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For my Dad’s 60th birthday, he decided he wanted to have a everyone join him at Walt Disney World in Florida. In the beginning, we’d agreed to stay on-property due to the many benefits provided, mainly the ease of transportation of getting to/from the parks each day, and being able to get into the parks 30 minutes before guests staying off-property. So, we took names of all the family members that would be going, and booked 4 rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation resort. We had 3 Little Mermaid rooms (sleeps 4), and 1 Lion King suite (sleeps 6).

Unfortunately, my dad was laid off, and for awhile we thought the trip may not happen at all. After much discussion between families, we finally decided we’d rent a house off-property and pinch pennies anywhere we could.

I have personally stayed off-property one other time (2015) so I had a decent idea of what all we would be missing out on. The next choice we had to make was to rent a car, or use ride-share services such as Uber or Lyft. Pros of renting a car – freedom to go wherever, whenever you need to. Cons of renting a car – on top of the cost to rent the car, you also have to pay for gas and parking fees ($25 per day at Disney at the time of writing this), and trying to naviagate streets and traffic in an unfamiliar place. Pros of Ride-Share – sit back and relax while you are driven to your destination, no need to worry about gas or parking fees. Cons of Ride-Share – waiting for someone to arrive to take you, travel cost plus tipping.

Ultimately, I decided not to rent a car and use Lyft. Would I make the same decision again if staying off-property? Nope. The cost of the ride from the airport to the house was roughly $75 after tip, and about the same getting back to the airport (for 2 people). I liked not having to navigate unfamiliar parts of town, but having to wait up to 30+ minutes for a ride slowed us down at times. My biggest problem with it came day 1. We’d flown in that afternoon, grabbed our luggage, found the ride-share area, and after several failed attempts, finally got a ride to the house. Once we got to the house, we were starving! I used a meal delivery service and got Chick-Fil-A but it was $60 for 2 people! The regret of not renting a car settled in real quick!

So, what about the house. Well, there were 11 of us total and we had a 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom house. We ended up having 1 bedroom we didn’t need and there was plenty of space for everyone. The house had a pool and hot tub as well as a fully furnished kitchen, game room with pool table and ping pong table, as well as a washer and dryer. Luckily we did have 1 family with us that drove (whoa!) the 18 hours from Oklahoma to Florida, so we used their vehicle on our arrival night to make a trip to Walmart for food and other essentials. The Walmart was INSANE! Because the area we stayed in was known for rental homes, most of the people shopping were unfamiliar with the store and wondering around lost. But, it was total chaos because it was packed with people! We ended up having to go twice and both times (non-peak shopping hours) were very crowded with minimal items on the shelves. The first night we spent $350 on hand soap, toilet paper, trash bags, laundry soap, snacks and sodas. We knew we’d be at the parks most evenings, so we bought more breakfast items like cinnamon rolls, cereal & milk, etc. We stayed 7 nights, and even after the service and cleaning fees, the total cost was still less than staying on-property.

So, what did it actually cost us to save this money? It cost us being able to book Individual Lightening Lane (I.L.L) reservations for Rise of The Resistance, Remy’s, Slinky Dog, Flight of Passage, and more. When you stay off-property, you cannot buy I.L.L reservations until park opening vs 7am if staying on-property. We also couldn’t get to the parks right at opening and rush to the ride, because those people staying on-property are allowed to enter 30mins before off-property guests. So, the lines were long before we could even get into the park for the day. So, we did miss out on rides we really wanted to do because of this. Next, we didn’t have access to all the food! I love waking up in a Disney resort and being able to mobile order breakfast and coffee, and wonder over to pick it up. Each Disney resort offers fun items such as Mickey Waffles, seasonal cupcakes, flavored coffees and lates, and so much more. By being in the house, we only had access to what was there, and we had to prepare it ourselves. For me, I go on vacation to get away from having to cook & clean, so I missed my Disney grab-and-go options on many mornings!

Next, the issues with the house. Our trip was early February, so we chose a house with a hot tub to relax in after a long day in the park. Unfortunately, Florida had been in a bit of a cold spell (nothing extreme, but lows in the 40s). The hot tub could not keep up with the cooler temps, and after having to hassle with contacting the property management team every day (multiple times per day), we had a working hot tub 2 out of the 7 nights. The house had minimal furniture and was pretty worn out after having so many guests over the years. The pillows were flat, the beds were squeaky, the washing machine leaked, nails were poking up through the laminate flooring, a dishwasher rack was broken, the outlets loose in their boxes, the light bulbs needing replacing, and more. The house was fine, but I wouldn’t stay at this property again. It is in need of some fresh paint and updated appliances for sure, and I imagine there are many homes in Florida in similar condition.

