All Travel Zone: July 2008

Sandals Resorts New Honeymoon Policy Rocks!

Sandals Resorts is now offering honeymoon perks to every honeymoon couple that stays with them as long as they pre-register their stay on Sandals website at least 3 days prior to their arrival. The perks are fabulous:

Bottle of chilled sparkling wine
First night turn-down service, including fresh flower petals
One Special breakfast-in-bed

Need help deciding which Sandals Resort is best for your honeymoon? If a romantic suite is top on your list, the new Honeymoon Rondovals at Sandals Antigua include zero-entry private pool and outdoor shower in a lush garden setting:

If your honeymoon dreams include an endless stretch of white sand beach and calm, crystal clear water, then check out Sandals Whitehouse - the beach is 2 miles long and ALL rooms have ocean views:

If the look and feel of the guest room is tops, and your budget can't quite swing a higher-end category or suite, rest assured even the basic Deluxe Rooms at Sandals are lovely with muted earth tones and royal mahogany furnishings:

And if you're looking for something innovative, with access to a great pool and fabulous beach, then the new River Suites at Sandals Negril are it:

And last but not least, if view is most important, then the cliff side suites at Sandals Regency in St. Lucia are tops:

Does "Off the Beaten Path" Still Exist?

The answer is yes. While most Caribbean islands have seen surges in traffic in the past 5 years, likely do to increasing costs and safety concerns preventing many people from travelling too far from home, a few islands such as Dominica have not experienced such rapid growth. The result is a splendid, well-preserved island, whose tour companies and hotels are winning awards left and right for their conservation efforts. Not only do the conservation efforts help protect the local environment, but they keep development to a minimum, allowing for a true "Off the Beaten Path" experience. Enjoy! (Pictures from the Dominica Tourist Board)

The Indian River meets the sea:

Victoria Falls - one of dozens of waterfalls:

Quaint Chuch at Delices:

Red Rocks at Calabishie Beach:

And a great video from You Tube:

Product Review - The Best Island Shoes

I can spot a palm tree monogram, crab logo, or anything slightly beach related yards away in any store. While most items remain in the store for lack of need, the one area I can't resist is apparel. Classic beach pieces are a worthwhile investment for any avid traveler, and island appropriate shoes are an even smarter buy.

Somehow, I managed to avoid the Crock craze even though there were plenty of times my family and I were exploring deserted beaches (i.e. ones not cleaned daily of seaweed and rocks) that I eyed with envy the ginormous hole-filled fuchsia plastic shoes of my daughter. She ran along these beaches with lightening speed... my flip-flopped footing was not as sure. Still, I resisted the urge and have trekked many a beaches happily in my Havaianas. Here's my short list of the best shoes to include on a Caribbean vacation:

Havaianas: The Brazillians know BEACH... so their version of the flip-flop is arguably the best. They come in every shape, color, or pattern imaginable. So popular now that they even have "seasons". My favorite from the 2008 collection are the stripes with gold thong:

Who can resist the Baby Havainas? Also available in all colors and patterns but these little froggies are too cute:

I crave these shoes in every design pattern available! I am not exactly sure how long Stubbs and Wootten have been around, but I've seen them on well-heeled clients for many, many years. Their slippers, mules, and slides come in the coolest patterns. Perhaps better suited for evening cocktails on your yacht than the sandy beach bar, these two current styles evoke island visions for sure:

No compilation of island shoes is complete without a Stephan Bonanno's Sandal mention. A company founded in the 1960's they are still going strong and even earned a coveted spot on Oprah's 2002 list of her "Favorite Things". The cool feature to Bonannos is their custom design available. You can create your own dream shoe with the perfect complimentary color combo, logo, or image design. The personal monogram is one of the most popular styles:

Enjoy!

Pictures of Bonaire

I smile every time a client asks me if I am based in the Caribbean. I reply that no, my office is a sunny space in suburban Atlanta, but my mind drifts to the dream office I created in my head over 11 years ago when I started selling Caribbean vacations. While the furniture and location have slightly changed over the years, for the most part my vision is still the same... dark mahogany floors, fresh tropical flowers in large ornate vases, a huge whitewashed desk placed directly in front of french doors thrown open to take in a wide view of the Caribbean sea... While my daily view is not yet the Caribbean Sea in real form, I am very appreciative that many of my clients share their vacation pictures with me and allow me to spend the bulk of my day staring at pictures of the region I love so much. I never tire of the turquoise seascapes, iridescent reflections of tropical fish, bright pastel paint splashed on quaint cottages. Sometimes, pictures cross my desk that take my breath away and make me want to BE THERE NOW! Such was the case with the pictures the Bidwells shared with me after their recent vacation in Bonaire. Enjoy!

