Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 47) ACCESS: Jack Bloch, owner of JB’s World Travel Consultants in NYC, recently returned from a visit to the Galapagos Islands. “The Galapagos have always intrigued travelers since they studied Darwin in school,” Bloch says. “Being an endangered UNESCO site, they’ve become ever more intriguing.” According to Bloch, “The majority of visits are done by cruising the islands, typically on a week’s sailing. A few upscale sailing options exist: The best of the large ships is the Celebrity Xpedition, which can accommodate up to 92 passengers; small luxury yachts are another good option. “For those who find cruising daunting, there is an upscale luxury land option in The Royal Palm Galapagos Hotel, which comprises beautiful standalone villas that are private and spacious. Guests of the hotel can go on day trips by private or shared yacht, making the experience complete. You can visit North Seymour, Isabela, Santa Fe, South Plazas, Bartolome and Floreana islands (all have different wildlife to interact with). On each day trip, besides exploring, you can snorkel and swim with sea lions, sea turtles and penguins. Lunch is prepared onboard by local chefs. The advantage of a land-and-sea experience is evident when you return after a day of exploring: Guests can partake of swimming in a pool, playing tennis, using the spa and enjoy dinner in the gourmet restaurant. In addition, there is horseback riding, hiking and biking, as well as the Charles Darwin Research Center, where giant tortoises are bred lest they become extinct. Visiting the Galapagos is ideal year-round.” Rachel Robar (rrobar@coxand kingsusa.com; 813-258-3323). Robar tells us it’s best to book at least six to nine months in advance (although for non-holiday periods, it is possible to find some last-minute availability), and for peak periods like Easter, Christmas/New Year’s, spring break and other holiday times, 18 months to two years in advance. Clients can opt to book the villa for three to 10 nights. Travel tip: Advise clients that the villa option is ideal for those traveling May through September, when the Galapagos’ waters are rougher and ship overnights may be uncomfortable. If your client is one who prefers a more traditionally run trip to this natural wonderland, suggest they tour the islands aboard Celebrity Cruises’ (www. celebritycruises.com) Celebrity Xpedition, the cruise line’s newest vessel and one we hear time and time again is the best of the bigger ships that visit this area (still it accommodates just 92 passengers). Year-round, Celebrity Xpedition sails each Sunday from Baltra, Galapagos on an eightday itinerary with stops at North Seymour Island, San Cristobal, Punta Suarez, Cormorant Point, Santa Cruz Island, San Salvador Island, Fernandina/Isabela, Puerto Avora and back to Baltra. All of Celebrity Xpedition’s accommodations offer ocean views, but if you’re looking to book the best in the house, opt for a Penthouse or Xpedition Suite. While all staterooms include room service, priority check-in and departure, priority luggage delivery at boarding, complimentary use of snorkel equipment, wetsuits, Frette bathrobes and binoculars, guests who opt for suites enjoy all of those amenities in addition to a private veranda, a bottle of champagne upon boarding, a daily fruit basket, daily hors d’oeuvres, a pillow menu and a leather keyholder welcome gift. Insiders say that the sailings book quickly, so it’s advisable to book nine months to a year in advance. Planning to send a VIP? Book via Celebrity’s dedicated Celebrity Xpedition desk (866973-8466); additionally, any of the representatives who staff the desk can assist travel advisors with special onboard and on-land requests. SEA LIONS are among the islands’ animal inhabitants (opposite). VILLA ESCALESIA (above) overlooks the beaches of Santa Cruz (above). XPEDITION SUITES aboard Celebrity Xpedition (below) feature floor-to- ceiling sliding glass doors for optimum ocean views. www.luxuryta.com February 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 47 http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.luxuryta.com
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