Getting to La Romana Just Got Easier

The opening of a new road may not be the most exciting announcement in the world of travel; however, in this instance it is very good news! The 90 minute drive from the Punta Cana airport to the La Romana area is now cut in half!

I had the great pleasure (or displeasure) of traveling via motor coach from Punta Cana to La Romana, before the new road opened. I think everyone on the bus was feeling the effects of the bumpy, winding roads. Needless to say, no one was excited to get back on the bus to head back to Punta Cana; we knew we had to endure the car-sickness inducing roads. But, no more! The new highway with smooth roadways in now open and, the commute is cut in half to just 40 minutes! http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drelr/highway.html

This is wonderful, as now more people can enjoy the wonderful area of La Romana and glorious resorts,; such as Dreams La Romana, which is one of my favorites for family vacations and destination weddings.

Bon Voyage!

My Traveling Panda goes “Into the Wild on your Honeymoon”

“…If you and your fiancé are adventure lovers who enjoy escaping to the great outdoors and prefer seeing wildlife rather than living the wild life, an adventure honeymoon may be just what you crave…”

My Traveling Panda’s newest travel article is officially published in the Summer 2012 issues of Las Vegas Bride and Beautiful Bride (published nationally, including the Atlanta and Orlando markets). Which “into the wild” destination is your next “must visit” destination? An African Safari, an Alaskan Cruise, a Belize scuba diving adventure and an exploration of the Galapagos Islands?

For the full article, click here: Into the Wild_MyTravelingPanda

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Champagne Flights from Atlanta, Cincinnati & Nashville to the Caribbean!

Ask Melissa at My Traveling Panda about Champagne Flights to the Caribbean on Sunwing.

End of the school year is upon us and summer holiday time is quickly approaching.  For those of you who live in Atlanta, Cincinnati or Nashville, you are in luck!  What better way to start your vacation than with a Bon Voyage glass of Champagne.

Sunwing Airlines offers non-stop Champagne Service flights from Atlanta, Cincinnati and Nashville to Cancun, Jamaica and Punta Cana and also include fabulous amenities such as a hot meal or snack on-board and up to 44lbs of checked luggage per person!  I am going to experience this airline in June from Atlanta to Cancun, so I will report back on the service firsthand. 

If you would like more details and pricing on Sunwing air for your summer vacation, contact me at melissa@mytravelingpanda.com

Looking for Unique, Non-Vegas Activities in Vegas? Here are the Top 6 Ideas from My Traveling Panda

Last week I was in Las Vegas for a conference. Since I used to live in Vegas, I strive to do something new and different each time I visit. I have been to the amazing shows, dined in restaurants on the strip, patronized a few night clubs and gambled in the casinos, but Vegas has so much more to offer than what you can find in the few miles known at “the Strip”. Here is a list of some of what I consider the best unique, non-Vegas things to do in Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon
Who would have guessed that such natural beauty was so close to the glitz and glam of the Strip. Whether you are cycling through or enjoying scenic drive, the vistas and tranquility of Red Rock is a stark contrast to the Strip.

The Neon Museum
Ever wonder what happened to all the neon signs of yesteryear? Many are kept at the Neon Museum. The Neon Boneyard, near downtown Vegas, displays the rich history of days gone by; it is a great tribute to the Vegas of the 1930s-1990s.

Downtown Vegas
Step back in time to see what Vegas used to be…”legendary casinos, free entertainment, old-fashioned gambling hospitality – this is the vintage Vegas of the Fremont Street Experience” (The Vegas Experience).

Thrift Stores
Yes, I visit a thrift store on each visit to Vegas. Savers is one of my favorite shops, but there are others as well. Click on the link and use the zip code 89147 to find various locations. When the glamorous residents of Vegas fill their closets with a new wardrobe, the lucky shoppers of Savers reap the rewards. I have unearthed finds from Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom (with tags still attached), Missoni, Armani, Calvin Klein and more!

