Shopping for that perfect holiday gift?

What do you get for the person who has EVERYTHING?

What about the person that’s SO hard to shop for?

Have I got a stocking stuffer for you!

It’s that time of year again. YTB’s second annual Carnival One Day Sale. Carnival Cruise Gift Certificates are available NOW from BandBVacations.com. Choose from 18 different Gift Certificate options available for online purchase through December 31, 2008. (Don’t think you could miss it…but it’s that LARGE ad with the Carnival Funnel wrapped in Christmas lights…)

If a gift certificate isn’t you type of thing, we also have over 100 Carnival Cruise Specials if you head to our Group Bookings page. I would suggest you look at this entire list of groups. (Although it may take some time with well over 500 groups at any one time.) This page is ALWAYS the first place I look for clients because it’s the one place I know that can’t be beat when it comes to price. And please don’t think you’ll be stuck playing Parcheesi all week if you book with any one particular group. You’re free to do what you want, when you want, and the group probably won’t even know you booked with their group. But you can take advantage of the special group pricing to save anywhere between $50 and $250 per person.

If you’re not sure about which cruise you’d like, that’s fine too, the Gift Certificates are a great save now, cruise later option. This way you can let someone decide on their own what cruise they might like, or even when they want to go over the next 18 months.

By the way…all of these Gift Certificates can be upgraded to ANY cruise of their choice. Simply pay the difference. I have a certificate valid for a 3-4 day for two, but want to take the entire family on a 5 day this spring. The Promotions Department at Carnival will be extremely accommodating for any upgrade and use what you have to fulfill you dream cruise.

If you’re just now thinking about a cruise for a stocking stuffer, you might not know where to begin, or what is offered in regards to ports, destinations, and the wide variety of selections available. To help out with that, review the following documents for options.

CCL DEPARTURE PORTS
CCL MORE FUN EVERYWHERE
CCL FUN SHIP FINDER
CCL 2009-10 CRUISE CATALOG

Of course, you could also join YTB tonight, December 4 from 5 -10:00 pm CST for a live webcast from YTB Headquarters in Wood River, Illinois. (Contact me and I’ll send you the link.) While you certainly don’t have to watch Coach, Kim, and Scott, and Carnival’s own Ann Sedgwick, but last years live webcast was a lot of fun. Last year’s event was loaded with all kinds of information on why a cruise is not only a great value, but has all kinds of activities and options to make your experience enjoyable.

Regardless if you want to watch or not, phones will be open till Midnight CST at the Home Office to take your reservations, with a special reservation number 800-400-9382. Of course, I’m available at 678-458-5812 at any time. (Even later in the month, or any time for that matter.)

Our goal is to be #1 with the #1. There’s a reason why Carnival is the Most Popular Cruise Line in the World. We’ve sailed with Carnival so much, they feel like home. We know the ships, we know the activities, we know the benefits.

Regardless if you’re a seasoned cruise veteran like us, or a first timer, a 100,000 ton cruise ship could be the most unique stocking stuffer your special someone has ever seen.

Bon Voyage!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

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By the time you read this, my family and I will be long gone and well into enjoying our family vacation. With our children now school age, our “travel and vacation” time has been limited to summers and a few weeks throughout the year when they are scheduled out.

I heard The Go Go’s “Vacation” the other day. Back in my radio days in the 80′s, I hated that song, but found myself tapping to the music and looking forward to this week. I swore off John Mellancamps “Jack and Diane” back in the day too, (then John Cougar) but now think it’s a good rocker. “Jack and Diane” was on the Top 40 charts for 10 MONTHS and I had to play it day – after day – after day…while working for a Top 40 Radio Stations in Youngstown, OH and then Pittsburgh, PA.

Typically while on vacation, you can’t keep me away from the computer and the internet, but I think that’s going to change this go around. I’ve got a couple of good books that I’ve wanted to read, which I should have a chance to complete. I also have some writing I’d like to do for some new auto responders for both my YTB Marketing and the 7 Day Quick Start Guide for new team members. (Which include YOUR team.)

It should give me a good opportunity to refuel for the summer months and head into the National Convention with a good head of steam. The countdown begins!

I’ll be back next week with more insights and updates for everyone.

Have yourself a great week and we’ll see you at the top!

