Travel Information for Mexico and the Caribbean

Since my recent trip to the Azul Beach and Azul Sensatori in May, 2010, I have starting thinking of luxury on broader terms. Luxury is not only for the well to do, and romance is not only for honeymooners. The Azul Hotels by Karisma make luxury a possibility for the whole family and romance available to parents.

Azul Beach is a small, easy to maneuver property in the Northern Riviera Maya–Close to Cancun. The beautiful white sand beach is its namesake, but the service, gourmet dining, and services for its children are what really make this property shine. From bottle warmers and strollers provided in the rooms, to suites that walk straight out into the pool area, this resort is great for families with young children.

It’s hard to think of a want parent could have when traveling with their baby to a resort with Gourmet Gerber baby food, a smoothie bar just for kids, even little bathrobes just their size in the rooms. Plus, they boast all the amenities of any other luxurious resort.

However, if one dares to compare, the Azul Sensatori might just meet your standards. Azul Sensatori has all the amenities of the Azul Beach, but on a much larger, and more grand scale.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Azul Sensatori is their amazing Kid and Teen Zones. The kids’ room is equipped with a tea party room (my personal favorite!), a movie theater, ball pit, trampolines, video-game room, and gymnastics area. When your kids don’t want to leave, you can feel safe leaving them with the Red Cross Certified nannies provided within the Kid Zone.

Outside there is a great water park complete with a slide and a rock climbing wall! For the teens, there is a very cool arcade and game room where teens can hang out during the day. At night it is transformed into a disco with music, dancing, and a non-alcoholic bar.

For adults, the calming colors and ambiance are instantly relaxing. Both romantic and family style restaurants complete with toys for the kids to play with while they wait is sure to take away the stress parents may otherwise feel in such a nice resort.

View The Azul Sensatori Image Gallery

For travel with extended family including wedding parties, The Azul Sensatori is the perfect choice–offering both endless Gourmet Inclusive options, as well as entertainment for the whole family. The sky wedding package is a particularly unique and beautiful way to exchange vows on the rooftop of an ocean front building!
Azul Hotels showcase what is so difficult to define: The beauty is in the details.

Many of us who love Playa del Carmen, Mexico have been so disappointed to see their pristine beaches erode over the last several years. The resort owners have been doing everything they can to hold up what they had, but nature prevailed almost completely taking the beaches in some areas.

To our complete surprise, the Mexican government decided to take control of the situation. In the end of January, 2010 they shut down all Playacar beaches for a complete renovation. During the three days that followed a crew of hundreds of workers completed the Beach Recovery Project. Now the beaches are beautiful, bountiful, and ready for beach bums.

I went down over the weekend of March 20th to check them out and there is more soft, beautiful white sand than ever before. Enjoy!

A common question I receive is, “Where exactly is…?”.

Here is a brief breakdown of the Caribbean hot spots in Mexico:

I. Cancun – Cancun is a city along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula with a population of about 500,000.

• The hotel zone of Cancun is a small peninsula itself, which boasts more than 70 hotels, ranging from budget, to high end luxury. Most tourists, who visit Cancun, will stay within this zone when they go “downtown” to night clubs, restaurants, shopping, etc. Resort suggestion: Le Blanc Spa for couples, or Dreams Cancun for families.
• Actual downtown Cancun is further inland and is a popular destination for cruises. It does not have the glitz and glamour of the hotel zone.

II. Riviera Maya – Riviera Maya refers to the entire area South of Cancun on the Yucatan. Those who stay in a resort in the Riviera Maya will still fly into Cancun and then drive anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to arrive at their destination. There are dozens of wonderful resorts, which boast a more “tropical” vibe than those in Cancun. There are several cities within the Riviera Maya. Here are a few of them:

• Playa del Carmen- Lovely town about 45 minutes from Cancun. This town has a population of about 150,000. It is playground to visitors from all over the world who enjoy a little nightlife and shopping, but want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Resort suggestion: Royal Hideaway for couples or Iberostar Tucan for families.
• Tulum/Akumal- These towns are near each other in the southern part of the Riviera Maya. They are about 1.5 to 2 hours from Cancun and are the home to many beautiful ruins and beaches. Resort Suggestion: Dreams Tulum for couples or families.
• Puerto Morales- is a small town between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. There are a couple of really neat resorts within this area. It is about 30 minutes from Cancun and about equal distance to Playa del Carmen.

III. Cozumel – This is an island off the coast of Playa del Carmen. You would take a ferry to fly into this destination. It is very popular to divers because of the location on the Palancar Reef. It is the world’s 2nd largest coral reef. Resort suggestion: Aura by Wyndham for couples or the Iberostar Cozumel for families.

I hope this helps, but don’t hesitate to call us for more info!

If you want to make this Valentine’s day one to remember, why not skip the chocolates and jewelry and opt for a romantic (and warm) getaway to the sunny Dominican Republic. With its vast, white sand beaches, and tropical atmosphere, it’s sure to be a welcomed retreat from the day to day. What could be more romantic?

If you’re looking for high end luxury, look no further than the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro. This is an adults only resort that offers gourmet cuisine, top shelf drinks, and even butler service! Imagine walking back to your room after a sun filled day and a romantic dinner to find your Jacuzzi filled and candles lit by your butler. You could even ask for a bottle of wine and have the room filled with your favorite scent.

If you wanted to keep some luxury components, but keep the price down, the Dreams Resorts offer a great option. The prices will be mid-range, and the service and amenities are still top-notch.

If you’re traveling with the kids, both the Iberostar resorts and the Dreams resorts, will offer many family style activities and are available at great prices if you book soon!!

The key here—as usual—is not to delay in making your reservation. This is the second busiest travel week of the year and the good deals disappear in the blink of an eye. Call us. We’ll find something perfect for you!

Ok so you’ve made your Dream Vacation reservations, but now you just need to know how to pack. Here is are some suggestions that work for most of our clients:

Checking your bags?

If you plan to check some bags at the airport, make sure each bag is under 50 pounds and that you’ve checked with the airline’s website or your agent to find out if there are any fees.

Plan to bring a carry-on bag?

If you plan to carry all your bags on, don’t forget that there are still no liquids or gels over 3 ounces allowed on most flights. You’ll either have to find a travel size or buy your sunscreen and other liquids once you arrive at your destination.

How much money should I bring?

When visiting an all inclusive resort, be sure to bring a credit or debit card in case you decide to purchase any excursions during the trip. You might also want to bring some small denominations of money for tipping/ Although tipping is included, at many resorts it is typical to tip additionally as you see fit.

There will also be options for jet skis, spa treatments, and other extras at most resorts. These can either be paid for by cash or you can use a credit or debit card for a cash advance on your room. Most resorts have safes in the room, so you can feel secure bringing these along.

What clothes do I bring?

Nearly all of our all inclusive resorts are going to require “casual elegance” dress attire for dinners. This means that men may wear long pants and a collared shirt. Women may wear capris, pants, skirts, or dresses. Close toed shoes are also usually required.

Other than that, just make sure to pack your swim suit, and lots of cool comfortable clothing. Water shoes are a good idea for some resorts.

You will not need to bring towels to most all inclusive resorts. Those are included in the package, as are many bathroom amenities, including hair dryers.