AurTravel: Full-service Omaha travel agency with experienced travel agents offering personal service and attention for leisure, group, upscale, and corporate travel. » K. Roche

Puerto Vallarta – Beautiful, Friendly & Relaxing

K. Roche — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:28:17 +0000

I’m so relaxed from my vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico that it’s hard to even write this blog. Maybe it’s because I never left the resort. Yes, I had the most lazy, relaxing, rejuvenating vacation I’ve ever experienced. But I also had a really awesome, fun time. There were 19 friends & family who traveled to Puerto Vallarta (14 of us from Nebraska). We traveled on a Saturday and since we are all true Husker fans, my sister made us all wear Husker red in the airport. WOW! Did we make a name for ourselves in airports, and once we arrived at the resort we were known as Nebraska. I’ll admit, it did make travel even more fun.

We flew on American Airlines and they had great service. I was very impressed with US Immigration and American Airlines in Dallas as they were very friendly (which was much different than my O’Hare experience). If you come home from vacation and say, “Wow the TSA and airline were so nice in Dallas”, you know they were friendly! Such a nice experience!

We stayed at the Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta. It was just a short cab or bus ride to town where you can enjoy shopping, nightlife, and much more. We decided all-inclusive was the way to go so all of our drinks & food were included. Yep, you guessed it - we enjoyed many cocktails and great food on this vacation! The mango margaritas and shrimp quesadillas by the pool were amazing. We also enjoyed pedicures, massages and facials in the spa. Some of the guys even had pedicures and loved it!

You do not need to leave your resort to have fun. Some of the fun activities I enjoyed were: water aerobics, pool volleyball, beach volleyball, dance lessons, water trampoline in the ocean, pool slide, games including black jack & bingo by the pool, and much more. I even tried jet skiing which scared me so I didn’t last long.

We also enjoyed fun theme night parties including a Mexican Fiesta. It included great food, drinks, a Mexican folk show, and some audience participation. And finally, the Beach Party! It’s always my favorite because it has a great dinner and drinks on the beach, a live band, limbo contest, dance contests, and so much fun.

My favorite part of vacation? Doing nothing! Really! Laying by the pool the entire day, reading my book, relaxing and enjoying life was the absolute best.

Puerto Vallarta is a great place to vacation. It is known for friendly service, which is always true. Tip a little cash on those all inclusive vacations and it makes the service even better.

Sadly this is my last trip for awhile. I’ll have to use memories or someone else’s vacation story for future blogs!

Adios Amigos!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

About Kim Roche

Kim Roche serves as the Business Development Manager of AurTravel. Responsible for the development and growth of AurTravel’s corporate, incentive, and group travel business as well as marketing the services of the agency’s newest division, Amazing Honeymoons, Kim has over 23 years of experience in the travel industry, including 13 spent in sales and management capacities. Kim holds numerous designations and certifications, including Certified Travel Consultant (CTE), Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE), Western Europe Specialist, and Disney Specialist. She also volunteers as a mentor for Teammates, a program that partners adults with school-age children in order to help them reach their full potential.

All About Weddings Omaha

K. Roche — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:49:24 +0000

Amazing Honeymoons by AurTravel has partnered with some fantastic wedding service providers in the Omaha area to create the All About Weddings Omaha Network. Our hope is to be a one-stop shop for brides and grooms to find reputable companies to help with all of their wedding & future planning. Each company was selected based on a great reputation for providing customer service and outstanding results. Exclusive discounts are available only through the website.

Check out the All About Weddings partners:

All Seasons Floral – Located at the shops of Legacy, this store creates amazing floral arrangements.
Amazing Honeymoons by AurTravel - THE travel agency for your dream honeymoon or destination wedding!
Beauty First – Your wedding party can enjoy relaxing pedicures or have their hair styled into beautiful up do’s.
CBS Home Real Estate – Megan Dreesen helps many new couples purchase their first home.
Complete Music – The most fun wedding DJ service in town.
Counterparts - A wedding concierge service – let them do the running so you don’t have to.
DeVetter Fitness – Check out this amazing boot camp. I did this over the summer and LOVED it!!
Farm Bureau Insurance – Joe Puetz can save you money on your insurance. Let him give you a quote.
Field Club of Omaha – This is fantastic place to hold your wedding reception!
Flat Rate Mover – They are a great company to work with – call them for your next move.
Gentlemen’s Choice Tuxedo – It’s one of the best tux places in Omaha.
Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn – Fabulous place to have your wedding guests stay.
Lane Weddings – Check out their website! I can’t even begin to tell you how beautiful Lane’s photography is.
Millard Plaza Ballroom - Newly remodeled and beautiful! Wonderful location for your reception and catering.
Northwestern Mutual – Meet with financial advisor, Nick Schneider. It’s a great way to start off your new life!
Omaha Lace – They’ll hand clean your wedding gown.
The Omaha Photo Booth Company – Fun photo booths at your wedding.
Wedding Essentials – Great magazine and great bridal shows.

