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Maui is a beautiful island nicknamed the Magic Isle.  This probably comes from the ancient legend of the demigod Maui, who harnessed the sun from atop 10,000 foot Haleakala, and slowed its descent making a perfect day in Maui last a little bit longer.  And all days in Maui are perfect, as close to paradise as you will find anywhere.

As with Oahu, Maui is not just one area…..it is many.  You will find wonderfully expansive beaches in Wailea, Ma’alaea and Makena on the south coast. Beautiful mountains to the east with countless waterfalls.  On the hills below Haleakala’s summit are Makawao and Pa’ia, where you will find the grassy ranchlands and flower farms of upcountry Maui.  Cooler temperatures prevail in this area, and the views are spectacular.

On my recent visit to Maui, I was fortunate to meet with a local wedding planner who graciously offered to show me many of the wedding venues on the south coast of Maui.  Some of the most beautiful venues on the island are in Wailea and Makena.  Some of the most prestigious hotels are on this side of the island, with beautiful wedding venues, including beaches, gazebos, and gardens.  They also have many different reception areas:  ball rooms, restaurants, small roof top balconies, and of course, the gardens.  One of my favorite settings for a wedding features a waterfall in the back ground!

Also in the Wailea & Makena area are several golf courses, and surprisingly, these offer some of the most fantastic wedding venues.  They are also some of the most affordable options, with great views, reception in the gardens, on roof top terraces, as well as indoor alternatives in the case of rain!

After my wonderful tour of Wailea and Makena, I drove to the Kapalua area of Maui.  This is on the Northwest Coast, and has the most fantastic views imaginable.  There are several very beautiful hotels and condo properties with beautiful gardens, small chapels, and cliffside venues overlooking the beautiful Pacific.  Beaches are available, but they are quite rocky, which makes for beautiful pictures, but tend to be more difficult to traverse than soft white sand.  However, I did find one small beach that I particularly liked and many weddings are performed on this beach.  It is next door to one of the most well known restaurants in Maui, and to make it even more fantastic, they have facilities for your indoor or outdoor reception.

My next destination was west Maui, specifically the Kaanapali Beach area.  Again, there are many hotels which offer wedding packages, but also allow weddings at their properties which are arranged by an off-site coordinator.  Of course, you can have the traditional beach wedding on Kaanapali Beach, which is the most beautiful, swimmable beach on all of Maui.

Black Rock, on Kaanapali Beach is a beautiful setting for a sunset wedding.  Actually, anywhere along Kaanapali Beach is a beautiful sunset wedding venue!   Keep in mind that, as with Oahu, Maui requires permits for beach use.  No furniture, including chairs and tables, can be placed on the beach.  For this reason, make sure that your guests are ok with standing for ½ on the beach.  It would be a real shame to plan your wedding on the beach, and find that your Grandmother will be unable to witness your vows due to mobility concerns.  Remember a garden overlooking the ocean is a perfect compromise.

Lahaina is a quaint old whaling village.  Within the town there is a beautiful, very old, Catholic Church.  It is just about a block off the main street of Lahaina, and is one of the official historic sites in Hawaii.  It is a very short drive from the Kaanapali Beach hotels and condos, so quite convenient for your guests.  Also, in Lahaina is a great Luau…..wouldn’t that be great for your reception or your rehearsal dinner.  From Lahaina there are several cruise options for sunset dinner cruises.  What a great option for a rehearsal dinner, don’t you think?

If a Maui wedding is in your future, please give me a call or send an email and we can discuss all of your options.  Sandi Moore, (425) 821-4100 or sandi@totemtravel.com.

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Swim with the Dolphins on your next vacation in Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean

Has swimming with dolphins been one of your lifelong dreams?  Fulfilling that dream is easier than you think because many cruise ports and tropical vacation destinations offer dolphin programs.

A favorite experience is swimming with a baby dolphin and its mother!  This is an educational program as well as loads of fun.  You will learn about dolphin nursing, their anatomy, physiology, echolocation and the close relationship between the calf (baby) and its mom during the first 5 years.  You will also be able to throw hoops and balls to both mom and baby.  Kids 8 to 80 love this experience and the dolphins love it too!.

