My husband and I recently stayed at Couples Tower Isle, Ocho Rios, Jamaica for the third time. We’ve been to Jamaica 7 times, but this is our favorite resort. The journey starts when you arrive at the airport. After clearing Immigration and Customs, you proceed to the Couples Lounge where they tag your bags and offer you a cold Red Stripe (complimentary, of course!) (more…)

I recently stayed at Occidental Grand Aruba right on Palm Beach. This hotel is in a terrific spot on the beach, mid way in the high rise hotel zone. The rooms are nicely appointed with marble flooring and the restaurant choices are very good. The casino there is a hot spot and (more…)

I just returned from a 7 night stay at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Jamaica. As a travel agent I can pick from many resorts for my vacation but Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa keeps drawing us back to Sandals. This has been our second stay at this resort. (more…)

I returned home from Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun in April and plan to return again in November. I have been going to this property in the Riviera Maya twice a year since it opened in August 2008. I have yet to find a more suitable place for adults. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive escape with a beautiful beach, the ability to have steak & shrimp for lunch in your suite or by the pool, then this is the place for you. (more…)

Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa is located on perhaps the best beach in Jamaica. This adults-only, ultra luxury resort is on a multi-acre nature preserve with an amazing, beautiful beach. Each room has an ocean view with either a balcony or patio. (more…)

I stayed at the Valentin Imperial Maya Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico from November 27 through December 4, 2009 and was extremely impressed with this all-inclusive resort. The Valentin Imperial Maya is less than a forty minute ride from the Cancun Airport and the best ease of travel is by using the private car transfers. This resort has an impressive (more…)

I recently visited the new Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana and was blown away by this resort. The various room options, the secluded feeling, the level of luxury were all top notch. I guarantee that any honeymoon couple or couple wanting a romantic get away will love this resort in the Dominican Republic. This resort is a one of a kind experience. (more…)

One of our favorite spots in the world is the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel on the Pacific Coastline, high on a bluff overlooking the beach and the waves breaking below. The hotel enjoyed a multi-million dollar renovation two years ago as it went from a very traditional feel to a happier, cosmopolitan look and feel. The hotel is gorgeous and has the best service in the industry. (more…)

If you’re looking for a quaint, adult-only, all-inclusive escape, Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun is your calling! I’ve stayed at the Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico several times over the past few years and love it! The property is just a short distance north of the Cancun Airport so you can be at the beach in no time after landing. (more…)

I stayed for 4 nights in April with my husband at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro in the Dominican Republic. This resort is top notch! The grounds are really pretty with a water theme. They even have an area with flamingos. (more…)

The ROYAL in Playa del Carmen in Mexico is hopping busy, a real scene. The hotel is smack dab in the middle of town, on a great beach. It is adults only and is the most upscale of the Real Resorts. The rooms are spacious and very ornately decorated (more…)

The Valentin Imperial Maya is an adult’s only property (18 and older) located in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It is situated on a very nice stretch of soft sand beach. It is approximately 20 to 25 min. from the Cancun airport. Check-in went very smoothly. Each building had its own concierge. (more…)

If you’re the couple who likes to stay active on an island escape, this is the place for you! I’ve stayed at several Couples Resorts and have to say that the Couples Tower Isle in Jamaica is one of my favorites! The property was recently renovated and they did a wonderful job. I was amazed that after being on the property just a few hours the staff called us by name! (more…)

All I can say about the Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is WOW! This is an adult’s only resort with huge character. The grounds are extremely lavish with vegetation everywhere. Here you are amidst vibrant flowers and numerous tropical plants. You will see native wildlife here on this resort property (more…)

The Maroma Resort & Spa is a lovely little hotel! It is part of the Orient Express brand and it is like a mini Royal Hideaway on a much nicer beach and not all inclusive. The resort is small and romantic, and is adults only. The rooms are really like junior suites and have pretty romantic bedding with netting and floral displays on the bed. (more…)

I have always loved the Royal Hideaway Playacar resort in Riviera Maya and still do. They have made it even better with new restaurants and a really nice dinner/theater. The atmosphere is beautiful and elegant. When you walk in you are greeted with cool towels, champagne, fresh flowers and violin music with sit down private check-in. (more…)