If you are planning your dream wedding, we’d like to invite you to our All About Weddings Happy Hour on Thursday, October 28. Mingle with our partners in a stress-free, casual environment. Click here for all the details.

One lucky attendee will win our grand prize gift basket, which includes $100 off a photo package, $200 towards tuxedo rentals for your wedding party, $300 off a DJ package, and SO MUCH MORE! RSVP to info@amazinghoneymoons.com if you plan on attending.

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

About Kim Roche
Kim Roche serves as the Business Development Manager of AurTravel. Responsible for the development and growth of AurTravel’s corporate, incentive, and group travel business as well as marketing the services of the agency’s newest division, Amazing Honeymoons, Kim has over 23 years of experience in the travel industry, including 13 spent in sales and management capacities. Kim holds numerous designations and certifications, including Certified Travel Consultant (CTE), Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE), Western Europe Specialist, and Disney Specialist. She also volunteers as a mentor for Teammates, a program that partners adults with school-age children in order to help them reach their full potential.

Ireland – Amazing, Magical & Fun (part 3)

K. Roche — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:09:28 +0000

For my last blog on Ireland, we’re off to visit the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, a city many say is their favorite in Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher

The famous Cliffs of Moher are an amazing site to see, ranging in height up to 714 feet. With waves crashing at the base they are stunningly beautiful. We were in awe of the beauty of the Cliffs. As of July 2009, the Cliffs were named one of 28 global finalists in the “New Seven Wonders of Nature”. The “New Seven Wonders” winners will be announced on November 11, 2011. Hey, maybe I have seen one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature!

Next up was Galway City. Many friends who’ve been to Ireland said Galway was their favorite place in Ireland – a friend even said she’d like to move there. (Killarney is still on the top of my list though) Galway is a university city with a population of 72,000. It’s known for its many festivals and is said to be the liveliest place in Ireland. The city center is tiny with narrow streets, shops, restaurants & pubs everywhere. It’s definitely a great place to shop & eat and I’ve heard the nightlife is fantastic. Unfortunately we were worn out, so we headed back to the hotel pub for our last drink.

Speaking of the hotel pub, I almost forgot one of my favorite parts of the trip. About 10 of us went to the hotel lobby bar for our evening nightcap. There was a group of about 6 elderly gentlemen who were probably 70-85 years old.

Kylemore Abby

They were enjoying a drink or two…and singing a capella! They had the most beautiful voices and harmony I have ever heard. They sang Irish folk songs as well as some American oldies. The entire bar was entranced. It was so sad when the bar closed and the fun ended – I could have listened to them all night!

The next day, we visited Kylemore Abby in Connemara. Another absolutely beautiful place! It is an abby built into the side of a mountain, and is surrounded by mountains and lakes. We enjoyed the best lunch – sun dried tomatoe & goat cheese quiche. YUM! I need to google a recipe.

On our way back to Dublin we stopped at Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery. This was our favorite distillery! Over 250 years old, they actually still make whiskey there. It was amazing to see the water wheel that helped make the whiskey. When in Ireland this is a great place to stop for a break, a quick tour, and a bite to eat.

Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery

What an amazing trip! I was most excited to meet the Irish people and enjoy the culture & heritage. They are as wonderful as I’d always imagined. The Irish people truly have a gift of gab as they are great story tellers with an incredible sense of humor. I spent much of the trip laughing at their stories. We enjoyed several pubs, including some Irish music and dancing. A young lad asked my mother to dance and when he dipped her he actually dropped her. Thankfully she wasn’t hurt but it sure makes for a good addition to the story. We enjoyed some good sing-along Irish music several nights during our trip and the food in Ireland was very good. You must try the fish & chips!

