March 12, 2010
Get out your green gear!
It’s time to start thinking green because St. Patrick’s Day is less than a week away! Make St. Patrick’s Day 2010 your most memorable by completely engaging yourself in Ireland’s fun-loving culture.
Enjoy authentic Irish dishes such as corn beef and cabbage or a hearty helping of shepherd’s pie while you kick back with a few pals and enjoy a pint or two. If you prefer grapes to hops, click here to see what wines go best with traditional Irish food.
No matter where you are, March 17th is the perfect opportunity to experience something new and exciting; especially if you happen to be in one of Festiva Hospitality Group’s resort destinations for the green holiday.
The Carolinas especially are looking forward to the holiday. In Charleston, South Carolina, the Annual St. Patrick’s Celebration is dedicated to a whole day of Irish recognition. Starting at 11:30 a.m. the Irish-Flag-Raising ceremony begins at Charleston’s City Hall, just down the road from Festiva’s Church Street Inn. Luckily our resort is conveniently located so that all the Irish music, food and dancing you could ever want is right at your fingertips.
In North Myrtle Beach, St. Patty’s Day celebrations start early with street festivals, arts and crafts booths, food vendors and continuous musical entertainment beginning March 13th.
Further up the coast in Oriental, N.C., close to Festiv’as Peppertree Atlantic Beach, everyone seems to be Irish on St. Patty’s Day. Celebrations kick off Saturday, March 13 with the 7th Annual Lucky Charms Challenge charity run. Put on your greenest green and you can run in the 10K or walk or run in the 5K. Dogs are welcome to join you.
Plan the your best yet St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at any of the locations above and Festiva will be pleased to accommodate your stay.
- Claire Clayton
March 11, 2010
Festiva Sailing Vacations – New Video
Take a tour of one of Festiva’s Lagoon 440 Catamaran Yachts and see what guests have to say about this experience of a lifetime! This yacht is available for Festiva Sailing Vacations and Festiva Cruise Club’s all-inclusive week long charters.
Mike Pauer, Festiva Sailing Vacations’ Vice President of Marketing, takes you through the yacht and gives you an up close and personal view of the sleeping quarters, common areas and all features of the Lagoon 440. It’s a great way for those who have never sailed with Festiva to get a preview of what to expect for the trip.
The new video also features interviews with two couples who have previously taken sailing vacations with Festiva to give you firsthand information on the experience. Check out the video and let us know what you think!
If you are interested in learning more about this incredible vacation opportunity, visit www.festivasailingvacations.com.
Festiva Sailing Vacations is a Festiva Hospitality Group company that operates the Festiva Cruise Club and charters all-inclusive luxury catamaran yachts throughout the Caribbean in the British Virgin Islands, St. John, Cancun, St. Maarten and the Bahamas.
March 10, 2010
Dining out in Festiva’s Resort Locations
Now that you’ve planned your ‘eating in’ meals you can think about dining out on your next Festiva vacation without the worry of spending money three times a day. There are several great Online restaurant guides for several of Festiva’s resort destinations.
While vacationing at our Rangeley Lake Resort in Maine you don’t want to miss out on Maine’s Restaurant Week, March 1 – 10. Come enjoy a culinary tour of the state’s best restaurants and receive a specially priced three-course menu for lunch or dinner.
In the small fishing village of Murrells Inlet, S.C., the Marsh Walk is the place to be with plenty of five-star, mouth-watering restaurants. You won’t find better seafood anywhere else, and it’s only minutes away from Festiva’s Ellington resort! And with the money you’ll be saving from our ‘eating in’ tips from last week you’ll be able to splurge on the finest steaks, prepared by some of Murrells Inlet’s own award-winning chefs. The Marsh Walk offers more than just restaurants with shops, nightlife and water sports; and don’t forget the fabulous view of the saltwater marsh, filled with wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
Still craving seafood? Charleston, South Carolina is known for its fresh seafood and world class cuisine. At Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar located on 205 East Bay Street you’ll find delicious dishes ranging from oysters and clams to lobster and fresh fish! Check out the Charleston Dining Guide to find some of Charleston’s most upscale restaurants. Take a short walk or carriage ride from Festiva’s Church Street Inn and find yourself in a great selection of restaurants, no matter what you’re in the mood for— from affordable low country cuisine to international flavors worth a splurge —you won’t be disappointed!