So, would I rent a VRBO home again? Nope. It wasn’t for me. I missed the actual feeling of being on vacation and being pampered with food options outside the room, and transportation available to whisk me off to the theme parks for the day. I love the Disney skyliner and being able to be at Hollywood Studios or Epcot so quickly without even having to fold up the stroller! Plus, I missed out on rides that I really wanted to check out. I could’ve waited in the stand by lines, but those were running 1-2 hours typically, and with limited time in the day, it wasn’t something I was willing to do. Disney is so much about the time-to-money balance. The saying “time is money” had to have been created by a Disney traveler!

Would I have a different opinion if I’d never stayed on-property before? It’s possible. By waking up each day at the house, I knew exactly what I was missing, and it sorta sucked honestly. Sitting on the lumpy couch waiting for a Lyft knowing lots of people were taking my spot for Slinky Dog really crawled under my skin!

If you are considering staying off-property, I highly suggest you compare the cost, but also the value of the experience you will be having. Disney World has multiple value resorts that make you feel like you’re staying inside the magic without breaking the bank. I actually scored a value room for $152 a night recently. Make a good pro/con list for you and your family. If staying together in one big house sounds like a good idea (and I hope you guys all really like each other), then make sure you understand what it will cost you on the experience side as well as the possible savings on the financial side.

Have questions about my trip? I’d love to answer them! Shoot me an email at kelley.huff@vincentvacations.com

I just returned from Hotel Xcaret Arte. This is a new resort that opened in 2021 to compliment Hotel Xcaret with the stand out difference being that it’s adults only. I have stayed at the original Hotel Xcaret a couple of times so this was great to compare the two resorts.

This is the perfect resort for an active group of friends, couple or family with adult children. I wouldn’t recommend for anyone with mobility issues or the inability to walk longer distances.

Here are some of my 10 tips when choosing this resort for your next vacation –

1) Stay as long as you can! This resort includes all of the 9 Xcaret parks as part of your inclusions. They all leave you wishing you could stay longer.

2) Plan to eat! This resort is known for gastronomy. The food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was impressive. We had some really amazing authentic Mexican food. They have3 restaurants on property that require reservations so make sure to schedule this when you arrive to be able to hit all the great ones.

3) Transportation is included via motorcoach to and from the airport. If you miss it you can be waiting 30 -45 minutes for the next bus so private transportation is always an option if you prefer. We paid $65 one way for a private transfer.

4) Brush up on your Spanish. We found this resort to cater to a wide rage of international guests. English was spoken but not as fluently as other resorts in the area. We were always able to figure it out but sometimes had to get creative with English and Spanish.

5) Explore both sides. Staying at Xcaret Arte gives you full access to Hotel Xcaret. The spa on Hotel Xcaret side can’t be missed. It is carved out of the rock so your treatment rooms are inside of individual caves. They connect by the waterfalls and you walk on a bridge over the river.

6) Leave high heels at home! This resort requires a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. The pathways just from the lobby to the rooms were stone. We would also recommend brining water shoes for swimming in the river as there are a lot of rocks.

7) Masks! They were more pro-masks than any resort I’ve been to during the pandemic. They asked you wear a mask almost anywhere on property by having a person walking around with a “Please wear your mask” sign. They did not confront people though about wearing a mask unless it was in a restaurant.

8) Dedicate a day to enjoying the hotel. The parks being included is amazing but the resort is equally as amazing. There are caves, the river, amazing swimming pools, paddle boarding, kayaking and more all without leaving the hotel.

9) Plan for later hours…..this resort is catering to a wide range of countries. The United States is one of the few that like to eat dinner at 6PM. When we would go to dinner at 6PM it would be a ghost town. The restaurants come alive starting around 9PM and there’s even tacos available until 4AM outside the SpeakEasy.

10) Speaking of Speakeasys….this is a trend I am loving. We made it one night to the SpeakEasy (located in the music wing). It’s in a service area of the hotel. You follow red lights on the ceiling to get there and seems like you are walking into a parking garage and then all of a sudden there’s a way cool bar with live jazz. This should not be missed!

Season 2 of the Netflix dating show “Love Is Blind” featured an all-new selection of desperate singles who are tired of the cheesy pickup lines and unsolicited d*** pics that accompany dating apps and are on a real mission to find love for the “right reasons” … Sounds cliché and honestly right up the alley of many hopeless romantics across the United States.
Netflix recently wrapped on the airing of a unique style dating show where 30 singles have signed up to participate in a social experiment where the single men and women look for love and get engaged, without ever seeing each other face-to-face, as emotional connection attempts to conquer physical attraction.(personally, it sounds fun until you open the pod and feel catfished by someone, but who am I to judge?)

