January 18, 2017

Chase Away Winter Blues with Inspirations in Paradise

Winter has really dug in deep this year. Here in the Portland-Metro area, we are just now coming out of a big freeze, which left many of us bundled up at home for far too many days. If you are ready to chase away winter blues and step out into warm sunshine, a tropical vacation is just the ticket. Check out the following photos of paradise from around the world. May they inspire your next getaway.

Caribbean Luxury
Phuket, Thailand
Belize, Central America

Mexican Resort

French Polynesia

Beach to No Where in Particular

Hawaiian Beach

Caribbean Water
Bora Bora, South Pacific

Tropical Resort
Laos, Southeast Asia
Bird of Paradise Flower
Princess Cay- Caribbean Cruise Island
Jungle Paradise, Cavernous Water
Serenity of the Maldives Islands
Sailing to the Middle of Nowhere
Veracruz, Mexico
How Many Miles from Winter Can We Go?
Luxury in the Maldives
Loving the Crystal Clear Reef
Are You Ready?
The agents of C.P. Trips are here to help you plan a vacation full of transformative memories. Enjoy a worry-free journey with the support and care of a local Travel Professional*. Visit our website, cptrips.com to explore the latest in travel ideas, promotions and more. Call us at (503) 658-5646 or email us at cptrips@aol.com today- Keep Calm and Travel On.


 *We are excited to have the chance to help you with your vacation plans! We understand that you have many options to choose from when it comes to travel. Our standard fee policy is noted below for your reference.
With the time and expertise we give in our researching travel options and destinations for clients and potential customers, along with our continuing education and training, we have non-refundable fees of $ 30.00 for domestic travel research & planning and $ 75.00 for International travel research & planning. This research fee is applied to your vacation package when purchased through C.P. Trips, Inc.In addition to our research fee, there is an airline ticket/service fee: $30 per person/ticket for US flights, $65 per person/ticket for International flights. Other fees for certain additional requested bookings such as, but not limited to: lodgings, excursion activities, and destination specialty requests will be applied ($15.00 - $45.00) depending on type of booking completed.  Initial Research/Planning fee due prior to trip planning; all other fees due at time of invoicing. Thank you, we look forward to helping you make your vacation dreams a reality! 


January 4, 2017

Explore an Enchanted Land- New Mexico


When we travel, we are seeking to experience something new, something different. There are many ways to describe the affect travel can have on a person. Travel transforms, it creates life long memories, which make your life richer than was before. Travel transcends, it creates opportunities for different cultures and people to meet, gather and share. Travel expands, horizons, viewpoints, and mindsets. You needn’t journey to the far ends of the earth to experience travel which will change your life for the better. Unique destinations worth exploring range all across North America too. One place brings together a variety of cultures, history and natural beauty like no other, New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment.

New Mexico has a long and varied history, with strong cultural traditions from Native American, Spanish and Mexican communities, which are still thriving in amazing ways. The drier, mild climate of the region makes this an ideal location for anyone seeking the sun’s warmth during the winter. Many big festivals and events occur beginning in the fall, on into the cooler months as well. Deep canyons and high mountains traversed by rivers provide excellent river rafting escapes and recreational adventures throughout the spring and summer.

The major cities of the state, Albuquerque and Santa Fe are world-renown for their heritage museums and art galleries, award winning restaurants and golf clubs, and rejuvenating spa resorts. But if you want to experience the real New Mexico, the enchanted land which residents and visitors alike have come to love, you need to step off the paved road as you travel.

Several communities around the state offer a truly rare and unique opportunity to experience a piece of “living history”. While the Spanish brought their Roman Catholic influences to the region, one aspect has shifted to become an ongoing, annual practice embraced by Native American Tribes. PuebloFeast Days celebrate native ancestral traditions. Originally established to commemorate and honor Catholic Saints, in New Mexico, feast days are occasions for tribes to come together as a community, connecting with their culture, religion and ancestral languages. These tribes have managed to hold onto their traditions, and they are open to sharing them with visitors, a life-changing event to be sure.

