 As many of us head into chilly temperatures and the early darkness blues as the sun is setting too quickly these days, I’m getting more calls for last minute winter vacations. Resort vacations have increased lately as a last ditch effort to enjoy a vacation before the years over… and what better way to end a shitty year, then a beach all-inclusive vacay where you don’t have to worry about reality for a few days!?!
If you are busting at your wits end from not having a vacation this year, and done dealing with all the negativity this year has thrown at us – but you may have questions on safety of travel - let’s chat to discuss all the new protocols and requirements to ease your mind. You'll be surprised at how much more other destinations and resorts are doing than many of our own cities. Of course, if you are in a high-risk group with underlying medical conditions – you should still stay quarantined at home and follow your doctor’s advice. If you are daydreaming about a white Christmas... a sandy white one that is – now is the time to get your vacation locked in. Imagine playing in the sand at an all-inclusive beach resort, instead of shoveling snow this winter! There are a few resorts that extended their “Work & Learn” programs for families that are doing remote school and working from home – so you can feel comfortable departing and still be able to participate in your online environment. Who wouldn’t want an office with a view while working/learning and then heading down to the pool for some play between breaks?! When are you ever going to get a chance like this again?! Hopefully never! Embrace the dream of a warm white winter...
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 When 2020 began, I’m betting you had no idea things would turn out the way that they have. I sure didn't!! It feels like a lifetime ago, but I started out the year on a mind-blowing safari in Africa and just a few days after my return, the "world blew up", as I like to say.
This pandemic has certainly been an educational experience, to say the least. For many of us, it’s brought with it extreme stress and that is just one of the things that prompted this post today. If you’re anything like me, you might be in serious need of a massage to relieve some of that stress. After all, massage is more than just rubbing and pressing the skin. It’s actually “considered part of complementary and integrative medicine” due to the benefits the body can enjoy from it. (1) I had to learn the hard, and expensive way, when I didn't listen to my body and start treatments before it got too bad, and now I struggle to reverse the damage. I have a routine of massage that combines some physical therapy techniques to keep my pain at bay which could have been avoided. I wanted to share 7 reasons you need a massage for your health AND one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts that is a dream for spa treatments, relaxation and rejuvenation!  Do you ever get the feeling that the property reviews on TripAdvisor or similar websites are a little shady? Like they might not be real or biased?
If so, then keep reading because I’m going to share with you the truth about reviews for resorts and what you should consider before you book that trip...  With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I know that there are so many of us who won’t be able to celebrate our mother’s, mother figures, and the outstanding father’s who’ve played both Mom and Dad to us, in quite the same way this year. With travel restrictions slowly lifting however, we can give the Gift of Reconnection in the form of a future travel certificate – and start thinking about the kind of travel that we can safely embark on as we enter our new normal way of life. For those of us wanting to get back into the world and see new places or different scenery, but who are still wary of jumping right back into the fray of extensive multi-destination trips or mega-resorts, there are a number of smaller boutique and secluded style options available that are ideal to start. Let's explore a few of those today...
 I have seen a lot of bad reviews on various forums for some of my favorite resorts, and they have one thing in common... the beach and seaweed issue. This is so unfortunate to see, as the resorts have no control over mother nature and that's an unfair negative review that the properties don't deserve.
I’m all about full disclosure, and when I start to plan a trip with my clients, I like to prepare you on the expectations to ensure you make a good decision that fits with your desires. It upsets me when tourists travel to a destination they have never been to, or maybe visited 7 years ago, and they see pretty pictures from someone else's vacation thinking they will get that same "picture perfect" vacay, only to arrive disappointed and then leave a bad review. This stems from the lack of knowledge of a destination, the resort brand differences, seasonal changes, or the understanding that things can change dramatically after a few years, just to name a few reasons. There are so many factors that can affect your experience, and as a professional in the travel industry, those are what I take into consideration when planning your vacations. I feel the need to chat about the elephant in the room regarding many Caribbean Sea destinations, which some travel agencies may shy away from openly discussing. I'm talking about Sargassum Seaweed. Can you still enjoy a vacation in the Caribbean? Absolutely! Below is what you need to know about Sargassum Seaweed, so that you can plan accordingly to ensure your expectations are managed and will have an amazing vacation without disappointment. And by the way - it also effects South Florida and other US beaches near the Atlantic, so it's not just an international concern.  As I plan my clients resort vacations, a common question I receive is about the experiences one can enjoy in destination. While one of the most appealing things about all-inclusive resorts is that they allow you to visit coveted destinations for one lumped together price. However, where these resorts sometimes fall short, is in giving you cultural experiences of the destination you’re visiting. The good news is, that staying at an all-inclusive resort doesn’t mean you have to stick to the resort life.
