Posts from the “Holiday Celebrations” Category
Nothing to Fear!
Blog written by Singles Travel International member, Amy B from Sunnyvale, CA
Have you travelled all over the world and aren’t sure if you’ll have fun on a singles vacation? Do you wonder if you’ll make friends or be all by yourself? Are you concerned that everyone will be too old or too young? That’s what I thought, but your worries are over…what are you waiting for?
My first trip with STI was Halloween in Las Vegas. I was a little hesitant about booking the trip, as I’ve been on so many “escorted” tours, where I ended up being everyone’s “mom” (group was my daughter’s age). Although I’m very young at heart (54 and my brain tells me 38, which is the last time I actually had a waist), I’m a professional who feels balance includes working hard and playing hard.
When I arrived at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas it was not my first time in Vegas. My expectations were high, as was my excitement. I arrived at the first gathering, which was a “meet and greet” and immediately felt welcomed by several people that I had sent messages to (yes, use the feature on the STI site), and was also introduced to everyone by the Tour Directors. Can’t say enough about the Tour Directors – seasoned travelers with outgoing personalities, who are there to help your trip be memorable! These people work so hard, get absolutely no sleep, are on call 24×7, are so organized, and happily listen to complaints (yes, this is the real world – you can’t make everyone happy).
From Caesar’s, we all walked across the street to Margaritaville, where we had a private party, complete with free drinks and awesome food! Everyone gathered on the outside patio, which overlooked the Vegas strip, while swapping travel stories and making plans for the weekend.
The first night was the Club Tour. We all met in the hotel lobby and took taxis over to the first club. As we came from all over the world, this was the first opportunity we had to get dressed up and mingle with the beautiful people. The different personalities, nationalities, and social cultures quickly dissolved within the first few minutes. Everyone was a little nervous with expectations. After a couple of drinks, we were all laughing, posing for pictures, and having a lot of fun. I won’t name names but all I can say is Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Canada really knows how to party! This was also my opportunity to wear that little dress that my daughter said looked crazy good, and the high heels that are only worn in Vegas!
We arrived at the second club and were greeted by our two Club Guides, which enabled us to enter every club with VIP status. No waiting in lines, VIP treatment, and we walked by all the people standing in line for hours. Although the drinks were ridiculously expensive (come on…7&7 and a glass of wine for $32), we quickly jumped onto the dance floor, complete with young girls dancing in cages. When we left the second bar, we had “party busses” waiting for us. These busses included open bar, stripper poles, strobe lights, and “boom boom” music. My friend from Canada probably still has bruises on her arms and legs from “dancing” for us. We loaded back into the party bus and went to Studio 54, where we danced all night long. I haven’t danced all night long in 30 years! Laughing and doing a combination of several eras (come on…we all dance the same as we did in elementary school – right?), dancing together, grinding body parts, and acting like we were all young again was great (looking at the pictures from that night quickly brings a smile to my face).
The second night was the Rat Pack Party and buffet at the Aria. We had VIP entrance into the buffet, a special area just for STI, and a selection of over 1000 items (including every nationality you can think of)! Naturally I went to the desserts first (if it’s going to end up on my hips –or somewhere else – I might as well enjoy it). The performers not only looked like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Marilyn Monroe – the sound was amazing. The show was not only entertaining but fun! After the show several of us went back to the hotel to have drinks at Caesar’s. That night we enjoyed several, several Jaegermeister shots, getting to know one another better, and talking about our costumes (amazingly I didn’t have a hangover or it could have been the four Bloody Mary’s immediately after waking up).
The last night was Halloween at the Fremont Street Experience. Seeing everyone dressed in costume was so much fun! We had the variety including several sexy nurses, flappers, queen of hearts, lady luck, pumpkins, pirates, and so many original and creative costumes. We all took taxis downtown to the VIP party. When we arrived at the venue, we were greeted by our Tour Directors and immediately provided wristbands for the private VIP party. This was a private area, in front of one of the performing stages, complete with open bar, and a beautifully catered dinner. Need I say more…open bar and free food! We were having so much fun that people were standing outside the area, asking if they could pay to join our party. The music was awesome, as we were directly below the stage, dancing and laughing all night. Because we had a private area, our Tour Director got on stage and announced the winners of our costume party. Congratulations to “cloudy with a change of showers”, Stu from the Hangover, Angie Dickenson, Maverick, and so many more.
Sunday breakfast was spent looking at pictures, exchanging emails and phone numbers, and planning our next trip together. It was very hard to say goodbye to new friends. Words cannot explain how much fun Halloween in Las Vegas was. Not only did I feel warmly welcomed, but honestly feel if you don’t go on a STI trip, you’re missing out on the most fun you’ll ever have on a vacation!
