Great news for sun seekers in the Seattle area who would love to vacation on the Caribbean side of Mexico but want to get there fast and minimize the hassle factor associated with travel.  Alaska Airlines has started flying to Cancun again and starting in early November, offers a nonstop flight from Seattle to Cancun. Woohoo! The nonstop flights will operate daily during the peak travel season November through April and they are pricing out very competitively with connecting flights offered by other airlines.

The white sand beaches and warm turquoise water in Cancun and Riviera Maya are some of the best anywhere and unlike Hawaii there are many wonderful all inclusive vacations in Mexico.  Some favorite resorts for an adult only getaway or tropical honeymoon include Secrets and Excellence while the Iberostar and Dreams Resorts are some of our top choices for a family vacation with entertainment and activities appropriate for kids and adults plus organized kids clubs to give Mom and Dad a break. There are many more excellent choices including the all inclusive Palace Resorts but each property has its own personality  so the art is in matching your style to the perfect destination.

That’s where I come in ’cause I’m Totem Travel’s Mexico specialist and visit all the resorts regularly. So let me know what’s important to you and I’ll make sure you return home talking about the best vacation you ever had! Mexico is still one of the better vacation values for families or young honeymooners on a tight budget and the new nonstop flights from Seattle to Cancun make it easy to access this fabulous destination!   Give us a call or send me an email and we can advise you on which destination in Mexico and which resort best fits your ideal vacation.  Pretty soon you’ll be pulling out your sunglasses, working on a winter tan and practicing important phrases like “hola” and  “uno mas por favor.

Click for slide show

With all the great choices for an all inclusive honeymoon or special anniversary trip in Mexico and the Caribbean, I always get asked which one is the best. If Excellence Riviera Maya has caught your eye and you are wondering if it is a good choice for you, I might be able to help you decide.

If you are looking for a medium to large size “adult only” all inclusive property, Excellence Riviera Cancun has approximately 348 suites (they will be adding more two story terrace suites and junior suites in the near future) and the property has a nice variety of room options from their standard junior suites, to swim up suites and the very popular two story terrace suites. All the rooms are nice and feature a whirlpool bath which seems to be on most couple’s wishlist.

If you are looking for a centrally located resort in Riviera Maya, Excellence Riviera Maya is smack in between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, so you are simply approximately 25 minutes from each of these areas. Set on a nice long beach, you can cab to Cancun or Playa Del Carmen quite easily, yet you get the atmosphere like you are far away from the buzz of the city or town.

If you like nice pools, Excellence Riviera Maya has 6 meandering pools that run throughout the property. Another key feature that appeals to many couples travelling to Mexico, authenticity! Excellence has a modern look that is blended with real Mayan charm. From the Palapa style restaurant that anchors the main pool to a charming Mexican courtyard, you definitely know you are in Mexico.

If you want plenty of dining options, Excellence has 8 international dining choices on site, including an Indian restaurant which is growing in popularity. If you are into spas, Excellence has one of the nicest spas in Riviera Maya. On my recent visit, I was again blown away by the 25 foot entry way arches/doorways that lead you into the sanctuary of the spa.

Finally, if you are looking at staying under or at $3k (LAND ONLY, including transfers) for 7 nights and two adults, then you can do this at Excellence Riviera Maya. Depending on which city you are flying from, you can usually do the entire trip for around $4k. And Excellence is an all inclusive property, so all your meals and drinks (including alcohol) are included.

So if you answered yes to a medium size resort on a nice beach, central location with several dining and room options, authentic style property under $3k, then I think you would REALLY enjoy Excellence Riviera Cancun. If you like the looks of Excellence Riviera Maya, but want to travel to the Caribbean, they do have a property in the Dominican Republic called Excellence Punta Cana. We travel to a wide variety of “adult only” all inclusive properties throughout Mexico and the Caribbean regularly, so let us serve as your travel counsel when planning your special trip. We do not charge any fees to use our service and we will do our best to find the best fit for your dream vacation. You can reach us at 1-800-321-7907 or on our website at www.totemtravel.com