Although the popular series was primarily filmed in Chicago, IL, that wasn’t the ONLY filming location for the out of the norm love-based reality show… after blindly falling in love (quite literally, they haven’t once seen their partner), the young couples leave their respective pods and are whisked away to spend quality time face to face at a luxury Mexico resort; TRS Coral.Located in Costa Mujeres’s, an up-and-coming luxury vacation destination, the intimate adults-only resort made for the perfect setting for season two of ‘Love is Blind.’ Here are 3 things you need to know about the “Love is Blind” featured resort, TRS Coral.

1) This Resort is Adults-Only AND All-Inclusive.

What more could one ask for when looking to escape the hustle and bustle of real life? Experience an adults-only bliss at TRS Coral. Coupled with an unlimited amount of food and beverages(top shelf alcohol included) and a world-class spa, it truly is is a heavenly Caribbean hideaway.

2) The Resort Compound Itself is Considerably Larger Than it Seems.

From the looks, it seems to be a smaller boutique resort… but looks can be deceiving as the compound is made up of 2 resorts; Grand Palladium (family-friendly) and TRS Coral (adults only).

Although the two worlds rarely cross paths, TRS Coral guests get full access to the features at the sister resorts. Guests have unlimited access to ALL amenities offered by Grand Palladium; bars, spa, and restaurants right at your fingertips!

3) Many Suites Really do Come with Butlers!

Book into the correct room category and there will be no need to lift a finger throughout your stay. Personalized butler services allow you and your partner to really immerse yourself in each other. Your very own butler will assist with all special requests, reservations for both the spa and dining, as well as the COVID-19 testing arrangements and check-in/check-out services. Talk about luxury living.

TRS Coral has a look and feel of a luxury 5-star resort that would be out of the price point for most, but you would be surprised.. the average nightly price is $202 pp, placing it in the perfect price range for an all-inclusive escape that won’t break the bank.Nonetheless, TRS Coral seems to be the perfect resort to explore your love… or soothe the pain if things don’t work out.

Would you like to treat your honey to a “Love is Blind” luxury bonding experience in real life?

Contact Vincent Vacations to plan!

Chances are, your tween has just read or is about to start reading the Harry Potter series books! So there’s no doubt they are excited to step into Hogsmead or Diagon Alley themselves. Harry Potter is definitely a highlight at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but there’s just so much more to love for all ages. 

Here’s why I think the tween years, typically around age 8-12, are the perfect years to enjoy Universal Studios!

1. They no longer need a stroller, bottles, and an afternoon nap

Let’s face it, vacationing with kids in those first few years of life isn’t a vacation at all. Lugging around strollers, bottles and planning your day around an afternoon nap is exhausting. The tears and the meltdowns (from mom and dad too) are sometimes not quite worth the trip to a theme park.

2. They love all the characters – Minions, Spiderman and Harry Potter too

Stepping straight into Diagon Alley and Hogsmead and seeing the Harry Potter series books come to life is magical. Visit Olivander’s and watch them perform magic around the park with their own interactive wand. And who doesn’t love Minions, Spiderman and Transformers?

3. They’re big enough to go on all the thrill rides now, yet still small enough to enjoy the little rides too

Not only do you have to have a bit of bravery to go on the thrill rides, you have to meet specific height requirements too. By the time your kiddo is between the ages of 8-12, they’re likely to be tall enough to ride quite a few of the more exciting thrill rides. They’re also still young enough to enjoy Suess Landing rides with mom and dad.

4. They still want to enjoy time with mom and dad.

Before we know it, those tweens will turn into teens and spending time with mom and dad during those years will be far from your teenagers mind.

5. It’s just so much fun.

There’s just nothing quite like having family fun together to create special memories to last a lifetime. And Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is perfect for the entire family.

Been thinking of taking your tween to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure? I’d love to send your family!

Jessica Pratt, Edmond Travel Agent
Vincent Vacations

jessica.pratt@vincentvacations.com

 

Is it a good idea? What is it like over Spring Break?

See our latest: All Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels 101 Guide!

This is a common question we get from clients. Keep in mind Spring Break is wide spread. We were in Punta Cana March 7 – 10 which was Spring Break for University of Georgia, amongst other Universities across the country. I mention University of Georgia because word on the street was, there was a group of over 600 at the hotel for the week.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly.

The resort is huge. There’s so much to do from the expected beach and variety of pool selection to also the largest casino in the Dominican Republic, activities like VR, laser tag, bowling, arcade, and more. There’s also a ton of onsite shopping from tourist trinkets to trendy beachwear. I loved that there’s so much to do. The Spring Breakers were not bored. Even at night there was a huge outdoor disco set up with either a DJ mixing music at night or a live band and more. One night in the Moon Lounge they even held a Silent Disco where each guest wore headphones and chose their one genre of music. So fun. It’s really impressive how Hard Rock spends the money to keep everyone entertained. The casino has a ton of slot machines and table games. There were a lot of Blackjack tables were are my favorite and the tables start at $15 minimum. Something I want to note is the casino is available for outside guests to come in and gamble. Drinks are not included unless you are playing and there’s a champagne bar and restaurant that is not part of the all inclusive plan.