How to Plan for the Best New Years Eve
You’re probably thinking “Are you crazy?” I don’t even know what I’m doing next weekend. Or, maybe a twinge of guilt washes over you as you recall last year’s, long forgotten resolutions.
Just because you didn’t make good is no reason to avoid this light hearted holiday that is pure fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Even though it’s still seems far away, there are many good reasons for making your plans now and no good reason for waiting. First of all, you’ll have something exciting to look forward to doing, what a terrific topic of conversation at all of the events you attend, you’ll have plenty of time to convince your friends to join you, you’ll get the best deals and you may even pay for your holiday plans over time. The best part is that, by the time New Years Eve rolls around, you’ll be all set.
Even though the economy is slumbering along, New Years travel is always popular and at premium prices. Waiting until the last minute will not net you the same deals that abound in other “off” seasons. Any discount space will have been scooped up by the early birds. Yes, many people do plan their next New Years Eve vacation immediately upon returning home from the current trip.
If you’ve never gone away for New Years Eve, you don’t know what you’re missing. The weather is generally better than where you live, no planning required once you’ve made your reservation, you won’t be worried about transportation and finding a designated driver because you’ll be within a taxi drive away or onboard a ship. Best of all, you’ll meet so many new people.
Making plans is easy if you start now rather than wait until December. Some great New Years Eve cities areNew York, Miami, New Orleans and Las Vegas. Better yet, consider a singles cruise where you’ll be welcomed immediately into a group and there’ll be no time wasted searching for other singles. Almost every singles travel company offers a New Years Eve cruise; just do a search online for “New Years Eve Singles Cruise”.
Ladies, we’ve all read “He’s Just Not That Into You”, so you know better than to sit around and wait. Guys, this is not a commitment. In fact, most vacations may be changed or cancelled a couple months before departure with no penalty at all. If you do find someone special in the meantime, you may find that including them in your vacation plans is an even better idea.
So many of us wait until the last minute and end up not doing anything. You have nothing to lose by planning early. Picture yourself this New Years Eve surrounded by hundreds of other singles who had the sense to make their plans early and who are having the time of their lives, eating, drinking, dancing, shopping, sightseeing, falling in love and of course, making resolutions! Now go make your plans.
Singles Travel International hosts it’s 16th annual New Years Eve Party Cruise, December 29-January 3, aboard the Liberty of the Seas. Join over 100 single revelers to bring in the New Year!
http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/118-new-years-eve-party-cruise
Thanksgiving Holiday Oasis for Singles
Contributed by Michael Katz, STI Concierge and Professional Dance Instructor for Singles
You would think that after being on 50+ singles cruises, that it would take a lot to be impressed when it comes to new cruise ships! This is Michael, your STI Concierge here to report that after being on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis a number of times, I have to say….I AM IMPRESSED! How can you not be impressed with a ship that has 7 neighborhoods?
From the moment you enter the Oasis on the Promenade Deck, you are instantly transformed into a fabulous mall, with a Latin and Karaoke Club, a Pizza and Cupcake Shop, Stores galore, and a bar that is also an open elevator that takes you 2 decks up toCentral Park. Yes,Central Park, complete with real trees, grass, walking paths, an incredible Café, and 4 top notch specialty restaurants. In betweenCentral Parkand the Promenade is the Boardwalk Deck, and this is not to be missed. Care to take a Carousel Ride, have a burger at Johnny Rockets, or have lunch at the Seafood Shack? All this and more is available to you as you stroll along the Boardwalk! Not to mention 2 giant rock climbing walls, ice cream shop, and at the end of the Boardwalk, a 700 seat Aqua Theatre, which by day, you can see the sexy legs and belly flop contests, and by night, an aqua show complete with 6 divers, 4 synchronized swimmers, 2 specialty divers, and 6 acrobats!
This is just one of the fabulous shows offered on the Oasis to entertain you. Over your 7 night cruise to St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau, Bahamas, you can also see Hairspray, the Broadway Show, enjoy an incredible Ice Show in the Oasis Ice Skating Rink, go to a comedy show in a real comedy club, listen to a live jazz band in the jazz club, or dance the night away in 2 disco’s, Bolero’s Latin Club, or an outdoor party on the pool deck!
Now you may feel that this ship is too big with too many people. How many? Did I say 6400!! Wow!!! Well let me tell you that because this ship has so much to offer, you never feel like it is any more crowded than a ship with 2000 people. This is the most amazing part!
