Celebrating Our Veterans

Celebrating Our Veterans, Inc. would like to invite you to join them on their second annual Freedom Cruise on board the brand new Norwegian Breakaway.  The 7-night cruise will sail roundtrip, November 17-14,2013, from New York City aboard the incredible Norwegian Breakaway, making stops in Port Canaveral, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas. To see trip inclusions, please click here.

About Celebrating Our Veterans, Inc.

Celebrating Our Veterans was founded in May 2011 by Derick I. Glenn after realizing there was a major need for more community involvement with our Veterans and their families. They are committed to helping our men and women returning home from war, assisting them in finding employment and readjusting to society.

About Norwegian Breakaway

The Norwegian Breakaway is Norwegian Cruise Lines’ newest fleet member. While encompassing many NCL favorites such as Shanghai Noodle Bar, O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill and the hot spot, Bliss Ultra Lounge as well as tons of fun for the whole family, the Breakaway also offers a lot of new and exciting features and of course, the look, feel, and life of her home port: New York.

New innovative features include:

• The Waterfront - an onboard oceanfront boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants and bars
• 678 Ocean Place - 3 action-packed decks featuring daytime and nighttime amusement
•  Ocean Blu – NCL’s first ever all-seafood restaurant featuring a raw bar and a sushi bar
• Aqua Park & Kid’s Aqua Park - fun water parks including multi-story water slides, swimming pools, hot tubs, kid sized water features and their favorite Nickelodeon characters
• Tons of onboard entertainment - Fireworks, a jazz club, Broadway shows, kid’s clubs, comedy club and more!

To see all that the Breakaway has to offer, be sure to check out “Norwegian Breakaway Sets Sail May 2013…” and “Breakaway on the Breakaway”.

For more information or to book your Celebrating Our Veterans Freedom Cruise, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Vietnam on the Rise

Special thanks to Journey’s Magazine for this great article on Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City

I am paralyzed with fear, standing on a sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City, which the locals call Saigon. There is an endless stampede of motorbikes, but no traffic lights, stop signs or pedestrian crossways. Each time I step out to cross the street, another motorbike almost clips me.

A man pedaling a small three-wheeled tourist cyclo (a cycle rickshaw) pulls up in front of me. “Where you want to go? I take you. I am guide.”

“I have a guide coming to my hotel in ten minutes. I just want to cross the street,” I say.

“I take you on ten-minute tour,” the guide offers.

“I just want to cross the street,” I repeat.

“Okay,” he says. “Hold onto my bike.”

I grasp his bike and he kindly leads me safely across. He turns to me. “You either must cross very slow, or you put your hand here (he places his hand on his heart) and cross fast.”

Vietnam has five-star hotels, delicious food and some of the most exotic cultural attractions in the world, but Ho Chi Minh City has scary street-crossing problems. I look up at all the high rises of Ho Chi Minh City. In the last ten years, a new city has risen from old Saigon with nightclubs, bars, upscale air-conditioned shopping malls and luxury hotels, but there are still remnants of the old way of life.

A woman in a conical hat walks by, a pole balanced on her shoulders from which are tied two heavy baskets. A man stands behind a cart whose sign reads: “Bunhbao banh uo + hamberger.”

I head back to my hotel which is located in the French colonial heart of the city. I wait in the lobby for my guise, who will take me to the Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and to the 150-year-old Ben Thanh Market.

At the market, shoppers squeeze past each other in the narrow aisles. A woman arranges grapefruit pieces into lower flower petals. A vendor scoops handfuls of sticky rice into palm leaves. A man pulls fresh noodles and hangs them on a string.

That night, I stand on my balcony and gaze down at the shimmering Opera House.

Hoi An

Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, dates back to the 15th century and is famous for its beautifully preserved houses, temples, and Japanese Covered Bridge. Hoi An is also known for its tailors who will create anything in 24 hours. The tailor takes my measurements and that evening arrives in my villa for a fitting.

My guide arrives by motorbike with an extra helmet. I jump on behind him and we zoom past cyclos, bicycles and tour vans. This is the way to see Vietnam! We ride along narrow dirt trails past water buffalo, rice paddies, to an organic garden and, finally, to Hoi An.

Later, I indulge in a four-handed treatment at the resort’s spa which seems to float above a lagoon filled with pink and white lotus flowers. I drift back to my room and the tailor arrives with my dress. It fits perfectly.

