Hilary:
We had the most AMAZING time! It was pure luxury, from the moment we checked in to the moment we left. I have never had such an amazing time and have never been as pampered as we were at the Royal. There were rose petals and champagne in the room when we walked in, and they left us a dessert spread on our last night there. Everything was very special. They actually brought drinks and frozen fruit to you on the beach and came around misting cold water on you when hot. It truly was awesome. Pretty laid back and quiet compared to other Mexican resorts I have been to, but I suspect it was a higher end resort so there wasn't groups of young drunks being loud and crazy all the time, more older people that could actually afford the place (which was fine with us we are not big crazy drinkers or partyers). Someone did screw up one of our traveler's checks at the hotel so we were out $100 until we got home, but it was alright since we had enough money to cover it, and also they said there was no dolphin swim listed with our booking, so I did not get to do that. I thought it was weird b/c it advertises all over online for the free dolphin swim for all bookings within that time period, so I don't know how they got away with that since it was online and on my paperwork.... was kind of bummed since I was looking forward to that but it's not like it ruined the trip or anything, just no swimming with dolphins. Andy was probably relieved :) So everything was fantastic and I would totally 100% recommend the Royal. We also ate at the sister resort next door and it was really good too. I would definately love to go back but I don't think we'll be able to afford it for quite a while.
Thanks for all your help on this and helping to make our stay wonderful. It was so nice to come in to the rose petals and champagne and I am sure they only did that b/c you mentioned it was our honeymoon. They really seem to cater to honeymooners down there.
Thanks again!
Ashley
Welcome to Travel Talk at Trips Ahoy! Here we like to share our clients feedback, give reviews on resorts, and TALK about anything travel related. Coffee in hand! Let's go!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sandals Royal Plantation - A Review by Leslie Kepplinger Trips Ahoy!
Sandals Royal Plantation recently underwent a rebirth of sorts. Founded as an upscale brand of the world-renowned Sandals Resorts family; offering both all-inclusive and non-inclusive (EP) options; it was rebranded as a Sandals, now exclusively all-inclusive, earlier this year. Would it still hold the old-world hospitality and charm it was known for? Or would it become a weaker version of itself? I was about to find out!
Arrival into Jamaica was uneventful, with a pretty standard 30 minute wait at Immigration. Once at the window, the officials were courteous – and probably the friendliest I’ve ever experienced in my 50 plus visits to the island. Bags were ready for pick-up; customs was a breeze, and even our wait at the Sandals Lounge was all of 5 minutes; barely enough time for a bathroom break, and a beer! But, the butler made sure we had one in hand before boarding our transfer.
Shuttles to Sandals Royal Plantation only transport 6 persons max, allowing plenty of room to get comfortable. If the group is larger, it’s not a problem, as the shuttle can accommodate more. Water and soft drinks were available on-board – a nice addition. The bus was clean, and the driver did not solicit for tips OR stop along the way, as most do.
We were greeted on arrival, filled out our paperwork, and taken to our rooms. At Sandals, when you have butler service, you normally complete all of your check-in paperwork in the comfort of your room – but that was not the case here. They made up for it, however, by quickly bringing our beverage of choice – in this case, Grey Goose Mango Martinis! YUM! My butler was occupied with other guests, so another staff member took me to my room, gave me the complete orientation; and sent my butler within 15 minutes. He offered to unpack – which I gladly accepted. We made our way down to the Wobbly Peacock Pub, for a beverage, and snack. We let our butler surprise us; and he didn’t disappoint. Soft Shell Crab and BBQ Chicken Wings to die for!
The butlers will do such things as unpack/pack; draw bubble baths, make spa appointments, arrange tours; escort you to dinner, get beach chairs, and make dinner reservations. Of course they are just a phone call away should you need anything; and do like to throw in little surprises! One main difference I noticed here, versus the other Sandals resorts, is that both of your butlers are on-duty all day; rather than in 2 shifts. There are also pool butlers that bring drinks to you at the pool and on the terrace or beach. That is a nice touch.
While I have been to Sandals Royal Plantation before, first glimpse of the property is still striking. Old Jamaican Great House architecture and beautiful landscaping set the stage for the tranquility that awaits. The resort sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Natural foliage and ornamental plantings give the area a softness; blending the hardness of the buildings fluidly into the landscape and the sea. The open air lobby, complete with multiple comfortable seating areas; flows out to a very large terrace. Sunning by day and dining/relaxing by night. A few steps down from the terrace are a small pool and hot-tub. Pool butlers pass by taking drink orders; and if you are lucky – the “Misting Man” will cool you off with scented spray. Ahh, mangosas (their signature drink of champagne and mango juice), a cool mist, and the warm Jamaican sun; can it get any better? There are 2 small beaches and a Café/Grill below, accessible by a long set of stairs. More about the beaches later.
Sandals Royal Plantation is an all-suite, all-butler boutique resort of 74 ocean view rooms; plus the 3 bedroom private Villa Plantana. The vast majority of rooms are Junior Suites with French Balconies (i.e. sliding glass doors with a railing across them). They are nicely decorated, of good size and extremely clean and comfortable. Huge walk-in closet, double sinks, and separate room with toilet and bath. I loved my room, but did have two big disappointments; a standard bathtub, and no balcony. I knew only a small number of rooms here (15 to be exact) had actual balconies, but was more than surprised that an all-suite resort of this caliber would not have Jacuzzis, or at least soaking tubs, as standard fixtures in all rooms. The bathrooms were large enough to accommodate them, so perhaps someday that will happen. This is definitely something to keep in mind when selecting rooms! The views are so spectacular, it is a shame you can’t fully enjoy it in these rooms. The Royal Great House Ocean Front Suite does offer the soaking tub and separate shower, but no balcony. Only 3 room categories (5 suites total) on property (Prime Minister; Governor General and Royal) are true 1 bedroom suites. These 5 suites, and 6 others (St Ann, and Royal Peacock Suites – 3 each available) are the only ones to have balconies, large soaking tubs, separate walk-in showers, and a bidet. Only one room category, the St Ann Honeymoon Oceanfront Verandah Suite has a Jacuzzi. It also has the largest balcony at 178sq feet.
The beach is accessible by the equivalent of 2 stories of stairs, and is quite small. But, given the small size of the resort, is sufficient. There are actually 2 beaches – one in front of the West Wing, where most people congregate, and the other, the quiet side, in front of the East Wing. The quiet beach is home to the water sports area. The 2 beaches connect via an oceanfront walkway. At present, there are no beach restrooms; but there are plans in the works to add them. Considering the stairs; the restaurant and the bar – it will be a very welcome addition! The resort draws from a huge cross-section of ages; however, if you have mobility problems, this is probably not the place for you; unless you forgo the beach. Kayaks, sailboats, windsurfing, aqua trykes, and snorkeling are all available here; free of charge. Scuba is free for Certified Divers; and requires a small fee ($80) for beginners. This fee allows you to dive for the duration of your vacation; and up to one year at any other Sandals or Beaches Resort. Beach Butlers periodically stopped by to take drink orders, however, I didn’t see any flags to raise, as advertised. But, the bar is right there, so didn’t appear to be an issue for anyone. Unlike the other Sandals where your butler reserves your chairs daily, and provides a cooler with beverages; here you must ask for a chair to be set up. I did see a few coolers, but we were never offered one.
