Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Beaches Turks & Caicos
I had the opportunity to visit the Beaches property in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos last week. I was excited to visit a location that I had not visited before but I was wary of visiting a "family" focus resort. Since I don't have children, and prefer to take them in small doses this would be something different.
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Okay, maybe blown away. The property was absolutely beautiful! There are three (3) separate villages at this resort: Caribbean, French and Italian. The accommodations in all 3 were beautiful.
The service was outstanding, the food was excellent and the facilities were state of the art. Beaches is an all inclusive property so there is no tipping and all meals, snacks, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. Non motorized water sports are included. If you are a certified diver, and present your diver certification card, up to 2 dives per day are included! If you are not a certified diver, Resort Certification is available for a fee. The only other services not included are spa services, character breakfasts, laundry and dry cleaning, after hours babysitting, internet access and shopping.
There are age appropriate, supervised activities for infants through teens. The resort employs Certified Nannies. The little ones will enjoy Camp Sesame and visits by the characters from Sesame Street. Even I enjoyed the Sesame Street Parade! You could feel the excitement of the children in the air as they waited for the character parade. The looks on their little faces as the parade approached was priceless. The parade ends with a show on the open air stage. There is Pirate Island with a water park and ice cream shop and a kid sized swim up bar. For the older kids there is an XBox 360 Game Garage, Crayola Art Camp, Scratch DJ Academy, Beach Olympics, Karaoke, and more. There is even XBox in every room!
There are 8 pools-5 with swim up bars, a waterpark with 2 waterslides and a surfrider, a lazy river, outdoor movies, snorkeling, windsurfing, hobie cats, kayaks and sea trykes. There is a 7,000 square foot Shopping Village in just the Italian Village! There are 16 separate dining options! Did I mention the resort sits on a 12 mile stretch of powder white sand beach?
I thoroughly enjoyed the water slides and lazy river. The swim up bars were great and it was a hoot to watch the kids order the "virgin" pina coladas and other frozen drinks. They all thought that they were extremely cool. A few of the parents were envisioning blenders of frozen banana and strawberry drinks in their futures.
There are also special programs available for groups. Packages include Family Reunions; Group Weddings and Best Friends for Ever. The programs offer special rates and exclusive benefits.
I had a great time at this resort and would highly recommend this for a great girlfriend getaway, a family reunion, a family destination wedding or a great beach vacation. If you are looking for a perfect family beach getaway you can't go wrong with Beaches, Turks & Caicos.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Australia A Dream Destination
I just completed my Aussie Specialist Designation for the second time. I originally certified back in the early 90's-back in the dark ages when certification was through classes taken from a thick white binder and tests for certification were mailed in. This time, of course, everything was done online. It's been 5 years since my last trip to Australia and I'm ready to go back. I have been reminiscing about my past adventures and pulled out the old photo albums.
Oh the wonderful memories of experiences we have had never leave us from our trips to this magical destination. I have to say that even though I have been several times before, Australia is still someplace that I want to go back to time and time again.
Things have definitely changed since my first trip in 1984. But even though they have changed, the reasons Australia is so appealing to us all are still the same! The Great Barrier Reef, is still breathtaking. Turquoise clear water with 40 ft visibility is the same. Giant clams, schools of brightly colored fish and spectacular scenery are unrivaled.
Sydney and the Harbor Bridge are recognizable by just about everyone. Enjoying a Captain Cook Coffee Cruise of Sydney Harbor. Visions of Ayers Rock or Uluru at sunset are never forgotten. Driving to Kakadu National Park and seeing the Giant Termite mounds. Stopping in a bar in the outback with a dirt floor just like a scene from a Crocodile Dundee movie. Having a beer with the locals. Going to the horse races complete with "book makers" with briefcases full of money and watching the horses run the "wrong way". Port Douglas, Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, wild cockatoos, dolphins, crocodiles it's just amazing! Watching a sea turtle from the balcony of your hotel room.
