Tomorrow is our first stop on our 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise, the beautiful city of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Located on the northern coast of the island, Puerto Plata is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and rich history. When we arrive at port, we will be greeted by the warm sun, crystal-clear waters, and the lively rhythms of merengue music. I’m sure it will be an unforgettable experience. One of the highlights of our visit will be to explore the historic Fort San Felipe, which was built in the 16th century to protect the city from pirates and foreign invaders. The fort is now a museum, where we will learn about the history of the island and its many battles.
The next stop will be the Cathedral of San Felipe, a historic Roman Catholic cathedral located in the city of Puerto Plata. It is one of the oldest and most important religious buildings in the country. The construction of the cathedral began in 1502, shortly after the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. It was completed in 1552, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the New World. The cathedral has undergone several renovations and restorations over the centuries, but it still retains much of its original colonial-era architecture. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, ornate woodwork, and intricate carvings. The cathedral also houses several important religious relics, including a statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to have miraculous powers.
Then it will be on to the Aurora Cigar Museum, also known as the Museo del Tabaco, which s located in Santiago de los Caballeros, which is the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic and is considered the heart of the country’s cigar industry. The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history and craftsmanship of cigar-making, which is an important part of Dominican culture. We will take a guided tour of the facility, which includes a walk through the museum’s exhibits that feature artifacts, tools, and photographs that highlight the history of the cigar industry in the Dominican Republic. The museum also features a replica of a traditional Dominican cigar factory, where we will observe the different stages of the cigar-making process, from tobacco leaf selection and sorting to rolling and packaging. In addition to the exhibits, the Aurora Cigar Museum also offers cigar-making workshops and tasting sessions, where visitors can learn about the different types of cigars and how to properly enjoy them. These workshops are led by expert cigar-makers who share their knowledge and expertise with visitors. At the end of the tour, we can purchase cigars from the on-site gift shop, which offers a variety of premium cigars from the Aurora brand, as well as other popular Dominican brands for our home humidor.
Our next stop is the Del Oro Chocolate Factory, a popular tourist attraction also located in Puerto Plata. The factory is dedicated to producing high-quality, organic chocolate using traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients. We will be taking a guided tour of the facility including a walk through the chocolate-making process. The tour begins with an introduction to the history of chocolate and the origins of cocoa beans. We will observe the various stages of chocolate production, from the roasting and grinding of the cocoa beans to the molding and packaging of the finished product. One of the highlights of the tour is the opportunity to taste the chocolate at different stages of the production process, from raw cocoa beans to finished chocolate bars – yum!. We can also sample a variety of chocolate products made on-site, including chocolate bars, truffles, and other chocolate-based treats. In addition to the tour, the Del Oro Chocolate Factory also offers workshops where visitors can learn to make their own chocolate creations, under the guidance of experienced chocolatiers. The Del Oro Chocolate Factory is a must-visit destination for chocolate lovers like us and anyone interested in learning about the traditional methods of chocolate production. We also like the factory’s commitment to organic and locally sourced ingredients, as well as its dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of cocoa production in the Dominican Republic, making it a unique and worthwhile experience.
The final stop will be the Ron Macorix Factory just in case we need something to go along with the Cigars and the Chocolate. The factory is dedicated to producing high-quality, premium rum using traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients. We will take a guided tour of the facility, which includes a walk through the rum-making process. The tour begins with an introduction to the history of rum and the origins of sugar cane, the key ingredient used in rum production. We can then observe the various stages of rum production, from the fermentation and distillation of the sugar cane juice to the aging and blending of the finished product. We will get the chance to taste the different types of rum produced at the factory, including dark and light rum, as well as flavored varieties. I think you can also sample a variety of rum-based cocktails made on-site, using the factory’s premium rum as a base. The Ron Macorix Factory also offers workshops where visitors can learn to make their own rum cocktails and traditional Dominican dishes, under the guidance of experienced chefs and bartenders.
Well that’s the game plan for tomorrow and we cant wait, so exited.
Until next week’s post, Be Social. Fly Private!
Planning a Strategic Retreat in today’s fast-paced business world means taking a break from the daily grind to recharge and refocus. Many successful entrepreneurs and business owners find that stepping away from their work for a short period of time can actually increase their productivity and creativity. In fact, taking a vacation or planning a strategic retreat can be a smart business move. In this case, Katie and I have decided to take a 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise to not only relax and recharge, but also to do some strategic business planning for our next ventures. Of course, the rest of the Emptylegs team will be available for any air charter needs or request while we travel. At first we considered an Eastern Caribbean island hopping yacht charter, but we sailed last year on the Celebrity Summit, and we remembered what a great trip we had during my birthday celebration. We searched and found a great cruise on the only Cruise Line we will sail, Celebrity Cruises, and decided to add more points to our Captains Club balance booking the trip. We chose the 10 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Celebrity Silhouette because it includes some of our favorite private jet travel islands, which will allow us to mix business with pleasure. 