I can’t wait to go back to Ireland! The next pub trip might need to be a bit longer so we can see a bit of Northern Ireland. Let me know if you are interested in a pub trip for 2011.

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

Ireland – Amazing, Magical, and Fun! (Part 2)

K. Roche — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:14:49 +0000

Our Ireland Pub Tour continues through the Ring of Kerry and Killarney!

Killarney National Park

Our day started with a horse and carriage ride into Killarney National Park. It was 9:30 in the morning with a slight mist, a bit of fog, and a tiny bit of sun peeping through. The sights were truly amazing and our guide jokingly showed us where leprechauns white water raft, bungee jump and enjoy a park bench. If you find yourself in Killarney, I would definitely recommend exploring the park on horse drawn carriage.

The Ring of Kerry is a peninsula with spectacular scenery of the ocean, mountains, and lakes. Stunning views of mountains and the coast are around almost every turn! It was absolutely beautiful – some of the sights actually brought tears to my eyes. The road is very narrow and I was very thankful we had a fantastic bus driver to maneuver the roads. Scary! On my next trip there, I’d love to take the time to hike or bike part of the Ring of Kerry. We saw so many people enjoying the beauty via bikes, it made me want to go back and give it a try (after I get in shape!).

Ring of Kerry

We stopped in several small towns, visited some great shops, and ate some delicious lunches. And of course I had to try a Bailey’s Ice Cream – yes it was as wonderful as it sounds! There is a huge variety of shopping, from your little trinket and souvenir stores to stores that carry beautiful wool sweaters, capes, throws & much more. Since I’m a lover of clothes, I had to buy a beautiful black wool cape and the cutest wool hat.

The town of Killarney is a quaint little town with many hotels and restaurants. It is the main hub for touring the Ring of Kerry. Our tour guide and bus driver said you could spend a week here and love every minute! I completely agree!!!

With our amazing driver in Ireland

Since this was a Pub Tour, I must include a great pub story! We were at a popular tourist pub for dinner. They had traditional Irish music with lots of singing and clapping along. A few of us met some local people who invited us to join them at “true” Irish pubs where the Irish hang out. We had a blast and mingled with a younger crowd. One was a sports bar where people were watching rugby and playing some great music in the background. Our favorite pub was Sheehan’s at the Killarney Grand. Imagine hearing a band playing Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Eminem, and Guns N Roses the Irish way with a flute! Johnny Cash is huge in Ireland! We could have stayed all night.

Note to self: on my next trip spend more time in Killarney!

Are you inspired you to book a vacation to Ireland! Call or email AurTravel and we can help you plan your trip. Or if you are interested in signing up for another Ireland Pub Tour in 2011, let us know!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

Ireland – Amazing, Magical, and Fun!

K. Roche — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:38:05 +0000

Ireland Tour Group

Wow! The AurTravel Ireland Pub Tour was certainly fun, educational and beautiful!! If you have ever dreamed of going to Ireland, don’t wait! It is even better than I imagined.

Our trip started in Dublin, a city of over one million people. To me, it is like any other large city except the buildings are ancient and beautiful. We were near downtown Dublin and the crowds on the sidewalks reminded me of New York City or Chicago. I can attest to the great shopping, dining, and pubs. Our favorite pub was Brazen Head, which claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland (built in 1198). Wow – I cannot even fathom how old that is! America is a little over 200 years old and they have a pub in Ireland that is over 800 years old?

Wicklow Mountains

My favorite thing in Dublin
I learned how to pour the Guinness! I toured the Guinness factory and tried roasted barley. I guess that is why I think Guinness kind of tastes like coffee – roasted barley tastes like roasted coffee to me. So how do they pour it over there? They slightly tip the glass, fill it ¾ full, then the hardest part……they wait at least two minutes before topping your glass. The waiting is the hardest part but then you have a great tasting pint of Guinness!

Glendalough Monastery

Favorite sights
The Wicklow Mountains, outside of Dublin, are absolutely beautiful. We stopped at Glendalough Monastery, which was built in the 6^th century. The setting is absolutely gorgeous as it sits in a valley located between two lakes. The round tower stands about 4 stories high, and the door is 18 feet off the ground, to protect them during attacks as the Vikings raided the Monastery. You could picture the Vikings coming down the valley as our guide told the story. The oldest tombstone I could read was 1658. Along the way we stopped for a delicious Irish Coffee (I have the recipe if anyone needs it).