Ha Long Bay

No visit to Vietnam would be complete without an overnight boat trip to Ha Long Bay, possibly the most romantic place in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage site where 2,000 limestone islets magically jut out of the emerald sea. I watch from the sun deck of the luxurious steamer, a 37-cabin replica paddle steamer which evokes colonial Indochina. At sunset, I am still there, sipping a cocktail and trying to memorize the beauty around me on my last perfect evening in Vietnam.

For more information or to book your memorable visit to Vietnam, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Journey West with Boscov’s Travel

With so many options for travel around the globe, we often forget some of the most amazing sites are right next door, so to speak. The Western US offers many unique attractions, from national monuments and parks to best kept secrets known mostly to seasoned travelers and locals.

We’ve packaged the very best of these experiences into eleven unique, exclusive and unforgettable adventures. See the West the way it was meant to be seen, without having to drive or stress. We pride ourselves on taking the road less traveled and telling the stories that have formed the great history of the West.

These tours continue to be some of our most popular vacations and with this year’s new and updated itineraries, there is sure to be a Western tour that will help shorten your bucket list.

You can check out all of the great options and their inclusions here: Boscov’s Travel Western Tours

Tours:

• 10-Day Alaska by Land- June 1-10, 2013
  • Enjoy escorted tours around the beautiful state of Alaska including a train ride, a private sightseeing cruise and tours of Denali National Park.
• 10-Day Northern California & Yosemite - June 16-25, 2013
  • There will be no whining on this tour, but plenty of wine! Visit several California wineries as well as tour the picturesque San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. Also, enjoy the beauty of nature in Yosemite National Park.
• 9-Day Wonderful Wild West - July 13-21, 2013
  • Tour Denver, CO; journey along the Oregon Trail; visit Mt.Rushmore; explore Yellowstone National Park and much more in the Wonderful Wild West!
• 10-Day Oregon/Washington Cities, Seashores and Mountains - July 28- August 6, 2013
  • Did you know you can visit a rain forest in the US? You can in Washington! You can also visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and Mt. Saint Helen’s National Volcanic Monument and much more on this exciting adventure!
• 9-Day Northern Rockies National Parks - August 10-18, 2013
  • Explore Yellowstone National Park and take unique tours of the Northern Rockies such as an open air train tour and a tour on an antique fire engine!
• 9-Day Western National Parks - August 31 – September 8, 2013
  • Take exciting tours of Salt Lake City, UT, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, WY, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Have your cameras at the ready!
• 9-Day Southern National Parks, including Lake Mead and Las Vegas - September 15-23, 2013
  • Besides living it up on the Las Vegas Strip, enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River, Arches National Park, Capital Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. This could be your lucky trip!
• 9-Day Colorado and New Mexico Balloon Fiesta - September 29 – October 7, 2013
  • Tour the Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain National Park, take memorable train rides through beautiful landscapes and top it all off with a visit to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!
• 7-Day Ozark Autumn with Branson - October 13-19, 2013
  • This trip is packed with entertainment! Enjoy dinner and a show at Dixie Stampede, an acrobatic display during the Acrobats of China Show, and the musical stylings of the Oakridge Boys and the 12 Irish Tenors. And don’t forget touring the lovely landscapes and museums of the area.
• 7-Day Colorado Christmas - December 3-9, 2013
  • Enjoy the holiday season in gorgeous Colorado! Take part in a Christmas parade, enjoy the Christmas lights and even do some holiday shopping at the Georgetown Christmas Market.
• 7-Day Southern California with Rose Parade – December 30, 2013 – January 4, 2014
  • Get a behind the scenes look at the Rose Parade before enjoying the finished product. Also, tour all that Southern California has to offer including Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Reagan Presidential Library and Warner Brothers Studios!

All of the Boscov’s Journey West packages include the following:

• Airport transfers in your destination cities (except for pre- and post-tour arrivals)
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
• First class accommodations
• Several meals
• Services of a professional Journey West Tour Director
• Admissions and guided tours of all included activities
• Porterage of on piece of luggage throughout the tour
• Souvenir memory group photo
• Special photo album
• All taxes and gratuities for the Tour Director and Driver

For more information or to book your Journey West adventure, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

The G Project

What will you do today, for tomorrow? This is the question being asked in a global initiative seeking ideas to generate positive change in the world.

The G Project, powered by G Adventures and its non-profit foundation Planeterra, encourages people to submit ideas that will help solve social and environmental issues at a local level.

Submissions will be collated and showcased on the G Project website and the four people with the ideas with the greatest potential will be invited to pitch to a panel of high-profile judges in Costa Rica. The person with the idea the judges believe will have the most positive impact will receive a US$25,000 development grant and the backing of Planeterra to bring their project to life.

