Exciting new upgrades at Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort

Cue the applause... these upgrades at Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios look AHHH-mazing! 

We can't wait to visit! For the best pricing on Sandals Resorts - jump over here! 

Cheers,

Upgrades Added to the Royal Service at Paradisus Palma Real

The Paradisus Palma Real Resort & Spa has added new inclusions to their Royal Service!

The New Royal Service Experience:

• 200 all new Royal Service suites with In-room Jacuzzi®
• Pre-arrival preference form to allow Butlers to tailor and customize each guest's experience
• Personalized VIP arrival and private escort to the new Royal Service Lounge
• Dramatic new two story Royal Service Lounge featuring; Library, magazines, international newspapers, DVD movie library, CD music library, cultural corner (information about the history of the Dominican Republic, area maps, resort's sustainable initiatives and more), WIFI and complimentary use of iPads
• Exclusive YHI Spa and wellness area
• Exclusive new waterside Italian Restaurant reserved for Royal Service only
• Natural Juice Bar located on the private Royal Service beach
• Pool Concierge Service at the exclusive Royal Service pool to include complimentary sunscreens, healthy snacks, poolside spa rituals, and more
• Personalized pillow menu
• Complimentary cell phone to call your butler with unlimited local minutes
• New in-suite inclusions for Royal Service; espresso machines,upgraded and customized mini bars, Thierry Mugler amenities, international power adaptors, new in-suite dining menus, premium welcome amenity
• Weekly Manager's cocktail party for Royal Service guests

The Paradisus Palma Real is located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and is often rated one of the top luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Spring for a little luxury by booking the Royal Service. Perhaps you can save on the air side of your trip and secure a cheap flights by booking your air as far out as possible. The Punta Cana airport is served by international flights on all major airlines.

A History of Romance - Rendezvous in St. Lucia

Rendezvous Hotel in St. Lucia is known as The Boutique Hotel for Couples. Yes, this is true. The hotel is small, intimate & charming, having only around 100 rooms. It is luxurious and all-inclusive too. But what I really like, is the romantic history of the hotel's origin... in a time when life was less complicated and vacations were never taken for granted. 

Imagine arriving in St. Lucia in the 1960s when the island was home to only a few hotels. You deplane but opt to make your first stop the lovely white sand beach to the north of the air strip. You walk down this amazing little gem of a beach, taking in the views and gazing in amazement at the tropical gardens lining the sugary sand. Soon a building with a large verandah comes into view. The Verandah is welcoming, with a bar at one end. There's even a butler serving drinks. He serves you a cool and refreshing cocktail of choice. Conversation flows with the rum but soon it is time to go. When you ask for the bill, you are told there is no bill, for this is a private home and the kind gentleman who kept you company at the bar is the homeowner. 

That's the story the hotel's owner Andrew Barnard proudly shared with our office last week about his grandfather's property. He had our full attention as he divulged an abbreviated version of how the Rendezvous in St. Lucia came about. How after realizing his property was desirable to those walking by, his grandfather built 12 private beach cottages and offered them for rent. The 12 cottages have grown into a 100 room resort, but the same friendly service remains.

Rendezvous is the boutique hotel for couples. Smaller than most all-inclusive resorts, yet large in its offerings. The hotel is offering a few not-to-be missed summer promos right now. Contact our Caribbean Travel Specialists for a complete quote!

Cheers,

Kids Stay FREE this summer at Palace Resorts in Mexico!

{Playacar Palace}

Book 3 nights or more at any Palace Resorts in  México the kids ages 12 and under sharing a room with an adult stay and eat FREE. {New Booking only.}

{Cancun Palace}

Kids stay free promotion automatically included in package cost. No special code required.


Booking Dates: Through August 27th, 2012
Traveling Dates: June 1st, 2012 – August 31st, 2012

Cancun is a the perfect destination for family travel. The airport is one of the busiest in the region and welcomes nonstop international flights from most gateways in the US & Europe. This helps keeps the cost low and the selection of flight times wide and varied, offering something to accommodate every families needs. Airline tickets are often lowest than any other beach destination in the region.

Cheers,

Luxury Honeymoons at Secrets Wild Orchid or Secret St. James

Its no secret that Jamaica is a top honeymoon destination. The tropical island is home to some of the most scenic geography in the Caribbean. Beauty relaxes the mind and after months of stressful wedding planning, all brides deserve to relax. So what better place for a honeymoon?