Kissing the Blarney Stone – a must do when in Ireland! Only the brave have kissed the Blarney Stone. You have to climb teeny tiny stairs all the way to the top. Once there you are looking down several stories. You have to lay on your back, lean over a big empty space and kiss the stone upside down, not easy to do. But once you do it, you have the gift of gab. Hope it helps me!

I can’t wait to tell you more about Ireland over the next few entries. It was an amazing trip with amazing people!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

Head South of the Border to Mexico!

K. Roche — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:53:07 +0000

Get together with a bunch of friends and head south of the border! AurTravel is planning our first annual trip to Mexico. We are inviting all of our friends and customers to join us for a sun & fun filled vacation in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

Make this trip YOUR trip – you can be as relaxed and lazy as you want! Soak up the sun by the pool, enjoy a massage and pedicure, or relax at a swim up pool bar.

Or you can make it an adventure trip – ziplining 60 feet above a jungle canopy, swimming with dolphins (I have always wanted to swim with dolphins), jet skiing in the Caribbean ocean, parasailing, or enjoying an ATV tour. Shop in Cancun or party till you drop with some of the best nightlife in Mexico!

And for those of us that want to see some history – explore the ancient civilizations of the Mayan ruins. It’s your vacation! It’s all about YOU and what YOU want to do!

I’ve enjoyed both types of vacations. I’ve explored the culture of Mexico, which I love. I’ve also done some pretty exciting and adventurous activities, and most recently I spent the entire week at my resort enjoying spa treatments, fine dining, and complete relaxation! Make it YOUR style.

Here’s the scoop on the AurTravel trip:

Sun & Fun in the Riviera Maya, Mexico
January 14-19, 2011

5 nights at 4 star Ocean Coral & Turquesa
All-inclusive – all of your drinks and meals included!
Roundtrip air from Omaha (other cities available upon request)
Welcome cocktail party
Farewell cocktail party on the beach

Space is limited! We’d love to have you join us. Call 800-304-1452 for details!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

Are you ready for some football?

K. Roche — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:42:04 +0000

Are you ready for some football?

We are! Well, technically I’m not because I’d like it to just stay summer year round. But some people are! I guess if it has to end, at least it’s time for some Husker football! AurTravel is headed to Seattle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Washington Huskies game to help cheer our team to victory.

Seattle is one of my favorite cities to visit. (I know I say every place is my favorite, but truly there is something to love about every place I’ve been)

Cool stuff to see in Seattle:

Space Needle
Wineries- 35 wineries within easy driving distance of downtown Seattle
Pike’s Place Market – a must see/must do! The market includes Pike’s Place Fish – where good business begins with good people. They make it fun!! It’s world famous for throwing fish and having fun with their customers.
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Waterfront
Mt. St. Helen’s
Puget Sound- over 80 islands and scenic peninsulas
Leavenworth, Washington – a beautiful, quaint Bavarian village in the mountains near Seattle.
Sports enthusiasts can enjoy mountaineering, hiking, biking, white water rafting, sea kayaking, fishing and whale watching.

If you want to join us in September for the Husker game, here are the details:

Nebraska vs. Washington
September 16-19, 2010
$1299 per person (based on double occupancy)

Package includes:
Round-trip air on Southwest Airlines
3 nights at the 4-Star Hyatt Bellevue (team hotel!)
Game ticket
Game day transfers
Airport transfers
On-site tour staff & tour desk
All taxes and gratuities

Have you ever stayed in a Hyatt? I love their beds. It’s like lying on a bed of clouds. That alone could make me want to go on this trip. Add some football and fun with some great fans and it sounds like a great time to me!

Seattle is a great place to visit. And then when you add a Nebraska victory – it’s a perfect vacation!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

About Kim Roche
Kim Roche serves as the Business Development Manager of AurTravel. Responsible for the development and growth of AurTravel’s corporate, incentive, and group travel business as well as marketing the services of the agency’s newest division, Amazing Honeymoons, Kim has over 23 years of experience in the travel industry, including 13 spent in sales and management capacities. Kim holds numerous designations and certifications, including Certified Travel Consultant (CTE), Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE), Western Europe Specialist, and Disney Specialist.

Stadium photo courtesy of BeatBoxBadHabit

Did a Monsoon Pass Through Omaha?

