I have just returned from a wonderful familiarization trip to Cancun and Riviera Maya.  While in Cancun, we were lucky enough to stay at the Dreams Cancun Resort.

Dreams, an all-inclusive family resort,

is on the north end of the Cancun hotel strip.  It was recently renovated and a new “Preferred Club” tower has been added.   Many of the suites in the Preferred Club offer Jacuzzis, 2 bedrooms (great for families) access to the Tower pool, and private concierge service.  The Presidential Suite (which is where I stayed….NOT!!) has a 360 degree view of the property and the Caribbean Sea, a private elevator, and meeting space for up to 12 people.

Dreams is a great destination for families.  A supervised children’s program is available for the young ones, where they will participate in age appropriate activities: crafts, games & water sports.  The smaller children have their own pool, too!  Of course, mom and dad will want to relax and enjoy the Spa facilities, including aromatherapy massages……I admit I did have to indulge myself!

A state of the art work out facility is available for those die-hard fitness fanatics.  Spinning classes, free-weights, treadmills and elliptical machines are all available at no extra charge.  Of course, a sauna, also at no extra charge, is a great way to end that work out.

For those who prefer a little more of the group participation sports, there’s always a volleyball game on the beach, a little kayaking or a game of tennis at the lighted courts.

At Dreams you can swim with the dolphins! The swim with the dolphins program is at an extra charge, but the 6 dolphins which are always willing to give you a little show when they are not “working”.  You can hear them chirping at each other throughout the day and they love chasing and playing with each other.  I was able to have quite a show right from my room terrace!  What a treat.

The restaurants at Dreams are quite good.  My favorite was the Oceana which serves freshly, caught today, seafood and the best steaks!  The apple tart was pretty good too!  Many will love the Asian cuisine served at Himitsu….a great variety of sushi, as well as salmon and other seafood options.  Seaside Grill is also a great choice for surf and turf, served right on the beach.  World Café serves buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner…..great food!  One of the great things about the restaurants at Dreams:  no reservations required!  We didn’t wait long for seating at any of the venues.

Oh, and shopping!!  Within walking distance of Dreams…….upscale shops and local flea markets and local night clubs…it’s all there.

Please call me to book your vacation at Dreams.  Sandi Moore, 425-821-4100 or 1-800-321-7907

I recently had the pleasure of tour the Garza Blanca Preserve on the south shore of Banderas Bay, outside Puerto Vallarta.  This resort is absolutely beautiful, brand new, and in a fantastic tropical jungle setting, on a private beach.

Garza Blanca Preserve is a contemporary hotel set amid the lush hills and mountains of a nature preserve.  Walking paths lead guests to the private, secluded beach below.  Garza Blanca Preserve is designed to complement its surroundings, with a relaxed atmosphere for families and couples seeking that stress-free Puerto Vallarta vacation.

With only 82 guestrooms and suites, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort is not a mega resort, but more quiet and intimate.  Guestrooms feature furnished balconies, marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers, plush bathrobes.  Suites, 1 to 3 bedrooms, have full kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, and laundry facilities.  The suite terraces are huge, with a wet bar, and are the perfect setting for family get-togethers, even a small wedding reception!

Within the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort are 2 swimming pools, one just for kids, a poolside bar, with snacks and beverages, as well as the gourmet restaurant Blanca Blue.  Baby sitting service is also available, so mom and dad can have that romantic private candlelit dinner on the beach!

If luxurious, beachfront, accommodations, in a peaceful setting, are on your wish-list, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort, in Puerto Vallarta is the place for you.  Whether for a family vacation, a wedding, honeymoon, or a couples retreat, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort offers something for everyone!

Please give me a call, Sandi, 425-821-4100, or send me an email to start the ball rolling on your luxury vacation!

At Totem Travel you will get personalized help from a travel expert, at no extra cost!

