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Featured
FAMs by Publisher Gerry Notino
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FAM
TRIP -Florida -"Excitement to
Paradise"
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After planning my 2023 Fam
Trip, one of my co-workers asked me,
“Why do I keep going back to
Florida?”. A very simple question with
a slight connotation that as a travel
agent, you may have the knowledge of a
better option in some sort of far-off
exotic destination. I simply replied,
“Family Fun''. In my opinion,
there is no better place to spend time
with your family than in the “Sunshine
State ''. With 1,350 miles of
coastline, world renowned beaches, and
of course theme parks, it’s no secret
that Florida is one of the most
popular family friendly destinations
in the world.
This year, I wanted to see if I could
repeat an amazing FAM Trip that I
arranged a few years back. The
combination of Orlando and St. Pete
Beach proves to have the perfect blend
of theme-park excitement and laid-back
relaxation. This write-up will be a
bit different than usual. I will do a
walkthrough of my itinerary which will
consist of 4 days in Universal Orlando
Resort and a 4 day stay at Tradewinds,
St. Pete beach. As I go through each
day, I hope to provide some insight
and information that will be useful
for both you and your clients.
I always go to the theme parks first
as this part of the vacation tends to
be the most exhausting. However, if
you prepare yourself properly, the
experience will not be so hard on the
body. First and foremost, try not to
do too much. One park per day is ideal
and the 3-day multi park pass is a
perfect option. The other is to dress
comfortably as it is very HOT and
humid (especially in the summer). You
will do a lot of walking so bring your
best walking shoes.
Before I get started on the itinerary,
a quick overview of Universal Studios
Florida is in order. The resort
consists of three theme parks:
Universal Studios Florida, Islands of
Adventure, and Volcano Bay. There is
also Universal CityWalk which serves
as a hub between the parks and has
loads of family entertainment,
restaurants, Interactive Miniature
Golf Courses and much more (Free
admission and free parking after 6PM).
Travel agents should register via Universal Partner
Community which offers
dedicated training and sales tools
such as flyers and social media
assets. Travel advisors who complete
the Universal Specialist Exam also
receive discounted 3-Day tickets to
Universal Orlando Resort, as well as
discounted hotel rates at our
Universal Orlando Resort hotels.
Day 1: -Flight - Day at Resort -
Universal CityWalk:
Absolutely dreadful! Our vacation
commenced with a 3:30 AM alarm and a few
sighs and eye rubs. By the way, I
knowingly picked this time as I balanced
the cost savings with a later flight.
But there was an upside, our Jetblue
flight arrived in Orlando at 9:30AM,
which allowed us to spend most of our
day at the resort. But we had to get
there first. There are several ways to
get to the resort, from the Universal
Orlando Superstar Shuttle to rideshare
apps, however, we opted for a car
rental. Although this option is
not needed for a Universal vacation, I
needed the car to drive to St. Pete
beach and we prefer to have the freedom
of getting out and about.
I decided on Sixt Car rental, with a 20%
Travel Agent discount. Just make sure to
check the specials on their website
before you book, it’s sometimes lower in
price. If you have an EZpass, make
sure to bring it - there are lots of
tolls. Otherwise, if you don’t choose
one of the car rental’s toll packages,
you will be charged an admin
fee. Complete information
can be found on their Travel Agent Page.
The car rental pick up was smooth and we
were off to the Cabana Bay Beach
Resort. Before I get into first
impressions, let me explain why there
was a bit of booking apprehension.
I’m from New Jersey and if you’re
familiar with Jersey Shore hotels, you
would notice an uncanny similarity with
this Universal resort. You see, this
1950s and 60s retro-style hotel shares
its architecture with many Jersey Shore
hotels. The only difference is 60-70
years of updating or renovating 😀
(shout out to the Jersey Shore).
This property is huge! There are 2200
guest rooms and suites, two massive
pools including a waterslide and a lazy
river, 10-lane bowling alley, arcade
room, fitness center, and so much more.
Our room wasn’t ready, however in the
meantime, we were able to enjoy all the
resort’s amenities. Once the room
was ready, we headed on up to a
comfortable family suite that sleeps up
to six with two queen beds and a
pull-out sofa which includes a sliding
privacy partition. One huge plus for the
room is that the bathrooms are
compartmentalized so three people can
get ready simultaneously. The room is
also equipped with a kitchenette, mini
refrigerator, microwave, and
coffeemaker. Just a quick note,
standard rooms are available that sleep
up to four.
