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Monday, August 31, 2009
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Top 10 Ways to Book a Dream Vacation
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By: Luxury Travel Examiner Ruthanne Terrero
1. Ask yourself what you really want out of this trip. Is it relaxation only or will you be bored after one night at a remote island resort?
2. Are you truly exhausted from your job? Do you need rest and relaxation? If so, a cultural jaunt to three cities in seven days is not right for you at this time.
3. Do you have a dream destination in mind? Is it based on real facts or is it based on your fantasies of what you hope this place will be like? You might be letting yourself down if you’re just keeping your fingers crossed that a place will be fabulous.
4. Is your dream trip based on the fact that your neighbor, sister, co-worker just came back from there and you’re just a tad envious? If you’re paying big bucks for your vacation, go where you want to go; don’t make your selection based on what you want to brag about at the country club.
5. Sort through all the deals that are out there with skepticism. Be sure you’re getting a great room and not some tiny hole in the wall overlooking the dumpsters in the parking lot because you’re paying just $99 a night. Believe me, those rooms really do exist.
Opt instead for the deals that include free breakfasts, transfers from the airport and a room upgrade. Those add ons have real value and may be worth the $50 or $100 more you spend per night.
6. Consider reserving a room on a Concierge or Club floor. For a bit extra, this amenity will likely provide you with free breakfast, Afternoon Tea and cocktails in the evening, as well as a service that’s dedicated to making you feel comfortable. These perks also have value if you’re traveling with a child whose dining habits tend toward small portions, or, if you yourself are a grazer and like a little drink now and then.
7. Be wary of some of the photos you see online of your hotel. A telephoto lens can make a tiny room look large in cyberspace. I always judge by the distance shown between the bed and the armoire. Walking sideways to get into the room can be a bit taxing after the first half hour or so. One room I checked into in London years ago was so small the bellman could only stand in the doorway and hurl my luggage toward me.
8. Watch for added fees and taxes. Some cities have tariffs that add nearly 20 percent per night onto a room bill. Certain hotels have resorts fees starting at $15 a day that include services that are matter of fact, such as using towels by the pool and picking up the phone to make a local call, in other words, stuff that should be included in your room rate to begin with.
9. Read customer reviews on sites like TripAdvisor but take them with a grain of salt. Some information can give you tremendous insight but other tidbits may be generated from a single bad moment at a hotel.
10. In the end, go to a trusted travel agent. They can provide information based on the fact that they’ve actually been there. They can tell you if a fabulous hotel is located across from a disco that will generate a lot of noise at 3 a.m. or if a resort with a famous name is resting on its laurels and hasn’t been renovated for 20 years. They can also get you excellent upgrades and help you sort through all of the deals that are out there. Don’t leave your precious vacation time to fate. Get the services of an expert, as you would with an attorney or accountant.
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Friday, January 01, 2010
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Secrets Capri - The Mayan Riviera's Secrets is out...
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My husband Tom and I have just returned from a wonderful vacation in the Mayan Riviera. We enjoyed our resort so much, I decided to put together a trip report to share with my clients (and add to Tripadvisor). I'm sure some of you are looking for that next great vacation spot, and I have to say, this might be just the place you've been searching for.
Gourmet, pampering, personalized service, tropical. If these words conjure up a relaxed getaway in a beautiful and lush land, read on to find out about Secrets Capri in the Mayan Riviera.
Deciding which all-inclusive to venture off to each year is always a tough decision for me and my husband. Well, really, it’s my decision, as I have all the resources in front of me. Trying to decide which location, then which resort can take months for us. We want to find just the right spot for our getaway, as many of you do also.
As most of you know, the Mayan Riviera was ravaged by Hurricane Wilma this past October. The Yucatan Peninsula has been hit before, but hasn’t been devastated like this in years. The clean up efforts were amazing. Travel Agents were kept in the loop over the past five months on the hotel openings and were sent photos documenting the repairs as they were on going. Secrets Capri did not escape this brutal storm.
Secrets Capri had mostly cosmetic damage, thankfully. Uprooted trees and plants, broken railings, and the beach landed in the pool. By working day and night, the staff was able to get the resort up and running in a very short time. And when we arrived there on March 22, you would never know a hurricane ever lingered over their hotel.
BEACH
Some resorts in the Mayan Riviera lost their beach in Hurricane Wilma, not Secrets Capri. They are sitting on a gorgeous stretch of white powder beach. There’s plenty of room here, lots of palapas to shade yourself, and tons of beach chairs. If you are feeling active, you can join in the daily game of American flag football or beach volleyball.
POOL
I tend to choose a resort based on the size of the pool, as well as the beach. I just like room to spread out. I’ve been to resorts that offer very small pool areas and they just aren’t as appealing as a nice, large pool. This one fits the bill. Plenty of seating around the pool, its zero entry, which means certain sections slope from the deck right into the pool. Please be careful of this, as it can get slippery (yes, I slipped right in). There are steps too, use these. Tons of floaty rafts too. Grab a Pina Colada and a raft and you’ll be set. Oh and if for some strange chance the Mayan Riviera gets a cold spell, they’ll heat the pool.
GAME AREA
Here you’ll find pool tables, chess, checkers, Jenga, backgammon and more. If you’ve had enough sun for the day, stop by for a quick game on your way to the bar.
