castle for a Harry Potter inspired Christmas. Universal's Loews Royal Pacific Resort The "Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular" comes to Seuss Landing in Universal's Islands of Adventure . The Dr. Seuss holiday classic features the Whos from Who-ville celebrating the true meaning of the season.  The new Universal Macy's Holiday parade at Universal Studios Florida presents more than a dozen new balloons and more than 15

Part 1 of our All-Inclusive Blog Series - The Evolution of the All-Inclusive The all-inclusive resort concept has evolved from its infancy days of all you can eat buffets, all the beer you can chug, and tiny rooms with no televisions. Today's all-inclusive resort wouldn't even recognize it's prehistoric predecessor.  Today your stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico or the Caribbean could include an in-room Jacuzzi for two, a private rooftop terrace with a private plunge pool, a swim-up pool at your patio, up to 10 gourmet caliber a-la-carte restaurants, an infinity pool on your balcony, bars dedicated to martini's, mojitos, or tequila, mini-fridges with Heineken and/or Budweiser in your room, romantic candlelit dinners on the beach, complete liquor set-ups or liquor dispensers in your room, access to exclusive lounges, butler service, take a sunset cruise or snorkel by catamaran, and you can now even stay at an overwater bungalow at an all-inclusive resort in