I'm on a Boat! Actually...The World's Largest Cruise Ship, the Allure of the Seas

There's the whole debate on whether bigger is better...well in this case, it's awesome!  I've only been on one other cruise and to be honest, I wasn't sold.  So when I heard that the TPI conference was going to be held on a cruise this year I was initially skeptical.  Then when I heard that I was going to be on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, the LARGEST cruise ship in the WORLD, I was excited more for being able to say "been there, done that."  Well...this ship completely sold me on cruising!

I could go on forever talking about this ship but for now, I'm just going to highlight my favourite places on the ship. 

1. Central Park

This is a very serene location mid ship where it feels like you are in a park setting.  You are actually outside here (mid ship, floor 8) which is a signature design in the Oasis class of ships.  Look up and yes, you will see clouds and the sky!  It's one of the things on the ship that makes you forget that you are on the water in the middle of the ocean. 
If you are not a morning person or if you don't like to be among the masses in the morning buffet (like moi), the Park Cafe is the perfect spot to get a quiet light breakfast.  I stumbled upon it my 2nd or 3rd day on the ship and I went there every morning thereafter to get a bagel and cream cheese or a very yummy breakfast sandwich and of course, my tea.  There are Central Park Balcony staterooms which gives yet another type of view to the rooms on the ship.  This is a great option if you are not willing to splurge the extra $$ for an ocean view balcony room but would really like to have a balcony.  With the Central Park Balcony staterooms, you get your balcony and still a great view!  Central Park is also the area where you will find the majority of the specialty restaurants.  All in all...my favourite spot on the ship.

2. The Cupcake Cupboard

Who doesn't like cupcakes?  Well, my mom thinks they are overrated but what does she know?!  (love ya mom!)  The ship has it's own cupcake shop...with nothing but cupcakes...um yum!  Their cupcakes are wonderful!  They come out with a new specialty flavour for every day on the ship so be careful...you may get a cupcake belly by the time you are through with your cruise.  Luckily enough, they do have the Vitality menu at the main dining room which gives you lighter, low fat options at dinner.  Stick to that in the eve and stock up on cupcakes during the day and you're good to go!  Maybe a couple visits to the gym wouldn't hurt as well haha!

3. The Solarium

 

 

I may be a little biased since I don't have kids but this area is fantastic!  This area is 16 years of age and older so it's definitely one of the more quiet areas on the ship during the day.  It's all glass which gives it a wonderful look and feel.  You won't find your large pools in this area but there are a good handful of little pools that are perfect for a quick dip and wading.  I loved it because it felt like a little oasis of luxury.  A great place to get some sun, chillax with a cold drink in one hand with your feet dipped in the pool.   Or a place where you can hang out on a lounger and soak in the sun reading a good book (or in my case, fall asleep with a good book).

The Boardwalk with the Dog House to the left. 

4. The Dog House

No...it's not a place where the hubby goes when he has, yet again, driven you crazy.  It's all about hot dogs!  Yes I know, yet another food place hit my list but I looooove hot dogs.  Now, this is not just your regular ballpark franks they have grilled up here...you've got your your choice of sausages and hot dogs from around the world.  They even have gourmet hot dogs (I didn't think you could put those two words together, but it's true!) like my favourite "The Big Apple" which is a chicken dog with apple in it.  Quite yummy!  This is definitely not a ketchup or mustard kind of dog but it was absolutely perfect with a little bit of mayo! Yum!

5. The Whole Ship! - What do I mean by this?  The whole ship is great because I felt little to no movement.  Therefore...no seasickness!  I highly recommend the Allure of the Seas for those who are a little worried about seasickness.  It was quite amazing actually.  I had to keep reminding myself that I was on a boat.  The only time I felt a bit of movement was when we were stopping and pulling into port.  I was really impressed. 
The other thing that impressed me was that I didn't feel like just a number on the ship.  The staff remembered my name and even one of the bartenders remembered what drink I liked to order.  You would think that because there are so many people on board you would feel crowded but I think because the ship is so big, there are just that many more places to put people.  I never felt that there were too many people on board. 

Ok...so I lied.  I'm not going to just tell you about my fav spots on the ship.  I want to share some useful tips that will help make your stay that more enjoyable. 