Dining was a little hit or miss – but mostly due to service rather than cuisine. The Terrace is open for all three meals. It serves International, Caribbean and Mediterranean Cuisine in the evening; Caribbean for lunch; and both ala carte and a small buffet at breakfast. Mimosas and magosas (mango juice and champagne, their signature drink) are always available. The menu had so many fabulous breakfast choices, it was hard to choose. The small breakfast buffet offers the basic fruits, eggs, bacon, sausage, breads; as well as smoked salmon, and daily specials like callaloo au gratin. The cheese selection was very disappointing. Wedges of processed cheddar, and pepper jack cheese are not what you expect from a higher end, Leading Small Hotels of the World Resort. But, then, I am a foodie, and do love my cheese! Lunch was tasty – again, a nice variety is offered; and dinner, while a smaller menu, quite good as well.
The Royal Café is open for lunch and afternoon snacks, serving grilled specialties, sandwiches and salads. My experience there was very good, but some thought it a bit underwhelming. The oceanfront view gets rave reviews, though!
Le Papillion (French), open for dinner only, was outstanding. I had eaten here before while on a previous trip to the late Sandals Dunns River Villagio. My anticipation didn’t disappoint. The Escargot (out of the shell so it was easier to eat) was the best I had ever eaten. The chefs at Sandals are also masters at creating great soups and preparing lamb! I am not a huge lamb fan, but always get it at Sandals. That says a lot! Cappuccinos and Espressos, as well as after dinner drinks, are readily available.
No one took advantage of the C-Bar (Champagne and Caviar) during our stay - perhaps because it draws an additional, and hefty, charge. The Saber Ceremony would be a real treat for those celebrating a special event!
The Wobbly Peacock serves pub food from 3pm to midnight. Then, of course there is 24 hour room service with a very nice menu. You will not go hungry here! I mentioned the service – which was spotty. Most employees were extremely prompt and friendly; one or two just didn’t seem to get it! The biggest issue was service timing. When ordering multiple courses; one would expect them to be in sync among diners, but they weren’t. Further training in the finer points of elegant dining is needed. I found it a bit comical; but others hoping for the ultimate experience may not. My take? The food makes-up for this short-coming; I am on vacation; so it is all good!
All in all – a great resort choice for those seeking quiet and relaxation. Day-time activities/games are virtually non-existent; entertainment is subdued, in keeping with the ambience. Should you want to “shake it up” a bit – head over to Sandals Grande Ocho Rios right next door! Head down the driveway; turn right, walk about a hundred yards and there you are!
I thought Sandals Royal Plantation was a lovely resort, but, because it’s old positioning associated itself with the likes of The Four Seasons; Ritz Carlton; Half Moon; and Strawberry Hill; I expected a little more upscale service. Perhaps its change over to a Sandals Brand brought the service/feel down a notch from upscale to higher-end mass-market. Regardless, still fantastic, just not as “exclusive” as it used to be. With that said – a true gem for the money.
Arrival into Jamaica was uneventful, with a pretty standard 30 minute wait at Immigration. Once at the window, the officials were courteous – and probably the friendliest I’ve ever experienced in my 50 plus visits to the island. Bags were ready for pick-up; customs was a breeze, and even our wait at the Sandals Lounge was all of 5 minutes; barely enough time for a bathroom break, and a beer! But, the butler made sure we had one in hand before boarding our transfer.
Shuttles to Sandals Royal Plantation only transport 6 persons max, allowing plenty of room to get comfortable. If the group is larger, it’s not a problem, as the shuttle can accommodate more. Water and soft drinks were available on-board – a nice addition. The bus was clean, and the driver did not solicit for tips OR stop along the way, as most do.
We were greeted on arrival, filled out our paperwork, and taken to our rooms. At Sandals, when you have butler service, you normally complete all of your check-in paperwork in the comfort of your room – but that was not the case here. They made up for it, however, by quickly bringing our beverage of choice – in this case, Grey Goose Mango Martinis! YUM! My butler was occupied with other guests, so another staff member took me to my room, gave me the complete orientation; and sent my butler within 15 minutes. He offered to unpack – which I gladly accepted. We made our way down to the Wobbly Peacock Pub, for a beverage, and snack. We let our butler surprise us; and he didn’t disappoint. Soft Shell Crab and BBQ Chicken Wings to die for!
The butlers will do such things as unpack/pack; draw bubble baths, make spa appointments, arrange tours; escort you to dinner, get beach chairs, and make dinner reservations. Of course they are just a phone call away should you need anything; and do like to throw in little surprises! One main difference I noticed here, versus the other Sandals resorts, is that both of your butlers are on-duty all day; rather than in 2 shifts. There are also pool butlers that bring drinks to you at the pool and on the terrace or beach. That is a nice touch.
While I have been to Sandals Royal Plantation before, first glimpse of the property is still striking. Old Jamaican Great House architecture and beautiful landscaping set the stage for the tranquility that awaits. The resort sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Natural foliage and ornamental plantings give the area a softness; blending the hardness of the buildings fluidly into the landscape and the sea. The open air lobby, complete with multiple comfortable seating areas; flows out to a very large terrace. Sunning by day and dining/relaxing by night. A few steps down from the terrace are a small pool and hot-tub. Pool butlers pass by taking drink orders; and if you are lucky – the “Misting Man” will cool you off with scented spray. Ahh, mangosas (their signature drink of champagne and mango juice), a cool mist, and the warm Jamaican sun; can it get any better? There are 2 small beaches and a Café/Grill below, accessible by a long set of stairs. More about the beaches later.
Sandals Royal Plantation is an all-suite, all-butler boutique resort of 74 ocean view rooms; plus the 3 bedroom private Villa Plantana. The vast majority of rooms are Junior Suites with French Balconies (i.e. sliding glass doors with a railing across them). They are nicely decorated, of good size and extremely clean and comfortable. Huge walk-in closet, double sinks, and separate room with toilet and bath. I loved my room, but did have two big disappointments; a standard bathtub, and no balcony. I knew only a small number of rooms here (15 to be exact) had actual balconies, but was more than surprised that an all-suite resort of this caliber would not have Jacuzzis, or at least soaking tubs, as standard fixtures in all rooms. The bathrooms were large enough to accommodate them, so perhaps someday that will happen. This is definitely something to keep in mind when selecting rooms! The views are so spectacular, it is a shame you can’t fully enjoy it in these rooms. The Royal Great House Ocean Front Suite does offer the soaking tub and separate shower, but no balcony. Only 3 room categories (5 suites total) on property (Prime Minister; Governor General and Royal) are true 1 bedroom suites. These 5 suites, and 6 others (St Ann, and Royal Peacock Suites – 3 each available) are the only ones to have balconies, large soaking tubs, separate walk-in showers, and a bidet. Only one room category, the St Ann Honeymoon Oceanfront Verandah Suite has a Jacuzzi. It also has the largest balcony at 178sq feet.