If you are asking yourself where would be the perfect location to honeymoon or vacation in the winter months of December, January and February, take a look at Belize in Central America.  In our coldest winter months, Belize offers warm sunny weather, white sand beaches, romantic accommodations and interesting cultural activities.  So if you’re wanting to escape the winter weather and enjoy a romantic tropical honeymoon or active eco vacation, Belize has it all!

Belize’s climate is perfect in January and February with highs in the 80’s, loads of sunshine and minimal rainfall.  You’ll find luxurious beachfront resorts ideal for a romantic couple, exotic jungle lodges and a huge variety of fun land and water activities.  You can explore ancient archaeological sites of Mayan temples, the second largest barrier reef in the world, living coral gardens, tropical rain-forests alive with hundreds of species of birds, plants and animals, as well as beautiful sun-drenched beaches.

From the island of Ambergris Caye to the coastline in Southern Belize, there are many great resort choices for a December, January or February honeymoon.  One of our favorite resorts in Belize is Hamanasi Resort where you have access to water activities like snorkeling, diving and river rafting as well as land activities such as caving, hiking in the rainforest or a visit to Mayan ruins.

Another fabulous resort for a tropical vacation or honeymoon would be Ramon’s Village on Ambergris Caye. This island is only 25 miles long and is home to the charming town of San Pedro.  This is the destination for you if you want to be on the beach and want to spend your days snorkeling and diving.

If you are planning on honeymooning in December, January or February and would like tropical warm weather, white sand beaches and adventurous activities, Belize has got it all!  Send us an email or give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 to help plan your Belize honeymoon this coming winter.

One of the best, and most comprehensive ways to visit all of the Islands of Hawaii in just 7 days, is to cruise!   Norwegian Cruise Line offers a cruise from Honolulu to 3 outer islands: Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii.  Stops in Kauai and Maui include an overnight stay.  So no rushing!  Imagine visiting 4 islands, and only packing and un-packing once!

Saving money is on everyone’s mind these days.  A great way to save some money on vacation is by saving the expense of passports for the whole family, at about $100 + per person.  Since you are not leaving the USA, a passport is not required.  Another plus is eliminating additional hotel nights.  If you are flying from the West Coast, you can fly from your home city on the morning of the sail date, arriving in Honolulu with lots of time to spare prior to embarkation.  On the return, you will have plenty of time after disembarkation to get to the airport and fly home!

Of course no cruise is complete without a few excursions to see the sights at each port.  Since you will have an overnight stay in both Maui and Kauai, many folks prefer to rent a car and explore on their own.  Even though Hawaii is very exotic and you feel as though you are in a foreign land, you are still in the USA; we drive on the right side of the road, and all of the street signs are in English.  Albeit, Hawaiian names are a bit difficult to grasp at first!   Both Kauai and Maui have handy self guided island tours.  Just stop at the first ABC Store (they are everywhere) and invest in the CD version, about $15, and pop it into the car CD player and enjoy your tour!  And the fact that you are saving a lot of money!

On board the Pride of America, it’s business as usual, even while in port.  That means your meals are still being prepared 3 times a day, snacks are always available, and the bartenders are still on duty!  So if you prefer to return to the ship for your meals, that’s not a problem at all.  Otherwise, having breakfast and dinner on board, and your lunch ashore is still a good way to save some money.  Norwegian Cruise Line was one of the first cruise lines to offer dining called Free Style.  This means no assigned dining time, table or dinner companions.  This gives you even more freedom while in port.

Your stop in Hilo allows plenty of time to visit the Volcanoes National Park, or the Planetarium for some star gazing.  Do you enjoy the chocolate covered Macadamia Nuts…..go right to the source, at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory!  Your friends and family will appreciate your thoughtfulness when you bring home boxes of these tasty bites of Hawaii.

After leaving Hilo you will cruise to the other side of the island, past Mount Kilauea, you will hopefully be able to catch a few pictures the flowing lava in the darkness.  Of course, that’s something dependent upon Mother Nature!