Jamaica has many wonderful resorts - but the two new Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay are a smart and easy choice for anyone wanting a fully inclusive, luxury resort, catering to couples. Now is a great time to book either Secrets St. James or Wild Orchid for your honeymoon and take advantage of the following promotion:

Book a Hotel + Delta Air package for you, each traveler will earn 3000 bonus Delta Skymiles AND at least $50 off your vacation package. Contact us today to get started!

{As with all promotions, restrictions apply. Please inquire for full details.}

Cheers,

The Caribbean's Best Destination Health Spa... The Body Holiday, St. Lucia

I started my hospitality career in Phoenix as a spa coordinator at the Arizona Biltmore. Working in a spa was bliss and being linked in to the spa community afforded me many opportunities to test out other area spas. Arizona is known for its Destination Spas such as Canyon Ranch and Miraval. Most other Destination Spas strive to be as comprehensive as these two.

While many resorts in the Caribbean have full service spas, few can rightly call themselves a Destination Spa. To me, this term means the Spa is a location/destination one would travel to simply for the benefit of its services - all other resort amenities are considered secondary.

The Body Holiday LeSport in St. Lucia IS a Destination Spa. All of my colleagues agree we would most certainly make the trip to this resort simply to visit the spa. The Body Holiday is a fully inclusive resort where the spa treatments are already included in the nightly room rate - one 50 minute service per guest, per day. You may add to this... and once you've spent an hour in the Oasis Spa, allowing all 5 senses to relax, you will likely want to. 

The spa offers an la carte menu of additional services, or you can work with your travel consultant prior to arrival and pre-book one of their Personalized Wellness packages starting at $699 and featuring a focus in the areas of weight loss, stress management, detoxification, fitness and tone, and anti-aging.

With every meal, at every restaurant on property, The Body Holiday serves healthy and enticing spa cuisine to compliment the wellness goals of the guests. If you want to splurge and enjoy bacon, eggs, and a croissant, fear not for those items are plentiful as well. 

I'd love to help you plan the best possible wellness vacation to The Body Holiday in St. Lucia. Feel free to contact me anytime! laura @ caribbeanjourney.com 

Namaste,

Everyone Deserves a Little Romance...

{This AMAZING photo of Coconut Bay is one of my favorite Caribbean photo of all time. From this amazing artist.}

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa on glorious St. Lucia offers some great values on ROMANCE!!!

There are 3 packages worth noting... 

The Rendezvous Package for 7 nights includes:

Champagne Check-in

Romance Turn-down including champagne & chocolates

Couples Only Beachfront Dinner

Intro to Kite Surfing

$250 Resort Credit

and more! 

Deluxe Ocean View Room is $1129

Premium Ocean View Room is $1199

The One on One Package for 7 nights includes:

All of the Rendezvous perks plus...

Private Chauffeured Island Tour

Private Couples Beach Picnic

1/2 Hour Photo Shoot with Keepsake Photo 

Deluxe Ocean View Room is $1279

Premium Ocean View Room is $1349

The Fantasy Package for 7 nights includes:

One on One perks plus...

Private Catamaran Piton snorkeling cruise with lunch onboard

Deluxe Ocean View Room is $1579

Premium Ocean View Room is $1649

Contact us to book before May 31, 2012 for travel prior to June 15, 2012. We love Coconut Bay because of its dramatic landscape and easy access to the main international airport. Most flights to St. Lucia arrive at the Hewanorra Airport just 5 minutes away. Imagine... you'll be on the beach within a few short hours of your flight arriving!

Enjoy,

Looking for an easy slice of Paradise?

Look no further than Grand Pineapple Antigua. Rates are currently up to 65% off, depending on what week of the year you book. 

I visited this property in 2010 and was immediately smitten. It isn't the normal luxury property that I am attracted to, but the Grand Pineapple Antigua IS an easy slice of paradise and that was very appealing. 

Check out my visit to Grand Pineapple Antigua. 

Ready to book your own visit? Drop us a line and we will get started.

If you aren't ready to commit to the hotel stay just yet, you may secure your airline tickets now and keep an eye on hotel rates to book a week that falls into the 65% promo! All major airlines, including Delta Airlines, fly to Antigua.

Cheers,

Caribbean Travel Discounts for Firefighters

Calling all Firefighters! 

Beaches Resorts, the Caribbean's leading family friendly all-inclusive resort collection, is offering 10% off for all FIREFIGHTERS all year long.

