Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Epcot

The post Photo Highlights From My Week in Walt Disney World appeared first on LandLopers.

Last fall I was invited by Princess Cruises to attend the christening of their newest ship, the Regal Princess. To sweeten the deal, they invited the entire cast of The Love Boat to participate in the event, along with more than 20 former guest starts of the iconic show of the 70s and 80s. Captain Stubing, Florence Henderson and Charo? There was absolutely no way I could say no. I was also honestly eager to experience Princess Cruises for the first time. I’ve been on several cruises, but never with Princess and looked forward to seeing what sailing with them is like. Sadly, the experience wasn’t everything I hoped it would be and so I feel compelled to offer an honest review of the Regal Princess and Princess Cruises in general.

The Ship

If I hadn’t been at the christening, I would be shocked to find out that the Regal Princess was brand new. I don’t mean it doesn’t look nice and shiny – it certainly does. But the layout of the ship is so antiquated and confusing, it’s hard to believe it was designed and built in the 21^st century. The ship is split between decks so that when I wanted to eat dinner at the restaurant on the 5^th deck, I would have to go up to 7 and then walk down to 5. When it comes to recreation areas, they are pitiful. None of the lounge chairs have any kind of shade or umbrellas, so if you are fair skinned you will bake. Wait, I stand corrected. They do have a beautiful and relaxing area with plenty of shade and umbrellas, but you have to pay extra to access it. That nickel and diming was rampant and I was shocked to see that little was free and instead Princess associates a fee with everything. Even when we anchored in the Bahamas, the beach umbrellas were $29 for the day. It’s outrageous and I’ve never experienced that insane level of nickel and diming on a cruise before.

There was also little to do onboard the ship. There were a few pools, a rec center and a casino, but nothing fun, innovative or exciting. No sky diving or bumper cars on this ship no, instead your choices are trivia night with the crew or bingo. I imagine retirement homes have better options.

Service

This is where Princess really lost me and I’m still reeling from the spectacularly bad service I experienced onboard the Regal Princess. At first when I noticed small moments of poor service, I chalked it up to new staff just getting used to things. Then I learned that the Regal Princess had been servicing guests for six months and I instantly lost a lot of respect for the people who worked onboard the ship.

Rather than one glaring example of bad service, my experience was instead a death by a thousand cuts. When I sat down to get a soft drink, the waiter promptly began telling me how much he hated his job. I listened as I went on to tell everyone else the same thing while pouring their drinks. I saw multiple servers get really rude and sarcastic with guests, one senior staff member actually yelling at a passenger. In the gym I made an appointment with the staff and they never showed up. It goes on and on. Like I said, there was no one horrible encounter, instead nothing went the way it should have. In hospitality the guest is ALWAYS right. Even if it means gritting your teeth and saying “Yes ma’am” or “Sir,” but open conflict should never happen. Of course this doesn’t occur in a vacuum and ultimately points towards what is the larger corporate culture.

I saw this lack of respect on display while waiting to board the tender (small boat) to take us back to the cruise ship after spending the day in the Bahamas, our port of call. There was a 45-minute line for the tenders and it was not a fast moving line. As I got closer, I saw one of the cruise ship staff members ask the folks in line not to board the empty tender and instead, his coworkers spent 20 minutes loading beer and wine onto the boat. Meanwhile, guests waited in the intense heat watching as they were shown by the actions of the crew just how unimportant they were. It was shocking and I thought a riot was going to break out amongst the guests around me. But it goes to show how little the crew thinks about customer service.

