~Ten Best All-Inclusives in the Caribbean~

With so many resorts to choose from it can be exhausting to pick the one that is right for you. Looking at both small boutique resorts and large sprawling resorts Oyster.com put together a list of the top ten all-inclusives in the Caribbean.

~Half Moon, Jamaica

Half Moon strives for timeless and understated luxury in Montego Bay. Stretching over 400 acres including 2 miles of beach, the 230-room resort offers attentive service, quality cuisine and seemingly limitless activities.

~Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Accessed via a 30-minute boat ride from Providenciales, this 1,000-acre resort is located on a private island. Many say it is the definition of tranquility. Waterfront villas, a beautiful infinity pool, a world renowned spa, attentive service and a gorgeous 3 mile beach make this resort one of the most romantic and luxurious resorts in the Caribbean. 

~Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita, Riviera Maya

The Zoetry Paraiso, a 90 suite resort, offers a romantic and wellness-centered experience in the Mayan Riviera. The pool area and beach are relaxed with double-wide lounge chairs, and the on-site dining keeps with the resort's wellness theme dishing up delicious and healthy meals.

Bathroom at the Zoetry Paraiso

~Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

The Casa de Campo is the Dominican's classiest and most famous resort. The resort is part of a massive, 7,000-acre community that includes three world-renowned golf courses, over a dozen restaurants, an immaculate beach, and a quaint marina. Each of the modern rooms comes with a golf cart for guests' use.

~Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun Mexico

The Excellence is an adults-only luxury resort offering tons of variety. The resort has multiple dining options, several pools, a gorgeous spa and daily activities including yoga, Pilates, dancing lessons and cooking classes. The rooms here are large and contemporary with some offering large rooftop terraces with private plunge pools and ocean views.  

~The Caves, Jamaica

Unlike the great majority of all-inclusives the Caves is a 12 room resort. It is considered an eco-boutique hotel featuring fresh seasonal food that is served in a candlelit cave providing a true intimate setting. The view of the sunset over the coarse rock cliffs is beyond compare, making the resort one of Jamaica's most romantic escapes. 

Cave Dining Room and Bar at The Caves

~Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe, Riviera Maya

The Palace offers a high-end all-inclusive experience that is great for couples and families alike. Located on a gorgeous stretch of white-sand beach 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen the resort has over 700 beautiful rooms surrounded by gorgeous pools and gardens. The Palace also has great kids' and teens' clubs.

~Waves, Barbados

With competitive pricing, lovely rooms and great on-site amenities, this 70-room boutique hotel will attract people who never thought they'd choose an all-inclusive package. Waves has a contemporary appeal for couples and families alike. 

~Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach, Dominican Republic

This is a young party resort year-round, geared towards those who like to let their hair down. Daily activities include salsa dancing to live music, trapeze lessons and racy adult games. If all of the partying wears you out you can always choose to nap on the white canopy beds found on the stunning beach.

Viva Wyndham Pool

~Sea Adventure Resort & Waterpark, Cancun

This all-inclusive in Cancun caters to families. Located near the tip of Puerto Juarez, the resort is just 10 minutes away from downtown Cancun on a rather small beach. The main draw here is the many kid-friendly features offered by the resort including the kids' club with arts and crafts, pools with waterslides, and a water park playground. 

~Travel Quote~

~Five Packing Tips from a Travel Agent~

Ok, I admit that I might not practice what I preach when it comes to light packing since I am a notorious over packer but I do try! I am good at applying the rest of the tips when our family travels and all of them have come in handy at one time or another.

This is basically me before every vacation

1~ Save all documents electronically. Scan your passport and email it to yourself along with your itinerary, credit card info, banking info and hotel info. If you lose your paper documents you'll still have access to everything you need.

2~ Make a packing list and check off items as you pack them. I am one of the worlds best list makers....really...just ask my husband. You can find printable packing lists on the internet or make your own. Either way, checking off items as you pack lowers your chances of forgetting something.

3~ Zip Lock Bags! They function in so many ways. They are great as mini compression bags, but they can also serve as snack baggies, keep-everything-else-clean baggies (think soiled shoes, wet bathing suits or makeup that might spill destroying clothing) and trash baggies when your on the move (especially if you have kiddos). They really are handy little things.

4~ If you're traveling with another person (whether its a friend, a spouse or a child) mix and match those suitcases. Let's face it, airlines lose bags! If you pack a few of your things in your travel companions bag (I suggest 2 outfits) and vice versa you are likely to have something to wear until your bag catches up to you. This is one tip that I always put into practice!

