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Where To Honeymoon During Hurricane Season In The Caribbean.

By Patty | Published July 29, 2011 | Posted in Caribbean, Sandals Resorts


Click for slideshow of the Bora Bora Pearl in Tahiti

Many couples get married in the summertime and get all excited to honeymoon in the Caribbean, only to learn that June through October is hurricane season.  So I am often asked by couples, where can we honeymoon and still be safe from hurricanes?

There are some fabulous destinations where the best weather is during our summer months here in the U.S.    One of the more popular choices is a South Pacific honeymoon.  May through October is the best time to travel to the South Pacific and avoid their cyclone season which is primarily in January, February and March.  Tahiti has the visual “wow factor” and is one of the more popular honeymoon destinations if your budget allows.  From the beautiful island of Bora Bora to the island of Moorea, overwater bungalows are everywhere creating that exotic and romantic ambiance that the South Pacific is known for.

Another fantastic choice and one of our favorites in the South Pacific would be a Fiji honeymoon.  The Fijian islands are home to the friendliest people in the world and some say when you return from Fiji, you are a nicer person than before you left!  There are so many wonderful outer island resorts at various price points in Fiji, so even with a modest budget, you can experience an exotic Fijian honeymoon.  These outer island resorts are sprinkled with individual bures and are pure paradise for those seeking to get away from it all. We have two Fiji Matai Specialists in our office, as well as one Tahiti Tiare Specialist. So if you are looking for someone who really knows the South Pacific, we have you covered.

For those who want a more active and adventurous honeymoon, the climate in most of Australia and New Zealand is perfect during this time of year.  An Australia honeymoon during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months would allow you to experience Australia in their winter. The weather is more temperate allowing you to enjoy the exotic animals, places like Ayers Rock and sophisticated cities without baking in the sun down under.  Our agency owner, Linda has travelled to Australia & New Zealand often and can share with you some of her favorite “must see” spots in Australia and New Zealand.

Romance without the hurricane threat also can be found with a European honeymoon where you can take in the sites of Paris or enjoy a gelato in Rome or Venice.  Some of our clients prefer to incorporate a few countries and major sites and test out romance in more than one country.  We have a Europe specialist who can help put together the European honeymoon of your dreams.

But if your heart is set on the Caribbean, some safer spots are in the southern or eastern Caribbean where hurricanes are less likely to strike.  Some islands that make great choices in this region are St. Lucia or Antigua where you can find four Sandals “Couples Only” all inclusive resorts.  A Sandals honeymoon really takes the stress out of honeymoon and allows you to enjoy great beaches, water activities like scuba diving and snorkeling, great food and drinks,  ALL INCLUDED!  We have three Sandals Specialists in the office and we have been to all of the resorts.   So if you are interested in a Sandals All Inclusive Honeymoon, just give us a call at 1-800-321-7907.  We are happy to help you find shelter from hurricanes and the romantic honeymoon of your dreams.

One Of The Best All Inclusive Resorts For Families – Beaches Negril

By Patty | Published July 1, 2011 | Posted in Caribbean


Click here for more pictures of Beaches Negril

Beaches Negril is one of the best all inclusive resorts for a family vacation.  I only say “one” of the best because Beaches Turks & Caicos is pretty hard to top, but not every family has the budget it takes to vacation at Beaches Turks & Caicos.  Beaches Negril isn’t as big and fancy, but offers everything Beaches Turks & Caicos does so it has to be considered one of the best all inclusive resorts for families in the Caribbean.  Beaches Negril is an ideal place for anyone that loves lots of activity, a beautiful beach, great entertainment and good food.

The beach at Beaches Negril is spectacular, and the soft, white powder sand stretches for seven miles with the stunning clear turquoise water as the backdrop. Would you like to windsurf? Snorkel? Or handle a kayak or hobie cat? How about scuba diving or water skiing and tubing?  It’s all included for free!!