These feast days occur throughout the year and are open to the public. Each one includes ceremonial dances, songs and storytelling, alongside traditional foods. Many family Pueblos are opened to welcome visitors and share in their celebrations. There are special etiquette guidelines to follow, showing proper respect for these amazing people who continue to strive to keep their culture alive. VisitAlbuquerque offers a detailed resource to educate visitors prior to attending.

Another amazing cultural experience not to be missed in New Mexico is Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.  This is another Roman Catholic carryover from Spanish influences, in part. You may know how significant this festival is in Mexico, where communities everywhere gather at family gravesites to feast with their deceased loved ones. In New Mexico its import is just as big. There are towns and cities across the state which celebrate this annual remembrance of ancestors, an integral aspect to many cultures worldwide.

You will find parades, carnival festivities, community and family altars, dances and more. The
official date of Dia de los Muertos is November 2nd, a date which can be traced back to the Catholic Church of the 11th Century. The traditions of honoring the dead in the Americas however, are much older. Many aspects of these celebrations date back to the Aztecs. Over time the influence of the Catholic Church increased across Mexico and the South West, leading to what is now a three-day celebration of ancestors and loved ones, beginning with All Hallows Eve (Hallowe’en) on October 31st and ending with Dia de los Muertos on November 2nd.

New Mexico is not called “The Enchanted Land” without reason. Serenity is easily achieved when you explore the natural side of this state. Filled with breathtaking wonders, if you enjoy outdoor recreation, soft or high adventure, or are just seeking a new way to connect with Mother Nature, a trip to New Mexico is a must. Red River in Taos County offers an excellent getaway to the mountains where you can explore rugged vistas in an off-road jeep, camera and sunscreen are advised. The La Luz Trail takes hikers from base to peak at the north end of the Sandias Mountains. It is said to be an athlete’s paradise for training; the ever-changing scenery and panoramic views will awe and inspire.

For a unique stay in the wilds of New Mexico, with the comforts of home, check out the KokopelliCave Bed & Breakfast. Yes, it really is in a cave, on a cliff-side, where nature is right out your window, and the past comes alive in a grotto of stone thought to be 70 million years old. Another special place in New Mexico is best seen by moonlight. Hike or bike under the bright full moon as you explore the White Sands National Monument on a special Park RangerProgram tour. The stunning white gypsum sand dunes will glow under the light of the full moon, offering an ideal time to view the wildlife of the region in a exceptional way, a memorable experience to be sure.

Anyone who loves a photographic spectacle, or festive atmosphere, should plan to attend the Albuquerque InternationalBalloon Fiesta. Each year in early October hundreds of hot air balloons fill the expansive sky with thousands of spectators experiencing a site not to be missed. The best time to witness this festival of balloons is at dawn. For 8 days, each rising of the sun sees a mass ascension of colorful hot air balloons as they lift off.

This has become one of the most exciting aviation festivals in the world. It is the very location which has allowed for this festival to literally take off. Balloon Fiesta Park has what is known locally as the Albuquerque Box. This is where October weather patterns coupled with the geography of the park,
provides an ideal place for hot air ballooners to navigate their inflatable rides.


There are many ways to experience the Balloon Fiesta. C.P. Trips is excited to offer a special Classy Ladies (& Couples Too!) journey incorporating the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Not only will we be exhilarated by the experience of this visual wonder, we will also enjoy culinary delights Santa Fe style, be immersed in the cultural heritage and art of the region, and connect with our past on the Turquoise Trail, Route 66 and the Santa Fe Trail.


To find out more about this exciting, hosted itinerary, or any of the exciting experience to be found in New Mexico, contact me, Cindy Passannante, at cptrips@aol.com or by phone, 503-658-5646. Details including air fare, package rates, and excursion options will soon be posted on our Classy Ladies (& Couples Too!) web page as well. No matter how or when you are ready to experience the Enchanted Land of New Mexico, the agents of C.P. Trips are here to help you plan a vacation full of transformative memories. Enjoy a worry-free journey with the support and care of a local Travel Professional. Call or email us today!