Kona, Hawaii is a great place to explore.  There are so many shops, restaurants (if you choose), and activities, you won’t know which to do first!  A favorite is the Kailua Glass-bottom boat.  You will be able to experience the underwater paradise of colorful reefs full of fish and other aquatic wildlife!

Once back in Honolulu, if you have a late flight, be sure to visit Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, and of course, Waikiki Beach!

If Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America sounds like the way you would like to see Hawaii, please give me a call or send an email.  I am happy to help you realize the fun of touring 4 islands in 7 days!

sandi@totemtravel.com
425 821-4100 or 1 800-321-7907

If the adults in the family have been dreaming of a cruise to Alaska but thought the kids might not be as excited as they would be for a trip to Disneyland, your day has arrived!

Disney Cruise Line has heard the cries from the West Coast asking for a Disney Cruise Ship.  In 2011 Disney will add a 7 day family friendly cruise to Alaska, cruising roundtrip from Vancouver BC, on the Disney Wonder.  The Disney Wonder is hugely popular on its Caribbean itinerary and it offers so many activities for children and adults that you may never want to leave the ship!

• A Disney cruise is the perfect family vacation! Disney Wonder has several youth clubs which offer all children, regardless of age, a place meet other kids, play some new games, watch a few movies, play video games, and just plain have fun! And we all know that when the kids are happy, everyone is happy!!

• Aloft is a 24 hour club for your teens age 13-17 to participate, with their peers, in dance parties, board games, video games, as well as watch movies and listen to music at various music listening stations!

• The little guys, age 3 months to 3 years, also have their own private club, called Flounder’s Reef Nursery! Activities at Flounder’s Reef Nursery are unscheduled, and based on the mood of your child. However, with movie time, storey time, and nap time, your little ones will be very happy.

• For children ages 3 to 12, Oceaneer’s Club offers many, age appropriate activities. A computer lab with child-friendly computers, a crow’s nest slide and rope bridge for exploring, a dance floor, and a small stage for games, are but a few of the fun options available!!

We did say this was the perfect family vacation, didn’t we?  Studio at Sea offers lots of family entertainment with games, live entertainment, games shows, line dancing and movies!  Live musicals, Broadway style live shows, first run movies, including 3-D shows, and Character greetings, all offer the kind of first class entertainment we expect from Disney.

And food!  Disney Wonder has 9 very different dining options.  Among those is the Animator’s Palate, which celebrates the magic of Disney Animation and includes an innovative dinner show.  If you’re looking for a quick bite, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, right next to Pluto’s Pool, serves pizza all day long!  For the adults that would like a quiet evening while the kids are occupied at Oceaneer’s Club, Palo offers Northern Italian Cuisine, in an adult’s only atmosphere!

Since this IS an Alaska cruise, Disney Wonder will be making port calls at Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.  Mendenhall Glacier and panning for gold are top excursions in Juneau.  Ketchikan is a quaint little town with a revitalized shopping area!  The Saxman Native Village, just outside Ketchikan, is a great way to watch Totem Poles being carved and to see some very unusual ones, as well. I saw one with Abe Lincoln on top!!   Skagway and the White Pass/Yukon train are nearly synonymous.  Everyone who visits Skagway wants to ride the White Pass/Yukon train.  The train was established in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush and has been operating since then with a brief shut-down in the late 1980’s.  In the early days of the White Pass Train it served as transportation for people and equipment, but now is primarily a tourist attraction.

Don’t forget the wildlife of Alaska!  During the cruise you will be treated to whale sightings, eagles soaring over the bay, (if you’re lucky you will catch one diving into the water, catching a salmon, and flying off again), and bears, hopefully not up too close!

Hopefully, with Disney Cruise Line sailing to Alaska, this will be your chance to take in a cruise to the Last Frontier, and keep the kids happy and entertained, too!

Sailings are available for booking now, and I would be very happy to help you choose the best sailing for your family.  Please send me an email, sandi@totemtravel.com, or give me a call at 425 821 4100.