Participants can register their ideas up until June 3, 2013 in one of four categories: Community, Freedom, Beauty or Knowledge. Entrants must complete a questionnaire identifying the critical need, the impact their idea will have and the feasibility of execution. Opinions on the ideas submitted will be publicly canvassed online and a list of 16 will be announced on June 4, 2013.

A panel of thought leaders, innovators and social entrepreneurs, including Lonely Planet’s Tony Wheeler and Dr. Jane Goodall, will then select a shortlist of four finalists based on a set of criteria that favour small-scale, sustainable ideas that focus on local communities and have a strong social element.

The four finalists will be announced on June 24, 2013 and they will then be flown out to the inaugural Summit in the Jungle in Costa Rica in September. Here they will hone their ideas before pitching them to G Adventures’ founder Bruce Poon Tip and a selection of judges.

“The G Project is more than traveller philanthropy or charitable giving. It’s a unique initiative designed to bring people from different backgrounds together to lead, build and foster positive change all over the world,” says Poon Tip.

“The G Project was devised as a means to help and enable aspiring change-makers to take their idea from conception to action and impact.”

Meet the Panel

• Braulio Dias – Assistant Secretary General of the UN & United Nations Executive Secretary on Biological Diversity
• Jane Goodall – Founder, Jane Goodall Institute; Humanitarian; Primatologist; Conservationist; Author
• Jonathan Tourtellot – Founding Director of National Geographic Centre for Sustainable Destinations; Writer Editor
• Cameron Sinclair – Co-founder, Architecture for Humanity
• Tony Wheeler – Co-founder of Lonely Planet; Traveller; Entrepreneur
• Les Stroud – Star of the TV series Survivorman; Filmmaker; Outdoor Adventurer
• Wade Davis – Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic; Anthropologist
• Jennifer Adams – Founder & Executive Director of Places We Go; Filmmaker
• Jordan Romero – Youth Health Advocate; Mountaineer; Fundraiser

The winner will be announced on September 24, 2013 at the Future of Tourism event in Toronto, Canada.

For more information please visit: www.thisisyourplanet.com.

About G Adventures
G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the widest selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions to more than 100 countries on all continents. It was the first adventure travel company to offer 100% guaranteed departures in 2013. Powered by an international team of passionate travellers, the award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travelers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. The intimate, authentic and sustainable approach to small-group travel introduces travellers to the highlights of a destination while offering the freedom to explore it on their own. Whatever age, interest, ability or budget, G Adventures has a genuine life-changing experience. For more information please visit www.gadventures.com.

About the Planeterra Foundation
Established in 2003 by adventure travel tour operator G Adventures, Planeterra is a non‐profit organization that supports social and environmental solutions in destinations around the world via its global network of travellers. The foundation focuses on local education, health, small-business development, emergency relief and conservation work. For more information please visit www.planeterra.org.

Family Fun at Sea

Creating a family vacation that your whole gang will love can sometimes be nothing short of a challenge – but that doesn’t mean it has to put a drain on you or your wallet.

By cruising, family fun can be found almost anywhere. The possibilities for you to get away from it all, relax and kick back while having a great time are endless. Cruise ships venture to nearly every corner of the globe, from the sun-drenched islands of the South Pacific to the snowy alpine scenery of Alaska and pretty much everywhere in between.

Offering everything from the comfort of cozy cabins and the excitement of bustling deck areas, to all-day buffets, nightly sweets, talent shows, and special programs for the kids, cruise vacations are voyages filled with a boatload of fun and a world of possibilities. From sunrise to sunset and beyond, you will find unique activities tailored to suit just about any cruiser.

Gone are the days of shuffleboard. Now you have your pick of swimming pools, spiraling waterslides, sports decks, scavenger hunts and much more. Oh, and the ports of call you can visit are pretty cool too!

Family Time Well Spent

Just like your family, cruising is always changing and evolving, introducing new out-of-this-world ships, along with new innovative amenities catering to familes of all sizes and ages. If you’re planning a family cruise for the very first time, or if you are a returning cruiser, you couldn’t have chosen a better time to set sail as there are oodles of new ships with great itineraries and amenities to experience.

No matter how old your kids are, the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line are prime for families – and the line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, is certainly no exception. The latest expression of NCL’s ever-popular and relaxed “freestyle cruising” atmosphere, the Norwegian Breakaway’s design will offer the best of the line’s current fleet while infusing a variety of new innovations to create the best vacation ever.

