Destination Weddings in Caribbean + Sandals = Awesome!
There are litereally hundreds and hundreds of great options for a Destination Wedding on the beach - in the US, in the Caribbean, Mexico and beyond
If the Caribbean is your style, then the clear leader is Sandals resorts - see part of the reason why in this quick video
See much, much more on Sandals wedding program and the various resorts here
When it's time for you to sort out the details of your beachside fairytale look for help with a travel agency specializing in Romance Travel, Honeymoons & Destination Weddings
Look to EZTravelPad "Your friends....in the travel business" for expert help and guidance - all complimentary (no fees)!
A Free Wedding in Paradise is Possible...Find Out How
Everyone knows that Sandals Resorts are the top pick for Honeymoons and Destination Weddings throughout the Caribbean - here's another reason why.... FREE WEDDINGS!!
A Destination Wedding is certainly not for everyone, but it is definitely a great choice for a growing number of people, and why not? Think of it like this-
Toes in the sand
Gorgeous scenery
Casual
Easy
Affordable
So how is it possible that all this is free? - Good question...and good DEAL!
It really is a bonus... when you book 6 nights in any room category at any Sandals resort you are entitled to not only the free Beautiful Beginnings wedding package but also an additional $500 in credits to enhance the experience
Use credits (some restrictions apply) for things such as
Room upgrade
Honeymoon Highlights video
Beach cabana
Catamaran cruise
& more
If you are going to have a Honeymoon in the Caribbean consider combining it into a Destination Wedding with friends and family - see more about all of the possibilities at this link
**Sandals Resorts are reserved exclusively for adultc ouples - but if your wedding will include children or singles then the family-friendly Beaches Resorts are another great option...location possibilities include-
Jamaica
Bahamas
St Lucia
Turks & Caicos
Grenada
Antigua
Barbados
Whichever option is the best fit for you, rest assured that "your friends....in the travel business" at EZTravelPad are here to help make your occasion as excellent as possible and save you some money along the way
Being a travel specialist focusing on Honeymoons means that I need to know all about, and keep up to date on one of the world's top choices for romantic Honeymoons and Destination Weddings - St Lucia
I have written about St Lucia before, frequently. In fact the photo above is taken during a visit to Sugar Beach resort (featured in this blog post from a few months ago) and one of the locations for the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition photo shoots featuring Kate Upton and other top models
I am a St Lucia specialist, but alas - I guess not so special as to have been given the opportunity to be there for the shoot..... maybe next time around!
Get a behind the scenes look at the body paiting portion at this link featuring the likes of Jessica Gomes, Samantha Hoopes and more - and yes, the iconic Cheryl Tiegs fishnet suit is recreated with Hannah Ferguson....
Oh, and when it's time for you to consider your best vacation options, turn to "Your friends....in the travel busines" EZTravelPad
Multi-generational travel
is one of the most popular trends in the travel industry today.
With so many families being spread out all across the country living from coast
to coast and even beyond, it is tougher than ever for families to get together
to spend time, bond and reacquaint with each other.
That is why vacationing
together has become such a popular trend these days.
One of the hottest trends is taking an all-inclusive trip to a family friendly resort
in the Caribbean or Mexico.
Resort brands such as Beaches,
Azul or Club Med focus primarily on quality family experiences and offer
excellent activities and entertainment for family members of all ages.
At Beaches resorts the quality and breadth of inclusions is unmatched. Beaches
Resorts are located in Jamaica or Turks and Caicos. Resorts feature multiple
fine dining options yet still offer casual options for those who are so
inclined. Water Parks and plenty of water sport activities such as snorkeling,
scuba, windsurfing, sailing, paddleboarding, and more are all included in the
price. On land there are even more activities ranging from lawn chess to golf and
virtually everything in between – all included!
Sesame Street characters
participate in activities throughout the day and into the evening. There is
even an opportunity for the little ones to be tucked in and read a bedtime
story by Elmo himself.
Club Med resorts are located globally in continents as diverse as North America,
Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. Club Med offers the only all-inclusive
resort in the United States. The Sandpiper Bay resort in Florida features
tennis lessons, golf lessons, baby gym, arts studio, talent shows, hockey, zumba
and even circus lessons - all for the very young.
Club Med even offers All-inclusive ski vacations in the Alps -
Azul
resorts along the Riviera Maya area of Mexico are yet another all-inclusive
option for families to experience excellent gourmet dining choices. Azul Hotels redefine
family vacations featuring family-oriented suites, kid’s clubs, infant
equipment, child toys, and free family reunion coordination.
Nightly
entertainment, mojito tastings, a la carte dining and innovative 12-course
meals top off the Gourmet Inclusive® philosophy. Rooftop barbecues, s’mores
parties on the beach, and 24-hour room service expand on restaurant dining.