Melbourne, Philip Island and the fairy penguins at dusk. Driving along the Great Ocean Road and seeing the 12 Apostles rock formations. Seeing Koalas in the wild. Holding a Koala, hand feeding a wallaby and a kangaroo. The vineyards and world renowned wines of Australia. Opals and the opal mines of Coober Pedy and the underground hotels. Perth and swimming in the Indian Ocean. Freemantle and America's Cup sailing traditions.
So many have mentioned Australia as someplace they would like to visit. I have to agree there is no place like it and deserves to be on your list.
Australia is truly a destination that delivers beyond your wildest dreams.
Oh the wonderful memories of experiences we have had never leave us from our trips to this magical destination. I have to say that even though I have been several times before, Australia is still someplace that I want to go back to time and time again.
Things have definitely changed since my first trip in 1984. But even though they have changed, the reasons Australia is so appealing to us all are still the same! The Great Barrier Reef, is still breathtaking. Turquoise clear water with 40 ft visibility is the same. Giant clams, schools of brightly colored fish and spectacular scenery are unrivaled.
Sydney and the Harbor Bridge are recognizable by just about everyone. Enjoying a Captain Cook Coffee Cruise of Sydney Harbor. Visions of Ayers Rock or Uluru at sunset are never forgotten. Driving to Kakadu National Park and seeing the Giant Termite mounds. Stopping in a bar in the outback with a dirt floor just like a scene from a Crocodile Dundee movie. Having a beer with the locals. Going to the horse races complete with "book makers" with briefcases full of money and watching the horses run the "wrong way". Port Douglas, Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, wild cockatoos, dolphins, crocodiles it's just amazing! Watching a sea turtle from the balcony of your hotel room.
Melbourne, Philip Island and the fairy penguins at dusk. Driving along the Great Ocean Road and seeing the 12 Apostles rock formations. Seeing Koalas in the wild. Holding a Koala, hand feeding a wallaby and a kangaroo. The vineyards and world renowned wines of Australia. Opals and the opal mines of Coober Pedy and the underground hotels. Perth and swimming in the Indian Ocean. Freemantle and America's Cup sailing traditions.
So many have mentioned Australia as someplace they would like to visit. I have to agree there is no place like it and deserves to be on your list.
Australia is truly a destination that delivers beyond your wildest dreams.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
CruiseOne Now Supports Land Vacations
I am so happy that my headquarters has announced new partnerships with tour operators in addition to our current cruise partners.
As many of you know, I have always enjoyed providing assistance to you in booking your land vacations plus your cruise vacations. Now we have initial partnerships with Apple Vacations; Club Med; Disney Adventures; Funjet Vacations; Globus Family of Brands including Cosmos and Monograms; GoGo World Wide Vacations; Sandals; Trafalgar Tours; Travel Impressions and U.S. Airways Vacations.
I will be visiting Sandals and Beaches locations with our Sandals and Apple Vacations representatives next month. So, I will have up close and personal experience to help you plan your next land based vacation!
Don't worry if you don't see your favorite tour operator listed, we still have relationships with most major providers and will be adding preferred partners as we grow this phase of our business.
I am so excited to have these extra options available for you to plan your perfect vacation.
As many of you know, I have always enjoyed providing assistance to you in booking your land vacations plus your cruise vacations. Now we have initial partnerships with Apple Vacations; Club Med; Disney Adventures; Funjet Vacations; Globus Family of Brands including Cosmos and Monograms; GoGo World Wide Vacations; Sandals; Trafalgar Tours; Travel Impressions and U.S. Airways Vacations.
I will be visiting Sandals and Beaches locations with our Sandals and Apple Vacations representatives next month. So, I will have up close and personal experience to help you plan your next land based vacation!
Don't worry if you don't see your favorite tour operator listed, we still have relationships with most major providers and will be adding preferred partners as we grow this phase of our business.
I am so excited to have these extra options available for you to plan your perfect vacation.
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