Travel Smart Magazine - Promo Spokane Edition - March 2015

SPOKANE EDITION

T R AV E L S M A R T. . . T R AV E L W E L L

MARCH 2015

Travel SMART

Choosing the Right Cruise Line Italy – Great Food, Great Wine and Wonderful People

Why Use a Travel Agent?

Isle of Capri...

A Magical Place

FRakeEOEne T

Travel Smart Magazine March 2015

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INTRO | Published by: Travel 4 All Seasons 12128 N. Division St. #189 Spokane, WA 99218 (509) 927-7888 Publishers: Al Hague / Diane Hague al@travelmagazine.net

Advertisers: Please feel free to contact us for a media kit for complete information on getting your message out to our readers. Our sales staff would be pleased to meet with you to discuss your marketing needs.

For advertising sales please call (509) 927-7888 and visit our website at www.travelsmartmagazine.net Editor/Photographer: Al Hague contributing Editors: Wine – Matt Dolan Food – Cara Strickland Advertising department: Chelsea Murillo production & design: Doug Conboy Raised Brow Productions ©Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers.

The opinions expressed by correspondents are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Travel Smart Magazine recommends that readers satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of advertiser claims before any purchase is made, and accepts no responsibility for any loss arising from any purchase.

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Travel SMART Dear Readers, This is the inaugural edition of Travel Smart Magazine. It is our hope you will find interesting and informative articles inside that may encourage you to explore the wonderful world of travel. Our passion for travel and learning is the driving force behind this humble publication.

Our slogan Travel Smart…Travel Well is more than a catch phrase.

For some travel is only a dream because it is perceived to be more complicated than it is. Knowledge is the key to be able to travel smart and at Travel 4 All Seasons we either have the knowledge or the contacts to get the answers to help our clients travel smart and therefore travel well.

We are interested in hearing from readers about their experiences and tips they may have learned and would like to share. We will accept submissions for interesting and informative pieces with the caveat that we may be required to do some editing. We hope to have a following by neighbors and clients who share a love of travel either well experienced or new. In future issues we will discuss many facets of travel from cruises to tours, from group travel to independent and specialized trips. We want to help you realize your dreams of travel and exploration.

Travel Smart…Travel Well, Al and Diane Hague Travel Smart Magazine is published bi-monthly and distributed FREE to three areas of Greater Spokane and Spokane Valley.

| FEATURE

Italy...

Great Food, Great Wine and Wonderful People

Story and Photos by Al Hague Where do you want to go? e suggest you try to decide what region you would most like to visit and we will suggest accommodations that will allow you to see the main interests in day trips from a central location such as a village or agritourismo that are much less costly than three and four star hotels. Day tripping is so easy in Italy and it is nice not to pack your belongings every couple of days. However, if you have the energy for moving around it is also easy to see more than one region in a trip of eight days or more.

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Visit the regions: Italy is divided into regions and each region has its unique culture.

Many of the regions derive their culture from the food that is native to the region. In Italy food is selected and prepared fresh each day, therefore it is common to make all meals from those foods that are readily available in season. For example, the Veneto region is heavily influenced by the sea where the Tuscany region is more

influenced by agriculture.

The most popular region of Tuscany has different fare than southern Italy. The sauces and the make up of the dishes are very different. However, they are all delicious. Tuscany is very popular as a grape growing region although every region in Italy has fine wines with characteristics unique to that growing region. All disciplines of art are found in every city, village, church and building in Italy. Statues, frescos, fountains and buildings will keep you in a constant state of awe. Florence in itself is at a minimum two days of visiting the famous places such as the Duomo and the Uffizzi. It is wise to spend some time researching the different cities and regions to be able to have a good idea of whats most important to see in the time you have allotted to spend in Italy. We can help you with your research or if you are too busy just follow our lead.

Live the culture‌ Traveling and staying in hotels regardless of level can often help

you miss an important part of the experience. To enjoy the culture ask your travel agent to find you an apartment or home to stay in.