The wonderful aspect of all-inclusive resorts is that they offer something for
everyone and everything is included at one set price and often tipping is forbidden.
I cannot think of a
better way for a geographically diverse busy family to reconnect and enjoy each
other’s company in a beautiful and safe environment where preparing one's own
meals and cleaning up the dishes afterward is a distant memory.
At most resorts there are options for multi-room suites where a large family
can share a suite with 3 or 4 bedrooms and a common living area.
The easiest and most affordable way to accomplish a multi-generational family
vacation is to work with your local travel consultant who is well prepared to
help put everything together in a manner that will please everyone from the
youngest to the oldest.
Reviewing Sugar Beach Resort - A Viceroy Resort....in St Lucia
The beach at Viceroy's Sugar Beach resort in St Lucia boasts white sands in an area typically known for a much darker color of sand due to the volcanic nature of the area
The former Jalousie Plantation Resort located between Gros Piton and Petite Piton in St Lucia has been renamed Sugar Beach Resort and it is surely as sweet as the name implies.
Sugar Beach is luxury at it's finest with everything you need for a luxury escape without all of the hoopla found at many larger resorts.
What you will find at Sugar Beach is excellent accommodations, superior service, attention to detail and a world class spa
What you won't find are energetic entertainment staffs encouraging involvement in the party going on...this is about relaxing, rejuvenating, and experiencing one of the most dramatically beautiful settings for a beach resort anywhere in the world
Luxury Villas on the hillside offer many amenities, among which are-
Four-poster bed with silky high-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and romantic voile draping
A walk-in closet/dressing room
iPod docking station
Complimentary internet access (either WiFi or hard wired)
Large flat screen TV & DVD player
Private bar
Tea and coffee making facilities
In-room safe
Signature bathroom amenities
Large bathroom with Victorian-style claw foot bath and enormous walk-in shower
Over-sized plunge pool and private patio
Personalized butler service
If lounging next to a gorgeous and relaxing pool is your idea of the perfect escape then it's tough to find a more gorgeous setting than this...
The resort is primarily an EP style resort (European Plan - as opposed to all-inclusive) where dining is found at any one of 3 restaurants on site, or venture into nearby Soufriere for something very local. One event that is not to be missed is the Friday Fish Fry at Anse la Raye. This is a great evening activity in a small fishing village just a
45-minute drive from Sugar Beach. The main beachfront road is closed and
the fishermen bring their catch right up on to the beach and it’s
slapped straight onto the BBQ grill.
An all-inclusive dining option is available as an option
Spa
I'm not sure exactly how a spa is defined as world class, but if a setting immersed in the rainforest where individual treatment bungalows are scattered along the hillside and built from the native surroundings then the Rainforest Spa is surely world class...
A short list of spa services includes-
Relaxing Royal Bamboo Massage
Hot Candle Massage
Hot Stone Massage
Lava Shell Massage
Swedish Massage
Remedial Massage Deep Tissue
Reflexology
Awakening Facial
C+C Vitamin Body Polisher
Bamboo Body Polisher
Honey Body Polisher
Neuro-Aroma Bath
For more of a sense of the beauty of the resort check out this brief video...
I am sure you will agree that it would be tough to find a more gorgeous setting for a luxury resort, and am confident that if your desire is to experience a superior resort in a tropical paradise then Sugar Beach has to be at the top of your list of possibilities
So when it's time for you to plan your next exotic escape look to EZTravelPad where we like to think of ourselves as "Your friends....in the travel business"
Ready to do something special for your spouse? Is it time to plan a very special anniversary celebration? Thinking about relighting the fire in your relationship?
Vow Renewal ceremonies are a very popular trend at Caribbean destinations. Perhaps you really wanted that beach wedding several years ago, but family pressures or logistics prevented it from happening....so why not do it now? You can get away with just your spouse - or you can include yourselves and a few close friends - or the whole family & all of your friends can join in the celebration.
Many resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico are getting in on the trend and offering some excellent packages with everything already thought through and professionally prepared - and often the complete ceremony is even FREE!
Beautiful Beachfront Location
Officiant
Flowers
Music
Cake
Reception
and much more...
Sandals Resorts offers a complete package much like a Destination Wedding ceremony - see complete details at this link
For more info, ideas and complete details on how to celebrate your marriage in style...no matter how long since your last ceremony....contact EZTravelPad Today!
The Riu brand of all inclusive resorts is one of the more popular choices of the many Spanish owned resort chains operating throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, and Riu Montego Bay is one of the more popular choices in Jamaica. As a large hotel & resort brand operating across much of the globe, Riu offers a good value and is certainly a good option for many - but does that mean it's the right choice for you?