On board you’ll find NCL’s largest kids club to date for ages 3-12; and teens will look forward to getting out of bed and heading to Entourage where they can hang with their peers. Even the under two crowd can enjoy special playtime with their parents in a dedicated area.

To keep the kids active, the on board Sports Complex will challenge cruisers to a game of mini golf or to climb the largest ropes course at sea. There’s even a basketball court and an enclosed climbing cage here too. Of course no family-friendly ship is complete without a pool, or two! The Aqua Park offers five multi-story waterslides (no other ship offers that). Add two swimming pools, four hot tubs and water features and you’ve got more ways to have fun than ever. For the younger crowd, the Kids Aqua Park features squirting  Nickelodeon figures and a perfectly sized pool.

Start your planning now as the stunning Norwegian Breakaway will set sail in the Summer of 2013 from New York to the pink-sand beaches of Bermuda, and in the winter to the warm tropics of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Florida.

Mystery Photo #137

Here’s how it works: we post an image and provide a clue. Leave a comment with your guess. Good luck!

Hint: This French commune is best known for its cliffs including 3 natural arches.

Hammie’s Handy Dandy Tips for Travel

Traveling is supposed to be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable. Planning travel should not be the exact opposite. Here are some of Hammie’s tips to make planning travel and traveling more enjoyable.

DREAM IT

• Where, When, How, and How Long? So many places, so little time! Pick a few and then balance out the practicality with your travel agent’s input. Do you really want to go to Hawaii from the east coast for just a few days, when it will take a day’s worth of flights on either end?  Maybe a trip to Puerto Rico would make more sense for such a short time.
• Experience~What do you imagine your trip will be? Do all your travel mates have the same expectations and capabilities?
• Budget~Get real. You’ll thank yourself!  Flights these days are expensive and can really take a bite out of your travel budget without adding fun to the overall experience. Consider cruising from a “home port” if you live close to the coast. Taking the train could be a pleasant alternative as well as driving to your destination.
• Season~Each has it’s pros and cons, when you picture yourself at your destination, what are you doing?  Your travel professional can help pinpoint the best time for you to go. Off season is less expensive and less crowded, however there is a reason it it “the off season”  Sometimes those reasons are deal breakers.
• Apply for a Passport. EVERY Adult should have one and it makes a great long lasting, invaluable gift for anyone over 16! Wouldn’t it be nice to take advantage of those last minute deals.

PLAN IT

• Book your Travel and make your deposit~For most travel, the earlier the better for the best rates and availability.
  Cruises and tours: 6 mos to 2 years- but last minute deals are fabulous if you’re flexible, if pricing for some reason drops before you make final payment, your travel professional may be able to get the lower rate. Ask them to check the week before it’s due.
  Airfare:1-6 months- booking too far out, you’re subject to many flight changes. Airlines are notorious for dropping and switching flights, sometimes several times over a few months.
  All-Inclusives and Hotels: extremely seasonal- book early if you are going during peak seasons or holidays to guarantee space, especially for charters, however last minute deals can be oh so sweet!

• Purchase Travel Insurance~this is an absolute MUST especially when traveling out of the country. It is extremely affordable and there are several levels of coverage, including trip cancellation, medical coverage, emergency evacuation, trip interruption and death benefits.
• Check Passports and/Or Apply for Visa
• Technology~check your cell phone, data plans and Wi-Fi situation. Find out what is the best option for you depending on usage and how you will be using it out of the country
• Arrange Transportation~Referred to as “transfers” this is how you’ll get to and from the airport, to and from port, to and from hotel, as well as sight seeing, sometimes this can be included in your package pricing. You need to take this into consideration especially when flying. Make sure you have picked an airport convenient to your destination. Check with your hotel to see if they have free shuttles. If not, they can generally give you a good idea how much a cab or shuttle service will cost.

Don’t Forget to:

• Arrange House/Pet/Child Sitting~Make arrangements early during peak travel season
• Contact Your bank and Credit Card Companies You don’t want a “flag” put on your account for suspicious activity. If you’re traveling out of the country, check on possible fees.
• Stop Mail/Newspaper Delivery~Do you really want all that piling up at the door?
• Away Messages This is probably a good idea for work, but not necessarily for home. We love our social media to share our experience, but letting several thousand people know your house is unatttended for the next week or so…probably not the best thing to do.

