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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

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The number one reason why Beaches Resorts are the best all-inclusive resorts for families is because their kids club offers the best comprehensive services for children of all ages.  Most all-inclusive resorts start their kids club services at ages 3 or 4.  Beaches Resorts are alone at the top because children of all ages, even infants have free access to the Kids Club from 9am-5pm. Beaches resorts even offer a diver’s special where Camp Sesame will open at 8am for parents with an early morning dive.  Kids can play indoors, swim supervised in their own special wading pool, partake in the daily activities such as Crayola Art, letter of the day with Cookie Monster and other characters, dancing and so much more.

The number two reason why Beaches Resorts are the best all-inclusive resorts for families is the fun water park.  While I was at the Beaches Turks & Caicos resort, the younger children were having a blast sliding down the Pirate’s ships slides, while the older children were either sliding down the main water slide or trying their hand at the awesome surf simulator.  To top it off, there is a long winding lazy river which circles the water park which I found fun with and without the tube.

The third reason why Beaches Resorts are the best for kids is because of what is offered for the older children.  Teenagers can hang out at the XBOX Game Room where they can play newly released XBOX games and get out of the sun for awhile or they can spin records at the DJ recording studio.  In the evening they can meet other kids their age at the Disco.

The fourth reason why Beaches Resorts are the best is the nighttime entertainment they offer for families with children.  You should have seen the smiles when the Sesame Parade came through. Elmo, Cookie Monster and Ernie were all there.  The Junk Band came marching through and added to the fun and excitement of the evening.

The fifth reason is easy.  When your kids get to spend time with you and enjoy other kids and fun activities, it is a true vacation for the whole family.  If you would like more information on Beaches Resorts, Totem Travel would love to help you at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com.

Click here for Slideshow (Beaches Turks & Caicos)

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!

Last spring on an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Valor, I had the pleasure of visiting the lovely tropical island of St. Maarten. One of the most fascinating things about the island is that it is actually two countries. The Dutch side of the island is called St. Maarten and the French side St. Martin. Our tour guide said he lives on the Dutch side and his girlfriend on the French, so every time he calls it’s an international call and they talk several times a day… now that’s love!

Currency is another difference: the Dutch Side uses the Antille Guilder and the French side uses the Euro. Luckily, we were also able to use US Dollars to buy our ice cream cones and US dollars are also accepted at the colorful open air markets where you’ll find an array of local crafts, clothing and food. Shopping is one of the biggest draws for St. Maarten/St. Martin and with duty free shops it makes sense to make jewelry purchases on the island. The most amazing diamonds, tanzanite, emeralds, and pearls are on display in jewelry stores throughout the area and you can practice your bargaining skills here.

Of course, St. Maarten/St. Martin has many, many beaches. Over 37, in fact. What a wonderful destination for a beach wedding, or renewing your vows. The best part is that you can give your guests a little European flavor and a lot of the Caribbean! And while planning a wedding so far away can be difficult, many of the hotels have wedding departments that offer advice on everything from the license to flowers to catering and music, and of course, a beautiful venue. I have included several pictures of locations for a fabulous destination wedding!

Families love St. Maarten/St. Martin, too. Wouldn’t your children be fascinated by a Butterfly Farm? You can walk through hundreds of butterflies fluttering around you and since each stage of the butterfly’s life is on display, it will be a learning experience! Another great travel adventure is the scenic hike to Fort Amsterdam, which is several hundred years old and older kids will love spending the day on a racing yacht or parasailing!

If St. Maarten/St. Martin sounds like the perfect destination for your wedding, honeymoon, or family vacation….please contact me. sandi@totemtravel.com