A lot of attention has been drawn to the resorts and islands of Tahiti with the filming of the Bachelorette, but not every couple has the budget to honeymoon in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora.  So here are some of the best values, resort specials and honeymoon packages for the South Pacific -

The  Bora Bora Pearl Resort offers one free night and breakfast daily with every 4 night stay.  This is one of my all time favorite resorts and every room category has something extra special.  The garden bungalows have a private plunge pool.  The beach bungalows have a private courtyard with Jacuzzi and outdoor shower.  And the fabulous overwater bungalows offer stairs from the deck into the clear, warm, shimmering lagoon filled with brightly colored tropical fish and turquoise water.

The Hilton Moorea and Bora Bora Nui  have some great deals going and I recently combined the two islands for an 8 night package including air and an overwater bungalow for under $7K total for two.  The final episode of the Bachelorette was filmed almost exclusively at the Bora Bora Nui so the location obviously has the romantic ambiance and beautiful settings for a very special honeymoon.

The Sofitel Resorts offer free breakfast and dinner with a 4 night stay on Moorea or Bora Bora and if you stay 8 nights in any combination of Softel Resorts you’ll get a bonus night on Tahiti.  The Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora  is widely considered the best resort on Moorea and is located on a gorgeous beach with beautifully remodeled garden, beach and overwater bungalows.  My personal favorite is the beach bungalow with more space, more privacy and great views.

Besides catching a great resort special another way to stretch your Bora Bora vacation budget is to dine at a local restaurant.   A couple of favorites include Matira Beach, about a 15 minute walk from the Sofitel, where a popular lunch of kabobs, beer and fries runs about $20.  Or try Le Bounty for a dinner of pizza, pasta or fondue for around $25.

And remember, most non motorized watersports in Tahiti are free.  So you can enjoy snorkeling, sailing, canoeing and kayaks to your heart’s content.  Speaking of hearts…. the secluded white sand beaches and romantic sunsets are free too!  

Please call or email linda@totemtravel.com if you need help planning your South Pacific vacation. I am a Tahiti, Fiji and South Pacific island specialist and would love to help you find the perfect spot for your romantic getaway!

Click for Slideshow of “Island Routes”

As a Preferred Sandals and Beaches travel agency, we know all the specials and help a lot of couples and families see the Caribbean.  However, no vacation or all inclusive honeymoon would be complete without taking advantage of one or more of the Island Routes tours.  Island Routes has compiled a series of tours they like to call the “Best of the Best”.  Do you enjoy a leisurely bus tour, or are you more adventuresome and want to do a little zip-lining, or ride the Jamaican Bobsleds?

One of the most popular tours in Jamaica is the Zip Line, or Canopy Tour.  Enjoy soaring through the trees on a system of harnesses and pulleys through the jungle canopy.  You will not only have a bird’s eye view of the beautiful landscape, but you may also get a glimpse of the Caribbean Sea!

Horseback riding on the beach is fun for everyone.  Your ride will take you along the remains of 2 of the oldest sugar estates on the island, while your guide explains the flora and fauna native to this area.  The most fun though comes when your horse gallops through the surf!  Be sure to wear your swimsuit, because you will get wet, but it’s such fun you won’t care!

Up for some river rafting?  This is an adventure for the whole family!  The White River Valley is a garden paradise, but the real adventure lies in the White River, with the challenging rapids and mystical lagoons.

Deep sea fishing is another of the adventures that can give you that one-in-a-lifetime experience. These are the same waters Ernest Hemmingway spent his days.  Think of the fish stories you can tell back home when you bring in that Blue Marlin or King Fish!!

Swimming with the dolphins has become a very popular vacation inclusion.  Jamaica is no exception!    Dolphin Cove in the Ocho Rios area allows you to play with, kiss and even be pulled about, by the beautiful bottlenose dolphins.  If you prefer to be a spectator, that’s good too!  You can watch the dolphins showing off and you can also take in the Shark Show!

These excursions are available from all Sandals Resorts, but they are most accessible and convenient from the resorts in Ocho Rios: Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, Beaches Boscobel and Royal Plantation. 