Karen's Quick Tips for the Allure of the Seas:

1. Book your shows prior to coming on the cruise - These shows are fantastic and get booked up quite quickly.  If you'd like a guaranteed spot and not have to wait in the line, pre-book your shows!  Ocean Aria and Blue Planet are amazing and they are definitely the hot ticket items on the ship.  You can do all of your pre-booking through the Royal Caribbean website.

2. Book your speciality dinner reservations prior to coming on the cruise - same as above.  Yes these restaurants are additional moola but are very much worth it.  Secure your spot prior to getting on the ship or make sure you make your reservations on the first day of your cruise.

3. Get the stateroom you want when you book your cruise - If you are longing for that ocean view balcony room or suite, don't wait to see if you can get upgraded on your first day on the ship.  While unpacking my things, there was an announcement on the PA system saying that the ship is completely booked and no upgrades are available.  If you want to ensure you are in the room you really want...book it prior to getting on board.  This ship doesn't have a problem selling out so don't risk the chance of disappointment, remember this is your vacation, get the room you want when you make your booking. 

4. Make sure to bring the items you need/want in a carry on - Remember...this is the largest cruise ship in the world.  It holds 5400 passengers so you can imagine how many pieces of luggage that need to be handled and taken to each stateroom.  Because of this, don't expect your luggage to show up immediately at your door.  They run a pretty tight and efficient ship but make sure you have your prescriptions, bathing suit and change of clothes because it may be the early evening before everything gets to you. 

Here are a couple more pics from my experience on board....

My Ocean view Balcony Stateroom

  

Hot Tubs & Pool

Flow Rider - Surfing simulator

Mini Golf

Rock Climbing Wall

The English Pub - The Bull & Stern

The Royal Promenade

 







  

Mmm Champagne!  Champagne Bar on board.





Oh and P.S. The Allure of the Seas is the home to the first Starbucks at sea.  So for those Starbucks addicts out there...you can get your fix while you're away in the middle of the ocean!

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk...
                                          "Already looking to go on the Allure again!"

Doing it up VIP Style at Universal Orlando & SeaWorld

Who doesn't like to be treated like a VIP???  I know I do...especially when I'm on vacation!  We all don't have the luxury of taking time off whenever we want to (man work sure gets in the way sometimes) so we want to use our vacation time wisely and not waste our time waiting in lines. 

Waiting in lines is what you can expect when you decide to take the family to a theme park for your vacation.  These types of vacations are not completely relaxing since you're up at the crack of dawn to get to the park and then spend most of your day on your feet waiting in line.  These rides are a couple of minutes, if you're lucky, and then...you're back in another hour long wait (or more) just to do it all over again.  To me this is not my idea of fun.  Can you tell that I'm not a patient person?!

Well...did you know that you can live it up and feel like a rock star at both SeaWorld and Universal Orlando and bypass all the lines?  I didn't until recently!  Both parks have VIP tours that provide you with your own tour guide for the day along with behind the scenes view of the parks and no waiting in lines!  You don't know how awesome it feels to bypass all the people that have been waiting in line and see the looks on these peoples faces to see the VIP group walk in and get on the next ride.  Not only do you get on the ride immediately, but you get the prime spots on the ride too!  It's priceless :)

There are different VIP passes that you can get.  There is one package where you are put into a group of other VIP guests, never exceeding a group of 12 OR (my preference) your exclusive VIP experience where you get your own personal tour guide for the group, so you don't have any other people on your tour that you don't know.  I think this is ideal since you really then have the flexibility of customizing your own tour.  You can do what you want, when you want to do it.  Oh...but I'm not a control freak either ;)

My exclusive VIP tour in Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure was absolutely AMAZING.  I was with a bunch of "thrill seekers" so we literally did all of the crazy and thrill seeking rides.  Because we didn't have to wait in any lines, we were able to do everything in one day!  That is...all of the crazy rides.  There is no way that we would be able to get that much in if we had to wait with the crowds of people for each ride.  It was pretty amazing how much we were able to accomplish.  If I was able to go for a 2nd day, I would have been able to do all of the rides in the entire 2 parks.  Pretty impressive.

The other cool thing is that you don't have to worry about the "stuff" that you bring along with you to the park.  The guide will gladly take care of all of your belongings while you are on the rides.  At Universal, they even have special entrances and rooms for the VIP guests.  The rooms allow you to dump your stuff in a secure spot (no one else has access to the room) while you go and have fun on the rides.  Brilliant!