P.S. – The FREE Newsletter will still be going out as I have most of next weeks ready and put on auto pilot to go out right on schedule and can assure you that if there is anything new or important to share even in my absence here, I’ll be sure to have it in the there. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

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Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

I found this in my “in box” this morning from a woman who came to a company presentation Monday night. I have asked her permission to publish her e-mail in order to alert the public.

“I am so excited! I have a trip that I have to go to in June. I already called the resort in Mexico and could get a great agent rate! I also checked Spirit airlines and see we can get a flat rate for a little over a hundred dollars. Have you used the Spirit airlines discount before? Ok I’m going back to bed. It’s 4am and I can’t stop looking at the site, thinking and dreaming YTB, thinking of some different marketing ideas, dreaming of luxury vacations, going on my first cruise—-
Oh well you get the picture.
Good night-I mean Good morning!
Dominique”

Unfortunately, I DO know what she means. It’s a syndrome that both Scientists and Physicians don’t really know that much about called “YTBitis”.

Key symptoms Include:

• Daydreaming about Exotic Destinations
• Sleepless Nights Surfing for “Deals”
• Racing Mind of “Who to Talk To!”
• Talking to pure strangers, people they don’t even know
• Spending more time with family
• Excessive traveling and vacationing, up to several times per year
• Decreased tax burden
  

The worst symptom of all…most whom are infected with YTBitis experience increased bank accounts of Tens, sometime Hundreds of Thousand of Dollars.

Currently there have only been 52,000 cases found here in the US, but YTBitis has shown to be gaining momentum with up to 200 to 300 new cases found per day. Current statistics show that YTBitis is rapidly taking over the entire country and it is feared, soon the WORLD starting in January of 2007! Experts have worked diligently to trace this growing outbreak back to just three man…J. Lloyd Tomer also know as Coach, his son Scott Tomer, and J. Kim Sorensen. All three have been linked back to a Travel Company known as YourTravelBiz.com, or YTB for short. While based just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, these three Gentlemen continue to travel across the country, spreading YTBitis which has only shown to increase the momentum!

The good news is that individuals can learn to live with this over time. Some cases have actually been quoted as saying, “I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is sooo easy, fun too!” Nevertheless, there will soon be a National Publication out in Bookstores and New Stands in January of 2007 concerning this syndrome from the editors of “Success From Home”. A growing number of cases have also been found to already have this publication in hand; in order to alert the public of this growing trend. Support groups have been organized all over the country, even full day trainings in most major cities which continue to grow in order to learn how to cope with these indicators.

Yet, no one really knows if a cure will ever be found.

While “YTBitis” will have most suspected infections with bags under their eyes due to sleepless nights, obviously the worst part about this ailment, the rest is very “manageable”. Experts all agree this is certainly not life threatening, some occurrences have actually been considered to be “life enhancing”.

If you feel you need to learn more about YTBitis and how it could affect you or your family, please contact your nearest YTB Representative to get the full story on this sweeping epidemic.

Thank you.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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What was originally going to be a romantic getaway for two back on Thanksgiving ended up being postponed due to a death in the family that week. We thought we would have to cancel and forgo the entire weekend, but found the staff at the Resort very accommodating, and allowed us a 30 day extension, not once but twice.

We ended up bringing the kids with us due to the timing of the weekend, and while it was not the romantic getaway we had hoped for, we were glad we did. (The kids were really glad we did anyway. I’ve posted pictures of our trip on the web and you can view a slide show of the great sights and our experiance here. (Just remember to hit play!)

We left for our road trip Friday afternoon from Atlanta for our 5 ½ hour road trip. Our reservations were a bayside suite at the 8 story Bayside Inn, adjacent to the Conference Center, Spa, and the Linkside Golf course. We found the suite very large with a small balcony overlooking the Chotawatchee Bay, small kitchen and separate bedroom for the adults. A tour of the hotel gave very spacious rooms with either two double beds or one king size bed. One nice feature of these rooms was the stove top, small refrigerator, coffee maker and toaster complete with plates and silverware. Something you don’t find in most hotel rooms.

The hotel is being upgraded and updated. One half of the hotel is blocked off for this upgrade and should be complete by the summer season. While to hotel did not look worn, the rooms were certainly dated from the wallpaper and cabinetry.