It is often much more affordable, the accommodations are very comfortable ,safe and clean and you can even prepare some of your own meals. Visiting the local markets is a great way to eat fresh and what is in season just like the locals. The shopping experience itself is fun and interesting. Download a translator program to your smartphone and the language barrier disappears. Plus you will eat amazing food. However, if hotels are your preference foci on the location to ,make it easy to get around and if in the summer be sure to ask about air conditioning. Not all hotels have it. To be sure the higher level hotels can be quite pricy.

We can help with recommendations on what kind of schedule is comfortable and will not require you to have a vacation after your vacation. TS

Travel Smart Magazine March 2015

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Let us help you sort it all out and plan your dream trip to this marvelous place of great people, great food and inspiring culture.

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Break Bread with

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Limoncello – Italian Elixir and a True Taste of Italy

Cara

ravel anywhere in Southern Italy and it’s only a matter of time before you’re offered a chilled glass of Limoncello as an after dinner aperitif. Go ahead, try it. If you’re along the Amalfi Coast, they might bring it to you in ceramic glasses, holding just enough of the bright yellow liquid, straight from the freezer.

I first heard about Limoncello, Italy’s second most popular libation, Campari being the first, from a college friend in Midwestern America. He couldn’t stop thinking about the routine the drink had created on a recent trip to Italy. It was there in the evenings, like clockwork, whether out at a restaurant or visiting friends. They would drink it as the sun went down, and the color of the liquid was so vivid that it was almost like drinking down the last of the sun. I was intrigued. I couldn’t wait to try this elixir.

Although it’s made in other places, arguably the best Limoncello comes from the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula, the Coast of Amalfi, and the islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri. Here, you’ll find the famous Femminello St. Teresa lemons (also known as Sorrento lemons). These are no ordinary orbs of citrus. The variety is so sweet that locals often eat them sliced, like a grapefruit, perhaps with a fine dust of sugar.

It is from these legendary lemons that Limoncello is made, starting with thin curls of the vibrantly yellow zest (and leaving every last molecule of pith). The zest is combined with

| FOOD pure grain alcohol, water, and sugar.

Although the ingredients are simple enough, each Limoncello maker creates a slightly different concoction, using recipes passed down through families for decades.

As if this deliciously sweet aperitif wasn’t enough, lately bartenders have been finding new ways to mix Limoncello into their cocktail creations. From a simple lemony Martini, to a more exotic Bacio del Limone, which includes sparkling wine, Limoncello, and freshly crushed berries, there are interesting combinations cropping up on cocktail menus regularly.

Although Limoncello has been around for a long while, it has only begun to be made commercially in the last century. Lucky for you, a local liquor or specialty store might be able to give you a taste of Italy to tide you over until you’re sipping the elixir of the sun in it’s natural habitat. TS

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Travel Smart Magazine March 2015

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FEATURE |

Isle of

Capri...

A

Magical Place

Story by Al Hague

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| FEATURE

C

apri is located about a forty minute boat ride from Sorrento and other cites along the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

Romance films are in the Islands long history and songs have been written about this Island of coral and famous for its weather, and ocean views. Believe it or not once upon a time the island was underwater.

Today Capri is also home to fashionable but expensive shopping.

Much of the charm is without a doubt the history, much like the rest of Italy, but the romance and the beauty is the draw. On the opposite side of the main harbor is Ana

Capri, a more quiet and secluded area and also home to wonderful shops, restaurants and sea beaches with beach clubs. Getting there is half the fun.

Shopping and Dining on Capri is not for those on a budget but it does not mean you can’t look around and choose wisely. No doubt that Capri is a major tourist area and like the rest of the big tourist areas choosing the time to visit is very important.

Exploring the Amalfi Coast and Capri is best done either in the spring (May) or fall (September) to miss the tourist crush and still enjoy

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FEATURE |

Continued from Page 7

great weather and fresh crop foods and menu selections. Capri itself has many hidden jewels of restaurants all serving fresh in season selection and you would probably assume seafood on the coast is really special. Plenty of pasta dishes as well by the focus in this part of the country is fish and most likely it was caught in the wee hours hours of the morning and served to you.