5~ Travel light. (This is one that I don't quite have a grasp on) While I can't profess to be a great light packer, it really is best to try to pack light if possible. My husband and I have done several European vacations that had us country hopping for 3 weeks at a time. I would pack enough clothing for 8-10 days and plan to do laundry at a laundry mat somewhere mid trip. Granted, my bags were still at the 50 lb limit (we traveled in the spring months and required heavier clothing) and I will admit that it was a pain to drag around a bag that heavy! If you are traveling in the summer months packing light is a much easier task.

Happy Travels!

Destination Weddings

Seeing as wedding season is in full swing I thought I’d talk about one wedding option that I had never considered… the destination wedding! I always assumed that a destination wedding was out of the question. I was planning my wedding on a budget and surely that would not fit the bill. Looking back my wedding came in a bit over $20,000, which these days is actually on the lower end of average. Had I known how affordable a destination wedding would have been I might have changed my plans.

 Without further ado here are a few reasons why you should consider a destination wedding:

1.      ~You'll be an original! More than 2 million Americans wed every year and yet fewer than 25% choose to host a destination wedding.

2.      ~It’s easy. Wedding planning can be stressful but wedding worthy resorts offer FREE planning help! Whether you are planning a ceremony for 2 or 200 your travel agent and the resort coordinator present you with several packages and then assist you in customizing them to fit your tastes.

3.      ~You save money on décor. Beautiful beaches or stunning wineries offer a gorgeous back drop. Most locations also provide the décor in their packages. You can choose from various themes and color schemes to ensure that you wedding is exactly what you want it to be.

4.      ~Enjoy extra quality time with the people you love the most. A standard wedding lasts five hours, most of which are spent with the bride and groom shuffling from table to table. A destination wedding typically spans 2-4 days which means the bride and groom have more time to interact with their guests.

5.      ~Guests can enjoy your wedding while saving money on a short vacation! Your travel agent can negotiate low rates for your guests saving them money while allowing them to have a nice mini vacation. Some airlines will also allow for negotiation for groups of 10 or more. Who wouldn’t enjoy a vacation for a fraction of the cost?

6.      ~You can start the honeymoon early! Arriving at your location and knowing that everything is being done for you means that you can start relaxing the day you get there. You can sit back and relax as a couple enjoying the pre-wedding festivities.

7.      ~Honeymoons are a simple add on. A hotel often allows for a discounted rate for the couple to stay and honeymoon at their location. At most locations this also includes several upgrades for the bride and groom including a room upgrade, romantic room décor, champagne and fruit in your room as well as a champagne breakfast in bed the next morning.

 Whether you’re planning an intimate celebration or a large lavish ceremony wedding a destination wedding could be a great option for you. If you are considering a destination wedding I would love to assist you! Call or email me for a consultation. 

~ Barbados Anyone? ~

Couples Barbados is issuing up to $1000 Instant Air Credit Per Room
Book by June 12, 2013 for travel June 15 through January 1, 2014

7 consecutive nights receive a $1000 instant air credit per room.
4-6 consecutive nights receive a $500 instant air credit per room. 

~Summer at Downton Abbey~

Season three of Downton Abbey has ended and here in the US we will have to wait until 2014 before season four begins. Personally, I am not happy about that! If you can't stand the wait you might want to consider visiting Downton yourself this summer or even this fall.

Enter the world of the Crawleys with a visit to Downton Abbey and the shows other locations. This 8 day tour includes sightseeing in London as well as visits to the stately homes in Berkshire including Highclere Castle (the real Downton Abbey), Staffordshire and Oxfordshire. There is an option to extend your tour to include 2 days in Scotland at Inveraray Castle which was featured in season 3.

Highlights Include:

• Private guided tour of Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, as well as the filming locations for Downton Village, St. Mary's Church, and Downton Place

• Experience the real "upstairs downstairs" workings of a historic mansion at Shugborough Hall

• Visit to Blenheim Palace, childhood home of Winston Churchill and a filming location for Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes' 2009 screenplay, The Young Victoria

• Afternoon tea at London's Goring Hotel, one of the most prestigious hotels which once served as a WWI command center and recently housed Kate Middleton and her family on the eve of the The Royal Wedding

You can get any tour component customized 

Escape life here in the US this summer and live in the world of Downton...if only for a week. 

Contact me for pricing options

~Travel Quote~

~Affordable Europe~

There's just something about Europe that I love! Every country is different yet they all share the element of a history that we just don't have here in the USA. The old buildings, the beautiful churches, the romance that exudes.... I just love it all!

We all know Europe can be expensive but there are tons of ways to score a great deal. USA Today recently published its list of Europe's most affordable cities to visit in 2013 and they discovered that the best deal can be found in the East. 

   Sofia, Bulgaria

  

   Sofia earned the title of Europe's cheapest tourist city for 2013! With a long history, the ruin-rich Sofia is one of Europe's oldest cities. USA Today states the it can be done for $50 a day per traveler. This price includes a Superior 3* hotel, transport, food, drinks and some activities. That's European travel that even the most budget conscious traveler would consider!