Food and everything else

Wow, it really seems that I hated my experience onboard the Regal Princess, but that’s far from the truth. We had a decent time, but there are significant problems that need to be addressed. Food is another one. All guests are entitled to eat in the general buffet restaurant as well as at a few other dining rooms without reservations. Here’s the kicker. I selected anytime dining, which means there was no set time and theoretically I could go and eat whenever I wanted to. Except that’s not technically possible. My partner and I showed up at the anytime dining restaurant and were promptly asked if we had reservations. Dumbfounded I said no, this was anytime seating. Turns out anytime seating requires reservations in advance! While yes, theoretically you can show up and eat apparently demand was too high so they switched to an impromptu reservations system. It’s absurd and was just one more disconnect on a ship full of them. I might not have minded as much had the food actually been good, but it wasn’t. It was as unimpressive, unimaginative as anything I’ve ever seen and I doubt the menu has changed much in the past couple of decades.

Having cruised many times in the past, I was shocked at my experience onboard the Regal Princess. The problems were many and by the end of the short three-day trip, my partner and I were more than ready to leave. We weren’t alone either. I chatted with a lot of guests who paid for the cruise, who were there to enjoy a few days away from home and to a person no one was happy with their experience. One gentlemen I met told me that he’s sailed 20 times with Norwegian and dozens more times with other cruise lines and that three-day cruise onboard the Regal Princess was one of the worst he’s ever experienced. That says something.

But it also wasn’t the worst experience I’ve ever had and if it’s your first cruise then you’ll probably like it. But if you have anything at all with which to compare it to, prepare for some serious disappointment.

Have you sailed with Princess Cruises before? What did you think?

The post Trouble On The High Seas: My Regal Princess Experience appeared first on LandLopers.

“Just stand there and don’t move,” our guide instructed us. I looked down at the line he drew in the dirt with his stick and wondered why three lions would choose to pay attention to such an artificial device. My dogs don’t listen to me, why on earth would a lion? My brain screamed danger as the gate opened and the two females and one male lion scampered up the path, like puppies let out into the yard to play. This wasn’t their first walk though and they ignored us completely as they entered the bush.

I’m naturally skeptical when it comes to animal experiences. I’m usually preoccupied with worry that the activities aren’t helpful to the animals and in the worst-case scenario that they may actually be harmful to them. I’ve been metaphorically bitten before and I’m definitely shy when it comes to planning a wildlife experience, which is why I was cautious when I arrived at the Ukutula Lion Park outside of Johannesburg, South Africa.

As I said, I’m a skeptical guy and I’m fairly sure most animal centers that include programs with tourists aren’t always done in the best interest of the animals. That being said, from everything I’ve seen and read, Ukutula seems to be a genuine research and breeding center. Their focus is on genetics and lions’ immunity to a variety of diseases, with the hope of helping the countrywide population. Ukutula runs a variety of programs to engage guests, from voluntourism opportunities to day visits. I was there for a day visit, to see the lion program in person and to walk with them in the wild.

Ukutula sits on 260 hectares, more than enough room for a few lions to roam around. The process is fairly straightforward. The lions, along with their ranger walk down a path with the tourists (me) and our guide following at a safe distance. The lions are free to do as they wish, wander around in the bush, do some hunting, whatever their lion hearts desire. At several points on the path the ranger feeds the beautiful creatures some raw meat; presumably so that the aforementioned tourists can get better photos.

More than once the lions turned around to stare at us, goodness knows what was going through their heads. I never felt in danger and even though the experience was a bit contrived I didn’t get the impression that the lions were unhappy or not actively engaged. I could be wrong of course, it’s happened before.

A visit to Ukutula though is about much more than just walking with lions. Following our stroll in the bush we had the opportunity to visit the nursery, a den of uncontrolled cuteness. The opportunity to cuddle a baby lion was remarkable and something I’ll never forget. What may seem odd though were the tigers kept at the breeding center.

Tigers of course aren’t native to Africa, and these were rescued from a private farm from an individual who was mistreating them. The rescued tigers have since had cubs and watching the lion and tiger babies play together in the nursery was an amazing sight to behold. Holding them wasn’t awful either.

Ukutula has a wide variety of cats at the center, including lynx and leopards, each there to aid in the education of others and to find ways to help the species better survive in the wild.