On the unspoiled South Coast of Jamaica, at Sandals Whitehouse, you might do a River and Rum adventure.  As you might imagine you will tour the Appleton Rum Estate, and do a Black River Safari, but the highlight is YS Falls.  This beautiful waterfall is yours to enjoy!  Not just to look at, but to cavort in the cascades!

If you’re considering a stay on the 7 mile Negril Beach and staying at Sandals Negril, Beaches Sandy Bay or Beaches Negril, how about an ATV Safari? Adults and teens alike will love this adventure.  On your very own four-wheel ATV you will journey deep into the countryside on twisting pathways that wind beneath the dense jungle canopy.  Included is a stop for refreshments and to enjoy the amazing views of the Caribbean Sea, while you listen to your guide enlighten you with the history of the Negril region.  A not to miss part of this tour is swimming in the secluded private pool carved from sheer rock!

If you need help choosing the best Sandals or Beaches Resort for your honeymoon or all inclusive family vacation, please send me an email or give me a call and if one of these excursions sounds good to you, I am happy to help you reserve your adventure! sandi@totemtravel.com (425) 821 4100 or (800) 321-7907

Riviera Maya is one of the most beautiful areas of Mexico and is fast becoming THE vacation destination of Mexico.  Along with great beaches, beautiful resorts, and fun shopping experiences at the 5^th Avenue shops in Playa Del Carmen, many activities are readily available, too.  Para sailing, jet skiing, swim with dolphins, swimming the cenotes (underground rivers) and deep sea fishing are just a few of the options.

One of the many resorts in Riviera Maya is the Excellence Riviera Maya, located Puerto Morelos area, about 20-30 minutes from Cancun Airport.  Excellence Riviera Maya is an adults’ only, all-inclusive beach resort, which caters to couples, so an excellent choice for a wedding and/or honeymoon.  Excellence features 8 restaurants, which require no reservations, and 10 bars, 6 swimming pools and 5 outdoor Jacuzzis.

If that’s not enough, non-motorized waters ports are included in your resort package:  windsurfing, sailing, sea kayaking, water aerobic and water polo!   If land activities are more your cup of tea, don’t worry, there are plenty of those too.  Yoga, basketball, bicycling, billiards and a fully equipped fitness center are available to keep you in shape.  After those 8 restaurants you may need it!!

A full-service, world class spa is, at an extra charge, is available to assist you in attaining complete relaxation and to massage away all those achy muscles.  Isn’t that what a vacation is for?

Wedding packages, which include an on-site wedding coordinator who will take care of all of the details for you, are available.  Whether you are planning an elaborate ceremony, with a large reception, or a small private affair, with just a few close friends and family, Excellence can accommodate you and your bridal party.

Accommodations at Excellence Riviera Maya are all Jr. Suites, and include marble bathrooms with jetted tubs, a stocked mini bar, a 4 poster bed, robes and slippers, and a Secret Box for room service.  The Secret Box is a small opening in your wall, which has a door on both sides.  This allows your room service waiter to slip your drinks and/or food into the box without disturbing you.  The waiter just rings the bell to let you know your order has been delivered!  This is, obviously, one of my favorite features!

If a wedding, honeymoon, or a couples retreat is on your travel agenda, please send me an email, or give me a call at (425) 821-4100 or (800) 321-7907 and we’ll get the ball rolling!

-Sandi

Click for Sandals Royal Plantation Vow Renewal slide show

If your anniversary is coming up and you’d like to make it ultra special, consider celebrating at a Sandals all inclusive resort or renew your wedding vows at Sandals Royal Plantation Resort in Jamaica.  A tropical, adult only vacation is guaranteed to rev up the romance, put a glow on your face, sparkle in your eyes  and remind you why you chose each other a few years or decades ago!