Textron Aviation is an exceptional aircraft manufacturer that offers an impressive range of private planes for air charter. Their commitment to quality and innovation is evident in their aircraft designs, which are sleek, modern, and equipped with advanced technology. They offer a diverse range of private planes suitable for various travel needs. Whether you need a plane for business travel or leisure, Textron Aviation has a plane that can meet your requirements. The comfort and luxury of their private planes are unmatched. The cabins are spacious and well-appointed, providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for passengers during their flights. 
Who We Are/What We Do
The Big Game in two weeks is all set. What a great and not so great weekend of football. I can’t believe the meltdown San Francisco had at the QB position. Honestly, being a NY Giant and Miami fan I have become use to lackluster play at that position, but to watch San Fran’s QB not play due to what seemed to be a non existing elbow issue was a bit much. Then to see Patrick Mahomes limp and wince in pain all game and then make a final big run in the closing minutes to set his team up to win on that last field goal drove home who really wanted to win. Well its all ready to be an epic game in Glendale, Arizona on February 12th, and the flight request are coming in. They will be hard to find, but if you want to go bad enough, and there is a private jet flight out there for you, we will secure it. I also thought this week might be a good time to take a look at the venue and local vibe for those lucky enough to go to the big game in Arizona. 
Private Jet Event Travel in Q1 2023 is a very busy time. We have been digging up deals for NFL playoff games around the nation. It has actually been so busy this year that we delayed this blog post by a week due to the volume of calls, text, and email inquiries for flights. Finally, we had the chance to catch our breath and put together this nice 1st Quarter 2023 Events calendar of interest to the air charter community. Hope you have the the opportunity to enjoy some of these as they kick-off their annual events.
Doing leg-work is exhausting. No, not the kind at the local gym, the leg work we do searching our databases, sending emails, and calling with our operators. It’s what we do to find the perfect air charter or emptyleg flight for our clients. We have touched on many aspects of the private air charter business in our previous blog post articles from buying your own jet to reviews of the most popular categories, models, and hourly charter rates. We also detailed how, if your private air travel needs are below 50 hours per year, private air charter is a better option than fractional ownership. As we look at the weekly, yes weekly, changes to jet charter company membership deals and jet card offers, we find that they really aren’t as much of a cost savings as they are time savers. We know time is money so we can see why, even if they are often not the lowest priced way to fly privately, they can be the most efficient, especially with the larger more reputable firms. While we are an excellent alternate option, we do not market our services as a brokerage firm. We prefer to act as the bona fide agent for our clients seeking private air charter at attractive prices. The definition of the term “bona fide” identifies with us as “sincerely, without intention to deceive”. We charge a modest commission to the operator for helping them move aircraft that they would normally fly without passengers, that is an emptyleg. Unfulfilled, non-revenue emptylegs are flights the operator would otherwise absorb as a cost or pass that cost on to the customer flying a revenue leg. Finding customers for emptylegs isn’t an easy task because it is a very competitive business and the amount of work needed to find the perfect solution for a client can take days, weeks, and even months to put together. A bona fide agent like us really has to love what they are doing because sometimes our very hard efforts are rewarded with “that’s too expensive” or “I booked something else,” leaving us unpaid for our efforts. Fortunately, loyal clientele builds quickly if you get a reputation for making things happen and offering great value for client’s flights needs. Let’s take a peek into the process and why we can be such an asset to anyone that flies private.
There’s a point where only the biggest will do, and going from that Gulfstream G5 to the Bizliner category of private jets, your mom must be really proud. Typical Bizliner customers include Heads of State, royalty, celebrities, top executives, Fortune 100 companies, and the like. These mega jets occupy the same ground space as many large-cabin business jets, but the the Boeing Business Jet 737Max, the Global 7500, and the Airbus ACJ319 take private air travel to another world. Many of these wide body behemoths have full bedrooms, seating for the entire executive staff, and the comfort of the most luxurious hotels. They are ideal for people who need to maximize their time and control their environment to their personal exacting standards. We will look first at the Jet that originated the Bizliner terminology, the BBJ, Boeing Business Jet.
The Global 7500 is an industry flagship. It has a long range near 7,700 nm and a max speed of Mach 0.925 with 19 passengers. The ride is ultra smooth achieved via the Smooth Flex Wing technology that was engineered to give maximum control and agility at all speeds. The cabin space is gigantic and it can be designed to have four true living spaces with an available Master suite as well as a dedicated crew suite and kitchen. The cabin air is filtered by Bombardier’s Pur Air HEPA filtration system capturing 99.99% of allergens, bacteria, and viruses. Large and evenly spaced windows give the cabin more natural light than any other cabin in business aviation. The Soleil lighting system is aviation’s first circadian rhythm-based cabin lighting designed to combat jet lag. In the cockpit, the 7500 features advanced fly-by-wire technology and a permanent side-facing jump seat. It is powered by GE Passport Engines designed specifically for the Global 7500. The 7500 is happiest playing in the troposphere with an initial cruise altitude of 43,000 ft and a max operating altitude of 51,000 ft. The interior cabin volume is 2,786 cu ft with a height of 6.2 ft and interior width of 8 feet. To charter a Global 7500 you will start around $15,900* USD per hour to as high as $20,000*USD per hour.