The Mandarin Oriental in Riviera Maya is uber-deluxe in every way. The property is built with the clean lines of a Mandarin Hotel and was made to blend in with the surroundings really well. It is a serene and lovely property. (more…)

The Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya was one of my favorites. Every room is a suite with a living room, huge bathroom with large round tiled tub for 2, and a glass walled shower with a back door leading to an outdoor shower. There is also a patio with a private plunge pool, in every room category. Some of the suites, called lagoon suites, are located directly (more…)

Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort in Riviera Maya is truly for those discerning travelers that love the all inclusive resort option but are never happy with the selection of food. Gran Velas has it all…3 to 1 ratio in service and all Gourmet Food. Not only was the food the most fantastic that I have ever had at an (more…)

I spent a wonderful 5 nights at the Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This resort is one of the most modern resorts I have ever stayed at. This is a great resort for the younger couples who love more pools than you can count. (more…)

My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Excellence Riviera Cancun in January–and had to stay an additional 2 nights due to a snowstorm in Philadelphia. This hotel is fabulous and runs like a well-oiled machine. (more…)

If you want to stay at a fabulous resort in St Lucia, Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort is the one! I just returned from vacationing in St. Lucia and this resort is truly a beautiful property. The Sandals Grande St. Lucian has excellent service, great food, and is a must place to stay for all couples looking for upscale luxury. (more…)

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is a beautiful resort on a magnificent beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico. For those beach lovers wanting the cornstarch white sand and the blue water experience along with an upscale, adults-only resort, this is the place! (more…)

I recently stayed at the adults-only El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico for 3 nights. I had previously toured the property during a travel agent familiarization trip and knew that I would have to return soon to get the full experience. In fact, I was so impressed with the (more…)

WOW!!! Was my first impression when I was greeted in the open air lobby of the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, with a beautiful fresh orchid lei. The stunning open air lobby, filled with colorful flowers and amazing sculptures overlooking the deep blue Pacific was an awesome sight. An ice cold glass of passion fruit juice quenched our thirst as we were swiftly checked in. (more…)

Each time I visit Cabo San Lucas, I bask in the glorious surroundings of the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa - an Adults only, Zen-inspired resort which offers the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation experience for its guests. This jewel of a property sits amidst the hills overlooking exquisite beaches and breathtaking vistas of the ocean. It’s the perfect place for a (more…)

Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya is the ultimate destination for a laid-back, romantic vacation. The service is unbelievable; they even set up your chair at the pool area or on the beach - lining the beach chair with a fresh towel, relocating umbrellas as needed to provide shade for guests, and then find out what your drink of choice is. They remember your (more…)

I recently spent a wonderful weekend at Cap Juluca in Anguilla. Upon arrival I was met by Maurice who took care of my baggage and escorted me to the comfortable guest reception area where I was offered a cool towel and a refreshing drink. Claudette got me acquainted with this beautiful resort, reviewing (more…)

CuisinArt Resort and Spa is located on the island of Anguilla (rhymes with vanilla), a small island located in the Caribbean, six miles from St Maarten. Anguilla is a lovely, very quiet island, with a disproportionate number of high end resorts and five star restaurants. CuisinArt is situated on a two mile stretch of (more…)

I had the opportunity to stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya in Riviera Maya, twice in the last two years. It is a beautiful resort offering excellent gourmet dining in all of the restaurants. You don’t need a reservation for dinner, but if the resort is busy, so you may have to wait to be seated. (more…)

The Honorable Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals & Beaches all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, does it again! His transformation of the Four Seasons Resort in Great Exuma, Bahamas into the new Sandals Emerald Bay is nothing short of spectacular! After investing 17.5 million into this Caribbean gem, it truly deserves the Sandals name. (more…)

I vacationed at Breezes Runaway Bay back in 1998 and then recently revisited the resort again in April 2009, which is now the Breezes Resort, Spa & Golf Club Runaway Bay. This resort offers activities for people of all ages (14 and older). The resort located in a great location called Runaway Bay which is halfway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica. (more…)

When you first arrive at the Majestic Elegance Punta Cana, you are greeted with a glass of champagne and escorted to a very impressive lobby. There are stairs and 2 elevators to take you to the lower level of the lobby where there is a beautiful bar, surrounded by several of the a la carte restaurants. This area is the hub of the resort during the evening hours. (more…)