The beach is accessible by the equivalent of 2 stories of stairs, and is quite small. But, given the small size of the resort, is sufficient. There are actually 2 beaches – one in front of the West Wing, where most people congregate, and the other, the quiet side, in front of the East Wing. The quiet beach is home to the water sports area. The 2 beaches connect via an oceanfront walkway. At present, there are no beach restrooms; but there are plans in the works to add them. Considering the stairs; the restaurant and the bar – it will be a very welcome addition! The resort draws from a huge cross-section of ages; however, if you have mobility problems, this is probably not the place for you; unless you forgo the beach. Kayaks, sailboats, windsurfing, aqua trykes, and snorkeling are all available here; free of charge. Scuba is free for Certified Divers; and requires a small fee ($80) for beginners. This fee allows you to dive for the duration of your vacation; and up to one year at any other Sandals or Beaches Resort. Beach Butlers periodically stopped by to take drink orders, however, I didn’t see any flags to raise, as advertised. But, the bar is right there, so didn’t appear to be an issue for anyone. Unlike the other Sandals where your butler reserves your chairs daily, and provides a cooler with beverages; here you must ask for a chair to be set up. I did see a few coolers, but we were never offered one.
Dining was a little hit or miss – but mostly due to service rather than cuisine. The Terrace is open for all three meals. It serves International, Caribbean and Mediterranean Cuisine in the evening; Caribbean for lunch; and both ala carte and a small buffet at breakfast. Mimosas and magosas (mango juice and champagne, their signature drink) are always available. The menu had so many fabulous breakfast choices, it was hard to choose. The small breakfast buffet offers the basic fruits, eggs, bacon, sausage, breads; as well as smoked salmon, and daily specials like callaloo au gratin. The cheese selection was very disappointing. Wedges of processed cheddar, and pepper jack cheese are not what you expect from a higher end, Leading Small Hotels of the World Resort. But, then, I am a foodie, and do love my cheese! Lunch was tasty – again, a nice variety is offered; and dinner, while a smaller menu, quite good as well.
The Royal Café is open for lunch and afternoon snacks, serving grilled specialties, sandwiches and salads. My experience there was very good, but some thought it a bit underwhelming. The oceanfront view gets rave reviews, though!
Le Papillion (French), open for dinner only, was outstanding. I had eaten here before while on a previous trip to the late Sandals Dunns River Villagio. My anticipation didn’t disappoint. The Escargot (out of the shell so it was easier to eat) was the best I had ever eaten. The chefs at Sandals are also masters at creating great soups and preparing lamb! I am not a huge lamb fan, but always get it at Sandals. That says a lot! Cappuccinos and Espressos, as well as after dinner drinks, are readily available.
No one took advantage of the C-Bar (Champagne and Caviar) during our stay - perhaps because it draws an additional, and hefty, charge. The Saber Ceremony would be a real treat for those celebrating a special event!
The Wobbly Peacock serves pub food from 3pm to midnight. Then, of course there is 24 hour room service with a very nice menu. You will not go hungry here! I mentioned the service – which was spotty. Most employees were extremely prompt and friendly; one or two just didn’t seem to get it! The biggest issue was service timing. When ordering multiple courses; one would expect them to be in sync among diners, but they weren’t. Further training in the finer points of elegant dining is needed. I found it a bit comical; but others hoping for the ultimate experience may not. My take? The food makes-up for this short-coming; I am on vacation; so it is all good!
All in all – a great resort choice for those seeking quiet and relaxation. Day-time activities/games are virtually non-existent; entertainment is subdued, in keeping with the ambience. Should you want to “shake it up” a bit – head over to Sandals Grande Ocho Rios right next door! Head down the driveway; turn right, walk about a hundred yards and there you are!
I thought Sandals Royal Plantation was a lovely resort, but, because it’s old positioning associated itself with the likes of The Four Seasons; Ritz Carlton; Half Moon; and Strawberry Hill; I expected a little more upscale service. Perhaps its change over to a Sandals Brand brought the service/feel down a notch from upscale to higher-end mass-market. Regardless, still fantastic, just not as “exclusive” as it used to be. With that said – a true gem for the money.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Valentin Imperial Maya - A Destination Wedding Review
Hi Hilary!
I'm sending you some pictures from our Destination Wedding and letting you know everything wonderfully. One of my bridesmaids forgot her dress but what can you do at that point? She bought one that went fairly well with the rest and as long as everyone made it safe and sound was all that mattered to us.
We met up with Lupita on Monday and planned everything out from flowers to back drop. It went wonderfully. They even played our own music as asked and set us up in the French Restauarant for a reception (which was bueatiful and awesome food!) The photgrapher we used was the hotel Photographer Marco and he was wonderful! I recommend him to anyone going and he was very reasonable and worked with you. Plus he was at the resort everyday taking candid photos of guests so it was easy to get in touch with him. The Wedding started on time and the lady that performed the ceremony did a very good and was easy to understand. We got lucky on the weather as you can see...it made for beautiful pictures and the sky was so pretty. We even had a rainbow in the distance which was sweet because out song was "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" so was very cool. All of our guests loved the resort also and had a great time. They are all ready to go back.
All the restaurants had very good food and awesome srevice. We did not have a bad meal all week. The food was superb and the treated us all so well. One time we had a huge party go to the Mexican Restaurant and they said they would keep bringing out food instead of us all ordering...it was awesome! We got to try so much and was alot of fun! We defintiely want to go back someday. The only was the pools were a little chilly but we didn't care because the ocean was so awesome and we swam in that everyday.
I really apprecaite all you did for us and everyone. You did a wonderful job and we can't thank you enough!
Amy & Greg
I'm sending you some pictures from our Destination Wedding and letting you know everything wonderfully. One of my bridesmaids forgot her dress but what can you do at that point? She bought one that went fairly well with the rest and as long as everyone made it safe and sound was all that mattered to us.
We met up with Lupita on Monday and planned everything out from flowers to back drop. It went wonderfully. They even played our own music as asked and set us up in the French Restauarant for a reception (which was bueatiful and awesome food!) The photgrapher we used was the hotel Photographer Marco and he was wonderful! I recommend him to anyone going and he was very reasonable and worked with you. Plus he was at the resort everyday taking candid photos of guests so it was easy to get in touch with him. The Wedding started on time and the lady that performed the ceremony did a very good and was easy to understand. We got lucky on the weather as you can see...it made for beautiful pictures and the sky was so pretty. We even had a rainbow in the distance which was sweet because out song was "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" so was very cool. All of our guests loved the resort also and had a great time. They are all ready to go back.