Overall I enjoyed my time at the sanctuary, although I’m still paranoid about the experience. I’m just so concerned about wildlife conservation that I approach everything with skepticism, and it’s no reflection at all on Ukutula. In fact, from all accounts they seem to be doing anything right. Located less than an hour from Johannesburg and Sun City, a visit there makes a perfect day trip, although for the real deal nothing of course beats a visit to one of the many nature reserves in South Africa.

Would you walk with lions in the bush?

This campaign is brought to you by the South African Tourism board and is supported and managed by iambassador. LandLopers.com  maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site.

The post Walking with Lions in South Africa appeared first on LandLopers.

I am once again partnering with Holland America, this time for this post as well as other social media posts. As usual though, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Like so many people, I would love to visit all 50 states one of these days. Turns out, I’m fairly close (Just six more!) to finishing but one that I thought would be the last for me was Alaska. That all changed though just a few years ago when the premier name in Alaska cruising, Holland America, invited me to join them on a truly remarkable voyage in America’s last frontier. Cruising, like everyone else, has had a tough couple of years but the industry is thankfully roaring back, and that’s definitely the case in Alaska. Honestly the best way to experience the thrills of the state, cruising in Alaska has a long and vaunted history; a history that Holland America helped write. In furtherance of their own love for Alaska, they’re hosting an incredible contest that is both fun and easy to enter. Just write your own love letter to Alaska sharing why you love it OR why you would love to visit. Here’s the best part, the prizes aren’t just cruises to Alaska, Holland America is giving away 10 voyages in one of their incredible suites, including a grand prize Neptune Suite, on a 2022 cruise to the Great Land!

To share the love for Alaska, they’ve asked me to help them spread the word and so today I want to share my own love letter. To write your own and enter to win one of those incredibly luxurious cruises just visit the Love Letters to Alaska web site  and submit yours before the contest ends on March 15, 2022.

Dear Alaska,

I realize that we’ve only met once and even that was arranged, but I can’t hide my feelings for you because I am truly and madly in love with you.

Why do I love you so? For all of your incredible attributes, starting with your incredible size. I know it’s impolite to say, but there’s just no other state that can match your remarkable girth. Seward certainly knew what he was doing when he brokered that famous deal with Russia, because you are nearly a fifth of the size of the Continental U.S.; you’ll certainly never have to fear about competition when it comes to how much space you have to wander around and explore. And what a space it is too!

Your beauty is what captures the hearts and minds of so many because is everywhere; a type of constant pulchritude that is all encompassing and intoxicating at its best. It’s so unusually perfect that one starts to take it for granted I’m afraid. “Yes, another glacier,” or “Yes, another untouched forest that has no equal anywhere in the world,” these are some of the non-complaints of the typical visitor to the state. You’re so much more than a pretty face though, there is keen depth to your personality – your very soul.

To best experience the full range of your experiences, Holland America offers a variety of different itineraries to would-be cruisers, with each port of call offering activities that are unique and together provide a fantastic view of what life is like in Alaska. Whether it is touring glaciers, taking an old train through scenic mountain passes, soaring high above the trees on a floatplane or learning about your fascinating more recent history, you provide no shortage of ways to experience and enjoy the best of what you have to offer. There’s so much to do that I can’t imagine ever feeling like I had done it all, and I love that.

I could write all day about my love for you, my undying respect but I know how busy you are, especially with the summer cruise season quickly approaching. Do not worry though my dear, because you and I will be reunited soon enough for I am planning a return this very summer to confirm what I already know, that I am madly in love with you.

Until we meet again,

Matt

The post My Love Letter to Alaska appeared first on LandLopers.

Like many people, visiting all of the country’s 63 National Parks is a lifelong ambition that I sincerely hope to complete someday. There’s just something special about an American National Park that is hard to describe and impossible to quantify; you have to experience it in order to truly understand. Within the pantheon of parks though some, through personal preference or history, certainly rise to the top and for most visitors Yosemite is one of those elite-level parks. Prior to 2021 I had never set foot in this most revered of parks, yet the year had me visit this California treasure not once but twice. It gives me the unique position of comparing two different travel styles and to share why I ultimately preferred one over the other.