Much like cruise ships, our room key was our charge card for the weekend. Any extras could be charged to the room for any amenities, which were plenty, on the resort. The resort offers many extras including several golf courses, bicycle rentals, Salon and Day Spa, canoes and kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving and plenty of shopping.

With such a large property, the resort offers a tram service which we found very enjoyable. A call to guest relations from your room phone would call a small bus to the front door to wisk you off to one of 25 stops around the resort. When you’re done and want to go back, or to another location, courtesy phones are located at each location to call for a pickup.

We made several stops via the tram service. Our first stop was Jolee Island. A small island located in the Chotawatchee Bay. A bridge connects you to the island and has a 1/3 mile nature trail that circles the island. Picnic tables are located at several locations along with park benches to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. A play Pirate ship complete with swings and slides is also located for the children to play. While we were there in off season, we had the entire island to ourselves.

Our next stop via the tram was The Village of Baytown Wharf. A classic southern style “town square” filled with restaurants and shops for the most discriminating taste. In order to give Mom or Dad some time to shop, there is a HUGE 9000 square foot Adventure Landing for the kids to play. Donated and built entirely by volunteers, Adventure Landing provides hours of play for the kids, which can translate to hours of shopping for Mom. Dad can sit back and relax while the kids enjoy their exploration. (Adult supervision is required while your kids are enjoying Adventure Landing.)

It was hard to decide where to have dinner with so many choices later that night, and wish we could have had more time to experience other restaurants in the Village. We would have liked to experience Poppy’s Seafood Factory, Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille or even Acme Oyster House which gave a distinct feeling of the French Quarter in New Orleans. We did experience Rum Runners that night which gave a distinct Island feel and wonderful selection of both land and seafood.

Some of the shops along the Wharf included Exquisite Interiors, Destin Jewelers, Jazzee Bath & Body, and Toys & Treasures. All very unique shops with wonderful selections to provide memorable gifts or souvenirs of you experience at Sandestin. We found the Village one of our favorite places during the weekend and would like to go back to experience some of the “night life” without the kids at some point.

Later that afternoon we finally hit Sandestin Beach. One of our favorite places on earth is a beach and Sandestin Beach did not disappoint. One of the most striking points about the beach was how white and soft the sand was, and oddly enough, not a seashell in sight. Having so much soft white sand however, can cause a bit of a problem for our son, who ended up getting sand all over him, thus he decided to take it upon himself to make it a “nude beach” which I don’t think the Resort would approve of, but was one of the classic moments of the weekend.

Being there during off season, gave us plenty of room to spread out and let the kids run around. I can only imagine how busy this beach can be during season and would also agree with The Travel Channel as one of the Top 10 Florida Beaches. Rental of beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas are available. Guests may also enjoy one hour free rental of boogie boards and kayaks by presenting a Resort Card. And for your convenience, sunscreen and beach-related products are sold in the beach huts. The beach service does not accept cash, so bring your Resort Card with you to charge items to your room or your credit card.

Our next stay at Sandestin would most certainly be in Beachside Hotel One or Two with a view of the emerald waters of the Gulf Coast. The two hotels reside right on the beach and with the tram service, gives us easy access all 2400 acres of the resort. Plenty of other hotel options are available all around the resort and Condo’s are also available for an entire family.

An option I wish I would have been able to enjoy was the golf. I didn’t play a single hole of the 72 holes they have available at the resort. Four courses weave throughout the resort, and each has a character of its own. My wife would have also liked to have spent some pampering in the full service spa. Something she has not done since our last cruise. Both these options would have been enjoyed if we had been there on our own without the kids.

In closing, we found Sandestin a wonderful family resort with something to offer the entire family. We also see incredible potential as a romantic getaway for couples who want to rejuvenate a relationship. Most importantly it rejuvenates the individual soul of anyone who stays at this Oceanside paradise.

The entire family highly recommends Sandestin Resort and hopefully we’ll be back soon. With so much to do, my wife if looking forward to going back with the kids and bringing some other mom’s with kids with her this summer for a full week at the beach. We are also looking forward to going back without the children for another quick getaway weekend. You can find rates off our booking engine from $110 per night to $300 per night depending on season and hotel or condo you would like. Check out the current rates we have for the resort, or feel free to give us a call to see what we can do for your group.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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