Is speed and action more to your liking?  How about swimming with dolphins in the Caribbean Sea?  This program affords you the opportunity to jump right in with the dolphins and let them pull you around the water!  What could be more fun?  Dolphins are very “people loving” and you will really experience the special bond between dolphins and humans while swimming in their world.  They love to kiss you, sing for you, and show off a bit by giving you a ride on their belly.

On Oahu in Hawaii, Sea Life Park has a great program for small children called Dolphin Encounter.  The Dolphin Encounter takes place in shallow water, but the kids still get to experience a kiss and handshake from their new friends.  A Royal Swim is also offered at Sea Life Park and during this swim the dolphins will pull you around by their dorsal fin or give the ultimate “foot push”. You can feel all the strength and energy the dolphin has to offer as they jet you across the water from the bottom of your feet.  Wow!

Dolphin Quest on the Big Island of Hawaii, offers many of the same programs as Sea Life Park plus older kids and adults will enjoy shadowing a trainer for a day.  Beside pool interaction with the dolphins, participants help prepare the dolphins meals, help with health exams and learn some basic training skills.  Dolphin Quest is housed at the Hilton Waikoloa and many rooms have views of the dolphins.

Popular vacation destinations and cruise itineraries include Jamaica, the Bahamas and Mexico and each has a swim with dolphins program.  Ocho Rios has Dolphin Cove.  Playa Del Carmen, about 1 hour south of Cancun, has a great Eco-Park and dolphin program at Xcaret.

And in the Bahamas head to Atlantis on Paradise Island.  Atlantis is a magical place with a fantastic water park, but there’s also a swim with the dolphins program right on property!  The Atlantis is home to the Katrina dolphins which were swept away from their home in Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina.  After being rescued and nursed back to health, all of the dolphins were eventually transported to Atlantis to fully recover and reside at Dolphin Cay’s new state-of-the-art habitat.

Wherever you vacation, I strongly recommend you make reservations prior to your arrival.  Swim with the dolphins programs are extremely popular and often sell out months in advance. Please give me a call at (425) 821-4100 or shoot me an email at sandi@totemtravel.com to book your Swim with Dolphins vacation!

Iberostar Tucan and Iberostar Quetzal are wonderful, all-inclusive, family resorts near the town of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, on the Riviera Maya. The Tucan and Quetzal are actually one resort with separate management teams.  Each has its own front desk and lobby area.  You are free to use all facilities at both, including restaurants.

I was fortunate to be able to spend several days at the Iberostar Tucan a couple of years ago.  Although the resort seems to be very large, it has only 350 rooms on the Tucan side, and 350 rooms on the Quetzal side.  The rooms are located in several 3 storey buildings.  Walking from your room to the lobby and restaurant areas is a unique experience.  The winding pathways lead you through a fantastic jungle like atmosphere with small harmless animals, including monkeys….watch your glasses….they love steal!  At night is an especially beautiful experience, since the pathway is lighted.  If you don’t like the idea of walking through the jungle, you can take the sidewalks on the perimeter of the property.

The accommodations are quite nice, and include either a balcony or a patio for a little outdoor relaxing.  All rooms come equipped with a minibar (stocked and included), hairdryers, coffee makers, and are air-conditioned!  Most rooms are garden view, but the gardens are incredible, as in any tropical locale. Sea view rooms are available, though if this suits you better. I loved the gardens, since the fragrance is so calming.  Since I was actually on a working trip, by the time I got back to my room relaxing was first and foremost on my mind!

The complex, which consists of the Tucan and the Quetzal, has a fantastic pool are that meanders through the center of the property.  Lots of chaise lounges and umbrellas are available and included.  In case you get hungry while sunning and swimming, a pool restaurant has snacks and beverages available…that’s included, too.

The beach at Tucan and Quetzal is perfect for sun bathing and swimming.  The water tends to be calm and warm, so it’s great for little kids, too.   It’s so clear you can see your toes!

I especially enjoyed the entertainment each evening.  It is definitely audience participation!  During the day, the children in the Kids Club work on songs and dances to perform during the evening’s entertainment.  The kids are delighted to be the center of attention.  They usually have a game show style of entertainment, too.  They ask audience members to participate in games like the Newlywed Game, and Family Feud!  Everyone has a good laugh!  There are also local music groups who perform during the week.  They usually perform both Mexican songs in Spanish, and then add some American music, as well.