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| Cabana
Bay Beach Resort & Queen Family
Suite |
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After a day of exploring the resort, we
hopped on the complimentary shuttle and
headed to Universal CityWalk. Your
senses may get a bit overwhelmed as the
entertainment is boundless on this
30-acre property. Therefore, my advice
is to treat this complex like a
theme-park. Research all your options
and by all means - make a reservation
way ahead of time. We learned this
lesson on our last trip as we were
repeatedly unsuccessful in getting to
experience “The Toothsome Chocolate
Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen” on
our last trip. This time, we were not
going to miss out on this 19th
century-themed, Steampunk-inspired
dining restaurant and
confectionery. Our reservation was
locked and loaded a month ahead of time.
I recommend reservations for all the
iconic sit-down restaurants. No deposit
is necessary to book and there’s no
penalty for changes or cancellation.
Reservations can be booked ONLINE or by
calling l (407) 224-FOOD (3663).
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| Universals Studios
CityWalk |
Day 2: Universal Studios
Universal Studios centers
around the magic of movies and it has
some of the best rides you’ll find
anywhere. Although it has a few
traditional roller coasters, we
absolutely love the 3D rides. One
of the greatest benefits of staying in
one of Universal’s resort hotels is that
you get up to 1-hour early admission to
the parks. I can’t tell you how huge
this is. The most popular rides can have
extremely long wait times and you may
not even get on. So, make sure you
utilize this awesome perk. The park is
divided up into movie-based themes like
Production Central, New York, Hollywood,
and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Diagon Alley.
Our top 5 rides are: 1 - Harry Potter
and the Escape from Gringotts™, 2 - Fast
& Furious – Supercharged, 3: Meet
the TRANSFORMERS™: 4: Race Through
New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, 5:
Revenge of the Mummy. There are a number
of shows as well and we loved the
“Animal Actors on Location”. The
performance centers on video segments,
live skits, and audience interactions
with some of the most talented animal
actors. Star performers include dogs,
cats, exotic birds and more. A truly
entertaining way to take a breather from
all the hustle and bustle.
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Entrance
to Universal Studios
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After a thrilling but exhausting day, we
took the shuttle back to the hotel for
some much-needed rest and refueling.
Dining options at the Cabana Bay are
extensive, however, we basically ate at
the food court almost every day. It’s
just so convenient for quick and easy
meals. Everything from pizza, burgers,
pasta, salad bar, dessert station buffet
style meals and more are all in one
place. Also, the "Grab and Go" area
allows easy access to snacks and drinks
when you’re on the move. You can
also enjoy your favorite Starbucks
coffee, drink and food products on site.
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Day 3: Universal Orlando Resort
Volcano Bay
Since we were just steps away from
Volcano Bay, we decided to go a little
later in the morning. I headed off to
the Jack Lalanne Fitness center (fully
equipped and huge) and my wife and kids
were off to CityWalk to pick some VooDoo
donuts. By the way, these edible pieces
of art are almost too good to eat, but
this taste of Universal must not be
missed. In any case, the decision
was a big mistake. We entered the park
around 11:30 AM and to say the least, it
was jam packed. After about a half hour
of searching for chairs, we only found
one. This served as our home base as we
made our way around the park.
If you're not familiar with Volcano Bay,
it’s a 25-acre South Pacific theme-based
park and is considered one of the best
water parks in North America. The
centerpiece of the park is Krakatau, a
200-foot volcano with cascading
waterfalls and multiple slides within
its caverns. Best of all there’s
no waiting in long lines with the
“TapuTapu”. This innovative waterproof
wrist device will hold your place in a
virtual line. That’s right, while
you’re enjoying over 18 attractions,
this gadget will vibrate when the ride
is ready. The only downside is
that you can only stay in queue for one
attraction at a time. Also, if you set
up payment on the Universal App, you can
even pay for your meals and merchandise
using this handy device.
Our favorite attractions that never have
a wait is of course the “Kopiko Wai
Winding River '' which is a huge lazy
river that lets you cool off while
relaxing. However, the “TeAwa” river is
quite a bit different. The fast
current river propels you through a
torrent of rapids and waves. We
also love to relax at “Waturi
Beach”. This area has a huge wave
pool and beach area that makes you feel
like you're on a Tropical Polynesian
island. Our top 5 rides are: 1.