The clarity of the water is legendary!

More Arizona than Caribbean? I agree!

The deep sea is a welcome respite to days spent exploring the dry, arid landscape. Bonaire is often ranked one of the top dive destinations in the world!

The wildlife extends above the water.

Amazing contrast found on every Caribbean island.

The nighttime is just as dramatic.

Nothing ends a Caribbean day better than a perfect sunset...

Top Pools of Punta Cana

Vacations and children—not necessarily the most synonymous concepts; so when the two combine, compromises must be made, right? Do you go to the museum or Six Flags? Is it ice cream or sorbet? Do you see the latest animated flick or something with subtitles? In Punta Cana there really are no compromises and if you're ever forced into a situation where one must be made, it will be strictly on your terms.

A way to keep everyone happy and still come out a hero is to choose a hotel with an extremely lavish pool; one that mimics something from Indiana Jones; with multiple tiers and palm trees covering the sky, branches fluttering with the breeze. The pools of Punta Cana truly leave nothing to be desired, so that's why winnowing the best from the rest may seem like just the solution to keeping your kids at bay and smiles on their faces.

The pool at Paradisus Puna Cana is not really a pool; more of a secret lagoon buried in a jungle, which just so happens to be buried in a sprawling luxury resort.

It features a blanket of blue shimmering water interrupted only by large rock clusters, fountains, and swim-up tiki-bars. Lounge beneath thick fans of Dominican jungle flora and unwind to the soothing tune of rushing water and Punta Cana's wildlife.

The pool at Club Med is seemingly larger than Paradisus', and much more oblong, snaking alongside bushels of Palm and huts of thatched roofing.

We came to the conclusion that, although an otherwise dazzling presentation, the pool at Club Med is certainly geared more towards children as its depth is, for the most part, shallow and its location, not as secluded.

A TripAdvisor.com consensus named Iberostar Bavaro a top budget hotel in Punta Cana; no wonder, then, that their pool is epic in size, with only a prominent bouquet of trees and foliage at its center.

Similar to Paradisus Punta Cana, the pool of Iberostar Bavaro is portal to a tropical oasis, teeming with lush vegetation; developing into a setting perfect for lounging under the shade or basking in the sun.

These three pools are products not of trend—no gimmicks to mindlessly entertain here—but instead, blend leafy jungle aesthetics into warm, tranquil waters. If not to keep the kids entertained, these pools will have you out of the room and in the sun all day, as they did us.

Product Review - Your Kids Will Have a (Beach) Ball!

The Design Room has the absolutely cutest beach balls and swim rings EVER! They break away from the standard prime colors of red, blue, and yellow and showcase leopard print, Moroccan hippie prints, preppy Nautical strips, punk rock black and white sketches, and camo. Check their website and stock up before your next trip to the beach. There "Feng Flops" are worth checking out too with names like Good Luck, Goddess, and Longevity, they are designed to let your soles do the searching...

These are my favorites... The Moroccan:

And the Nautical:

These would be great additions to goodie bags for Destination Weddings too! Enjoy!

The Coast is Clear in the Turks & Caicos

Still looking for the perfect place to spend your summer vacation? Great deals abound in the Turks & Caicos, a small island chain just south of the Bahamas. Rarely have I visited places that are like walking into a brochure - but the Turks are that and more! The sand IS as white as in the pictures, it is also very fine, soft, and silky like baby powder. The water IS that clear! You can see your toes sink in the sand in 5 feet of water. Lean over the edge of your catamaran in 30,40, or even 50 feet of water and there it is again, the bottom - crystal clear!

If you need more incentive to lure you to the Turks than what I described above, check out these deals:

4th Night Free at Many Participating Hotels
20% Off Avis Car Rentals
2 for 1 Restaurant Coupons
Discounted Spa Packages
20% Off Two Tank Dives
25% Off Green Fees
Free Sunset Cruise