EZTravelPad will try to help you make that decision with some insight, photos, video and more....so read on
Recently spending a few nights at the resort gave me a good chance to get a pretty good feel for the pluses and minuses of the resort and traveling with several other travel agents also lent some additional perspective and insight
Overall Design-
With nearly 700 rooms in a fairly small amount of acreage, the space to guest ratio is fair - comparable to direct competitors but far from spacious compared to some brands pricing just a bit higher so competition for beach and pool chairs starts early in the day....
For so many the all inclusive resort vacation is all about the party and if that is your main focus then this might be a good option for you - especially if you and your group are aged in your 20's. The party at the main pool's siwm up bar was definitely on full tilt from 10a-6p daily due in large part to the design of the pool & swim up bar. With in-pool "booths" and tables and jacuzzis and bar stools the architect created a fantastic space for enjoying the pool and the bar
As many resort designs include several sections of room blocks located individually across the resort grounds Riu was no exception but falling a bit short when it came to tying everything together. Many competitors will have covered walkways which offer shelter from the frequent tropical rains that will pop up anytime day or night - your umbrella is the only option for staying dry when walking from room to restaurant - some covered walkways would be a good thing
Rooms are comfortable with decent space, modest furnishings and extra firm mattresses. Bathrooms are spacious yet a huge design flaw in my thinking was that the small bathtubs were very hard to maneuver in since the tubs are rounded as opposed to flat - tough to turn, even stand while taking a shower - good space but poor tubs = fail for me on that aspect
Food-
It's interesting how perceptions are so individual. For example I am
generally fairly critical of food quality and selection wherever I
travel. I appreciate good food quality and selection - and good service.
Interstingly, I found the food selection and quality to be pretty good
considering the cost of the resort overall - compared to some
competitors I felt they did a good job in this area, but many others
that I was traveling with felt the food was less than impressive - and
so it goes for opinions....
The main restaurant buffet consistently offers a wide range of offerings prepared reasonably well - the a la carte options (both the Italian "Little Italy" and the Asian "Kalu") that I experienced were more than adequate yet certainly not overly impressive from a culinary standpoint
Location-
One of the attractive features of this moderately priced resort is it's close proximity to the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Being located close to the airport definitely helps to maximize your resort time but it can be a mixed blessing though - being located directly in the flight path means that frequent low flying jets will bring a stop to the conversation for a few seconds several times per day
The beach at Riu Mo Bay is not bad. A bit of seaweed washes us, and sand that is less than powdery is a bit of a drag but overall the space is good and the view at sunset is very good. Few peddlers exist since this is a private beach for guests only, but the occasional salesperson will find their way onto the beach and attempt to sell some things.
Intangibles-
Overall I found the service to be ok - certainly nothing close to the level of service at some of the higher priced options. Staff was generally polite but not really friendly with few exceptions. It seemed they were going through the motions and doing their jobs but not really loving it so we all found the overall level of service and training of staff to be fair - could definitely use some improvement
Some people only require cold beers and sodas to enjoy themselves - others have a more discriminating palate. I found the limited beverage selection to be disappointing and the wine selection was nearly undrinkable. That said, blended drinks and simple mixed cocktails are hard to ruin so there are options...
Due to the family friendly nature of the resort, if a Destination Wedding is something that you are considering and keeping the budget as low as possible is a top consideration then this is a good choice since people of all ages can enjoy the resort
Check out this video for more...
Overall I would say that for a certain set of clientele this is a good option - and for others not so much. It's not so much about price, but finding the right fit and that is exactly what a good travel consultant should be doing for you - finding the best fit for you!
When it comes time for your next all inclusive trip find a travel advisor like EZTravelPad to help insure that you make the best choice possible - after all, wasting money is not fun but wasting life's most precious commodity (yout TIME) is a shame!!
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St Thomas, USVI is good choice for All Inclusive Resort
A large part of my job as a travel consultant/advisor with EZTravelPad revolves around touring, experiencing and understanding a wide variety or resorts to better be able to help people with deciding what their best choices are on their next vacation
Often there is a great deal of similarity between resorts and even between destinations, but sometimes I find something that is unique, and I believe Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St Thomas to be one of those - a family friendly resort that is not fancy, but delivers on their promise of being a laid-back spot, managed by the owners
and it’s definitely the kind of place WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME!
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is a family friendly
resort located on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. As
such, a passport is not required for US citizens to visit so this is a popular choice
for those people wanting to experience an authentically Caribbean island
feel without straying too far from the feel of the US. It is
significantly more affordable than the other US island destination of
Hawaii, which is also very popular for Honeymoons (but Hawaii does not offer
all-inclusive resorts)
Couples wanting to enjoy a tropical island without the need of a passport should consider the US Virgin Islands
On
the surface the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is a bit primitive- not fancy
or luxurious in the least, but when you scratch the surface and look a
little deeper the friendly service and family feel of the resort more
than make up for the rather dated accommodations.