Helicopter Tour and picnic in the Grand Canyon
OK, I must admit, this is one activity I have not done yet, but it is on my list of things to do on a future trip to Vegas. The Grand Celebration tour with Papillon sounds fabulous to me and in relation to the cost of an hour helicopter tour in Hawaii, it is very reasonable. Plus, you not only get gorgeous views of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, you get to enjoy a champagne picnic on the canyon floor.

In-n-Out
Those of you lucky enough to live on the West Coast may not think a trip to In-N-Out is anything special, but those of us on the East Coast crave their burgers and we have to fly west to quench that hunger! Sure Vegas has gourmet restaurants and world renowned chefs, but nothing beats the classic taste of a simple In-N-Out burger.

What are your favorite “off the beaten path” activities in Las Vegas?

Into the Wild for your Honeymoon

My next article for Las Vegas Bride and Bride Beautiful is just around the corner.  Based on the sneak peek, what destinations do you think will be included?

“If you and your fiancé are adventure lovers who enjoy escaping to the great outdoors and prefer seeing wildlife rather than living the wild life … an adventure honeymoon may be just what you crave.

 

Marry your passion for adventure and love of Mother Nature.”

 

YouTube

Hello Fellow Travelers-

I recenlty started dabbling in Videos. I have a few posted to YouTube. Enjoy the videos and subscribe to my channel for future travel videos. Enjoy and Happy Travels http://www.youtube.com/user/MyTravelingPanda/videos

Press Release from WeddingWire for My Traveling Panda

Melissa Dutton of My Traveling Panda

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Melissa Dutton of My Traveling Panda has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Honeymoon and Travel Planning!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, My Traveling Panda was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

My Traveling Panda is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate My Traveling Panda  for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that My Traveling Panda is one of the very best Honeymoon and Travel Planning companies within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at www.MyTravelingPanda.com and click on the Honeymoon tab.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.

Honeymoons and Destination Weddings in The Dominican Republic

Recently, I had the good fortune of traveling to the Dominican Republic. I knew it would be beautiful there, but I must say, the destination exceeded my expectations. Each reosrt I visited was more beautiful that the last. The crystal clear water of the Caribbean was stunning and the destination wedding locations were breathtaking. Take a look at the article I wrote for the Winter 2011 issue of Beautiful Bride and Las Vegas Bride to learn more about what the Dominican Republic has to offer both brides and honeymooners.

LINK TO ARTICLE
Honeymoon and Destination Weddings in The Dominican Republic

Beautiful Bride- Honeymoon in Mexico

Our most recent publication is in the Fall 2011 issue of Beautiful Bride Magazine.

CLICK HERE to read about Mexico as an ideal honeymoon destination!

Thank you to Heather Rogers and Andrea LeClaire Kuhn for your contributions, to Jennifer Florendo for being a great Editor-in-Chief and to AM Resorts and Karisma Hotels for the wonderful photos!

Buses are a tricky mode of public transit

Maybe it is just me, but when am traveling, both domestically and internationally, I prefer the metro, a taxi or my own two feet over the bus. I know the bus can be effecient and budget friendly, but sometimes, I like te reassurance the metro or a taxi, or even seeing roadsigns while on foot, has to offer.

I was on a bus the other day, in a city I have never visited. The tricky thing about a bus is, not all buses stop at every stop on the route and more often than not, they do not announce the name of the stop. So, if you are unfamiliar with where you are, determining which stop is the right one can be a mystery. The confusion can be multiplied if you are traveling to a location where you do not know the language. To try to make things a bit simpler, I do let. The bus driver know where I am going and try to sit towed the front This helps, but if the bus is crowded, you might end up in the back, not sure when to get off; plus, many of the passengers have on their headphones and are oblivious to your plight because they are knee deep in their music, phone, book, etc.

Whenever possible, I prefer the metro. I like the announcements of each stop and the helpful maps that track my progress, reassuring me I am going the right way. I also like to walk…if it’s not too far. This is a great way to explore a city. Q and if I want to would’ve or it’s late at night, I like a taxi.

What about you? Have you experienced missteps with public transit? What are your stories or tips?