K. Roche — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:38:52 +0000

On Wednesday, Shanna Mohlman and I represented Amazing Honeymoons at a networking party hosted by The Knot in the Old Market in Omaha. Shanna is our Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist and I am the Business Development Manager. We partner with The Knot to help brides find the perfect honeymoon or destination wedding. On this night they invited many of their partners in the Omaha area to a get-together.

The funny part of the story is that we thought we found the building where the party was being held, so we parked and looked around….but couldn’t find the building. We drove another 5 blocks, parked and decided to walk. It was 94 degrees with 99% humidity. Needless to say we were a little frazzled by the time we found the building, which incidentally was across the street from where we originally parked. It was a great party at 1316 Jones (which is an awesome building) with great drinks and great food. And we met some fun people to market and network with. As most of you in Omaha know, we had some wicked storms with 70 mph winds and torrential rains Wednesday night. When it was time to leave, it’s pouring and we are 5 blocks from my car, so we decide to call a cab. They were not very cooperative, asking “what address are we taking you to?” My answer: “I don’t know. My car is 5 blocks away.” They insisted that they needed a physical address so we finally decided to walk as the rain had slowed down. No worries – getting a little wet would not kill us and we would dry off. So, Shanna and I started walking and it started pouring rain again. There was water standing on the cobbled streets and we were soaked. Was a monsoon passing through Omaha?? But it kind of felt like we were little kids, giggling and splashing the entire way. My shoes will never be the same!

I was once in Jamaica during a tropical storm but it wasn’t quite as fun as the downtown Omaha story. I was there on a travel agent trip to visit and experience Sandals resorts in Jamaica. We spent the day at Sandals Negril before heading back to Montego Bay to stay at another Sandals resort. When we hit Montego Bay there was a bit of a traffic jam because of torrential rains and a mudslide. We were stuck in traffic for hours, waiting to pass through Montego Bay to get to our resort.

I’ve also experienced some hurricane weather in Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Fortunately the bad weather lasted only one day, didn’t do much damage, and we were able to enjoy the rest of our vacation. The rest of the trip was 90 degrees and sunny.

Speaking of bad weather, Mother Nature is out of our control. If you are considering a vacation, and you have non-refundable expenses, keep trip insurance in mind. AurTravel partners with TravelEx Insurance Services as they have policies that cover trip delays and interruption due to weather, or your destination being made uninhabitable. Trip insurance can definitely be worth the money – check out my past blog about it.

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

My Favorite Things in Cabo!

K. Roche — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:38:46 +0000

Cabo San Lucas Mexico is my all time favorite place to vacation! I have been to Cabo several times and love it more each visit! Leave all your cares behind in Los Cabos, where the desert meets the sea. The area offers a collection of the peaceful and the exciting that you are free to choose from, depending on your mood. Spend the day teeing off on a world-class golf course, deep-sea fishing in the Pacific or sunning yourself by the pool at your luxurious resort. At night, dine in one of the many elite restaurants and dance the night away in an exhilarating nightclub. Los Cabos is considered Mexico’s most exclusive destinations.

I wanted to share some of my favorite activities in Cabo.

Daytime Fun:

Buccaneer Queen Pirate Ship – Yes, a real pirate ship! I’ve done this several times. It’s a snorkel/booze cruise, and it was so much fun. Drinks and snacks are included

Deep Sea Fishing – Cabo is renowned for their deep sea fishing. It is a fun day at sea, but can be expensive. We used Pisces on our trip and they were fantastic. They really catered to our group on the boat. The trip included fishing, a box lunch, beer, etc. On our last trip 3 out of 4 of us caught awesome fish. Mine was an 8-foot marlin. Okay, can you really say I caught it? They bait the hook and take you where the fish are. If it happens to be your turn in the fishing seat, you are in luck! I could only reel for about 15 minutes before my arms were shaking like jello so we had to take turns reeling him in. The crew made the trip extremely fun!

Adventure tours – These include ATV, dune buggies, and jeep tours in the desert. I haven’t done this, but those who have love it!

Golf – Cabo is also well known as a golf destination. Tee off on some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

Whale-watching – Every autumn, thousands of Gray whales make their annual 6,000 mile migration from the summer feeding grounds of Alaska to the calving grounds of Cabo San Lucas, the Baja and the Sea of Cortez. If you’re going to Cabo San Lucas between December and March, you will likely be treated to seeing some of these gentle giants.

