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Beach Palace in Cancun was nearly destroyed in a hurricane a couple of years ago.  But Beach Palace is back as a brand new resort. All Inclusive, beautiful pools, small but lovely beach, 24 hour room service and restaurants requiring no reservations.

I had visited Beach Palace in 2002 on my first trip to Cancun.  I was not all that impressed.  In October of 2008, I visited again. I was certainly impressed this time!  I loved this resort.  The rooms are all beautifully appointed with soft colors, jetted tubs, and flat screen televisions.  The complimentary mini-bar is stocked with sodas, bottled water and beer, and a liquor dispenser, with whiskey, tequila, rum and vodka, is also complimentary.  Turn down service, with mints on the pillow, is available for every room.

Beach Palace offers a very unique entertainment venue.  Movies poolside! A very large movie screen drops from an arch between the pool and the beach.  You can watch the movie from the beach or pool side.  Just like the drive-in, but without the car!  Imagine sitting in your lounge chair, watching the movie, listening to the waves crashing on the beach, and a frozen Margarita in your hand….what could be cooler!

Weddings at Beach Palace are very popular.  No wonder!  With the Sky Terrace as your setting, you and your guests will have a 360 degree view of the open sea and the white sand beach.   Beach Palace knows how to do your wedding right with a personal wedding planner, numerous restaurants, bars and the Infinity Ballroom, for an elaborate event.  Free weddings at the Sky Terrace are available with few restrictions!

Select tours are included in your Beach Palace vacation.  You can visit Chichen Itza, the famous Mayan Ruins, or Tulum/Xpu-Ha, a smaller Mayan ruin site, or maybe a day at Wet ’n Wild with the kids.

Kids are welcome at the Beach Palace and a kids club for those youngsters 4-12 years old.  Age appropriate activities are planned for each group.  Crafts, water sports (the kids have their own pool), singing & dancing, and just plain fun on the playground, are all included at the kids club.

Of course, the adults have a couple of unique pools, too.  The 2 Rooftop pools offer beautiful beach beds and loungers, and swim-up bars and amazing views.  There is a large family pool, as well, with pool games and activities.

Food is plentiful at Beach Palace.  Breakfast is usually a buffet, so everyone will be happy.  Lunch can be an Italian buffet, or hamburgers and hot dogs on the terrace.  During the day, dress codes are very, very casual, a cover-up over that swim-suit is required, but shorts & t-shirts are fine.    But dinner….dress codes are enforced but are very liberal:  long pants, collared shirts and shoes for the gentlemen are required.  Ladies are appropriately dressed in sundresses and sandals.

Dinner offerings at Beach Palace include Tequila, with a Mexican Buffet, or Bocacelli with an Italian a la carte menu.  The Wok Restaurant serves Oriental cuisine, a la carte.  La Terazza, the terrace restaurant outside Bocacellis, has a more casual dress code, but serves fine grilled cuts of meat.

In addition to the restaurants, Beach Palace also offers 24 hour room service.  My guess is that the dress code here is very casual!

If Beach Palace sounds like your idea of a great family vacation, or the perfect venue for your wedding, please give me a call or send an email.  I am happy to help you plan that perfect experience, be it a wedding, honeymoon, or family vacation.

Sandi Moore

sandi@totemtravel.com

425-821-4100

One of my favorite resorts in Fiji has a fantastic free meal deal so two people can dine for for the price of one. At Tokoriki most meals are served poolside with a stunning view of the ocean beyond. The gourmet cuisine features the best Fiji has to offer including seafood fresh from the sea, tropical fruits, Indian spices and beautiful preparations designed to enhance the culinary experience.

Add a lovely beach, gorgeous and very private oceanfront bures (with and without private pools), a wedding chapel and tropical weather year round and you’ve got all the ingrediants for a romantic honeymoon, destination wedding or special anniversary. Please call, email or request a quote if a Fiji vacation is in your future!