The servers are fun, accommodating and energetic. They are really glad to have you and it shows. On an Italian menu it is easy to order way too much food as you are offered many levels and its ok to forgo one of two and just have a main dish and a sad and even sharing is encouraged but as tradition dictates do not expect any doggie bags for food you have not eaten..it just isn’t done anywhere in Italy.

Taxis are the easiest and best and the drivers range from quiet and gruff to wild, fun and even a bit crazy.

The taxis themselves are unique to 8

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this Island with open air passenger compartments which makes for a very scenic ride.

However, the roads are very narrow as one might expect but the conditions do not seem to slow down the drivers whatsoever. Historically Capri was also the summer home of Emperors and the rich.

One of the most interesting attractions is the Villa San Michele which today is a museum. It was originally the home of a famous Dr. Axel Munthe and much has been restored and is open to the public.

It is very beautiful and scenic and worth the effort to visit.The good Dr. was the personal physician to kings and the rich including Tsar Nicholas and in later years moved to Southern Italy to begin work on his San Michele project and to care for the poor. Dr. Munthe was born in Sweden and had quickly gained an international reputation.

If you have the opportunity to travel to this special place be sure to take the time to visit the Villa San Michele. TS

Photos

by Al Hague

Photos Pages 6-7: (Clockwise from left): Main Harbor of the Island of Capri.

A cliff house overlooking the harbor of Amalfi.

The unique open air taxis of Capri.

Photo This Page: The Garden Walk at the Villa San Michele Island of Capri.

Choosing the Right Cruise Ship for You

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ounds like a no brainer until you really understand the choices of activities, ship style and amenities available. Each cruise line caters to a specific lifestyle of guest. The size of the ship also can determine your level of comfort not just with your cabin but the sheer magnitude of fellow passengers and the activities going on. No doubt age is an important factor relative to the choices and atmosphere you encounter for your voyage.

The ports that you visit are certainly interesting for the most part to everyone and therefore you will enjoy those days but again depending on the size of the ship you may not particularly enjoy the long lines going to and from the ship. What this all means is, it is as important to select the right ship as well as the right port of calls for your particular taste and knowing how to do that is the challenge Reading up on the various cruise lines is a great start but having help from someone who knows them intimately and can also provide the materials to help you decide will go a long way to making your cruise a memorable time instead of a nightmare that will sour you about cruising forever.

Travel agents like ourselves study many hours to be able to recommend to our clients what cruise is right for them. We do that by discussing what you enjoy and whats important to you for the level of service, the

| CRUISE SHIPS surroundings and the activities you will have available onboard.

You also have many choices on cost as well, from the more economical through to luxury beyond imagination. Cruise ships at the top of the scale really know how Restaurant on Holland of Americas cruise ship to pamper and spoil New Amersterdam. the guest.

Our only suggestion in the experience. That is what it is is to do what you can afford, so all about...having a good time and that you will not be thinking about relaxing. For more information, visit the money and you can completely www.travel4allseasons.com. TS enjoy yourself and immerse yourself

OLD TAHOE™ STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY

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he odds are you haven’t heard of the Old Tahoe Distillery in Fallon, Nevada, but if you’re a whiskey enthusiast, you soon will. It is the producer of OLD TAHOE™ STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY, a superb craft spirit brimming with spicy flavors, captivating aromas and a reasonable price tag. Those qualities are made even more notable when you factor in we’re talking about a straight rye whiskey. Rye is easily the most challenging of the grains to distill, so when you find a handmade rye whiskey that’s loaded with character and easy on the wallet, grab it.

Old Tahoe Straight Rye is the vision of Mark Taverniti, an accomplished wine maker and the founder and CEO of ultra-successful Spanish Peaks Brewing Company. Eventually his passion for skillfully crafted spirits led him to Fallon where he founded the Old Tahoe Distillery with the intention of creating great straight rye whiskey. In Old Tahoe he has achieved his goal.

