Vacation Ideas

When starting to plan for an all inclusive vacation, the first thing to consider is where you want to go.  That simply means, it’s your vacation, it’s your time and it’s your money so where do YOU want to go?  Many people call me without really thinking about this question.

As we both know there are a ton of different hotel options and many overall destination options, so how do you narrow down your search?  Well, first of all think about the location and not the specific hotel.  Would you rather go to Mexico or the Caribbean?  Let’s say for the sake of argument that you want to go to the Caribbean.  There are many islands in the Caribbean but not all islands are geared toward all inclusive stays.  So, do you want an all inclusive resort that provides all of your meals and drinks?  If so, don’t waste your time with small islands like St. Thomas or even the Bahamas because there are few all inclusive resorts in those areas.  You should focus more on places like Punta Cana or Jamaica which have a ton of all inclusive hotel options.  Also, more options typically means the better the price.

Next you need to start thinking about what you want out of this vacation.  What is most important to YOU, the beach?  The pool?  The room?  Everyone is different and although many resorts offer similar services, some resorts are geared more towards families with kids while others may be focused more on families with teenagers and so forth.  How can you tell if the hotel is geared more towards younger kids or teenagers?  Well, that’s exactly why you call us.

From this point, be sure to know what dates or at least what date range will work best for your family.  Once you know the dates and destination, you are ready to call an expert to get help in picking out the best resort to meet your needs and expectations.  Flexibility is good but too much flexibility will just muddy the water, so have some destination ideas, know what you want out of your vacation and give us a call to help you find the perfect resort.

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a Mexican civic holiday held on May 5th to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed nationwide in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride and many all inclusive resorts in Mexico offer celebrations throughout the day. So whether you are in a Mexican resort on the beach or just heading home from work, pour yourself a shot of tequila and toast to the beautiful beaches, wonderful people and amazing heritage and history that Mexico has to offer. And next year make sure you celebrate this day sipping your tequila on a stunning Mexico beach!

VIVA LA MEXICO!!

Looking back on all the places I have stayed over the years, the Dreams Puerto Vallarta stands out as one of the most unique, tropical, and secluded hotels I have ever been to, especially in Mexico. It had an old world charm that is often lost in the sterile feeling, contemporary, mega-resort style that has been springing up all over the region over the past decade or so. There is a large hillside that sits off of the back side of the property and the surrounding countryside along Banderas Bay is very scenic, especially at night.

This trip was my first to the west coast of Mexico and I was surprised at how clear the water was, which I wasn’t expecting. The beach is a little different than the Carribean’s sugar white, powdery sand beaches, with startlingly clear turquoise water, but it was more enjoyable than I had anticipated. I would highly recommend both Puerto Vallarta in general as well as the Dreams Puerto Vallarta specifically to anyone looking for a great beach destination outside of Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, or Jamaica.

While on vacation in the Riviera Maya my wife and I always like to visit the town of Playa Del Carmen to shop, sight see and many times have lunch at any one of the many great local restaurants.  No matter how long your stay or which resort you are staying in, everyone should try to take the time to visit Playa while on vacation.

In Playa Del Carmen you will see about 30 blocks of non-stop store fronts, local eateries, bars, hotels and tons of people.  Even this past Monday when we were in Playa, with this being the off season I would have to say we still saw thousands of tourists walking the streets, window shopping and bartering with the locals.  You can find some great deals on your souvenirs if you are patient and have some time to look around.  If you go down to Playa Del Carmen at night, you won’t want to miss Coco Bongo, the most talked about and sought after show in Mexico.  One of my favorite night life spots would be the Blue Parrot; every night there’s an amazing fire show that starts around 10:30 and lasts for about 30 minutes.

As far as safety concerns in this area, in my opinion I felt as safe there as I always have with no worries.  We walked around for about 4 hours and saw many Police officers on the streets to ensure that all is well.  Obviously just like any where in the world when you are traveling, use common sense.  Don’t go into places you think look questionable and stay in the tourist areas.  Tourism is the life blood of Mexico and many of it’s citizens, and believe it or not, they work hard to keep you as a traveler safe and happy so that you can come back year after year.

The Majestic Colonial located in Punta Cana is a wonderful resort. Majestic hotels does not have as many properties as many of the larger hotel chains.   The Majestic has spent it’s entire existence at the top of the review boards and at many times was listed as the best. You will not see their brand in Mexico or Jamaica.  They have few hotels but they sure do a wonderful all inclusive.

The hotel has 658 rooms and has been open since December of 2005.  The hotel has a huge pool, 5 tennis courts, disco, swim up bar and a wonderful Spa.  The Majestic is known for their wonderful food and you can pick from one of the 7 restaurants for dinner. Each room has a jacuzzi and many of the suites have an outdoor Jacuzzi.  All rooms have fully stocked mini bar, coffee maker and a room safe.  These rooms are some of the best entry level rooms in the industry.

After dinner the hotel will offer evening entertainment with a live show, music in the Piano bar and of course you can try your luck at the Casino.  The hotel has a wonderful kids program for ages 3 –14 called the Pioneer kids club and this is included with your stay.

Majestic also opened up the Majestic Elegance right next door to this hotel  in 2008 and this hotel features an adult only room category with the same wonderful service and facilities as the Majestic Colonial.

The Majestic Colonial has great rooms, a wonderful beach and great food and drinks.  This hotel will also have a better rate then many of the “Big Brands.”  If your looking for an all inclusive in Punta Cana take a hard look at the Majestic Colonial!

A visit to Costa Rica is a must do once in your life!  From the stunning Pacific beaches to the wonderful Costa Rican culture, this country is not to be missed.

The first thing to think about while planning a trip to Costa Rica is the beach!  If white sand beaches and clear Caribbean waters are what you are after, Guanacaste Costa Rica not the area you want to look.   Stunning emerald green Pacific waters set the west cost of Costa Rica apart from the rest.  Water sports abound with kayaks, jet skis, paddle boarding and even surfing an option.  While brown and even whiteish sand beaches can be found in Guanacaste, the majority of the beaches are very unique with their black volcanic sand.  Pacific waters offer great waves for play but have no fear swimming to your hearts delight, unlike Cabo San Lucas, Mexico the beaches in Costa Rica are generally safely swimmable.

Costa Rica could easily be called the land of excursions. Take advantage of one of their great beachfront all inclusive resorts for your days off to lay by the pool and beach but in this tropical destination you’ll want to get out and explore.  Volcano’s, mud baths, bird watching, monkeys and more are just a day trip away! Well known for their adventure sports you can white water river raft, zip lining from tree top to tree top, waterslide through the mountains, ride ATV’s or horses and more! Be sure to check out the beautiful west coast sunsets with a catamaran sunset cruise.

With Guanacaste being the dryest region in Costa Rica you can expect little to no rain during the months of mid-November through April. The rainy season will brings showers May through mid-November and the mountains will be covered in green!  With warm weather year round, Costa Rica is the perfect place to plan your winter or spring trip withouth having to worry about a chill in the air.

Costa Rica is gaining popularity and after your first trip you’ll see why!  Pura Vida means a Good Life and is the motto of this amazing country.  After your visit you’ll be anxious to book your return!