After being the hugest fan of Couples Ocho Rios in Jamaica, I wasn’t sure what it would be like after the remodel. Well, after a recent stay I must admit Couples Tower Isle is grander than ever! It is an understated elegance, not stuffy, just what you imagine for a romantic Caribbean getaway. (more…)

I stayed at the Barcelo Maya Tropical & Colonial Beach in January 2010 for 7 nights. This resort is approximately 1 hour on a non stop transfer from the airport. I found the resort to be quite large, with 3 basic sections comprising of the Barcelo Maya Beach and Caribe section, Barcelo Maya Tropical & Colonial Beach section and the Barcelo Maya Palace section. (more…)

My Husband and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rosehall in Jamaica. This property was well maintained and the staff was wonderful. They treated us as if we were on our honeymoon! Our 1 bedroom oceanfront suite was fantastic. The suite had two full bathrooms, two flat screen TV’s and a huge balcony that over looked the Caribbean Sea. (more…)

I recently visited Zoetry Agua Punta Cana on January 16-19th, 2010. Starting with the ride from the airport (50 minutes), we could not have asked for a nicer vehicle or better Amstar staff to travel with. We were especially impressed that Jose could pour champagne without spilling a drop! He was a joy to ride and chat with on our way to paradise. (more…)

I stayed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres in August 2009 and loved this property. As a honeymoon and romance travel specialist, I found that this is a fantastic adults-only property for my clients! (more…)

One of the joys of the El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya is the proximity of the accommodations to the ocean line. Outstandingly close and beautiful with fantastic views of the blue Caribbean ocean. Fun nightly towel arrangements that would make any guest “fly” to their room to see their well anticipated surprise. (more…)

I just came back from the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in St. Lucia. This resort is a nice all-inclusive family resort. The best feature is the close proximity to the airport. Your children will not get the chance to say are we there yet. This Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is on the southern Atlantic side of the island (more…)

While on vacation in Aruba in November, I did a site inspection of some hotels with a member of the Aruba Tourism Board. One of the hotels, I visited was the Bucuti Beach Resort, primarily an adults-only resort, although it does have limited accommodations for children. (more…)

Earlier this month, we visited Kauai, Hawaii and it has quickly become one of our favorite islands. Kauai is one of the most stunning places on Earth. Its astounding beauty creates a perfect backdrop for the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. We visited this property on one of our site inspections and came to appreciate it much more than I anticipated. (more…)

The ride to the Gran Melia Puerto Rico was about 30 minutes. The property is located in the Coco Beach area, east of the airport. The entire Coco Beach area is beautiful and still under development. Next door is the Trump Resort and golf course and soon to be built is a Marriott. The complex that is the Gran Melia covers many acres. The main buildings are to the west and consist of large ballrooms, reception areas, 3 restaurants, (more…)

My recent trip to Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort was for a short 2 night stay while working in the Riviera Maya area just south of Cancun. I upgraded to the private black car transfer and would highly recommend this to all clients. This new luxury hotel (7 buildings/3 stories high) is practically in a secluded area, located on a nice quiet beach, about 20 minutes from both the Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen. (more…)

As a travel professional, I am typically more critical of resorts than the average guest. There was little to be critical of at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. After staying at this property for 6 days in November 2009, I now know why my clients all love this resort in Kauai. (more…)

The El Dorado Royale continues to be my favorite adults-only, gourmet, all-inclusive properties in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Suffice it to say the ‘gourmet’ concept permeates beyond the cuisine to every aspect of the vacation experience from check-in to check-out and everything in between. (more…)

I have just returned from the luxurious beachfront Royal Plantation resort in Jamaica. Lush tropical garden pathways and Almond trees surround this fabulous resort. This boutique hotel is made up of all suites. All rooms come with oceanviews, divine furnishings, pillow menu, walk-in closets and spacious bathrooms. (more…)

As a Vacation, Cruise and Honeymoon Specialist, I am always more critical of hotels and resorts than your average traveler. I am always on the look out for properties that will fit the needs of my clients and to know which property to recommend to which client. I also make a point of not reading reviews of the resorts I am visiting so I can give an honest opinion of the property. (more…)