Click for slide show

I just had the opportunity to stay at Secrets Silversands in Riviera Maya Mexico for a couple of days and this particular property has a lot to offer on many levels. As a travel agent specializing in all inclusive resorts, I have experienced dozens of resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean and Fiji and since a big part of our business is honeymoons and special anniversary trips, we have seen all the Sandals and Couples Resorts and adult only Secrets, Excellence, Palace Resorts, El Dorado Resorts, Iberostar Grand and more

In a nutshell, I would recommend Secrets Silversands for couples who are looking for a nice adult only all inclusive vacation in Mexico with solid dining options, beautiful pools and luxurious suites decorated in a modern décor. Secrets Silversands is close to the airport so if you are looking for a quick fun in the sun break where you don’t have to spend an hour getting to the resort, Secrets Silversands is a great choice.

If you are a real beach person and love to not only hang out on the beach but swim and play in the ocean this might not be the best Secrets Resort to choose. The beach is very nice, but the areas where you can get into the water without seaweed, small rocks etc., are very limited. The main pool and the infinity pools looking out over the gorgeous Caribbean Sea more than make up for this if you are mainly going to be hanging out poolside. The pools don’t get any better!

The main pool is the place to hang out during the day or the nice large beachfront Jacuzzi. There is usually a variety of activity going on by this pool and the Oceania Restaurant that is poolside is outstanding! The fish tacos are delicious!!! In addition to a good variety of dining options, the resort has a nice spa, workout facility and evening entertainment.

As far as the rooms go, they are luxurious and all come with a nice big Jacuzzi tub that you can open up to the room if you like. I’m not sure if I am a big fan of the glass door to the toilet room, but the walk in shower is also very nice. There really isn’t a bad room at Secrets because if you don’t have an oceanview, you will have a tranquil view of one of the many pools and beautiful gardens.

If you want higher end liquor stocked in your room, then you definitely will want to book a Preferred Club room, but otherwise, the rooms all look the same on the inside. The Preferred Club just gives you fancier amenities and a better room location, so if those things are important to you, then it might be worth the extra cost. Otherwise, the standard rooms are fine and can save you money.

I am often asked how the various Secrets properties compare to each other and how they compare with other adult only resorts or couples only all inclusive resorts like Sandals. There are distinct differences between Secrets and Sandals, as well as “couples only” versus “adult only”. There are three of us in the office that all specialize in Sandals and Secrets Resorts, so just give us call if you want help deciphering the differences and choosing the best resort for your next special getaway. We are happy to help and can be reached at 1-800-321-7907 or you can email linda@totemtravel.com. Happy travels!

Click for slide show

So let me start by saying, “my favorite” might not be your favorite, but in my opinion, Secrets Capri adult only all inclusive resort in Riviera Maya is the jewel of all the Secrets Resorts. While all their other resorts are quite modern in décor, Secrets Capri which is the oldest, has a more traditional yet classy look and feel. You get the feel that you are in a luxury property, yet you feel comfortable right from the get go! On my recent trip to Mexico, I stayed at the newer and more modern, Secrets Silversands property. While at Silversands, I talked with many of their staff whose faces lit up with a big smile when I mentioned I would be seeing Secrets Capri on this trip as well. Apparently, Secrets Capri is also a staff favorite as well!

Secrets Capri doesn’t have a dozen pools, but the main pool at the resort is well sized and shaped for the property. Because the property is smaller and more compact, all the activities can be found at the main pool. Let’s just say the energy is upbeat and active in this central location. The beach at Secrets Capri is very nice although like most properties, they are in the process of trying to rebuild the beach after the wrath of storms that have hit the area in the last several years. So far, they are doing a great job.

The rooms are very similar to other Secrets properties, ie. nice Jacuzzi tub with a luxurious bathroom with double vanities etc. The biggest difference is the décor and room style. At Capri, you have the dark wood furniture with nice warm blue and golden tones for the soft goods. Other Secrets Resorts have a sleek, modern décor with lots of white or neutral tones and lots of glass. I personally preferred Capri and the dark mahogany door that separated the toilet room from the rest of the bathroom versus the glass door at Secrets Silversands. Of course, décor is a matter of taste and all the Secrets properties are very well appointed both in the rooms and in the common areas.