There are 12 pools. You could pick what style you want from extreme Spring Break party pool or a quiet adults only pool in the gardens called Eden or if you are traveling with kids you can venture down to the kid’s pool with some smaller slides and even a lazy river complete with tubes. One tip I have is spend the money on a cabana. I rented one for our pool day. It was $100 and came with a dedicated waitstaff to makes sure we were taken care of with drinks. She brought us a cooler of ice filled with Pepsis and bottled water. She took drink orders and we didn’t have to wait in the long line at the bar. You can reserve this upon arrival in the lobby. We loved seeing Ramon who is the star pool waiter at the main pool. He’s so talented bringing you drinks he can balance on his head while riding a bicycle. I told him I saw him on TikTok and he smiled and gave me a big hug. The main pool is where you are going to find the DJ mixing music, live dancers in the afternoon and a great snack bar. If you prefer quiet – I would recommend Eden pool. If you prefer something more in the middle then just do one of the pools next to the main. This is a great thing about Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. You can pick your mood each day.

Since I also take pride in being a “tell it like it is” travel advisor I also want to tell you the not so great parts. It’s crowded. At night if you enjoy a laid back bar for cocktails, don’t go during Spring Break. I know clients that this would be the end of the world to not be able to do. The young adult crowd really took over every bar. It was 4 and 5 people deep at every single one especially when it got to be later than 10PM. I kept saying it reminded me of Vegas. If you were out late, some of the bars even ran out of alcohol. I’ve never experienced this at a resort before. I was surprised. I kind of wonder if it was a true run out or a que to go to bed. Ha!

Another issue when you travel during peak times like Spring Break is it was also harder to get dinner reservations. You had to make a reservation even at the buffet for dinner time if you didn’t want to have to wait. There’s a place in the lobby that does all the reservations for the restaurants. Other feedback I had was it did also get kind of loud in the hallways at night. I can sleep through a marching band so it didn’t bother me one bit. I know some are light sleepers. I love to use the box fan YouTube to play if I need some white noise which would work just fine there with included free wifi. We also did see quite the scene with some drunk young adults but it wasn’t more than I would expect with the age occupancy like that. I have always seen how Hard Rock takes young people’s safety seriously. They will not hesitate to cut someone off. When you check in they also only issue the adult bracelets to over 18 years of age with a valid Passport.

To turn this around, let’s talk more about the food. We at the Mexican restaurant “Los Gallos” for dinner the first night. I had the cactus salad and it was so good. I ordered it to try something new which is the glory of staying at an all inclusive. It was pickled cactus and a huge slice of fresh avocado. I really enjoyed it. We also had some great flautas and fresh churros for dessert. The second night we ate at the steakhouse Torro. This is one of the most popular restaurants. I do live in Oklahoma so I don’t go into this like I’m expecting a prime steak. I’m all about setting expectations correctly. The steaks are thinner but they had good flavor. The atmosphere was great and the service was really good.

I will say the last night we ended up at “The Market” which is the buffet. I would say calling it “the buffet” doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like cooking stations around the world. I said “I feel like I’m at the Wynn in Las Vegas” because the décor is so cool. I ate a teriyaki chicken rice bowl and it was so yummy. I wish I had it earlier in the trip so I could have had it twice. I have been to this hotel multiple times and the food was just so/so. They have stepped up their game. Every meal I had I really enjoyed. I even had room service for breakfast on the last morning. It arrived within 30 minutes and the eggs were cooked correctly (I like over easy eggs) and everything was hot and fresh.

I think a highlight for me as a travel agent was seeing the room renovations they are completed at the hotel. I was in a Caribbean suite which is the back half of the hotel. I prefer the Caribbean Suite side as opposed to being in a Caribbean Sand in the front part of the hotel by the beach. A lot of people are always confused when I say this because typical hotel mode would be trying to get as close to the ocean as possible BUT there’s so much off the main lobby. I would rather walk to the pool/beach in my flip flops during the day and have a easy walk to the casino/restaurants when I’m dressed up at night. If you really don’t like to walk did you know they also rent golf carts? It’s a fun option and you can do it day by day that you know you’re going to use it. Anyway! The hotel renovations are perfect. They removed the big square tub from the middle of the room and put a jacuzzi tub on the balcony. They toned down the colors and added where you would normally step down and be at the jacuzzi is now a sitting area with a sleeper sofa. This is going to open up so many more sleeping options. Another amazing option is in some of the renovated islander junior suites are 2 King size beds and a sleeper sofa. It’s perfect for families traveling with 3 kids that need the extra room. The 2 King Islander sleeps up to 5 if 1 is a child. These also have the option to connect to a Rock Star 1 Bedroom Suite if you’re traveling with a group. The bedding combinations make this hotel such a great choice for groups with different needs.

