Vacation Ideas

Cancun, Mexico has over a dozen nightclubs and literally hundreds of bars and is considered to have some of the best evening entertainment in the world.  Cancun is most famous for their mega bars and party atmosphere but don’t forget the hundreds of small bars and clubs footsteps away from your hotel.  It doesn’t matter if your looking for a nightclub with laser lights with thousands of people or a quiet local watering hole, Cancun has a place for you.

The large nightclubs have capacity for thousands and all offer nightly entertainment. This is not the entertainment you find in your local downtown clubs.   There’s something new happening every few minutes, from fantastic circus type performances, giant video screens, the famous bikini contests,  mime artists, crazy waiters and more.  The most popular are Coco Bongo, Daddy O, The City and Bulldogs.  It is common for these clubs to carry on until 6 in the morning.  At these clubs you usually pay $25 – $40 cover and they offer an ”open bar” so your drinks are included with your cover.  The “open bar” usually ends at 3 am so if your partying early into the morning you’ll have to pay for each drink after 3.   These clubs are world famous and an evening experience of a lifetime!

If you prefer a smaller club try one of Cancun’s most famous bars, Senor Frogs.  It is popular for it’s waterslides and wearable’s.  There are scores of smaller bars in Cancun such as Corona Bar, Dos Equis Bar, Terrasta, Carlos N Charlie’s, My Place, Lucky Monkey and Congo Bar that might be more to your liking.  These clubs will still have a cover and most do a pay per drink plan.  These bars most often close around 1 am but will usually have smaller crowds and shorter lines.  I recommend starting out at these smaller clubs and then finish your evening at one of the larger nightclubs.  Most of these bars are open for lunch and the crowds are smaller and not as lively.  Many of them are actually family friendly during the lunch hour and early afternoons.

If your not looking to pay big cover charges and dance till 6am with the younger crowd but would like to go out and enjoy a night on the town.  Then try Captain’s Cove and Pancho & Willy’s.  Happy Hour is from 4pm to 6pm every day at P&W’s and has one of the best sunset views in all of Cancun.  Captain’s Cove and Pancho & Willy’s is located on the shores of the lagoon opposite The Omni Hotels.  Cancun has evening entertainment for everyone.  Below are a few tips to keep in mind when partying in Cancun.

A few tip to consider when planning your night out in Cancun.

1 – Tip – tipping will improve service levels with cabs, waiters and bartenders

2 – Beware of the Shot girls.  They will charge you $2 per and you can get a little out of control if your not careful.

3 – Don’t get lost.  Some of these clubs are huge so take notice of your surroundings and locate exits and restrooms.

4 – Be careful with valuables.  Travel light, watch out where you leave your camera.  Bring a disposable camera.

5 – BE SAFE.  Use the cab service or walk.  Use common sense and go out with a partner or a buddy.

As all of us know already, tax refund time is right around the corner.  As a mother of two, the first thing I think of is paying off all my debt.  Then I would stash some in savings and spend a little bit on myself.

A great idea for those who have already starting booking their next vacation or for those who are just beginning, refunds are a great opportunity to get those vacations paid in full.  Maybe even upgrade your room category if your vacation is already paid in full.

As a lot of you know already, the sooner you book the better rate you will receive.  We do also offer options when booking that does not require the full balance of the vacation up front, just a minimal deposit.  Then the remainder of the balance would be due 45 days prior to travel.

Another great idea for the last minute travelers without their passports, go apply and get them expedited for a minimal fee.

A lot of people are already booking their spring break vacations and availability is limited, so don’t feel that waiting last minute is going to get you a better rate.  Very rarely you will find last minute deals.  You will actually find that if you would have booked them sooner, with just that minimal deposit, you could have saved hundreds!

Call us today and get that deposit made to secure the lowest rate possible and then pay the balance when your refund arrives!

Looking for some pampering and relaxation before midnight feedings and sleep deprivation become the norm? A pre-baby vacation is the perfect answer!

Babymoons are designed for optimum pampering and luxury. These “last hurrah” trips for parents-to-be provide the perfect setting to relax and reconnect as a couple before entering (or re-entering) parenthood. Pre-baby vacations are one of the hottest trends in travel today, and with good reason. Moms and dads-to-be know that luxury vacations without sippy cups and bibs may be out of reach for a while, so they’re seizing the opportunity for one last romantic getaway.

Our goal is to help you find the perfect babymoon vacation. We researched many hotel destinations tailored to the needs and interests of parents-to-be.   I would suggest the Secrets Capri.  Enjoy a babymoon to remember at this luxury, adults only, all-inclusive resort. The resort’s setting is stunning – nestled between lush, tropical foliage and a long stretch of sugary-white beach. Located in Riviera Maya, the resort is only a short ride from Playa del Carmen. Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun recently earned a spot on the esteemed 2009 Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List.

Although spa services are not included in the all-inclusive rate, a visit to the resort’s 13,000 square foot spa is definitely worth the added expense. Featuring a relaxing lounge and couples massage suites, Secrets Spa by Pevonia offers over 30 different spa services.

Or what about the Iberostar Grand Bavaro in the Dominican Republic, adults only, all inclusive resort offers “Grand Star Service” with butlers at your beck and call! Of course, all your meals, drinks, tips, entertainment and standard activities are included in your rate for a hassle-free getaway.