If you’re heading further south and over the bridge to Hilton Head Island for a stay at Festiva’s Main Street Inn & Spa, you’ll find the best destination for golfing, water sports, and of course eating! Prepare to be surprised because this 12 mile long island has all the dining options you could think of: French, German, Italian, Greek, Chinese and more. So head on down south for a delicious meal by the sea.
In sunny Orlando you’ll definitely be in the mood for a yummy meal after touring around in the bright sunshine. Some of Orlando’s best and most sophisticated restaurants can be found at the Orlando Dining Guide’s website. Click on the Central Florida link to see restaurants conveniently located (perhaps even walking distance) from Festiva’s own Orlando family retreat, The Blue Heron Beach Resort.
If you prefer the mountains to the sea, no worries; Banner Elk, N.C., has you covered. Up in the cozy, beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains you’re guaranteed to find some good ‘ole southern cooking. At the infamous Dan’l Boone Inn, just minutes from Festiva’s Blue Ridge Village, you’ll feel right at home with this family-style inspired restaurant. Come hungry for a hearty plate of three meats, five vegetables and grandma’s warm, doughy biscuits! Find out about other good eats in the are at the High Country Dining website.
Festiva’s Midwest resort destinations also have a variety of flavors to please your palate. Choose from 400 restaurants in Branson, Missouri. You know you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in Branson—and the world of fine dining is yours! Check out your boundless amount of options at the Flavors of Branson website.
If you’re a cheese lover, Wisconsin is definitely the place to be. The Cheese Factory in particular is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. Prepare yourself for wonderful food and an amazing atmosphere at any of the 80 restaurants located in Wisconsin Dells, right near Festiva’s Mirror Lake & Tamarack Resort. A list of brand new restaurants can be found on the Wisconsin Dells website.
If your vacation plans include taking advantage the kitchen and dining facilities at Festiva’s resorts and eating in for about half of your meals, then you will have no problem indulging in your vacation destination’s best restaurants and not breaking your budget!
- Claire Clayton
March 5, 2010
Eating in saves valuable vacation dollars
Want to come home from vacation without those few extra pounds or an empty wallet? Try striking a balance between eating in and dining out. Most of Festiva Adventure Club’s properties have full kitchens in their units as well as a spacious dining area, so take advantage of it! Consider the following tips while thinking about time, money and even health.
First, plan your meals in advance to save both money and time. Instead of feeling pressure to go out to eat for breakfast and lunch, find your nearest grocery store and get the basics: cereal, bacon, sandwich makings, snacks, etc. That way, instead of wasting money on a hamburger for lunch, you and your family can save that money during the day and enjoy a nice dinner out in the evening.
Also, some resorts may offer a grocery delivery service. This is especially helpful for larger families. All you do is call ahead of time and let the staff know what you need and all your groceries will be waiting for you when you arrive. So, after a long drive you won’t have to worry about where or what you’re going to eat; it’s already available!
Planning meals and saving money shouldn’t be stressful and complicated. Luckily, Festiva’s resort units automatically shape an easy and family-friendly atmosphere. This intimate, home-like setting allows for someone who is cooking in the kitchen to be able to converse with someone in the living room. Just because you’re not in a restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t get that family time experience. In fact, you may find that eating in offers a much better experience without the distraction of waiters and other customers.
Eating in can also help you keep off the pounds. Most of the time we don’t keep track of how many calories we’re consuming on vacation, and you still don’t have to. By eating in you control what you eat and how much. It’s much less tempting to over eat when you’re preparing it yourself; plus, restaurant meals often pack more calories, fat and sodium than those cooked at home.