Speaking of common areas, I love the luxurious lobby that spills down via a grand staircase (again dark wood with wrought iron railing) to a lower common area with restaurants and a sports bar. In the courtyard, they have a beautiful fountain that warms the area up. Like other Secrets properties you have an assortment of dining options including their signature Himitsu Pan Asian restaurant, but what I find a little different at Secrets Capri are the two restaurants that offer seaside dining. Cactus grill is their ceviche and taco bar and a great place to dine seaside for lunch and it is also available for private dinner parties at night. Oceania is a gorgeous restaurant where you can have an intimate table for two overlooking the beautiful Caribbean. Of course, Secrets Capri has an Italian Restaurant, steakhouse and their Coco Café where you can get your morning latte and light snacks, including the most delicious cookies.

Like the other Secrets properties, destination weddings are very popular at Secrets Capri and their wedding staff do an amazing job, taking the stress out of wedding planning. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention their Spa by Pevonia! If you are into awards etc., Secrets Capri is an AAA Four Diamond property.

Finally, I just have to mention something that is important to many of my clients. Secrets Capri is an ALL PREFERRED CLUB property. Most clients prefer the Preferred Club amenities like the upgraded mini bar or upgraded bath amenities and the fact that everyone at the resort is enjoying the same perks, eliminates the “class status” stigmas found at other resorts. Yes, you can have a more expensive room with a direct oceanfront view, but all the preferred club perks are for everyone at the property regardless of room category.

Secrets Capri is just one of those properties where you can get the pampering and luxury you want out of your vacation, but in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. If you are interested in any of the Secrets properties, just give us a call at 1-800-321-7907. We also know all the Sandals couples only resorts and are a Sandals Preferred Agency. After finding out more about you and what your likes and dislikes are, we can often be very helpful by making comparisons between all the resorts, as they pertain to your specific wants and wishes. Our ultimate goal is to help you choose the right one for your next big trip and take the stress out of vacation planning. Happy Travels

**If you liked reading this blog and found it helpful, please let us know on facebook, Google+ or twitter

Click for slide show

I recently stayed at The One & Only Palmilla Resort in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Since I am a travel agent, I get to stay at a variety of upscale resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. This particular trip was not a work trip, yet a surprise trip planned by a close friend who wanted to celebrate all of us turning 50 in the past year. Even with my travel experience, I was quite impressed with The One & Only Palmilla in Cabo.

The resort lived up to its luxury status in every aspect, so I would give the One & Only Palmilla high marks. The resort’s landscaping is stunning and immaculately kept. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is an arid destination, yet the resort is lush and green sprinkled with colorful flowers and gardens. The pathways are lined with lush trees that are full of the most ornate and beautiful luminaries. At night the place is all lit up and has a magical feel. Two of my friends were novice travelers and they were speechless as we toured through the grounds and were taken to our rooms.

The pools are very nice. The main pool’s infinity edge over looks the Sea and a second infinity pool in the kids area is even bigger and also overlooks the sea. The pool really doesn’t look like a kid’s pool and only the miniature beach beds that are poolside give it away. While the One & Only Palmilla has lots of beach beds sprinkled along the beach, only the beach down by the kids pool is a swimmable beach. Down at the beach, you can check out snorkeling gear and paddle boards at no extra charge. The service at both pools and at the beach is outstanding. You barely sit down and they come rushing over with a wicker box that contains bottled water on ice. They also bring pillows for both your feet and neck and will bring you drinks or whatever you like. We all joked that we might forget how to lay down our own towels because we were being so spoiled. The butler service in the rooms is excellent as well. Each day they stop by with afternoon snacks and they are always asking if you need anything.

The quality of the food is very solid and there was a wide variety of choices especially for a small property. Yes, the resort is expensive and chips and guacamole cost around $25 to be delivered by room service, but the pricing is substantiated by the quality of the food which is delicious. I think their classic margarita which was $9 was the best margarita I have ever had!

