If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to Punta Cana, you’ve probably heard of Bavaro Beach. Bavaro is one of the most pristine beaches in Punta Cana, which is located on the east coast of Dominican Republic and is home to some of the best beaches in the world. Bavaro Beach is 15-kilometers long and is home to some of the best all-inclusive resort/hotels in the area. Some of the most popular resorts would be Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro, Iberostar Bavaro All Suite Resort and the brand new 5 Star Riu Palace Bavaro.

Along with its calm waters and powder white sand, Bavaro is located only about 30 minutes from the Punta Cana airport, so making your way to your resort is quick and easy. Most resorts offer full beach access and several even have other resorts along Bavaro that you can use the facilities of, should you want to take a lovely stroll down the beach and get thirsty! Most resorts also offer a variety of water sports such as wind-surfing, snorkeling, kayaks, and catamarans. If you’re feeling adventurous, there is a great shipwreck off shore that you can kayak out to and snorkel around! There are also so public restaurants and bars accessible from Bavaro, if you want to try a little of the local flavor.

So, now’s the time to act if you’ve been dreaming of warm Caribbean beaches lined with tall beautiful palm trees. Let the calm waves and turquoise-colored waters of Bavaro Beach take you away. This is the true Caribbean paradise you’ve been searching for, and one of the top 10 Finest Beaches in the world, yet only a short flight from many U.S. cities. Hurry up before everyone finds out!

Many of our clients ask us if their cell phones will work while they are traveling internationally to Mexico or the Caribbean. While most newer phones will work, it is important to call your cell phone provider to make sure. I have AT&T service, so before I travel, I just call them and let them know I will be out of the country.

Here are some other things to remember:

• Some providers have a plan you can purchase, if you travel often enough, that you may want to consider.
• Usually the charge for calls without this service is around $2 per minute. Although that may sound expensive, it is often less than using calling cards and paying to use the phones at the resorts.
• The biggest piece of advice I can offer in this is if you have a “smart phone”, make sure you don’t have it sending and receiving voice-mails/emails/other data while on vacation, because you are often charged for all of this data. The best bet if you don’t plan on using your phone is to keep it on “airplane mode” so as not to receive data.
• In most cases, when you are ready to make a call back into the U.S., you will want to dial 001, and then the phone number. For example: 001-417-890-6764 would be the way to call our office.

Happy trails!

Recently, while in Puerto Vallarta, we had the pleasure of taking an evening to enjoy the Rhythms of the Night tour. The tour group meets at a pier where you board a beautiful catamaran. On board the catamaran, we enjoyed fruity drinks and a lively atmosphere complete with salsa dancing as we took in the almost mythical rock formations. Our destination: Caletas, a beautiful property, which famed director John Huston once made his home, now has been returned to a nature lovers paradise. If you tour in daylight hours, you can hike through the jungle, swim in the beach, or even get a massage. If you take the night tour, torches will meet you at the shore, from which you are whisked away to your own private table in a romantic and secluded location. The chef prepares a scrumptious meal for you to take in, along with the breathtaking Puerto Vallarta sunset.

I can honestly say, a calm serenity overcame me. On the catamaran ride back, I just stared at the majestic beauty of this hidden gem, and wondered how I ever got so lucky. If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta, make sure this tour makes you itinerary.

One of my all-time favorite destinations is the Atlantis hotel on Paradise Island, Bahamas. There is truly nowhere else in the world like it. The hotel itself is a stunning masterpiece, but it’s all the fun that awaits you that sets this destination apart.

During the day you can float away in the pool or wrestle the currents in the not-so-lazy river. The waterslides are a real thrill and you can go on them again and again without the long lines of theme parks. It a blast even for us “grown-up” kids. If you want to have an experience of a lifetime, go swim with the dolphins in the resort’s very own Dolphin Cay.
After a long morning of adventure, I usually spend the afternoon with a fruity concoction on the beautiful white, sandy Bahamas beaches and watch the clouds roll by. After all, if I sneak in a nap now, I’ll have all the more energy for the evening at the enormous casino, or maybe even go dance at Aura Night Club. On another night a lovely dinner at NoBu or Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill will satisfy any palate before going for some laughs at the Jokers Wild Comedy Club. The possibilities are endless at Atlantis!

Strolling down the streets of the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta is an unforgettable experience. The mountain oasis feeling you get in this west coast paradise is hard to explain, but it worth taking a trip to see for yourself. If you can imagine for a moment walking along the beach on 600 year old cobble-stone walkways, watching the beautiful sunset, marveling at fabulous works of sand art, and abstract bronze sculptures, and still nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, you can begin to understand.

People tend to take it easy in Puerto Vallarta, so if you plan to leave your luxury hotel and hit up the Malecon for breakfast, you’ll have at least until noon. After breakfast, a stroll through the many shops in town provide a window into the artistic beauty of old-Mexico. This charming  mountain town has not been infiltrated completely by commercialization, so the culture and art are rich and abundant.

At night, the Malecon lights up. As it becomes dark, fire dancers amuse club-goers outside of their city’s world famous bars and night clubs. The Malecon is definitely a unique and fun experience that is only available in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Since my last trip to the Azul Beach and Azul Sensatori, 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.

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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.