Krakatau Coaster is absolutely the BEST
ride at Volcano Bay. This aqua
coaster takes you through mists and
twists in a 4-person canoe. You MUST
make this first on your list as the
wait can be a long one. 2
& 3. “Puihi Raft Ride” and “Maku
Puihi” are both amazing and best of all,
the 6-person tubes allow the whole
family to join in on the fun. 4.
“Ko’okiri Body Plunge”, this is not for
the faint hearted - you’ll plummet
through a drop door and fall 125 feet
down a white-water slide. 5. “Ohyah
& Ohno Drop Slides” will plunge you
down a twisting slide and drop you 6-ft
into a pool.
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| Volcano Bay Krakatau |
Day 4: Universal Orlando's Islands of
Adventure:
Like Universal Studios, Islands of
Adventure is divided into different
sections. These themed “Islands”,
include The Wizarding World of Harry
Potter -Hogsmeade Village Marvel Super
Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park,
The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ –
Hogsmeade™ is the most popular
attraction, so make sure to make use of
your early admission and head there
FIRST. Hogwarts castle and
the ultra-themed village really take you
into JK Rowling’s world of wizardry.
Flight of the Hippogriff, Hagrid’s
Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure,
and Harry Potter and the Forbidden
Journey all make our top ride
list. The Lost Continent is themed
on ancient myths and legends. Most of
this island was repurposed for Harry,
but it’s still visually spectacular. The
highlights of this island are Mystic
Fountain, an interactive talking
fountain and Sindbad's Bazaar, a Middle
Eastern marketplace.
Two areas that cater to children or the
young at heart are Seuss Landing and
Toon Lagoon. Classic cartoons and
Seuss-themed attractions will keep the
whole family busy for quite a while.
Marvel Superhero Island boast some
pretty extreme rides like the Amazing
Adventures of Spider Man, Dr. Doom’s
Fearfall, and the Incredible Hulk
Coaster, all of which are not for the
faint hearted.
Skull Island’s main feature is the Reign
of Kong. Individuals with Entomophobia
should stay away as you will be
bombarded with giant insects, spiders
and even dinosaurs attacking your safari
themed bus. Speaking of dinosaurs,
Jurassic Park will take you back to a
time when these giant creatures roamed
the planet. Rides like Pteranodon
Flyers, Jurassic Park River Adventure
Ride and the VeliciCoaster will add an
exciting and thrilling way to explore
the world of ancient creatures.
A complete list of rides,
shows, dining and shopping can be
found HERE.
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| Islands of Adventure -
View from the Waterway |
The Last takeaways from a Universal
Orlando visit. Get the outdoor rides
done and out of the way early. Not only
do you beat the heat, but the regularly
scheduled afternoon downpours delay or
even shut down many of these
attractions. Also, we of course visited
during high season (June through
August), so if possible, plan your
vacation during the school months. |
Days 5 - 7: Tradewinds St. Pete Beach:
Finally, it was time for some
much-needed fun in the sun. The drive
from Orlando to St. Pete Beach was an
easy 2 hours west on I-4. Once you
arrive at Tradewinds you will notice
that this tropical beachfront oasis is
ginormous! It’s set on 40 well
landscaped acres and has - wait for it -
9 pools and 642 cabanas located on a
soft white sand beach. There are two
resorts that guests can enjoy; the
Island Grand which is the largest
beachfront resort on a top-ranked U.S.
beach and the adjacent property, the
RumFish Beach Resort. These two
properties combine to make your St. Pete
Beach vacation a truly memorable
experience. They have everything you
need for the perfect getaway, including
delicious dining, beachfront bars,
relaxing comforts, and endless
activities. |
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Island Grand beach view
and Main Lobby
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Rooms
There are 897 rooms and villas with
premium amenities to choose from. We
booked a Resort View Villa with a
balcony at the Island Grand. The
spacious 536 sq ft villa sleeps up to 6
and offers a separate bedroom with 2
beds and a double-size sofa bed. The
living area is large enough for the
whole family to relax in comfort. The
rooms come equipped with a kitchenette
(we used daily), full-size fridge,
microwave, and stove top, which we used
daily. Wireless Internet access,
In-room movies and voicemail are also
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| Resort View Villa 2-Queen
Beds & Pullout Sofa |
Activities
Between the two resorts, this sun-soaked
playground is chock full of things to
do. Tradewinds is geared towards family
fun so be prepared to see lots of kids
out and about. Beach games,
Dive-in movies (poolside), SunCity Teen
Lounge, Family pirate shows,
Shuffleboard, High Tide Water Slide,
Surf Wipeout, Campfire S’mores, the zing
Ray Zip Line, Beach volleyball, Tennis,
Yogafit, Paddle Boats, Miniature golf,
Pickleball, Fitness center, Hammocks,
cushioned Cabanas, and parking are all
included in the resort fee.