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Last fall I was in France completing my travel agent France Specialist Certification. While there I was lucky enough to be ale to visit Chambord Castle in the Loire Valley. A favorite Chateau of many, it’s one of the most ornate and architecturally interesting castles I’ve seen, topped with all the spires and towers. 

Started in the early 1500’s it has been added to over and over by different owners, some using the Gothic theme others adding with a more Classical theme, some Romanesque others French or Italian. With some 32 apartments, life at Chambord consisted of periods of intense activity followed by long periods of total abandon. When occupied the whole court was installed with the Royal caravan bringing trunks, beds, tables and chairs, tapestries, works of art, book and trestles and all that was necessary for the comfort of the king, actually a whole village. While in residence one of the favorite activities was the royal hunts on the vast estate and then when the court departed again the immense castle would be abandoned until next time. 

The French government bought Chambord in 1930 and has fully renovated it, filing the moats and landscaping the grounds. The castle conservation organization keeps the building furnished and even carries on the tradition of the hunt. Today the crowds of tourists have replaced that of the court and Chambord is a place to stroll the grounds on a beautiful day, you can walk for hours on trails or spend your time exploring the inside the apartments for a glimpse of the early life at the castle and beautiful and unexpected views from the many towers and keeps. 

Chambord is also known for its famous Black Raspberry Liqueur and other culinary treats available from around the region.  

The Loire Valley is dotted with Chateaus such as Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Cheverny and Chateau de Blois to name a few.  If you’d like more information on traveling in France and the Loire Valley call or email Jennefer our France Specialist at Totem Travel.

Traveling now is better than ever!  Mexico, recovering from their “swine flu” scare, is offering tremendous price cuts.  One example:  package to Mexico, for 2 people, at a 5* Resort, all-inclusive, booked prior to “swine flu” was $2100, without airfare; same package booked now:  $2500 WITH airfare from Seattle included!  How good is that! 

Hawaii is having incredible specials now too!  Hotels are offering: free buffet breakfasts, 1 or 2 room category upgrades (pay for Gardenview, receive Partial Oceanview or better), and free nights!  Example:  2 people, roundtrip airfare to Maui, 7 nights at the Hyatt Regency, with breakfast & a 2 room category upgrade, and the 6^th night free, would be about $3700.  There are many other Hawaii deals floating around out there. 

The Southern California Kids fly Free program has been extended….book by May 31^st for travel prior to June 17th.  That means for each adult, one child 2-11 years old, will fly free!  That certainly makes that Disney or San Diego trip more affordable.  Hurry, though we have to book by May 31^st! 

If these vacation ideas sound inviting… or if you have other vacation destinations in mind… please give me a call (425 821 4100) or email me at sandi@totemtravel.com.  There are so many travel opportunities out there you do not want to miss out!

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It’s not often I recommend accommodations in Fiji for less than $100 night but this year has made exceptions to a lot of rules. When I was in the islands a few months ago with the Fiji Visitors Bureau, I discovered several lovely beachfront resorts that are also great values. One favorite was Uprising Resort.

Uprising is built on a long stretch of soft sand beach near Pacific Harbour.  Accommodations range from a bunk house with shared bath facilities suitable for the backpacker to comfortable beachfront bures for a more traditional vacation experience.

At today’s fantastic exchange rate, a bunk is about $20 night and bures start under $100 night for two adults including breakfast daily.  Nearby activities include shark and coral dives, snorkeling, horseback riding, ziplining, river rafting, a visit to a traditional Fijiian village and shopping at a local craft market.

For those seeking a little more upscale environment and time on one of the outer islands, I’ve found quite a number of packages for $5-6K including airfare for two, 7 or 8 nights accommodations and some meals.  May through October is the best time to travel in Fij with high temperatures in the 80’s and lots of sunshine.  So call or email Linda, Totem Travel’s Fiji specialist, when it’s time to plan your vacation  or honeymoon in the South Pacific.