BRING IT

• Passport/Visa/ID and copies
• Cash/Cards and list of numbers and contact info should your wallet or purse be stolen
• Emergency Contact Info~Don’t rely on having it on your locked phone. Keep it in your luggage and make certain your travel agent has it. Make sure your Emergency Contact ALSO has a passport in order to travel unexpectedly if needed.
• Tickets/Itinerary and copies
• Prescription Medicines it doesn’t hurt to have your doctor write a spare script…just in case
• Spare glasses and/or contacts 
• Motion sickness relief~I personally swear by Sea Bands. They are non-chemical, based on acupressure.  Bonine, Ginger, Dramamine and “the patch” all have various degrees of success for most people. Know how your body reacts to the medications. It is no fun being airsick, seasick or carsick, but you also want to REMEMBER your trip, not be zoned out through it!
• Appropriate Clothing~Pick two basic colors and mix and match. Avoid clothes that need ironed. Layers work in any environment.
• Comfortable Shoes~No matter what it is you will be doing, it always pays to have one pair of good walking shoes/sandals/sneakers. Airports alone can be treacherous!
• Toiletries~If you are not going someplace where soaps and shampoos are provided, airlines allow liquids and gels, up to 3.4 oz total, that must be placed in a zip top see-through quart bag. Make some do double duty: Shampoo/conditioner also works well as shaving lotion.

DON’T OVERDO IT

• Alcohol~Yes, you’re on vacation, but do you want to waste ANY of that time nursing a hangover?
• Food~There are a lot of wonderful new tastes and flavors…and buffet dining in vacationland. Beware of intestinal difficulties! Make sure your resort, hotel, etc is using purified water for drinks as well as ICE!
• Activities~You haven’t been skiing in a year? Don’t spend the whole first day on the slopes! Chances are good you will hardly be able to walk the next day! Ease into it!
• Sun~Mexico and the Caribbean are NOT the places you want to forgo the sunscreen to “kickstart” your tan!  Buy a big bottle of sunscreen when you land, and reapply often. A bad sunburn can ruin a vacation AND be bad for you years down the road. UV Natural makes an ocean life, marine friendly sunscreen. Skiing? PLEASE slather your face w/ a high SPF!
• Spending~Beware of high bank fees, especially when exchanging currency. Know the exchange rate so you don’t overpay, especially in places that also allow for use of the US Dollar. Don’t forget to consider the roaming charges on your cell phone for calls AND DATA USAGE!

ENJOY IT!

• Take lots of pictures
• Write yourself and your friends postcards
• Journal
• Appreciate the culture
• Try new things
• Learn new words
• Observe the customs
• Search for native wildlife
• Share the memories

Content and photos courtesy of Dawn Rettinger of www.dawnrettinger.com.

For more travel tips and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

Mystery Photo #126

Here’s how it works: we post an image and provide a clue. Leave a comment with your guess. Good luck! 

Hint: This museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world and can be seen while on a Russia river cruise.

Top 5 Honeymoon Planning Tips

So you’re getting married! Congratulations!

Now comes the stressful part: planning the wedding. There is so much to do and think about before the big day. Just remember that a nice, relaxing honeymoon comes at the end of all of the stress.

Make planning the honeymoon almost as enjoyable as the trip itself by following these five easy tips:

1. Where to go
   Everyone has their own idea of the perfect honeymoon location, but it is important to decide on the location as a couple. Consider making separate lists of ideal spots and then compare your lists to see if any destinations match. Also, be sure to take the time of year into account when choosing a destination if you don’t want to get caught honeymooning in a climate’s “rainy season” or other unfriendly weather.
2. What to spend
   It is important to set a budget when planning your honeymoon. When planning a week long honeymoon couples tend to spend $3,000-$6,000 when everything is included. The average honeymoon costs around $3,000-$4,000.At Boscov’s Travel we offer a Honeymoon Registry where you can ask your friends and family to put money towards your honeymoon in lieu of cash or other wedding gifts. Also, ask about special financing when using your Boscov’s Credit Card.
3. What to do
   You don’t want your whole honeymoon to be scheduled. After all, you are supposed to relax and enjoy yourself after all of the wedding planning stress. However, it is a good idea to plan some things in advance such as spa time, an excursion or special dinner.
4. Get ready
   If you are traveling outside of the country, make sure your passports are updated well before your departure. Travel with copies of your ID and passport photo page in your luggage and also leave copies with a trusted person at home in case one or both get lost in transit. Brides, be sure to get your travel documents (i.e. plane tickets) in your maiden name. If you are traveling shortly after your wedding day, you will not have time to have your name legally changed before your honeymoon.
5. Get help
   Planning your wedding is already stressful enough. Let an expert Travel Specialist help. Not only do Travel Specialists have plenty of experience planning honeymoons, but they are also very knowledgeable about destinations and deals. Stress less and let someone help you book the honeymoon of your dreams.