So of course...all of this comes with a price but personally I think it's totally worth it since it really gives you full access to the parks with the ability to experience as much as possible while you are there.  The Universal exclusive VIP package can run from $2500 plus tax for a 1 day 2 park exclusive tour or $3750 plus tax for a 2 day 2 park exclusive tour.  That price is for up to 12 people, so if you can find 2-3 families or 12 friends to do it with you will get your most bang for your buck ($2500/12=$208/person).  If you just want to do the regular VIP tour (with other VIP guests) then it will be $275 plus tax for the 1 day 2 park tour.  For SeaWorld, the regular VIP pass is $100 plus tax and the VIP exclusive pass is $275 plus tax.  Please note that these prices are on top of the regular admission to the parks.

The VIP experience is one not to miss when you are at SeaWorld or Universal Orlando!  Just seeing the questioning looks on people's faces when you get to the front of the line and on the coaster before them is just priceless.  You hear them whispering in the background "Why do they get to go before us and on the front seat of the coaster???"...It's because we are VIP baby!!!

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk...
                                         "Is there a VIP pass for bypassing the lines in customs?"

Discovery Cove - An Oasis in the middle of Orlando!

As you step foot into the Discovery Cove day resort you forget you are in the middle of Orlando.  Lush tropical gardens surround you as you make your way to the beach area.  One of the first things you notice is...where are the crowds???  Why does it feel like I can actually walk somewhere without bumping into people and being elbowed.  The reason for this is that the attendance at the park is controlled.  You have to reserve your dates for the resort as they only allow 1000 people into the resort each day.  This is what really gives it a wonderful relaxed atmosphere.  I love no crowds!

I didn't know a whole lot about Discovery Cove before I checked it out but I was astonished to find out that it's All Inclusive!  I couldn't believe it.  When you go to any of the parks you go to them knowing that you're going to pay an arm and a leg for any type of food item.  Sometimes it's difficult to know exactly what you'll end up paying over and above the park ticket price...it all depends on how hungry or thirsty you are that day.  Knowing that you are paying one price for the day makes life so easy!  Paying just one price is worth it's weight in gold!

So here are all the things your ticket price includes for a Dolphin Swim Day Resort Package:

• A dolphin interaction - you get to swim, touch, play with a bottle nose dolphin.  It's in a small group and a trainer is with you through the whole experience.  The dolphin interaction lasts about 30 mins.
• Snorkeling with tropical fish and sting rays - there is a whole sting ray area where you can wade in the water and touch them or just stand there with them swimming all around you
• All the food you want - breakfast, lunch and unlimited snacks and drinks.  They even have select alcoholic beverages that are included in the all inclusive price!  If you want a fancy cocktail, it will be an additional cost.
• Snorkel, mask, wetsuit, lockers, towels, sunscreen, beach chairs...yup all included
• For those that drive, parking is included
• Big perk - you can get unlimited access to your choice of one of the other parks for the duration of your stay in Orlando (max 14 days) Seaworld, Aquatica or Bush Gardens Tampa Bay
• Note: you can get a package that doesn't include the Dolphin Interaction and the package will be cheaper

I unfortunately did not get to spend the whole day there since we were packing Aquatica and Seaworld into the day as well but I could have easily just plopped down on a lounger or jumped into the water with the dolphins.  I was however able to get a sneak peak at the new area in Discovery Cove that will be opening up this summer.  The Great Reef is a large new area of the resort where you will be able to snorkel and see tropical fish living in a coral reef environment.  You don't even have to get wet to see some of the sights like viewing sharks!  There is going to be this really cool underwater walking tour where you'll get to wear dive helmets to help you breath underwater! 

This is the perfect destination if you are looking for a relaxing break between all of the hectic theme parks.  It's a great spot to bring the kids to experience something a bit different as there are so many opportunities for up close encounters of wildlife and the underwater world.  Even if you don't have kids, it's just a great retreat from all the other things Orlando has to offer.  I would definitely go again to just relax and unwind. 

A couple of tips:

• As mentioned above, they only allow 1000 guests in per day so booking in advance is key!  Make sure to book at least a couple months in advance to ensure you get the day you want.  I've also heard that the earlier you book your tickets the better the price.  The closer you get to the date of when you want to go the more money it will be.
• Pay the extra $50 per person and you will get unlimited access to Seaworld, Acquatica & Bush Gardens Tampa Bay!  Great savings and it adds great value to your ticket!