All the restaurants had very good food and awesome srevice. We did not have a bad meal all week. The food was superb and the treated us all so well. One time we had a huge party go to the Mexican Restaurant and they said they would keep bringing out food instead of us all ordering...it was awesome! We got to try so much and was alot of fun! We defintiely want to go back someday. The only was the pools were a little chilly but we didn't care because the ocean was so awesome and we swam in that everyday.
I really apprecaite all you did for us and everyone. You did a wonderful job and we can't thank you enough!
Amy & Greg
Thursday, October 7, 2010
El Dorado Seaside Suites - A Review
Hilary,
We want to thank you so much for all your help in sending us on an amazing Honeymoon (to El Dorado Seaside Suites)! We had absolute wonderful time and cannot wait to go back! We will have to let you know when that will be :)
You were so great to work with and very helpful. We will definitely recommend you and pass your name on to others! Thanks again for everything,
Heather & Nelson
We want to thank you so much for all your help in sending us on an amazing Honeymoon (to El Dorado Seaside Suites)! We had absolute wonderful time and cannot wait to go back! We will have to let you know when that will be :)
You were so great to work with and very helpful. We will definitely recommend you and pass your name on to others! Thanks again for everything,
Heather & Nelson
Beaches Turks & Caicos - A Review
It was the smoothest trip we've taken in a long while. Hear are my thoughts:
Our experience with US Airways was better than most others. I thought they were all the same but the planes seemed more comfortable and then service seemed better.
The date/time we left worked well because the airport was not crowded at all and we got through security very fast. The time between flights was good both ways because we had plenty of time to get organized.
The flight schedules were good going and coming back because we got there in time to still have fun the day and we did not have to get up early and rush to the airport when leaving. Although Monday was not the best day to leave Beaches because everything opened late on that day so we had trouble finding food, activities, etc at the resort before we left.
The resort was fantastic especially the Italian Village. This is where we spent most of our time. Our 4 year old loved the small kids play area and the older kids loved the water park. I favored the lazy river. Lol
This was a good week to be there because the resort was not crowded at all.
Despite having to worry about the weather all week before we went, we only had about an hour of rain the entire trip.
All in all, very good experience.
Our experience with US Airways was better than most others. I thought they were all the same but the planes seemed more comfortable and then service seemed better.
The date/time we left worked well because the airport was not crowded at all and we got through security very fast. The time between flights was good both ways because we had plenty of time to get organized.
The flight schedules were good going and coming back because we got there in time to still have fun the day and we did not have to get up early and rush to the airport when leaving. Although Monday was not the best day to leave Beaches because everything opened late on that day so we had trouble finding food, activities, etc at the resort before we left.
The resort was fantastic especially the Italian Village. This is where we spent most of our time. Our 4 year old loved the small kids play area and the older kids loved the water park. I favored the lazy river. Lol
This was a good week to be there because the resort was not crowded at all.
Despite having to worry about the weather all week before we went, we only had about an hour of rain the entire trip.
All in all, very good experience.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Dreams Puerto Vallarta
Hi Hilary,
I just wanted to thank you for doing such a great job with our vacation planning. Our trip to Dreams Puerto Vallarta was fantastic, and you were a big part of why everything went so well. The resort was beautiful, as was the wedding, and it was really nice having transportation to and from the airport. So thanks again, and I will keep you in mind next time I plan a vacation!
Cheers,
Lauren
I just wanted to thank you for doing such a great job with our vacation planning. Our trip to Dreams Puerto Vallarta was fantastic, and you were a big part of why everything went so well. The resort was beautiful, as was the wedding, and it was really nice having transportation to and from the airport. So thanks again, and I will keep you in mind next time I plan a vacation!
Cheers,
Lauren
Grand Oasis Cancun - A Review
Hi there Ms. Hilary. I wanted to let you know, as always, we had a great time in Cancun. Grand Oasis was beautiful and we barely scratched the surface of restaurants/bars that we could attend but the ones we did were awesome. Food and service were great. It was definitely a party place and we loved it.
I look forward to our next vacation booked with you!
Hope you have a great day.
Jen
I look forward to our next vacation booked with you!
Hope you have a great day.
Jen
Paradisus Riviera Cancun
Hilary,
Just wanted to say thank you for organizing our trips – We all had a great vacation (at Paradisus Rivera Cancun) and I know you know we enjoyed ourselves at the wedding. The whole trip was fun for all the family. We all arrived home safely if a bit tired and a wee bit brown.It was nice to meet you.So thanks again for your hard work.
Regards,
Jim
Just wanted to say thank you for organizing our trips – We all had a great vacation (at Paradisus Rivera Cancun) and I know you know we enjoyed ourselves at the wedding. The whole trip was fun for all the family. We all arrived home safely if a bit tired and a wee bit brown.It was nice to meet you.So thanks again for your hard work.
Regards,
Jim
Sandals Negril - A Honeymooners Review
We had such a great time in Jamaica! We didn't do any excursions but we did dive and/or snorkel everyday. Ron and I even came within about 3 feet of a huge sea turtle on one of our dives! It was awesome! Our room was gorgeous and had a great view and there was more food than I could have imagined...which was all fantastic. The staff was also amazingly friendly...I've never been anywhere on vacation where it actually felt like home. I'm so glad we went with Sandals Negril!
Thanks for all your help!
Jackie
Thanks for all your help!
Jackie
Sandals Honeymoon - A Review
We had such a blast. We got an upgrade and a $250.00 room credit. Everything was perfect!!! We defiantly want to do Sandals again. Thank you for handling our honeymoon for us. We bought a house, and with the move and the Wedding it was great to know that one thing was completely handled. We are already trying to figure out when we want to go again, and have even discussed our first anniversary. Hopefully you will be hearing from us again soon.
Chad & Jen
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Sandals Whitehouse - A Review
Hilary,
Thank you so much for the help with our honeymoon! We had an amazing time. Florida was great, but Sandals Whitehouse was Brilliant! We wish we would have spent more time there instead of FL. We also loved our 4th Floor view of the ocean, but realized that you really can't go wrong with any room/village there. We definitely plan on going back.
Also, I am going to apply for a Sandals Select membership. Do you happen to have our "Booking Number" I may have to call to look it up.
Thanks again for everything,
David and Stephanie
Thank you so much for the help with our honeymoon! We had an amazing time. Florida was great, but Sandals Whitehouse was Brilliant! We wish we would have spent more time there instead of FL. We also loved our 4th Floor view of the ocean, but realized that you really can't go wrong with any room/village there. We definitely plan on going back.
Also, I am going to apply for a Sandals Select membership. Do you happen to have our "Booking Number" I may have to call to look it up.
Thanks again for everything,
David and Stephanie
Thursday, July 29, 2010
South Pacific Honeymoon REVIEW
Ahhh Tahiti ...