And oh, we’re not finished yet! I forgot to tell you that you can zip line across the top of the ship, ride a surf board in 2 surfing pools, play basketball, golf, relax in the best cruise spa or fitness center, the Solarium, or one of the 10 whirlpools, 2 of which overlook the ocean. You can even see a 3D Movie in the Theatre. Wow!
All this in addition to the incredible food, bars, parades, pools, and ports too! Add Thanksgiving to the menu, and you have the perfect cruise! So what are you waiting for? Join us for the best Thanksgiving cruise of all time!
http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/114-thanksgiving-holiday-oasis
Kiss Him…….. He’s Irish!!
I know people that celebrate every holiday with enthusiasm, decorations, food, music, blah, blah, blah…. I’m not that person! I don’t decorate, haven’t had a Christmas tree for about five years and really feel exhausted by the entire process.
However, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday I really get into! It’s all about happy people coming together for the purpose of wearing green in as many creative ways possible, drinking green beer and watching the parade which, if you’re lucky, consists of men in kilts playing bag pipes! What’s not to like about that???
My neighborhood will host their 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend. This includes brigades of real Irish firemen who are commissioned to travel the world for the sole purpose of attending the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. At the celebration last year I was able to determine, through careful and personal interrogation, that there are firemen in the U.S. that also travel the country for this purpose. Playing the pipes, wearing the skirt, drinking the green beer and looking macho while doing it!
St. Patrick was a patron saint of Ireland, credited with bringing Christianity to the country. He was thought to have died on March 17 460 A.D. and St. Patrick’s Day was originally a day of spiritual renewal to offer prayers for missionaries worldwide.
It was the American’s that got the party started. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade started in New York City in 1792. This is likely due to the large numbers of Irish migrants who settled there and celebrated the saint’s feast day by marching through the city’s streets. 34 million American’s have an Irish ancestry; nine times more than the population of Ireland.
Did you know?
- The original color of St. Patrick was blue,
- “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” was born from the tradition of kissing the Blarney Stone, to be blessed with the gift of gab,
- There about 10,000 regular three-leaf cloves for every lucky four-leaf clover found,
- In Chicago the rivers are dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day!
My favorite legend about a symbol of this holiday is the meaning of the four leaves on a lucky clover. They represent hope, faith, luck and love.
My St. Patrick’s Day blessing for you is that I hope your faith in green beer will bring you luck in love!
When Is Too Much Fun Not So Fun???
It seems to be in my nature as a single gal who loves to travel, to have a huge desire to create or experience a new fun adventure for or with people.
However, I am starting to believe that it’s possible to create too much fun and to realize the impact of this is having on my life. In the past six weeks, I have experienced the following:
1) Celebrated my 49th birthday in Islamorada, Sunrise/Sunset Tour style,
2) Completed two business trips,
3) Met my brother and sister-in-law in Key West,
4) Performed the wedding ceremony of my best friend, on a yacht!
5) Entertained, in some fashion, 21 friends and family that have blown through Florida. Apparently February is a good time to escape from the Midwest, I remember those days!
This may be more than the normal person encounters in six months, but I’m not complaining. I love and care for these people and I’m blessed to have them in my life. I just think I have hit my physical, mental and emotional capacity to have any more fun! All the time I am feeling this, I still really have travel envy because I didn’t go on the singles Valentine’s Day cruise!!!
Each of the experiences mentioned above had its own purpose and meaning:
• The birthday trip was making a dream come true,
• One of the business trips included spending time with a friend I had met just three weeks before,
• Time with family can be a blessing and a curse,
• I can’t even describe how it felt to bless the marriage of my best friend,
• The friends from the Midwest are a part of my history, but when I’m with them it feels like we were together just yesterday! I wouldn’t miss a chance to spend time with them.
One of the best experiences was the one I am least familiar with and probably the most fearful of . A very dear young man, like a son to me, and his beautiful family which includes a 2 year old and a 3 month old, spent five nights with me. Having young children around is such an awe inspiring experience. I have so much respect for how much time and energy it takes and what a selfish life I seem to have lived without having this type of responsibility. Watching a 2 year old run free on the beach, encouraging me to “run Cindy run” will forever be in my memories!
So innocent, so simple, so fresh. It’s made me reflect about how complicated my life can be and what I may need to do to remove the chaos and constant stimulation. Being quiet and being still seem foreign but necessary.
Maybe there is a shift coming in my life. It probably won’t be drastic because that sense of adventure, which includes single or group travel, gives me so much energy and happiness. It may be time to think about whether every adventure that presents itself is worth the investment and how full my fun meter is before I just jump in and go!!