   Krakow, Poland

   Krakow knows how to appeal to budget travelers ranking as the fourth cheapest city on the European Traveler Index. Having escaped the worst of World War II bombing, Krakow was able to retain it's old-world charm making it one of Poland's prettiest cities. Daily average lodging and travel costs come in at a low $58 per day per traveler!

   Berlin, Germany

   Flights to the city tend to cost less than those to surrounding gateways like Paris and London. The hotels in Berlin are also very affordable! In fact, Berlin is home to some of the world's most affordable 5* hotels in Europe. For those who enjoy something upscale but still want to reign in their spending, Berlin is the city for you. The average daily cost comes in at an affordable $108 per traveler!

Other Budget friendly European cities to consider:

Riga, Latvia

Lisbon, Portugal

Kiev, Ukraine

Istanbul

Prague, Czech Republic

Budapest, Hungary

Vilnius, Lithuania

Getting a price quote is but a quick email away...Happy Travels!

~Travel Tip~

According to Conde Nast...Visit the Islands during the Shoulder Season!

Peak-season rates on islands often reflect nearby countries' vacation schedules rather than the best time to visit. In low season, many businesses shut down. Shoulder season - when crowds are thinner but the weather is still good - is the solution.

~Beer River Cruise~

To all of you Beer lovers out there... there is now a River Cruise that is all about the Beer!

Beginning in the fall of 2014 Avalon Waterways will offer a Beer Tasting Special Interest cruise. A visit to Austria and Germany is made even better when it includes a full schedule that revolves around the regional beers! This cruise will offer onboard tastings, a food and beer pairing dinner, visits to local breweries and lectures about European beer-brewing techniques.

Individual and group travel can be accommodated! If your interested give me a call or shoot me an email.  It's never to early to begin planning!

~Airlines...The Good, The Bad and the In Between~

Planning on flying anywhere this year? Want to be sure that receive great customer service?

According to the Huffington Post and the most recent Airline Quality Study Virgin America is the best airline in the United States. The airlines were ranked using the data that focused on four main criteria: on-time arrivals, denied boarding, mishandled baggage and customer complaints. Ranked just behind Virgin America were Jet Blue, Air Tran, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. Ranked at the bottom of the list were American Airlines, American Eagle, South West, Express Jet and United Airlines.

Just some food for thought when booking your next flight!

~Honeymoons~

Spring means the beginning of wedding season here in the States and I for one have been planning my fair share of honeymoons lately. Can I just say, I LOVE planning honeymoons! It is supposed to be the one trip that you and your beloved will never forget, the one trip that should be perfect.

Ladera Resort, St Lucia

I remember my honeymoon as if it was yesterday, but looking back I might have done a thing or two differently. I did not own a travel agency at the time. In fact, like most young couples, I had never really been out of the country. There was so much I didn’t know, so much I didn’t even think of. I was just lucky that we honeymooned without anything going wrong. That said, our experience allows me to pass on some much needed advice to honeymooners everywhere.

The most important thing I will tell you… Avoid the temptation to book an Internet 

special to some resort that you have never heard of and know nothing about. Instead, sit down with your soon-to-be-spouse and a travel agent, preferably me! I assure you that I can find a better rate than “cheap caribbean”. Working together as a trio we can discuss your wants and needs and plan an idyllic week or more in paradise.

Matachica, Belize

 Here are some tips to help you started:

When: Do you want to honeymoon right after your wedding or do you want to wait? Every month of the year has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to travel. Some destinations will work better during certain months. This is something that a seasoned travel agent can discuss with you.

Where: Do you have a place in mind? Most honeymooners opt for a beach somewhere, typically a Caribbean island. Some want to stay in the US and explore while others long to go far away, think Europe or the South Pacific.

Cruises: Do you all want to see several places all in one trip? Cruising might be your best option. Cruises range from 3 days- on and there is a cruise for every budget.

Resort: Most of the couples I work with opt for a resort, most often an all inclusive. These resorts are convenient as everything, including alcohol, food and day-to-day activities, are included in the price. Also, for those who love kids but just don’t want to honeymoon around them, there are many all inclusives that are Adult only.

Cost: What is your budget? Consider how long you want to be gone and leave a bit of a cushion for spending money. Be honest with your agent. I personally work hard to ensure that every couple gets the most for their money no matter what their budget is!

Insurance: I am a strong supporter of travel insurance. Things happen, weather doesn’t always cooperate, people get sick, ect. Travel insurance is worth your piece of mind.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Ready to plan your honeymoon …. Call me at 704-458-7493 or email me at Jess4Dootravel@aol.com

I’d love to assist you!

~Travel Quote~