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk...

                                           "Who knew something like this existed in Orlando?!"

Had a Magical Day at Disney!

Going to Disney at 29 is just as fun as when I was 8.  What a nostalgic experience!  There were so many things I remember from when I was a kid but soooo many things had changed (all good changes).  You definitely don’t need to have kids to have the Disney experience.  Disney is great for all ages, for the young and the young at heart. 

Since we only had 1 day to experience all of Disney (something I don’t recommend) we really had to speed through each park but make the most of our time there.  Disney has 4 parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom.  I chose just to stick with Epcot, Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom since Animal Kingdom is a little further away and going to those 3 were the best use of my time.

Before you start doing anything at any of the parks is good to start off with the following:

1.       Pick up a park map & time guide

·         Each park is very big and having a map will help give you an idea of where everything is in proximity to one another.  It’s always good to have if & when you get turned around.

·         A time guide give you the hours of operation of the park, the restaurants within the park, the character greeting times & locations, and lets you know when all of the shows take place

2.       Pick a location in the park to meet if you get separated

·         Doing this will ensure that you all know where to go if anyone gets separated from the group.  Make sure to do a walk by of the location so everyone is familiar with it and knows where it is.

3.       Plan Your Trip

·         Take a couple of minutes before you start wandering to figure out what you want to do with your day.  There is so much to see and if the park is really busy then you really need to have a plan of attack.  Decide what the key things you want to do and plan your route accordingly (i.e. don’t bounce from one location to another, try and plan your route that is as direct as possible that maximizes your time.

4.       Fast Pass

·         Before you get in any line up for rides, check out the board that displays the wait time and then shows the fast pass time window.  If the wait-time is 30 mins or less, you might as well just wait in line.  If it’s a longer wait time, you can get a Fast Pass for the ride.  The Fast Pass allows you to come back to the ride at a certain time and bypass all of the people waiting in line.  This is great for those really popular rides!  Keep in mind, if you get a fast pass, you can only get a fast pass for another ride after the time that’s on your other fast pass.  So if you get a fast pass for the Rock’n Roller for 10am-11am, you can only get a fast pass for another attraction that is after 11am.   

·         If you do want to get fast passes, do it early!  There are only a certain amount of fast passes for each ride/attraction so get them early so you don’t miss out

 

We started off in Epcot which is where the transportation hub is.  If you do stay off the Disney property, all shuttles from your resorts/hotels will take you this area.  From here, you can then take a bus or monorail to the other parks.  We didn’t spend too much time in Epcot but we were able to get some great pictures of the Flower & Garden Festival that was going on.  There were characters spread out throughout the park all done up in flowers and other greenery.  It was quite beautiful! 

Hollywood Studios was the next stop on the list.  The Rock ‘n Roller Starring Aerosmith rollercoaster was amazing!  It went so fast that my eyes were totally tearing.  What’s great too is that they have Aerosmith music was blearing throughout the ride.  Lots-o-fun!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was a ride that I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid…and I finally did it!  I really didn’t know too much about the ride other than that I knew that there was a big drop.  Oh no, it’s not just one drop, it’s multiple.  Up and down and up and down…you just keep bouncing between the various floors of the elevator.  The great thing about this ride is that you will get a completely different ride if you did it again.  The drops between the floors are done in a random sequence so you never know if it’s going to keep on climbing or if it’s going to drop.   If I had more time in the park I would have done it again just to see what it would be like the second time round.

It was now time for lunch and we decided to relax for a little while and have a sit down meal.  I definitely recommend having a sit down lunch rather than a grab and go because you are doing so much running around from attraction to attraction you need that time to get off your feet and have someone do the work for you.   Reservations are key though!  As a part of your planning process for the day, decide where you want to eat and make sure to make reservations a head of time.  Some of the more popular spots have long wait times for a table and having reservations gives you that piece of mind that your wait time will be minimal.

We ate at the Sci-fi Dine-In Theatre and it was a really cool experience.  It’s set up exactly like an old drive in movie theatre and you get to eat in the cars.  They play old commercials, cartoons & movie clips throughout your meal and you really feel as though you are sitting out under the stars watching an old school movie. 

They have pretty big portions so it may be a good idea to opt. to share an entrée.  We told our waiter that we were going to share and when he brought it out it came already divided on separate plates.  I thought that it was great that they made is so easy for us.  All in all the service was excellent and the food was great too.

