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New Iberostar all inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico opening soon

By Patty | Published October 28, 2011 | Posted in Mexico

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

Review Of Couples Swept Away – Negril by Totem Travel Client Travelled 6/27/2011

By Patty | Published September 29, 2011 | Posted in Caribbean


Click here for more photos of Couples Swept Away

Hello Patty!!!

So Couples Swept Away… I cannot say enough about this resort. We had the time of our lives. The staff was PHENOMENAL. We LOVED our room – Beachfront Verandah Suite on the 3rd floor (thank you again for putting those requests in!!). For future clients, I would highly recommend paying a little more to be in the newer buildings (at least they seemed newer – but maybe just renovated). These are all the Beachfront and Oceanfront buildings (if you’re looking at a resort map, they are on the right part of the resort). Not only are these buildings nicer, but they seemed larger too. They have TVs, which we wanted. Even though you don’t think you’ll watch much TV, it’s nice to have while you fall asleep or get ready for dinner. They are also NOT by the road, which we heard was quite noisy. So overall, we were extremely happy with the room choice we made!

One of the reasons we chose Negril was for the beach. It did not disappoint. White sand and crystal clear water every day. There were always plenty of lounge chairs available, as well as drink flags. There are also several hammocks up and down the beach that were wonderful to lay in.

The food options were amazing. We have done all-inclusive before and the food here was light-years better than the other places we have been. Feathers restaurant was our favorite place – we ate there two nights. The Thai place was probably our least favorite – but we are very picky about our Thai. I think we are spoiled in Seattle! Patois was delicious… especially the Banana-stuffed french toast at breakfast! The view from Patois was also incredible – you look out over the pool and beyond that to the
blue blue ocean! The other restaurants were also wonderful. We always had stellar service too.

The Catamaran/Sunset Cruise that we got free with the resort was probably our favorite activity!! It took us from our resort, all the way down the coast past Rick’s Cafe to the Lighthouse, turned around, and then stopped so we could swim in caves and go off the slide on the side of the Catamaran. So much fun!! We also took advantage of the other all-inclusive benefits including sea kayaking, snorkeling, glass- bottom boat tour, sailing, etc. We did not scuba dive but it was offered.

The last thing I will say about the resort – if you have clients who are fitness enthusiasts, this is the place to be. Their 10-acre fitness complex is the largest on the island and has everything you can imagine - tennis courts, squash courts, racquetball courts, basketball courts, a huge lap pool, fitness classes, a running loop with cross training stations, an open-air workout room with state-of-the-art machines, billiards, ping pong, a lounge area with TVs, and a rejuvenation bar with energy drinks, smoothies,
infused waters, teas, etc. The spa is also located here and we took full advantage of our free couples massage! Heavenly!!

Thank you again for everything,
Kirsten

Couples Swept Away Negril is a fantastic choice for a honeymoon or special anniversary trip especially if you are beach lovers, as Negril is one of the most amazing beaches in the world. We also specialize in Sandals “Couples Only” Resorts which also offer a romantic honeymoon experience. If you are drawn to a more unique, small, boutique type experience, perhaps The Caves just outside of Negril would fit what you are looking for. We will help you find the right spot and always guarantee the lowest prices. Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or you can email me patty@totemtravel.com

I am happy to help!

Sandals Carlyle Inn – The Most Affordable of 13 Sandals Resorts

By Patty | Published August 12, 2011 | Posted in Sandals Resorts


Click here for slideshow of Sandals Carlyle Inn

The best deal for an all inclusive Sandals vacation may be Sandals Carlyle Inn which is the most affordable of 13 Sandals Resorts located on five beautiful Caribbean islands.  Carlyle Inn offers the lowest price for a Sandals Resort and you get full access and resort hopping privileges to the other two Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay included in your stay.  So you’re getting three resorts for the price of one!

Sandals Carlyle Inn is perfect for you if you are looking for an affordable all inclusive vacation and you want a smaller resort with a comfortable “bed and breakfast” feel yet you still want to have access to a large amount of nice dining options.  These features make Sandals Carlyle Inn the perfect choice.   The resort has been recently renovated and the rooms while simple are quite nice and comfortable.  Economically, you really get a lot of resort for your dollar as you still have all your scuba diving, snorkeling and even water skiing and tubing at Sandals Montego Bay at your disposal – all included!!

You have full access to the other two Sandals Resorts giving you a total of 17 restaurants for your meals via a complimentary shuttle which runs between the resorts every half hour.  Perhaps you want to dine at the Thai Restaurant on the private offshore island at Sandals Royal Caribbean, simply shuttle over and without any wristbands or hassle you will be enjoying scrumptious Thai food on a tiny island with the resort lights of Sandals Royal Caribbean twinkling in the distance.  Or perhaps you want to go snorkeling and have lunch, simply shuttle over to Sandals Montego Bay and you can snorkel and participate in a wide variety of water activities, then grab a bite to eat – all included!  Sandals Resorts are known to have the most inclusions and there is no easier way to take advantage of everything Sandals has to offer without the extra cost then to stay at Sandals Carlyle Inn.

If you are interested in a Sandals Resort, just give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or email us at linda@totemtravel.com We are a Preferred Sandals Agency and have been to them all.  We will make sure you get the best vacation experience at the lowest possible price!

 

Where To Honeymoon During Hurricane Season In The Caribbean.

By Patty | Published July 29, 2011 | Posted in 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.

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