As everyone in my office will attest to, I am a very picky eater!  I had no problem eating at the Tucan.  The buffet in the morning and at lunch boast many Mexican specialties, as well, as many American dishes. Besides the buffet, there are 5 different specialty restaurants, which include Italian, Mexican, Caribbean and Steakhouse!   The specialty restaurants do require reservations and do have a dress code.

Please give me a call at (425) 821-4100, or send an email to sandi@totemtravel.com when you are ready to have a truly Mexican experience in Riviera Maya.

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When you have children it is almost a necessity to have some time devoted to just having fun and reconnecting.  I’ve been told, and am a believer, that children will not remember that you remodeled the kitchen but they will remember that wonderful family vacation!  A destination that will create wonderful memories for both the adults and the children is Hawaii. What is to stop you from traveling now!  Rates are down for both hotels and air flights.  Below I will detail some great resorts for families, and hopefully encourage that traveling bug!

Honolulu is still a great destination. Yes, it is busier than the other islands, but it offers so many options for fun that it’s worth it!  However, if you really prefer to stay far from Waikiki, the North Shore of Oahu is home to a fantastic family resort called Turtle Bay Resort.  Your teen can take surf lessons, and the younger ones can go for a pony rides.  How about a clear-bottom Kayak, to experience the life under the sea.  The resort itself offers 2 championship golf courses, tennis courts, and 12 miles of hiking trails to accommodate every age group.  Accommodations range from standard Oceanview rooms to Oceanfront Beach Cottages.  And the Turtle Bay Resort is just a short drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center, where you can see the best Polynesian show on Oahu, maybe in Hawaii.

Another family friendly resort, outside the Waikiki area, is the Kahala Hotel & Resort.  This resort has a dedicated club for the keikis (Hawaiian for child) age 5-12.  They will be able to participate in many diverse activities and learn about Hawaiian culture.  Among these activities are reef walking, snorkeling, bamboo pole fishing, lei making, hula dancing and swimming with the dolphins.  Accommodations range from a garden view room to 2 bedroom beachfront suites.  Oh, and for mom and dad?  How about a couple’s massage at the spa!  Many packages include buffet breakfast, too!

Moving on to Kauai, the Garden Isle, we find the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.  Complimentary activities abound for the kids:  a meandering river pool, a 150 foot waterslide, and basketball or volleyball in the pool!  There is also an expansive saltwater lagoon where children can swim, float or kayak together with other children.  Hiking opportunities include an easy hike along a sea cliff with spectacular views….you might even see endangered humpback whales, or monk seals.  Accommodations here run from the standard Gardenview room, to an expansive Oceanfront Suites.

On the big island of Hawaii, is the Hilton Waikoloa Village. I have stayed here and loved every minute!  There is something do all the time!  Dolphin Quest is right at the resort, so Swimming with the Dolphins will surely interest your kids!  Mom and Dad will love it too!  The resort has the most amazing water park…lazy river, swinging bridges, water slides, waterfalls…..Kings Golf Course is also offering Waikoloa Family Golf Days through the end of July.  Families will have the opportunity to play nine holes at a much discounted rate.  Accommodations at this resort include standard rooms, as well as 2 bedroom family units.

Let’s not forget Maui. Maui is quickly becoming the most popular island for families.  One of my favorite family resorts is the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina, on the beautiful Kaanapali Beach.  Small children, as well as the other ones, will have a great time at Camp Hyatt Kaanapali.  They love creating photo memories with their own camp-issued cameras.  I’m sure their favorite will be a photo t-shirt!  How about coconut bowling?  The Hyatt also includes a night program for the kids where they will learn about the Hawaiian night sky with the “Tour of the Stars” astronomy program.  Adults will love sitting around the pool, or playing a round or two of golf, since the kids are having so much fun at Camp Hyatt!

The hotels and resorts mentioned are just a few of the wonderful family properties available in Hawaii.  Many are offering reduced rates, or 3^rd or 4^th night free, buffet breakfasts, reduced rates for luaus or even a resort $ credit.  Now is the time for you plan your family vacation.  The memories you create will stay with you and your children forever!

Please call me to start the coconut rolling!  Sandi Moore, (425) 821-4100, or sandi@totemtravel.com