Cancun Resorts You should consider for your next vacation

May 11, 2015 By Susan Robson

Cancun Resorts you should consider for your next vacation!

Paradisus Cancun

The Paradisus Cancun is located so perfectly on the soft white sand beaches of Mexico’s Caribbean Coast in Cancun. It is a top choice destination for those searching for an ideal location with beautiful blue azul water. Cancun is an international destination that prides itself in providing luxurious resorts offering the comfort expected of prestigious resorts with the highest standards of excellence. This commitment to high quality is the reason Paradisus Cancun has received Four Diamond honors since 2006 by AAA. This breathtaking, luxurious beach resort, Paradisus Cancun, with it’s distinct Mayan inspiration, provides the perfect accommodations for your vacation getaway, just 15 minutes from the Cancun Airport.

The elegant, spacious, and luxuriously decorated rooms are offered with many options. The entry level room, Paradius junior suite, is offered as lagoon or oceanview. Family concierge junior suite and suite, are both offered as lagoon or oceanview, and have the services of a special concierge. These family concierge rooms receive children’s beach kit, walkie talkies, and children’s amenities and activities. The Royal Paradisus suite, junior suite, 1 bedroom suite, and the Royal Luxury junior suite, are then offered as lagoon or oceanview to Adults-only. All of the Royal service room options include Butler service, Royal Service lounge, complimentary internet, private Royal Service pool, bar, beach area with concierge service, all designed to make the guests feel like Royalty. 24 hour room service is offered, as well.

There are 14 Restaurants at Paradisus Cancun Resort: 1. Mole-Mexican contemporary cuisine. 2. Market Grill-Italo-Argentina grill for lunch & dinner. Specializing in prime cuts and fresh salads. 3. Passion-Touch of retro with elegant signature cuisine by 6 star Michelin Chef Martin Berasategui. This restaurant is with an extra charge that isn’t included. 4,5,6,7. Vento, Fuego, Bana, & Naos-all Italo-Argentina grill for lunch and dinner. Specializing in prime cuts and fresh salads. 8. Gaby Club-Ultimate chill out bar & restaurant starring fish & chips and seafood specialties. Pan Asian, Mediterranean, and South American are additional restaurant options. 24 hour room service is offered to all guests.

Tennis, a nine-hole par 3 golf course, Kids Club, YHI Spa and a Family Concierge give guests additional options and plenty to do and ways to explore. Guests at the beach, in one of the four lagoon-inspired pools, or dining in any of the nine on-site restaurants, find that total satisfaction is the goal of the Paradisus Cancun. Bali beds are offered as a 1st come & 1st option daily, at no additional charge. The butlers and concierge services indulge guests in pampering through the Royal Service. The special services and facilities offered make the Paradisus Cancun among the best hotels in Cancun.

After viewing this resort in a site inspection with Israel Ortiz, I can easily see why this is a top choice destination for couples and families searching for the ideal beach resort in Cancun! It has so much to offer, with outstanding food and dinner options. If you have questions about the Paradisus Cancun, or other resorts in the nearby Riviera Maya and Cancun, contact Susan at Go Travel Stl! I’ll be glad to share my experiences at these resorts! Or, if you would like a Perfect Honeymoon or Vacation Analysis, go to www.GoTravelStl.com.

Susan

New Resort, Secrets Playa Mujeres, is a Glittering Gem in the Caribbean

April 4, 2015 By Susan Robson

Secrets Playa Mujeres

The brand new All Suite Unlimited Luxury Included, adults only Resort, set along the famous white sands of Playa Mujeres.

The brand new resort, Secrets Playa Mujeres, is a glittering gem in the Caribbean! I was fortunate to stay at Secrets Playa Mujeres for a week in February and found it to be amazing! The resort is set along the famous white sand beaches of Playa Mujeres, across from Isla Las Mujeres, and just about 30 minutes from the Cancun Airport. It’s location is prime, being adjacent to an 18 hole signature Greg Norman golf course, and in close proximity to downtown Cancun and shopping centers. This Adults-only, Unlimited-Luxury Resort, exceeded my expectations, and included every single amenity that I would want to find in such a world-class destination. Stunning ocean views are visible from every room category in this amazing resort, as it graces the front of the privileged gated community of Playa Mujeres. Unlimited-Luxury Inclusions are so many: Free WiFi and International calling with Unlimited Connectivity, Nine gourmet restaurants – five a la carte, a buffet, a cafe and 2 grills, seven chic bars & lounges – including one swim-up bar, 24 hour room and concierge services, turn-down service, complimentary mini-bar refreshed daily, unlimited premium drinks, pool and beach wait service, state of the art fitness center, tennis courts, sparkling pools, outdoor lounge area, outdoor jacuzzi, Secrets Spa by Pevonia (fee), complimentary green fees, non-motorized water sports, Preferred club privileges, and all taxes and gratuities.

The employees at Secrets Playa Mujeres were exceptional – everyone that one might encounter – front desk, drivers, bartenders, waiters, room service, bell desk, maid service, and the maintenance crew were always friendly and on top of their jobs. Especially enjoyable was to talk to the personnel and get to know a little about their lives. The smiles on their faces and excellent service showed how much they appreciated someone taking an interest. We never had to wait long for service at the bars, restaurants or at the pool. Employees appreciated tips, and they remembered our names, our favorite chair, drink, etc. The golf cart rides between the restaurants, lobby and rooms was always an enjoyable ride because of the conversation with the drivers. When we would be lucky to “get” one of our newfound friends a second time, it was always fun catching up on what we had been enjoying at the resort, or other information about the area.