Here’s how you can enjoy cultural experiences while still enjoying the sheltered luxury of an all-inclusive resort...  If you are anything like me, the winter gets you thinking about getting the heck out of here and finding a nice beach to thaw out on!!
I was recently accepted as 1 of 15 travel agents nationwide to go to Fiji next month and it can't get here fast enough! I will tour multiple islands and a vast array of resorts on a whirlwind visit in Fiji, but I'm excited for paradise and look forward to sharing my experiences with you! As you start planning your upcoming beach getaway, I have some insight regarding how to select your room category that you may find beneficial...  I just returned from Mexico doing resort site inspections at 12 different luxury resorts around the Riviera Maya and Cancun area - hopefully you saw some of those online at facebook or instagram. If you didn't, go check them out, as I saw some amazing resorts and now have an even longer bucketlist of more resorts I'm dying to stay at! :) There is a new all-inclusive resort with a twist to the inclusive concept which opened last year, and I had the pleasure of staying there for the first 3 nights of my trip. I just wanted to share my remarkable experience with you about my new love... UNICO 20°87° isn’t just a destination, it’s a journey! From locally-inspired gourmet dishes to exhilarating tours of ancient ruins, you will find more than your typical all-inclusive resort, you will enjoy the rich, warm culture of Modern Mexico! This adults-only resort was everything I dreamed it would be and more! If you prefer unstructured schedules, natural elegant decor, quality food, premium drinks, fun, yet laid-back energy and romance - this resort might be for you! This upscale resort is set on a natural eco-reserve along a beautiful white sand beach with dreamy views of the Caribbean Sea. Upon arrival, you are instantly embraced with the most enchanting aroma in the lobby. As you check-in, you are asked to personalize the scent of your own room, then your personal host ("butler") will escort you to your room and provide a personal tour. Here, you won't find entertainment staff asking you every hour to join them for archery, salsa classes, etc... Instead, you will enjoy pop-up activities, music and scheduled classes that you can leisurely join if interested or just relax and not be bothered.
The true luxury of this boutique resort begins with unlimited inclusions, such as unlimited golf, scuba diving experiences, spa treatments, local tours and beauty salon & barber services... that's right ladies, I said UNLIMITED SPA TREATMENTS!! Here you can find a variety of select tours and spa/salon services that are included with your stay! You just pay a 20% service fee for each service used (plus gratuity). For example, if want to do the Xtreme Mayan Jungle Tour - which combines ziplining, rappelling into a freshwater underground river, and swimming through a series of underground caverns - you would normally pay $99 per person for this tour, but at UNICO 20°87° you only pay $19.80 for this incredible experience! During my stay, I was fortunate to enjoy two spa treatments. The first one was their signature massage with FOUR hands, where I had two massage therapists working at the same time, melting my stresses away! OMG! This was incredible!! It felt like a synchronized dance with hands from head to toe. Each moment I continued to fade deeper into a blissful state with a permanent smile on my face. An experience I will dream about until I return and enjoy my next one :) My other spa treatment was a relaxing Shaman Body Wrap with a gentle exfoliation treatment and cocoa wrap. This was my first body wrap experience and it was like three mini massages as each layer was applied. My skin was so hydrated and smooth after PLUS I smelled like chocolate :) There are a variety of spa treatment options that are included under the unlimited inclusion program, but they also have many others for an additional cost. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE... Other included experiences worth mentioning are their redefined cultural tours. They created a few one-of-a-kind excursions (only available through this resort), which include unique and memorable adventures that will make your vacation truly one to flaunt! Their included tours range from a Wine Sunset Sailing, Snorkeling, Zip-Lining, Mayan Ruins, and so much more! You just pay the 20% service fee of the cost as I mentioned earlier. I had the pleasure to join their Sunset Sail with Vino tour... We had a lovely catamaran with around 30 guests from the resort and sailed down the coast enjoying wine, drinks and music before docking at a shallow lagoon for a perfect sunset photo opportunity, where we listened to music, and snacked on cheese and fruits before returning to the resort. This resort is also located on the beach where many sea turtles come to lay their eggs. I was fortunate to be there during this season and stayed up late to tag along with the Turtle Conservation Team and was lucky enough to witness three different turtles nesting and watch them return to the sea. It was a remarkable experience to be a part of! Also worth mentioning is their stunning wedding creations at this resort. If you are looking to elevate your destination wedding or vow renewal and offer a truly one-of-a-kind experience filled with personalized touches, locally-sourced dishes and artisanal cocktails PLUS a dreamy backdrop of the turquoise sea - look no further! They have gorgeous wedding options to make the ultimate event. This upscale resort will impress your guests and your wedding will be one that no one will ever forget!