Zip lining – Soar high above the canyon floor on some of the fastest zip lines in Mexico.

Cabo San Lucas glass blowing factory – This place is a family-friendly place where the entire group can have fun. Witness the incredible art of glass blowing as you tour the factory.

Fabulous Dining:

MiCasa – This Mexican restaurant has a great atmosphere and great ambiance. Oh, and they usually have a caricature artist there. Ours was great!

The Office – My favorite place to dine! Sit on the beach, dig your toes in the sand, and enjoy some great steak and margaritas. Yes I’m from Nebraska. I remember their steak and shrimp being fantastic.

The Shrimp Factory – This restaurant offers fresh fish, shrimp and lobster each day.

The Trailer Park - Another favorite! Open air dining, rustic atmosphere and great food.

Hot Nightlife:

Cabo Wabo (Sammy Hagar’s bar) – LOVE IT! Drink some waboritas or I Can’t Drive 55!!! But watch out because they are mighty powerful. The bar doesn’t get hoppin’ till late at night. It’s great after the Giggling Marlin show is over. There are often famous musicians playing at Cabo Wabo. Imagine walking into the bar and Chad Kroeger from Nickelback is playing, or Sammy Hagar himself!

Giggling Marlin – Great place! The gimmick at this bar is that to drink a shot, they will hang you upside down by your ankles! Do not be discouraged by this as they also put on some great entertainment and serve excellent food!

Solomon’s Landing – One of my first loves. It’s a nice place to sit and watch people come of the boats in dock.

El Squid Roe – Nightclub atmosphere. But please….someone stay up late enough to hang out here with me. It’s a hopping place!

Swimming:
On the Pacific side swimming is dangerous due to the undertow and riptides. On the Sea of Cortez, swimming is possible. The resorts will have flags to warn you of the dangers. Swimming in the Cabo area can be dangerous so always use caution. There are safe areas for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Weather:
Cabo is blessed with near perfect weather! The average year round temp is 78°F.

Cabo is truly one of my favorite vacation destinations! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel

Should I Buy Travel Insurance?

K. Roche — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:50 +0000

Many people wonder if they should buy travel insurance or if it is a rip off? In fact, I recently read an article about the top 10 travel purchases you don’t need and one was travel insurance. My mouth literally dropped open! I am shocked that any reporter who really dug into the facts could tell you that you don’t need travel insurance. Sure there are times that travel insurance may not be the wisest choice, but if you are buying a package, cruise, or tour and are spending a good amount of money – buy travel insurance!

Travel purchases are usually non-refundable. Below I have listed some typical penalties for travel purchases.

Airline tickets: Most airline tickets are non-refundable. Personally, I probably would not buy travel insurance for basic airline tickets. You can change an airline ticket for $50-$150 (depending on the airline). Travel insurance would cost $25-$50. I would weigh the likelihood of needing to change a ticket, which is fairly unlikely. I would probably elect to just pay the change fee if I needed to change my tickets.

Vacation packages/cruises: If your plans change, your right to a refund is limited.
Example of cancellation policy on a recent vacation package:
Price paid – $3,990
Cancel up to 14 days prior – penalty of $1,200
Cancel 13 days or less prior – non-refundable
Average cost of trip insurance: $101 (price varies due to age of customer and coverage selected)

It’s kind of a no-brainer! I don’t know about you, but if I spend $2,500-$10,000 on a vacation and an emergency happens, and I cannot go on that trip, I can’t afford to throw that money away.

Here are a few reasons to purchase travel insurance:

Trip cancellation – protects your investments if a trip is cancelled or interrupted because of a family medical emergency or death, you lose your job, or a hurricane blows through your destination. If you must cancel due to a covered reason, you receive a refund.
Trip delay – provides reimbursement for unused expenses and additional costs for transportation if a flight delay causes your connection to be missed for 12 hours or more.
Baggage delay
Emergency medical evacuation
Emergency medical expenses
24/7 travel assistance

Insurance has many variables. There are several travel companies who offer travel insurance or you can purchase insurance through an outside party. Ask your travel agent to advise which plan is best for you!

Kimberly Roche, CTIE
AurTravel
Contact: (402) 891-6909 / (800) 304-1452 / kroche@aurtravel.com

Kim Roche, AurTravel