The pool and beach had picturesque breathtaking views of the water surrounding the resort. We were able to find an excellent location at the pool each day and found that our most enjoyable time was in the morning, before most of the activity got going for the day. The pool concierge were very helpful in finding chair locations if it was a busier, full time. Pool and beach service was frequent for whatever our needs were. They did not want anyone to get dehydrated! Towels were always in abundance, and the beach was amazing! There was always a perfect breeze, but the ocean in February, was colder than what I had anticipated. The seaweed didn’t seem to be that bad, once you got past the bit at the water’s edge, it became clear. The beach did need to be cleared constantly, in order to keep up with the constantly growing piles.

Seaside Grill Restaurant

Oceana Restaurant

The restaurants were outstanding in both their service and quality of food. The French Restaurant, Bordeaux, was phenomenal for the lobster and escargot. The waiters always did so much above and beyond to try to please you…impeccable service! We also had dinner in the Japanese Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the Teppanyaki performance and taste of the meal. Oceana, Italian, Seaside Grill, and Portofino were all excellent, as well. I was fully impressed with how attentive the staff was upon a guest’s arrival at a restaurant. They always asked if you had any food allergies, and if you needed any special accommodations for allergy free. What a change for Mexico! Guests with gluten-free or lactose intolerant digestive systems could certainly be comfortable here! Always in the past, on other trips to Mexico, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet every single day, especially the wide variety of food options. At Secrets Playa Mujeres, we tried room service for breakfast one day, and then never went back to the breakfast buffet. Room service was amazing! The service was prompt, timely, temperature perfect, always everything we needed…including ketchup, salt, butter, cream, etc. I highly recommend it!

We were extremely pleased with our stay at Secrets Playa Mujeres and found it to be a glittering gem in the Caribbean. Will it be one for you?

Susan

Jamaica Gets All Right!

October 25, 2014 By Susan Robson

Jamaica Gets All Right

A week ago, I attended the Jamaica Tourism Board’s dinner and seminar at Maggiano’s in Clayton, MO. It was a fun evening, full of “ya mon’s” and great reggae music accompanying the videos of Jamaica. As a group of travel agents, we got the latest updates to what is happening and changing in Jamaica. Have your travel experiences included a trip to Jamaica in recent years?

Jamaica’s Hotel and Tourism sectors are expanding and improving on a wide scale basis. It’s product continues to change & evolve to meet the preferences and the diverse needs of all types of guests: families, couples, singles, nature-lovers, and adventure seekers. Everyone can find something to love in Jamaica with the new attractions, hotel and resort developments and renovations, infrastructure development, new restaurants to satisfy all tastes, and so much more. Some new resorts and entertainment options are now appearing, while the existing resorts and attractions are stepping up to make improvements and renovations to their properties. Some of the new properties include: Karisma’s Azul Sensatori, Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara, RIU Palace Jamaica, and the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande.

Did you know there are 3 International Airports in Jamaica? The 3rd Int’l Airport, Ian Fleming International Airport, located just 5 miles East of Ochos Rios, is named after the author of the James Bond novels (who wrote most of his books in Jamaica). The Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, is currently working on phase 2 of it’s expansion project & opening a new section containing: a Customs area, police station, baggage delivery systems, rental car agencies, tour operators, food & beverage outlets, and hotel arrival lounges. And in the Kingston Airport, the expansion is working in 3 phases, including a new 2 level passenger pier, several jet bridges, 66 additional airline check-in positions, and the most current and updated airport technology.

Making travel easier for residents and visitors, Island-wide road improvements are continuous. An example of this would be the North Coast Highway and Highway 2000 both cut the driving time from Ochos Rios to Kingston to just a little over an hour.

Do you know how many cruise passengers arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica, in the month of April? This is amazing…50,000! And, a ship the size of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas can be accommodated in the pier. Arriving passengers will find more than 40 attractions in and around Falmouth. The Ports Authority of Jamaica and RCL have joined together to create this joint venture.

And, what else is everyone waiting for? If you guessed new resorts, you’re correct! Karisma Hotels, famous on the Mexican Riviera Maya, has just opened the Azul Sensatori Jamaica, formerly Beaches Sandy Bay in Negril. This all-inclusive property has 140 rooms and is gourmet inclusive for couples, singles, and families – a truly multi-generational resort.

Ochos Rios – The Moon Palace Grande (formerly Sunset Jamaica Grande) is re-opening in late spring of 2015, and is the Palace’s first hotel outside of Mexico. When complete, it will feature 730 renovated & modernized guest rooms, restaurant upgrades, and a 17 acre beachfront on the longest private beach in Ochos Rios.

At Jewel Runaway Bay, a $5 million dollar waterpark is being constructed to open early in 2015. The resort has just completed a $20 million dollar renovation & building of new suites, pools, and restaurants. A new low rise block of 30 rooms, with oceanfront appeal, was added on the West beach.

Montego Bay – Sandals Resorts Int’l plans on building 5 over the water villa suites on it’s private island in Montego Bay. Each villa will have glass floors, a private jacuzzi tub with steps leading directly into the ocean, king beds, over the water hammocks, and soaking tubs. Do these sound like Bora Bora, but without the 20 hour flight? Traveling to Jamaica from St. Louis on a charter flight, is a quick 4 – 4 1/2 hours. Projected date of completion is late 2015

Montego Bay – Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, situated in a privileged pristine white sand beach with spectacular views of the Caribbean, welcomes guests of all ages, and will open following a multi-million dollar renovation that has totally recreated this former Rose Hall. Right next door is the Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, a gourmet indulgent escape for adults, couples, friends and individuals.

Jamaica, where nothing is a problem “mon”, is an island paradise where reggae, romance and the Caribbean sun come together. It’s vibrant Blue Mountains tower above the shimmering sands and “true blue” turquoise waters. Did you know that Jamaica was the pioneer of the all-inclusive vacation concept? Most travelers find this to be an island that just “does it better”.

Susan