Beaches Negril has a wonderful water park with two giant waterslides and the very popular lazy river which can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.  Of course no Beaches resort would be complete without a great pool and that wonderful Caribbean tradition: the swim-up bar!  Order to drink whatever suits your pleasure and enjoy the pool at the same time.  Life doesn’t get any better than this.  At a Beaches Resort, everyone in the family gets a vacation, including mom and dad.  The kid’s program is one of the best with Ultra Nanny Service, Teen Disco Night, XBOX Garage (no quarters need – it’s included!), supervised age appropriate kids activities and even a program for infants.  You won’t hear “I’m bored” at Beaches Negril and while you will enjoy some of the activities together as a family, often mom and dad will get plenty of quiet time on their own where they can relax on a beach chair or go snorkeling.

This is what one family I sent recently had to say after returning from Beaches Negril:

Patty, Heather and I want to thank you for your assistance and advice in choosing our wonderful vacation destination.  We absolutely loved Beaches Negril!  The kids (and us) were nonstop with so many different things to do.    We also found time to relax on the beautiful beach while the kids collected seashells and built sand castles.  We were a little concerned with all the rain Jamaica had received leading up to our arrival.  We flew into MBJ while it was still raining that first afternoon, and it lasted throughout that evening.  However, we woke up the next morning to beautiful sunshine that continued for the remainder of our stay!

The Beaches employees went out of their way to make us feel so comfortable and they always had nice friendly things to say to the kids.  Rachel and Jacob thought it was pretty cool going up to the bar and ordering their own drinks and making friends with the bartenders!  They also participated in the Sesame Street parade around the resort and down to the beach for the big beach party.  We took lots of photos and couldn’t resist purchasing some of the great family photos that the Beaches photographers took as well.  Simply put, it was a great vacation with memories we will cherish.  We can’t wait to return!

Thanks again, Patty!
-Scott & Heather Carlson

We would love to help you and your family experience one of the best all inclusive family vacations around so give us a call at 1-800-321-7907. We have three Beaches and Sandals specialists in the office and we are all more than happy to help.  Or you can book your Beaches Negril vacation directly online.

The Best All Inclusive Family Resort In Riviera Maya

By Patty | Published June 17, 2011 | Posted in Mexico

The best all inclusive family vacation at the best value in Mexico is the Iberostar Quetzal.  This resort offers beautiful white sand beaches, good food and drink, nice and clean accommodations and a fun environment at a affordable price.  This charming all inclusive resort has character and from the friendly staff to the unique jungle pathways, you will find yourself having a great time!

I work with wholesale pricing on all inclusive resorts in Mexico everyday and have stayed at many resorts in Mexico both at the high end and in the moderate range.  The Iberostar Quetzal is by far the best all inclusive family resort and the best value for its moderate price.

Seven nights at the Iberostar Quetzal All Inclusive starts at around $800 per person depending on what time of year you plan on traveling and kids are usually half the cost of an adult so a family of four can travel and stay seven nights starting at around $2600!

The resort is conveniently located just five to ten minutes from the charming town of Playa Del Carmen and offers great dining options both buffet and a la carte.  The main swimming pool is gorgeous and there is a separate pool with swim up bar for adults.  Activities range from beach and water volleyball, to arts and crafts for the kids in addition to nightly shows on the stage where the resort hosts get the guests involved.  It’s fun for the entire family without spending a fortune.

I am happy to help plan your next family getaway to the Iberostar Quetzal.  So give me a call at 1-800-321-7907 and I’ll help you get your toes in the sand at a great price!  Or if you wish, you can book this resort directly online.

The Best Adults-Only Vacation In Riviera Maya Awaits You At El Dorado Seaside Suites

By Patty | Published June 3, 2011 | Posted in Mexico


Click here for Slideshow

If you are looking for the best “adult only” all inclusive vacation in Riviera Maya, look no further than the El Dorado Seaside Suites Resort.  The El Dorado Seaside Suites is one of the best all inclusive vacation values in Riviera Maya and happens to be a favorite destination of many of our clients.