Did I answer your questions about Spring Break? Keep in mind Spring Break runs from the 2nd week of March through April in most cases. It’s a busy hotel but with a lot to do to keep everyone entertained. If the increased young adult groups would be a turn off but you still want to go when kid’s are out of school, I would say this would be a great one for Christmas Break when it’s heavier on the family travel or summer if you are looking for a lower price point.

Traveling to celebrate a milestone? Ask us about their great group program called, “Rock Your Milestone” where you can get a private event complimentary. We have had this work out for graduation groups or big birthdays. It’s a great option.

We look forward to helping you plan Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana.

See our latest: All Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels 101 Guide!

As a family of 5, we have the hardest time finding resorts – instead of condos – that have rooms that accommodate without having to splurge for a second room. We were glad to welcome Hyatt Regency Clearwater Resort and Spa to our list of great options.

This resort is located in Clearwater, Florida. It’s across the street from the beach (which all of them in this area are) and this didn’t end up being a big deal. The pool is on the 8th floor, so the kids weren’t running from pool to beach anyway. At the beach the city sets up chairs with umbrellas or these little tents. They range from $35/day to $80/day and you can charge it to your room. There’s not food service to your beach chair, but there are restaurants all along the ocean-front area. We tried both the burger and pizza place on the ground floor of the Hyatt. They were both great!

The resort had an activity calendar when we checked in with stuff going on poolside adhering the day to entertain the kids from a pop up snow cone stand to arts and crafts or games. There’s a toddler pool with a small fence and one big rectangular pool. There are awesome cabanas around the pool each with their own private bathroom, inside TV room and patio with table and loungers. These cost $399 per day. The hours are 10AM -8PM.

There’s a variety of rooms at the resort which are all oversized and include a kitchenette. Our room was all one room (some have a door between kitchen and bedroom) with 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa. We mentioned at check-in that the 3 kids do not like to share a bed so they offered a blow up mattress in addition. (Roll-aways in our room category we’re a fire hazard) Perfect! All the rooms also have a balcony with table and chairs.
We ordered from Shipt and they dropped off our drinks, snacks and breakfast stuff with the bellhop who helped us with a cart to the room. It made it so easy to have things at our fingertips when the kids want for example a drink or snack every hour. Ha!

We did not rent a car did our stay. An XL Uber was about $50 each way. There’s plenty so close to the hotel so it ended up being over a $600 savings to not rent a car with the high rental car costs, parking and gas. There’s endless restaurants, shops and excursions within 1 mile of the hotel.

One of the favorites the kids did was the Pirate Ship Cruise. It departed about 2 blocks from the resort. It was about 2 hours long, included drinks, and the best part was they entertained the kids the whole time from telling jokes, having water gun fights and playing musical chairs. It was a great activity.

There were tons of other activities all leaving from this same marina as the pirate ship such as a shark themed dolphin cruise, parasailing, deep sea fishing, speed boat fours, jet skis and more. We were here during Spring Break and didn’t have any trouble getting activities booked with so many options available right there.

We had some great meals. Our absolute favorite? The Bait House. We heard about this place from several locals so we had to try it.

The restaurant sits on a dock and is tiny so plan to go early to be able to eat here. They said they can’t build on because they are grandfathered into their location. They serve fresh fish caught that day and are famous for their “drunken shrimp”. The shrimp come in a little pot in the yummy sauce and served with chunks of ciabatta bread.

The staff here were awesome. They have a few birds that hang out that they feed their bait to. It was fun and they let the kids feed one. One is named Skipper because he had a broken leg and now has a limp.

All in all it’s a great family destination and resort. We did go during Spring Break and some of the days were only in the low 70s. The adults thought it was too cold to swim but the kids didn’t care. They had a great kid’s room for movie nights and games.

It’s a great low key beach getaway.

Sandals “Sexy” South Coast

Should you enjoy a five- or seven-day vacation at South Coast? That is the question I recently asked myself. My husband and I, along with two other couples, just returned from the wonderful Sandals South Coast in Jamaica. I wish to share our recent enjoyable experience with you.

The weather: Overall the weather in Jamaica is near perfect the year around. Typically, the daily temperatures fall between 73 and 89 degrees F. While we were there in March of 2022, we had temperatures between 82 and 90 degrees F. We only received one day of Liquid Sunshine! Jamaica is known to experience quick pop up rain showers during the day that are short in duration. One occurrence we encountered on this trip were abnormally high winds during the last two days of our trip. We had never witnessed such uncommon winds during our previous vacations, so we opted to spend the days at our pool to escape the uncomfortable 30 – 40 mile per hour seaside gales.