If you are in the Reading, PA area, be sure to check out our Sandals Night on January 15, 2013!

For more honeymoon tips and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

The World’s Top 5 Places to Propose

Listen up gentlemen! If marriage is on your mind and you’re looking for someplace memorable to pop the big question, we’ve got you covered with some of the world’s most romantic destinations where you can relax knowing she’ll say “yes”—without hesitation. Based on our travel agents’ own experience and those of their clients, here are the World’s Top 5 Places to Propose…

5. Ring of Kerry, Ireland

When it comes to finding the perfect backdrop to propose, few settings are as beautiful and magical as those which line the Ring of Kerry on the southwest coast of Ireland. Covering just over 100 miles along the Iveragh Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry is a circular route which boasts magnificent mountain and ocean vistas, along with colorful villages, towns, museums and fun stopping points. The round-trip adventure can be completed in four hours by car, but you’ll want to be able to take at least a full day or longer to explore and soak in the rugged scenery and sites along the way. Even though the route is popular with tour buses, you really should rent a car and travel the route at your own pace. This will give you plenty of time to find just the right setting and allow you to settle your nerves before popping the question.

4. Phuket, Thailand

If you and your soon to be fiancé prefer warmer climates that include dazzling beaches and a fabulous mix of nightlife, then the colorful island of Phuket is for you. Exotic, lush and oh-so seductive, Phuket (pronounced poo-get), Thailand’s largest and most popular island has long been popular with jet-setters, honeymooners, and those “in the know.” Blessed with many of the world’s best beaches and sporting a balmy temperature between 77°F and 93°F year-round, lovebirds flock to this upbeat area of the world for its mile upon sandy mile of coastline which boasts tons of water sports, delectable restaurants and decadent resorts. Phuket is at its best during the dry season which begins in December and usually lasts until March. Our suggestion for the ultimate Phuket proposal: Charter a private yacht for a sunset cruise and dinner in Phang Nga Bay—she’ll be left speechless.

3. Montreal, Quebec

If it’s a romantic city backdrop you’re after in your proposal (one particularly close to home), look no further than the sophisticated, yet vibrant metropolis of Montreal—a city so infused with romance, it will sweep you both off of your feet. Head to Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal), where you can take an evening stroll arm in arm among the historic buildings that basks in an enchanting incandescence—or you could surprise her with a caléche ride (horse drawn carriage) around the city’s hushed streets, both are lovely settings. If you’re a traditionalist and prefer to pop the question while sharing a tender tête-á-tête over the city’s legendary French cuisine, Montreal has your back with many superb restaurants that will set the stage beautifully.

2. Napa Valley, California

If you subscribe to the belief that food and wine go together like love and marriage, then you won’t be disappointed by whisking your love away to California’s Napa Valley. Home to a large collection of quaint towns and charming villages and you likely already know Napa Valley has a renowned wine and restaurant scene—but it’s the Valley’s splendid natural setting that makes it prime for proposing. If it’s your first time to the Valley, take it slow and head down state route 29 where some of the country’s most well-known vintners are located, including Robert Mondavi, Beringer and Cakebread. First-time visitors should also consider a romantic trip for dinner aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train or hot air balloon ride over the valley’s world-famous vineyards and estates—both make excellent backdrops for sealing the deal.

1. Paris, France

Ah, Paris, the City of Lights and love—no surprise it takes our top spot for most romantic proposal destination. While proposing beneath the Eiffel Tower inevitably comes to mind to many love-struck couples around the world, Paris is packed with oodles of other romantic locales for kneeling on one knee. If you’re aiming for an intimate setting, Canal Saint-Martin’s enchanting tree-lined waterway is almost overlooked by tourists in the off-peak months. And the Pont de Arts, a wooden pedestrian bridge leading to the Louvre Museum, offers a postcard-worthy view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. If you can reserve a table near the windows of the exquisite Maison Blanche restaurant located on the top floor of an old theater near the Champs-Élysées, you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. As well, Paris is filled with beautiful gardens, and all will make an unbelievably romantic setting. Luxembourg Gardens, in particular, is a great spot for couples, and is adjacent to the breathtaking Luxembourg Palace.

For more information on these romantic locations and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.