There is SO much more to discuss about this resort and the one-of-a-kind experiences it offers, but I'm getting a little carried away already, so don't want to overload you at once! Let's schedule a time to chat about your next vacation and see if this resort might fit your expectations and desires! Call us today (913) 244-9195. Experiences Await...
 I hope you have been having an amazing summer thus far! I head to Cancun, Mexico next week to do resort site inspections at 12 different luxury resorts, so be sure to follow me on facebook or instagram for some vacation inspiration! I have an amazing resort line up to see and can't wait to share my experiences. If you are thinking about putting together a group trip with your family or friends, I have a great idea below on putting that together... When organizing a group getaway, there are many moving parts. Some of the things you'll have to think about include, but are not limited to:
All-inclusive means less hassle! For group leaders trying to organize a vacation, hosting a trip such as this becomes remarkably easier when everything is included for one all-inclusive fee. With the exception of how people will get there, everything else is pretty much taken care of for you. The meals, the lodging, sometimes even alcohol - it’s all lumped into one sum so there are no surprises when it comes to budgeting. Dining is just one example of complications you could endure while on a group getaway if you don’t go all-inclusive. Let’s say you go out together for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. What happens when the bill comes? First, there’s the awkward moment where everyone tries to remember what they ordered. Next, comes the calculations related to who owes what. And, inevitably you will have at least one or two people who doesn't have enough cash, and they’ll ask if you can spot them and pay you back later. For the group organizer that means you might end up being stuck paying for more than you initially planned on. With an all-inclusive vacation however, everyone's meals are already included in the upfront price. If they happen to add on additional items that did cost extra money, you'll never have to worry about that - it will be charged to their room/cabin, and you'll be none the wiser. Another benefit of doing an all-inclusive vacation for your group getaway is that much of the entertainment and/or excursions will be managed for you as well. Sure, there may be optional fees for adding on activities related to these excursions, but all of the organization of things like transportation, timing, and other particulars will be handled for you. Imagine being able to just send one or two emails to your entire group letting them know who your travel agent is and your dates of travel, and then being able to just show up at the resort or on the cruise ship and simply enjoy yourself! No running around trying to track arrivals/departures, managing payments or handling any special requests/needs, as the itinerary is set up already and your travel agent is coordinating the behind-the-scenes details. No hassling with opinions from friends/family on what they want to eat because everything they could possibly want to eat is most likely already on the resort property or the cruise ship. Make your trip even easier by hiring Destinations HD You likely now see why all-inclusive is the way to go for your group travel. Want to make things even easier on yourself? Hire Destinations HD to manage the rest. When you book a group with us, we handle everything related to your trip on your behalf. We help match you to the all-inclusive resorts or cruises that fit your expectations and needs to assist you with picking the perfect one to make your group vacation the most memorable! All you have to do is give us the contact information for the people in your party, and we take care of the rest! Their flights, accommodations, transfers to/from the resort, special requests, group tour/excursions, and any additional help anyone may need along the way. I manage your entire vacation, so that you can just focus on relaxing and enjoying quality time together! As an added benefit of you being the group organizer, you may qualify for complimentary nights or even a completely free stay. To learn more about what resorts and cruises offer the best complimentary accommodations for group organizers, call us at (913) 244-9195 today. I can't wait to help you create the perfect vacation for your group! Experiences Await...
 I am usually very prepared for Christmas and have all my shopping done by end of November. However, there is always one or two people that I struggle with finding the perfect gift. My younger brother is normally one of those. He has recently caught the travel bug and always he keeps suggesting we take a trip together instead of gifts. If you have a travel enthusiast in your family, the gift of travel is certainly better than anything you can buy on the shelf. However, how do you determine if this choice is right for your loved one(s) this holiday season? Here are a few simple tips that may help you decide how to go about sending someone a vacation as a present...
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