My first venture into Yosemite was on my own, an experience I described in greater detail here. This second adventure though was part of a longer Globus tour experience around Northern California. Although certainly one of the highlights for many guests, the national park was in fact just one stop among several others.

Globus family of brands traces its history back to 1928, when founder Antonio Mantegazza started using a boat to take commercial goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Since then the company has grown and evolved into what it is today, one of the largest travel companies in the world with more than 30 tourism and aviation business under its umbrella. I’ve actually traveled with Globus family of brands before both on Monograms independent trips as well as luxurious river cruises on Avalon Waterways. This trip though was with a part of the company that was new to me, but which serves as the company’s backbone – Globus. Tours offered by Globus are fully escorted and take many different forms in every corner of the world, including one of America’s great natural treasures.

One aspect I love of visiting any National Park is how accessible they are, even if your time is very limited. In most cases the National Park Service has created short driving loops showcasing the best of the park in as little as half a day. I know that it may sound slightly sacrilegious to only devote a few hours to any National Park, but in my experience I’ve always walked away thrilled with my National Park adventures. The same holds true in Yosemite, where it in fact possible to self-drive and see many of the park’s highlights. There is a problem here though that greatly affected my first experience but also had me excited for the second trip – the people.

As one of the country’s most popular national parks, Yosemite hosts millions of visitors every year. Given the incredible size of the park one wouldn’t think this an issue, but because nearly all visitors try to access the same points, congestion is a very real problem. Instead of reveling in the same beauty that inspired Muir, I found myself competing with scores of others for various parking spots as I tried to see some of the park’s most notable sites. Ordinarily the park has a shuttle system, but not during COVID, which only actuated the problem. I left after that first day exhausted and frustrated and without having experienced the best of Yosemite.

That feeling of frustration dogged me though and I was disappointed that I hadn’t figured out a way to better experience the park. Then Globus came along and the light bulb went on. Touring has many associated benefits, but perhaps the most laudable is leaving the driving up to someone else. I love a great road trip, but when the goal is mere conveyance, I naturally would prefer not to drive. More than that though, taking an escorted tour in Yosemite meant I’d never have to battle for a parking space, enabling me to finally experience the best of the park.

Over two days we enjoyed incredible access to Yosemite, thanks not only to our guide but our hotel that was mere minutes from the park entrance. This Globus tour also featured several destinations where we had a choice in excursions; a new but already popular touring feature. In Yosemite I chose to experience the park through the eyes of one of its most famous fans – Ansel Adams. Some of the photographer’s most famous works were all shot in Yosemite, a place for which he developed a deep affinity. Through the help of a resident photographer, we learned not only about Adams and his time in Yosemite, but we also visited the spots where he shot those incredible photos. While my own shots from the same vantage points don’t compare to those of the great master, it was fun to be in the very spot that had so captured Adams’ imagination.

Leaving Yosemite Valley after my second experience could not have been more different than my first. Instead of frustrated, tired and exasperated I was exuberant and inspired by what I discovered. Upon reflection is was due to the access I enjoyed throughout my trip, access that could only have been provided through Globus. The touring experience completely transformed my impression of the park enabling me to be inspired by it as has happened to so many others before me.  Before traveling with Globus I hadn’t considered this ease of access to be one of the tour highlights, but for me it’s really what the whole trip was all about. If you think about it, that’s a defining feature of so many trips we take, which in turn makes choosing to travel with a company like Globus one of the most important decisions of the travel planning process.

The post Travel Do-Over: Finally Experiencing the Best of Yosemite with Some Help appeared first on LandLopers.

Even I would raise an eyebrow at the title of this blog post, yet here I sit writing it in all honesty and earnestness. It was just one of many surprises though during a week of fun exploration touring with Globus. With many decades of experience from which to draw, they were the ideal partner as I left my home/prison of two years and hit the road, this time trekking across gorgeous Northern California on Globus’ California Dreamin’ tour.

