NOW BEGINS THE SEASON OF ENGAGEMENTS!

The holiday season is upon us, starting with Thanksgiving and now begins the ritual of couples planning to solidify their relationships.

For those of us who focus on this market: Destination Weddings & Honeymoons: we go into high gear with promotions, advice and all manner of information. Destinations and hotels, if serious about this business should now focus on reminding couples, where to stay, what to do and the reason why your destination or hotel should be the preferred location.

From now until the spring this is considered the prime season for engagements. After all families are getting together to celebrate the holidays and the pressure is on for couples to make the 'important' announcement.

Over the last few days I have been monitoring the Social Networks regarding the number of couples announcing their engagements, and I am happy to say that marriage is still in 'vogue'. The http://www.MarryCaribbean.com is also seeing a surge in the number of visitors to the site. A happy time indeed!.

What is changing is the number of couples opting for non traditional locations, so if Caribbean countries want to remain competitive in this arena they do need to have a marketing strategy in place. According to the Wedding Report over 80% will go on a honeymoon. 39% will stay at a Resort and Destinations please do note that a whopping 15% will take a cruise. For more information on the business of weddings you can either contact the Wedding Report for more information or just email me: Jacqueline@Marrycaribbean.com.

I will be heading to Las Vegas in a couple of days to speak on the business of weddings at the upcoming Luxury Travel Show and of course at this event will delve into all the nuances of the bridal market. I would also like to feature a few promotions on http://www.Marrycaribbean.com so if you have a sweepstakes program you would like to donate, do not hesitate to contact me.

Dominican Republic - A Romantic Getaway

Recently had the opportunity to attend the FCCA (Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association) Conference in beautiful and interesting Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. It has been a few years since I visited this destination, and was again surprised at the improvements and quality of the restaurants on this historic island.

It was an easy connection via American Airlines and it was a difficult choice between AA and Jetblue. However, AA won out because as a platinum member I had a few benefits.

The arrival at the airport was a seamless and easy one, and from immigration to FCCA personnel, everyone was on top of their game and made you feel absolutely welcome. Vanessa representing the Tourism Department was phenomenal. The Dominican Republic is indeed fortunate to have such a passionate and gracious individual representing them.

With a population of over 8.5 million people, the Dominican Republic has it all. From great beaches, historic towns/buildings, restaurants, fantastic weather and while Spanish is the dominant language, it is easy to communicate and get around. The city has much to offer: Museum of the Royal Houses, documenting Santo Domingo's rich history: Palace of Columbus, Museum of the Dominican Man, Museum of History and Geography, Museum of Larimer, explaining the island's mining and jewelry industry: Amber Museum, Museum of Modern Art to name a few.

The Colonial City in Santo Domingo is a lover's dream. With its cobblestone pathways/street, great restaurants, shopping, nightlife and parks, one could easily while away the day on a romantic jaunt. Great destination for a wedding or honeymoon. The cathedrals are simply awesome: the history, the beauty, the elegance, all added to create that forever bond - marriage. Santo Domingo boasts some very upscale hotels - from the intimate to the corporate. Visited the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando an elegant colonial contemporary decorated 104 rooms and suites. Each room opens to a garden, swimming pool or the famous Las Damas river. Next I visited the very, very romantic Hotel Frances. With 19 rooms and gorgeous outdoor space, it was a difficult moment to truly leave this place.

Shopping in Santo Domingo is an easy one, as you have the choice of a few 'malls' to provide you with the necessities. One such mall is called the Blue Mall - and serves the high end market. Of course one cannot leave this destination without buying its fabled Amber or Larimar Stone. And what better way to end your shopping experience in the colonial city but to dine at one of the great local restaurants such as Meson di Bari.

Thoroughly enjoyed Santo Domingo and looking forward to visiting the rest of the country. Again a great destination for a Caribbean honeymoon or destination wedding. For more information on the Dominican Republic, please visit http://www.MarryCaribbean.com

HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHEN TRAVELING

Just saw this edit on Travel Agent online and thought it was excellent. This is so very timely for those who are planning on traveling to the Caribbean. Whether it is a romantic jaunt, a Caribbean Wedding or honeymoon, packing correctly is crucial to minimize the extra financial outlay.

"ASTA has provided some helpful packing tips to assist travelers that will make packing a breeze as part of its ongoing consumer advisory series. “There are two kinds of travelers in the world: those who packed light and those who wish they had,"ASTA notes, urging consumers to use a professional travel agent and to visit ASTA’s consumer website:

www.travelsense.org

. "With the now ubiquitous checked-baggage fees charged by most airlines, getting everything into as little space as possible is more important than ever."

"ASTA members know the techniques of efficient packing and packing tips for all types of travel," said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair. “Travel agents really are there for their clients before, during and after their trip."

Here are a few techniques ASTA offers for efficient packing for all types of travel.

* Make a plan and stick to it. A packing list eliminates the panic of last-second packing, serves as a handy guide for repacking at the end of the trip, and can be beneficial in the unfortunate event of lost or stolen luggage.

* Check and check again. Cross-check your packing list to determine if one piece can cover multiple occasions. Pick clothes that coordinate well together, based around complimentary colors.

* Leave it behind. When it comes to jewelry don't take what you don't want to lose, and leave behind the flashy pieces that could attract thieves. Leave the perfume behind when scented lotions will work just as well.

* Ready, set, go. Keep a travel kit perpetually stocked in a waterproof case -- it saves packing time before the trip and aggravation after arrival. And don't fill bottles up to the very top--pressure inside the plane may force the contents to expand and overflow. Also, be careful when it comes to checking aerosols in your checked luggage as they also can explode under pressure.

* Smooth operator. Iron everything before placing it in the suitcase. If it goes in crisp and clean, odds are more in its favor of coming out the same. Button all buttons and zip all zippers.

* Fold it like you mean it. Practice folding like they do in clothing stores - they use that method for a reason. The better the fold, the fewer the creases. The interlocking method of folding clothes is ideal for suitcases. Overlap two pieces of clothing flat and then fold them into each other so that each piece cushions the other to aid in defying wrinkles.

* Pack backwards. Pack what you plan to wear or will need first, last. This will prevent rooting around the suitcase for a specific item while disrupting the rest.

* Pack it in. Packing loosely wastes precious space and causes clothes to wrinkle. Eliminate wasted space, such as the insides of shoes, which are perfect for socks or underwear. And when repacking, remember that balled-up, dirty laundry takes more space than carefully folded clothes, so repack your used clothing identically to your original packing method.

* Pack it out. Always carry travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler's checks, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should never be packed in checked luggage.

* Signed and delivered. Label each piece of luggage, both inside and out, with your name and telephone number, but not your home address. If an address is needed, then put your office address.

With a little TravelSense, a few packing guidelines and some helpful packing tips, traveling light will be an easy plan to follow, ASTA says. ASTA’s consumer website makes packing easy with a customizable packing list based upon a traveler’s destination, accommodations, weather at their destination, tour activities and number of travelers. Travelers can print off a checklist or e-mail it to themselves.

For more information on packing or traveling to the Caribbean for your destination wedding or honeymoon, please visit http://www.MarryCaribbean.com.