Territorians love to follow Cola Maurirere’s travels locally, domestically and overseas to pick up all kinds of tips. itravel Darwin’s Cola recently came home from a trip to the USA which included a cruise to Mexico and Alaska. Here’s what she learned.

« ‹ of43 › »

“We all know I love an upgrade and was once again able to score one on the way to Los Angeles! There is nothing like changing into your business class pyjamas, making yourself comfortable, eating good food, drinking good wine then lying in a flat seat and sleeping for a solid 6 to 8 hours on a 15-hour flight,” Cola said.

Arriving at LAX, she didn’t expect it to be quick as it only took 1.5 hours to clear through immigration. Another hour was spent collecting her bags and exit from the airport.

“LAX is a bit of a shambles at the moment with a lot of construction, confusion and its typical busy airport ways. I suggest patience, don’t give yourself too tight of timelines and remain calm,” Cola said.

In Los Angeles, Cola did a few touristy things: visiting Bruce Lee’s star in West Hollywood, walking the other stars on Hollywood Boulevard, visiting the Farmer’s Market for lunch, and taking a tour to see the stars’ homes. She also people-watched and did the ‘Hood Tour’.

“It was a quick 36 hours in LA, but I did not cram a fair bit in,” she said.

After her LA stint, Cola boarded Navigator of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruises for a quick five-day cruise, noting that it was a quick and very easy process.

“Now, cruising by yourself seems to be a strange thing, but I took it as a challenge and met people on board. I took time to relax, explore the luxurious ship and try as many of their fun activities. I also drank in every bar and ate at every restaurant,” she said.

Her stops in Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico also became fun exploration voyages.

Arriving in Las Vegas, again with no expectations or real plans, Cola did some exploring with hopes of finding some hidden gems in the city.

“In the city that never closes or sleeps, it was a strange feeling travelling alone,” she said.

“So many groups of families, friends etc travelling together; it can be overwhelming when alone. I was cautious in Las Vegas, and didn’t go out partying or stay out too late, not that I felt unsafe at any time. I was aware of my surroundings.”

Almost her entire time in Las Vegas was spent exploring.

Cola walked ‘The Strip’, stopping at different venues and just people watching, exploring shops, and walking in and out of the many casinos. She bought either a beer or a slushy from many of the vendors on the street which is part of the Las Vegas experience. Fun? Yes. But doing this on a 42-degree day?!

“Unfortunately, this day I suffered from some heat exhaustion which hit me in late afternoon and had me in bed early recovering, she said.

After her ritzy Vegas visit, Cola headed out to the Grand Canyon.

“The photos and video do not do it justice and seeing it yourself is something that should be on your bucket list! If you are interested in history, a visit to The Mob Museum is also a great way to pass a few hours, full of stories of the mob, a speakeasy and a crime lab where you can solve a couple of murders,” she said.

Travelling would not be complete without shopping.

“Las Vegas Premium Outlets are not to be missed by anyone who is seeking a bargain!” Cola said.

“Everything from $10 Hurley t-shirts to discounted designer shoes and bags – it’s definitely worth a visit! The best thing is going and see Guest Services after you’re done your shopping and they will arrange to have all of your shopping delivered to your hotel for you,” Cola said.

Onward to Holland America with the ship Zuiderdam.

From Vancouver up to Alaska, with a stopover of only 12 hours, Cola stayed in her amazing balcony room on the ship’s deck 7 portside. Staying in this luxurious balcony room offers excellent views.

“The scenery, the contrasts and differences as we travelled were amazing!” she said.

“The staff on board the ship were great, we had room attendants Cory and Henri, who could handle any request, and then there was Leo the barman, who got to know my travelling company so well he had her drink ready before she had a chance to order.

“These are just a couple of the crew that made the trip unforgettable,” Cola remarked.

The port stop in Juneau enabled Cola to experience gold-panning and a delicious salmon bake and whale-watch before visiting a pub and doing last-minute souvenir shopping.

In Skagway, she enjoyed the scenery of White Pass Summit Rail. While there, she also did a bit of a pub crawl.

During the late afternoon, she did the Goodtime Girls and Ghost tour, a fun walking tour that discusses the history of the working girl in Skagway, ending at the infamous Red Onion Saloon, where Cola decided to grab a couple of drinks and some food getting back on the ship 5 minutes before sailing!

The next stop was Ketchikan, with a focus on fishing.

“And that I did,” Cola recalled.

“Catching some small rockfish at first, many are not big enough to eat or as the guide said, not worth eating! But the fish I wanted was a Salmon…and I caught two! To say this was a highlight is an understatement – this was a tick off the bucket list moment for me.”

She said seeing Glacier Bay was something she will never forget.

“I was amazed by the scenery and how the area seemed so quiet and peaceful and another tick off the bucket list!,” Cola said.

To book for your own experience you can contact me via email at cola@itraveldarwin.com.au

See itravel Darwin’scomplete cruises. To book, call itravel Darwin at 08 8985 2737 or thru sales@itraveldarwin.com.au

itravel Darwin is an ATAS accredited Travel Agent and a member of both AFTA & IATA. Visit us at itraveldarwin.com.au to take a glimpse of our other fabulous vacation packages.