Why partner with a tour company for this domestic trip? Through their other businesses (Monograms and Avalon) I have traveled with them before and knew I could trust them for an amazing travel experience. I also looked forward to the ease in experiencing some of the highlights on the trip, namely Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes. I love to explore though and what perhaps interested me the most was learning about new places, which included the capital of California, Sacramento.

Prior to this trip I didn’t have much of an impression regarding the city, except that I anticipated it to be dull, drab and hardly worth my time. As is so often the case though in the travel experience, I was totally and completely wrong. Thanks not only to the expert guiding of Globus, but also the options presented to me while visiting I enjoyed a lovely visit that I know won’t be my last.

If you’re familiar with Sutter’s Mill, then you’re familiar with the history of Sacramento, at least partially. He was one of the early Western settlers to call the valley home and of course it was at his mill where, in 1848, gold was first discovered. Sacramento’s location was ideal and within a few years it had grown to a population of 10,000. In the 1850s the state legislature moved to the city, forever confirming its existence and importance in the history of the state.  Today Sacramento is home to more than half a million people, making it one of the largest state capitals but none of this really hooked me. No, it wasn’t until I experienced the city on my own, with the help of Globus, that I really began to understand its charm.

Globus has a touring option that it calls Choice Touring, or YourChoice. The idea is to add in elements of travel that people love, namely the opportunity to choose what they see and do in new places. Sure, some of the stops on the tour were locked in, but at three stops there were excursion options from which to choose. Each option was very different from the other, ensuring that nearly all types of travelers can be accommodated.

Not surprising for me, I chose the food tour option around the city. Like so many urban centers around the world, Sacramento has enjoyed a Renaissance of sorts in the culinary options available to locals and visitors alike. But it wasn’t on the tour when I learned to love to city, no, it actually wasn’t during any formal activity at all.

Our included hotel on the tour was just a block or so away from the city’s historic downtown core. This very pedestrian friendly zone instantly won me over, although it’s hard to pinpoint why. Walking into the zone during the best of gloaming, a small fair was set up on the fringes and families were out and about enjoying themselves, likely for the first time since Covid. Small independent shops and restaurants lined the streets and the overall vibe was one of happiness and contentment. Of course it helped that several tour participants joined me on this evening of exploration, adding so much more fun to the experience. While simple, that’s actually the best adjective for the experience – fun. It seems so basic a thing for me to say, but it’s something that can be hard to find, especially lately. Just as the locals needed that fair to be set up, I needed that night of fun in Sacramento. As for everyone, the last couple of years have been really hard for me and the opportunity to be out and about and just act normal again was priceless and something I very desperately needed.

Is a fully escorted tour as style of travel I will choose for every trip? No, but there’s no single travel style I would always choose. I have long maintained that a wide diversity of travel modes is key to becoming a more well rounded traveler. This means independent travel for sure, but it also means a cruise every now and then, a partially coordinated adventure and yup, a fully escorted tour too. When utilized at the best time and in the best places for you, they only add to the travel experience. I can’t promise you that they’ll make you fall in love with Sacramento as I did, but I do know that you’ll find your own version of Sacramento along the way.

The post My Unlikely Love for Sacramento – Yes, THAT Sacramento appeared first on LandLopers.

I really dislike starting off this blog post with the word COVID, but here we are. Like it or not COVID now defines daily life and that is especially true in the travel context. For me, the question has been how to balance safe traveling with actually traveling and it took me a while to sort out what that meant. Personally, it means traveling with health and safety in mind but the key part of that is traveling. I’m not going to stop traveling, that much is for sure. That being said, over the last couple of years the only trips I’ve taken have been short and easy as I got used to the new reality. I was excited though to once again return to the life of experiential travel, so when I was approached by legendary tour company Globus, I knew that the stars had aligned. This blog post isn’t meant to be a comprehensive look at my tour or even the company. No, it’s meant to share the feeling of travel today and how Globus helped facilitate me getting out of my shell and back into the adventure that is travel.