El Dorado Seaside Suites is conveniently located only fifteen minutes south of the fun town of Playa Del Carmen and yet the resort is close to several interesting and worthwhile off resort excursions. While El Dorado Seaside Suites is a five star, luxurious and gourmet “all inclusive” resort yet it is quite affordable and at certain times a year rooms start at as little as under $300 per night!  Whether you are looking for the most romantic place to honeymoon or the best place to celebrate an anniversary or just looking to get away with other couples, the El Dorado Seaside Suites is a fantastic choice.  Here is what some of our clients are saying about the resort:

Patty,

    Just wanted to thank you again for making all of our travel arrangements. The resort was FANTASTIC! So beautiful and everyone was so friendly. They absolutely bent over backwards to be sure we were taken care of.  We are already scheming to find a way to get back there again soon. We met so many wonderful people and plan to continue to stay in touch. We even discussed getting together there again next year. The whole experience was better than I dreamed it would be.

Thanks again, Barb and Joe Sandegren

These are the sort of comments we receive when our clients return from this beautiful resort.  So if you are looking to plan that special trip, we would be happy to help you see what everyone is raving about.  Best of all, you have four El Dorado Resorts in Riviera Maya to choose from.  Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or you can book this beautiful resort directly on line. Get personalized help at no extra cost!

Visiting A Fijian Village

By Patty | Published March 18, 2011 | Posted in Tahiti & Fiji


Click for Slideshow of a Visit to a Fijian Village

Update: In addition to our current packages and specials page for Fiji, you may be interested in our new page for vacation packages in Tahiti on our website.

If you are traveling to Fiji, I highly recommend you take in a village visit.  While on the lush and mountainous island of Taveuni, I was lucky enough to visit a Fijian village.  The people of the village happily greeted me and were genuinely excited to give me a glimpse of their daily life.

They started out by showing us how they make baskets which they use to carry their crops back from the hills and mountains where they grow the food they need.  I was amazed at how they use every inch of everything that comes from the earth. Fijian people find a use for everything! I then learned how to husk a coconut and what they use each part of the coconut for.  Every village visit is different, but most villages will show you how they cook their food by building a lovo which they use to steam tasty root vegetables like tarot, kasava etc.  The food was delicious.  We even got to watch them snatch fresh water prawns from the nearby stream which they fed us with fresh coconut only minutes later.

We also got to experience a Kava ceremony led by the chief of the village followed by the children of the village performing a couple songs for us.  It was a fantastic experience and one you shouldn’t pass up. While on the beautiful island of Viwa in the Yasawa Island chain, I was also fortunate enough to get to attend church service in the local village.  They welcomed us warmly and we got to sit amongst the village people, children and all and experience a full service spoken in the Fijian language.  It was AMAZING!

If you visit a village, there are certain protocols you need to observe.  For instance it is customary to be clothed appropriately as bathing suits and shorts are not appropriate to wear when visiting a village. Many guests wear sulus which you can find everywhere in Fiji.  Some resorts will give you a sulu to wear to a village visit and most resorts offer sulus for sale in their gift shop.  It is also customary to bring a gift for the village. It is common for guests to bring Kava, but I happened to bring art supplies for the children of the village which lit up their faces with joy when they received them.  Cash donations to the village are also a great way to show your appreciation for the villagers and their willingness to share their way of life with you.  The village I visited on Taveuni proudly informed me that they were able to purchase a lawnmower for their village thanks to the donations of visitors over the last year.

If you would like more information on village visits or would like information on some of our favorite resorts in Fiji, please give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or visit our website where you can view our various Fiji vacation packages and reviews.

 

Paradise In Fiji Can Be Found At Paradise Taveuni Resort

By Patty | Published March 4, 2011 | Posted in Tahiti & Fiji


Click here for a slideshow of Paradise Taveuni

We are often asked which are our favorite resorts in the northern islands of Fiji and some familiar upscale resorts such as Qamea, Matangi and Namale quickly come to mind, but if your budget isn’t big enough for those resorts, an excellent alternative would be Paradise Taveuni.

On a recent trip to Fiji I found this intimate boutique resort on the island of Taveuni.  You can get to the resort by car transfer once on the island of Taveuni, but I arrived via a 30 minute boat ride from a dock close to the airport which you can arrange with the resort. Paradise Taveuni is located on the southern end of the island where you have access to many great diving and snorkeling spots such as Vuna Reef, Rainbow Reef and the White Wall.  I had been touring many resorts on the various Fijian islands and from the moment I arrived I knew this family owned resort was a unique resort aptly named.

