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Having just returned from Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas, I wanted to share my trip review and pictures of Sandals newest luxury all inclusive resort.  I’ll start with my summary -

In my opinion Emerald Bay will soon be acknowledged as Sandals best resort.  But while the quality of this diamond is undeniable, it requires polishing to complete the transformation from shuttered Four Seasons Resort to Sandals best.  I have no doubt this will happen quickly, however early arrivals will see the resort as a work in progress.

So what will guests find today and what is coming soon? 

Today, arriving guests will find Sandals best beach, best pool and best golf course, the most beautiful wedding gazebo I’ve seen anywhere in the world and stunning oceanviews of an amazing, turquoise sea. 

They’ll find the most private beachfront villas offered at any Sandals resort, 100% suites with butler service, fully stocked in room bars, sunken tubs, walk in showers, the softest linens, fluffiest towels and most comfortable beds. Early guests will also find excellent food prepared at four themed restaurants (Sandals claims 5 including a selection of pizzas), top shelf liquor served in every bar, a full service spa, expansive grounds and, for a limited time, rates at a fraction of the normal cost.

Golf enthusiasts will play a Greg Norman designed championship course soon to be featured on a ten part golf channel series and I’m told the images will immediately put the Sandals Emerald Bay course on a must play list for fans.  Scuba divers and snorkelers will be treated to virtually untouched sites teeming with starfish, rays, conch in every stage of its life cycle, and brighly colored fish.

As of last week, a few standard Sandals features were still missing including bathrobes, pagers for butlers and scuba equipment but supplies are arriving every day.  Staff members are also arriving daily, so early arrivals would be wise to expect moments of service excellence interspersed with lapses until new employees are fully trained and on board.  This shouldn’t take long as the personable General Manager has assembled a top quality team which is transforming and redefining the resort experience literally hour by hour.

Planned enhancements include beach beds to line the mile long stretch of powder white sand, neutral fabrics for poolside cabanas, private dining locations scattered throughout the gorgeous grounds and firepits for romantic evenings under the stars.  Improved air service with non stops from Atlanta, Ft Lauderdale and Miami is also anticipated as are updated furnishings for guest rooms.

For more details or assistance selecting a room category at Sandals Emerald Bay, please call or email linda@totemtravel.com.  I’ve been to every one of the Sandals and Beaches Resorts and would love to help you choose the best spot for your all inclusive vacation or honeymoon.  You can also book online.

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Your destination wedding at Sandals can now have that Martha Stewart touch with the introduction of the Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart.  Sandals has always been one of the top places to have a destination wedding and combined with Martha Stewart’s fabulous collection of weddings to choose from, your dream wedding will be everything you have imagined and more.

While at Sandals’ Beaches Resort on Turks & Caicos, I got to preview the Martha Stewart Wedding Collection which starts with the ”Beautiful Beginnings“ collection. This collection is done in a stunning purple and is free with a 6 night or more stay in concierge or higher level room.

You may choose the ”Flutter of Romance“ collection which is whimsical, romantic and playful.  I thought this collection would be perfect for that Valentine’s Day wedding or any bride who loves pink!  Another wedding collection that Martha Stewart has so elegantly created is her “Vision in White“  collection.  This was one of my favorites for its classic and timeless beauty.

My two favorite wedding collections by Martha Stewart were the ”Seaside Serenade“ and the “Chic & Natural” collections.  Both of these collections celebrate the natural beauty of the Caribbean and would make your Sandals wedding the Caribbean wedding of your dreams. The “Seaside Serenade” uses seashells to create a beachside feel while the ”Chic & Natural“ collection is done in earthy tones of browns and greens which blend nicely with the natural foliage and sands of the Caribbean.

As if you didn’t have enough options, the final collection by Martha Stewart for Sandals Resorts is an eye-catching tropical collection called ”Island Paradise“ . This top of the line collection showcases the vivid colors of the tropics and luxurious elegance of the islands.  A wedding using this collection would be breathtaking!

For more information on what is included with any of these wedding packages and to book your Sandals wedding, give us a call at 1 (800) 321-7907 or send me an email at patty@totemtravel.com.  We are Sandals and Beaches Preferred Specialists and we will make choosing, planning and making your dream wedding a breeze!

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The newest Sandals Resort, Emerald Bay will be opening in late January.  This is exciting news as Sandals Emerald Bay will be the first all butler service resort for honeymooners and vacationers dreaming of a private dinner on the beach, being pampered while resting poolside or simply wanting every need taken care of while they take in the beautiful sites of the Bahamas.