Finally, one of my favorite aspects of this resort are the balconies and their views. All the rooms appear to have a nice big balcony with a table and chairs in addition to a nice big patio bed. The rooms are all oceanfront so the ocean is right there. None of this crane your neck and get on your tip toes to enjoy the oceanview. Most of the beachfront of this property is lined with rocks, so the waves come crashing in and the sound of the waves is something that is unforgettable and so relaxing. We even saw a pod of whales offshore one afternoon at sunset. We were in one of their basic rooms, but you can go even more luxurious and have a private plunge pool on your balcony if your budget allows. However, I was impressed with how nice and big the standard oceanfront rooms are and they come with enormous bathrooms.

The workout facility and spa were also very upscale and nice. There is both golf and tennis available as well. There were some families there with young children, but I would say the resort was mostly filled with adults, both couples and older families with grown children. From what I gathered while I was there, it is quite common to see celebrities, as the resort is quite popular with the rich and famous.

The resort was also only 15 minutes from San Jose Cabo Airport, so it is easy in and easy out. The One & Only Palmilla is a great choice for a relaxing and quiet getaway, honeymoon, or anniversary trip. If you want nightlife and a lot of social happenings, then this resort will prove to be too quiet for you. If you want an oceanfront luxurious suite, want to hear the sound of the ocean, want to enjoy upscale dining and service in a gorgeous quiet setting then The One & Only Palmilla is a great fit for you.

We have reviewed many other luxury resorts and posted reviews and slideshow links on our website www.totemtravel.com, so check it out. We have three agents in our office and we each specialize in different destinations. Our goal is to find out what kind of experience you want and to help make it happen within budget using our travel expertise. If you are interested in the One & Only Palmilla, give me a call at 1-800-321-7907. The resort often has some great promotional pricing such as stay 4 nights, pay three. I’m happy to help! Patty

Click for Slide Show

Many brides struggle with the desire to have the beautiful destination wedding that they have always dreamed of while maintaining the hope of having all their friends and family in attendance. Sometimes it seems impossible to have both. The reality usually sinks in after they have picked their destination and it comes time for guests to start booking their flights and accommodations to attend the wedding.

I work with these brides every day and one year ago started working with a wonderful couple from Seattle that took my advice about planning a destination wedding  that not only met their dreams, but would be easy and comfortable financially for all their friends and family. As it turned out, they ended up having more friends and family than they expected and as you can see in the third photo in the slideshow, a good time was had by all.

This particular couple picked Dreams Villamagna All Inclusive Resort in Riviera Nayarit just north of Puerto Vallarta. For couples from the westcoast, Puerto Vallarta is easy to reach by air and not too expensive. Dreams Villamagna has some of the features of a high end luxurious resort without the high price tag. All the rooms are suites and very spacious and it is common for the resort to offer “Resort Credits” to be used for spa services, wine upgrades etc. For folks that will have guests who have children, The Dreams Resorts allow children and have supervised kids programs so everyone is happy!

The folks at Dreams will work with you on all the details/documentation you need for your ceremony and once you arrive, all the paperwork will be done and they will step you through the next step of the process, your ceremony! There are various venues at the resort to choose from for your wedding and your wedding coordinator at the resort will take care of every little detail, right down to the napkins and place settings. So you don’t have to worry about any of those things and can enjoy the resort and your guests leading up to the ceremony.

Please call or email if we can help with ideas to make your dream destination wedding a reality. In addition to Mexico we work with all inclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean, Fiji and Tahiti and have specialists on staff for all the most popular honeymoon destinations.

In October 2010, I started planning my dream vacation, my honeymoon, to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico!  My experience in Mexico vacationing was not extensive, the yearly mission trek with my church to Tijuana and three afternoon stops to various cities while on a cruise were the most I had traveled in Mexico. Patty at Totem Travel helped me plan this vacation every step of the way.  She was patient, efficient, responsive and had prepared us for our trip!