Direct Flights only from LAX - I recommend flying to LA and staying a night, checking out the town a bit and then flying on to Tahiti. Flight is overnight departing from LAX at ~12:00AM. Because the flight to LA is 4.5 hours (from detroit) and the flight to Tahiti from LAX is 8 - this is a great way to break up such a long flight.
Once there, we stayed on the mainland 2-nights at the Radisson (Beach View Room) which is one of the only hotels/resorts that has beachfront on the black sand beaches of the island. Very cool! (we paid for 3-nights so that when we arrived at 6a local time, we had a room to go to right away...check in is something like 4pm otherwise). Many people skip this part of the trip and head straight to the other islands, but in my opinion, its well worth the stay. On the island you can do some great shopping and get a true sense for what its all about. Consider that everything that comes into any of the islands has to come through this city, so you will find the best prices here. I bought Michelle's black pearls for 20% less than I would have spent on the other islands, easily.
From there, we went to Moorea - about a 15 minute flight from the mainland. You board the plane, take off, and land. Seriously. You can see Moorea from the mainland easily. There's also a ferry, but it takes an hour or two (can't really remember for sure). We stayed 3-nights that the Intercontinental (Partial Over Water Bungalow)- very nice!
From Moorea, we went on to Bora Bora (about 1-hour flight and a 30 min water taxi to your resort) where we stayed in an overwater bungalow at Le Meridian- this was absolutely awesome. We upgraded to a premium so we were at the absolute end of the dock system. Our view was 100% ocean and mountains of the islands across the bay. If your looking for privacy, this is it. I will say that the glass bottom floor in the room was cool in theory, but because we upgraded to the end of the dock, we were in deeper water without any coral under our bungalow - which meant that the fish watching was limited.
Here's the deal with the trip in a nut shell. If your looking for a party - your looking in the wrong place. Tahiti pretty much shuts down at dark which is about 8p in May. You can enjoy a late dinner or maybe an event at the resort, but still yet, done by 10pm. People are mostly polite, but not a lot of conversation (unless you speak french).
On the other hand. If your looking for some serious time alone, enjoying each others company and completely disconnecting from the rest of the world - this is as close to paradise as I can imagine.
Remember that I said that everything is imported to the main island. That = $$$$. There are no "All Inclusive" resorts in Tahiti. Best you can get is an "American" plan which gets you breakfast. We shopped on each island for fresh fruit, cheeses, and bread and took peanut butter and jelly from the breakfast buffet for snacks in our room (lunches) and we would eat at beachside cafes for lunch if we were out exploring, etc. Lunches ran on average $50 which isn't bad. Dinners, on average were $150-200. Our last dinner on the island was at some Michelin Star rated resort and it cost me $600 but was an experience as well as a meal. (Pina Colodas on the beach were $15 each...)
I can't remember the exact costs, but flight, hotels/resorts, etc. was (for 9 nights in Tahiti) just shy of $11K. We spent about another $4-6K while we were there bringing our total Honeymoon cost to about $17K (remember, we bought pearls which I seem to recall cost us ~$2500 and were appraised at over $5K when we got them insured here in the US - a good investment).
You can save money by skipping the over water bungalows and opting for a regular room in the hotel (about 50% less per night) but in our case, Michelle saw a travel magazine that had a picture of the overwater bungalow on the cover and she simply said "That's where I want to stay" and when she handed the honeymoon over as my ONLY responsibility for the wedding planning, well - I always say, What My Baby Wants, My Baby Gets! I kept the details as a surprise and built up to the overwater bungalow as our final nights.
The Trip was worth every cent - I will do it again...someday!
Direct Flights only from LAX - I recommend flying to LA and staying a night, checking out the town a bit and then flying on to Tahiti. Flight is overnight departing from LAX at ~12:00AM. Because the flight to LA is 4.5 hours (from detroit) and the flight to Tahiti from LAX is 8 - this is a great way to break up such a long flight.
Once there, we stayed on the mainland 2-nights at the Radisson (Beach View Room) which is one of the only hotels/resorts that has beachfront on the black sand beaches of the island. Very cool! (we paid for 3-nights so that when we arrived at 6a local time, we had a room to go to right away...check in is something like 4pm otherwise). Many people skip this part of the trip and head straight to the other islands, but in my opinion, its well worth the stay. On the island you can do some great shopping and get a true sense for what its all about. Consider that everything that comes into any of the islands has to come through this city, so you will find the best prices here. I bought Michelle's black pearls for 20% less than I would have spent on the other islands, easily.
From there, we went to Moorea - about a 15 minute flight from the mainland. You board the plane, take off, and land. Seriously. You can see Moorea from the mainland easily. There's also a ferry, but it takes an hour or two (can't really remember for sure). We stayed 3-nights that the Intercontinental (Partial Over Water Bungalow)- very nice!
From Moorea, we went on to Bora Bora (about 1-hour flight and a 30 min water taxi to your resort) where we stayed in an overwater bungalow at Le Meridian- this was absolutely awesome. We upgraded to a premium so we were at the absolute end of the dock system. Our view was 100% ocean and mountains of the islands across the bay. If your looking for privacy, this is it. I will say that the glass bottom floor in the room was cool in theory, but because we upgraded to the end of the dock, we were in deeper water without any coral under our bungalow - which meant that the fish watching was limited.
Here's the deal with the trip in a nut shell. If your looking for a party - your looking in the wrong place. Tahiti pretty much shuts down at dark which is about 8p in May. You can enjoy a late dinner or maybe an event at the resort, but still yet, done by 10pm. People are mostly polite, but not a lot of conversation (unless you speak french).
On the other hand. If your looking for some serious time alone, enjoying each others company and completely disconnecting from the rest of the world - this is as close to paradise as I can imagine.
Remember that I said that everything is imported to the main island. That = $$$$. There are no "All Inclusive" resorts in Tahiti. Best you can get is an "American" plan which gets you breakfast. We shopped on each island for fresh fruit, cheeses, and bread and took peanut butter and jelly from the breakfast buffet for snacks in our room (lunches) and we would eat at beachside cafes for lunch if we were out exploring, etc. Lunches ran on average $50 which isn't bad. Dinners, on average were $150-200. Our last dinner on the island was at some Michelin Star rated resort and it cost me $600 but was an experience as well as a meal. (Pina Colodas on the beach were $15 each...)
I can't remember the exact costs, but flight, hotels/resorts, etc. was (for 9 nights in Tahiti) just shy of $11K. We spent about another $4-6K while we were there bringing our total Honeymoon cost to about $17K (remember, we bought pearls which I seem to recall cost us ~$2500 and were appraised at over $5K when we got them insured here in the US - a good investment).
You can save money by skipping the over water bungalows and opting for a regular room in the hotel (about 50% less per night) but in our case, Michelle saw a travel magazine that had a picture of the overwater bungalow on the cover and she simply said "That's where I want to stay" and when she handed the honeymoon over as my ONLY responsibility for the wedding planning, well - I always say, What My Baby Wants, My Baby Gets! I kept the details as a surprise and built up to the overwater bungalow as our final nights.