The discount is on top of any other current promotion offered by Beaches Resorts. Beaches Resort properties are located in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos.

This is a great way to reconnect with your family and enjoy some serious relaxation. 

We are happy to provide you with a free quote. Please contact us today!

Military Travel Discounts to the Caribbean

Attention all servicemen and women! 

How about a discount on a luxury Caribbean family vacation? 

Beaches Resorts, the Caribbean's leading family friendly all-inclusive resort collection, is offering 10% off for all military personal all year long, with the months of September & October being 15% off. 

The discount is on top of any other current promotion offered by Beaches Resorts. Beaches Resort properties are located in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos.

This is a great way to reconnect with your family and enjoy some serious relaxation. 

We are happy to provide you with a free quote. Please contact us today!

Paradisus Punta Cana Vacation Specials

Paradisus Punta Cana & Paradisus Palma Real in the Dominican Republic are offering $1000 in Resort Credits for new bookings made now until August 25, 2012.

Stay 4 Nights and use credit on:

Spa Services $100

Casino Match-play Coupons $100

Premium Wine List $50

Room Upgrade $200

GABi Restaurant $100

Stay 7 Nights and use credit on:

Spa Services $150

Casino Match-play Coupons $150

Premium Wine List $100

Room Upgrade $400

GABi Restaurant $200

Ready, set, get packing! Contact our Caribbean Travel Specialists to get started on your Punta Cana Vacation plans today.

Travel is valid May 1 to December 22, 2012. As with all promos, restrictions apply.

Combine this resort credit with cheap flights by booking your air as far out as possible. The Punta Cana airport is served by international flights on all major airlines.

{some links in this post sponsored by edreams.com}

Beaches Resort Vacation Discounts!

Beaches Resorts have two super fantastic promos right now! 

{Beaches Turks & Caicos by Day}

The first one will give you $315 IN FREE AIR CREDIT when staying 6 nights or more at Beaches Negril located on Jamaica's famous 7 Mile Beach.

The second one is an early booking bonus for travel this fall and will give you $325 CREDIT TOWARD YOUR HOTEL STAY. This offer is valid at any Beaches Resort.

Beaches Resorts have long been known as the best family friendly all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. They do an excellent job of catering to kids as well as adults. Beaches Turks & Caicos is my personal favorite - especially the Italian Section... all-inclusive family friendly vacations don't get any better than a week in a Turin Water's Edge Walkout Two Bedroom Family Suite. 

{Beaches Turks & Caicos at Night}

Our Caribbean Travel Specialists will be able to help you decide which Beaches Resort and which room category is best for your family. Call or email us today! 


{As with all promotions restrictions apply, please inquire.}

Free Catamaran Cruise at Royal Plantation

Hurry! Sandals Resort Specials never last long. Book by a vacation to Sandals Royal Plantation by March 8, 2012 for travel NOW until December 27, 2012 and receive a FREE Island Routes Catamaran Cruise. 

The Catamaran Party Cruise Includes:

A Sightseeing & Snorkeling Adventure

Made to Order Cocktails with Premium Brand Liquors

Caribbean-inspired hors d'oeuvres to tantalize your taste buds

Live Entertainment with you own on board DJ

READ MORE ABOUT THIS OFFER HERE!

Free Island Routes Adventure Tours Dunn's River Falls Catamaran Cruise offer is available for new bookings in a concierge room category or higher made now until March 8, 2012 for travel now through December 26, 2013. Blackout dates apply. Offer is combinable with all other consumer savings promotions. Offer includes one complimentary catamaran cruise per person, per room during the same stay. Offer is applicable to Dunn's River Cruise Tour only. 

The Iberostar Cancun to open after a $100 million renovation!

The Iberostar Resort company bought the former Hilton Cancun and has rebranded it as  the Iberostar Cancun. After spending over $100 million on renovations, the new hotel will open on February 3rd. 

Iberostar closed the now-all-inclusive beachfront property last August in order to renovate public spaces as well as to build a new theater and add new restaurants, including a new buffet and four specialty dining venues -- a gourmet restaurant, a steakhouse, a Japanese restaurant and a Mexican restaurant. Children’s and teens’ clubs were also constructed, as was a new kids’ splash park in the pool area. Outdoor space at the resort’s 12-treatment room spa was also enhanced as was the lobby and lobby bar. Also new palapa-style, or thatched, umbrellas now provide shaded areas for guests on the beach. The resort’s 50,000 square feet of convention space as well as 90,000 square feet of event space remain untouched, making the Iberostar Cancun the only resort in the destination with oceanfront meeting facilities as well as an on-site 18-hole golf course.