What to do? Sandal resorts are all-inclusive. This includes all drinks, snacks, and food, in addition to all of the water sports offered at the Aqua Center*. In 2013 my husband and I spent our honeymoon at Sandals Royal Caribbean, but for some reason we never got to enjoy paddle boarding, and since 2013 my husband has never allowed me to forget it! So, this year he had this leisure activity at the top of our “to do” list. It was our first time and we had so much fun! I fell more times than I stood up, but the laughs we shared were worth our feeble attempts to learn. Again, this entertaining activity, and a guided snorkeling adventure we thoroughly enjoyed are part of the all-inclusive Sandals experience. Two items which are not included in the all-inclusive prices are catamaran cruises and getting scuba certified.  My husband and I are already planning our next return getaway excursion to Sandals.

Other included water activities:

Scuba diving and all equipment (If Padi-Certified) (If not, for an extra fee you can get certified on property.)

Hobie Cats, Paddle boards, kayaks, water skiing, glass bottom boats, tubing, windsurfing

The best entertainment: At Sandals South Coast one gets to experience day and night entertainment shows. We attended the Caribbean Carnival Beach Party where one of the members of our traveling group was “volunteered” to come on stage to compete in a fun competition. We were delighted by fire blowers, tropical dancers and an amazing balancing act! For our second night we watched the Reggae Live Show. We began in the amphitheater where we heard and saw very talented singers and dancers. Then our party was escorted outside to enjoy a circus themed show.

Throughout the resort, there are monitor screens advising you of upcoming nightly activities, and around the numerous pools there are constant activities to keep you entertained.

Places to eat: The food is always outstanding at Sandals. South Coast has nine dining places to enjoy, ranging from very casual to resort evening attire. Our absolute favorite was Schooners! During the day we dined on Jamaican Beef Patties, a must try for all, and at night we were served surf and turf, paired with Prince Edwards Mussels, which were delicious. I highly recommend that upon arrival you make reservations for dinner at Schooners. Even though reservations are not required, due to its popularity all available tables will be taken, so it is better to have a reservation.

 

The beach: South Coast is a protected area, and you want to remember the rule to not remove anything from the ocean.  With that being said they have a great stretch of a 2-mile beach that is separated in two different parts. One is close to the front of the resort, while the other is near the Over the Water Bungalows. In my opinion you should get your suntan near the Bungalows.

Is the drive worth it:

So, I started out by asking do you wish to enjoy five or seven days at South Coast? Well, it all comes down to the extended drive from the airport. The distance from Montego Bay to South Coast is 90 minutes of navigating small, rough roads, accompanied by exhilarating driving.  So, if you are only staying five days, one full day is taken for transfers, thus your last (fifth) day is gone. Furthermore, since you must be at the airport three hours before your flight departs and it takes 90 minutes to get to the airport (without traffic), then that last fifth day is lost. If you arrive in the morning, you can still enjoy at least half a day. So, with a five-day trip you are only getting three full days to enjoy South Coast. So, in my opinion for a South Coast vacation, I recommend the seven-day trip. But, please contact me and we can discuss the particulars, then allow you to decide the length of your amazing trip.

If you are ready to book your next vacation to Sandals South Coast, the best time to plan is now; rooms are booking up fast. I am a Jamaican Travel Specialist and I would love to help you plan your next holiday excursion.

Jenny Letcher

214-549-2840

jennifer@vincentvacations.com

Facebook: Journey with Jenny by Vincent Vacations

I had the honor of visiting the brand new build, Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen, in the heart of Riviera Maya. The word, Moxche, comes from a tree growing in this area and they have incorporated the wood throughout the property. The attention to every detail is evident from the ocean view the moment you arrive. This resort is 5 minutes north of Playa del Carmen in the gated community of Coracol. It sits right between Royal Haciendas, timeshare place, and Sandos Caracol. It opens on April 18th, 2022. The resort has 483 suites, which are all oversized, starting around 600 square feet.

There is also a tower called “Impressions”, which is a step above Preferred Club. It is sold as a separate hotel. This section, as I keep calling it, since it’s right there, is slated to open August 1st, with 200 additional suites. At Secrets Moxche there’s a huge variety of suites with their standard suites being nicer than suites at its competitors. There are swim out suites, master suites and more. The swim outs went in a new direction with a divider between each room, making it an impressively large private pool on each room. This category is going to be so popular, especially with honeymooners.

The entry level room is a jr. suite tropical view. There are options for a king or 2 queen size beds. The Preferred Club status will get you extra amenities in your room like a stone soaking tub on your balcony, stocked wine cooler, Nespresso machine, daily stocked snacks and the extra bathroom amenities. I love having all these little extras in my room because I seem to forget something and they think of it all. This also gives you access to the rooftop observatory, which I will go into detail about next.

