Vacation Ideas

If you are stuck trying to plan your next vacation and find yourself, once again, saying “I have been to Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, and Jamaica about a hundred times each” and are wondering, “isn’t there anywhere else that I can find a nice all-inclusive on the beach?”  The good news is that Mexico and the Caribbean is full of tourist destinations that will suit any vacation taste you are looking for and today I will tell you about one you probably have never heard of…

Huatulco (pronounced wah-TOOL-co), Mexico – at the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range sits twenty-two miles of beautiful beachfront spread out along nine world famous bays, and the small city that is at the heart of Mexico’s southernmost tourist destination, beautiful Huatulco.  Five hundred miles south of Acapulco and due west from Belize, Huatulco averages 330 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 82 degrees.  In 2005, Green Globe International certified Huatulco as the first sustainable tourist area in the Americas, due to their widespread environmentally friendly practices and policies.  Our most popular resort in the area, the Dreams Huatulco, offers luxurious all-inclusive accommodations for the whole family with their 24-hour Unlimited Luxury program.

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.

The Riu Vallarta is a fantastic choice for a family, couple, or group looking for a great value all-inclusive hotel on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The Riu Vallarta sits on Banderas Bay in Riviera Nayarit, the newer northern part of Puerto Vallarta, and is one of my most highly recommended based on the value it provides. For the west coast of Mexico, it has one of the nicest beachfront’s that I’ve ever seen with an expansive white sandy beach. The Riu Vallarta is one of two towers on the resort, the other being the Riu Jalisco, and is the more contemporarily styled as compared to the Riu Jalisco’s more traditional Mexican-hacienda style. Banderas Bay is beautiful at night with the mountains surrounding it and you can even see whales in the Bay from your room’s balcony at the Riu Vallarta mid-December through April.  Throughout my visit, I found the rooms, pool, lobby, restaurants, etc. were all lovely and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the Riu Vallarta to anyone looking for a good time at a great price.

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!