Other features of the property include seven swimming pools, a professional football field, and two tennis courts. 

Cancun is a the perfect destination for your meetings & incentive group travel. The airport is one of the busiest in the region and welcomes nonstop international flights from most gateways in the US & Europe. Airline tickets are often lowest than any other beach destination in the region.

Huge Savings to SANDALS Emerald Bay in Exuma, Bahamas

Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma is one of those rare resorts I wouldn't mind paying full price for. It is that good. If your best beach vacations are just as much location as they are service, this one's for you! Set on the pristine island of Exuma... where the beaches are quiet, the smiles loud, and the atmosphere forces you to relax... Sandals Emerald Bay is just about perfect. Throw in some extra savings and it can't be beat! 


Here's what you might save:

$400 Instant Savings

Save up to 65% Off

Up to 1 Free Night

Unlimited Free Golf

$175 Red Lane Spa Credit

$350 Airfare Credit

Of course, there's a catch.... HURRY! You must book your trip by January 6, 2012... Book your Sandal Resort Vacation to Sandals Emerald Bay Today! 

How do you get to Exuma? A few airlines service the local island airport - but most international flights come into Nassau and make the short flight over to Exuma.

Book a Last Minute Getaway to St. Lucia at Coconut Bay!

Coconut Bay in St. Lucia is offering a wonderful winter discount with rates starting at only $148/per person in a deluxe garden view room with the resort's all-inclusive plan!

Coconut Bay in St. Lucia has one huge draw... proximity to the airport. If you've visited St. Lucia before, you know the drive between the airport and your resort often has you rethinking your vacation choice and certainly any alcohol or junk you ate on the plane. The road is curvy - to put it nicely. What is only a distance of 18 to 20 miles, can take over 2 hours. On my last visit in March, for our beloved Babymoon, we opted to rent a car, knowing I would not be able to handle a shuttle ride in my state. 

Renting a car is not for everyone. My husband has visited over 70 countries and has been behind the wheel of dozens of different types of vehicles. He drives on both sides of the road with ease. If you're not married to a globetrotting expert driver and the thought of renting a car in a foreign country has zero appeal, consider booking a resort closer to the airport. 

Coconut Bay is only 2 minutes away from St. Lucia's southern airport, Hewanorra. While it is tough to find cheap flights to St. Lucia, the good news is, the airport is serviced by all major airlines, including Delta, American, United, Virgin, etc. 

Hurry and book your Coconut Bay Vacation before January 15. {As with all promos, other restrictions apply.}

HOT New Hotels! Two New Paradisus Resorts coming to Mexico!

That sand... that WATER!!! 

Soon, you can enjoy two new Paradisus Resorts in Mexico. The family friendly Paradisus La Esmeralda and the adults only Paradisus La Perla, located next to each other on one of the prettiest stretches of beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The luxuriously comfortable decor, true to Paradisus style, can be found in the living spaces:

Sleeping rooms...

And bathrooms...

The Paradisus Playa del Carmen features a two-in-one resort concept with La Perla exclusively for adults and La Esmeralda perfectly family friendly and suitable for every traveler. The El Zocalo area between the resorts features restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Guests from both resorts have free access to El Zocalo freely, making this complex perfect for multi-generational travel & Destination Weddings where some guests might prefer the exclusivity of the adults only section and others don't want to leave the kids behind but both want to spend at least a few important hours together every day.

PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA PERLA OPENS ON NOV 15, 2011

PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA ESMERALDA OPENS ON NOV 30, 2011

Ready to start planning and take advantage of the super low introductory rates? Contact us today!

Being located in the Cancun area, you will be flying to one of the easiest destinations in the tropics. Cancun is serviced by all major airlines, including United Airlines & American Airlines. 

Only 4 Days Left to Receive $400 Instant Savings at Sandals!!

Yearning for a little jaunt to the Bahamas for Christmas? Hurry and book either Sandals Royal Bahamian or Sandals Emerald Bay by October 24, 2011 and receive $400 instant savings!

{This is Sandals Royal Bahamian}

Applicable travel dates are: December 22 to 29, 2011

To start planning your vacation to Sandals Resorts, contact the travel consultants at Caribbean Journey ~ 866-236-1924 or via email! 

{As with all promos, restrictions apply. Please inquire.}

Cheers,