When we arrived at The Royal Playa Del Carmen Resort we were in awe.  The hotel looked exactly like the pictures and exceeded every imaginable dream and expectation we had for our honeymoon. The Royal Playa is an all inclusive hotel, something John and I had never experienced. The all inclusive service is outstanding. The food, alcohol, entertainment, pool/beach service, room service etc. was perfect on every level.  The staff was always available with a smile and at times we felt they knew what we wanted before we even asked!

The food was amazing and literally had every cuisine imaginable to choose from. My husband happily enjoyed steak every night for dinner, while I indulged in all of the tasty seafood dishes they offered.  The food was fresh, always hot and cooked upon order and served so beautifully.  The Pellicano Grill was our favorite restaurant to go to.  It was ocean front and had a casual feel at lunch, and semi formal feel during dinner.  The staff was always working hard and there was never a moment where you had an empty glass.  The bar staff at this resort always made sure you were having a great time and made incredibly strong drinks.  I recommend the Riviera Maya drink to anyone that visits this resort, fun and fruity, the perfect pair for a pool day!

Our hotel was right along the water and was in the middle of the infamous “5th Avenue” which is a pedestrian only walking town, full of amazing shopping and excellent restaurants. The colors, smells, and culture were exciting, new and fun to experience! Staying at The Royal Playa gave us endless access and options of things to locally! On our trip we visited the Mayan Ruin towns of Chichen Itza and Tulum and also visited Xel-Ha, which is an ecological water park. All three were so worth it and our hotel helped set these tours up!

We recommend visiting Playa Del Carmen and staying at The Royal Playa Del Carmen in a heartbeat.  Every single aspect of our trip was perfect, from the planning stages, to actually being there and now being home and sharing stories and forever holding the memories near and dear to our hearts! We can’t wait to plan our return back!

-Kathleen & John Kiefer

The Royal In Playa Del Carmen is perfect for those who want a little bit of everything from a luxurious rooms, good food, nice pools, beach and resort atmosphere yet also want to be centrally located so you can walk to shopping and other activities.  If you wish to book The Royal In Playa Del Carmen, you can either book directly online or give me (Patty) a call at 1-800-321-7907.

If you are looking for more of a private or remote resort in Riviera Maya, let me know and I’ll introduce you to some of our other favorite resorts in Riviera Maya. I can be reached by email at patty@totemtravel.com as well.  I personally specialize in Mexico as well as other fabulous destinations which you can learn about by visiting our website at www.totemtravel.com    We are happy to help you get away to the perfect spot in the destination of your choice!

One of our all time favorite family friendly all inclusive resorts is opening a new location on a gorgeous beach in Cancun Mexico and there are villas and suites for a family of five!  The Iberostar Resort chain purchased the former Hilton Cancun Hotel property and has been busy renovating areas such as the lobby, restaurants and other areas to get them to “Iberostar” standards for the December 2011 grand opening.

The quick facts are this resort sits on a nice big beach and features rooms, suites and villas. There are seven infinity pools, tennis courts, soccer field, spa and gym facilities on site, as well as a 18 hole golf course. There will be 4 specialty restaurants including, Japanese, gourmet, steakhouse and Mexican. They will also be adding a kids club with small water park and youth program area. There will be 426 ocean view rooms, 23 suites and 82 private villas to choose from

For those of you that have experienced Iberostar Tucan or Quetzal or the Iberostar Paraiso complex south of Cancun, this resort will offer the same high standard of service, food quality and clean rooms and environment. The main difference besides location will be their Cancun resort is in more of a modern style complete with sleek infinity pools and more modern interiors in the rooms. And for those of you who have run into the problem as a family of five and having to book two separate rooms at the other Iberostar Resorts, there are private villas at this resort as well as interconnecting suites. This will be a fantastic option if you are a family of five or a family with teens who need more space.

We have sent hundreds of clients to the Iberostar All Inclusive Resorts with great feedback and are excited to have another fabulous Iberostar for families. If you would like help planning a family vacation to the new Iberostar in Cancun or one of their other resorts in Riviera Maya, Jamaica or Dominican Republic, give us a call at 1-800-321-7907. I can also be reached by email at patty@totemtravel.com