The owners Allan and Terri have taken this property which used to be a backpacker’s resort and turned it into a perfect destination for a remote island honeymoon, anniversary trip or even family getaway.  All ten bures are nicely accommodated with a comfortable living space along with bed area.  Outside the bathroom is a private outdoor shower area with a Jacuzzi tub.

The food is very good and the dive operation out of this resort (Pro Dive Taveuni) is top notch!  You can even snorkel and dive right offshore from the resort or enjoy a unique black sand beach just 5 minutes away or perhaps you might want to relax and have a massage in the little massage bure on the edge of the water.

As you can see by my slideshow, this resort is beautiful and is now on my list of favorite resorts in Fiji.  Paradise Taveuni is perfect for a honeymoon, anniversary or family getaway to paradise.  Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907, email at linda@totemtravel.com or check out our website if you want to look at this resort or any other Fiji packages.  We guarantee the lowest prices and know all the resorts well!

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Is One Of The Best All-Inclusive Resort In Fiji For Families Or Couples

By Patty | Published February 4, 2011 | Posted in Tahiti & Fiji


Click for Slideshow of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort

Update: If you’re interested in a South Pacific destination, you may also consider one of our many packages and specials in the islands of Tahiti.

If you are looking to honeymoon in Fiji or vacation with your family in Fiji, take a look at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort.  I recently discovered this gem of a resort located at the end of a dead end dirt road just a short distance from Savusavu Airport on the northern island of Vanua Levu in Fiji.  On this particular trip I was able to see or stay at a dozen high end resorts in Fiji and from the moment I stepped foot on the Cousteau property, I knew I was in for a special experience.

The way the resort is laid out gives it an exotic, romantic feel as well as being both casual and comfortable at the same time. The 24 bures are exquisitely placed along manicured paths that wind along through the tropical landscape of the property.  The resort is perfect for either couples or families as the family areas, ie. pool and bula kids club are set back on the resort and separated from other parts of the resort.  There are separate dining areas for families or adults, yet the resort doesn’t feel divided or disjointed.  The bures are nicely furnished in traditional Fijian style and it was very relaxing to sit on my patio and watch the sunset in such an exotic location. For honeymooners or couples, Cousteau offers:

          Adult Daily Adult Snorkeling Trips        Adult Only Dining          Adult Only Serenity Pool         Romantic Beachfront Bures with private patios facing the ocean and beach   The Ultra Luxurious “Villa Suite” located at the end of the winding path

For families, Cousteau offers:

Lailai Bula Club Programme for children 0-5 years old with complimentary nanny services and   daily activities such as beach walks, snorkel trip in the glass bottom boat with your nanny, lunch at the Bula Club, soccer, volleyball, crab races etc.

Maua Bula Club Programme for children 6-13 years old with a variety of activities that vary daily  Each child is assigned a Bula “buddy” giving mom and dad some precious alone time

One of my favorite aspects of Jean-Michel Cousteau is their Dive Shop and staff.  I was able to snorkel with their resident Marine Biologist “Johnny” who shared his vast knowledge of the coral and fish as we spent a couple hours snorkeling at one of the many snorkel sites easily accessed from the resort.  Johnny handed me several creatures to feel and hold and I learned so much.  The resort offers daily Reef Flat Walks with Johnny as well as slide presentations that explore the secret lives of the coral critters.  It is easy to understand why this resort is one of the premier dive destinations on the globe.

The quality of the food is everything you would expect from a high end resort.  I enjoyed the best tuna I have ever had for dinner one night and I can’t say enough about the eggs in the morning because they are so fresh! The menu changes daily and most of the fantastic meals incorporate fresh ingredients grown right on property in their organic garden which is AMAZING!  At Cousteau, the only items not included are drinks, diving and massages.

In addition to enjoying your time at Cousteau, you might take a day trip to the nearby Pearl Farm or take in local rugby match in the nearby town of Savusavu.  Cousteau Resort is a great place to call home while you are experiencing the beautiful islands in the north.  Give me us a call when you are ready to discover the beautiful islands and people of Fiji at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com.

