Irene's Travel

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Irene's Travel Independent travel advisor and owner of Irene’s Travel since 2008. Specializing in Mexico, Caribbean, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, Tahiti and Africa.

Family vacations, honeymoons and destination weddings. Serving U.S. and international clients.

10/30/2026

🌍 Africa Friday

If Africa is on your wish list, add Victoria Falls.

Every Victoria Falls itinerary we plan, we recommend one experience above all — a helicopter flight over the Falls, the Flight of Angels:

🚁 The full Falls, all at once — at 1.7 km wide, no ground viewpoint shows the whole curtain at once. From the air, you see it in a single frame.

🚁 The gorge and the river — fly over the zig-zagging Batoka Gorge and up the Zambezi River, a view impossible from the ground.

🚁 The Smoke That Thunders — Mosi-oa-Tunya, the local name, makes sense from above: spray rising hundreds of meters, rainbows in the mist.

🚁 Two ways to fly — 12–13 minutes for the Falls and gorges, or 25 minutes along the Zambezi and over Zambezi National Park.

All ages, weather permitting; best light early morning or late afternoon.

Put the Falls on your list, and see them from above — the view you'll never forget.

Footage courtesy of Wishing for Africa Safaris & Getaways , our local tour operator in Victoria Falls.

10/23/2026

🐧 AFRICA FRIDAY with Irene's Travel 🐧
Wishing for Africa Safaris & Getaways sent me this video, and I can't stop watching it.
This is a penguin release at Stony Point in Betty's Bay, South Africa.
Those boxes hold African penguins rescued and rehabilitated by SANCCOB — birds that arrived sick, injured, abandoned as chicks, or covered in oil. After weeks or months of care, this is the moment they go home.
Stony Point is an easy stop on a Cape Town trip — there's a boardwalk where you can watch the colony up close. And if you're there Nov 7, the reserve hosts Penguin Palooza with CapeNature and SANCCOB, celebrating exactly this work.
My local partners in South Africa work with SANCCOB — and if you're passionate about penguins, a visit to their seabird centre is one of the most moving stops we can build into your Cape Town itinerary as an option.
The African penguin is now Critically Endangered. Fewer than 8,750 breeding pairs are left on the whole South African coast, and Stony Point — one of only two mainland colonies — counted just 406 breeding pairs this year. Scientists warn the species could vanish from the wild by 2035 if the decline continues. Every bird in those boxes is one the ocean almost lost.
Watch how they do it: out of the boxes, a pause to get their bearings… then all together, straight into the surf. (There's always one who needs an extra minute. I respect it.)
And how do penguins make a decision? They flipper a coin. 🐧

“We’re going to Mexico to relax.”Also your family: What are we doing after breakfast? 😂Hotel Xcaret México is one to con...
10/22/2026

“We’re going to Mexico to relax.”

Also your family: What are we doing after breakfast? 😂

Hotel Xcaret México is one to consider when your people need more than a pool. Its All-Fun Inclusive concept includes:

🌴 Access to Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xenses, Xoximilco and the Xenotes cenote tour
🚌 Transportation to and from the parks
🚣 Kayaking and paddleboarding at the hotel
⛴️ Ferry tickets to Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, plus transportation to the terminals
⛵ An Isla Mujeres catamaran outing with snorkeling
🎭 The México Espectacular evening show at Xcaret park

So yes, you can swim in underground rivers, zip-line through the jungle and explore cenotes—with plenty of adventures already included in your vacation budget.

Now we just need to schedule your nap. 😎

Some experiences require advance reservations; age restrictions and select extra charges apply.

🌍 **Africa Friday: All Aboard the W**e Tram! 🍷**Who knew w**e tasting could be this much fun?About an hour from Cape Tow...
10/16/2026

🌍 **Africa Friday: All Aboard the W**e Tram! 🍷**

Who knew w**e tasting could be this much fun?

About an hour from Cape Town, in the beautiful town of Franschhoek, there's a hop-on, hop-off W**e Tram that takes you through some of South Africa's most gorgeous w**e country.

You pick a route, hop on the tram (or tram-bus), and spend the day visiting w**eries at your own pace. W**e tastings, beautiful views, a leisurely lunch overlooking the vineyards... sounds like a pretty perfect day to me!