What is Globus?

Globus family of brands traces its history back to 1928, when founder Antonio Mantegazza started using a boat to take commercial goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Since then the company has grown and evolved into what it is today, one of the largest travel companies in the world with more than 30 tourism and aviation business under its umbrella. I’ve actually traveled with Globus family of brands before both on Monograms independent trips as well as luxurious river cruises on Avalon Waterways. This trip though was with a part of the company that was new to me, but which serves as the company’s backbone – Globus. Tours offered by Globus are fully escorted and take many different forms in every corner of the world. One reason why I was drawn to this particular trip though was because I didn’t have to travel far in order to enjoy a transformational experience as I learned more about beautiful Northern California.

California Dreamin’

One of the few benefits to being locked down in the US is the incredible diversity we enjoy in terms of travel experiences. Urban or rural, snowy or beachy we have it all which also means it would take multiple lifetimes to truly experience it all. The Globus tour I enjoyed lived up to this idea, promising to expose me to places both familiar and new, the ideal mix if we’re being honest.

Starting in one of my favorite cities, San Francisco, the California Dreamin’ tour takes guests to Sausalito, Sonoma, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite over 9 days – the ideal pace to enjoy what I consider to be some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. What made this particular tour even more special was the inclusion of YourChoice excursion options. I think many of us have an outdated idea of what escorted touring looks like, but more and more people are demanding (and receiving) options when they travel, and this trip with Globus was no different. In Sacramento, Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite I had several options of what to see and do, perfect for my own particular way of travel.

The Experience

I’ll be posting a more thorough day-by-day review of the trip, but I wanted to share some initial thoughts about Globus before releasing that epic tome. This was not my first escorted tour, but I haven’t done very many and I wasn’t sure at all what to expect. To be very honest, there were no negative moments for me and only wonderful surprises where I didn’t expect to find them. Some examples include:

Making great friends – After so many years I don’t know why this still surprises me, but it does. When a group of people share the same travel experience they tend to become great friends with each other very fast, and that’s especially true in this instance. Spending more than a week with each other, enjoying the same special moments on the road is a bond that is both hard to describe but equally difficult to dissolve. It’s a wonderful way to make friends because you know that the friendship is based on a very real shared experience; a stronger base than many of my other acquaintances.

Loving unlikely places – I would never have decided to spend a couple of days in Sacramento, California on my own. The end, full stop. However, that’s what was included on the California Dreamin’ tour and you know what? Sacramento was the sleeper hit of the entire trip. I really enjoyed everything about it, but wandering around the historic center at twilight, watching people out with friends and family on their way to dinner was a personal highlight for me and I can’t thank Globus enough for exposing it to me.

Freedom to explore and enjoy the adventure – I first visited Yosemite in May, just a few months before this trip and the difference in my experiences could not be more stark. On my own I spent the night 30 minutes from the park entrance and when you add the additional 2 hours of driving within the park just to get anywhere, it was a lot to do. Then I had to contend with not knowing where to go or what to do and of course parking, the dreaded activity for any popular National Park. With Globus though, we stayed at an amazing hotel mere minutes from the front gates but the best part of the tour was the fact that it was a tour. I didn’t have to drive and instead could relax as we made our way to the amazing Yosemite Valley. It may not sound like much, but it enabled me to enjoy my experience in ways I wasn’t able to on my own.

I have so much more to share, but I wanted to start things off by talking about the tour concept and to be honest about my experiences. My ultimate takeaway is to give every travel style a try, because you never know what you’ll love most until you do it!

The post The Globus Experience – What Touring in America Is Really Like appeared first on LandLopers.