Upon entering the resort, honestly, I was a little disheartened with what felt like a motel that hasn't changed much in the last 40 years - as depicted in this photo of the front desk
The rooms were very basic, the restaurant and common areas were not grand, and the beach was not vast
BUT- I had a total change of opinion ofter spending only an hour or so with my resort host Colleen (who quite obviously DOES know everyone's name)
Sure, Colleen was welcoming and polite and nice, as all resort management always is when hosting a travel agency having a look around - but this went a little deeper. She was more engaged with her staff and more friendly with the guests....and more American (a California transplant to the island many years ago) than most - in short, she sold me on the fact that this place is different - it's like going to your home.... in the Caribbean!!
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort may not be fancy - it's not luxurious - but it is most definitely welcoming and friendly and clean and comfortable, which is not a bad thing!
For so many people comfort and clean and friendly are more inportant
than luxury and the "wow" factor, and if this describes you then this
might be an excellent choice for your next vacation to the Caribbean
Honeymoon couples staying 7 nights can enjoy inclusions such
as
a sunset catamaran cruise
a catamaran cruise to snorkel
with sea turtles
a la carte dining including lobster, steaks
and much more...
Competitive pricing vs. other resorts in the USVI make this resort with an all-inclusive option a strong contender for those vacationers (especially Honeymooners) who choose not to
acquire a passport and would prefer to saty on "U.S. soil"
Some fun things to do include
Paddleboarding
Windsurfing
Scuba lessons
Hobie cats
Water trikes
Oh - and napping under a palm tree - that's a fun thing too!!
There is much more to convey, so when you are ready to decide on your next vacation turn to EZTravelPad where we like to think of ourselves as - "Your friends....in the travel business"
The announcement has finally been made - Sandals La Source in Grenada will be accepting reservations for December 2013 beginning in 2 days - March 23, 2013
The anticipation has been high, and with good reason - based on these renderings (photos will be available soon I am certain) the newest Sandals resort - La Source in Grenada looks terrific. Check out some of what you can expect below-
The pool in the Tahitian Village section
Swim out suites in the more exclusive Italian Village
The Oceanview Sky Pool Suites....
Be among the first to enjoy this exciting new Sandals property located in Grenada and featuring-
o 231 rooms and suites
o 3 villages: Pink Gin Village, Tahiti Village, and Italian Village
o Just minutes from the airport
o 9 restaurants including a world class steakhouse restaurant – Butch’s Chophouse
o 3 pools plus 2 river pools
o State of the art fitness center and spa
o Meeting facilities
o 75 butler suites including millionaires suites, rondovals and skypool suites
o Romantic soaking tubs in all rooms and suites in the Tahiti and Italian villages
Continuing with the all inclusive format for adult couples only, Sandals La Source will be perfect for Honeymoons, Destination Weddings, and romantic escapes of all sorts.
The resort opens for reservations Mar 23 for arrivals beginning December 12
So you know what to do now - right? Contact "Your friends....in the travel business" at EZTravelPad
It's been a long time coming, but finally Sandals Resorts has rolled out complimentary Wifi in many of their room categories at Sandals Resorts in Jamaica
Here is the most recent release-
SANDALS RESORTS MAKES IT EASIER FOR GUESTS TO STAY CONNECTED
~ Guests of Concierge and Butler Rooms Receive Complimentary Internet Connection and Overseas Calls ~
Perfect for those that keep their smartphones and tablets as close as their sunscreen while on vacation, Sandals Resorts
will introduce free Wi-Fi and complimentary long-distance phone calls
for select room categories in 2013. These special perks are provided
specifically to guests staying in Concierge Rooms and Butler Rooms, at
any of the seven Sandals Resorts in Jamaica.
Beginning
March 15, 2013, free Wi-Fi will keep guests in concierge or higher
rooms connected whether accessing the latest news and gossip while
lounging poolside; uploading pictures of a romantic beachfront sunset
via social media; or checking emails while relaxing in their luxurious
suite. Additionally, guests in these select room categories at Sandals
Resorts in Jamaica will be permitted to make free long-distance calls to
the U.S., Canada and to UK landlines, as well as local calls to
Jamaican landlines, beginning June 20, 2013. These phone calls will be
offered exclusively through travelers’ personal smartphones by
downloading the Sandals Resort’s online app, which will be free and
available to guests through the Apple and Android App stores.
This is a welcome perks and sure not not only please many guests, but also increase the exposure of the brand as guests tweet and post about the fantastic time they are having in Jamaica
Ready to go but not sure which location will be best for you?
EZTravelPad is here to help make sure you get the very best deal available and that everything goes smoothly.
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