There are 3 rooftops, which they are calling observatories. On top of the main lobby is just for Preferred Club guests. It has an infinity pool, drink and food service. It is jaw dropping. It gives a view of the entire property and the ocean. The observatory on the roof of Impressions has double the size of infinity pool and is closer to the beach for a straight ocean view. The 3rd roof top is for weddings. WOW! It will be the #1 venue for privacy and views. They have also brought over Carolina, from Secrets Akumal, to have the best of the best wedding coordinators for this new property. I’m so excited for our future brides to have this amazing option. It’s going to book up quickly so we need to start reserving dates for now and 2023.

The gastronomy is being taken to a new level with this new resort. There are some similar experiences like The Market which is located off the main lobby with that picture perfect view of the whole property. They also have added new restaurant concepts such as personalized teppanyaki and indoor/outdoor seating at most restaurants. There are new names to restaurants here as well. I think I’m the most excited about Dos Almas which is Mexican Soul Food. I don’t know if I had a favorite food group before I heard of this restaurant but I’m pretty sure I have found it. They also will have a tequila tasting menu and taco bar. Impressions will have 3 restaurants exclusively for their guests but they also have access to all the restaurants on property.

It wouldn’t be a Secrets without an amazing spa and Secrets Moxche is no exception. The spa is located in a quiet section to the front of the property (further from the beach) with an impressive entrance with banyan trees. There are 16 cabins and 6 master cabins. There’s a his and hers side with sauna and steam room with an outdoor area for everyone. The outdoor area has an impressive hydrotherapy area with all the water massage you could hope for. I almost enjoy the spa experience before the massage more than the actual massage so I can’t wait to get back here and try it out.

As I brag to being a “honest, tell it like it is” travel agent I want to address the beach. This is going to be a hurdle for those that are die hard perfect beach lovers. This stretch of beach is not known for perfection and is prone to seaweed especially during the spring and summer. Secrets Resorts have always been diligent about cleaning to the best of their ability but mother nature sometimes is a real witch. If this is a deal breaker for you then I would encourage you to come November – February. I do want you to hear me out though. This resort is exceptional. They have overly over compensated with tons of pools. One of them even has a sandy beach so you can put your toes in the sand without ever stepping outside the resort. They have 2 natural cenotes on property too which are cool and refreshing. There are also multiple pools with swim up bars.

Have I talked you into this yet? I am hard to impress and I was giddy. Every time I turned the corner I was like saying, “Oh wow I love that. I want my house to look like that! How did they do that? Where did they shop?” and on and on. If you’re an avid all inclusive traveler we decided this is a mix between Atelier and Unico 2087 which makes is even more perfect.

We spend our trips touring hotels so we can be the best travel agents possible. We would love to help you plan a vacation to Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen. It’s one of a kind.

I’ve had a lot of interest in the Ireland trip I just experienced.

Here is a list of 5 must do’s when traveling to Ireland.

1. Plan to hop around the country and stay in different cities. There’s so much more to explore outside of the big cities like Dublin or Shannon. We stayed in 5 different places during our 7 night trip. It was go go go, but I felt like we were able to really maximize our vacation, without having to back track like if we had just done day tours. It also gave us more time to experience the local towns.

2. Hire a driver, or join a tour for traveling outside of Dublin. On this vacation, we hired a driver. It was one set cost for the driver, vehicle, and gas. We created an outline of where our hotels were each night so this also included accommodations for our driver, which he arranged on his own. If you really want to dive in deep, you can also hire a professional guide. We were content with a driver, which he still had a lot of knowledge, but a professional guide would be another level. One of the big perks of hiring a driver is you get to pick your schedule. Are you having fun at a pub and want to stay longer? No problem. Are you not big museum people but just want to see the highlights and hit the road? No problem. The driver program gives you 9 hours per day of drive time to set your own schedule.

3. Stay in castles! What a bucket list and unique experience it was for us to stay in some castles during our trip. There are many historic castles that operate as full service hotels with all the modern luxury amenities. Let me tell you about our 2 experiences.

Dromoland Castle

This castle dated back to early 11th century. It is a 5-star experience with onsite 18 hole golf course and leisure center. This is where they have an indoor pool, gym, sauna, steam room, bicycles to borrow and more.

On property there is a spa, tennis courts, some shops and 3 restaurants. There’s a host of activities onsite that you can pre-book. This includes activities like archery, horseback riding, or clay shooting. You can also rent a golf cart to explore the grounds.

The castle was refurbished in 2017. I was in an East Wing Executive. This wing of the castle was built in 2001. The rooms are spacious with a bay window. The standard East Wing rooms do not have a bay window. The room is well appointed with bathrobes, slippers, mini bar and coffee station. The bathroom has a soaking tub, shower and double sinks. We loved the towel warmer. It’s something I don’t see at home or at hotels too often.
Daily breakfast is included with all room categories and some also include a round of golf.

Dromoland Castle is very convenient to Shannon airport and Cliffs of Moher.