The Trip was worth every cent - I will do it again...someday!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wyndham Sugar Bay St. Thomas
The trip went very well, what a beautiful place to be, didn’t want to leave. We were treated very well by the staff at Wyndham, food drink and atmosphere were also very good, nice rooms, good view. I will go again, maybe next year. Thanks for your help in booking on such short notice.
Scott
Scott
HAWAII HONEYMOON
Hilary,
We (Katie and I) just wanted to send a quick thank you for everything that you did for us in setting up and organizing our honeymoon to Maui. We had a fabulous time, and best of all, everything related to reservations and anything else that needed to be planned ahead was already taken care of for us. As I think that I have said before, your business will be highly recommended to anyone that we know who is planning a vacation or getaway. You were always helpful and very prompt to answer any questions that we had. It is very important to have that type of confidence when setting up a trip, especially when we had so many other things to deal with at the time...so thank you again from both of us!!!!
Matt & Katie
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Gran Melia San Juan Puerto Rico
Just wanted to report back to you, our vacation was absolutely amazing. Everything went really great, from the traveling and only needing my drivers license to the beautiful resort. It was so stunning and we were definitely not expecting such a great place. It was too short :-) I definitely recommend this resort and you for setting all this up for us. We will definitely consult you for our next trip.
Thank you!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Destination Wedding Hawaii - Royal Lahaina - Maui
A spectacular, laid back beach wedding on the Island of Maui is just what Bill & Maggie envisioned for their special day! The couple stayed at the Royal Lahaina Resort during their Wedding and Honeymoon. Thank you to the fantastic Wedding Coordinators at Hawaii Wedding who took care of all the details. From the beautiful location, to the leis and the minister, Maggie & Bill couldn't have had a more perfect Day! Kevin was their photographer who took these amazing pictures.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
RIU Santa Fe Resort - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
WHEN: Week before Easter Weekend / Last week of March. It did not feel overcrowded at all. As we were leaving it felt like it was getting a little “younger” with Easter Weekend spring breakers but not during our week at all. That’s a good thing when your 40 and bald!
TRAVEL: Flew out of Detroit w/ connecting flight in Minneapolis. Got “bumped” to first class do to flight overbooking. First time in the good seats for us. Very NICE! Air travel was perfect. All flight to and from destination were early and flawless.
ARRIVAL IN CABO AIRPORT: VERY IMPORTANT!! The packet that you sent us from Delta Vacations stated that all transportation would be handled between airport and resort by CONTACTOURS. The info stated clearly that our representative would be outside wearing a dark green shirt. This was crucial information to a successful start to the trip because once we exited Customs the place was a free for all.
There were crowds of buss drivers, cab drivers, scammers, etc, mobbing us as we exited and walked for the outside doors. There was even a very official looking man, wearing a green shirt (not dark green), asking us if we were going to the RIU. We later ran into some people who fell for it and it cost them an extra $80!
We followed instructions to the point of me stiff-arming a guy out of our way until we exited the airport and clearly saw two people wearing dark green golf shirts that clearly stated CONTACTOURS on the front. Low and be hold they had our names on official documents f/ Delta and we were on our way to the RIU. It worked perfectly for us, however, if we hadn’t of received such detailed info prior to arrival it could have been very irritating.
RESORT/POOLS/ SLEEPING ROOM: Perfect! We have never been to Mexico so can’t make comparisons but we loved it. Grounds were immaculate. Room was very nice, spacious and cleaned daily including mopping the deck that overlooked the pool and ocean!
Pools were beautiful, huge and well placed. Lots of room, plenty to drink (to much at times), perfect weather.
Employees were very polite, hard working and professional. Top notch!
FOOD: They tried very hard to make it like royalty regarding the presentations and layout. Breakfasts were awesome! Lunch, snacks and dinner were good but not great . I was briefed by a friend regarding the beef in Mexico so I stayed clear of most steaks, hamburgers, etc. Overall the food was a good solid B+
The dinning areas were never overcrowded or backed up with lines.
TOWN: Very nice with lots of cool bars and shopping. Always felt safe but used 20 yrs of police work experience to stay out of bad situations. Stayed on the main drag and did not stay in town past 10pm. I’m sure it was fine to stay later we just didn’t. Ate on the marina bay at Ruth Chris steak house….VERY GOOD!
Town in approx 2 miles down the beach from the resort. We walked it once to see all the vendors and beach bars. Took cabs other times with no problems. I only carried US Currency and used that to shop, barter with vendors, tip people, etc. and saw no benefit to currency exchange.
BEACH: Town is a walk past other resorts, time shares, beach vendors, etc. The town direction is where the Cabo Rock Arch is located, shopping and the giant and very cool marina filled with marlin fishing boats. The other direction on the beach, opposite of town, is nothing but paradise. Open beach with no other resorts or people. It was about a two mile walk down to a large rock outcropping where we watched giant waves crash in, sea lions, pelicans and other cool stuff. We loved the beach in the mornings (your going to think I’m crazy) but we got up before dawn everyday and walked down the beach to the rocks. We watched the sun rise, I fished in the surf , and my wife took pictures every morning.
We had a tropical paradise to ourselves for three hours every morning until we would see an occasional walker or jogger.
This was a huge factor for me personally (I’m probably not like many of your clients) as we are outdoors people. Being able to fish, walk, wade, photograph things away from the crowd made the trip. I took my own fishing gear with me and had a blast.
* I would not recommend this location for a person who wants to swim and frolic about in the ocean. The beach was very nice but the tides / ripe currents were very significant. We thought it was very fun to watch people get on and off water taxis in the huge surf as we drank from the friendly confines of our pool overlooking the ocean. We saw many foolish people get tumbled into the water /waves including one lady who spent the rest of her week in a wheel chair due to a huge crash. Seriously…..I did swim for a minute just to say I did it but your average vacationer could get in trouble very quickly.
SUMMARY: We will go back and I will use you in the future to make arrangements !!!!! Perfect vacation overall!!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Barcelo Tropical & Colonial
Hi Hilary,
Our trip was the best one yet!!! Everything went extremely well and was so easy. We loved the resort!!! You did a great job and I very much appreciate it! That is why you are my favorite travel agent. You have always done such a nice job for us!
The all inclusive is our favorite because you have no worries once you get to the airport. I thought Riviera Maya was the most beautiful place ever, so wouldn't mine going back again. I also wouldn't mind going anywhere else in the world, as long as it is warm. We love to travel! Let me know your thoughts and recommendations.
Rhonda
Our trip was the best one yet!!! Everything went extremely well and was so easy. We loved the resort!!! You did a great job and I very much appreciate it! That is why you are my favorite travel agent. You have always done such a nice job for us!