Curious to know which yummy recipes are easiest for the road? Check out the Family Travel Guides’ Food Section for more tips on how to save money and shed pounds while on vacation!
- Claire Clayton
March 4, 2010
How do you plan your vacation?
Even the most experienced of travelers require some sort of resource to point them in the right direction. Whether that is a guidebook, website, or travel review—all have distinct information that is incredibly useful.
A guidebook is the most traditional, yet still practical form of travel information. After a long day of sightseeing a quick bite to eat is a must, and with no computer or tour guide, it’s easy to feel stuck. But with a good guidebook you have an extensive list of restaurants with their cuisine and price range as well as a map telling you how to get there. Especially now in such a technology-obsessed society, it’s nice to resort back to a good book: you don’t have to worry about a bad Internet connection or a dead battery.
However, with guidebooks you’re not guaranteed up-to-date information, which makes the Internet one of the most popular resources for travelers. You can find the newest and hottest tourist attractions in your area Online along with reviews from travelers just like you.
A recent New York Times article examines the usefulness of online travel resources versus the traditional printed travel guidebook. According to Stephen Kaufer, chief executive of Tripadvisor, visitors to the popular travel review site want “the truly candid opinion from people who are like them.”
Most traditional travel guides that originated in print such as Lonely Planet and Fodor’s have hopped on the Internet train. Although Lonely Planet began as the largest travel guidebook, it has expanded so significantly that on their website you’ll see several posts daily with travel news and information.
Each individual traveler is different; some prefer their information tucked nicely into their back pocket while others refuse to travel without WI FI nearby. But to get the most comprehensive and relevant travel advice, why not use both? As long as guidebooks, websites and travel reviews stay informative and user-friendly, none will be going out of style anytime soon.
- Claire Clayton
February 25, 2010
Ready for Spring flowers?
Cast away those winter blues by welcoming in the springtime fun! Several of Festiva Adventure Club’s resort destinations such as Charleston, St. Augustine, Myrtle Beach and Branson are making plans to celebrate the upcoming season with the blooming of the local flora.
Spring is in the air in Charleston’s famous Cypress Gardens, one of the South’s most preferred family destinations since 1931. At Cypress Gardens you’re guaranteed a unique and exciting experience as you take in nature’s greatest gift. From swamp boat rides to a magical visit inside the Butterfly House, you’ll forget your big city worries and simply enjoy the beauty of nature. On March 6 and 7 Cypress Gardens is offering you the opportunity to take in your first breath of sweet spring air while exploring the Carolina Breath of Spring Flower Show. Here you’ll find an endless amount of your favorite flowers and also enjoy floral designs.
Bookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, just south of Myrtle Beach, S.C., also has a number of events taking place during the months of March and April inside their own National Landmark. Explore the history and archaeological sites of the Plantation on The Oaks Plantation History and Nature Trail before March 5. Children in particular will enjoy Bookgreen Gardens while playing and learning in the Children’s Discovery Room. With Gardens admission, your child (ages 4-12) has a free opportunity to learn about the rich history, nature and art at Bookgreen Gardens.
Travel a little further down south to St. Augustine, Fla., and you’ll be even more in awe at springtime at its peak. At the local Garden Club, environmental awareness is one of their top priorities. Nature lovers will be delighted to engage in numerous workshops and lectures that cover anything from floral design to gardening tips.
A surprising gem near Festiva’s three Branson resorts is College of the Ozarks, Branson’s own bird’s eye view into Midwest culture. Although predominately a school, College of the Ozarks offers education to visitors just passing through as well. The campus is notoriously gorgeous, and the greenhouse is a must-see any time of year. The Keeter Center, Williams Memorial Chapel and The Ralph Foster Museum are all historic monuments just waiting for you to take in the magnificent architecture and stories associated with them.
Have a unique experience this springtime in Festiva’s fabulous resort destinations of Charleston, St. Augustine, Myrtle Beach or Branson by visiting the cities’ most exclusive attractions in full bloom.