The Hilton Moorea Lagoon hotel in Tahiti was not quite visible from the street, its down a small hill and what a delight when we arrived at the hotel. Such a beautiful area. The hotel encompasses large and beautiful grounds with 106 rooms including 54 bungalows. There are regular bungalows and over the water bungalows, the most expensive being all the way out in the water. When you are in the Bungalows you can (more…)

As a Master Specialist I had the pleasure of staying 4 nights at Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya. This resort has 433 suites that include queen or king-size beds, Jacuzzi bath tubs, bathrobes and slippers, lots of cabinet/closet space, TV, mini-bars with sodas, bottled water and beer that are replenished daily. In the room is a sofa and chairs the sliding glass-door leads to a terrace with a Jacuzzi, lounge bed, table and chairs. My room had an (more…)

I recently spent a wonderful week at the Galley Bay Resort & Spa in Antigua. The resort was very well kept with the gardens being cared for each and every day. The resort had a beautiful white sand beach and was located right in a secluded bay which was peaceful and quiet. The rooms at the Galley Bay Resort & Spa were a nice size and were (more…)

The Iberostar Tucan & Quetzal Hotel in Riviera Maya is a great resort for destination weddings. The resort is in a great location and the beach is one of the best on the Playacar strip. The wedding department at this hotel is very easy to work with once you have the wedding date established. For those who are planning to invite families with children, the Iberostar Tucan & Quetzal hotel is (more…)

The Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica is a special resort full of history. It’s tranquil, service oriented, friendly with great food. All the rooms have ocean views or at least a sliver of an ocean view. I would encourage taking out the meal plan which can be done once you arrive. One of the good things about the meal plan at the Royal Plantation is that you do not need to take out a meal plan for your entire stay at the resort. (more…)

Back in July I stayed at the Secret Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun and it was a pleasant surprise. The Resort is large and has all of the pluses. Secrets Maroma Beach has several restaurants to choose from, all with very good food and excellent service. There are also several bars located on the property and many evening entertainment choices to choose from. (more…)

We just got back from the Sandals Dunn’s River Villaggio Golf Resort & Spa in Jamaica. At Sandals we were upgraded to butler category which was wonderful!!!! It’s nice to be spoiled and not have to think while on vacation. Service in the whole place was outstanding!!! Sandals Dunn’s River is just the right size. The rooms and views of the pool and beach were gorgeous. The pools were outstanding and the beach was nice; not small but not crowded. (more…)

The Excellence Playa Mujeres resort in Cancun is a beautiful property. Well thought out and designed, it’s not too large that it takes a half an hour to walk to the beach, but not too small that it doesn’t have enough choices in dining and activities. The property is laid out with many clusters of gathering opportunities. You can choose from secluded palapas, hammocks hanging over the pool, pool side terrace lounges or beach chairs. There is the meandering “river” pool which flows under two of the beach side restaurants and is complete with a pool bar. There is also a spa pool which is not to be missed. (more…)

When you think of all-inclusive resorts, what is your first impression? Cafeteria food and watered down drinks? Expensive spa treatments? El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya certainly breaks away from those impressions of an all-inclusive resort. (more…)

Upon arrival at the Sandals Dunn’s River Villaggio, we were greeted by our own private butler (Israel) who catered to us 24/7 for our entire 8-day stay in Jamaica, which included a personal cell phone for “on-demand” service. Some of the services that the butler provides are unpacking of luggage; beach chairs, towels and cooler reserved on the beach daily; dinner reservations every evening with no wait, flowers and candles were always on the dinner table. Following each day’s adventure, (more…)

I recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. All I can say is WOW! One resort that really sticks out in my mind and seems to be above par on every angle is the Excellence Punta Cana. They have some of the best food I have ever put in my mouth. They went way out of the way to make me feel welcome and be able to eat at their resort (as I have food allergies). They fixed me a mouth watering steak and the dessert was to die for, it’s as if they read my mind, not too heavy, not too light… (more…)

Fairmont Kea Lani-all-suite luxury accommodations in Wailea, Maui. This Resort is a world-class, 5 star resort that sits on a beautiful, white sand Polo Beach in the upscale Wailea area of Maui, which is a little more secluded than the busier West Maui resort area. Its neighbors are two other high-end resorts and a trendy array of shops at the Shops at Wailea which are connected by a lovely oceanside walk. (more…)