The all inclusive is our favorite because you have no worries once you get to the airport. I thought Riviera Maya was the most beautiful place ever, so wouldn't mine going back again. I also wouldn't mind going anywhere else in the world, as long as it is warm. We love to travel! Let me know your thoughts and recommendations.
Rhonda
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sandals Dunn's River Honeymoon
Hey Hilary,
Sandals Dunn's River was amazing...to say the least! They even upgraded us to a butler suite, thank you! I have no complaints! The only thing we'll do different next time is stay longer!
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
trish
Sandals Dunn's River was amazing...to say the least! They even upgraded us to a butler suite, thank you! I have no complaints! The only thing we'll do different next time is stay longer!
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
trish
Sandals Dunn's River Resort & Villagio Wedding
The trip/wedding was fantastic:) I loved the resort and loved the staff working there! They were so kind and accommodating! I think everyone had a really good time. When we arrived, Charlie was slightly disappointed in our room because the view was of the neighboring hotel and the backside of our resort. I spoke with Florence our concierge and she had us moved the very next day. Our view from the second room was incredible! Stacy (our wedding lady) is so good at her job. She was funny, kind, and very well organized. She made sure everything went perfectly! The rehearsal dinner and cocktail reception they threw for us was great. The dinner was held in the lawn near the gardens. The tables were candle-lit, food was so good, we had our own butlers and our own bar! I was truly impressed. The entire group kept telling me how well I had planned everything, and yet I hadn't done a thing!!! I loved the entire week and owe you a huge thank you. Thanks for putting everything together, answering my many questions, and dealing with my whole family! You helped make our wedding day and vacation so very special for Charlie and I. We would go back in a heartbeat! THANK YOU! I hope I attached these pictures right! love, meg
Wedding at Royal Lahaina
HEY HILARY!!!
I’VE BEEN MEANING TO GET WITH YOU. I HAVE PICTURES TO SEND WHEN THINGS SETTLE DOWN. IT WAS SO AMAZING. WE LIKED THE HANA SIDE OF THE ISLAND BETTER THEN THE LAHIANA SIDE. IT’S BECOMES TO COMMERCIALIZED. TOO MANY JEWELERY STORES. WE WANT TO GO BACK AND STAY IN HANA FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THAN GO TO KAUIA FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP.
I WAS SO DEPRESSED AFTER WE GOT HOME. THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL THERE AND I LOVE THE WATER. I TOOK OVER 500 PICTURES IF THAT TELLS YOU ANTHING. THE HOTEL WAS NICE AND QUIET. NOT MANY FAMILIES JUST COUPLES WHICH WAS REALLY NICE. THE WHALES STARTED TO COME IN WHILE WE WERE THERE UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN’T GET TO SEE ANY BUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DID. THE MINISTER WHO MARRIED US WAS SOOOOO AWESOME. HE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO TAKE 40 PICS AND ENDED UP TAKING 80 WHICH WERE PUT ON A CD FOR US TO DO AS WE WISHED. IF ANYONE NEEDS A RECOMMENDATION LET ME KNOW HE WAS AWESOME!!!
WE DIDN’T EAT ONE THING THAT WASN’T FANTASTIC! THE SEAFOOD IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO BACK TO REALITY.
Maggie
I’VE BEEN MEANING TO GET WITH YOU. I HAVE PICTURES TO SEND WHEN THINGS SETTLE DOWN. IT WAS SO AMAZING. WE LIKED THE HANA SIDE OF THE ISLAND BETTER THEN THE LAHIANA SIDE. IT’S BECOMES TO COMMERCIALIZED. TOO MANY JEWELERY STORES. WE WANT TO GO BACK AND STAY IN HANA FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THAN GO TO KAUIA FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP.
I WAS SO DEPRESSED AFTER WE GOT HOME. THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL THERE AND I LOVE THE WATER. I TOOK OVER 500 PICTURES IF THAT TELLS YOU ANTHING. THE HOTEL WAS NICE AND QUIET. NOT MANY FAMILIES JUST COUPLES WHICH WAS REALLY NICE. THE WHALES STARTED TO COME IN WHILE WE WERE THERE UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN’T GET TO SEE ANY BUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DID. THE MINISTER WHO MARRIED US WAS SOOOOO AWESOME. HE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO TAKE 40 PICS AND ENDED UP TAKING 80 WHICH WERE PUT ON A CD FOR US TO DO AS WE WISHED. IF ANYONE NEEDS A RECOMMENDATION LET ME KNOW HE WAS AWESOME!!!
WE DIDN’T EAT ONE THING THAT WASN’T FANTASTIC! THE SEAFOOD IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO BACK TO REALITY.
Maggie
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sandals WeddingMoon Sandals Dunn's River Villagio Resort & Spa
This letter from one of my groom's was too nice not to share. Makes my job all the more worth it! Thanks for the kind words!
Hello Hilary,
I’m not sure if Holly has replied but wanted to drop a quick few lines. I’m in training so not a lot of time. Our Vacation was probably the best time I’ve had in my life. Our friends at the resort were so nice and approachable it was refreshing. There was no mistake saying our friends at the resort. I believe we truly made friends there and I can’t wait to get back. For starters Tracy in the concierge department was wonderful. I have to admit I was upset after a long 12 hours of travel when we checked in and found we didn’t have the upgrade were believed we were getting due to the number of rooms we booked I was upset to find we were on the first floor. In my mind the first floor was on the ground level and did suit what I thought we were getting. She asked if she could show us the room and if we didn’t like it she would see what she could do. We viewed the room and found it was not on the ground floor and were very pleased with it in fact.(trees blocked the ocean view but we had a nice view of the pool area which provided a nice view at night with the lights they had and the sound of the waterfall very soothing.Laila and the wedding department were outstanding. She was very thorough with what we were getting and all the options we could get. laila was extremely patient. between the two girls they were able to plan a beautiful wedding. We didn't have a venue for a rehersal/welcome dinner we wanted to have and Laila was able to create a place for us by the aformentioned pool and waterfall that made for a nice setting and I personally thought that was the best dinner we had during that stay.(although all the dinners were very good).The wedding went off without a hitch everything went as it was planned and everything was what we expected or more,very ,very smooth and stress free. The pictures were outstanding Sheldon really had some ideas that had us scratching our heads but when we viewed the pictures we came to understand why he's the one behind the camera.The reception Dinner really put the cherry on top of a wonderful night. Nichael, Akelion, Jermaine, and the two ladies that were helping, who's names I can't remember ( I apologies to them) really did an outstanding job. The food was outstanding, service top notch.The thing that i appreciated the most was during the weding plan meeting We inquired about if they could play music for us during dinner and laila advised that if we had an I-pod w docking station we could other wise we would have to pay for a DJ type of option. So it was no big deal it would have been nice to have but wasn't a deal breaker.To our suprise when we arrived at the reception she had an I-pod playing with some of the best love songs i've heard in a long time....so good that we all were trying to get a copy of the cd !! After dinner we asked if they could play more upbeat dance. Before we knew it Akelion, Nichael and the gang were showing us Jamacian dance moves. We all to a person had the best time ever and it was the talk of group all the next day. something so small as helping uis get music really helped to have the most rememberable Wedding that can be talked about for a lifetime. I really am forever endebted to the wedding department they really confirmed why they are the cream fo the crop. Thank you all again and again.