Add golf into your Caribbean vacation at Sandals Grande Ocho, Royal Plantation or Beaches Boscobel

By Patty | Published December 17, 2010 | Posted in Sandals Resorts

 


Click here for slideshow of the Upton Golf Course

If you are looking to incorporate golf into your family vacation or if you and your spouse want to hit the links while celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon in the Caribbean, then the Ocho Rios area in Jamaica is the spot for you.

Upton Golf Club, formerly called Sandals Golf Club, is an 18 hole golf course nestled in the hills 750 feet above sea level and offers FREE golf to adult guests at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios and Sandals Royal Plantation as well as families staying at Beaches Boscobel.

Having just returned from this beautiful spot, this area strikes me as the perfect spot in the Caribbean where you can enjoy a beautiful resort in the Caribbean and get some golf in as well.  Sandals, Beaches and Royal Plantation guests can access the links via complimentary shuttle and enjoy unlimited golfing on this beautiful course which is lined with mango, coconut, pimento and star fruit trees.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can be shuttled from one of these three resorts for a 1 hour lesson from 8:30am-9:30am.  You can include golf quite easily in your Sandals, Royal Plantation or Beaches family vacation by using the Island Routes desk located at all of these wonderful resorts.  You’ll be golfing in the Caribbean with ease and the only extra cost will be for the club and cart rental, caddy and cocktails!  Upton Golf Club will be rolling out new club rentals by world class Taylor Made and is now offering golf attire by Addidas in their Golf Shop where purchases by Sandals, Royal Plantation or Beaches guests can be charged to their resort account.

Golfing is also available at Sandals Regency St. Lucia where guests staying at any of the three St. Lucia Sandals Resorts can enjoy the Executive nine hole course.  And for the serious golfers, Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas features the highly recognized Greg Norman designed 18 hole course.  This course is amazing and has been recognized by Travel & Leisure Golf as one of the best courses in the Caribbean.  The course was also featured on the Golf Channel’s Big Break. 

So include golf in your next Caribbean vacation the easy way, by booking a Sandals Couples Only Resort or  Beaches family vacation and you might just find yourself atop hole number ten where on a clear day you can see the shimmering Caribbean while taking a quick break at the jerk shack before taking on hole number eleven.

If you are interested in a Caribbean golf vacation, we would be happy to help.  Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com.

Best All-Inclusive Resort for Couples in Jamaica

By Patty | Published November 19, 2010 | Posted in Sandals Resorts


Click for a slideshow of Sandals Grande Ocho Rios

I just returned from Sandals Grande Ocho Rios All-Inclusive Couples Only Resort in Jamaica.  I found this resort to be one of the best resorts for couples travelling to Jamaica who want romance, fun activities, great food, yet want to stay within a reasonable budget.  The resort grounds are beautiful and add to the Caribbean ambiance that most couples are looking for in an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica.

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios All-Inclusive Resort  has a variety of accommodation and dining options.  All-Inclusive accommodations can start at around $2,100 for seven nights in a standard room category which would keep most couples under $3,500 with airfare from most destinations.  There are other options such as beautiful concierge level villas with a shared pool which are nestled into the tropical and lush hillside in the Ciboney Villa section of the resort.  These villas can sometimes be booked under great 1st night free promotions for as little as $2500 for a seven night stay. This is an incredible value which sometimes even comes with a Spa Credit.  For those guests who would like their own personal butler, butler service rooms have never been more affordable, as you can sometimes even find butler level rooms at this “couples only” resort for around $3100 for seven nights!  The dining options are some of the best, as you have your choice of eleven restaurants which range from Italian or Asian to the wonderful flavors of the Caribbean.  Rumor has it, they plan on adding a few more dining options in the near future, including a pizzeria!