The distillery also makes OLD TAHOE™ HONEY FLAVORED RYE WHISKEY, the straightforward combination of Old Tahoe Rye Whiskey and spring honey. The 70-proof gem is so delectable it’ll appeal to anyone over the legal drinking age. The golden/amber whiskey has a velvety textured body and a focused bouquet of cinnamon, rye bread, nutmeg and honey. Its spicy/honeyed palate is soft and loaded with appeal.

Old Tahoe Honey enjoys unlimited creative applications behind the bar.

For example, it makes a sensational addition to a Hot Toddy, or pour some over its namesake rye whiskey ala the Rusty Nail.

Travel Smart Magazine March 2015

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TRAVEL AGENTS |

Why You Should Use A Travel Agent

By Mark Murphy FOX news.com 1) They Are Educated and Have Personal Experience Simply put, they know more than you. They can give you insider tips and advice, using their education and personal experience to guide your vacation decisions in a way that provides you with the best vacation possible for you and your hard-earned investment. They have access to the personal feedback from hundreds of clients, and their own personal travel agent network, to provide insights you can’t get on TripAdvisor or other social media sites.

2) They Have Clout Many travel agents develop personal relationships with individuals at the companies they sell. They leverage these relationships to get you things you can’t get on

your own. That “sold out” room or the connecting rooms you want for your extended family trip when the online sites say they aren’t available.

They also have exclusive entrée to experiences you might not know are available to you.

3) The Fixer In addition to getting you more on any particular trip, they can step in and fix things when your trip goes awry. The average consumer books one or two trips per year, typically with different travel suppliers, so they have little or no leverage when things go wrong. The travel agent is constantly selling a particular supplier and has the leverage to fix things, even when the supplier isn’t directly at fault. Travel suppliers value the travel agent’s business much more than any individual traveler. They

will step up to make things right or simply to make sure that traveler, and their travel agent, are happy.

4) Cost-Savings The best travel agents have unique access to benefits that can save you a lot of money and provide you with a better experience: free room upgrades, spa credits, food and beverage credits are just a few of the things that agents can get, that you can’t. Add in hard-to-get restaurant reservations, exclusive or priority access to attractions, added amenities, and you will have a lot more value for your travel dollar. (Ever wonder why the couple in the cabin next to yours got champagne and you didn’t? They probably used a travel agent.

5) Time-Savings Instead of searching blindly on the Internet for hours, days, or even

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| TRAVEL AGENTS weeks – depending on the complexity of the travel plans – you can have an expert do the research for you, with your personal needs in mind. They do it for every component of the trip and very often do it at no cost to you.

6) Safety Net If anything should go wrong during your trip, you can rely on them to assist you. A travel agent will suggest and arrange alternate travel arrangements, help you to deal with any travel emergency you may have, and put you in touch with the right local people to answer your needs.

7) On the Cutting Edge They are on the cutting edge of what’s new: Travel agents are the first to know about a new resort, cruise ship or tour. They have relationships with their best travel partners who keep them informed as to the latest and greatest offerings they have. So if you want to travel on the latest and greatest, agents are the way to go!

Your message

8) You Pay the Same Anyway!

More than 98 percent of hotels are parity priced. That means the cost is the same whether you book it yourself or have the travel agent do the work. Some travel agents even have websites that feature the same inventory, bookable in real time, as Expedia and Orbitz. The customer gets the best of the high tech world, in a high touch, environment. This parity pricing applies to virtually every travel product.

to our

9) You Get Matched Right If you call a cruise line directly, they won’t tell you that their competitor is a better fit for you and your travel needs. Since travel agents sell everything, they focus on you’re your particular needs, making sure you are matched up with the right style of cruise experience.

here!

readers belongs

10) An Ongoing Mutually Beneficial Relationship A good agent is like a good mechanic. Once you find them, you’ll never want to give them up. TS Travel Smart Magazine March 2015

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