- Claire Clayton
February 23, 2010
Vacationing: no stress required
Going on vacation should never be stressful. If you ever start to feel like vacationing has become a hassle, Festiva has some tips to make prepping for a trip just as enjoyable as the time you spend when you’re there.
Getting ready for a vacation does not only include thinking about what you’re going to pack, but also what you’re going to do when you arrive, the easiest way to get there and where the heck you’re going to put all your stuff.
According to Fodor’s Travel Tips, the best way to ease traveling anxiety is by stopping at the tourist office first thing. This way you’re immediately up to par on what’s going on in your vacation destination. This is especially helpful if you have children joining you. At the tourist office you can find all sorts of useful items ranging from maps, brochures, coupon books, discount passes, and package deals; these articles are perfect for saving money and finding out whats going on at your destinations main attractions.
If you’re vacationing to a Festiva Hospitality Group destination, contact the front desk in advance to see what local information and concierge services they have available as they may already have much of the information that you’d find at the tourism office.
In all the midst of relaxing, celebrating or sightseeing it is easy to lose track of things; especially money, passports, credit carts, etc. Travellerspoint.com has a great method to avoid that unnecessary disturbance: try scanning your passport, passport photos and paper tickets and store them in your email account. If you lose any of these items you’ll be able to have some sort of proof that could potentially help you out in a sticky situation.
If your ATM card is lost or stolen you should look up the details of your emergency lost card telephone numbers, store them and if you misplace anything all of that information is right at your finger tips.
Another less time consuming way to protect your valuables is splitting them up: place your bankcards, cash, credit cards, etc., in different pockets and bags so if you lose one bag, you don’t lose everything.
So, stop putting off that family vacation, follow these simple tips, and you will be guaranteed to have the best, stress free vacation yet!
- Claire Clayton
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February 22, 2010
Festiva employee achieves ARDA designation
Festiva Hospitality Group would like to congratulate Kevin Wray, general manager of Festiva’s Church Street Inn in Charleston, S.C., on receiving his Associate Resort Professional (ARP) designation from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).
The ARP and Registered Resort Professional (RRP) designations are administered by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), a nonprofit organization devoted to meeting the industry’s research and education needs through identifying consistent and ongoing industry benchmarks, expanding research, analyzing technological change and its impact, and enhancing the public’s knowledge of the timeshare industry.
Vacation Ownership industry professionals who achieve the ARP designation demonstrate a commitment to the timeshare industry as well as personal growth and development through participation in a variety of industry meetings, volunteer activities and learning experiences. Associate Resort Professionals must have worked in the timeshare industry for at least two years to be considered.
Individuals with the ARP and RRP designations are approved by an accreditation board and must maintain the title through continued education and participating in ARDA-sponsored meetings and events. Industry professionals with these designations must also show a knowledge of and commitment to the ARDA Code of Standards & Ethics.
Kevin has been with Festiva Hospitality Group for three years. In addition to overseeing the daily operation of the Church Street Inn, he was also an integral part of implementing Festiva’s ideals and management style at the Frenchmen Orleans through staffing, training and policy implementation.
Prior to joining Festiva in 2007, Kevin gained valuable experience dealing with home owners’ boards and associations with the Club at Seabrook Island and Brays Island Plantation, both in the South Carolina low country. Kevin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with Bachelor of Science degrees in both finance and insurance.
Achieving the ARP designation has not only enabled Kevin to stand out among professionals throughout the industry but also sets the standard for his staff and fellow Festiva employees to maintain a level of professionalism and commitment that will lead to the success of individual employees as well as Festiva as a whole.
Congratulations to Kevin on joining several of Festiva’s executive team members with these designations from ARDA!
February 18, 2010
Festiva family vacations
If you’re ready for the snow to melt, you don’t have to wait long because spring and summer are just around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about those annual family vacations! Some of the Festiva Adventure Club’s most popular destinations to take the kids during their school breaks are Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic Beach and St. Augustine.