Last but not least, Magic Kingdom!  This totally brought me back to my childhood especially seeing the characters all singing and dancing in front of the castle.  We were able to do Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.  Both were extremely fun and we lucked out with very small line ups.  I was really most concerned with seeing Mickey and taking a picture of the castle and they were both accomplished.  A fantastic ending to a magical day at Disney!

We did do another site visit in the evening at the fairly new (since 2009) Waldorf Astoria and Hilton hotels that are both on the Disney property.  They are both upscale hotels that will give you the feeling that you are in a luxury hotel/resort without being bombarded with children and Disney everything.  Even though these hotels are not inundated with children, kids are quite welcome and they do have a kids program onsite.    The conference and banquet facilities are huge so both hotels would be great for large corporate groups or weddings.  These properties definitely bring a different hotel experience to Disney I would stay at either of them in a hear beat!

Speaking of beat…guess who’s completely beat yet again?!  Oh yes, that is me!

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk…

                                               “M.I.C…K.E.Y…M.O.U.S.E!”

First Day in Orlando

So we made it to Orlando yesterday.  I have to share this wonderful picture that I took in the plane of the sunset while we were taking off.  I’m in love with clouds and sunsets, and this was just a perfect start to a very fun, but work related, trip.

We are staying at Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa.  It’s a wonderful property that would be absolutely great for families looking to give themselves a little more room at a reasonable rate.  I’m in a 3 bedroom condo that has a full kitchen, washing machine, living and dining areas.  If you are ok with not having a daily maid service then this is a great property for you.  There is even a fun pool area with a pirate ship that would be great for the kids.  It is offsite of the Disney property but it’s only about a 5 minute shuttle away.

Today started off with a visit to the Nikelodeon Suites Resort.   If you are looking for a fun filled family resort that is offsite the Disney park, then you would have a blast here.  Dora, Sponge Bob and everything Nickelodeon you can think of completely encompasses this property…you can even get slimed! (I guess if you are a kid it’s pretty cool).  The kids will have an absolute blast in the waterpark/pool area.  There is so much to do on site that I would definitely recommend spending at least a couple days at the resort to get the full experience rather than spend all your time at the theme parks. 

 I watched Dora and Diego’s Adventures in 4D and it was great!   I’ve never seen a movie in 4D before.  In case you didn’t know, a 4D movie is a movie that is not only shown in 3D but you get the additional sensory things like wind, you feel movement in your chair and getting sprayed with water.  The coolest thing was when they peeled a banana in the movie you could actually smell it…very cool!

 

I then went for a character breakfast and all the Nickelodeon characters were there.  The breakfast was buffet style and had a great selection of breakfast foods.  And yes, they have Sponge Bob waffles!  While you eat your breakfast, the characters walk around to each table and you have to opportunity to take pics with them.  The characters actually stick around for the whole breakfast so no need to rush and to get those pics.  They sing and dance and the kids can join in the performance by singing and dancing around the room.  Great fun!

Ok so…since it’s late and I have another early start tomorrow, I’ll have to give you all the Disney details tomorrow.  Stay tuned! 

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk…

                                                     ”Loooong day...but so much fun to be a kid again!!!"

Costa Rica Travel Tips

I've been home from Costa Rica for a couple of months now but I have been thinking about it recently (I think it's because I'm longing for warm weather...yes it's April and we're still getting snow).  I thought it would be a good idea to let you in on some things that I learned while I was there that would have been good to know before going.

1.  You can drink the tap water

Whenever I'm in a country that I'm not familiar with I'm always cautious about the water, as I should be.  I've made the mistake a time or two by using the tap water for brushing my teeth or a quick mouth rinse in the shower and have felt the wrath of the non drinkable water.  Oh boy have I been sick!  Now whenever I'm traveling, I'm always very diligent to brush my teeth and rise my toothbrush with bottled water or keep my mouth sealed shut in the shower.  I followed the same precautions the first couple of days while I was there and then my wonderful tour guide let me know that the water is drinkable!  He did warn me that it's very very chlorinated so it's not the greatest tasting but I definitely won't get sick from drinking it.  I did drink the water and used it for brushing my teeth and all was well. Thanks Shirani for the useful tip!

