Travel Agent - July 7, 2008 - (Page 44)

DESTINATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 Tour Operators Two recommended operators are Ancon Expeditions of Panama (www.anconexpeditions. com) and Panama Marine Adventures (www. pmatours.net). Agents should contact Ancon for packages and deals at 011-507-269-9415 or info@anconexpeditions, and Panama Marine Adventures at 011-507-226-8917 or info@ pmatours.net or infodiscovery@pmatours.net. Signature Travel Network recommended Panama Travel Experts (www.panamatravelexperts. com). This is Signature’s destination specialist for Panama and assists in the company’s shore excursions, unique itineraries, FIT requests and more. Agents can call Panama Travel Expert representatives Paul McBride, Franz Garcia or Geovanny Comparaz at 866-637-8871. Cruising Quick reminder: Travel Agent brought you news this past August that Royal Caribbean (www. royalcaribbean.com) will operate 17 southern Caribbean itineraries December 2008 through April 2009 from Colon, Panama, marking the first time the line has established a home port near the Panama Canal. The seven-night voyages on Enchantment of the Seas will call on such ports as Cartagena and Santa Marta in Colombia, as well as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Holland America Line’s (www.hollandamerica. com) Zuiderdam will offer a 17-day transatlantic crossing in October from Venice to Fort Lauderdale, FL, where it will begin operating 10-day Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises. I haps most notable is the anticipated addition of SuperClubs (www.superclubs.com). SuperClubs broke ground late last year on a Breezes Panama in Playa Blanca, and it will be the first resort situated on the country’s southern Pacific coast. In addition to the more than 300 suites and rooms, the resort will also feature 110 villas. It is slated to open in early 2009 and we’re told that agents may be able to book the property by as early as spring of next year. Flights The best flights to Panama are via Continental Airlines (www.continental.com), Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com) and Copa Airlines (www.copaair.com). Continental and Copa have daily, nonstop flights to Panama City out of Newark International Airport in New Jersey. Those flights take a little more than five hours. Delta flies out of New York’s John F Kennedy . International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. AGENTADVICE “[Panama] is primarily a diving destination,” says Joyce Horowitz of Altour Travel, who books about two to three trips to the destination annually. “Panama is for the experienced diver, the traveler who has done dives all over Latin America and is now looking for something a bit more challenging.” She adds: “Panama is what Costa Rica was about 10 years ago, in the sense that it isn’t fully developed yet. This is not a place for the first-time traveler. I would recommend getting your feet wet in Costa Rica, introducing yourself to Latin America and getting a feel for it and then traveling to Panama. I would say Panama is the perfect place for the sophisticated traveler between 30 and 50 years old. I usually recommend about five nights there and always recommend visiting Panama City, which is almost like a little Miami.” HERE: The Corte Culebra is the narrowest part of the Panama Canal and crosses the Continental Divide BELOW: El Panama Hotel in Panama City offers the convenience of the nearby business district CONNECTING YOU Need information on Panama? Visit www. travelagentcentral.com/central-south-america 44 | TravelAgent July 7, 2008 http://www.superclubs.com http://www.anconexpeditions.com http://www.royalcaribbean.com http://www.pmatours.net http://www.royalcaribbean.com http://www.anconexpeditions.com http://www.pmatours.net http://www.panamatravelexperts.com http://www.panamatravelexperts.com http://www.hollandamerica.com http://www.hollandamerica.com http://www.continental.com http://www.delta.com http://www.copaair.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/central-south-america http://www.travelagentcentral.com/central-south-america

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - July 7, 2008

Travel Agent - July 7, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe: History and a Scenic Landscape Define Normandy Pacific/Asia: Kuala Lumpur Offers Luxury Shopping and Hotels Hawaii: Honolulu’s Nightlife is as Dazzling as its Sunshine Canada: VIA Rail Offers a New Way to Enjoy the Great North Las Vegas: Hotels and Casinos Away From the Strip Florida: Hilton Daytona Beach Offers Budget-Friendly Packages Central & South America: Panama is Poised to Become a Hot Destination Mexico: The ME Cancún Targets an Upscale Clientele Caribbean: Maxim Opens a New Resort in Puerto Plata The Latest News and Notes from Dominica Cruises: A CLIA Study Offers Good News About Cruising Cartagena and Santa Marta Offer Two Different Sides of Columbia Cover Story: Wendy Goodenow Industry In Crisis: A New Report Offers a Gloomy Forecast for the Airline Industry Hotels: Prince Edward Island Celebrates Anne of Green Gables EZGuider: Vacation.com Launches a New Platform Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Opinion Consortia Can Be An Agent’s Best Friend MLT Expands Roles and Offerings Malaysia Continues Agent Push In the Spotlight Agent Access Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - July 7, 2008

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