Another reason why Sandals Grande Ocho is one of the best all-inclusive resorts for couples in Jamaica is not only are the grounds nice and spread out with lots of privacy, but off resort activities are less than 30 minutes away. This allows couples to go zip lining or visit Dunn’s River Falls without taking a full day to do so.  The location of Sandals Grande Ocho is perfect for those who want to enjoy a nice beach and pool, but want to swim with the dolphins or take a jeep safari trek and see the Jamaican interior full of rivers and lush jungle.  A couple favorite excursions are the Catamaran Sail to Dunn’s River Falls or the tour to Mystic Mountain where you get to soar above the tree tops in a state-of-the-art chairlift, travel down the mountain on a stainless steel bobsled and zip line through the coastal forest.  Sandals Grande Ocho has an island routes desk at the resort where their guests can easily book excursions.

As with other Sandals Resorts, all your meals, drinks and water sports are included in your stay.  At Sandals Grande Ocho, you also have free access to their 18 hole golf course called Upton Golf Club which is only 15 minutes away (only the cocktails, caddy, cart and clubs are not included).  So whether you choose to snorkel, scuba dive, sail, kayak or golf, these activities are all included in your stay. I was able to enjoy their Jamaica Day & Beach Party that the resort hosts for their guests on Friday evenings.  The food and live local entertainment was fantastic!  So if you are looking for a “Couples Only” All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica where you can enjoy romance, fun activities, great food and not break the bank, Sandals Grande Ocho Rios is an incredible value.  If you would like to know more about this fabulous resort or any of the other Sandals Resorts, please give us a call at 1-800-321-7907.  As a Preferred Sandals Agency www.totemtravel.com , we have been to all of them and are happy to help!

Some of the best sites of Sicily in less than a week

By Patty | Published October 8, 2010 | Posted in Europe


Click here for a Slideshow of Sicily, Italy

Many people who travel to Italy neglect to make it to the wonderful island of Sicily which is really a shame because they are missing out on some spectacular historical sites and breathtaking attractions that are worth taking an extra week to go see.  My husband’s family is from a tiny town called Via Grande near the base of Mount Etna and not too far away from the city of Catania, so I have been fortunate enough to take in some of the best sites of Sicily on day trips.

If you are able to add a week to your mainland Italy travels, some of the best sites to see in Sicily would be Taormina, Mount Etna and the city of Siracusa.  Taormina is a small town built into the cliff high above the sea.  Once you make it up to the town not only are the views panoramic and outstanding, but you begin to understand how effective this location must have been from a historically point of view.  From the main shopping street “Corson Umberto” to the medieval quarter there are many things to do while you are in this town perched high atop the hillside.  Taormina is also home to a historic Greek Theatre that sits on the edge of the cliff and if you go during the summer months, you can even take in a concert.  If you decide you aren’t high enough, you can venture uphill another 5 minutes to the town of Castelmola which sits perched above Taormina and perhaps take in a “bird” show.

Mount Etna is a wonderful day trip.  Standing at around 11,000 feet, Mount Etna is the most active volcano in the world.  Even though the volcano is active, you may still trek across the mountain, as tours to the heart of the mountain are readily available.  For the more adventurous hiker, check in with the tourist office in Catania to get the latest eruption news and head to the northern slope where recent activity has been.  While touring the volcano a few years ago, my husband and son even burnt the bottoms of their shoes, so you can get much closer to an active volcano than maybe you even want to be!

Finally, Siracusa is a city rich with historical sites and influenced heavily by both the Romans and the Greeks, as is much of Sicily.  Rome has the Colosseum and Roman Forum, but Siracusa has its own main attractions.  In Ortigia which is the medieval city’s historic center, you may take in ancient sights such as the Greek Temple, Roman Amphitheater, Castello di Eurialo or the famous Ear of Dionysius.  The Ear of Dionysius is an interesting cave carved out of limestone out of Temenites Hill.  The tyrant Dionysius used the cave as a prison for political dissidents and by means of perfect acoustics eavesdropped on plans and secrets of his captives, as even the smallest sound at the back of the cave can be heard.  If you have had enough of ruins, ancient prisons, temples etc., there a many nice swimmable beaches located just outside of the city.

And of course, if you want to immerse yourself into the culture, you can stay at our family agricultural hotel which is located on the family vineyard of Blandano where you can easily access all of these wonderful sites of Sicily!!   If you are interested in travelling to Sicily, give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com

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