The former Four Seasons Resort has been magically transformed into a top of the line Sandals Resort with three distinctive villages, five outstanding restaurants, English trained butlers at the beck and call of all resort guests, a 72 hole Greg Norman designed golf course and Red Lane Spa all oceanfront along a beautiful mile long crescent shaped beach.  As with all Sandals resorts, everything from meals, premium drinks to water sports like snorkeling and scuba diving is included in the cost of your stay.  With Sandals Emerald Bay you even get a butler who is always on call via “butler cell phone”!  Sandals Emerald Bay is the perfect dream destination wedding or honeymoon spot!

Another Totem Travel favorite, Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Jamaica, recently reopened following four months or upgrades and renovations.  One of our honeymoon clients just returned and had rave reviews.  Check out their detailed report on the resort and Totem Travel service at Trip Advisor.

Many changes and upgrades were made including renovations to all resort restaurants, the main lobby area and treatment rooms at the Red Lane Spa.  Some of the room categories have also been completely re-furbished, adding updated furniture, upgraded soft goods and new plasma TV’s offering an enhanced setting for resort guests.

In addition, Sandals Whitehouse will be debut a new dining experience to Sandals called Neptune’s which will be a flavorful Mediterranean-themed dining concept.

For a limited time take advantage of a Companion Fly Free offer at Sandals Emerald Bay or up to 65% off at Sandals Whitehouse.  Call a Sandals Specialist today at 1-800-321-7907 or book online and take advantage of the great savings at two spectacular Sandals resorts.

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In my search for the best all inclusive resort for families I have stayed at some of the best in Mexico and the Caribbean, but having just returned from a fabulous trip to Beaches Resort on Turks & Caicos, I am convinced that I found the number one or “best of the best” all inclusive resort for families. You’ll never have to leave the resort because everything is included at this top of the line family Resort. You can dine in 16 different restaurants, snorkel, sail and even scuba dive right from the resort and still check out without owing another penny.  Isn’t that what all inclusive is all about?

Most all inclusives offer limited menu restaurants opting for the buffet style of dining. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort gave me 16 dining options so I indulged in wonderful Italian, elegant French, and good ole English Pub fish and chips among others. One of my favorites was the Barefoot by the Sea restaurant where the conch fritters are out of this world and parents enjoyed their dinners and lingered over a glass of wine or dessert while kids played in the sand near their table.

Besides being on one of the most beautiful white sand beaches which glistens over twelve miles long against pure turquoise waters, Beaches Turks & Caicos offers a variety of choices for young families.  Compared to most all inclusive resorts which start their kids programs at age 3, 4 or 5, Beaches offers a complete kids club for infants through the teens. 

While I was there the resort was full of babies and preschool age children who were having fun not only in the gentle sea, but watching Sesame character parades, sliding down slides in the waterpark and floating down the lazy river. The older kids found their fun trying their hand at the surf simulator, Xbox game room and DJ recording studio. Stayed tuned as I plan on telling you more about what is offered for children and describe the kids club in more detail in my next blog.

Another feature that makes Beaches Turks & Caicos stand out over other all inclusive resorts are the room accommodations available for families.   I always had to book two rooms to accommodate my family of five, but at Beaches Turks & Caicos there are fabulous options like rooms with bunk beds and trundles plus a king size bed and day bed with trundle all in one suite.  You can also link together some of the rooms to accommodate your family or even more than one family (up to twelve people).

If you are interested in going to Jamaica, there are three wonderful Beaches Resorts there and we have been to all of them.  Beaches Resorts leave no stone unturned in making the dream of a perfect family vacation come true where kids can play and parents can play AND relax!!

Just give Totem Travel a call at (425) 821-4100, or send me an email at patty@totemtravel.com and you’ll get personalized help from a Beaches expert at no extra cost!

Totem Travel was once again named “Best of the Best” at Sandals Star Agency Awards for 2009.  Woohoo!  It’s fun being recognized as a top travel agency and the perks aren’t bad either!

This year’s gala event was held at Beaches Turks and Caicos in the Southern Bahamas.  Beaches Resorts are for everyone and the Turks and Caicos resort is the ultimate all inclusive getaway.   So when we weren’t hard at work (you know, marketing forums… networking functions…) there was time to enjoy 12 miles of pristine white sand beach, 80 degree turquoise water, the luxurious Italian Village and the water park with lazy river, surf simulator and waterslides. 

Look for a series of posts on the resort with details on the kids club, land and water sports and the myriad of restaurants and bars that makes Beaches Turks and Caicos the best and most inclusive family friendly resort anywhere! Then call the Sandals and Beaches Specialists at Totem Travel if you need help choosing a resort or room category for your next vacation or honeymoon. 

We’ve been to all the resorts and are recognized by Sandals Chairman and CEO as ”Best of the Best”.