Some of the stops include well-known estates like Boschendal, Rickety Bridge, and Grande Provence

It's surprisingly affordable! The tram ticket is only around $20 per person, with tastings and meals extra.

South Africa really surprised me with how much there is to see and do beyond safari. And the Cape W**elands are definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

\ **elands

**AFRICA FRIDAY: Can you go on safari without taking malaria medication?**Yes — South Africa has some excellent malaria-...
10/09/2026

**AFRICA FRIDAY: Can you go on safari without taking malaria medication?**

Yes — South Africa has some excellent malaria-free safari areas.

🦁 **Madikwe**
Big Five, beautiful lodges, excellent game viewing and especially known for wild dogs.

🐘 **Eastern Cape**
Think Shamwari, Kwandwe and other private reserves. Very good safari experience and easy to combine with Cape Town and the Garden Route.

🐾 **Waterberg**
Beautiful, malaria-free and convenient from Johannesburg. There are some excellent reserves here, but choosing the right one really matters.

🦒 **Pilanesberg**
Big Five and easy from Johannesburg. A good option if you’re short on time.

And then there is **Greater Kruger / Sabi Sands** — still hard to beat for wildlife density and leopard sightings.

So do you have to sacrifice safari quality to stay malaria-free?

**Not necessarily.**

You just need to know which safari area is right for you.

Alaska from San Francisco — no flight required 🚢In 2027, Ruby Princess sails 10-night roundtrips from SF, but only TWO o...
10/07/2026

Alaska from San Francisco — no flight required 🚢

In 2027, Ruby Princess sails 10-night roundtrips from SF, but only TWO of them visit Glacier Bay: May 11 and May 31.

ASK ABOUT GROUP RATES!

An adults-only all-inclusive with a lazy river, FlowRider and a bowling alley? **Did I get your attention?** 👀**Ocean Al...
10/06/2026

An adults-only all-inclusive with a lazy river, FlowRider and a bowling alley? **Did I get your attention?** 👀

**Ocean Allure Costa Mujeres** was originally supposed to be a family resort, then plans changed and it became adults-only — but some of the fun features stayed.

🌊 Lazy river
🏄 FlowRider
🎳 Bowling alley
⛳ Virtual golf
🏓 Pickleball
🛎️ 24-hour room service
🌴 Beautiful Costa Mujeres beach

More than 80% of the rooms have ocean views, and the resort is pretty easy to get around too.

I like that it gives you more to do than the typical adults-only resort without losing the nice beach-and-relaxing-vacation part.

I’d be starting with the lazy river. What about you?

Africa Friday 🌊🦁Can you combine safari with a beach vacation? Absolutely — you don't have to choose.My 3 favorite combos...
10/02/2026

Africa Friday 🌊🦁

Can you combine safari with a beach vacation? Absolutely — you don't have to choose.

My 3 favorite combos:

• Tanzania + Zanzibar — the easiest. One short flight from safari to warm white sand.
• South Africa + Mauritius — safari first, then calm lagoons and resort time.
• Kenya + Seychelles — the splurge. Clear water and those dramatic granite beaches.

Pro tip: in Zanzibar, the north coast is better for swimming all day — the east has big tides.

And the split that works for a first trip: 6–7 days on safari + 4–5 days at the beach.

Sail through Central Europe - Danube and Rhine rivers in one adventure!
09/30/2026

Sail through Central Europe - Danube and Rhine rivers in one adventure!

🚢 **Princess Cruises package pricing changes effective October 13**Princess is increasing pricing on its **Princess Plus...
09/28/2026

🚢 **Princess Cruises package pricing changes effective October 13**

Princess is increasing pricing on its **Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, as well as Wi-Fi**, effective October 13.

If you’re planning a Princess cruise, this is something to keep in mind when comparing your options.

And if you’re not sure which option makes sense — **Standard, Plus or Premier** — **don’t automatically assume that the least expensive package is the way to go.**

How much you drink, whether you need Wi-Fi, how you like to dine, gratuities and other onboard extras can make a big difference.

**When you book your Princess cruise with Irene’s Travel, I’ll help you compare the options and figure out which package makes the most sense for the way you travel.**

Irene’s Travel
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San Jose, CA

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Thursday 8am - 10pm
Friday 8am - 10pm
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