Ashford Castle

This castle was built in the 13th century. It sits on the largest lake in Ireland, so the views are jaw dropping. The property and castle were purchased by the Guinness family in the 19th century, and they poured a lot of money into the estate. This is also the property that a lot of the movie, The Quiet Man, was filmed.
There is onsite golf and a spa. There are 3 restaurants, plus they set up High Tea in the afternoon you can book. One of the restaurants is called, The Dungeon. It is themed in red with knights and flags. It’s known for their steaks but also has a large variety of menu options. I had some really good salmon. This one does not have a dress code, but the formal dining room upstairs, men will need to bring a sport coat and everyone is asked to not wear denim.

Activities are plentiful onsite as well. You do not have to be a guest of the hotel to book activities. There is horseback riding, archery, clay shooting and the School of Falconry.
Our first afternoon we did a “Hawk Walk” with the School of Falconry. Our guide was a French girl with such a passion for the birds. Her genuine love for the birds was contagious and we loved our experience. We walked around with her in the forest with two Harris Hawks. They are trained to come when someone wears a black leather glove and when you hold out your arm. She brought food, chicken skin and chopped up mouse, to incentivize the hawks. They flew with little bells on so we could hear where they were. It was so interesting.

I was nervous at first, but the birds weighed under 2 pounds, so it was easy for them to land on our arm and they were not aggressive at all. She said they love being fed and haven’t ever just flown off. She said one time a hawk killed a duck, so she took the duck home and cooked it. I was totally captivated by this. She said people can live in the wild without a weapon and they hunt with their bird.

The next morning, we went horseback riding. This was different as it is English riding. Not that I know really much of anything about horseback riding, I had no idea it was different.

The saddles don’t have the knob to hold onto, the stirrups are smaller and you hold the reigns “like a cup of tea”. They led us around the grounds and by the castle. It was a neat experience.

There are a lot of accommodation options at Ashford. There are newer rooms in “The Lodge”, standard rooms and staterooms. The staterooms are all different and historic. We had a corner stateroom complete with about 30′ tall ceilings, a canopy bed that looked straight out of a movie and a sitting area. I was in castle room heaven. The bathroom has heated floors, heated towel rack, and double vanities. There are robes and slippers. They include water and a bottle of Sherry in your room. There is also a mini bar with a price list.
We totally fell in love with Ashford and see why it’s a favorite to visit over and over.

4. Skip Ring of Kerry and opt for Dingle instead.

Nothing against Ring of Kerry. It’s a beautiful drive with a lot of scenic spots to stop, but it’s a ton of driving. Some of the most beautiful spots can be seen on the drive from Dingle, including spots made famous from Star Wars and movies like Far and Away.

In the spring is when you will see the lambs everywhere. The farm, where they filmed Far and Away, has a lamb program where you can hold the baby lambs for 4 euros. When we stopped they had a lamb only 2 days old that was a runt. When the ewes have triplets the runt will be ignored and the farms have to bottle feed the runts so they will survive. The owner of the farm, who was a kid living at the farm during filming of Far & Away, told us some stories about Tom Cruise and about where they set up the filming. It was fun to hear about.
Dingle can be a half day trip from Killarney. It’s a great coastal town with shops and restaurants. If you’re going during the summer, you can also plan to make a stop at Inch beach along the way. It’s an expansive beach you can drive on, and has vendors renting boogie boards. Something I was surprised to find in Ireland.

5. Cliffs of Moher is a must, but so is Doolin

I don’t know if you can do a first trip to Ireland without stopping at the Cliffs of Moher.

It’s that awe inducing picture spot with the gorgeous – but dangerous, if you don’t follow the signs – drop off cliffs. It cost 10 euros per person for entrance. They have a visitor center with bathrooms, gift shop and coffee. Something I didn’t know about is the cute little town of Doolin only 4.3 miles from the Cliffs. If you’re a hiker, this is a popular hike option. What a memorable way to see the cliffs!

In the town of Doolin, you have to eat at McGanns. We had some of the best food in all of Ireland and probably the best service. Everything is fresh. The chef makes the soups from what’s on hand from the garden, and local caught fish and chips. They said the fish are basically jumping out of the water there, so might as well be fresh. My husband had a short rib dish we fawned all over. When we left, we said we can’t wait to come back. It was picture perfect. They also have live music in the evenings.

There is so much to do in Ireland! The people we met, the songs sung at the pubs, the wonderful food…it’s all so worth the trip. I can’t wait for the next trip to the Emerald Isle!

Cancun Mexico is a prime choice for family vacations, honeymoons, weekend getaways and more. Cancun vacation packages can include flights, all inclusive resorts, airport shuttle transportation, and, if desired, even tours.

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Cancun vacation packages can satisfy memory makers, history buffs, food lovers, and experience seekers. Reach out to me today to plan your Cancun vacation package.