2. USD and Colones are pretty much interchangeable all over Costa Rica.

I brought US dollars with me for my spending money however I noticed that most of the people in my travel tour group had Costa Rican Colones.  It was the day before leaving on the tour and I was thinking that it would probably be a good idea to get some Colones since I didn't want to end up in a situation where they wouldn't take my US dollars.  Well sure enough, I made it to the bank too late (it was closed) and I was stuck with my USD. 

I had absolutely no problems using my USD.  In some cases where I had both USD and Colones, I was able to pay for things using both currencies and they had no problem with that.  Just keep in mind...for every 1 Colone it's 2 USD.  So if something cost 5 Colones it would cost $10USD. 

3. Bring clothing that you can layer

Costa Rica has various climates depending on where you are.  It can be very warm and humid in some areas (like in Manuel Antonio) or it can be cooler in others (like in Monteverde because of the altitude).  You can even feel as though you've gone though all of the seasons of the year in one day!  I don't think I brought enough long sleeved shirts.  I wasn't expecting it to be very cold but the nights can get chilly in some areas and if you are doing some of the early morning hikes, you'll definitely need a warm sweatshirt or coat.  Best thing to do is to pack items that you can layer and peel off as the day gets warmer and then put back on as the night gets cooler.  In some areas you don't have to worry too much about this as it's always humid and hot like in Manuel Antonio.  If you are looking to do some traveling around the country while you are there, it's best to be prepared for all weather and pack a variety of clothing not just your shorts and b-suite.

4. Bring a camera that has a good zoom or a telephoto lens

Costa Rica is all about wildlife watching!  Unfortunately the wildlife isn't always right in front of your nose.  It's a good idea to bring a camera with a good zoom or a telephoto lens so you don't miss out on a photo of that Toucan or Howler Monkey that is far up into the canopy. 

Extra tip: If you don't have a crazy zoom make sure to take a hike/walk with a guide and bring your regular point and shoot camera.  The guides usually bring a telescope to get a closer view of the wildlife and you can actually take a photo of their view through the telescope with your point and shoot camera!  If you focus your shot properly, you'll get an up close and personal photo without having to pay the money for one of those fancy cameras or lenses!  You cannot do this neat little trick with your SLR cameras though.

5.  For those who get motion/car sick...bring gravol

Not all of the roads are nicely paved and smooth in Costa Rica.  Many of them are probably some of the bumpiest roads I have ever been on...especially in and around Arenal and Monteverde.  I never feel sick when on bumpy roads but these ones definitely put me through the test.  You could be driving on these roads for hours on end so make sure to have a good motion sickness remedy close at hand.

6. The airport is a pain in the arse and I would do everything you can to make your life easier when you are there

Everyone must pay a departure tax of $26 USD.  There is a lineup when you get there to pay and get your document saying that you have paid the tax.  You cannot even line up to check in to your airline until you pay this tax.  What you can do is pay this tax prior to getting to the airport at some hotels and banks, usually for slightly more money.  I definitely recommend doing this just to save you some time at the airport.  I think I paid $30 USD at the Doubletree Hilton and not having to worry about that at the airport was definitely worth the extra $4.

I would also recommend doing the online check in for your flight and printing off your boarding pass.  Most hotels have a business centre or will allow you to use their printer to print off your boarding pass.  I did this and I got to bypass the full line of people and when the next check-in desk was free they took me over the next people in the long snaking line.  I felt like I was VIP...it was great.

All in all...I saved so much time just doing these two little things prior to coming to the airport.  It probably took me a whole of 15 mins to get through everything.  It was perfect!

I hope these little tips help!

Here are a couple of my favourite pictures from my trip



Red Eyed Tree Frog in Arenal




Bean in Manuel Antonio National Park



Baby Humming Bird in the Monteverde Cloud Forrest



View from the Sunset on the  Arenal Volcano Lava Flow Walk




Arenal Volcano from the Observation Deck



View of the Sunset from Manuel Antonio black sand beach



White Faced Monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park











Stay tuned for my nexts posts...I'm heading to Disney World, Universal Studios and Seaworld on May 3rd and then going on Royal Caribbeans Allure fo the Seas on May 8th.  I can't wait and I'll definitely be blogging about the whole experience!

Karen

If My Passport Could Talk...
                                           "M.I.C.K.E.Y....M.O.U.S.E!  Going to be feeling like a kid again in Disney soon!"