BONUS FEATURES
We happened to arrive at the resort smack in the middle of March Madness. Being the huge college basketball fan that I am, I was thrilled to find out (prior to my trip) that Secrets Capri would be broadcasting all of the games on the big screen! They set up the disco for our viewing pleasure during all the games with waitress service, so we never had to leave our seats during the action, popcorn machine, candy bars and sandwiches. Even though my two favorite teams lost while we were there, it was still a great bonus!
Each morning you'll wake up to find a newsletter under your door with all the day's activities, special drink of the day, restaurant and tour information.
RESORT
The resort itself is comprised of 290 rooms, situated on 71 acres of lush foliage. The horseshoe design of the hotel makes everything easily accessible. The lobby is done in beautiful marbles and is very lavish. You’ll find early morning coffee here daily and a live band in the evenings. Off the lobby is the Grand Ballroom for wedding receptions and such with a lovely terrace for cocktail parties. You’ll also find a disco, five restaurants, games area and spa here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We found our room to be quite lovely. The accommodations are very spacious, about double the size of a regular hotel room. Again, marble is the theme here. Four-poster beds, stocked in-room mini- bar, cable TV, two phones, large private balcony, and an exceptionally large bathroom. The bathroom offers a shower and Jacuzzi jetted tub. You’ll find robes and slippers in all rooms, twice daily maid service, private concierge and 24-hour room service.
STAFF
We found the staff to be exceptional. They take the time to get to know their guests and that means the world to me. We had the pleasure of having breakfast with Mr. Eric Freudenthaler, the resort’s General Manager on our last morning at Secrets. What a gentleman. He stopped to greet guests by their names and was interested to hear what they had to say about the resort. We gave him an idea or two about ways to make the resort better, from a guest’s point of view and he thought they were wonderful and planned to implement them. Eric checks on every one of my clients during their stay to make sure everything is to their liking. I know my clients appreciate this gesture immensely. If you have a problem with your room, someone will be sent up to assist right away. If you want to know what time the Flyers and Oilers play on ESPN that evening, stop at your concierge’s desk at the end of the hall on your way to the beach and he’ll find out for you. It’s these kinds of services that my clients expect and are so nice to receive with a smile.
The bartenders are more than happy to whip up a fruity concoction for you to try and the wait staff will be happy to bring you nachos and cheese as you lay by the pool.
RESTAURANTS
We found the restaurants to be exceptional. Each one was better than the last. Service was excellent and the menus, which changed daily, were very extensive.
Himitsu specializes in Pan-Asian fare. Lobster, sushi, scallops and beef on this menu. Beautiful setting as well.
Oceana is their seafood restaurant. This restaurant has a wonderful view of the ocean and is very romantic. Fresh seafood daily.
Portofino is the Italian specialty restaurant. If you have a love of fine Italian food, you’ll want to dine her nightly. Excellent wine list also.
La Riviera is the buffet restaurant for breakfast and lunch and Continental/Mexican cuisine for dinner. When you think buffet, you will not come remotely close to thinking of this one. Breakfast offered an egg station cooked to order, crepe station, breakfast sushi, every imaginable breakfast food, pastries and juices. Lunch was another event with sushi station, pasta station, antipasti and salad area, as well as many exciting lunch specialties. Dinner offered some great Continental options.
Seaside Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is an a la carte restaurant featuring a steakhouse menu in the evening.
**Long pants and closed toe shoes are required for some restaurants for the gentlemen.
One note about the restaurants. They do not accept reservations. Restaurants open at 6:30pm. They tend to get busy between the peak period of 7:30pm- 8:30pm. The restaurants do have waits of 20 minutes to sometimes up to an hour on occasion, depending on the restaurant. Some restaurants are smaller than others. They will give you a beeper that works throughout the resort. So, after you get out of the hot tub on the pool deck at 6pm, stop by the Seaside Grill, pick up your beeper, get dressed for dinner and by the time you are ready, your beeper will be going off. We found some people to be put off by the waits, but once you plan for it, its fine. The lobby does a lovely happy hour with snacks and a band, so you’ll have somewhere for cocktails first.
BARS
There are several bars throughout the property including at the pool (and in the pool), beach, lobby and disco.
THEME NIGHTS
Every night is a different theme. Mexican, French, etc. They had a huge Mexican party one night where they brought in vendors and a donkey to get your picture taken with. They have a wonderful buffet set up around the pool and a show during dinner. Saturday night is star gazing on the beach to classic rock. Every night is something fun.
OVERALL
This resort is adults only, but not couples only. They are accepting of everyone over the age of 18, whether they are singles, a few friends traveling together, couples, honeymooners, gay or lesbian. Everyone is welcome and they promise you will have a good time. The resort is primarily Americans as they market mostly to the United States. We found the ages to range from very late 20s to 60s. Average age was 30s and 40s. Tips are included in your total cost, however, if you receive exemplary service from someone, you may offer them a tip. The staff in no way solicits tips, but will accept them. Please don’t ever feel this is required.
This is not a party style resort. It is laid back, with some music at the pool occasionally throughout the day. It’s the type of place where you can sit at the swim-up pool bar and chat with your neighbor or read a book on your beach chair or join in pool volleyball. It’s what you make of it. But, in our opinion, it was one of the most wonderful vacations we’ve taken.
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