Last but not least, how about the Le Blanc Spa and Resort in Cancun?  One word Awesome!!   This adult’s only resort offers an experience of sophisticated style, lavish personal attention, contemporary and minimalist decoration that create a exceptionally exotic ambiance. Flanked by Nichupte lagoon and the gorgeous Caribbean Sea, this resort provides 260 luxurious accommodations, a Spa offering the ultimate space for total well being, the finest haute cuisine at five upscale restaurants, and three outdoor pools including two infinity pools complete with swim-up bars.

Let us get you relexed before partenthood arrives!!

I had a great trip to the Gran Bahia Principe Tulum.  The Bahia is part of a multiple hotel complex in Tulum in the Mexican Riviera Maya.  The Gran Bahia Akumal and the Gran Bahia Coba are the other 2 hotels on the complex and you can utlilize the other hotels.  It is just over an hour from the airport.

The rooms and suites are distributed throughout 3-story villas surrounded by acres of tropical coconut palms and exotic vegetation.  All the rooms have a balcony and we did have an ocean view.  They do not list any of their rooms as having an ocean view but our villa had a great view.  The pools are huge and feature a great swim up bar.

The beach is a bit rocky (coral) in some places but it made for great snorkeling.  The evening entertainment was the best I had seen in a family friendly all inclusive.  At the entrance of the complex is a small shopping center for souvenirs and any essentials you may have forgot.

I really enjoyed the food.  I thought all the ala carte restaurants and the buffets were super.  The service at the Lobby Bar was awesome and each bartender treated us as if we were the only guests in the bar.  This hotel also seems to be the best prepared for bad weather with Hurricane doors on the rooms.  I was actually here post hurricane and they moved several hundred guests to the Bahia from other hotels.  The hotel still did not miss a beat and continued to provide an amazing service level.  If your looking for an affordable hotel that outperforms you need to experience The Gran Bahia hotels in Tulum, Riviera Maya.

Nassau/Paradise Island, Bahamas is the prefect destination for the traveler who likes to leave the resort and experience the local way of life. No Nassau vacation is complete without a visit to the Straw Market, the unique market featuring everything from hand made trinkets to souvenir t-shirts to wear when you get back home. Surrounded by local restaurants, shopping and muesums, the Straw Market is a great starting spot to check out the local Nassau experience. After shopping till you drop, head a few blocks away to the Pirate Museum. Learn the legend of Blackbeard the pirate, check out their pirate ship and have your picture taken with your very own pirate as he hustles you into the guillotine for your final words. For those who chose a resort on Paradise Island, head over to the the ferry, where for $3 a person you can ride the ferry right to the Straw Market. For those interested in the local cuisine a 20 minute walk from the Straw Market to the Fish Fry is the perfect locale for fresh fish and unbeatable conch. If you get a little warm on the way, dip your feet in the stunning turquoise waters as you pass the famous Junkanoo Beach.

Paradise Island offers plenty of opportunity for off resort fun as well! Head over to the ancient Cloisters for beautiful stone work, statues, flowers and arches. Built by monks in the 12^th & 13^th century in Montreux, France, this stunning beachfront garden takes you back to the days of the yonder year.

Located just next door to the Riu Palace Paradise Island, the gambler in your group will love the Atlantis Casino, which is free to enter, and make your vacation pay for itself after a few wins on any of their 750 new slot machines or 80 table games.

As always the best feature of the Bahamas are those beautiful powdery white beaches and sparkling turquoise waters. Even if you’re family wants nothing more than to enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation by the ocean, Nassau/Paradise Island offers the perfect vacation experience every time!

The Excellence Playa Mujeres is about 25 minute from the Cancun airport.  It is not in Cancun’s hotel zone or the Riviera Maya.  It is located in Playa Mujeres which is a new area northwest of Cancun.  It is an adult only hotel with and amzing spa, marina and a Greg Norman golf course right on the property.  The hotel is close to downtown Cancun and you have a wonderful view of Isla Mujeres.

They offer many  different room styles and they are all gorgeous.  Their best room is a roof top terrace suite with a private plunge pool.  Every room has a glassed in Jacuzzi that will open up completely to your balcony.  The pool is a lagoon style that runs through the entire resort.  Private Cabanas line the lagoon pool and they offer plenty of lounge chairs by the swim up bar.  This hotel also has an activity pool for volleyball and other pool games.

The beach here is very nice and it offers great views of both downtown Cancun and Playa Mujeres.  As you enter the resort they have some caged jaguars I guess to add a little mystique?

The food was excellent.  They have 9 different restaurants so you never had to wait for a table.  The Lobster House and The Grill  was our favorite.  The weather was perfect so we wanted to have dinner outside.  We usually like to try all the different restaurants but on this trip we only got to 3 of them.  The Spa looked real special and everyone we talked to said it was one of the best.  It is located by the pool and had huge linens draped at the entryway.

We did the Excellence Club and I really enjoyed the added benefits.  The check in and check out was private and when our room was not ready the concierge ordered lunch for us and had it sent to the Excellence club lounge.  I would head down to the lounge for drinks and snacks every evening while my wife was getting ready for dinner.  After a few days we sort of had a pre-dinner club going on with some of the other guests.  The concierge was on the top of his game and even offered suggestions on his favorite entrees at the restaurants.  He was so good  I was 30 minutes late picking up the Mrs. for dinner. The next night he set me an alarm to keep me out of hot water!  Now that is service.

The Excellence was also listed on Conde Nast Traveler’s gold list for 2011.  This resort is wonderful and if your tired of the Hotel Zone or the Riviera Maya come check out Playa Mujeres.  This is one resort you have to experience.