The Playmakers really kept the fun going wether it was dancing, making you laugh with the games or comedy routines, or just coming up and enteracting with your group as you drank at the bar or sitting by the pool.They were all good but I have to tip my hat to Mystro. He propably is the most energetic person I have ever met. He seemed to be everywhere. I worked out just about every morning pretty early and more times than not he was there getting ready to teach the first of his three classes before starting the days activities as a Playmaker. Thanks also for letting me win that Chess game. The bar tenders and other workers really helped to make the vacation. I'm not much of a sun tanner so a lot my time was spent at the poolside bar, and piano bar.Kyrstian, Joseph(thanks for the pool lessons), shrek, Wilson, Mario, The two gentle man at the Tree bar (night time home base) kept our drinks full and always had good conversation for us.Thanks Also to Vitale in the water sports department. before I even got lessons for the Hobe Kat he knew my name and always said hello. When I left I truly felt like I was leaving alot of friends behind that I can't wait to get back to.I would like the thank everyone at Sandal's Dunne River Resort from the top to bottom for an unforgetable vacation.I think I had an enteraction with just about everybody working on the resort and i thank you all for being so nice, accommidating, and approachable. You all truly made the vacation for my new bride our family and friends one for the ages.
Thank you very much,
Hello Hilary,
I’m not sure if Holly has replied but wanted to drop a quick few lines. I’m in training so not a lot of time. Our Vacation was probably the best time I’ve had in my life. Our friends at the resort were so nice and approachable it was refreshing. There was no mistake saying our friends at the resort. I believe we truly made friends there and I can’t wait to get back. For starters Tracy in the concierge department was wonderful. I have to admit I was upset after a long 12 hours of travel when we checked in and found we didn’t have the upgrade were believed we were getting due to the number of rooms we booked I was upset to find we were on the first floor. In my mind the first floor was on the ground level and did suit what I thought we were getting. She asked if she could show us the room and if we didn’t like it she would see what she could do. We viewed the room and found it was not on the ground floor and were very pleased with it in fact.(trees blocked the ocean view but we had a nice view of the pool area which provided a nice view at night with the lights they had and the sound of the waterfall very soothing.Laila and the wedding department were outstanding. She was very thorough with what we were getting and all the options we could get. laila was extremely patient. between the two girls they were able to plan a beautiful wedding. We didn't have a venue for a rehersal/welcome dinner we wanted to have and Laila was able to create a place for us by the aformentioned pool and waterfall that made for a nice setting and I personally thought that was the best dinner we had during that stay.(although all the dinners were very good).The wedding went off without a hitch everything went as it was planned and everything was what we expected or more,very ,very smooth and stress free. The pictures were outstanding Sheldon really had some ideas that had us scratching our heads but when we viewed the pictures we came to understand why he's the one behind the camera.The reception Dinner really put the cherry on top of a wonderful night. Nichael, Akelion, Jermaine, and the two ladies that were helping, who's names I can't remember ( I apologies to them) really did an outstanding job. The food was outstanding, service top notch.The thing that i appreciated the most was during the weding plan meeting We inquired about if they could play music for us during dinner and laila advised that if we had an I-pod w docking station we could other wise we would have to pay for a DJ type of option. So it was no big deal it would have been nice to have but wasn't a deal breaker.To our suprise when we arrived at the reception she had an I-pod playing with some of the best love songs i've heard in a long time....so good that we all were trying to get a copy of the cd !! After dinner we asked if they could play more upbeat dance. Before we knew it Akelion, Nichael and the gang were showing us Jamacian dance moves. We all to a person had the best time ever and it was the talk of group all the next day. something so small as helping uis get music really helped to have the most rememberable Wedding that can be talked about for a lifetime. I really am forever endebted to the wedding department they really confirmed why they are the cream fo the crop. Thank you all again and again.
The Playmakers really kept the fun going wether it was dancing, making you laugh with the games or comedy routines, or just coming up and enteracting with your group as you drank at the bar or sitting by the pool.They were all good but I have to tip my hat to Mystro. He propably is the most energetic person I have ever met. He seemed to be everywhere. I worked out just about every morning pretty early and more times than not he was there getting ready to teach the first of his three classes before starting the days activities as a Playmaker. Thanks also for letting me win that Chess game. The bar tenders and other workers really helped to make the vacation. I'm not much of a sun tanner so a lot my time was spent at the poolside bar, and piano bar.Kyrstian, Joseph(thanks for the pool lessons), shrek, Wilson, Mario, The two gentle man at the Tree bar (night time home base) kept our drinks full and always had good conversation for us.Thanks Also to Vitale in the water sports department. before I even got lessons for the Hobe Kat he knew my name and always said hello. When I left I truly felt like I was leaving alot of friends behind that I can't wait to get back to.I would like the thank everyone at Sandal's Dunne River Resort from the top to bottom for an unforgetable vacation.I think I had an enteraction with just about everybody working on the resort and i thank you all for being so nice, accommidating, and approachable. You all truly made the vacation for my new bride our family and friends one for the ages.
Thank you very much,
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The New Sandals Emerald Bay
The Honorable Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Chairman of Sandals & Beaches All-inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean, does it again! His transformation of the Four Seasons Resort in Great Exuma, Bahamas into the New Sandals Emerald Bay is nothing short of spectacular! After investing 17.5 million into this Caribbean gem, it truly deserves the Sandals name. The resort atmosphere is warm and inviting at every turn. From the beautifully manicured grounds, to the 5 gourmet dining options, this stunning adults-only all-inclusive resort is sure to please even the most discerning traveler. Sandals Emerald Bay holds a prime beachfront location situated on one of the most amazing beaches I have ever seen. The sand is a soft, powder white that stretches well beyond the resort itself with views of the ever changing Bahamian blue/green waters. A spotted eagle ray even swam in the shallow waters right off shore as we walked along. There are 2 pools - a quiet pool set back beneath swaying palms and the larger Main pool which is lined with yellow and white striped cabanas under which you can relax in the comfortable chaise loungers after a day in the warm sun. The food is all gourmet at your choice of 5 unique Restaurants- Il Cielo, Bahama Bay, Barefoot by the Sea, Dino's Pizzeria, and the Drunken Duck Pub where the chicken "pot pie" was to die for! All the rooms are suites with Butler Service, and if can afford one of the Beachfront Villas, you will not be disappointed! From the Greg Norman designed 18-hole golf course, to the incredible fishing opportunities just moments away, you can stay and play at Sandals Emerald Bay where your memories will last a lifetime!
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