One great thing about visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, California is that unlike its Florida cousin, one does not have to stay on-site to get the Disney experience. In fact, staying offsite IS part of the Disneyland experience in my honest opinion. I’ve stayed at several hotels and they’ve all been good, but I recently had the great opportunity to try the newest hotel in Anaheim, one known for its commitment to luxury and service  – the JW Marriott Anaheim. From previous experience at sister properties around the world I knew what to expect, but even those lofty expectations were almost immediately surpassed at this remarkable property.

About JW Marriott

If you’re not familiar with the brand, JW Marriott is part of Marriott’s luxury group and is designed to be a haven for guests. Serving as a comfortable home base allows guests to focus on being more present and of course enjoying the property and destination to the fullest. There are more than 95 JW Marriott hotels around the world, including on of their newest in Anaheim.

About the JW Marriott Anaheim

Opening in August 2020, the JW Marriott is the latest arrival in the Anaheim hotel scene and almost immediately became the top hotel in town. Meant to enrich the body, spirit and mind its location can’t be beat whether you’re there to experience Disneyland or attend a conference at the Anaheim Convention Center. Thoughtfully designed to bring people together, the hotel offers multiple social spaces and amenities, including a rooftop bar with incredible views of Disneyland. No matter where you look, from the dining options to the rooms or even the lobby spaces, everything is done to perfection.

Location and My Experience

Yes, I’m a big fan of luxury hotels but what is most important to me when picking a place to stay is location. That is especially true when it comes to visiting Disneyland; an experience that means a great deal to me personally. As it turns out, that’s one of the hotel’s chief selling points and for me getting to and from the parks couldn’t have been easier. The JW Marriott was also the ideal haven for a few days; a place to rest, relax and recharge. Truly, my only regret was not having more time there to fully experience everything the hotel has to offer.

Believe it or not, but this was not a press trip – I paid for it (although admittedly I did receive a discount) so when I say this is one of the best hotels in Anaheim and isn’t to be missed, then you can truly take my word for it.

The post My New Favorite Luxury Hotel in Anaheim – the JW Marriott appeared first on LandLopers.

Traveling for unique or annual events is one of the most popular reasons why people travel, so this week Patrick and Matt share some quirky examples of special event & celebratory explorations.

You can listen to the podcast here on this page or on any of these services: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher.

Weird Travel is a podcast within a podcast and my effort to chronicle and share some of travel’s fun mysteries and odd places. Helping me on this journey of discovery is Patrick Kozicky, a fellow podcaster and good friend.

About Patrick

Patrick Kozicky lives in Minneapolis, MN. He is an Ensemble Member with DalekoArts, a theater company based in Minnesota. He is also co-host and co-producer of Gays Do the D, a Disney podcast with an LGBTQ+ point of view. He loves traveling, reading, dogs and popcorn. Passions include, volunteerism, social justice, and arts education. When he’s not busy saving the world (or at least saving the world from himself) he loves reading up on mysteries or true crime, and staying up late, watching horror movies. (with popcorn of course).

The post ETW #103 Weird Travel: Traveling For Celebrations & Special Events appeared first on LandLopers.

What people think about cruise travel varies dramatically and hinges on their own travel experiences. Past cruisers are usually head over heels in love with the travel style, while newbies have a certain level of skepticism that has always baffled me. I’ve had many opportunities to try a variety of cruise styles over the years, and while it’s not how I always choose to travel it is a way of seeing the world that I truly do enjoy. This week we’re talking all about the single most disruptive event to cruising in many decades, COVID, with one of the top cruise experts: Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic.

You can listen to the podcast here on this page or on any of these services: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher.

Colleen McDaniel is Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, the world’s largest online cruise resource. She considers cruising to be a true passion, having traveled the world by water – from Alaska, the Caribbean and Hawaii, to Europe’s rivers, Antarctica and Africa – on ships of all shapes and sizes. She’s regularly quoted as a cruise expert in media outlets across the country, including outlets like The Associated Press, Good Morning America, CNN, FOX Business, CNBC, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure and Skift.

The post ETW #102 New Normal of Cruising in 2021 and Beyond appeared first on LandLopers.