If that isn’t enough, there are several
additional activities that are available
for a nominal fee. We absolutely loved
the newly expanded floating water park
and floating loungers. A great mix
of aquatic excitement and relaxation.
Other choices include PoolSide Crafts,
Stand-up paddleboard, Touch tank
experience (snorkel with fishes in a
33,500-gallon tank), treasure hunting at
the Treasure mining company.
Adventurers can add parasailing, diving,
fishing, and sightseeing tours to the
mix as well.
Tradewinds didn’t forget about parents
either. How about some well-deserved
“Me” time? Well, the resorts offer
some excellent options like the Konk
club drop-off camps (5–12-year-olds).
These safe and fully supervised camps
will keep your little ones entertained
for hours while you head on over to one
of the adult pools or beach bars.
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| 15,750-square foot
Floating Water Park |
Eats
With 15 restaurants, bars and lounges,
dining options abound at Tradewinds.
We had a sit-down dining experience at
the RumFish Grill. The centerpiece of
the restaurant is the 33,500-gallon
aquarium featured on Animal Planet's hit
show "Tanked". Visitors can even "Swim
with the Fishes" and snorkel in the
aquarium. There are also indoor/outdoor
bars, live entertainment and a retail
store carrying a huge selection of
merchandise from local brands and
artists. Other fine dining options
include the Gulfside Grill (breakfasts,
lunches suited for the casual dinner)
and the Flying Bridge (serves
authentically Floridian fare).
Bars for Drinks, dancing, and live
music
Salty's Tiki Bar & Beach Lounge is
where we spent our lazy afternoons
sipping frozen tropical drinks while
relaxing poolside. The Sandbar at The
SandBox Beach Lounge and the Cabana bar
are great places to have a “cold one”
and listen to live entertainment without
ever having to leave the beach. As
mentioned earlier Rumfish has an indoor
grill bar and outdoor bar also providing
live music. Awakenings Lobby Bar was
daily morning stop for morning coffee
and tea at Starbucks. Cocktails are also
offered.
If you’re in a hurry, Tradewinds has you
covered. Theres a Beachside Food Truck
that will fuel you up throughout the
day. A full-service deli located in the
main lobby will make the perfect grab
and go sandwich for those that are on
the move. Pizza Hut express is available
onsite for delivery, carry-out &
dine-in.
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| Rumfish Grill |
Tradewinds values Travel
Agents!
Discounted rates off personal travel
and information on deals and packages.
Their Beach Perks program is designed
to welcome Travel Advisors and reward
their loyalty in booking TradeWinds
Island Resorts.
Perks for You
- 20%-50% discount off
personal travel, based on availability.
Agent rates can be booked ONLINE.
- Advance notice of
special value dates, promotions, and
packages for your clients.
- Earn 15% commission
on trips you book.
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Day 8: Crystal River -
Manatee boat tour with Explorida:
What can be more
authentically Floridian than swimming
with a manatee? This has been on our
bucket list for years, but we have
never taken the time to visit the
Manatee capital of the world - Crystal
River. This year we decided to hop in
the car and take the 2-hour drive
north to meet the ole “Sea Cows”.
There are several tour companies that
offer year-round tours so choosing one
was a bit daunting. Ultimately, we
chose Explorida, and
boy did we make the right
decision.
As a travel agent of over 30 years, this
tour company is among the best that I
have ever experienced. Their
professionalism and knowledge truly
exceeded my expectations. Although
Summer is considered the offseason
(Manatee season is Nov. 15 – Mar. 31st),
our Master Captain found a few of them
with ease. Our guide was with us every
step of the way – from assisting us with
our wetsuits to helping us get close and
personal with these majestic creatures.
The guide also serves as a
professional photographer to catch those
memories on digital film. The photos are
available for purchase when you get back
to their facility. The facility also has
a large gift shop that carries a wide
selection of unique gifts, snacks,
candy, toys, apparel and more.
Here's a few of the pics of our amazing
day below.
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Explorida offers travel agents a 10%
discount off their already low prices.
Just email and mention FAMrates when
booking. |
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Address:
545 N Citrus Ave, Crystal River, FL
34428
info@explorida.tours 1-352-423-3798
Travel Agents only email:
gloria@explorida.tours
www.explorida.com
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