Sometimes it can be difficult coordinating trips when you have children ranging from the ages of six to sixteen. Fortunately, with the Festiva Adventure Club there are enough resorts and destination options to please the entire family.
When traveling with the family it is very important to look for destinations that have tons of variety. According to the Travel Channel’s Travel Tips: Family Vacations, one of the biggest issues when traveling with young ones is their impatience. Children have shorter attention spans than adults and want to venture to different attractions without lingering too long at any one.
Orlando is perhaps the most famous family vacation destination in the country, and Festiva’s Blue Heron Beach Resort is perfect for all ages. Reviews from Tripadvisor guests rank the resort very highly among Orlando accommodations. Luckily the Blue Heron is located just down the street from Disney World where guests are close enough to the theme parks to take in as much action as they wish; and with spacious units including fully equipped kitchens, families can save a bundle by cooking meals at the resort and doing laundry during their trip. The location and amenities make this resort perfect for young ones, grandparents and honeymooners alike. In addition to the fun and entertainment of the theme parks, there are over thirty golf courses in the area an endless amount of restaurants.
For a family-friendly vacation on the Carolina Coast, both Myrtle Beach and Atlantic Beach are great places for all age groups and interests. There are seven Festiva Adventure Club resorts in the Myrtle Beach area varying in location, size and amenities. Whether you’re looking for a quiet beachfront vacation focusing on plenty of quality time with the family, or a more sociable resort with a busy activities department to take the kids off your hands for a few hours, Festiva’s Myrtle Beach resorts have something for everyone.
At Peppertree Atlantic Beach, your condo is steps away from laid back beach on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. While the town itself is a bit quieter than Myrtle Beach, there are plenty of family activities in the area and right on the property. There are three pools (one indoor), tennis courts, basketball courts and a playground along with a recreation room and weekly planned activities to enjoy as a family or to keep your kids busy while you enjoy a relaxing stroll on the beach.
One of our newest properties, Ocean Gate at Hibiscus Resort in St. Augustine, Fla., is another great destination for that spring or summer vacation your family may be looking for. Come enjoy the great weather, history, clubs and restaurants in one of the most historic cities in the country.
The most important tip to remember when traveling with family is planning ahead, so start thinking about which fabulous Festiva Adventure Club destination you want to take your family to during their spring and summer breaks in 2011. If you have already planned your Festiva family vacation for 2010, let us know where you will go and what you to make the most out of your trip.
- Claire Clayton
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February 19, 2010
Festiva member testimonials
Posted in Festiva Adventure Club, Festiva Hospitality Group, Member Services, Resorts tagged Festiva Adventure Club, Festiva comments, Festiva Hospitality Group, festiva member testimonials, Festiva Owner Services, Festiva reviews at 11:55 am by Festiva Hospitality Group
Festiva Hospitality Group and the Festiva Adventure Club has received lots of wonderful testimonials from our members recently, and we want to take the time to thank them and share their experiences.
We greatly appreciate it when Festiva’s members and guests take the time to send an e-mail, card or letter about their positive experiences with our vacations whether it’s about the units or amenities at a resort, the front desk staff who went the extra mile to make their experience that much more special, or the Owner Services representative who explained their membership, resolved a problem or made the reservations process easy.
Festiva strives to constantly improve our products and services for members and guests. While we are human and are not immune to flaws, we are confident that our resorts, our Festiva Adventure Club product and our employees throughout the company represent the best quality so serve our members and guests.
On February 16, we received an e-mail from Adventure Club members who had contact with sales staff in Atlantic Beach and our Owner Services department in Asheville that were able to secure a reservation for a large family during a peak holiday week in Branson.
Just today, we received another letter from a Festiva Adventure Club member who was able to book two reservations this year and traveled from our northernmost resort in Rangeley, Maine, to our southernmost resort in the U.S. in New Orleans.
Visit our Testimonials Page to read what other members and guests have said about Festiva, and please feel free to share your own experience in the comments below or by sending an e-mail to comments@festiva.travel.
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