Here’s what Rose and Scott (the happy and adorable couple above) had to say -

My husband and I renewed are vows at Royal Plantation Resort for our 25th Wedding
Anniversary and it really was like a fairy tale come true!  We renewed our vows at the Gazebo at the end of the dock looking out at the ocean. The gazebo was decorated with the most beautiful flowers and the staff made us feel like it was our first! The grounds are so beautiful, the beach is great and the food is wonderful! We hope to go back. It is the nicest and friendliest place we have ever stayed…. You are so pampered!

At any of the 12 all inclusive Sandals Resorts located on five tropical Caribbean islands, the Vow Renewal package is $200 for guests staying 7 nights or longer and includes bouquet, cake, boutonniere, photo and champagne.   Ask one of our Sandals Specialists about other “surprises” to make your day even more special and memorable!

At Royal Plantation Resort in Jamaica the vow renewal package is $699 with all of the above plus a 50 minute couples massage, champagne breakfast in bed, a fresh orchid floral arrangement in the suite, music and extra surprises from your personal butler!

Of course anniversaries aren’t the only special occassions celebrated at Sandals and Royal Plantation Resorts.  These resorts are perfect for a Destination Wedding, all inclusive honeymoon or relaxing adult only vacation away from day to day worries and responsibility.  Our Sandals Specialists have been to all the resorts and would love to help you plan a romantic, carefree getaway so call or email with your questions, read our resort reviews or book online.  Once you decide to go, love is all you need!

I’m always looking for an affordable vacation on the beach so one of the resorts I was dying to see in Puerto Vallarta Mexico was the Sheraton Buganvilias.  The Sheraton was closed for 2 years for renovation and remodeling and the mostly new beachfront resort is beautiful with vacation packages to fit any budget!

Sheraton is a on a good beach and has wonderful views of Banderas Bay. Because it’s close to town, only 5 blocks to downtown Puerto Vallarta, Sheraton is a popular family vacation resort and a wonderful choice for an affordable honeymoon! 

You can easily stretch your vacation budget by walking from the Sheraton into town where you’ll find excellent restaurants ranging from authentic Mexican to seafood, steak, international cuisine and chain restaurants.  You can shop in old town, enjoy free entertainment along the malecon or stay for the late night scene where clubs and bars are open until the wee hours.  A cab back is only about $5.00 so not a bad idea late at night!

Popular activities in Puerto Vallarta include parasailing, swim with the dolphins, jet skis, sunset and dinner cruises, golf, shopping, tequila and tortilla factory tours and more.

At Sheraton Buganvilias you will be able to keep up with your exercise regiment with 2 gyms, tennis courts, and 2 swimming pools!  The supervised children’s program is free of charge and available for children ages 5-12, from 9am-5pm.  Kids will work on arts and crafts, play games at the beach and pool, and learn about the cultural and artistic elements of Mexico.  This means mom and dad will have time for that special couples’ massage, or a couple rounds of golf at a near-by golf course!

Restaurants at the Sheraton include La Villita where you can enjoy a great breakfast buffet or a la carte with beautiful oceanviews with the dolphins and whales playing in the bay!  Gaviotas Restaurant is a warm and welcoming venue for wonderful Mexican cuisine!  The Lobby Bar is a great place to relax and to enjoy evening live entertainment!  Embarcadaro is the perfect place to spend the afternoon:  good music, Cuban, Jazz, Salsa, Raggae and Rock; a varied menu of special international dishes; and over 50 different brands for Tequila lovers!

All of the rooms at the Sheraton include the Sheraton’s Sweet Sleeper beds.  These beds are so comfortable, I’m not sure you will want to leave!  Each room has a safe, air-conditioning, hair dryers, stocked mini-bar or small refrigerator.  The Club Rooms are a great value since they include a continental breakfast and afternoon hors d’oeuvres & wine, served in the VIP lounge.  All of the Club rooms are on the top two floors of the main building and have fantastic views.

I know that you will enjoy Sheraton Buganvilias as much as I did.  So call or email sandi@totemtravel.com to book your family vacation, honeymoon, or couples’ get-a-way!!